Official UtahEtsy Street Team

How to Make a Jacket into a Pillow

2011-03-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

by Tiffiny Appelbaum, TiffinyDesigns
(Originally published February 14, 2011 under a different title)

I found this jacket in my studio closet.

Front

Back

I made it in the late 90s, created the pattern and the stencil designs, invested hours of time and effort into it. Published in the Belle Armoire Magazine, I’m very proud of this jacket and have found it hard to part with inspite of its being terribly outdated. BUT it’s been using up valuable storage space so something’s gotta give. What to do? Give it a new purpose…

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How to Make a Jacket into a Pillow

Lay the jacket flat, then fold the edges in to approximate the size and shape of pillow you want…

Mark roughly, with a removable pencil or pen, the dimensions of the pillow on front and back, if needed. Then take out the lining either by unpicking or cutting…

Unpick the hem, then take out the side seams either by unpicking or cutting…

(You might also need to take the sleeves off depending on your jacket or pillow)

Now mark off the dimensions of your pillow with a ruler and removable pen or pencil. (Mine is 18″ x 18″)

Then add a 1/2″ seam allowance using your ruler and removable pencil/pen…

(Do these steps for both back and front of jacket)

Lay the jacket front flat and pin through all the layers of facing/lapel to stabilize…

(The front button closure will serve as your opening, where you will insert the pillow form)

Cut around the outer line you drew, both front and back, keeping pins in place. Then BASTE where you’ve pinned to stabilize all the layers.

Undo the buttons. Now place front and back pieces RIGHT sides together and pin…

Then STITCH 1/2″ from raw edges all the way around. Use the front button area to turn the pillow right side out…

Use a point turner to push the corners out, press if needed, then insert your pillow form…

Button the buttons and you’re done!

Clear Your Studio, Clear Your Mind - Part 2

2011-02-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

Tackling the Emotionally Charged Areas
by Tiffiny Appelbaum of TiffinyDesigns

Last month, I talked about how to clear your studio or workspace and as a result, clear your mind and strengthen your creative force. No doubt along the way you've hit some rough spots, found areas you just can't begin to deal with or confront. Well, here are some tips to help you work through those really challenging areas, those areas that have a lot of emotional charge, like my big scary cabinet (below) that was so overwhelming I avoided it for, well, years.

AAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!! It literally took me over a month to work up the nerve to even OPEN THE DOORS. This cabinet has been a catch-all for YEARS and I didn't even know what was inside anymore. But I got it cleared out and here's some things that made it easier for me...

Take Inventory
Before you do anything else, take inventory. Set aside your anxiety as much as you can then choose one area, like a shelf or a drawer, and take everything out. Notice each thing as you remove it, as an observer, like "Oh, look, here's a pillow form" or "A mystery box - I wonder what's inside." Be an observer taking inventory.

I chose the top shelf of my closet to work on first. It seemed the least threatening area in the cabinet. There was enough stuff crammed in that one area to fill an 8 foot table! I found old artwork stuffed behind books I didn't know I had, 10-year old magazines, college textbooks, TONS of zipper plastic bags, pillow forms and more.

Rest When You Need To
This is hard work on a lot of levels. You might find you feel exhausted and need to rest periodically or even frequently. And you deserve it so don't beat yourself up! You're confronting overwhelm and anxiety, clearing difficult areas in your space and clearing your mind - way to go!

After the weeks it took me to work up the nerve to start on my scary cabinet, it took me another month to get it all cleaned out. I worked in fits and starts, whenever I felt I had the energy to deal with it. These things take time.

Enlist Help
Enlisting help from a friend, someone who can be objective about your stuff, might help you get through this more easily. A friend can be a great buffer, offer ideas and suggestions you might not have thought of, and also help you work through whatever fears and other emotions that might arise while you're clearing. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

Ask the Questions
When you are ready, start evaluating each item you've removed. Ask the questions from the first segment of this series. Here's a quick review plus a few additions (marked NEW) that might help (To view the original segment, click here)...

--1 DO I REALLY LOVE THIS?

If you answer YES, then ask... DO I WANT THIS? If you answer YES, keep it and continue with question #2.

If you answer NO to Do I WANT this, ask yourself why?....
Are you bored? Any chance you might be re-inspired? If not, let it go.
Are you disappointed with how the project has turned out? Are your expectations of how a material would be used dashed? Do you want to try to make it right? If not, let it go.
Are you burned out but still interested? Set it aside for later or let it go.
Have you not had the time to work on it? Are you willing to make time? If not, let it go. If you are, write down WHEN you will work on it, how long you'd like to spend or expect it to take.

If you answer MAYBE to 1, then ask... DO I LIKE IT A LOT? Does it inspire me at all? Does it have potential? If YES, keep it. If NO - maybe it can be returned? If not, toss it, recycle it or give it away.
(NEW) Is it outdated? Is it still useful in some way? (i.e. Am I really still inspired by these 10 year old design magazines?)
(NEW) Can I reduce the amount of space this takes up? (i.e. tearing favorite pages from a magazine)

If you answer NO to 1, then ask... WHY AM I KEEPING THIS?...
Do I feel guilty?
Did someone give it to me and I think I should keep it?
Did I spend a lot of money on it and don’t want to waste it?
Did I have grand ideas and feel disappointed in myself for not finishing?
(NEW) What if I need it someday? How long have I had this? When was the last time I used this? Can I replace or recreate it, if necessary? What are the chances I might use this again? (i.e. Will the client I made this custom wedding dress pattern for 6 years ago really come back for the same dress some day? Probably not. If she does come back, I can look for a similar pattern or make it again. OR I haven't used these art supplies in 5 years, do I really need to keep them? What if I want to use them again? I can buy replacements.)
Etc., etc., etc.

Answer honestly and be willing to let go of your material or project AND any emotional baggage attached to it. The emotional baggage is what drains your creativity and inspiration.

--2 WHEN WILL I USE THIS? Write down when you will use the material, including amount of time you think it might take to complete and when you intend to finish the project. If you can't honestly say you will complete (or even begin) it in the next 6 months to 1 year, consider returning, tossing, recycling, or giving away.

--3 WHAT DO I NEED TO BEGIN OR FINISH THE PROJECT?

Do I need more materials? If so, what and where can I get them? When will I get them?
Do I need new equipment or tools? What and where can I get them? When will I get them?
Do I need to make time? When will I do that?

But I'm Not Ready
As I said in the first segment of this series, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS. You don't have to let go of ANYTHING. I just invite you to be willing. Be willing to let go and see what happens. Sometimes you just aren't ready and that's okay. I just wasn't ready to throw out my 20 year old college artwork. I really like it and I'm proud of the work I did and it reminds me of techniques I enjoyed using. Someday I would like to get it framed and hang up in my house, so I made room in my cabinet... It's okay if you're not ready to let go.

Document
There may be some things you just know you don't need or even want, but can't let go of. There might be one thing about it you love but other than that you feel yucky every time you see it or even think about it. It's okay.

For me it was jackets and dresses I've made over the years. One dress I made over 20 years ago. I love the fabric and the colors but I can't even remember the last time I wore it. The style is very outdated and I know it doesn't fit right and just takes up space in my studio. I decided to take detailed pictures of it, to document the details I loved about it. Somehow this was enough for me and I was able to donate it without regret. Maybe documenting will work for you too.

Reduce
Another way of dealing with things you're just not ready to let go of is considering reducing the amount you have. Do I really need 50 zipper plastic bags? No. But how about 10? Reducing is like taking a small step in the direction you want to go. It's a way of letting you have a little bit of what you're not ready to let go while reducing the amount of space it takes up in your work area and your mind.

Don't Give Up
Lastly, keep going. Maybe it will take you a week to go through one drawer or a year to go through a cabinet. It's okay. You're making the effort and that's all that matters. After a month of sorting and cleaning and letting go, here's what my cabinet looks like. No longer scary and even organized and inviting! What wonderful things can I create to fill the space? Only time will tell.

You can do it too! Just keep going, one step at a time...

A CPSIA Primer

2011-01-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

Cross posted at my personal blog, Organic Baby Farm.

Sit back and grab a cup of your favorite stimulant drink, and I'll bring you up to speed on a law you may not have heard about. Or if you've heard about it, you may think it doesn't apply to you. Read on-- it applies to everyone.

In 2007, lead in toys was all over the news. There were large recalls of toys that had lead in their paint. Reacting to this in the knee-jerk feel-good way that is their trademark, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in 2008. The well-intentioned object of this law was to make extra-super-duper sure children's products laced with lead never, ever again appeared on the evening news. Unfortunately, we all know where the road paved with good intentions leads. The bill was poorly thought out and passed by huge bipartisan veto-proof margins, and was signed into law by Pres. Bush in August of 2008.

CPSIA addresses the problem of lead in children's products in a manner much like swatting a fly with a shotgun blast. Its scope wasn't limited to the "big guys" or the "bad guys," and it affects more than just businesses-- libraries, charities, thrift stores, even yard sales fall under its dominion. It allows no exceptions-- technically you can get an exemption for a particular item, but only if you meet an impossible-to-meet standard. And it covers waaaay more than just toys. Just about everything child-sized, child-colored or child-oriented or that a child 12 and under might touch is included, whether or not it's ever been a danger: clothing, ATVs, school supplies, bicycles, cell phones, lamps, books, hair ribbons, underwear, science kits, rocks, chairs, shoes, blankets, Cub Scout insignia, food-grade organic play-dough, and many, many other things you'd never have thought ought to be tested for lead in the first place. The requirements are so stringent that they amount to an outright ban on child-sized ATVs, bicycle tire valve stems, ballpoint pens with cartoon characters on them, rocks for geology class, thrift store clothing, charities that fix up bikes for poor kids, and books published before 1984. Even "adult novelties" aren't immune from being considered "children's products" by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the government agency tasked with enforcing this law.

The CPSIA law puts in place many requirements, but here are the highlights that relate most frequently to handcrafters:

You have to make sure your product and all its components have less than 100 parts per million of lead in them, BEFORE selling your product. There's a list of materials that are exempt from lead testing and phthalate testing, but if you use any material that's not on that list, you have to either get it tested yourself (at great expense) or find a source for it that provides test results.
All tests must be done by a CPSC-certified laboratory. These tests destroy the sample completely. Home lead test kits do not provide enough information to meet the requirements, and XRF testing (a cheaper, non-destructive method) is not allowed.
All children's items must bear a permanent tracking label that has enough info on it to identify your name or company's name, where you are located, and when the product was made.
You must keep records of where you bought your materials and on what basis you claim they meet the lead standard.

In addition, CPSIA also requires manufacturers of ALL items (not just children's items) to provide a General Conformity Certificate that certifies that it meets all the standards that apply to that product. You have to list the standards and give the name of the laboratory that did the testing. These certificates are required for exporting to other countries. If your products don't comply with CPSIA, they cannot legally be sold or even given away in the United States, nor exported to other countries.

Now, the CPSC is very busy and they've made it clear through their enforcement actions that they don't intend to really go after us small-time crafters or crack down on yard sales, mostly because they can't extract big newsworthy penalties from us. But they have also said that they're watching eBay and Etsy (yes, they know about Etsy) so you may want to make sure you're in compliance. CPSC hasn't been enforcing a lot of the provisions because they decided to stay enforcement of them for two years, but that stay is about to expire and they've said publicly that they won't be renewing it.

Affected businesses large and small (mostly small) have been trying for two years to get Congress to listen to us tell them that CPSIA is going to either drive us out of business or drive us to not make children's products. As the deadlines rolled in I watched many of my friends' businesses go under. Mine was six days away from having to close permanently, as CPSC was unable to write the regulations they needed to enforce the law before the enforcement deadlines passed. Fortunately, with the change of parties in the House, we're finally able to get some action. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has oversight here, and they have already had a meeting to hear suggestions for improving CPSIA. We are hopeful that they might take action before the CPSC's stay of enforcement expires.

This is just an overview; there is much, much more in this law that makes it even worse. In some cases it's physically impossible to comply. I could have written a book on it-- heck, if you add up everything I've written over the last couple years on the topic, it'd probably be book-length! I'll be posting more later on about meeting specific CPSIA requirements and keeping you abreast of the breaking CPSIA news.

If you have questions about CPSIA you'd like to see answered in future posts, please put them in the comments.

Clear your Studio, Clear your Mind

2011-01-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

by Tiffiny Appelbaum of TiffinyDesigns

If you're feeling depressed about your work, bogged down in your work area or just plain uninspired, your studio may need a makeover. Physical disturbances can affect the way you think and feel about your work and work area. Disturbances can be obvious and out in the open and consciously affect you, like clutter, or can be little things that nag unconsciously at you, like unfinished projects.

By unfinished projects I mean a variety of things, like...

Projects you've started but not finished
Materials you acquired for a specific project you haven't started
Materials you have that don't inspire you anymore
Ideas buzzing around in your head
Filing that's piled up
Bookkeeping or unresolved tax issues
Reading you've meant to do but haven't

All these "unfinished projects" clog your mind, take up valuable space in your mind and create a disturbance in your creative force.

Clearing disturbances can make an enormous difference in how you feel about your work and increase your productivity. Asking yourself a few simple questions, answering honestly, and being willing to let go can clear your work area AND your mind.

Prepare To Clear
First, to set up you'll want a bag for trash, a bag for recycling, a bag for returns, and a bag for giving away. Also a notebook and pen.

Second, there are rules...

Do NOT try to do your entire work area in one day, or even one week! TAKE YOUR TIME. If you take on too much at one time, you will become overwhelmed and lose momentum or even give up.
Choose only ONE AREA to begin with, like one drawer or shelf or one area of a table. If you feel good after this one area, try another, but don't rush. TAKE IT SLOW! Even the smallest amount of clearing effort will make a difference.

Ask Yourself Questions and Answer Honestly
Third, choose the ONE area you'll be clearing and work on ONE item at a time. Ask yourself each of these questions about each item until you are either finished, out of time, or exhausted... Take a deep breath first and remember to keep breathing...

#1 DO I REALLY LOVE THIS ?

If you answer YES, then ask... DO I WANT TO USE THIS or finish this project? If you answer YES, keep it and continue with question #2.

If you answer NO to Do I WANT to use this, ask yourself why?....

Are you bored? Any chance you might be re-inspired? If not, let it go.
Are you disappointed with how the project has turned out? Are your expectations of how a material would be used dashed? Do you want to try to make it right? If not, let it go.
Are you burned out but still interested? Set it aside for later or let it go.
Have you not had the time to work on it? Are you willing to make time? If not, let it go. If you are, write down in your notebook WHEN you will work on it, how long you'd like to spend or expect it to take, and get that nagging feeling out of your head.

If you answer MAYBE to #1, then ask... DO I LIKE IT A LOT? Does it inspire me at all? Does it have potential? If YES, keep it. If NO - maybe the materials can be returned? If not, toss it, recycle it or give it away.

If you answer NO to #1, then ask... WHY AM I KEEPING THIS?...

Do I feel guilty?
Did someone give it to you and I think I should keep it?
Did I spend a lot of money on it and don’t want to waste it?
Did I have grand ideas and feel disappointed in myself for not finishing?
Etc., etc., etc.

First, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT. I'm just suggesting it as an opportunity to clear your space and your mind, but you don't have to do it.
Second, BE KIND TO YOURSELF. It's hard work on a physical as well as emotional level going through stuff you're attached to. IT'S OKAY IF YOU'RE NOT READY TO LET GO.
Third, some things just have a lot of emotion attached to them. (For me it has been the sewing stuff I inherited from my grandma. It's taken me years to sift through it.) If you open a drawer or look at a box and feel completely overwhelmed just looking at it, close the drawer, put the box away, move to a different area in your studio. Work on it at a different time. Start with something easy.
Fourth, BE WILLING. Be willing to let go. This does not mean you have to let go. Just being willing may open your mind to why you're holding on and allow you the space to let go. If you're really stuck while you're working on clearing, just say to yourself, "I'm willing to let go" and see what happens.

#2 WHEN WILL I USE THIS OR FINISH THIS PROJECT?
Make a list in your notebook of when you will use the material, including amount of time you think it might take to complete and when you intend to finish the project. If you can't honestly say you will complete (or even begin) it in the next 6 months to 1 year, consider returning, tossing, recycling, or giving away. Write everything down and get it out of your head. We're clearing your work area as well as your head.

#3 WHAT DO I NEED TO BEGIN OR FINISH THE PROJECT?

Do I need more materials? If so, what and where can I get them? When will I get them?
Do I need new equipment or tools? What and where can I get them? When will I get them?
Do I need to make time? When will I do that?

Write everything down in your notebook. Be specific.

Resist the Temptation
Finishing... first of all, congratulate yourself. This is hard work, physically and emotionally. WAY TO GO! Take some deep breaths, take a break, distance yourself from this project for at least 5 minutes before you finish... To finish you'll refine the details.

Take your trash bag out to the garbage can.
Look through your recycling bag and sort items into recyclables for your area (ie plastic, aluminum, glass, paper, etc.) Put the rest in your giveaway bag.
Look through your returns bag - Do you think you have receipts for any or all of these items? If you think you do, where are they? Add "look for receipts" to your list. If there are things you don't think you have receipts, consider moving them to one of the other bags. Resist the temptation to put them back into your studio.
Look through your giveaway bag - Do you have things you think a friend or colleague might be able to use? Put those in a separate bag. Take the rest to your local charity as soon as possible.
Look at your list. Transfer the items having to do with time to your calendar and transfer the items having to do with materials, equipment or tools to a clean piece of paper.
Extra credit. While you're clearing, vacuum and dust. You never know what treasures you're going to find in the dark corners of your studio.

Space for New Possibilities
So that's it... The great thing about these questions is they can be applied, with some tweaking, to about anything, including your inventory and your home. Either way, your space will get cleaned and cleared and in the process, so will your mind. And imagine all the space for new possibilities and new ideas to bloom!

Recreating Vintage Jewelry in something new

2011-01-12T07:56:00.000-08:00

When I was little girl, one of my favorite things to do when I visited my grandma was to look through her jewelry box. I loved the sparkles of rhinestones and gems, smooth creamy pearls, texture of chains, rings and stunning brooches...I dreamed of the day I would be old enough to wear them.

Well as we know many styles come and go. Jewelry changes with the styles. So what can you do with the jewelry of long ago??

Recreate it into another piece. A piece with memory of the past.

I love taking old brooches and adding them to a necklace, old earrings become charms for bracelets and chains are woven into new necklaces with ribbon.
You can add fabric flowers, old buttons, beads from broken necklaces, old lace........it is endless of what you can do.

Write A Business Plan for 2011!

2011-01-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

A business plan is a good tool to help you focus your business and define your goals. It isn't hard to write a business plan. Even if you don't write out a formal document, even if no one but you will ever see it, it's a good idea to at least sketch these things out for yourself. It can be as long or short as you want, as detailed as you want. If you ever need financing to expand your business, it's a good thing to have on hand. Banks will know you're serious if you have a business plan already written.

Here's what to write in your business plan:

a short (1 page max) history of your business
a description of what your business currently does, preferably using figures: annual sales, breakdown by category, etc. "Last year we sold $14,000 worth of baby booties, attended 3 craft shows, added 100 new customers, acquired a color laser printer," etc.
where your business fits in in your industry: retail and/or wholesale? what's your approach to business? what need in the marketplace does your business satisfy? who's your competition?
who your target market is, and how you plan to reach them this year
(optional) any community outreach you may be planning: fundraisers for your favorite causes, targets for community giving, and how these affect your business
your business goals for this year, including measures of success-- e.g. sales volume goals, goals for numbers of new customers, profitability goals, etc.-- so that you'll be able to know when you've accomplished your goals. "Increase sales" isn't as good as "Increase sales by 10%". There's no penalty for not meeting your goal, but the goal helps you get focused on a target and (if you share your business plan) communicates to others what your ambitions are, whether they're realistic, etc.

If you don't have numbers to attach to your goals (like sales volume for example) then set goals that don't have numbers, like "attend a large craft show". You can change it mid-year too. I added "work on making my craft show booth more attractive" to 2010's business plan. The point is to put in writing something that says where you've been, where you are, and where you're going. By putting it in writing, you can give form to your thoughts and create a record by which to evaluate your business' progress this time next year.

What are you putting in YOUR business plan for 2011? Are you writing a formal report, or sketching it out on a napkin?

FUN-day Monday!

2009-10-05T17:20:00.000-07:00

When I think of FUN I think of bright, whimsical, and unique items of all varieties. It is easy to find soooo many FUN items by searching Utahetsy Team on Etsy. Here are a few picks for today....

Check out these beautiful earrings by Steam Trunk Studio

And this delicious lip balm by Paradise Sunrise

Along with yet another yummy piece... a Pineapple necklace made by Lili Koi DesignsAnd this bright funky fun scarf by Crickets CreationsI just adore this headband by Iona's ClosetAnd a little something for the kids... by Olive Jane DesignsAnd Pretty Baby Boutique

Search UTAHETSY TEAM for more FUN handmade goods!

I hope you enjoy these fun items as much as I do...

-Julie

My Lil' Budget Book

"A Chic New Way To Shop and Be Thrifty"

Cash & Coupon Organizers

Winner Announcement! Tiffiny Designs!

2009-09-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

I am giving away a Casserole Cuddler!

The lucky winner is Bonny!. Please contact Tiffiny with your contact information so she might your prize to you. Congratulations!

Utah Etsy Mega Fall Give Away... Inspired by the Home Give Aways - Tiffiny Designs

2009-09-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

I am giving away a Casserole Cuddler!

Casserole Cuddlers® are an easy, stylish, and convenient way to carry a hot

or cold cake pan, muffin tin, platter, dinner plate, casserole dish or pot,

to your next party, family gathering, picnic or barbecue. Available in a

variety of fabrics. They are easy to use:

Just open all the flaps...

Then set your hot or cold dish on the center base...

Next, fold each side flap over your dish, and engage the Velcro strips...

Lastly, grab the handles and GO!*

Casserole Cuddlers are made of high-quality cotton blend upholstery fabric

in a variety of prints and colors and are easy to clean. Remove the 1/8"

hardwood board from the base pocket as well as the wood dowel handles before

washing the fabric. The fabric is machine washable with like colors, tumble

dry and low iron if needed. The handles and base can be wiped clean with a

damp cloth. In addition to being easy to clean, Casserole Cuddlers are also easy to

store - just fold the flaps and handles over the center base. Folded size is

approximately 10" W. x 12" L. x 1" H.

*CAUTION: We do not recommend carrying tapered bowls in your Cuddler. The

flaps will probably not hold your bowl balanced and your bowl will fall on

the ground and break and you'll be very sad - we've learned, I'm sorry to

say, from experience. We also recommend you place one hand under the base to

increase stability while your Cuddler.

CAUTION: Casserole Cuddler© should not be left near open flame or hot stove burners.

A Description of your store.

TiffinyDesigns... I love to sew and work with textiles. I also like to try a

lot of new things. I make teapot cozies, tea wallets, purses, bags, wallets,

Barbie clothes, and Casserole Cuddlers. I also make ribbon rose corsages and

boutineers and offer really teapot gift baskets. Most of my work is

one-of-a-kind and everything in my store has been handmade by me with lots

of love, time and attention to the details.

A Description of Tiffiny:

As a child, I loved going to the fabric store with my mom and admiring the

many colors and textures of fabric. Eventually I landed in 4-H and took my

first steps to becoming a textile artist and seamstress. After sewing for

myself for over 10 years, I left my graphic design career to pursue fashion

design and textile artistry exclusively.

I work with a variety of fibers and textiles, focusing mainly on unique doll

clothes, designer teapot cozies and accessories, and custom-made home decor

items and some women's and children's apparel.

After spending most of my adult life in the big U.S. cities, I've recently

returned to my home state of Utah to be near family. I'm married and have a

young son.

You can also find me on:

http://tiffinydesigns.etsy.com/ FaceBook

Good Luck!

To enter please follow the rules listed for the Utah Etsy Mega Fall Give Away!

Announcing Winners From Childrens Accesories Give Away!

2009-09-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to announce the winners of the Utah Etsy Childrens Accesories Give Away!

Aime Voltaire $10.00 Gift Certificate:

LyndiLou said...
What fun colors!!! :) This is super cute!
August 31, 2009 6:48 AM

Magpie and Cake Chenile Scarf:

Danielle said...
Danielle Garcia wants to win the Moda Pink Chenille Scarf from Magpie Cake.ldsmom2201 at yahoo dot comThe Happy Wife Homeschool Unit Studies
August 27, 2009 11:45 AM

greenWinkle Toddler Flapper Hat:

Jen T said...
Love the "Toddler FlapperHat". It would be so cute on my little girl!Jen Tjennylyn683@gmail.com

Grandma's Sewing Room Set:

bison61 said...
Vicki Wurgler, Grandma's Sewing Room the baby blanket settiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
August 31, 2009 12:36 PM

Olive Jane's Diaper Cover:

Ash said...
Not sure how I enter the giveaway. Hopefully this is the way. :) I would love to win!
August 31, 2009 7:52 PM

Please contact the individual Etsy Shop Owners to arrange the delivery of your prizes. Thanks so much for participating.!!! Look forward to seeing you on Utah Etsy.

Amievoltaire Giveaway

2009-08-25T01:50:00.000-07:00

Hello! I'm Angela
I'm offering 10$ towards any item in my shop.

I'm an ex-Communication Instructor from Boise
State University. I'm a mother of 4 - 3 boys and a daughter. I enjoy sewing, all
art. I love dancing, reading, softball and the outdoors. My husband and I love
to travel and are always amazed at the beauty that can be found in the U.S. I've
sold on Ebay for 6 years and officially on Etsy for a few months. I've sold used
items, new with tag items, boutique items and finally got brave enough to sell
my own creations. I've spent the summer meeting new virtual friends through
several Etsy street teams, in the Etsy Forums and through chatting on Etsy,
Twitter and Facebook.

Stop by my blog or store and say hi!

Amie Voltaire Rose Petal Customs

Magpie and Cake Giveaway

2009-08-25T01:49:00.000-07:00

I am giving away this beautiful Moda Pink Chenille scarf.

Your little girl will not only stay cozy warm this
Winter in this chenille scarf, but she'll look dang cute doing so.

The front of the scarf is made from an assortment of prints by Moda. The back is
super soft pink chenille minky/minkee. This scarf is bound to not only keep you
warm, but looking ever so cute too!

Scarf measures approx: 5" wide x 60" long / Double wrap for a child or single
wrap for an adult. As always, this item comes from a smoke-free home.

Description of Store: My etsy store has anything & everything for kids. I
started making the children's aprons, tutus, felt food, scarves, wallets, crayon
rolls, I-spy bags, etc. for my own children and as gifts for family & friends.
After much hounding, love, and encouragement from said family & friends, I
started selling on ebay and at local craft fairs 5 years ago. Now I sell
exclusively on etsy and at a few local boutiques. Everything in my store has
been tested & tried by my own children, so I know that other kids will love them
too!

Description of Me: I am a stay-at-home mom of 2 little monsters who keep
my life interesting. I love to sew, and have done so since I was twelve. I love
to travel with my husband, go on family hikes, garden (though I'm not good at
it, I like being outdoors), craft, and read. Before being a stay-at-home mom &
sewing fiend, I worked in the corporate world of Novell & Twelve Horses as an
Account Manager & Trainer for over 12 years.

Please come and Visit me!

Magpie and Cake On Etsy my give away at my Blog.

Green Winkle Giveaway

2009-08-25T01:48:00.000-07:00

I am giving away this adorable "Toddler Flapper
Hat". It is Made from 100% baby pastel colored cotton, with a double
white flower, measures 7 inches high and 18 inches around.

Shop Description: Crocheted flapper hats and caps from 100% cotton
and beautiful handbags made from repurposed grocery sacks. Each item carries the
laser cut, coconut shell tag.

About Me: My name is Launi Anderson. I'm a kind, fluffy,
hobbit-like mom/grammy sort of soul. I have 5 children, 3 grandchildren, I teach
HypnoBirthing in Orem and I write children's books.
You can find me at etsy... or on my blog...

Greenwinkle Esty Shop Gracious Rain Blog

Grandma's Sewing Room Giveaway

2009-08-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

Hi.. I am Leslie

I am giving away a Bright, fun baby blanket set features ducks
and bubbles on blue fabric with a bright yellow border. It is made from 100%
cotton flannel, trimmed with white rick rack. The fabric on the back forms the
self-bound border on the front with mitered corners. Set includes a matching bib
and burp cloth trimmed with mini rick rack. The bib has a velcro closure.

Description of store: Grandma's Sewing Room features all handmade items including baby blankets, aprons, bags, crocheted items, and more things to come! All are handmade by me in my smoke-free home. Description of me: I have been sewing for my family and others for more than 40 years. I love the creative process of choosing fabrics and imagining how they will look as a finished project. I also love to crochet and do counted cross-stitch. I like to scrapbook and tole paint as well. The days just aren't long enough to do everything I want to do. I am so blessed to be able to do these things at this time in my life. Life is good. Setting up a business and a shop on Etsy has been a new and fun adventure. I'm learning new things every day and I love it.

www.GrandmasSewingRoom.Etsy.com

Olive Jane Designs Giveaway

2009-08-25T01:46:00.000-07:00

I am giving away a waterproof diaper cover - swim diaper cover. I show two
below so that who ever wins can choose one from the two genders..

A Description of your store: where functional becomes
fashionable...handmade quilts, clothing, children's accessories..

A Description of you: artist, designer, runner,
wife, mother to 4 boys, originally from Eastern Canada.

Please visit me at my etsy store or blog:
Olive Jane Designs www.olivejanedesigns.blogspot.com

Utah Etsy Fall Give Away 2009

2009-08-25T01:35:00.000-07:00

UTAH ETSY MEGA FALL 2009

GIVE AWAY

****************************************************

Here is how to submit entries!

****************************************************
You may enter
one... or all of the giveaways. Please follow the instructions on entry
for each individual item you would like to win.

For one entry, leave your first and last name in a comment. Leave the Name of the
shop you want to win a prize from. Then name the prize Example: Kailey Taylor

For a second
entry visit the persons shop of the item you would like to win. Look at all of
their gorgeous items for sale accessories. Post on your blog about our give
aways.. and tell us about an item or two you wish you owned from this persons
shop. Please give url to photo.

Example:

Kailey Taylor: This weekend my daughter and I organized her clothes for the upcoming
school year. I realized she could use a red and an olive flower. Therefore, the
Cranberry Zoe Clip and the Green Lou Lou Clip would be great. You can find them
here: (give url) Don'ts have a blog? Post on twitter, facebook or myspace what
you would have for your blog. Come back to the Utah etsy blog and under a new
comment, leave us the url of your post.

For a third entry visit
the persons shop of the item you would like to win. Look at all of their
gorgeous items for sale accessories. Then come back to Utah Etsy and in a NEW
comment tell us your first and last name and an item or two you wish you owned
from this persons shop. Please give url to photo.
Example: Kailey Taylor: This weekend my daughter and I organized her clothes for the upcoming
school year. I realized she could use a red and an olive flower. Therefore, the
Cranberry Zoe Clip and the Green Lou Lou Clip would be great. You can find them
here: (give url)

For a fourth entry, If the vendor has a blog, visit the vendors blog. Leave the same comment
you left for yours second entry above. (visit the persons shop
of the item you would like to win. Look at all of their gorgeous items for sale
accessories. Then come back to Utah Etsy and in a NEW comment tell us your first
and last name and an item or two you wish you owned from this persons shop.
Please give url to photo.
Example:
Kailey Taylor: This weekend my daughter and I organized her clothes for the upcoming
school year. I realized she could use a red and an olive flower. Therefore, the
Cranberry Zoe Clip and the Green Lou Lou Clip would be great. You can find them
here: (give url)
For a
fifth entry,
become a blog follower of Utah Etsy over there on the right-hand side. Once you
have become a follower, or if you already follower, in a NEW comment, tell us
your first and last name and the word "Follower."

Example:
Kailey Taylor: Follower

*******************************************************************************************

The winners will be
announced on the following Monday. (Children's Give away Monday August31) Please visit us then to see if you are one
of our winners and to check out our new giveaway for the day. Winners then must
submit an email to the vendor of the item they won within 24 hours of winning
with the name and the address of where the item is to be shipped.

****************************************************
UTAH ETSY MEGA FALL 2009 GIVE AWAY SCHEDULE!
****************************************************
Follow us over the next couple weeks as our vendors offer up free items from their Etsy shops for raffle. Each Tuesday for the next Seven weeks, a new give away category will come up... there should be multiple vendors with a free item you can win. Rules will be posted each week with the new give aways. The winners will be posted the following Monday.
Tuesday August 25: Children's Accessories (winners announced Monday, 8.31)
Tuesday September 01: Home Decor (winners announced Monday, 9.7)
Tuesday September 08: Jewelry (winners announced Monday, 9.14 )
Tuesday September 15: Fine Art (winners announced Monday, 9.21)
Tuesday September 22: Women's Fashion Accessories (winners announced Monday, 9.28)
Tuesday September 29: Paper Goods (winners announced Monday, 10.05)
Tuesday October 6: Grand Finale (winners announced Monday, 10.12)

Good Luck!

Rolling Down the Bunny Trail!

2009-04-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

When I gift give I look for something that sends a special message from me to the recipient. Not just any gift will do. The gift has to come with some element that says "you are truly special to me." So I wasn't surprised in the least when I instantly fell in love with this pull toy by Rising Phoenix Toys . There is just something so special about a classic toy design that's been enhanced with modern aesthetics. This adorable rabbit doesn't hop down the bunny trail, she rolls! She has a beautiful hand-painted orchid on both sides. The wood is basswood and has been painted with CPSIA-certified paint! So much love and care has been put into this charming toy. It comes blessed with that pure potential to become a toy that is passed on through generations. Rising Phoenix Toys specializes in handmade wooden toys that come with so much charm and whimsy they are instant favorites. Hop over to Rising Phoenix Toys and you'll be smitten by the cute bunnies, raccoons, whales, and even HEDGEHOGS that reside in this special shop!

Hippity Hop! Easter is on it's way!

2009-03-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

With Easter approaching quickly the need for sweet spring children's accessories is pressing! Who can resist these cute bunny ears by Bow Sweet and these Easter themed post earrings by A Bit of Color! Very sweet!

BowSweet.etsy.com

ABitofColor.etsy.com

Vinyl Chalkboards??? Want vs. Need

2009-02-23T06:42:00.000-08:00

When I first saw these vinyl chalkboards by new Utah Etsy team member, Spell It Out Designs, I began to rationalize my latest want as a most certain NEED! The victorian style boards have my attention! I'm making up excuses and obsessing with an intensity only crafters can possibly understand as to what I NEED to write on these stylish chalkboards. Take a peek at the Spell It Out Designs etsy shop for more design options!

Another Utah Etsy Giveaway!

2009-02-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

We'll we've got to have something for our readers don't we! Giveaways are like the cherry on top of your favorite sunday! So this giveaway is by one of our newest members Pomegranate & Pink.

Here's a bit about them! " Bio:pomegranate&pink is a store that sells, well, anything! The company is operated by two sisters, Shelby and Kendahl (FYI, that's me!). We both love to do basically anything crafty, and figured, why not sell the stuff we make? Currently we’ve got tutus and hairbows and things like that, but plan to add home décor, like wall vinyls and wreaths and stuff.We are based in Happy Valley, Utah, but will ship anywhere; so come one, come all! We also adore custom requests as we want you to be as happy as possible. If you find something in our store, but want it in a different color, no problem! If you find something online that you want but it’s too expensive, let us know and we will see if we can get it done for you cheaper! We’re like the super cute boutique, minus the boutique prices."

Every girl wants a tutu! And I have to say the quality of a handmade tutu far surpasses those lousy box store ones!

Enter here at Pomegranate & Pink's blog

Round Em' Up!

2009-02-10T19:35:00.001-08:00

The Behive Bazaar is getting ready for their Spring 09 show! Yay! This is an event is well worth the journey south! Get your applications in now as they are only accepting 50 vendors!

A little bit about The Behive Bazaar: "The Bazaar started in 2004 when Molly Call, Stephanie Higginbotham and Noelle Olpin, three local moms all with a serious creative bent, decided they needed a venue where they and their friends could share their arts and crafts with others in their community. They launched the original event from one of their own homes with a handful of artists and it was mostly attended by friends and family. Since then the maternal trio has grown the Bazaar into a bi-annual, multi-day event with more than fifty artists and thousands of visitors from all over the state."

Provo Utah Etsy Members in the Press!

2009-02-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

Have you met Second Story Window! Well they are teachers designing unique, colorful, and exciting activities for teachers, parents, homeschoolers, and most importantly, kids! They design wonderful games such as this Printable Alphabet Game:

Recently she tipped us off to another story of sorts...an article about our fellow Etsy artisans down in Provo!

Here is just a snippet of the article, please link over to the Daily Herald and read more!

Handmade goods movement provides jobs in Utah Valley - view full article here!

Caleb Warnock - DAILY HERALD
"Today the site [Etsy.com] boasts 1.8 million members with more than 200,000 sellers. Sales have gone from $166,000 in 2005 to $87 million in 2008.
Some of this success is flowing directly to Utah Valley. Etsy has more than 300 sellers hailing from Provo alone.
"Unfortunately, sometimes business is too good," Winward said when asked about a curious posting on her corner of the Etsy site, http://www.meringuedesigns.etsy.com/. The posting, which has now been changed, recently said that she is not, in capital letters, accepting custom orders until she can catch up.
"I am a one-man band. Things just get busier and busier," she said.
Being able to earn an income and still stay home with her children "is a very important element of this," she said. "I make my own hours. I am basically in charge of my own business, and the money is good as well."

"I think the handmade movement is a really great thing," she said. "You get what you want, and there is kind of a face behind what you are getting."

Bonny Smith is in the first year of her master's program at Brigham Young University. She sells crocheted items on Etsy at http://www.bonnyfrances.etsy.com/, taking in about $500 a month.
The handmade movement is not only about paying people to make goods instead of machines, but about quality and uniqueness, instead of the quantity and repetition that you find at a big-box store, she said.
"Honestly, you'll never find anything like it anywhere else," she said. "There is a place in life for handmade things."

New Utah Etsy Member and a Giveaway to boot!

2009-02-09T17:21:00.001-08:00

Cedric is new on the etsy and e-commerce scene and has generously offered up a Giveaway!

About Cedric: There once was a fellow named Ced, who had bugs inside of his head. They'd wiggle and bite and he couldn't think right, so he thought with his stomach instead.

Happy Hobo Giveaway!Follow the instructions listed on his blog post to win three free Happy Hobo watercolor prints of your choosing! You can see more of Cedric's work in his etsy shop here: CedericWilford

Our Favorite Giveaway Blogs!

2009-02-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

In this economy the word FREE is a delightful word that sends one bounding through the streets giddy with delight, twirling around light posts, and shouting from stop signs "It's Free!" Well maybe not bounding, twirling, or singing, but it certainly brings a smile to our face right? Well we'd like to share with our readers some of our favorite giveaway and product review sites, Wishing Willow and Grosgrain Fabulous. If you haven't yet been introduced well then please allow Utah Etsy to give you a preview and be sure to follow them! You won't be disappointed.

First up Wishing Willow, swing in to see the daily giveaways of art, children's products, and other pure pleasantries. This week vinyl wall art, ceramic goodies, jewelry and even illustrated art prints!

Next Giveaway Blog of wonderfulness: Grosgrain Fabulous! Kathleen Dougherty, self described as, "artsy craftsy, penny pinching, party planning, playdating, fashion finding, sci-fi loving, stay at home mommy who always keeps her sewing machine plugged in and loves all things cute!" is the brilliance behind Grosgrain and she gives away some of the most amazing creations! Just look at this sugar cookie frock she gave away!

This week you can potentially win this lovely Opera House Glove and Caplet set!

Be sure to add these two blogs to your collection of goodness!

Utah Etsy Members Speak Out About CPSIA!

2009-01-10T07:04:00.001-08:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Do You Twitter?

2009-01-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

Are you tweeting yet?

If you’re quite new to selling online the internet can be an intimidating world. Oftentimes the warm glow of your computer screen is the only comfort, and for me personally, the iridescent light radiating from my screen doesn’t usually warm me up all that much! However, there are extremely easy, quick, and wonderful venues out there that allow you to connect more, reach out to others, share what you do, and chat up the day’s events! One of my favorites is Twitter.com Twitter falls into the category of micro-blogging and social networking and it works so simply! Simply send out a tweet or mini message to all your twitter friends! While you’re at it check out the newest tweets from your friends and see what’s new in their world.
Twitter is quick, easy, and free. After you set up your twitter account find some friends to follow! Here are some UtahEtsy sellers who tweet and would love to chirp up the day with you. Once you’ve added them see who they are following and follow them if you like!
http://twitter.com/penguinsplunder
http://twitter.com/sachidesigns
http://twitter.com/gumballgrenade
https://twitter.com/amievoltaire
http://twitter.com/utahetsy

Here is an Etsy forum thread, there are several but this is today’s, where you can start adding some fellow Etsy artists to your tweet list: Follow me and I'll Follow you back!

After you’ve made friends go ahead and start tweeting! Here are some ideas for your tweets:

Twitter about a sale! By the way here's one that Audzipan is having!

Twitter about your latest favorite online discovery! How cute is this Cream and Minky Blanket by CuddleBaby

Twitter about someone's Birthday! While you're at it send an actual card! These are cute by PinkPatrice

Twitter a link to your latest Etsy listing
Twitter about a craft/art show
Twitter about how you broke three computer mice in one day!

And also,

Twitter you latest blog post

Twitter your latest craft project!

Either way just get out there and start tweeting!

Have you submitted your content to Google?

2008-12-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

Have you ever Googled your shop name? How about your blog or business website? Here's a quick link that will take you to Google's website submission page. Submit as many sites as you like! http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=/addurl

10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Etsy Shop!

2008-11-26T06:40:00.000-08:00

1. Make a schedule and allow yourself some flexibility. As a creative person, this completely goes against everything in my body! A schedule is as non creative as it gets, but it’s critical to develop this skill. Here’s an example of a daily schedule and a monthly schedule:

Daily:
Monday = shop update
Sunday = working on your craft or art
Tuesday = Blogging and Social Networking

Hourly:
6:54 am – relist items that have sold over night or renew items…this is critical to jump start your day and stay fresh on searches within Etsy.
7 am – update blog, post blog in the forums on Etsy
7:30 – comment on five other blogs you found interesting. Target blogs of shops that sell items to a similar audience or area of interest that overlaps what you’re selling.
10 am – ship items
1:56 pm – relist 2 items

2. Blog. Free blog accounts can be set up at sites like LiveJournal and Blogpot. Personally I’m a fan of Blogspot because of its ease of use for both bloggers and visitors. It’s fairly easy for anybody to access and comment. Best of all its FREE.

3. Network!!! Social Networking is huge! If your main route of selling is online then it’s critical to catch up to the online trend of social networking! Places to promote your shop: Facebook (set up a page for your shop!), Twitter (tweet about your daily events, shop updates, blog updates), Flickr (upload and share photos of your latest projects!), Yahoo groups (target groups interested in your skill/craft or groups that represent the audience your selling to).

4. Renew your listings!!! This is critical and if rated in terms of importance it should be #1 on your to do list. Etsy is designed in such a way that your primary avenues for exposure are on the front page. At any point viewers across the globe are viewing the items scrolling across Etsy’s front page. How can people find you if you’re not putting your items up for renewal??? Think of it this way…Etsy is designed like a virtual slot machine. I put in my quarter (.20 cent listing fee) and I may or may not get a jackpot! However, this slot machine is special, it’s pretty and captivating, there are no annoying bells and whistles. It keeps its viewers captivated and hypnotized with visual jewels scrolling across its screen. This slot machine is also special because the odds are in your favor! It almost always pays out with a visitor to your shop which is always a potential sale! The bottom line is that you have to bring your shop to the buyers. Entice them to visit your shop! So sit down and think about how much you’re willing to pay for advertising. Then take that budget and apply it to renewing your items. For example $30.00 a month buys you about 6 renewals a day. Invest a little here and it will take you far.

5. Spend some time in the forums on Etsy, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. This serves a few purposes: it keeps you aware of what’s happening in the community, trends, sales, debates. My favorite sections are the “Business Topics” and “Techniques and Materials.” Please remember that what you post in the forums, as well as what you post in our yahoo group, is a direct reflection of your business.

6. Take a nice sunny Saturday to revisit your photos! Bright, clear, well lit photos are what will sell your item. I try to keep a white, bright background and use a simple poster board and a sunny spot in my living room to take my photos. My camera is not fancy and neither are my photography skills! Here are some articles from the Storque that will get you going:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/light-box/
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/how-to-brighten-your-photos-with-paperama-2900/
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/etsy-holiday-how-to-4-photographing-your-items-413/

7. Join a team or several teams! Teams are a great way to develop your business. Utah Etsy is designed for local artists and crafters to come together, share, network, and support one another, and we like to sprinkle in a bit of fun and philanthropy. Other teams are designed to reach a specific audience or meet a social goal such as helping animals or promoting green living. You can be a member of as many teams as you like, just remember that you’ll get out of it what you put into it. Find teams that will help your business grow.

8. Add new items to your shop! This is a top one. Keep your shop fresh with new items. Repeat buyers have the potential of making up a significant portion of your sales. Adding new items encompasses giving yourself time to create. It’s a fine line between spending too much time working on your business versus creating your product. Unless you have the ability to employ a marketing team and office manager I’m afraid you’ll have to tackle this one on your own. For me, I try to set aside specific days and times of the day to create new items. For example, evenings and naptimes provide me a window to either create or market. I have to choose and find that balance, 50/50 is my goal but not necessarily my reality.

9. Review your listing descriptions. Are they clear, free of errors (they sneak in there all of the time!). Do they mention features and benefits of your items. Are the dimensions detailed out in both inches and cm for both US and Intl. buyers? Are you clear on your shipping time frame?

10. Stay focused! If you look at some of the top sellers on Etsy and within our Utah Etsy team, you’ll notice that their shops have a sense of cohesiveness. If you have another craft you want to explore, consider whether or not the item will fit in your existing shop or if it would do better in a separate shop with its own cohesive theme.

So take some time to review your business this holiday weekend and see if any of these tips can be applied to your shop!

UtahEtsy Handmade Harvest 2008 Final Donation Results!

2008-11-26T06:25:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to the UtahEtsy team for its first ever, and extremely successful, Handmade Harvest 2008! Every little bit helped make this such a success! The final donation came in at $406, with over ½ of that amount coming from UtahEtsy Team members DizzlePop and PrettyBabyBowtique! Thanks to all for embracing this event and reminding us of the spirit of Thanksgiving!

The Behive Bazaar!

2008-11-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Be sure to visit this seasons Beehive Bazaar! Not only is it put together by a fabulous crafty trio, but this seasons event is featuring several Utah Etsy Team Members!!! Visit TheBeehiveBazaar.com for more information and for upcoming shows!

The Spotted Zebra Boutique

2008-11-24T23:29:00.000-08:00

For more information go to The Spotted Zebra Boutique

Handmade Harvest! Holiday Shopping With Heart!

2008-11-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

UtahEtsy is so happy to have so many shops participate in our Handmade Harvest 2008! Check out these great buys below! Not only are you shopping handmade, but your also helping your local community's needs!

The Orange Plum: Is donating 5% of it sales from now until Nov. 24th to Road Home Shelter!

7 Reasons why our headbands are the BEST:

*VELCRO®: On the underside so they won't slip off your head!

*RIBBON: No headaches with these headbands!

*WASHABLE: They are durable!

*QUALITY: They have hidden stitching!

*2 IN 1: 2"-3" ones can be worn Thick or Thin!

*VERSATILE: They can be worn with anything! Including sunglasses!

*AFFORDABLE: Awesome Prices!

***Each headband is shipped with a helpful tips/tricks sheet!***

Luminous Mom: will donate 20% of my sales proceeds on all holiday products to the cause!

Two Adorable, Little button Christmas tree ornaments! They are 100% hand sewn out of eco-spun felt which is made of post consumer recycled plastic bottles! I then hand sew buttons to the ornaments, and strong metal rings for hanging from the tree. The two ornaments pictures are the very ornaments you will be receiving, so no wait time for production!The listing is for BOTH ornaments so you are getting two for the price of one!

Joy to the world, a multi-purpose stocking! This stocking ROCKS because it can not only be used as the others, but the two mini stockings hand sewn to the front are open topped, so you can use them to hold pens (perfect for use at a desk!), small gifts, or my personal favorite- Candy canes! View available colors here.. stocking/letters/mini stockings can be done in any color combo you wish!

Gumball Grenade Illustrations: 20% of all sales running Oct. 24th-Nov24th are being donated to Utah's Road Home Shelter in participation with Utah Etsy's Handmade Harvest 2008! Visit her shop to view more illustrations that are very baby and nursery friendly!

DizzlePoP: Snappy Handcrafted Accessories! *.*HANDMADE HARVEST 2008!*.*As a UtahEtsy Team member, I am donating 20% of all sales to Utah's "Road Home" Shelter, now through November 24th.

This is the Squeeze! Hot, Cold, Room Temp, you name it -- these sweet fabric beverage sleeves will keep your hands cool and your beverage hot (or the other way around).

This lovie blanket features:~ beautiful brown with light blue dots cotton fabric on one side~ light blue dotted minky fabric on the other side~ three sides of ribbon tags for the baby's tactile interest (two sides pictured until I take new pictures!)~ a fabric tab with velcro closure to hold a binky or to secure the blanket to a stroller or car seat!Easy to bring along or send to daycare, thanks to their compact size, yet with full-size loving thanks to the ultra-soft and comforting minky fabric.More of these cuties coming soon, in pinks, too.

Handmade Harvest 2008 Participating - More Wonderful Local Buys!

2008-11-15T20:05:00.001-08:00

Pretty Baby Bowtique is having a wonderful promotion in support of Utah Etsy's Handmade Harvest 2008!

"Your place to find beautiful hair accessories, for your little one."

"AS A MEMBER OF THE UTAH ETSY TEAM, I AM HAPPY TO DONATE 20% OF ALL PROCEEDS FROM MY SHOP TO THE UTAH"S ROAD HOME SHELTER. RUNNING Nov 1st - Nov 24th IN PARTICIPATION WITH UTAH ETSY"S HANDMADE HARVEST 2008!"

"All my flowers and bows are attached to no slip clips so they will stay put in even the finest hair. All ribbon is heat cut and sealed to prevent fraying.

"AT PRETTY BABY BOWTIQUE, THERE ARE NO EXTRA SHIPPING CHARGES FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS. ENJOY!In stock items will be shipped within 48hrs of receiving payment, but are usually shipped within 24hrs of receiving payment. "

A little about Pretty Baby Bowtique: "My name is Summer. I am a stay at home mom. I have two wonderful kids. I have a beautiful little girl. I love to dress her up and put pretty pretties(what she calls hair clips) in her hair. I really enjoy making them and decided I would like to share them with all of you."

Tom & Lucy's Art Shoppe

2008-11-14T23:20:00.000-08:00

Tom & Lucy's Art Shoppe is a upscale handmade boutique in the Lehi/American Fork area. We've lined up over 50 vendors with items ranging from Home Decor, Baby Products, Jewelry, Christmas, Vinyl, Children's Toys, Twilight, Treats and more. It's coming up on Friday, November 21, 9:30-7:00 & Saturday 22, 9:30-5:00.

Also right now, we're hosting a giveaway on our blog that's got TWILIGHT fever, as the movie is opening the same day. So head on over to the blog to enter in for some fun items to take to the movie.

Thanks, and hope to see you at the Art Shoppe!
www.tomandlucysartshoppe.blogspot.com

Utah Etsy's Handmade Harvest 2008!!!

2008-11-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

The Utah Etsy team has put together a promotion to make your holiday dollar do double duty! First, here are some reasons people buy handmade:

Buy Handmade Video from Etsy on Vimeo.

Second, when you shop from the shops listed below you'll be making your holiday dollar stretch and reach out to Utah's Road Home Shelter! Click on any of the shop links below to find wonderful handmade items that share this season's spirit of giving thanks.

Bramble And Vine: Beautiful handcrafted items with a touch of nostalgia make heartfelt gifts or treasures for your own shelf! Be sure to visit BrambleandVine.etsy.com for more nostalgic items such as those listed below!

"This set of twelve 2.5 inch round gift tags is a little bit prim and a tiny bit proper all together in a pretty countdown of the gifts from "my true love" in the classic Christmas carol. Surrounding the colorful numbers are are snippets from a vintage 1800s book, naturally and artificially aged and distressed. The base of the tags is black, while the reverse has a blank creamy circle ready for your sentiments or greetings, all distressed to perfection. Extra long black hemp twine ties make it easy to attach the tags to your packages, jars, wreaths or baked goods! These tags are equally charming as paper Christmas ornaments, tie-on tags to keep track of beverages at a Holiday party, or place tags!"

This little spiral-bound book is approximately 4 inches square. It is comprised of 34 sheets (68 pages) of blank white cardstock. The covers feature a story from a vintage 1920s article called “Old Fashioned Telegraphs” with the accompanying illustration (firing of signal guns) on the front and a bit of text proclaiming that “There are many people living who can remember when there were no telegraphs such as we have them now.” The back cover describes “telegraphing by fire” including smoke signals. The covers have natural distressing and aging and have been additionally distressed with ink on the edges.This book is great for history enthusiasts, teachers, students, and nostalgics. The blank pages make it an ideal notebook, journal, scrapbook album or drawing book.

BonnysBeadedThings: 5% of all my sales for the month of November will go to the Handmade Harvest 2008 Charity Promotion. This charity will benefit Salt Lake City's Road Home Shelter. FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE!! You can find more of her eye catching, stylish jewelry in her shop.

MagpieandCake: 20% of proceeds from all Children's Wipeable Artist Smocks/Aprons sold between Oct. 25th - Nov 24th are being donated to Utah's Road Home Shelter in participation with Utah Etsy's Handmade Harvest 2008! !

Throughout the month we'll be showing even more goodies from our Handmade Harvest participants! Until then you can link here to find even more participating shops and items: Handmade Harvest

Preparing for the Handmade Harvest:

2008-10-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

As some of you may know UtahEtsy Team is launching their first ever "Handmade Harvest 2008." We are putting a call out to our team members to donate either in kind items or a portion of their shop proceeds to Utah's The Road Home Shelter. Please visit our Yahoo group for all of the important details and send in your promotion details via a convo to: GumballGrenade.

**Participating items should be tagged "Handmade Harvest" in conjunction with our official team tag "UtahEtsy Team"

Frightfully Last Minute Halloween Buys!

2008-10-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

UtahEtsy has some excellent frightful items available this Halloween season. Shop handmade and shop local this season!

For the ghouls by AliBugBowtique:

Who can resist these sweets that were scared up by Utah Etsy's DoubleDippedSweets:

And this wonderful Halloween Masquerade Card by the ever so crafty PinkPatrice:

And how cute are these spooky items from a new member DooHikeyBaby:

Thanks to all who submitted! Be sure to search Utah Etsy Team and Halloween to find more wonderful items by Utah Etsy Crafters and Artisans.

New Additions to the Utah Etsy Team!

2008-10-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

This is a quick post to welcome some new members to our team. Be sure to check out their shops and welcome them to the team!

Apostrophy		RhbDesigns
CandaceJean		MariahsCreations
TannerCustomCraft		Redfermata
Sugarbirds		IsabellsUmbrella

Scraps of Simplicity

2008-10-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

For More Information, check out ScrapsofSimplicity.blogspot.com

Oh Sweet Sadie

2008-09-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Oh Sweet Sadie will be in Draper on September 19th & 20th and at Daybreak in South Jordan on September 26th & 27th.

For more information on their events and how to become a vendor Oh Sweet Sadie FAQ

Utah Etsy is Growing!

2008-08-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome Utah Crafters! Utah Etsy would like to welcome the following new shops to our UtahEtsy team!

LiftedIndustries:

"I live in a silly little city, with my silly little husband, and make silly little things!" Swing into her shop for lovely cuffs, pins, and vintage items!

LevityinBrevity:

"Always reasonable prices. I have been told by people that I should think my time is worth more, but I LOVE doing this. I just need to support my fabric habit, somehow." She's currently having a back to school sale!

SachiDesigns:

"Netting is a centuries old art created by tying knots over a mesh stick. It is so old it’s origin is unknown and it is not credited to any one country of origin. Netted objects have been found in countries all over the world each with their own distinctive technique.

This charming old-world craft has been used to make all kinds of useful items from the ancient fishing nets to more modern hammocks and from Victorian women’s fashion accessories to doilies and shopping bags. Netted lace is strong and functional yet delicate looking and fancy at the same time.

Now in modern times netting is all but forgotten. There is very little information available and very few people who practice the art. I have attempted to bring this art form into a more modern and fashionable setting. All my designs are completely original."

KtkSilver:

"All of my jewelry is handmade with saw, torch, and hammer; each with it's own unique characteristics. Stones are set in handmade bezels crafted individually for each piece. I hope that you enjoy wearing my jewelry as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Coming soon...look for new WHOLESALE PACKAGES that will include handpicked selections of my most popular pieces at wholesale prices!"

Tagisa:

"Making things with my hands is something I enjoy. My mind is constantly stirring with ideas, but I don't have time to make it all!

I make earring, necklace, bracelet and ring frames. My entire life I have had an abundance of jewelry and no proper place for storage...that is where the idea was born!

Several years ago a lightbulb turned on and my first earring frame was thought up. It took about a year before I created one, then more time before I made some for sale. It really simplified organization of earrings and mornings!"

Check back soon for additional featured Utah crafters!

Some New UtahEtsy Members!

2008-07-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

This week we've had quite the additions to the team. Take a look at some of the wonderful product. Also, if your new to the team be sure that you are adding the tag of UtahEtsy to your items. This way we can find you and shop local first! Let's welcome the following shops to our team:
Featured from left to right:

KarinsStudiok - Jewelry! Necklaces, earrings and more!
MikkiFerrugiar - Prints, Original Artworks, ACEOs (some mature content) and some lovely Kanzashi accessories!
Beecreations - Adorable hair accessories!
SimplySeasona l - A shop featuring delicious seasonally themed confections!
Earcmra - Featuring delicious specialty caramels!
BabyDragonBoutique - Featuring adorable baby items!

Have You Used Alchemy?

2008-07-07T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today I was briefly browsing though ETSY's Alchemy feature. I was quite impressed with some of the requests I found there and couldn't help but think "Hey, isn't there someone in UtahEtsy who could do that." And then I found a listing that truly shouted out "Utah!" lol. Hope you get a kick out of it and maybe someone in our group can help this individual out with their Alchemy Request:

Silly ebay and its bidding. Don't you get irked when you're seconds away from an item and someone outbids you? Me too!

Hence why I'm looking for a Utah Temple Square Pressed Penny. I collect them and since I do not live in Utah, I'm hoping to find someone on here who might be able to get me one.

Note: Price is random. Any other Utah pressed pennies would be awesome too, but the Temple Square one I want most. Thanks everyone!

Have You Met our Latest Members?

2008-07-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

UtahEtsy would like to welcome the following shops to our team from left to right below : RuthiePearl, Petitepieces, WaveCloud, BethmosCreations, BugsnBees, and SilkwormFlorals.

Officers Discussion Taking Place Now!

2008-06-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

This is just a quick update to let you know that a discussion has been started up in yahoo groups about creating officers for UtahEtsy! Come and participate.

Thanks so much,

(gumballgrenade)

It's All About the Fourth of July!

2008-06-09T15:31:00.001-07:00

Our crafty UtahEtsy members have some fantastic finds for this Fourth of July holiday. You'll want to snatch them up quickly as the holiday is fast approaching! Amazing work UtahEtsy! Click on the picture or shop name to view more!

Featured from left to right:

BETSY and MEG americana Fine Art Print from Watercolor painting by lauri.etsy.com
Medium - Red, White and Blue Ring Bead crocheted on white sock - Girls Beaded Socks by BeadedSocks.etsy.com
Patriotic Red with Stars NO SLIP Hair Bow perfect for memorial day/4th of July by ALIBUGBOWTIQUE.etsy.com
Coffee Tea Cups Card Case by Colorfuldayz.etsy.com
Blossoms, Poppies and Starfish postcards (set of 4) by lauri.etsy.com
To the Rescue - Textured Explore-mat for Tummy Time Entertainment by TheFleeciestBaby.etsy.com

An Invitation: American Cancer Society Relay for Life

2008-04-06T08:14:00.001-07:00

UtahEtsy has received an invitation to participate as craft vendors as this years American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Murray Utah. You'll want to act fast on this invitation as the deadline is approaching quickly!

Here are the details:
American Cancer Societys Relay for Life is looking for crafters/artisians in the community to support our event by donating a gift basket of choice items for our charity auction or setting up a booth of items to be sold and then donate 20% of your nights proceeds to the event. Our Relay takes place on June 13th at 6:00pm at the West Jordan Ut, Veterans Memorial Park. We have many local supporters including favorite radio station 97.1 zht (donating $32,000 of publicity and on air for event) We are expecting a GREAT turn out! GREAT FOR YOU, GREAT FOR US! Please let me know if this interests you and I will get you more details.
You can email me at rileyandnorah@gmail.com, bonnielouvintage@gmail.com

Also, many many thanks to KristinaLaw, ColorfulDayz, and GumballGrenade for their donations to the UtahEtsy donation basket that went to support the Weber Morgan Children's Justice Center Charity Auction. They were extremely thankful for the beautiful items that were donated!

The BeehiveBazaar!

2008-03-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

http://beehivebazaar.blogspot.com/

Just wanted to let all of you wonderful UtahEtsy members know that there is a wonderful bazaar comming up in May! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other crafters, view what's happening in the crafting community, and to possibly sell your items! Visit their blog for more information on how you too can participate!

UtahEtsy Blue and Green

2008-02-13T18:08:00.000-08:00


Santa Fe Pendant from MyCabinCreations	Frogs on a Vase Bead from Ajjewelry

Lil Budget Book from BabyBeJeweled	Green Purse with Black Flowers from Aliana Designs

Green Salad Bowl from TR Pottery	Apple Blossom Note Cards from Sagewest

Super Star Scrapbook from Nycole	Jungle Elephant Onesie from Cuddlebaby

Sneaker Booties from Curious Workmanship	Scissors Label from StudioJK

UtahEtsy Valentines

2008-01-30T17:48:00.000-08:00

Shop UtahEtsy for your Valentine!
Below are a few of my favorites, to see more great items go to Etsy.com and search keyword "UtahEtsy".


Pink Handknit Scarf from CricketsCreations	Love Blossoms ~ Signed Fine Art Photograph from Lauri

Onesie and Tutu Set from AdrienneN	Wood decoration with vinyl decal lettering from ceejay77

Digitally Painted Mending Print from GumballGrenade	i heart you - coiled fabric basket from sparroworiginals

Pink Gerbera Daisy Hair Clip from qt4baby	Peek-a-boo Dress -Pink and Brown from RaeGun

Pink Spirals Stained Glass Necklace from BeckySharpDesigns	Shakespearean Decorative Tile from KarmelDesign

An Opportunity to Give Back!

2008-01-25T16:05:00.001-08:00

I'm sure many of you know from personal experience that the very act of giving is actually a gift to yourself. By this I mean that you receive far more than you ever expected when you volunteer and give back to your community. As a Social Service Worker here in Utah I feel that it is critical to give a voice to those who do not have one. If you volunteer, then UtahEtsy would love to hear about it . Let us know how members of UtahEtsy are giving back to their community!

AlternateBliss / GumballGrenade is working on giving back to the Utah community by donating items to local nonprofits. Currently she is putting together a UtahEtsy Basket for the Children's Justice Center 2008 Annual Fundraiser and silent auction. If you are interested in donating items and letting the local community know that UtahEtsy supports them, then convo/email AlternateBliss or GumballGrenade. Also, many thanks to ColorfulDayz for her donation!

Are you looking for a volunteer organization to join? If so you should send a convo/contact Alternatebliss. The Utah chapter of Altrusa International is having a bring a guest dinner and meeting this Monday (January 28th, 6 pm) and would love to have UtahEtsy members as her guests.

Also, did you know that our UtahEtsy member Bdezines is a supporter of "One World Everybody Eats". She let us know that, "They are a Community Kitchen in SLC that beleive in giving 'A hand up,not a hand out,' which means anyone can eat. The cafe will never turndown a hungry soul who can't pay and offers to trade their home grown organic food for some work in their gardens or in the kitchen washingdishes. They could use any of our homemade crafts for there "Country Craft'store and of course they could use any cash donations we might be ableto generate from sales from our stores. Their website is http://www.oneworldeverybodyeats.com/ . Check it out and letme know if any of you would be interested in helping out? Thanks so much! BarbBDezines"

**Featured above "Princess Parakeet" a limited edition print available from http://www.colorfuldayz.etsy.com/.

When Will I Get My First Sale?

2008-01-24T21:28:00.001-08:00

If your asking yourself this very question then you may want to look at these wonderful charts posted by etsy user LooseWireStudio. The links below will lead you to the discussion threads with charts. Enjoy!

How many days did it take for etsy sellers to make their first sale? From the date they first listed to the date of the sale. Post the number of DAYS here, once. I will chart the data and add to this graph:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/2075338032/

Other charts we've (loosewire and others) done together:
-Average Age of Etsians
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/1406464118/in/set-72157594525465692/
-Hearts to Sales Ratio
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/1466817470/in/set-72157594525465692/
-Number of Items in Shop
http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/1813654531/in/set-72157594525465692/

Oh Sweet Sadie!

2008-01-20T18:03:00.001-08:00

Are you looking for a craft show event to attend or be a part of this February! OhSweetSadie.com is having a Valentine/Easter event and has invited several local Etsy artisans to attend. If you'd like to participate or just come a show your support be sure to visit OhSweetSadie.com for details!

When and Where:
Friday, February 8th from 9:30 am- 8:00 pm and Saturday, February 9th from 9:30 am- 5:00 pm.
14658 Rock Canyon Circle in Herriman.

Our First Meet and Greet!

2008-01-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

UtahEtsy would like to thank everyone (yarnwyrkz, RaeGun, qt4baby, KarmelDesign, and GumballGrenade / alternatebliss and guests) who showed up to the first ever UtahEtsy meet and greet. We had a great time sharing our crafts and discussing our caft show experiences and advice. It was very encouraging to meet other Etsy artists in the state. Some topics we discussed were:
Setting up a website
Setting up a spring craft show
Listing Strategies - blog topic to come!
Photo Tips - blog topic to come!

Active discussions regarding setting up a website are taking place on our yahoo groups page. If your not a member yet be sure to join!

I also want to thank RaeGun for sharing her pics of our event!

Etsy and the New York Times

2007-12-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

Just in case you haven't read the article yet here is the link!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/magazine/16Crafts-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=magazine

RaeGun shares a bit about the Sugared Plum event!

2007-12-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

Be sure to swing by RaeGun's blog to find view some pic of a local holiday boutique event that was put on by Etsy member JotItDown! UtahEtsy wants to thank JotItDown for inviting members to participate. Thanks to RaeGun for sharing pics!

http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/

Meet and Greet!

2007-12-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

Face to face meeting is scheduled the Second saturday in Jan 2008.

Where: Salt Lake Roasting Company for hot chocolate or coffee.
www.roasting.com
THE SALT LAKE ROASTING CO.
320 E. 400 S.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
toll free 800.748.4887
local 801.363.7572

Plan to meet upstairs!

What to bring: Yourself, a few biz cards, and a little gift up to whatever value your comfortable parting with to exchange. Wrap it anonomously on the outside, but provide your shop information on the inside! So once it's opened your recipeint will know what shop it was from. **Gift exchage is completely voluntary and will happen at 11 am sharp! Hope you all come out!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5370411

Tag Your It! Tagging and Etsy!

2007-12-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

YarnWyrkz, a wonderful Utah Etsy member, suggested that we start tagging our items UtahEtsy. This is an excellent suggestion and will help our team to support one another and buy local or UTAH first!

YarnWyrkz says:
"That way we can appeal to the "shop local" campaign that seems to be so popular these days. I know that if I have a choice and I'm going to buy something anyway, I would just assume buy it from an etsyutah team member."

Wonderful suggestion, so when all of you members get a free minute be sure to update your tags or simply add the tag as you list!

YarnWyrks is also working on setting up a Yahoo group for our team as well. We'll keep you updated once the group gets started!

Holiday Items and Specials!

2007-12-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

First let me say how excited the team is to be up and running I'm adding new members to the team weekly. Be sure to keep an eye out for a link to your shop. We have such an amazing pool of artists here in Utah.

I sent a call out for holiday items and AjJewelry was quick to respond. Her shop features amazing handmade glass beads, full of fun and spunk! Be sure to drop by her shop and take a peek! Her holiday beads are currently 20% off!

http://www.ajjewelry.etsy.com

UtahEtsy Street Team Up and Running!

2007-11-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

The UtahEtsy Street Team is up and running. If your a member of Etsy and reside in Utah, then you need to join our team! This is the place to check for updates on what our team is doing. Check for local events, potential boutiques, craft fair announcements, as well as team meetings and events. Be sure check back often and if you'd like your shop added be sure to convo http://www.alternatebliss.etsy.com

Check back often as there are more announcements and updates to come.