Candle giveaway!

I'm being featured on the Bath, Body, Candle blog. There is also a giveaway where you could win these pure beeswax layered candles! Just go to the link and comment to win! :)

Donate While You Shop: Helping Others Street Team (HOST)

Preface: About Etsy

Before starting into this post I want to make sure you understand the players. For those of you who don't know, www.Etsy.com is a an online community for people to buy and sell handmade items. Since Etsy's launch in June 2005, over 100,000 sellers have opened up shops. A real sense of community has grown among this international group and continues to grow.

HOST

To continue along this theme of donating while you shop I want to introduce you to the Etsy Helping Others Street Team (HOST). I won't paraphrase their mission, but let you read it for yourself:

"Our goal is to give unconditional support to any fellow Estian in their time of need. Support being prayers, thoughts, hugs; a shoulder to cry and lean on; money; sales. We only care about the person, not their race, religion, or nationality... We are a community here of caring hand made artisans who just want to extend a helping hand all year long."

I am a new member of this group but I've found the people very friendly and willing to help, often even when they're experiencing emotional or financial difficulties themselves. This is a generous and dedicated group, and worthy of our support!

HOST helps out financially through some individual contribution of team members and also through their team shop that you can find at http://HOST.etsy.com This shop is made up of items donated by HOST members. When the items are sold, 100% of the proceeds go to helping Etsy members in need.

Online Trunk Show tomorrow!!

But wait there's more! Some of the members of the HOST group (including myself) are having an online trunk show tomorrow October 16th at 7 p.m. EST. This is a way for people to chat a little about their shops and their craft in a real time interactive environment. Come join us! Just come to Etsy and then Community tab and then Virtual Labs and you'll see us there.

Here are just a few of the great items in the HOST team shop:

Donate while you shop: Miss Emma's Closet

This is a shout out to Alison from Etsy shop Miss Emma's Closet. At Miss Emma's Closet you'll find great handmade children's items, home decor, and gorgeous ring bearer pillows.

By supporting this shop you can help give back to the community. Alison donates 10% of all her sales to her daughter's hospital (St. Peter's University Hospital) "to give thanks to the good docs and nurses for saving my little miss's life!"

Here's something from Alison about her crafts and her inspiration:

"I am a mom to 2 fabulous kids! My son is 7, and my daughter is 2. I have been crafting ever since I can remember. I used to sell my wares at local schools when I was young and then I graduated to craft fairs. It has always been my dream to own a shop, this is my jumping off point. I create one of a kind shabby chic items. I love to incorporate old reclaimed treasures into my work to create a fabulous design. But enough about me and my shop!

"Miss Emma's Closet is dedicated to my daughter, Emma. She is my motivation and the strongest person I know. She is the only child in the world with her genetic abnormality and along with that a laundry list of problems, including a rare seizure disorder. The doctors and nurses on her team are fabulous, and I wanted to be able to do something give back to them for saving her life. Miss Emma's Closet will donate 10% of it's profits every year to her hospital. My goal is to be able to help other families feel safe and not have to worry, just like we did."

Here are a few of the great items in Miss Emma's Closet.


Pumpkin Decor


Scalloped Edge Treasure Box


Burp Cloths or Changing Pads

Cancer Research Donation

My partner Sarah and I both currently have mothers fighting cancer. I had been thinking for a while that I would like to make regular donations to a charity that was important to us. There are many that we've considered but for now we're going with cancer research.

From now until January 2009 we'll be donating 10% of ALL sales (internet and craft show) to the Cancer Research Foundation. In January we'll decide if we can afford to continue with 10% and we'll decide if we're going to stay with the Cancer Research Foundation or change to another charity.

I'll post updates here to let you know how much we've been able to donate. I'll also do some poking around and see if I can find other Etsy shops donating to charities. I'll be sure to let you all know what I find.

There's little we can do right now to help our mothers - other than offering our emotional and sometimes financial support while we wait to see what happens. But it feels good to be able to contribute even a little towards finding a cure. Hopefully we can help save people in future generations from having to go through what our families are going through.

The Spirited Autumn Event!

I've been a busy girl this Fall. I'm preparing for a number of craft shows and working my poor fingers to the bone! But vending is so much fun! I love watching people's reactions to my products as they're browsing (and even sometimes buying! lol). I love vending because I'm all about that direct connection between crafter and customer.

And now on to the real purpose of this post ...

I'm participating in an EarthPath Artisans sale event this Fall. My sale is for 20% off all Autumn/Halloween/spiritual items in my shop. These items are all marked with the "TSAE" tag. Check this link for the Sale Items. This sale starts Sept. 23rd and runs until Oct. 6th. And don't forget to put "TSAE" in the message to seller box on checkout so I can send you a revised invoice.

And be sure to check out the great deals offered by the other EarthPath Artisans member shops. You'll find them by searching the TSAE tag. Or click All EAST Sale Items to see them. There are over 300 sale items now!

Upcoming Show

Check out my table at this great craft show October 25th in Medford, NJ! This show has more than 70 great vendors and is 100% handmade! Handmade Faire - Halloween Edition

If you love shopping on Etsy then come on out - lots of the vendors are Etsy sellers.

If you love craft shows then this is one you can't afford to miss!

And last but not least - if you love Halloween then this is the show for you!!

Featured Shop: Tamara's Herbes

Tamara's Herbes is one of my all time favorite shops on Etsy. I've been buying teas from her for over a year and I'm always impressed by her amazing product and packaging and wonderful customer service. Twice I asked for her to make me custom herbal teas and each time she surpassed my expectations!

Not only does Tamara have a great selection of herbal teas but she also has other all natural products including lotions, salves, hair care, perfumes and more.


Face of a Goddess Beauty Set



Peach Orchard Herbal Tea



Hair Therapy and Rinse Combo

Here is a little background from Tamara:

"I am Tamara and my love of herbs started more than a decade ago. Personal health problems led me to seek answers outside the sphere of Western medicine and nature provided me the answers. In the last ten years, I have sought to develop a relationship with each of the herbs I use and have repeatedly been awed by the massive power contained within a single plant. I live in the beautiful Ozark Foothills of Missouri with my wonderful husband, three teenagers, 3 rats, 2 cats and a mouse."

Tamara's Herbes
On Etsy at http://tamarasherbes.etsy.com
Blog http://tamarasherbes.wordpress.com/

And check out Tamara's sister shop for gorgeous photography, artwork, and zines.
On Etsy at http://MyVeiledEgo.etsy.com

Soap Giveaway Winners!

I have just emailed the two winners of the soap giveaway contest. So check your email - it could be you! :)

Soap Giveaway Update

Due to the overwhelming response to my soap giveaway I've decided to add an extra drawing. So now there will be TWO winners instead of one!

Remember this is still going until Friday, Aug. 1st so you still have a chance to win!

Handmade Soap Giveaway

Featured Shop: Susan Itkin Batik

Susan of Susan Itkin Batik has a wonderful shop selling a great variety of batik items. She's got pillows, clothing, cards and more!

What is "batik"? Susan explains:

"The batik process: A design in melted wax is applied to the fabric, which resists the dye. After successive waxings and different colored dye baths, the wax cracks, creating the characteristic batik crackle. When the wax is removed, a unique work of art is revealed."

Even though I love playing with wax I think I'll leave batik to the experts like Susan!

Here are a few of my favorite items from her shop.


Batik Scarf Top


Batik Pillow



Batik Card

Susan explains here a little about her shop and her art:

"I am a batik artist and create batik paintings, wall hangings, prints, home decor (pillows, napkins, runners) and clothing. I also use prints of my batiks, which I decoratively mount, to make into cards for all occasions.

"Much like the flora that inspires my work, batik is an imperfect perfect art. As no two leaves are alike, no two batiks are alike. Just like the colors on a flower's petal, the dyes on a piece of fabric blend a little differently each time. My anticipation and delight in each blossoming flower reflects my hope and joy each time I remove the wax from a completed batik. Through practicing the art of batik, I have found that, to me, there is perfection in the astounding range of colors in the world. The beautiful imperfections in the batik process have taught me to value the unique and enjoy the unexpected.

"I live in northern NJ with my husband and two children. I have exhibited and sold my batiks in the New York metropolitan area since 2003. Most recently I exhibited at the Belskie Museum of Art and Science in Closter, NJ, participating in their second fine crafts show. My cards are for sale year-round at the Belskie.

"And, of course, my work can be purchased at my Etsy shop!"

Etsy shop: http://SusanItkinBatik.etsy.com
Website: http://www.susanitkin.com

Handmade Soap Giveaway!

I'm in love with my most recent soap and I wanted show it off. And I also wanted to do a soap giveaway in honor of this newest soap.

First ... I'm proud to introduce my new Dragonsblood Shampoo/Soap. This vegan soap has a gorgeous earthy sweet scent that my husband says smells like walking into an incense shop.

This soap/shampoo is made from scratch by me using the hot process method. It’s made from olive oil, palm kernel oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, water, lye, hemp oil, grapefruit seed extract, Dragonsblood fragrance oil and color.


Dragonsblood Shampoo/Soap

How can a bar of soap be a shampoo?

Haven't used a bar shampoo before? They work great! Just wet your hair and then build up a good lather on top of your head and work it into the rest of your hair. Many people even find they don't need to use conditioner when using handmade shampoos.

Technically you can use any handmade cold processed or hot processed soap as a shampoo. What makes this one so great as a shampoo is the castor oil and hemp oil. Both are highly recommended ingredients for hair products.

Sometimes, with all types of handmade shampoos, you'll get a build up of soap residue. My family hasn't experienced this with my soaps but your mileage may vary. If you're interested in trying a handmade shampoo you can get special rinses to remove any buildup. I highly recommend you try out Tamara's Herbes for great natural hair rinses!

Soap Giveaway!

And now for the free stuff ... this giveaway is easy! Here's how to win a full-sized bar of soap:

1. Just check out the soap section in my shop.
   
2. Between now and Friday Aug. 1st leave a comment here saying which soap you like the best.
   
3. Remember to include an email address or your Etsy name so I can reach you.
   
4. Then on Saturday, Aug. 2nd I'll randomly pick a winner. That person will win their choice of any full-sized bar of soap or shampoo bar from my shop! This will be completely free - I even cover shipping.

UPDATE: Due to overwhelming response I've decided to do an extra drawing! There will now be TWO winners instead of one!

I'm blushing!

I just wanted to direct you to an article about yours truly written by Tamara of Tamara's Herbes. Here's the article: http://www.tamarasherbes.com/DragonsDen.html

Keep watching here for an upcoming feature of Tamara's wonderful shop!

Feel Good Friday!

Happiness is living in accordance with your beliefs and ideals.

What did you do this week that you feel especially good about? Did you ride your bike to work? Did you make an eco-friendly change in your household routine? Did you do something extra nice for someone where you expected nothing in return? Did you donate money or items to a cause you believe in?

The idea behind Feel Good Fridays is that here we can show off what we did that makes us feel good - something we believe in, some little thing to make the world a better place. Here we can also see how others are doing these things too. It's nice to see people who want a better world and are willing to do things to make it happen.

So how does it work? Just leave a comment here about the "feel good" thing you did this week. This is a great way to promote your cause! Feel free to post links so readers can get more information. Then after you've posted the comment, then add yourself to the map. I'm really looking forward to seeing how much we can fill up this map!

So have fun with this! Feel Good Fridays are going to become a regular feature here.

***

This week I've been rebatching some soap balls so I wouldn't have to throw out the soap. I had made the soap balls because I used to sell a lot of them but haven't been lately. I didn't want to have them sit and gather dust and couldn't bear to throw them out. So here's what I've made with them so far ...


Layered Mint Soap


Cinnamon Mocha Soap

Featured Shop: Pine Shore Studio

Helen of Pine Shore Studio has lovely original mixed media paintings as well as cards and ACEOs. This shop is one of my newest favorites on Etsy. The scenes she depicts are gorgeous; Surf's Up is a wonderful example.

Artist Statement:

"Fragmented by rock forms, forests and turbulent waters, these multi-layered landscapes of mixed media define my work. Using only calligraphic brush strokes to defne detail, the mix of color is splashed through an assortment of watercolor and rice papers,papyrus and fibers. My palette reflects the influence of the atmospheric effects that I have witnessed from the mountains of upstate New York to the beaches of the Jersey Shore."


Beacon Pt.




Floral Splash


Artist's Bio:

"Exploring mixed media art has been Helen's quest in recent years. She is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts). A BFA in Graphic Design introduced her to a career in the commercial arts. Freelance and teaching assignments ranging from coloring books to spot illustrations later evolved to include employment in signage and display.
Helen was born in upstate New York. Her childhood exploration of fields, lakes and mountains inspired her early interest in art. While raising three daughters, her interest in painting was never forgotten. Today she exhibits her mixed media paintings at outdoor shows and galleries in the northeast."

You can find Pine Shore Studio on Etsy at http://PineShoreStudio.etsy.com or at www.helenharrispaintings.com. And check out Helen's blog at http://pineshorestudio.blogspot.com.

EarthPath Artisans Gypsy Challenge!

The EarthPath Artisans Street Team (EAST) is having a Gypsy Design Challenge! Team members have taken their interpretation of what the word "Gypsy" conjures up for them, and created new pieces in a variety of media.

The purpose of this challenge is not to win prizes or compete with each other; rather, it's a way to build team camaraderie and inspire us to explore new themes and stretch our creative muscles. And for the winner, it means a little extra attention from an adoring public! Winners will be posted on the blog and on Etsy.

So stop by the EAST Challenge page on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/groups/earthpathchallenge
to see pictures of the entries, and then go vote at the EAST blog
http://earthpathartisans.blogspot.com
You can also see many of the entries in the members' shops by visiting the team shop's favorite items page.
http://earthpathartisans.etsy.com

Voting ends July 21st.
We'll see you there!

Feel Good Friday!

Happiness is living in accordance with your beliefs and ideals.

What did you do this week that you feel especially good about? Did you ride your bike to work? Did you make an eco-friendly change in your household routine? Did you do something extra nice for someone where you expected nothing in return? Did you donate money or items to a cause you believe in?

The idea behind Feel Good Fridays is that here we can show off what we did that makes us feel good - something we believe in, some little thing to make the world a better place. Here we can also see how others are doing these things too. It's nice to see people who want a better world and are willing to do things to make it happen.

So how does it work? Just leave a comment here about the "feel good" thing you did this week. This is a great way to promote your cause! Feel free to post links so readers can get more information. Then after you've posted the comment, then add yourself to the map. I'm really looking forward to seeing how much we can fill up this map!

So have fun with this! Feel Good Fridays are going to become a regular feature here.

This week I started re-using the iced coffee cups I get at Dunkin' Donuts. I wash out the glass/cup and bring it next time to be refilled. I know it's a little thing but it makes me feel better. :)

Featured Shop: Made by Melissa

Today's featured shop is Made by Melissa. Melissa has a great variety of cute items at reasonable prices. She has jewelry, magnets, crocheted goodies, and vintage items too. There is truly something for everyone here!

Here are a couple of my favorites. This is a great unisex wood bead necklace.



And these are adorable vintage inspired bottle cap magnets.



Here's what Melissa says about herself and her shop:

"I am an environmental engineer by day where I have very little (if any at all) room for creativity. I also have a one year old son, a 2 year old puppy and a husband that demand much of my time outside of work. I try to squeeze in some crafting time as a way to let those creative juices flow and as a form of inexpensive therapy.

"I've been making things forever and as I got older my crafts got more sophisticated. Right now my shop focuses mainly on beaded jewelry, but I also love to crochet and recently introduced some handmade cotton washcloths and dishcloths to my shop. I can make them in just about any color combination you can think of and they are a great alternative to paper towels and sponges that just wind up in the trash and store bought washcloths that fade and wear out."

And here is a free shipping offer from Melissa just for you, my valued readers. :)

"Please stop by my shop and my blog and let me know that you saw me here. If you decide to make a purchase from my shop, just put 'Dragon's Den' in the notes to seller and I will refund your shipping fees!"

You can find Melissa through her shop at http://madebymelissa.etsy.com and her blog at http://madebymelissa.blogspot.com

Featured Shop: The Spinning Hand

Today's featured artist is Kari from The Spinning Hand. Kari has a great selection of knit items as well as vintage items. She has some wonderful, unique designs of clothing, scarves, and other fun items like these Gingees.



These cuties are hand-knit and stuffed with plastic grocery bags. Adorable!

Another of my favorites is this sexy Keyhole Top (shown front and back).





Here's what Kari has to say about her art and her shop:

"I am trying to knit as much as is humanly possible, when I'm not at my day job or taking care of my cutie-pie son. Knitting is the way I meditate; it's my chosen form of creative expression; it's my little way of bringing beauty into the world. My favorite place to knit is at a coffee shop. The very act of knitting seems to draw people in and make them feel comfortable approaching me. It's a conversation starter!

"Lately I have begun to sell vintage items and supplies in my shop. In this way, etsy is the virtual edition of my dream bricks-and-mortar store; too, it reflects more accurately the diversity of my interests. If I could serve you a nice cup of tea while you're browsing thespinninghand, I would!

"What's in the works at thespinninghand: a focus on all-natural fibers and green living. I'm also increasingly interested in plushies and knitted amigurumi."

So sit back and enjoy browsing through this great shop. And remember ... she takes custom orders!

Etsy Green and Clean First Sunday Sale!

Here's a last minute notice about a sale that's starting now (6 p.m. Sunday, July 6th). Several team members from the Etsy Green and Clean Guild (EGCG) will be posting specials for tonight only.

So if you're looking for B&B products, soaps, lotions, scrubs, perfumes, candles, etc. then you need to check out these great deals!

See this thread on the Etsy forum to see the details of the specials.

This is a monthly EGCG Sale, so keep watching next "First Sunday" for more great deals.


And my sale tonight is 20% off everything in my shop! So if you're looking for natural soaps, shampoos, lotions, candles or pet treats then you need to check out my shop!

Sale runs tonight only from now (6 p.m. EST) to midnight tonight PST.

Dragon's Den
Handcrafted Natural Items for Body and Soul

Feel Good Friday!

Happiness is living in accordance with your beliefs and ideals.

What did you do this week that you feel especially good about? Did you ride your bike to work? Did you make an eco-friendly change in your household routine? Did you do something extra nice for someone where you expected nothing in return? Did you donate money or items to a cause you believe in?

The idea behind Feel Good Fridays is that here we can show off what we did that makes us feel good - something we believe in, some little thing to make the world a better place. Here we can also see how others are doing these things too. It's nice to see people who want a better world and are willing to do things to make it happen.

So how does it work? Just leave a comment here about the "feel good" thing you did this week. This is a great way to promote your cause! Feel free to post links so readers can get more information. Then after you've posted the comment, then add yourself to the map. I'm really looking forward to seeing how much we can fill up this map!

So have fun with this! Feel Good Fridays are going to become a regular feature here.

Contest winner!

Just a short post to let you know that Bagladee was the winner of yesterday's contest. The Etsy seller she picked as one of her favorites was Amelia Makes Art. A wonderful choice and one of my new faves too! Take a look at these custom felted pooches - adorable!

Hope everyone had fun. Keep watching for more contests and giveaways! :)

Who Do You Love?

Here's a quick and easy contest for everyone. You've got a chance to win while also showing off a favorite Etsy seller! You could win a $10 credit to my Etsy shop Dragon's Den. This can be used at any time with no minimum purchase.

Leave a comment here today (before 9 a.m. EST Friday, July 4th) and tell me one of your favorite shops on Etsy. If you want it can be your most recently "hearted," or it can be one of your faves that you feel like promoting because they're awesome!

Then tomorrow morning after 9 a.m. I'll choose one commenter at random. So be sure to include some way for me to contact you. Even if you just leave your Etsy ID I can contact you that way. :)

Featured Shop: Capital City Crafts

Barbara of Capital City Crafts is a fellow member of the Etsy New Jersey Street Team. And she makes some really lovely jewelry! There's a great variety of styles and reasonable prices. Here are a couple of my favorite pieces:


Silver Lavender Kesihi Pearl Necklace


Cathedral Earrings

Here's a little background from Barbara about her shop and designs:

"My ETSY shop is the venue for my handcrafted jewelry.  I've been designing and making jewelry since high school.  Worked in NYC for various firms both in fashion jewelry and very high end fine jewelry.  I also love photography (haven't had a minute to try and organize that to sell!).  I am inspired by the world around us!"

For more about Capital City Crafts check out her shop and blog.

http://capitalcitycrafts.etsy.com

www.capitalcitycraftstudio.com

http://capitalcitycraftstudio.blogspot.com/

Refuse, Reuse and Repurpose!

I heard these new 3 R's not long ago, and I’m doing my best to adopt them. In my own small way I feel like I’m making a difference. But it’s not just about the little bit of trash I’m keeping out of the landfill. It’s about living in accordance with your beliefs and about setting the example for others. Hold your head up with pride when you go through the checkout with your repurposed and reusable grocery bags. People get into routines and do what’s normal and expected because … well, it’s normal and expected. So shake things up a little and create a new norm in your neighborhood!

Refuse!

“Paper or plastic?” Just say, “No, thank you.” There are lots of fun options for reusable grocery bags and totes. These are larger and much stronger than your standard plastic grocery bags. So refuse those flimsy bags, and rest assured that your new durable grocery totes won’t tear open on the walk home!

Fabric grocery bags

Cotton totes

Fun Tote

Reuse!

I reuse as much as I possibly can. My family teases me about never throwing anything out! I also reuse packaging materials for shipping my products, and I turn cardboard tea boxes and cereal boxes into candle packaging.

Choose reusable instead of disposable. Are you throwing out diapers or floor cleaning pads or menstrual pads? You don’t have to – there are reusable options! Of course there are many other reusable versions of disposable products that you can find of but this is just a few examples of some great products!

Moonpads


Mop covers

Diapers

Repurpose!

This one might be a bit more of a challenge for those who aren’t crafty types. But if you use your imagination I’m sure you can think of lots of everyday items that can be repurposed. The bags shown above made by http://zJayne.etsy.com are made out of old t-shirts. And something I’ve been playing with is crocheting using “plarn” which is made from strips of plastic retail bags. The EcoEtsy team has a blog with lots of ideas, including some fun projects for repurposing. http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com/ And while you’re there don’t forget to check out some of the great EcoEtsy member shops. Here are a few fun repurposed items.

Plarn tote


Fairy pendant

Funky bracelet

Great Etsy Teams!

I want to take a few minutes here to tell you about the great Etsy Street Teams that I’m part of. What’s a Street Team you ask? Street Teams are groups of Etsy sellers who band together to form teams based on geographic location, types of products, religious beliefs … you name it! Through these teams we share information, host great contests and fun promotions, and can generally just support one another through the fun but challenging grind of being an Etsy seller.

So have fun browsing through the sites for these great teams!

“EGCG is short for Etsy Green And Clean Guild, a street team for Etsy sellers who specialize in soapmaking, perfume, cosmetics, herbal products - delights for your body and spirit.
We have banded together to help educate the public about the merits of well-crafted products from small businesses who care about their customers, as well as to promote Etsy in general.”

If you’re searching on Etsy and you want to find items from EGCG member shops simply search for “EGCG”. Or by clicking on the banner above you can browse the member shops listed on the left side of the EGCG team page.

EarthPath Artisans Street Team (EAST)

“We are a team of people with shops on Etsy.com who walk similar alternative spiritual paths, focusing our beliefs in the world of Nature. Our team membership encompasses different Goddess-based traditions, as well as Taoism, Buddhism and similar paths. Our shops are as diverse as our membership. We are not limited to selling only items representing our spiritual path, but also create to make your everyday world a better and more interesting place.”

If you’re searching on Etsy and you want to find items from EAST member shops simply search for “EAST”. Or by clicking on the banner above you can browse the member shops listed on the right side of the EAST team page.

Etsy New Jersey Street Team (EtsyNJ)

“We are a team of crafters and artists devoted to making handmade items that spread joy throughout the land. We make a number of creations, ranging from handmade jewelry, knitted & crocheted pieces to paper goods, bath & beauty, supplies, and so much more!

We have found each other through the wonderful world of Etsy and decided to join forces to represent the amazing talents New Jersey has to offer. Please check out our shops, bookmark our website, and stop back oh so often!”