Search results (title) for: "birthday"

Etsy Finds: Shades of Citrine

2009-11-07T12:40:00-05:00

This month we celebrate the autumnal hues of citrine, November's birthstone. Buying a citrine-inspired item is a thoughtful gift for new babies and November birthdays, or an energizing burst of color for your fall wardrobe.

Check out the Etsy Finds below for all the November birthdays on your list or shop our Shades of Citrine Gift Guide for even more irresistible gift ideas.

Citrine

By masaoms, $95.

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Citrine Gloves

By LoveandKnit, $26.

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Yellow Citrine Shawl Perfect for Winter

By SRdesign, $26.

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Brass bunny and citrine necklace

By TornadoAlliDesigns, $28.

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Polaris-The Stella Collection

By pamelasusan, $99.

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organic baby and toddler quilt bedding

By SewnNatural, $120.

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Homemade Thanksgiving Pie Plate

By claycoyote, $29.

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Lotus flower and citrine -Earrings

By madebysam, $33.50.

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14 karat gold fill and citrine necklace

By awakenjewelry, $120.

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Romantique Scarflette - Honey

By EfiaFair, $50.

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Lemon Lime Muff Scarf

By MegnificentCo, $62.

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Oxidized Citrine Cuff Bracelet

By brightcreations, $29.99.

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rustic posy

By VernonBea, $92.

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CITRINE - Handspun Glitter Yarn

By pancakeandlulu, $26.

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Waffle Cone in Mustard Yellow

By YesJess, $18.

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Yellow citrine rhinestone button ring

By soradesigns, $24.50.

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Sideswept Citrine Ring

By onegarnetgirl, $92.

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Spanish Missy

By shir6ran, $115.

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Knitted beret 158

By aspasia, $31.

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Golden Chandelier Earrings w/ citrine

By ShoogiSpark, $31.

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Sertanejo Country - Madeira Citrine Ring

By MidwestAlchemy, $58.50.

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Butternut Vegan Shoulder Bag

By PansyMaiden, $42.

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Glass Vial containing Brazilian Citrine

By DreamsandJewelry, $85.

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Art Deco Filigree Bracelet

From nouveaumotley, $125.

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Saffron modern wall clock

By uncommon, $32.

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Made to Order - 20oz cup bike

By CircaCeramics, $40.

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throwback pillow in golden mustard linen

By theredstitch, $45.

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Honey Bee Earrings

By fairchilddesigns, $68.

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Drop-O-Honey Earrings-Long

By JillPopowichDesigns, $65.

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UPCYCLED Mustard Yellow Train Case

By GetReadySetGO, $69.95.

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Mod Ornaments - Set of 4 handcut cards

By Crafterall, $20.

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All That Glitters Earrings

By fussjewelry, $96.

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Stacking Button Rings--Set of 3

By OriginalHardware, $85.

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Industrial Wool Felt Messenger Bag

By kazzki, $49.

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Amber Glass Apothecary Jar

From RollingHillsVintage, $18.

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City Nights Citrine

By DominicMcCabe, $610.

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Citrine stone 14k gold ring

By riorita, $295.

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Bamboo Sugar Cane - shave soap

By ParadiseBodyShop, $4.50.

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Feeling celebratory? Say happy birthday to an Etsian with Etsy's Birthdays application!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Shades of Citrine Gift Guide | Trends | Shop by Color | More Birthstone Posts

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Happy Two Year Anniversary, Storque-lings

2009-09-09T17:00:00-05:00

The Storque, Etsy's blog, is turning two-years-old this week. We, the Etsy Admin who fluff the Storque's feathers and keep her flying (Alison, Tara, EricB, our intern MichelleT and myself), celebrated today by munching on a plum torte I baked last night. We're still settling into our new nest; the new Etsy office in DUMBO is still a bit sparse — thus our picnic on the floor of the video editing room. (Yes, it's plum torte, even though it looks like deep-dish pizza in the photo.)

It's crazy to look back and think about all that has happened over the past two years. (Remember the newscasts?) We've published over 5000 posts and have had about 800 people contribute posts. We've honed in on certain series and let others go. But most of all, we want to say thank you to our readers who leave insightful comments or just comments that let us know we delighted you. Thank you to those of you who read our posts and watch our videos and share the links with friends. We now have about 2 million pageviews a month, and that is thanks to you!

There's much in store for the coming year. As we enter our "terrible twos," let us know if you have some advice or words of wisdom in the comments below. What's your favorite Storque post or series? What would you like to see more of or less of?

Find out who else on Etsy has a birthday today.

Guest Curator: Small Magazine

2009-07-15T16:20:00-05:00

Olivia Pintos-Lopez and Christine Visneau began Small Magazine together in 2006. Small is a free online magazine featuring independent children's design with beautifully photographed fashion spreads, book reviews, commissioned artwork and smartly curated selections of clothing, toys and decor. They paired up and started Small as they dreamed of providing a quality publication to give exposure to independent designers and to collect, commission and curate work from their favorite small-scale makers and artists. Also be sure to check out Smaller, their web journal of ideas and inspiration.

Photograph by Steve Visneau, featuring spats by Soil and fairy crown by tamar.

Right from the beginning we have always featured many Etsy designers, artists, illustrators and products, so we spend a lot of time looking through all the amazing work on this site and hand picking items to feature in future issues. Here we have collected some of our favorite, affordable gift ideas for kids from the Etsy shops. Take a look...

vintage little red wagon

This vintage wagon is from minordetails. We love her blog and are totally inspired by her amazing eye. She is the expert in children's spaces. $18.

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Retro Dot Crayon Holder-16 Crayons Included-Great Gift

Perfect for the budding little artist. Kate Williams was obviously inspired by the crayons for which she made this roll — what beautiful and colorful fabrics! By KateWDesigns, $14.

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New Paper Dolls

We commissioned theblackapple to illustrate a fashion editorial in the Winter issue of Small and think her paper dolls are a perfect gift for any little fashionista. $16.

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rag doll, audrey at the beach

We love to follow Audrey and her friends Oliver and Eleanor on their adventures, especially their photo booth antics. What a lucky birthday for any child to receive one of littlebigpants' handmade creations. $55.

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My Paper Plane

Whenever a child gets a gift of art rather than a toy, the parents are always so grateful — less clutter and it keeps forever. This Paper Plane print by belleandboo is timeless and perfect for any boy's room. $46.50.

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Home Sweet Home - printable 3D House Card, Envelope, Gift Tags, Favor

We love the idea of saving a few dollars while planning a birthday party. This printable PDF by GoMakeMe can be used for party invites, party favors and gift tags. Best of all, you can print out as many as you like. This is a great way for your child to help you prepare for the party while doing a fun DIY project together. $6.

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RAINY SUMMER DAYS. german vintage mikado pick up sticks game.

We are not sure what we like better — the actual game of pick-up-sticks or the beautiful packaging and instructions that come with it. myredboots always has the most amazing vintage children's items; you can never go wrong with gifting vintage! $7.50.

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Play Cape in Blue Flowers on White

Since kids naturally use our kitchen towels as capes you might as well give them beautifully handmade ones. girlnumbertwenty will even personalize it! $15.

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Photograph by Steve Visneau, featuring drawer pulls by fisforfrank, legwarmers by Soil, mittens and doll by cozyblue, burp cloths by bellaserababy, beaver plush by FantasticToys, robot scarf by syko, and owl cloth ball by AppleBlossomBaby.

valo

You will know who the birthday girl is in this bold and bright Marimekko print party dress! Classic and modern, mette gets it right with every design. $46.

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DOWNY DUCKLING, a vintage LADYBIRD Book, with full page color illustrations. To collect and display, or for your altered art.

Here at Small, we are constantly inspired by vintage children's book illustrations. Vintage books make excellent gifts and are way better than buying from a big retailer. From storyline, $5.

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Lego My Stego - Organic Cotton - Kid's Medium Navy T-shirt

For the dinosaur loving birthday boy. We love EarthCadets' quirky placement of this Stego! $18.

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Where I Left Off - Felt Birdie Bookmark

This beautiful felt bird bookmark by TheCupcakeGirls will keep your child's library books in perfect shape. No more dog-eared pages! $8.

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mini pennant banner

koosi has made a mini version of the usual fabric banners. Make any kid's room feel like a party every day! $9.

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SNIPPETS Scrapbooking Card Pendant Children DIY Collage Altered Art Kit Making Scrap Stash Fabric Bag

You can always make something out of leftovers! These fabric scrap squares from yoyocottage would be a perfect party activity. A little imagination and some glue sticks can equal hours of fun and beautiful art. $1.

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Photograph by Nick Prendergast, featuring wrap dress by faithworks4u and hair clip by MyBellaBows.

Looking for past Guest Curator posts? Check out our archive.

Children's Gift Guide | Handmade Kids Series | Children's Category

dragonhouseofyuen Gets the Etsy Birthday Wish

2009-06-22T11:00:00-05:00

We asked our readers to nominate their favorite birthday cards in the comments of this post. Out of all the contestants, dragonhouseofyuen with her "Lots and Lots of Grey Hares" card garnered the most attention. Congratulations to you! Make a wish! Your card will be featured in the Gift Guides, along with some of the runners up seen below.

Etsy sellers offer a variety of cards, from children's cards to stylish letterpress cards, from vintage cards to sassy cards with a sense of humor. Check out the selection and see for yourself.

If you want to get involved in next week's round of voting, link us to your nominations in the comments below. We are looking for items that you think make the best use of color. Think most vivid or unusual color or best color combinations. We can't wait to see what you recommend!

Voting Posts | Voter FAQ

See Which Etsy Members Have a Birthday Today

Vote! Make a Wish on Your Favorite Birthday Card

2009-06-16T10:00:00-05:00

Did you know Etsy turns 4 on June 18? In honor of this milestone — and to celebrate the wonderful community here — we're on the hunt for birthday cards this week!

We asked our readers to nominate their favorite birthday cards in the comments of this post. Now it's your turn to vote!

Next Monday we'll announce the winner, which get to be featured in the Gift Guides. Some of the runners up will also be featured in the Gift Guides and here on the Etsy blog. Show your favorite sellers some love and get out the vote!

Voting Posts | Questions? Check out the Voter FAQ

Etsy Finds: Pearls of Wisdom

2009-06-08T12:05:00-05:00

Pearls are the essence of natural and classic chic. Today's Etsy Finds present a variety of wedding ideas inspired by the fair June birthstone. Even if you're not among the currently betrothed, take a peek! You'll find fantastic gift and favor ideas to celebrate June anniversaries, graduations and birthdays, all with impeccable handmade style.

Traditional June Wedding Ideas

Classy Bride

By staroftheeast, $117.

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Tiered White Gown

By amandaarcher, $600.

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Set of 10 Table Number Tents

By PaperEclectiques, $14.

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Ginger Lily Panties

By OnTheInside, $20.

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CLEAN DUDE Gift Set for Men

By TenDigitCreations, $16.50.

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Pearl Eternity Necklace

By beakee, $60.

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Apricot Earrings

By LeeOhioDesigns, $18.

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Del Mar Soy Candle

By sydneyhale, $14.

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Custom Wedding Cake Topper

By RedLightStudio, $50.

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Eliana Luxe Hair Comb

By Lulusplendor, $74.

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French Flourish Pearl Gift Tags

By seasonaldelights, $4.50.

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Your Dream Wedding Necklace

By florabond, $79.

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Contemporary June Wedding Ideas

Daydream Eco Friendly Wedding Dress

By threadhead, $1295.

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Black and White Ebony Ring

By arosha, $75.

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Wire LOVE Cake Topper and Inspiration

By thefunkyshack, $20.

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The Aquamarine Dress

By ArmoursansAnguish, $99.

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Aquamarine Swarovski Crystal Necklace

By bluelovebirds, $30.

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Sparkle Butterfly Popup Card

By crankbunny, $9.

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Panoplies Prop Top

By undertheroot, $35.

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12 Mini Cupcake Goats Milk Soaps

By CrazyKBathandBody, $18.

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High Society Collection - Satin Basket

By YANDEBRIDAL, $42.

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Blue Bird with Scroll - Set of 10

By APunkinCardCompany, $15.

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Personalized Silver Tag Necklace

By tinytokensdesigns, $18.

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Coco Pearl Fancy

By clairelafaye, $74.

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Looking for more Wedding Finds? Try these links:

Weddings Category | Wedding Showcase

Handmade Weddings Series | Weddings and Celebrations Gift Ideas

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Happy Birthday Gemini!

2009-05-15T09:30:00-05:00

Those of us lucky enough to be born under the sign of Gemini (May 20 through June 21) are mercurial, quick-witted, sharped-tongued charmers. (At least according to those Aquarians, Sagittarians, and Libras who love us.) Others might claim that the Twins are lying, two-faced, gossiping Jekyll and Hydes...but they're probably no fun at a party!

Adaptable and loquacious Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury and is known as the communicator of the zodiac. Duality and dichotomy characterize the Twins, and for some of us, balancing our dual nature and desires is a constant struggle. At once sensitive and nervous yet outgoing, chatty and sociable, we are complex creatures! I've spent most of my life wrestling with my twin selves and in the process have learned a few things about what it means to be a Gemini.

An Air sign associated with butterflies, monkeys and other social animals, our flower is the Lily of the Valley and our color is yellow. Gemini represents the arms and appropriately, the nervous system. We skilled multi-taskers are never boring, but can be fickle and lack follow-through (for example, it took me forever to get around to finishing this article—wait, is that a shiny object?!). Geminis are young at heart and blessed with a youthful baby-faced appearance even into our later years...sweet!

Famous Geminis include: Marilyn Monroe, Paul McCartney, Miles Davis, Johnny Depp, JFK, Queen Victoria, Angelina Jolie, Isabella Rossellini, Tupac Shakur, Bob Dylan, Maurice Sendak, Prince, Frank Lloyd Wright, Venus Williams, Walt Whitman, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (Geminis AND twins!), Etsy Admins Anda, Vanessa, Erin, Eric B, Michelle, quiiver, yours truly, and ETSY! (Born June 18th.)

Happy birthday to my Gemini twins!

Search for Gemini Items | Search for Zodiac Items | Search for Astrology Items

Did you know Emeralds are May's Birthstone?

Want to find out whose birthday it is today?

How-Tuesday: Ahoy There! Pop-Up Pirate Card

2009-04-28T16:08:00-05:00

Shiver me timbers! This card hails a pirate's "Hearty ahoy!" to a friend, captain, or best mate. With its pop-up frigate and jolly sailin' birdies, it's sure to evince a mirthful demeanor from the scurvy lad or merry lass who receives it. Download the complete project instructions here, or follow along below, courtesy of Handmade Hellos by Eunice Moyle and Sabrina Moyle.

You'll Need:
Glue stick
2 pieces of lined notebook or filler paper (trimmed to 9 x 6 1/4")
Card stock (trimmed to 9 x 6 1/4")
Ruler
Bone folder
Scissors
Two 8 1/2 x 11" sheets of tracing paper
Pencil, 2B or softer
Ballpoint pen
Brown card stock or construction paper (trimmed to 9 x 6 1/4")
Black pen
Two 4 x 4" scraps of red text-weight paper

Template:

How-To:

Line the card stock.
Using your glue stick, apply glue to the wrong side of your first sheet of lined notebook paper. Center your card stock on the lined paper, and smooth to adhere. Repeat with your second sheet of lined paper and the other side of your card stock. With a ruler and bone folder, score and fold the card in half, parallel to the short side of your card.

Make the waves.
Cut the wave shapes into a long side of one of the blue paper strips, either cutting freehand or using the template provided. If you'll be using the template, trace and transfer the wave to your blue paper and then trim it with scissors. Apply glue to the wrong side of the wave and adhere it to the front of your card, aligning the sides and bottom. Repeat with the second blue paper strip, pasting it to the back side of your card. Let it dry.

Make the boat.
Trace and transfer the boat template to your brown card stock. Cut out the boat, using a pair of scissors. With your black pen, draw a wood-grain effect all over the front of the boat. Draw an almond-shaped or circular center forming the knot, then draw contour lines 1/4" along the sides of the knot, echoing its shape and tapering to straight lines and either end, repeat the contour lines to form a striped wood grain pattern, adding additional knots as desired. Fold the boat in half, and then fold along the lines to create flaps, being sure both flaps fold away from you.

Draw a pirate sail.
Trace and transfer the Sail template (a pirate sail is also known as a Jolly Roger) to the upper half of your card. Color it in using black pen.

Paste the boat in place.
With the boat facing right side up, apply glue to its flaps. Fold back and paste these flaps in place (just below the sail), pressing down on them to adhere.

Add a couple of pirate-y birds.
Trace and transfer the Bird template to your red paper, twice. Cut out two bird shapes. Apply glue to the wrong side of each bird and paste them in place on the card. Using a black pen, add features such as an eye patch and a pirate's hat.

Add your greeting.
Fold your card, and write a pirate-y greeting on the front, such as Ahoy there!

Variations:
Avast, me hearties! Pirate lore and lingo are a fun starting point for a whole host of occasions. You may even consider giving this card to a friend on International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th)!
Best mate. Add the greeting You're my best mate! to let someone know you appreciate their friendship. Consider adding a cheery Aarrr! or Aye, me hearty! to the back of the card.
Pirate Party. Use this card as an invitation to a pirate-themed party, or make it for the host if you are invited to one.
Anchors away! Give a merry send-off to a friend or colleague who is embarking on a new adventure. Smooth sailin' an' fair winds t'ye!

Thanks to Kate Sutton, Eunice Moyle, Sabrina Moyle, and the folks at Chronicle Books for sharing this project with us.

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 Pirate Paper Goods available on Etsy | Items for your Pirate Costume

Celebrate Orange: Koninginnedag, Dutch Queen's Day, April 30

2009-04-28T15:00:00-05:00

Queen's Day is coming up on April 30th, and we want to show our Dutch friends all the orange that Etsy has to offer! LeChatCrochet tells us about this national holiday.

It’s party time in Holland! On April 30 my country celebrates the birthday of our Queen, Beatrix, though it’s not her actual birthday, but her mother’s (Juliana). On her own birthday, January 31, it’s simply not the season for the traditional outdoor festivities, so when she ascended the throne in 1980, she decided not to change the date that the country had celebrated since 1948.

On the left, Queen Beatrix, by karolien taverniers from flickr. On the right, "Chaos" in the streets, by Photochiel on flickr.

See, the tradition goes back to Juliana’s mother Wilhelmina, who decreed that her birthday should be celebrated with games and other outdoor activities for children. Then over the years it changed to a holiday for all with games, concerts, fairs, etc, in every town and village all over the country. One new thing that Beatrix installed is that she and members of her family visit one or two towns each year and even take part in a game if they can.

Woman selling her secondhand items, by Miek37 from flickr.

Yet the biggest attraction for most people is the "free-market." It's called "free" because street vending restrictions are lifted for one day and all citizens are allowed to sell anything they want outdoors, as long as it’s not perishable food or alcohol. Traditionally the selling concentrates in the centers of the big cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and Rotterdam.

Of course there are also professional traders, but the character of the market is still determined by ordinary people like you and me who sell secondhand wares on the curb. Some sell simply in front of their homes, some come from out of town, and some have even specially collected and set aside goods for the occasion. The markets attract enormous crowds and are like a sort of giant yard sale. Yard sales American style are unknown in Holland; we do it once a year and bring our stuff to the street. Thrift shoppers have a field day, but even people who usually would never visit a Goodwill store enjoy browsing through the goods.

Child busking, by quantz on flickr.

But a lot of people find more creative ways to make some money. Children often make their first "busking" appearance. Personally, I first sold some of my handmade items on the market as a try out, and it was my first face-to-face experience with buyers! Home baked cakes and pies (many using special Queen’s Day recipes) can be found in every street. Some organize and invent their own little fair with games for the public to play, and that usually means getting creative with triplex and cardboard to make the set-up. The most original set up attracts the most players.

Dutch flag, by Jackie Kever from flickr.

But of course a day like this also calls for decorations and party dress. Apart from the flags and decorations in the old-fashioned national colours of red, white and blue, the country turns orange. In fact, since about the mid-seventies orange is our official national colour when it comes to celebrating and sporting events. This came about after a spontaneous action from the public — probably — to distinguish ourselves from the many other counties that have blue, white, and red as their national colours. Now the teams even play in orange outfits. The colour comes from the orange knob and pennant on our flag pole. And that of course comes from the name of our royal family: The House of Orange.

Revelers, by Birgitta Seegers on flickr.

Apart from the orange garlands and balloons you will see everywhere, most people will dress up in at least something orange. It varies from complete orange outfits with painted faces, crazy hats and wigs to just a scarf or a ribbon. And for the real creativista of course this day too is a perfect occasion to choose something handmade in orange!

Shop Local The Netherlands | Orange Vintage Items

Orange Handmade Clothing & Accessories | More Etsy International Posts

Handmade Kids: Tonight We're Gonna Party like We're Under the Age of 9

2009-02-19T16:30:00-05:00

Amanda Gersh aka Crabmommy is an Etsy buyer and writes a humorous motherhood blog for Cookie magazine with a monthly Etsy feature. She divides her time between motherhood and complaining about it.

As a mother who regularly suffers from extreme laziness, the prospect of throwing a swell kiddie birthday party can be daunting. I did once hurl myself with insane devotion at homemade Hello Kitty cupcakes for my preschooler (check them, yo! I'm still so proud of these), but never again. I've since discovered that kids rarely care about their parties as much as Mom does. So, if you're not maniacally craftastic, and don't adore hand-making every paper hat and candied violet on the cake, take a load off: there's always a fabulous Etsian out there to make your job easier for you.

Indeed, from vintage to handmade, Etsy sellers amaze me with the wealth of festive delights available to the mom who wants to throw a unique kiddie fiesta — without losing her mind, or bankrupting herself.

12 letterpress gift or favor tags or for tea party or animal birthday theme or baby shower

Birthday gift tags are nifty to have around both for when your tyke attends parties and for when you host them, when you can use them to pretty up those goodie bags. I adore these scallop-edged bunny-and-cupcake tags from sweetbeets. Aren't they dear? Frankly everything sweetbeets makes is astonishingly gorgeous. Check her other birthday gift tags with marbles and balloons in letterpress — exquisite! By sweetbeets, $7.

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ice cream birthday party hats

What's a kiddie bash without a party hat, eh? I love these paper ice cream cone ones from SweetTreeStudio. This seller also makes dino-mite dino invites, so those of you with Brontosaurus-inclined youngsters, take note! By SweetTreeStudio, $18.

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Hanging Pom Kit

If you're having a girly bash, it's hard to resist these hanging paper poms from ekohdesign. 4 medium and 3 large poms should pretty up your party room nicely! You could also dangle them off tree branches outside for a magical touch. Fancy! By ekohdesign, $29.

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Party Set with Matching Invitations, Cups,Table Cover and Tissue Centerpiece

Here's another major vintage decor-score. This dear little vintage girl is holding a basket of kittens, and the lot includes 10 8oz cups, 10 invites, 1 extra large table cover and 1 tissue centerpiece. That's your whole party right there. Done. From daisytoad, $12.

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Birthday Party Invitations- Set of 10 with matching address labels- Birthday Celebration Set

So you could hit Mandees for some generic birthday invites or go to sellers like Babycakesart, who offers sweet customized invites with boy and girl silhouettes. Each pack of 10 comes with address stickers too. How cute is that? By babycakesart, $16.

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Small Bird Cake Stand

Since we need to let them eat cake, let's talk about it. My advice: don't slave, use a box cake (Dr. Oetker's all the way for me) and make the icing if you must make something, because it's all in the presentation. And what better way to present than upon one of whitneysmith's heavenly cake stands? I'm usually rather cheap when it comes to kid supplies, but this is totally worth ponying up for, since it is absurdly beautiful, handmade, and its uses will be many. By whitneysmith, $78.

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Yellow Gold Square Cake Stand

I'm equally crazy about thebeeknees' cake stands. Who cares what's on top when it looks this good below, eh? By thebeeknees, $25.

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45 Green Swirl Cupcake Liners

Now if it's cupcakes you're after, the British chick Nigella has the best recipe and it is so easy it's almost absurd. Shove them in eye-popping swirled liners and you're a domestic goddess! By LayerCakeShop, $5.50.

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60 Mini Tulip Cups-Vintage Inspired

Fairy party, anyone? These mini-tulip cupcake liners are beyond delectable. Try finding these in a store. Ha! By HeyYoYo, $3.25.

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Cupcake toppers

You can't top Etsy's cake/cupcake toppers either. To think this crabby mommy practically murdered herself making a piggy's head out of marshmallows, icing, and wafers...Never again, people! I mean, look at these 12 exquisite fondant animal heads from Linda2003. She knows what she's doing. How lovely that she shares it with us! By Linda2003, $15.

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Set of 6 Blue Ballerina Cupcake Toppers

As for non-edible toppers, vintage Etsy is a treasure trove! If your girl is ballerina mad, how about these from sweetpoppy? From sweetpoppy, $4.

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Send in the Clowns..Bright Vintage Birthday Cake Decorations

And not every kid is scared of clowns, you know. Especially when they're this adorably tiny and have birthday candles coming out of their heads! It's so enviro-friendly to source these little guys and reuse next year, when your kid has forgotten all about last year's party. By pinkgrapefruitstyle, $5.95.

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6 Magical Mushroom Kaleidoscopes

Aren't these tiny mushroom kaleidoscopes just perfection? Use as prizes, goodie bag treasures, or table setting decor. Score! By bakeitpretty, $2.50.

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Kitschy Kid Plastic Ball Game x 3

I'm also mad for these retro-charming games (choose your own theme). I like looking at 'em and I like them conceptually too: by snapping these up, you're giving new life to old junk that already exists in this world, rather than buying brand-new junk. Excellent! By shop66, $2.50.

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It's been swell guesting up here. Please swing by my the crabmommy blog for more chitchat about babes, tots, momhood, and so forth. Also, as always I am glad to convo with anyone wanting to share under $20 babe/mom gear for me to peruse. I like to showcase Etsy finds to my readers at Cookie magazine and am always grateful to vendors for sharing with me!

Happy partying. Last tip: Don't forget to serve mint juleps to the kids. Mellows them out beautifully. (Kidding! I'm just kidding! Seriously, some people need to be told.)

For more sass, check out Amanda's other posts on our blog.

Children's Gift Guide | Handmade Kids Posts | Children's Category

Top 10 Birthday Wishes for Darwin!

2009-02-12T15:00:00-05:00

Some of us are fans of biology, others are just amazed by his gloriously bushy eyebrows. (Apparently he once ate an owl?) Happy 200th birthday, Charles Darwin. You've got monkeys on my mind!

1. living toy series note card - LITTLE MONKEY GIRL and CHARLES DARWIN

By teriko, $2.50.

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2. Frozen in Flight - TtV

By dsbrennan, $30.

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3. Fish Flower -- Art Print

By LeLapinTriste, $18.

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4. Charles

By hisss, $14.

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5. Crane Flies (Tipula)

By dsbrennan, $30.

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6. Darwin Coral Tusk Necklace

By urbanheir, $90.

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7. White Bronze Fossil

By AchAchLiebling, $45.

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8. Monkeying Around - evolution glass set

By BigHelmetHead, $8.25.

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9. Evolution of Humans Darwin illustration on Denim Blue T-SHIRT SIZES - S,M,L,XL

By isotope, $14.

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10. idiot brain pendant - hangs on 18 inch chain

By bethtastic, $15.

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Geekery Items | View More Science Related Posts | Top 10 Lists

Etsy Love Stories: HannahMade and Mcaplan

2009-02-12T13:46:00-05:00

We don't want the Season of Love to ever end, and we're searching the community for Etsy love stories. The fourth story we're sharing with you this year (and it's so sweet!) chronicles the friendship of HannahMade and mcaplan.

Mcaplan: I am really excited to get the opportunity to gush about my collaborations with the great Hannahmade! Hannah is one of my dearest friends and we frequently team up to do shows together. We also spend a lot of time working in the same space (we currently share a studio in my house!). Even though our genres are totally different (I am art, she is jewelry) we seem to be able to find inspiration from watching each other work. This can be a very solitary occupation, and having another creative person around to bounce ideas off of has really been invaluable.

Last year Hannah made me a very special birthday pendant that showcased one of my favorite collages of Eucalyptus leaves. The moment I got over how incredibly thoughtful and gorgeous it was, and the fact that she had sculpted it with her own hands, I knew that she was onto something.

It didn't take Hannah long to start planning which pieces she wanted to frame next, and I loved seeing which stones she would incorporate into the tassel in the adjustable chain in the back. Whenever I wear any of the pieces I get tons of questions and requests. Several of my clients who have had personal portraits commissioned have ordered pendants with their pieces in the frame. It is really cool to see that others are enjoying the fruits of our collaborations.

It isn't often that one finds their "soul sister," but I have been lucky enough to have been teamed up with one of the most creative and talented women out there! She is SO gifted and her work is absolutely impeccable. Hannah thrives on working with others and finding a muse for her pieces. I am honored that she wanted to team up and make each piece her muse. She really has outdone herself with each one!

HannahMade: It all started with a birthday, Michelle's 31st, to be exact. I had been sculpting frames out of PMC for a few months at this point, and knew Michelle's artwork would be the perfect fit. It was her piece "Eucalyptus" from Collage Lab that inspired the first collaboration AND birthday present! Once she saw it, we both knew there was an undeniable partnership that needed to happen. I basically harassed her to choose piece after piece for me to set in my frames that we would ultimately sell on Etsy and at various shows we did together. It was a serendipitous way for people to wear Michelle's art! Each frame is sculpted in the proportions of the art work and sealed with a UV resin gel. I also accent each necklace with semiprecious stones that compliment the colors featured in the correlating piece.

We've graduated to custom orders — people who commission Michelle with their own photographs are now requesting framed versions of these pieces with their orders. It's a real honor to make Michelle's work into another tangible form — one that can be seen when walking down the street, ultimately creating other ways people's memories can be captured and shared.

Check out more Etsy Love Stories here!

Season of Love Posts | Season of Love Gift Guides

Happy Birthday, Storque!

2008-09-02T12:11:00-05:00

Wow! Can you believe that it's already been a whole year since we welcomed Etsians to The Storque blog?

We've come a long way in the past year: celebrating the aesthetic, talent and lifestyle behind the handmade movement in both video and stories, cultivating an ethical dialogue on going green, producing how-tos for running your own business and being an indiepreneur, keeping track of our amazing Etsy Teams, crafty tutorials from the Etsy Labs, as well as reporting Etsy news ... the list goes on! We also want to extend a sincere thank you to all the authors and guest contributors who have shared their special stories with us in the past year.

In honor of our anniversary, this week we will be reposting some of the articles we feel represent the very best of The Storque, including many old favorites that you may not have seen. Prepare to get re-acquainted with The Storque — the best is yet to come!

Happy Birthday, Storque! And thanks for reading!

Check out some of our all-time favorite articles, which we're tagging "Best Of The Storque" this week in honor of the Storque's first birthday!

Handmade Kids: Birthday Parties

2008-08-02T23:06:00-05:00

If you are throwing a birthday party, make it eco-friendly and spark the creative artist in all of your guests — it's simple and fun! Creating an eco-friendly party will also give you the opportunity to teach your child about caring for the planet, too. Everyone wins: you get to help the environment and your pocketbook.

Invitations:
If you don't have time, there are lots of Etsy sellers that have great kids invitiations, like createdbykaren, BeMyGuestInvitations, and kkbabyboutique. People will appreciate the personal touch of a handcrafted invitation or thank you note. I certainly would!

This princess crown invitation is so precious; it has ribbons on either side to turn it into an actual crown.

Party Favors:
Party favors or goodie bags can be a hideous waste, often times loaded with plastic mass produced junk that will likely end up in the landfill. Why not give really thoughtful gifts that will last beyond the party? But, really, how is a busy working mom going to pull this off?

For the little guys, try the all-in-one handmade jumbo crayons that come in their own re-usable bags, sold by ButterflyBrain.

They are perfect for the kids' chubby little fingers.

Make small cloth bags, fused plastic bags (see the Etsy how-to) or buy other reusable bags from an Etsy seller. Kristysbagz and OleBagLady both have great cloth bags for boys and girls. Let the birthday boy or birthday girl get on Etsy and pick the fabric with you. You might want to monogram or screenprint the bag with each guests’ initials, or if you don't have time, find an Etsy seller to do it for you.

Bag by OleBagLady.

Fill your handmade goodie bag with a traditional game or one of these handmade items:

Race Car by WoodChesters.

Handmade wooden blocks, cars or trucks sold by sellers like McCoyToys, SantaWoodShop, and JimboToys.

Pirate Cookies by ASugarAffair.

Homemade cookies by sellers like mandalarain, whimsyandspice, or ASugarAffair.

Mini Coloring Book by lizphiz.

Coloring books by EyePopArt, DesignedByNatureShop, or lizphiz.

Wildflower Seed Card sold by TheBumbleBeeStudio.

Or how about a packet of seeds to take home and plant? Some Etsy sellers that sell seeds include, TheBumbleBeeStudio, Hippychic59, and greenthing.

Decorations:
Banners: Creating your own designs and themes is a fun way to spend quality time with your upcoming birthday boy or girl. First, let's look at birthday party banners. We love this banner by crafymommy who makes custom order banners so you can add your childs name and pick the colors. A beautiful handmade way to welcome your little guests.

Table: Instead of a tablecloth, find an old sheet and buy some non-toxic markers. When the kids arrive, get them to decorate the cloth with drawings or birthday messages to your child. It’s something you can use again for special occasions throughout the year.

If that doesn't work for you, check out chalkynoodles' oil cloth tablecloths that can be used over and over again. She has lots of patterned fabrics to choose from. Try using cloth napkins. They don’t have to match, and the odd ones can look more colorful and fun.

Pinatas: This is a favorite in our household and it never fails to be a crowd pleaser with the kids. Etsy has lots of sellers who make pinatas; Birchangel is just one who custom makes beautiful pinatas that can be used as decorations as well.

Activities:
I’ve hosted 16 birthday parties for my 3 kids! Only for the last one did I delve into the world of crafting. I set the theme of butterflies based on the only craft activity I could competently participate in — coffee filter butterflies.

Artwork by Caroline (daughter of Megsestoril)

We used coffee filters for the wings, connected by wooden clothes pins and pipe cleaners for the antennae. The children painted the wings and decorated them however they wanted. I’m still cleaning up the glitter five months later, but in the end we had a kitchen full of beautiful butterflies and one very happy birthday girl.

Registry:
Encourage your guests to buy handmade. Create a registry or wish list of eco-friendly gifts that your child would appreciate such as wood toys, handmade dolls, lunch boxes, klean kanteen bottles, etc.

Personalized Lunch Box by MommaOh.

For more eco-posts, check out our Earth Tones series. If you have any other ideas for crafty, eco-friendly birthday parties please add your ideas in the comments below!

Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

Old School Etsians: AlisonRose

2008-06-18T13:30:00-05:00

Alison and Nicolaus aka AlisonRose are Old School Etsians — one of the first shops on Etsy that is still active. They joined on June 19, 2005. We checked in to see how they're doing in honor of Etsy's 3rd Birthday.

Please introduce yourself and talk a bit about what you make.
'Alison Rose' is made up of myself, Alison, and my boyfriend, Nicholas. We are a small Columbus-based company specializing in the design and creation of both one-of-a-kind and screen-printed handbags and T-shirts. 'Alison Rose' was born from the combination of both of our interests: fashion design and printmaking.

Hearken back to the old days of Etsy...Any fond memories?
We first heard of Etsy at Renegade Craft Fair in New York through Leah Kramer of Craftster.org fame. It's been really exciting to see how much it's grown since then!

How has what you create changed over the past few years, if at all?
I consider what we were making in the beginning very similar to what we do now, handmade and hand-screened. We used to print the t-shirts in our living room and now we have an entire basement studio. The process has just evolved.

Do you see yourself on Etsy for the long haul?
I think we'll always be a part of Etsy.

What have you learned about selling?
It's important to have confidence in your work.

What do you want for the future of Etsy?
A customer gallery might be a great way to make the customers a bigger part of the site. I think Etsy has evolved so much that I can't wait to see what it becomes in the future!

Are you an Old School Etsian? Leave your memories of the early days in the comments!

Old School Etsians: mmmfiber

2008-06-18T11:00:00-05:00

Etsians are what make our world go 'round over here at the Etsy Labs offices. The site has now been up for 3 years and we want to give a shout-out to some of our first sellers. mmmfiber is member number 113 (and the actual 1st Etsian is 96 since Rob, Chris, and Haim — Etsy's original founders — are numbers 93,94,95 and 1-92 were test data). She creates deliciously cozy woolen items.

Please introduce yourself and talk a bit about what you make.
My name is Adrienne Shaffer, I live in beautiful Portland, OR and my company is Mmm…Fiber!
I make knit, crocheted and needle felted accessories such as scarves, scarflettes, brooches, hairpins, shawls and more. I love fun fibers and bright colors, which I think definitely comes through when you visit my shop.

Hearken back to the old days of Etsy...Any fond memories?
I joined Etsy the day after it opened. I had begun selling scarflettes in an eBay store a few months before with some success, but felt as though my hard work was getting lost in the sea of inexpensive, mass-produced goods that are the staple there. Not having the capital to build my own website, finding Etsy, for me, was the perfect fit. Being one of the first sellers was fun. All of us were learning and growing together, trying to find our place in the crazy handmade world. I remember obsessively watching the “top sellers” and “top items” lists and was a little sad to see them go, but I think in the long run it was a good thing for me not to worry so much about rankings and just focus on my work. I do really hope that Pounce (or some other app) can feature a purely random items generator, as the “random” page is one of the things I miss the most about Version 1.

How has what you create changed over the past few years, if at all?
I started out selling only basic crocheted scarflettes and they are still one of my top items, but have since branched out with many new scarf and scarflette designs, wraps, shawls and capelets, and also discovered a love for needle felting.

Do you have an anecdote that crystallizes how you feel about the Community on Etsy?
Not really an anecdote, but just a general observation about how really wonderful and amazing the Etsy community, and the general crafting community, has been. I’m a bit of a shy lass, and was very nervous about selling my creations and competing with other more established crafters. What I found was a warm and accepting extended family, best exemplified in our PDX Street Team. Our Etsy shops brought us together, but we have since forged a very strong bond of support, respect and the desire to help each other succeed. It’s incredible.

Do you see yourself on Etsy for the long haul?
Etsy is still the perfect venue for someone like me. I have a full time job and not a lot of time to build, maintain and drive traffic to my own separate site. Etsy’s format has worked well for me and I do see myself sticking around for quite a while.

What have you learned about selling?
I’m not much for market research, trend watching and the like. I tend to make what I enjoy making and hope that others will like it as well. I think if you are confident in your work and believe in what you are doing, that will shine through and is something that buyers of handmade really look for.

Good customer service is the key. Take care of your customers with friendly communication, quality work, reliable shipping and good follow-up and they will keep coming back to you.

It is incredibly important to focus on the business and marketing side of the equation, which I know is hard for some people. Do one little thing to market your shop every day, even if it is something as simple as wearing one of your items to the grocery store or post office.

What do you want for the future of Etsy?
When I opened my shop, I had no idea that Etsy would grow like it has! It’s been an incredible ride. The growing pains have been many, but so have the great leaps forward. I think the Admin team has risen to the challenge and are doing an awesome job taming the wild beast! I’m always amazed at the new things the engineers and others come up with, so I leave the vision and innovation in your capable hands. Everything I could ask for in the way of improvements has happened or is in the works, so, thanks!!

Read our other Old School Etsian pieces.
See who else on Etsy has a Birthday today!

Etsy Find: Happy Birthday, Etsy!

2008-06-18T10:09:00-05:00

Today, June 18, 2008, marks Etsy's third birthday! What better way to celebrate our little milestone than this totally awesome birthday card by FranticMeerkat, featuring a ridiculous 19th century illustration of a giant ball with stars and a tiger wearing a brightly colored party hat? There are tons of handmade birthday greetings, decorations, party dresses, streamers, birthday candles and anything else you could need for one great birthday bash on Etsy, but this one takes the cake.

Happy Birthday, Etsy, and many more!

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

See which other Etsians have birthdays today with the Birthdays site feature.

Old School Etsians: ChristineRenee

2008-06-17T12:10:00-05:00

Etsy turns 3 years old on June 18, 2008. We decided it was the perfect time to contact some of our "Elder Etsians" and pay them a little tribute. ChristineRenee of Chicago, Illinois joined Etsy on June 18, 2005, and clocks in as the fifth person to join Etsy. And as you can see if you click through and see her shop's url, her user id is number 100. Rob, Chris, and Haim — Etsy's original founders — are numbers 93,94,95 (1-92 were test data). It's your moment to shine, ChristineRenee!

Please introduce yourself and talk a bit about what you make.
My name is ChristineRenee and I make a hodge podge of stuff — mostly with recycled materials. But I am best known for my Zombie Escape Plan Journals, which were inspired by a crazy, late-night thread in the Etc. forum. (See, hanging out in the forums does pay off sometimes.) I also make buttons, magnets, pocket mirrors, patches... and whatever else pops into my head.

Hearken back to the old days of Etsy...Any fond memories?
I remember signing up for Etsy on a whim, thinking it was just something fun to do that wasn't going to cost me anything (there weren't any fees back then!) and being surprised a few days later when someone actually bought one of my button sets. I was hooked!

It is amazing to think of how much Etsy has changed since then. I remember when there were only a few hundred items in each category and looking at each and every one of them in one evening was possible. (I dare anyone to try that now!)

How has what you create changed over the past few years, if at all?
When I started out on Etsy I was just making buttons. I had one 1-inch button machine and that was it. Now I have a whole arsenal of crafty machinery to make buttons, magnets and pocket mirrors in three different sizes and spiral-bound notebooks.

I've also started doing more gocco printing lately. I had my Print Gocco long before Etsy was born and hadn't used it in years. But all the great gocco art here inspired me to get back into it again. And I recently opened a second shop — ChristineRenee2 — for my original collage art.

I love that I can come up with an idea and test it out on Etsy to see if people like it before investing a lot of time into it. (I get A LOT of ideas, and believe me, they aren't all good!)

Do you have an anecdote that crystallizes how you think about the Community on Etsy?
Last year I had the opportunity to meet a lot of fellow Etsians at Renegade Chicago. And I realized that after admiring their work here and getting to know them in the forums I had built them up in my mind to be mini celebrities. So meeting them and putting faces with names was a major thrill. I was way more excited about meeting Stellaloella in person than I would have been to meet someone like Johnny Depp or Oprah.

Do you see yourself on Etsy for the long haul?
Definitely! I can't imagine my life without Etsy. I even left my job in October 2006 thanks to Etsy. (My shop here isn't my sole means of support, but it was a major factor in my decision.)

Who knows what life will bring, but I see myself always having a shop here, even if it's just as a hobby.

Anyway, I HAVE to stick with it, because the longer I'm here, the cooler it is to say that I've been here since day one.

What have you learned about selling?
I have learned that repeat customers are golden and keeping them happy is priority number one. If you can do that, then you will build a steady customer base that will keep growing as they tell their friends about you.

But it won't happen overnight.

What do you want for the future of Etsy?
I simply want Etsy to continue to grow and be successful without losing its soul.

momentofstars was the very first Etsian. You can read her Old School Etsian piece here.
See who else on Etsy has a Birthday today!

Etsy Finds: Birthdays and Candles

2008-06-17T10:33:00-05:00

Birthday season is upon us here at Etsy.* If you know a lot of summer babies like me, you're going to need good little gifts for co-workers, friends, and even yourself. Since candles (along with bath stuff) seem to be the ultimate gift for women — from those you don't know that well to your BFF, may I suggest the humble tea light?

My problem with candles in the past is that I've been "afraid" to use them — like I'm wasting them. The beauty of tea lights is that if your gift recipient happens to be similarly afflicted and receives a huge pile of tea lights along with her holder, she'll feel a sense of abundance that frees her to let 'em burn!

I've recently discovered soy candles, which burn much longer than whatever the other kind are made out of, don't smoke, and even the unscented ones have a nice, warm, natural smell. Go ahead and get a pack of, like, 100 so there's plenty for you and your gift recipients. I've noticed that some candle makers are offering clear plastic holders, which I think is lovely!

*Etsy's 3 year anniversary is on June 18, 2007.

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Old School Etsians: momentofstars

2008-06-16T13:00:00-05:00

Etsy turns 3 years old on June 18, 2008. We decided it was the perfect time to contact some of our "Elder Etsians" and pay them a little tribute. momentofstars was the first official Etsian. She joined Etsy on June 18, 2005, and as you can see if you click through and see her shop's url, her user id is number 96. Rob, Chris, and Haim — Etsy's original founders — are numbers 93,94,95 (1-92 were test data). It's your moment to shine, momentofstars!

Please introduce yourself and talk a bit about what you make.
Hi, I'm Fawne DeRosia aka momentofstars and I'm an artist, wife, and mommy living in a small town in central Georgia. I spend most of my time taking care of my family and working at the local arts council. In my spare time I paint, draw, make linocuts and zines and just try to keep busy creatively. I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. I'm always buying supplies for new things I want to learn, so I have unfinished projects stashed all over the place. I've tried needle felting, sewing, jewelry making, crochet, and knitting.

Hearken back to the old days of Etsy...Any fond memories?
I remember first hearing about Etsy! I remember attending the first ICE event in Atlanta and loving every second of it. Etsy was on the give-away bag and I just had to know all about it. The next day I logged on and created my store. I made my first sale just days later.

[My studio's located in an almost finished guestroom in our basement. I've set up a small desk so my five year old can work beside me. Her name is Mazzy and she says she wants to be an artist when she grows up. ]

How has what you create changed over the past few years, if at all?
I started out painting cute critters onto little wood plaques, then I moved on to little collages and oil paintings and now I'm working on making a lot of linocut prints. I think I'm much more confident in my style and ability and I hope it shows.

Do you see yourself on Etsy for the long haul?
Definitely. Now that my daughter is in school, I'm working on making my Etsy shop better. Before I kept it casual and updated the products at random times. Nowadays I'm trying to update at least once a week and keeping track of my projects on my blog so customers can see what I'm working on at that time.

What have you learned about selling?
It's the little things that are important, like packaging and including a little thank you note with your sold items. People really appreciate that! Also, selling is a bit of a rollercoaster: sales can be up up up one week then down the next.

What do you want for the future of Etsy?
Just keep on keeping on! I love seeing new features on Etsy and I especially love seeing new hearts for my shop (hint hint)!

See who else on Etsy has a Birthday today!

News from the Etsy Labs: 6/16 Craft Night

2008-06-11T12:59:00-05:00

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own project to work on independently. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week's craft night falls just two days before Etsy's third birthday. In honor of our big day, we will be making birthday cards and recycled envelopes during our Monday, June 16 craft night. We will demonstrate a sampling of tips and tricks on folding your own envelopes, Gocco printing, and collage techniques. Come craft with us and make cards for all the upcoming summer birthdays in your life. Or, get started on that birthday card line for your Etsy shop!

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to craft along with us, you'll need a few supplies: paper, scissors, thread, pens, glue, and any other embellishments you would like to use.

Would you like to lead a craft night project? Send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night idea" as the subject line.

Have you participated in Craft Night? Share your photos with the Etsy Labs Show and Tell Flickr group!

See you Monday!

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Keep an eye on the Storque Events calendar for future updates from the Etsy Labs.

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Etsy Finds: My Birthday Wish List

2008-05-21T09:01:00-05:00

Yesterday all the birthday presents (*cough* May26) I bought for myself came in the mail at once.

The bag I featured last week by moop, the feathered hairclip from FeatherWitch (see below), the bracelet by etcetrix I selfishly did not tell anyone about because I was afraid someone else would buy it first, the dresses by courtneycourtney I bought for the bun (because a well-dressed child is another gift I like to give myself).....and now I absolutely have birthday fever. Friends, I am just hungry. My eyes are gleaming with a shopper's lust and I am forwarding all my favorites to my friends and family. Here's what I'm forcing my loved ones to buy me this week:

funky texture cushion

As a pillow addict, I am always looking to add to my rotating gallery of sofa artwork. I think I saw this pillow (made from a recycled woven curtain) in the Treasury last week, and have been coveting it ever since. By jenhalldesigns, $35.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Mushroom folk (fly agaric toadstood) print

Botanical illustration-style print from my current Etsy art favorite. By Champignons, $20.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Free Bird

My coworker Michelle discovered FeatherWitch practically a year ago, but I've only just recently decided to hang feathers from my hair and ears and clothing — just in time for it to be totally inconvenient when carrying a four-month old around. But I'm willing to pry feathers from gooey little hands, for the sake of spring fashion. $30.

I just got my hairclip from FeatherWitch in the mail yesterday and it is a-mazing. Highly recommended!!

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Original Folk Art watercolor painting

This original watercolor comes already framed! By EmmyCat, $90.

This piece was suggested to me by heatherknitz and set me off on a hunt for more Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired finds, so look for more of that soon.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Gourd and Pine Needle Luminary/ Incense Holder

Something I never thought of before I found it (with the help of a suggestion from fairyfelts), beautiful gourd-meets-pine-needle vessels. By fallentreebaskets, $35.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Grow with Me Vintage Pillowcase Dress (Peacocks and Flowers) 18m-6yr

I learned to make this style of dress for my daughter, and then reality set in and I realized I probably would not have any extra time until she's 20. So...now I have my eye on a few made from vintage embroidered pillowcases by sewfinebabyboutique, $25.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

POD necklace - light blue and yellow

Beads and knots and bright colors. By moxiedesigns, $28.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

4 oz Sugar Scrub with Organic Sugar - You Choose Scent

You could use another good homemade sugar scrub. Trust me, you could. And RightAsRainCreations mixes them up in about one billion different scents, so you probably can find your favorite here. $6.50 (Yes, really).

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Juliet- Cotton Dress Made to Order

As soon as I can successfully make it to the gym for three weeks straight without excuses, this dress is mine. By abibansaldesign, $96.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

See who else has a birthday today!

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Etsy Gossip #5

2008-05-02T18:38:00-05:00

In pleasant news...More Birthdays! Happy bday to Jared yesterday. Happy Birthday, Adam, Julie and Rob White today!

Etsy HQ has a new pet: a huge octopus named Otis has unexpectedly taken over the Storque. This may sound ominous, but he's really quite cuddly.

Deelind, his former mama.

An undisclosed female Etsy admin was mistaken for a nun on the subway platform this morning.

We found out that Bre is a cyborg.

Honestly, this doesn't come as much of a surprise, considering his deep communicado with the internets.

Rob has been wearing plaid pants all week. All the guitar playing in Nashville has gone to his head... where the music trasformed into four bold colors, aligned to cross-cross each other in a perpendicular pattern, and then expressed theyselves on his trousers.

And finally, Vanessa is has another mysterius illness, and she fears she may be slowly going insane. (Thus this post.) However, her spirits were lifted by a surprise bridal shower/crafting night where we made cute pins and gocco thank you cards. (Thanks, friends!)

Happy Birthday, Jared!

2008-05-01T23:18:00-05:00

We didn't forget! We love you Jared! Happy May Day Birthday to our artful, elegant, warm, nature-loving, desert-dwelling, peaceful, Etsy Flash Guru! Jared, you are truly Albuquerque's most beautiful gem and we wish we saw more of you in Brooklyn!

Below are some Etsians who share Jared's Bday. I found these through the Birthday browser. (You can find it on the Buy page!)

Etsy Gossip #4

2008-04-14T19:51:00-05:00

325 Gold Street has been scandalized by some inappropriate action (as in "action") on the rooftop. It's not anyone from Etsy, even though the landlord thinks it is, because we are a clean-cut bunch and that's a fact.

Waffles made a return to the scene and then ran for the hills when outnumbered by Bre's pancakes.

Rumor has it that Yana Gorbulsky aka Supayana has promised to flash her skivvies at the Etsy Labs on April 19.

Sinohe, Etsy's new accountant and Bronx native, is a RED SOX FAN!!!

In other news, Rob got the shock of his 28 year old life! We gave him a very unique, handmade surprise: somethin' special in a box as well as your entire set of co-workers wearing masks of your face. 'Ello Creepy Happy Birthday.

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Don't forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel! See who has a Birthday today!

Etsy Finds: Happy Birthday, Jack Kerouac

2008-03-12T11:44:00-05:00

March 12, 1922 - Jack Kerouac’s birthday. My mom tried hard to be Jack, or at least like Jack: hitching to the 500, smoking in black, devoting weeks to Stan Getz. This cool box by hadmatter captures some On the Road spirit for me: rail yards, maps and possibility.

Happy Birthday, Jack. You certainly impacted my life!

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Happy Birthday, But Once Every Four Years!

2008-02-29T01:49:00-05:00

Happy Birthday, leap year babies!

If you want to see which Etsians are celebrating a birthday today, check out this Etsy feature.

Happy February 29th to everyone!

Happy Birthday Etsy Labs!

2008-02-01T17:56:00-05:00

Today, the Etsy Labs turns 1 year old!!!!

In one year we have grown from a vision into a reality and feel so lucky to be able to help sellers make a living making things. Each of us that help make the Labs a reality came straight from "Etsy sellerland." We hope to continue to give back everything we learned by sharing advice for becoming a successful seller, and to also be a voice and advocate for seller needs and ideas! It has been a long road balancing a physical and virtual workspace, and we could have never done it without all of your help and participation throughout the past year.

Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to come to the Labs to say hello or for a class, event, or workshop. An even bigger thank you to those of you that have stopped in and continue to participate in our online Virtual Labs workshops. We hope to see much more of you and are planning big things for the Virtual Labs in the coming year.

If you have any questions about Etsy Labs or are just curious and want to learn more, please swallow up this FAQ's about the Labs article!

xoxo,

Mary, Julie, Christine, Anda, Pete, Danielle, and Michelle

Etsy Pets: Puti

2007-10-04T07:06:00-05:00

We love Kirstenlovesdinner maybe even more than she loves her dinner! She and Puti, her adorable Etsy enthusiast dog, must be some of the biggest fans our Etsy Labs merch has seen this side of the moon! We are continually laughing and awwwwwwing over Puti who is making appearances all over our feedback appreciation photos.

These two look like they are joined at the hip...and we sure do love each new photo we get of this notorious Etsy partners in crime! Woof!

Rumor has it today is Kirstenlovesdinner's Birthday, so go wish her some birthday lovin!

Here's how you do a "customer appreciation photo": when you're leaving feedback on your transaction, you can browse for a jpg. So take a photo of your new item in action!

Happy Birthday Etsians!

2007-09-07T18:09:00-05:00

From this day forward, we want to help you celebrate one of the most important days of the year... your birthday! So we created a Happy Birthday Etsians page – out of warm and fuzzy thoughts – just for you. Feel free to help us celebrate an Etsian's birthday today by visiting their shop.

Interestingly, after graphing the birthdays for all registered Estians, we discovered that the most number of people share a birthday on February 14th, Valentine's Day (you can see the spike in the graph above). No wonder there's so much love at Etsy!

We can all thank a new member of our Visualization team, Drew Trujillo for this wonderful new application. Affectionately known as Dr. Woohoo by his friends and peers, Drew brings an interesting eye for pattern and complexity to Etsy. He's made some very interesting discoveries about the Etsy marketplace that we can't wait to share with you. In case you're curious, Drew's birthday is November 24, plenty of time to find him something nice from Etsy! ;)