Shop of the Week - MoonlightDreams

The Etsy Twitter Team presents this weeks' featured shop, MoonlightDreams and it's creator, Barbara Gordon. Barbara crochets a variety of accessories from hats to lacey gloves, from cowls to flower pins. Her items are designed for young adults and both men and women. Barbara says "I feel that my products are stylish, without being 'over the top', and I painstakingly check, and recheck my items before I ship them out. I want them to be fashionable, functional, and extremely durable, at affordable prices."

Barbara lives in sunny Southern California, where the weather greatly influences her approach to business. "I love making warm and cuddly hats and accessories, but the cold season is very short here. Etsy has been my saving grace, allowing me to market my products to the folks in colder climates". Etsy extends her season to include both the Northern and Southern hemisphere (yes! she ships internationally). She focuses on preparing new designs and products during the warmer months.

Barabara learned to crochet at the tender age of 8 years old. "I had a babysitter who wisely taught me to engage in something that would hold my interest and keep me focused. Crocheting has been a lifelong friend to me, and I’ve often thought of that lady and have always felt grateful to her for taking the time to teach a child a craft."

While Barbara's day job is neither artistic nor creative, the work she creates for Etsy allows her to "keep balance and peace in my world". Many an Etsian will understand that!

Barbara's Twitter advice to new tweeters: "Post interesting bits of news intermingled with sale information, and your shop and team promotions. Keep people interested in following you."

I asked Barbara: If you were stranded alone on a dessert island, what 5 things would you want with you? Her response:

"1.Yarn! Because as long as I have yarn with me I’m never bored.
2. My camera, so I could create beautiful pictures.
3. TV (I’m an addict) - I know it’s an island, but I can dream!
4. Water - because without water there is no life.
5. Internet connection - I love being connected to people."


20% off items in MoonlightDreams.Etsy.com
Redeem at checkout with code ETTSOTW20
Valid Monday, January 10, 2011, through
Sunday, January 16, 2011
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shops: MoonlightDreams AND Barbara Gordon Photography
Twitter: Twitter.com/barbgordonphoto
Facebook: facebook.com/mymoonlightdreams


Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Wonderland Wedding- spice it up with a splash of Jewelry

Today's shops are all about Jewelry for the bride, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, mother of the groom and grandmothers. If you watch the Rachel Zoe project, on Bravo, as much as I do you have learned that she talks about how simple it is to "spice up an outfit with jewelry".

Having handmade jewelry will make your wedding that much special. When something is handmade it automatically becomes a one of a kind.

These shops also customize items for the bridal need. Please ask the individual shop owners if they can make that special piece your looking for.

Meet Max (aka Maxine) of whimsyfish

Shown here is Max's Beautiful Gold & Ruby Necklace and a Matching Gold & Ruby Earrings .

Need something more Romantic? Check out her

Romantic Heart Necklace or Amber Heart Necklace

all of these items are inspired by fall colors and are just beautiful!

Meet Linda from Linda B's Beaded Jewelry & Accessories (aka LindaB142) . Linda's inspiration for this Brown Jasper Pendant is from the Autumn colors. It would be stunning on a mother of the bride, mother of the bridegroom or a grandmother (of the bride and groom).

She has many other beautiful pieces in her shop so make sure you stop by LindaB142.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow when we feature a few more shops to help you get ready for your special day.

~Jen~

Jenco13

Etsytwitter Team leader

Wonderland Wedding -Its all about the hair accessories.

Today's wedding idea is surrounded by October themed weddings and hair accessories for any bridal party.

Meet Mikiye from Mikiye Creations.

This beautiful Bridal or Special occasion black feather hair piece can help spice up an Elegant Black wedding or a make your bridal party stand out for a Halloween inspired wedding.

Mikiye has tons of hair pieces to choose from so I also suggest taking a look at her ravens kiss piece for another choice for your Halloween or Goth wedding.

No matter what your wedding theme is or colors are I highly suggest you check out her shop and explore her Heirloom quality Hair Accessories and Jewelry. She is also open for any custom orders.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for some more of our fabulous shops and ideas to help with your wedding.

And if your looking for something in particular don't hesitate to write a comment on our blog so we can point you in the right direction.

Cheers to beautiful wedding!

~Jen~

Etsy Twitter Team leader

Jenco13

WONDERLAND WEDDING -OCTOBER 1-9

Planning a wedding can make you crazy with all the activity that surrounds it. It’s hard enough to find a dress and a caterer and a band, never mind thinking about the little extras that make the event fun and memorable. The Etsy Twitter Team is creating this event for the bride-to-be so she can find unique items in one place. Our wedding gift to the bride will be great specials and discounts that will make it easier on her wedding budget.

From October 1 thru October 4, Fall weddings will be featured. A splendid display of all the Autumn colors will make for a beautiful wedding. Items for themed weddings - Halloween, Victorian, Goth, and Southern Bell will add to the fun.

From October 5 thru October 9, Winter weddings are in season - snow white, sparkling blue ice, warm reds, Christmas and New Year’s. Come back everyday and see how the Etsy Twitter Team can help you have a magical celebration.

Meet Valerie from crochetgal

With Fall having cool evenings make sure your bridal party is warm during those pictures and/or as a thank you gift for being in the bridal party. These shawls can be custom made for all members of the bridal party. (please convo her for color and other arrangements if you don't see it in her shop)

Shown here is the white wedding shawl with tiny beads.

A second version of this shawl is a butterfly shawl that can be viewed here.

Meet Ayca from SuppliesbyAyca

Use the coupon code "ETTLOVE" and she will offer 10% OFF on any of her crochet flowers.

The crocheted flowers can be used for wedding table decoration , favor , wedding hair accessories DIY ... etc

~A special thanks to Maxine from WhimsyFish for writing the first part of this blog and our PR for the event.

A special thanks to Jessica from frostedtreats for making the graphic for this event.

~Jen~

Jenco13

Etsytwitter team leader

Shop of the Week - jusshar

The Etsy Twitter Team shop of the week is jusshar, featuring the sewn, knit, and crocheted accessories created by Beth Newbern-Hallam. Beth just doesn't run down to the store to buy material for every project. She loves to recyle yarns and fabrics. As she puts it, "I'm really dedicated to using what I have, and repurposing materials into something new." She does buy new materials for use in custom projects, unless the customer is like-minded and requests the repurposed materials!

As for ideas, Beth doesn't just get inspired; she is driven! "I just have an internal need to create. I knit and/or crochet every single day. I can't imagine NOT creating." Another thing Beth loves about her work is its mobility. She'll take it along on trips, car rides...even to her kids' school events! And if she's not getting the result she wants? "I can just unravel it and start over."

On the business front, Beth is planning to revamp her blog and website. She also plans to change the direction of her work from trying to hit trends to creating the items that come from her own imagination. This will be a challenge as she is a full time student in graphics and web design and planning a move to North Carolina where she plans to continue her college education. She wont' be alone though, as her youngest son will be attending the same college!

As for Twitter, Beth does tweet, but considers herself a "dabbler". As a business tool, she approaches social media carefully as she is concerned about being spammy. "That's such a turn off for me personally." Bringing business to her shop has been a struggle, although she has concluded that her sales are cyclical, with increased activity over the holidays. With her busy college schedule and planned relocation, Beth is planning to put her Etsy shop on an indefinate break on November 30th. "I'd like to sell out my Etsy shop(s) by then."


This week, jusshar is offering
25% off to anyone who adds
"SOTW" in the message to the seller!
~~~~~~~
Other links to jusshar:
Etsy Shop: http://jusshar.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jusshar
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jusshardesigns
Blog: http://jusshardesigns.blogspot.com

Written by Judy of Wellspring Creations

Shop of the Week - FrostedTreats

The Etsy Twitter Shop of the Week is FrostedTreats, featuring the creations of Jessica Mount. Since 2008, she's used polymer clay to make delicious looking cupcakes, cakes, cookies, pea pods, roses...and the occasional pig in an ice cream cone! While most of the tiny sculptures are wearable charms, Jessica has expanded her product line to include general accessories: bookmarks, push pins, magnets, etc.

For inspiration, Jessica collects photos, mostly from the Internet, of a variety of items: flowers, cakes, owls, fortune cookies, teapots, butterflies (and a few of her brother's pick up truck, though she's not quite sure how they got in there!) Always open to new ideas, when someone says "Oh! You should make..." she adds it to her list!

About her work, Jessica says "Since clay is my medium, the possibilities of what I can create are only limited by my own imagination. That is why I LOVE custom orders. I love having someone ask for something abstract and being able to say, "Yup! I can do that!" The only greater feeling is when they receive the finished product."

Jessica's goal this year is to continue expanding her product line. She says "Even though I love the idea of wearing a little cupcake around my neck or strawberries dangling from my ears, not everyone is into that sort of fashion statement. I've been working on creating more gift-able items...that way everyone can enjoy a little extra treat without worrying if the color of their frosting matches the rest of their outfit!"

In addition to her Etsy shop, Jessica will be showing her creations at a few craft fairs and market tables through the fall in preparation for the holiday season. She's been sketching out some holiday ornaments and...listening to her customers who are looking for gifts to give, that has defined her holiday focus. Look forward to all these new creations in FrostedTreats over the coming weeks!

Jessica has found that Twitter is her main form of bringing traffic to her Etsy shop "Since I started tweeting about my handmade crafts (as well as cross-promoting for things that catch my eye!) my sales and traffic have been phenomenal!" Her advice: "Tweet others the way you would like to be tweeted! If you see something that catches your eye, tweet about it! Having someone else gush over your work is so much more rewarding than gushing over your own projects. Make connections. Build friendships and networks with crafters like yourself and with people whose talents amaze you!"

Jessica's creativity is matched only by her enthusiasm!


FREE shipping to US/Canada
No coupon needed :)
Free gift to buyers who mention
"Etsy Twitter Team"
in the message to the seller
~~~~~~~
Visit FrostedTreats in all these places:
Etsy Shop: http://frostedtreats.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/frostedtreats
Facebook: http://facebook.com/frostedtreats
Blog: http://frostedtreats.blogspot.com
Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week: Sumiko Shop

Evelyn Palazzin, of SumikoShop.etsy.com, creates gorgeous jewelry and accessories for women. Her shop is filled with lovely items and the photographs are beautiful, enticing all who stop by to take a look and make a purchase. Evelyn lives in a tourist town by the sea in Italy. Her creations have an old-world charm about them.

“I have always had a passion to create, to recycle items, and to invent and process things from scratch. I don’t consciously think of myself as an artist BUT as a person who always loves to create and learn new techniques. After I became a mother, I used my free time to create jewellery and accessories for myself and my friends. That was also about the time that I discovered Etsy and the world of eShops.

"I have always had a passion for sewing clothes for myself, but I also loved unique and original accessories, and I found such joy in creating them, or seeing people wear such items. I spend countless hours searching for new materials and findings for my jewellery. It’s inevitable to get an idea or inspiration after such intense consideration of materials. Sometimes just studying them creates images of the completed item in my mind.”

If you never become famous with your art, would you still think it was a route worth taking? “Certainly. The joy of art is in its creation, its appreciation, and its ability to enrich the mind. We must not think of art as a means for fame and wealth, but as a way of expression, to keep the mind active, and as the wholesome way to live fully, daily. If success and fame comes, then it comes as a surprise.”

Follow her on Twitter: @SumikoShop
Read her blog: SumikoCreations.blogspot.com

Special Offer for the Week: Free shipping worldwide. Mention “Etsy Twitter” in Message to Seller and shipping will be refunded.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade Sumikoshop.etsy.com

All photos copyright to Sumiko Shop/Evelyn Palazzin

Shop of the Week: Angel Kisses Jewelry

Angel Kisses Jewelry is a collective of related artists. Michelle Aguilar, her mother Sherry Hadley, and sister Annette Crews create one of kind jewelry pieces using semi-precious stones, glass beads and their own handmade polymer clay beads and pendants. Many of their creations are available as full sets of matching earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. They really do make unique pieces any woman would be glad to wear around town.


“Each of our pieces is unique. We spend a lot of time selecting the best available materials to ensure our final pieces are unlike anything else. The art of jewelry design is a form of self-expression. We each bring ourselves into our designs and continually strive to learn and perfect new techniques and materials. This broadens our available selection to our customers.

We love to create and inspiration can strike at the funniest times. Sometimes we are inspired by fashion or art, and other times it's like a mental getaway in your head while you type an email at work. We have each had our own arts and crafts we have been helplessly addicted to throughout the years. I think the inspiration and draw for our jewelry is that we sit down with a pile of beads or a clump of clay and we have a gorgeous piece that we can instantly wear out the door when we are finished. It's like instant gratification for crafters.”

When asked about networking: “Twitter has been an invaluable networking site for us. It has allowed us to keep our followers informed on both the personal and business fronts of being jewelry designers, bringing us closer to our customers. We tweet our new listings, updates and promotions as well as personal updates about working together as a family and our own passions in life.”

From March 2 - 8, 10% of all proceeds from sales will go to support HIV Positive women in Addis Kidan, Ethiopia, through the Good Samaritan Organization. Sherry personally visits this organization in Ethiopia to ensure the funds go directly to the women. Her next visit to Ethiopia is scheduled for March 16, 2009.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade AngelKissesJewelry.etsy.com

Shop of the Week: Beautiful Bridget

Kimberly Ferrugia, of Beautiful Bridget, has a lovely shop filled with handmade crochet scarves, cowls, scarflettes, hats, accessories and more. Each product is made with lots of love and attention to detail... if it isn't what she considers perfect then she won't sell it, it's that simple! Her items have a fun and funky flair to them. Her color choices are divine! She adds unusual details to her items so they are each one-of-a-kind!

Beautiful Bridget has been open on Etsy since May 2008. All of the items available in her store are handmade by her and can be made in various colors. If you see something you like but want it in a different color just let her know! She is very open to accepting custom orders.

Shipping is completely free to the US and Canada! Beautiful Bridget ships internationally as well. She also offers gift certificates in her shop in case you would rather let your loved one pick their own gift or you just cannot decide because her creations are all so wonderful.


In addition to being an Etsy Twitter Team member she is also a member of the following teams on Etsy: EtsyFAST, the Christian Artists Street Team (CAST), EtsyMoms, Etsy Hookers, Fabulous Artistic Moms (FAM), Etsy Twitter and Etsy Trade-a-holics (Team Trade On).

The deadline for shipping for Valentine's Day is February 9th for US shipping and February 2nd for international shipping.

If you love crocheted items check out her shop because you will not be disappointed!

All images © Kimberly Ferrugia of Beautiful Bridget

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade beautifulbridget.etsy.com