Search results (tags) for: "craft"

Shop Live: Expert Shoppers in the Virtual Labs

2008-12-01T18:17:00Z

Ever wish your favorite style-savvy magazine would somehow come to life and help you navigate the sometimes overwhelming selection of items on Etsy? Imagine if your favorite blogger would magically appear and point you to the perfect holiday gifts for your friends and family... (sound of fingers snapping) Your wish is our command!

Etsy is teaming up with a bevy of talented tastemakers to bring you hot picks for the holiday season live in the Virtual Labs. If you've never visited the Virtual Labs, now is your chance to join in Etsy's multi-user, webcam-enabled chat space (yes, where you can also throw around virtual paper airplanes and toss hearts at people). It's going to be a whole lot of fun, so please spread the word and login here at the appointed hour!

Schedule of Shop Live events all in the Treehouse of the Virtual Labs:

Wednesday, December 3rd @ 7pm EST

Brett Bara, host of PBS' Knit and Crochet Today and Editor in Chief of Crochet Today, (which, by the way, is chock-full of amazing presents to crochet) picks her top crocheted gifts — and gifts for crocheters — available on Etsy.

Thursday, December 4th @ 7pm EST

BurdaStyle, your destination for do-it-yourself style, picks top gifts for the fashionista. See some of their previous stylings on the Storque.

Friday December 5th @ 7pm EST

Wired Magazine, your source for the coolest gear for everyone on your shopping list, picks their top gifts for the geek in your life.

Monday December 8th @ 7pm EST

Garth Johnson, the rock star of craft blogs, ExtremeCraft, shares his extraordinary Etsy picks.

Tuesday December 9th @ 7pm EST

Andrew Wagner, Editor in Chief of the illustrious American Craft Council, picks his favorite contemporary crafts on Etsy.

Wednesday December 10th @ 7pm EST

Jonathan Butler from Brooklyn's biggest blog-about-town, Brownstoner, picks must-have housewares for the holidays.

Thursday December 11th @ 7pm EST

Aya Kanai, senior fashion editor of TeenVogue, your source for Style-conscious girls everywhere, picks the best fashion-forward gifts for teens.

Friday December 12th @ 7pm EST

Ami Pak, Senior Online Editor, Lucky Online (known for combining shopping + style) will share style savvy gifts for her.

So snuggle in and shop with us every weeknight until December 12th! Remember there are only 100 seats in the Treehouse of the Virtual Labs, so get there on time! You don't want to miss these picks! If you want to find out more about this newfangled Virtual Labs thing, check out this post.

Want to help spread the word? Why, thank you! Aren't you a doll?! Here are some cute graphics (thanks, Anda!) for your website or blog. Please link your readers back to this article, so they can be in the know!

News from the Etsy Labs: 12/1 Craft Night

2008-11-26T13:32:00Z

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live into in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own project to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, December 1, we will be making ornaments! We will demonstrate how to create lovely ornaments using felt and the versatile blanket stitch. These plushie ornaments are perfect to sell in your Etsy shop, decorate your home over the holiday season, and to give as gifts to friends and family.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to make ornaments along with us, you'll need a few supplies: felt, thread, scissors, sewing needle, pencil, and any embellishments you'd like to add to your ornament (buttons, lace, trim, etc). Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

Upcoming Craft Night Projects:

12/8: Paper gift bags with melangerienyc

12/15: Snowglobes with Ryan Green

12/22: Linocut giftwrap with julieincharge

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list. Will we see you Monday? Let us know in the comments!

Etsy Team Grants: Success!

2008-11-21T13:38:00Z

The past few months have been busy with lots of really fantastic Etsy Team events. Here's a wrap up of some of the wonderful Etsy Team Grant projects that have been recently completed, along with the sellers and their items. See here to learn more about Etsy Team Grants, and to learn how to join an Etsy Team, check the Teams Join page.

The Etsy Texas Crafters had a booth at Maker Faire in Austin, Texas, where they presented demos and gave information to Faire attendees. You can read a great blog post on the event with links to their participating members' shops and profiles here. Some of the members who lent a hand to the Team include TimaryArts, who makes crochet and felted items, like this Oatmeal Chubby Nesting Trio (on the left below), and crabappledesign, who incorporates vintage elements into her handmade items, such as this Vintage Paper Doll note card (on the right). Find more items from sellers in the Lone Star State by searching "TeamEtsyTX".

In North Carolina, the Hornet's Nest Team had great success with their "Craft Attack!" show in October. For great photos from this show, you can search "CraftAttack" on Flickr. The Team had beautiful weather, and below are items from a vendor and an organizer of the show. On the left is LazyDogPottery's Robin's Egg Blue Coffee Mug (on the left, below) and from HappyWhosIts, a Hyacynth Whypple - Hippo Hand Puppet - Crochet Amigurumi (at right, below).

EFA, or the Etsy for Animals Team, had a really great idea for celebrating its Etsy-versary. The Team organized a great ad campaign on fantastic shopping blogs, like Modish and Hostess blog. They tracked visitors from those sites by using a coupon code incorporated into the ad designs, so that they could tell how many sales the advertisements generated. You can show your support for this Team, which raises money for animal charities through their shops, by searching "EFA Team". On the left, below, is a set of Owls in Fables - Nesting Owls, by SavageArtworks, and on the right, the Offset Sapphire Ring from AlphabettiSpaghetti.

The Boston Handmade Team had a commanding presence at Boston's SoWa Open Market the weekend of October 16, and it was wonderful! They distributed business cards that were made up for the Team, and everyone loved the cards. They used the promotional cards to chat up Etsy, their shops and why buying handmade is important to everyone. Congratulations on your success at the market, Boston Handmade! Below is a Needle Felted Lobster, from Team member CozyCottageCreations, and a Poppy Princess Vintage Necklace, from Glamourpuss. Find more items from this Team by searching "BostonHandmadeTeam".

Thanks to all the wonderful Team members who make these fantastic events happen! We're looking forward to some exciting Team Grant events in the upcoming months. To find more information on Team Grants and learn how your Team can apply, be sure to check this Team Tip.

Team Grants | Featured Teams | Team Tips

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 20, 2008

2008-11-20T13:13:00Z

Inspiration can come from anywhere. As much as I'm inspired by visual sources, the written word has proven itself to be pretty evocative as well. Thusly, I've been very into quotes lately. A new favorite?

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov

True words! With that in mind, here's some broken glass.

Google, in cooperation with Time Life, has posted a ton of photographs from the Time Life archive online, most of which have never been published before. This amazing photo is of a model for an exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Go digging to find more treasures!

I'm loving Daniel Augschöll 's work. This particular series of photos is entitled "Americans in Sweden." (Speaking of Sweden: did you see Shop Local Scandinavia? Amazing!) [Via Design for Mankind]

Photographer Trine Thorsen has a great eye. This house is to die for! [Via Automatism]

I think this speaks for itself....! [Via Make Magazine]

Danish high school students created collages inspired by the rainforest, which were then sold to benefit buying plots of rainforest in Ecuador. The results are colorful and inspiring. [Via Ungt Blod]

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 Etsy Labs: 11/24 Craft Night

2008-11-19T13:13:00Z

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EST at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, November 24, we're hosting an open craft night! Instead of an organized project, this week we are throwing the doors of the Etsy Labs wide open and letting you work on any project that suits you. Bring along any project to work on during this week's craft night: that half-finished scarf you are knitting, paper you would like to bind into books, an embroidery-in-progress, a skirt you would like to alter, a jewelry project, a holiday gift you're making... The sky's the limit!

If you need help with a project that you are working on, we are happy to put in our two cents and share our expertise. If you learned a skill in a past craft night or class, here is your chance to develop that skill further. As always, our tools and supplies are available, so join us for a crafty free-for-all.

Not in Brooklyn? At 7pm, we will be turning on the webcam for a Show and Tell for Sellers in the Lounge room of the Virtual Labs. Come share what projects you are working on! Everyone will get their own time to talk about a project they are working on and get feedback. Come with links to pictures of your work in progress, or if you have a webcam, you can show us live! Craft night participants at the Etsy Labs will also have a chance to share their projects with the online community.

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you Monday? What will you be working on? Let us know in the comments!

Team Tip: Taking Craft Shows to the Next Level

2008-11-17T11:01:00Z

Holiday craft show season is upon us again and we're happy to hear of so many Etsy Teams and sellers taking part in holiday craft shows all over the world! Everyone loves a good craft show — chances to meet your favorite area artists in person, see and feel amazing handmade goodies as you buy them and opportunities to soak in the wonderful handmade community, but they're also really great opportunities to market your Etsy shop. For tips from our wonderful community on Craft Show basics, check out "Rocking Holiday Craft Shows".

If you've already got your booth set-up all figured out and you came up with a comprehensive checklist of things you don't want to forget ages ago, here are some tips for taking shows to the next level. Below are just a sampling of way to use shows as a tool for developing a loyal customer base:

Reconsider your business cards. What makes your business cards stand apart from the giant stack of cards shoppers are picking up at the show? Check out the Don't order another 1,000 business cards! article for ideas on creative promotional items. Or consider including an offer that shoppers will find valuable on the card, such as free shipping if they include the name of the craft show in their order or a small discount on multiple items ordered within a period of time. Also, be sure to include product images on your cards to make it super easy for people to remember what booth was yours. You can use the Etsy-Moo deal to get your listing photos right on the cards (more details here).
Collect email addresses! We've written Team Tips about this before, because permissions based marketing (which is when someone gives you their email address or other information, along with permission to contact them with special offers) is the best way to contact people you know are interested in what you are selling. It's information sent directly to your target market, so it's efficient and a good use of your limited marketing time. Be sure to follow up, sending out an email blast with links and beautiful images not too long after the event to jog people's memory about the good stuff you have to offer.

A screenshot from Baltimore Etsy Team member JenMenkhaus's Etsy shop, showing a detailed item description for a felt flower head band.

Have information on hand! Print out nice copies of your most popular items' Etsy listings and descriptions, or use screenshot images from your shop to have a small booklet printed up (try a service like Blurb.com, for example, for great professional results with little effort). This will give people something to browse at your booth, and give them great details that people often don't think to ask at a show, such as washing instructions, tips on care, material content, etc. It's also a great way to familiarize them with Etsy and your shop, making it more likely they'll go visit it again when they're online.
Talk it up! When you have a customer who is interested in your work, don't be afraid to mention that if they go to your Etsy shop, they can find a wider range of colors, options, they can check out previously sold custom orders. Let them know that if they have an Etsy account, they can mark your shop (and others) as a favorite, so it'll be easy to find again when shopping for gifts, etc. Mention that you accept many forms of payment in your Etsy shop, and they can make purchases at their convenience online.
Don't forget your Etsy Team! You might let buyers know that they can find more great work from your Teammates for simple, easy one-stop shopping. For example, if you're on a Team that makes pet items, when someone buys a collar for Fido, be sure to mention that your Teammate sells dog cookies that are perfect for obedience training. Bring Team business cards or promo items, and be sure to point out ways the buyer can find items from your Team online.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself at the show! Craft shows are a good way of getting feedback on your work, and nothing's more fun than watching someone fall in love with your work right before your eyes. Be sure to introduce yourself to your crafty neighbors at the show, and do a little shopping and appreciating of the indie arts yourself!

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 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: November 13, 2008

2008-11-13T14:17:00Z

Lately my mind has been taken over with "fashion thoughts." I spend my nights poring over the internet in search of the perfect coat (hood + long + wool + certain indescribable quality that makes it impossible to find), the perfect winter hat (not itchy + slouchy, but not too slouchy), the perfect rain boots: basically, the perfect winter wardrobe. It's taken over my mind's eye! Therefore, I must say: If you find something amazing that fits within these parameters, leave it in the comments! I'd be much obliged.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, on with the show! This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is complete with Swedish blogging, mid-century videos of thoroughly modern machines, gorgeous decor, avant garde fashion courtesy of Facehunter and found photos.

Onward!

I may not understand Swedish (yet!), but I do understand beautiful images. This space is so modern, so clean, so comfortable. I love it. [Via Purple Area]

This vision of the future, simply titled 1958, is a virtual time capsule back to the golden age of design. Enjoy a Mad Men moment with this tour of the modern house and office circa late 1950s. [Via Jezebel]

Found images are the best. This collection manages to be moody and evocative in the way that I adore. [Via Mashroob & Moustaches]

If you're seeking fashion inspiration, look no further than the street style shots of Facehunter. His shots are so spot-on when it comes to forward thinking fashion, and he's constantly traveling the world, so the dynamic is totally global. I love seeing what people in each country are wearing.

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 Etsy Labs: 11/17 Craft Night

2008-11-12T13:40:00Z

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the
Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live into in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4—8pm at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own project to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, November 17, we will be making lip balm! (We had so much fun at our past lip balm craft nights that we decided to do it again!) The lip balm we use for demos will be given away at our booth at upcoming craft fairs to help spread the Etsy word. Come help us make this happen! All participants will also take home their own completed lip balm tubes, as well as the knowledge to make lip balm independently. We will demonstrate the melt-and-pour technique of lip balm making that is perfect for creating fun promotional items for your own Etsy shop, as well as gifts for friends and family. We'll also cover tips on labeling, sealing, and packaging your lip balm containers.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to make lip balm along with us, you'll need a few supplies: lip balm base, essential or flavor oil(s), pipettes, a microwave, a glass measuring cup, spoons, lip balm containers, shrink bands, paper towels. Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

Would you like to lead a craft night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line.

Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group!

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list. Will we see you Monday? Let us know in the comments!

Hello Craft Podcast: Your Stories Wanted!

2008-11-07T16:40:00Z

Hello Craft has put out a call for your handmade stories. The Hello Craft Podcast lets crafters call a toll free voice mail line and leave their stories for an episode. Learn how to contribute here.

What is Hello Craft, you say?

Hello Craft is dedicated to the advancement of independent crafters and the handmade movement by empowering small business owners, educating the public to the benefits of buying handmade, and teaching the joys of making.

Conceived in the summer of 2008, Hello Craft is the brain child of four indie crafters with leadership roles and ties to the local and national handmade arts and crafts communities. Founding members include famed craft blogger and podcaster Tina Seamonster, Kelly Rand, writer for DCist.com and Crafting a Green World, and Sara Dick and Kimberly Dorn, both Festival Directors of the East Coast's largest indie craft event, the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair.

Through the foundation of its website, Hello Craft aims to bring together crafters and makers to learn and grow as a community. The public is encouraged to take an active role by sharing their crafting history through weekly reader-generated podcasts. An event blog, product testing, business workshops, and mini-events add to the wealth of crafting information and education that Hello Craft has to offer. In 2009, Hello Craft will host its first summit in Washington, D.C., aimed at advocating and advancing the handmade community.

Hello Craft is a unique resource for those who make their living from crafts, shoppers who buy handcrafted goods, and anyone interested in learning the ins and outs of the handmade movement that is sweeping the nation.

Check out Hello Craft's Etsy favorites. (You can build an Etsy Mini for your website, too!)

Podcasting Series | Top 10 Gifts for Radio Listeners | Posts by tinaseamonster

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 6, 2008

2008-11-06T14:08:00Z

Wow. This week has been an emotional one for everyone in the United States, and it's an exciting time to be alive. Now begins the fun time of year leading up to the holidays, filled with delicious pies (I hope to make a few this weekend! Inaugural pies!), old fashioned music, and lots of tasty smells and fuzzy sweaters.

With that in mind, more inspiration for your perusal: American photography from the last century, intriguing advertising, avant garde fashion and rugs to swim upon.

The work (and life!) of legendary photographer Berenice Abbott is the stuff dreams are made of. Her epic photos of New York were chronicled in the book Changing New York (which I now have to get my hands on), and she also did amazing portraiture. This is a woman who moved to New York in 1919 and lived at an anarchist house in Greenwich Village, then changed scenery to Paris in the 1920s while she worked for Man Ray, later returning to New York after realizing its photographic possibilities. Quite the life, this one! [Via Nothing is New]

Parisian ad illustrator Emmanuel Polanco's work is rad. [Via Black Eiffel]

I have recently become completely entranced by the photography of William Eggleston. His photography is so raw and sincere to the American experience, and it presents a compelling view into the lives of ordinary people. (His life was also pretty amazing, as evidenced by this recent article in New York Magazine.) Check out more of his photography here.

These rugs are amazing! I want to fall into them and swim around. [Via See Saw Designs]

I'm loving the work of lizarietz. Her photography, styling and fashion is totally on my list. Those layers! I covet!

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 Etsy Labs: 11/10 Craft Night

2008-11-05T12:02:00Z

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EST at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own projects to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, November 10, Wendy, a regular craft night superstar, will be teaching us how to transform junk mail into snazzy envelopes and mini matchbook-style notebooks. These techniques are great for making eco-friendly holiday cards and small gifts. This project is open to everyone, regardless of crafting experience. Please bring along your finest junk mail, including old envelopes with security lining and old greeting cards or postcards. All other supplies will be provided. We'll start demos on this week's project at 5pm (rather than 4pm). If you're an early-bird, you are welcome to participate in open crafting from 4-5pm.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to craft along with us, you'll need a few supplies:

old envelopes from credit card, utility, bank companies with security lining on the inside (make sure not to include private info!)
old greeting cards or post cards
scrap paper, envelopes or copy paper that's been printed to make pages for the notebook
paper scissors and craft scissors (the kind that cut interesting shapes)
stapler and staples
glue sticks
templates (circles or different shapes) to make designs to collage onto envelopes
trimmings, glitter, beads, sequins to add onto notebooks

Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

Upcoming Craft Night Projects

11/17: Making Lip Balm

11/24: Open Craft Night

Would you like to lead a craft night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line. Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group! Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. If you'd like to receive email updates, join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you this Monday? Let us know in the comments.

How-To: Making a Needlefelted Turkey

2008-11-04T16:28:00Z

I was recently shopping local and bumped into two great Etsy shops for heartfelt and natural kids toys, winsomehollow & littleloveblue. Turns out these Etsy sellers are sisters! I invited them down to the Etsy Labs to do a live how-to in the Virtual Labs and luckily, they were thrilled to share with the rest of Etsy. Here's a gorgeous photo tutorial they put together for those who can't make it November 6th, Thursday at 7pm EST. (Note: After the how-to we'll be showing our favorite kid's toys on Etsy. So come on by and get some holiday shopping done! For a good starting point, check out our Top 10 Waldorf Toys.)

Materials:

Core wool (Wool batting)
Felting needle (very sharp!)
Foam (for a felting surface)
Roving in various colors (brown for the turkey, with various colors for the feathers and a yellow beak)
Needlefelting supplies on Etsy!

Here are the basic steps for the turkey:

Pull off a large handful of wool stuffing, spreading the wool into a long piece. Roll the wool tightly into a ball shape. This will be the basic size of the turkey's body. You can add or remove wool to change the size.

Using the foam felting surface, place your wool ball on the foam and begin poking the ball (and poking and poking!) all around and through to the center with the felting needle. Do this until the wool is relatively firm and equally dense around.
Tip: Try to poke the needle at a straight angle, so as not to bend or break the needle!

Pull of some small pieces of brown roving (your base color for your turkey) and spread thin layers around the ball, again using your felting needle to poke and attach the color to the ball.
Tip: After applying the color, gently roll the ball around in your hands to smooth the wool surface.

Continue to poke what will be the bottom of your turkey's body, until the bottom is a flat surface. This will make the turkey stand upright.

To make the head, roll and felt another smaller wool ball (this is for the turkey's head). This time leaving a section at the end unrolled for the turkey's neck. Roll and poke this unrolled section until firm and shaped like a neck. Cover the head in brown roving as well.The turkey's head can either be sewn with brown thread onto the front of the larger ball (more firmly attached), or needle felted onto the front of the larger ball.

To create feathers, pull off small, thin strips of various colors of wool roving, and smooth into long fluffy pieces. Again using your felting needle, attach one end of these pieces of roving, in alternating colors, in a semicircle around the back of the larger ball, so that the pieces stand tall like turkey feathers.

Roll a tiny piece of dark roving between your fingers for the turkey's eye, poking this piece onto the face of the turkey with your needle. Repeat on the other side. Remove another small section of roving for the turkey's beak, felting one end of the piece onto the turkey's face.
Tip: Wet your fingers to smooth and shape the roving into the pointed shape of a beak.

The basic wool ball can be made into any number of sweet little animals. Add a round head, long ears and a small fluffy tail to make a bunny. for a a hedgehog, elongate the head into a more pointed shape, (adding a cute little nose on the end and two ears on top!), and cover the body with a coarse fluffy brown roving.

Don't forget: to see this how-to live, join us November 6th at 7pm EST in the Virtual Labs!

Top 10 Autumn Prims | Top 10 Waldorf Toys | More How-to projects

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!

News from the Etsy Labs: 11/3 Craft Night

2008-10-29T15:00:00Z

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the
Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live into in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EDT at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own projects to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, November 3, we'll be creating our own rubber stamps. This technique is great for printing your own notecards, art prints, fabric, and more. We will demonstrate how to carve linoleum and rubber stamp material. This project is open to people with all levels of printmaking experience. Please come with image ideas for your stamp. If you have a particular paper or fabric you'd like to print upon, please bring that along too. All other supplies will be provided.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to sew along with us, you'll need a few supplies:

pen/pencil
linoleum carving tools
newspaper (for under workspace)
blockprinting inks
surface for rolling inks (such as plexiglass)
brayer
wooden spoon or wooden doorknob for burnishing
paper of fabric to print upon
linoleum blocks or E-Z Cut or Mastercarve or a similar type of printing block

Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

Upcoming Craft Night Projects:

11/10: Recycled Envelopes and Mini Notebooks with Wendy

11/17: Making Lip Balm

Would you like to lead a craft night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line. Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group!Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. If you'd like to receive email updates, join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you this Monday? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Buyer: Lisa Butterworth of BUST Magazine

2008-10-29T12:52:00Z

This week’s Featured Buyer is Lisa Butterworth, associate editor of BUST magazine, which has been spreading the good word of craft for years. Every issue features DIY projects galore and handmade products to score, with indie businesses and Etsy sellers taking center stage. BUST’s Holiday Craftacular is one of the biggest handmade fairs of the year, and this season it’s going global with events in London and L.A. in addition to the ever-poppin’ N.Y.C. edition. 2008’s Craftacular is just around the corner and they’re accepting submissions now for vendors in all three cities. Go to BUST.com to find out more!

Ever since my grandma taught me how to crochet when I was little, I’ve been hooked on handmade. (But what I’ve learned from my crafting endeavors is that other people do it way better, and I should just stick to writing.) Luckily, my job at BUST lets me write about crafting, choose DIY tutorials, and spend hours poring over products on blogs, web sites, and, of course, Etsy to find the very best in the world of craft. Not to mention I get to shop my heart out every year at Bust’s Holiday Craftacular and meet all the awesome people who make the goodies I love so much.

Last year we nearly blew the top off New York City’s Metropolitan Pavilion, there was so much handmade awesomeness going on (even the crafty queen of quirk, Amy Sedaris had a table). Since the Craftacular offers a representation of all kinds of handmade, I’ve tried to pick a similar sampling. Here are items from some of my all-time favorite Craftacular vendors and crafters we’ve featured in the pages of BUST.

I love these cards from BowandArrow. I buy a pack every year just to have them on hand. (And the gal working the letterpress is just as sweet as her designs.)

Whether cheeky or bold, a Brookadelphia necklace makes a statement. This one is especially timely, no?

Lois Aronow aka misslo's handthrown porcelain just kills me. It’s so pretty I want to eat it up, let alone what’s being served!

Every hall should be decked with one of MyImaginaryBoyfriend’s Jolly Roger ornaments.

Fascinators are all the rage, and this lovely yellow hairpiece by GiantDwarf is one of the most original I’ve seen. Hello cocktail party!

I got a pair of these simple (and ridiculously affordable!) earrings last year from amyetsy, and they’re in my ears more often than not cause they go with every outfit.

I’ve had my eye on Supayana designer Yana Gorbulsky since BUST featured the sewing superstar way back in 2006. That said, I wish this dress was part of my wardrobe.

If BUST held a Craftacular in New Zealand, TrixieDelicious would no doubt sell her wares there. We featured her Ramones plate in the mag last year, but I’m totally lusting for this 7 deadly sins coffee/tea set. I love the smell of gluttony in the morning.

I love the retro-rificness of TrixieandRadar’s Help Me Rhonda Decoupaged clock. What time is it? Time for a blow-out!

These letterpressed notecards from tarahogan are almost too cute to write on.

This handmade cutie from LittleFlowerDesigns is just my cuppa tea.

sproutonline's Orbit Ring is outta this world. I want one of these gorgeous babies for every finger!

Don't forget! 2008’s Craftacular is just around the corner and they’re accepting submissions now for vendors in New York, Los Angeles and London. Go to BUST.com to find out more!

For more shopping ideas, our Featured Buyer series is quite impressive! Do some digging, my friend!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 23, 2008

2008-10-23T15:00:00Z

Eccentrics make the world go 'round. If not for the "out there" thoughts of a certain courageous and wacky brand of individual, a lot of great ideas would never come to fruition. With that in mind, always make sure to give new ideas a chance, or you could miss out on something really special. (Yes, I've been reading the inspirational blog mentioned below. You'll love it, too! Trust me.)

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all inspirational messages, pagan ritual, Iowa (!), honeycomb and interiors. Onward!

Bohemia in midtown: Yes, it once was. This profile shows the artists that are desperately holding on to rent-controlled studio apartments above New York's famed Carnegie Hall. Many have lived in the building for 50+ years, and have built their own universes, like concert pianist Donald Shirley, shown above. Pretty amazing. [Via New York Magazine]

Looking for some inspiration? Do it the post-modern way and get it via Tumblr. New Resolution's many short, boxed quotes are totally refreshing. [Via design is mine]

Photographer Estelle Hanania's "Demoniac Babble" series profiles the ancient folk tradition of the "silvesterklause" in Switzerland, wherein local men get "dressed in wild, demonic outfits. They roam the landscapes from farm to farm, singing, drinking to celebrate the winter to come, and to frighten the bad spirits away." Their costumes are unlike anything I've ever seen — totally earthy and spooky. Pagan rituals, I love you!

Artist Hilary Berseth's sculptures are more than a little interactive — in fact, I'd call them collaborative. You see, he does part of the work, then bees do the rest. The resulting beeswax sculptures are the very picture of delicious. Check out the slideshow at New York Magazine. [Via For Me, For You]

Klas Fahlen's illustrations are pretty cute. [Via Design For Mankind]

A recent trip to my homeland (Iowa!) revealed a new book on my state's history. As a teen, amateur photographer Everett W. Kuntz spent his days taking photos of Ridgeway and its residents — so much so that he earned the nickname "Scoop." However, he didn't have the money to print said photos, and forgot about them after going to college. It was only sixty years later, as he lay on his deathbed, that he remembered the negatives. This virtual time capsule is "Sunday Afternoon on the Porch: Reflections of a Small Town in Iowa, 1939-1942," and the photos are incredible. Read the article here. [Via New York Times]

The Art of the Display photo pool on Flickr has many treasures waiting for you. This particular display comes came of ATLITW. Don't you just love the chairs? [Via PoppyTalk]

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 Etsy Labs: 10/27 Craft Night

2008-10-22T14:25:00Z

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm EDT at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, October 27, we're hosting an open craft night! Instead of an organized project, this week we are throwing the doors of the Etsy Labs wide open and letting you work on any project that suits you. Bring along any project to work on during this week's craft night: that half-finished scarf you are knitting, paper you would like to bind into books, an embroidery-in-progress, a skirt you would like to alter, a jewelry project, a costume you'd like to stitch together, a pumpkin to carve for Halloween... The sky's the limit!

Note: We do have some pumpkin carving tools and templates on hand, since Halloween is just around the corner. So, if you'd like to carve a pumpkin, it is B.Y.O.P. (That is, Bring Your Own Pumpkin.)

Not in Brooklyn? At 7pm, we will be turning on the webcam for a Show and Tell for Sellers in the Lounge room of the Virtual Labs.Come share what projects you are working on! Everyone will get theirown time to talk about a project they are working on and get feedback.Come with links to pictures of your work in progress, or if you have awebcam, you can show us live! Craft night participants at the Etsy Labswill also have a chance to share their projects with the onlinecommunity.

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you Monday? What will you be working on? Let us know in the comments!

Etsy Finds: Gifts, Got the Notion(s)?

2008-10-20T09:31:00Z

It's that time of year where we start thinking about the holidays, and if you're getting this email, I'm going to take a chance and bet that you've got a crafty side or know someone that's a craftionista! Today's Finds are highlights from our Crafters Gift Guide, where you can find a unique gift for your crafty friend, or stock up on supplies for making all your own gifts this year!

Watermelon Pincushion

This pincushion is sure to be a stunner to any seamstress. By loveforever, $20.

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Old Brass Numbers

What's your favorite number? Spruce up any project with these salvaged brass numbers, or give them to your friend the jewelry designer... She'll thank you, trust me. By onceloved, $10.

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Knitwit Bangle - Orange/White Stripe

We all know someone who knits. This year let them know you appreciate thier passion with this knitting needle bracelet By LianaKabel, $30.

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yellow yarn jar

Back to that knitter we all know: Check out this cool jar that organizes a ball of yarn while you knit! By PotterB, $15.

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Shake n Bake Custom set - home made encaustic wax

Ever painted with beeswax? Why not try your hand at it? You can also wow your painter friend with handmade encaustic paints. By newbyart, $18.

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Knit - 5 x 5 print

Get a little nostalgic with this needle print; it would look great in your foyer. By nonsuch, $8.

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Scrabble Ring - Make

Any creative type would appreciate this MAKE ring: let them know you care for only $12! By foundandmade.

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Cotton Blossom Linen Pin Cushion

Need a gift for your crafty sweetie? This romantic colored pincushion is sure to do the trick. By chetanddot, $9.

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Purple Wee Sewing Machine

Got a little artist or crafter in training? They'll be sure to light up when you give them this wooden sewing machine toy. By woodmouse, $15.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Showcase | Trends

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

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 16, 2008

2008-10-16T14:03:00Z

Fall puts me in a contemplative mood. All I want to do is sit under a tree and re-read all of the classics of my awkward years while watching the leaves fall. Moody, dark shapes are all I can think about, in both fashion and Halloween trappings. (Gotta love getting in costume!) The following collection of links and images isn't particular creepy, but it most definitely reminds me of that special crispness that defines autumn.

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all early morning meditations, the fashion of the elderly (they do it best!), modern tin types and Cruella de Vil. Read on!

I'm totally a morning person. I love that precious time before you leave the house is one of silence and beloved routines, and I'm not the only one to think so. New book A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart chronicles the photos two women took of their mornings and subsequently posted on Flickr. Though they didn't know one another — and have only met once — there is a striking similarity between their photos. Worth a look. [Via Simply Photo]

I'm totally digging the work of painter Jackie Tileston. I love the patterns and the fact that it gives off an appearance of moss crossed with filth. Love. [Via Design Milk]

The blogosphere is all a twitter over Advanced Style, the street style blog based on the principle that as people get older, their fashion gets infinitely better. The photos above are of the inimitable Irene Williams, the "Queen of Lincoln Road." This colorful South Beach native made all of her own clothing and was quite the fashion plate and tourist attraction. She was also the subject of a short documentary — I can't wait to see it!

Since finding this handy (and might I say, amazing!) Japanese gadget, I've been making all of my images look "vintage." Here's to modern tin types! [Via Simple Lovely]

This fashion editorial from Vogue Italia is utterly captivating. Entitled "Future Couture," it's a mixture of Cruella de Vil, some warped version of Godzilla, Mad Max, killer fashion and sideshow all rolled into one glorious spread. I love it. [Via Gnarlitude]

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 Etsy Labs: 10/20 Craft Night

2008-10-15T12:06:00Z

This week, on Monday, October 20, we'll be creating Halloween coasters with Kimm of The {NewNew} York team and kimmchi fame. She will show us how to create Halloween-inspired drink coasters out of felt and thread. These coasters are perfect for fall decorations and Halloween parties. We will demonstrate how to cut and stitch these spooky household accessories. This project is open to people with all levels of sewing experience. If you would like to add a cork backing to your coasters, feel free to bring some sheets of cork with you. (That's optional.) All other supplies will be provided.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to sew along with us, you'll need a few supplies:

- Sheets of felt (mainly black + contrasting colors)
- Scissors or craft/exacto knife
- Embroidery floss + needle
- Sheets of cork (optional)
- Templates for the coasters. Download coaster templates here.

Or, just be ready to take some notes and see if this is a project you'd like to try out later on.

Next Week's Craft Night Project:

10/27: Pumpkin carving with Christine!

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Will we see you this Monday? Let us know in the comments!

Handmade Portraits: Bruce Metcalf with Bonus Audio Podcast

2008-10-10T12:43:00Z

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(Music credit: Lineland, photos by: John White Wilson)

Bruce Metcalf has dedicated almost forty years of his life to the creation and historiography of American Studio Craft. He makes his exquisite jewelry with the utmost care and precision. On average most of the pieces take two months to create, whereas some take years before he perfects the final nuances.

After stints as sociology and architecture majors, Metcalf found himself transferring to the jewelry department during college in 1970. It was a bold move because the crafts weren't highly regarded within the fine art establishment at that time. However, the move felt right, and studio craft is where Metcalf has stayed ever since.

Because “fine artists” wrote about craft only as functional and not for display, Metcalf decided to set the story straight and represent himself. He began writing about craft history and theory. Currently, Metcalf is in the process of finishing up a text book on the history of American Studio Craft, the first of its kind.

Over the course of the last decade, the number of craft departments across the country has continued to dwindle. Although newer generations of artists embrace studio craft, academia still does not embrace its importance within the fine art establishment. Metcalf spends much of his time — when not producing work — talking to heads of art schools, academics and art critics about the importance of studio craft as part of formal fine art training. Although Metcalf acknowledges that many talented and successful artists are self taught (he himself is self trained in woodworking), he maintains that the best training still lies within a formal setting with a teacher as a mentor.

Metcalf has become an outspoken figure at the intersection of craft and fine art worlds, but recently at the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) conference, his comments led to another controversial role in the eyes of a new crowd. He sparked a dialogue between generations of crafters — his peers in the older, more established Studio Crafts/Craft as Fine Art generation, and the younger, technology-infused, DIYers of "Alt craft."

After the conference, crafter imogeneANDannie posted "Confessions" on her blog that, in a very personal way, focused in on Metcalf's remarks, and in doing so, unveiled the perceptions of the two disparate sides. Folks chimed in with their opinions, and in some cases the conversations were heated: the generations clashed over technology and the role of formal education, as well as the differences between spontaneous, punk rock craft for the masses vs. the carefully crafted, luxury pieces sold through dealers or galleries.

At the Connect/(Dis)connect talk at the American Craft Council, Metcalf discussed these matters with Chanel Kennebrew (you can get to the podcast through our Storque post). During the talk, Metcalf was in part amused, recalling his rebellious student days — and another part of him was willfully steadfast in his views on the social and economic differences in practices. History seemed to be repeating itself, as a younger generation with new tools and a shifted horizon line bucked "the way things are done."

In addition to this Handmade Video Portrait, we've produced an audio podcast with out-takes from the interview with Bruce Metcalf. His theories on the relevance and importance of craft have helped bring clarity to the discussion of studio craft's place within the art world. And because we just couldn't get enough of discussing the Alt vs. Studio craft debate, we invite you to listen in.

Watch our other Handmade Video Portraits and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

See Bruce's website for more of his work: www.brucemetcalf.com

Please share your thoughts in the comments!