I Love it! Peace and Love to all!!! Have a wonderful day!! :)

Great Article! The perfect way to start my week! ;)

beautiful idea. we used to have a new year's day tradition of scattering our town with a poem. great post!

amazing! such a great idea!

Awesome!.. Thanks for doing this!.. off to vote right away :)

Carpe dream!

WE will be voting for you every day!!! you guys totally uplift me and i love your site! This will rock!!

Love what you do ♥♥♥

How inspiring! ...voting! ;)

The best is yet to come, friends! You can make it if you try!

This is great! I will vote immediately.

Wonderful, inspiring article! :)

What an incredible idea and inspiring article. Best of luck!

I love this thinking. If we encourage one other person to be what they want to be - then it is a good day. It is easier to say these things to another that ourselves!! Life is short. I like leaving books I have loved reading with a bookmark saying "really good book" but would love to actually 'see' it through and watch the book change hands.

Very inspiring!

Very inspirational! I always find it very heart-warming to see items with positive and hopeful messages during these tough economic times.

Thank you for this focus ☮♥♪

this world needs more people like you, amanda + jenn. bonne chance.

A real anti-depression program!

Thank you so much for this! :D

Wonderful :) Spreading good energy, kindness...will be voting and following your journey. Thank you for sharing. Peace, love and smiles.

Lots of lovely type with a great, positive message!! spread the cheer!

Wonderful...

kindness and beauty shared...what is better than that?

Beautiful, really brightened my day. Best of luck in your wonderful endeavors! :)

Love, love, LOVE the positivity!!! :D

"It's not a job, it's just what we do because we have to: it's a lifestyle. and what a beautiful life we live~ thank you for such an uplifting post!

I love it!

Great article, it put a smile on my face. Thanks for spreading such positivity.

I am very inspired and will think of my act of kindness this Christmas. I will vote for you on Pepsi

As a life long artist I have always believed: What I am seeking, is also seeking me ! I put the fellowship of Etsy on that table. Wonderful story, thank you Amanda !

Thank you for the positivity!!!

beautiful x

Wonderful, I LOVE your ideas and intentions. The world need somenone like you who will step up to the plate and start at the beginning and work through to the end. Good luck to you and yours. Lisa

This is the best idea ever! It really just filled my heart with joy to read this!

The most important thing is to have a good heart, be compassionate and help our fellow human beings. The smallest of kind acts can yield huge positive results on the line. Great concept and plan, Amanda! I'm with you.

All for LOVE and a POSITIVE message! Love conquers all.

so lovely!

You asked for comments and I couldn't agree wth you more. It is a great way to help others. I have for years helped other people. It is difficult to keep a positive attitude sometimes, but I keep trying. I now understand how the people I have helped before have felt as I am about to lose insurance and more because of the down economy. Sometimes it feels as if you constantly go backward. Not for lack of trying. It has become difficult to decide between food and other expenses when you are working and things will just not fall into place. I wish you success in your endeavors and goals. A noteworthy project.

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT thats my moto INSPIRE an BE KIND THANKS for sharing

This is so wonderful!

Another inspiring article! I knew I had found a way to make my creative dreams come true as a full-time artist when I found Etsy. With articles like these, it makes me reach for the stars!

This is amazing, Amanda. YOU are amazing. Happy Monday, lovely lady. You can count on my vote(s)!

y'all are wonderful! thanks for featuring my print in this article.. "do what you love" is what i remind myself of every single day, so i'm glad it can be an inspiration to others as well! :)

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments & support, it means the world!!! To all who voted & will continue to vote every day, THANK YOU too!!! I have my fingers crossed that we can do this! xox

Life is way too short for meaness, glad you get it! peace

Namaste!

Absolutely wonderful and inspiring! Best wishes for dreams coming true.

I voted!! Love the idea and I know the help is needed!!

I love paying it forward, the only way to live..

What a wonderful idea! Best of luck to you. I will be voting for you every day! God bless you!

Thank you!!! This is inspiring & wonderful!!

Very inspirational! Wonderful post!!!

This is such an inspiring concept ~ I'm off to go vote right now! *blessings* to you...

Very inspiring and uplifting!!! Great way to start the week! Thank You!!!

Wonderful!! Thank you so much :)

So wonderful and inspirational! Makes me want to do some "card drops" of my own! Love what you're doing! :)

Absolutely, positively awesome!

What a wonderful message you have! I try to do other kindnesses whenever I can and it's great to know there are others out there doing the same thing! I am off to vote for you - keep it coming!

Just voted! Thanks for the inspiration!

You all rock! Thank you for your kind words. I am soooo excited! Our ranking is going to stay the same until Wednesday or Thursday - until the votes are accumulated & counted... & then Pepsi's system will refresh & our true ranking should be shown then. Will keep you all posted! Thank you so much for all the votes! xoxox

This is SO MUCH fun! We have so many things we want to get done in a similar style- now if only the kids will let us find the time! Great article! Thanks! etsyLove from, Jamie

Absolutely wonderful...makes my heart smile!

oh I didn't want it to end... I got sad at the bottom!! I WANT MORE! hehehe... great picks!

Love it!!

Great idea. Will vote

I voted for you. Awesome idea, Im crossing my fingers for you and will spread the word.

AWESOME I voted!!!

not sure if it counts, but our friends and family mails each other the same velvet kenny rogers painting every year at the holidays. so...you get to host him for a year every several years. thanks for the inspiration!

Wonderful!! Very inspiring!

awesome-reading this made me feel warm and fuzzy! thank you for sharing!

Wow, Spot on! "Never let the ODDS keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do!" Thanks so much!!

Oh, my girls... I love you! Thank you so much for all that you do, I am blown away by this. I'm so happy that you've invited me to be part of your blog on several occasions - I will definitely, absolutely vote every day. --- I truly believe that if we do what we love for the benefit of others, success and affluence will be ours. I want to share a little story of how I got to where I am now and how finances were an issue with getting started up... I graduated from art school last year with an enormous student loan debt to pay off. The "logical" thing to do would have been to get a 9-5 in house design job and put my dreams of being a freelance artist on the back burner. 9-5s offer a type of stability: benefits, set salary, etc. This way, I wouldn't have to worry about where I'm going to get rent money, how I'm going to eat, etc. I was about to sign on to a big-time corporate gig when I felt something in my heart. It was almost like a part of me was dying... I knew that if I sold this time of my life to pay off my loans, I was not going to be fulfilled in any way. I backed out of the job last minute and decided to pour my heart into being an independent artist. I slaved away every day and night promoting my work, writing to blogs, participating in craft shows... I was absolutely 100% committed to sharing my message with the world. And here I am! I am so happy to say that I am now a full time freelance illustrator, Etsy shop owner AND able to pay my student loans off. I am forever grateful that I heard my heart's plea! Who knows where I'd be if I hadn't... Please please please don't sell yourself short. This life is it. Go at it with all of your passion and don't leave any room for doubt to creep in. "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." Rumi

Just voted!

I love you gals! You are such an inspiration and your blog is a daily read for me! I am on my way to vote for you!!

Fantastic! I've been inspired to do my part to leave "little bits of kindness" wherever I go. I've also voted, and signed up for the daily vote reminder. I'll be voting for you until the contest closes. Hope it gets you a win!

I have been struggling trying to buy the materials I need to make my handbags. We are living on just my husband's income (we are a family of 3) and when we have extra cash, I buy materials. He doesn't mind because when we DON'T have extra cash, I end up selling a purse! But it would be lovely if I could just have $200 to buy LOTS of materials to make a bunch of purses. I can dream! http://www.etsy.com/shop/stardust200141

I love it!!!

Very cool and thoughtful idea!

How wonderful you are for starting this! It's so beyond brilliant. I'm dashing off to vote now!

As a creative person my struggles have been that I can't make what I really wish I could because I need to make what my customers want to buy. Which I also enjoy doing but it's time consuming. I don't want to give details here but if it's possible I would love to talk about it in a convo or something similar. Warm regards from sunny México.

I think that the Kind Over Matter Project is a wonderfully inspiring idea! I am off to go vote.

very inspiring! thank you...

What a fabulous project. Going to vote! xoxo, Gina

LOVE it :)))

LOVE it :))

Kind over Matter is my favorite blog. I have been following for quite some time, and done some advertising with them too. It makes me feel really good, and I totally am going to support them with my votes.

Love is creativity in motion, there is no other way to feel alive for me. Your project is fantastic!

My dream was to create a job for my son who is disabled. I started to create and sell jewelry to some boutiques in town, in the beginning he made the matching earrings. This tickled his creativity and after a short time he had more ideas then his hands could possibly be creating in the few hours a day has. Unfortunately i became seriously ill short after starting this business. It has been a struggle to find the courage to go on, to forget about the pain and just to go on one step further, and another one, and another one. After two years i finally feel a little better, i have found enough boutiques in town who wants to sell what we produce to make a living. The Etsy shop i created a few years ago has not been alive until a few weeks ago, i finally found the time and the courage to try to start selling online, looking for a new stream of income to take this business to a next level. So far i have not been successful but i am new here and there is a lot i have to learn.

This is a really wonderful idea-I love to think of people coming together to help each other...My husband and I have been hit very hard by this economy and actually moved from NY to WA in hopes of a fresh start so I can really sympathize with everyone who is struggeling right now. I will definitely vote for you!

Love love love the concept!! Thank you for sharing positivity and supporting handcrafted biz. Good luck with the Pepsi grant!

Thankyou. I love your article and your ideas! There are so many good people out there -good and creative! I have voted and will tell my friends here in the UK about your website and your plans. Good luck with everything. Love 'n' Light Lisa

VERY INSPIRATIONAL CONCEPT! I'll vote for your dreams...We share the same ideal,living at the other side of the planet.Best regards from Athens/Greece.Antigoni.

I love the idea of doing crazy things, like leaving a bag of cookies somewhere with a sign saying saying "please take one", or an emergency £1 coin at a train stationplanting wild flower seeds on waste ground...... xx

Good luck hope you win with the backing of everyone on Etsy!

Awesome philanthropic vision, and you have actually made it work! In the midst of life's challenges, the worse thing that can happen to us spiritually is to lose hope...your mission helps to keep people inspired..God's speed to you!

What a wonderful organization! This is very inspiring for me. I will vote for you!

A lovely article!

You all must have great karma! Good luck!

Brilliant!!! :0)

To wake up this morning & read all this beautiful, heartrending stories, thank you all for sharing them. We are a family of four, our house knows what penny-pinching means, my fiance lost his job during that time & it was really hard. We are lucky that we don't & didn't live an extravagant lifestyle. I am a so, so thankful for all your support. Heaps of Love & Gratitude!!!

If all businesses would engage in this manner what a better, more inspirational world this would be. You have my vote, and my vote, and my vote. All the best.

Wonderful! I voted, and will vote daily!

Thank you :):):):):)

Wonderful :) Love it.

This is a great article.. we need more people like yourself and your friend .. thanks for being so kind to others =)

loved the article.

This is such a wonderful idea! What a great way to brighten someone's day or to inspire. I have always said that a smile can completely change a stranger's day, so smile wherever you go. Kindness to the people!!!!!

Thank you, this is just the thought I needed for this day. You make my heart sing. Being retired and trying to make my own way is hard enough with your inspiration I feel much better.

This is so wonderful. I work a 9-5, and would love to be able to support myself on my creativity alone. I am a graduate with a music degree who enjoys singing and creating more than anything in the world, but i work as a secretary. Granted, I am lucky enough to be a secretary that helps in the raising of money for the arts in our community, but I wish everyday that i could work in a more creative environment, with a job that allows me to imagine and create daily. Kindness to everyone involved with this project! I voted, and hope that you have all the success the world can offer! I have always said that a smile can change someone's day, so smile at everyone, you never know who needs it. :) Good Luck!

This is just what I needed today! Thank you!!

This is a great idea! I'm voting because I think we all need a little random act of kindness in our lives!

Amanda and Jenn, You are so inspiring, you truly are. Selfless and kind and spreading so much love. I whole heartedly believe that Random acts of kindness can truly touch people and change their lives. I have experienced this first hand..you never know how much a simpe hi or smile can affect someone and change their day. I live by random acts of kindness in my daily life...I have a daily goal for myself..and its as simple as making someone, anyone who I see during the day, smile, with a compliment or a joke, or a kind gesture. It starts with kindness and from there the skies the limit. I love what you said.."Its not a job, its just what we do because we have to." So true... Thank you for your inspiration!!

What a fabulous idea! I love it! I voted for you and I put the widget to encourage other to vote on my blog: http://wildrosesgarden.blogspot.com/ Good luck!

What a great thing you are doing. There is nothing more satisfying that doing something kind to pick up another person's day. I try to do the same thing and to look at each day with a heart full of gratitude for all that my life holds and the beauty I see around me. Whenever I feel like reaching out to someone, I do. With money for a free dinner or a free children's book for a child whose parents can't afford it. My husband and I are very passionate about being giving people and it is life enriching that is for sure. Kudos to you. Acts of kindness make the world a better place.

I voted and promoted this on Facebook. What a lovely idea!

in a world of pessimism what a wonderful idea. I often do things for people and try not to tell them that i did it. I do this to realize that i am not the center of the universe.

I've always been a strong believer of 'what you sow, you shall also reap'. As such, I've been a strong supporter of Project Linus (http://projectlinus.org ) and both my partner and I have been actively involved in our local chapter. Our group hit a major milestone last spring... we delivered our 10,000th blanket in 5 years! Project Linus provides blankets for kids in crisis. Many have been taken by CPS (Child protective services), others are in hospitals. If we don't have yarns to make blankets, someone will come through with a donation of either yarns or funds at exactly the right time. The blanketeers never know who will recieve the blanket that they have made, nor will they ever see the smile that blanket brings. But they do bring smiles, otherwise we wouldn't keep on making them.

This is just exactly what I needed to read today! Thank you...

I may not be struggling to buy supplies for my products as my husband and I both work full time, but would love to help any way I can! I will be voting and will be promoting this on Facebook as well!

What a great idea! I'll be happy to vote for it every day.

What an awesome, terrific idea. I voted and tweeted about it! And yes, and an individual business woman / entrepreneur money is definitely an issue for me. I find myself looking for dull, part-time jobs to bring in money when I'd rather be creating and building an inventory and marketing my jewelry. I'm sure so many of us struggle. Thank you for working on this project!

Ah, this was just the sort of inspiration i need! although i have a feeling (common sense), this is only available to US residents, i am going to vote anyways - because the movement is wonderful.

How can a project like this fail, it won me over straight way. We can all have a great day! X

Great concept similar to what I live by and for. I think one dream at a time we can change the world. Moreover, I believe that the more we work as a team supporting others the stronger we become. On etsy I sale cheesecakes but the master plan is to motivate and inspire the world to make a difference and then pas it on, one big storm of hope and actions working to make it all happen for us all. Again nice concept count me in if I can help in any way. www.torancewademc.com www.etsy/shop/tastetscheesecake

I am loving this post. This is how I aspire to be. Thanks for this post!

Great story. it's a lot like the street team H.O.S.T. Helping Others Street Team. I have belonged to this team for the past 3 years. Since 2007 we have helped out fellow Etsians in need at holiday time and all through the year. Be it hugs, used clothing, food cards, overdue fees, we have helped tons of felow crafters. We will be starting our new Holiday thread this week for AThanksgiving so if anyone has anything small they would like to donate for our promo bags for the shop, drop me a line. All proceeds from the store on Etsy got to buying food cards or helping where we can. June www.pinmeup.etsy.com www.host.etsy.com

Wow...! I feel it is so easy for art to be demoted & shoved on the backburner when times are tough - and yet it is what makes our souls sing & life joyous! I would love to support and help! You got my vote!

You definitely have my support! :) If you need any help with graphic design, please don't hesitate to ask! :) Heather Heather UpChurch Art & Design Studios www.flickr.com/artanddesignstudios

Wow I am on Board and excited to contribute!

The name, Kind over Matter, says it all. What a beautiful idea. You have my vote today and everyday! I am inspired!:)

Love the idea. Sign me up! and let me know how I can help!

Oh man, you all are so amazing, I'm tearing up over here, one zillion thank yous & heaps of Love!!

I've been musing over how to break into the etsy scene, so thanks for all the wonderful, beautiful inspiration! You've reminded me that my love is to create, and to share that love will ultimately be beneficial.

What a Great Idea!!!

What a wonderful idea! Thanks for the inspiring post! I'm signing up right away!

I'm very inspired! I want you to win- and will be voting, daily! Thank you for all you are doing for the artist and creative communities! Blessings to you both.

very inspirational, I must say!

This is great, definitely one of my favorite articles!

Awesome idea!

..inspirational ..THANK YOU.

BONJOUR!!! I AM THE CREATOR OF THE POSITIVISM ART!!! Invented in 2007 and inaugurated officially in France in july the 15th 2007, in front of dozen of witnesses!!! DO YOU HAVE A JOB TO PROPOSE TO ME PLEASE??? IT WOULD BE SO POSITIVE FROM YOU ALL!!! MERCI BEAUCOUP!!! PROLIX, POSITIVISM ART OFFICIAL & ORIGINAL CREATOR : 1- http://www.flickr.com/people/le_positivisme_art_prolix/ 2- http://www.myspace.com/p_r_o_l_i_x 3- http://prolix.typepad.fr/le_positivisme_art/ My sites have been declared officially to every french administrative legal organisms. I wait every of your job offers before the end of this week, so before november the 5th 2010 : it would be so positive and so kind!!! I am so thrilled and so excited!!! Bonne journée!!! ;oD

Ah, and as I've got a lawyer, as far you send me every of your job offer propositions, I go to his cabinet right now, to do every legal french administrative job contract papers. ok??? You are soooooooooooooo kind!!! I am so happy!!! It is soooooooooooo positive!!! I'll finally will be able to get out of 5 full years of unemployment without any resources to live nor any kind of help!!! MERCI MERCI MERCi!!! ;oD Bonne journée!!! PROLIX Official Art Positivism Creator ;oD (prefer the original artists)

why did you erased my comment please??? *********** BONJOUR!!! JE SUIS LA CREATRICE DE L'ART POSITIVISME!!! Inventé en 2007, et inauguré officiellement en France le 15 juillet 2007, devant plusieurs dizaines de témoins!!! *** I AM THE CREATOR OF THE POSITIVISM ART!!! Invented in 2007 and inaugurated officially in France in july the 15th 2007, in front of dozen of witnesses!!! ***************************** AVEZ-VOUS UN EMPLOI A ME PROPOSER SVP??? CE SERAIT TELLEMENT POSITIF DE VOTRE PART A TOUS!!! MERCI BEAUCOUP!!! *** DO YOU HAVE A JOB TO PROPOSE TO ME PLEASE??? IT WOULD BE SO POSITIVE FROM YOU ALL!!! MERCI BEAUCOUP!!! ******************************* PROLIX, CREATRICE ORIGINELLE ET OFFICIELLE DE L'ART POSITIVISME : PROLIX, POSITIVISM ART OFFICIAL & ORIGINAL CREATOR : 1- http://www.flickr.com/people/le_positivisme_art_prolix/ 2- http://www.myspace.com/p_r_o_l_i_x 3- http://prolix.typepad.fr/le_positivisme_art/ Mes sites ont fait l'objet officiellement de déclarations auprès d'organismes légaux administratifs. My sites have been declared officially to every french administrative legal organisms. *** J'ai un avocat. I've got a lawyer. ********************************* J'attends toutes vos propositions d'emploi avant la fin de cette semaine, donc avant vendredi 5 novembre 2010 : ce serait tellement positif de votre part et si gentil!!! Je suis tellement pleine d'énergie et excitée!!! *** I wait every of your job offers before the end of this week, so before november the 5th 2010 : it would be so positive and so kind!!! I am so thrilled and so excited!!! Bonne journée!!!

"It's not a job, it's just what we do because we have to: it's a lifestyle." There are no truer words. We are compelled to create and share. The energy and love entwined in the things we create shines out and blesses others.

I have very little time to create because I am busy earning money to support myself. It is wonderful (and so rare!) to see a group that promotes the arts and giving back while providing financial support for artists. Thank you for your hard work! I am excited to vote too!

Very inspiring

great idea- am voting for you!

Such an inspiration! Thank you so much! I've been cut back to 2 days a week at work and am trying very hard to make my shop a success so that I can survive. I will definitely vote for you! What you are doing is awesome!!

Love it!! Perfect timing too!

This is a wonderful idea.Thank you so much.Have a KIND FILLED DAY!!!

Beautiful concept and idea! I will vote everyday!! I'm a 61 yr old grandmother raising 3 of my beautiful grandchildren. Time is always in short supply for me to create my chandeliers. Your post today is a God send for me and inspires me to become more organized and work even harder. I suffer from Fibromyalgia, and there are days that my body hurts so bad, I can't work. But when I do work, it's fast and furious. I help support my 3 grandchildren with my earnings. I just joined etsy this year and started selling this spring. But Etsy has been the best thing that's happened to my growing business because of the inspiration I find because of people like you! Thank you so very much!!!

You've got my vote! I joined etsy because of your kindness and love to help all of us GROW not only wealth, but to keep artisans alive is {Super Soul}. I am really touched by etsy's theme by helping one another, it is my motto for life.

What an awesome idea. I can't wait to find the perfect location for dropping my first clandestine card. Any time of year is perfect for this but, at Holiday times, it's especially kind and I'm excited to participate. Thank you for sharing and best luck with your venture. ---Cathy

I love this idea. I will vote daily for this dream!

Fantastic! While I was living in Section-8 housing a few years ago, a friend and I started what we called "the kindness project." Our community garage in the basement of the building housed all the cars and one of the women living in a tiny one-bedroom with 6 kids had a lot of trouble, but still always checked in on me and left me 'care packages' of food. I reciprocated by sneaking gas into her tank at night. She never knew who the 'gas fairy' was. Encouraged by this, I started writing "Keep on truckin'" on the notepads next to pay phones in casinos. Then I sought out the women who worked the streets in downtown Vegas. Turns out they just needed a girl-friend to talk to. I love those women. Someday I want to open a non-profit to help get those women off the streets.

Wonderful!! I love little RAOK's. Off to vote!!

You got my vote! Essentially, kindness and optimism are the biggest sources for true success. I hope you guys win the pepsi challenge and spread the good word :-)

I think that this is a wonderful thing that you are doing. After all, we are all connected and are all one. In giving we receive. You are very kind-hearted people.

love, love, love, love, love! brilliant. voted, and posting widget on my blog. HOPE YOU WIN!

You've got my vote! What a truly inspiring idea!

Wonderful!

This is a GREAT idea. This is what the World needs now and forever. KINDNESS, there is just not enough of it. Thank you for you wonderful idea...

absolutly love this...as a single mama, it's always been a struggle financially. Though, through my artwork and perseverence I was always able to provide for us and I was even able to take in a couple of other boys, who needed help along the way...I remember setting up my band saw in the dining room of our low income apartment to get things started, so happy noone reported me for the noise... you've come up with an amazing concept and I'll sure be voting for you...

I have had to sacrifice my artist's lifestyle for 14 years as a single parent of a kid with some special needs. There was no energy left in me after working all day and tending to all the other tasks late into the wee hours including raising my son. No crying here--It's just a fact. I was laid off two years ago, and there is no job in my region for me to take (because I never really created a work history - it was all sort of sporadic - plus our near 20% unemployment rate). A few weeks ago, I opened an Etsy shop and started doing craft faires. I do my first faire this month. In addition, I've started writing articles for a few dollars a pop just to say "I earned something today." I am living with my family and I don't have a bedroom of my own. My son has my old room and I sleep in the den. I'm 42 and I was born to make things. It's all my soul ever steered me toward and it's all I've ever really loved. In between making bracelets, I write. Writing's pretty cool, too. I adore the idea of dropping inspirational cards and supporting artists. Good for you ladies for making lives better. :)

Wonderful idea! I just voted! xo Quynbi

I just voted too, I love your work everybody needs a little reminder of what it is important in life on daily basis, thank you for your article!!!!!!! :)

what a joy to read. This is wonderful!

I am motived and inspired by your project and ideas!! I am a jewelry artist who has not been successful, yet. Success to me means being able to make a living while working on my dream, my gift, my talent and craft. I trully believe that the small business sector will save this economy, and we in the handmade community can take over the small business sector, and play a significant role in restoring economic growth to this country. Yes, it is my opinion that small businesses of today, will become the big businesses of tomorrow!!! I sense that there will be a time when more people will only spend money on items that are trully unique!! It will be up to us in the handmade community to deliver such items!!Therefore, I will vote for your project!! Talented artists such as myself need all the support that they can get in order to become successful!! Best regards, Martina http://www.agatsijoias.etsy.com http://www.agatsijewelryline.com

Correction: motivated

What an amazing way to embrace the handmade community! a big warm fuzzy. Having a donation plan in my shop for the Appalachian Service Project and having started a fund to help families that lose a child in my community are just a couple of ways I know to show that whatever we are given, gives us an opportunity to give back! How could we not? Be grateful for what you have and show it by passing it on!

What a wonderful idea. Here in Scottsdale a big established gallery owner went to a building owner and asked if he would allow artists to put pop up galleries in the empty spaces for a reduced rate. He agreed. Artists took advantage of the plan and it worked so well the established gallery owner was able to obtain a $25,000 grant to fund 5 artists who couldn't afford the reduced fee. The public voted on who the five artists selected would be. Thank you for doing this, may it be uber successful. I voted, tweeted and shared on my facebook and asked my folk to share as well.

Nice! I love it!!

Don't you find, the worse the world gets, the greater the strength and beauty of human kindness that shows up in the most unexpected places.

Thanks for your inspiration!

The quote "have you ever left something beautiful for a stranger to find..." reminded me of a project I ran across by accident: 1000journals.com 1000 blank artist journals were left in different spots throughout the world, the request was to fill them with artwork, writing, etc and return to the sender. The website contains images from journals that have been returned, full of artwork, loss, hope, anguish, emotion, etc. It's one of the most beautiful projects I've seen. It somewhat like PostSecret...

WingbornRavenJewelry----great article thanks! I believe we all do kind of small sometimes sublime acts of kindnesss...smile to a homeless, starnger,....saying good morning to the bus driver...little things... thanks and have a good day everyone lol anna

<3

Awesome, Voted and about to spread the word :)

People do want to help, we just need ideas. Thank you for those. We tend to think that the most important answer to a need is money, not always. Kindness brings hope and with hope we are strengthened to take one more step. <3

eek, have to register to vote? What happened to logging IP addresses? :(

Very inspirational!

This is fantastic! I just voted and will do so everyday! Good luck.

This is wonderful! Very inspiring. I'm so happy for this feature and love Amanda's blog! xoxo

Lovely article!

Great article. You have my vote. :)

Wonderful!

Really great inspiring article Amanda! ☮Heather

LOVE everything about this idea and aesthetic. And I love the simplicity of it all- a simplicity that more people should have so the world can literally be made better. So easy, so basic- kindness. It's great to see someone trying to fiercely to bring that about; you have my vote everyday and my backing 110 percent! xoxo

I love the concept of guerilla kindness, consider yourself voted for :)

brilliant all round :) off to vote!

I'm definitely joining the Kind Army here! Such a Beautiful idea! I'll spead the word and I'll be voting for Kind Over Matter Project everyday.:)

Great piece. I love it when I see these messages in everyday life in uncommon places.

great idea, wonderful mission

I love this idea!! :) I wish you luck! and Ill spread the word. xx

Wonderful Etsian that I've had the pleasure of working with! So nice to see your article here!! Your heart is definitely in the right place!! Blessings to you!

What a great idea and a wonderful cause, I just voted and will keep on voting all month long!

What a great idea! And a very big thank you to Etsy for featuring my "Be a Good One - Abraham Lincoln Quote" print here!

I love this idea. I will be voting!

awesome!

Thank you, thank you for this !!

You are amazing.

I am new to Etsy. So, reading this really inspires me to come up with new ideas. We started a new Christmas tradition at my house. I want my grandchildren to know the real meaning of Christmas. So, we made a Christmas stocking for Jesus. Each year, we write a note and put in it saying what the Lorde has done for us the past year, such as blessings, answered prayers et. and then we write down what we are going to do for him in the next year. It is interesting to get the stocking out each year and take our old notes and read them before we put the new ones in for Christmas. Just an idea I wanted to share for this upcoming season.

It's nice to know there is such kindness in the world :)

I really love this! You must see my Extend Kindness shirt on my Sweet Bohemian Life etsy site. So happy that I read about this worthy cause. Peace & Love, Kathryn

Wow! Great article!

So inspiring!

thanks for the article>-)anna

<3

<3

So much depended on my grades/progress to keep my govt grants, my health took a nose dive, had to pay for much dental surgery, storm did great damage to only home I have to live in ~ My talent survived, many artists are fueled by their love of beauty/family and their craft

Great idea =) New to the etsy community myself and struggling a bit with learning the ropes but hope to get it all ironed out =) It can be a little uh disappointing at times and trying to buy materials to work with can be hard at times but we are giving it a go. Hopefully something will sell so we can continue =) I like the card idea that is nice! We've given jewelry we made as gifts and we make things here and there for friends but never thought of doing it for a random stranger. It would be a nice thought though with how tough things are these days! Keep up the great work! =)

What a great idea! Truly inspiring article!

That's our goal! We just started making our cards and love doing it...I think we need to try and not focus on $$$...it's hard!

Positive Vibes will get you good Karma ! Enjoy

i have been so sad lately because i'm in a job i despise and i have all these wonderful ideas in my head and i have no idea where to start and i just came across this...truly inspiring. thanks!

Thank you so much for the beautiful and inspiring message.

Nice. In a world that is so focused on spending are money on big business I think we have to re-celibrate our inner craftsman.

Worse than financial struggles, has been the personal tragedy that I wasn't prepared for. Thank you , I appreciate this budding community!

Love it! Kudos on a great concept!

love kind over matter. one of my FAVORITE blogs ever :)

LOVE!

How amazing!! Best of luck to you guys!!

i am so impressed with the artists i have found here on etsy, and this takes it one step further into the realm of SHARING opportunities~ fabuloso!!

i am so impressed with the artists i have found here on etsy, and this takes it one step further into the realm of SHARING opportunities~ fabuloso!!