Search results (tags) for: "zines"

How-Tuesday: Rolling Balls From Magic Books & Paper Toys

2009-11-17T14:14:00-05:00

As a lover of both books and crafts, I have a very difficult time letting my coffee table volumes or National Geographic issues sit on the shelf for long before I'm ripping, cutting, folding, and gluing. Pages sticky with mod podge, my collection of paper transforms into a vault of materials and inspiration. Paper guru Esther K. Smith will be hosting Craft Night at the Etsy Labs next Monday, November 23. As a teaser, she shares her Rolling Balls project from Magic Books & Paper Toys for this week's How-Tuesday. This would make a great project (with or without the kids!) as you get ready to decorate for the holidays.

Purchase Magic Books & Paper Toys

Long before I ever thought of making books, I got a hexaflexagon in the mail from Dikko. Other men send flowers, jewelry, or chocolate, but he wooed me with paper. (It worked — we've been collaborating on art and our family for many years now.)

He had read about them in Martin Gardiner's math column in Scientific American and made one for a grad-school course at the University of Wisconsin. The flexagon was cool. I made them for a while — sent one to my mathematician cousin (he was not impressed) — and then forgot about them. Years later, teaching a class at Cooper Union called Instant Artist's Books, I found that hexaflexagon again and decided to include flexagons in my class. Then I got a photocopy of a page from a Victorian children's book that showed magic wallet construction. Those two forms were so easy and interesting that I built a curriculum around them. I developed my Magic Books & Paper Toys weekend workshop, which started at New York's Center for Book Arts. I've taught it at Long Island University, The San Francisco Center for the Book, and Penland School of Crafts.

When I began teaching design for CUNY, I used flexagons with my CUNY undergrads for design and color-theory problem solving. Since their designs split and reverse, they make an interesting design challenge. They also keep me amused.

I added flip books, strip animations, and spinners with wonderful results. One student rendered a paint can that sprays graffiti, another made a subway car with cut-out windows that show the stations changing.

I've seen flip books of fingernails growing, T-shirts changing designs, and all kinds of winking, blinking spinners. I wish I could see the cool things YOU make!

I've seen these made from holiday cards as ornaments, but they are also interesting books. And it's fun to roll them. You could even put a simple pop-up inside.

You Will Need
Heavy, foldable paper
Compass or round object (glass, bowl) to trace
Pencil
Scissors
Bone folder
Adhesive
Drawing and collage materials to embellish
Velco, magnets (optional)

1. Trace circles onto the paper using a compass, or trace a jar or small bowl. The heavier the paper, the fewer circles.

2. Cut the circles out with scissors or a knife.

3. Fold them in half and burnish.

4. Adhere the folded circles back to back, lining them up with care and burnishing until you have enough to create a full ball shape when you open up the ball.

5. Place Velcro or magnets on the covers so that the ball can stay open.

6. Roll your book to be sure it works.

7. Embellish with drawing, rubber stamps, or collage.

Rolling Faces: You can put whatever appeals to you on the pages of your rolling book. Faces can be fun. One student thought faces of politicians would be nice rolling away. Cut them from magazines or newspapers and collage.

Thanks to Esther K. Smith and the good folks at Potter Craft for sharing this project with us. For more paper inspiration, check out Magic Books & Paper Toys.

More How-Tuesday Posts | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

This Is Not a Blog Post

2009-09-11T12:28:00-05:00

I have always been fanatical about narratives, but I hadn't really contemplated the possibilities of the book as an object until working at Special Collections in college. From 19th century miniatures to hand-printed Yolla Bolly aquatint etchings, books came to be portable sculptures, records, decor, specimens, shrines. As any fellow library-lover knows, the marginalia is often far more engaging than the original text.

In the spirit of reinventing our relationship with these ubiquitous artifacts, this post shares a few pages from Keri Smith's This Is Not a Book. With projects for personal contemplation and public experimentation, Keri's creation is meant to be vandalized with inspiration.

Keri provides some context for this unusual book with these encouraging words:

"As with all of my books, I wanted to create something that was a direct experience (as opposed to a passive one). You cannot sit and do nothing with it or it means nothing. I am interested in what is called an "open work," a work that is created by me but the final output is a result of the reader/user's experience of the world. Every person who comes to This Is Not a Book will have a different response to it. This is what I find beautiful about social mediums, seeing what other people come up with that I would never have thought of. I am also interested in pushing the imagination to a place it's never been before. Adults especially are not encouraged to use the imagination for fear of being thought of as crazy. I aim to change this the world over. The world would be a much better place if we could all dream more and challenge ourselves to be ridiculous."

How do you transform your everyday objects? Share in the comments below, and I'll pick a commenter at random to win a free copy of the book from Penguin Publishing. Or you can pick up a copy for yourself here.

Have you checked out Etsy's Books and Zines category lately?
You can find handmade publishing for style, satire, and poetry.

Breathers no. 0

By justmadbooks, $2.

View Item | View Shop

Flying to the dream tiny book

By behappynow, $15.99.

View Item | View Shop

Poetry Book

By theinkling, $6.

View Item | View Shop

Intricate Dwellings

By thejuzzard, $4.50.

View Item | View Shop

For many, Etsy serves not just as a marketplace of goods, but also as a marketplace of ideas. To find sellers working with each other producing craft-hybrids like the ones below, try searching "collaboration."

SALE Bracelet Etsy Collaboration

By TheBrokenPlate and pinkkiss, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Lifecycle - Collaborative Giclee Print

By JenMcCleary and alisonalison, $40.

View Item | View Shop

moss terrarium No. 152

By madebymavis and mudpuppy, $36.

View Item | View Shop

3 collaborative coloring books

By yaelfran and over 60 Etsy artists, $33.

View Item | View Shop

Objects that take on a life of their own rely on the elusive medium of motion. These Etsy items capture movement in time and space. Inject some flux into your home with handmade mobiles.

BW print - 'Untitled'

By zseike, $25.

View Item | View Shop

Mobile nite frond earrings

By MiniCyn, $39.

View Item | View Shop

Spoon Clock With Pendulum

By MetalMedia, $75.

View Item | View Shop

Orange Mobile - Stained Glass

By TheGlassCrafter, $115.

View Item | View Shop

The creations in the Sculpture category cannot be contained by two dimensions. These eruptions of material make me feel sorry for any bare surface in sight.

The singing lady ceramic sculpture

By peanutbutterandyelly, $15.

View Item | View Shop

The Gift, light sculpture

By illuminarysculpture, $600.

View Item | View Shop

Pencil Dress

By tompkikr, $900.

View Item | View Shop

Explosion - Wood with String Ball

By makalewakan, $380.

View Item | View Shop

How do you transform your everyday objects? Share in the comments below, and I'll pick a commenter at random to get a free copy of the book from Penguin Publishing!

More This Handmade Life Posts | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide | Art Category

Quit Your Day Job: Spiderbite

2009-08-31T16:30:00-05:00

Sarah Jane, the creative mind and savvy businesswoman behind Spiderbite, was just 8 months out of earning her degree from art school and working at the Subway fast food chain when she decided to make selling on Etsy her full-time business venture. She's truly been able to start from the ground up with a fresh idea and feels the flexible hours outweigh the isolation she often experiences in running a one-woman operation. Keep reading to find out why she recommends email lists and branding a business as the best marketing one can do for their shop and why some months she's willing to live on PB&J sandwiches and Ramen noodles.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I went to the Rhode Island School of Design for illustration and while there I took a class on developing products. For our mid-semester assignment we had to develop a product and sell it at the student sale. That’s when I came up with the Nightmare Snatcher journals. At the sale I sold out and thought it was great. So I added the books to my illustration portfolio site and a teacher of mine showed them to his friend who owned a gift shop. Next thing I knew I was wholesaling to several stores. I think I just got a bit lucky and knew some of the right people.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
When I started on Etsy I definitely knew that my goal was not to work at a fast food joint the rest of my life, but I didn’t really anticipate being able to do it so soon. I was really disappointed to graduate from art school and spend my days working at Subway. But I was really only out of college 8 months before I was working for myself. It was the greatest feeling in the world to finally stop working at sandwich shops and shoe stores and be my own boss.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?
For the most part I just jumped into it. Since I was so soon out of college, I didn’t have a family to care for, a mortgage to pay, or too many bills, so it was kind of easy. I picked up a couple of bigger wholesale clients and was selling consistently on Etsy to the point that I didn’t need to work another job. When I figured out that I was making enough to pay my rent, what few bills I had, and my student loans, I decided to go for it.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
The most effective marketing I have done by far is having an email mailing list. It’s a good non-intrusive way of keeping in contact with former customers as well as people who are just interested in your work. You can let them know about new products, sales, and special offers. I often include coupons and first dibs on certain products for those on my mailing list, which is a good incentive to keep people signed up. The key is to never add anyone to your mailing list without his or her permission and to not send out too many emails. I send about one or two a month.

My best marketing tip is to brand your company and your product. Keeping a consistent and cohesive look to all your packaging, logos, and products helps to solidify your image and company in people’s minds. That way every time they see a package, a new product, or your logo, they are immediately reminded of your company and of where to get more great items.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
People always seem to recommend Twitter, Myspace, Flickr and a myriad of other free online venues to advertise your wares, but I’ve personally never found them to be that beneficial. For the amount of work you have to put in to get it to work for you, it seems like it would be more cost effective to pay for advertising. I’d rather pay for ad space and use my time to refine my craft and make more products to sell.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I enjoy the flexibility of the hours the most. I’m pretty much a night owl and being able to start my day around 2-3 p.m. is ideal. I’ve worked night jobs before, but then I ended up missing everything else that my friends and family were doing because I was always working while they were off. Being able to make my own hours, I can work late at night one day and if I decide to go out the next night, I can just get my work done earlier in the day. I miss having co-workers to pal around with and complain about work to. This is probably the reason I’ve spent so much time in the Etsy Forums. I’ve gone whole days without seeing a single person, so it can get lonely working all by yourself.

Walk us through your typical workday.

Typically I get up between 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (I said I was a night owl!) and jump on Etsy. It can be really addictive to check. So I try to limit it to 3 times a day, but I usually end up checking about 6 times a day…
If I have orders, I go through and pick them out and package them up.
Next, I start making monsters. Typically I’ll pick one main job for the day depending on what I’m running out of, whether it's cutting fur, putting together the monster faces, or adding pages to the books.
If it’s a Tuesday or a Friday, I take a trip to the post office to drop off my orders.
Finally, I just work on into the night until it’s time for bed.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
The hardest part is probably cash flow. It’s a Catch-22 when you don’t have a part-time job or a financial backer to fund your business. You need to spend money to make money, but you need to make the money in order to have money to spend. So, it can get a little tight some months. When that happens I usually eat PB&J and Ramen noodles for a month.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
I would have started on Etsy sooner. When I signed up, I didn’t actually open up shop for about 6 months. As soon as I did, I was outselling my personal website ten-fold and had more stores contact me about wholesaling.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
I'd like to finally reach my 1000th sale, which I’m hoping isn’t too far off. I would also like to make some new lower priced items, and some larger sized books for Spiderbite. I would likewise like to get my second shop, WeirdlingWorks, which I run with my dad, filled up and going.

Thanks to Sarah Jane for sharing her story. Have your own questions to ask? Come on by and chat with her Thursday, September 3 at 5 p.m. ET in Etsy's Virtual Labs.

You can see some of Sarah Jane's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

A Notebook for All Seasons (Especially Back to School)

2009-08-03T10:30:00-05:00

We asked our readers to nominate and then vote on their favorite back to school journals and notebooks. Thanks to everyone who voted! I know I'm feeling very motivated to get more of these brainstorms down on paper. So which was the most inspiring notebook of them all?

The community's favorite is (drum roll, please...) dailythreads with her Journal/Sketchbook 19! Congratulations! This journal cover comes with a clever zipper pouch where you can stash your pen or pencil. It's practical and pretty!

The winner, along with some of the top picks, will be featured in the Members' Choice Gift Guide.

Now get ready to hit the books!

If you want to get involved in next week's vote, you can nominate an item (either your own or someone else's) in the comments below. We are on the prowl for Etsy's best art for your walls. Nothing makes a dorm room your own lair — or your home for ten years new again — like a handmade or vintage poster or a one of a kind framed painting!

Voting Posts | Voter FAQ | Back To School Gift Guides

Back to School Showcase: On Sale July 16, 2009 at 12 p.m. ET

2009-07-28T14:47:00-05:00

UPDATE: Bags and Purses and Paper Goods is available for sale as well as the other categories listed below!

Sorry to break it to you, kids, but school really is just around the corner. Think of all the fun things you'll need before you enter those hallowed halls of learning: blank notebooks, new outfits, a sponge-like brain. Mind expansion is key, and for those of you stepping into a college dorm room or sprucing up your home's "study," you need an inspiring space in which to do all your thinking, writing, and creating. The Back to School Showcase will be full of key products: a screenprinted poster, a new mug, push pins and magnets, journals, blankets and rugs, just to name a few. And of course, don't forget the school supplies. There's nothing more satisfying than new school supplies! These items would also make great care package ideas, housewarming gifts, or just give a much-needed revamp to a tired room (or intellect). Look for the Showcase banner on the homepage of Etsy July 20 - August 2.

Info for Sellers
Get your items ready! In order to keep the Showcase on point thematically, the tool will only pull in items placed in the following categories: Art (e.g., top-level tag being "art"), Bags and Purses, Books and Zines, Candles, Ceramics and Pottery, Furniture, Geekery, Housewares, Paper Goods, Plants and Edibles, Quilts and Vintage.

The Back to School Showcase goes on sale Thursday, July 16, 2009 12 p.m. ET.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, July 20, 2009 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, August 2, 2009, 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases coming soon:

Home and Garden Showcase: On sale July 30, 2009; the Showcase will be live from August 3, 2009 to August 9, 2009.
- Think about items that make a house a home and a backyard a refuge, including home decor items like pillows, furniture and artwork, as well as items for the outdoors like windchimes and outdoor sculptures.
Just Jewels Showcase: On sale August 6, 2009; the Showcase will be live from August 10, 2009 to August 16, 2009.
- Think about jewelry and gemstones to add that "something special" to any outfit.

What is this Showcase thing? 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.

Vote! Which Notebook Would You Take Back to School?

2009-07-28T10:30:00-05:00

I'm not attending any classes this fall, but all the back to school buzz has me in the mood for a nice, crisp new journal. On a recent visit to my parents' house, I dug up my middle school diary (complete with an account of my first kiss and the devastating heartbreak shortly thereafter). Yes, my handwriting is just as bad now as it was then. Any journalers in our midst? Post in the comments and tell us what you keep track of in longhand. Make sure to vote for your favorite notebook or journal in this week's poll!

Last week, we asked our readers to nominate their favorite notebooks and journals. Now it's your turn to vote! On Monday we'll announce the winner, which, along with some of the top picks, will be featured in the Members' Choice Gift Guide and here on the Etsy blog. Show your favorite sellers some love and get out the vote!

Voting Posts | Voter FAQ | Back to School Showcase

Etsy Finds Vintage: Reduce, Reuse, Reinvent

2009-07-19T10:00:00-05:00

As a vintage lover and treasure seeker, there's nothing more exhilarating than rescuing a piece of history from certain doom in a landfill. While I love to use and display the many objects that I collect (skulls, doll heads, quilts), there are inevitable leftovers that leave me scratching my head. What should I do with my beautiful-but-torn vintage lace doilies? How can I best reuse the antique drawer from an abandoned vanity? I inherited ten Mason jars, but what should I do with them?!

Today's Vintage Finds are dedicated to the thoughtful and resourceful reinvention of vintage objects. This collection is a virtual treasure trove of potential projects, so put on your thinking cap and get creative! Check out Etsy's How-Tuesday series for more inspiring how-to's and projects.

Vintage Fabric and Crochet

Vintage fabric sends shivers down my spine! I love the colors, textures and designs of old quilts, feed sacks, lace and doilies. There are a wealth of embellishment projects that can be achieved with these materials. theblackapple made a scarf out of vintage doilies, and DIY Life has a great how-to on making a crazy quilt pillow with scraps. Decorating on a budget? Spice up your celebration with a pennant banner made with vintage fabrics, courtesy of Sew 4 Home. Here are some vintage treasures to get you started.

Vintage Cutter Quilt Good Retro Fabrics

From frstyfrolk, $85.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Lace Trimmed Doily

From teremok, $12.

View Item | View Shop

VINTAGE HAND CROCHETED DOILY

From sandisstuff, $21.99.

View Item | View Shop

Eight vintage embroidered towels

From foursquarevintage, $29.

View Item | View Shop

vintage salt sacks

From ThenAndNow, $6.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Embroidered Table Runner

From CinfulOldies, $14.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Drawers and Boxes

Storage receptacles are rife with reinvention possibilities. An old drawer can be reused as a planter, a makeshift bookshelf, or simply break apart the wood for a salvaged wooden frame. (Check out this crafty frame how-to from Bayou Salvage!) Why not use the exteriors of old drawers as clothing hangers? Check out the full how-to on Design*Sponge.

wooden vintage tool box

From bloomingmardee, $120.

View Item | View Shop

galvanized industrial steel crate.

From everyeskimo, $64.

View Item | View Shop

Two Drawer File & Divider Cards

From ethanollie, $50.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Sewing Machine Drawer

From katecreativesalvage, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Weathered Perforated Crate

From 26olivestreet, $38.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage 1936 Wooden Box Crate

From goodbuyannies, $39.50.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Letters, Numbers and Signage

Get creative with vintage letterpress pieces, children's alphabet blocks, and miscellaneous signage to spell out anything your heart desires.

Antique Letterpress - 75 Pieces

From TurnersCollectibles, $215.

View Item | View Shop

Giant Letter M

From tippleandsnack, $36.99.

View Item | View Shop

Metal Letter- V

By extravirginhome, $10.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Wooden Box of Wood Blocks.

From funkeyfinds, $17.

View Item | View Shop

White Vinyl Sticker Letters-200

From gleancreativereuse, $6.

View Item | View Shop

BRASS Letter Y

From sweetshorn, $26.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Jars and Baskets

Vintage housewares are easy to acquire and work with, so if you're a beginning crafter, these projects are for you! Design*Sponge has a snazzy how-to for making a pendant light with an old wire basket, and Craft Zine has easy-to-follow instructions for making a DIY terrarium using a Mason jar. Find all the materials you'll need to start below!

Vintage Ball Mason Jar and Jar Lifter

From LittleYellowDoor, $10.

View Item | View Shop

Antiqued Wire Basket in Soft Pink

From moxiesisters, $20.

View Item | View Shop

lovely vintage green wire metal basket.

By frisee, $22.

View Item | View Shop

Antique Ink Apothecary Bottle

From solsticehome, $12.

View Item | View Shop

vintage AQUA BLUE canning jar

From aimeesarmoire, $19.95.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage egg basket, yellow

From cabinwindows, $32.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Toolboxes and Luggage

Old lunch boxes and tackle boxes make the perfect jewelry boxes, and bright suitcases are a great solution for bedside storage, a deluxe kitty bed or a Tetris-style installation. Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club has compiled a master list of suitcase projects that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

Set of 3 Vintage Mini suitcases - red

From rubyfirecracker, $28.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Tin Rusty Green Lunch Box

From NestaHome, $28.50.

View Item | View Shop

Blue metal tool box/organizer

From kewpiesfarmhouse, $16.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage International Train case / box

From Shabbylull, $24.

View Item | View Shop

American Tourister Round Suitcase

By happydayvintage, $47.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Metal Tool Box

From epoca, $27.50.

View Item | View Shop

Unorthodox Display

Who says artwork needs to be in a frame? These vintage components will take any stray prints to the heights of display genius. Looking for more ideas on how to arrange your art collection? Check out Abbey of How Now Designs' helpful tips on the art of arrangement.

3 CHIPPY GREEN Vintage Flower Frogs

From birdie1, $28.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Folding Ruler - Red, White, and Black

From foundpaperco, $12.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Wooden Pant Hangers (2)

From vintology, $12.

View Item | View Shop

three vintage wooden pant hangers

From ModishVintage, $16.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage porcelain industrial glove mold

From beggarsandchoosers, $25.

View Item | View Shop

Old Expanding Ruler

From tippleandsnack, $11.99.

View Item | View Shop

You Tell Me!

Here's a wide assortment of vintage odds and ends that still have plenty of life in them. Their potential for DIY projects is off the charts! Perhaps the old garden implements could be used as a jewelry rack, the plastic doily as a stencil for screenprinting, or the balusters as the basis for a new chess set... What would you make? Leave it in the comments!

Victorian Period Wood Balusters

From VintageEmbellishment, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Chalkboard

By HausProud, $44.

View Item | View Shop

coal Fireplace cover

From FluffyFlowersVintage, $150.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage PITCHFORK Found Object

From sushipotparts, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Plastic Doily

From ponyparty, $8.

View Item | View Shop

Collection of 1950s Reels with Movies

From shihtzuwest, $170.

View Item | View Shop

What's your favorite project that resulted from vintage components? Leave it in the comments!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Vintage Category | How-Tuesday Projects | Search for Handmade Items with Vintage Components

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

A Comic Con Survival Kit

2009-06-05T16:18:00-05:00

Comics books geeks unite! In honor of the super fun and overwhelmingly inspiring Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MOCCA) Festival this weekend (June 6 and 7, 2009), I've put together your trusty comic con survival kit.

Brush up on your early cartooning history before you go. Find more vintage comic books.

1886 Ephemera. Victorian Era Cartoon, From apfelstrudel, $9.

View Item | View Shop

There's way too much to see, so get amped up on some caffeine the morning of.

BRAINSCAN COFFEE ETHIOPIAN, By brainscan, $7.

View Item | View Shop

You have to have an easily accessible bag for all your swag and new comic books.

Tshirt Tote Bag 'Support Indie Comics, You Dope,' By coreymarie, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Have your favorite cartoonists autograph your t-shirt, each in their own word bubble.

SpeakEasy ) Tee ((Gray)). By QuietDoing, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Comic Book wallet

Prepare your wallet! By yourscruelly, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Find some amazing and wonderfully weird comics.

Thought Nog, Issue 5 - Art Zine. By rthies, $1.

View Item | View Shop

Get inspired and start drawing your own comics.

Hardback Journal/Sketchbook That Boy Johnny. By RagnazIdnar, $18. Find more sketchbooks.

View Item | View Shop

Check out the comics below and on Etsy for some great indie finds. Happy reading!

A Dude's Perspective | Comics, Books & Zines Posts | Geek Chic Gift Guide

Books and Zines Category | Sponsored Items from Etsy Sellers

How-Tuesday: Make a Do-Si-Do Book

2009-05-26T17:00:00-05:00

A do-si-do book, like the square dancing move with your partner, swings between two signatures. These books are like two books in one and are excellent for dual purposes, like drawings and notes, or double themes like opposites or pairs. A do-si-do book makes a meaningful, handmade gift for a recent grad: one side for dreaming and one side for getting a job and paying the bills! Read on for YourSecretAdmiral / julieincharge's tutorial and you’ll be whipping up your own fine books in no time.

Tools

Paper
Scissors
Linen thread
Needle
Bone folder
Awl
Pencil

Step 1: Prepare two signatures and the covers. To make each signature, fold 5-10 sheets of paper in half and trim to size. Choose a sturdy paper or lightweight board to use as the cover. Cut the cover to be the same size as the height of the signatures and as wide as three times the width of one signature. Fold the cover into thirds using a bone folder, so it forms a Z shape.

Step 2: Make a sample signature that is the same height and width as your signatures out of a single sheet of paper. Measure and mark the placement for 3 holes on the sample signature. You’ll use this as a guide for making holes in your signatures and covers. Put one signature into one of the folds of the Z shaped cover. Using a bookbinder’s awl and your sample signature as a guide, punch 3 holes through each signature and cover.

Step 3: Pull the threaded needle through the center of the first signature, leaving a tail of thread a couple inches long inside the signature.

Step 4: Push the needle through the top hole on the spine of your book.

Step 5: Pull the needle through the bottom hole on the inside of your book, skipping over the center hole and thread tail.

Step 6: Pull the needle through the center hole on the outside of the book.

Step 7: When you pull the needle into the center of the book again, make sure that the needle and thread is on one side of the long center stitch and the thread tail is on the other. Remove the needle and trim the threads. Pull each thread taut to even out the tension of the stitching.

Step 8: Tie a simple knot over the long center stitch.

Steps 9-16: Repeat steps 1-8 on the second signature.

Ta-da! Do a little dance and away you go! Fill your book with notes, drawings, and secrets.

More crafty project downloads can be found in our How-Tuesday series on the Etsy blog! And did you know that you can buy Supplies on Etsy?

More Books and Zines Posts | Graduation Gifts for Her | Graduation Gifts for Him

Spinstersummer's Ode to the Queer Animal Kingdom

2009-05-08T16:30:00-05:00

Nicole Georges, a.k.a. Spinstersummer, has been making zines since she was thirteen. Her ongoing autobiographical zine Invincible Summer is about bands, relationships, animals, vegan food and beehived hairdos. Nicole's Etsy shop is full of goodies, from fun zines to stuffed sock monkeys, narwhals and queer animals calendars. The animal lovers pet portraits and illustrations are not to be missed!

Freelance producer/director Cat Tyc was inspired by Etsy's Handmade Portraits series and decided to head out on her own to shoot a portrait of her pal Etsian Nicole Georges. Cat Tyc has produced and directed music videos and the short film, Umbrella. More info about Cat's work can be found on her blog and her website.

More Comic Book Posts | Books and Zines

Browse Etsy for Comic Books

Watch our Handmade Video Portraits series and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

Free Comics Day: May 2, 2009

2009-05-02T11:20:00-05:00

I predict...Comics will rain from the sky today. You know why? It's annual Free Comics Day! Alex Cox of Rocketship, a local comic shop here in Brooklyn, says, "It's pretty much our favorite day of the year, when we can say 'thanks' to everyone in the neighborhood, with big piles of free comics!"

Stop by and support your local comic book shop, shake a cartoonist's hand, or read a comic book for the first time. Get your hands on one of the most innovative art forms around!

Watch a video we made with made with cartoonist Leslie Stein aka larrybear. Full post here.

More Comic Book Posts | Books and Zines

Browse Etsy for Comic Books

Etsy Finds: One for the Memory Books

2009-04-28T12:20:00-05:00

Mother's Day is right around the corner. There aren't many people in this world who still show you unconditional love after being put through temper tantrums, dirty diapers, car sickness in the back seat, late nights worrying and waiting for you to come home, monetary loans, broken bones, hair color experimentation, or a few minor driving mishaps. I can't think of a better way to celebrate this special day than to present Mom with a photo album filled with memories of days gone by. Say thanks to her for always sticking by your side.

White Scroll Photo Album with Spring Green Japanese Silk

By brooklynbookbinder, $95.

View Item | View Shop

Chalkboard Accordion Photo Album

By moonlightbindery, $18.

View Item | View Shop

Journal 26

By dailythreads, $25.

View Item | View Shop

powerline etching book

By grimm, $34.

View Item | View Shop

Folksy Floral Photo Album

By maydaystudio, $65.

View Item | View Shop

Pink Roadster Photo Album

By charliewarlie, $45.

View Item | View Shop

Tangerine Suns 10x10 Photo Album

By watermarkbindery, $47.

View Item | View Shop

polaroid.album

By paintedfishstudio, $6.

View Item | View Shop

Pink Paper Cut Journal

By artkitten, $25.

View Item | View Shop

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | More Photos Albums | Books and Zines Posts | Gift Ideas

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

Etsy Book Club: Walden

2009-04-02T12:21:00-05:00

Friends,

Remember the good ole book club? Well, we're resurrecting it and sending it out into the wilderness! We've teamed up with DailyLit.com, a service that sends books right to your inbox in convenient small installments, and would love you to read Henry David Thoreau's Walden with us! Walden is a staple in the American literary canon, published in 1854, detailing Thoreau’s secluded and self-reliant life for two years, two months, and two days around the shores of Walden Pond.

"I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Walden

So, join us for a great read! You can sign up to receive free installments of this book on DailyLit.com here - make sure you find the advance options, select the "longer" installment length and choose to receive an installment every day. This is about 10 minutes of reading a day!

Feel free to read ahead — but make sure you are finished by May 20th at 7pm EDT. This is the day we'll all gather in the Virtual Labs for a virtual book club meeting. Happy reading!

P.S. Are you on Twitter? Comment on Walden with other Etsy Twitterers! Add the hash tag #EtsyReads to your Tweets!

Books and Zines | Gardening and Horticulture | Slow Food

Trends: Love of Triangles (But Not Love Triangles!)

2009-03-27T15:43:00-05:00

Q: What did the triangle say to the circle?
A: Your life seems so pointless.

Is it just me, or does some strange, magical phenomenon occur when you become infatuated with something? You start seeing it everywhere! Currently, I can't escape triangles. They surround me in the structures of buildings, prints in clothing and often on my dinner plate (I eat lot's of cake, what can I say?).
I never paid much attention in geometry class — I was busy doodling my three-sided polygons into slices of pizza and dancing trees — but who cares about using the Pythagorean theorem when the aesthetic value of a triangle is so much more interesting?

I witness this dynamic shape in both vintage and contemporary design all over the Etsysphere. Check out the geometric goodness!

S/S Faux Leather Triangle Tunic

By mishamarket, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage 80s Geometric pattern Sweater - small/medium - mustard.yellow.black.triangles.

From OldBaltimore, $18.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Holiday Vernis Shoes by Seducta in Noir Lemon Color

From Vigan, $45.

View Item | View Shop

Snowflake Obsidian Triangle Necklace Set

By SaliJoGems, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Avocado and Almonds (Leather Triangle Purse)

By talithaleather, $95.

View Item | View Shop

VINTAGE DOUBLE TRIANGLE 5 STRAND RATTAN

From DecoDons, $3600.

View Item | View Shop

Sailing Girl

By daphnecellophane, $12.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Four piece Triangle Serving Set Avocado Green

From cedarshome, $19.95.

View Item | View Shop

LAST ONE // Bermuda Triangles / by Replicca / size Small

By replicca, $60.

View Item | View Shop

SALE - Metropolis LINED JOURNAL

By lmoss, $16.

View Item | View Shop

My triangular picks overflow into the related items, click away!
Trends Posts | Handmade Triangles | Vintage Triangles

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.)

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

Recycled Bike Tube Belt ONLY

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

View Item | View Shop

Recycled Skateboard Necklace 2in1 Reversible - Large

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

View Item | View Shop

New Square Broken Plate Ring Atomic 50s

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

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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.

View Item | View Shop

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

Quit Your Day Job: spacedogstudios

2009-03-16T14:17:00-05:00

Sarah of spacedogstudios was able to quit her day job as a floral designer in order to make a go at selling her handmade journals full time on Etsy. She's learned the importance of treating working for herself like a serious business with boundaries. She swears by wearing comfortable pants to make it through the day (a girl after my own heart)! Today Sarah shares great tips from her own success — some with a proven track record, and a few that are a little unconventional. You'll just have to keep reading to find out her recipe for a successful shop!

If you'd like to ask Sarah questions of your own or listen in on her advice in real time, we invite you to join us in a follow-up Question and Answer session this Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 2:30pm EDT in the Auditorium room of the Virtual Labs (the VL schedule is magically in your local time).

How did you first get into the business of making things?

I made drawings of endangered animals in high school. I made prints in college. I made things for a few shows here and there... Really just a lot of making things for any reason under the sun, like to get good grades, to have a Lego castle for my Lego horses, or just to, uh, I don't know, make something. I've always been making, but not always business-ing.

So I suppose the real answer to this question is "When I took that job as a floral designer." Suddenly it became my job to make things people wanted to buy. So I had to figure out how to do that, and slowly I started to realize something kind of amazing — I was making things, and people were buying them. Weird, huh? And you know what? I did pretty well at it; it built my confidence and got my brain moving and thinking about other things I could make (besides Art with the capital A), and somehow sell. And magically at this exact time I heard about a site called Etsy that was just starting up. Weird, huh?

When you first started selling on Etsy did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job? How long were you selling before you deciding to take the plunge?

My first Etsy listing was in February of '06 — it's true, I looked it up. And of course I had those dreams. I don't think anybody goes to college for art without having those dreams, no matter how vague, impractical, or undirected. At least I didn't, and even in my other jobs as a framer, file clerk, teacher-of-art to preschoolers, or floral designer I always had that dream there with me: that burning fire/panic that your chance at life is passing you by. You just might not now how to get it out. (I still might not know entirely.) However, I do know that when I listed a pack of cards and a bracelet back then, I had no idea what I was doing, where I was going, what I wanted to be making, how I'd make it, who would buy, what I should charge for it... but I knew I was making a step.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?

I built my business. I tried new products, expanded on the ideas of old ones, and found a place where I could focus on doing what I do (making books) and still distinguish myself. I tried my hand at a few craft fairs last year, and though I'm horribly shy and nervous, I've found it to be a good way to get my work out there, and something I could do to grow my business more. Other than that, I got a vendor's license and sat down with a tax professional. I found an accountant who specializes in micro-businesses and she set me straight with some Excel spreadsheets, good advice, and even did my taxes for me. Also, my husband and I keep a good budget. We know our expenses are covered, and my business is supporting itself. I think it's important to be at that point.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?

The most effective thing I do to promote my store is to make more work and post it. I try to do that every day, which means I might post new items every other day. But usually if I post something, I sell something. The other good tips are weirder, and I don't know if I can prove them. (Actually, this could be horrible advice so proceed with caution!) I like to have 100 items. I could be OCD, but I swear I have my best sales when I'm up around 100 items. Perhaps it's having a larger selection, or just a larger chance that someone will type "your tags" into the search bar. I don't know, but it works. Another thing I do when sales are slow is I go out and buy something from another Etsy seller. I pick up some supplies or splurge on an oh-so-perfect pair of armwarmers. It sounds so counterintuitive to spend money and not make it, but it always works. I wouldn't say that I necessarily believe in Karma, or the idea of the universe rewarding you...but then again, that's what I'm saying, isn't it? Other than that, I would say some helpful things have been to throw some pictures of my process up on flickr (Editorial note: Make sure to read flickr's Terms of Use!), join in a sale with one of the Teams, or to participate in giveaways sponsored by Etsy bloggers.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?

There's a lot of advice out there about social networking on the internet, posting in forums, posting on blogs, having a blog, keeping up a flickr site, having stuff on Myspace or Facebook, and all of that. But all of that requires a fantastic amount of maintenance. I started all of these things in an effort to drum up business, but I only ended up making myself so busy that I didn't have time to make things. (See my number one best promotion above.) Or I ended up just sort of spacing out and mindlessly clicking around from link to link feeling bad that I wasn't sewing up adorable cats, living an exciting life, baking cookies, or building a sweet shoe rack.

Would you walk us through what a typical work day might entail being your own boss?

I get up — getting out of bed is key — and check in with Etsy and my e-mail just to see if anything amazing happened overnight.
Then I throw on some clothes, walk the dog, do yesterday's dishes, swap out laundry, brush my teeth, make coffee and a banana smoothie, take out the trash...and hopefully make it into my studio by 9:30. Okay, so it's usually 10, but I try.
I post new listings first thing. Usually it's whatever I made yesterday; some days I'm lucky and I get to just renew something. I do this first, along with any budget entries, because both of these are my least favorite parts of the "job." I know if I put them off they'll never get done.
After that I get down to making things. I have a range of products I carry so I usually just make whatever product is selling, sold out, or overflowing its bin.
I work on that until noon, and then take the dog out, check my real mail, and come back in and work. And that's pretty much what I do. Work.
I work until like 4 or 5, then I stop, pack up orders and go play DDR. (I feel like this is an embarrassing admission, but I LOVE it! I play on the expert-heavy-extreme mode.)

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?

I really like the company at work, hearing about everyone's life story, watching the dramas unfold, having people to chat with. Because being a floral designer is creative, it was a good challenge for me to work faster, better, harder. It was a good exercise for my "eye," to play with color, texture, balance and all that. There's that instant feedback from customers and co-workers — it's kind of nice to hear that someone likes your work.

What I like most about being my own boss is being free to plan my own days: to hole up in my studio and just follow my own track, lay my own plans, and see what happens. It's great to know that everything you accomplish is yours. And it's even nice to know that everything you can't accomplish is just your own personal limitation. I like not having to having to take a shower until later in the day, and I love wearing comfortable pants. The comfortable pants are definitely one of the best parts.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?

If I could go back in time, I would have started off not taking phone calls during my workday. And I would have treated my workday as a workday from the beginning: 9-5 in the studio, no laundry to grocery shopping, no taking phone calls just to chitchat, or to see if I want to go shopping. It sounds horribly strict, but I wish I'd set up those boundaries earlier because it's hard to break habits. And it's hard to just start ignoring your phone when people know they can call and that you usually answer.

My advice to people thinking about taking the plunge? Take a calculated risk. If you need the income, find ways to work in your spare time — cut down on your hours, wean yourself off of financial dependence on your job. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, at least at first.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

First I want to make more sales than last year. This is the overall goal every year. On a smaller level, I'm planning on attending more craft fairs to grow my business in a personal kind of face-to-face way. At the same time, I'd like to get back to making some artwork. I'm taking a few graphic design classes to brush up on my computer skills. (Okay, who am I kidding? I'm developing some computer skills.) So I'd like to make some digital prints and work on designing the insides of some books. I'd like to move forward on the fine art front a little bit more.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I just want to, again, thank Etsy and the wonderful community here. You guys rock!

Please join Sarah for her follow-up Question and Answer session this Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 2:30pm EST in the Auditorium room of the Virtual Labs (the VL schedule is magically in your local time). See you there!

You can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Etsy Finds: For the Ladies We Love

2009-03-12T10:20:00-05:00

I want to extend a shout-out to all of the moms out there, with a special nod to those across the pond. Mother's Day is approaching quickly in the United Kingdom on March 22nd, so don't forget to snag a meaningful gift to show her how much you care. Need a gift shipped quickly? Check out our Shop Local feature to help find a great option close to home.

Royal Blue and Ruby Mini Leather Journal with Heart

By SusanGreenBooks, $14.50.

View Item | View Shop

Beige Bollero Jacket -LAST ONE

By ileaiye, $150.

View Item | View Shop

Scout dusky blue clutch

By EmmaGordonLondon, $62.

View Item | View Shop

3 Rosebud Pink Flowers

By ffflowers, $17.50.

View Item | View Shop

Stamped sterling silver ring

By LouLouBerry, $25.

View Item | View Shop

Craspedia Trio - Signed Fine Art Photograph

By greenislandstudios, $35.

View Item | View Shop

BUZZ Necklace - Snow

By BeadsBySam, $28.

View Item | View Shop

Love is like a butterfly notecards

By beedesigns, $8.50.

View Item | View Shop

2 New 18 inch Handmade Contemporary Pillow

By MARIESCOSYCUSHIONS, $30.

View Item | View Shop

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Mom Gift Guide | Her Gift Guide | Guest Curators | Etsy International | Gift Ideas

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

Etsy Finds: Flights of Fancy

2009-03-09T10:14:00-05:00

I've got birds on the brain. (As does the rest of Etsy, so it seems!) From clothing to housewares to vintage tchochkes, avian themes are dominating the design scene. I've done my share of birdwatching and have come up with the best in nests, feathers, flocks, owls and other bird-related amusement...

Grey Off Shoulder Dress with applique-Swan-S/M/L

By ZoeChen, $64.

View Item | View Shop

plumes and herringbone

By vella, $60.

View Item | View Shop

Mini Needle Felted Chickadee Couple In Nest

By gotcrowcreations, $20.

View Item | View Shop

I, Too, Once Keenly Felt The Crushing Monotony Of Existence - 12 x 16 ORIGINAL PAINTING

By mincingmockingbird, $195.

View Item | View Shop

Aqua-Feather-Enamel-Earrings

By jewelrybynatsuko, $42.

View Item | View Shop

Only you

By LilyMoon, $18.

View Item | View Shop

Urban Dishware Crow Black Bird Cup Mug

By soule, $10.

View Item | View Shop

Parakeet Cutout LINED JOURNAL

By lmoss, $19.

View Item | View Shop

early bunny bird gets the egg

By therunnybunny, $18.

View Item | View Shop

What's your favorite bird sighting? Leave it in the comments!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Search for "Bird" on Etsy

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

Handmade Weddings: Off-Road Wedding Gift Guide

2009-03-06T16:05:00-05:00

We've all received the wedding registry wishlist from friends. In some ways, I think registries are great: I can see whether my friends need sheets or already have a blender. On the other hand, I work for — and am completely obsessed with — Etsy. If I can buy a handmade or vintage gift, why oh why would I get it at the mall?

In this wedding guide, I go the "off-road" approach to wedding gift shopping. In case you don't think these exact items fit the taste of your newlyweds-to-be, I've posted some handy search results links below. These are some of the classic items you might see on the average registry. Go rogue! Go Etsy!

Dinnerware (First stop, the Handmade Ceramics and Pottery Category, next stop Vintage.)
Tea towels (Check out this post for some truly inspiring tea towel action. There's a tea towel renaissance going on right now!)
Bedding, pillows and linens (There's Vintage too, if your newlyweds are cool with secondhand sheets.)
Picture frames (Handmade and Vintage. Try wall decals too.)
Clocks (Handmade and Vintage)
Cake stands
Teapots (There are some amazing handmade teapots in the Ceramics and Pottery Category.)
Mugs and glasses
Photo Albums (Handmade or Vintage)
Vases (Handmade or Vintage)
Cutting boards
Strainers
Rugs (Handmade or Vintage)
Other kitchen items (Try searching kitchen pots in Vintage!)

If you're getting married and want to get your family and friends into the Etsy gift-giving state of mind, check out Etsian dorana's Ning registry site, MyHandmadeRegistry.com.

Find out how it works. She's adapted the Etsy Favorites Mini to be used as a custom registry. Very cool, dorana! You can also check out these posts for some other custom registry sites.

Handmade Weddings | Vintage Wedding Items | Weddings and Celebrations Gift Guide

Etsy Finds: It's Easy Being Green

2009-03-04T10:30:00-05:00

Over the last few years, “going green” has become a mainstream topic and many have been trying to do their part to clean up our environment. As someone who has made many changes in my own lifestyle to help better the place we call home, I'm excited to put together this list of Etsy items created by people who have taken on the eco-friendly challenge.

So Many Things To Do (Notebook)

This “To Do” notebook is made from paper that is processed using wind power. You might want to consider converting your home's electricity to wind power as the first task on your list. I made the switch about a year ago and the tiny increase in my bill is a small price to pay for the difference it makes environmentally. By katieblairdesigns, $10.

View Item | View Shop

Seaweed with Sea Horse Tote

Have some grocery shopping to do? Don't forget to pack a few canvas tote bags to carry your goodies home from the store. Many stores are now offering special discount incentives to those who bring along their own reusable bags. By willywaw, $30.

View Item | View Shop

raining fish organic t shirt

Dress yourself in eco-friendly fabrics like organic cottons, hemp or bamboo. This t-shirt company also uses nontoxic water-based inks, which prevent harmful chemicals from entering our ground water. By regeneration, $24.

View Item | View Shop

7 Reusable Le Petit Sandwich Bags

Another super simple change that creates a big impact on our environment is cutting back on your use of disposable sandwich bags, plastic wraps and food storage containers. Try packing your lunch in a reusable food sack for a more eco-friendly alternative. By evelynfields, $26.

View Item | View Shop

Blue Wooden Star House Bird Folk

Wooden children's toys are another way to be a bit more Earth conscious. Natural materials are much safer for children, and prevent yet another mass-produced, non-biodegradable plastic product from being created and thrown in our landfills. (Careful, this toy has small parts!) By urastarhouse, $22.

View Item | View Shop

You Pick 3 Dishcloths

Growing up, my parents were always big advocates for creating less waste. I didn't learn that paper towels came on rolls until I moved out on my own. My mom always used cloth washcloths for washing dishes and wiping down counter tops and tables. By raggedyowl, $10.

View Item | View Shop

All-Purpose Cleaner - LaPetiteVie

Another tip! It's wise to use nontoxic cleaners while keeping house. They not only help our environment, but are also great for households with small children. By lapetitevie, $6.

View Item | View Shop

Caffeine Love Tattoo Hand-embroidered Reusable Coffee Sleeve

Do you drink a to-go cup of coffee while on your way to work or school? A simple waste-reducing solution is to replace the cardboard beverage insulation cozy that prevents you from burning your hands with an eco-friendly wool felt alternative. By 60bugs, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage Distressed Green Cottage Chair WITH FREE SHIPPING by Vintage Renewal, On Sale

I've noticed a growing trend of incredible vintage painted and reupholstered furniture here on Etsy. Give an old chair a chance at new life by adding a touch of recycling to your home décor. By vintagerenewal, $384.

View Item | View Shop

A Trip to The Maine Woods Balsam Fir Sachets or Mini Pillows

Solar power is yet another alternative energy resource. This seller's entire home and work studio is powered by solar panels, which soak up the sun and convert it to electricity. By agapeluv, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Vintage striped mugs

One of my favorite earth saving tips is to buy vintage. Etsy is the perfect place to shop for incredible deals on vintage clothing, home décor and crafting supplies. By SidneyAnnDryGoods, $16.

View Item | View Shop

Worm Composting Bag (Beige - less expensive without the pocket)

A fun way to reduce waste while creating your own nutrient rich potting soil is by using a worm bin. Instead of throwing your food in the trash, feed it to your 1000 pet worms that will break down the food, creating the perfect treat for your garden. Vermicompost to the rescue! By nomadneedles, $55.

View Item | View Shop

Have any tips to share? Post them in the comments of this blog post!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Enviromentally Friendly | Earth Tones Series | Guest Curators | More Items Tagged "Eco-Friendly"

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

Guest Curator: Xander from AS220

2009-03-03T16:14:00-05:00

Today's Guest Curator is Xander from AS220, a non-profit, grassroots community arts space located in downtown Providence, RI. Their mission is to provide an uninjured and uncensored forum for local art. This post is part of our continuing Artistic Endeavors series.

Unlike traditional for-profit galleries, AS220 makes no qualitative judgments about a person's art, and nothing is ever rejected (sort of like Etsy!). If you live in the state of Rhode Island and ask, you will get an opportunity to exhibit or perform at AS220, period. If you are a creative person who is not "in the loop enough to know how to ask," we will attempt to find you though one of the many spies in our outreach network, and offer you an opportunity to show your work or to perform.

As an artist, my roots are most definitely in craft. In early childhood, my mother would dress me up in colonial dresses that matched hers to help her sell handmade sachets and wreaths at local craft fairs in suburban Long Island. (*Note to moms, while I survived this experience, I would not generally recommend subjecting children to the practice of making them wear clothes from historical periods, especially if they match yours.)

While not totally traumatized by getting carted around to craft fairs looking like I had stepped out of a diorama at Colonial Williamsburg, I was fairly traumatized by moving to (and for the most part growing up on) Long Island. I loved art, puppet shows and music, but there was a real sense on Long Island that the only important art or culture happened in "The City," and that everything else was second rate. AS220's egalitarian approach to the arts stands in stark opposition to that idea. We believe that all people ought to have the opportunity to share creativity.

I moved to Providence in 1993, and shortly after discovered AS220. Over the years my involvement with AS220 has twisted and turned. I started out going to punk shows, and then began to use the free computer in the gallery, taught a class in the early days of the youth program, and last year became the managing director. This means that currently I spend a lot of time looking at budgets and meeting with accountants. It's not totally my true love, but I'm happy to do it because it gives me the opportunity to be part of the team. My job is to make sure that this valuable community resource is impeccably managed and to envision its future.

Here are some of my Etsy favorites, for your perusal.

DAME DARCY Limited Edition B and W Print Bats hand numbered and SIGNED

Dame Darcy didn't live in Providence for very long; my faulty memory would place it somewhere between a few months and a year, circa 1994. I'm pretty sure that it was in a bin at either Newspeak Books or Fast Forward records that I found a zip-lock bag containing a copy of MeatCake #1, a lock of hair and a napkin with a cross on it. Aside from the beauty and perfection of the drawings, the idea of packaging a comic with a variety of intimate garbage blew my fragile 19-year-old brain. By damedarcy99, $20.

View Item | View Shop

Wynter Rose... A charm necklace in reds

Decadence overload! Why wear one piece of costume jewelry when you can wear twenty pieces at once? Providence was, at one point, the home to the world's largest junk jewelry industry, and while most of the manufacturing has moved overseas, there are still precious storehouses of these gems. It seems like this artist has tapped into them! By bendywho, $178.

View Item | View Shop

Madame Talbot's Victorian Lowbrow Vampire's Garden Mercy Brown Poster

"I met this girl in Exeter, she sleeps days/ She is the dead of night, she'll never die/ they made her bed tight, but she turns inside/ I met this friend in Providence covered in wheat paste/ she said the show's tonight, donation means free" - The Narragansett Night Life by The Holy Childhood (a song about Mercy Brown and the Providence underground)

Even in Rhode Island, knowledge of the lore of Mercy Brown (the Rhode Island vampire) is sadly limited. However, lust beyond death and neck-biting vampires are a bit irresistible. The work of Madame Talbot drew me in at once, and when I started to peruse her pages and found this piece about Mercy Brown, my eyeballs almost popped from my head! (17x22 is a nice sized print, too!) By VictorianLowbrow, $13.95.

View Item | View Shop

Salem Witches

A compositionally strange and elegant print. The colors of Layne's palate drag us into our Puritan past. By naomilayne, $13.

View Item | View Shop

Marlene Dietrich Signed Art Print from Original Sketch - Free Shipping

All of silentsandtalkies' pieces are fan art in its best form (and what a fan of fan art I am!). It was really hard to choose just one piece. I downloaded Marlene Dietrich singing and knew that the world needed more Marlene! The composition of this piece is really stunning, too... so much dark, crisp black. I wish that I had a long, stark, narrow hall to line with every silentsandtalkies piece, where they could all be together. By silentsandtalkies, $10.

View Item | View Shop

Pining Away 1 - 8x8 Print

With 122 items for sale, Christina Lyon should dang well be considered prolific! I absolutely love Pining Away #1. It's sort of Peter Max of the 1960's (before he started to go on QVC!), but also quiet, strange and spooky. By studiolyon, $14.50.

View Item | View Shop

Reconstructing Providence CD

A radio documentary with rad hand printed cover art by Jean Cozzens: journalism meets the quandary of city planning before the bubble burst. I haven't listened to this piece in quite a while, but I'm a sucker for storytelling and the intersection of digital media and handmade tactile packaging. By robinsamer, $12.

View Item | View Shop

Lower Than Dirt issue 1

Pure curiosity takes me here! Glad to see that DIY graf zines still exist. By LowerThanDirt, $5.

View Item | View Shop

Punk Medical Myths

Some people just need to be reminded that when puss is oozing and worms are crawling out of your hand – it's probably time to get beyond the garlic cure-all. Great illustration style! By carolinepaquita, $6.

View Item | View Shop

Devendra Banhart Tour Poster

Show posters are one of my favorite things ever! I am constantly collecting them, making them and looking them up on the internet. This one is for Devendra Banhart and Bunny Brains. While I've never gone to a Devendra Banhart show, I have gone to many Bunny Brains shows, some of which they actually showed up for and others where they actually wore clothes! Maya Hayuk is an artist who's work I've admired for quite a while. (Check out Etsy's Handmade Portrait of Maya!) By mayahayuk, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Make sure to visit AS220 next time you're in Providence. Is there an art organization like this in your town? Post in the comments!

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

Art Category | More Art Related Posts | Artistic Endeavors series

Artwork for Every Room Showcase | Art Gift Guides

Etsy Finds: Journey Down to the Bayou

2009-02-23T10:30:00-05:00

Even though I've never had the opportunity to venture through the streets of New Orleans' French Quarter, I find this cultural city to be a great inspiration in fashion and home décor, with its historical architecture, sounds of jazz, and smells of Creole cooking. New Orleans is on the top of my list of places to visit this spring, but in the meantime, here are some great Etsy Finds inspired by the many sights and activities I hope to experience along my journey.

Fleur De Lis -- Elegant Sterling Silver Ring

This elegant silver ring features a fleur de lis, which is a French symbol that has come to represent the influences of French culture on the city of New Orleans. By gurlygirl, $42.

View Item | View Shop

Live In the Moment

This print by Steve Haskamp perfectly captures the spirit of jazz. By pictorialboom, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Linen Cotton Napkins Black Natural Striped Jazz, set of 4, 720

Enjoying a spicy bowl of gumbo? Then you might need one of these jazzy napkins. By LinenMe, $14.99.

View Item | View Shop

Parlor chair

Turn your entranceway into a gorgeous Victorian-inspired parlor with this reupholstered metal chair. By summerland, $175.

View Item | View Shop

Handmade Park Bench Cushion

Add a touch of New Orleans to a couch or window seat with these incredibly detailed embroidered cushions. By bridgetdavies, $165.

View Item | View Shop

80s Open Back Asian Inspired Sheath Dress S/M

Look your best while dancing to a live jazz band and enjoying a night out on the town. From RedoRedux, $24.

View Item | View Shop

ironwork

Planning a picnic down near the Mississippi river? This French Quarter-inspired backpack is the perfect accessory to carry your lunch. By vella, $56.

View Item | View Shop

613 Saint Philip Street

Sean Finocchio's photographs beautifully capture moments throughout the streets of the French Quarter. By 33stewartavenue, $15.

View Item | View Shop

Summer Strawberry Notebook

This hand bound journal is the perfect place to jot down your thoughts and memories of your travels. By RedOtter, $22.50.

View Item | View Shop

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

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

Etsy Finds: Taking Flight with Venus Zine's Justina Blakeney

2009-02-12T08:00:00-05:00

This week's Shop Live host is author, fashionista and Venus Zine DIY editor Justina Blakeney. Justina started as a crafter at age 7, making heavy-duty scrunchies for her afro. After six years in Italy, she moved to Brooklyn in 2006 to make clothes, write, paint, and fashion all sorts of things out of garbage. In addition to editing Venus Zine’s DIY section, Blakeney is the co-author of 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim and Tie Your T-shirt Into Something Special. Check out some of her "hand-pecked" picks below (bird themed!), but if you want the real deal, don't forget to pop by the Virtual Labs tonight, Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at at 5pm EST.

Photo by: Philip Touitou

Pretty Peacock Alternative Apparel Top

By rainbowswirlz, $25.

View Item | View Shop

FIONA headband

By ErboRetro, $28.

View Item | View Shop

Puff sleeve sweatshirt fleece top

By kaylim, $80.

View Item | View Shop

Little Owl Super Cute Gold Owl Vintage Style Flower Earrings

By alicewearsgold, $15.

View Item | View Shop

All Natural Catnip Bird Cat Toy - Green, white and orange

By ohmyeye, $9.

View Item | View Shop

b i r d sundress-long

By foxlor, $70.

View Item | View Shop

Three vases with birds

By catherinereece, $42.

View Item | View Shop

Snotty Bird Handbag (Olive Green And Yellow)

By littleoddforest, $53.

View Item | View Shop

Translucent Porcelain Egg, Votive Soy Candles

By Revisions, $26.95.

View Item | View Shop

Venus Zine is also offering $5 subscription for Etsy lovers! Just go to venuszine.com/subscribe and enter promo code "Etsy09" at checkout. Offer valid until Feb. 28, 2009. Offer valid for U.S. customers only and limited to one subscription per transaction. Subscription starts with Summer '09 issue.

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

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

Jane Brocket: A Habit of Seeing

2009-01-13T13:45:00-05:00

Between her blog, yarnstorm, and book, the Gentle Art of Domesticity, author Jane Brocket delights in the creative outlets and simple pleasures of the home. Whether it's a basket full of textured yarn or a colorful collection of books, she finds inspiration close at hand and believes you can too...

I used to assume inspiration was the province of artists and poets, architects and designers, scientists and inventors. Inspiration could surely visit only those with a higher purpose in life, with a greater sensitivity than the rest of us, with a more refined awareness than the average mortal.

I was wrong. Inspiration is inspiration, whether the end result is a painted masterpiece, a soul-searching sonnet, a richly colored homemade quilt or a batch of freshly baked scones. We shouldn't diminish our creativity by despising the results of our inspiration, but instead celebrate and exploit the wonderful feeling of elevated energy and enthusiasm we experience when we feel inspired. That quickening of the sense and the heightening of the imagination are, I'm sure, just the same for the Matisses and Wrens and Brownings as they are for the rest of us. It's just that they can do different things with their inspired talents.

Inspiration is the opposite of expiration, a drawing in, as opposed to a letting out. We can walk through life without seeing, without taking in the details, the words, the colors, the pictures, and miss the whole point of inspiration. Or, we can adopt an approach that allows us to stop a while and look and listen and reflect and enjoy. We can learn to sift through the mass of stimuli we encounter every day and to focus on what inspires us as individuals and, in doing so, create a way of seeing, a way of being receptive to inspiration.

For the one thing that sets creative people apart is that they have all acquired the habit of being receptive to inspiration, actively seeking it or even simply recognizing it. Some may have to travel to the ends of the earth to find inspiration; others may find it hiding in libraries, at the tops of mountains, buried under the earth. But the domestic artist is in the glorious position of being able to find inspiration in daily, domestic life.

Writing yarnstorm has made me focus each day on something positive so that I have a subject for my posts. When I started photographing the details of my domestic life, I was quite sure I would run out of material in a matter of weeks. But, instead of exhausting all possibilities, I actually found myself unearthing more and more sources of inspiration, all within the confines of a quite ordinary, domestic life.

The more I realized I was surrounded by inspiration, the more I felt I could do with it. Some days are more passive and ruminative, and I may feel inspired by something as simple as noticing a new flower in the garden or reading a short story, but on other days I am inspired to think up a whole quilt design, take up crochet or imagine a pineapple tea cozy.

Even if I had all the free time in the world, I would not feel compelled to create endlessly. Making things would then become mechanical and mindless, and there would be no room to contemplate inspiration and to work out how to incorporate it into my life as a unique form of self-expression. For the more willing you are to let yourself be inspired, the more you can store away in your creative resources. This way, you can call on them when you do have the time and inclination to turn the personal stash of colors, details, patterns, and textures into something tangible. And it will be all the richer in meaning as a result of this habitual and highly individual accumulation.

Copyright The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket, published by STC Craft/Melanie Falick Books, an imprint of Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2008.

Etsy Cooperative Advertising Program: CRAFT Magazine February 2009 Issue

2008-12-17T15:15:00-05:00

Presenting the next installment of the Cooperative Advertising Program — CRAFT Magazine!

In case you're not familiar with this program, here are the important details:

Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, cover half of the cost, and design the ads.
Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.
The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.

This ad will be in the February 2009 issue of CRAFT magazine.

36 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $50 each.
Spots will go on sale on Monday, December 22, 2008 at 1:00pm (Eastern Time).
Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 3:00pm (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, December 23, 2008.

About CRAFT

Circulation is 50,000
CRAFT is published 4 times annually. Each issue is available for 3 months.
The theme of the February issue will be "Celebrate."

CRAFT will reach creative, free-spirited DIY enthusiasts, tech-savvy makers and crafters, students (of all ages), teachers, the intellectually curious, artistically inclined, and environmentally aware. Today's crafters derive an innate sense of pleasure in finding unexpected ways to repurpose, remake, and reuse materials, art, technology, and devices in their daily lives. Makers and modern crafters are typically:

Very well educated
Intellectually curious
Exceptionally influential
Top-10% household income

FAQ
1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?

By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.

2. How does it work?

Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads. We pay half of the cost. The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage. See the main image here for an example.

3. How do I purchase a spot?

1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
2: Choose "Cooperative Ads - Craft Showcase". There will only be one date to choose from.
3: Hit the "Purchase" button. The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.

*Note: The items that appear in the Showcase section of "Your Etsy" will not affect this purchase. The item photo that you send in via email to adam@etsy.com will be what appears in the ad. There is no online Showcase associated with this purchase!

4. What do I do next?

You'll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:

Your shop name.
The price of the item.
The main category that the item is listed under.
A high-resolution photograph of your item. This means 300 dpi, at 1.25" x 1" (L x H) size.

If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions. If you already have a photo that you like, great! If not, check out some of our photography tips.

We will need your image by 3:00pm (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with CRAFT.

5. How many spots can I reserve?

You can purchase one spot per advertisement.

6. Can I cancel a spot after I've made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?

We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.

7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?

Do some research! We'll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). It may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine. We will be posting our plans in the new year...

See our posts on upcoming Showcase opportunities as well.

My Top 10 Customized Moleskines Notebooks

2008-11-21T16:00:00-05:00

Take a moment and breathe across the paper. Inhale thought, idea, memory. Exhale words, brush strokes, emotion, and color. Reflect your life and the world around you onto the page.

The more saturated we become with technology, the more we seem to crave analog time. You know, a n a l o g t I m e. That little bit of quality scribble-scrawl time that acts as a kind of portable break from our fast paced lives. There is something comforting in knowing that you can reach into your pocket, your bag, or your purse and pull out a spot of safe haven for yourself. We sketch moments, we make lists, we jot down creative brilliance, lay down color with brush or pencil, all the while knowing that we can tuck it back into its little black hole until we release it to the world.

Moleskine notebooks are at the forefront of journaling enthusiasm, their quality and variety being preferred in most cases. And this grassroots enthusiasm has taken root amongst creative types — the community on Etsy being one, flickr another (with a lot of overlap). Here's my Top 10 List — a great stocking stuffer for the writerly or creative person in your life.

1) I'm Friggin' Melting - Holey Moley - Moleskine by heidiburton

Heidi Burton depicts a whimsical Christmas using the cover as a prop. The look on the snowman’s face in the window-cut cover alone is reason enough to open it and see what’s going on.

2) “Skeleton Tree” Moleskine Cahier EXTRA Large Plain Journal by shoofly

I have seen a lot of embellished cahier covers, even done a few of my own, but this white on black rendering is both unique and lovely. Shoofly also has some incredibly beautiful Gocco printed Moleskine cahier covers, like her Sunflowers as well.
Find more gocco moleskines.

3) Moleskine Ruled Journal with Original Illustration by gneural

If you like individually hand-rendered cahier covers, gneural has some high definition, high contrast pieces that really catch the eye.
Find more moleskines with original drawings.

4) Knit Moleskine Cover/Sleeve by artontherun

Winter is coming up, so why not keep your pocket Moleskine cozy and warm in its own sweater?
Find more moleskine cozies.

5) Moleskine cover with pen pocket PDF pattern by AuburnStudios

Perfect for those of us who enjoy using the cahier but may not want to mar the covers.
Find more moleskines with pockets for pens.

6) Ultra Ray Large Moleskine by modofly

John W. Golden’s work adorns this wonderfully retro ray gun Moleskine by Modofly, perfect for any futuristic genre fan, male or female. johnwgolden also has a shop of his own fancifully designed creations on Etsy.
Find more laser etched items on Etsy.

7) Down the Rabbit Hole by TheCuriousNomad

I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t love Alice in Wonderland, and this journal cover is a fantastically fun interpretation.
Find more painted moleskines on Etsy.

8) Screenprinted Pocket size Sketchbook with Barnacle Designs by fiskandfern

Of fiskandfern’s oceanic images, this screenprinted barnacle on a black pocket cahier really stands out.
Find more screenprint moleskines.

9) Sketchbook with Liberty Vintage Wallpaper Cover by drawflowers

drawflowers has a few of these wallpaper covered Moleskines, some even the perfect colors for a wedding planner’s notes.
Find more floral-motif moleskines.

10) Quilted Monogram Moleskine Cahier Notebook by jcasa

Jcasa’s custom quilted initials give Moleskine cahiers a textile makeover.
Find more moleskines with fabric elements.

Whether you like blank or grid pages for sketching, watercolor paper for painting, or ruled for writing, Moleskines come in three main sizes: the near index card-sized Pocket, the half sheet 5.5” x 8.5” Large, and the Extra Large. One of my personal favorites is the grid; it’s great for sketching as well as writing with guides for side margins. You can also take your writing further by picking up one of the Moleskine Storyboard journals.

Moleskine users have a culture of their own and are prolific in displaying glimpses into their wonder-filed worlds. Have a look around through some of the following sites and you are guaranteed to find unique, flavorful inspiration.

Moleskine Hacks on 43 Folders | Moleskine on Flickr Hivemind | Journal Related Posts

Etsy Moleskine Items | More Top 10 Lists

Etsy Finds: Books and Zines

2008-11-18T08:32:00-05:00

It's been perfect book-reading weather in my living room lately. Pete has built us a large and beautifully irregular bookshelf for our apartment, and all the winter quilts have been unearthed from their closets. Since watching Etsy's Handmade Portrait on Leslie Stein last week I've been on a zine and comics hunt. This Etsy Find is a sampling of what I've noticed, with some handmade journals thrown in for good measure—it is the gift-buying season, after all, and a lot of my friends are bookworms or writers, too. Enjoy!

Cafe Royal Issue Zero

One of my favorite Etsy zines! We've been paging through copies of Cafe Royal from a box set that appeared on our office conference table the other day. Each issue is a collection of art from different artists; really unique and weird and delightful. By craigatkinson, $24.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

shapeshifter - small book

Beautiful little hand bound collection of drawings, from the shop that brought us these lovely, sad-eyed Mandragora dolls. By NuitBlanche, $20.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

printed catalogue/ book of illustration

Colorfully bright collection of illustrations by hellocornelia, $8.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Yeah, It Is

Harvey award nominated, 48 page, full color comic made out of construction paper. By larrybear, $6.

Watch our Handmade Portrait on Leslie Stein and meet the girl behind the comic!

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Through The Viewfinder New York City. No 1. (Mini photo zine and stickers.)

Collection of kateblack's photography with matching stickers! I probably sound like an 8-year-old here, but there is something downright thrilling about tiny books and matching stickers. She has more in her shop, as well as a ton of handmade sketchbooks, journals, and other clever stuff. $3.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Journal Vintage Cover

After a hiatus, we noticed one of our old faves TYLERBENDER once again had a shop full of gorgeous hand bound journals, each made with rad recycled covers! Get yours now before everyone else remembers they have gifts to buy. $44.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

birch - a small book of drawings

One last book of tiny drawings for your budding tiny drawing library (that I hope you've begun after reading through this Find.) By justmadbooks, $2.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

primary colors box set

Another favorite around here and ideal gift set for pretty much anyone who can use a pencil. By lmoss, $55.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

A Prisoner's Tale, A Shiny Keyhole Journal

TheBlackSpotBooks makes tiny journals from new paper and old, old, old leather. Watch her Process video here; you will fall in love as fast as we have. $65.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Storque Featured Buyers | Trends | Gift Ideas

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

Handmade Portraits: Leslie Stein

2008-11-14T11:30:00-05:00

YouTube | MP4 | blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(music by Prince Ruperts Drops)

Leslie Stein, aka larrybear, spends most of her time drawing comics, listening to old time radio shows and playing records. Leslie started her first comic series, called simply Leslie, back in high school. It revolved around her wacky adventures with her magical bunny and bird that helped her out in gym class and other misadventures.

After discovering underground comic book artists like Dan Clowes and P eter Bagge when she was an angsty teenager, Leslie decided comic books would be the perfect medium for her to tell her stories. Both of her comics — Eye of the Majestic Creature and her more experimental construction paper comics — are hand drawn and printed at a small printing press. Unlike mainstream super hero comics, her stories are autobiographical and don't have a typical plot. As Leslie says, "If you're looking for thrills and drama, this might not be for you, but if you're interested in seeing the world the way I see it, pick one up."

Leslie decided long ago that rather than work professionally as an illustrator, that she would hold a regular job and save her creative energy for her own work. She dedicates all of her free time to her creative pursuits and she finds inspiration everywhere. From walking down the street in Brooklyn to looking at an empty field, humanity and curiosity light the way to new adventures and new tales to tell.

Leslie won a Xeric Grant to print her work "Yeah, It Is!" and was nominated for Best New Talent in 2004 by the Harvey Awards. Keep you eye on this one!

Watch more Handmade Video Portraits on Etsy's blog!

Books and Zines Category | Book Worms and Writers Gift Guide

Zines Posts | Comics Posts | larrybear's Shop

Top 10 Gifts for Bookworms: Books, Zines & Comics from Sarah Nicholls of the Center for Book Arts

2008-11-10T16:54:00-05:00

In our increasingly digital lives, handmade books remind us to appreciate the tactile beauty of an interesting binding or the unique linework of the artist, or if it's a blank journal, that we have such a thing as handwriting (whether messy or neat)! Books, zines, and comics make great holiday gifts, and so we invited Sarah Nicholls, of the Center for Book Arts, to contribute her Top 10 List.

Do not underestimate the book. Books have been the traditional container for the knowledge and ideas of a culture for centuries. The more the book speeds towards obsolescence, the more options there are for people interested in making them. The Center for Book Arts in New York presents a rotating series of exhibitions of contemporary art related to the book, in the middle of a working hand bindery and letterpress printshop. Running the studio programs here at the Center grounds me in both the history and the future of the book, and lets me work with an amazing range of artists, writers, craftspeople, and performers, all of whom want to make books.

You can find your own cross-section of the wide world of bookmaking at Etsy: one-of-a- kind journals, artist's books, zines, comics, and more. Here are some of my favorites:

1. The Statistical Analysis of Things that Happen but Don't Matter

A reassuring zine by funiscool, $4. Find zines on Etsy.

2. Art Bureau 16

A collaborative zine by artbureau and various artists, it includes signed gocco prints, cartoons, stickers and other goodies, $16. Find comics on Etsy.

3. For Rent, Handmade Boardgame

A collector's item and amazing work of fun, functional art by veronicapress, $600. Find more books inspired by games.

4. Vivisection & Taxes Small Sketchbook with Recycled Ephemera

Notebook or sketchbook with salvaged science cover by kateblack, $36. Find more coptic bound books. Find more journals.

5. Kerbloom Letterpress Zine

Pittsburgh craftsmanship by artnoose, $3. Find more letterpress books.

6. Reader's Diary

For the bookish friends in your life, a way to keep track of what they're reading, by greenchairpress, $10. Find more diaries.

7. Mum's Closet

Limited edition book featuring the author goosedownpress' mum and her 1970s outfits. Perfect as a gift for a stylish sister. $75. Find more autobio books or nonfiction books.

8. Pale Berries Pocket Fairy tale #4

Embroidered one of a kind book, $37. Find more books made with fabric.

9. Mama and Child Handmade Book

Baby album with sustainably harvested wood cover by SleepingForest, $175. Find more items with a secret Belgian binding or albums.

10. Library Book

Handbound, blank sketch book/journal by rookery, $35. Find more books with tabs.

Contemporary bookmakers come in an infinite variety of flavors, and have an almost limitless number of options available to them. Binders create contemporary adaptations of historical book structures; experiment with materials both traditional and non: leather, felt, handmade paper, rubber, wood, etc.; recycle the insides and outsides of books, and create tactile book sculptures. Artists, writers, and zinemakers can reach an audience in a portable accessible format with the book, combine digital design with hand-bound elements, play with time and pace in a comic, and expand their community by starting a press. Books whisper in the ear of a captive audience of one.

Be sure to check out the Center for Book Arts' website. Thank you Sarah!

Watch this video about theblackspotbooks' handbound books.

Etsy Labs is offering a bookbinding class on December 17, 2008. If you're in the New York area and would like to attend, buy your slot here.

Books & Zines Category | More Posts about Books | Bookworms & Writers Gift Guide

Process: New Books with Old Materials by theblackspotbooks

2008-11-07T11:35:00-05:00

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

Margaux Kent, aka theblackspotbooks, has always had a love for old things. Her handmade leatherbound books have the feel of beautiful antique manuscripts, like something out of a Medieval library that was used by a monk once upon a time. Her books tell stories while waiting for the words of new owners. It's a magical thing.

Margaux made her first book after her well loved vintage Italian journal fell apart at the seams. She could then see how the book was held together and from that experience she learned how to bind books. Then came the next part: what to cover the journals with? Being vegetarian, Margaux didn't want to buy new hides, so she started scouring secondhand shops where she lives in Philadelphia for old discarded leather.

Since then she has repurposed all sorts of well worn leather, from antique chairs, saddlebags, gunbelts to old purses. Her hunt for leather with a past life continues, ever searching for forgotten pieces that she can transform into new treasures.

The books she sells are so gorgeous, they challenge their owners to write really amazing words, do drawings, or paste photos!

Process is a new Etsy video series that features the intimate relationship formed between Etsy sellers and the handmade items that
they create and make available to the world through their online shops. Process is not to be confused with a How-To video, as each video isintended to show each seller's unique artistic voice through the process by which their items come to be.

Did you know you can get videos downloaded automatically by subscribing in iTunes! You can also check us out on Youtube, blip.tv and get the MP4 video too. Embed the video on your blog and you might just get a special treat from us.

In the comments, let us know if there's an artist's process you'd like to see in a video!