Etsy Texas Crafters

♥ Love is (Still) in the Air! ♥

2010-02-22T00:13:00.006-06:00

With Valentine's Day on the 14th and the entire month being National Wedding Month, love is definitely in the air this month.

The ETC team was challenged to focus on all this love around them and create gifts and expressions of love.

We have a total of 25 entries this month submitted by 18 of our members, and the top 6 entries will be receiving prizes based on YOUR votes! So, please click HERE to see the amazing entries and vote for your favorite creation. And click HERE to join our Etsy forum thread supporting this project.

Voting will be open at 12:01am Monday, 2/22, and will close at midnight Wednesday, 2/24, with winners and their prizes being announced on Thursday. You may only select one entry, and only one vote may be cast per IP Address.

Thanks for supporting this project and all our team members who are participating by either entering or donating prizes for the winners!!!

Hot Shop of the Week!

2010-02-21T16:01:00.015-06:00

Congratulations to Liz from LavenderLizard -- she has been selected as our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and enjoy Liz's interview and a few of her lovely creations.

Who is LavenderLizard?
Hi, I’m Liz, wife to a yarn-tolerant husband, mother of four handsome sons, and as the only female in our house, I am hopelessly outnumbered (even our two cats are boys)! I live in San Antonio, but I’ve spent a fair amount of time in the Dallas area and Austin/Round Rock as well. The Lavender Lizard is my primary Etsy shop for eco-friendly crocheted items like market bags and kitchen and bath scrubbies. I opened it in the summer of 2007.

Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
My second Etsy shop is the Lavender Ladybug. I opened it in order to “clean up” my primary shop by moving my handmade embellishments there. Also I often list commercial craft items as well. A third shop is in the works (TaxiDermia), but as of yet, it remains empty. Stay tuned though…

Where else can you be found around the internet (blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc)?
I blog when I can manage to find some time. I usually blog about projects in the works and what’s going on with my boys. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook.

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
Right now I primarily crochet, although I also cross-stitch and embroider and have dabbled in other craft mediums as well. I learned how to crochet when I was about 7 or 8, so I have tons of experience! My favorite things to create are beautiful and useful items – scarves, market bags, scrubbies and towels. My head is full of design possibilities. The hardest thing is finding the time to make everything that I would like to.

Where do you find your inspiration?
Usually my inspiration comes from either a particular color or fiber or a need. For instance, I needed a quick gift about a month ago so within a couple of days, I made a soft and lightweight scarf in this person’s favorite color. It was a simple pattern and worked up quickly, and now it’s being enjoyed by the recipient who lives in Germany. Also, one of my goals this year is to have a pattern published, so in that regard, I’m now being inspired by the submission guidelines and design themes for one of my favorite crochet magazines.

What is your favorite medium?
My favorite medium?? Yarn, of course! I especially love natural fibers like cotton and bamboo.

Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
Etsy feels like a full-time job that pays like an internship, which is to say, not much. I have slowed down quite a bit on Etsy, because the time commitment is huge. I sure wish Etsy had been around before I had children (lol), but I am happy to have the access of an international marketplace! I have sold items to buyers around the world, and there’s nothing cooler than that!

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
I love the monthly Design Challenges. I usually think and think about what to create for the themes; sometimes I think too much and run out of time. I also must say that I like to create the team treasuries (55 and counting). I love the challenge of creating a cohesive look or theme from 12 shops, and it’s also a challenge to grab a treasury spot as well!.

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
Create what you love! If you’re not enjoying the process, then there’s something wrong.

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I’m going to be in a crafting book! (More details on that to come!) Oh, and I had typhoid fever. Twice.

Thank you, Liz, for such a wonderful interview! We love getting to know our team members better (especially members of our Leadership Team) and checking out their amazing creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to LavenderLizard or LavenderLadybug and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by midnight on Thursday, Feb 25th, and will post the next interview on Sunday, Feb 28th.

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.

>> Shops that have already been featured as Hot Shops will not be featured again unless the only members who post comments have all already been featured.

Team Spotlight Treasury

2010-02-15T20:00:00.001-06:00

Liz, of LavenderLizard, is our team Spotlight Treasury curator, and creates Treasuries on Etsy featuring members of the ETC team. She works through our membership list, choosing members alphabetically . . . eventually, everyone gets featured!

Members featured in this Treasury pictured above are: HandPaintedPetals, HappyBuddha, HaveArt, HeavenlySentiments, HelloPrints, HilaryD4790, HilJohn, hmd231975, hondamom, HopScotchAustin, HossLass, and HotDogCrafts.

Thanks, Liz, for creating such a wonderful Treasury for us (again!). Folks have until 1:29pm Wednesday, 2/17, (Eastern / Etsy time) to stop by this Treasury, click on each item and leave a comment, if possible. You need to be signed in for your clicks to count and to be able to leave a comment. If there is no more room for comments, please check back, because Liz will delete some comments in order to allow for more.

Hot Shop of the Week!

2010-02-07T07:30:00.012-06:00

Congratulations to Cathy from EDCCollective -- she has been selected as our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and enjoy Cathy's interview and a few of her lovely creations.

Who is EDCCollective?
I’m Cathy of EDCCollective. This shop started out as a collaboration between my Mom and me. Sadly, she passed away last November, so it is just me right now. My brother has expressed some interest in joining in, so stay tuned. At EDCCollective, you will find my original photographic art as prints, note cards and bookmarks. In addition, I handcraft jewelry (necklaces, earrings and gathering pins), feather pendants and hair accessories (many with a Native American feel) and wood home décor items (using recycled tree parts).

Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
My second shop, EclecticSkeptic, is home to my whimsical flying pig items. You will find earrings, necklaces, pins, keychains, zipper pulls, bookmarks and note cards.

Where else can you be found around the internet (blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc)?
I have a blog, Eclectic Design Choices - Designs for Your Life, that I try to post an article on weekly. I include features about custom projects, gardening tips, new products and more. I post photos to my Flickr page and have had a few accepted by CraftGawker. I have fleshed out my page on ETC’s ning site, and I have the beginnings of a web site.

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
I’m tempted to say that I create anything I put my mind to. (Did you get a hint of that when you read the variety of things that I have for sale at EDCCollective?) There are many more things that I would love to find the time to learn and do as well. My dad was a designer and my mom was artistic and crafty as well. I can’t remember ever not drawing, painting or crafting. (I still have a pile of artwork that my parents kept from when I was really young as well as a couple of my paintings from high school hanging in my house.)

Where do you find your inspiration?
I find that I am inspired by a challenge. I consider myself a problem solver. So if someone asks if I can make such and such, if it sounds interesting, I’m off to figure out how to do it. It is so rewarding to produce something for someone that fills their need and that they love. I am also inspired by the beauty found in nature.

What is your favorite medium?
I think right now, my favorite is my photographic art. I enjoy taking a good photo as well as taking an original photograph to the next level by manipulating it digitally. I really enjoyed drawing and painting in high school and this seems very similar to me. Of course, my favorite medium is subject to change, I also love pretty woods and turning out custom pieces of jewelry.

Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
Selling on Etsy is the most time consuming part time work I have ever had. In addition to crafting and selling on Etsy, I tutor math and science, and I’m a Garden Coach.

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
I enjoy the challenges the best. I don’t always come up with something to submit for some of the themes, but I always enjoy seeing what everyone comes up with. And, it was so exciting, I placed for the first time in the January challenge.

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
Have a good time with what you do. Pace yourself so that you don’t get burned out like so many skaters, swimmers, etc, that don’t have a life outside of their sport. Take time for your family and to stop and smell the roses, too.

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I graduated from college many years ago with a Bachelor of Science in Physics.

Thank you, Cathy, for such a wonderful interview! We love getting to know our team members better and checking out their amazing creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to EDCCollective or EclecticSkeptic and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by midnight on Wednesday, Feb 10th, and will post the next interview on Sunday, Feb 14th.

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.

Hot Shop of the Week!

2010-01-31T08:30:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Lindsey from Mint2Sew -- she has been selected as our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and enjoy Lindsey's interview and a few of her lovely creations.

Who is Mint2Sew?
Hi! I am Lindsey. I am 27 years old (this week!) and have been married for 3 years, no kids yet but hopefully soon. We have one puppy (80lb terror) who is plenty of trouble. I love to create pretty much anything, and crafting gets me giddy. :) When I am not crafting, I work part time, serve at my church, read, explore, and hang out with my husband and friends. My favorite colors are blue and green, but purple and turquoise are starting to creep up there. My favorite food is grilled cheese!

Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
I don't have any other shops on Etsy. I am relatively new to Etsy as of 2 months, but maybe one day.

Where else can you be found around the internet (blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc)?
Mint2Sew is on Twitter and Facebook. I also have a blog.

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
Growing up, I watched my mom sew for many years, but just in the last year and a half have I started sewing myself. I started by creating purses and bags and have expanded to baby items and accessories. I am starting to try my hand at clothes sewing and am actually working on a dress this week, so we'll see how that turns out!

Where do you find your inspiration?
I really like to make things that people can use everyday, that can make life simpler, but still be stylish, cute, and fun. I take from the everyday item and see how I can give it color or pattern. I really like funky prints.

What is your favorite medium?
Lately I have really been enjoying finding ways to use rick rack. I seem to recall it was a big thing back in the day (even before my day) and is now making a comeback in the crafting world. I have also just recently discovered elastic thread and am trying to find fun ways to use it!

Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
As of right now, Mint2Sew is just a side project, but one day I would like for crafting to be my full time job.

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
Right now, I love browsing the blog and getting to know more about everyone else in Etsy Texas Crafters. But I am also looking ahead at the Gift Swaps and excited to participate in one!

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
Gosh.... Well I wish someone had told me, "Don't let the excitement take over because once you start, you can't undo!" Sometimes I am excited to get moving on something before I have completely gathered everything I need, or I have already made a cutting mistake! :D I keep learning though!

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I secretly read PostSecret :)

Thank you, Lindsey, for such a great interview! We love getting to know our team members better, especially our newer ones, and checking out their wonderful creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to Mint2Sew and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by midnight on Wednesday, Feb 3rd, and will post the next interview on Sunday, Feb 7th.

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.

Another Team Treasury!

2010-01-30T13:39:00.004-06:00

More Pink & Red, as well as a Monkey and Some Cookies!

Liz, of LavenderLizard, is our team Spotlight Treasury curator, and creates Treasuries on Etsy featuring members of the ETC team. She works through our membership list, choosing members alphabetically . . . eventually, everyone gets featured!

Members featured in the Treasury pictured above are: GotchaCoveredQuilts, GrandmaMarilyns, GrandmaMarilynsToo, GreenEyezDesignz, GreerDesign, GrievousAngelDesigns, GrumblebeeDesigns, GypsyHarte, HalfStitched, HandmadeWhimzy, HardierLime, and HBeliveaux.

Thanks, Liz, for creating such a wonderful Treasury for us (again!). Folks have until 7:18am Sunday, 1/31, (Eastern / Etsy time) to stop by this Treasury, click on each item and leave a comment, if possible. You need to be signed in for your clicks to count and to be able to leave a comment. If there is no more room for comments, please check back, because Liz will delete some comments in order to allow for more.

Winners, Prizes, & Gifts!!!

2010-01-28T12:08:00.005-06:00

What a great day this is turning out to be!!!

Winter's Wonders 1st Place Winner
A Winter Wonderland FavorCake

First, the winners have been announced and ribbons awarded for our Winter's Wonders Design Challenge! To see the list of winners and their prizes, just click HERE.

Second, it's time to start signing up for February's Gift Swaps! This month's themes are Orange You Glad It's Almost Spring (all gifts must use orange as their primary color) and Baby Presents. Sign-ups must be posted no later than Monday, Feb 8th! (Gift Swaps are only open to ETC team members.)

Finally, after a month off, we are holding our First Monday Sales Event again in February! Look for more information on this event to be posted to our blog on Sunday night, Jan 31st.

New Team Spotlight Treasury

2010-01-28T02:38:00.006-06:00

Pink & Red, Hearts & Flowers....all from the Lone Star State!

Click on photo to go to Treasury

Liz, of LavenderLizard, is our team Spotlight Treasury curator, and creates Treasuries on Etsy featuring members of the ETC team. She works through our membership list, choosing members alphabetically....eventually, everyone gets featured!

Members featured in the Treasury pictured above are: Gabeadz, GabsBags, GailsCrafts, GemmaJoy, GinaPina, GingerBabies, GlassMouse13, GlassNWood, GlimmeringGems, GlitzGlitter, GoAgainstTheGrain, and GoatGoatSheep.

Thanks, Liz, for creating such a wonderful Treasury for us (again!), and I'm sorry for not getting this posted to our blog sooner. Folks have until 7:49pm tonight (Eastern / Etsy time) to check out this Treasury -- be sure to sign in and then click on each of the items and leave a comment!

Tuesday Tutorial - T-Shirt Scarves

2010-01-26T02:33:00.002-06:00

This week's tutorial comes to us from ThreadBanger.com, in which special guest Megan Nicolay, from Generation-T, demonstrates three ways to turn an old T-shirt into a stylish winter scarf with minimal or no sewing required.

Have a favorite online tutorial you'd like to share? Post the link in a comment and it could appear in a future ETC Tuesday Tutorial!

Winter's Wonders

2010-01-24T21:58:00.006-06:00

Time for another Design Challenge! Our members have been working on their entries for this Challenge for the past two months, and they were given the following questions to inspire their creations for this Challenge:

What makes Winter wondrous to you? Is it the holidays that occur during this time of year? Or perhaps the miracle of snow in Texas? How about it finally getting cold enough to wear those scarves, gloves, & hats you love so much? Maybe long hot baths with your favorite handmade soap or bubblebath, or slathering on your favorite handmade lotion or body butter to fight off Winter's drying effects on your skin? There are so many possibilities!!!

We have a total of 40 entries this month (woohoo!!!), and will be giving away at least 6 prizes! So, please click HERE to see the amazing entries and vote for your favorite creation. And click HERE to join our Etsy forum thread supporting this project.

Voting will be open at 12:01am Monday, 1/25, and will close at midnight Wednesday, 1/27, with winners and their prizes being announced on Thursday. You may only select one entry, and only one vote may be cast per IP Address.

Thanks for supporting this project and all our team members who are participating by either entering or donating prizes for the winners!!!

Hot Shop of the Week!

2009-12-20T07:00:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Julie from StitchesByJulie -- she has been selected as our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and enjoy Julie's interview and a few of her lovely creations.

Who is StitchesByJulie?
I am a mother to 3 great, grown-up kids and 2 adorable grandsons....my greatest blessings. I have 3 cats and 2 dogs, all of whom were rescued from the streets or shelters. I was married for 21 yrs. but am single now and own my own small business. I am one of 9 children, grew up in the midwest and now reside in Corpus Christi, Tx. I have been creating for more years than I can remember, since I was little! And I am proud to say that I am a Breast Cancer SURVIVOR....12 yrs. this March!!!

Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
I have my art store on Etsy....NatureInPastels. Most of my work is done in pastels and there's a couple of acrylic paintings.

Where else can you be found around the internet (blog, facebook, twitter, etc)?
I am on facebook, and I have my own site -- that's where I blog and post pics and promote my shop as well as others. If only I had more time, I could update it!

(Editorial note: Julie also has an Artfire shop)

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
I do so many things but my main interest is in knitting and crocheting. I make things from New Born to Adult, from head to toe. I usually will make something because I've seen a picture and love it, many times coming up with my own patterns. Right now I'm making some "opera gloves" for my youngest daughter, I saw a picture, and I can't wait to see how they turn out.

Where do you find your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from God, His beautiful creation that surrounds me and all of us and from within. Another group at etsy that I'm a member of had a blog and asked a number of artists why they create, and you wouldn't believe how similar most of the answers were...."Because they have to...it's something inside of them that just has to come out"....that's the within part.

What is your favorite medium?
'd have to say yarn, I love the look of it, the feel of it and working with it and taking a loooooong piece of something and making it into something....it's just an awesome feeling to see the finished product. I've told my kids, I wish they could take one of those things filled with balls that kids jump in, and fill it with yarn....all colors and textures...I would jump in with the biggest smile on my face and it would be like heaven on earth. Then of course I would bag it all up, take it home and get to work making stuff! I'm getting excited just thinking about it! :))

Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
It seems like a full-time job but actually I could not pay the bills if it was. I have another small business that I run from my home which I enjoy, but only because I have to pay the bills! If it were up to me, my Etsy stores would keep me busy and happy aaaaall daaaaaay looooong.

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
I really enjoyed participating in the gift swap! It was fun to receive a variety of little gifts that someone else made and sending out my handmade stuff to them. The Hot Shop is also a great idea, focus on one vendor and promote them. When you know a little bit about someone, you form a relationship with them, buying, selling, convoing, encouraging. It all helps and makes you feel connected.

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
Most artists will tell you, you gotta do what you love! You want to sell it, but if you don't, it's ok because you loved doing it. I've given many things away to charities because they didn't sell and that brings just as much joy, if not more! And it's using the talents God blessed you with, to better the world. You'd be surprised, those gestures come back as blessings to you too! Sometimes, even in sales.

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I really don't have to many secrets. "What you see is what you get" with me. And I don't mean that I just say what ever is on my mind without thought or care for others. I usually try to help someone to feel better about themselves, build them up and encourage them. With my kids, I tell them what I think they need to know and sometimes they don't "appreciate it', but it's not to hurt them, it's actually to help them. They won't see that sometimes until later. But as mothers, you never STOP being a mom.

Thank you, Julie, for such a wonderful interview! We love getting to know our team members better, especially our newer ones, and checking out their fabulous creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to StitchesByJulie or NatureInPastels and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by 6pm on Thursday, Jan 31st, and will post the next interview on Sunday, 1/3. Yes, we are skipping next week, in honor of Christmas -- plus this gives you twice as long to get your posts submitted!

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.

Friday Feature: Christmas Ornaments!

2009-12-18T16:16:00.005-06:00

One of the things I LOVE about Christmas is all the beautiful ornaments! I am one of four children, and my Mom kept every ornament we ever brought home from school. And we had a habit of buying new ornaments for her every year also, so we soon had way more ornaments then tree! That's when Mom began pulling some of the beloved handmade ornaments, as well as some of the purchased ones. Rather than throwing them out or putting them in a garage sale, she created boxes of ornaments for each of us, giving us back the ornaments we had given to her. This way, by the time each of us left home and had our own Christmas trees, we had a box of ornaments to put on those trees...ornaments that represented family and love. I still buy ornaments every year, and a few years ago, I began collecting antique Christmas ornaments as well. I probably have enough ornaments to decorate a dozen trees....but who's counting???

Anyway, there are some amazing ornaments available from our ETC folks, so this week's Friday Feature celebrates Christmas Ornaments....

Members featured, from top to bottom and left to right, are:
KelseysKorner, HossLass, CorkyCrafts, VixensNaturalJewelry, KatsCozyKrafts, FlutterBugCreations, LavenderLizard, SumpnSassyTassels, WhiteThistleDesigns, Inpatria, GoGoGirlz, LindaGJ, McCordWorks, SpiritMama, DuctTapeAndDenim, and ShadowsWolf.

Want to see more Christmas ornament listings by Texans & Texans-at-Heart? Just click HERE!

Have a favorite Christmas ornament, either one listed above or one that wasn't able to be included? Feel free to post a comment with a link to it!

Etsy Texas Crafters is in the Box!

2009-12-17T09:19:00.006-06:00

That was the headline posted yesterday by Ricki on the Handmade Guru blog, the blog started by Kim, the owner of The Little Black Boxes, where they review handmade items they stumble upon and love as well as features and interviews from several indie artists, designers and some wonderful vintage finds.

The above photo shows the contents of just one of the 100+ goodie bags I sent in for the December issue of The Little Black Boxes (in the top right corner of the photo is one of the packaged goodie bags), and as stated on the photo, no 2 of the goodie bags sent in were just alike! In fact, there were 10 bags that were very Christmas-y and included items primarily sent in during our team's Holiday Promo and Sample swap! It is one of these Christmas-y bags that Ricki opened and reviewed:

"One of my favorite things in this month’s TLBB was the goodie bag from Etsy Texas Crafters – it was like its own little sampler. I kept pulling out fun things from it, including stickers from Katie’s Scrap N Supplies and a note pad from Crown Bindery, both of which I immediately put to use. The store is on vacation at the moment, but when they are open, they have sell sample bags of items from their crafters. I am totally going to order one!"

What a WONDERFUL review! And CONGRATS to Katie’s Scrap N Supplies and Crown Bindery for being specifically mentioned in the review!

As I have mentioned in a couple notes....

1. If you receive a purchase and the buyer notes that they heard about you through "ETC and LBB" then you had a sample or coupon in these December goodie bags! I'd love to hear from you if this happens!!!

2. The January LBB is going to feature ONLY Bath & Body and Candle items. This is an EXCELLENT way to get your product into the hands of folks who LOVE handmade items! I have committed to sending in at least 20-25 ETC goodie bags for this LBB, so if you are interested in participating, PLEASE read this information and let me know what you will be sending in or if you have any questions.

3. We need more samples/promos for our own Taste of Texas samplers! Read HERE for more information, including a current inventory of samples & promos and suggestions for types of TofT samplers we'd like to be able to offer (you need to scroll down to the second post on this thread). This is an ongoing team project, so we ALWAYS need samples and promos...sometimes we just need them more desperately than others.

WOOHOO for awesome reviews of our team samplers and our team members!!!

Tuesday Tutorial - Fused Plastic...with a Twist!

2009-12-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

If you've been around Etsy very long, you've seen many items made from fused plastic bags, and possibly even seen this tutorial or this one on how to fuse plastic bags. We even featured a Fusion Bag tutorial on this blog not that long ago.

As you may have guessed, I am quite fascinated with fused plastic bags, but have never quite had the nerve to try it myself. WELL, I finally found a project that may help me overcome my fear!

How cool is this ornament?!?!?

Julie Finn of Crafting a Green World posted this tutorial for making ornaments using zip-top sandwich bags and some pretties, such as tissue paper left over from previous presents, glitter, very small bits of broken crayons, and very small scraps of fabric or felted wool. A little bit of melting magic, some cookie cutters for patterns, and you have some very easy, very inexpensive ornaments that look like they'd simply be a blast to make!

♥ What's New with Etsy Texas Crafters ♥

2009-12-14T09:01:00.007-06:00

Today is our day to introduce our newest team members and to show off our newest creations. We are welcoming 39 new members today, bringing our total membership to 841 shops! So, please join us, say "Howdy!", and check out our latest goodies! You're sure to have a great time!!!

And don't forget to join us tomorrow for a great new Tuesday Tutorial!

Hot Shop of the Week: CrazyForCollars!

2009-12-13T09:59:00.011-06:00

Congratulations to Suzanne from CrazyForCollars -- she has been selected as our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and enjoy Suzanne's interview and a few of her lovely creations.

Who is CrazyForCollars?
My name is Suzanne and I live in Abilene, TX. I actually grew up here, went to college locally, met my wonderful hubby of 33 years here, and raised 2 amazing children right here in Abilene.

Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
I actually have had 3 shops at once on Etsy, but when "Crazy" became the mainstay, I placed the other 2 on vacation. My other shops were venues for my other various crafts (Suzanne's Perfect Treasures) and for my vintage finds (A Joyful Find).

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
I create collars and apparel for pets--mainly dogs. I also have written several "how-to" tutorials for the items that I produce. I started making dog collars over 6 years ago, selling them locally at craft shows and in my "pet boutique" booth at a craft mall. I actually began making collars at that time because our family included 7 dogs (not all living at home with us, luckily). My daughter wanted matching collars from some ribbon she had seen. Well, the next thing you know, I'm making collars by the hundreds!

Where do you find your inspiration?
Every fabric I see can be an inspiration, ribbons too! The fabric's print must be something that will work on a small visible 3/4" area, so that can be a challenge. I love creating "holiday themed" collars, so I guess the yearly calendar could be considered one of my inspirations, as well.

What is your favorite medium?
I prefer a great quality quilter's cotton for my designs. Unfortunately, Abilene is "fabric store challenged", so I frequently visit quilt shops whenever we are in larger cities. I love grosgrain ribbon for my bows. My button bows have become my "trademark". They are time intensive, but customers seem to be drawn to them.

Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
Selling my pet related items is my "day job" now. I do help some in my husband's medical office, but as little as possible. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to make things that I love, share them with others, and make a little money at the same time.

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
I really enjoy the Design Challenges. I have only participated once, but I love seeing everyone's entries. I also love to participate in the various sales: First Monday, $5 Fifth Monday, etc.

"Summer Magic Pet Collar", Received 1st Place in ETC's July Summer Magic Design Challenge!

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
a. Make things that you love.
b. Set aside time where you can spend quality time doing your craft.
c. Never throw out anything that might be useful in a future craft! I know that sounds ridiculous but if you can, then save it, at least until your next garage sale!

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I had a facelift at age 40 (my husband did it)! Now at age 56, it is probably time for another....

Thank you, Suzanne, for such a great interview! We love getting to know our team members better and checking out their fabulous creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to CrazyForCollars and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by 6pm on Thursday, 12/17, and will post the next interview on Sunday, 12/20.

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.

Friday Feature: Snowmen!

2009-12-11T15:07:00.006-06:00

In honor of the recent snow in Texas, I decided Snowmen would be a wonderful topic for this week's Friday Feature. So, after searching Etsy for both "Snowman" and our team tag, TeamEtsyTx, and trying very hard not to include anyone from recent Features, here are the amazing snowy selections I have chosen for you...

Members featured, from top to bottom and left to right, are:
SassySoapsNSuch, TheArtfulFlamingo, CottonEyedJo, FabricArtist21, HumbleBeads, TCsTreasures, WiseImpressions, JL67, SumpnSassy, GigglesAndGlam, TCornell, Whimbrella, 2SleepyHeads, Yarnabees, KatiesScrapNSupplies, and AmyJosCreations.

Want to see more Snowmen listings by Texans & Texans-at-Heart? Just click HERE!

Have a favorite snowman, either one listed above or one that wasn't able to be included? Feel free to post a comment with a link to it!

Tuesday Tutorial on Thursday....

2009-12-10T10:14:00.006-06:00

Sorry about not having Tuesday's Tutorial up on time.....my family had a medical emergency and spent a couple days at the hospital. All is well now. Thanks to those who knew what was happening when it was happening and was praying for us -- those prayers were greatly appreciated!

I have a great Tutorial picked out for you today, another one to help you decorate for the holidays...a Ruffly Felt Wreath!

This project was designed by Kristen at Domestifluff, who was influenced by the Pillow With Rosette Clusters From Felt Furnishings article from The Storque - "Etsy's handmade blog". And Kristen says that if you use the How to Cut Felt Circles tutorial by Maya*Made, you should be able to cut the time working on this wreath in half....at least! Once all the circles are cut, the rest of it is a breeze. And YES, it can be worked in a variety of colors to suit the season, holiday, or your decor. Enjoy!!!

Last First Monday sale of 2009!

2009-12-06T23:01:00.003-06:00

That's right -- in just about an hour, the last First Monday sale of 2009 will begin. Remember, this is a one-day-only sale and will end at midnight tomorrow night.

We have 107 shops participating this month -- and with only 18 more shopping days until Christmas, now is the perfect time to buy those holiday presents still on your list. Get some great buys now on some wonderful handmade items, vintage treasures and crafting supplies!

Join us in the Etsy forums to learn more about this event, check out the participating shops, and just share in some holiday cheer!

Happy Monday, and Happy Shopping!!!

Hot Shop of the Week!

2009-12-06T08:59:00.021-06:00

Congratulations to Marilyn from GrandmaMarilyns -- after a bit of a hiatus, she is our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and enjoy Marilyn's interview and a few of her lovely creations.

Who is GrandmaMarilyns?
My name is Marilyn. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, bead artist, and bead designer. I live in a little town in the middle of nowhere in south Texas called Freer. We are the crossroads of Hwy 16, Hwy 44 and Hwy 59. If you go south on Hwy 16 from San Antonio, we are about 115 miles south. When I was first thinking of a business name, I was doing all sorts of crafts. After much thinking, I named my first business Grandma Marilyn's because when you think of lots of crafts, you think of a grandma and my grandchildren called me Grandma Marilyn.

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
Oh, I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. The first crafts that I can remember were making potholders with loops and loom and making long strings with a spool knitter made with a spool and nails. My mother tried to teach me various crafts but for some reason, I could not learn from her. Then when I went overseas in the 70's and had nothing to do, I bought some yarn, needles and a book and taught myself how to make granny squares. I tried knitting but found I didn't like it. I also upgraded my junior high sewing class and learned to make clothes for my son and myself at that time. In the 80's, I learned to make earrings with beads and wire and creating with plastic canvas. I lost track of my beading but continued to advance my crocheting skills. Beading came back to me in 2005 when I needed a way to earn some money. From there, I have gone into designing and selling beading patterns. I also learned to quilt from my mother-in-law but got burned out when someone asked me to make a queen sized quilt. My other crafts have gone by the wayside for the time being since beading came into my life. Will they return? We will have to wait and see.

Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere. I will see something and think I wonder if I can make that into something for beading. Originally, I would see a pattern that I fell in love with and think of ways to vary it (usually just the colors because I didn't think I had a creative bone in my body). Since then, I have let my creative muse loose and I can create beautiful jewelry and beading patterns.

What is your favorite medium?
I love to work with Delicas or Crystals and Japanese seed beads. I love the sparkle of the crystals and am trying to come up with some designs to use them.

Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
For me, it is a full time job along with selling in other venues since I live in the middle of nowhere and cannot find a job. I take my bead art and designing very seriously. I would love for it to become profitable at some point in time. Also, managing my GrandmaMarilyns (beadwork and jewelry), GrandmaMarilynsToo (bead patterns & destash), and AngeliquesCreations (all other crafts, such as crocheting) shops doesn’t leave me much time to do much else. LOL!

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
Admitting members and when I get the chance, talking with my friends on the forum.

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
Don't let people push you into a niche. If you don't like creating something, don't. Love what you do but make sure that when it is complete it looks like something you would want to buy. Take good pictures of your items so the buyer can get a good look at what you are selling. If you find yourself in a creative block, try something else and come back later.

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I was a semi-truck driver with my husband for 9 years. I sure do not miss that. LOL! Driving a big truck like that with a 54 foot trailer behind you can be very stressful. You never can tell what the vehicles around you are going to do, how the weather will affect your driving and whether you will be able to keep safe so that you won't harm your husband and puppies in the bunk. My biggest fears were that I would run over one of the vehicles where the driver was being stupid or laying over the truck and hurting or killing my husband and puppies. That kind of stress I don't need.

Thank you, Marilyn, for such a wonderful interview! We love getting to know our team members better and checking out their fabulous creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to any of Marilyn's shops -- GrandmaMarilyns (beadwork and jewelry), GrandmaMarilynsToo (bead patterns & destash), and AngeliquesCreations (all other crafts, such as crocheting) -- and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by noon on Thursday, 12/10, and will post the next interview on Sunday, 12/13.

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.

Two Friday Features!

2009-12-04T08:04:00.004-06:00

OK, so I forgot to post last Friday's Feature post.....and I had such a great one picked out, that I just had to save it! But I didn't want to just miss a week at this great time of year, so this week, we have TWO Features for you to enjoy!!!

In honor of Black Friday, here's last week's Friday Feature brought to you by the word BLACK:

Featured shops, from left-to-right and top-to-bottom, are OutOfTheBlue, IraisBloom, Craftiness, DakotasVintage, Jenni20, WhiteThistleBridal, GigglesAndGlam, DonnasDesigns, PinkLemonadeBags, Kimee, Steel, CraftyAngi, CaraBeads, UnkamenGifts, BlondieBeads, and TexasBeadz.

Want to see more Black listings by Texans & Texans-at-Heart? Just click HERE!

And now for this week's Friday Feature, this time brought to you by the words CANDY CANE:

Featured shops, from left-to-right and top-to-bottom, are KeepsMeInStitches, MyPocketfulOfPosies, KorkinKute, LucyMaeDesigns, PixieDustFineries, HandmadeWhimzy, GlassNWood, JLilyHandmade, PeculiarParchment, ClearlyTangled, DuctTapeAndDenim, MenagerieStudio, CarylsCreations, HopscotchAustin, TheYellowRoses, and BailliesBagsBaubles.

Want to see more Candy Cane listings by Texans & Texans-at-Heart? Just click HERE!

Please take a moment to post a comment and let us know your favorite Black and/or Candy Cane listing, either featured above or in either of the search links. And if there's a topic you'd really like to see for a Friday Feature this month, let us know that as well.

Happy Holidays from the ETC folks!

Christmas Project for Kids in Hospital

2009-12-03T22:33:00.003-06:00

Passing along a request from Brandy of BrandyInTheSky....

Many years ago I was in the hospital 2 Christmases in a row. When I was 10 & 11. I recall the wonderful presents and decorations people brought to my room to give me some Christmas cheer. It meant a lot, and still does. There was the mini tree, the handmade stocking, the teddy bears, handmade cards, etc.

With Christmas almost upon us and a loved one in the hospital now, I have remembered those times and wish to brighten up the rooms of children here who will be in the hospital on Christmas. We have several hospitals here, including Driscoll Children's Hospital. My hope is to make and receive donated handmade Christmas decorations, ornaments, etc. to take to the hospital (or hospitals, if I can) so that the children will have a pretty room and some of that Christmas cheer we all enjoy so much at home.

If you can help in any way, please contact me at brandyinthesky@me.com. I am looking for fairytale, storybook style decorations, but any donation is greatly appreciated.

Thank you and God Bless!

Happy 5th Monday!!!

2009-11-30T10:42:00.006-06:00

Sleigh bells ring, are ya listening?
On Cyber Monday the mice are clickin!
It's a beautiful sight,
You'll be happy tonight,
ETC's 5th Monday Sale!!!

Yes, today is one of those rare 5th Mondays in a month (how rare? well, there were only 4 this year & there will only be 4 next year as well).

To celebrate this special day, ETC has designated this to be $5 Monday.....on the fifth Monday of every month, we feature items in our shops that are only $5. This could be their regular price or a special 1-day-only sale price.

This month, we have more than 50 shops participating in this event, and the last time I checked, there were more than 750 items tagged with ETC5....yep, that's how you'll find these great deals, just search Etsy for *ALL* items with the tag ETC5.

Congratulations & Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2009-11-26T09:05:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to our November Gratitude Design Challenge Winner, CraftyAngi for her Thankful Wooden Scrapbook Album! As her prize, Angela will be receiving Freshwater Pearl Earrings, donated by ViolaAndJean.

The remaining places and their prizes are as follows:

2nd Place = Pink Flowering Trees by NatureInPastels
Prize = $25 gift card to her Etsy shop, donated by Spluloacle

3rd Place = Appreciating the Audience by Carapace
Prize = Soldered Charm Necklace, donated by WrightHandy

4th Place = Sharon by TheIDConnection
Prize = Sm Bandana & Visor Set + Surprise, donated by EarlyBird454

Thanks, again, to all who supported this month's project, especially our entrants and our generous prize donors!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!!

Tuesday Tutorial - Recycled Dimples Ornament

2009-11-24T07:00:00.001-06:00

Why did I choose this tutorial to share with you, you may be asking? Several reasons, actually. First and foremost, I LOVE the name! Second, I also LOVE Christmas ornaments! And finally, well, Angie Hall Haviland is one of our many talented members and expert tutorial-writers!!!

Now, take a good look at the photo of this project.....can you tell what the base of this ornament is? Do you know what a "dimple" is? I'll give you one hint...NO, it's not a lid! Give up???? Click HERE to find out and to read Angie's tutorial for these wonderfully creative ornaments. Be sure to add this one to your favorites, 'cuz you're gonna want to make a boat-load of these.....I know I do!!!

Thanks for tutorial, Angie!

Time to vote!!!

2009-11-23T00:57:00.005-06:00

It's the 4th Monday of the month, which means it's Design Challenge time again. This month's theme? GRATITUDE!!!

Click HERE to check out this month's entries and cast your vote. For those of you who have joined us in the past, voting is a bit different this time.... Since we only have four entries, we are asking folks to rank the entries in order from their Most Favorite to their Least Favorite. That's right... you get to cast a vote for all four entries!

Thank you to this month's entrants, Carapace, CraftyAngi, NatureInPastels, and TheIDConnection, as well as to this month's prize donors, ViolaAndJean, Spluloacle, WrightHandy, and EarlyBird454!

We also hope you'll take a few moments and join us in the Etsy forums and let us know what you are grateful for, how you express your gratitude, or simply what gratitude means to you.

Friday Feature: Harvest

2009-11-20T20:08:00.004-06:00

As promised, this week's Friday Feature is being brought to you by the word Harvest!

So, after searching Etsy for both "Harvest" and our team tag, TeamEtsyTx, and trying very hard not to include anyone from last week's feature, here are the wonderful harvest selections I have chosen for you...

Members featured, from top to bottom and left to right, are:
OnGossamerWings, BeadzNBling, TheGemNest, TheSilverAcorn, JL67, GlitzGlitter, TheOtherMagdalene, GrievousAngelDesigns, ThePigAndThePeacock, CharonelDesigns, CrazyForCollars, JackWabbitPrimitives, LadybugsDesigns, ButterflyKissForYou, YarnCoture, and TheHighPlainsKnitter.

Want to see more Harvest listings by Texans & Texans-at-Heart? Just click HERE!

If you'd like to suggest search words for future features, feel free to post them in the Comments for this post.

Friday Feature: Leaves!

2009-11-14T11:42:00.005-06:00

Sorry for being a bit late in posting this week's Friday Feature! This week, influenced by all the lovely leaves falling around town, I chose the word "Leaf" as our feature topic. So, after searching Etsy for both "Leaf" and our team tag, TeamEtsyTx, and trying very hard not to include anyone from last week's feature, here are the lovely leaf selections I chose for you...

Members featured, from top to bottom and left to right, are:
SpiritMamaVintage, IriasBloom, BradleyBeads, GemJunkie, BeauAndStella, OwlSay, RuthBl, EmmaAlisonDesigns, TexasCeramics, CDChilds, ArtByJC, Kanokwalee, TheMedicineWolf, BSchrag, KathyDKeith, and Carapace.

Want to see more Texas Leaves? Just click HERE for "Leaf" items and HERE for "Leaves" items!

Join us next Friday, when our feature word will be "Harvest"! If you'd like to suggest search words for future features, feel free to post them in the Comments for this post.

Tuesday Tutorial & More

2009-11-10T08:41:00.005-06:00

Today's tutorial is an upcycling project. What is upcycling, you ask? Upcycling simply means taking something that would normally be thrown away and creating something new with it. In this case, we are upcycling those plastic bags that we've all got an over-abundance of into really cool and re-usable tote bags. This particular tutorial is basically 3 tutorials in one:

1. fusing plastic bags
2. Making box corners
3. Making a fusion bag

The fusing tutorial is courtesy of Etsy Labs, and the other two are courtesy of Sew Take A Hike. When you have time, wander around both of these sites for even more wonderful tutorials!

Also, if you have not already done so, please stop by our What's New with ETC? thread to meet our newest members and check out our latest creations.

Lastly, since this month has 5 Mondays, we will be holding our $5 Monday event again this month. And yes, it falls on Cyber Monday, so don't forget to spend some of your holiday shopping time with us that day, taking advantage of our $5 listings!

Friday Feature: Pumpkins!

2009-11-06T15:29:00.009-06:00

Introducing a new addition to our blog: Friday Features! Each Friday, I will choose a word, like Pumpkin, and search Etsy for that word and our team tag, TeamEtsyTx. Then, I will select 16 of the search result items to feature here on our blog. If you'd like to suggest search words for next week's feature, feel free to post them in the Comments for this post.

Here's this week's Friday Features, brought to you by the word Pumpkin...

(click on picture for larger view)

Members featured, from top to bottom and left to right, are:
CottonEyedJo, ThePigAndThePeacock, TheHighPlainsKnitter, GigiGibson, SassySoapsNSuch, WiseImpressions, BadraBoutique, CharonelDesigns, 2MuchStuff2Day, CrazyForCollars, BeanStreetMarket, DesignsByCher, VickysCottageCrafts, MithrilDreams, LavenderLadybug, and Suezee2.

Want to see more Texas Pumpkins? Just click HERE!

It's time for our First Monday SALE!!!!

2009-11-02T03:42:00.003-06:00

Yep, that's right.....it's the first Monday of the month (who can believe it is already November???), which means it's time for another awesome day of sales and special offers in the ETC shop and participating member shops. With nearly 100 shops participating this month, you are bound to find lots of goodies and sales that you just can't resist! This is a perfect day to get some holiday shopping done!!! But don't daudle.....sale ends at midnight tonight, Monday, Nov 2nd. For a complete list of sales this month, just click HERE. Happy First Monday, and Happy Shopping!!!

October Design Challenge - Day of the Dead!

2009-10-31T19:00:00.002-05:00

Day of the Dead (or El Dia de los Muertos) is a holiday that focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

This month, the ETC team was challenged to create something befitting of the Day of the Dead. We had 15 entries this month, from 11 different members. To see all the amazing entries, just click HERE.

Thanks to some very generous members, we were able to provide some wonderful prizes to this month's top 4 finishers:

1st place & a Soldered Glass Pendant from Kym of KymVDesigns go to Anastasia of WildMoonDesign & her Dia de los Muertos Charm Necklace with Hand-painted Skulls entry...

2nd place & a Paperback Book Cover from Kelley of OwlSay go to Beth of BerryBlueCreations and her Vince Voodoo Doll Pincushion entry...

3rd place & a Skull Ornament from Shepherd of Alphabulous go to Ginger of GigisPurseCharms and her Skullkins entry...

4th place & a Set of 2 Luxury Washcloths from Laine of CradleAndAll goes to Carapace of Carapace and her Dance of the Bones entry...

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks again to all the prize donors for their generous support of this event! Thanks, too, to everyone who voted and helped spread the word about our Challenge by Tweeting, Blogging, Posting, etc -- together, you ALL make this a successful and FUN event every month!

Next month's Design Challenge theme will be Gratitude -- ETC folks, get busy on your entries!

Tuesday Tutorial - Pretty Little Flowers for Your Hair

2009-10-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

Connie, of ReFabulous, is sharing another wonderful tutorial with us, this time for pretty little fabric flowers for your hair! The original tutorial appeared on her blog...

We recently spent an afternoon crafting some lovely hair bobbies. These are so simple to make! The flowers can be used in many different ways, as well -- hair clips, brooches, pins, embellishments. . . .

We used reclaimed dress linings to make these -- I had plenty left over from my deconstruction for sachets, and I never knew what to do with this type of fabric before. It's a synthetic fabric, a silky polyester.

(CAUTION: please use extreme caution when using this tutorial, as a flame is used in this process. Do NOT allow children or pets near the flame, and do not allow children to play with the flame, burn themselves or anyone/anything else. I am not responsible for any accidents or injuries resulting from this free tutorial.)

To make these little hair bobbies (or clips, brooches, pins, etc.), you will need:

* synthetic fabric, such as polyester
* scissors
* candle and matches/lighter
* glass jar, filled with water
* clothes pin
* a piece of foil
* needle
* thread
* beads, buttons or other embellishments
* hair bobby, clip, pin blank, etc.
* strong adhesive, such as E6000

1. Cut out circles (or whatever shape you like) from the polyester that are slightly larger than your desired finished flower size. We used concentric circles for ours for a fuller, layered look. Be sure to cut a few extra, to allow for experimenting and mess-ups.

2. Light your candle, and place on a sturdy surface, away from flammables, pets and children. Place your jar of water within reach.

3. Using a clothes pin, hold one fabric circle over -- not in -- the flame of the candle.

You'll want to experiment with a few extra circles, as different fabrics will act uniquely when held near the flame. Some will curl in one direction, some turn colors, some crinkle. Holding them closer to the flame or longer will also achieve different results. Once you've achieved the look you want, set the circle aside on the foil to cool.

4. Repeat on all the fabric circles. Extinguish your candle when you are finished.

5. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: If you hold the fabric circle still for too long, or too close to the flame, it will scorch and/or catch on fire. If this happens, quickly and carefully place the burning fabric in the jar of water to extinguish the flame. Be very vigilant -- as some fabrics tend to ignite quicker than others!

6. Next, arrange and stack your fabric circles (petals) into flowers.

7. Using your needle and thread, sew a few stitches through all the layers of petals -- just a little "X" will do -- fastening all the petals together. Tie off thread in the back of the flower.

8. Now, attach your flower center. If you are using beads or buttons, stitch them in place, tying off the thread in the back of the flower. If you are using other embellishments, a strong adhesive (such as E6000) may be used to attach them to the flower.

9. Finally, attach your flower to a hair bobby, clip or pin back using your strong adhesive.

10. Set aside on the foil, and allow it to dry thoroughly, according to your adhesive's recommendation.

And that's it! So simple, and so pretty. The possibilities are endless -- imagine these flowers layered with ribbon, mesh, tulle, organza. . . or topped with an antique brooch or cameo! These would make sweet little gifts for teachers, co-workers and friends, or even lovely stocking stuffers. Have fun!

For lots more photos and a video illustrating how quickly these fabrics change and curl, please check out Connie's full tutorial on her blog.

Thanks again, Connie, for sharing another awesome project with us!

Tuesday Tutorial - Pretty Little Gift Pouch

2009-10-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

Angie, of AngieHallHaviland, has graciously allowed me to share her Pretty Little Gift Pouch tutorial with you. This wonderful tutorial was originally published on Paper Imagery Designs blog...

I saw an ad recently on a magazine for a new green magazine and there was a toilet tissue roll made into a gift pouch. I really really love to recycle, reuse, and repurpose everything I can. I wanted my Toilet tissue roll gift pouch to be reusable...what good is recycling if the person you give it to throws it right in the trash?? and of course I wanted it to be pretty :O)

The possibilities are endless for these Pretty Little Gift Pouches....For mine I used scraps and had a blast making it. They are a wonderful size...they will hold a necklace, charms, little goodies, a gift card or something everyone loves $. I'm thinking come Christmas time...add a ribbon for hanging and put them on the tree :)

So you will need.....
Toilet Tissue Roll
Paper and/or trim scraps
glue
hole punch
ribbon
misc. items (I even used a candy wrapper from my current favorite chocolates)
Image from Paper Imagery Designs
acrylic paint

I painted my tissue roll with an off white acrylic paint and let it dry. Then flattened my tissue roll and glued the bottom closed (put close pins on it to hold it closed while drying). I then glued on papers, pieces of foil candy wrapper, and this sweet little PID image....added a scrap of lace and a flower and button center. Then I punched holes in the top. I added the surprise gift to the inside and then strung a length of ribbon into the holes and tied a bow. That's it. FUN!!

Thanks again, Angie, for allowing me to re-post your tutorial!!!

Have a tutorial you'd like to recommend for our blog? E-mail the information (and link) to us at etsytx@gmail.com and you just might see it here!

What's New With ETC?

2009-10-12T11:01:00.009-05:00

Today is our day to introduce our newest team members and to show off our newest creations. We are welcoming 40 new members today, bringing our total membership to 773 shops! So, please join us, say "Howdy!", and check out our latest goodies! You're sure to have a great time!!!

And don't forget to join us tomorrow for a great new Tuesday Tutorial!

4th Quarter Group Gift Swap for Christmas Holidays!

2009-10-09T14:35:00.003-05:00

It's time to sign up for our final swap of the year! The 4th Quarter Group Gift swap for the Christmas/Holiday season!

This will be a group swap with about 5 people per group, depending on how many people sign up.

Deadline to sign up is Monday, October 19th!

For more information and to sign up, click HERE!

It's time for our First Monday SALE!!!!

2009-10-04T22:29:00.007-05:00

With 113 shops participating in this month's sales, there's bound to be something for everyone, at a price you can't resist! Click HERE for the full list of sales -- remember, sales and special offers good for Monday, 10/5, ONLY!

This Week's Hot Shop!

2009-08-11T20:43:00.005-05:00

Congratulations Rebekah from SunnyBrookFarmDesigns. She is our Hot Shop of the Week!

Sit back, grab a cup of tea and enjoy Rebekah's interview and her lovely items.

1. Who is SunnybrookFarmDesigns? My name is Rebekah, I live in the DFW area. I named my business after the children's book by Kate Douglas Wiggin - it's a charming old-fashioned story that embodies the sweetness of childhood which inspires the romantic look that I love creating in my designs.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? I've been sewing as a business for about 5 years, and before that I sewed, crocheted, and even cross-stitched as hobbies since childhood.I primarily design and sew boutique girls' clothing (mostly one-of-a-kinds) and occasionally I make hairflowers and other accessories (including things for grown-ups!) when the crafty mood strikes. You'll also see a vintage item in my shop now and then, as I love vintage treasures.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? The beautiful fabrics I work with, as well as looking through home decorating books and magazines (you'd be surprised how the colors and styles that look good in a room also come together well for clothing!)

4. What is your favorite medium? Fabric of course :)

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? My full-time job is being a wife, mother & homeschool teacher to our 2 girls. My business has allowed me to stay home with my kids while earning an on-the-side income.

6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team? So far, I've had the most fun with the monthly Design Challenge. Even if I don't have an entry for the month, I still like to go through everyone's entries to see the vast creativity out there! And then I vote, of course!

7. Any tips for other Artists? Do things you love. Don't try to make things that you have seen other people make just because they sell, for then your product looks forced or uninteresting (because it was uninteresting to you when you made it!) Instead, go for what you really enjoy, even if that means switching off between art forms occasionally to stay inspired.

8. Tell me a Secret about yourself. I love driving, and one day I'd love to have a cute little convertible, just to have the wind in my hair while I drive to the grocery store!

Thanks for sharing with us~

Do you want to be featured next week? Visit Rebecka's shop and post back here with your favorite item. I'll pick a new shop next week to feature.

Design Challenge Winners

2009-07-30T19:44:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to all the winners of our July Design Challenge.

1st Place goes to Suzanne of http://crazyforcollars.etsy.com/ for herSummer Magic Pet Collar; she will receive a pincushion from Connie ofhttp://refabulous.etsy.com/

2nd Place goes to Rena of http://spluloacle.etsy.com/ for herWatermelon Duct Tape Purse; she will receive a set of 3 Lip BalmCozies from Liz of http://lavenderlizard.etsy.com/

3rd Place goes to Connie of http://refabulous.etsy.com/ for her JuicyLittle Watermelon pincushion; she will receive a set of soaps and soapsock from Holly of http://edenessentials.etsy.com/

and because votes were so close between 3rd and 4th places, there'salso a 4th Place award this month....

4th Place goes to Laine of http://cradleandall.etsy.com/ for herEmbroidered Toddler T Shirt; she will receive a Li'l Taste of TexasSampler from the ETC Team shop

Ribbons have been posted to the Challenge page on our website http://etsytx.ning.com/page/july-design-challenge-summer. Check out the winners and the other great entries.

Featured ETC Member - Thistlecraft & Thistlestuff

2009-07-24T12:27:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to our Dear Milly of Thistlecraft.Etsy.com and Thistlestuff.Etsy.com ! She is our newest Featured Member.

Funny to call Milly a Featured Member as she is truly the Backbone of our team. She works tirelessly despite health concerns to further our team and our success. Her contributions to our team include, but definately are not limited to: founder and former leader of ETC. Member leadership team, participates in Monday ETC sales:1st Monday, ETC has secrets, what's new with ETC, & design challenges. Has links to the team shop as well as relevant etsy forums. Team shop manager. She also promotes the team tags and the team blog.

If you aren't familiar with her, read on!

"Real Life" Name: Melinda (Milly) Roland

Tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, affiliations, achievements/awards, and any personal stuff you want to share). I live in Gatesville...a small town about 40 miles southwest of Waco (everyone knows where Waco is, right?!?) that has been designated as the Spur Capital of Texas, due to having the largest spur collection in the world, but that is better known as the home of Texas' Death Row for Women. Oh, and we have one of the last fully operational, full-time drive-in theaters in Texas! My family moved here from Kentucky in 1975, and while I have lived in Minnesota, Connecticut, and New York, I found myself coming back home in 2002. I bought my very first home last August, so I'm thinking I'll be sticking around here for a while. Plus, my parents and younger brother live here as well. I also have an older brother who lives in Austin, and a twin sister who lives in Mesquite. I am single and have no children....unless you count Bubba, my kitty who adopted me last July at the very young age of 2 months. He is a wad of energy and has a personality unlike any other cat I have ever known. For more about Bubba, check out my blog at http://thistlecraft.blogspot.comI have been medically disabled since 1998 due to a couple of chronic illnesses that are very difficult to manage. And if things weren't complicated enough for me medically, I also contracted Lyme while living in CT in 2000...though was not correctly diagnosed until 2005-2006.

Are you an Etsy Buyer, Seller, or Both? Definitely Both! Wish I my number of sold items was as high as my number of purchases!!!

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it? I honestly don't remember the first thing I created -- I have always been creating, thanks mostly to my Mom and her love for creating things! For the longest time, if Mom knew how to make something, then so did I -- and if she didn't know, then neither did I. In college I began to branch out a bit, though not very much. But, then I moved to Rochester, MN, and discovered their Community Education program....I took as many craft classes as I possibly could, working with new media and learning new techniques. There are now several differences between what Mom knows how to do and what I know how to do. While we have both branched out and discovered new loves, we still enjoy creating together and showing each other our latest creations.

Why do you create? Because I can. And because I wouldn't be me if I couldn't.

What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from? My family inspires me -- we are all very creative, though each in their own way. Nature and my faith also inspire me. I'm not sure where some of my ideas come from....they just appear! I have a very active imagination, which feeds my creativity as well. I can see something and think, "You know, I bet I could make something with that." And I can hear things and think, "That would be a cool theme for something." I always have a notebook with me to jot down ideas!

What are your favorite materials? Currently, my favorite materials are yarn, paint, shrink plastic, and game pieces...those these are subject to change at any time!What is your favorite color?I love most colors and go through phases with my favorites, but if I could choose only one color as an all-time favorite, it would be red.

What are your two most and least favorite films? I LOVE movies!!! Two most favorite would have to be Phantom of the Opera and Pirates of the Caribbean....yeah, I know, two very different movies! Two least favorites? Poltergeist and The Waterboy -- I don't like horror movies or movies that try to disguise stupidity as comedy.

What are you reading right now? You: God's Brand-New Idea by Max Lucado, Jesus in Blue Jeans by Laurie Beth Jones, and Shameless Shortcuts edited by Fern Marshall Bradley and the Editors of Yankee Magazine

What is your favorite item you have purchased on Etsy?I can't name a favorite....I'll hurt someone's feelings! I LOVE all of my purchases and have had only a couple of bad experiences in my 3+ years buying on Etsy.

Any tips on selling handmade stuff? Do the most what you love the best -- make what gives YOU joy and fulfillment, and the sales will come. Also, you have to advertise -- folks simply won't buy from you if they don't know you exist! Selling isn't like Field of Dreams....you can't just make it and price it and expect customer to just come! You have to let them know about you and your creations. Advertising doesn't have to be expensive, but it does have to be effective. And only you will know what works best for you. And learn how to price your creations. Don't under-price yourself in order to make a sale. Keep track of what your materials cost and how long it takes you to make your creations. Value your work and your time, and your customers will also!

Apart from creating things, what do you do? Help manage the Etsy Texas Crafters team; teach arts and craft classes at my local Boys & Girls Club; help teach VBS, GAs, etc at my church; go "treasure hunting" with my Mom at garage sales, estate sales, and thrift/resale shops; and watch movies! Oh, and spend way toooooooo much time in doctors' offices!!!

Thanks so much for letting us get to know you better Milly~

Want to be a Featured Member for Etsy Texas Crafters? Go HERE and fill out the application link on the bottom of the page.

This Week's Hot Shop!

2009-07-23T09:09:00.006-05:00

Congratulations to Kim DuBois of Bellavioletta. She is our Hot Shop of the Week!

You'll love the things you'll find in her shop. She has such unique embellishments and ACEOs. Read her interview and take a look in her shop. You'll love it and her!

1. who is bellavioletta? My name is kim dubois and i live in whitney texas. my friends and family call me kimmy. i am very lucky to live on one of texas's wonderful lakes. i have done many things to make a living. owned a salon for many years that specialized in natural manicures , pedicures, facials, massage and sugaring. i have worked doing manicures and pedicures in the film industry. i drove a truck with my husband all over the USA. i have always been an artist underneath it all. i am at a good point in my life where i can let the artist out and go arting all day long.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? What do you create----------i love to upcycle as much as possible. reuse what i can from what i have or find. thrift stores are such an inspiration. i have a series of aceos on etsy right now that are inspired by a day of thrifting. i recently accrued a box of old reject stamps from an office supply store at a good will and i am working them in with some ephemera for doe does, peace signs and other small hand cut embellishments. so back to what do i create--i make art out of anything. i quilt using upcycled and new fabrics. i paint on just about anything. i do hand embroidery and needle point on scraps of fabric that i make into hand bags and journal covers. i love making embellishments. i love fabric-glue-paper-glitter-ephemera-paint-and-high gloss varnish. i really cant remember not creating things. i don't think there was an beginning to my arting its just something i have always done.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? my inspiration-----------dreams--daydreams and R.E.M sleep dreams. when i start a project i have to see it work step by step in my head. the finished piece has to be worked out there 1st. I could be working on a painting, journal cover, or doe doe bird its all got to be visualized before i start it. when i get stuck on the "how to" it often comes to me in a dream, ta da the solution. i like to surround my self with interesting art supplies. i am a magpie of sorts, you never know when you will find a use for something hoarded. i collect paper, fabric, glitter, stamps, inks and paint. i would buy glue over food if given the choice. i really do live my art. etsy is a nice place to let some of my creations fly free.

4. What is your favorite medium? its hard to pick a favorite. the 1st things to come to mind are prisma colored pencils. i haven't used them for a while and i guess I'm feeling the need to draw. In truth i embrace many mediums. fabric, paper, paint,glue and thread the list goes on and on.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? because i am disabled my art and online marketplaces like ETSY are my full time job. i am not able to leave the house often and art really has saved my life. ART saves lives.At bellavioletta.etsy.com i want to spread art to others by reusing the everyday and making it beautiful.i want to make art that inspires you to creatively interact with it. i want you do feel a spark of inspiration when you buy a doe doe or other item from my shop. i want you to let YOUR imagination fly with my art.

6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team? the swaps and the monthly thread. i enjoy sending promo packs to my customers full of my teammates samples and cards and coupons. i have gotten wonderful feedback from them about all the Texas promos. the monthly threads are interesting and its a great way to keep in touch with the team members.

7. Any tips for other Artists? Stay true to your art. take the best pictures you can.

8. Tell me a Secret about yourself. I do not have a tv or a cell phone. its my form of freedom.

Thanks "Kimmy" for your wonderful answers and art! I love how you say you "would buy glue over food if given the choice" . What a wonderful answer!

If you would like to be featured next, please take a look in BellaVioletta and post back here with your favorite item. I'll pick a new shop to feature next week!

One to One Gift Swap Time!

2009-07-11T00:16:00.001-05:00

It's time for the 3rd Quarter One to One Gift Swap! It's like christmas only earlier!

The sign-up thread for our One-to-One Gift Swap for the 3rd Quarter, 2009 is HERE.

There is no theme for this swap, so just try to create something you think your partner would like.

Here is the schedule for this Swap:

Sign-Up Deadline = Mon, July 20th

Profiles must be received no later than Wed, July 22nd (use this template)

Swap Partners Assigned & Notified by Fri, July 24th

Swap Items should be mailed no later than Monday, August 10th.

Please refer to this forum thread for rules and guidelines of our Gift Swaps.

**Please note that delivery confirmation must be used when mailing swap gifts unless otherwise specified - see rules for more info.**

It is easy to sign up and so fun to participate~ Lets make this the biggest ever!

This Week's Hot Shop!

2009-07-10T07:29:00.010-05:00

Congratulations to Linda of LindaGJ.Etsy.com, our newest Hot Shop.

I am so pleased to post about Linda as she has been a friend since I started Etsy. She has always been kind and helpful and works tirelessly to promote others above herself.

She has the cutest artwork and sculptures in her shop. If you participate in the gift swaps you have been lucky enough to have received some of her goodies.

I am happy to post her interview so you can get to know her as I have.

1. Who is LindaGJ? LindaGJ is one of God's children. :) I have to say that because with life's trials & tribulations you realize, as you grow older, that it's all up to God. I live in Houston which is my hometown, yet I've lived all over the place and traveled a lot only to bring me back to where my life began! I also live with my precious kitty, Kenzie. I have had a quite an adventurous life along with many tragedies which makes me who I am today. A survivor with lots of fabulous memories!

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? I've been doing art my whole life. When I was 4 the art teacher told my mom I had the talent. I've done all kinds of things, but mixed media is my favorite I guess because I've done a variety of all kinds of art related jobs such as working in the art department of many very special events, commercials, costumes touring around the world with music celebrities, and also have worked in the costume department in theater when I lived in NYC. I learned how to do so much, mostly when I was out of college when I was an art major & I went to the High School for the Performing & Visual Arts as an art major. I was there when it just began and there were only 400 people in the entire school and it was located in an old synagogue. Now they have a different building. I also used to be a natural ballet and tap dancer! So I am obsessed with dance and theater as well. Growing up with successful musicians gave me a great understanding & appreciation of all kinds of music as well.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? Obviously at one time it was my cat Peanut who lived to be 20 years old. She was such a cartoon character and in each image you see of her, she has done that pose. Each picture has a story to it and those kitty paintings are taken from a couple of books I wrote about her for fun when I was a teacher of art to little kids up to mid school. My creatures are taken from learning how to do paper mache when I worked on a Haunted House. Of course I made a Peanut first. I was really into angels so I made angels, my fish are from a commission & then everybody wanted one. My flying mobile mermaids come from a dream I had about Heaven. If I go on a trip, sometimes I will be so inspired to do a painting, as well as theater groups I've worked for. Especially the Brazilians at The Joseph Papp theater's Latino Fest and then at the Delacore in Central Park. With their costumes and poses they allowed me to take pictures of them and I'd paint pics of the entire group. None are displayed here on Etsy though. I'm leaving out a lot, btw, but trying to make it short! I think in a childlike way and also love fantasy and whimsical. Mainly something that will put a smile on people's faces. I'm just inspired by what makes me feel good mostly. When I see people looking at my items I watch for that smile and it never fails...the "smile". That's my joy mostly and seeing little young ones laugh, especially at my fish and when they read my books. If I can get a smile, that's my main goal. You can see my Visual Smiles Gallery Flickr page HERE. I love to promote people's art work so much as well. That is a passion of mine. I also am a collector of art work from the living!

4. What is your favorite medium? Being kind of a jack of all trades, never interested in one thing, my major in college was watercolor, so then it was watercolor...my style keeps changing from realistic to now, which is very cartoony like...I'd have to say I love mixed media. Since my work is getting very difficult to make,(I have a severe case of fibromyalgia which gets worse daily & through other health related issues, I'm on disability) I have decided to start to make art collages with the skills I've learned. I have completed one which will be on sale once I make at least 8 of them. I want to only sell originals and keep the prices down. I'm working on a mermaid piece right now, and have many other ideas. If you want to take a peak at my 1st collage art there are 3 pics of it and some detailed writing on it, check out my blog! I'd love for y'all to follow my blog and I'd love to follow y'alls as well!!!

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? Etsy saved my life or well being. I never could have imagined I'd end up with a crippling disease , a prisoner in my own body. A friend told me about Etsy because she buys stuff here on Etsy all the time. So I tried it out and never looked back. I eventually joined ETC and through that we started a Houston mini team! I'm having a blast too! Etsy gave me a goal, new friends, inspiration, & fascinating artisans to admire. I've become friends with a lot of them & also have learned so much from everybody, even though I may not do their medium, it gives me an appreciation of all kinds of mediums I never even knew about! I love sharing booths with my fellow ETC Houston members as well as Houston artists that aren't ETC members. Except in this heat in the summer.

Editor's Note: ETC (of which ETC-Houston is a mini-team) and the Artisans of Houston are two separate teams on Etsy. While the Artisans of Houston began with some of the ETC-Houston folks, they decided to create a team separate from ETC. It is this team, the Artisans of Houston, to which Linda refers above, not ETC-Houston.

6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team? Oh I love doing the swaps!!! I can't wait to get my swap package in the mail! I also enjoyed doing the one on one gift swap. I also adore seeing the ETC member's talent and have met so many awesome people along with their talents! It feels great being a part of a team. Everyone is so friendly and so very talented. Makes me proud to be a Texan!

7. Any tips for other Artists? Don't ever give up. If art is your passion, have fun, don't think of it as a business. Create from your heart. Don't worry about the slow times and not selling, times are rough now.

8. Tell me a Secret about yourself. OK, this sounds so silly & really kooky, but since I'm into spirituality, I learned that to surround yourself with a Gold Aura by simply saying it, it will protect you, so I have this little Yoda doll standing on my car dashboard. Before I start to drive, I put my finger on the top of his head and repeat "Gold Aura" 3 times. That is my code prayer and God knows what I'm talking about! :)

Thank you, Linda, for such a candid and open interview! We love getting to know everything about each other!

If you would like to be featured next, simply go to Linda's shop and pick out your favorite item. Post back here about it. I'll randomly pick a new Hot Shop next week.

NOTE: Everyone is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop.

*(there will be a slight delay in choosing and posting a new shop next week as I'll be on vacation, but it will happen, so visit Linda's shop and post!)

New Spotlight Treasury

2009-07-09T14:06:00.003-05:00

Liz has outdone herself again curating a wonderful treasury to highlight Etsy Texas Crafters members.

Most of us find it challenging to get a treasury spot, much less do such a good job putting it together, but she manages to do it all for our members! Thanks Liz!

Be sure to click and coment to show our support of each other.

Featured ETC Member -AWPhotography !

2009-07-08T08:32:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to Annette of AWPhotography.etsy.com. She is our newest Featured Member.

As a part of the Etsy Texas Crafters Team, Annette has been active in all Monday events. She uses her shop announcements to promote these events and as well as links to the group shop and activities . The items in her shop are tagged Teametsytx and she lets people know just how to use the tags to find the work of fellow members. Annette also participates in group promos and swaps (both team and gift) which we all love!

In her shop Annette offers beautiful Fine Art Prints from her original photography. She also offers these same photos in notecard form, too! I have long admired Annettes photography, especially those she has of Italy (someplace I dream of going one day). I can just stare into her photo and imagine I'm there!

Take a look in her shop HERE as well as her flickr account HERE to see her beautiful work.

Read on to find out more about her.

Tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, affiliations, achievements/awards, and any personal stuff you want to share). I live in the Heights in Houston with my husband and our new baby girl (2 months old). I usually work full time as an accountant, although I am currently on maternity leave. We have been back in Houston about a year and a half after living in Hong Kong for two years.

Are you an Etsy Buyer, Seller, or Both? I am both a buyer and a seller. I love to shop on Etsy!

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it? As a child, I loved to draw and paint. I would spend hours making colorful images of nature - sunsets, mountains, flowers and trees were my favorite subjects as I recall. Other than that, the first thing I remember making are clothes for my dolls when I was about 8. My mother helped me use the sewing machine to make some very basic dresses. My mother also taught me to crochet and knit around the same time - we still like to spend time together while we are working on various projects.

Why do you create? I create because it is what I genuinely enjoy doing. I like to create things that reflect and capture the beauty of the world, primarily through photography. I also like to sew, crochet and knit things that I can wear or use so that I feel that I am more connected to my surroundings and to enjoy things that are not mass produced.

What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from? I am inspired by pretty much everything around me. I find myself always getting ideas and inspiration from my experiences on a daily basis.

What are your favorite materials?My cameras are my favorite creative outlet, which are not quite a material. I also like to work with digital images to create art. In addition, I love to work with fabric and bamboo yarn.

What is your favorite color? Dark blues and greens.

What are your two most and least favorite films? 2 most favorite: The Lost Boys and all the Harry Potter movies2 least favorite: Edward Scissorhands and Titanic (it was just so long!!)

What are you reading right now? Four Blind Mice by James Patterson (when I want to relax and not think too much)Montessori from the Start (from my mother, the Montessori school teacher)

What is your favorite item you have purchased on Etsy? It is hard to choose a favorite item because they have all been great. The item that I use the most these days is my pyramid pin cushion from SweetWolf.

Any tips on selling handmade stuff? The only tip I can think of is to create things that you really love and enjoy. This will ensure that you are happy and there is a good chance other people will like it as well.

Apart from creating things, what do you do? My favorite thing to do, other than spending time with my daughter, is to travel. My husband and I find that we start to go a little stir crazy if we have not gone somewhere for about 6 months.

Thank you Annette for your lovely work and for sharing your pictures with us.

Want to be a Featured Member for Etsy Texas Crafters? Go HERE and fill out the application link on the bottom of the page.

This Week's Hot Shop!

2009-06-29T00:00:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Ruth of Rhradcliffedesigns.etsy.com. She is the winner of this weeks' Hot shop~

I have always been a fan. She is an amazing artist. Take a look in her shop and you'll agree.

Here is her interview. Lets get to know her better~

1. Who is rhradcliffedesigns? Rhradcliffedesigns is the alter ego of ruth hill radcliffe. (as well as elephantdreams and earwingsandthings ). Its been my umbrella for the past 20 years covering all the art and life I live.

2) What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? Wow, let's see. I've been making and living art since I was in elementary school. I love painting (both art wise and walls), drawing and photography. I also love learning new mediums and have flirted with mosaics, weaving, fiber work and jewelry. I am dying to learn to knit.

3) Where do you pull your inspiration from? Not to sound too trite, but the world around me. I'm drawn to bright colors, patterns and textures.

4) What is your favorite medium? This is a tough one to answer. But I would have to say there is a tie between photography and painting. Photos provide a jumping off point for just about everything I do, and painting is an off shoot of what I see behind the lens.

5) Is etsy your full time job, or just a side project? I would love to say it was my full time job and it does take up much of my time, but I would also have to say its just an expression of who I am and the inspiration to keep working even when financial times are tough. It's nice to say "oh I have an ETC challenge" and have it produce a different and unique piece of art. Etsy is also my social network at the moment.

6)What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas craft Team? I love the swaps both promo and gift. I also like the sharing during Monday sales events.

7) Any tips for other Artists? Inspire yourself. See what you do as the jumping off point, not unlike working in a series and letting one thing flow into something else. Its amazing how far you can take one idea.

8)Tell me a secret about yourself. Well, if I told it wouldn't be a secret. But I'd say it would be the fact I'm a died in the wool introvert. This doesn't come across on the internet since you're behind a screen.

Thanks Ruth for sharing about yourself and your art.

Want to become next week's Hot Shop? Take a look in Ruth's shop, rhradcliffedesigns.etsy.com and post back here with your favorite item. You'll be entered in next week's drawing!

Fifth Monday $5.00 Monday Sale!~

2009-06-28T16:41:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow Marks our First $5.oo Monday Sale and we are very excited! Over 60 shops signed up to participate.

Do you know what this means? It means you can get Super Deals in these shops! All of these shops have special items for just $5.00!

Take a look and you can find things from beads to bracelets, pillows to purses, collars to cozies, soap to supplies, rings to ribbon holders and tons more.

Search etsy for Etc5 and find wonderful things or just click this link:

http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&search_query=etc5&order=date_desc&ship_to=&page=1

Come join us for the fun~ and find some beautiful items at great prices starting tonite and ending Monday, midnight.

New Spotlight Treasury

2009-06-25T14:32:00.004-05:00

Another Lonestary Spotlight Treasury is up and running. Be sure to comment and click on each item to get the treasury moved up on the list and seen by more etsians.

You never know who will be featured next, it could be you! So let's support our team.

(I've seen bns treasuries fill up with comments the first day! Lets try to beat them as the best Team out there!)

Featured ETC Member - HandmadeWhimsy!

2009-06-24T00:03:00.002-05:00

In honor of all she does to support and promote Etsy Texas Crafters Team, we congratulate Tricia of HandmadeWhimzy as our featured ETC member!

Tricia of handmadewhimzy has contributed and participated in ETC behind and in front of the team's activities. In addition to being coordinator of the 1st Monday ETC sale she is the team gift swap coordinator. She also actively promotes ETC with team shop tags, in etsy forums, steering customers towards our newsletter and letting them know how to subscribe to it . Tricia participates in both our team's promo and gift swaps. She supports Monday team activities. These are only some of her contributions and we are glad to have her as featured member. Many thanks to Tricia.

Read her interview to find out more about her.

Tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, affiliations, achievements/awards, and any personal stuff you want to share). I live in Tyler, Texas with my hubby and son. Professionally, I'm a nurse (RN, BSN). One day I hope to go back to college for my Master's and to become a Nurse Practitioner. However, I haven't worked in nursing for about 9 years, since my son was 1. I recently worked for 3 years at a local nonprofit in their medication assistance program. I am currently being a SAHM and artist/crafter.

Are you an Etsy Buyer, Seller, or Both? I'm a buyer and a seller! You can find almost anything on etsy!

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?Outside of school crafts (I still have the plaster handprint we made in 1st grade!), the first thing I remember making was doll clothes. I think my mother gave me some scraps to make them with. I'm sure I hand sewed them. I do remember getting a small sewing machine from S&H Green Stamps that I was really excited about but it didn't go in reverse so there was no way to "finish" a seam. I was very disappointed. I think I was about 8

Why do you create? Because it's fun! And I want to get all these ideas out of my head!

What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from? Everywhere. Usually I just start putting things together, like beads, and moving them around until I get an idea of what to do. Some are inspired by nature or color combinations I see different places.

What are your favorite materials? I love beads, fabric, paper, ribbon, wood, and paint.

What is your favorite color? Turquoise/aqua, tiffany blue.

What are your two most and least favorite films? 2 Most Favorite: Love Actually, Pride and Prejudice 2 Least Favorite: I don't like "guy" movies with all the shooting and exploding. I don't know the names of them because I don't watch them.

What are you reading right now?A book by Sophie Kinsella (an English writer) - it's one in the Shopaholic series - which I was reading LONG before the movie.

What is your favorite item you have purchased on Etsy? HMMMmmmm! I've liked everything I've purchased on etsy. I can't pick just one.

Any tips on selling handmade stuff?1. Always be upbeat at Arts and Crafts shows even if sales are slow. 2. Never smoke in your booth even if you're outdoors (my personal pet peeve!) 3. It takes time to build an online business, don't expect it to happen overnight. 4. Always be willing to try new things.

Apart from creating things, what do you do? Laundry!! LOL I also like to read, do yoga, take walks with my family, eat sweets (my downfall), help out at my son's school, and swim.

To visit Her blog Tricia's blog Tricia is going to have a featured sale: 20%off total purchase in HandmadeWhimzy.etsy.com and PinkPearDesigns.etsy.com. Please put "ETC Featured" in notes to seller at time of purchase to receive the discount. Can not be combined with any other ETC promos

This Week's Hot Shop

2009-06-22T06:49:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to GoAgainstTheGrain, our Hot Shop for this week.

She creates lovely graphic designs and offers anything from Wedding invitations and seating charts to custom business cards and business logos with a few fun cupcake flags and banners thrown in. Here is a sampling of her shop and questions she was so kind to answer. Lets get to know her~

1. Who is GoAgainstTheGrain? My name is Laurel, I just turned 27 and I live in Tomball, Tx with my hubby of 9 months and our 2 boxer pups.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? I like to try lots of different things but my main craft is graphic design. I got my BA in communications and an MA in graphic design. I've always been drawn to using the computer for crafting.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? As lame as it sounds... from everywhere. I think the best part is when something you wouldn't expect to inspire you does! I read a lot of magazines and blogs and pull ideas from there.

4. What is your favorite medium? Graphic Design.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? It is a side project. I am the Creative Director for a magazine for a national trade association. I started my etsy shop while planning my wedding.

6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team? I love the different Monday challenges that go on. Even if I don't always participate in the challenge itself I love looking at the work of other team members.

7. Any tips for other Artists? Have fun! Also don't get discouraged. Like anything there are slow times and busy times.

8. Tell me a Secret about yourself. My thumbs are double jointed!

You can see more of Laurel's work on her blog as well as find out about a fun giveaway she is hosting on her blog, http://www.agoodbuild.wordpress.com/.

Want to be featured next? Go to and check out her shop GoAgainstTheGrain.Etsy.com. Post back here with your favorite item of hers. Friday I'll pick a new team member to feature.

Pick Your Poison!

2009-06-19T09:53:00.003-05:00

# 1--Design Challenge is Monday June 22, 2009--PICK YOURPOISON!!!

What things can you absolutely, positively CANNOT resist?

Createsomething to show your poison!!!! Just remember - IT MUST BEHANDMADE BY YOU!!!

All entries must be posted here by 12:00 midnight Saturday, June 20 inorder to participate.

That is THIS Saturday--tomorrow! Voting will begin at 12:01 AM, on Monday June 22 and end Wednesday,June 24 at 7:00 PM.

If you would like to donate a prize for this or any other challenges,please contact the coordinators: Holly (http://HeavenlySentiments.etsy.com) or Kate (http://KateCotten.etsy.com)Questions and comments go to them too!

Here's the link to the Sign-Up Thread: http://etsytx.ning.com/forum/topics/design-challenge-june-2009

Tutorial Tuesday

2009-06-15T23:58:00.003-05:00

While this isn't a crafting tutorial, it has great info on how to add Google Analytics tracking to our blogs. Don't be intimidated~ If I can do it, anyone can~

Google Analytics is a useful tool for tracking what goes on in our Etsy shops. After I started a blog on blogspot earlier this year, I decided it would be good to have GA tracking my visits. I wondered how difficult it would be since Etsy does a great job of making it easy to set up GA on our shops. Everything seemed fairly straight forward until it came time to post the GA code into my blog. GA tells you to “Copy the following code block into every webpage you want to track immediately before the tag.” How do I find the tag on my blog? I hadn’t seen that tag on my blog when I was setting it up. The hunt was on. My first try at accomplishing this was to paste the code that GA provided into an html widget at the bottom of the page and hope that would wind up where it was supposed to be. No luck.

I was not the only one that this sounded reasonable to, because Kelley with Tattered Tapestry tried that too in her attempt to install GA for her blog. I knew to tell her that wouldn’t work but I’d have to look to see where I had pasted the code to finally get GA to work with my blog. There were two places that I needed to look. I found GA code in the first one, so I told her to put the code there. Unfortunately, what I didn’t realize was that the second place that I was going to look actually placed it in that first place.

To make a long story short, I did something stupid at about this time and lost my GA code on my blog! So I thought, no problem, I’ll just reinstall it. Once I finally retraced my steps, I was able to tell Kelley where to correctly add the code. It worked! Both of our blogs are now being tracked by GA. As a help to anyone else out there that wants to add GA to their blog, I am providing a step by step list of what to do to add it. (I’m sure it works the same way for other blogs, you just need to find out how to access your blog’s html code for it.)

Ok, so are you ready? Following is the list of steps and tips that I wrote down when I reinstalled GA on my blog. If you are not already using GA on your blog they should work for you too.

1) Sign in to or sign up for a Google Analytics account.

2) (You should now be on a page that looks like the first screen shot.) Click on “Add new profile” in the dark gray bar near the top of the page. (circled in red in the screen shot)

3) On the page that comes up, click the “Add a Profile for a new domain” button, fill in your blog’s URL (without the http://), choose from the pull down menus, the two time zone related entries requested. Click the “Finish” button.

4) This will bring you to a page that says on it “tracking not installed”. It will also include a box of code for you to add to your blog, with the instructions to “Copy the following code block into every webpage you want to track immediately before the tag.” Copy the code provided before leaving this page.

5) In a new tab, go to http://www.blogger.com/ and sign in.

6) This should bring up your blogger dashboard. Click on “Layout”.

7) Click on “Edit HTML” as shown in the second screen shot.

8) This brings up a box with HTML code in it. Scroll down to the bottom of the code. The next to the last line should be your "/body" tag. Insert a blank line by using “return” on your keyboard just above the tag and then paste the code that you copied from GA on the blank line. You will see other codes that are similar to "/body" (such as "body"). It has to exactly match "/body" and the only place this occurs is at the very bottom.

9) Click “Save Template”

10) Go back to the tab that has the GA page with the code that you copied. Click finish at the bottom of the page. (This will take you back to the page in the first screen shot.)

11) You will probably see a caution sign under status for your new blog tracking profile. To check if tracking has been installed properly, click the “edit” button on the same line and to the right of the caution sign.

12) This will bring up a page like the third screen shot. If the code was installed correctly, the area circled in red will have a check mark and say “receiving data”. If not, there will be a yellow circle with an exclamation point and it will say “tracking not installed”.

Hopefully, if you followed these instructions, you are receiving data and within 24 hours your caution sign should turn into a green check and you will be able to view all of the great GA information for your blog. Good luck. (Article written by Cathy of EDCCollective and edited by Kelley of Tattered Tapestry.)

Congratulations to berrybluecreations

2009-06-14T23:59:00.001-05:00

Lets get to know Beth at BerryBlueCreations.Etsy.com

Here is her survey:

1. Who is BerryBlueCreations? I am Berry Blue Creations. My real name is Beth Ward. My shop is a mix of bags, pillows, Bethie Flies and Angel Guards.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? I love to sew. Making bags, pillows and pillow shams, quilted- looking things; plus the occasional Art Doll. I have been actively sewing and crafting since 2001. I have been selling since 2004, long before I knew of Etsy.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? My inspiration is pulled, yanked, and dragged from many places. People I know, nature, trends: both current and past.

4. What is your favorite medium? My favorite medium is fabric. Any kind of fabric all colors, textures and I like to upcycle or recycle. I have used clothing, drapery, upholstery and even luggage.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? My art is my full time job. It is the reason I get up in the morning and stay up till all hours, designing, measuring, cutting and sewing.

6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team? My favorite things to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team are chat and collaborate. I’ve gotten some amazing inspiration from my Etsy Texas Crafters Teammates.

7. Any tips for other Artists? The best tip I have for any artist is to think outside the box and don’t be afraid to experiment or ask questions. Promote your passions and share your knowledge. Your community will thank you for it.

8. Tell me a Secret about yourself. I used to teach art and crafts to preschoolers and I was once a clown.

Congratulations to Beth~

Want to be featured next? Go to and check out her shop Berrybluecreations.etsy.com. Post back here with your favorite item of hers. Friday I'll pick a new team member to feature.

Spotlight Treasury

2009-06-11T22:19:00.004-05:00

Liz has created another wonderful treasury~ Be sure to click on all the items and comment~

Time to Sign Up!

2009-06-10T12:23:00.003-05:00

June 15 = ETC Has Secrets! Get Free Items with Purchase of Select Items! - sign ups are open now~ go here to sign up and participate~Find out what it's about and the rules HERE.

ApacheMoon---Featured ETC Member June 8-22

2009-06-09T23:56:00.001-05:00

In honor of all they do to support and promote Etsy Texas Crafters Team, we congratulate Verge and Nita DeShazo of ApacheMoon.etsy.com as our Featured ETC Member! You can see more of their work in their shop or in a treasury created especially for them.

ApacheMoon has been active in the promotion of ETC. They use team tags in their listings and promote information about searching using the tag in their shop announcements, where they also supply a link to our team shop. They promote our team newsletter, are active in First Monday sales and monthly design challenges, and submit items to our "Taste of Texas" promos.

Here is a small part of the interview they gave :

Tell us a bit about yourself (where you live, affiliations, achievements/awards, and any personal stuff you want to share). We live in the beautiful woods of east Texas.

Are you an Etsy Buyer, Seller, or Both? We buy and sell. If we can support the Etsy community, it makes the parting with money happier.

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it? At age two my mother taught me to make paper carnations from kleenex and bobbie pins. Because I was hospitalized that year mom had to distract me so I learned embroidery as well. From these early experiences I knew I "loved making things". Verge learned whittling at an early age and whittled a totem. It was a beginning as he loved both the process and the result.

Why do you create? I create because life without it would be flat and mundane, while Verge feels"Why do fish swim?"

What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from? Everywhere! Its a frame of mind. The universal magic is always available. The trick is to stop whirling through our lives long enough to notice it. That's the tricky part for me. Verge says I'm his inspiration.

What are your favorite materials? Silver and stone at the moment. I love making jewelry. For Verge it's stainless steel, as he is mostly engraving guns at the moment. "favorite material" rolls like waves on a beach though. The means and process is less important than the outlet itself.

I encourage you to read the full interview here and find more about these lovely people and their passion for animal rescue. There is also a promotional thread where we can all leave our good wishes and thoughts.

For the month of June ApacheMoon is having a "celebrating Texas" promotion. All items in the shop are 10% off. write TX in message to seller and a refund will be given through paypal.

~would you like to be a featured team member? First fill out the membership survey where you can tell us what you do to participate and promote the EtsytexasCrafters. Not all applicants will be selected as "featured member"featured member application link:http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pnTCbpcGtQAe-2hfZhCgYEA

Tuesday's Tutorial - Paper Flower Bouquet

2009-06-08T23:59:00.003-05:00

Ann, of DuctapeandDenim.etsy.com, has graciously allowed me to share with you her Paper Flower Tutorial. These gorgeous flowers can be made out of various papers and colors to match seasons. This one is for fall colors, but can be adapted to fit any season.

Jordi got in the mood to make our paper flowers again a few days ago so we made ourselves a bouquet and put a kit in our Etsy store, too. These are really easy & quick to make. And you can make them in whatever colors you want. I always like to include some of my old paper in them and ink the edges but you wouldn't have to do that.

Here's how to do it:
Punch several circles for each flower. I used 5 different punches ranging from 3" to 1". Some scalloped, some not. If you don't have punches you can cut them out, or even tear them. It just takes longer.

Wad up the papers. This is the fun part! Make them as wrinkled as you want -- or don't even wad them if you want a cleaner look.

Ink the edges and some of the folds. I've also used glimmer mist on some and wadded them up while they were still wet. That works good, too. Color Box chalk ink in chestnut roan is my favorite right now for this.

Here's the stack of circles ready to assemble. You can glue them together and then glue a button on top or use a brad. Today I decided to use up some of the brads in my desk. I inked my craft stick (Jo just bought ANOTHER box of 1000 so we have to make LOTS of these now!!!) and glued some leaf punches on, too. Although when you put them in a display like I show above you can't really see the leaves. For the bouquet in the first photo I stuck an old piece of styrofoam in a clean veggie can, stuck my flowers in, and covered the styrofoam with shredded papers. Then I took 2 strips of coordinating papers and taped them on and tied a piece of jute around the whole thing. It probably took me 20 minutes to do the whole bouquet. You've probably seen these on my blog before. We've made bouquets for Valentine's Day, July 4th, and Christmas.

I think I'm going to make some flowers and glue magnets on the back for my fridge. I need new magnets. :-)

Check out her blog to see the full tutorial. Thanks Ann for sharing this fun and creative project!

Congratulations BesemNaturalScents

2009-06-08T11:28:00.005-05:00

BesemNaturalScents.etsy.com is our Hot Shop for this week! Congratulations.

Here you can learn more about her:

1. My name is Wendy and I have a wonderful husband and 5 little helpers who assist in the sorting and packaging of my candles and soap. I began Besem Natural Scents when we were in the process of adopting 2 of our children from Kazakhstan. I now donate 10% of profits towards orphan relief and offer fundraisers for families who are in the adoption process.

2. I have been making candles for almost 6 years and soap for

3. I have studied aromatherapy and the benefits of using natural plant essences and essential oils. I blend my own scents and make natural palm/beeswax blend pillar candles and old fashioned cold-process soap.

4. I love experimenting and blending scents. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong place--I should be "the nose" in a beautiful little perfumery in the heart of Paris =). I also love the design aspect. I have enjoyed creating a brand. I make all of my labels and brochures and business cards.

5. At the moment, I love making soap. Every time I unmold a new batch, it is like Christmas. I have a new black licorice soap with activated charcoal that is almost cured. I can't wait to take pictures and get it listed. Each bar is a big black chunk that smells so good--and it's great for your skin!

6. I homeschool 4 of my 5 children, so that is my main focus. Making candles and soap is my creative escape and I am so happy that 3 of my children are showing interest in learning and helping with each step of the process. I hope that my sales continue to grow so that I can make it a full time business as my kiddos get older.

7. I try to set limits on how much time I spend on the computer, so I haven't been very involved with the team. I really like the first Monday sale, though, and have made several sales and found some great new shops that way. I plan on getting more involved during the summer when my schedule is a bit more open.

8. I think it is important to enjoy what you are doing--obviously not all of it, who really enjoys paperwork and taxes? It shows if you are confident in what you create. Take good pictures, or have someone else take them for you. You shouldn't put all that effort into creating and then not have it stand out and look beautiful.

9. Hmmm...a secret about me...Ikea is my favorite store. I love watching people and hearing so many different languages in one place. It reminds me of the International terminal at the airport--only with more comfortable chairs!

Check out her shop. It's amazing~ She wants to offer a 20% off sale to EtsyTx members. Write EtsyTx in the message to seller and she'll either refund the difference or send you a revised invoice.

Want to be featured next? Go to BesemNaturalScents.etsy.com and check out her shop. Post back here with your favorite item of hers. Friday I'll pick a new team member to feature.

A Marketing Study

2009-06-04T17:08:00.003-05:00

As shop owners we are all working to promote our shops. Most of us are more knowledgeable about our craft than we are marketing and advertising. All assistance we receive and advice we can get we devour. (I know I do)

Cheri, from ItsMeCheri.etsy.com, did a marketing experiment and posted the results on her blog. I have copied an excerpt from her blog for a tease:

"I decided to do an experiment. I decided to purchase an Etsy Showcase. I heard pros and cons to the Showcases. The biggest con being why market to fellow Etsy-ians? The pros--exposure!

So after reading the how to's, I committed to buy. Which Showcase to join? I choose the Ceramic & Pottery Showcase as I am known as a Polymer Clay Artist who also has expertise in Jewelry Making, Excellent Quality, and Superior Customer Service.

Now......to the choice of the Day to have my Showcase. I looked at all the options. I figured that it would be best to have the Showcase on a Saturday--most people were home and would be on the computer. Also, I would choose a day that had the least amount of spots open as that would be indicative of a good day -- it must be good day 'cause more people chose that day for their Showcase.

After seeing my results, I realized that my thought processes were wrong and the results were disappointing:"
She has some very interesting results. Go here for the results of her comparisons. It is helpful to us all.

Tuesday's Tutorial

2009-06-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

Connie, from Refabulous.etsy.com has a wonderful blog and has graciously agreed to share one of her tutorials with us.

I mentioned a few posts back about a new item I've listed in my shop, and I'd love to share my pattern with you!
I made these sweet little mice from reclaimed fabric scraps, some rescued embroidery floss, cotton cord, catnip and polyfil.
You can download the pattern for these cute little catnip mice here (free and safe.) Or, just transpose it from the 1-inch grid below:

Details for how to sew these wonderful Mice can be found here. Oh, I almost forgot -- please feel free to make these mice for yourself, your friends, your kitties, and even to sell in your shops. Just please don't sell my pattern -- that wouldn't be very cool.

You can read the story behind this fun craft here as well as see more pictures. Check out her entire blog. It's full of good stories, interesting happenings and fun things.

Congratulations to CordovaStudios!

2009-05-31T20:26:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to Kay of CordovaStudios.etsy.com. She has been chosen to be our "Hot Shop" this week. I've asked Kay a few questions to get to know her better.

1. Who is CordovaStudios? Cordova Studios is/has been my fiber studio here in Dallas for about 12 years. I named it after the street I lived on in East Dallas . I taught weaving there for about 12 years. Now I have a studio here in my present house as my personal fiber playroom. It houses my Rio Grande spinning wheel, carder, sewing machine and serger and untold amounts of fiber.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? I have been knitting since before time, I think. I knit compulsively, mostly montage shawls and scarves from my stash of handspun and anything that works. Occasionally I knit the obligatory baby blanket or prayer shawl. These days I am addicted to my Kromski Sonata spinning wheel where I spin many roving bought on Etsy or batts and rovings I have made myself. Oh, and the dye pots are ripping along right now as I dye up rovings and my, as yet, undyed hand spun.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? COLOR drives most of what I do. Sometimes it’s in my photographs, sometimes from my garden, sometimes J. Crew!

4. What is your favorite medium? Merino wool, and combos of it with seacell, silk, etc.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? It’s an on the side project that is beginning to fill up most of my days. I love it!

6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters Team? I am brand new to the Etsy Texas Crafters Team so right now I would have to say the blog since I was lucky to win this little contest.

7. Any tips for other Artists? Wow, I guess I used to tell my students to trust their color sense. Look at what they like in their surroundings and use that as a start. Also, mistakes happen. We can fix it!

8. Tell me a Secret about yourself. I won the top Amateur Rider at the Tucson Classic Hunter-Jumper Horse show back in 1985

Congrats Kay! We are so glad to get to know you! You can also find more info about Kay here: http://twistedintexas-cordovasstudios.blogspot.com/ Facebook: Cordova studios Twitted; Kaybelle4

Want to be featured next? Go to CordovaStudios.etsy.com and check out her shop. Post back here with your favorite item of hers. Friday I'll pick a new team member to feature.

New Spotlight Treasury!

2009-05-23T08:00:00.004-05:00

Just when you think you've seen Liz's best work, here comes another Spotlight Treasury that really makes you pay attention. This wonderful treasury features, as you can see, black and yellow. It is really well put together! Great Job Liz!

Now lets all click on the treasury, click on each item and comment to support all our Team~

Your Favorite Place in Texas

2009-05-22T15:49:00.005-05:00

The wonderful thing about Texas is that, other than mountains, you have most every type of landscape you could want. Rivers to beaches, desert to forest, country to big city, hills to canyons.
I have a favorite spot that I will share with you. It is quiet and out of the way, but, whether it's because it's beautiful, or that I found it a refuge in a hard time in my life, it is my heaven on earth, hideaway, peaceful place. Now, don't laugh, but its on the Medina River, outside of Bandera. My parent's own a little place there and, *sigh*...I can't get enough of it.
This is the Medina river (yes I took that shot) and, not without my family's objections, I could sit in a tube on the river all day! My little heaven in Texas.

Now for YOU! I want you to tell me about your little spot on heaven in our great state. Blog about it on your blog and post a link in the comments here.

Next Friday, I'll use a random number generator and the Texas Team shop that comes up will be featured on this blog next week.
Lets all read each other's blogs and get to know one another and great spots in our state! If you aren't on our Etsy Texas Crafters Team, share a little anyway. We'd love to get to know you!

Paper Box Tutorial

2009-05-18T17:02:00.004-05:00

This is a video of Mary, from Etsy admin. teaching how to make a great box!

I learned to make these boxes and now send all my items to my customers in lovely boxes. You can get great deals on scrapbook paper if you watch for coupons and sales.

Tip No. 1: Don't use Tag Paper. They are pretty, but they are so thick the creases crack.

Tip No. 2: Skip step one (fold corner to corner to find center) Use a ruler and pencil to draw lines corner to corner on the inside to find the center. This will give you a lovely flat top with no creases.

Good luck and have fun. Customer's love these!

New Spotlight Treasury

2009-05-14T10:28:00.004-05:00

Liz has outdone herself once again!

As always, click on each item and leave a comment, if possible!Reminder: if you notice that I have deleted your comment, please know that it is only so others can comment, too. (Etsy limits the comment space.) I read and appreciate everyone's comments so keep 'em coming!

Thank you for your support of ETC!
~Liz (lavenderlizard, lavenderladybug)
Spotlight Treasury Curator
Twitter Coordinator

What's New Pussy Cat?

2009-05-11T06:33:00.002-05:00

Today is our Day to Highlight what's new in our shops. Our Etsy Forum thread: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6147110 is a place where we highlight our new members as well as what each of us are working on that is new.

We have 57 new members this month, and over 800 others who could be showing off their latest creations! So, please, welcome our new folks, show off your latest creations, and help keep this thread active and positive. No stats, no reports, no sign-ups -- just an opportunity to be friendly and to tell others a bit about your shop and what you offer.

Those of you that aren't part of the Texas Team are welcome, too. Stop in and say "Howdy" and check out some great new stuff for Summer~ You Won't Be Disappointed!

Houston Treasury - Mini Teams Supporting Each Other

2009-05-09T16:43:00.004-05:00

The Houston team is blessed to have a mighty treasury curator. Linda from LindaGJ.etsy.com continuously supports her team by creating wonderful treasuries to highlight their work. Weekly Linda spends her time, not only standing in line for a treasury (it's like that isn't it) but searching out and creating collections that highlight the talents there.

Linda is not only selfless in promoting her team mates, but she is an accomplished artist herself. She has an amazing talent for sculpture and drawing. Her likenesses of her cat, Peanut, are hilarious and make us all want to own a little black and white buddy of our own. If you have ever taken part in of the swaps, you are probably lucky enough to have received some of her cards or magnets.

Linda, thanks for being such a valued and generous member of the Houston team!

Be sure to take a look at the treasury and support it as well as taking a look around Linda's shop. You won't be disappointed.

Calling All Texas Team Bloggers!

2009-05-08T07:35:00.004-05:00

As I am trying to develop readership for this blog and highlight how great our Texas Team is I was going to "contact" all our team members with blogs and let them know we are here and up and running. Well, I just took a look at the list and, well, um..no. There are so many of you out there!

Everyone spread the word we are up and running. We will be having contests, features, great info and fun games. Everyone is invited, not just Team members.

So, help a girl out...if you know of some bloggers, get them in on it. It's going to be fun!

Mini team leaders, give me a heads up at Miasophia.etsy about treasuries your mini teams have, too. We'll highlight them here as well as your big events, etc.

SpotLight Treasury

2009-05-04T21:22:00.001-05:00

Liz managed to grab a Treasury today and fill it with 12 more ETC shops! Come see who's featured: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=56311

Be sure to take a look at all the featured items and comment! Lets support our team~

First Mondays with Texas!

2009-05-04T02:00:00.000-05:00

ETC First Mondays Sales Event is 24 hours of sales and special offers in both the ETC Team Shop and the shops of individual ETC members.This event is held from 12:01am to 12:00 midnight Central Time on the first Monday of every month (1:01am Monday - 1:00am Tuesday, Etsy Time).

Click HERE to see a list of the MANY shops offering sales today and follow our current thread in the Etsy Forums.

New Blog, New Look

2009-05-02T22:25:00.001-05:00

Hey All Etsy Texas Team Members and those who love 'em! We are in the process of re-vamping the blog and plan on having lots of new things. Featured Shops, tutorials, contests, and more fun things.

Leave a note here letting us know what you think of the new look. If you have any ideas for a tutorial or content that you would like to share, let us know that too!

Be sure and follow us (click it on the link on the right) and get to know fun things, fun shops and fun people!

Etsy Day, Friday, April 24th

2009-04-22T20:04:00.000-05:00

We interrupt this break with important news....

Independent members of the Etsy community, both buyers and sellers, have joined together and declared Friday, April 24th, to be Etsy Day -- a day to tell everyone you know, and even those you don't, about Etsy. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about this event, including suggestions on ways that you, too, can participate in this world-wide event.

Taking a break.....

2009-04-20T17:12:00.000-05:00

Our blog is currently on hiatus, though our team certainly is not! For current information about us and what we are up to, please check out our website.

Fort Worth Mini Team Holiday Meet & Greet

2008-12-07T14:02:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday Dec. 6th the Fort Worth Mini Team met for our very first Meet and Greet. The cozy ambiance of La Madeleine helped to create a warm and inviting setting for our holiday themed gathering. The purpose of this gathering was to FINALLY meet some of our fellow Etsyians but to also discuss ways that we can participate in EtsyTexasCrafters.

Jay of jneale3 and 2112TieDyes with Connie of HossLass

We spent the first half hour engaging in small talk and getting to know one another as members trickled in. Attendees consisted of team members as well as a few folks interested in ETC and what we're about. The group also indulged in some tasty treats procured from the La Madeleine kitchen. The smell of delicious French onion soup and piping hot French roast filled the room.

Angela of flutterbuggcreations shared about continuing a family tradition of crocheted baby blankets

After some lively conversation we settled in to discuss our participation options. ETC as a team provides a myriad of choices for those who want to participate a little to those who wish to participate a lot. First on the agenda was the teams new Ning site were members can find scads of information on team events, members, as well as sign-ups and basic info on the teams various opportunities. Spend Your Mondays with ETC was up next with brief explanations on each Monday's theme. Members who had participated in these events shared their experiences and encouraged others to check them out.

Connie shared a table with potential ETC newbies, husband and wife, Samantha (oldbutnew) and Robert (draknordesigns)

Next I explained team promo swaps and showed some examples of items that can be contributed to the swap and the details of how it works. We then talked about the Gift swaps and I proudly showed off a bag that I'd recently been gifted in one of these swaps. Both of these swaps are great ways to get your name and products in the hands of potential customers. Plus, they're just ALOT of fun :)
Concluding this time was a plug for the team shop, its purpose, and how you can find fabulous promo items there at a great value. We closed with team volunteer job opportunities and how the team benefits everyone best when "You give some to get some".

The Stash table. Gifts for the exchange were placed in the back while promos and business cards to share were in the front

My favorite part of the meeting came next when we went around and everyone introduced themselves. They shared their name, shop name, how long they'd been on Etsy, and if they brought samples of their work they displayed them as well. I love that now I have faces and names to put with some of the shops that I love. We ended the evening with a jolly gift exchange.

Jay shows the group how his wine rest works, while Rachel of tilesmile looks on. Rachel chose the wine rest as her gift from the exchange

Over all I thought it went great. I left with lots of things to think about and was very encouraged by the group of folks I'd met that were just as eager to move forward as I am. We would like to try and meet once a month. Some topics we'd like to discuss in the future include local craft fairs and selling opportunities and Photography 101 - how to take better photos to improve your sales. I can't wait for our January meeting (details to come) and would love to see some new faces there!

My gift from the gift exchange: these awesome tiles from TileSmile

Check out these Team Member's blogs on the event:

JNeale3 = http://jn3woodworks.blogspot.com/ (scroll down to the Dec 3 entry)
Hosslass = http://hosslass.blogspot.com/2008/12/catching-time.html

* Sorry the pics turned out a little blurry :(

December ETC First Monday SALE

2008-11-30T23:23:00.000-06:00

It's time for another amazing ETC First Mondays Sales Event! So, come on in, grab yourself something warm to drink, and join us for some fantastic sales!!! We’ve got something for everyone on your list! Remember, only 24 more days until Christmas and only 20 days until the start of Hanukah!

With 118 ETC shops participating this month, there's something for everyone, including LOTS of great deals! But don’t dawdle . . . these sales and special offers are only available from 12:01 am Monday, December 1st to 12:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 2nd, Central Time (that's 1:01am Monday to 1:00am Tuesday, Etsy Time).

Please wait for revised invoices on purchases from the following sales list, unless listing specifies that items are already marked down (or gives other instructions). Discounts do not apply to shipping unless Free shipping is indicated.

Here's this month's sales list.....

ETC Team Shop: http://etsytexascrafters.etsy.com/20% off all items in shop

%-Off Sales: Discount does NOT apply to shipping unless specified
http://2112tiedyes.etsy.com/ -Tie dyed t-shirts20% off all items in shop
http://2muchstuff2day.etsy.com/ - hand knit cloths, swifferesque covers, baby items and natural stone jewelry25% off all items
http://amaria.etsy.com/ - Feminie, Handcrafted, Artisan Made 14K gold fill, Sterling silver & Copper Jewelry10% off and free domestic shipping
http://angelsandoutlaws.etsy.com/ - A Place for the Romantic Cowgirl in Us All25% off all items in shop
http://angiehallhaviland.etsy.com/ - Mixes media art and jewelry
20% off all items in shop
http://apachemoon.etsy.com/ - Jewelry of many colors15% off all items in shop
http://artbyjc.etsy.com/ - original paintings , painted on leaves , paper , wood , metal , and canvas , and other crafts .20% off and free gift with every purchase [ limited to one gift per customer ]
http://artbylilin.etsy.com/ - Polymer Clay Art Jewelry & Decorative Items20% off all regular price items, plus Free Standard Shipping
http://artspot.etsy.com/ - Whimsical and Luxurious Bath and Body Enchantments25% off storewide (custom & wholesale not included).
http://barbsgarden.etsy.com/ - Fine Art at reasonable prices15% off all Studio sale items in shop, 10% off all other items in shop
http://beautifulmemories.etsy.com/ - Beautiful, lifelike Reborn dolls10% off all items in shop
http://beachcomberscove.etsy.com/ - Jewelry inspired by the ocean10% OFF All Bracelets. Free Shipping for orders over $50.
http://besemnaturalscents.etsy.com/ - Natural pillar candles, soap, and luxurious bath and body products20% off entire purchase on all items in shop
http://brandyratliff.etsy.com/ - Quilts, Blankets, Afghans, & More10% off all items in shop
http://bybethstudio.etsy.com/ - Quilted Art-Journals, ATC/ACEO, Mini-Quilts, Wall Hangings, Postcards, Bookmarks, Quilting Arts Magazine Back Issues20% off all items in my shop
http://carylscreations.etsy.com/ - Embroidery kitchen towel sets & applique magnets, Dish Soap Bottle Aprons, Fleece wraps, Tote bags, & Glass Slippers15% off all items in shop (excluding custom orders)
http://christinasmagic.etsy.com/ - ACEOs, handmade jewelry, handpainted clothing, decorative ceiling fan and light pulls10% off all items in shop
http://claytiger.etsy.com/ - Funky, Chunky Copper, Silver & Polyclay Jewelry20% off all items in shop, plus Free Shipping.
http://comfortandjoycrochet.etsy.com/ - Cozy neckwarmers & unique scarves25% off all items
http://crabappledesigns.etsy.com/ - Bags, Accessories, Stationery, Jewerly, & Digital Art20% off all items in shop
http://crossesbyclaudia.etsy.com/ – Pewter crosses with vintage jewelry and seashells, barn wood crosses, and oil paintings.
15% Off all items. Free shipping and gift wrap on all crosses. (free shipping does not apply to paintings).
http://crossties.etsy.com/ - handmade fashion and home accessories15% off all items, plus Free Shipping on all sales totaling $50 or more after discount
http://cshdesigns.etsy.com/ - handcrafted jewelry, wine charms, purse charms, and cell phone charms. 20% off all items.
http://dandelionstudios.etsy.com/ - hand crafted paper goods, jewelry and photography.20% off all items in store and free hand crafted affirmation card with each purchase.
http://debbiewendell.etsy.com/ – apparel, accessories, T-shirts, tote bags, visors, ribbon watches, golf towels, gift baskets and baby onesies.20% off total order. Shipping is free in the United States
http://ducttapeanddenim.etsy.com/ - Vintage papers, ephemera, fabrics, & mixed media collages25% off all items in shop
http://elephantdreams.etsy.com/ - Eclectic Art Photography10% off all items in shop and Free Shipping
http://emilydeweesjewelry.etsy.com/ - Vintage Buttons, Glass drops, Portrait photo pendants20% off all regularly priced items in shop
http://fabfrills.etsy.com/ - Handbags created from recycled and new materials, and art dolls with attitude20% off all items in shop
http://finderskeepersthings.etsy.com/ - Inspired Charms, Repurposed Jewelry & Original Art25% off all items in shop
http://flutterbuggcreations.etsy.com/ - hand crocheted Christmas items, afghans, doilies, scarves and more!10% off all items in my "Holidays" section - prices already marked down to reflect sale.http://friendlybanter.etsy.com/ - Cute hand crochet items and accessories for kids and adults20% off all items in store
http://gemsbyjerri.etsy.com/ - Handmade jewelry for everyday wear.25% off all non-sale items. Cannot be combined with other discounts
http://handmadewhimzy.etsy.com/ - Fun jewelry, beaded bookmarks and handpainted decor25% off all items in shop PLUS Free gift wrapping on all jewelry and bookmarks!
http://hosslass.etsy.com/ - HossLass Art, Original Paintings and Functional Art Gifts focusing on horse, western or southwest themes.20% off all items except gift certificates.
http://jinxydv8.etsy.com/ - Women's Vintage Couture
50% off selected items and free shipping of all items over $50 with mention of promo code: teametsytx !
http://jmday.etsy.com/ - Felt toys, blankets & accessories25% off all items in shop
http://jneale3.etsy.com/ - Bookends, candle holders, wine rests and other stuff
20 - 25% off sale on selected items in my SALE section.
http://jojovandiver.etsy.com/ - Magic Wands, Decoupage Poker Chip Earrings, Paper Bracelets & Crochet Hats.25 % off all items in shop.
http://judy49.etsy.com/ - Filet Crochet, Machine Embroidery, & Sewn Items15% off all items in shop
http://kelseyskorner.etsy.com/ - Beautiful and Unique Handmade Quilted Holiday and Commemorative Ornaments15% off total purchase.
http://killerbeedesigns.etsy.com/ - Gifts, Wine bottle carriers, Business card holders, Textile art, Purses, ACEO's and more!20% off items in shop (excluding textile art larger than 6" x 8")
http://lavenderladybug.etsy.com/ - Handmade and Commercial Supplies & Destash20% off all items in shop
http://lbrochstein.etsy.com/ - Hair Accessories, barrettes, headbands and ponytail holders.10% off all hair accessories plus Free Shipping.
http://lilliesandlace.etsy.com/ - vintage and handmade items10% off all items in shop
http://lindesigns.etsy.com/ - art, jewelry, photography20% off entire order - ETC members also receive free shipping - type ETC and wait for revised invoice.
http://lucybluestudio.etsy.com/ - Eclectic jewelry and art15% off all items in shop, and as always, Free Shipping on all purchases
http://marilynmacoriginals.etsy.com/ - One of a kind purses, hats, vests, lingerie, travel bags and more.20% off all items in the shop. Free "thank you" gift with each order and free domestic(US) shipping on orders over $50.00 after discount
http://mermaidgallery.etsy.com/ - Oil Paintings, 3-D Art, Stationery, and Prints20 % off all items in shop (does not include PIF items)
http://miasophia.etsy.com/ - Handmade Jewelry with a Twist of Fun, and Stained Glass Panels20% off all items in shop
http://michelecookdesigns.etsy.com/ - One of a Kind Handcrafted Copper and Silver Jewelry.25% off all items in shop, Free Shipping for order over $50 after discount applied.
http://misssnappy.etsy.com/ -Jewelry and pocket mirrors25% off all items in shop
http://mydesigncollectibles.etsy.com/ - Polymer clay items and Kelly’s Crosses (handcrafted crosses made with barnwood and various decorations)10% off all items in shop
http://outoftheblue.etsy.com/ - Vintage inspired and revamped jewelry20% discount on orders over $25; 30% discount on orders over $50; 40% discount on orders over $100 - Plus free gift wrap
http://pinkpeardesigns.etsy.com/ - Jewelry inspired by romance25% off all items in shop PLUS Free gift wrapping on all purchases
http://pinuppixie.etsy.com/ - Specializing in Decoupage/Collage Art for your head, accessories and more...25% off all items in shop, plus Free Shipping in the US
http://pocketpark.etsy.com/ - screen printed tshirts20% off all items in shop.
http://princessbammboutique.etsy.com/ - Hairbows, headbands, and bottlecap necklaces20% off all sales plus free shipping
http://quotentials.etsy.com/ - fused glass jewelry and home accessories20% off all Simplicities Pendant and Earring Sets* and 15% off everything in my Holiday Glass Section
http://raevyn77.etsy.com/ - earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches and more!25% off and free shipping
http://refabulous.etsy.com/ - Recycled items are blended with new materials to create one-of-a-kind, hand-made articles20% off all items in shop
http://rhradcliffedesigns.etsy.com/ - Watercolors, photographs, jewelry, and prints10% off all items in shop and Free Shipping
http://rwencreations.etsy.com/ - Shower gel, glycerin soaps, book angels, It's a boy/girl door mum, etc10% off all items in shop
http://serendipityrose.etsy.com/ - All kinds of Jewelry and Beaded Gifts20% off all items in shop
http://serenitysoapworkstx.etsy.com/ - fine handcrafted soaps, soy candles, lotion bars, sugar scrubs, shaving mug sets, and bath gels 20% off of any item in my shop (excluding shipping)
http://shansshinies.etsy.com/ - Handmade wallets, bags, coin purses, and other neat things20% off all items in shop (excluding custom orders)
http://simplycynful.etsy.com/ - Dresses, Bows, Tutus, and Socks.20% off everything (excluding clearance and shipping).
http://sophiecls.etsy.com/ - SubEarthan Cottage offers handmade soap and more.
20% off everything in my shop excluding shipping.- Does not apply to bulk discount rates.
http://sparklystrandz.etsy.com/ - Beaded jewelry, baby jewelry and crochet baby onesies and gifts15% off all items in shop
http://www.spiritmama.etsy.com/ -Handmade Art and Jewelry with a Spiritual Focus10% off all "Filigree Leaf" section jewelry
http://www.spiritmamabamboo.etsy.com/ -Bamboo, Organic Cotton Clothing for Adults & Babies10% off entire store
http://spt2.etsy.com/ Great pet and craft item tutorials!15% off all items in shop
http://stephaniek.etsy.com/ - natural perfumes, sprays, massage oils and more20% off all items, plus a free gift if you mention "First Monday"!
http://sugarlovehoney.etsy.com/ - Tutus, wreaths, baby & wedding corsages, pillowcase dresses, blankets10% off all items in shop
http://sunnybrookfarmdesign.etsy.com/ - boutique children's clothing10% off (excluding custom items) + Free Priority Shipping (in the US, FCI internationally)
http://sweetwolf.etsy.com/ - Funky handmade bags, purses and accessories, plus quirky handmade items for your home: upcycled and new25% off all items in shop, plus Free Domestic Shipping for orders more than $40 (after discount)
http://thewillowsnest.etsy.com/ - Original art, cards and more50 % off everything!! Prices already changed ready for great Christmas shopping!
http://thistlecraft.etsy.com/ - Hand-painted glass & window clings, CD collage cards, crochet scarves, & other fun stuff20% off all items in shop
http://tpdesign.etsy.com/ - Handmade home decor & paper goods10% off all items in shop (except accordion books), plus Free Gift Wrapping if requested
http://tulip36.etsy.com/ - Unique handmade jewelry20% off all items in shop
http://ultratrixie.etsy.com/ - Vintage treasures and destash goodies25% off all items in shophttp://vanillalotus.etsy.com/ Stitch markers for crochet and knit plus much more.10% off order before shipping.
http://victoriab2007.etsy.com/ - Handcrafted Jewelry, Hand-sewn Items, Photography20 % off all items in shop, plus Free Domestic (US) Shipping (does not include PIF items)

BOGO Sales – Discounts apply to item of equal or lesser value & discount does not include shipping unless specified
http://beyondtheseadeniz.etsy.com/ - hand made jewelery and felted itemsBuy One; Get One 50% Off. Free" Thank You" gift with every order too!
http://happyday.etsy.com/ - Beautifully designed knitting patterns and homemade baby/momma supplies.Buy One Pattern, Get One Free - Just let her know which pattern you pick for your second in the "Notes to Seller" box during checkout
http://itsmecheri2098.etsy.com/ - Handcrafted Jewelry, Home Decor, Gifts and MoreBuy One, Get One 50% off, plus Free Gift with purchase (1 per customer, please)
http://jachlomi.etsy.com/ - jewlery, kids' clothes, and lots of other stuffBuy One, Get One 50 % off
http://joyfulfind.etsy.com/ - Fun vintage jewelry and supplies to bring you joy!Buy One, Get One 50% off your second item of equal or lesser value
http://lavenderlizard.etsy.com/ - Crocheted Crafting Tools, Scrubbies, Accessories & MoreBuy One, Get One 50% off
http://peculiarparchment.etsy.com/ - handmade and vintage cards and tagsBuy 2, Get 1 free plus Free Shipping
http://scribbles.etsy.com/ - Beaded pens and pencilsBuy One, Get One 50% off (excludes custom orders)
http://simplyraevyn.etsy.com/ - seed bead jewelryBuy One, Get One Free on Destash, Everything else is 25% off with free shipping
http://spiritmamavintage.etsy.com/ - Vintage Jewelry, Relics, and Unique SuppliesBuy One, Get One 50% off entire store
http://starmekcreations.etsy.com/ - Beautiful handcrafted jewelryBuy One, Get One 50% off
http://thepaperelephant.etsy.com/ - Greeting Cards, Paper favors, supplies, and promo itemsBuy one get one 50% off
http://tiddlyinks.etsy.com/ - Original, one of kind illustrations created in watercolor and ink, as well as cards and custom nameplatesBuy one item under $30, Get One 50% off (excludes items over $30 and items already on sale)

Free Shipping
http://atticmemories.etsy.com/ - Vintage Photographs and Other Personal MemorabiliaFree Shipping for orders over $40, Plus Free Gift with all purchases (1 per customer, please)http://berrybluecreations.etsy.com/ - Dolls, Animals, Bags, Pillows, and More.Free Shipping
http://bluecakeandbuttercup.etsy.com/ - Handmade Paper GoodiesFree Shipping with the purchase of 2 or more items
http://carapace.etsy.com/ - Paintings, stuffed animals, jewelry, ornaments, postcardsFree Domestic (US) Shipping on all jewelry
http://crabappledesign.etsy.com/ - Colorful and playful handmade stationery and other bits of eye-candy.Free shipping on all items under my shop category of "paper goodies."
http://grandmamarilyns.etsy.com/ - Beadweave and Strung jewelry and beadworkFree Shipping for orders over $20 (can be combined with GrandmaMarilynsToo shop)http://grandmamarilynstoo.etsy.com/ - Crafting supplies and destashFree Shipping for orders over $20 (can be combined with GrandmaMarilyns shop)
http://humblebeads.etsy.com/ - Ornaments, jewelry and art beads.Free shipping for all orders and a free dove ornament with the purchase of $50 or more.
http://littleellie.etsy.com/ - purses, bags, clutches, wallets, etc.Free first class shipping on all purchases
http://jinx1764.etsy.com/ - Jewelry and items created with feathers and original artwork inspired by birds.Free Shipping on orders of $20 or more
http://joyceweaver.etsy.com/ - Original Handcrafted Bears, Dolls, Mixed Media, and WatercolorFree Shipping
http://marysmadness.etsy.com/ - Jewelry, Photos, Magnets, & MoreFree Shipping for orders over $40, Plus Free Gift with all purchases (1 per customer, please)http://pumpkinsboutique.etsy.com/ - Toppings for your pumpkin pie! Handmade children's and baby accessories.Free shipping with purchase of any two items in shop
http://sassysoapsnsuch.etsy.com/ - Hand-made Melt/Pour soaps, Hand-crafted Ornaments and DollsFree Shipping on ALL Ornaments and Dolls
http://teachergurrl.etsy.com/ - funky, affordable artwork, cards, totes, watercolor pendants, stone art, wall art, macrame, custom!Free shipping for orders over $20 and mention ETC in comments to seller to receive a free gift!
http://thealteredblacksheep.etsy.com/ – Off-the-Wall Supplies for Your Off-the-Wall ArtworksFree Shipping for orders over $40, Plus Free Gift with all purchases (1 per customer, please)
http://theyellowroses.etsy.com/ - Bags, large & small, and mosaicsFree Shipping
http://upsiedoodle.etsy.com/ - quilted baby bibs, burp cloths, and blanketsFree shipping within the US

Other Sales/Special Offers
http://apunkincardcompany.etsy.com/ - Handmade personalized stationery and custom wedding invitationsFree card with every order (one per customer, please)
http://mayzbeadz.etsy.com/ - Handmade flamework bead sets$2 off each bead set in shop, plus Free "orphan" beads with each order
http://unkamengifts.etsy.com/ - Unkamengifts from an Un-common family - Chainmaille jewelry, accessories & moreFree key chain with purchases over $20

For more info on Etsy Texas Crafters or to join our group, visit our website at http://etsytx.ning.com/. For latest info on our team, check out our blog at http://etsytx.blogspot.com/.

Also, subscribe to our monthly team newsletter via http://etsytx.ning.com/ and we'll let you know about all our sales and other projects, as well as give you a special newsletter-only coupon!Looking for awesome ETC offerings? Search TEAMETSYTX!http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title_all&search_query=teametsytx

Design Challenge - Absurdity Day!

2008-11-20T13:09:00.000-06:00

Things not making sense today?? Feeling Odd and Unusual?? Then You're Celebrating Absurdity Day!!

Crazy or not, Absurdity Day is staring you right in the face. Some days are truly illogical and senseless, exactly the definition of Absurdity Day. Celebrate this day in an absurd manner. Don't sit back waiting for something absurd to happen. Rather, seek out things to do that are somewhat, if not wholly, illogical. Have fun with it. But, whatever you do, don't try to make sense of it.

Have a wonderful, mind boggling and absurd Absurdity Day!!

This day is the inspiration behind our November Design Challenge, and the entries for this month's Absurdity Design Challenge are:

Cowgirl Fairy Heirloom Lace Purse - Texas Tree Fairy
Created by AngelsAndOutlaws

Like a Bicycle Needs a Woman Postcard
Created by Carapace

Show Some Legs Postcard
Created by Carapace

Fairy House for Texas Tree Fairies
Created by FindersKeepersThings

Absurdity Celebration Necklace
Created by ItsMeCheri

Green Fuzz Jacket
Created by JinxyDV8

Baby Pinhead
Created by SweetWolf

Time Flies
Created by SweetWolf

Please join us in the Etsy Forums and help us celebrate this most absurd day!

Note: Poll closed on Monday, Nov 24th -- Thanks to all who voted!

It's time for our First Monday SALE!!!!

2008-11-02T21:53:00.000-06:00

It's time for another amazing ETC First Mondays Sales Event! So, come on in and sit a spell, grab yourself a glass of iced tea or a warm cup of cocoa, and join us for some fantastic sales!!! Remember, Christmas is just around the corner – now’s the time to buy!

With over 95 ETC shops participating this month, there's something for everyone, including LOTS of great deals! But don’t dawdle . . . these sales and special offers are only available from 12:01 am Monday, November 3rd to 12:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 4th, Central Time (that's 1:01am Monday to 1:00am Tuesday, Etsy Time).

Please wait for revised invoices on purchases from the following sales list, unless listing specifies that items are already marked down (or gives other instructions). Discounts do not apply to shipping unless Free shipping is indicated.

Here's this month's sales list.....

ETC Team Shop = 20% off all items in shop

%-Off Sales: Discount does NOT apply to shipping unless specified

2MuchStuff2Day - Handknitted multipurpose cloths, swifferesque covers and baby items along with natural stone jewelry
25% off all items
Amaria - Feminine, Handcrafted, Artisan Made 14K gold fill, Sterling silver & Copper Jewelry
10% off and free domestic shipping
AngelsAndOutlaws - A Place for the Romantic Cowgirl in Us All
25% off all items in shop
AngieHallHaviland – Beaded, Collaged and Mixed Media Art
30% off all Halloween and Christmas items and 15% off all other items in my store
ApacheMoon - Jewelry of many colors
20% off all items in shop
ArtByJC - Original paintings, painted on leaves, ACEOs , bookmarks, wood & metal
15% off all items in shop
ArtByLilin - Polymer Clay Art Jewelry & Decorative Items
30% off all regular price items. FREE Standard Shipping
ArtSpot - Whimsical and Luxurious Bath & Body Items
20% off all items (excluding wholesale)
BailliesBagsBaubles – Handmade totes with a military theme
15 % off of all items in shop and custom orders placed on Nov. 3 excluding shipping, plus free tote with purchases of $50.00 or more
BarbsGarden - Fine Art at reasonable prices
15% off all Studio sale items in shop, 10% off all other items in shop
BeautifulMemories - Beautiful, lifelike Reborn dolls
10% off all items in shop
BrandyRatliff - Quilts, Blankets, Afghans, & More
10% off all items in shop
ByBethStudio - OOAK Quilted Art-Journals, ATC/ACEO, Mini-Quilts, Wall Hangings, Postcards, Bookmarks
20% off all items
CarylsCreations - Embroidery kitchen towel sets & applique magnets, Dish Soap Bottle Aprons, Fleece wraps, Tote bags, & Glass Slippers
15% off all items in shop (excluding custom orders)
ChristinasMagic - ACEOs, handmade jewelry, handpainted clothing, decorative ceiling fan and light pulls
10% off all items in shop
CindyJoy - Bundles of Joy - Baby gifts and adult things too
50% off jewelry, 25% off costumes, 10% off everything else, set of 4 note cards free with every order
ClayTiger - Funky, Chunky Copper, Silver & Polyclay Jewelry
20% off all items in shop, plus Free Shipping.
ComfortAndJoyCrochet - Cozy neckwarmers & unique scarves
20% off all items
CrossesByClaudia - Hand Made Crosses
20% off all items in shop
Crossties - handmade fashion and home accessories
15% off all items, plus Free Shipping on all sales totaling $50 or more after discount
DuctTapeAndDenim - Vintage papers, ephemera, fabrics, & mixed media collages
20% off all items in shop
ElephantDreams - Eclectic Art Photography
20% off all items in shop
EmilyDeweesJewelry - Vintage Buttons, Glass drops, Portrait photo pendants
20% off all regularly priced items in shop
FabFrills - Handbags created from recycled and new materials, and art dolls with attitude
20% off all items in shop
FindersKeepersThings - Inspired Charms, Repurposed Jewelry & Original Art
25% off all items in shop
FriendlyBanter - Cute hand crochet items and accessories for kids and adults
20% off all items in store
GemsByJerri - Handmade jewelry for everyday wear
25% off all non-sale items, cannot be combined with other discounts
HandmadeWhimzy - Fun jewelry, beaded bookmarks and decorative painting
20% off all items in store (may not be used with any other discount)
JMDay - Felt toys, blankets & accessories
25% off all items in shop
JojoVandiver - Magic Wands, Decoupage Poker Chip Earrings, Paper Bracelets & Crochet Hats
25 % off all items in shop
Judy49 - Filet Crochet, Machine Embroidery, & Sewn Items
15% off all items in shop
KillerBeeDesigns - Textile art, purses, wine bottle carriers, business card holders
20% off all items except textile art larger than 6" x 8"
LavenderLadybug - Handmade and Commercial Supplies & Destash
20% off all items in shop
LilliesAndLace - vintage and handmade items
10% off all items in shop
LinDesigns - Handcrafted jewelry, notecards, photography, ACEO's
20% off all items in shop
LittleEllie - purses, handbags, wallets, and home accessories
15% off of all items in shop AND custom orders, excludes shipping
LucyBlueStudio - Eclectic jewelry and art
15% off all items in shop, and as always, Free Shipping on all purchases
Margeeta - handmade goods and original illustration
10% off all items in shop
MermaidGallery - Oil Paintings, 3-D Art, Stationery, and Prints
20% off all items in shop (does not include PIF items)
MiaSophia - Handmade Jewelry with a Twist of Fun, and Stained Glass Panels
20% off all items in shop
MikesHempBracelets - Handmade Hemp Bracelets
20% off all items
MissSnappy - Jewelry and pocket mirrors
25% off all items in shop
MyDesignCollectibles - Polymer clay items and Kelly’s Crosses (handcrafted crosses made with barnwood and various decorations)
10% off all items in shop
OutOfTheBlue - Vintage inspired and revamped jewelry
30% off all items, plus free gift wrap
PinkPearDesigns - Jewelry inspired by romance
20% off all items in store (may not be used with any other discount)
PinupPixie - Specializing in Decoupage/Collage Art for your head, accessories and more
20% off all items in shop, plus Free Shipping
ReFabulous - Recycled items are blended with new materials to create one-of-a-kind, hand-made articles
20% off all items in shop, plus a free upcycled t-shirt shopping tote with each order
RHRadcliffeDesigns - Watercolors, photographs, jewelry, and prints
20% off all items in shop
RWenCreations - Shower gel, glycerin soaps, book angels, It's a boy/girl door mum, etc
10% off all items in shop
SerendipityRose - All kinds of Jewelry and Beaded Gifts
20% off all items in shop
ShansShinies - Handmade wallets, bags, coin purses, and other neat things
20% off all items in shop (excluding custom orders)
SimplyCynful - Dresses, Bows, Tutus, and Socks
20% off everything (excluding clearance and shipping)
Sophiecls - SubEarthan Cottage - Handmade soaps and more
10% off all items in shop
SparklyStrandz - Beaded jewelry, baby jewelry and crochet baby onesies and gifts
15% off all items in shop
SugarLoveHoney - Tutus, wreaths, baby & wedding corsages, pillowcase dresses, blankets
10% off all items in shop
SweetWolf - Funky handmade bags, purses and accessories, plus quirky handmade items for your home: upcycled and new
25% off all items in shop, plus Free Domestic Shipping for orders more than $40 (after discount)
TheWillowsNest - Acrylic and watercolor paintings, ACEO's and notecards
20% off all items in store
Thistlecraft - Hand-painted glass & window clings, CD collage cards, crochet scarves, & other fun stuff
20% off all items in shop
TPDesign - Handmade home decor & paper goods
10% off all items in shop (except accordion books), plus Free Gift Wrapping if requested
UltraTrixie - Vintage treasures and destash goodies
25% off all items in shop
VanillaLotus - Stitch markers for crochet and knit plus much more.
10% off order before shipping.
VictoriaB2007 - Handcrafted Jewelry, Hand-sewn Items, Photography
20 % off all items in shop, plus Free Domestic (US) Shipping (does not include PIF items)

BOGO Sales – Discounts apply to item of equal or lesser value & discount does not include shipping unless specified

BeyondTheSeaDeniz - hand made jewelery and felted items
Buy One, Get One 50% Off, plus Free "Thank You" gift with every order
HappyDay - Beautifully designed knitting patterns and homemade baby/momma supplies
Buy One Pattern, Get One Free - Just let her know which pattern you pick for your second in the "Notes to Seller" box during checkout
ItsMeCheri2098 - Handcrafted Jewelry, Home Decor, Gifts and More
Buy One, Get One 50% off, plus Free Gift with purchase (1 per customer, please)
JaChloMi - jewlery, kids' clothes, and lots of other stuff
Buy One, Get One 50% off
JoyfulFind - Fun vintage jewelry and supplies to bring you joy
Buy One, Get One 50% off
LavenderLizard - Crocheted Crafting Tools, Scrubbies, Accessories & More
Buy One, Get One 50% off
MotsDots - Bright, colorful happy, handmade beaded jewelry and gifts
Buy one, get one 50% off - Buy two, get one free
NotSoDotty - Sophisticated and affordable artisan beaded jewelry
Buy one, get one 50% off - Buy two, get one free
Scribbles - Beaded pens and pencils
Buy One, Get One 50% off (excludes custom orders)
SPT2 - Great pet and craft item tutorials
Buy One, Get One 50% off
StarmekCreations - Beautiful handcrafted jewelry
Buy One, Get One 50% off
ThePaperElephant - Greeting Cards, Paper favors, supplies, and promo items
Buy one, Get one 50% off
TiddlyInks - Original, one of kind illustrations created in watercolor and ink, as well as cards and custom nameplates
Buy one item under $30, Get One 50% off (excludes items over $30 and items already on sale)

Free Shipping

AtticMemories - Vintage Photographs and Other Personal Memorabilia
Free Shipping for orders over $40, Plus Free Gift with all purchases (1 per customer, please)
BerryBlueCreations - Dolls, Animals, Bags, Pillows, and More
Free Shipping
Carapace - Paintings, stuffed animals, jewelry, ornaments, postcards
Free Domestic (US) Shipping
CrabAppleDesign - Colorful and playful handmade stationery and other bits of eye-candy
Free shipping on all items under my shop category of "paper goodies"
CSPaperAndBeads - handmade papers, greeting cards and beaded items
Free Shipping
GrandmaMarilyns - Beadweave and Strung jewelry and beadwork
Free Shipping for orders over $20 (can be combined with GrandmaMarilynsToo shop)
GrandmaMarilynsToo - Crafting supplies and destash
Free Shipping for orders over $20 (can be combined with GrandmaMarilyns shop)
Jinx1764 - Jewelry and items created with feathers and original artwork inspired by birds
Free Shipping on orders of $20 or more
Jinxydv8 - Clothing & Accessories for Women, Childern, & Dogs
Free Shipping, plus Free Gift with every purchase (1 per customer, please) - also, Summer items 50 - 60% off
JoyceWeaver - Original Handcrafted Bears, Dolls, Mixed Media, and Watercolor
Free Shipping
LLing2303 - Handcrafted jewelry and more
Free Shipping
MarysMadness - Jewelry, Photos, Magnets, & More
Free Shipping for orders over $40, Plus Free Gift with all purchases (1 per customer, please)
PumpkinsBoutique - Toppings for your pumpkin pie - Handmade children's and baby accessories
Free shipping with purchase of any two items in shop
SassySoapsNSuch - Hand-made Melt/Pour soaps, Hand-crafted Ornaments and Dolls
Free Shipping on ALL Ornaments and Dolls
TheAlteredBlackSheep – Off-the-Wall Supplies for Your Off-the-Wall Artworks
Free Shipping for orders over $40, Plus Free Gift with all purchases (1 per customer, please)
TheYellowRoses - Bags, large & small, and mosaics
Free Shipping
Upsiedoodle - Baby bibs, burp cloths, and blankets
Free Shipping

Other Sales/Special Offers

APunkinCardCompany - Handmade personalized stationery and custom wedding invitations
Free card with every order (one per customer, please)
LaSewCouture - Mod inspired childrens clothes
Store Sale - Everything $10.00
UnkamenGifts - Unkamengifts from an Uncommon family - Chainmaille jewelry, accessories & more
Free key chain with purchases over $20

For more info on Etsy Texas Crafters or to join our group, visit our website.

Also, subscribe to our monthly team newsletter via website and we'll let you know about all our sales and other projects, as well as give you a special newsletter-only coupon!

Looking for awesome ETC offerings? Search TEAMETSYTX!

Congratulations to the Design Challenge Winners!

2008-11-02T17:09:00.000-06:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in October's Design Challenge!

The top six finishers and the prizes they selected are:

1. ByBethStudios - selected the quilt by FattyCornerQuilts
2. Thistlecraft - selected the book by ByBethStudio
3. Fattycornerquilts - selected the record bowl by SweetWolf
4. Carapace - selected Lamp #1 by SweetWolf
5. LavanderLizard - selected the belt buckle by PinupPixie
6. MotsDots - selected the UFO Pendant/Cellphone Charm by PinupPixie

Congratulations!!!

October Design Challenge - The War of the Worlds!

2008-10-26T09:46:00.000-05:00

What would you do if you scored an awesome vintage record of the story of The War of the Worlds -- one that comes with a book/magazine with lots of incredible images, as well as a pretty amazing album cover? Frame it? Sell it on eBay? Put it on a shelf with your other vintage treasures?

Not if you are Christine of PinupPixie! What did she decide to do with this awesome find? Offer it up to the ETC team for our October Design Challenge!!!

Christine scanned the pages of the book/magazine and posted them to one of our team sites, and members were challenged to create something using these images or their own interpretation of The War of the Worlds.

In Christine's generosity, she also made the record and album cover available to ETC members to create the prizes for this Challenge. Beth of ByBethStudio, Cindylee of FattyCornersQuilts, and Cathie of SweetWolf were the first three to correctly respond with the original radio air date of The War of the Worlds (Oct 30, 1938) and were thus selected to create the prizes for this Challenge.

Entries for The War of the Worlds Design Challenge include:

War of the World Bot - Sterling Silver Pendant
Created by ApacheMoon

Sterling Silver Bird from Outer Space Pin (Take Me to Your Feeder!)
Created by BeachcombersCove

War of the Worlds Mixed Media Canvas Book
Created by ByBethStudio
NOTE: This item is available as one of the prizes for this Challenge!

War of the Worlds Digital Art Print
Created by Carapace

Black & White Print Bracelet
Created by FabFrills

War of the Worlds Mixed Media Quilt
Created by FattyCornersQuilts
NOTE: This item is available as one of the prizes for this Challenge!

Crochet (& Glow-in-the-Dark) Spaceship & Aliens
Created by LavenderLizard

War of the Worlds Halloween Earrings
Created by MotsDots

The War of the Worlds Wallet/Card Holder
Created by ReFabulous

War of the Worlds Upcycled Lamp #1
Created by SweetWolf

War of the Worlds Upcycled Lamp #2
Created by SweetWolf

War of the Worlds Record Bowl
Created by SweetWolf
NOTE: This item is available as one of the prizes for this Challenge!

War of the Worlds Charm Necklace and Bracelet Set
Created by Thistlecraft

For more information on each of the above items, as well as more pictures, be sure to click on the title of each entry to transfer to its Etsy or Flickr listing.

Two addtional prizes (for the 4th and 5th place finishers) have been provided by Christine of PinupPixie -- she was unable to get them ready by the deadline to be included in the Challenge poll, as she was "caring for two cootiefied kids" this past weekend. Here are Christine's prize offerings:

War of the Worlds Wallet

Sparkling UFO Pendant/Cell Phone Charm

Thanks, again, to everyone who has participated, and special Thanks to all our voters!

NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the voting deadline has been extended through midnight, Thursday, Oct 30th.

Etsy Texas Crafters

♥ Love is (Still) in the Air! ♥

Hot Shop of the Week!

Team Spotlight Treasury

Hot Shop of the Week!

Hot Shop of the Week!

Another Team Treasury!

Winners, Prizes, & Gifts!!!

New Team Spotlight Treasury

Tuesday Tutorial - T-Shirt Scarves

Winter's Wonders

Hot Shop of the Week!

Friday Feature: Christmas Ornaments!

Etsy Texas Crafters is in the Box!

Tuesday Tutorial - Fused Plastic...with a Twist!

♥ What's New with Etsy Texas Crafters ♥

Hot Shop of the Week: CrazyForCollars!

Friday Feature: Snowmen!

Tuesday Tutorial on Thursday....

Last First Monday sale of 2009!

Hot Shop of the Week!

Two Friday Features!

Christmas Project for Kids in Hospital

Happy 5th Monday!!!

Congratulations & Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Tuesday Tutorial - Recycled Dimples Ornament

Time to vote!!!

Friday Feature: Harvest

Friday Feature: Leaves!

Tuesday Tutorial & More

Friday Feature: Pumpkins!

It's time for our First Monday SALE!!!!

October Design Challenge - Day of the Dead!

Tuesday Tutorial - Pretty Little Flowers for Your Hair

Tuesday Tutorial - Pretty Little Gift Pouch

What's New With ETC?

4th Quarter Group Gift Swap for Christmas Holidays!

It's time for our First Monday SALE!!!!

This Week's Hot Shop!

Design Challenge Winners

Featured ETC Member - Thistlecraft & Thistlestuff

This Week's Hot Shop!

One to One Gift Swap Time!

This Week's Hot Shop!

New Spotlight Treasury

Featured ETC Member -AWPhotography !

This Week's Hot Shop!

Fifth Monday $5.00 Monday Sale!~

New Spotlight Treasury

Featured ETC Member - HandmadeWhimsy!

This Week's Hot Shop

Pick Your Poison!

Tutorial Tuesday

Congratulations to berrybluecreations

Spotlight Treasury

Time to Sign Up!

ApacheMoon---Featured ETC Member June 8-22

Tuesday's Tutorial - Paper Flower Bouquet

Congratulations BesemNaturalScents

A Marketing Study

Tuesday's Tutorial

Congratulations to CordovaStudios!

New Spotlight Treasury!

Your Favorite Place in Texas

Paper Box Tutorial

New Spotlight Treasury

What's New Pussy Cat?

Houston Treasury - Mini Teams Supporting Each Other

Calling All Texas Team Bloggers!

SpotLight Treasury

First Mondays with Texas!

New Blog, New Look

Etsy Day, Friday, April 24th

Taking a break.....

Fort Worth Mini Team Holiday Meet & Greet

December ETC First Monday SALE

Design Challenge - Absurdity Day!

Blogrolling Feature is Down For Now

It's time for our First Monday SALE!!!!

Congratulations to the Design Challenge Winners!