Featured Etsian Artist~VivianNicoleDesigns

The Winner Of My Blog Giveaway Is

Ashley

Thanks for playing everyone! I'll have new one coming up NEXT Monday

~Stay Tuned~

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I am still in search of fun personal stories about your past with your favorite (vintage) toy for my feature next week! Feel free to leave me a comment with a way to reach you to get your story. With each story I post, your name and a link to your store will be posted as well.

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I was just randomly browsing through the great 'world' of Etsy and found these sweet store... The bootie and rattle sets melted my heart! So of course, I had to show them off and melt your heart as well!

My daughter's little piggies just keep growing so darned fast, I wonder if these can be made in her size.. hmm... (Can be made up to 12 months, I'm in luck!)

They're just too cute to pass up! I am a huge sucker for baby booties..

Which set is your favorite?

Mine is the pink with the daisy

VivianNicoleDesigns

"The love of crafting was inspired within me through my mother's example. I would sit next to her for hours while she knit or crochet and soon I learned to hold a crochet hook before I learned to hold a pencil. By the age of five, I had mastered the art of crochet well enough to create my own designs, soon I learned to knit. I hope that by my example my now young children are inspired with the love of creating as I was at their age. "

"Welcome!

Here you will find my original designs for baby accessories and toys, such as my original Rattle Booties and Wrist Rattle Developmental Gift Set!

Most of my items are made in crochet, some in knit, others in fabric. All my items are crafted with love and special attention to detail.I take great pride in everything I create and I only offer high quality items!

All my crafts are boutique quality! "

Featured Etsian Artist~piccoladonna2006

Click Here To Go Straight To My Giveaway

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piccoladonna2006

Visit her blog

I'm a 26 y.o. busy mom of 2 wonderful kids and I have this big passion for crochet that I'm trying to use to raise some money selling my "crocheted little things" as I like to call my works. I do not consider this like a job simply because I really enjoy crochet each and every piece!

I learned how to crochet when I was 9-10 from my mom who is a "doilie maker". It was something I liked to do during summer breaks, but never thought I could use it like I'm doing now!

I started crocheting during my second pregnancy, I got sick and I had to rest a lot for my little girl's sake so I needed something to keep my hand and mind busy while resting. Most of the works I did during that time are now for sale in my etsy shop. But so far never thought about selling anything, I was just having a lot of fun!

Last year my hubby was out of job and we needed to buy clothes for my children...somehow I had a couple of skeins of yarn and I created warm sweaters for them (I think I have a pic of my daughter wearing it). When we went out everybody was asking me where I found those sweaters....and orders came to me. I used to crochet gifts for family and friends and other orders arrived....then I tried to crochet some jewelry pieces and decided to try a craft show....it went pretty good and that's why I finally decided to seriously sell my works, even on line.

My inspiration comes from little daily things....the necessity of a warm garment, the willing of embellish my house...and so on.

Easter Outfits and Etsy Artist prettylittle

Click Here To Go Straight To My Giveaway

I really wanted to show off the Easter Outfits I made for my girls today, but wasn't able to get a photo of them together..

So these are some photos from Easter day, seperately, lol.

Lilly loved wearing a dress that coordinated with her little sissy, it was very sweet.

And Shay liked to...well, slobber, on her outfit.

I didn't make them the same, as you see.

Lilly's dress is a twirl dress. Shaylynne's is a short dress with with ruffled pants. I finished the dresses differently, Lilly's ends in ruffles while Shay's ends in Bias Tape. I'm in love!

They had a blast, lots of new candy and toys!

The 'Easter Bunny' left Lilly a basket filled with sugary goodness, an Easter Barbie, Easter Pony, and cute baby doll (also Easter themed). Shaylynne recieved Easter socks, 'pretties', and baby teethers (chew toys).

My Etsy Find

Look how cute these Ridiculously Little Bunny Slippers are!

These can be found at prettylittle

These bunny slippers aren't just pretty little, they're RIDICULOUSLY LITTLE!! But what, you may ask yourself, would you ever do with these silly little things...?

Things you could do with a pair of ridiculously little bunny slippers:

Put them on your fingers. Put them on a doll. Make them into key chains, earrings, brooches, or drink markers. Tie them to a gift box. Give them out as baby shower favors. Glue them onto magnets and put them on your fridge. Hang them from your rear view mirror. Glue them to a picture frame or photo album. Place them atop pencils.

Things you should NOT do with a pair of ridiculously little bunny slippers:

Eat them. Make squeaky, cutesy, giggly noises at them until you nauseate those around you. Try to put your feet in them (although, they would look pretty cute on that baby toe...). Try to put your pet's feet in them (believe me, they don't appreciate that).

Featured Etsian Artist~thelulubird

Click Here To Go Straight To The Giveaway

thelulubird

BLOG

I am a full time grad student studying Art Therapy. I go to the Art Institute of Chicago, and while that takes up most of my time, I still try to be at least a part time maker of arty and crafty things.

I feel the most like myself when I'm making things.

More about me: I am a fan of hardwood floors and bowtie pasta, I could listen to Joni Mitchell all day long, and I'm infinitely amused by llamas.

I Joined Etsy in 2007, but didn't become a seller until about a year ago. My favorite things in the shop right now are the clothespin dolls and the "seated girl" woodcut print.

Also, I have recently started blogging . I blog about lots of different things, from art and craft to social issues and sustainability - just snipits of the world that are inspiring and thought provoking

Featured Etsian~roses7184

CLICK HERE TO GO STRAIGHT TO MY GIVEAWAY

roses7184
Visit her Blog!

My real name is Jessica and I am 24 years old. I work for the YMCA After School program with a group of 5th graders and I just love it! They are my heart and soul, and keep me young.

Most of my creative juices I think come from their perpetual optimism! I live in Long Beach, CA with my boyfriend Brandon of 7 years. I have a BA and a teaching credential, and am just waiting patiently until the time I can have a real teaching job!






I started creating and actually selling it last October. Before that I had been creating for years, and it finally got to the point that my friends convinced me to sell. Since then I have made 51 sales and am pretty happy about it!

My favorite pieces would have to be my new Bright Fashion Belt and my old but still very much loved Sunflower Garden Scarf.

Blog Giveaway!

BLOG GIVEAWAY!

How to enter:

ALL COMMENTS MUST BE LEFT UNDER THIS POST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

1.) Go to yarnlovertn and come back here and let me know what your favorite item is AND become a follower or already be one.(Please leave one comment) Mandatory

How to earn additional entries:

2.) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to here. Leave me the link to your tweet. You can do this everyday for additional entries!


3.) Make a purchase from yarnlovertn- this will give you 5 entries!!!


4.) You will get 3 entries for blogging about my giveaway- with a link back to here.



5.) You can post a bulletin to Myspace or any other social network for 3 entries-with a link back here.

Please make sure to leave one comment for EACH additional entry, or they will not be counted properly!
Also, please leave me an email address to reach you at!

This giveaway ends April 12th (12PM mtn.)

Male Etsian Artist~ mindlesspursuits

BLOG GIVEAWAY IS 2 POSTS DOWN

I put my store in vacation mode today, yay! It was hard to do, but I definitely felt less stressed today. I've been working on my crochet and was able to leisurely do it, while playing with my girls. Here are two of Shay's new hats that I made! I'm so proud :) (I love huge flowers) I've made a few others but don't have photos yet. But I can't seem to figure out how to size booties correctly. :( They all come out too small or too big, its frustrating. Any advice??

mindlesspursuits

I just adore the painted cherry blossoms and aster flowers! It's beautiful art like this that can really brighten up a room. The mountain river painting is so peaceful, it really reminds me of the mountains around here in WY.

I love his answer below, please make sure to read the red-very admirable! :)

• How and when did you discover your talent?That depends upon how you define talent – some might say I’m still looking! But I’ve liked doing many different things, and since what’s mostly in my shop right now are paintings, I’ll focus on that. I hadn’t painted anything at all since junior high, and the last thing I painted then was a 2D color version of one of those line drawings from the back of a TV guide – you too can go to art school and all of that jazz. But I was a Bob Ross fan, and so as I grew older, I kept watching his shows and getting them on tape then DVD. In early 2008, I was on a medical leave from work and going stir-crazy so I finally decided to try painting again. I did a few various trial pieces, then after watching some more Bob, jumped in. I still have a long ways to go, though. Even by my own standards, my technique is basic.



• What or Who do you think is the most important influence in your work?Well, in painting it would have to be Bob Ross, no doubt! That said, it’s really my mother and father. My mother loves flowers and flower painting, and my father has sketched landscapes all of my life. He’s actually the one who got me started watching Bob in the first place.



• Does any of your art have a deeper meaning?None that anyone sees in my shop today carries any deeper meaning than to provide the visual uplift that pretty flowers or landscapes do. I’ve been told that means it’s not art. Whatever. I still enjoy doing it. That said, I’m a writer first and foremost, and I’m trying to make the transition from using words to provide meaning into explorations of how to do that visually. I don’t feel my technique is mature enough yet to want to display or show any of the pieces I’ve been working on yet, but eventually I’ll be happy with the results. Then my response will be much more interesting!



• What is your favorite piece and why?Well, for what I have displayed in my shop today, it’s definitely the hand-painted cherry blossom pillow covers. They make me smile to look at them. My favorite piece to date hasn’t been photographed to show – it’s one of my attempts to put a thought-provoking concept to canvas. It’s my favorite because it’s driving me to better my technique and refine my way of thinking in order to visually express it.



• Where do you do your work?My living room. I have a fairly small apartment that I share with my daughters and ALL of my various crafts and computers (I’m a Geek) and so I have to set up and tear down in the living room when I want to paint. I also only like to paint in natural light, and the living room is the only space that gets enough to paint in.



• When do you feel the most creative and motivated?Just before bed, which is problematic as I need to sleep! I keep a ‘project journal’ with me though, and I write down ideas in as much detail as I can before falling asleep so that I can work on them later. I also tend to get more motivation when I’m listening to club music. If you need somber music to create thought-filled paintings, I’ll never complete one!



• Have you found any pros or cons to being a male artist? Or does it even matter?Frankly, I haven’t found any pros or cons to being a male artist. Other than I seem to garner more discussion with other sellers at craft shows.



• Do you feel that you should be promoted on Etsy for being male? I don’t think Etsy should promote anything other than on the basis of the work itself. While that may leave me out of the running for the front page, Etsy is a venue not unlike going to your local mall. The mall itself doesn’t promote sellers within. The sellers need to promote themselves. As such, I would just expect Etsy to list my work in the way that I pay for, and to keep their ideas on themes and promotions out of it. That’s my job to do for my shop.



• What do you do to promote yourself?I don’t promote my shop, for a few personal reasons. I do promote my writing, so if I ever publish any writing on Etsy, I’ll have to figure out how to address this question.



• Is there anything you would like to add?I’m very much about making the world a better place and putting self-interest aside as much as you can in a healthy fashion, so I encourage everyone to find ways to get involved in doing so.

FREE GIVEAWAY! Crocheted Comfy Slippers by lindaphcc

BLOG GIVEAWAY!

lindaphcc was kind enough to donate her Crocheted Comfy Slippers for a free giveaway!

"Do you have cold feet? Do you have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living center for seniors? Does your mom/sister/daughter/aunt/best friend complain of needing something to warm their feet? "If so, then YOU HAVE TO WIN THESE!
I will be using Randomizer.org to choose a winner Sunday at midnight (mtn. time)

The winner gets to choose any pair she or he would like from this store!

To be entered in this giveaway you must complete the first 3 of the following..

1. Follow me, or already be a follower
2. Visit lindaphcc and post a comment under THIS post telling us which pair of slippers you would like on you feet.

3. Please make sure to leave an email or Etsy store where you can be reached!

• For an EXTRA entry, please blog about this giveaway and leave an extra comment with a link.
• For an EXTRA entry, please tweet about this giveaway and leave and extra comment with a twitter link.
• For an EXTRA entry, please post this in your shop announcement.
• For 3 EXTRA entries, make a purchase at lindaphcc.

Men Of Etsy~ MNHandmade

The winner of The Blog Giveaway IS

Fox's Bunny

Congrats! I used randomizer.org to choose a random lucky number. Fox definitely deserved it with all her extra entries, thanks Fox! And thank you everyone who participated! I will always have more giveaways in the future, so check back here :)

MBHandmade

I smiled all through this interview, I love his sweet answers! Pay special attention to the read text! I can only hope that my husband and I will share a bond through crafting someday. I'm still working on him! I would love to have a husband and wife team, as he talks about. :)

My husband needs this warming cherry pit neck pillow! I can just see him vegging in front of the TV with this relaxing pillow wrapped around his neck. I bet my baby could curl up really comfortably inside it for great warmth in these chilly winter nights!
And I really need the crochet hook organizer. I have far too many hooks!

Please leave a comment and let this charming artists know how much you love his work!

• 
  My favorite Item:It's hard to pick one favorite item, but if I have to choose I'd say: This one. It was my first listing and it's exactly like the one I use myself. Even after many uses I’m still amazed at its effect on my back after long hours hunched over the sewing machine.
  
• How and when did you discover your talent? I've always enjoyed making things and figuring out how things work. Fixing cars, tinkering with computers, sewing, weaving baskets, throwing pots, carving wood…really I love to work with anything I can get my hands on.



• What or Who do you think is the most important influence in your work?My wife and I met in college and in between classes we spent a lot of time learning the techniques behind many crafts together. We learned a little bit of everything and had a blast doing it. Now we have each found our niches but crafting is still an amazing bond between us today.



• When do you feel the most creative and motivated?It seems like ideas are always jumping out at me. I’m very motivated throughout the process; from the designing phase to seeing my idea become a reality.



• Where do you feel your art and yourself are going?In the long term, I would love for my art to become my career. My wife and I have dreamed of owning a shop together ever since we met our first husband and wife team at a craft fair. Etsy has brought us a step closer to our dream.



• Have you found any pros or cons to being a male artist? Or does it even matter?One of my earliest memories is taking a quilt I made to show-n-tell in my 7th grade Home Economics class. That wasn’t something that most boys did in middle school. But just because it is not common to be a male artist in some areas of art doesn’t mean that guys shouldn’t be proud of what they do. I think it’s actually an advantage because I have a slightly different perspective.



• Do you feel that you should be promoted on Etsy for being male? I think that each seller should have their moment to shine to shine on Etsy. Promoting different groups (whether they are defined by gender, geography, etc.) adds a level of interest for customers of every background.



• What do you do to promote yourself?As a new etsy seller, I am currently focusing on my work. Although eventually promoting will become more of a priority, good work will always speak for itself.

ENTER THE BLOG GIVE AWAY 2 POSTS DOWN!

I made an adorable Hello Kitty Twirl set for a customer, I love it! In the midst of making it there was a thread going on in the forums about Hello Kitty...coincidence? According to the people talking in there, Hello Kitty is really hitting sellers hard when they find them using their Kitty. So this is the only one I will be selling, unless it is a custom order that will not be listed. Though I do find this ridiculous. If Hello Kitty doesn't want clothing made out of their fabric, don't make fabric, right!? I know, I can make it for home use..blah blah..

Awww! I had to say it for you, because I know that's what you're thinking!

Shaylynne is sporting her new crocheted hat and booties, so cute and stylish!

This set was custom made by Amandascrochet in 100% cotton yarn.

Super soft and Shaylynne doesn't mind wearing them since they don't get itchy! Yay!

On her tummy is a large flower, also from Amandascrochet, that Shaylynne decided to play with. She likes her some flowers, hehe!

My Mommy Vacuum Vs. Lilly's baby Vacuum!