Search results (tags) for: "austin"

Beyond Homes for Gnomes: A Terrarium Round Up With Naughty Secretary Club

2009-06-05T14:48:00-05:00

Jennifer Perkins is the woman behind the blog, book, and jewelry website Naughty Secretary Club. What you probably don't know about Jennifer is that she has a small fetish for terrariums — so much so that she dedicated an entire week on her blog to the homes for gnomes. Check out her blog to learn about the top 10 terrarium tutorials of the web, a journey back in terrarium time, how to make a wedding themed terrarium, and a terrarium shopping guide. Here's Jennifer.

My love for terrariums began as a centerpiece. Several years ago one of my fellow Austin Craft Mafia members was getting hitched, and in true crafty style, she asked our little group to whip up the centerpieces for her wedding, in lieu of buying a gift to celebrate her nuptials. As I sat looking at my collection of vintage wedding cake toppers, it dawned on me that a wedding themed terrarium would be perfect. Terrariums are no longer just homes for gnomes: they are centerpieces, home décor, jewelry and more.

shroom terrarium. (brooch)

AlasMyDear is my kinda Etsian, making a terrarium wearable. $14.

View Item | View Shop

Terrarium print

Geninne has whipped up a terrarium that does not need a lick of sunlight. $25.

View Item | View Shop

Terrarium Print

Most terrariums have a gnome residing, but not theblackapple's version: a cute little pair of love birds call her terrarium home. $18.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage House Plant Water Garden and Terraiums Books

This book is a must if you are thinking of planting a terrarium. From Gopherella, $14.

View Item | View Shop

Terrarium Plush

Have you ever wanted to rest your sleepy head on a terrarium? Prettylilthings and her plushies have now made it possible. $38.

View Item | View Shop

SALE - REDUCED Rare Kitsch - Faux Terrarium Inflatable Footstool

When your dogs are barking, take a load off with erratichabits' vintage inflatable terrarium footstool. $60.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage 1973 The Terrarium Book Illustrated

Vintagejunque has just the book to get you started on your first terrarium. $5.50.

View Item | View Shop

Giant Terrarium - PRINT

emmaklingbeil has a fun array of terrarium prints. $13.

View Item | View Shop

habitat no. 1

Prefer your terrariums subtle and sweet? doodleandhoob have just the print for you. $20.

View Item | View Shop

Terrarium Kit with Vintage Gnome and Deer

Check out my line of Crafty Curios to find the perfect terrarium accoutrements. By NaughtySecretaryClub, $10.

View Item | View Shop

Hanging Orbs - card set

Send your friends a terrarium-gram with one of these blank cards by bestiaryink. $10.

View Item | View Shop

House Plants For The Purple Thumb Book

No need to fret about making your terrarium! storybookcharm has a book that will hold your hand through the entire process. $7.

View Item | View Shop

Check out terrarium week on the Naughty Secretary Club Blog, and look at all the pretty terrarium pictures on Flickr!

View More Terrarium Posts | Search for Terrariums | View More Posts from Naughty Secretary Club

There's No Place Like Here: Boudoir Queen

2009-02-04T18:00:00-05:00

YouTube | MP4 | blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(music by Boolar, George McMurphy and his Orchestra, Etsy bumper by JuliaPott)

There's No Place Like Here...Welcome to our new video series, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect.

BoudoirQueen is a shop that inspires the imagination, so we decided to step into Dawn Younger-Smith's world to see what inspires her. Dawn has lined her Austin, Texas showroom with her collection of all things 1920s: fringe, droopy lace, boudoir dolls, and utterly, breathlessly feminine clothing. Dawn got her start as a model for Steven Arnold, who helped Salvador Dalí with the creation and opening of Teatro Museo Dali in Figueras, Spain in the summer of 1976. She draws inspiration from many famous fashion designers such Paul Poiret and swears that had she been alive during his time, she would be wearing his glamorous garments.

BoudoirQueen originally started designing stage clothes, and her repertoire has expanded to fascinating roll call of famous musicians, actresses, and performers such as Courtney Love, Vanessa Paradis, Shawn Colvin, Emmylou Harris, Lisa Marie Presley, Cheynna Phillips, Tyra Banks, Lauren Hutten, Patty Griffin, Sarah Sophie Flicker...the list goes on.

Check out the items below for a taste of Dawn's aesthetic. To find more treasures, search for boudoir, flapper, and cloche in Vintage, and boudoir, flapper and cloche in Handmade. Let us know in the comments if you've incorporated a little boudoir fancy into your style or if you're "in deep." Not your thing? Then let us know if there's a style or era you're obsessed with!

Special thanks to Dawn's assistants, Jordan Grabow and Shannon Gottshall, her Loving husband, Mark Younger-Smith, and her entourage of simply marvelous models, Cali Sales, Cayse Binkly, Justine List, and Whitney Jardine.

Open your door to There's No Place Like Here! If you have a beautiful space (studio, home, or boutique), let us know. Add photos of your space or suggest photos to us through our new flickr pool. You never know, you might need to bust out the welcome wagon for the Etsy video crew!

Watch other Etsy videos | Season of Love posts | Get the Look series

Shop Makeover Series: Photogenic Collaborations

2009-01-19T11:33:00-05:00

As part of our Shop Makeover Series, rubypearl will be hosting a follow up talk in the Virtual Labs at 4pm today, Monday January 19, 2009!

“I can’t sell my dresses online.” This was the answer I would give over and over again when asked if I had a website. My dresses sold like crazy at local boutiques and craft fairs, but when I thought about selling them on the web, my mind drew a blank. How would it work if my customers couldn’t try them on or feel the fabric? No, I thought, I’d love to, but it just won’t work.

Then I found Etsy. Everything changed, but not all at once.

I began by taking dim pictures in my backyard. Now, this may work for you if you are a good photographer. Sadly, I am not. Even our family photos look like my two year old snapped them.

One of Rubypearl's original attempts, at right, was a bit blurry.

I began to make friends with photographers and stylists who helped me out. As my photographs improved, my store took off like a rocket.

Photos below by talented Austin-based photographer Holly Brunkow.

Here are some things that I've learned.

Even very well known photographers need designers who will loan clothes for their clients to model, and they are very often willing to burn a disc of pictures for you for free or trade.

Attend local photography shows at galleries and coffee shops.

Find mid-level singers and songwriters and send them photos of your work. Target musicians who are well known enough to give your clothes some cachet and whose style fits what you’re doing. Clearly, you will probably never get a call back from Beyonce no matter how much free stuff you send her, unless you know her stylist or her best friend. If so, why are you reading this? You should be emailing me; I have some dresses that would look great on her!

Carol Young, in a rubypearl dress, with Rosanne Cash.

Carol Young in rubypearl designs.

Offer musicians clothes for free or at a discount to wear on stage. Ask who their favorite photographers are; musicians often have other clients who could give your work celebrity exposure.

Post flyers at the local colleges. A beginning photographer may have a brilliant eye but also need to build their portfolio.

Connecting with your local community of photographers is great marketing. Portrait photographers make their living by networking with people. They shoot weddings, children, musicians and professional models — all of whom could be your potential customers. By enlisting their help with your Etsy photography you are exposing your work to everyone who walks into their studios.

Start small and attend every event with a positive attitude. You never know who you’ll meet or where little events will lead you. A few months after I started my company I set a booth up at an art fair hosted by a tiny coffee shop. It was raining. No more than ten people passed through that day. One of them was Patty Griffin’s photographer. She loved what I was doings and set up a meeting with me. I ended up designing a dress for her album cover. If I hadn’t been at that coffee shop, I never would have met her.

Musician Patti Griffin, at right, in a rubypearl dress. Photo by Tracy Goudie.

Musicians always need unique clothing to wear on stage, and there is no better advertisement than someone singing in front of hundreds of people in your creation. Make sure you snap some photos of them in your designs before they leave your studio. Give them special treatment and they will keep coming back to you.

When I met Erykah Badu she was sitting Indian style on the floor of my booth, digging through a box of squirrel-themed skirts to find her size. She had just finished her set at the Austin City Limits festival and wandered into my booth to do some shopping. Glowing and five months pregnant, she laughed at me when I suggested that I could find it for her.

“I can do it! I gotta find me a squirrel skirt. I love squirrels! Whenever I sing a song at home and it has the word girl I always substitute squirrel.”

She assembled a large heap of my best dresses and paid with cash. I was so dazzled I didn’t get her stylist's email or any pictures other than one with her standing next to me.

Learn from my mistakes — even if you have to give celebrities samples of your clothing for free — and make sure to snap that picture. Do whatever it takes. Then send it out with your press kit when you alert the local media about your amazing new design business. Celebrities will understand — they had to be marketing geniuses to get where they are now.

By working with photographers you can expand your client base, entice celebrities to model your creations and present beautiful photos to your Etsy customers. Since your customers are unable to try your clothing on, you must capture their imaginations through photography. If you are camera-challenged like me, find someone brilliant to help you.

Your pictures will tell a story that inspires them to envision wearing your creation. It won’t matter that they can’t feel the fabric: they will feel beautiful imagining themselves in what you’ve made.

Join rubpearl for her follow up talk in the Virtual Labs at 4pm today, Monday January 19, 2009!

Post in the comments below if you've had any luck collaborating with photographers or celebrities. Link us to your photos! We want to see! Check out the Etsy Shop Makeover Flickr pool here.

Seller Handbook | Shop Makeover Series

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events August 15 - 21, 2008

2008-08-14T11:26:00-05:00

While it's still summer, why not grab the family and get out to see what your fellow art and craft lovers are up to? Here are a few of our picks, plus lots of ways for you to get involved. Let us know what's happening in your area by sharing in the comments below.

August 16, Craftin' Outlaws, Columbus, Ohio

This is an event not to be missed, with cool free swag bags given out to the first 100 people through the door, free ice cream, crafty workshops and entertainment on stage, a fun game to play to benefit charity, and of course, amazing handmade creations to buy!

For more information, and a complete schedule of crafting demos (oh yeah!) check out the site.

August 17th, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Fulton Street Artisan's Market is hosting an Etsy Day. The EtsyWMI team will be attending along with many other local crafters. Come out and meet the team. The market is open from 11am-3pm every Sunday, now through September.

Calls for vendors: Mark your calendars now for these upcoming events, better yet, why not get involved?

Maker Faire, Austin, Texas

This two-day, family-friendly event celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset and features interactive exhibits organized by individual enthusiasts, hobbyist groups and clubs as well as student groups. It's for creative, resourceful folks who like to tinker and love to make things. Maker Faire is an opportunity to share what you do with others.

Call for Makers! Are you a maker who would like to show off your project at Maker Faire Austin, October 18th - 19th? The call for makers is now open!

Click here for entry details.

The Glass House Swap Meet, Pomona, CA

Saturday September 20th, 10am-3pm at The Glass House ...with To Die For Clothing, Kid Robot, Obey, Paul Frank, Rockett, Alphacult, Hooligan Skate, The Militia Group, Kung Fu Records, Trey Q, SP Radio 1, London Calling, and many more to be announced!

Plus, The Handmade District featuring Etsy sellers: AnnieRexic, Armas, CutthroatBodyArt, EveryLittleCounts, JaneClothing, LeanDogPottery, LuckyFindDesigns, MJPartetc, SkullFlower, SpittingImage, SpunByVer, Susuten, VozClothingandArt, Windchime, and ZombieFactory.

We are still looking for more handmade vendors. For more information, please convo LuckyFindDesigns.

City of Craft, Toronto, Canada

Becky of Sweetie Pie Press, and one of City of Craft's organizers, passed on this post, she says:

(Note our hilarious Canadian spelling differences):

City of Craft returns December 13th for a second year of craft vendors, local craft organisations, installations, activities & more!

This community-based craft culture event invites local community-arts groups, craft based initiatives/projects, studios, and other organizations to do outreach to the public alongside a large-scale curated craft fair and craft-based installations. The 2008 City of Craft event will also feature crafty activities in satellite West Queen West neighbourhood businesses and galleries.

Applications are being sought through August 31st (midnight deadline) for craft vendors, community exhibitors, and craft-based installations. Check cityofcraft for FAQ's, applications and more information as it arises.

See below for a small sampling of the Etsy sellers exhibiting at this weekend's Craftin' Outlaws. Best of luck to all involved!

Made it out to any events we've listed in this column? Upload your "Etsy in Action" photos to Flickr here.

Etsy Finds: Two Heads Are Better than One with Jennifer Perkins

2008-06-03T10:14:00-05:00

Jennifer Perkins lives in a perky little aqua colored house on the south side of Austin, TX, where she makes jewelry for Naughty Secretary Club, plays with her Mastiff puppy Ella, listens to her husband play drums and finds herself spending way too much time on Etsy.

Etsy is synonymous to most people with crafts. A place you might go to look for a new necklace or to buy your sister an appliquéd purse for her birthday. Etsy is also a wondermous place for people to buy original artwork, and for those of us not rolling in the dough, prints. Artists from all over the world showcase their work on Etsy — and take it from someone who has scoured the internet looking for interesting prints, the best selection is here. As I was perusing, I started noticing reoccurring themes in the art. For instance, pictures of chairs kept coming up again and again. Baroque, Jonathan Adler would love it, style chairs. There were all the chicks with things like big sailboats perched in their coifs.

The other theme I was drawn to was that of twins. After several hours of procrastin-etsying, I kept seeing more and more — especially conjoined twins. Something about it caught my attention, and I started hitting the favorites button like there was no tomorrow. Maybe it is the fact that I am a Libra and always feel like there are two Jens in there debating the pros and cons, so I relate. The inner Jens both agreed that when it comes to art, two heads are better than one.

The New Double Sided Vivienne print

Cute mods with MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). Mr. Matte Stephens has 3 different wonderful twin prints to choose from that would match any mid-century modern décor to a T. By Matte Art, $35.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Sister ACEO Print

Signed and numbered sullen sisters. Lauren teaches at RISD, so you know her art is going to be good! By Lauren Minco, $5.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Sisters – Giclee Print

These beauties come all the way from the land down under. I love that they have different colored eyes. By Gala House shop, $24.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Original Paintings 2 Scoops

If you can’t afford the painting, Jenny Bird also has an amazing black and white letter press print of conjoined cuties. $425.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Two Heads are Better Than One

To quote the artist herself about the piece: “Illustrates two different mindsets of one person." As a Libra, I feel like that pretty much all the time. By Heidi Burton, $8.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

The Twins Mini Print

It was a tough choice between this print and "Strung together like pearls," but the flaccid swan won me over. By eekdesign, $10.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

I Always Blink in Photos

Triplets and twins galore in color or black and white. By Amy Blackwell, $16.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Gemini

Twins and polka dots are like a two for one special. By Elsita, $20.
View Item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Siamese Twin Girl Art Box

These girls look not at all pleased about having to spend the rest of their lives together. By Black Stitch Art Studio, $20.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox on the daily!

Choose Good! Austin SXSW Party

2008-03-11T14:10:00-05:00

Etsy is going to be kicking it with GOOD magazine and NRDC and in Austin tomorrow night. Join us at the Hotel San Jose on Wednesday, March 12 from noon to 9pm. This is a free event, so all are welcome, but it won't hurt to RSVP!

Wednesday, March 12
Noon to 9pm

Hotel San Jose
1316 South Congress
Austin, TX 78704

Performances by: Lightspeed Champion, Deadly Syndrome, Scissors for Lefty, Mason Jennings, The Exit, Langhorne Slim, Hello Stranger and surprise guests.

This is a FREE event.

Free live silkscreened T-shirts, Bamboo Hope Equity T-shirts, Loomstate tote bags, a photobooth and much more.

Etsy on Your TV. And Your Computer. And in Print.

2007-12-17T14:30:00-05:00

Update:
Try to tune into the segment on Rachael Ray tomorrow December 18th! Online Shopping Ideas.

Let’s start with an update. In case you missed it, you can catch the news segments featuring Etsy sellers katinkapinka and gorgeousredhead on KEYE 42 CBS in Austin, Texas. Also, take a gander at Anne Holman talking about crafting on WTTE FOX 28 in Columbus, Ohio. Great job ladies! Out on the west coast, EyePopArt is featured on the HGTV show That's Clever! which airs on Friday, December 14.

Regina Lewis, otherwise known as, “Your advisor to the best online” has caught the Etsy bug. Not only did she mention us in not one, not two, but three of her recent blog posts, but she also talked Etsy up on a recent episode of The Today Show, and again on The Rachael Ray Show which airs on December 18.

Moving on(line), the folks at Babble.com made some great choices for their holiday gift guides, featuring Etsians in the handmade, green, and stocking-stuffer categories. SF Station, a local guide site in San Francisco, mentions us among their favorite holiday shopping options too. And they always manage to find fun stuff over at Apartment Therapy NY and Los Angeles, this time it’s felted bowls and photography. Chicagoist featured interviews with wickedpen and Up in the Air Somewhere, and decor8 by Holly Becker rolls on with her Take Five Tuesdays.

And in the printed word, we’ll start with today’s mention in USA Today, followed by several mentions in the Philadelphia City Paper’s Holiday Gift Guides, and continue with a lovely piece in The Capital Times of Madison, Wisconsin. There is also a very cute baby wearing a pdxbeanies creation in the January issue of Parents magazine. Also, check out stonesoupjewelry in the Boston Globe. Looking northward, you’ll find a piece on Etsy in the Calgary Herald. Both of these also have a thing or two to say about the handmade pledge as well.

Etsy in the Press: Pre-Holiday Digest

2007-11-26T14:28:00-05:00

Where to begin? Perhaps with one of the Etsy mentions in print magazines such as Real Simple, which described us as, “a shopping mecca for one-of-a-kind objects.” Or maybe Rob’s interview in The Deal, or the fact that Etsy made it onto Entrepreneur magazine’s 2008 Hot List. Or should it be the articles that feature Etsy sellers in Parents and Family Circle? So many choices! You can peruse these at your leisure on our press page.

Moving on(line), Etsy was the topic of interest in Canada’s The Globe and Mail, the Chicago Sun Times, and the Austin American-Statesman. And let’s all congratulate the sellers who got mentions in Madison, Wisconsin’s The Capital Times, chicagoist, apartment therapy (San Francisco, New York, and Chicago), Yes! Weekly out of Greensboro, NC, and SFGate.

Last, but certainly not least, decor8 blogger Holly Becker just started a feature called, “Take 5 Tuesdays” in which she will be sharing 5 of her favorite Etsy shops each week. Check it out! We love her picks.

On the horizon: if you live in or near Austin, Texas, be sure to watch the segment featuring local Etsy sellers on KEYE 42 CBS.It will air this Wednesday, November 28, during the 5:00 pm evening news.

As always, you can check up on Etsy's coverage of the coverage on The Storque's EtsyinthePress Featured Column.

Etsy Pets: Full House with Gorgeousredhead

2007-11-12T09:54:00-05:00

My house is basically overflowing with love. My name is Camille, aka gorgeousredhead, and I live with my boyfriend Randy, our two cats Toby and Gabbie, and our two bunnies, Edie and Lillie Belle.

Each one is amazingly cute and funny in their own way, but I’ll start with our oldest, Toby. He is an 8 yr. old Tabby, and a total mama’s boy. I’ve had him since I was 15, and spoiled him rotten ever since. He has a series of tricks he’ll do, which I make him perform for all the company that comes over. They’ve all seen his ‘trick’ way too many times to count, but I still make them watch! (I’m a proud mother.)

Sometimes my sister will participate in teaching him his new trick — kissing others. Right now he only kisses me or my boyfriend. That is his trick — kissing on command. And you will not understand the full scope of this unless you see it, but basically I just say “kiss, kiss” or sometimes it may take a little more coaxing, such as, “kiss, kiss Toby — be a good boy” and then he wipes his snotty nose on your cheek or mouth, wherever. That’s hilarious in itself, but sometimes when he wants a treat, he’ll pounce on you and do his kiss, all on his own, which after a couple tries becomes almost aggressive! And then you have snot all on your face…But hey, it’s cute, right?

Lillie Belle is our oldest bunny — she’s a 3 year old Dutch bunny, and the sweetest, smartest bunny you’ll ever meet! She also does a trick (which to most animals is simply behaving), but for a bunny is darn smart: she comes to me when I call her name! (I know this is smart because our other bunny, Edie, does not do this.)

Edie (short for Edith) is our 1 year old Lionhead bunny. Even though she doesn’t like us as much as Lillie Belle does, and doesn’t come when we call her, she is simply precious. She’s at her full size now, which is still super small (smaller than Lillie Belle), which means she’ll stay cute forever! She’s kind of skittish, so we don’t get to pet her very much, but she’s still one spoiled rotten bunny.

And Gabbie, who I call Bratticus Finch, is our 5 month old long haired kitten. She’s at the “terrible two’s” phase, and everyday reaching a new paramount. The other night we had food delivered, and when I was paying the guy, she ran out and he went and caught her for me! When we got back inside, I was like, “See what happens when you run out there? Strangers grab you!” (They live very sheltered lives, if you couldn’t tell.)

I could go on and on forever, but I’ll spare you. So anyway, that’s the fam!

It's Time For Stitch 2007!

2007-11-09T14:26:00-05:00

I am wearing a Texas-sized smile because I am headin’ down south to Austin tomorrow to represent Etsy at The Stitch Fashion Show and Guerrilla Craft Bazaar. The event, now in its fifth year, is a celebration of independent design, artistry and creativity.

I encourage all Etsians who are there to come by and give me a big ol’ "HOWDY!"

For more info please check out the Stitch website.

When: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Where: The Austin Convention Center - 500 E. Cesar Chavez St / 78701/ Exhibit Hall One
Doors: 4:00 pm
Fashion show: 9:30 pm

Tickets are still just $10!

Etsy in the Press: Austin Chronicle

2007-10-25T11:47:00-05:00

Nora Ankrum of the Austin Chronicle has nice things to say about Etsy in her her entertainly written article.

She describes the awe-inspiring DIY culture at Austin Maker Faire. A custom order by Tinaseamonster, a very cool seller who has written articles on marketing and branding for The Storque, was Ms. Ankrum's first purchase. uniqueboutiquey's Edward Scissorhands costume entry in the Halloween Costume Contest got a nice plug too.

Etsy admin Julieincharge and Adam also attended the Austin Maker Faire and wrote a Storque piece about it here.

Maker Faire, Austin: The Round-Up

2007-10-24T12:29:00-05:00

Chillionaire and I made it home in one piece, a little bit dusty, but very excited about all the amazing creations we saw and fabulous folks we met at the Maker Faire in Austin. It was such a pleasure to see everyone's eyes light up as they turned the corner and saw the Etsy booth, complete with a giant pillow and paper airplane décor.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat with us, and an extra special thanks to fabfrills, happyday, katinkapinka, JojoVandiver, lindylou2, lucybluestudio, SweetWolf, and TrinaBrielle of the Etsy Texas Crafters Street Team. Y’all were extremely generous and welcoming, and it was a pleasure spending time with you.

Check out our photos on Flickr!

Etsy at Maker Faire, Austin!

2007-10-19T08:55:00-05:00

Maker Faire is here again!

If you're in or around the Austin, Texas area this weekend, come down to partake in the madness that is Maker Faire. Etsy's Chillionaire and Adam will be holding down the Etsy fort, handing out awesome promos and informing all the makers and looky-loos about the wonder that is Etsy. Come down and say hello!

When: October 20-21, 2007
Where: Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane, Austin, Texas (view map)
Hours: Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-5pm

See you there!