Search results (tags) for: "books"

Kayte Terry's Vivienne Vest How-to

2008-11-21T17:00:00Z

Transform a basic piece into a wardrobe statement or an inspired gift. Kayte Terry, aka loveforever, shows us how from her book, Complete Embellishing. Download the full project instructions here, or follow along below.

Vivienne Vest
I love argyle patterns, but sometimes they can be a bit, well, stuffy. With its frayed edges and yarn embroidery, this vest is more punk rock than prep school, à la Vivienne Westwood, one of my favorite designers. If you don’t like vests, this pattern can easily be adapted to a skirt, a dress, or even a tote bag.

Materials
Chalk-backed dressmaker’s paper
Pencil
Lightweight cardboard

Paper scissors

Tailor’s chalk

Old plaid wool skirt or 1⁄4 yd. (.23m) plaid wool fabric
Vest in wool or synthetic knit
Fusible webbing
Iron
Sewing machine

Matching sewing thread

Worsted-weight yarn in three colors
Size 18 chenille needle

Step 1: Enlarge a basic diamond pattern to desired size. Use dressmaker’s paper to transfer diamond onto cardboard. Cut out template. (See “Transferring with chalk-backed dressmaker’s paper” on page 30 of Complete Embellishing.)

Step 2: Trace around template using tailor’s chalk onto plaid wool. Make sure that fabric weave is parallel with edges of diamond. Cut out three diamonds. Then fray 3⁄4 in. (19mm) fringe on all edges.

Step 3: Mark a line down center of vest using tailor’s chalk.

Step 4: Cut fusible webbing for each diamond. Remove paper from one side of webbing. Following manufacturer’s directions, use iron to fuse webbing to wrong side of each diamond. (See “Appliqué” on page 56.)

Step 5: Remove paper from webbing. Place top diamond on vest approximately 2 in. (5.1cm) below neckline. Have points of diamond on chalk line. Use iron to fuse diamond to vest. Fuse middle and bottom diamonds to vest along chalk line, making sure points of diamonds touch slightly.

Step 6: Using straight stitch, machine-sew diamonds to vest 3⁄4 in. (19mm) from all edges.

Step 7: Referring to photograph, use chalk to draw stitching lines for embroidered diamonds. Use running stitch and yarn to embroider fabric diamonds along stitching lines and chalk-marked diamonds. An embroidery hoop isn’t necessary. (See “Running stitch” on page 20.)

Thanks to Kayte for sharing! In other loveforever news, if you're in the New York area, catch Kayte and the whole {New New} crew... that's the New York Etsy team... in person at their Handmade Cavalcade, the one-of-a-kind holiday shopping event on December 6. Kayte gives us some highlights:

The first 200 shoppers who RSVP at handmadecavalcade.com will receive a complimentary goody bag on the day of the event. Shoppers who arrive before noon will receive exclusive coupons for discounts at and after the event, and everyone who attends will have the opportunity to enter into a free raffle to win creations from participating vendors. Plus, we're going to have fun cocktails and snacks!

For more great projects from Kayte, check out her book, Complete Embellishing... and this Ribbon Embroidery project she shared with us this summer.

More How-to Projects on Etsy's Blog

My Top 10 Customized Moleskines Notebooks

2008-11-21T16:00:00Z

Take a moment and breathe across the paper. Inhale thought, idea, memory. Exhale words, brush strokes, emotion, and color. Reflect your life and the world around you onto the page.

The more saturated we become with technology, the more we seem to crave analog time. You know, a n a l o g t I m e. That little bit of quality scribble-scrawl time that acts as a kind of portable break from our fast paced lives. There is something comforting in knowing that you can reach into your pocket, your bag, or your purse and pull out a spot of safe haven for yourself. We sketch moments, we make lists, we jot down creative brilliance, lay down color with brush or pencil, all the while knowing that we can tuck it back into its little black hole until we release it to the world.

Moleskine notebooks are at the forefront of journaling enthusiasm, their quality and variety being preferred in most cases. And this grassroots enthusiasm has taken root amongst creative types — the community on Etsy being one, flickr another (with a lot of overlap). Here's my Top 10 List — a great stocking stuffer for the writerly or creative person in your life.

1) I'm Friggin' Melting - Holey Moley - Moleskine by heidiburton

Heidi Burton depicts a whimsical Christmas using the cover as a prop. The look on the snowman’s face in the window-cut cover alone is reason enough to open it and see what’s going on.

2) “Skeleton Tree” Moleskine Cahier EXTRA Large Plain Journal by shoofly

I have seen a lot of embellished cahier covers, even done a few of my own, but this white on black rendering is both unique and lovely. Shoofly also has some incredibly beautiful Gocco printed Moleskine cahier covers, like her Sunflowers as well.
Find more gocco moleskines.

3) Moleskine Ruled Journal with Original Illustration by gneural

If you like individually hand-rendered cahier covers, gneural has some high definition, high contrast pieces that really catch the eye.
Find more moleskines with original drawings.

4) Knit Moleskine Cover/Sleeve by artontherun

Winter is coming up, so why not keep your pocket Moleskine cozy and warm in its own sweater?
Find more moleskine cozies.

5) Moleskine cover with pen pocket PDF pattern by AuburnStudios

Perfect for those of us who enjoy using the cahier but may not want to mar the covers.
Find more moleskines with pockets for pens.

6) Ultra Ray Large Moleskine by modofly

John W. Golden’s work adorns this wonderfully retro ray gun Moleskine by Modofly, perfect for any futuristic genre fan, male or female. johnwgolden also has a shop of his own fancifully designed creations on Etsy.
Find more laser etched items on Etsy.

7) Down the Rabbit Hole by TheCuriousNomad

I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t love Alice in Wonderland, and this journal cover is a fantastically fun interpretation.
Find more painted moleskines on Etsy.

8) Screenprinted Pocket size Sketchbook with Barnacle Designs by fiskandfern

Of fiskandfern’s oceanic images, this screenprinted barnacle on a black pocket cahier really stands out.
Find more screenprint moleskines.

9) Sketchbook with Liberty Vintage Wallpaper Cover by drawflowers

drawflowers has a few of these wallpaper covered Moleskines, some even the perfect colors for a wedding planner’s notes.
Find more floral-motif moleskines.

10) Quilted Monogram Moleskine Cahier Notebook by jcasa

Jcasa’s custom quilted initials give Moleskine cahiers a textile makeover.
Find more moleskines with fabric elements.

Whether you like blank or grid pages for sketching, watercolor paper for painting, or ruled for writing, Moleskines come in three main sizes: the near index card-sized Pocket, the half sheet 5.5” x 8.5” Large, and the Extra Large. One of my personal favorites is the grid; it’s great for sketching as well as writing with guides for side margins. You can also take your writing further by picking up one of the Moleskine Storyboard journals.

Moleskine users have a culture of their own and are prolific in displaying glimpses into their wonder-filed worlds. Have a look around through some of the following sites and you are guaranteed to find unique, flavorful inspiration.

Moleskine Hacks on 43 Folders | Moleskine on Flickr Hivemind | Journal Related Posts

Etsy Moleskine Items | More Top 10 Lists

Etsy Finds: Books and Zines

2008-11-18T08:32:00Z

It's been perfect book-reading weather in my living room lately. Pete has built us a large and beautifully irregular bookshelf for our apartment, and all the winter quilts have been unearthed from their closets. Since watching Etsy's Handmade Portrait on Leslie Stein last week I've been on a zine and comics hunt. This Etsy Find is a sampling of what I've noticed, with some handmade journals thrown in for good measure—it is the gift-buying season, after all, and a lot of my friends are bookworms or writers, too. Enjoy!

Cafe Royal Issue Zero

One of my favorite Etsy zines! We've been paging through copies of Cafe Royal from a box set that appeared on our office conference table the other day. Each issue is a collection of art from different artists; really unique and weird and delightful. By craigatkinson, $24.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

shapeshifter - small book

Beautiful little hand bound collection of drawings, from the shop that brought us these lovely, sad-eyed Mandragora dolls. By NuitBlanche, $20.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

printed catalogue/ book of illustration

Colorfully bright collection of illustrations by hellocornelia, $8.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Yeah, It Is

Harvey award nominated, 48 page, full color comic made out of construction paper. By larrybear, $6.

Watch our Handmade Portrait on Leslie Stein and meet the girl behind the comic!

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Through The Viewfinder New York City. No 1. (Mini photo zine and stickers.)

Collection of kateblack's photography with matching stickers! I probably sound like an 8-year-old here, but there is something downright thrilling about tiny books and matching stickers. She has more in her shop, as well as a ton of handmade sketchbooks, journals, and other clever stuff. $3.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Journal Vintage Cover

After a hiatus, we noticed one of our old faves TYLERBENDER once again had a shop full of gorgeous hand bound journals, each made with rad recycled covers! Get yours now before everyone else remembers they have gifts to buy. $44.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

birch - a small book of drawings

One last book of tiny drawings for your budding tiny drawing library (that I hope you've begun after reading through this Find.) By justmadbooks, $2.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

primary colors box set

Another favorite around here and ideal gift set for pretty much anyone who can use a pencil. By lmoss, $55.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

A Prisoner's Tale, A Shiny Keyhole Journal

TheBlackSpotBooks makes tiny journals from new paper and old, old, old leather. Watch her Process video here; you will fall in love as fast as we have. $65.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Storque Featured Buyers | Trends | Gift Ideas

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Handmade Portraits: Leslie Stein

2008-11-14T11:30:00Z

YouTube | MP4 | blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(music by Prince Ruperts Drops)

Leslie Stein, aka larrybear, spends most of her time drawing comics, listening to old time radio shows and playing records. Leslie started her first comic series, called simply Leslie, back in high school. It revolved around her wacky adventures with her magical bunny and bird that helped her out in gym class and other misadventures.

After discovering underground comic book artists like Dan Clowes and P eter Bagge when she was an angsty teenager, Leslie decided comic books would be the perfect medium for her to tell her stories. Both of her comics — Eye of the Majestic Creature and her more experimental construction paper comics — are hand drawn and printed at a small printing press. Unlike mainstream super hero comics, her stories are autobiographical and don't have a typical plot. As Leslie says, "If you're looking for thrills and drama, this might not be for you, but if you're interested in seeing the world the way I see it, pick one up."

Leslie decided long ago that rather than work professionally as an illustrator, that she would hold a regular job and save her creative energy for her own work. She dedicates all of her free time to her creative pursuits and she finds inspiration everywhere. From walking down the street in Brooklyn to looking at an empty field, humanity and curiosity light the way to new adventures and new tales to tell.

Leslie won a Xeric Grant to print her work "Yeah, It Is!" and was nominated for Best New Talent in 2004 by the Harvey Awards. Keep you eye on this one!

Watch more Handmade Video Portraits on Etsy's blog!

Books and Zines Category | Book Worms and Writers Gift Guide

Zines Posts | Comics Posts | larrybear's Shop

Top 10 Gifts for Bookworms: Books, Zines & Comics from Sarah Nicholls of the Center for Book Arts

2008-11-10T16:54:00Z

In our increasingly digital lives, handmade books remind us to appreciate the tactile beauty of an interesting binding or the unique linework of the artist, or if it's a blank journal, that we have such a thing as handwriting (whether messy or neat)! Books, zines, and comics make great holiday gifts, and so we invited Sarah Nicholls, of the Center for Book Arts, to contribute her Top 10 List.

Do not underestimate the book. Books have been the traditional container for the knowledge and ideas of a culture for centuries. The more the book speeds towards obsolescence, the more options there are for people interested in making them. The Center for Book Arts in New York presents a rotating series of exhibitions of contemporary art related to the book, in the middle of a working hand bindery and letterpress printshop. Running the studio programs here at the Center grounds me in both the history and the future of the book, and lets me work with an amazing range of artists, writers, craftspeople, and performers, all of whom want to make books.

You can find your own cross-section of the wide world of bookmaking at Etsy: one-of-a- kind journals, artist's books, zines, comics, and more. Here are some of my favorites:

1. The Statistical Analysis of Things that Happen but Don't Matter

A reassuring zine by funiscool, $4. Find zines on Etsy.

2. Art Bureau 16

A collaborative zine by artbureau and various artists, it includes signed gocco prints, cartoons, stickers and other goodies, $16. Find comics on Etsy.

3. For Rent, Handmade Boardgame

A collector's item and amazing work of fun, functional art by veronicapress, $600. Find more books inspired by games.

4. Vivisection & Taxes Small Sketchbook with Recycled Ephemera

Notebook or sketchbook with salvaged science cover by kateblack, $36. Find more coptic bound books. Find more journals.

5. Kerbloom Letterpress Zine

Pittsburgh craftsmanship by artnoose, $3. Find more letterpress books.

6. Reader's Diary

For the bookish friends in your life, a way to keep track of what they're reading, by greenchairpress, $10. Find more diaries.

7. Mum's Closet

Limited edition book featuring the author goosedownpress' mum and her 1970s outfits. Perfect as a gift for a stylish sister. $75. Find more autobio books or nonfiction books.

8. Pale Berries Pocket Fairy tale #4

Embroidered one of a kind book, $37. Find more books made with fabric.

9. Mama and Child Handmade Book

Baby album with sustainably harvested wood cover by SleepingForest, $175. Find more items with a secret Belgian binding or albums.

10. Library Book

Handbound, blank sketch book/journal by rookery, $35. Find more books with tabs.

Contemporary bookmakers come in an infinite variety of flavors, and have an almost limitless number of options available to them. Binders create contemporary adaptations of historical book structures; experiment with materials both traditional and non: leather, felt, handmade paper, rubber, wood, etc.; recycle the insides and outsides of books, and create tactile book sculptures. Artists, writers, and zinemakers can reach an audience in a portable accessible format with the book, combine digital design with hand-bound elements, play with time and pace in a comic, and expand their community by starting a press. Books whisper in the ear of a captive audience of one.

Be sure to check out the Center for Book Arts' website. Thank you Sarah!

Watch this video about theblackspotbooks' handbound books.

Etsy Labs is offering a bookbinding class on December 17, 2008. If you're in the New York area and would like to attend, buy your slot here.

Books & Zines Category | More Posts about Books | Bookworms & Writers Gift Guide

Process: New Books with Old Materials by theblackspotbooks

2008-11-07T11:35:00Z

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

Margaux Kent, aka theblackspotbooks, has always had a love for old things. Her handmade leatherbound books have the feel of beautiful antique manuscripts, like something out of a Medieval library that was used by a monk once upon a time. Her books tell stories while waiting for the words of new owners. It's a magical thing.

Margaux made her first book after her well loved vintage Italian journal fell apart at the seams. She could then see how the book was held together and from that experience she learned how to bind books. Then came the next part: what to cover the journals with? Being vegetarian, Margaux didn't want to buy new hides, so she started scouring secondhand shops where she lives in Philadelphia for old discarded leather.

Since then she has repurposed all sorts of well worn leather, from antique chairs, saddlebags, gunbelts to old purses. Her hunt for leather with a past life continues, ever searching for forgotten pieces that she can transform into new treasures.

The books she sells are so gorgeous, they challenge their owners to write really amazing words, do drawings, or paste photos!

Process is a new Etsy video series that features the intimate relationship formed between Etsy sellers and the handmade items that
they create and make available to the world through their online shops. Process is not to be confused with a How-To video, as each video isintended to show each seller's unique artistic voice through the process by which their items come to be.

Did you know you can get videos downloaded automatically by subscribing in iTunes! You can also check us out on Youtube, blip.tv and get the MP4 video too. Embed the video on your blog and you might just get a special treat from us.

In the comments, let us know if there's an artist's process you'd like to see in a video!

Gift Ideas: The Handmade Journal

2008-11-05T15:30:00Z

The feeling of writing in a new journal is hard to describe. There's a sense of expectation and possibility as you think about what to write upon the fresh, unfettered pages. Journals and diaries are precious possessions because they're such a comfort — a convenient place to dump all of your thoughts and worries, daily engagements, doodles while you're on the phone, phone numbers, sketches, random ideas, dreams at 4 o'clock in the morning, to-do lists, inspiring quotes...

With the coming holiday season in mind, consider a beautiful handmade journal as a gift, such as the examples below. All your thoughts can be collected in one place! Get to writing!

Look for more Journals | Book Worms and Writers Gift Guide | More Gift Ideas

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 30, 2008

2008-10-30T15:00:00Z

Where has the time gone? November is almost here, and my Elaine Benes costume for Halloween (tomorrow?!) is in a desperate race for time against the inevitability of a vintage Lucille Ball mask I have lying around. I'll let you know what the final verdict is...

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all delicious bisque, pyramids, Scandinavian design, a crying tyke and John Waters' house. (YES!)

I am deeply in love with Richard Colman's artwork. He rocks my world. [Via About Today]

The work of Swedish stylist Sofie Andersson is pretty cute. Love all the patterns! [Via Desire to Inspire]

Todd Oldham's new line of books, entitled Place Space, is totally on my wishlist. The series explores "innovative, brilliant, singular places and the uncommonly devoted people that create them, one book at a time." John Waters' house (who I LOVE!) is included, as well as many others. Check it out! [Via Book By Its Cover]

Dutch Design Week is underway, and this rug by Julie Maeseele has captured my imagination. He's crying! [Via Bloesem]

Design*Sponge highlighted this innovative packing peanut light fixture. Learn how to make it here.

VeganYumYum's delicious delicata squash bisque recipe is sure to be a hit. This stuff looks BEYOND om nom nom nom.

Hey readers! If you (or anyone you know) has an amazing home, styled to perfection with a unique sense of decor that isn't cookie cutter, send us an email with a link to photos! (Please don't send photos, just a link to existing photos on the web.) Please make the subject of the email "Get The Look Videos." We might want to make a video with 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!

Cannibal Pumpkin: A Halloween How-To

2008-10-29T19:09:00Z

Halloween is day after tomorrow — you better get carving! Not enough gruesome pumpkin eye candy for your Halloween baskets? Not to worry! Tom Nardone, crafty author of Extreme Pumpkins has a few more tricks (and treats) up his sleeve.

Life requires bravery; if you're timid, the cannibals will eat you for sure. To illustrate this point, each year I buy a giant pumpkin and feed other pumpkins to it. A ruthless jack-o'-lantern munching on the flesh of its own kind really frightens all the sweater-vest types. Here's how you can scare your neighbors, too. You can follow along below or download the pdf file here.

Tom with a few of his pumpkin pals.

Get inspired to get extreme! Buy the book here.

And his other book here!

Pumpkin season is popular here on Etsy. Don't forget to taste the Flavors of Fall, or bask in autumns favorite color, Orange, Beautiful Orange. Did Halloween sneak up on you this year? There's still time to put together a killer costume! Oh, and don't worry about what to bring to that party on Friday, we've got some spooky cupcakes that are sure to cause a scream or two.

More pumpkin treasures can be found in the related items below. Seach Etsy for all types of handmade pumpkin items!

Recycled Glove How-to: Make a Chipmunk Softie

2008-10-17T15:34:00Z

Gloves (like socks), while born to be part of a pair, often end their days in lonely solitude, separated from their mates by the forces of the universe that conspire at every turn to pull them apart. Alone, they sadly serve little purpose (aside from the occasional show biz appearance for only the most sparkling among them), and are left to languish in the backs of a drawers and bottoms of closets — that is, if they're not disposed of all together. Ah... but it's a new day. Crafter and author Miyako Kanamori has a plan and she's ready to share it!

With her book, Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves, she's given hopelessly single gloves a new lease on life as cozy companions. In her able hands, one glove's worth of material becomes an elephant, a penguin, a donkey, a bunny — you name it — all set free to romp and play together. (Can't you just hear the claps of cheer?)

Try your hands at this chipmunk to start your very own menagerie of recycled glove critters. Download complete instructions here or follow along below.

Thanks to the Penguin Group for sharing this project from Happy Gloves.

Author Miyako Kanamori is a crafter who lives in Tokyo. She is also the author of Sock and Glove. You can see more of her work at her website: bananawani.org/nuiguroom.

For more cute critters made from recycled materials, search "Recycled Softie". Some examples plus a few other autumn-inspired creations can be seen in the related items below.

Skull Guy Noah Scalin Embraces Death Daily

2008-10-15T17:51:00Z

Author and Skull-A-Day maker Noah Scalin shares his Etsy picks for spooky and sweet skulls. Join him this Friday, October 17 at 11am (EDT) for a Skull-A-Thon in the Treehouse of the Virtual Labs. Get ready to share your skull-themed favorites and Noah will do the same. Together we'll created a Treasury with our favorites! Without further ado...

I guess there are worse things to have shouted at you than, “It’s the Skull Guy!”…which is exactly what happened the first time I set foot in the Etsy Labs!

At that point I had made just over 100 of the 365 skulls in my Skull-A-Day project and had
no idea where it was heading. Since then, the project has lead to a Featured Video on YouTube (made by Etsy no less!), my very own book (called SKULLS of course), and even a visit to The Martha Stewart show, not to mention the thousands of fans across the globe, who shared their own work and enthusiasm for the project with me.

It all started with just a small orange cut paper skull I put online, saying “I’m making a skull a day for a year.” It’s a good thing I loved skulls before I started the project, since I ended up spending anywhere from 2 to 10 hours every day for that year, thinking about, researching, making, and photographing them! And it seems I’m not done with skulls yet, as I'm curating a second year of Skull-A-Day with hundreds of skull submissions by artists young and old who continue to be inspired by the project. At this point, I guess I’ve earned the title of “Skull Guy” and considering all that the skulls have done for me, I won’t even mind if you shout it at me.

Check out Noah's last visit to the Etsy Labs...

Subscribe to our iTunes Podcast!

The related items below represent some of Noah's skull-scouting on Etsy. Find your own new favorites with a few of these searches: "Skull Jewelry", "Skull Art", & "Dia De Los Muertos."

Create your own cross-stitched skull with Noah's original pattern or send a skull greeting for Halloween or anytime with Noah's free skull e-cards.

High End Etsy: Fiber Arts

2008-10-09T16:05:00Z

What does one gain from raising one's own alpacas? Bonnie Samuel aka bonniesamueldesign.etsy.com knows the value of homegrown fiber, the material she works with to create unique knit and woven pieces. "My knowledge of the nature and structure of natural fibers — from the impact of animal husbandry on quality production to the end product — gives me a unique understanding of certain fibers in design." But it's not just the intimate knowledge of raising animals — she has also trained in how to sort and grade her annual clip. "Working with natural fibers brings the beauty of nature's palette and textures to your work."

Bonnie approached Etsy's blog, the Storque, with her story and with those of other high-end fiber artists on Etsy. These artisans steep their fibers in their deep skill and knowledge, and their high-end items' price points reflect that. We invited them to explain what's behind the drape of a sumptuously woven shawl or the details of a painstakingly crocheted art necklace.

[Jesse James & John Brown, two of Bonnie's alpacas]

Etsy offers a grand opportunity to both emerging and established fiber artisans. Since its inception, Etsy has evolved through layers of quality each in turn attracting buyers at the emerging level.

Truly talented fiber artists – weavers, dyers, textile designers, skilled knitters, art quilters and those reviving traditional fiber crafts in new dimensions – are now establishing shops on Etsy. The traditional “art” market is out of reach for many artists because of costs to enter the market of galleries, agents and promotion, while Etsy, however, offers wide internet exposure for little cost. Indeed, this trend may be changing the way art is marketed and sold as Etsy increasingly becomes the place to find and purchase unique and finely crafted, high quality art pieces in many mediums.

We’ve chosen just a few fiber artisans of the many talented on Etsy to showcase here...

Hedda Vatter aka HeddaVatter, who lives in Rapina, Estonia, creates wearable beauty in crochet.

As a romantic, I love crocheting and lace. I learned to crochet in school when I was eight years old. My favorite materials are high quality cotton crochet thread, linen and worsted for the woolen lace.

I am inspired by Irish lace in all of its richness and beauty. I try to bring the elements of the old lace into modern day using the lace for accessories and jewelry. I also add beads to Irish lace which makes it even more gorgeous. I have added felt, Irish lace and mond stones to my jewelry – the result is an interesting contrast. Red mélange crocheted necklace (pictured above) is inspired by Irish lace. The cotton thread is hand dyed, making the necklace unique.

As I was studying in art school, textile was my favourite subject. After graduating, I studied three years of calligraphy and two years of decorating. I acquired my higher education in library science. Most of my life I have worked as an artist. The last three years I have worked as a self-employed entrepreneur/artist. I have sold my work in Finland, Sweden, Italy, Germany and in France. And of course, I have made handcrafts for myself, my three children and for my home.

Scarfguy on Etsy is Fred Ullom, who is an accomplished weaver from Ohio.

As a career mathematician and computer scientist, my initial interest in weaving was as a science. It is, after all, an exercise in applied binary mathematics. When you look closely, all cloth is "pixelated". Beginning as a diversion from the stress of a high-tech career, I soon discovered that creating something tangible with my hands was much more rewarding than the abstraction of creating lines of programming code. There is no greater enjoyment than to take an idea and turn it into something real: a piece of cloth, a scarf, a garment that stands on its own, and provides warmth, softness, and pleasure for its owner. Unlike most fiber "artists", who are artists first, my greatest struggle has been to allow my creativity to flourish. I retired early from the high-tech world and now weave full-time (although at a leisurely pace). I don't often take inspiration from my surrounding as many do.

[Scarfguy at the loom]

My structures are usually just mathematical "play" with twill progressions. My color combinations are usually spontaneously sparked by fondling through my yarn inventory. I have a passion for exotic natural fibers. I'm always searching for the finest Merino wools, cashmere, silk, yak, and the elusive arctic muskox (qiviut).

Artmixter is Marion Barnett’s shop on Etsy, which features imaginative fabric art.

I am Marion Barnett, a Scottish artist living and working in Norfolk, England. In creating my art quilts and other fiber works, I work predominantly with lutradur, a non woven polyester fabric that is versatile and easy to use. I even wrote a book about it, 'Lovely Lutradur', with Dijanne Cevaal. I have a passion for layers and texture; as lutradur is semi transparent, it is an ideal medium for such work. Most of my work has pattern and texture combined over several layers of cloth, with some areas of cloth cut back to show clearly what is lying underneath. Colour, too, is an essential part of my art; I dye or paint much of my own cloth, cottons, silks and lutradur, and use a wide range of paints to get the effects I want. It’s very rewarding when people are drawn to touch the work; textiles are a very tactile medium, and I encourages people to pat and stroke the cloth and the finished works.

Rebecca Burgess' fiber art and skills fulfill a mission. Her Etsy shop is ecologicalartist.

My work, my passion, lives within the relationship between restoration ecology and sustainable art materials. I seek to create art whose strength lies within its process: a process that is restorative for the native plants that I harvest for dyes, for the women ranchers I buy my wool from, and is, most importantly, restorative for me as the composer and creator. I use local natural resources in a manner that supports the thriving and regenerative cycles of those resources. The end product is equally important for me, in its quality, attention to detail, and how well it functions.

[ecologicalartist at work with some natural dying]

I envision a growing world of artisans and interested folks, making beautiful art from naturally dyed yarns and batts, and wearing naturally dyed organic clothes. As this happens, our culture will become both aesthetically and ecologically richer. While I enjoy the larger vision, I personally am restored by the feel of soft angora moving through my hands and onto the spinning wheel, or counting my warp threads in preparation for my loom. The value of having one more happy and restored person on the planet is an immeasurable gift in itself.

designbynihan is the Etsy shop of Nihan Altuntas, a very creative designer and handknitter from Istanbul, Turkey.

I’m Nihan Altuntas, a 27 year old Turkish woman, whose passion is creating and designing. I’ve been crafting since I was old enough to pick up a crayon. My favorite childhood toys were boxes, yarns, pieces of cloth and all kinds of paints… I should add that I’m thankful for the support of my family. When I converted my jeans into bags or painted my canvas shoes, they never said a word!

I majored in cinema studies with a minor in marketing. During college, I got back to knitting to relax and to express myself. I never liked pattern books or reproducing brand sweaters. I would design authentic knitwear by improvising with needles, sometimes not even knowing what the result would be. The appreciation and approval for all of that hard work is the basis of my motivation to improve myself in this field.

I’m inspired by almost everything, even a simple button. I can suddenly decide to knit a sweater suitable for that button. My favorite material is cashmere, but the most important thing is to be able to discover the perfect match of the yarn and the pattern.

“Design by Nihan’s” success on Etsy is a combination of my talent, marketing and business knowledge and my personality too. I try to bring customer preferences and original patterns together. All “Design by Nihan” customers have an opportunity to choose the color and material, since all of the products are always knitted according to the customers' measurements. Each item is totally unique to its owner.

Dottie Scher, aka ccdzs, whose excellent crochet skill reflects her heritage.

My mother was an old fashioned Southern Lady who taught me the age old art of handcrafts as we were growing up. I started knitting when I was five and needlepoint, embroidery, tatting, pottery, sewing soon followed. When I was 15 I found a book of crochet motifs and I was hooked, literally. I love the way the work flows and how quickly something can come together in my hands. This is an art that has been passed down through the generations of my family.

I work "during the day" as a Child Protective Services In Home Services/Foster Care Supervisor. My days are long and quite hectic. When I get home, after homework, supper, baths and smaller people's bedtime, I can sit down with a hook and thread and just shut out everything else. Crochet is my refuge, my special place where everything is simply the hook, the yarn or thread, the colors, the texture.

When I'm designing my own patterns, it's all about texture and counting stitches. The doilies are designed with their appearance from a distance in mind. So much of the design is not apparent unless you look at it from across a room or down a hallway. I love the symmetry and the geometrical design. I have been heavily influenced by Patricia Kristoffersen, a renowned crochet artist. Many of my framed pieces are based on her designs. But I also feel I learn from anyone's designs and thus can bring my own ideas to bear, such as my two nautical sunbursts.

Constance Rose aka constancerosedesigns

I have been a textile artist since the early 1970s. Prior to becoming a weaver, I was a custom clothing designer, silk painter, papermaker, beaded jewelry designer, knitter, crocheter and handspinner. I've had a lifelong interest in fabric and thread/yarn, so I've explored any number of ways to create them and work with them. I started college as an art major, then veered into and graduated in psychology. Making art, although my first love, was always something "else" to do; that is, until I retired, recently, from the work world as we know it to focus on my art. Although I've taken an art class here and there over the years, essentially I am self taught, propelling myself toward whatever felt like the next technique for me to learn.

I've always been inspired by nature, as well as art of other times and places — including the florescence of Art Nouveau and Victoriana, the stylized and repetitive geometrics of Art Deco and ancient Egyptian designs, Native American and ethnic tribal patterns, and the Arts & Crafts and Craftsman styles in functional and decorative arts and architecture. My recent work creating woven shibori has been a way for me to pull together all of these design genre.

My work today is about TEXTURE — the tactility of cloth and fiber surfaces, what textiles feel like in your hands, as well as visual texture, the orchestration of patterns and colors that your eyes see. My work is also about PATTERN — line, shape, form, and directionality inherent in the woven cloth or imprinted or dyed onto the fabric. And it is about COLOR — how color lays on or becomes part of the cloth, how colors interact together, the patterns that areas of color create on a piece. My textiles explore the fusion of these components on handwoven fiber structures. Most recently I have begun creating Art Cloth — non-wearable fabric, wall and space hangings — combining loom-controlled and handstitched shibori, and surface design techniques on handwoven fabrics.

Thanks to bonniesamueldesign for putting this post together! If you want to find more great fiber work, check out items tagged EtsyFAST team. You might also want to read more Storque posts tagged "Fiber".

Featured Etsy Team: Bookbinding Team

2008-09-24T15:04:00Z

I was surfing the Teams Blog Ring one day when I came across the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team (BEST)'s blog. I just love it when I see a Team sharing like this — not only with each other, but with the world via their blog. As I dug deeper, I found they were not only highly skilled in the art of bookmaking, they were a tight knit group supporting and promoting each other and Etsy. 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.)?

Our craft! The Bookbinding Etsy Street Team (BEST) is comprised of members from all over the world, united together because of our mutual love for bookbinding. For the most part our members are bookbinders and sell their creations on Etsy, but we also have members who simply appreciate bookbinding. Our goal for the Team is to have a caring and supportive community where we can discuss ideas and learn from each other. And then after we have everyone on Etsy drooling over the rich variety of handmade books our Team is offering, we shall conquer the rest of the world!

What does your Team do to help each other?

We always try to be supporting and encouraging to our members. We know it's difficult to start and maintain a small business, and since we are scattered across the globe and aren't able to be physically there for each other, we definitely try to figure out ways to connect online. We try to make the Team fun; for example, we have events like our Team Book Swap, where members create books and then receive a random swap back! This past swap was based around the theme of "Travel"... some fantastic books were sent in!

How does your Team promote Etsy and each others' shops?

Phew, let's see! We have a Team Blog which we use to post about Etsy Team Events or our many Member Features. We list all of our members' blogs on the page, and anyone who submits an article gets their Etsy Shop Mini displayed at the top of the blog! We make Team Treasuries using our Team tag, bookbindingteam, to search for items to include. We try to organize Team Sales, which we promote in the Etsy Forums. We have a Team Shop; the sales go towards advertising our Team online. And right now we are currently working on our second Business Card Swap, where we create little packets full of our members' business cards, which we include along with packages to help promote each others' shops!

How does your Team connect with each other?

We have a Yahoo Groups forum which is our main form of communication with the Team. Members can discuss any problems they have with binding, questions about their Etsy shop, upcoming BEST events, etc. We also have a
Flickr, Myspace, and Facebook group, and we hold Team meetings in the Etsy Chat Rooms.

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

We recently hosted our first ever Online Trunk Show! Because we are a Global Team and it's not really possible to gather everyone together for a physical trunk show, we decided to have one online at the Virtual Labs on Etsy so that anyone could participate. It was a very enjoyable experience and a definite success. We can't wait to do another one!

What's your favorite part of the Team program?

The spirit of the Team, the compassion of our members... it definitely makes the Team program wonderful. Earlier this year we hosted our first Charity Fundraising Event, and it was very touching how many of our members were willing to donate their items to help those in need. There are so many fantastic people to meet here!

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

If there are people interested in being a part of your Team, just go for it! Find members who are willing to work hard for the Team and try to delegate so that nobody gets burnt out and it remains a fun and enjoyable process for everyone. Come up with rules that work for your Team and your goals, but always be willing to adapt as new situations arise!

Does your Team have an exciting promotion, event or announcement to share?

Summer is coming to a close and we're now looking forward to hosting a Halloween contest! Members will be creating items based off of the theme of "Halloween" and uploading them to Etsy by October 20th. We will then post a poll on our Team Blog and ask everyone to vote for their favorite item. On Halloween, the book with the most votes would be virtually awarded the 2008 Zombie Award for the BEST Halloween book! We hope you will all vote, stay tuned to the Team Blog for more details!

[Maiko at the EtsyLabs]

Much thanks to Maiko, aka flurrsprite, the leader of this Team for sharing these answers with us and leading a great Team! Want to see more BEST books? Search "bookbindingteam"! Want to learn more about Teams? Check us out! See you next week for another fun Feature on another great Etsy Team!

Etsy Finds: Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club

2008-09-23T08:00:00Z

I've often wondered how Jennifer Perkins does it: original Austin Craft Mafia member, Naughty Secretary Club founder, DIY's Craft Lab host, and now, jewelry book author — she's been making her awesomely over-the-top, charm-encrusted designs since before cupcakes were kitsch. Well wonder no more, (at least for the jewelry) she's ready to spill her secret sources for some of the coolest baubles around. (I'll give you a hint: Etsy.)

...Ooh, and if you missed Friday's how-to with Jennifer, get your free Hanky Panky bracelet project download here.

You would think that as a jewelry designer there would be a lot of beads in my world. (Ya, you would think.) Actually, I can't remember the last time I included a bead in my jewelry. That being the case, I am on the constant lookout for the perfect kitschy cutie that can be transformed into a piece of jewelry. Sometimes that is a piece of dollhouse furniture, other times it is a cupcake topper. When I was writing my new book, The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry, I knew I had to have the perfect supplies for wearable office-themed awesomeness and Etsy was the perfect place for me to start my search. I picked a few favorites that are used in 10 of the 50 fun projects you can find inside the book. Remember, there is nothing that says a jewelry designer is restricted to just beads. I live by the mantra that if it will sit still long enough, I will eventually find a way to make it into a piece of jewelry.

7 Garden Gnome Cupcake Toppers

These little dudes will come in handy while making the Whistle at Work Necklace. By LayerCakeShop, $3.75.

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basic black vintage cat eye glasses

WickedPen has you covered for making the Specs Appeal Necklace, and who knows? That might be your prescription! By wickedpen, $45.

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Fiesta Bright 40s Vintage Telephone Coil Cord Purse Bag

Start your own collection of Vintage Telephone Cord Purses, then make your own Thank You for Calling Bangle to match. By MaryMod, $30.

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Eazy Sailing

My sister Hope Perkins, who goes by the name Hot Pink Pistol on Etsy, is the mastermind behind all the secretary illustrations in the book like Phoning Flo! $360.

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Wooden Typewriter Keys - Beautiful Antique Ivory Keys

Porkchopshow has you covered with reproduction typewriter keys perfect for making shoe clips! By porkchopshow, $6.25.

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Over The Rainbow Vintage Plastic Flowers (140) Free Beads

Vintagerecreations is your one stop shop for all the fun and colorful plastic flowers found on projects throughout the book, like the Secretary's Day Bouquet Bracelet and Hotel Key Necklace. By vintagerecreations, $12.95.

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These Are Discontinued - Get Them While You Can - Deer Novelty Cupcake Toppers Set of 6

You can spot a pair of earrings I made with these adorable little deer right on the cover of the book! By sweetpoppy, $5.95.

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Vintage .. '80s Goldtone with Black Watch Faces

You will need a few men's watch faces to whip yourself up one of the Quitting Time Headbands. Look for ladies' watches to make the Clock Watchers Necklace. By dibabeads, $14.

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Vintage Beau Clip Bowtie Clip Style... Pale Yellow with Black Lines

An array of vintage bow ties, like the ones in TimelessTotes' Etsy shop, are crucial when making yourself a Bowtie Hair Comb or Necklace. $4.

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Vintage White Blue Polka Dot Beads (8)

Polka-dotted beads will always come in handy when recreating a design from The Naughty Secretary Club. By BlueLadore, $4.

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Vintage Circle Tin with AIRPLANE Picture PANAMA

If you want to make your own Typewriter Ribbon Tin Necklace, the best place to start is by scoring yourself the tin of your dreams! By estatesaletreasures, $3.99.

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Lot of 4 Vintage Princess Phone Charms

From Office Hanky Panky Earrings to Secretary's Day Bouquet Charm Bracelets, a girl needs her princess phone charms. By Chigal, $8.50.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

More Jewelry How-tos | Plastic Jewelry | Supplies tagged "kitsch"

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Trends: Terror-ibly Cool Twilight

2008-09-20T08:52:00Z

Are you starting to suspect the people around you are vampires? Perhaps you are only coming out at twilight? Post in the comments below if you're a werewolf fan!

Autumn Gift Guide | Halloween Gift Guide | Trends