Search results (tags) for: "films"

Handmade Moment Contest: We Have a Winner

2009-10-14T16:00:00-05:00

(Extended drum roll...) The winner of the Handmade Moment Video Contest is "Handmade Moments are Everywhere" by Daniel Kwan! Daniel's outstanding animation gets across the playful spirit of Etsy. Our judges and the community were all drawn to the cute characters. While the piece is fantastical, it also outlines the Etsy shopping experience. We think this video entices people and makes them want to learn more about Etsy. Congratulations to Daniel, who will be hearing from our chief bean-counter Sinohe who will be presenting Dan with a giant $3250 check (designed by our own Pete).

Daniel, in his own words: "I am a student at Emerson College studying film production, but this has the potential to change instantly as I am the inventor of the sport Gazeball-Z, a lover of children's TV programming, and an experimental seamstress. For now I spend most of my days in front of the computer animating nonsensical whatevers, but hope to one day retire and spend my days writing children's books because I refuse to live in a society where people stop telling their kids stories about magical purple crayons and bears with missing buttons."

Thanks to all who joined us in cheering the winners in our live awards ceremony in the Virtual Labs this afternoon. Here's Tara's behind-the-scenes look at the judging process from the other night:

Our three runners-up also win big today. They will be receiving giant checks for $1250 each. Give them a huge round of (virtual) applause!

2nd Place is "Robot Gets Its Wings" by Norma Toraya, a.k.a. Crankbunny. This was also the Community Favorite!

3rd Place is "Painting the Girl" by Estelle VanderHeide, a.k.a. estellelle.

Estelle, we apologize for the rude interruption from Lori "Kanye" 40, who thought that Beyonce should have won.

4th Place Mr. Squid's Handmade Moment by Hine Mizushima, a.k.a. hine.

Please take a moment of silence for the great loss to the creative community this year: Mr. Patrick Swayze. Sarah Rockstarpoli, Beug, and Matt serenaded us with a musical tribute, while Jesse and Danielle created a visual montage in his honor. We all "had the time of our lives."

They also warmed up the crowd with a live rendition of Beug's original music composed for the contest. Dee-dah-dee-da-dit-dit!

The six other finalists get $500 each. These really are all winners! They're all in this playlist below:

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who entered and to all of our voters. We all had our favorites! We'll be using the top videos in upcoming marketing campaigns, so stay tuned.

See more posts about the Handmade Moment Video Contest.

See more photos from the awards ceremony on our Flickr stream.

Handmade Moment Contest: Judgement Day

2009-10-08T14:25:00-05:00

Live Etsy.TV Handmade Moment Awards Ceremony

Join us Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. ET in the Virtual Labs. We'll be announcing the winner and runners-up live!

Yesterday was a day of reckoning.
Our Handmade Moment judges buckled down last night at the Etsy Labs for an intense evening of video watching. We pored over each of the ten finalists on etsy.tv. Andrew Wagner, editor-in-chief of ReadyMade magazine, got the conversation flowing. (See his post about judging here.) Casey Safron from the School of Visual Arts' animation department and Animation Block Party, had an interesting take on character development.

Corinne Leigh, of ThreadBanger.com, is already really familiar with DIY and got right to the heart of the Etsiness of each video. The Bretts, of The Donnas and of directing fame, phoned in from California, and Olivia Wilde will be sending her picks soon since she was on a shoot (so Hollywood!). Each judge offered up their strong opinions and thoughtful insights. It was a show in and of itself!

The whole process is a bit more reminiscent of high school exams than we expected — but still a lot of fun.

After the judging we watched some of the trailers for Mark Elijah Rosenberg' Roof top Films program. We loved the one where it's a single shot of a miniature cityscape set they built from scrap cardboard and clay models.

Maria, Etsy's CEO, was there as a proctor of sorts, making sure we stayed true to the judging criteria and the Etsy brand.

Now Jesse is tallying all the results from the panel of judges and the popular vote.

May the tension mount til Wednesday!

Vote Now: Announcing Our Handmade Moment Finalists

2009-10-01T10:11:00-05:00

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Applause, please!

We are pleased to introduce you to your Handmade Moment contest finalists! These ten videos were the best of the best, and their creators will be sharing $10,000 in prizes (plus all the glory and fame they can handle)!

Keep on reading to meet your finalists and all our contest judges...

To recap: On June 1, 2009, we invited all artists and other creative members of the Etsy community to create 15 and 30 second videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement. And if your love of Etsy wasn't enough motivation, we threw $10,000 of prizes in as well! That's the Handmade Moment Contest.

INTRODUCING OUR 10 HANDMADE MOMENT FINALISTS

Click each video title (listed alphabetically) to view the video...

First Prize: $3,250
3 Runners Up: $1,250 each
6 Finalists: $500 each

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Click here to discuss the 10 finalists.

HANDMADE MOMENT JUDGES

Brett Anderson is the lead singer of The Donnas, an American all-female rock band from California. They draw inspiration from The Ramones, AC/DC, and Kiss. After gathering a cult following in the punk scene since their 1993 debut, the band achieved major label commercial success in the early 2000s. Rolling Stone says, "The Donnas offer a guileless take on adolescent alienation; they traffic in kicks, not catharsis, fun rather than rage." MTV notes that the band offers "nothing more than a good old-fashioned rock & roll party." Brett was an avid Girl Scout and loves to sew and make perfume, jewelry, and friendship bracelets. Photo by Dave Burke.

Corinne Leigh is the host and executive producer of ThreadBanger.com, a landing point for people who want to create and discover their own style through alternative fashion: recycling, upcycling and refashioning with simple tools and techniques. Corinne has been an environmental activist since elementary school when she learned about the three R’s — reduce, reuse, recycle. In 2002, she started a non-profit organization that helps people in impoverished nations. Working mostly in Haiti, Corinne opened a safe haven for the children of Port-au-Prince. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her two cats and boyfriend.

Mark Elijah Rosenberg has built Rooftop Films into one of the most innovative film companies in the country—a cutting-edge outdoor film festival, a forward-thinking film production collective, and a full-service media center. Rooftop has shown over 1,400 films to more than 100,000 audience members, and has supported 60 emerging filmmakers through the Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund. As a curator and filmmaker in his own right, Mark's taste and work favor low-budget, personal cinema. Mark has written and directed numerous short films, is currently at work on an astronaut narrative, and was a producer on the Emmy-award winning documentary show "IMNY." Mark was a juror at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, is the second baseman for the New York Giants amateur baseball team, and the proud father of a dog named Rizzo.

Casey Safron is the founder and curator of NYC’s premiere animation festival, Animation Block Party. The ABP festival supports all genres of film and loves handmade works with organic styles, so computers are not always key at ABP. In the past two years, Safron has produced the Webby
nominated Perfectland series for MTV, the hit cartoon, Breakfast, for the Sundance Channel and a variety cartoon series for My Damn Channel. Education is also a big part of Safron’s work, as he has overseen the prestigious School of Visual Arts Animation Department since 2001.

Brett Simon’s first feature, Assassination of a High School President, Somebody Told Me for The Killers, and Belly for Polarbear, which was made entirely with a scanner. He has also created dozens of no-budget shorts on his trusty camcorder, which have won awards and screened at festivals around the world. He likes to tinker. When he couldn’t get the right image from his video camera, he created a lens with wax paper, a magnifying glass and cardboard box. With Counterfeit Film, he transformed a photocopy machine into a mechanical flipbook. He is currently working on a film adaptation of the Duane Swierczynski novel, Severance Package. Brett also founded Present Day, a holiday celebrated on the first Sunday of every month by spending the day without cell phones and computers. starring Bruce Willis and Mischa Barton, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. He has directed numerous music videos including the award winning

Andrew Wagner is the editor-in-chief of ReadyMade magazine. Prior to coming to ReadyMade he was the editor-in-chief of American Craft magazine. Wagner was also the executive editor and founding managing editor of Dwell magazine, where he helped push the boundaries of architecture and design journalism, garnering the publication the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) General Excellence Award in 2005. In 1997, Wagner founded LIMN, the unorthodox design and arts magazine published by the equally unorthodox furniture and design company of the same name, and served as its editor-in-chief until 2000. Wagner was also the founding editor of Dodge City Journal, a magazine dedicated to documenting life in America's under-explored cities. In addition to his work at ReadyMade, Wagner is a consulting editor at Places magazine and has been a guest lecturer at several universities.

Olivia Wilde is equally successful in film and television having starred in an array of comedic and dramatic roles. Wilde can currently be seen in Fox’s hit Emmy-nominated drama, House, opposite Hugh Laurie. Additionally, Wilde wrapped production in the futuristic thriller, Tron, in July. Most recently, Olivia was seen opposite Jack Black in the biblical-era comedy Year One. Wilde is well known for her recurring role on the critically acclaimed Fox series The O.C. Previously, Wilde co-starred opposite Bruce Willis, Emile Hirsch and Justin Timberlake in the film Alpha Dog. Moreover, she starred in and produced Fix, the story of documentary filmmakers who race all over California to help out a relative. The film opened at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival. Photo by Jeff Lipsky.

And Etsy's own MaryMary, Anda and Eetzee.

Visit www.Etsy.tv today and VOTE for your favorite. Voting ends October 4, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Click here to discuss the 10 finalists.

There's No Place Like Here: Communal Living with Nikki Silva

2009-09-23T15:50:00-05:00

Friend Etsy on Youtube & Blip.tv | Subscribe to Etsy's iTunes Podcast | MP4 Verson

Like all our videos, feel free to re-post and embed the video on your blog!

(music by Forrest Lewinger, animation by JuliaPott)

While traveling to help promote Etsy as a sponsor of the Bay Area Maker Faire, I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to visit the wondrous place that is La Selva. After a beautiful sunlight-through-the-mist drive down the winding seaside road of Highway 1, I reached Watsonville, CA, and eventually La Selva, where Nikki Silva, a public radio producer best known for her work as one half of the Kitchen Sisters, greeted me. Nikki led me through the communal home that she and eight others have built for themselves in over thirty years of hard toiling work. Naturally we waited all day for a break in the fog so I could get a shot of the majestic view overlooking Monterey Bay.

Davia Nelson, the other half of the Kitchen sisters, above left and Nikki on the right.

Any high-end designer home may be engineered by master architects and built by contractors for millions, but part of the beauty of this place is that it was designed and built by nine people, who wanted nothing more than a place to call home. I suppose it was to their great fortune that one of the original nine happened to be a master architect and builder, but even so, La Selva is built largely from reclaimed materials from other buildings in the Santa Cruz area that had either burned down or were being remodeled. The stories that Nikki shared of how and where they sourced building materials were both industrious and inspiring. La Selva was built on the weekends, one house at a time, step by salvaged marble step.

La Selva is filled with the families' interesting collections, including Nikki's sock monkey hoard.

While Nikki attests that there was no intention of building a commune per se, it is very much a communal living situation. They are all partners in the shares of a single plot of land, and each partner or couple has a housing space within the whole compound based on their share. On the property, there are four separate houses, a large barn, a storage shed and an art studio. There is also a main house that has the kitchen, living room, and bathhouse (I didn't pry). In total, eight unique yet cohesive structures share the property of gardens, fields, and forest, overlooking farmland and the pacific ocean. For those living at La Selva, they eat dinner together every night, take weekly turns with the meal preparation and cleaning of the kitchen, and share in a remarkable sense of togetherness that is much like that of a family.

As the sun seemed to slip into the sea, closing my window of opportunity to keep shooting this wonderland, the kind folks at La Selva were gracious enough to have me for dinner. I expect this is their tradition for many a welcome guest. After dinner, we tuned in to a local Santa Cruz radio station to hear Nikki's daughter, Molly, recite a recent piece of her writing for which she had earned an award. It was a touching moment to sit with the group of people who had collectively raised Molly and hear her voice over the radio waves, the medium of her mother's legacy. It's hard not to imagine that every evening there is just as spectacular.

Much of the original art seen on the walls of La Selva can be found in the shop of Nikki's husband, Charles Prentiss. The vintage radio shown above is from johnnyvintage.

Watch more There's No Place Like Here Videos| Shop Local Santa Cruz

Looking for more styles and interiors? Check out our video series, There's No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. Get involved and show us your amazing space in this Flickr pool.

Instant Gratification: The Polaroid Legacy

2009-09-18T11:30:00-05:00

In 2008, the Polaroid Corporation announced that it was ceasing production of all of its instant films and cameras. In a digital age, many believed that Polaroids were a nostalgic, but redundant, throwback to the analog era. However, even a cursory glance at Etsy reveals that there are many amazing artists that continue to work with the beautiful medium of instant peel apart and integral films. Polaroid photography thrives on Etsy, and with the Polaroid Street Team growing each day, the marketplace is a wonderful venue for exploring the amazing world of instant photography. Artists using vintage Polaroid cameras abound, selling their original photos, emulsion lifts, transfers, and photo and giclée prints to growing audiences that love the soft focus and nostalgic beauty that only genuine analog instant photography can create.

Instant photography as we know it today was the invention of one of the 20th century's most astonishing scientific minds, Edwin H. Land (1909-1991). The creator of 537 patents (only Thomas Edison held more!) and founder of the Polaroid Corporation in 1937, Land's early inventions included 3-D movie glasses, guided missile systems, and polarized eyewear and camera lenses. His 4-year-old daughter, Jennifer, inspired Land’s most artistic breakthrough. In 1944, while her father took a series of photos, the young girl asked, "Can I see them now, Daddy? Why can't I see them now?" This poignant, direct question got Land thinking, and by 1947, he debuted the world's first instant photography to a stunned audience in New York City. By 1949, Polaroid roll film cameras were flying off the shelves, and photographers such as Ansel Adams were hired as dedicated artistic consultants. By 1950, over one million rolls of Polaroid instant film had been sold, and by 1956, over one million cameras were in the possession of excited artists and hobbyists thrilled by the actualized answer to little Jennifer Land's question, "Why can't I see them now?"

With Land at the helm, the Polaroid Corporation continued to introduce amazing new advances in instant photography. In the 1960s, the era of the Pack Film cameras emerged, along with color film and large format cameras. As families around the world used Polaroids to commemorate their lives, professional artists became captivated by the Polaroid's immediacy, as well as the myriad ways that peel-apart Pack film could be manipulated. Emulsion lifts and transfers became increasingly popular among enthusiasts, while the large format films became de rigueur tools of portrait and fashion photographers. Moreover, industrial uses of Polaroids skyrocketed, thanks to instant passport and ID photo cameras, instant X-rays, and the value of instant crime scene photography to police and fire investigators.

By the dawn of the 1970s, Polaroid cameras were ubiquitous features in homes and businesses, and artists, such as Andy Warhol, were famous for their Polaroid images. However, Land had an even more remarkable invention to unleash upon the world: the SX-70, a single-lens reflex camera that created a photograph that viewers could watch develop before their eyes. This iconic camera, released to the public in 1972, created a revolution in photography. Using a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, platform, the SX-70 amazed consumers with its magical integral photos that developed in the palms of their hands. SX-70 photos became renown for their intricate details, soft colors, and the novelty of having an image appear moments after it was taken. Polaroid artists discovered that the emulsion of the SX-70's dedicated film, known as Time-Zero, could be manipulated to emulate the soft, dreamy lines of impressionist paintings.

Over the next thirty years, many billions of Polaroids were taken around the world. New cameras, such as the 600, the Spectra, and the I-Zone, were in use alongside the SX-70 and Land Pack film cameras. However, by the beginning of the 21st century, Edwin Land had passed away, and the Polaroid Corporation found itself adrift. Poor fiscal management, the acquisition of the company by outside forces uninterested in promoting the innovative technologies for which the company was famous, and the rise of digital photography had a terrible impact on Polaroid's bottom line. In 2008, the Polaroid Corporation announced it was ceasing production of all instant films. Polaroid enthusiasts around the world were devastated, and artists who rely on the unique qualities of pack film, Time-Zero, and other integral film products, were thrown into deep mourning.

However, a determined crew of Polaroid enthusiasts vowed to keep the Polaroid legacy alive. At the forefront of the movement was Etsy's own Anne Bowerman, otherwise known as Polaroidgirl on Etsy, a cofounder of Save Polaroid, a grassroots movement to promote instant photography. With the activism of Save Polaroid and many other fans around the world, new hope for instant photography has sprouted! The most exciting development has been the creation of the Impossible Project, a promising business venture that plans on reintroducing Polaroid-compatible instant photography in 2010. It appears that, in this era of digital photography, analog is not dead; there is nothing that can emulate the magic of holding a Polaroid in your hands and watching it develop, and the new resurgence of instant photography's popularity promises to carry the medium well into the 21st century.

Polaroids Subsubcategory | Vintage Polaroid Cameras | Artistic Endeavors Series

Etsy's Polaroid Team

Handmade Moment Contest: The Final Days Countdown

2009-08-26T14:00:00-05:00

This is it. Are you gonna be a winner? A champ? Do you have what it takes? There's just a few days to go in our Handmade Moment video contest. Get your submissions in now or you'll miss your chance!

There are 136 contest submissions as of last night. Not a bad number! I'm proud of each and every one of you who took the time and effort to make something rad. I have a feeling that number is going to jump in the next few days. Winning the office pool right now (with a prediction of 135 entries) is Christine. But Michelle and Mike are about to step into the lead with predictions of 140 and 160, respectively. Comment below with what prize you think I should give the winner of the pool. I'm thinking a slab of organic nitrate-free bacon, but I'll take your suggestions instead. Just remember, bacon is yummy (if you aren't a vegetarian).

Lastly, if you think you will be selected for the next round of the contest and want to get a jump on filling out the release forms, please click here. You'll only have a week to submit the release forms once we notify the finalists, so I'm sharing this link to make your lives easier.

That's it for today's update. Remember, the contest's final days are upon us. Come join the fun at www.etsy.tv. The next time you'll hear from me i'll be announcing the winners.

Join the Etsy Handmade Moment video contest today!

See all the posts about this contest.

The Collectors: Vintage Super 8 Cameras

2009-08-19T16:17:00-05:00

I just love seeing what folks are collecting. I guess I feel it tells us just a little bit about what inspires them, what they love, and what they choose to surround themselves with in their homes. Today, I'm delighted to present the first in an ongoing series here on The Storque: The Collectors. First presented on my own little blog, the rikrak studio, it's 11 and a half quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they're collecting (apart from their art supplies!). Hope you'll just love these vintage super 8 cameras with the wonderful Chakra Pennywhistle!

'Tis the season to record all of the wonderful things going on around us! This month the Etsy Handmade Moment video contest deadline is fast approaching (August 31). So here's a collection interview to inspire us!

Who (are you?): Rikkianne (Chakra Pennywhistle)

What (are you collecting?): Vintage Super 8 Cameras

When (did you start?): About 8 or 9 years ago.

How (many do you have?): 23

Where (do you find them?): Local thrifts and antique stores.

Where (do you keep them?): They are placed on a book shelf in my living room.

What(‘s an interesting story behind one?): Lots of them still have film in them! Someday we plan to get a projector and check them out.

What (piece would you like to add?): I want to find one in an odd color.

Why (do you love them?): It is actually a collection that my husband and I share. He loves them just as much as I do.

What (else do you collect?): Vintage Vera Neumann scarves. I have over 300 of them!

Which (camera is your favourite?): This one was my Grandfather’s. My Grandfather loved films. He loved recording and fiddling with all things film related. That camera was one of his treasures.

Oh I just adore this gorgeous collection, Rikkianne! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I also adore Chakra Pennywhistle's beautiful handmade creations and her eco-forward style. Her integration of gorgeous, vintage textiles, and newer organic materials helps make her beautiful accessories, for your home, your children, or your self, simply divine, not to mention, wonderfully eco-conscious! She's been an inspiration to me for as long as I've known her (we first met through the wonderful EcoEtsy Team!). I'm inspired by how she incorporates sustainable design and business practices into her beautiful work, blog and life. Plus... she's a wonderful, generous, kind soul! How splendid!

Hope you'll find something she's made that you might like to add to your own collection of wonderful goodies:

Trees

By chakrapennywhistle, $50.

View Item | View Shop

Custom CIRCLE THE DATE Patch

By chakrapennywhistle, $7.

View Item | View Shop

What do you collect? Post in the comments below!

The Collectors Series | Browse Items from the EcoEtsy Team

See More Collections Posts on Rikrak's Blog

Etsy's Handmade Moment Contest Ends in Just Three Weeks

2009-08-11T13:45:00-05:00

I share an office with Matt (a.k.a. M-Cat, but only on mornings he calls me J-Dog). He's helping me be rad. You see, I was a dork. That's not hard to say -— all the cool ones these days started as dorks. But back in the day I could tell you all about the BBS I ran on my Apple IIe (and eventually Mac SE, Mac IIsi, and PowerMac 6100) or about all the light and sound systems at my school's theaters.

It's not like I was in the A/V club. I wish I was, because then I could make a video for Etsy's video contest (well, technically I couldn't because of my affiliation with Etsy, but let's not sidetrack the story here, kids). But I did learn to write well enough to get you to read to the second paragraph of a blog post promoting our rocking Handmade Moment Contest. You know, the one with $10,000 in prizes where you create videos promoting Etsy and the handmade movement, and we take the winning entry and use it in our marketing campaign.

You have heard of it, right?

99. Woot: 100! More Woot: 101, 102, 103....

So what's new this week? Since announcing our judges, we've seen a flurry of new activity. We now have over 100 contest submissions! New entries have been flying in, and each morning we all wake up excited to see what our creative community has made. You gotta check 'em out: we've got animation, claymation, stop motion, live action and more. Each and every submission is a creative expression of what handmade means.

Got mad skills? You have until August 31, 2009 to submit your video to the Handmade Moment Contest and be eligible for a prize. Feeling shy? Well, tell a friend! The more the merrier, so read the FAQ and submit your handmade video today.

There is still time to get your submissions in! Visit www.etsy.tv today for more details.

There's No Place Like Here: Retro Renovation at Luxton Lake with Tina Spangler

2009-07-29T18:30:00-05:00

Friend Etsy on Youtube or Blip.tv | Subscribe to Etsy's iTunes Podcast | MP4

All Etsy videos are creative commons free so please embed them on your blog! Help spread the word!

(music by Melodium, animation by JuliaPott)

Tina Spangler, a.k.a LuxtonLake, uprooted herself from her hectic New York City lifestyle for the woods of Upstate New York five years ago. She found her home in a forgotten community of Narrowsburg, NY, called Luxton Lake. Once a thriving vacation destination for African-American New Yorkers, the area was mostly abandoned in the 1970s when the dam was removed and the lake was drained. Tina found a dilapidated 1950s cabin in foreclosure and with very little funds, decided to take the leap and fix it up.

With an eye for decor from the 1930s and '40s, Tina loves to salvage old objects and give them new life. From her 1920s linoleum rug to her 1940s barkcloth curtains, this stylish abode has an air of practicality. Tina values the history of her possessions. Whether it's the dishes her mother dumpster dived, the old medicine bottles she found in the yard of the schoolhouse in which she grew up, or the remnants from the Luxton Lake Clubhouse, each object has a story to tell.

This vintage linoleum rug from LuxtonLake is a rare find. I love the old-fashioned feel and the fact that older linoleum was made with all-natural materials such as pine sap and lindseed oil (unlike what we know as linoleum today, which is really just vinyl).

Tina is the local Luxton Lake historian of sorts. While researching for her short documentary Lucky Lake, she found many bits and pieces of the community's past. From old signage on the Luxton Lake Clubhouse to forgotten relics from long abandoned houses, Tina has gathered a compelling narrative of New York's yesteryears.

Tina collects Fire King Jadite's beautiful colors and sturdy design, though it was "made probably a little too popular by Martha Stewart," Tina says. The green is most popular, but Tina's great-grandparents collected the blue colored glasses.

This teacup from jaditekate is just one of the many wonderful pieces you can find from a variety of vintage jadite sellers on Etsy.

Tina grew up in an old schoolhouse in rural Wisconsin. As a child she would find evidence of the history of the place by the names carved into the bricks and old bottles she would dig up in the yard. Tina likes the things in her house to have a history that she can tell as well as a practical use. She utilizes her collection of old bottles as vases for the flowers she grows in her Narrowsburg garden.

This vintage glass bottle from opendoorstudio would make a lovely vase for your fresh-cut flowers.

Right after college, Tina moved into an apartment in Boston fully furnished with 1940s and '50s decor left there by the previous elderly tenant. She has been adding to the collection ever since. One of the original treasures she found was an old figurine lamp that she still uses.

This porcelain figurine lamp from castleofcharm reminds me of the pretty lamp in Tina's little cabin. It doesn't take much to add a lot of color and style to your end table or bureau.

Tina discovered a wonderful collection of 1940s portrait paintings by Joseph Unger while living in New York. From what she could glean, these works were from a painting class that Unger attended and the subjects were various figure models. This lovely portrait by emberatia makes me think of Tina's fantastic collection.

What Etsy items would you add to your retro cabin? Leave a link in the comments!

Items Tagged "Cabin" on Etsy | Lucky Lake Film

A Cozy Home Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

More There's No Place Like Here Posts

Camera Obscura: Jan Svankmajer's Alice in Wonderland

2009-07-08T19:00:00-05:00

“Alice thought to herself, ‘Now you will see a film made for children. Perhaps. But I nearly forgot: you must close your eyes. Otherwise, you won’t see anything.’” — Jan Svankmajer’s Alice

When I was in college in Arizona, a friend of a friend had a screening of some films he had rented through the mail from Facets. Many years before that I had seen A Clockwork Orange (1971), Pink Floyd The Wall (1982), and other films that opened my eyes to the power of cinema. But it wasn't until this screening in a small apartment in Flagstaff that I understood cinema as an art form. That evening, we watched the classic film, Mystery of Picasso (1956), and a contemporary work by Jan Svankmajer called Alice (1988).

Svankmajer's surreal retelling of the Alice in Wonderland story was like nothing I had seen before. Part stop motion animation, part live action, this fantastical film was a dark alchemy of poetic beauty and sorcerer's brew.

Art doll by dollings, $55.

What I love most about the work of Svankmajer — and that of his proteges, The Brothers Quay — is the use of ephemera and curiosities to animate their tales. Antiquated-looking toys, doll parts, skeleton keys, bones, and taxidermy infuse these surreal visions with an other worldly darkness that I personally find uncanny and riveting.

I am constantly on the lookout for unusual pieces that are dark and mysterious. Etsy's Cabinet of Curiosities Team has an amazing array of shops that feature curios of the past. Whether it be old porcelain dolls or Victorian taxidermy, you can find everything you need for your own fantastical stop motion animation.

Odds and Ends Skeleton Key Trio by missemilygene, $45.

Old Sarah by Bella's Atelier, $2,000.

What are the best Alice in Wonderland inspired items you've seen on Etsy? Leave a link in the comments below.

Browse Items Tagged "100 Years Old" on Etsy | Alice DVD from First Run Features

Check out Etsy's Cabinet of Curiosities Team

Handmade Moment Video Contest: Pushing 50

2009-07-06T17:00:00-05:00

As of today, there are almost 50 submissions to the Handmade Moment contest! Make sure to rate your favorites and embed your top pick on your blog. Every little bit helps!

The items below are from some of the contestants. Multi-talented folks, aren't they?

What is the Handmade Moment contest? It's the video contest Etsy is running this summer. We want to see your 15 or 30 second video spots that spread the Etsy love and show the world what we're all about. Check out the announcement for the rules, deadlines and how to get involved. Oh, and the prize? A total of $10,000 will be given to top runners, with the premier winner getting $3,250. Cha-ching!

A Handmade Moment: Watch the First Nine Submissions

2009-06-12T16:00:00-05:00

There's nothing like watching some videos on a Friday afternoon. And there's nothing like a little friendly competition!

We are starting to publish Handmade Moment contest submissions to Etsy.tv. Just click to www.etsy.tv and check 'em out.

Great work, peaceofpi, bluedogrose, Mayware, twigstudionc, yaelfran and UntilItEnds. Way to go gettin' em in early! You're in a good position to get lots and lots of views.

Animation by Dan-ah Kim

2009-05-27T16:00:00-05:00

This music video for the band Asobi Seksu was conceived of and designed by Brooklyn-based illustrator Dan-ah Kim, a.k.a. dkim, and executed with the help of director Aaron Stewart-Ahn. The pair met while working as crew on a Michel Gondry project. This playful animation was done in camera without the aid of computers or green screens.

Here's what Dan-ah had to say about it:

We wanted to make this an animation done in-camera without green screens or CG, so we first filmed the band performing the song in a photo studio, then animated over the footage using a projector. In the studio we had Yuki and James against a white cyc and used a few props — feathers and arrows, as well some set pieces from their amazing album artwork done by Sean McCabe. Then we took the footage home and projected it against sheets of paper on the wall, onto which I drew, painted, and rearranged paper cutouts. We animated frame by frame, taking a still photo of the projected footage and art. It resulted in approximately 3,500 pictures, laid out in Final Cut and put together to create the video.

Here are some great photos from the work in progress...

To see more of Dan-ah Kim's artwork check out her website.

P.S. Hey creative moving-image types, we have a secret! Etsy is going to be launching a special new video very soon! One that involves cash prizes...

Illustration | Painting | Browse Etsy for Art

Watch an Etsy video and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

Crafting a Community of Awesome: Be Part of the Summit

2009-04-23T14:17:00-05:00

Five years ago I totally didn’t have any crafty friends. I toiled away in my living room each night, making stuff without any clue what I would do with it. And when I finished something, I stored it in our extra bedroom until the spare bed became this weird pile of strange stuff. I felt like my making had no purpose and I had absolutely no one to talk to about this. There were no support groups for the likes of me: people who were addicted to making with no real end game for the products. I remember being obsessed with picking up trash to make into collage art, stealing rubber fishing lures from my dad to make into necklaces, looking at a seat belt from a junked car as if it were a prize. I was upcycling before I had a word for it, and to my non-crafty friends, I was just a little wonky.

I had no idea then that my life would totally change, and that not only would I meet someone like me, but that my life would end up full of friends like me. These are not just acquaintances, but real, amazing friends: collaborators and co-conspirators and comrades and colleagues. The importance of these friends to my craft is one thing. I love that I know who to ask when I can’t find Gocco supplies or where to go if I need advice on a craft show application. I love that my friend Beth knows just want to do with an old sweater and that my friend Sara knits me the best scarves with bumpy yarn every year.

But it is the importance of these friends to my actual life that has taken me so by surprise. When my family recently went through a tough medical diagnosis, my crafty friends were delivering groceries and stopping by to teach my twins to sew and sending me encouraging text messages. I never imagined it, but I have found myself surrounded by community, and that is the most fabulous part of the handmade revolution for me. I’m not just a weirdo making things while I watch TV anymore. I’m one of many weirdos making things while we watch TV.

And this is why I am so excited about the Summit of Awesome, my latest project with Hello Craft. After years selling at and organizing craft shows, I wanted to help create an event that is about more than just gathering to sell our wares. It seemed to me that selling at craft shows leaves little time to actually socialize, forge friendships and learn from each other. And my attempts at gathering crafty friends to just "hang out" always seemed to be foiled by the business of real life. I am so excited that I get to help provide other people with the venue to infuse their lives with new crafty friends; to hang out with neat people, while learning from some of the most inspiring speakers in the crafting community.

The Craftnotes with Sublime Stitching’s Jenny Hart and Etsy’s CEO Maria Thomas are in themselves exciting, but we also have 30 more speakers lined up for seminars, workshops and demos. And if you can't make the event, the Etsy Virtual Labs will be covering several of our seminars. We've also just added single day passes if you cannot make the whole weekend of awesome.

Here are the details:
Hello Craft’s Summit of Awesome will take place in Washington, D.C., May 1-3. The Summit is designed for artists and crafters, from dabblers to business owners, and includes the D.C. premiere of the Indie Craft Documentary, Handmade Nation. We also have fun social "making areas" planned, as well as the first ever Handmade White Elephant Gift Exchange and Swap! You can check out the complete line-up of speakers and register online at hellocraft.com.

I can't stress enough the importance of gathering together to learn and share in the same space; how I think these types of events will help deepen the bond of the crafting community and spark new and innovative ideas on the direction of the handmade movement. And dude, you need more cool friends, right?

I’d love to hear your stories of how the handmade community has made your life better. Please put them in the comments below! I may contact you to record your story for the Hello Craft Podcast!

Proceed and Be Bold: A Documentary

2009-04-21T15:24:00-05:00

Brown Finch Films is a filmmaking collaborative based in Chicago, Illinois that produces transformative documentary films that inspire, evoke, and enliven. The cinema is both an art and an history, and as filmmakers, they respect their calling to make films that are both artistic and insightful. Their films probe deep into their subjects to ask questions that are controversial, historical, rhetorical, and inspirational.

We came to the Etsy blog because our documentary, Proceed and Be Bold! is about a self-employed artist, and we thought that other Etsians would love to see a film about someone who makes a living with their art. Also, we love Etsy and shop here often!

Brown Finch Films is kind of like a craft club for people who like making films instead of scarves… Our first documentary feature film, called Proceed and Be Bold! is the biography of an inspiring artist, Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. He quit his corporate job at the age of 40 to follow his dream of becoming a letterpress artist, or as he calls himself, “a humble negro printer.” Laura Zinger, the director and co-founder of Brown Finch Films, was initially intrigued by Amos’s racially and socially provocative posters. She took a dinky little video camera to one of his gallery shows a couple years ago, then looked at the footage and saw the possibility for a feature documentary film.

Amos’s inspiring story really took root in Laura. His journey is about finding true joy in creating the things you yearn to create and saying the things you really want to say. Laura teamed up with cinematographer and Brown Finch Films co-founder Michelle Kaffko and editor Stacey Simcik, dragging them across the country (and even to Italy) filming amazing artists and crafters who know Amos.

We were filming in some amazing art and craft spaces, including Hatch Show Print, a letterpress company in Nashville that has been printing event posters since 1879. Current head Jim Sherraden gave us a tour of the floor-to-ceiling shelves that house block prints for the presses, and showed us how the shelves themselves are made out of discarded block prints nailed to the frames.

While filming at the design and silkscreen printshop, Standard Deluxe in Waverly, AL (population, 265), we met a proprietor who built a beautiful wall in his studio out of salvaged windows and doors, perfectly meshed together Tetris-style. And who can forget the amazing Alberto Casiraghi in the small town of Osnago, Italy, where he fed us a delicious meal, and then showed us the rooms of his home, which were filled with letterpress art books. He collaborates with other writers, painters and poets, and prints short run editions of art books, refusing to sell them for any more than about $15 each so the everyday person can afford them. We filmed Alberto in his garden and had to repeatedly shoo away his goat, who kept trying to eat the microphone cable…

After meeting all these inspired creators (and their goats), who wouldn’t turn to their own machines of creation and start making stuff? The finches at Brown Finch Films (or BFF as we like to call ourselves) came back to our Chicago home and started sifting through all of the footage to put the story of Amos’s life together. We ended up with a documentary film we are incredibly proud of: Proceed and Be Bold!

While taking the film to screenings and panel discussions in theatres, groups, and schools across the country, we also started making our own crafts to raise funds for the production of DVD copies, complete with special features and Italian subtitles for overseas viewers. The crafts started when Michelle made some cute little handmade felt plush finches for the film premiere, to give to everyone who helped out during production of the film as a thank-you gift. The finches were a hit, and people started asking for them at other screenings. So Michelle made a handful more to sell at screenings, and she called them “fundraising finches” so people knew that purchasing a felt finch went directly to the filmmaking collaborative. Soon she was making mini felt finches as pins for the filmmakers and their collaborators to wear at screenings. Then, naturally, she started making felt pins with swear words on them, and they were selling like hotcakes.

I guess what everyone at Brown Finch Films learned through this experience is what Amos was telling us all along: “Don’t be an artist. Artists are full of themselves. Just make stuff. Just quit your job or whatever you hate doing, and make stuff, damnit.” And that’s what the finches are doing now. Laura quit her 9-to-5 job, swapped it for a part time teaching gig and moving back in with her father to lower her cost of living, all to be able to truly follow her dream and make a documentary film. Now we’re all hooked. We’ve got three more feature documentary films currently in the works, and still booking screenings for Proceed and Be Bold!

Find our more about the film and screenings near you at BrownFinchFilms.com.

Further resources:
Kennedy Prints
Hatch Show Print
Standard Deluxe
The Bird Machine
Typeface Documentary
Columbia College Book Arts Program
Kangaroo Press

Aw, Snap! Hine's Animation Clicks

2009-02-26T23:43:00-05:00

Canada-based Etsy seller and animator-extraordinaire Hine sent her new animation in to the blog. It's an ad for the cute, felt camera cases she makes by hand. As you can see, Hine is very talented, but what about this banana slug? He's going places!

Search for Felt Items | More Animation Posts | Subscribe to Etsy's iTunes Podcast

Mickey Rourke Treasures His Handmade, Custom Pet Portrait Necklace

2009-02-26T12:20:00-05:00

Congrats to wickedworld whose pendant was worn (ahem, flaunted) at the Oscars by pet-lover Mickey Rourke. The cute face of Loki, Mickey's beloved Chihuahua, stood out from Mickey's flashy white suit and be-sunglassed look. The actor was nominated for this year's Best Actor for his role in The Wrestler. Sadly, Loki passed away only days prior, and Mickey tearfully dedicated the Independent Spirit award to the pooch at a separate ceremony.

I think most pet-lovers would agree that the necklace is an endearing tribute. It's so touching coming from someone who seems like such a tough guy. Guess he's a softy after all!

Thanks to crochetbouquet who pointed this out in the forums. She heard about it from Anderson Cooper who mentioned it on the Regis and Kelly TV show today.

I'm so proud of wickedworld and all of Etsy sellers who work with their clients to create such meaningful pieces. If you're interested in custom pet portraits or jewelry, check out the links below!

Pets Category on Etsy | Etsy Pets series | Pet Portraits | Custom Pet Jewelry on Etsy

Etsy World Tour: India Comes to Oscar Night, Strongbeads Comes to Etsy

2009-02-20T14:55:00-05:00

Here in the United States, the buzz about Slumdog Millionaire has been building as we near the Oscars this Sunday, February 22nd. Irish director Danny Boyle brings an inspiring Indian story to the screen. For those who haven't seen it, keep watching and stay for the credits. So good!

We took a spin in Shop Local to India and chatted with Yolanda aka StrongBeads, an Etsy seller based not in the slums of Mumbai but in the southern, rural area of Goa. She has not yet seen Slumdog Millionaire, but told us that her best chances of seeing it are "on the beach in a illegal cinema." Here's a bit more from Yolanda...

I am Yolanda van den Bos and I am Dutch. I just wrote you a whole story about Strongbeads and it is 'gone'..... Thanks to the internet provider in this 'jungly' south Goa...It is also thanks to them that I could make my Etsy shop at the end of last year! Etsy is great for people like me, a perfect chance to make a shop!

My broadband connection is a wire hanging in the trees in front of my cowdung house, entering the house through the tiles on the roof. Then it goes into a little handbag of mine and straight to the little databox next to me. This wire moves when it's storming outside or when two birds are making love on the wire, and then my connection is 'gone'...

Strongbeads is all about glass beads and collecting, and it is also all about 'bells'. I am a traveler for many years now and I like to watch people and their cultural habits. Looking, being amazed, trying to understand ... Enjoying here this 'Incredible India'; the best slogan the Indians could make for their tourists! Colorful, stunning nature, long histories, culture, many gods, great food, beautiful people! I love it to be a guest in this India.

I am digging in the backstreets, where ever... while traveling, for this one special bead that I can use for my necklaces. I carry along glass beads and all types of bells over train stations and borders.

Strongbeads makes 'jewelery' with 'bells'. The 'bells' are copper and/or brass bells on a beaded string with glass beads. I started to make them with the left over beads from my jewelery and with the beads that people gave me from old jewelery. I sell my jewelery and bells while traveling and I sell in little shops in different places around the world.

All bells are different, sounds are different, shapes, histories. I use temple bells and animal bells, all with different beads. I love it to make them and I love it to see them hanging! Making the 'bells' is meditative. I made hundreds of them over the years, almost 1000 pieces. That is beading 1000 meters, 1 kilometer!!! Bead after bead, no thinking, empty producing, silence. These beaded strings are hanging now on many different places, many balconies, gardens, kitchens, rooms, all around the world!

I love to hear the Etsy stories from around the world — to me they're like snippets of different movies, or different bells ringing with different sounds.

Shop Local India | Items tagged "Bollywood"

Handmade Nation Screening and Virtual Lab Q&A

2009-02-10T16:10:00-05:00

Faythe Levine and Cortney Himerl will be in New York this week discussing and screening their documentary film Handmade Nation and its accompanying book. Etsy will be streaming a live webcam feed of the Q&A in the Virtual Labs starting at around 7:30pm EST, Thursday, February 12 (click here to translate this time on a world clock). Thank you goes out to the Museum of Art & Design (MAD museum) who will be hosting us.

Check the Handmade Nation blog for info on screenings in your area. For those of you who are in the New York area, you'll find details below for seeing the film or meeting the filmmakers face-to-face:

Click Image to buy the book!

Handmade Nation at MAD Museum
The NYC Premiere and Director’s Panel
Thursday, February 12, 6:30 pm
6:30 pm Screening and Panel discussion
with Faythe Levine, Mandy Greer, Kate Bingaman- Burt and Callie Janoff in the MAD Theater
SOLD OUT

Handmade Nations Encore Screenings and Q&A with author and director Faythe Levine
February 14 and February 15, 2 pm in the MAD Theater
Tickets available online at www.madmuseum.org

Book signings at MAD
with Faythe Levine and Cortney Himerl
Author and Director Faythe Levine and Co-author and Assistant producer Cortney Himerl will be available for book signings in the MAD first floor lobby
Thursday, February 12, 5:00pm- 6:00pm
Saturday, February 14, 1:00pm- 2:00pm and 3:30pm- 4:30 pm
Sunday, February 15, 1:00 pm- 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm

The book Handmade Nation: The Rise of D.I.Y., Craft, and Design is available for purchase at
The Store at MAD. To purchase tickets and for more information visit www.madmuseum.org or call 212.299.7780.

Powerhouse Arena Bookstore
There will also be a panel discussion at the Powerhouse Arena Bookstore in Brooklyn on Wednesday, February 11, 7-9pm EST. Powerhouse is located at 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Faythe Levine and Cortney Heimerl, co-authors of "Handmade Nation," join American Craft Editor-in-Chief Andrew Wagner and KnitKnit's Sabrina Gschwandtner for a panel on art, craft and design.
www.powerhousearena.com
rsvp@powerhousearena.com

See related posts | Documentaries

Etsy Finds: Getting Aaron Rose's Look - Home Decor Edition

2009-01-18T08:30:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the Los Angeles home of artist, author, director, musician, and curator behind the Beautiful Losers movement, Aaron Rose. His home decor is a reflection of his many pastimes and obsessions: skateboarding, surfing, hip hop and graffiti culture. It's also a bright collage of tribal masks, guitars, pulp fiction, circus memorabilia, pop art prints and rainbow hues. Today we're going to show you how to achieve the brightly modern abode Aaron calls home using elements found on Etsy.

You can view more inspiring photos of Aaron's home on The Selby.

It Feels So Right A3 Print

This quirky print looks like it would fit right in on Aaron's wall. By Juliapott, $15.

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Candy Striper Chair

Candy striper, indeed! This chair is a close match to the set in Aaron's kitchen. By sprucehome, $225.

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Billy Little - original painting

This illustration turned wall hanging looks like it belongs in Aaron's house. (Or mine...) By madebymax, $25.

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Fruit Salad

I love this rainbow afghan — so bright and cheery. By KittyKittyKnits, $135.

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Polaroid J66 Land Camera

Aaron's got a killer camera collection. Why not add to yours? From ladiesandgentlemen, $65.

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Retro Hand Notepad w Pen

These notes are so "handee." How meta! From domestikate, $10.

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Fancy Bud

Stained glass has never looked so good! By mouchette, $225.

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Overstuffed wooden chair remote control holder

Need help keeping track of your remote? This Pee-wee's Playhouse-esque chair should do the trick! From sydg, $19.99.

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Vintage Happy Clown in Wood

Aaron's circus fascination is evident in his decor. This non-threatening clown could make a great addition to your own. From twogoodeyes, $22.

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Beautiful Losers film trailer from beautifullosersfilm on Vimeo.

We caught a sneak preview of the documentary Aaron directed about the Beautiful Losers movement before it was finished: it's a great glimpse into the lives of artists — such as Margaret Kilgallen, Barry McGee, Mike Mills, and more. You can watch the trailer or see it on the big screen, or also get involved in the Beautiful Losers "Make Something" workshops with kids in communities around the country — find out more on the website. And hey, while we're at it, if you want a free movie poster, be one of the first five people to comment in the Etsy blog post!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

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

Etsy Finds: Lights, Camera...Action!

2009-01-13T08:19:00-05:00

Mystery Train, Ghost World, The 400 Blows: Who doesn't enjoy a trip to the local indie cinema? With the Sundance Film Festival starting this week, why not indulge your dreams of indie stardom by getting out the old Super 8 and doing your best Parker Posey? Today's Etsy Finds salutes film in all its glory, so be you director, starlet or moviegoer: support independent film and the artists who make it.

Super 8 Greeting Card Set

By Stencil1, $7.50.

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Super 8 Film Light

From ladiesandgentlemen, $20.

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Film Maker

By dollhead, $40.

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Super 8 Letterpress Print

By rollandtumblepress, $20.

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Canvas of Audrey Hepburn IV - 13 x 13 inches - framed

By thecanvashouse, $42.

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Cufflinks - Film Reel, Antique Silver Finish

By dabbledesigns, $14.

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Projector Journal

By artkitten, $28.

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XL - TLR camera - women's summer tshirt, creme

By vital, $25.

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Wedding Invitation/Reception Poster -Movies-

By unlesssomeonelikeyou, $75.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Featured Buyers | Trends | Gift Ideas

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

The Brooklyn Skyline

2008-12-19T15:00:00-05:00

I adore the skyline of Brooklyn. When I first moved here way back in 1993, I remember being so taken with the wood water tanks that stood on top of many buildings near the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the East River. This was ages before Brooklyn Industries came on the scene with their water tank logo and multiple store locations. Over the years I have climbed up on to the rooftop of many a Brooklyn row house to watch fireworks, partake in friends’ barbecues, and one time, to see a meteor shower in the middle of the night. In a city with a street level as dense as ours, looking up where man-made meets sky can be a beautiful respite.

Rooftop Bees on DVD by honeybeeproductions

As a film-maker interested in the urban environment, I wanted to find a way to incorporate rooftops into a project. When I heard about a beekeeper with beehives on his rooftop in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, I immediately thought that he and his honeybees might make great film subjects. I could document the pleasures of both urban beekeeping and Brooklyn rooftops. John, the beekeeper, agreed to let me film him at work with his thousands of amazing honeybees. He checked their hives throughout the summer and then harvested their honey, selling it at Habana Outpost, a local outdoor market. It was quite an experience to be on the roof next to the buzzing hives. The views of the Williamsburg Savings Bank building and Fort Greene Park were lovely and although it was ridiculously hot and I got stung twice, I fell in love with the Brooklyn skyline all over again.

Evidently there are other Etsy sellers who derive inspiration from the Brooklyn skyline:

Kentile Floors Sign Brooklyn by livepoultry

LivePoultry is a t-shirt company based in Red Hook, Brooklyn that specializes in limited edition silk-screened tees. They take inspiration from Coney Island and the industrial buildings, waterfront and street scape of New York City past and present. This design features the big metal Kentile Floors Sign, which can be seen from the elevated F train as it passes through Gowanus, Brooklyn.

Tracks At Marcy Ave. by kateblack

KateBlack loves the view from her elevated train station so much that she took a photo of it and turned it into a bottle opener key chain.

New York Rooftops by LaurenCastillio

LaurenCastillo's “New York Rooftop” painting sets rooftop antennae, chimneys and vents against a beautiful blue sky.

Baby Blue Skyline Chalkboard Tee by classattire

Classattire's skyline t shirt is actually a writable and erasable chalkboard so you can sketch your own drama on to the cityscape.

Coney Island Parachute Jump Necktie by toybreaker

Coney Island offers some of the most iconic structures of the Brooklyn skyline. And while redevelopment plans are under way and will definitely change the gritty character of Coney, the Parachute Jump, the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone are here to stay. Toybreaker makes a screen-printed necktie for the Parachute Jump fan.

2009 Letterpress Calendar by brooklynbookbinder

Maggie Campbell of BrooklynBookbinder uses a detail from the Cyclone roller coaster as the background for the July page of her 2009 letterpress calendar because there’s nothing like riding the Cyclone in July!

Wonder Wheel Signed Fine Art Print by sherrijackson

SherriJackson’s beautiful photograph of the Wonder Wheel captures the saturated color, typography and fun of Coney.

Brooklyn From Bay Ridge by samypaden

Another asset of Brooklyn’s cityscape is its proximity to the water — you can see the ocean, the harbor and the river from many spots in our fine borough. This painting shows just that, and is one of many landscape paintings he has made of Brooklyn.

Handprinted Artprint by nateduval

NateDuval’s screenprint of the Domino Sugar Factory on the East River looks good enough to eat, in a post-industrial waterfront kind of way.

Crafting in Brooklyn 8.5x11 Print by lauramccabe

With over 2 million residents, Brooklynites live in apartment buildings, row houses, private homes and even a few houseboats. LauraMccabe captures the beauty of Brooklyn’s row houses (and the beauty of knitting) in this print.

Puerto Rican Flags by stephanieland

StephanieLand offers a Brooklyn tableau in her photograph of a house in Bushwick strewn with Puerto Rican flags, against a gorgeous blue sky.

Brooklyn, New York Greeting Card Series, 6 by GreenwichLetterpress

And for the crown jewel of the Brooklyn skyline, let us not forget the incredible Brooklyn Bridge, which has been the pride of our borough since it opened to the public in 1883. GreenwichLetterpress has made both Brooklyn Bridge holiday cards and greeting cards. Get ‘em and send ‘em!

Brooklyn Bridge Necklace by Brookadelphia

Brookadelphia’s very cool Brooklyn Bridge necklace is made of black acrylic.

Cuff Links on Nickels by wabisabibrooklyn

WabisabiBrooklyn’s cufflinks have an image of the Bridge decoupaged on to five cent coins.

Brooklyn Bridge Tote Bag by brooklynglobal

BrooklynGlobal makes both a tote bag and T shirt screen printed with the Bridge’s double archway.

Baby Brooklyn Bridge Onesie by serimony

Serimony has hand block printed a tiny Brooklyn Bridge onto onesies for the newest Brooklyn appreciators. They also make shirts for full grown fans.

Brooklyn Skyline by Pennyvictory

A water tank and the gorgeous Williamsburg Savings Bank Building both adorn Pennyvictory’s cool canvas tote bag.

Rooftop by homespuncity

HomespunCity makes an elegant silver pendant, water tank necklace. Wear it or gift it with Brooklyn pride.

Further Resources to appreciate the Brooklyn skyline:

The Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment is dedicated to educating individuals about the built and natural environments of New York City. For information about events and walking tours visit http://bcue.org.

Forgotten New York is a great resource for little-known facts about New York City, past and present. http://www.forgotten-ny.com.

The Place Matters mission is to foster the conservation of New York City's historically and culturally significant places. On their website you can nominate a place that matters to you. http://www.placematters.net.

Rooftop Films is a summer screening series that brings underground films outdoors at venues throughout New York City. Go see a movie on a rooftop! http://rooftopfilms.com.

Find more documentaries on DVD on Etsy.

Shop Local in Brooklyn | Brownstoner's Shop Live Picks | Shop Local Series

Update: Faythe Levine's Handmade Nation

2008-10-29T11:48:00-05:00

We at Etsy are very excited about Faythe Levine's forthcoming documentary, Handmade Nation; so excited, in fact, that we want to share the clips as they become available! (Such as the amazing stop motion opening sequence shown above.)

Not familiar with Handmade Nation? Here's the gist: director Faythe Levine crossed the country to interview hundreds of artisans and crafters to talk about why and what of making things means to them. The resulting film has produced excitement amongst crafters, as it's a handmade production of its own.

Living in Seattle during the punk DIY music scene in the early nineties, Faythe Levine was fully enthralled by the do-it-yourself ethos. Self-publish, produce, reuse, collaborate, indie labels, zines, communal living, art collectives: she's done it all. In 2003 she looked around and saw a powerful and inspiring movement happening within the craft scene. A "new wave" as she calls it, was emerging with energy and inspiration fueled by a desire to embolden communities of makers and reinvent traditional models of crafting.

Check out the trailer for the documentary below! Very inspiring...

For more posts on Faythe Levine and Handmade Nation, check out our previous coverage.

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events August 7-14

2008-08-07T11:55:00-05:00

Summer is in full swing. Why not get out and see what your fellow art and craft lovers are up to? Here are a few of our picks. Let us know what's happening in your area by sharing in the comments below.

Chicago, IL: August 7

Faythe Levine is a filmmaker, author, independent curator and creative director who is currently documenting the rise of DIY and the new wave of art, craft and design in the United States in her film, Handmade Nation. The heart of this new wave of creativity is the community, which is equally influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism and art. More information here.

Stop by the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum to see a 20 minute sneak preview from a work-in-progress from the feature film to be released in 2009. After the screening we will hear from Faythe about her thoughts on craft, community, and the nature of DIY. Crafters, artists, filmmakers, labor artists and the general public are all encouraged to attend!

Brooklyn, NY: August 11

Come visit the Etsy Labs for a very special edition of Craft Night. The Etsy Labs and Sweet Tooth of the Tiger join forces to create a recipe slam! We'll be sharing recipes with one another and binding them into little cookbook zines. Come early for a reception from 5-6pm replete with sweet treats. The serious crafting will run from 6-8pm. Learn all about the event here.

San Francisco, CA: August 15

Join the American Craft Council for a lively conversation on the topic of The Politics of Craft and Design. The conversation will delve into how craft and design manifest at the cultural cutting-edge and how makers respond to issues of urgency in the current political climate.

Featuring :

Tina Barseghian, Editor in Chief, Craft Magazine

Garry Knox Bennett, Artist, American Craft Council Fellow

Rob Forbes, Director, Studio Forbes

Robin Petravic, Co-owner, Heath Ceramics

Edie Kahula Pereira, Artecnica

Stephanie Syjuco, Artist

Moderated by Andrew Wagner, Editor in Chief, American Craft

When: Friday, August 15, 2008 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: The Golden Gate Room, Fort Mason Center
Admission: $12 (cash only), includes entrance to the American Craft Show on Saturday or Sunday.
Free with Friday show admission and for American Craft Council members

RSVP by August 11, 2008 to ahenry@craftcouncil.org or call 212-274-0630 ext. 274.

While at Fort Mason, visit the American Craft Show, where over 250 craft artists will be presenting their latest jewelry, furniture, clothing, home décor and more. Enjoy fine wine tastings, new artists, a featured green component, live demonstrations and walking tours. Friday and Saturday, August 15-16 (10 am-6 pm); Sunday, August 17 (10 am-5pm).

Call for Volunteers: The American Craft Council is also looking for volunteers to help run the event. They need assistance with everything from light set-up to registration at the door to light clean-up. In exchange, you'll receive eternal graditude and free admission to the program. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact email MHampton@CraftCouncil.org.

San Francisco: Call of Vendors

Bazaar Bizarre SF and the curator of Plush You are teaming up to bring you the indie collaboration known as You Bazaar! This event, held on November 2nd, 2008, will feature 30 select craft vendors selling quality handmade wares and a series of rotating workshops throughout the day with some of your favorite plush designers.

The deadline for applying is August 15. This is a first come first served show. Applications will be approved as they come in and will be juried by the organizers, so apply here asap.

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

The Flipbooks of Etsy: Motion Picture Objects

2008-07-08T17:00:00-05:00

Going to the movies is wonderful, but it is a temporary experience. When the movie is done, all you are left with is a ticket stub. However, with flipbooks you can keep the memories forever, or at least until you spill coffee on them. Until that imminent coffee disaster, a flipbook is an object you can keep as a thing of beauty to watch over and over again.

Besides being fantastic art objects to make and treasure, flipbooks are also a great project for kids. When I was a school teacher, making flipbooks was one of my favorite things to teach. While sequential art may seem simple, making a flipbook entertaining and stylish is a serious process with lots of planning, consideration, and playfulness. Something about having to draw pictures over and over with subtle changes makes for a mesmerizing and creative project. When I taught my students, we did it with notecards and a binder clip, but there are lots of ways to make flipbooks and the possibilities are endless. Etsy has awesome flipbook makers so I email-interviewed them and asked them to describe their process of flipbook making and wax philosophic about flipbooks in general.

lookability makes super sweet flipbooks! Besides listing them for sale in her store, she also posts videos on YouTube.

"I do a lot of thinking beforehand deciding on my theme or topic. Most of the planning is in process as I think through the 'motions' of the characters page by page. I assemble them myself, which I like doing, although it's turning out to be very time consuming.

Usually I come up with an idea, often by adapting a previous piece of art or characters. Most recently I have been putting body parts/pieces of the characters into a template page of 24 book 'pages' I made in InDesign or Illustrator. Then I individually rotate each part for each page to make the animation. Then I print out the 8.5 in x 11 in paper, cut out the pages (previously with x-acto blade, now I have a rotary cutter), add in the title page, cover, end page, back cover. Then I drill tiny holes in the spine of the book (previously with a thick needle — dangerous; now I bought some tiny bits I will try out). Then I bind it by sewing with dental floss. I put a layer of glue on the spine and let it dry, then I dry mount the spine cover onto the book with rubber cement. Finished! Unless I put the book together backwards, which I have done a couple of times.

Flipbooks in general never cease to entertain me. Somehow I feel like I might not 'know what's going to happen' even if I've already flipped a book twenty times. I hope my flipbooks are the kind people just want to flip over and over again."

Hine has been doing stop-motion animation and has been experimenting with using the photos from her animations to make flipbooks!

"I have been making some stop-motion animations since last year, so I already have lots of continuous photographs. I use them with iStopMotion 2. It's a software for making stop-motion animations for Mac ( I just purchased it a few weeks ago, so I haven't actually used it for stop-motions yet). There is a fun feature called 'Print Flipbook' in it. I just import my photos to iStopMotion, and choose the size of flipbook, then print them and cut them. And I assemble the flipbook with glue. For the squid ones, I just found the flipbook feature and I already had the photos, so I didn't have any plans, just started to make them for fun!
If you really like to make flipbooks, and you want to use your photographs or digital illustrations for them, getting the iStopMotion 2 software would be one of the easiest and fastest way to make flipbooks and it costs $49."

PenFelt makes flipbooks and describes her process and inspiration.

"Flipbooks were the one thing I collected when I traveled in Europe, so I have flipbooks from all over the world. My favorite shows the pattern of the stone labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral.

I love Etsy's flipbooks — I have at least one from each seller who sells them.

My process: I am usually inspired by found objects or images. 'Good By' (the flipbook in my shop) has drawings inspired by kid art, and the text is from a note I found on the ground. I cut and pasted these items and shrunk them on the copier, then manually moved the images to make the animation. I prefer to make flipbooks zine style like this. I decide the first and last image, and the rest I just let happen.

The book in my shop is assembled by me. I cut the pages, assembled, hand-stamped the color and bound each one by hand — phew! I am working on some that will be a sent away job. Look forward to seeing them in my shop soon.

If you're getting started, get a flipbook and go through the pages slowly. This way you can see how much movement takes place between the pages to create an animation."

Joe Freedman, aka sarabandepress makes all sorts of contraptions. I recently fell in love with the Retroscope! It's a technically advanced and mechanized flipbook!

"Technically what I'm making is a tabletop Mutoscope. Precursors were the Kinora and the Midgette viewer. My biggest 'improvement' was to lift the cards out of the box and make them visible. In the old days the cards were put into a box to hide the magic and make the box more mysterious. Now we just assume that boxes will do magical things and we take them for granted. Seeing the cards as they flip by makes it more amazing, I think. My Retroscope has only 36 flips so the stories aren't about a linear plot line. Flipbooks give you a lot of flips but since it is linear, the viewer only does it a few times. With the Retroscope, the viewer isn't really sure where the beginning or end is. I like that it goes around and around. Retroscopes are like a slice of life.

Some of them are just instantaneous events. Just prior to WWI there was a company called Biopix that had small studios in Paris and London to make flipbook portraits of customers. Pascal has the actual flipbook of Guillaume Apollinaire, the surrealist poet. Apollinaire has a description of the process of sitting for the portrait. I love the idea that we have an actual document showing Apollinaire moving and reacting to the viewing camera. I'm going to be trying a similar project of making Retroscopes on the spot of people. Probably at a flea market or something like that.

I had the black cardboard box commercially made. All the rest of it I make myself. The laser lets me do short runs with super accuracy. The Retroscope seems like a very simple thing but it works because of the precision laser cutting. The cards are just slipped into the reel. One key aspect is the diagonal slit at the bottom of the card. This relieves the stress and lets the cards flip well. At the bottom of the slit there is a .004 inch circle that stops the cards from ripping. I've run them in an electric drill for hours and the tiny circle prevented any ripping. The precision of the laser makes the simplicity possible.

Mostly I'm interested in the overlap between digital and analog. I love taking a digital file and producing an antiquated analog device. Of course the analog version will probably last longer and be more archival than the digital original.

I'm not an animator so that limits some of what I explore in my Retroscopes. I have a 'make your own' kit that lets animators do their own reels that play in the Retroscopes.

Pell Osborne does wonderful workshops with students doing hand drawn flipbooks. After they draw them, he has a device which digitizes them really quickly so everyone can view it on a big screen at the end of the seminar. Very cool work."

If you love flipbooks and want to tell us about the ones you have found, post in the comments below!

Update: since I wrote this article, two more flipbook makers showed up on Etsy. Check out jamiralaquaglia and greenchairpress's shop!

Please join our Handmade Video Group if you are making videos or animation. If you get a bee in your bonnet and want to get started in video, check out our Getting Started in Video series.

Featured Buyer: John F. from They Might Be Giants

2008-05-28T12:01:00-05:00

This week we have a very special treat for music fans and hip parents the world over: John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants is our special Featured Buyer in honor of Father's Day. They Might Be Giants, an art rock band specializing in nasally-delivery, catchy lyrics and accordion-accompanied tunes, holds strong as college radio favorites. Interestingly, John and John have segued their career into creating children's music, and recently, worked on a children's book with Marcel Dzama. Public radio listeners may also be keen on their dial-a-song project. We find their creativity to be boundless and so we voted them the coolest dads ever. Read on for John F's favorites from the Etsy marketplace.

John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants here. Recently I was hanging out with my friend Flora, who is turning four in a few weeks, and she saw my photograph on the cover of a magazine. She asked me why I looked unhappy. I told her I wasn't unhappy, I just was making my "artist face." Then I opened my email, and saw I was invited to selected a bunch of artist-made products in honor of Father's Day for Etsy, a website my family wholeheartedly supports. So now I ask for you to do your part for Dad and all your artist-faced friends and get some of these recommended gifts available right here, right now on the one and only Etsy.

Squirrel Greeting Card by ArtByMarilyn. Perfect for your nature lovin' dad. An interesting piece of art with a simple but touching story behind it, reproduced on a card for a highly reasonable, and highly specific price of $1.52.

Does dad love his wine? winecorkcreations' Zen 3 Stone Wine Bottle Stopper (for a fin) adds a contemplative touch to Dad's grown-up time.

Dad bugged by beasts? Get him a can of EyeOfNewt's Beast Be Gone, a anti-fear of the dark spray! Just seven clams!

Words can not explain Ole' Crazy Eyes by ThingsThatBling. Just groove on him a while, and you'll understand. Just twelve bucks.

Perhaps your dad is a They Might Be Giants fan and wants a piece of memorabilia that is graphically arresting and reasonably priced? Check out They Might Be Giants/ Chopping Block party posters for a mere $30.

If you're traditional in your gifts, but your dad has a sense of humor that runs to the very loud side, may I suggest moesewco's Ugliest Tie in the World, for twenty smackers.

If you enjoy traditional gift giving, and your dad is into simulacra this tie themed tie is a must at $35.

Keeping with the simulacra theme, who wouldn't love a camera-shaped camera-case? Created by my pal hine. It's a steal at $38.

hine did an animated video for TMBG.

Turns any home into a faux shaux-place. It's very contemporary, but still very cool. Chandelier Vinyl Wall Decal, thirty five big ones, by BadassCustomDecals.

If your Dad is a warlock or a wizard and needs to upgrade his magic wand, why not this maple number by IsleOfAvalon for seventy-five bucks?

For the Dad who has everything but an incredibly beautiful, high-end mod coffee table. I humbly submit the Diversion Coffee Table by upcycler.

And finally, for the Dad who has everything but is nuts for full-functioning, oversized, mechanical dragonflies made of gold, may I introduce the coveted Anax Imperator Machina selling for a reasonable fifteen thousand American dollars...

JesseDanger made this video to reveal the inner workings of the dragonfly.

We gotta say, John picked some of the most intriguing items! You can see our other Featured Buyer posts here.

Father's Day Showcase | Gift Guide for Him | Father's Day Gift Guide | A Dude's Perspective

Getting Started in Video: Lighting

2008-05-23T18:40:00-05:00

You've got a camera, you've got some shooting know-how, and your audio is sounding sweet. Now, what about lighting? This video shows you three options for lighting your video. The "free" option is to shoot in front of a window. The cheap option is to use clip lights and the pro option is to get a lowel light kit.

MP4 | Subscribe in iTunes | Youtube | Blip.tv

The most important thing about lighting for video is that you've got light. Without enough light, your camera's autofocus will be grumpy and the picture, while it may look ok in the camera viewer as you shoot, will look all grainy when you transfer the video. Also, in the video I mention diffusion filters.

There is a lot to learn about lighting for video. If you get into it, you can spend years learning about lighting. I took a 16 hour intro class once that really gave me some ideas to play around with. The goal with this video is to get you started and get the lighting in your next video better than the lighting in your last video.

I went looking for resources to learn more about lighting on the internet, but didn't find much, so if you've got a resource for more information about lighting or if you have your own tips and tricks, leave a note in the comments!

For more videos about making videos, keep reading our Getting Started in Video series!

Break the Shackles of Robotic Slavery: Crankbunny's Handmade Video

2008-05-14T11:23:00-05:00

Crankbunny made this video explaining why she makes handmade things. Here's the link to a high resolution file: MP4 Link.

This is a really special video so I asked Crankbunny some questions about being an animator.

What kind of software do you use to make your animations?

I use alot of Photoshop and Aftereffects, and sometimes Premiere to put any animation together. I mostly do everything digitally, with the exception any actual drawing. That I do with simple pencil and paper, which then gets imported into the computer.

How did you become an animator?

I didn't really plan to become an animator... well, at one point I did in high school a long time ago when everything was done with film. I had played around with it then, but once I went to off to undergraduate college there were many other artistic distractions like photography, sculpture, metalsmithing, film and design. I somehow ended up doing design work and interactive media for this thing called the 'internet.' It was interesting for the first few years but ultimately really boring for me.

At that point I knew I liked to tell stories with illustrations, drawings, photographs and editing. I started to make small personal little movies for the internet with any free time in my life. Eventually I decided to quit my full time job and concentrate on animating. I even went off to graduate school at one point for animation. I learned by meeting and working with other animators. It was through all these these little steps that I found the focus, approach I needed for my own animation work.

What advice do you have for aspiring animators to get started?

Just start playing. Use your digital camera and start putting things together in the computer. I recommend using free shareware programs like Frame Thief (mac) and Anasazi (pc).

Start off small. Watch animation - ALOT. Many different types of animation too! Dissect them with the pause buttons on your remote. Watch good old films and dissect those also if you wanna learn more about editing and lighting. Show your movies to anyone, see and listen to how people react to them. Fail. Learn patience. Animation is generally really boring tedious work.

If you are interested in traditional cartoon animation - that is great, but animation is not limited to that. A wonderful place to learn and see animation is the NFB (the Canadian National Film Board).The NFB is an amazing institutional heaven of animation - it caters to all people. Film dorks, children, parents, teachers, superheros and regular people. Check with your local museums, colleges, and libraries frequently to see if they have animation screenings also. Ask them to show animation or do workshops.

Thanks Crankbunny!

If you want to learn some of Crankbunny's amazing skills, you might want to sign up for her upcoming paper puppet making class at the Etsy Labs! You can also visit her animation website and read her Featured Seller interview.

Etsian Videos: Vanishing of the Bees

2008-04-24T17:17:00-05:00

Etsy seller OSSMedicineJewelry is making a documentary about honey bees and the environmental effects that may be damaging their habitats and physiology. See her website www.vanishingbees.com for more info. For now, here's a clip from the movie:

Please subscribe to Etsy's Youtube channel. Let us know if you have a video you'd like to share on the Storque by tagging it with "Etsy" and/or sending us an email to storque@etsy.com!

EGCG | Trashion | EcoEtsy | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guides | Earth Tones Series

Etsy Community Projects: PhotoLab Project

2008-03-18T17:09:00-05:00

The Etsy Community is constantly dreaming up new ideas. Some of these ideas are for improvements on the site, some are inspiration for getting out of a creative slump and some are just plain fun ideas for projects to work on with or get to know other members of the Etsy Community.

This is a series spotlighting Etsy Community Projects initiated and run by the Etsy Community. Many of these projects originate in the forums and some happen completely there. Some involve mailing packages to other Etsy members, some involve posting on other sites, like Flickr. All are fun ways to interact with other members of Etsy, be it for a short period of time or on a regular basis.

The PhotoLab Project hopes to remind us of the magic of real film while connecting Etsy community members. Etsy members are asked to list a film photo diary (an exposed but undeveloped roll of film they shot through the course of one day) in their shops to trade or sell. They should be tagged ‘photolabproject’ so that they are easy to find. Here's a little more information from smashing — who initiated the PhotoLab Project — on its inception and some tips on participating.

What inspired you to start the project?
My sister in law took my nephew and my daughter on a walk and gave them each a disposable camera. They were 3 and 2 1/2 years old. I wasn't sure what would come out. In fact, I wasn't sure any pictures would appear at all. I was wrong! The pictures were great. Simply being shot from their point of view (which is only a couple of feet lower than mine) gave me such a glimpse of their world. In the pictures, adults looked like enormous giants with tiny heads and huge feet, the sidewalk looked like a parking lot. Houses and trees seemed bigger and farther away at the same time. I was amazed. They were just pictures of a neighborhood but it changed the way I thought about their tiny lives.

This made me think: what could I learn from other people's random camera shots? I got the idea to offer exposed undeveloped rolls of film for sale on Etsy. In my item listing I welcome other people to post their exposed film, too.

Has there been a good level of participation so far?
I've sent out five to other Etsians, there were a couple of sellers who sent out one or two and I've also gotten a few emails from people who were inspired to trade film diaries with friends and start other photo projects.

Do you have any tips or advice for people who wish to participate?
When I started this I was curious about what I'd learn about other people, but you end up learning a lot about yourself. It's a fun little exercise. Lots of FAQ's are answered at the PhotoLab Project's blog.

For more coverage of Etsy Community Projects, check out our continuing series. For more tips and tricks of successful blogs, check out the Blogging Guide!

Are you organizing a project within the Etsy community, outside of an Etsy Team? Tell us about it in the comments!