Search results (tags) for: "trends"

Hip Handmade with Modish: Scarves

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:28:00 -0000

Awesome style blog Modish has started a new series that really piques our interest: Hip Handmade. This series utilizes the idea of comparison shopping between the "big box" version of hip clothing and accessories and the handmade, Etsy-style version of said products. As Jena from Modish explains,

"Those big box stores are calling your name with cheap deals on hip clothes and accessories, home goodies that you just can't live without, beckoning you to become part of the latest fashion trends of the moment...it can be hard for the indie design world to keep up! But, they do keep up- it's just sometimes a little more difficult to find the hip handmade goods that rival the big box stores' goods in style, but far surpass them in quality, creativity and uniqueness!"

This post does a whole comparison on the lightweight summer scarves you've seen adorning ladies' necks.

All the handmade options came from Etsy! Check out Modish for more Hip Handmade comparison shopping.

Etsy Finds: The It Bag

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:28:00 -0000

Pining for a brand new, enormous, adorable tote bag but totally sick of tote bags? Have you seen these pleated carry-alls that have swept the Bags and Purse category the last few months? Spring 2008 is clearly the season of the gathered market bag, and here are nine of the best ones we've noticed.

The Market Bag in Provincial Blue

I'm fairly certain that Etsy Treasury and front page darling moop started this whole trend with her wonderfully well-constructed market totes, the inescapable bag of last Christmas. Now in blue! Yay! $83.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

All purpose tote in charcoal

Suitable for all your A3 hauling needs, according to the description. For the hard-to-shop-for graphic designer in your life. By minus, $96.

P.S. It's going to be hard for me not to also feature these Toblerone pouches soon, as they are really so so great.

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Madeleine Bubble Bag in Polkadot Plaid

And old favorite, ohsoretro, weighs in with her version of the pleated tote. $44.

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Bright Blue Shweshwe Tiles Big Town Bag

Pleated bag in a fabric with a story. By thewren, $49.

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Machiavelli in Ocean Blue

Beautfiul color, enormous tote. By morelle, $68.

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Fabulous Floral Spring Bag

This floral print is perfect for spring! By thethreegraces, $35.

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Your Multitask Bag - Beautiful Brick Colour Canvas and Designer fabric

Rust colored pleated bag with a nice decorative metal ring. By iragrant, $69.50.

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The Goldilocks bag - sized just right

A hallmark of this trend is everyone who makes them claims the bags can fit every single possible item you could ever want to schelp around in your purse, yet still be managably "not big." Sweet golden-y tote in, yes, the perfect size by hollyberrydesigns, $29.

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Pleated Purse in Geometric Black with Red Ribbon Accent

What an awesome print. On sale! By jumpupanddown, $30.

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Trends: Enabling Pets to Express their Fashion Sense

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:15:00 -0000

What makes us human? Some say our ability to use language. But that was proven wrong by the discovery that apes communicate quite well. Aren't we all familiar with Koko's story? And yeah, as those of us who have lived with domesticated animals understand, pets communicate too. How silly for humans to think that cats, for example, can't talk. Check out the Chatty Kathys in the video below.

Some human-centric people may say that culture is what makes humans so special. Sorry, folks, apes got that, too. And on Etsy, trendsetting is not a distinctly human characteristic — our pets have style! Maybe Hugo the cockapoo can't handstitch his own faux leopard print coat, but honey, you know it's only because of those little paws. You — as his human companion — know deeply and intimately that this is what he wants to be wearing. Because he has personality, and it needs to come out! It's your duty to assist him. Here are some of the latest trends in pet fashion...

Laid Back, Classic Style:
Here's a classic choice for your pets' bowls by BlackMtnFurniture:

Slightly distressed and rustic. "If you need a feeder a different height please email me for a price as we can customize one to fit your pets' needs!" BlackMtnFurniture also takes custom Alchemy requests for any pet furniture (or human furniture, too, I suppose) that you might need.

Understated polka dot leash by anniessweatshop:

She has matching collars too.

For the Pampered and Posh:
If you sometimes enjoy feeling that irrepressible desire to squeeze a cute little thing 'til it suffocates...then you should know about designsfordinkydogs. I just broke out in a cold sweat when I found this pink carrier:

This bonnet comes with matching frock, with harness built right in:

Another sophisticated option, blue Chinese silk coat by Meanypie:

Classy bowtie look for your puppeh by miascloset:

For the Hipster:

This collar by transaction is really cool! Stylish and good quality, too:

hatz4brats's snooded coats for a fun, retro chic pooch:

Delicately sardonic pet clothing by pamperedpoochie:

Tattoo-inspired tags for the punk. By inkart76:

Moustaches are so in right now:

Catstache catnip toys by prairiebird come in felt or leather.

For the Quirky Pet:
Pet bed in a vintage suitcase by Chiesta:

Cat wigs by eenodol, who says, "Convo me for a custom order! The crazier the better! I'll attempt anything :) ":

Looks like the cat is about to attempt something, too.

Check out natdesigns2003's goldfish cat beds:
I love these. It's so perfect for the weirdo cat you have a love/hate relationship with. Fluffy gets to glare at you and look fierce in her ominous lair, while you get to snicker at her ridiculous "hidey hole." ...Yeah, but you're still in a co-dependent relationship, so who is really laughing?

Custom costumes and regalia for special occasions by granolahead. You can also use Alchemy to get that magical transformation you and your pet are dreaming of (a la your pug dressed as that creature Aughra from The Dark Crystal). Perchance to go along with your fantasy-themed wedding?

Ooooor...pirate-themed.

Older dogs:

portlypug's hats for the grandma pooches:

Awww. Who's over the hill?

AspenGroveBoutique's diapers for old man dogs.

For the Athletic Type:
Some dogs are sporty. Not all dogs want cute fashion options. Here is an attractive and practical snood by COZYHORSE:

These booties by Ruth, a dog musher, and her friend alaskaleash come straight from Alaska:

Sorry, couldn't resist the cute. I convoed this seller to beg her to shoot a video and upload it to Youtube. Fingers crossed.

For the Nerdy Ones:
Then again, some pets are more, how shall I say this — indoor types. Bookish even. Sweater from DianaDesignsNY:

Some are eager to please. Saddlepack by Dogonwear:

For the Naughty Ones:
Snuggleworm will want to wear his cozy jimjams after munching a bit too much of the nip. Catnip toys by squirrelonaledgetop:

And here are the jimjams. By furkidfever:

Ever wonder if Divine from Pink Flamingos is secretly re-incarnated as your pet? Dog tags by sudlow:

Ok, here's the thing. Maybe you are secretly the reincarnation of Divine:
Cat Butt earrings by outofthepinksky:

Can I end an article with What???

Please share in the comments below. I want links to flickr pictures and I want to be squealing with glee. Check out more Trends pieces on the Storque!

Trends: Nautical Chic

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:39:00 -0000

Ahoy, matey!

It seems as though nautical style will never really go out of fashion — it simply seems to flow in and out like the roaring tide, continually reappearing. (This is a terrible metaphor, but true!)

Clean lines and sailor-style accenting go a long way toward a timeless look that is both yacht appropriate and "country club chic." (You can dirty up those whites for a more disheveled approach, which totally gets my vote! Dirty white jeans = sexy.)

These sailor inspired pieces are casual and chic, warm weather appropriate (with some cold weather thrown in for good measure) and sure to get some favorable comments on the pier this season. Our fashion inspirations are at right and below. Check out what Etsy has to offer in nautical chic!

Ebas revivalhouse ThrashinThreads

salvagelife Fablesbybarrie montgomeryrecordspdx

Enjoy our nautical collection below and leave your fashion inspiration in the comments!

Trends: Flowers in Her Hair

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:57:00 -0000

My new spring fashion obsession — flowers for my hair. Check these looks from the runways — those flowers are from our very own SamanthaSultana!

photos courtesy of SamanthaSultana

Try one large flower, or a bunch of flowers together to create a bouquet (the ones from handmadepretties would be amazing). If spring hasn't quite arrived where you are and you are tired of cold weather, this will remind you that it's on it's way...

Happy spring, lovelies!

Read about more Trends on the Storque! You can also sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox on the daily!

Trends: Anthropomorphism (Pet Heads!) with Kathy Malone

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:46:00 -0000

This week's trendspotter is clothing designer Kathy Malone of Brooklyn Indie Market. (See Kathy's previous Featured Buyer post here.) She recently became interested in the subject of anthropomorphism — attributing uniquely human characteristics to nonhuman beings — and she did a little research on the subject for an in-depth Trends review. Enjoy!

I have a confession: as a clothing designer with a lot of time on my hands during the post holiday-period, I indulged myself in the visual smorgasbord of the world of Etsy art. What I found most compelling and extraordinary was the myriad of ways that Etsy artists were employing a device I soon learned was termed anthropomorphism — the assigning of nonhuman attributes to human forms, or what I call "pet heads."

I set out to learn the artists' inspiration for these otherworldly creatures, which was as varied as the artwork itself, and the history behind this phenomena. I wrote to Dr. Ann Russman, curator of Egyptian art at the Brooklyn Museum, which houses one of the premier collections of Egyptian Art in the world. She says that there "certainly seem to have been anthropomorphic deities already in the predynastic period, to judge from the female figure with upraised arms, apparently a goddess, that appears on painted pots and of which we also have a three-dimensional image."

[Female Figurine ("Bird Lady"), courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum]

She continued, "A deity's animal might express its personality — perhaps the best example is the fierce lion-headed goddess Sakhmet. Significantly, her imagery was extended to other goddesses, such as Mut, when their fierce, powerful aspects were invoked."

Intrigued, I asked various artists dabbling in anthropomorphism on Etsy about their inspirations.

[Hummer Print by OrangeWillow]

Wendy of OrangeWillow was on the same page, as she wrote: "As far as inspiration, I can go all the way back to Egyptian art. Throughout history, anthropomorphism is frequent, and I love looking through all kinds of examples. I try to use a bit of wit though when I create my morphs…I also am crazy for fashion, current and Victorian, which you will often see in my morphs."

[Letterpress Print Blood Sister by jennybird]

jennybird said: "In my work, I like to explore the complex interconnectedness of opposites as seen through the prism of myth, fable and fantasy. When I am using them in an anthropomorphic way, I am taking the real or imagined qualities that the animal possesses and bestowing that quality upon the human character in the painting."

[Fawn Mask Print by MarmeeCraft]

MarmeeCraft: "As for my inspiration, I've always been drawn to eerie and odd images and that feeling of magic and other-worldliness that one gets from legends, myths and faerie tales...I try to draw on that in my own work. I also really love the work of 19th century symbolist painters, like Fernand Khnopff (The Caress is a wonderful anthropomorphic piece.)"

[Dingo Head by Banalgirl]

Banalgirl: "My inspiration is the close relationship between indigenous Australians with the Dingo (Australia's native wolf) — some communities even have the dingo as a totem animal or have 'dreaming creation' myths about them."

[Dark Forest by LittleRobot]

LittleRobot: "I have another piece which is now sold (Dark Forest) which had a paper puppet girl and she could wear an owl head. And all of that goes back to the original Wicker Man movie which I accidentally saw really late one night when I was about 15. It was so eerie and bizarre that I've loved it ever since and love animal masks in all their forms."

[Festive Zebra Marionette by Crankbunny]

Crankbunny: "Well, in general — I've been greatly affected by being dragged to Disney World every summer when I was a child…There's something magical and perfectly ok about plopping an animal head on a human body. Certain animals have such wonderful features, too — lots of great patterns, crazy colors and bizarre features. It's something I love to play with."

[Bear Lady by ohmycavalier]

ohmycavalier: "Well, it comes from a mixture of a lot of places, but I supposes the strongest is from old children's books illustrations (since they've been around me basically from birth!). But I also look at a lot of antique postcards, and they are chalk full of anthropomorphism. Also though, I've definitely been inspired by the Victorian/surreal collages of Max Ernst."

[Heavens to Etsy by MATTY8080]

MATTY8080: "I would have to say that my biggest inspiration is the endless amount of strange intricacies that animals have...Horns, antlers, hooves, gills, claws, paws, beaks, tails, spots, scales, antennas...All sorts of weird things that I have a fun time thinking of ways to draw."

[Pinkerton Strikebreaker by fenrislorsai]

fenrislorsrai: "I do a lot of anthropomorphic artwork. I enjoy it since most animals have some sort of symbolic meaning or pop culture association. Thus I can use an animal to enhance the theme of a piece, of can go completely counter to the normal association with my choice to surprise people."

[Tiger Print by berkleyillustration]

berkleyillustration: "In high school I took particular interest in a vintage image of a painting on the inside of the Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness liner notes, which depicted a group of rabbits playing baseball. That picture became a great source of inspiration for me in the following years. I fell in love with the idea of animals engaging in human activities, or even wearing their clothing. Soon after, I did a series of my own drawings with animals playing different sports in more modern times."

[Rabbits Unexpected Party by gardenpainter4]

gardenpainter4: "My source of inspiration for anthropomorphic art is truly a love for all things surreal and whimsical. I am fascinated by the fact that I have some control over the birth of a personality. I can take the body or bodies out of a vintage photo, (as in the print above, where the two bodies are from an old photo of my 90 and 93 year old aunts), and fuse that with the head of an animal to create a completely new personality. With a simple tilt of the head or a colorful pointy hat, there now exists something that has the opportunity to make someone happy, to make people question, or simply to make them smile. Animals have such hearty personalities as it is. Using them as a 'topping' for a vintage photo body can really take a collage to unexpected places!"

As you can see, this diversionary foray into art has led me down quite the fantastical journey. Coincidentally, one of the Brooklyn Museum's current exhibitions is called Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity: perhaps I will see you there!

Enjoy all of the anthropomorphism!

Hot Trends: Buffalo Plaid and Lumberjack Chic

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:14:00 -0000

Timberrrr!

Buffalo plaid and lumberjack chic are all over this season. (And not just on bearded lumberjacks or Al Borland style dads.) If you thought that plaid flannels were gone with the era of grunge, you were wrong, dear reader! Bold plaids (mostly in red and black) are all the rage, worn mostly in oversize shapes with fitted pants or leggings, exhibited by celebs below.

The lumberjack trend abounds on Etsy: bold plaids, silver axes and log accessories. It's refreshing to see the new directions independent designers can take with a pattern like plaid: new styles, reincarnated trends! We're all lumberjacks at heart.

revivalhouse ballandchain supayana

replicca Makoo OurLadyoftheUnderpas

What trends are you noticing? What makes your fashion radar go off? What's new and hot for spring? Leave it in the comments!

Birdie Beauties

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:14:00 -0000

Ah, birds are such a breath of fresh air! This collection of blues and birds is the perfect inspiration for your own greeting of Spring. Robin's egg blue, as well as the ever popular bird iconography, promises to be a solid trend for 2008. (That and grizzlies, but that's just my two cents. Trend forecast, right here!)

What's your trend prediction for this year? Leave it in the comments!

Etsy in the Press: Cookie Magazine & Custom Silhouettes

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:29:00 -0000

Cookie Magazine Readers Magnetized by the Unique Beauty of Custom Silhouettes!

Etsy artists nicholasandfelice were featured in the February issue of Cookie Magazine and we are getting many emails from new Etsy shoppers. Welcome to Etsy! We want to point out that every Etsy seller runs their own shop and you need to contact the seller directly, especially for custom orders. Etsy sellers are really friendly and they'll give ya the personal treatment.

nicholasandfelice say:

"If you are curious about the custom silhouette profile seen in February's Cookie Magazine, please contact us for details. Check out our profile to learn more about us and our shop policies."

We recently did a trend piece on these beauties and we are glad to hear that Cookie Magazine is also in hot pursuit of this trend. Shout out to jgoddard18 of the Cookie Nesting blog who has also contributed posts here on the Storque! Congrats again to nicholasandfelice.

Trends: Moss

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:43:00 -0000

You don't need to look on the north side of a tree to find moss - it's alive and well all over Etsy! (I apologize for the hokey-ness of that, but I just love moss.) The greenery has spread across all categories and brings a wonderful spring feeling. Whether it's the sumptuous color or the amazing texture, moss is the perfect complement to the faux bois aesthetic so popular these days.

Think moss!

Hot Trends: Silhouettes

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:48:00 -0000

Trend watch, ho!

We've been noticing a lot of beautiful silhouettes popping up all over Etsy, and thought we'd assemble a few to show you their collective wonder. These shadows are pretty enticing, don't you think? Many of these items are customizeable as well...You can easily get a silhouette of your own noggin (or a loved one's!) for your very own.

Whose silhouette are you lovin'? What trends have you noticed? Leave it in the comments!

Hot Trends: Nu Rave Neon

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:42:00 -0000

Take a look around. See a little more neon than what you're accustomed to? Well, that's because fluorescent colors and candy raver styling is back in a big way. Whether it's flannel (which will be featured in a future Trends column on lumberjack and grunge chic) or neon, people are bringing back the culture of "anti-fashion," but in new and reinvented styles. The music scene associated with all the fluorescent action is known as nu rave, which is a homage to the "traditional" rave scene characterized by fog machines, light shows and pounding electronic music, as well as the other musical genres of disco and new wave.

Neon first came into vogue in the early '90s. Popular items of fluorescent clothing included t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks, shoelaces, hair scrunchies, and fanny packs, worn by both men and women. Whether vintage or handmade, neon is once again in the streets and on the runway, and the fashion-forward know it's time to make it work!

Here we have some popular neon looks and coordinating Etsy items you can incorporate into your wardrobe. Bring the neon back to your town!

CloudbringsRainbow Shoplift 410BC

resetcouture GreedyGoretti Indiscretion

Check out more fashion forward ideas in our Trends series, as well as on Flickr's wardrobe_remix, IamFashion.blogspot.com and Finnish street style powerhouse Hel-Looks.

What trends would you like to see profiled? What's new and forward thinking? Leave it in the comments!

Etsy Mini-Trends: Felt Goatee

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:40:00 -0000

You may have noticed the moustache trend whipping around the internets, bristling and brandishing crumbs defiantly. Well, here's an update, care of Etsy admin Daniellexo: faux goatees.

Beards having been getting a toehold in the media lately, what with world-weary writers on strike, politicians bucking the system after being rejected by the mainstream. Beards have become a symbol of struggle and protest. Fight the power and grow a gruff and manly (yet somehow intellectual and sensitive) beard! Or to show that you're even more of a beirdo, don a felt one. Ladies can, too. The times, they are a changin'.

Going Gray Goatee

"Quite possibly the best use of prop in a listing, ever."

By bornlippy, $14.25.

View item | View Shop | subscribe to Etsy Email Listserve (more about the Listserve here)

Also, shout-out to Lupin and her trailblazing moustaches! See her Featured Seller interview.

Trends: DIY Fashion Accessories with Tricia Royal of wardrobe_remix

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:02:00 -0000

This week's Trends piece features esteemed trendspotter is Tricia Royal of Flickr's highly addictive and inspirational fashion group wardrobe_remix. (We're big fans at the Etsy Labs!) Tricia has a background in art and fashion design and has been a maker of wearable art for two decades. She is a big fan of Etsy, and of thoughtfully designed handmade wares of any description. She is a graduate of Parsons, The New School for Design, with a degree in Fashion Design. Tricia designs clothing, knitwear, accessories and writes about fashion, all on a freelance basis. She lives in (sometimes sunny) San Francisco with her husband and two cats. Her fashion/design/personal blog is BitsandBobbins.com/journal, which includes a recently inaugurated series called "Etsy Love," in which she highlights the work of one amazing Etsy artist/designer each week and a recurring thread about her favorite Etsy shops.

Tricia weighed in with her take on wardrobe_remix, indie fashion trends and DIY accessory trends on Etsy, and we're big fans! Here's Tricia.

I started wardrobe_remix in September of 2005, when I was still a student at Parsons. I have been a long time fan of fashion and street fashion photography, and I've been obsessed with the latter since the 1990s. Said passions inspired the creation of wardrobe_remix, which I define as a "DIY street fashion community." Stylish folks take pictures of themselves in their everyday outfits, and they post said photos in the group and discuss fashion and style in the related forums. In 2.5 years, the group membership has grown to over six thousand members, many of whom are into art, craft, and DIY fashion (either wearing it proudly or making it themselves)!

wardrobe_remix is a deliberately positive community which has from the beginning had one overarching aim: to celebrate the amazing personal style of oneself and others. Handmade, secondhand, and new (of mass or designer origin) clothing and accessories happily meet and mix on the backs of hundreds of creative dressers...and the results are, simply put, inspirational.

Idiosyncratic is the name of the wardrobe_remix game, and I believe that is it's biggest overarching trend. It is what makes the group unique! While currently popular trends of mass-appeal might rear their heads in the group with regularity, each contributing member of the wardrobe_remix community seems to give their personal wardrobe and the pieces which populate it their own special twist, "remix(ing)" what they've got in their own special way.

wardrobe_remix members adore unique wearables that feature special twists. That is, of course, Etsy's strength! It's chocked full of well-designed, one-of-a-kind threads that have a wholeheartedly original edge. It's no surprise that it's a go-to shopping and style destination for many a remix(er)!

I scoured Etsy with vigor for several days, and found a slew of items and sellers that really seem to embody and honor the independent spirit of both Etsy AND wardrobe_remix, while simultaneously reflecting the trends of the season we're currently in the thick of, winter: haute headgear, scarves and cowls, a slew of bold bags to brighten the dark days so many are suffering through.

As far as style, anything from bold and colorful to sleek and sophisticated goes for wardrobe_remix(ers), and I worked hard to represent the diversity of the group with my choices. Enjoy!

[I love you dearly]

[button cap]

elsahats of Astoria in New York City creates hats that combine crochet and unexpected found materials such as vintage buttons, jewels, bits of metal, and random sewing closures.

lindamade hails from Montana and makes uber-textural toppers in deliciously vivid colors that would undoubtedly brighten up any dark winter day.

[Hand Knit Teal Lace Scarf]

yarnovermovement of Hamilton, Ontario, aka Tara-Lynn, is a long-time contributer to wardrobe_remix, and a master of the (knitting) needles. Her soft, woolen hand-knit scarf manages to be classic and modern, with it's all-over lacy yet large feather-and-fan stitch.

[The Appaloosa Cowl]

Cowls seem to be having a moment right now on wardrobe_remix. fringe and KConway make cowls (and scarves) that hit that very style mark, and they soar with sophistication, due to the combination of careful stitching and thoughtful choices in terms of proportion and fabrication (soft colors, sweet little extras like fringes and pins).

[Avery - Cherry Red]

[Bella]

Toronto's chacha2 makes handcrafted bags that many a remix(er) (particularly those with a more minimal personal style) would surely covet: slick, simple, and super versatile. Their geometric shapes and dynamic seaming make them special.

[Patchwork Handbag - Turquoise and Stitched]

I keep seeing new and used patchwork bags popping up in the outfits of many a remix(er), and I drool each time I see one. I'm positive the perfectly modern, outrageously vibrant patchwork totes of raeburnink would delight many in the community who love color share my patchy obsession!

For more info, check out this thread on wardrobe_remix about recent w_r trends and Etsy shops fashionistas are loving.

And as a little bonus, here are some super inspirational remix(ers) to check out:
lebonbonmulticolore
piksi_
persephassa
verhext
sunshine loves you

What's your favorite trend? Are you a wardrobe_remixer? Link us to your Flickr in the comments below!

Hot Trends: Capes and Extra Long Scarves

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:35:00 -0000

Support independent designers and stay on top of the latest trends on Etsy! I constantly find Etsy sellers on the pulse of fashion, and even starting their own trends! Check out these two hot trends and let me know if you find any others on Etsy to include in this column.

Capes

ZEDHEAD Metropolitanfrock emilyfrances

Extra Long Scarves

romanticgem bombshellstudios adventuresofjr

[snazzy celeb photos by InStyle]

Trends: Promoting through the Sampler

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:44:00 -0000

The Sampler is a way for indie artists and crafters to get the word out about their small businesses. We thought this might be an interesting lens through which to look at trends in creative and entrepreneurial promoting. We asked Home of the Sampler's Lynn Kysh and Marie Kare about any trends she's spotted over the holiday push.

Many Etsians subscribe to and submit to the Sampler. Here's what absolutelysmall had to say about it: "Working with the Sampler has been delightful! I've been featured on blogs because of it. It's also been a really great stepping stone for me taking Absolutely Small seriously as a business. (Serious is a relative term, however.) Plus, I love receiving the Sampler in the mail. It's like a grab bag of mystery presents! I'm in it this month again. It's the only place outside of Etsy where you can score one of the new Chickenpants Limited prints."

Read on for Lynn and Marie's picks!

I'm noticing a lot of artists/photographers sending in prints or ACEOS of their art. Here are some Etsians who've submitted and whose work we admire:

absolutelysmall.etsy.com

Check out this amazing photo by curioush.

Marie and I are noticing a lot more letterpress which is interesting. Are they all taking the same class together or have tiny little letter pressing machines in their houses?

joiestudio.etsy.com

lizardpress.etsy.com

And personally, I looooooove these robots! I think they're for way HOT!

ittybittiesforyou.etsy.com

Sampler Town was busy this holiday season! Keep your eyes peeled for the Boston (and the surrounding area) Sampler and brand new Samplers Select.

Give a shout-out in the comments if you've ever submitted to the Sampler!

Oh, ps!
lizardpress had this to say about the Sampler and other ways to promote your biz:

"What is great about the Sampler, is that real live samples go out — the beauty of letterpress is that it takes a bite out of the page, you can feel and touch the letters, this 3-D quality is difficult to appreciate on a screen, no matter how fantastic the photo quality. By printing extra cards to send the Sampler, my cards get in the hands of potential purchasers and if they use them (some of my customers don't — they tell me they are going to frame them and that's ok too!), then the receiver is also seeing my work.

I've done two issues of the Sampler so far, they send samples to their regular subscribers, but a select few also to media people and I love finding my cards pop up on blogs across the net — MAKE magazine and craftypod.com are a couple of the blogs my work got to! Also, Marie from the Sampler contacted me to do a card for their upcoming Winter White Sampler Select, so that is an extra bonus!

For promoting on the ground, letterpress is really big in San Francisco and we are lucky to have the San Francisco Center for the Book (www.sfcb.org) that is a great network of letterpress, bookbinding and paper craftspeople which are great sources of information as well as finding out venues to market letterpress items. The SFCB and other bay area organizations the Pacific Center for the Book and the Bay Area Book Artists put on a few fairs that I've had great success at--customers come looking for cool letterpress stuff!

On the web, bloggers linking to other bloggers have been great to get the word out — sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com ordered my 2007 Book Arts and Printers' Fair poster off of Etsy and had a photo of it on her blogspot and I had a rush of orders for it over the next week. The same is true with my 2008 calendar that was featured in the Storque!"

Ooo! pps.
artbynorm had this to say about using ACEOs:
"It's challenging for a visual artist to promote one's own artwork. Artwork is such a personal thing - it's not something a buyer usually stashes in a drawer or closet and only brings out when the mood moves them. Art is something a person often looks at everyday. Buyers often have to see the artwork many times before they buy it — I guess the feeling is that if you see it 10 times and still love it, it's ok to hang in your livingroom!

That said, the Sampler was a great way for me to spread the word about my artwork. I offered ACEO's so that people would have the chance to put up a little piece of Norm and "test drive" it. ACEO's are the perfect size - they are small enough that you can put it anywhere - you don't need "that special place". Also, since my ACEO's are #'d, they are essentially collectible. I will only print 100 of each painting. When I'm rich and famous one day, they maybe worth big $$ — and hopefully people will hold on to them that long to say 'I knew her when...'"

Etsy Trends: Cookie Magazine's Nursery Art Round-Up

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:39:00 -0000

For little dudes, the day begins, middles and ends in the nursery. A child's vision of the world is shaped by that room and the blankets, mobiles and artwork inside it. So, to an art-obsessed person like me, nursery art is way up there on the list of priorities. Luckily, Etsy has photographs, paintings and drawings that will inspire little minds and paint a lovely picture of the world outside.

Here are some favorites:

Barely Tangible by restlessthings

Animal Equation by liasynthis

Red by restlessthings

Map Collage - Head by selflesh

A Bit of Paris by artquirk

Profile of Moose by esoule

Family Sweet Family by ashleyg

The Blue Teacup Forest by myfolklover

Girls Telling Secrets by holajed

Mister Know It All by adamstoves

Paper Deer by liasynthis

Further Resources:
Cookie Magazine's Nesting Blog
Cookie Magazine's Guide to Nursery Art

Hot Trends: Winged Necklaces and Knit Berets

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:02:00 -0000

You can support independent designers, stay on top of the latest trends and pay less for them on Etsy! I constantly find Etsy artists with their fingers on the pulse of fashion, and even starting their own trends! Check out these two hot trends and let me know if you find any others on Etsy to include in this column.

Winged Necklaces

ERMoriginals, $13 cravejewelrydesign, $30 redheart13, $12

Knit Berets

unraveled, $25 yarnovermovement, $30 Loreto, $30

Trends: Cookie Magazine on Fashion for Mom and Baby

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:00:00 -0000

As a writer for Cookie Magazine's Nesting blog, I officially have baby fever. I spend my days scouting nursery posters, mini chairs, and family homes.

Over the past couple years, I've been amazed all the gorgeous goods cropping up on Etsy. Since the Little-House-on-the-Prairie days, crafting has grown so chic and modern.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to open your baby's closet and see all handmade, handstitched goodness? There's something so lovely about dressing your babes in socks and sweaters made by someone you know is a real live person! Although I'm hopeless at sewing, I'm good at searching through Etsy, and that's all that really matters!

Here are some Etsy clothes for mom and baby. We love them and hope you do, too.

Clothes for a Special Girl

Gray Skies Organic Cotton Knit Dress by HarmonyWear

Black and White Mod Top (or Mini-dress) by hanaandviolet

Clothes for a Wonderful Boy

Blue and Grey Striped Cashmere Sweater with Shell Buttons by oyoyo

Vintage Green Whale Sweater from NikitaJade

Accessories for a Gorgeous Baby

Marimekko Sling by bronwenhandcrafted

Little Monkey Neck Warmin Helmet 3T-5T by glitzconcepts

Treats for a Busy Mom

Slippers by netamir

Red Hat and Scarf Set by NataJane

Further Resources
Cookie Magazine

Cookie Magazine's Nesting Blog

Cookie Magazine's Home Tours

Trends: Scandinavian Simplicity with This is Love Forever

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:02:00 -0000

We are pleased to introduce Kayte Terry of This is Love Forever as this week's esteemed trendspotter. Kayte, also known as loveforever on Etsy, is a stylist/crafter/writer living in Brooklyn, NY. She has contributed her skills to places like Anthropologie, Adorn magazine and Get Crafty.com. In true Libra fashion, Kayte loves over-the-top baroque and simple modern styles equally and finds harmony in mixing patterns, styles and colors that clash. She lives with her husband and their rabbit/muse, Potato.

You can find more of Kayte at her blog, Thisisloveforever.com/blog, where she talks about art, craft, baking, foreign design magazines and anything else that inspires her.

Without further ado, here's Kayte!

Are you captivated by the curve of a simple wooden spoon or a colorful ceramic vessel? Do you dream of filling your home with curved plywood furniture and quirky accessories? Do you prefer your florals without the frills? Well then, you love Scandinavian style.

...Like this modern birch plywood chair by michaelarras!

As my father tells it, it was only a matter of time before Scandinavian style took its hold on me. When he was a young man, my late grandfather, though of Welsh descent, joined the Swedish Glee Club in New York City. He quickly fell in love with Swedish culture and booked a boat passage to Stockholm, where he would return many times in his life. Some of my fondest memories of my grandmother's kitchen are the sets of enamel Catherine Holm bowls my grandfather brought back for her.

In fact, the simplicity and functionality of Scandinavian design was a perfect match for my grandmother's tasteful but utilitarian Yankee sensibility. Kitchen implements and cast iron pots hung from simple wooden hooks and jars filled with twist ties, rubber bands and twine filled the shelves. As an adult, I set up my kitchen in the same way: I keep everything I need for cooking out on display for both function and aesthetic.

Modern Scandinavian design was often characterized by the use of simple materials, the reference to nature (the grain of wood, the curve of a lake) and the belief that design was a means of improving everyday life. Though the golden age of Scandinavian design was from the '30s to the '70s, lately everyone I know seems to be scouring the local thrift store for that perfect Danish Modern credenza or vintage Marimekko fabric. This print by pleasebestill recalls the heyday of Scandinavian design, featuring the work of design heavyweight such as Hans Wegner, Aero Saarinen and Alvar Aalto.

Though the golden age of Scandinavian design was from the '30s to the '70s, lately everyone I know seems to be scouring the local thrift store for that perfect Danish Modern credenza or vintage Marimekko fabric. This fashionable sling by bronwenhandcrafted and striking pillow by Francesrose are both made with Marimekko fabric, which is still being produced with new designs today. If you're lucky, you can find older classic designs as well.

There are always lots of vintage Scandinavian finds on Etsy, too, like this Vernor Panton-esque throw pillow from absoluut or these stackable mugs (sold!) from BowerBirdFound. Today's Scandinavian designers are harder to define (it's not all bent plywood and molded plastic), but the concepts of democratic design and appreciation for the beauty in the everyday are timeless.

It's this idea of design in the every day that really appeals to me. As a crafter and a designer, I try to find inspiration everywhere and appreciate even the most mundane of objects for the work that went into creating them. This love for utilitarian objects has found a fitting home in the modern design and craft world: the blog Happy Mundane has the tagline "There's Beauty in your Dishsoap," and Stephanie and Mav of the photo blog 3191 take gorgeous pictures of little moments in each of their mornings. Heather of skinnylaminx recently posted a photos of her spoon collection on her blog, which spurred dozens of other design bloggers to dig through their utensil drawers and do the same. The spoon collection eventually became a tea towel.

Jennifer Causey of photobird takes pictures of contemplative little still-lives, like a simple morning breakfast or spools of twine.

Japanese craft books, those precious tomes of whimsical styling and fresh faced, freckled models, are nothing short of a homage to Scandinavian style. The Jeu de Paume books take this fascination with Scandinavian style even further: the books Stockholm Kitchens and Stockholm Homes show young and design savvy Swedes in their cool and casual homes. In another example of Japanese and Scandinavian styles colliding, Lotta Jansdotter, a popular textile designer and crafter from Sweden (previously profiled in The Storque!), even has a collection of craft books that were published in Japan. There are loads of Japanese craft books on Etsy, including this fantastic one, called Scandinavian Embroidery Designs.

The designers behind the line somethingshidinghere use humble materials to create quirky yet beautiful accessories like plywood ornaments that are perfect for a modern Scandinavian inspired tree and wood rings that poke fun at gaudy jewels.

You can't talk about Scandinavian design without mentioning textiles. Most fabrics feature organic shapes, naïve flower prints and simple geometric designs, printed on natural materials. At home Collection has a beautiful array of designs on linen, but I really love this clothespin bag because hanging clothes on the line can be such a simple joy. hollabee and glorydaze also have beautiful screen-printed goods, like the fabric pack and linen pouch above.

While it's hard to characterize Scandinavian style as one thing (and who would want to?), I think that many of us are captivated by the ideas behind Scandinavian style. In fact, the principles of Scandinavian design, the love of beautiful, functional items, an appreciation for natural materials and a belief that design belongs to everyone, are very similar to that of the craft movement. That's one trend that I hope never goes out of style.

More Scandinavian Design Resources:

ScandinavianDesign.com
ScandinaviaHouse.org
New Scandinavian Design, available at Powell's
Holly of Decor8 recently spent a fewmonths in Scandinavia. She has great info on emerging Scandinavian style and culture.

Trends: Coming Together at the Table with Modish

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:38:00 -0000

This week's esteemed trendspotter is none other than Jena Coray, the blogger behind renowned indie shopping blog modish and owner of the online boutique modishoppe. Jena recently took the leap into self-employment and is pretty excited to be able to do what she loves full time. This week, she's giving us tips on making a warm and personal statement when you come together with friends and family at the table.

Fall is in full swing, and with the changing of the leaves comes time for roasted hazelnuts, pumpkin bread and more pies than you can shake a stick at. In fact, the only thing better than the scrumptious foods that this season brings are the family and friends to share it with; but before you break out the Tofurky, it's time you dress your table to impress and create an inviting, warm space to share with your guests.

The good news is, gone are the days of stodgy formality when it comes to table settings. Now, you can not only incorporate your personal style into the mix, but also the beautiful colors of the fall season like scarlet red, mustard yellow and deep orange. From table runners to place mats to centerpieces, it's the pretty little touches that can make your food look even yummier and make your guests feel all the more special.

First off, if you have a kinda-icky-but-it-works dining room or kitchen table, you may want to cover it with a table cloth to keep the paint peels from flying off into the food: this pretty yellow wheat table linen by margotbianca and this vintage folk art tablecloth from mycraftycorner are both excellent picks for fall.

If, on the other hand, you have a table that you don't want to hide, you may opt for a table runner and/or place mats, just to add some color and keep your table protected from hot platters and plates. This ride in the rain table runner from supastarr is supa cool, and this Moroccan style table runner by happyexpat is gorgeous and in lovely fall colors.

If place mats are more your style, these fountain grass ones by 12gypsies are modern and perfect for anytime of year, and these lovely napkins by MichelleBrusegaard can complement them with a pretty pop of red.

Speaking of platters of plates, you can (of course!) find those on Etsy, too! You can serve up the main course on this pretty, hand-painted platter by DishfulsofDoodles, and any meal would look all the more scrumdiddlyumptious served on one of these porcelain plates by Keith Phillips.

The best part about prettying up your table though is creating a centerpiece to set the mood and reflect your style. For a simple and classic look, you can fill a pretty vase by kimwestad with flowers in shades of marigold and burnt orange. Or, for something more modern and rustic, stick some willows or thin branches from your own back yard into one of these knitware vases by Alyssa Ettinger.

For some seasonal goodness, fresh fruit, like pomegranates or pears (even felted ones, like these by myfinn) would look so pretty in one of these bowls by Trama.

Or for something more fun, you can let these porcelain good luck birdies by sproutstudio or these hole-y squirrels by melabo run rampant.

Whether your style is bold and bright or simple and classic, let the fall season inspire you and don't be intimidated by the "properness" of dressing your table — it can be as funky and fun as you'd like it to be, and your guests will surely appreciate that you've gone through the effort to make them feel at home.

Further resources:
Modish
CHOW story on centerpieces
Thanksgiving decorating, table setting and centerpiece ideas from Martha Stewart

Have any Thanksgiving or hostessing tips to share? Leave it in the comments!