FEST

Friday, May 29, 2009

April Team Challenge Winner GladRaggz

The theme for the team challenge for the month of April was FUZZY. All the members of FEST are given the opportunity to vote for their favorite submission and it's my fun job to announce the winner! And the winner is, drum roll please..... are you doing it??.... GladRaggz with this work or art, her one of a kind designer inspired crochet handbag:

Listen to the detail that went into this bag - This is a one-of-a-kind work and extremely fun piece of crochet artwork done in a variety of yarns in shades of red with jeweltone highlighs. Embellishments include a gold tone filigree and rhinestone brooch as well as a single row of red fabric that I've sewn into ribbon to get the perfect color match. Lightweight gold toned chains make this a shoulder bag. The interior is lined with sapphire toned satin, and the small interior pocket is edged with machine embroidered silver holographic thread.

As I was looking through GladRaggz' shop I kept thinking her bags and jewelry look like wearable pieces of art. Case and point, this amazing necklace

This large Swarovski AB Crystal Pendant is just gorgeous! It hangs from ropes of ivory cord, gold fabric tape, and teal colored "Italian Mesh", which is a finely braided wire mesh that can be fluffed and shaped any way the wearer wishes. The Italian Mesh is strung with 4 AB Swarovski crystals.

I also really love how descriptive and captivating her listings read, like this one for these clear glass earings.

These desinger inspired earrings remind me of several things - seashells, flowers, and feminine curves with their swirls and faint AB, (Aurora Borealis) coating. Both the swirled beads and the round Czech glass spheres reflect a delicate rainbow when they catch the light at just the right angle. There is also a faint swirl of white glass on the edges of the clear bead. These earrings would be especially nice for bridal wear, but they can also be dressed up for evening, or down for a "casual chic" look. Either way, they are extremely feminine and sexy, and can't be missed!

Stop by this talented FEST members shop and add a little art to your wardrobe!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

BeckySinn Interview

Meet Becky of BeckySinn.etsy.com

Carnivale Creations

Who are you?

My given name is Rebecca Dee Hudson. Becky Sinn is my alter ego stage name! I am a statuesque red-headed native Floridian.

What do you create?

I create my own chaos, jointed soft-sculpture dolls, resin photo jewelry, charm bracelets, and other up-cycled art.

How did you get started?

My Mother is an artist. By the time I was five, I was helping her stuff her dolls. She sold crafts all over the world and I've always aspired to be like her. My Daddy was a wood working artist and a musician, also a huge inspiration! My brothers are also amazing artists as well. I come from

pretty creative stock.

What is unique about your art?

I must say I am most proud of my dolls. I have never really seen any quite like mine, if I do say so myself. Also, I really make an effort to communicate with my customers. I am still in touch with some of my very first clients.

What is your biggest challenge?

Discipline

What do you love about Etsy?

The Uber cheap listing fees and the Six month long listing activation. Etsy actually makes it easy and affordable to have your own little slice of the e-commerce pie. YAY!

What other interests do you have?

Music! (I play guitar and sing!) Antiques! History! Anything Vintage! All things Victorian!

Where are you in Florida?

I've lived in Ocala my whole life, I am obsessed with historic photos of Ocala and surrounding areas such as Micanopy and Gainesville, and any local history. I am also in love with the amazing Springs and parks that are everywhere in central Florida. Ooh! and our sunsets too!

Where else can we find you?

myspace.com/beckysins

myspace.com/beckysinn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beckysinn/

beckysinn.etsy.com

What disasters have you had?

I have crafting disasters all the time. I am often jabbing my poor fingers with huge needles. Even though that hurts, the worst disaster is a batch of resin that doesn't cure properly.

What animal would you like to be?

I would like to be a dolphin for a day. That probably has something to do with the Sega Genesis game: Echo the dolphin, which I would play till I got blisters and could play no longer.

What SUPER POWER would you like to have?

The power of flight, or mind bullets...because that's telekinesis Holmes.

Where would you go with a Time Machine?

First I'd go to Victorian England, then I'd go to Paris for the Bohemian Revolution and lots of absinthe, then Coney island in the roaring Twenties. These are all places and eras that are extremely fascinating and romantic to me!

What crazy things do you like to do?

The extent of my craziness is poking around abandoned buildings and old cemeteries looking for ghosts and signs of people that have long since passed. For reasons that are NOT supernatural, this pass time can get pretty hairy!

Favorite person?

My brother Mack. We always get each others' warped sense of humor. Love you!!!

Favorite Quote?

Ricky Fitz in American Beauty says, "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in." I feel you Ricky.

Visit Becky's shop it's a wonderful collection of beautiful art!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

May Team Challenge

Saturday, May 2, 2009

May Etsy FEST Blog Giveaway!!

Can I just tell you how much I love this handpainted box from Christina from Purplesmurple! It makes me kind of sad that I am in charge of the blog giveaways and cannot enter. Good news is, you can though! I'll just sit here and pout.

Maybe I'll have to buy the one in her shop: Little Jewel Box

Handpainted, one of a kind jewelry box. Lovely blue green color, with gold accents, and finished inside and out. It measures 8 inches wide, 5 inches deep, and 3 1/2 inches tall. It features and asian inspired scrolled design, incorporating tons of little detail. This has been lovingly handpainted by Christina, and triple sealed for durability.

How to Enter:

If you would like to enter to win this beautiful handpainted box, just visit the Purplesmurple shop or any of the other fabulous FEST shops from the list at the left. Add a note about the favorite item you've found and what you love about it in the comments section of this post. Be sure to leave me an email so I can contact you if you are our winner! Winner will be chosen on may 20th.

Monday, April 27, 2009

April Team Challenge Submissions

Sunday, April 26, 2009

ElleBelleonetsy Interview

Meet Stacey of ElleBelleOnEtsy.com

A Shop For Chic Mommies and Pampered Babies

Who are you?

I am a wife, mom, planner, dreamer, and maker of whatever inspires me at the moment. My husband and daughter are my support and inspiration in life and business. Elle Belle is my creative outlet, my guilty pleasure, and my sense of accomplishment

What do you create?

Baby stuff… mostly inspired by the things that have made being a Mommy easier for me. My product line has changed a bit over the years as my baby has grown into a pre-schooler, but I’m pregnant now, so there’ll probably be a resurgence of infant/baby items into my shop.

How did you get started?

I’ve always been “crafty”, but I didn’t start sewing/machine embroidery until after my daughter, Elle, was born and I started using baby items that I thought could be improved on… I don’t think I’ll ever look back. I really enjoy the “process” of sewing, I like figuring out patterns and seeing raw materials come together to make something I love brings me an incredible sense of accomplishment.

What is unique about your products?

My slings are my favorite product! I was completely addicted to my slings and honestly don’t know how Moms do it without them! The Elle Belle slings I make are different from the ones I bought and used when Elle was first born though. Although I love the convenience and comfort of carrying a baby in a sling, too many of the slings on the market are too much tie-dye, too much fabric, too much “home made”, not enough style & function. So, I make my slings with really wonderful designer fabrics and have a line of tattoo inspired embroidered designs.

I also use less fabric. It’s enough to safely carry the baby, but you don’t loose the baby in the pouch and it doesn’t feel like you have a blanket wrapped around yourself and hanging down to your ankles. You don’t see many pleated shoulder slings (mine were the only ones on Etsy for ages!) but not only does it add a crisp look to the sling and eliminate the bulk on your shoulder, it also helps spread the fabric out across your back which is the key to distributing baby’s weight. I think carrying my new little one in an Elle Belle sling is one of the things I’m looking forward to most about having an infant again!

Where in Florida do you live?

I’ve lived in St. Pete for the past 10 years and have loved every day of it!

What are some other sites to find out more about you?

I am in love with my blog http://www.ellebelleblog.blogspot.com/ ! It’s my little diary of all my creative endeavors. It’s such a fun way to connect with friends and other crafters! I get giddy when I get a new comment or my ticker climbs… it’s nice to know I’m not just out there talking to myself. You can also check out my site http://www.ellebellebaby.com/

What was you worst crafting disaster?

It all started with the sewing/embroidery machine I decided to buy. It was the nicest machine in the store. It had all the bells and whistles and the biggest price tag… I think I made it out of the parking lot before the buyers remorse kicked in. I hadn’t sewn a stitch on a machine that was less than 15 years old ever, I didn’t know the first thing about embroidery, I had no idea why this machine came with approximately 7 discs for my computer, I was totally in over my head!

A week after I got it, I took the machine to a craft show I was doing and tried to embroider baby bibs while the wind was blowing my supplies and everything else everywhere (I now refer to that experience as my encounter with “extreme embroidery”). There were also 3 times in a two week span that I lugged the machine back into Keep Me in Stitches because I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong, the last of which ended with me crying in the parking lot about how I made the wrong decision and my husband consoling me with “give it time Babe, you’ll learn to love it”.

After one particularly taxing afternoon of sewing I found myself in “conversation” with my machine. It went a little something like “Machine, I’ll make you a deal. I won’t stress over every single stitch, hovering over your embroidery arm watching each thread being placed, holding my breath as a decorative stitch sews at your automatically set speed if you’ll just not cause any major complications. Please don’t jam the thread up into a wadded mess under the metal plate, please don’t tell me the embroidery file is unrecognizable when I transfer it from my computer, and please don’t ever make that horrible grinding sound when the needle hits the bobbin case ever again”.

IT WORKED! Okay, maybe not the “conversation” part but definitely the “me not stressing out anymore” part. I learned that it’s a learning process. I figured out how to prevent those major complications and best of all deciding not to stress about it made it fun. That was 2 years ago, and although it was a rocky road at first, it wasn’t long before I bonded with my machine. Now we (my machine and I) spend time doing something I love and together we’re able to create things that are valuable for lots of reasons in addition to monetary ones.

My machine has been a catalyst for lots of new experiences in my life. It’s not only a tool that’s helped me expand my creative boundaries, the patience and determination I’ve learned along the way has helped me expand my mind!

Stacey's customers love her personalized embroidery. More than 500 people have favorited her shop. That's a lot of love!

Friday, April 24, 2009

March Team Challenge Winner BDoodles!

The FEST Team Challenge for March was to create a green item… could be the color green, could be eco friendly, it was up for interpretation. There were a ton of entries; it even came down to a 4 way tie breaker. I’m happy to congratulate the mother daughter team – B DOODLES! Their lovely reversible apron won it for them:

I’m not surprised their apron took the cake. All B Doodles aprons have a unique retro styling and are constructed of great fabrics that they pre-wash and line dry (Oh how I wish I had time to line dry my laundry… nothing beats that hung-in-the-sun smell!). Not only does B Doodles make fresh wearable “wows” to liven up the kitchen, they also have a great selection of bags and totes to choose from.

Stop by the B Doodles shop for one of their practical and stylish aprons or totes. If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, just let them know, they enjoy custom orders too!

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