Search results (tags) for: "kelly"

Shop Local Philly With Sarah Lockard of Around Main Line

2009-10-29T10:29:00-05:00

Around Main Line CEO and ePublisher Sarah Lockard was born and raised in Philadelphia’s western suburbs, known as the Main Line. Around Main Line is Philadelphia’s very first emagazine, celebrating the people, places and events of the region — exclusively online. Today Sarah shares her favorite Etsy finds from Philly and the surrounding suburbs. You can find more of Sarah's picks in her Around Main Line series, Etsy Phavorites.

As a big city with a small town feel, we are fiercely loyal and supportive of each other. That’s why I decided to launch Philadelphia’s first emagazine, Around Main Line. This is a rich city in so many ways, not only because of the people, but also due to the diverse cultures that mix in neighborhoods across the region.

The streets of Philadelphia are alive with great stories that have yet to be told! It just made sense for me to seek out these fantastic local entrepreneurs and businesswomen who are talented artisans and handcrafters as well. The women I have met are so enthusiastic about their success on Etsy and I love the sisterhood we have established together.

One of my favorite parts of the Philly region is the endless choices of charming coffee shops and the unique experiences they offer. You can usually find me chilling in the dozens of java joints on the Main Line or in West Philly — people-watching, brainstorming with my web designer or working on my laptop!

That’s my beloved Philadelphia — home sweet home. Go Phils!

Nicole Pankratz, a.k.a. lilbooandco: “I love the Philadelphia area for its rich historic value and bustling atmosphere, but also for the hidden treasures and places to go just beyond the city. Here I am at Milky Way Farm, a local farm and creamery located in scenic Chester Springs, PA, about 25 minutes outside the city limits. I love going there to get my farm fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and of course, their homemade ice cream!” [Photo by Jubilee Photography]

Laura Kicey, a.k.a. helveticaneue: “For a designer and photographer entranced by color and historical architecture, Philly's neighborhoods and suburbs are goldmines of inspiration around every corner.” [Photo by Laura Kicey]

Krista Peel, a.k.a. kristapeel: “Although we are very new to the area, we love East Kensington's diversity, its rugged artsiness and its potential to be great. This area holds a lot of folks who are dedicated to being good neighbors. That's really exciting and wonderful to me.”  Krista is pictured at the Memphis Taproom in Philadelphia. [Photo by Vida Carson]

Kelly Galvin Robson, a.k.a. highstreetmarket: “I love that you can be experiencing the city for part of the day, and drive just 20 minutes and shop at a farm stand out in the country. Coming from Los Angeles, this feels like a breath of fresh air.“ Kelly is pictured at a flea market in Kutztown, PA.

Sara Selepouchin, a.k.a. girlscantell: "Philadelphia's pretty much surrounded by farms. Autumn is my favorite time of year to get out of the city to go pumpkin and apple picking. It's a really refreshing change of pace, exploring the rural areas outside of Philly.” Sara is pictured at Terrain at Styers, Anthropologie’s Gardening Center, Glen Mills, PA. [Photo by Laura Kicey]

Stephanie, a.k.a. PearlStationery: “The great thing about the Philadelphia area is that there's an amazing center city, but there are also so many gardens, farms and just open spaces around us. It's the best combination!” Stephanie is pictured at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA.

El Lohse, a.k.a. elloh: “Here I am browsing in a used and antique bookshop where Andrew Wyeth would frequent. It's located in a barn, surrounded by a landscape I imagine Beatrix Potter painting. Minutes away, the busy downtown of West Chester has the opposite effect.” El is pictured in a Chester County bookstore.

Emily Dorn, a.k.a. PreciousMeshes: "West Philly is old Victorian grandeur, lovely gardens, tall trees and wide streets, and it's just a quick trolley ride to downtown. I love being part of the community of creative people who live here, people who might not fit in just anywhere. West Philly is the best Philly!" Emily is pictured in her West Philly neighborhood. [Photo by Vida Carson]

Katie Reim, a.k.a. katiejeannereim: “When I need an escape, I take a jog along the cherry blossom lined Schuylkill River, or mountain bike in the Wissahickon Valley and forget that I even live in the city. Also lining part of the Schuylkill is the famous Boathouse Row. Each Victorian-style house is unique and full of over a hundred years of history.” Katie is pictured along the Schuylkill River on famed Boathouse Row. [Photo by Vida Carson]

Shop Local Posts | Shop Local Philadelphia | Shop Local in Your Area

Please let us about your favorite local Etsy artists. Post in the comments below!

Fashion Sense: Alison Kelly's Picks for Fall

2009-09-15T13:30:00-05:00

You may remember Alison "Dahl" Kelly from Season 3 of Bravo's hit television show (and perennial Storque favorite), Project Runway. Today the woman behind Dahl by Alison Kelly recounts her experiences as an up-and-coming designer, gives the dish behind Project Runway (and tips on getting your designs out there), and gives her expert take on this season's hot fashions. Alison will not disappoint!

I've always had an interest in clothing, seeing that my mother made matching outfits for my sister, me and our dolls when we were little. I made my own 25-minute outfits (literally: I'd rise 30 minutes before I had to leave for school and make something) throughout high school — primarily dresses that were tied shut by piercing holes with the scissors' tips into the fabric and lacing it onto my body, and countless elastic-waist hippie skirts à la Stevie Nicks.

It wasn't until my second year of college that I began to take a serious interest in fashion design. I had grown eager to learn how to drape and make proper patterns to obtain a custom fit. I moved to Florence, Italy, and enrolled in an intensive fashion program at the Lorenzo de'Medici Scuola d'Arte and became thoroughly immersed.

After college I began toting around my mini-collections of one-off dresses to shops in Los Angeles. I'd walk in wearing one of them, and as luck would have it, the shop girl would normally ask about it — so I kept about 10 more in the car to show them! Matrushka Construction on Sunset Boulevard in Silverlake was one of the first shops to pick up my first line, Run R1ot (the "1" symbolizing one-offs), on consignment.

I moved to New York city in the winter of 2006, feeling that it was time for a change of scenery. My sister came with, as she wanted to move back east from San Francisco. My plan was simple: to launch a new line. But how was I going to do that? I did not know.

My mother and sister urged me to try out for Project Runway; conveniently, auditions were taking place as we were apartment and job hunting. I hadn't had a television in my house since high school, and reality TV wasn't even a part of my vocabulary (nor my psyche) — it was a joke to me. However, I had noticed the rise of some of PR's past contestants, so I put my morals aside and auditioned with one goal: exposure for my line.

One thing led to another, and before long I was filming the show — which was like being in jail while being overworked, underfed and sleep deprived. I would literally wake up to boom mics leering over me with film crews next to my bed — does that sound conducive to creativity? However, I harbor no resentment; on the contrary, it was an interesting journey, to say the least, which has provided me with valuable experiences and brought a name to my line.

There are various methods to launch a clothing line and some organizations that speed up that process, like GenArt, Ecco Domani, CFDA and scholastic competitions. Most big-name designers today were working under various fashion houses before they were confident (and obtained the capital) to go off on their own. But today things are a bit different; I honestly believe one could launch a career online. If you have talent, something you're good at and you create a collection you love, you can definitely succeed online. For instance, you can build an Etsy shop without taking expensive risks, so there's very little to lose.

My Top Picks for Fall:

The Carly Dress by mydearthing, $118.

Slinky, edgy, refined not-so-basic basics with a twist — and most of her pieces are eco-friendly! The Carly dress is the perfect in-between-seasons piece for playing dress-up.

Two Piece Magenta Dress by janeyclothing, $75.
Gem colored clothing is what I dream of this autumn. Cute, realistic, wearable and photographed well, this magenta dress is lovely and would be great with lace leggings and a little black jacket — and a designer from Dublin is hard to come by!

kool.moedee military jacket by joodito, $160.

Anyone can wear a beat-up leather jacket and look cool, but I want more of a twist. The asymmetry of this jacket made from salvaged materials is what I find interesting — yet is still has clean tailored lines.

oatmeal soopascarf by Yokoo, $150.

I went wild when I first saw Yokoo's knitwear. I very much dislike the shoulder pain knitting gives me, so I appreciate someone crazy enough to make these fantastic, sculptural pieces. I want them all in purples, oatmeal and black.

crocheted fingerless gloves by Catwalk7, $30.
These gloves are wonderful. I love anything to do with crochet and antique lace, and these gloves have just the right amount of elegance and quirk.

Luxe lace & sequence leggings by iheartnorwegianwood, $49.
I like all of these leggings, and this season you will see more fashionable legs in lace and decolletage than ever before.

Further Resources:

My Editor's Pick blog on Burdastyle
"A Young Designer's Diary," my personal blog

See More Fashion Posts on Etsy's Blog | More Posts About Project Runway

Guest Curator: Kelly Rand of Crafting a Green World

2009-03-18T16:15:00-05:00

Kelly Rand is a writer for DCist.com and Crafting a Green World, as well as a compulsive knitter and avid maker. She spends most of her free time pursuing crafty endeavors and volunteering for numerous causes. Her latest upstart, Hello Craft, is pretty awesome (see our posts about it here and get involved!). Kelly believes that handmade will save the world.

Environmentalists can easily be labeled Chicken Little, always crying that the sky is falling. Indeed, there are very scary things that are happening in this world, from climate change to water scarcity to habitat loss. It is also very easy to get bogged down in the doom and gloom and not know how to help or where to start.

Ok, deep breath. So how do we get from big, crazy, scary, the sky is falling, to crafters? Easy. It's all about inspiration and a positive attitude.

Since I started writing for Crafting a Green World, I have met some pretty amazing people. Each and every one of them realizes the big scary picture and wants to help in their own way. They realize that we share a planet with finite resources and we need to find a balance to ensure the health and well being of generations to come. The first step is as simple as taking a look at the supplies we use.

OLIVE Hemp Organic Cotton Hand Dyed Eco Friendly Fabric

NoondayTextiles offers a variety of hand dyed hemp/organic cotton fabric for sale by the yard. When you choose organic cotton fabrics you are helping to support the natural growth of cotton without the use of harmful pesticides. By NoondayTextiles, $14.50.

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Orchard hemp/cotton fabric in Red

Check out this gorgeous hand printed hemp/cotton blend fabric from pippijoe. Hemp is a very hardy plant and doesn't require the same amount of water as conventional fiber plants. Just because the label screams "stereotypical environmentalist," it doesn't mean sacrificing design. By pippijoe, $15.

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SALE Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm Long Sleeve T SIZE LARGE

Running away to a farm is probably pretty high on the daydream list, but low on reality. With MVKnits, you can own a small piece of your dream, and help out a small farmer all at the same time. By MVKnits, $10. (Watch the Handmade Portrait video Etsy made.)

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Harvest Farm misshawklet handspun yarn

misshawklet hand spins and hand dyes wool from rescue farms. No harmful chemicals are used in processing these beautiful animal-friendly skeins. By misshawklet, $15.

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Smoke and Mirrors- handspun naturally plant dyed wool silk yarn

folktale is another shop that is conscious about material use. This beautiful skein is hand spun and hand dyed. I had the chance to meet Folktale's owner this winter. Watching her spin is magical and mesmerizing. By folktale, $28.

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SK-8 short-sleeved toddler t-shirt

Approximately 7% of the waste found in our landfills is made up of clothes, bedding and shoes. Help reduce this strain and have your old t-shirts remade into cute kids clothes. By sweetpepita, $40.

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Orange Julius Cupcapron

This apron makes me smile. It's made from reclaimed linens and eco-felt, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. glueandglitter (another writer with CAGW) is doing her part. By glueandglitter, $25.

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Recycled Bike Tube Belt ONLY

Who would have thought that a bike tube could be a belt? steeltoestudios, that's who. By steeltoestudios, $38.

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Recycled Skateboard Necklace 2in1 Reversible - Large

Or that old skateboards could be art? 2ReVert is on it. By 2ReVert, $26.

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New Square Broken Plate Ring Atomic 50s

Or that broken plates could be jewelry? By TheBrokenPlate, $50.

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Fawn in the Forest Necklace

This little fawn has a big story to tell. Their woodland friends are made with recycled and reclaimed silver and gold. By FigsAndGinger, $70.

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Adeline Coin Purse--Eco Friendly

Vinyl is a horrible, horrible substance. But until its production is stopped, it's good to see that it is being
diverted from the landfill. By birdversusbird, $8.

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Zine Issue No. 1 - DIY recycled envelopes

Feel like sharing your newfound eco-knowledge and ideas? Why not write to someone about how they can help? Catch a hold of these cute EcoMonsters and create your own envelopes to send off your stories and inspiration. By EcoMonster, $5.

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By taking a look at the processes and materials used in crafting, you can help drive a sustainable future. Every little bit helps and every small step counts. So encourage each other in making more eco-friendly choices, especially now that you know how easy it can be.

Further Resources:
Crafting a Green World
Near Sea Naturals
Treehugger
Feel Good Style
How Can I Recycle This?

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | Earth Tones Series

Get Connected in Your Area: IndieCraftShows.com

2009-03-17T13:45:00-05:00

Getting the word out about a craft show can be tough. Paradoxically, it can also be difficult for vendors to keep track of shows they want to attend, application dates, etc. The good news is that craft show websites are cropping up to make the job a little easier. IndieCraftShows.com just turned 3, and we gave the site a fresh overhaul to celebrate.

If you're an event organizer, listing your event on Indie Craft Shows is super easy. Just click "List New Event" in the navigation, sign in / register (it's quick and painless) and then enter your show information. In addition to the who/what/where/when, you can also add a flyer to your listing. If you enter the address, a Google map of the location will automatically appear on the page.

We've totally revamped the show search for vendors and it now has full international support. To find shows in your area, go to the search page at http://www.indiecraftshows.com/search.php and click "location search." Then enter your address, city, or country. You'll get back a list of any shows within 50 miles.

You can keep up-to-date by following our blog or twitter feed at http://twitter.com/indiecraftshows, where we post information about new shows and calls for vendors, as well as tips specifically for selling at and organizing craft shows.

The spring craft show season is just around the corner, get ready!

Seller Handbook | More Craft Show Posts

Kelly Turns Your Grandma into a Knitting Machine

2008-04-17T18:01:00-05:00

When I first heard about knitting machines, I was skeptical. Then I heard about a model that could connect to a computer and I had to have one.

Kelly breaks it on down here, giving you an intro into the world of machine knitting. This was filmed at NYCResistor, a hacker space here in Brooklyn. I love the close up shots of Kelly casting on and off!

The machine looks incredibly confusing when you first open it up, but Kelly makes it look easy. She even fixes a problem on the fly in this video.

In this video: Kelly Farrell, Eric Skiff (behind the camera / CC-BY music), Raphael Abrams ("this machine is my grandma!"), George Shammas, and Bre's knitting machine. - Link

Update: Here's an MOV version of the video that will look a little bit better! - Link

Etsy Alumni: Kelly aka kfarrell

2007-02-27T22:26:00-05:00

UPDATE: Kelly no longer works at Etsy. We miss you, Kelly! And we wish you the best in all your projects.

Etsy has had quite a growth spurt in the past year, and we have the awkward pictures to prove it. We'll be posting a series of About Us pieces to help you get to know the Etsy admin (and since many of us work remotely, for the admin to get to know each other!). You've seen the admin badge, and maybe you're a bit curious about the person behind it! For more on Etsy's mission and about the company, please see our About page (the link is in the little blue footer of every Etsy page).

Kelly! Our geek-in-residence is our favorite prickly pear over here on the Etsy team. We never know when Kelly's gonna be like, "Nah, I'm not going to do that for you. That's stupid." And you know what? She's usually right. And when Kelly has a better idea, she makes it come to life so intelligently, we feel even more dumb. (Just kiddin'.)

Seriously, folks. Kelly is such an asset to Etsy! She works on the Product Team, where she helps design and improve the interface of our website. She's totally passionate about problem solving and the internets and crafting and crazy computerized knitting machines. As the spawn of old-school geeks, she's got the 1's and 0's flowing through her veins, giving her the science fiction like ability to translate what the engineers are talking about to the other teams!

Oh, and she also makes really sweet jewelry and other cool objects. Kelly, can I get a deal on your "WTF" belt buckle?

Kelly, hardcore in high school.*

Look at this bad-ass this lil lass!

We love you!

See all posts in this About Us series.

*bonus points for those who follow this series and count all the mohawks.