Search results (tags) for: "italy"

Etsy Finds: Four Corners

2009-11-17T12:08:00-05:00

For this month's edition of Etsy Local Finds, I pulled up trusty Google Maps along with Etsy's Shop Local tool and picked out shops from six different cities on four different continents. Shop Local and other features like Colors, Pounce, Time Machine and Etsy's Gift Guides offer unique ways to explore the incredible array of Etsy shops across the globe.

Phoenix, Arizona

Dreamy Day Wedding Dress

By ouma, $1680.

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Trapezoid Raku Pendant

By MAKUstudio, $30.

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Custom Professional or Portrait Puppet

By staceyrebecca, $350.

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Bondage Bunny-Made To Order

By gothcupcake, $25.

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Hand Stamped Love Bookend

By JoshuaByOak, $38.

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Helvetica Book No. 10

By SeaLemon, $18.

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Holiday Hemp Pillow -Merry Xmas

By NestaHome, $23.

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Bella's Swarovski Crystal Ring

By bluembrownlee, $15.

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Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Sterling silver/9K rose gold ring

By artisanlook, $148.

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Anemone Scarf - Charcoal and Purple

By saralagace, $80.

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large everyday spice kit

By purposedesign, $32.

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Sweet Owl pendant

By melaniefavreau, $38.

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Black Leather Love Cuff - Custom Fit

By LoveAtFirstBlush, $75.

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Secretary Skirt w/ Vintage Saree

By LesEnfantsSauvages, $90.

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Vintage Hot Red Ruffle Lace Babydoll

From nerdburger, $21.

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Vintage ENZO ANGIOLINI Ankle Boots

From RegalVintage, $34.

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Milan, Italy

Green Olive Armour Capelet

By callmemimi, $98.

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Double Leaves

By alibli, $21.

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Secret Skirt in Chocolate Linen

By rephilosophy, $70.

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Stone Bib Statement Necklace

By giia, $98.

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Dublin, Ireland

BELLE RUST // free shipping

By Bellebas, $96.

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Dublin XV. aka Boland s Mills Ltd

By vlad, $100.

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TETRIS Gift Boxes (pack of seven)

By littlewhitedog, $15.

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Vintage 1960s Emerald Green Pea Coat

From wonderwardrobe, $79.

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Purple Cowl

By treasureonline, $30.

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Tea towel made specially for Christmas

By handmadebysima, $8.

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Irish Cherry Bomb - handmade bag

By Crafts2Cherish, $138.

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Unearthed Fossil Marble Necklace

By Balanced, $30.

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Cape Town, South Africa

Sebastian Rumbleton the Couchie

By MayBeMe, $30.

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Ducky (8x10) Fine Art Photo Print

By snapclicktripod, $20.

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Army Boot Christmas Stocking

By FreshPotatoes, $18.

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Wentworth Miller drawing

By SuzDaisy, $18.

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Auckland, New Zealand

Dumb and Ugly teacup duo

By trixiedelicious, $40.

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Hand Stitched Leather Wallet

By officeofminordetails, $35.

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Hooktastic Super Ted, Coming to a Wall

By luxfordst, $49.

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Genius Girl pure copper bracelet

By creativityjewellery, $95.

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Record Pillow The Clash - London Calling

By Toggle, $78.

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Chocolate Jacquard Cape

By WeddingSkulls, $68.

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Orange Wrap Dress with Pink Panel

By littlemonkeys, $64.

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4x6 Print - Honey Hiding

By nutandbee, $7.50.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Shop Local | Trends | Gift Ideas

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Etsy Finds Decor: Show Your True Colors

2009-07-18T11:00:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the vibrant home of Italian Etsy seller, Paola Panelli. Her home features brightly colored walls, sleek modern furniture and colorful handmade and vintage accents. Each room in her apartment is filled with plants and natural light and the spectacular views from the top floor make her space an inspiring place to work.

Paola's studio is located in the attic of her apartment and features hot pink furniture and office supplies which really pop against the natural wood floor and beams. She has a hammock hanging in her studio and fluffy floor cushions that look like the perfect place to relax between long hours of sewing and designing.

Paola runs a fantastic Etsy shop known as atelierpompadour where she sells beautifully appliqued pillows, table runners and other home accessories. She also started Creativity Channel, a blog that documents her work in progress and highlights work from upcoming artists and designers.

Visit Paola on flickr to view more photos of her cheerful home. Check out the Etsy Finds below for creative decorating ideas that will add a bit of color to the place you call home.

Living Room

OOAK Yarrow

By plantsy, $32.

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FERN hand-dyed pillow

By StirAtHome, $60.

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Small Vertebra Vase

By sarapaloma, $100.

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Bunny of Linen and Polka Dots

By chetanddot, $34.

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Antique Oak Filing Lock Box

By DailyMemorandum, $250.

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Vintage Modern Swing-Arm Desk Lamp

By joevintage, $42.

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Luxury Wool Throw Green Cream

By LinenMe, $69.95.

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Fabulous Foot Stool

By 1000chairs, $95.

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the Triceratops

By dinosaurcabinets, $150.

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Set ot 2 Vintage Crystal Candlesticks

By SalvagedExpression, $30.

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Kitchen

Decole Supplement Dietetique

By chicadecanela, $18.50.

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HANDMADE PRIMITIVE CABINET

By REDBARN3817, $69.

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Large industrial waste basket

From bluebellbazaar, $37.

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Large Vintage Back to School Clock

From pupule, $30.

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Large Vintage Wire Egg Basket

From lisabretrostyle2, $28.

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Full English Breakfast Tea Towel

By MrPS, $14.

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Handmade Plumeria Ceramic Bowl

By hulabeachceramics, $12.

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illi - mustard

By munaluna, $14.

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Studio

Red Cherry Memory Board 16X20

By mulberrybliss, $35.

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Mini Wooden Spool Pushpins

By TheCupcakeGirls, $4.75.

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Little red bird plaque/ key hook

By kellygeorgette, $10.

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Whimsical Hot Air Balloon

By wwwmannmnet, $90.

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Hot Pink Vintage Magazine Rack

From fabulousmess, $50.

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Antique Eastlake Side Table

From VintageChicFurniture, $175.

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Chocolate Brown Owl Organizer

By BululuStudio, $32.

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sitting hammock

By bimbabus, $85.

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Wire Storage Basket - Version 7

From 26olivestreet, $32.

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Striped thread/spool holders

By MadamebertraM, $20.

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Accents & Accessories

BIRDS painting by Christopher Bettig

By themountainlabel, $45.

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enna wall sticker - wooden deer

By enna, $36.

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Bubble Chandelier

By jeanpelle, $300.

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Funky Mookah Pod (Ottoman)

By Mookah, $47.50.

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Candle Holder - Flower

By sierracreations, $25.

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Vintage Owl Glass and Metal Holder

From willownook, $12.

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Vintage Eiffel Tower Souvenier

From ModernNest, $12.

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Blueberry Grand Jubilee Floor Cushion

By naturallymodern, $68.

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Pets

Felis silvestris catus - Print - 5x5

By animalgam, $12.

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Upcycled - Vintage Suitcase Pet Bed

By vintagerenaissance, $75.

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Ivory designer dog bed

By fetchingfancies, $175.

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Weiner Dog Parade Original ink Drawing

By art4adoption, $5.50.

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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.

Check out other Get the Look: Home Decor Editions.

A Cozy Home Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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Facts and Fancies: Blown Glass with ProvidenceArtGlass

2009-06-17T13:00:00-05:00

In this Facts and Fancies series, I'll take you on a tour through Etsy's Categories. As we visit these "planets" one by one, we'll talk to sellers and experts and find some extraordinary items on Etsy. (We'll also get some great insider tips along the way.)

In this installment, glass artist Becca Zhukov, pictured at right, guides us through the history of blown glass and some of the techniques found in Etsy's Glass Category. Becca started operating her first studio in 1993 and attended trade shows for about a decade. Her pieces have been shown in the galleries and gift shops of The American Craft Museum, San Francisco MOMA, The Museum of American Folk Art, The Detroit Institute of Art, and many others. She also has a piece in the Renwick Gallery at The Smithsonian Museum and a piece belonging to a permanent collection at the White House. She's now based in Providence, RI and is focusing her work on nature-inspired, sculptural pieces.

Glass through the Ages

Blown glass has been around for centuries, most likely discovered during the Roman Empire around 50 B.C. At the time it was considered a luxury and owned by the wealthiest of patrons. The process evolved primarily for utilitarian reasons and from that, the artistic and creative design and decorative elements evolved.

By the middle ages, Italian glassblowers formed a community on the island of Murano where they were essentially exiled, in part to keep the process a secret, but also to eliminate the possibilities of fires caused by the glassblowers' furnaces. The Italians had specially formulated recipes for glass, color and techniques that are now commonly known and used worldwide.

Murano view by Kevin H. on flickr.

Italian glassblower carrying on the Murano tradition, by godutchbaby on flickr.

By the early 18th century, glass artists had spread throughout Europe and became somewhat industrialized, with their craft being used for utilitarian, artistic and scientific purposes. By the 20th century, glass artists finally became recognized for this wonderful but ancient art form. Artists like Emile Galle, Eugene Rouseau and Maurice Marinot were a few that became well known for their art. Tiffany, one of the most famous glass artists ever, was soon to follow. Today, glass art studios continue to experiment with designs and techniques. The process is now taught in many colleges and craft schools.

Photo from Simon Pearce, a glass company in Vermont that offers tours of its studio. Photo by MemaNH.

But what exactly is glass?

Glass is a super-cooled liquid. Most glass is a mix of silica or sand, created from pulverized sandstone, an alkali to lower the melting point — usually in a form of soda or potash — lime as a stabilizer and cullet (waste glass to assist in melting the mixture).

My supply of colors is pictured on the left here. This color can be laid out on a steel table called the Marver table. I take the molten glass on my steel pipe from the furnace and then roll it onto the color on the table. Once the color is picked up, it is heated into the clear inside the glory hole.

The term crystal, derived from rock crystal, was at first applied to clear, highly refractive glass; it is known worldwide as the highest grade of colorless glass. The optical purity in crystal is usually due to its lead content. A well-known example is Waterford Crystal.

Many people ask me, how do you decorate glass? Methods include cutting, sandblasting, etching, enameling, gilding, and painting. Most of these processes are used once the glass has been annealed, or cooled in a kiln overnight. These kilns are similar to kilns used in ceramics, where hot glass is placed and cooled slowly over the next 12 - 24 hours. Once the glass has been cooled, it is safe to add stresses like cutting and sandblasting, without the danger of it shattering.

My photo on the right here shows a diamond grinding wheel, which is used for finishing work after its annealing cycle. There are different grades of grit or diamonds that are used to cut, grind and polish glass. Glass usually comes out of the annealer with a few rough edges that need addressing, most often, the pontil mark, which is where the pipe was attached to the glass.

Glass blower, photo by paladinsf on flickr.

In order for glass to stay molten, it needs to sit in a large furnace that stays at 2100 degrees Farenheit 24 hours a day. That temperature will keep glass the consistency of honey, so that it may be gathered on a steel pipe where one can tool and shape it, as well as expand it as a bubble by blowing through the steel pipe.

The photo at right shows the glory hole, or reheating chamber. Unlike the furnace, which is running at 2200 degrees 24/7, this piece of equipment is used solely for reheating the glass that you are working on, so that you can keep shaping and tooling the hot glass.

Here's a video demonstrating the process of blowing glass.

Glass collectors and shoppers on Etsy can find many different types of glass including glassware, paperweight, ornament, suncatcher, vase, bowl, platters, perfume bottles and much, much more. Buyer should not hesitate to contact artists if they have questions about the process. Prices will vary depending on that process.

MossandWillow have some very fun and whimsical pint glasses that they sandblast or etch images on. (Here's a fun how-to if you're interested in learning more about this process!) This is a very affordable set, in part because the glass itself was not blown. Very often pre-made items or recycled vintage items will be embellished with paint or etched.

Below you will see a nice blown glass purple tumbler by infiniteglassworks. All aspects of this glass were handmade, none of it embellished, no molds were used.

One can find some nice home accessories browsing through the work of tannerglass, who uses her creativity in glass to make wonderful products for the home. These glass magnets are made from nuggets of glass, often called cabochon, where she incorporates Japanese paper in her design. These make wonderful and affordable gifts.

One can also find glass in a sculptural form on Etsy. spungallery makes these one-of-a-kind altered blown vessels and bowls by spinning out bowls and letting the heat from the glory hole do the rest. The outcome is a beautiful free-form bowl.

Another form of sculpture can be seen in a more figurative sense. Some of the work in my shop, providenceartglass, is sculpted blown glass, such as this birds and nests piece.

scottsummerfield wraps his blown bowls and vases with 24 karat gold leaf, one of the few metals that can be combined with glass successfully. These have such a beautiful luster. The gold is very difficult to use in this sense, as it is very delicate and likes to blow away before you get it on the piece!

Re-used and recycled glass is making a name for itself on Etsy. Yavaglass uses pre-owned bottles to create fun drinking glasses. These bottles are heated up, picked up on a steel rod and opened up. Technically, there is not any blowing involved. What a wonderful way to show your recycling spirit!

I think it is important for the buyer to know that the items in Etsy shops are represented by the artist. Buyers should check to make sure that the work is signed by the artist. Not all artists sign their work, but they can still inquire if it is made by those representing it. Artists should be as detailed as they can in describing their work, including whether it is part of a line, limited edition or one-of-a-kind. Embellished glass should be listed as such, so that the buyer is properly informed. The seller should also offer cleaning instructions, if applicable, whether products are dishwasher safe, how they plan to ship and refund polices. Always check the seller’s profile for pertinent information.

Further Resources:

Etsy also has many Teams, consisting of groups of glass artists, banding together to serve and conquer. Teams are a great way to meet other like-minded folks and become part of a community of artists in your field. Some well established Glass Teams can be found at…
The Glass Haven at Etsy
Etsy Glass Artists: A Handmade Glass Artist Collective

Places to learn glassblowing:

Appalachian Center for Craft

Penland School of Craft

Pilchuck Glass School

Stay tuned for more Glass posts in this series coming soon. Learn more about the world of handmade with our Facts and Fancies Reviews, our tours through Etsy's Categories.

Shop the Glass Category

Handmade Weddings: Silvia Bargagni of Magnolia Weddings e le nostre Cerimonie Nuziali Europee

2009-05-21T17:05:00-05:00

Silvia Bargagni — owner of the Magnolia Wedding Consultant & Planner Agency in Florence, Italy — is an avid Etsy buyer, for her couples and for herself. She lives in Florence with her loving husband, enjoying a life of organizing weddings and events. She has a blog where she gives tips and advice, showing the latest and cutest things for the wedding market. Her post is in Italian and English, so if you're familiar with both languages you're in for a treat!

Maybe it sounds funny, but the first time I heard of a wedding planner job was in the famous movie, The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez. For the very first time, I had a stroke of lighting and fell in love with that job. Since then, years have passed, and I found myself finally happy with an occupation that is more than a normal job for me — it is a passion, and it is my life. It's for this incredible passion that I have asked for the chance to write a post on the Storque. For me, it's so important to give everyone (especially European couples) the chance to know and understand that there is an amazing way to organize a wedding: doing it "handmade."

Forse lo troverete divertente ma la prima volta che ho sentito parlare del lavoro di wedding planner Ë stato con il famoso film "Prima o poi mi sposo" con JLo e per la prima volta ho avuto un colpo di fulmine e mi sono innamorata di quel lavoro..da allora anni sono passati e mi ritrovo finalmente felice con il mio nuovo lavoro che per me Ë pi˘ di un normale lavoro: Ë una passione, Ë la mia vita. E' per questa devastante e incredibile passione che ho chiesto al gruppo di Etsy di darmi la chance di poter scrivere un post sul loro blog:per me Ë molto importante dare l'opportunit‡ a tutti e in special modo alle coppie europee di conoscere un modo fantastico di organizzare il proprio matrimonio: farlo "handmade."

People who know me personally, work with me, or read my blog daily are perfectly aware of my tastes and preferences. They know well how much I'm in love with handmade. I'm a particular type of wedding planner in Italy, as I have always had "international" style as opposed to the traditional Italian style, with the same bomboniere, wedding dresses and decorations. I adore them, but there is something more to try; we have to take a look at the world outside our small lives. When I first bumped into Etsy, it was love at first sight.

Le persone che mi conoscono, che lavorano con me o che leggono il mio blog, sanno gi prefettamente quali sono i miei gusti e le mie preferenze e sanno quanto sono innamorata di tutto quello che Ë handmade. Sono un tipo particolare di wedding planner in Italia visto che ho sempre avuto gusti "internazionali" e non stili tradizionali italiani con le solite bomboniere, il solito abito da sposa e le solite decorazioni. Le adoro..ma c'Ë molto altro nel mondo da scoprire, basta guardare un po' fuori dalle nostre piccole vite. E quando mi sono scontrata per la prima volta con Etsy Ë stato amore a prima vista.

Cindarella necklace

By sorellina, $26.50.

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A Handmade wedding is something so special, as everything that is handmade has a heart, a story and a soul that makes it something unique and irreplaceable. Is it possible for a bride to feel more special than she does while wearing a necklace like this from Sorellina, a jeweler in Florence, Italy? Handmade stuff gives soul and life to a wedding. My job is organizing weddings, but since I've met the "handmade" world, I feel it's my duty to spread the word.

Un matrimono handmade Ë qualcosa di molto speciale perchË tutto quello che Ë handmade ha un cuore, una storia e un'anima che rende quell'oggetto handmade unico e irripetibile. PuÚ una futura sposa trovare qualcosa di pi˘ speciale di una collana cosÏ da indossare? Da Sorellina, un gioielliere a Firenze. Gli oggetti handmade danno anima e vita ad un matrimonio. Il mio lavoro Ë organizzare matrimoni, ma da quando ho conosciuto il mondo handmade , per me Ë sempre una buona occasione per spargere la voce.

Pink Crochet Heart Bowl

By knitandcrochet, $25.

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I'd really love to highlight talented girls like knitandcrochet from Istanbul, Turkey with her stunning heart shaped bowl. Perfect for a lovely centerpiece.

Vorrei dare risalto alla talentuosa ragazza knitandcrochet con la sua magnifica ciotola a forma di cuore perfetta per un centrotavola particolare. Vive a Istanbul.

4 gift tags, screenprinted on recycled manilla card

By PaperLeaf, $2.90.

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Or the adorable Kate from Paperleaf with her fantastic gocco printed tags for guest favors. She lives in Oxford, England.

O l'adorabile Kate di Paperleaf con le sue fantastiche targette gocco. Vive a Oxford.

Thong for brides-to-be

By anastasiajamin, $30.

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I'm still searching for someone on Etsy from Europe, preferably from Italy, who creates wedding dresses, but I'm sure after having found Anastasia Jamin right here in Florence with her lovely bride panties...I'll find someone soon!

Devo ancora trovare qualcuno che fa' abiti da sposa in Europa e soprattutto in Italia, ma dopo aver trovato Anastasia Jamin, chi e a Firenze, con i suoi slip meravigliosi..sicuramente troverÚ presto qualcuno!

SIMPLY WHITE stole

By Sunbride, $115.

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I found great lady Sunbride with her magnificent white stole. She is based in Budapest, Hungary.

CosÏ come ho trovato la bravissima Sunbride di Budapest, Hungary con la sua stola bianca.

I also like to experiment with making handmade favors, but I still have much to learn!

Ho provato anche a fare da sola qualche favor handmade ma ancora devo imparare molto!

50 custom printed cotton Wedding pouches - 4 x 4.5

By nuvonova, $122.

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You are better off with these cute personalized bags from lovely Nuvonova, who is in London, UK.

Molto meglio questi graziosi sacchettini dell'adorabile Nuvonova. Vive a Londra, UK.

Le mariage 12x12

By SibylleD, $25.

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Why not treat yourself after the wedding with a nice little illustration to remember that special day? From talented SibylleD, who is based in France.

E perchË non coccolarsi dopo il matrimonio con una bella illustrazione per ricordare quel giorno speciale? Da SibylleD, chi è francese.

Some advise to all the European brides to be: please take a good look with patience at all the European sellers. You will surely find something unique and handmade with love for your wedding, believe me! Go European brides and sellers!

Quindi avviso tutte le sposine europee e italiane: per favore date un'occhiata molto attenta con pazienza a tutti i venditori europei...sicuramente troverete qualcosa di unico e "fatto con amore" per il vostro matrimonio credetemi! Forze spose e venditori europei!

Weddings and Celebrations Gift Guide | Shop Local Italy

Handmade Weddings on Etsy's Blog

The Art of Slow: A Celebration of the Handmade

2009-04-07T14:18:00-05:00

Today Lou Sagar, Etsy's resident merchandising consultant and Slow Movement devotee, will tell us a bit of the history behind this growing shift. Slow Food creates a thoughtful intersection between planting, harvesting and preparing an artisanal meal and the craftsmanship behind a thrown ceramic bowl, a roughly hewn oak table and the woven tablecloth that covers it. The end result is a mindful meal that is eco-friendly, sustainable, delicious and distinctly memorable. Here's Lou.

The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity was initially formed in partnership with the Italian region of Tuscany to recognize that the appreciation of cooking and fine foods must include the safeguarding of local farms and the preservation of cultural traditions. What began as a movement focused upon a concern for “terra-verde” (Mother Earth) is now emerging as a global mindset promoting a healthier approach to contemporary living and sustainable values. At its core there is deep admiration for the handmade. In fact, it’s notable that the birthing of this movement took place in Italy, a country which, during the Renaissance, made the artisan noble. The crafting of handmade objects was celebrated. Ceramicists, glassblowers, metalworkers, woodworkers, and goldsmiths were honored, just like we do here at Etsy.

As opposed to the culture of fast food, the sub-movement known as Slow Food celebrates the process of growing and making things as much as it does the end product. This process is an essential part of the story, which enhances the experience. There is respect for materials, techniques, and presentation. Often misunderstood, the first impression of “Slow” is the idea that we one should “slow down,” which is certainly not the intent at all. It’s the added pleasure and wisdom we enjoy when we practice the “art of slow,” which is how I have come to appreciate and share it.

As we all know, the responsibilities associated with our busy lives and work are often hectic and overwhelming. As we move towards spring (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least!), keep “the art of slow” in mind as you celebrate the Easter and Passover holidays later this month. Think global but shop local. Ask local growers to tell you their stories. Use small dishes for tastings. Get the kids out into the garden to feel the soil. Spend a night outside looking at the stars. Most of all, encourage handmade gifts for friends, family, and associates.

Happy spring.

Further Resources:
Green By Design
SlowPlanet
Slow Retail

Slow Food Gifts | Gardening and Horticulture Gifts | Plants and Edibles Category

More Food Posts | More Cooking Posts | More Gardening Posts

Meet some eco-minded Italian artists in our Shop Local Italy post!

Shop Local: Italy with Alibli

2009-04-02T16:25:00-05:00

Ah, la dolce vita! I'm personally in love with Italy and I was thrilled to accept alibli's pitch for this edition of our Shop Local series. She touches on another topic near and dear to Etsy's heart: sustainability. The Slow Movement was first established in Italy and we all have a lot to learn from our European friends. Read on...

Benvenute e benvenuti! I’m so glad to host you all here! Don’t worry, in my garden there is room for everyone. My name is Alice, aka alibli here on Etsy, and I live in a small town near Milan (do you know the Duomo cathedral? Well, just walk North for some 20 km and you’ll find me!). The house where I live with my family is surrounded by a beautiful wood, and you can enjoy an incredible view of the Alps from my windows when the sky is blue.

I am a tree and flower girl, and you can see me in my natural habitat, my favorite place, with a few of my flourishing babies. It’s a pity that I can’t craft my earrings out here, but I have planned to open a kindergarten for the Pixies in this green corner… They need to know a bit of outdoor life before taking off to the world!

I am sort of an aesthetic-eco freak; everything I love feels good both for my senses and the world surrounding me. That’s why I have chosen such fellows to guide you through Italy. All of them create true beauty thanks to their incredible talent while trying to live a life as sustainable as possible. (Isn’t it the perfect match?)

So take your time to sunbathe with Chiara and run down the hills with Lucia; be daring on the roofs with Linda and play hide and seek with fairies and elves with Sara; let Emilia, Alessandra, Chelsea, Mirella and Eva show you the beauties of our cities…

I am sure it will be a journey you won’t forget.

celestefrittata: "This picture was taken in a small old mariner's neighborhood called Boccadasse in Genova, northern Italy, the city where I was born and raised. I think Genova is just the perfect place. I'm lucky enough to live with hills and mountains just outside and just half an hour away from the sea."

Dindolina: "I've been living and working in the heart of the historical center of Rome since I was a student of architecture. This is the view from the roof of my house. You can see the baroque dome of the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, built by the architect Francesco Borromini."

(L-R) Alessandra of Ixela, Chelsea of ItalianPostcards,  Mirella of mireloom and Emilia of eccoitaly: "Here we are, the Etsians of Torino, hanging out under the Mole  Antonelliana, which is the symbol of Torino and houses the National Cinema  Museum. We meet for coffee once a month  and talk all things Etsy! Italians are so good about being green, and it's  easy to be inspired when you are surrounded by the Alps. mireloom uses  handmade materials with natural dyes, ItalianPostcards's vintage treasures  recycle the abundance of great Italian fashion, and Ixela and eccoitaly scour the markets to find beautiful reusable fabrics, materials and antique  buttons. Emilia's shop name really says it all, ecco Italy means 'This is  Italy!'"

Aula46: "This photo was taken inside of the Accademia of Art of Brera, where I study.  46 depicts the classroom, where I crafted the series of sculpture jewelry I sell here on Etsy.  Unfortunately, this place no longer exists except in my memory and in the the feeling that even now forces me to create these jewels."  

Popcorntree: "...a magical wood surrounds my home. Shapes, colours, the smell and the sound of nature! Here I find my inspiration. I do feel like a princess in a fairy tale."

Larimeloom: "Here I am right in my front yard, in the middle of the hills of the Langhe. The view all around where I live is wonderful, all wild woods, with a few houses here and there. I love the green philosophy... am I 'green?' Well, not 100% to be honest, but I do dabble in natural herbal dyeing and I LOVE to repurpose things, bringing them to new and better lives. I also ride my bike a lot, and my car runs on methane, which is about one of the greenest fuels available!"

REphilosophy: "Here is a moment of me and Taz in our secret garden in Milan. We enjoy the water and look for new ways to reuse as many materials as we can, to create items for our REphilosophy shop.  What is wonderful about Milan is that art is almost everywhere, the city is vibrant and full of inspiration.... and I don't need a car! If you want to know more about this city, read my Milan design guide."

Shop Local in 2009 and meet your talented neighbors (shrink that carbon footprint too)! If you're a seller who lives somewhere interesting, post in the comments below or pitch to us with a screenshot of your Poster Sketch!

Shop Local Posts | Shop Local Italy | Shop Local in Your Area

Slow Food Gift Guide | Eco-friendly Guide | Earth Tones Series

Celebrate Carnival around the World with Pearlswirl

2009-02-23T15:30:00-05:00

For hundreds of years, Catholics around the world have celebrated the days before Ash Wednesday with bright, colorful outfits, delicious, sweet treats, music and festivals. These joyous celebrations were intended to mentally prepare Catholics for the forty days of fasting and solemn behavior known as Lent that followed and led up to Easter.

Today, in Catholic countries around the world, many of these celebrations have turned into fabulous carnivals, parades, and festivals that attract tourists from all ends of the globe. Some of the best-known celebrations take place in New Orleans, Venice, Mainz, and Rio de Janeiro.

Last week, I had the incredible chance to go to Venice at the height of Carnevale season with friends. The experience was mind-boggling. Down every little alley we turned, we saw costumes and masks more fantastic than the last. The spirit of celebration was everywhere, and it was such a feel-good experience!

Many of the costumes we saw were handmade, and it was incredible to see people from all over the world come and participate in something as gorgeous and atmospheric as Carnevale di Venezia. I’ve included some of my photos to convey just how beautiful the costumes are, and just how much attention there is to detail.

In many cities in France, and in the formerly French territory of New Orleans, Mardi Gras celebrations include street parades with fantastic shows of gorgeous costumes, bands playing in the streets, and some seriously delicious fried food like beignets, crepes, and king cakes.

Anonymity and secrecy are key in celebrating during Carnevale di Venezia. In this beautiful and mysterious city, it’s all about creating a sense of adventure and thrill by staying disguised and revealing yourself at the opportune moment!

This is a journey of discovery into some of these fascinating places, their traditions, and as always, the fantastic Etsy items they’ve inspired:

ballons

Get into the celebratory mood with this fantastic vintage-style fine art digital photo and painting print. Those balloons just make me happy! By labokoff, $26.

patchwork faery dress

While each country or city has its own traditions, all of the celebrations have beautiful, elaborate, often handmade costumes in common. This delectable creation is beautifully crafted and whimsical enough to be a street parade costume with character! By larimeloom, $2000.

All Year's Carnival

This fantastic necklace and earring set perfectly conveys the “anything goes” attitude of beautiful street festivals and parades in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Feathers, tinsel, masks! It sparkles and it’s fun! What’s not to love about a carefree attitude like this?! By staroftheeast, $75.

Mardi Gras King Cake (limited edition) Blended Creme Soap

Here is a perfectly delicious example of one-such Mardi Gras treat! These King Cake Soaps look and smell just like the real cakes that Alex, the maker, knows and loves. And I’m glad they’re just soaps anyways because if they were real, they’d look too delicious to eat! By SoapalayaSoaps, $8.50.

Smile...It's Mardi Gras Day - Signed Fine Art Photograph

This fine art photography print from DarrylGlade perfectly captures the essence of celebration and happiness that Mardi Gras brings to everyone! Just look at those bright, vivid colors! In Darryl’s shop you will find other idyllic Louisiana scenes and gorgeous images of the South. By DarrylGlade, $20.

Fasching in Coburg - 8x8 Print

Fasching is the German name for the celebration. In many large cities, including Cologne and Mainz, children have the week off school and get all dressed up in clown, witch, or princess costumes and whimsical wigs to walk through the streets. This fine art painting print by artichokey depicts this tradition with charm and light-heartedness. By artichokey, $27.

Maschera

This stunning fine art photography print by YHPhotos keeps a hint of excitement and mystique around all year long. The strikingly vivid color combination is sure to catch attention. It was snapped in a Venice mask-maker’s window, and, as Yash puts it, it’s a challenge to anybody brave enough to wear it! By YHPhotos, $20.

Happy Mardi Gras, Fasching, Carnevale… Oh, happy day!

Thanks to pearlswirl for the amazing picks, and for sharing her beautiful Venice photographs with us! Take a peek at her blog here.

Carnivalesque Gift Guide | Search for Masks | Etsy World Tours

The Corno Project: Unlocking the Jeweler's Block

2008-10-15T13:00:00-05:00

The internet is many things to many people. One of the common threads running through its infinite uses is communication, and it's from this global communication that the "Corno Project" evolved.

Take three jewelers in different parts of the world — the U.S., Italy and Scotland — who don't know each other. Throw in a photo-sharing social-networking site (Flickr) and the fact that they all have their own Etsy shops, and what emerges?

Victoria (Experimetal), Janos (blindspotjewellery) and Dauvit (The Justified Sinner aka Beardiebloke) all "met" on Flickr through a mutual appreciation of each of the other's works. They all make jewelry in very different ways, using different themes and materials. What they have in common is a love of making stuff! They use the internet to exchange ideas and practices, as well as swapping stories and jokes, hopes and fears, like everyone else does. It was from one of these idea sessions that the "Corno Project" was born...

Victoria posted a photograph of a charm necklace on Flickr — subsequently sold on Etsy — on which Dauvit and Janos commented. Dauvit (jokingly) suggested that he was so taken with the necklace that he might copy it, and Janos explored the folklore and cultural history referenced by the piece. Reminded of his native Italy, Janos explained how the traditional "corno" motif wards off evil curses — a sort of superstitious jewelry fob. From this discussion came the decision that they would all take the ideas generated by the discussion, throw in their own research and see what they came up with.

Jewelers BarbaraTaramasso and BongeraFiligrana, two talented metalsmithers from Genova, Italy, joined in on the experiment too.

It is fair to say that each maker produced something spectacular and, interestingly, something atypical of the work that they normally produce. The three makers involved in this project enjoyed it enormously and will be setting themselves more challenges in the future.

Beardiebloke, $360, Experimetal, $666, blindspotjewellery, $160, BongeraFiligrana, $145, BarbaraTaramasso, $210.

The experiment is one for makers everywhere and in every field to try out. Set yourselves challenges in small, supportive groups. Post the results online and invite comments... who knows where it might lead?

Post in the comments if you'd like to collaborate or have a story to share!

See a Craftivism post featuring Experimetal

Fresh Shops: Aula46

2008-08-28T15:41:00-05:00

What can I say, I'm a sucker for electronic geekery. I'm also a sucker for Pounce, which is how I discovered today's Fresh Shop. First of all, the moment I see resistors in a listing image, the seller becomes a contender. Perhaps it's a weakness of mine, but I like to think of the ability to spot dorktacular oddities as a good thing. Aula46 joins Etsy this month from Alba, Italy and by doing so, brings a collection of jewelry made from active components.

Jewelry made from electronics is gaining momentum as of late and is beginning to bear a variety of styles. My guess is this trend stems from the fact that the cost of the components is relatively low, the potential for upcycling all the electronic waste that accrues in the world is high, the components come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and that most components have axial leads or some other metal part which can easily be bent into useful shapes for jewelry.

My personal favorite of Aula46's available work is this rib cage necklace. While the ribcage necklace seems to be a popular trend in meta-wares, this piece deviates into a more pattern oriented little wonder.

Or this pendant—love that blue capacitor.

Or how about these off-square earrings? I love the light blue 5-Band Axial leads in the center.

The Ladder necklace. Is this a pun? I love puns. (Check out the definition of a resistor ladder.)

Here's a little interview we did with this Fresh Shop.

Can you tell us a little about the people behind Aula46?
My name is Eva, I'm 21 years old, and I'm a full-time student in my third year at the Academy of Fine Arts of Milan, where I study sculpture. Aula46 is the name of the place where I create—my second home—and is one of the rooms in the Academy. I'm the person behind this page; I create the pieces and follow the shop's progressions.

What inspires you as a creative person?
My intent here, and in my life, is to share with other people the fruits of my ideas, finding more and different ways of expression as I proceed. These jewelry pieces are the elaboration of other art works I have done over these years at the Academy. The idea is to create a series of small sculptures, each unique and individual, to keep near one's self every day.

The electronic parts I use in my jewelry are called resistenze in Italian, and they are pieces used for electronic circuits in many, many objects of our everyday lives. Electric circuits create paths, and by thier nature they permit the passage of energy and contribute to the function of something bigger, different. This is one of the concepts I try to develop in my work.

Nature, with its uncontrolled beauty, is of great inspiration to me, and I always try to enhance the materials I use. What I try to do is explore the material as it is, to learn its peculiarities and characteristics and play with them.

How do you like Etsy so far? What are your favorite features of the site?
What I love most is the possibility it gives people to explore and share with others, freely and independently.
I find Etsy to be a place in which to learn new ways to live everyday life, and I love the variety of people, ideas and creations it offers.

Anything else you'd like to add is also welcome!
I must mention my good friend larimeloom. She is also a native of Alba who helps me with English and the set-up of my Etsy shop, as she has been here much longer.

Looking for more Etsy newbies? Check out our previous Fresh Shops coverage!

Etsy Finds from lilarubyking

2008-07-03T09:00:00-05:00

I asked Anna aka lilarubyking to choose today's Etsy Finds because I'd noticed a Treasury or two she'd put together, and I just knew she'd make a great curator. Visit her Etsy shop to see her amazing jewelry and accessories (this brooch is a favorite of mine) or just check out her beautiful Finds below! —Anda

When Anda asked me to curate an Etsy Finds, I started thinking about me living in Athens, and about Etsy located in Brooklyn. What if I were to make an Etsy seller pilgrimage across Europe and the water to visit Etsy in New York City (where I would also shop a lot and visit Olafur Eliasson’s New York City Waterfalls and I will finally discover what a twinkie is)? But enough about what I would do at the destination, what about the journey? From Athens to Brooklyn, I would pass over many countries, and because Etsy is an international site, I would pass over many, many great Etsy artists. So here is my journey to Brooklyn, told in images, from sellers, who as I fly above will appear smaller than ants! I will get a window seat and wave!

Zipper Cuff

The start of my journey, and a great seller from Athens. I love psarokokalo's shop, her items are kind of modern and traditional at the same time, and a little cheeky! Also lots of her items, like this zipper cuff are made with found and upcycled materials. $11.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Jable the Jellyfish-like Monster Brooch

Jable the Jellyfish-like Monster is just one of a larger monster family from Italy. Jable comes in a very convenient for wearing and scaring, brooch format. You can also meet Wilco, Blut, Old Yorek and Mr. Squibbles. I imagine that they get together sometimes for large and rowdy family reunions and that Jable brings dip. By knopfen, $11.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Golden Handwoven Patchwork Shawl

Still passing over Italy, I’ve spotted this amazing, one of a kind shawl from larimeloom. I love that it contains remnants and antique fabrics, and is dyed with natural materials. $220.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Mia Zippered CAPSULA Bag, green, black and blue leafs

Now onto Spain, emmapardos makes the most wonderful bags and accessories, but this Capsula bag is by far my favorite. I love the effect all the lines and folds have, abstracting the pattern of the fabric. I bet nobody loses their keys in a bag this cute. $54.15.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Anton -- Gocco

I love Gocco, and seriously who isn’t attracted to a fine looking man with such a moustache? By LaMaga, $15.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Pretend Play Felt Food - set of six cookies

The whole shop of lookmamamadeit makes me very hungry, and being a sweet tooth, these cookies look like heaven to me. However these cookies are not for eating, and are in fact entirely hand stitched with felt! Even the packaging is handmade by the artist. $16.

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PIN Handmade Felt, embroid plus porcelain complement

Leaving the mainland, I pass over the Azores Islands, and here I find the most beautiful felted pins! I love the bright colours and hand stitched details. By anarosa, $18.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Matilde

Finally over land again, here I am in Brooklyn. It’s always nice to see a friendly face after a long flight, and here I’ve discovered Matilde, soft and sweet, and built for a cuddle. By astulabee, $45.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Shopping Spree for Little Bean

And lastly, as I dig my walking shoes out of the suitcase, I find Bean, who like me is ready, and may I say, in need, of a shopping spree. All of the little dolls in goosegrease's shop come with a sweet little story so you can find the one who speaks to you. $10.

goosegrease is one of my favorites, too! She appeared recently in another Find. Hot shop alert! —Anda

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

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Etsy Find: Traveling Without Traveling

2008-06-19T10:04:00-05:00

Artificialvacations — what a name! That's precisely what I need.

It's summer, and as a child with a European parent who didn't want his son to be completely American, we used to travel to the Olde Worlde. I was spoiled with these great voyages and took them for granted. I want to travel, but can't at the moment. This print reminds me of previous travels in Italy and how wonderful it was. I need to find a way to get back soon. I hope you enjoy these prints as much as I do.

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Gotta Travel On | Travel Showcase | Etsy World Tour

Open Studio Tours: Fruccidesign

2008-02-21T15:35:00-05:00

In this series, we’ll be snooping around artists’ creative spaces, how they set them up, when, why…even how often they clean them! We really want to know all about our artists, and maybe get a bit of inspiration!

Today we're visiting the space of the artist who will be editing the series — FrucciDesign. She's built a DIY studio nook where she works on metal and paper for her jewelry. So her pieces are truly homemade — and homemade in Italy no less!

What's your name and what kind of craft do you do?
My name is Francesca or Fru and I'm a jewelry maker, I do paper jewelry…but I'm in a transition phase to metal.

When did you decide that you needed a studio?
As most of us crafters, I've started my creative journey in my mum's kitchen then I carried on in my own kitchen, until last summer, when for the first time I met the fabulous world of metal at Penland School of Craft. Once I was back home from Penland I decided that metal is the perfect match for my paper creations. But work with metal involves a very dedicated space. So I started adapting my kitchen table to a jeweler workbench, but I simply was at crossroads: I needed to set up a studio or lose my already super tolerant boyfriend, who shares the same fate as this guy.
[ah, the lovely mess of creativity!]

When and how have you set up your studio?
There are two things you need to do setting up a jewelry studio.

First get the tools, second a bench where you can use them, and I can tell you this is not a cheap ride!

For the tools I shopped around a bit and eventually I bought all the basic things and few more. But when it came to the bench, I was a bit stuck: I found benches too big to fit in my little one bedroom apartment, and their huge price tags didn’t help. So I started looking into DIY benches, and I came across this article, which is written by Tim McCreight, a well-known jeweler and instructor. Based on Tim’s suggestions, one day last September I drove to store to get the raw materials (four wood sticks, three shelves a two drawers unit), and I build my little tiny bench, and now I use it all the time…well also because it is just next to the couch in the living room!

Did the studio set up impact your crafter budget?
It could have, but except for the tools I did everything by myself and secondly, the studio is right in my living room next to the couch, so I cut down also the costs of an extra room rent.

This of course has its disadvantages, because I need to be very careful: safety first!

Because I cannot do any "hot" metal work at home, I use the soldering facility at the local college where I'm taking a class (I actually recommend anybody who is just starting out to look for local colleges or schools, hidden treasure can be around the corner).

How big is your jeweler’s area?
Do you want to know the square footage? well, I don't know…let's say if I'll ever decide to take it down I can use that space to pile up about 30 large pizza boxes!

Which is your favorite tool in your studio?
Indeed there are two: the flex shaft and my paper shredder.

The flex shaft is a great tool that jewelers have stolen from dentists, and it is so handy, you can do almost everything with it.

The shredder is vital for my work, since all the paper I use for my jewelry is cut in tiny little strips, can you imagine to do it by hand?!

Do you want to share with us one secret of your metal studio?
Ok, but just because I love Esty and I know this information will be kept secret: I store all the extra paper (and believe me I have a lot) underneath my couch, sometime I feel like those characters in the cartoon that wipe the floor and hide the dirt under a carpet…but please, shhhh don't tell anybody, ultimately a crafter is always in need of additional storage space!

How many hours do you normally spend in your studio?
I spend all my free time there, especially at night, and the funny thing is that I'm never tired there!

Do you share your studio with someone or would you like to do so?
No, I don't share my studio with any other artists, but I do share the room where my workbench is with my boyfriend and with all our friends who come to see us.

I would love to work in a studio with some other artists, I'm sure it would be a very creative and inspiring experience. Besides, it would also fulfill my social side of my personality.

Is there anything you would add to your working space?
Oh yes! If I had more money I would first of all add more room, and then a huge table for all my ongoing paper projects, and a soldering corner with ventilation system, more light, more tools like a rolling mill, a hydraulic press and a big anvil…but for the moment I'm happy with my studio/corner/living room. Baby steps!

If you had to choose one synonym for your studio which one would you pick: atelier, family room, lair, lodge, nest, playroom, retreat, sanctuary, shelter, darkroom, or, showroom and why ?
If I have to pick just one, I would pick lair, because my tiny corner is MY world, where I can truly express my emotions and develop my idea still feeling safe.

And last but not least how often do you clean it?
Oops, you already asked for one secret, you can't get two!

Thank you Fru, until next studio snooping ciao!

If you have an interesting studio or workspace and some tips to share, comment below and you may be next in our Open Studio Tours series!

Wine, Not Whine for the Holidays

2007-12-17T12:01:00-05:00

We all have plenty of stuff to worry about around the holidays, and worrying about which red wine to serve with a special dinner or which white to bring to a party should not be one of them. So, The Storque wine tasting panel decided that we should put together a few tips to make wine shopping over the holidays a bit easier.

If you’re hosting a holiday party, it’s a great idea to showcase wines from a specific area and create a theme around them. One of the best stories in the wine world today is the resurgence of Sicilian wines.

Wines have been made on Sicily for centuries, mostly with grapes (Nero D’Avola, for example) which are native to Sicily and rarely seen elsewhere. In fact, for years vintners from other Italian wine regions have added Sicilian wines to make theirs more robust. But now Sicilian wines are starting to be prized on their own for the honest, old school craft that goes into creating them. The red wines have tons of fruit and are very easy to drink. The whites are crisp with a wonderful, almost rustic texture. This resurgence is still under the radar and means that there are a lot of terrific values coming out of Sicily. Specifically, Argiolas, Planeta and Tasca d’Almerita are producers to seek out; all of these wines start in the $8-$10 range, going up to $40-$50 a bottle.

And as the great Sicilian mathematician Giuseppe Lauricella used to say, "For that special dinner come special wines." In other words, wines speak from the place they are grown and tell the story of who made them. We want wine that makes us want to invite the winemaker to dinner to hear his or her story. Steve Edmunds runs the Edmunds St. John winery in California, and his wines personify the ideal of artisanal wine making. He’s virulently anti-commercial. He could charge triple what he does for his wines, but chooses instead to worry about how the grapes are growing. He’s exactly the winemaker we’d want to have over for dinner, and if he can’t make it, his wines are a great substitute.

Your best friend in this process is your local wine merchant. Talk to him or her about trying wines that are not mass-produced and that have tastes that are distinctive to where they were grown. Or if there are local vineyards in your area, now is the time to give them a try and meet the winemakers face-to-face. And always remember, great wine is wine you think is great.