Tuesday, June 30, 2009

"Wigglysee Crocheted Toys"


Meet my featured seller of the day!!!!

Debbie of Wigglysee Crocheted Toys

1. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get a lot of my inspiration from my love to walk through the toy department at my local stores to see what is new that the kids play with. I remember the type of toys my grandmother would make me as a child and try to recreate those. I do custom orders so some of my toys are actually inspired by requests from other people.

2. Tell me about your self and your design style?

I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia but was born in up-state New York. I was taught to crochet by my grandmother . I started with the usual afghans and pillows but they take to long and I was impatient to see the completed product. I then switched to toys and found my love, Through the years as I designed new toys my niece and nephews would get all the new prototypes to test . I make my stuffed toys to last , they are stitched together very tightly, stuffed with hypo-allergenic polyfil and use safety eyes so they can not be pulled out. My niece and nephews have had theirs for at least 25-30 years and they still look great. I try to design my toys to be safe , provide fun and bring a smile to your face

When I had to stop working outside the home due to medical complications my toys became my life saver not only for extra money but keeping my fingers nibble and my mind active.

3. What things do you shop for? What catches your eye?

I love to shop for new kitchen gadgets and any type of cow inspired knick-knack. My house is full of both. I like searching though other etsy shops to see what type of cow items catches my eye to add to my collection.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

"Not your everyday cards"


Meet Diana of "Not your everyday cards"

**Special buy 3 items get 1 free deal (cheapest item will be the freebie)**

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5596958

1. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get inspiration from people. I like to make things especially for people I know even though they might never buy the item. For example, my sister once told me she needed some really cute thank you cards. I kept that in the back of my mind and made some funky cards that I knew she would like. Others liked them too, as they sold within an hour of being listed!

2. Tell me about your self and your design style?

I am married with two young boys and am constantly on the go. In the evenings I like to sit and make my crafty cards. It's a good way to relax from the sometimes crazy days!

I like to think of myself as bright and cheerful as well as fun and upbeat. So, I try to make my items reflect that. I love using bright colors and fun embellishments. I take most of my photos outside in the natural light to help brighten up my items even more.

3. What things do you shop for? What catches your eye? On Etsy, I mainly shop for gifts and embellishments to use on my cards. I love felt, buttons, chipboard and flowers. The items that catch my eye are usually bright and well made but also unique.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Thank you to everyone who responded!!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25901960
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25248992 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26672548

I will be featuring 3 Etsy sellers this week...can't wait to share!!! Here is a sneak peek to these wonderful Etsians!!!

Wigglysee Debbie makes the MOST adorable crochet animals...Marty monkey is my absolute favorite...an adorable gift for a child or child-at-heart!!! A steal at $14!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=96614

The Pink Designs Emma designs the most wonderful jewelry and her line of clothing is fabulous!!! My favorite is her bronze beauty...on sale now for $18.00

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5995530

Matdi123 Diana, a fellow So Cal girl, creates beautiful and fun handmade greeting cards...I love how she has such wonderful attention to detail!!! I love her pink flowery thank you card...it's just so darling!!! You can't beat $3.00!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5596958

So, just a little taste of my featured seller...I will be working hard and hopefully fast on posting their interviews...I love getting to know my fellow etsians!!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I want to feature YOU!!!

How can you resist this face....
Send me a note with your website....I would love to feature you!!!

Monday, June 22, 2009

I just got a new look!!!

I'm so excited about my new look!!!! After searching long and hard for the perfect graphic designer, I finally found Shalon of Paper Me Pretty...she designed my new avatar, banner, business cards, accessory cards and web ads (which you should be seeing shortly)!!! Since i'm a DIY kind of girl, I purchased her print your own package, but she offers full service printing as well!!! She was also WONDERFUL to work with!!!
Visit her store here:
and check out my new look!!!
www.thechrysanthemum.etsy.com

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day!!!

This was one of my gifts to Scott...I also bought him socks and underwear...yeah, i'm practical, but he loved it!!!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

How to make cute little flower hair pins, part 1

These little hair clippies are such cute little gifts for any little girl or girls at heart...they are so inexpensive to make too! I got most of my supplies from Michaels and the 99cent store. You can purchase your silk flowers from the Dollar Tree as well, they have a pretty nice selection. I prefer Michaels because they tend to be better quality silk flowers. I bought my hair clips from the 99cent store, Rhinestones from Michaels.
Okay, first things first, gather your material...you will need the following:
1 silk flower
1 hair clip
1 rhinestone
felt
hotglue
needle and thread
First take apart your flower I did not take a picture of the next part, you must sew the middle part of the flower, just a couple of stitches so that your flower doesn't come apart once it is glued

How to make cute little flower hair pins, part 2

Apply hot glue to the center of your flower..be careful...it's hot!!! Add your rhinestone...but try not to make a mess of your hotglue, like I did!!! Use a circular object to trace to little circles...I used one of my ring bases
Add hotglue to the bottom of your flower and attach one of your little felt circles to the flower

How to make cute little flower hair pins, part 3

Apply hot glue to your hair pin Attach your hair pin to your flower
Add your second felt circle to the bottom of the hair pin
Taaa-dah!!!
A cute little hair pin for your self or a lucky little girl

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Some of my etsy favorites...

When I found this seller in a chatroom on Etsy, I swear my stomach started to growl as soon as I saw these caramel and nougat pinwheel...Vintage Confections will make you DROOL! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26678364
I love this dress, it's so edgy and fun!!! It's a steal at $25.00!!! Iron Spider is an awesome store for unique and fun dresses and t-shirts!
I just found this seller on etsy...Ponder and Stitch...isn't this clutch adorable and it's only $25.00!!! This was added to my favorites today...I've got my eye on it!!!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Call me grumpy smurf...

I think this whole sleep deprivation deal is not working out for me too well...i've been going to bed pretty late, very busy at work, and sometimes with all the craziness going on around me, i've been feeling pretty overwhelmed. Trying to balance it all out is not an easy task!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Queen of the House

I ran down stairs tonight to get some water, flipped on the lights, and who do I see sprawled out on the couch...Miss Sandy Dandy...the gorgoues blond who has the run of the house. She has all of us human folks trained to her liking.

New items listed today!!!

I just listed these in my etsy store...come take a peek!!!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market

I love the idea of the Rose Bowl Flea Market...there are tons of vendors selling just about anything cool and vintage...people from everywhere visit this famous flea market, it's been feautured on HGTV and on the Style Network...even the stars have been known to pay a visit to find one of a kind items. The hip and the stylish all flock to the Rose Bowl Flea Market.
A few weeks ago, I thought it would be a great idea to go to the flea market...I dreamt of all the wonderful finds and goodies i'd come home with. And as a side note, it takes a lot for me to get outside of good ol' Riverside...I prefer to stay within the city limits. So, this trip I was about to make was a pretty big one. Not only is it a one hour and 11 minute drive (mapquest), I would have both boys shopping along with me. Anyhoo, I packed up the boys, bags, and stroller and headed out...first to church, and then to THE ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET, in beautiful Pasadena, CA.
I had been to the Rose Bowl in the past, a few times in fact, but I always seem to forget why I go every few years...One thing is, I hate crowds...what the heck was I thinking??? There are thousands and thousands of people shopping. I experience stroller rage while trying to manuever my way into the crowds...I feel like running the folks over (with my stroller, not car) who stop dead in their tracks to look at something, talk to their buddy, or just STAND THERE. I guess I forget that people are there to peruse through the many aisles of vintage goodies. I am not a peruser (not sure if it's an actual word, but i'll make my own words up for the sake of my story).
So my lesson learned today...
Stay at home. Shop online. Don't run people over with giant strollers...
But if you're curious...this is what I picked up today:
3 strands of beads-$7.50
1 vintage scarf-$1.00
1 glass (?) pendant necklace-$4.00
Ohhh....don't get me started on how expensive my cheesburger and bottle of water was...

Friday, June 12, 2009

New items...not listed yet!!!

I've been quite busy...I was able to make a few necklaces, earrings, and rings this week. I haven't posted these on etsy yet so you all are receiving a sneak peek!!!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

All dressed up and no place to go!!!

I just package a bunch of my earrings and rings...in anticipation of a sale...sniff, sniff....

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Teacher's Gift!!!

My son's last day of school is on Friday, June 12...he will be graduating from Kindergarten!!! I am so excited!!! I made his teacher a light green rose necklace with multi-faceted glass beads, a green chrysanthemum ring, and matte white azalea earrings with green accents. I hope she likes it. Nick said green was her favorite color. Let's hope he's right!!!

Sunday, June 7, 2009