Search results (tags) for: "st valentines day"

Love Saves the Day: a Handmade Valentine Video

2008-02-14T15:16:00-05:00

Subscribe to our Youtube channel! This is our Valentine to the Etsy Community! Pass it on!

On Vanessa's desk is the cutest little amigurumi bunny by Sereneonion. He's blue with a pursed little mouth and big, reflective eyes. Then this stuffed bear by Boodlebub came in to the labs a few months ago and the two instantly hit it off. I asked them to help me make this short little animation for Valentine's Day and they agreed. It all became more dramatic when Bear unexpectedly died. Good thing I had my camera on me!

I've always been a big fan of stop motion, from the old Rankin/Bass animations like Rudolf and Frosty to the brilliant work of Jan Svankmajer. I try to make my own when I get a chance, so last weekend I spent a Saturday taking photos of these two and pieced them together to make this Valentine Day message for everyone. It's not as refined as it could be, but I kinda like it.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

[music is by Johannes Brahms - Ungarischer Tanz 6 D-Dur, Performed by Fulda Symphonic Orchestra, Conductor: Simon Schindler, licensed under [creative commons atribution, share-alike]

Etsy Finds: Cupid Would Have a Lover Carry Your Groceries

2008-02-14T10:34:00-05:00

Singles, here's a suggestion: flirt with your eco-friendly grocery tote by melissavest. No, really , hear me out. I know it sounds silly. But imagine you're at the food coop, sniffing the peaches with this "Cupid is my homeboy" bag on your shoulder...What better opener than "Je refuse le plastique?" Your soon-to-be-sweetheart will perk right up! Next thing you know you've got a "bagger" at the end of your check-out line, if you catch my drift.

Etsy Couples: Check out These Pairings!

2008-02-13T15:03:00-05:00

In this season of love, we have to showcase all the love betwixt Etsians and their handmade wonders in our series Etsy Love Stories. With a community as great as Etsy, lots of fantastic brains get to interact and it can turn into a craft coupling! We found out about these collaborations in the Etsy Forums. Check out these pairs.

This beautiful Japanse inspired vase was created by woodturner FlintRidgeWoodWorks, with artwork by friend and new Etsyian banshuwa.

Two-year Etsy veteran sweetestpea and hubby Goobeetsa opened a new shop called drperfect. In this new shop they are collaborating on some great new plushie characters.

Totusmel and electrofork have teamed up to make some amazing tatted necklaces with resin pendants.

Another husband and wife team works together to design and create magestic dream catchers. Mindysembroidery is responsible for the detailed threadwork and beadedart is the hands behind the dream catcher construction.

Polymer clay artist Alaliese works with Etsy artists to make a series of Etsy artists on clay, this one is from AshleySpatula.

Love, love, love! Have you collaborated with another artist in the past? Tell us about it in the comments!

Funny Valentines for Featured Buyers: Feel the Love with Comedians Armando, Ophira and Leo

2008-02-13T11:59:00-05:00

Who doesn't love getting a gift on Valentine's Day? Discounted red roses, boxes of chalky chocolates, restraining orders... To make things a little easier to bear, we gave three of our favorite comics (Armando Diaz, Ophira Eisenberg and Leo Allen) a modest stipend to find a Valentine's Day present their sweethearts would never forget. Check out what they chose...

Armando Diaz, Founder of the Magnet Improv Theater

Armando Diaz, not to be confused the the Italian general Armando Diaz, studied improv under Del Close at the ImprovOlympic, before creating his wildly popular improv show "The Armando Diaz Experience." After moving to New York, Armando taught at the Upright Citizen's Brigade and founded the PIT and Magnet Theaters. In addition to writing and producing short films, Armando wrote sketches for the show Upright Citizens Brigade on Comedy Central, and has performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

I'll admit it: I'm a guy and I never have any clue about what to get my girlfriend, Jen. But almost everything on this site looks like something she'd love.

Item: Key to My Heart Valentine Love Necklace by ShySiren

I picked the "Key to My Heart Love Necklace" because it reminds of something you'd give in junior high school and I really wish I would have met her then. Plus I believe in the tradition of locking up the one you love like they're your possession. I want to make sure she gets the message. There is no escape from me.

Item: Valentines Day Heart Cherry Scented Handmade Soap by sterlinasoapco

I also got these soaps because they're cute and they're heart-shaped and it's Valentine's Day!

Ophira Eisenberg, 2007 MAC Award Nominee for Best Female Standup

Originally from Canada, Ophira Eisenberg starred in her own half-hour comedy special on CTV's Comedy Now! before moving to New York City. Since then she has appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Fresh Faces of Comedy, VH-1's Best Week Ever and NY1's The Call. She is also a contributing writer for US Magazine's Fashion Police and is featured in "I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics" published by Random House. Her musings, rantings and ravings can be found at OphiraEisenberg.com/blog.htm.

To my current boyfriend,

Last Valentine’s Day you went in search of something to make me feel sexy — my favorite love potion, as it were — and thoughtfully gave me a big bottle of vodka. I loved it, even though it didn’t quite equal the portable DVD player I bought you, but then again, after a couple of glasses, I totally didn’t care.

Item: Vodka Cozy by rustbeltifiberwerks

This year, I’m getting you this beautiful vodka cozy! I see myself as the bottle and you as the beige felt around me. Keep the cozy full, and everything will be…cozy! Get it?

By the way, I expect to get an iPod this year.

Hey my ex, David!

I’m so over you! And don’t believe what you hear, I did not contact a voodoo doctor to cast a Come-Back-To-Me Spell on you! Sure, I have a friend-of-a-friend who identifies as a Haitian witch and she mentioned one day that I should chant some stuff every once in a while at sundown while burning a green candle, but that’s totally different! Anyhow I was thinking about our 11th date the other day. Remember that? That was such a fantastic Tuesday. Hard to believe it was 12 years ago! Anyhow, I hope you and…Natasha...is her name?...are doing great! Sad to hear that she didn’t make this round of Next Top Model.

Item: Painting of Empty Chair, “Waiting For Love” by Lampreia

Anyhow, I saw this painting and thought of you! Things on my end are amazing. Happy Valentines!

Leo Allen, comedian & writer, working on cold fusion

Leo Allen is a comedian, writer, and actor living in New York City. Primarily interested in meeting shamans, he has performed on Comedy Central, Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular, Last Call with Carson Daly and on the Comedians of Comedy tour. He was a writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002-2005 and offers a comfortable pair of moccasins to whomever visits his website.

My lady-friend is a shaman. They are not that hard to shop for, really. But she is tired of all the jewels... so I dug a little deeper. Deep into my unconscious...

Item: Llama Pirate Tee - Heather Grey by NoosedKitty

I thought this t-shirt — what the seller describes as a "Llama Pirate" — would really fit her personality. Although I prefer to think of it as a "Llama injured in a racially motivated knifefight." Hooray for social justice!

Item: Large kids orange recycled LLAMA TRAUMA tee by tods

What if your favorite llama t-shirt is dirty, and you want to help some of your followers bridge the gap between the world we think we live in and true reality? You wear your other llama t-shirt, that's what you do!

And this one says "llama trauma," which implies sympathy for the angst we all feel, as human beings, for generally not being around llamas enough.

Item: Buckminster Fuller 2.25 inch pocket mirror in acid green and yellow by beeczarcardsandgifts

Sometimes even a shaman needs to check in with themselves with a pocket mirror, to better determine what is going on in the soul behind the eyes. Also, it's good for seeing if you have food in your teeth! And who better to inspire you than the man who chose helping mankind over indulging in a drinking problem!

Item: Cypress Sage Room Spray - all natural by stephaniek

Who doesn't love the soothing smell of burning sage? I know my ladyfriend does! But sometimes, burning things can set off smoke alarms, or send your house up in flames. With this, she can get all of the sage deliciousness, and none of the burning down the house disappointment.

I'll bet it's also good for making people think that you recently attended Burning Man.

Feel the love with these comedians at their upcoming shows:

Leo Allen at Comix on February 17th, 8:30pm.

Ophira Eisenberg at Time Out New York's Story Swap, downstairs at New World Stages on Monday Feb 25th, 7pm.

Magnet Theater is the home to several raucous improv shows, including "Tiny Spectacular" on February 16th at 7:30pm and "4 Track" February 23rd at 10:30pm. Check out the schedule here.

Don't forget the champagne! Have a funny Valentine's Day.

Etsy Love Stories: LazerBeanz

2008-02-11T12:05:00-05:00

We're doing a sweet lil series on the Storque with lovey dovey stories. Below you'll find the story of LazerBeanz, the adorable young couple who also run their shop together. ...Hey, is Justin wearing a toybreaker tie?...

We are Justin and Elise, the newly wedded Etsians who run the shop LazerBeanz as a team. We have always said, “Elise is the hands and Justin is the moustache of the operation.” That is our absurd way of describing how we work together in the shop. Elise makes a big mess all over the studio/kitchen, cutting and sewing peculiar appliques on recycled clothing and Justin makes sense of the situation. He takes care of the listing and business type stuff that Elise is terrible at.

We got started making and selling clothes together when Justin got a big pizza stain down the front of his favorite plain and nicely fitted shirt. We both fretted until Elise got the idea to sew a patch over the stain to cover it. The design was a tooth stitched with red thread and we both thought it looked boss. Justin wore the shirt around and charmed people into placing orders. We started selling by immersion and have definitely grown along the way.

We joined Etsy not long after the pizza incident and have loved working together on our shop. We both have also enjoyed the community aspect of being a member of Etsy. Elise is regularly in the forums and we both enjoy occasionally joining in on Self Portrait Thursday.

Sharing the same shop can be challenging as a couple. It’s especially tough when we want to buy secret surprises for each other. We also have had disagreements about what we want LazerBeanz to be and what our long-term direction is. Fortunately, we learned back in high school that the best way to settle our arguments is an intense game of Rock Paper Scissors (seriously). That is how we chose our shop name. Elise would like to point out that she lost that particular battle.

When we aren’t working on our shop, we like to play Dr. Mario, read to each other, ride our bikes at night (don’t worry Mom), and snuggle with our bunnies, Hodge and Yoshimi. Elise works at a bakery and we also work together at an independent movie theater.

We both feel very lucky to have each other as partners and it’s mega romantic to work together on something and watch it grow.

Check out our previous Etsy Love Stories here too!

Craft Night at the Etsy Labs: Valentine Making

2008-02-08T16:00:00-05:00

Every Monday is Open Craft Night at the Etsy Labs. On Monday, February 11, we have a very special edition of Craft Night...valentines! Join us between 4-8pm for an evening of making valentines for your sweethearts, crushes, friends, family, and favorite Etsy Admin. If you have special supplies you would like to use, bring them along. We will also gather up all of our paper, lace, thread, glue, and markers to make fabulous creations sure to win hearts.

Join us at the Etsy Labs! Open Craft Night happens every Monday between 4 and 8 PM at 325 Gold Street in Brooklyn.

UPDATE: Meet us in the Red Room of the Virtual Labs at 5pm on Monday, February 11 with your valentine-making supplies. Be prepared to craft your heart out! (so to speak...) Thanks for the great suggestion!

Etsy Find: Love Letters

2008-01-25T11:15:00-05:00

When was the last time you sat down, picked up a pen, and scrawled out a love letter in your best (or worst) handwriting? As a lover of love letters and all handwritten correspondance, I was instantly attracted to this screenprinted Messenger Card Set created by MoxieMadness. I love writing letters, sometimes even to friends who live in my same city.

Really, what's better than receiving a surprise in your mailbox? With Valentine's Day lurking around the corner, snatch up a set for yourself and fill your sweetheart's mailbox with affection.

A Very Manly Valentine's Day

2008-01-23T16:40:00-05:00

Here we've assembled more gifts for the man in your life (did you see our last edition?), in the very masculine shade of green.

Enjoy!

What are you getting your man for Valentine's Day? Share it in the comments!

Etsy Couples: Items That Would Love Each Other If They Could

2008-01-23T14:00:00-05:00

A little bit of heart goes into each item on Etsy, we all know that. But, what if these loved items could love each other? What a wonderfully goofy, sappy, silly world that would be!

Crochet Cowgirl Hat

Brown Bucking Bunny Tee

= True Crafty Cowgirl Love

Modern Felt Coasters

Sleek Tea Cups

= Mod Coffee Table Love

Big Heart Tote

Little Fawn

= Cuteness Heaven

This stuffed squirrel

+ (should hug)

Best Friends

Sterling Silver Hoops

Waves Cuff

Organic Sterling Love

Fancy Lady Puppet

Martini Drinking Zebra

Maybe not "love" because the zebra has commitment issues, but they would have some fun times.

What products do YOU think should couple? Post it in the comments!

Etsy Finds: Will You Be My Valentine?

2008-01-22T10:32:00-05:00

Remember those days back in grade school when you would hand out special little valentines to all your classmates? There would always be that icky boy who kicked the back of your chair and ate his own boogers who you just wouldn't want to ask to be your valentine. However, on a mission to teach you an important life lesson, your parents would force you to send everyone in your class a card.

I've been on a mission to find the perfect cards to hand out to all my friends and co-workers (even the ones that eat their boogers), and I came across this funny series of Hate Mail cards by CarolLeeDesigns. My boss Rob Kalin is definitely getting one of these from me this Valentine's Day because while he is the best boss ever, he definitely eats his own boogers!

And I can't end this article with out saying it one more time...BOOGERS!

Be My Valentine!

2008-01-21T16:21:00-05:00

Looking for a special Valentine's gift for a treasured friend? Or maybe you just want to share some love with your neighbors, co-workers and the world? These items are meant to inspire the Valentine's spirit in you and yours. Go forth with the spirit of love and tenderness!

What do you do with your friends for Valentine's Day? Post it in the comments! Also, visit our scarlet Treasury and give us some love!

Etsy Finds: Heart Notebook

2008-01-21T13:02:00-05:00

This Valentine's day, why don't you give a gift that speaks not just to a person's heart, but also to their soul. Choose something that they will keep with them. Look for either a piece that they would wear or use on an average day.

That's why you should think about giving something like Feral Girl's LIBRO di AMORE. It's a wonderful handbound notebook: something that would be both practical and personal, and perfect for an Etsian!

Etsy Love Challenge Update

2008-01-21T12:24:00-05:00

Dear Lovebugs,

The EtsyLoveChallenge is on a serious heart shaped roll! Check out the submissions so far!

Here are a few of my personal faves...

" For the love of.....immigrant rights!" ~ JunkPrints

"I have a love of summer...sand between my toes, warm sun on my skin, and watching my kids catch waves." ~smashgirl

"It is made out of African 'aso-oke' fabric from Nigeria in West Africa...Aso-oke is almost always worn by a couple on the day of their traditional wedding day!" ~Urbanknit

"...she fell in love with a handsome young fellow who was far more interested in flowers than he was in the ladies. so much so, that he said he'd only go out with a girl who could produce for him a new flower that had never before existed..." ~everythingok

"It just seems to make so much sense to fight for what you believe in. Instead of fighting against something fight FOR something." ~GumballGrenade

Click here to find out how to get involved!

Etsy Teams: Valentine's Day Sweetness

2008-01-20T12:06:00-05:00

We asked the Etsy Teams what their plans are for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, and got some really great responses! To find out more about what an Etsy Team is, you can browse around the Team Pages. You can also join the Etsy Teams email list to keep up to date on important Teams information or visit us in our weekly workshop at noon (EST) on Thursdays!

The PLUSHTEAM is having a valentine's day contest called PlushLove. Plushteam members have been asked to create some love filled plush items within three Valentine's day themed categories and we are asking everyone at Etsy to pick their favorites within each group. Your vote is needed and as a plush perk, anyone who cast a ballot will randomly be placed into a drawing to win a $20 gift certificate into one of the participating plushteam shops. Voting begins Tuesday February 12-13 and you can vote at www.plushteam.com.

In Scandinavia, Valentines Day is not popular. Surveys done by local television show that most Nordic people feel Valentines Day is an example of North American commercial propoganda, with no history and therefore no place in that part of the world. With the new found interest in hand-made/heart-made products growing on a global level, maybe a commercialized Valentines Day can be turned back to something with more meaning, bringing forth the made-from-the-heart-values. Members of the Creative Scandinvian Etsy Team hope to help make this happen. Etsy has been the best thing for them, "and has allowed us to expand in our crafts in ways unimaginable, we do see some of the paradoxes between cultures." Nicole6697, a founder of the Creative Scandanavian Etsy Team says, "The same resistence many every-day Scandinavians feel about the overwhelming influence of American culture is usually echoed by other artists and crafters within Etsy." As this holiday approaches, check out the shops of the Creative Scandanavians to bring handmade, heartfelt items to your loved ones.

Etsy BeadWeavers have put their time, their love, and their passion into weaving wonderful creations in RED so that you can express your love. Twenty-nine members of the Etsy BeadWeavers team submitted 42 entries into the RED Challenge, and 276 people visited the EBW blog to vote for their favorite. The winner of the Challenge was Fennel Skellyman with his Fire Garden Necklace. Fennel has the honor of being the first male member of the Etsy BeadWeavers team, and this was his first entry into an EBW challenge.
Check out the Etsy BeadWeavers blog to see all the entries and the runners up in the RED Challenge. Stay tuned, as the team members are now working on their entries for the next challenge: Spring Break

Eco-Etsy, a team dedicated to spread the word about reducing, reusing and recycling, are doing a secret valentines swap. Members who participate will receive an Eco Friend gift from another member of the team as well as send an eco-friendly gift to their secret valentine. No one knows who there valentine is! The idea is to receive something eco friendly,recycled, sustainable, upcycled etc. You can also check their blog for an Eco tip of the week, where team members suggest ways Etsians can help reduce their global footprint.

In sunny Florida, EtsyFEST Team members across the state will be creating multiple handmade, stamped, designed valentines. They will then be taking our valentines to different senior homes, since Florida has a lot of older people who could use some handmade love this Valentine Season!

Team EJA, the Eclectic Jewelry Artisans, is doing another fantastic giveaway of handcrafted jewelry and gifts that is valued at $50! To enter the drawing: visit TeamEJA, click on "Collaboration", choose your favorite item to vote for. Then cast your vote by filling out this form. Please only one vote per person. Drawing will be held on Valentines Day, February 14, 2008.
Three people will win!

For in-person events, check out EtsyCREST, the Capitol Region Etsy Team. They are sponsoring a craft fair on February 16 - details can be found here. The Philadelphia Etsy Team is holding a trunk show at the Mew Gallery on February 8 (6:30-9pm).

Cupid needs your help to find his bow & arrow! Bow bear has been wondering around looking through the EtsyBABY Street Team shops trying to help cupid find special things for those special some ones, but now he's lost! Cupid is offering a reward and has been posting pictures of his bow & arrow in EtsyBABY shops. When you purchase the item where bow's picture is found you'll receive your cupids reward! This promotion runs from January 20 - February 29, and you can participate by searching the tag "EtsyBABY". For a complete list of shops included in this promotion, visit the EtsyBABY blog.

The etsyBEAD street team will be having a Valentine Themed Scavenger Hunt on February 3rd, 4th, and 5th. There will a different scavenger hunt held each day and players will be required to find specific Valentine's themed images hidden within participating etsyBEAD shops. Watch out, though! Some shops will have decoy images which will not count. The first hunter to find all the correct images for each day will be awarded a Valentine prize pack. Everyone is eligible (except members of etsyBEAD) so watch for game details in the etsyBead promo thread February 3rd, 4th and 5th. Detailed information of the event, a list of prizes, and links to the shops in this contest will be available in the team blog. Many of the team shops will also be running Valentine's Specials. Check out the team blog for more information on this, as well.

Many thanks to all the Etsy Teams for their enthusiam and creativity with these events! For more information on how to join a team, you can check the Team pages.

Valentine's Day: Sexy Gifts for Both of You

2008-01-16T20:16:00-05:00

After a few Valentine's Day gift guides, we've finally put together the list you've been asking for: sexy gifts!

These are gift ideas for both of you. With red hot items like these, you'll get your Valentine's Day off to a racy start. Make it a great one!

What do you want for Valentine's Day? Post it in the comments!

Valentine's Day: Gifts for Kids of All Ages!

2008-01-16T12:18:00-05:00

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your little one this Valentine's Day? These gifts are for kids of all ages, be it baby to tween. Find something special for the kids you know!

As always, we advise shoppers to read the fine print on listings when buying items with small parts for children. Be safe!

What are you buying your favorite baby this Valentine's Day? Post it in the comments! And check out our treasury!

Etsy Finds: From the Bottom of my Heart

2008-01-16T10:59:00-05:00

Valentines have been on the brain lately (and not because my dear old dad's name is Valentine), but I'm sure we're all been noticing more and more heart themed items of all sorts popping up everywhere. It's fun to see all the creative interpretations of such a sweet symbol.

I became a gigantic MelanieFaveau fan when my boyfriend ever so sweetly surprised me with a gorgeous pair of earrings from her shop this Christmas, and I've been stalking her shop ever since. When I saw this stunningly simple heart pendant stamped with the phrase "Ab imo pectore'' (translation: "bottom of my heart") listed yesterday, it was love at first sight.

Is there a heart item in your favorites you'd like to share? Post a link in the comments!

Etsy Love Challenge

2008-01-15T15:14:00-05:00

It's almost Valentines Day! Time to get all lovey dovey, don't you think? We challenge you to create an item for your Etsy shop that tells a love story. Any kind of love story will do! Perhaps you can use this challenge to show how you found your true love, your love for a child or parent, or even the love of buying handmade (Wink!). Using technique, materials, photos and your item description, tell a compelling story for all to see in your Etsy shop.

Make sure you tag this item EtsyLoveChallenge so that everyone can find you!

Once you have done this make sure you upload pics of your finished project or even screenshots of your item listing to the EtsyLoveChallenge Flickr group.

Check out the latest entries here!

FAQ's

Q: What's the difference between this "challenge" and a "contest"?

A: This challenge is just a suggestion for you to make something new! There are no prizes involved, instead everyone gets a chance to participate and reap the rewards.

Q: I have a piece I've made already that fits into this challenge - but I don't want to sell it. Can I still list it on Etsy?

A: Unfortunately, no. Everything listed on Etsy must be for sale.

Q: How do I make sure my piece gets noticed?

A: Make sure you add "EtsyLoveChallenge" as one of your tags when you list your items.

Q: How do I add my photos to the Flickr group?

A: If you don't have a Flickr account, sign up here. Now join the EtsyLoveChallenge Flickr group here. Follow the steps here to upload your photos. Once you have your photos uploaded you can add it to the Flickr group like this:

Let's spread the Etsy love!

Valentine's Day: What Men Want!

2008-01-15T13:49:00-05:00

Wondering what to get for your favorite guy this Valentine's Day? Express your love with the gift of handmade. (And you best start thinking about those gifts now, because the clock is a-ticking towards the big day!)

What do you want for Valentine's Day? Post it in the comments!

Etsy Finds: Delicious Desk

2008-01-15T10:25:00-05:00

We all love chocolate, but after all these holidays, some of us are a bit over it. Keep with the Valentine's Day tradition of boxed candies, but go practical with mouthwatering notebooks and day planners from edessedesigns. Be careful, though, with office gear this yummy, having them on your desk may leave you craving sweet treats!

Don't worry though, there's salad and fruit notebooks for you health nuts!

St Valentine's Day Showcase, Coming Soon!

2008-01-14T17:35:00-05:00

The Valentine's Day Showcase will be going on sale tomorrow. This Showcase will be linked — by way of a special themed banner on the homepage of Etsy — to a special Showcase with all Valentine's Day items from sellers.

While we hope that sellers choose items that involve pink, red, hearts, cupids, chocolate, roses and all that lovey-dovey stuff, you are welcome to post anything that you feel would be appropriate as a Valentine's gift for him, her, beast, or child. Some of you may remember that last year we did two separate Showcases for His and Her; we aren't doing that this year. Keep it simple, cupid.

It goes on sale tomorrow Tuesday, January 15th at 3pm EST.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
It goes live the following day Wednesday, January 16th at 12 a.m. (midnight) EST.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in the Valentine's Showcase, which is linked to from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
You now administer which items you want to be fed into your Showcase slot through the tool in Your Shop. Read more about this process here.

Are you wondering what the heck Showcase is anyway? For a general introduction to Showcase, read Matt's Storque article 13.5 Questions about the Showcase and for deeper thoughts on figuring out if Showcase is right for you, see Beth's Showcase Deconstructed article.

Valentine's Day: What Women Want!

2008-01-14T15:00:00-05:00

Need some gift suggestions for your honey this Valentine's Day? Point them in the direction of your favorite Etsy sellers. You'll be glad you did when the 14th rolls around!

What do you want for Valentine's Day? Post it in the comments! And visit our lovey Treasury!

A Very Jaded Valentine's Day

2008-01-11T14:49:00-05:00

Not feeling the love this Valentine's Day? Taking a break from sentimentality?

Well, these items are dedicated to you, dear jaded one! We all have a little love angst sometimes, and these items are for that single state of mind that's not too hyped about the big V.D. (...Valentine's Day, of course!)

Not into the lovey dovey stuff? Share it in the comments! And check out our Anti Valentine's Day Treasury!

Etsy Finds: Fairy Tale Valentine Dreams

2008-01-11T10:04:00-05:00

Valentine's day is coming soon...very soon. artisanimpact's shop is full of jewelry that I want! The jewelers of this shop have given imaginative names to their pieces, evoking images of kings, queens and fairy tales. True to its name, this ring looks like something I would have dreamed of as little girl, or a Byzantine relic I have passed by at a museum. It would seem be too good to be true to actually own it. Thanks to these designers, it isn't out of the realm of possibility.

Now to find that valentine to buy it!

Funny Forum Quotes: Valentine's Edition (with tiddyinks!)

2008-01-10T18:24:00-05:00

tiddyinks says:

Chillionaire says:
what about falling in love with Etsy? I think I'm pretty much married to this place now....

-----------
"my hubby swears I am ! :) The sex is definitely better with Etsy....jk"

From our Etsy Romance thread in the Forums! Share your Etsy romantic stories today!

Etsy Finds: Prickly Persons

2008-01-04T16:12:00-05:00

If you're not in the mood for Valentine's Day, maybe you can send your hate mail in one of these Porcupine envelopes by SugarcubeDesign. Some of us have exes on the mind and are more in the mood to send a note that reads, "Sometimes I love you Sometimes." Just a little something to say, "Hey, I think about you when I have nothing better to do." Who has turned this into an art form? CarolLeeDesigns. Find her HateMail series here.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: It's Never Too Early for Love!

2008-01-04T15:24:00-05:00

It's never too early to start planning and shopping for Valentine's Day! Whether it's for a significant other, your darling baby, your boo (or pointed suggestions for yourself...), Etsy is the place for love.

Here we've compiled a list to (ahem!) get you in the mood for lovin'. Feel free to check out our new Valentine's Day Gift Guide for more ideas, as well as our many other search methods. The holidays may have just ended, but love is 365 days a year!

What do you want for Valentine's Day? Post it in the comments!

Erin from Etsy: New Orleans Trip (Pt 1)

2007-09-06T20:00:00-05:00

Four years ago I spent a year in New Orleans. I became attached to the city during my time there and I try to go back when I can. This past February, since I had begun working at Etsy, I decided to try to meet all the Etsy sellers of New Orleans, and see how they were spending their Mardis Gras. Before heading down, I put up a blog post to announce the meeting of New Orleans Etsians. Vanessa gave me a few tips about the camera and Matt loaded my suitcase with t-shirts, buttons and tote bags, and I was off. I stayed for two weeks and met a lot of lovely, creative people. First we all had coffee and got to know each other, and then I made plans to go to each of their studios and interview them about what they make and their experience with Etsy. I met with artbymags, bakingwithmedusa, greenkangaroo, dismantled, gurlygirl, bellaroo, rustchic, bayousalvage, antelucandaisy, and nolasalvage.

It was great to be back there to see how the city was doing. I hadn't been back there since Katrina, and now, just after the anniversary of the storm, I've revisited some of my New Orleans video footage. I'll be sharing those here on The Storque as a series.

Watch the Video

Before I moved to New Orleans I knew next to nothing about it. I had spent the majority of my life much further north. All I knew was that it was a place way down south and that parades there were frequent. My friend Kenny and I moved there to see another part of the country – we could have moved anywhere, but we chose New Orleans.

The very first night there, just after unloading all our mini van’s possessions into a hot pink double shotgun, we heard music down the street and sensed a buzz in the neighborhood. It was the Decadence Ball. The Ball was a spontaneous all night party on the bank of the Mississippi. There were jazz bands, of course, and everyone was dressed up in costume. It was all new and foreign to me and I was enchanted by it. The combination of the heat and the music, the friendly welcoming attitude of the people, the colors and the sparkling costumes and lights reflecting on the river —it was all very magical, like the scene of the Capulet’s Ball from Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo and Juliet”. The rest of the year included many similar nights and days. As a painter, I was constantly inspired by people and my surroundings.

We lived right around the corner from the center of the neighborhood’s artistic activity, a place called the ARC. The ARC was a place in New Orleans much like the Etsy Labs, and was a part of the reason our community was so close knit. I took life drawing classes there every week. I had the opportunity to draw a pregnant model and then later her and her baby….that’s pretty unusual. A trapeze artist hoisted ropes to the ceiling and practiced there. Fantastic bands, both traveling and local, performed at the ARC. The communal room served as a gallery and there were always paintings on the walls. There were book clubs that met there. Plays were put on by amateur directors, actors and set designers who worked just for the love of it. There was even a circus that performed there! It was the home of the Bike Project, a bustling workshop for fixing flats, getting new parts or creating new bikes from spare parts. Children from the neighborhood could earn a bike in exchange for logging in hours working there. My friend Kenny and I spent time with two friends who ran the place, Wes and Kelly. Money was a problem and so was meeting code, but the sheer will of the neighborhood seemed to keep the place going.

Food Not Bombs met at the ARC as well. People from the neighborhood would gather and cook on hot plates, and then bring the food to Jackson Square for anyone who wanted it. A lot of transient people live in New Orleans. Some do so by choice and others because of a run of bad luck. In either case, there isn’t a stigma attached to needing a free meal like there might be in some other cities. I remember one of those nights we spent talking to a portentous character who held everyone spellbound by his stories. The man knew New Orleans intimately. He predicted, eerily, that everything would change soon and that it would affect everyone, but homeless people in particular. He thought that the city was due for a major hurricane.

Things have changed in New Orleans post-Katrina, but not quite in the way the media projects. I often meet people who say “You’re lucky you lived there, I wish I’d have made it down there.” But the city is still there. The spirit of the place hasn’t changed at all. The ARC’s building is still there. There isn’t anyone running it right now, but that could change soon. People are coming back to the city they love and some people are moving there for the first time to renovate houses. According to my impression from my friends and the Etsy members I interviewed, the overall attitude is one of regeneration and optimism. Of course, I’m not there day to day anymore… and I know it’s not easy.