oh wait...

so you know how i got my ears pierced a little while back? i think it was in august... anyways, i always forget i can wear earrings now haha. growing up i wasn't really into jewelry at all, and since college i started incorporating more into my outfits--mainly necklaces. so now i literally forget that i can wear earrings, so i usually don't even pay attention to them until it dawns on me *oh wait...i CAN look at earrings because i can actually wear them now!* haha. so anyways, here are some fun earrings i've found on etsy recently. obviously there are MILLIONS of pairs of earrings on etsy, these are just some of my recent faves:

[click picture to go to listing]
thank you kelli for pointing these lovely ones out!

i like a lot of pieces from this shop ^
stay tuned for future collaboration w/this lovely lady!

i want the matching necklace

and of course, the reason i got my ears pierced:
to wear awesome earrings from made by jewls.

are you an earrings girl? how do you keep all your earrings organized? i only have like 5 pairs, and when i remember to wear them i just rotate through them, depending on what mostly matches my outfit. if you like me and want to show me your love, feel free to get any of the above for me. i will gladly accept them ;)

BESTeam feature: Too much of a good thing

this weeks BESTeam feature is on Leyla of Too Much of a Good Thing. in case you forgot, BESTeam is an etsy team i'm on and we do posts on each other once a week. this lovely lady featured our shop last week, which you can see here. Leyla makes handmade greeting cards, and some crocheted goodies including headbands (smart lady), dishcloths, and beanies for her store. she blogs about her fun life living in oregon with her husband, and her outlook is funny and fresh. definitely a fun girl. read her interview:

What's your favorite color?
Red and green, but not together :)

[click pictures to view listings]

What inspires you?
Lots of things. Pretty pictures. Tutorials. Paper. Yarn. Browsing blogs and craft supplies.


What do you love most about what you do?
I love the finished product. The fact that you start with a pile of paper, glue, paint, fabric and a hot glue gun and come up with something unique is so much fun. And I love it when people like what I make…it’s silly but I get so excited when someone likes what I make enough to actually buy it. It’s not about the money, just the fact that people really like what little ol’ me makes :)


Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you?
It's a hobby.


What are your top favorite blogs or websites?
Too many!


What are your current projects?
I'm a little schizophrenic right now. I have a stack of composition notebooks to be altered. I'm making flower hair pins and brooches with satin and beads. I recently debuted a new line of headbands decorated with crocheted flowers. All over the map but all so much fun! :)


How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?
I've been making cards forever and my friends were always encouraging me to take them around to little shops in town to see if they would carry the cards. I was too chicken for that so when I found Etsy, I opened a shop right away. Since then, my husband has become the world's best salesman, stopping at little farm shops and boutiques and asking if they would be interested. My cards are in four stores in Salem right now and I would really love to branch out, considering I do much better in brick-and-mortar stores than online. Right now I'm working on figuring out how to display my headbands so I can try to find a place for those.

we wish you the best of luck!
where to find Too Much of a Good Thing:
etsy
blog
facebook

newsies

first of all: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY JOSHY-POO (annoying? whaturr)! he's kind of.....old. ok not really, but he thinks he is, so it's funny to try to play along haha. we had the kids we teach in church try to guess how old he was and most people said 22 or 23. to which he replied, "whatever, if i was in normal clothes and showed up to your high school you'd think i was a student!" most of them agreed. he's actually 26 [and he'll probably have me delete that once he sees this post haha].


ok, so do you remember my friend julianne, of made by jewls? she makes the awesome button earrings and other cute accessories. anyways, her stuff is so cute that i decided i need to pierce my ears. they were pierced when i was 4, and i never really wore earrings so they closed up. i just never really was fond of earrings, until these. sooo...julianne and i did a trade and i pierced my ears!! i got them done on monday, and i felt like a little kid again. unfortunately i have to keep the ones from the store in for 6 weeks before i switch them out, but i'm so impatient i just want to wear my new ones!! haha.

in our trade for my earrings, i gave julianne some hair bows, and she also offered to do a giveaway of some on her blog!! go enter her giveaway; there up to 10 ways to enter!! FIVE hair bows are up for grabs, and the lucky winner will get the five pictured below:

what are you waiting for? go enter already!!

BESTeam feature: Love Elycia

so as you may know by now, i am part of an etsy team called BESTeam (boosting etsy sales team). each week we do a feature on another member, and this week i got to feature elycia of Love Elycia! this girl is super cute and has awesome style (i love her hair!). her blog is always full of pretty things, and her cats get some good air time on her blog as well (which jay-z loves). here is her interview:

What's your favorite color?
it changes all the time...right now, turquoise.

[click pictures to view listings]

What inspires you?
sunny days, pretty photos, my cats, ivan, reading, thrifting. I get inspired by a lot of things. i love feeling that wave of inspiration when i can't wait to start working on something.


What do you love most about what you do?
i love it when i think of new ideas. it is so fun to be excited about something. I also love doing craft shows. I really enjoy interacting with people who like my little creations. it is very satisfying.


Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you? How do you balance it with everything else?
currently etsy is part-time. i would love love love to make creating my full time job and i have a lot of ideas and goals that will hopefully help me get there.


What are your top favorite blogs or websites?
i have too many! visit my blog and look along the left side bar to see some of my favourites :)


What are your current projects?
currently i'm working on some halloween projects! i'm so excited!


How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?
I originally started my etsy selling purses. I made one for myself and everyone loved it so i started making them for friends and eventually etsy. i closed up shop for a while and i eventually re-opened because i had made myself too many headbands! i thought it would be fun to share them with other people. i have recently added a vintage section because i am a life long thrifting addict.

where to find ♥ elycia:
ETSY
BLOG
FACEBOOK
TWITTER

BESTeam feature: cadiwompus

this weeks BESTeam feature is on the store cadiwompus. she is thirteen years old. whoa!! and here she is on etsy doing her thing! she makes adorable tanks, original drawings/paintings/collages, plushies, and cute accessories. take a look at her cute stuff, and have fun reading her interview answers:

What's your favorite color?
All colors are my favorite! Lol!

[click pictures to go to listings]

What inspires you?
A lot of things inspire me, some examples are: all things vintage or retro, animals, photography, makeup, old books, magazines, fashion, and lots more!


What do you love most about what you do?
I love to make things over the top and creative! I also love to hear what people think about my work!


Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you? How do you balance it with everything else?
Oh, gosh! Since school started its hard to do Etsy with all the algebra HW and other stuff! Lol! I try to to Etsy on weekends, or on days where homework is light!:) I would say Etsy is a part time job/hobby for me!:)


What are your top favorite blogs or websites?
Well, I love my moms blog, www.yellikelli.blogspot.com, I really like shabbyblogs.com, and freeprettythingsforyou.com. I also like my grandmother's Etsy shop, www.sheerfab.etsy.com, because I have modeled some of her outfits for her!:)


What are your current projects?
My main projects I have been working on are what ever is due tomorrow at school!:) I also am always working on cute graphics for my blog!:)


How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?
My mom found Etsy and was really interested in it, so I asked her if I could open a shop if she opened one, and she said sure! She won't let me have a facebook but she lets me have an Etsy shop and a blog!:)

well, dear, we are glad your mom is looking out for you! now go check her out asap!

BESTeam feature: Alexander's Design

this weeks BESTeam feature is on Alexander's Designs. this glamorous etsy store is a husband and wife team who make all sorts of beautiful jewelry. incredibly unique and bold, you seriously need to check out their store. i don't even need to say more because the pictures and interview will speak for themselves:

What's your favorite color?

Purple

"ugly glass"--isnt this awesome?
[click on pictures to go to their listings]

What inspires you?

colors, nature, my dreams

What do you love most about what you do?

the freedom of being my own boss and seeing people wearing my pieces

Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you? How do you balance it with everything else?

I would say etsy is part time, if you are talking sales wise. It is hard to balance it with life and craft shows, but it is something I set time aside for every day. I try to not let it interfere with family time, so you hardly ever see me online in the evenings.

What are your top favorite blogs or websites?

etsy of course, then I like to google trends, so I can try to keep up to date (like: http://daily.stylebakery.com/)

What are your current projects?

Getting ready for a huge festival that draws in over 250,000 people in our area. So we are working on lots of ugly glass and some new beaded pieces as well.

How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?

I lost my job and was forced to do something. I did craft shows and that was it, so I wanted something for my pieces while they were just sitting in the bags. And I opened my second shop to help get rid of some destash supplies I had.

Alexander's Design has been generous enough to offer 20% off to my readers!! just convo her first and she will adjust her listing price for you!

where to find Alexander's Design:

ETSY
WEBSITE

BLOG
FACEBOOK

let's win stuff!!

here are some lovely giveaways going on that you should check out:

1. my friend julianne (of made by jewls) is hosting a giveaway on her blog for a necklace set from the shop Mountain Love. this is one of the coolest concepts i've seen before for a necklace. it comes with interchangeable "faces" so you can switch out the centers whenever you'd like. cool, huh? go check it out!


2. the blog progressive pioneer is hosting a giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to the shop Modern Organic Fabrics. As described by the owner, Melanie, "In addition to being certified organic, the fabrics I stock are fresh and modern or pretty and fun in a large variety of colors. You can also find some wonderful sewing patterns as well, including Ottobre Design."


aren't both of those awesome? in the words of rachel zoe, "i die." i'm crossing my fingers and hoping i win both. hehe. but because i am nice, i'm telling you about them so you can enter too. ALSO, later this month i am going to be hosting a giveaway on this blog from Julianne's lovely shop! as i got a lot of comments (on my blog and facebook) when i posted about her work before, i know you are all excited for that. so stay tuned, and happy giveaway-entering!

have a fabulous weekend ♥

BESTeam feature: Fish Princess Designs

This weeks BESTeam feature is on Fish Princess Designs. Isn't that a cool name? It makes me think of those japanese fish...koi? I think thats how you spell it. Anyways, she has a nice shop that matches her name very well. It is full of creations inspired by and built with elements of the ocean. It makes me miss Maine. I loved walking the beaches searching for sea glass and other treasures. Felicia has some very pretty pieces, please look through her store and read her interview questions!

What's your favorite color?
I love the colors of water-anything from soft gentle blues and aquas to dark greens and the colors of sandy beaches.

[click pictures to view their listings]

What inspires you?
I draw my inspiration from what surrounds me. When I sometimes can't quite get a color combination right, it helps to take a walk outside. Mother Nature does really amazing things with her color palette.


What do you love most about what you do?
I like that creating jewelry gives me an outlet for my emotional expression, as my moods and interests change, so do my designs.


Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you? How do you balance it with everything else?
Etsy is the most full time part time venture I've ever tried. To really be successful at Etsy take a real time commitment. I have a full time job outside Etsy, and I'm involved with many other things,so I don't spend as much time as I would like to with my Etsy shop. I try to balance it out and set aside about an hour each morning to check my shop, then I try to not peak at it too many times a day! On the weekends I spend a little more time. I always have to juggle my Etsy time with "home" time, it can really get away from you very quickly!


What are your top favorite blogs or websites?
One of my favorite blogs is Greenpix. I have learned so much about photography from this site. I think it should be mandatory reading! It is so well written, and in a language that us "non-photographers" can understand. If you want to improve your skills or learn some new tips, I would definitely check it out!
For just a bit of fun, take a look at: For Love Or Funny. Everyday life, just funny!


What are your current projects?
Right now-I'm actually on vacation-trying not to work!


How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?
A friend recommended Etsy to me, she found it and thought it would be a great place for me. I really have to thank her, it really made me think professionally about what I'm doing, not just as a hobbyist.


where to find Fish Princess Designs
ETSY
BLOG
TWITTER
FLICKR
FACEBOOK*

*Keep checking her facebook page for upcoming giveaways and promotions!

BESTeam feature: You Are My Sunshine

This week's BESTeam feature is on the shop You Are My Sunshine. She specializes "in handmade fabric flower brooches, fabric flower hair pins, rings, earrings, bracelets and statement necklaces in a rainbow of colors to bring sunshine to your day!" Isn't that a cute little summary? She has some awesome stuff in her shop, and has a lot of bright colors, which are my favorite (of course). For all you future brides, she has an excellent bridal section as well.

While you are looking at her cute stuff, be sure to also check out My Sunshine Vintage (her store full of vintage goodies!). Here is her interview:

What's your favorite color?
Pink

[click on images to go to their listing]

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me. The range of colors nature creates is more than anything I can ever imagine.
Vintage items, old relics that have a past inspires me. I would much rather own chair that is peeling with many coats of paint than an expensive chair bought from a store.
My son and I bought a book from the library a few weeks ago that features the ghost towns in the United States. The pictures are fascinating to both of us!

What do you love most about what you do?
I love experimenting with the jewelry I create. I love mixing different materials and styles. Best of all, I love bringing to life an idea that I have in my head. I quite literally smile when everything falls into place with a piece of jewelry I created!

Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you? How do you balance it with everything else?
I do consulting work that may be a part time or full time effort. I try to fit Etsy in between. I wish I had more time to blog, more time for Twitter and Facebook. I have 2 sons, a husband and an extended family that like to get together every week so my days are full.
The way my husband and I try to balance it all is by trying to get our kids more involved in what we do. The day my 10 year old does a listing for me will be a big big milestone!

What are your top favorite blogs or websites?
I have many favorites but the one website I always "stalk" is the Etsy forums. There is a wealth of information in the forums both from a technical perspective as well as how people feel. The people in the forums are open and real and very helpful. Before I google a how to, I go to the Etsy forums first.

What are your current projects?
I have always wanted to make elaborate headbands and fabric bracelets. I bought about 60 pieces of antique lace strips from the early 1900's and I wanted to make cuff bracelets out of them. I also eventually want to make purses. I have bins and bins of fabric that are waiting for this project to get underway!

[love this bouquet. great idea!]

How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?
I don't remember really. I started my handmade shop in 2007 and slowly added to it. Then I opened my vintage shop in 2008. I have a handmade and vintage shop on Artfire as well [see links below].

where to find You Are My Sunshine:
ETSY
ARTFIRE
1000 MARKETS
ETSY (VINTAGE)
ARTFIRE (VINTAGE)
FLICKR
FACEBOOK
TWITTER