Search results (tags) for: "blogging"

Featured Buyer: Julie Chesler of Vain and Vapid

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:35:00 -0000

This week's esteemed Featured Buyer is blogger, style maven and designer Julie Chesler of Vain and Vapid. Julie is always on target with her style insights and manages to make both high and low fashion easily accessible to any casual fashionista. Without further ado, here's Julie!

I started Vain and Vapid after exiling myself to a foreign country where assimilating with the locals was not going as well as I had hoped. I design clothes, I sew clothes and I send them back to my homeland. When I am not doing any of those things, I read about clothes and shoes, I look at pictures of clothes and shoes, I buy clothes and shoes and the only time I take a break from the clothes and the shoes is to hit up a happy hour every now and again. Come on, the label is called Vain and Vapid, not insightful and well-balanced.

I love Etsy: first of all, because we are both from Brooklyn, and second because of all the lovely things made by the lovely hands of some very lovely people. To me, the things I buy on Etsy are just as luxurious as any Balenciaga bag, or maybe even more so: While a Balenciaga bag may be made by some very overworked migrant worker in some remote factory, something you buy on Etsy is made by a possibly overworked, likely college-educated person who puts their whole heart and soul into each and every piece they make. Plus, it's always a great feeling to support and encourage young designers, and who doesn't want to feel great?

I am not a lover of fall and am always sad to see the summer go, but clothing and jewelry and lovely things can reconcile me to anything. I chose some of the following pieces because they are cute, fashion-forward and perfect for fall. Others are just lovely and inspiring to me, but they can all go together and be a piece of your chic puzzle. The other thing that can reconcile me to anything? ...Cake.

no. 201 Fifi wears Proenza Schouler by fifilapin

The best dressed girl on Etsy is hands down Fifi Lapin, working that Proenza Schouler constable hat. I am beyond jealous of her wardrobe, particularly because she owns virtually every piece of the Luella spring '08 collection.

Cake Topper Capele by katetowers

I love capelets, and this one has such a beautiful mix of vintage fabrics and lace. This mixed with a vintage rock tee would be my perfect going out outfit. I'm not sure how cake is involved, but it can't hurt.

Cowl Neck w/ Inverted Pleat by orangenyc

I love drama in the back. Add some tights and a cardigan to this and I could wear it all fall and winter long.

LEILA African wax high waisted skater skirt w/ Swarovski crystal buttons by Cocottecouture

One of my favorite designers on Etsy is Cocotte Couture. I love the shape and cut of this skirt, and the African print is one of my favorite details.

Sterling Bike Necklace by cravejewelrydesign

I am a huge fan of aptly named Crave Jewelry, and it was almost impossible for me to narrow down to one specific item. I finally chose this bicycle necklace in memory of my stolen blue bicycle. :(

The Frances Tote by madebyhank

This bag has so many beautiful details, I have lost count. I love the use of recycled materials and the embroidery on the handle is absolutely lovely. Great job, Hank.

Leather and Feather Headband by mothlove

The feather headbands by Moth Love are so pretty, and are a really good alternative to the fascinator—if you're not a fascinator sort of girl. The jersey dresses in her shop are also super pretty, with lots of drama in the back. The whole shop has a lovely 1920s feel to it which is just beautiful...

NEW YORK - Fine Art Photograph 10x10 from the on the Globe series by buckscountyframes

I love this print by Bucks County Frames because I love maps of every kind. My husband thinks I am really strange because I am one of those weird people that actually looks through all the maps in the back of the in-flight magazine every single time we fly, but that is really the pot calling the kettle black.

Customized business cards or calling cards by seventyandsunny

I just ordered some custom made hang tags for my shop from Alyson and I can't wait to receive them. She did a great job with the artwork and layout. They are so cute and suit my summer and fall collection perfectly.

Anais Gymnasium Girl Top by zorya

This top is simple but one of those things you would want to wear all the time in a thousand different ways. It is inspired by a school uniform, and I am all about school uniforms.

Kahlua - Coffee Sweet Almonds and Vanilla - scrumptious organic soap by CrowleyManor

Two more of my favorite things united, beauty products and alcohol. Plus, it's organic— yay!

Sweet Nikki Cupcake by FatDaddyBakeShop

OMG, you can buy cake on Etsy! For real, they will send you a jar of cake. Awesome? Yes!

For more of Julie's fashion insights, check out her amazing blog, Vain and Vapid. Also, check out our past fashion coverage and Featured Buyers!

Team Tip: Is Blogging Important?

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:41:00 -0000

Blogs can play a vital role in marketing your Etsy Team on the web. Many people choose to buy handmade to support artists. A good blog gives your customer base a glimpse into the lives of the artists they're supporting. Sneak peeks into studio spaces, interviews on artistic beginnings and techniques make for interesting content. You can promote your colleagues and Teammates easily with a blog, and relevant tutorials, tips, tricks and other useful information will keep readers checking in often.

Blogging doesn't come naturally to everyone, so it's best to pick someone on your Team who enjoys blogging to be responsible for posting often. There's no harm in starting a blog to see how it works for your Team, and delegating posting responsibilities will ensure the blog gets updated regularly. Here are some simple steps your Team can take to set up a blog and maintain it successfully.

What types of things would your Team like to cover in its blog? Keep in mind your Team's goals and pick topics that members of your Team feel comfortable and knowledgable enough about to talk about every day: a type of craft, information on where your Team lives, or something that makes your Team unique that will be engaging for your target demographic. Remember, you won't want to be too personal (no gossip!), as this is a professional blog created to drive traffic to your Etsy shops. You want to connect with a specific group of people (your readers and potential customers!) by making the blog fairly specific and full of information, but keeping it broad enough that you can eventually have a pretty large readership.
Find your tone. What type of voice should the blog to have? For example, it can be an instructional blog, you can adopt a professional voice or you can really be yourself. Setting a tone and being consistent makes a blog easy to read.
Blog often. Blogs are an interesting medium because they can literally be up-to-the-minute information. No one wants to read a stale blog.
A wise blogger once told me "No one cares what you had for lunch today." (Unless your blog is all about food, I suppose...) Make sure you're blogging about things that engage your readers!
Include great photos! These could be photos of members' studios or workspaces, little snapshots of members' everyday life, in-progress shots of items, or photos of your Team in action. Photos can make a blog-reader feel like they're being treated to a behind-the-scenes tour.
Have actual content. It's not hard to distinguish between an interesting blog you'd like to revisit and a series of advertisements upon first visiting a blog.
Blog often. This is the most important tip.
Use widgets! Etsy, Twitter, Flickr, Amazon and other sites all have applications you can include in your blog's side bars to keep the page dynamic even when you can't update it. Etsy Minis are a great tool to get your work—and the work of people you admire—noticed without writing dull posts about your own shop over and over again.
Blog often! The more often you blog, the more people will check your blog.
If you find it's not working, don't let your blog sit around decaying! Remove your blog from the web—there's nothing sillier than a blog that hasn't been updated in eight or nine months.

Here are some useful places to get started with a Team blog, or spruce up your existing blog:

http://www.blogger.com — Free online blogging site
http://www.typepad.com — Inexpensive online blogging networking site
http://www.flickr.com/badge.gne — A photo widget that puts photos from your Flickr group onto your blog
http://www.twitter.com — Free mini-updating messaging site
http://www.wordpress.com — Online blogging tool
http://sethgodin.typepad.com — Marketing guru Seth Godin on how to get blog traffic
http://team.etsy.com/blogring.html — Ablog ring of Etsy Team blogs — New blogs are added monthly!

Blogging should be an enjoyable way to get to know your Team better, as well as attract fans (and buyers!) of your work. It's a way to let people meet your Team, and should highlight positive aspects of what you're doing and the things you learn along the way. Exchange links with other bloggers (especially other Teams!), include lots of Etsy Minis, read and comment on other blogs to increase your readership. Have fun!

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Resources at team.etsy.com. Etsy Teams are growing really quickly, and we love that so many sellers want to join in to promote their shops, Teams and Etsy. For more information on Etsy Teams, check out the Teams pages and this page of Frequently Asked Questions. Don't forget to read our interview with this week's Featured Etsy Team. Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

News from the Craft + Style Blogosphere: August 21, 2008

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:49:00 -0000

Now that we've been focusing on fall fashion here at The Storque, I am one happy camper. It truly makes me inspired to get dressed in the morning. This week's News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere covers the aforementioned fall trends, delicious and beautiful edibles, home movies and a beauty road trip.

Read on!

As you might already know, I kind of have a "thing" for autumn. Check out all the hot trends for fall, including full miniskirts, slouch blazers, zippers and pegged jeans. [Via Refinery29]

What happens when milk loses the shackles of gravity? See above for breakingrebel's experiments on the subject. [Via FFFOUND!]

Illustrators, ladies and all around cool artists Esther Pearl Watson and Martha Rich are setting out on a road trip across the country to interview people about their ideas on beauty. As they state on their blog, "We are going to record, film, photograph, draw and paint what we find and who we meet." They're documenting their highly entertaining travels on their blog, Beauty Road Trip. Check out if they're coming to a town near you!

These miniature napoleons with eggplant creme (vegan!) look utterly delicious. (They're also adorably tiny.) If you're looking for appetizer ideas for your next dinner party, consider your problems solved. Check out the recipe here. [Via Milk Eggs Chocolate]

If you're in the Portland area and enjoy a side of kitsch with your clam chowder, check out The Fishwife. Abby Try Again has some great photos of the restaurant, and I must say that I'm jealous — that clam chowder looks mighty good!

Flickr user theowlsgo has collected many vintage home movies from the 1930s to the 1970s and uploaded them for the public's viewing pleasure. I am totally entranced by all of them, and find this snowman piñata clip to be a blast from my own childhood past. Enjoy!

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Featured Etsy Team: EtsyBloggers

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:27:00 -0000

We here at Etsy have been impressed by the activity of Teams — those pro-active groups of sellers who get together to brainstorm and act on marketing ideas for their shops. The EtsyBloggers Team is a great example of a group of Etsians that work well together to spread the Etsy word. They support each other — and Etsy! — and we love them for it! Read on to see how they do it.

Can you tell us a bit about your Etsy Team? What's the glue that holds your team together — location, craft, etc.?

The EtsyBloggers are a global team of talented blogging artists and designers who offer a wide range of items which are handmade, vintage, and supplies. And just like you, we love our Etsy and we love our blogs! We are the official team for those who love to blog abut their craft, the creative process, and other Etsians! So that's our glue...blogging handmade goodness...the sweet bloggy foundation of our team.

What does your Team do to help each other?

Wow, so much! We're super supportive of each other on a daily basis. We love to visit each other's blogs and check in on each other's lives outside of Etsy, and we also discuss business and techniques and buy from each other's shops. We have a very cool weekly event — EtsyMini Mondays — and every week one of our teammates gets her Etsy Mini featured on our team blog with a write-up! That's done by our wonderful EtsyMini coordinator, cozy — who makes the most beautiful crocheted headbands.

How does your Team promote Etsy and one another's shops?

Last weekend our team snagged a total of eight team treasuries! We also promote each other in the Etsy Forums. We post all team members' birthdays on our message board and team blog, which is so super nice. As for how we promote Etsy? By promoting each other. It's a win-win. And this, I think, is where we excel: Since we are bloggers, we unite as bloggers, and so we have a bunch of unified team events. For example, every month we select a Monthly Featured EtsyBlogger — and as a membership requirement, each member of the team blogs about that shop! We also put the featured EtsyBlogger graphic up on our team blog and our own blogs to support the event. It's really a super cool spotlight to be in for an entire month, and team participation is how our featured members are selected. This month's Featured EtsyBlogger is TulipsTreasureBox, who happens to make stunning jewelry. Last month was AKeepersJackpot, and the month before that was aliciamae — both members of EtsyBloggers since day one.

Tell us a bit about a current or past Team event or promotion.

Our first major event was an exciting and successful EtsyBloggers treasure hunt last fall, which we will be bringing back soon. It's filled with fun giveaways, so stay tuned for news on that!

Our most famous and favorite event is our bi-weekly Blog Carnival, which is all about blogging! One teammate selects a theme and we all blog about that theme and it's hosted at a member's blog! That's coordinated by our very own StormyDesigns, a polymer clay artist with some pretty fab business card couches.

Do you have any suggestions for new teams or sellers who might be interested in creating their own team?

Absolutely. I'd say the first thing you need to do after defining your goal and motto for the team is to research your options and find a team headquarters online. Yahoo groups, Google groups, and message boards are all options, which differ vastly from one another. Definitely get a team blog. It's also very important to define your membership requirements up front, before you open the doors to new members. Post the membership requirements publicly on your team blog or website — you can see ours on our website. That made a huge difference for me as the EtsyBloggers Admin and Team Leader, because it freed up some time for me to stay focused on the core of the team and events, instead of the already defined requirements. Also, if you do that you will avoid a high turnover rate of members — so build a strong foundation for the team. Once your team is established, be sure to spread the word to your members about EtsyBloggers...Maybe they'll want to join us too!

Thanks for rocking the blogsphere, EtsyBloggers! If you're a blogger on Etsy and want to join this supportive team, check out their requirements for membership here. You can also shop from the EtsyBloggers by searching their team tag, "EtsyBloggers".

Check out the past Featured Etsy Teams here!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: August 14, 2008

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:30:00 -0000

After a wonderful birthday with a carrot cake straight out of my mind's eye, I've been on a bit of a shopping binge. Next stop: taxidermied bat!

Here's what's shaking around the blogosphere this week.

Delphine Chanet's photos provide a glimpse into the most whimsical childhood I could imagine. [Via Black Eiffel]

This look by Prada makes me oh-so-excited for fall. Lace! [Via For Me, For You]

Looking to give some tired knickknacks new life? This tutorial shows you how to make a diy mini shadow box. [Via Design*Sponge]

Stylist Tonya Goodwin can certainly make a room look amazing. Now all I want to do is collect beach detritus. [Via Aesthetic Outburst]

Looking for hair inspiration? Look to these beauties of the past. [Via Gatochy]

And finally, take pleasure in nature's small wonders. [Via Camilla Engman]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: August 7, 2008

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:30:00 -0000

After a sun-filled vacation to Las Vegas, I'm back in Brooklyn and searching out trends for fall. Look for mucho fashion content in the near future! If you notice any trends, please send them my way.

This edition of News from the Craft + Style Blogosphere has Scottish ski lodges, fashion forward internet mags, royal mosaics and more. Read on!

Street style blogs' can sometimes seem so homogenous—at least when it comes to the stylish women who make repeat appearances across the blogosphere. Refinery29 recently profiled these "cyber It chicks of tomorrow," including the white-browed Emma Andersson of London, seen above.

I'm looking forward to spending some quality cabin time (QCT!) this summer. (Hopefully this winter as well.) This Scottish ski lodge, decorated by amazing interiors guru Suzy Hoodless, makes me ache for snuggly blankets and hot toddies in front of a roaring fire. [Via A Cup of Jo]

This majestic portrait of Russian Empress Yelizaveta Petrovna is from The Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. However, upon closer inspection, you'll see that it's actually a super intricate mosaic. The sad thing is that the artist is unknown. So awe-inspiring. [Via Krisatomic]

wonting's blog is totally addictive. This week she posted photos of Geninne's gorgeous space, which totally matches her modern aesthetic. [Via wonting]

When fashionistas need a quick fix, they go to the internet—not a magazine—as reported in today's New York Times Style section. For me, it's all too true. Blogger Design for Mankind has just started an internet magazine called Mankind Mag, and it's pretty slick! Check out the second issue, which is totally devoted to hair.

Flickr photographers continually blow my mind. This doozy comes courtesy of Julia Galdo of miamizeiss. [Via For Me, For You]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Etsy Press Club: July 2008

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:47:00 -0000

July brought the heat! The sidewalks were sizzling, the ice cream trucks were sweating, and Etsians were blazing in the press. The latest edition of the Etsy Press Club is ready. These are all of the clippings that I found or received during July. As always, if you get mentioned in the press, please send an email with your shop name and links to pressclub@etsy.com to be included in our roll call. Grab a lemonade from the fridge and sit down for some perusing!

Print

The NewsTimes - gooseontheloose
Philadelphia Weekly - madebyhank
STYLE - TheBrokenPlate
Baltimore Sun - jenmenkhaus
NewWitch Magazine - PagansOfEtsy
Knit Scene Magazine - fringe
Smart Woman - TheBrokenPlate

Web

the house that a-m built - jennifersquires
minor details - Chalkydoodles
ThreadBanger - prixprix
hearthandmadeblog - madebyhank
qbranchltd - JoannaGoldman
Fabulously Broke in the City - juneshin
passitonplates - JessicaSimanowski, UneekDollDesigns
mixed plate - jennifersquires
myNLA - niftythriftyowl
phillyBurbs - JoannaGoldman
uncrate - avrilloreti
Daily Candy - juneshin
onthedotcreations - madebyhank
Crafting with Cats - JoannaGoldman
decor8 - Stockton, smallsquaredesign, Studiotto, sycamorestreetpress, sweetpaperie
themaudeblog - designsbycolleen
rarebirdfinds - OnTheInside, janebonbon
SimplyGrove - jennifersquires
kitchen and residential design - craftyhag
aisle dash - handykane
Grandia Road - winsomehollow
apartment therapy - avrilloreti
now voyager - madebyhank
vintage indie - birdandmonster, AquaVelvet, grandmothersattic, SilverNebel, niftythriftyowl, softspoken, MariesVintage, FlightoftheRadish, morelle, madebyhank
Pretty Little Love Objects - JoannaGoldman
Rev Magazine - jennifersquires

Radio

Vegan Radio - ThisIsBexx

Check out previous editions of the Etsy Press Club here! Send your press mentions to press@etsy.com to be included in the next edition.

Etsy Press Club: June 2008

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:48:00 -0000

In Roman mythology, Juno protected the finances of the empire. How fitting then, that June should be such a prolific press month for Etsians! The latest edition of the Etsy Press Club is ready. These are all of the clippings that I found or received during June. As always, if you get mentioned in the press, please send an email with your shop name and links to pressclub@etsy.com to be included in our roll call. Throw on that goatskin cloak, and reflect on the press of June.

Print

Venus Zine - {New New} York Etsy Street Team
The Ventura County Star - beenznrice
Boston Business Journal - KMajkut
Small Magazine - PamelaAngus, astulabee
Sunday Times Style Magazine - Bombus
Domino - wowout888, rubenacker, scottgarrette, joncarling, hughillustration, danielsroka, andymathis, artofandrewdaniel, monpetitfantome, johnclark, phippsart, mincingmockingbird, berkleyillustration, Jimbot, nateduval, davidmoore
Canadian Home & Country - NightjarBooks

Web

Craftzine - ChristinaWard
thesmallobject - somethingshidinghere
Jewelry Hunter - lindalayden, paraphernalia, kangas, esdesigns, OctopusMe
perfectbound - applepieorder
craftystylish - BoxingDay, PickalaPoopa
rarebirdfinds - dahliasoleil, HiAnnie
dearyouloveme - somethingshidinghere
All Over Albany - esdesigns
Chicagoist - GartersByKristi
girlobsessed - somethingshidinghere
poststar - InspirationByKaren
rachelbestblogs - AidaCoronado
vintageindie - leavesofclay, TrinityRS, chictochic, miajoie, ThePeach, paperhill,
ms bliss - winifredStudios
realfanshitonly - somethingshidinghere
vintagefashionguild - joules

Sorry this one was late - too much press to cover! Check out previous editions of the Etsy Press Club here! Send your press mentions to press@etsy.com to be included in the next edition.

Etsy in the Press: July 2008

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:19:00 -0000

The Etsy community is becoming the go-to source for inspirational shopping tips on all things innovative and exquisite. Word is spreading to a variety of news media, touting the value of Etsy for buyers and sellers alike. Interior designer and contributing editor for ELLE Decor, Elaine Griffin, was on the The Today Show July 29th, giving tips for buyers to acquire affordable art, and needless to say, Etsy was one of those hot tips. Griffin's philosophy—that art should not be viewed as a luxury, but rather accessible and enriching for the average consumer—is enthusiastically supported in the work of Etsy artists every day.

On July 16th, Foxbusiness.com published an article and video, profiling Etsy as part of their series on young entrepeneurs. The piece particularly highlights Etsians' diversity: from pottery to zombie bunny finger puppets. The video interview with Rob Kalin focuses on buying handmade and buying local as the future of consumerism. As they stroll through customer support and the Etsy Labs, the vision and community that makes Etsy so unique is visibly evident.

In the Canadian newspaper, the Edmonton Journal, Etsy is credited for local success stories babyleila, leilaandben, and Majestyinc. The sellers behind these powerhouse shops celebrate the community, exposure, and financial opportunities provided by Etsy. On the blog, Baltimore by Hand, Etsy seller Christy Zuccarini spreads the good word, encouraging buyers and sellers to check out the handmade marketplace, as well as all of Etsy's great features, such as Alchemy, Pounce, and of course, the Storque!

Philadelphia family newspaper, The Bulletin, praises Etsy for its "attractive, contemporary, and user-friendy" atmosphere, particularly enthusiastic about the lack of outside advertising on the site. Lastly, Syuzi Pakhchyan, author of Fashioning Technology, showed up on New Hampshire Public Radio's "Word of Mouth" program to talk about Etsy and crafting, specifically, "smart materials," such as LED lights and conductive thread. For more crafting with technology, check out the Geekery category or this How-To on LED Baby Booties.

For more Etsy Press coverage, go here!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: July 31, 2008

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:54:00 -0000

After a long and harried week, vacation is on the horizon and I'm just itching to be sitting poolside. No need to mess around—let's get right to the good stuff!

Read on!

Lookbook.nu is a pretty rad fashion site. It's conceptually similar to Wardrobe Remix (with heavy cross-over, so it seems!), with commenting, oftentimes brilliant photography and great fashion. You can tag your clothing with where you got it and vote for your favorite looks, increasing their "hypeness." Pretty interesting stuff!

Wow. These amazing doll dioramas by Design DNA have officially blown my mind. Thanks, Christina!

Swedish photographer abless' photos are so unbelievably dreamy and evocative. Who wouldn't want to live that life? [Via Neon Polish]

Austrian milliner Julia Cranz's work is totally awe-inspiring. (I especially love the sequin eyebrows.)

I'm so intrigued by artist Emory Douglas. As a member of the Black Panther Party, he was a frequent contributor to its newspaper, "The Black Panther". His artwork is psychedelic, satirical, radical—in short, amazing. He was recently featured in a show at MOCA and a retrospective of his work was published in conjunction. I can't wait to learn more about him. [Via Routine Investigations]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Team Tip: Improved Etsy Teams Blog Ring

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:00:00 -0000

Ever wish there was a way to browse through all of the Etsy Teams blogs and catch up on all the wonderful, amazing things Teams are up to? Look no further, faithful Etsy Team Blog reader, as we introduce a new Etsy Teams Blog Ring. All Blogs run by Etsy Teams (this Blog Ring is not personal blogs, sorry!) are welcome to join in, and can find instructions on how to do so here.

What is a Blog Ring and why should you check this out? A Blog Ring is links that have been placed in the sidebar of a series of blogs, that enables you to click through and read related blogs. With the Teams Blog Ring, you can now easily flip through to learn what the most active Etsy Teams are up to, find specials, information on events, and learn a lot more about many Etsy Teams. We're really excited about this tool for catching up with fantastic Teams!

There are probably some of you scratching your heads and thinking, "But I thought there was already a Teams blog ring?" And you're right, there was. The previous Teams Blog Ring had some technical issues, so this Teams Blog Ring is the real deal from here on out!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: July 24, 2008

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:40:00 -0000

As much as the dog days of summer make me ache for the tights, sweaters and scarves of autumn, I'm trying to remain in the present and value my lazy, Beach Boys saturated Saturdays at the shore while they're still possible. (Even if it does mean being a hot mess for four solid months.)

With that said, here's what's kickin' around the blogosphere this week. Endless summer ahead!

So, in addition to making really cool stuff, somethingshidinghere basically has the most adorable, stylish, huge, bright, amazing loft on Earth, and I covet it like nobody's business. Check it out for yourself on Design*Sponge. (Spoiler alert: there is a porch swing, so you'll probably be crying tears of envy in the very near future, as well as planning a complete revamp of your own space. Don't say I didn't warn you.)

Kotama Bouabane's melting words series is a heartbreaking testament to being true to your emotions, even if the method is completely ephemeral (and happens to be made of ice). [Via heartthrobs & villains]

Tabbouleh is so summer. Doesn't this just look insanely delicious? Try it with quinoa instead of bulghur, and check out the recipe over at the Food Network. [Via Angry Chicken]

Whenever I go to the newstand to indulge my magazine fetish, I long for all of the international magazines, but don't really long for the hefty price tags. ($12 for a magazine is not my thing.) That's where Jed Root comes in. Technically, the site is for photographers, stylists and make-up artists to network professionally. For the casual fashion browser such as myself, it's an amazing (and free!) photo resource of all the inspiring fashion spreads I don't usually get to see. (Until I get my Vogue Nippon subscription, that is.) This particular spread is pure summer vibe heaven. [Via Neon Polish]

Amy Stein's photography is so gripping and desolate. This particular series, stranded, consists of photos of people in limbo on the roadside. Her other series are also unbelievable, specifically the women and guns collection. Doesn't this photo have such a seriously Diane Arbus vibe? Love it.

Stockholm Fashion Week looks pretty rad. (Also, is it just me, or is looking at fashion for next spring/summer kind of bizarre? However, it's great inspiration for this season.) The ladies of Swedish line Minimarket have some killer silhouettes — so tailored, plus totally wearable. Wish I was there! [Via Refinery29]

This — well, this is just a reason to look a little closer in your day to day life. Aw. [Via Faces In Places]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

SouleMama's Creativity: Food & Family

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:15:00 -0000

Amanda Soule of SouleMama shares advice, Etsy Finds, and a placemat project How-To for you and your kids to explore food and life creatively.

Please introduce yourself and talk a bit about your blog and book.
Hello! I'm Amanda of SouleMama, and author of The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections. Most of all, I'm Mama to three (soon to be four!) little ones. We live near Portland, Maine, where in the midst of the busyness and sometimes-chaos of daily family life, we try our best to do lots of playing, creating, making, adventure-seeking and loving.

You craft at home and you are unschooling your kids. Can you talk a bit about integrating creativity and learning into your everyday life?
Much of the sewing I do happens at night when my little ones are in bed. It's my unwinding, quiet and super important to me: creative "Mama" time at the end of our busy days. Nearly every evening, I write or make something.

But during the days, there's a lot of "making," too. Making things — whether it be costumes, art, a meal or a garden — is one of the primary ways we learn as a family of unschoolers. "Creating" literally brings something to life — and so it becomes a powerful, natural and very real way to reflect and really experience what we're learning about.

What's the best part about getting your hands dirty?
I think for most adults — myself included — our impulse is of course to avoid the dirt. We think about the "adult" consequences — the mess, and the cleanup namely. But there's something really powerful that happens when we are able to just "get dirty." There's a moment of release — for me, anyway — of letting go, when I give in to the task or the creative project at hand. It's incredibly freeing, creatively and spiritually…and good things always ensue.

Sometimes when I'm the most worked up or stressed, I can look to my kids — fully absorbed in what they're doing with every ounce of their body and spirit — and that becomes a powerful reminder to me that we all need a bit of that freedom and exploration in our everyday — however old we may be.

What's your philosophy of food and how does it relate to your kids?
I'm fairly certain — with three growing little ones — that 90% of my day is spent in about a 2 foot square spot in my kitchen! For something that we spend so much of our lives doing, it feels important to me that it be a mindful experience, and that we're as connected to our food as we can be. We do some vegetable gardening at home, and rely on a local community farm for what we can't produce ourselves as much as is seasonally possible. The farm is also where we get an amazing education in local food, agriculture and farming.

Besides the growing, we spend a lot of time making food as a family. The kids are fairly involved in the day-to-day baking and cooking for the family. As they age, and different interests emerge, what that looks like changes. Right now, I have one that is passionate about creating his own recipes — dreaming up different combinations of foods and testing them out; another who is quick to run for an apron to be a "helper" whenever I'm in the kitchen; and one who would be happy to skip the daily food prep, but is extremely passionate about farming food, in addition to being a super adventurous and passionate eater of the food we make!

Can you share with us a story of when your kids inspired you to create something new?
Most of the things I make have been somehow inspired by the kids — things for them, or things that somehow make our days easier, or help our house run more smoothly. My favorite things to make, I think, are those things we use every day. Quilts, aprons, napkins. Simple things, but things that have a presence in our daily lives.

But my favorite crafting projects are those that we collaborate on as a family. Our bird calendar we created for holiday gifts last year might be my favorite thus far. After a year spent really interested in birds, the children had piles of bird drawings that I scanned, and edited into calendar pages, with commentary about each bird from the kids. Every time I look at that calendar, I am reminded of how much fun we had looking for birds, making the drawings, and the joy and pride they had in sharing the gift with friends and family they loved.

What do your kids like to make?
Anything! And they fully believe they can make anything, which is both thrilling to me and logistically challenging! Shoes? A plane (one in which you could actually fly)? The requests always amaze me.

But they do make lots of things — each of them in their own way, and reflective of whatever they might be interested in at the moment. Today, for example: an over-the-door basketball hoop was constructed out of cardboard and fabric; a smoothie was concocted with all manner of surprising things from the fridge; and a farmhouse 'chicken coop' was constructed out of felt, wood and duct tape.

I must say, for a home that is so full of creative materials, do you know what their favorite craft supply is? Cardboard. Endless creations are made each day from the cardboard in our recyling bin — animal cages, houses, traps, masks, swords and so many other things they dream up.

Have you cooked something recently with your family?
Let's see. We've been doing all the regular baking (bread, granola, muffins), and meal cooking. But there's been a big flurry of the fun seasonal stuff that's coming in right now. Strawberries are just about finished up around here, and we've been making loads of jam, smoothies, pies, tarts, and freezing as much as we can for the winter. Next, we're eagerly anticipating the blueberries!

You seem to really live life intentionally, enjoying the little things. Have you always been grounded in this lifestyle? When did you start making things and seeing things through an artist's eye?
I certainly try to live my life with intention, but it's also a practice I work hard at every single day. Some days it flows smoothly and feels easy, and other times, it's much more of a practice and work to stay mindful and present. Meditating, creating, writing — they're all important tools to me in the process.

It was only after becoming a mother that I began to embrace creativity as an important part of my life. I think a part of me came alive through the process of giving birth for the first time, and working my way into the role of Mama. Imagining the world through my children's eyes, I began to see things much differently than I ever had before. The little moments, the small and real connections, the wonders of nature, the everyday living — for me, that's really what this life is all about, and where true beauty lies. Simply by being children, they remind me of this, and inspire me to stay focused on the path each and every day.

Below, I've gathered some of my favorite "food and family" finds right now on Etsy. Amazing and beautiful handmade things that encourage imaginative play, messy play, food-making, growing, eating, and yes — even some food art!

Enjoy!

Toast Print by StephanieDosReis, $18.

Wool Play Food by woolcomesalive, $24.

Patchwork Bib by ScissorStitch, $14.

Crochet Free Range Eggs by annamadeit, $12.

Itsy Bitsy Dishes by rmesdag, $14.

Kids Reversible Apron by whiterabbit21, $26.

Natural Wooden Baby Spoon by canadianwoodcrafts, $26.

Heirloom Linen Bib by bronwenhandcrafted, $25.

Clay Baby Cup by jillsoriginals, $24.

Child Chef Hat by TomKitten, $9.

Breakfast Bunny Print by sarahjanestudios, $24.

Lastly, here's a placemat project from my book, The Creative Family, to get kids excited about art and food!

See Amanda's blog and her book for more inspiring family moments.

Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: July 17, 2008

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:36:00 -0000

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is pretty photo intensive. What can I say? Photography can be fashionable, historical, stylish, thought-provoking, haute or gauche, and the blogosphere brings all of that and more to your RSS reader.

Here's what I'm excited about this week...

Getting to know people in their space is such a personal, intimate thing. The Selby, an interiors project of fashion/commercial photographer Todd Selby, shows the apartments (including exterior and entrances!) of New Yorkers who don't have "perfect," magazine style aesthetic (who does, really?), but imperfect, character-filled spaces that match their personalities, and are actually lived in. Very interesting, very cool. [Via For Me, For You]

The photography of William Gedney is like a portal to another time. The New York in this thirty year retrospective (1954-1984) is not whitewashed; instead, Gedney's visceral compositions portray society figures, the psychedelic era and on-the-street candids of Brooklyn's Myrtle Avenue. They're as real now as they were then, and quite intriguing. [Via Routine Investigations]

On the more professional side of home decor, Martyn Thompson's style is unparallelled. His range goes in so many directions, and I love all of it. (This one in particular. So cool and calm.) [Via Desire to Inspire]

Sally Jane Vintage recently ventured to an abandoned clothing factory in Maryland to look for treasures. (Combining two of my favorite things: abandoned buildings and vintage clothing. Love it.) Her photos are incredible. Wish I could've been there!

Need some new shades since the other pair was a. sat on, b. lost in the ocean, or c. flew out a car window? Go vintage. Vintage Indie has some great picks for all your sunglass needs.

There is something so demure and French about Dorothy Lee's fall/winter collection. The model reminds me of Brigitte Bardot. [Via Dress of the Day]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: July 10, 2008

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:56:00 -0000

After a long and restful week at home in Iowa, I'm back at Etsy with my nose to the grindstone, catching up on all the blog action I missed while I was cavorting in cornfields. Here's what looks interesting this week!

Artist Chris Kenny makes beautiful three-dimensional sculptures from map fragments and other ephemera. So pretty! [Via Seesaw Design]

Coriander shortbread sounds so delicious. (And looks it, too!) According to Jen from pieKnits, coriander seeds have a nutty aroma with citrus notes of the lemony/orange persuasion, and she was inspired by the flavors present in Belgian wheat beer. Check out the recipe for more info. [Via Craft Zine]

JennSki has great taste in vintage. Her mid-century modern motifs are so on the mark! She's been collecting her Etsy faves on her blog, JennSki Studio. Check it out!

Artist Jim Stoten (aka Jim the Illustrator) is so darn whimsical. I could rummage through his work all day. [Via This Isn't Happiness]

Fall is looking bold and metallic — at least according to Lanvin. Get ready to flash your bling! [Via Fops and Dandies]

Did you have an awkward period? We've all been there! Show off your tortured Gummo years by contributing your photographic evidence to Awkweirds — you could be in the forthcoming book! Now to find the perm photo... [Via Design for Mankind]

Looking for a DIY project? This fun how-to from photographer Ashley Ann shows you how to convert an otherwise nondescript picture frame into a rad customized tray. (Breakfast in bed, anyone?) [Via Design*Sponge]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Introducing a New Etsy Project: Handmade Kids

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:58:00 -0000

Dear Sellers,

This past Spring, we brought you the Handmade Wedding series, so ... bet you guessed what's up next! Handmade Kids.* We here at Etsy have noticed through our research that this special project has the potential to reach a lot of new customers and generate growth for children's sellers as well as Etsy in general.

Simply put, Etsy sellers have a ton to offer new families and we want to help spread the word! We'll be reaching out to the media in order to bring in new folks and wanted to give you the heads up to make sure your shops are ready for business. This special project will launch on July 14 and continue through to August 4, 2008.

Here's what we'll be doing:

Contest with prizes for sellers and buyers, open to US residents. **
Outside ads on targeted blogs and websites.
Original Storque content from Etsians as well as popular bloggers and websites with cross-pollinating posts.
Themed frontpage Showcase, going on sale on Thursday July 10 at 3pm EDT (see details about this here).
Periodic frontpages with kids themed content from the Storque and the Treasury.
Links to corresponding Gift Guides and curated content.
How-tos for the family (How-tos have proven to generate a lot of buzz and bring new visitors to Etsy).
Special landing page where kids' content is grouped. This will welcome first time visitors who click through from related outside ads and blog posts.

How can sellers get involved?

We want you to list your finest items for children, babies, new moms and dads, and make sure those are tagged properly of course! Michelle has written up this informative tagging how-to for you.
Many different types of items could fit in the Children's Category (for example, furniture for kids may be categorized in the Children's Category or in the Furniture Category). Now would be a good time to test out which category works better for your items and track your views and sales.
Clearly indicate if your items (such as toys) are intended for adults or children.
If you do custom work for new families, make sure your Alchemy announcement is set up.
The Children's Category Showcase will be getting increase traffic, so heads up on that.
The more buzz we get going about this series, the more links we get into Etsy, the better our Google search results. This is great for the whole marketplace. So let's all get together and blog (see these posts for help)!
Give us suggestions for sub-categories of the Children's Category.

Thanks so much and let me know if you have ideas or questions in the comments below!

*[No, the Etsy admin are not pregnant. But presumably a lot of our shoppers are! Etsy is 96% female and the average buyer's age is 32. Check out our survey results.]

**[This contest will only be open to US residents. Believe me, we are as frustrated by this as you are! As a US-based company, when offering prizes of any kind, we are bound by US contest law. We can't wait for the day when Etsy opens international sites and we can exclude US residents from contests. I joke... but seriously, we are looking into ways to legally include international Etsians in future contests. Please be patient with us, we love you!]