santa's little helper -- handmade

Ok, I couldn't help myself! More cutie stocking stuffers from my handmade friends over at Etsy Dallas. For more info on these items, just click on the pictures.



This scrabble tile pendant from Karmacrochet is just too fun!

Not to mention this mad for plaid ring from Tefi. What would this not go with?


The Pig and the Peacock makes this cute shark soap -- sure to make bathtime more fun!

Modest Ambition's crocheted pins are sure to add a little zip to any outfit in any season.



This key fob from Banana Showcase will help you keep track of your keys in a stylish way.







Keep an eye on the Etsy Dallas site and follow @etsydallas on twitter for opportunities to win Bash Bucks that spend like cash at any participating artist's booth. See the Etsy Dallas site for all the nitty gritty details. Happy Shopping!

America Recycles Day!

Hey, it's today -- it's official America Recycles Day! Click here to find and event near you. It's not a holiday just to recycle today -- think about how you can set things up at home and work to make recycling a part of your everyday life.

Bash Bucks!!

We Bash artists are getting really excited as the much-anticipated Jingle Bash nears. We're so excited that some of us have to occasionally put down our scissors, paint brushes, pliers, and hooks to do a little happy dance. Lemme tell ya, we love to happy dance.

In fact, we're so thrilled about the Jingle Bash that we want to offer you a chance to join us in our collective happy dancing by offering a chance to win some awesome prizes in the form of Bash Bucks. Yep, Bash Bucks are like gift certificates you'll pick up the day of the Jingle Bash - and you can spend them at ANY participating artisit's booth during the Bash. You can't go wrong.

You can win by commenting on the Etsy Dallas blog post or tweeting the Jingle Bash.

MORE INFO ON THE CONTEST HERE

[Reposted from the Etsy Dallas blog.]

Santa's Little Helper

So, I have perused this site that is a new discovery for me and have found all kinds of cool stocking stuffer items. Santa, are you listening? I know this is your busy season -- just trying to help you out!

This "we met on facebook" gum just cracks me up! Who wouldn't giggle about this?

And what about these paper doll notecards? Too cutie!

To see more details on a stocking stuffer, click on the picture to be taken to more info about it.

Ok, this Rudolph lip gloss takes the cake with his blinking nose! What girl (yound or old) wouldn't want Rudolph in her make up bag?

Or the sweet treat lip balm set for the dessert lover
on your list! ;)

Sneak Peek of who will be at the Jingle Bash

Are you just waiting for the Jingle Bash? If you'd like to have a sneak preview of who will be there, check out the Etsy Dallas Featured Artists page. If you're planning to shop with your friends and would like to do a little sneaky pre-shopping, go ahead. We understand that there are many secrets at this time of year! :) Happy Shopping!

garlands!

Today my garland is being featured by Heather on the Scrappy Design Blog! I'm so excited! Check it out, it's a fun blog with lots to share. Garland of all kinds seem really popular this year. They are a great way to decorate for the holidays and add a splash of color in any room to that needs one. For the most part they are reusable year after year -- yay!

Kindle or Not Kindle

With the recent "Kindle Kraze" it was bound to happen -- someone would ask which is greener? The Kindle or a paper book?

Well, that's a good question. For one educated answer, check out this article.

The Jingle Bash is coming right up...

Check out the Crafty Hangover Blog for features of various artists who will be at the Bash. Today it's featuring me! :)

Warm fuzzies all around..

I found this toysociety website earlier this week and it totally made me smile. Sweet handmade toys are put in a sealed plastic bag and left somewhere -- a park bench, in a swing, etc. -- to be found. Inside the bag with the handmade toy is a note saying "Take me home, I'm yours" and a way to email the person who left the toy to be found. I love this idea. It's truly a random act of kindness and it's such a cute way for a toy to get a home. Please check it out!

Treasury!

Wow! My echo chic pouch is in one! Check it out! They're only good for three days, so hurry!

is2tea website launches!

Wednesday of this week the long awaited is2tea website launched. This company offers wonderful teas such as virgin white, sapphire oolong, rainforest, sepalika, cinnamon and floral green. If you can't choose just one, the sampler pack may be for you.

In addition to wonderful teas, I love the fact that a percentage goes to the Foundation of Goodness which provides children with school books, uniforms and opportunities to grow.

Check it out, this is one of those companies that is a win-win. They have a great product and use part of their resources to give back.

Adding to my Christmas Wish-list

I came accross these and they are so cute, I can barely stand it! They are surely on my wish list for Christmas. Click on the image to see them on fredflare.com, you may be adding them to your wishlist as well!

Recycling Goes Corporate

Here's a great article from Reuter's about the greening of corporations. The newest thing for companies to do is to figure out how to upcycle their waste -- especially waste that is not yet recycleable. Terracycle is a great example of this. They upcycle soda bottles, cookie wrappers, juice pouches and the list goes on and on! If you belong to an organization (school, office, club, etc.) that's interested in sending your upcyclable items to terracycle, check out this section of their site for details.

Everyone can do a little bit. Whether it's shopping for items with less packaging to start out with or finding something productive to do with what might go to the landfill or recycle bin.

I make purses and jewelry from junkmail and magazines. This brooch is made from the insides of reclaimed security envelopes.


This clock is made from a reclaimed cookie tin, extra buttons, broken jewelry pieces and her hair is made from magazine pages and junk mail.


This clutch purse is made from magazine pages and junk mail.




What will you start doing this month that makes your habits greener?

Green Toys!

With the holidays speedily on their way, it's fabulous to know that there are green groovy toys available! I stumbled across this site and was delighted with the green toys they have to offer. Things for little boys and things for little girls that are made from recycled materials!


This truck is made from recylced milk jugs and looks heavy but is really quite light weight. The fact that it's green AND fun are just gravy!



Here's a chef set also made from recycled milk jugs. These toys are dishwasher safe and have been tested for all kinds of things. They are made on the USA and have been declared safe for the little ones to pay with.

These toys are made in the USA, actually in California. So they are not shipped from far away shores using energy to get to this country and they are recycled. What a nice example for the next generation that "being green can be fun".

Did someone say Boo-rito?

Yep, they did. Chipotle is having a fun FREE BOO-RITO event on Halloween from 5p-close. Just show up in a Chipotle related costume; taco, bowl, salad and they will complete your costume with a free burrito!

More than a free burrito, the people watching is guaranteed to be greatness!

Knitting Superheros

It's the time of year we are all talking about Halloween costumes. Be sure to check out THESE super heroes.

Cereal Box Biz Cards!?

Yes, it's possible! How cool is that? Found on Keetsa.com (an eco-friendly and green blog search engine). You can actually have your business cards printed on cereal boxes. Check out this article to learn more.

Good News for a Change!

If you are not having the best day and need a little pick me up, be sure to visit Daryn Kagan's site. This site is full of good news. Whether it's about lost animals who found their way home, people who have figured out how to help others, a person who has overcome their biggest challenges to amaze us all -- it's all good news! With all the wacky news of late...sometimes ya just need a little good news...and this is the place to find it!

The Mohawk Letterpress Show

Rainy weather and flash flood watches in DFW were not enough to keep people away from the Mohawk Letterpress Show at The Apartment Wednesday night. Barbara Wardlow, who represents Mohawk Paper in Texas, brought together seven area designers for this unique boutique event...read the rest and see the work.

A Book on How To Save the Earth

1001 Ways to Save Earth by Joanna Yarrow is a tiny book but overflowing with information and ways to go easier on mother earth. Even the book itself printed with vegetable based inks on sustainable paper -- excellent!

Day of Climate Action Celebration!

In celebration of the International Day of Climate Action, this blog has featured some fun earth friendly products. Thanks, Galit!

Included on the blog features was my Eco Chic Itsy Bitsy Watermelon Coin Purse -- one of my current faves!

Things that give me a good giggle...

I went to the virtual labs one evening and the room was apparently full when I tried to get in -- this is the message I saw. It made me giggle a little, then a lot. That furry little creature made it all ok.

What gives you a good giggle?

Mark your calendar -- It's one month from today!

I hope it's already on your calendar. If it's not, get it marked. If you miss this fun event, you'll be kicking yourself all the way into next year!

Remove Shoes?

This great little sign from sashayin on etsy is the perfect thing to have by your front door.

There are many reasons to remove your shoes before going inside one's house. The main one is cleanliness. By removing your shoes at the door, you leave dirt, allergens and yuck at the door instead of tracking it all over the house. By leaving these pollutants at the door and not welcoming them in -- the rate of allergies and other yuck in the house is hugely reduced. Who doesn't want that?

Here are some translations of this simple phrase to be sure anyone who shows up at your door gets the message.

please remove your shoes
enlevez s'il vous plaît vos chaussures
por favor quite sus zapatos
entfernen Sie bitte Ihre Schuhe
por favor retire os seus sapatos
пожалуйста удалите ваши ботинки
してくださいあなたの靴を脱ぐ
Si prega di togliere le scarpe

Does a Bear Sleep in the Woods?

Check out this fun and hilarious answer to that question!

What did you think?

Simply Green Giving

As the holiday season is quickly approaching, we're all looking for inspiration. This book will help you create lovely, organic wrapping, gift tags and gifts from ordinary materials. Check out any of Danny Seo's books for inspiration. This one is particularly good for gift giving. Check it out to have a happier, greener holiday season.

What are Vskips?

VSkips were created to lessen what is sent to the landfills. It encourages people to post the stuff they have that they no longer need so others can find them and the stuff and give them a new purpose. Cool idea, huh?

This program is in the UK but here in the States you can posted usable unwanted items on Craig's List and other similar sites.

Etsy Dallas Team Treasury

Peace Cranes

I recently made a bunch of origami peace cranes as promos for the Alamo City Etsy Show on Halloween and got them in the mail. I'm sure it will be a really fun event. If you're in the San Antonio area on Halloween, stop by and check it out.

Origami fascinates me. You can make your own cranes. This site has a video as well as a step by step tutorial. Happy Folding!

Last Day!

Today is the last day for the Urban Street Bazaar. Be sure to stop by and check it out today. There are eighty some odd vendors there and many are members of Etsy Dallas. There's some great talent out there today. This is a great time to get some early holiday shopping done.

golden tampon?

I came across this while wandering the web. It was just too funny not to share. To read more about this, check out this post.

It's Made Out of What? Treasury

MOre Vintage Buttons

Still on a vintage button tear! Check these out from knotjustbuttons.

A Weakness...

Ok, confession time! I have a weakness for vintage buttons. Here are some I found in the TexasBeads shop on Etsy. I even like the packaging.

It's Today!!

The Twenty-Fourth Annual Arts and Crafts Spectacular is today at the Woodhaven Presbyterian Church, 3650 North O'Connor Road, Irving, TX. The event is form 9a-4p. Come by and check it out!


http://www.woodhavenpres.org/craft_fair.htm

From the etsydallas.com Blog

Holy cow holy cow!! Our Bash shows were just voted as Dallas' "Best One-Stop Shop" in the coveted and uber popular Dallas Observer's Best Of annual issue. It's on stands today!!

This is a huge. mega. deal. Here's the write-up:

Sure etsy.com—the online boutique community for crafters, jewelry designers, knitters, tailors, bookbinders, vintage sellers and collectors of everything—is a surefire way to kill an afternoon and build up a wish list, but an Etsy Dallas event is even better. Prices are great, the craftsmanship is fantastic, it feels good to support local crafters and you'll still cover everyone on any gift list you might have for the next two years. But the downside is you'll also empty your bank account with little to no effort without some preventive measures. We have a friend keep us from purchasing on the first lap through the show. We spend only cash (even if a booth takes cards). And we buy no more than we can carry on our own person. It's hard, but, well, you gotta leave something for the rest of the shoppers to look at. On the other hand, screw everyone else, retail therapy rocks! The Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash takes place November 21 at Sons of Hermann Hall. Sharp elbows stimulate the economy, people.

In case you're wondering, What the heck is the Bash?, let me fill you in. The Bash is the premier arts and crafts event in Dallas that we started back in 2008. The Bash is put on by Tefi Designs and Pamela Michelle, with support from the Etsy Dallas leadership team: Larry, Carrie, Cheyne, Alicia, Mandi, Dylan, and Randi.

This year's 2nd Annual Jingle Bash will take place at the historic (and somewhat David-Lynchian) Sons of Hermann Hall, November 21st (that's a Saturday) from 1am-7pm. More deets here.

reposted from Etsy Dallas blog

It's Easy, Do Your Part!

I recently read these disturbing statistics;

• The US produces 250 million tons of trash each year
• The average person produces approximately 5 lbs. of trash per day
• The top littered item in the US is cigarette butts

It made me wonder why they are so high. If each of us made a little bit of effort we could greatly reduce these statistics. Making a few changes like recycling, using reusable bags and not littering could make a huge impact. Here are some fun, handmade solution based items to help you lessen your contribution to these statistics.

Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Events...

I'll be at these events along with my fellow crafties. Come check it out and get some of that holiday shopping done early.

Saturday,October 3, 2009, 9a-4p
24th Annual Art & Crafts Spectacular
Woodhaven Presbyterian Church
3650 N. O'Connor Road, Irving, TX 75062

Saturday, November 21, 2009, 1-7p
2nd Annual Jingle Bash
Sons of Hermann Hall
3414 Elm Street, Dallas, TX

Saturday & Sunday,December 5 & 6, 2009, 10a-5p
North Haven Gardens
7700 Northaven Road, Dallas, TX 75230

Hope to see you there!