I Want It - Housewares

I haven't done a "want it" post in a while and this morning the lure of a lazy, leisurely Etsy browse was just too much to resist.

I'm really feeling housewares right now, possibly due to the stuck-inside weather and impending holiday entertaining. Here are a few of my favorite finds:


PopWall


DishfulsOfDoodles


JaneJoss


MaryLittfin


OliveandRuby


DimmalimmHome

Great Gift Ideas for Her

Check out the LJ Design & Photo blog today for some great gift ideas for the ladies in your life - all handmade by fellow Etsy moms!


While you're at it, take a peak at the LJ Design & Photo shop on Etsy for some more gift ideas of the photographic variety. I'm a proud owner of these two:

Check Us Out at The Creative JAR!

Many thanks to The Creative Jar for including our Thank You mini cards in today's Thanksgiving post. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

http://www.thecreativejar.com/2009/11/full-of-thanks.html

Artisan Feature - elpy [Handcrafted]

This week's featured artisan is Rebecca of elpy [Handcrafted]. A twitter buddy and fellow blogger, Rebecca stocks her Etsy shop with an eclectic blend of unique jewelry and super cute housewares.

Tell me a little about yourself and what you do
I'm Rebecca, a child of the 90's and new college student (after a long break). My family and I live in Connecticut. I make jewelry - some knotted, some beaded, some chainmaille, some a mix of the three - and small woodburned housewares. Magnets and coasters, with ornaments and wall art coming soon.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Hmm, this is a little tricky. I'll go with colorful, shapely, and natural.

What inspires you?
Words, letters and numbers. Shapes, colors and patterns. Kind of elementary things, the bits and pieces that make up the world around us. I like to incorporate them, mimic what I see, when I can.

What drives you to create what you do?
I've been a crafty entrepreneur at some level or other since I was in third grade. It's who I am...I'm starting to accept that. Seeing a void of an item type or technique makes me want to learn how to fill it.


What makes your work unique?
Me! hehe. Ok, more seriously, I like to reinvent things, tweak techniques and try to create the unexpected.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
It's currently a full-time hobby. It is my outlet and I've met tons of super-talented and friendly artists and designers as well. I'm inspired and humbled by them daily. Can't believe I'm part of such a community. I would like for it to be a full-time job, to make my living making things maybe teaching sometimes, too. I definitely have an inborn entrepreneurial spirit. Working for myself suits me.


How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
My ideal would be to have a brick and mortar shop of my own, selling my items and those of some of the artists I love. It's something lacking in my area. That's probably farther down the road than 5 years.

So I'd like get my work in some shops. I'd like to firm up my product line, decide for sure which of the ideas I've had for a while I'll actually add to my brand. I want to always be learning, trying to get better.


Where can we find you on the web?
Blog: http://not-rachel.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/notrachel
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_lp_flickr
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/elpy-Handcrafted/20893912192

Artisan Feature - Andrea Baker

This week's featured artisan is Andrea Baker. One of my first Etsy friends and a fellow work-at-home mama, Andrea creates ingenious little handsewn creations, from business card cozies to adorable little clutches.

Tell me a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a mom of two beautiful girls. I truly enjoy taking my creativity and crafting it into something that can be held. Crafting for me is also a great way to unwind and relax.

What 3 words best describe your work?

Classy, Functional and Affordable


What inspires you?
The colors around me, nature, my children, my husband, really anything and everything is inspiring.

What drives you to create what you do?
Creating give me a way to make something that can be held and potentially passed down from generation to generation.


What makes your work unique? My work is unique because each piece is something that I’ve envisioned and there for has a bit of me in it.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play? Work plays a major role in my life. It gives me an opportunity to express myself and to also teach my children a way to express themselves as well.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I would love to have my work be shown in magazines and perhaps be available in gift shops. In five years I’d love to move my current studio into a room all its own.

Where can we find you on the web?
Handmade by Andrea Baker http://www.andreabaker.etsy.com
Blog This Mom’s Life {Andrea Baker} – http://andreabakerdesigns.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/AndreaBaker
Plurk – http://www.plurk.com/AndreaBaker


Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Artisan Feature - able mabel

This week's featured artisan is Leann of able mabel. I've been a big fan since I began selling on Etsy. Leann's shop is filled with wonderfully creative, highly functional items for home and baby.

Tell me a little about yourself and what you do?
I am a stay at home mom who uses able mabel as a means of escape from the "real world". I love the "out" that creating gives me. It makes everyday life more managable.

What 3 words best describe your work?
Fresh, Fun, Functional


What inspires you?
This question is always one of the easiest to answer. My inspiration comes from everywhere! A piece of fabric or paper, nature, color schemes seen in stores, magazines, et.

What drives you to create what you do?
I suppose it would be the need to use a different part of my brain. The creative side.


What makes your work unique?
I try to find fun, interesting pattern to use in my work and make most of it one of a kinds.

What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
My work is my "me" time. I sneak it in whenever I can. I think it's perfect just the way it is.


How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I'd be perfectly content if it stayed about the same. Granted, I'd love to sell more, but who wouldn't? :)

Where can we find you on the web?
Etsy: http://ablemabel.etsy.com
Artfire: http://ablemabel.artfire.com
Blog: http://mabelisable.blogspot.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Rave - Super Cute Wristlet

On this dreary Thursday morning, I thought I'd brighten things up with a quick rave about one of my most recent Etsy purchases, this adorable little keyring/wristlet thingie by FancyFerris. It's the perfect size for my keys, credit cards, business cards and cash; and the wrist strap is comfy and the perfect length. The ingenious elastic sides make this the perfect expandable wallet. It's not quite wide enough for my iPhone, but it doesn't matter. It's still the only thing I need to take with me for a quick trip to the store. And it was a life-saver at the State Fair a few weeks ago.

I'm big on "compartmentalizing" my handbag. Instead of a junk-drawer situation, my bag contains three handmade zipper pouches - one for snacks (I'm a mom after all); one for emergency stuff like eye drops, kleenex, lip balm and hand sanitizer; and another for the gym. Yes, it's a big bag. Here's one of my faves from AbbaDabba Bags:


Some of my other go-to sewing geniuses include My Beautiful Girl and Pyong Bricole.

Artisan Feature - bijouxbead

This week's featured artisan is Darlene of bijouxbead. A fellow mom, Twitter buddy and incredibly talented Canadian jewelry artist, Darlene creates stunning beaded necklaces. I experienced the beauty of Darlene's work firsthand last Christmas and was truly amazed at the intricacy and precision of her work. Many thanks to Darlene for participating in this interview!

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I am a jewelry artist from Toronto Canada. My work is represented by several galleries, and I have a small shop on Etsy.

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Distinctive Wearable Art

What inspires you?
Canada and its inimitability

What drives you to create what you do?
The charitable work that I am able to do through Bijouxbead is the #1 reason I enjoy creating.

What makes your work unique?
My work is highly detailed and very distinctive. The entire necklace collection is multi-stranded and one of a kind featuring glass metal and stone, the bracelet collection features semi precious stone and handmade silver clasps, and the earrings are designed to compliment the bracelet collection.


What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Achieving balance is my ultimate goal, isn’t it everyone’s?

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I am not sure where this business will take me; I have been very fortunate up until now, and I’m still on a huge learning curve.

Where can we find you on the web?
http://www.bijouxbead.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

Artisan Feature - Memories for Life Scrapbooks

This week's featured artisan is Edi of Memories for Life Scrapbooks. A talented scrapbook artist, Edi creates gorgeous custom albums and adorable little notebooks to help the non-scrappers among us capture all of life's special occasions in style.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I live in a small town in Iowa with my boyfriend and our dog. I am currently laid off from my "day job" so I am thankful I have my scrapbooking to keep me busy :) I create albums of all kinds. I make mini albums as well as full-sized custom albums. Give me your photos and I'll do all the work :) Or order a premade album and add your own photos. I have something for everyone!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Custom, Memories, Keepsakes

What inspires you?
Magazines, other artists, the world around me! It's amazing where you can find inspiration. It's all around us...we just have to look :)

What drives you to create what you do?
Knowing that I'm helping people preserve their memories is all the drive I need :) It's a great feeling to create an album for someone knowing that it will be treasured for generations to come!

What makes your work unique?
I give people the ability to customize their albums any way they want. When it comes to paper...I can pretty much do anything they want :) This is why my Custom Name and Word Albums are so popular...people like that personal touch :)


What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Right now it plays a very large role. My business is still small, but being laid off...it is my full-time job. It would be wonderful to scrapbook for a living...maybe someday :)

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I just started selling my work at a local gift shop and hope to get more wholesale orders from local businesses. I also plan to do more craft shows. I do two per year now and would like to find bigger shows and do them more often. And I would love to add a new studio onto our house that I could sell from! Wow...big plans!

Where can we find you on the web?
My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5556196
My Blog: http://memoriesforlifescrapbooks.blogspot.com/
And look for me on Facebook in the near future...Memories for Life Scrapbooks

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

I Want It

While strolling through the gallery of fellow "creative blogger," mezz of mezzG Creations, I stumbled upon this pair of appealingly asymmetrical silver bangles and simply had to share. Quirkily striking and decidedly unfussy, these bracelets make my heart go pitter-patter.

Stroll through the mezzG gallery yourself to see everything this one-of-a-kind artisan has to offer. And be sure to check out mezz's blog while you're at it!

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

I Want It

TiLT Creations is nothing if not original. This little handpainted foldover clutch is no exception. So simple, it's almost like I could make it myself... only mine wouldn't be this cute... at all... since I can't sew... or paint. I absolutely love it!

Get it here (and on sale, no less!). And be sure to check out Theresa's blog for more TiLT Creations happenings.

Featured Artisan -- Rosebud's Lampwork Beads

This week's featured artisan is Mallory of Rosebud's Lampwork Beads. An amazing lampwork artist, Mallory offers beautiful handcrafted glass beads, jewelry and more in her Etsy shop.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
I am a retired special education teacher with a passion for melting glass. I make lampwork beads. I feel that making glass beads is challenging and exciting. I don't feel like I've begun to master the craft. Those unborn beads keep me excited about life!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
funky, fun, affordable

What inspires you?
I think bright colors and patterns are the most inspiring things for me. When I see colors combined with an amazing pattern, I want to make that bead!

What drives you to create what you do?
I love a challenge. Making lampwork beads is a challenge because there is always something new to learn and to master.

What makes your work unique?
I like to make things that are one of a kind. I rarely repeat a bead. It's hard for me to make identical beads for a set for that reason. I love variety, and I love making that one of a kind bead.


What role does your work play in your life?
Making and marketing my beads is a predominant part of my life. I try to torch almost everyday. I do like to take, at least, one day off a week, but the marketing aspect of selling the beads, is ongoing and everyday.

What role would you like it to play?
I like what I do now. I would like to have to work less on marketing, but there's a lot of healthy, good competition out there. There are so many truly great lampwork bead artists. I really want to be more like them with less in the way of marketing.

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I feel that my work can only get better. I hope to continue to enjoy making lampwork glass beads. I also hope to bring more wire work and fiber into my pieces. One of these days, I hope to slow down a bit, too.

Where can we find you on the web?
Informational Website: http://www.rosebud101.com
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5181465
Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/rosebud101
1000Markets: http://www.1000markets.com/users/1078
Blog: http://www.rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.

I Really REALLY Want It

How adorable is this illustration by Chichiboulie?!? I want to fill my little girl's room with them! Vibrant colors, rich and joyful characters, and lovely themes - I could find a home for just about everything in the entire boutique!

Get this one here. And be sure to check out the "Boulie Blog" here.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

Featured EtsyBlogger -- miesmama

Congrats to this month's featured EtsyBlogger, miesmama. A longtime active member of EtsyBloggers and also a member of the Felting team, miesmama creates pretty little things for just about anyone. From her profile:

I am a mother of two who loves to be creative. I knit, quilt and daydream. Anything to do with textiles inspires me and makes me happy.

Check out the miesmama blog to learn more about this unique and lovely artisan. Hope she's enjoyed her month of EtsyBloggers fame!

Artisan Feature -- EdUB Graphic Art and Design

This week's featured artisan is Erin of EdUB Graphic Art and Design. A super talented graphic artist, Erin offers logos, business cards, banners, blog layouts and more in her Etsy shop. Some of her favorite logos are featured here.

Tell me a little bit about you and what you do.
My name is Erin and I'm currently moving from place to place with my husband's construction job. It was hard for me to find work in this new place because not only was the economy horrible, but I was five months pregnant (and despite what the law says, people don't want to hire a pregnant woman!) Enter, Etsy! I started designing logos for people in alchemy and then opened shop in March. I've had such a blast with it! I do custom logos, blogs, etsy shop make-overs, photo editing, print design, invitations, etc. I'm always open to custom requests!!!

What 3 phrases best describe your work?
Unique, lovely, girlie :)

What inspires you?
COLORS! I love mixing different colors, especially blues and greens (thus why my logo is blue and green!)

What drives you to create what you do?
I just love art and I love being able to create while making some extra cash on the side...even better :)

What makes your work unique?
I think I have a totally different style from a lot of designers...partially because I haven't had formal training. My ideas come from me and the more I practice, the more creative I can get.


What role does your work play in your life? What role would you like it to play?
Work is important to me, but my family is my first priority. Any extra time my husband has at home, I spend it with him...other things will be put on hold. After baby...more things will probably be put on hold :) However, I believe in balance in all things and I will definitely keep working to keep my sanity!!

How do you see your work and/or your business evolving in the next five years?
I really hope to see a greater clientele...I LOVE working with repeating clients because I know their style and it's so easy to work with someone you feel you know! I have met some really great people on etsy and I hope to continue to do so.

Where can we find you on the web?
My Store: www.edub.etsy.com
My Blog: www.edubgraphicdesign.blogspot.com

Are you an artist or craftsperson? Would you like to be featured here? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment here with a link to your shop, and I'll be in touch about future opportunities.