Etsy Monogramm Finds

Im a sucker for anything monogrammed I just love seeing my initials splashed across something. Vain - moi?
Here are my current fave Etsy Monogrammed Items hmm I can just see them all with a "V" on them ; )

Monogrammed Cookies in Black and White by Sweet Ambs http://SweetAmbs.etsy.com

Monogrammed Candle by Initial Happy http://initialhappy.etsy.com

Sterling Silver Monogrammed Guitar Pick by Sherry Truitt http://sherrytruitt.etsy.com

Monogrammed Tissue Box by Monogramme http://monogramme.etsy.com

Initial G Soap by Painted Shed http://paintedshed.etsy.com

Hand-embroidered Coffee Sachets by Pillow Head http://pillowhead.etsy.com

Monogram Spectacle Case by Chaos and Anarchy http://chaosandanarchy.etsy.com

Custom Belt Buckle by Quid http://QUID.etsy.com

Sweet Baked Apples

This dessert just shouts Fall to me. Cozying up infront of a fire place and munching on baked apples. They're easy to make and suprisingly delicious.


Ingredients:
4 Baking Apples (I recommend Gala because they maintain their shape)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter

Directions:
Heat the oven to 400F. Wash the apples, remove the cores and place in a shallow baking dish.
Next in a small bowl combine the nuts, sugar, and butter. (Chop the butter into small pieces. Spoon the nut mixture into the apples and pile some on top aswell. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Eat warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. Mmmm delicious!

Made me Laugh - Awful 90s Mens Hair Styles

Awful Library Books just unearthed this find: "Milady's For Men Only Styling and Techniques" from 1994.
What glorious mullets! I am tempted to get my hands on a copy as a gag gift for my boyfriend as he is currently growing his hair and is very much in the awkward stage!


http://awfullibrarybooks.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/just-for-men/

Etsy Seller Feature Able Mabel

This weeks Etsy Seller Feature is on Etsy shop "Able Mabel" run by Jen and Leann, two crafty sisters from Western Colorado. Abel Mabel sell all kinds of household items such as aprons, coasters, light switch covers and baby items which as they like to put it "find the fun in functional".

" As artists, we are inspiried by everyday things around us...family, nature, colors, emotions, moods, etc. Give us a fun piece of fabric, paper or beads and it's off to the races! We love finding the "unusual" and making it into something functional!"

Here are a few questions I asked Leann who runs the business side of the shop:

You're very creative it seems like you do a litle bit of everything! Have you always been crafty?

I haven't always been crafty. In fact for many years I avoided anything crafty. I thought I could never do it, I didn't have the patience, etc.

What is your favorite craft?

I alternate between sewing and paper crafts as my favorites.

How did you first learn your crafts?

Trial and error. I experimented with various methods until I found just the right way to do it.

Do you have a favorite item in your Etsy Shop right now?

Probably this patchwork blanket. I had so much fun putting it together. The pattern was something that was totally random. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28289122

Do you do your craft full-time?

Technically, no. But I do something with it most days, even if it's just computer work. I don't necessarially create new product everyday.

Where do you find inspiration for your products?

Everywhere and anywhere. Fabrics, papers, color schemes, etc.

What do you love about your business?

The flexibility of it. The ability to use it as an "excuse" to create.

What makes you unique at Etsy?

I try to "find the fun in function".

Do you have any crafting tips to share?

Do what you love, love what you do. Push yourself to try new mediums, techniques. You never know what you might discover.

Do you have any small business tips to share?

Stay organized, even if you detest that part of the business.

Do you have any tips to share for anyone who is thinking about setting up an Etsy shop?

Keep at it. Don't give up even if the sales aren't rolling in. Take the best photographs you possibly can and then take better ones. Promote off Etsy if possible. Only invest as much money into your business as you can afford to lose.

Abel Mabel can be found at the below places:

Etsy: http://www.ablemabel.etsy.com

Blog: http://mabelisable.blogspot.com

Artfire: http://ablemabel.artfire.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=102477962544#/pages/able-mabel/102477962544

Dreams Single Light Switch Cover

Magenta Stripes Lovie with Minky for Baby Girls

Large Blooms Full Apron

Un-noticed Housework Sign

Throw Pillow

DIY Packing Tape Transfer Halloween Votive Holders

Heres an easy breezy halloween craft idea. Jessica from How about Orange shows us how to transfer spooky images onto votive candles and all you need is some clear packing tape and access to a laser printer.

For the full tutorial click here:

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/10/spooky-packing-tape-transfers.html

I've Totally Been Featured!

Jewels of Saraswati included me in her second installation of Etsy Shops from New Jersey! I'm so flattered to be featured. Head over to her blog to check out the other Etsy NJ shops featured.

http://jewelsofsaraswati.blogspot.com/2009/10/etsy-in-nj-part-2.html

Eggplant Pasta Salad

I love pasta and pasta salad is such a great staple. Here is a pasta salad with a twist that you can serve at your next picnic or bbq

Ingredients:

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 medium sized eggplant, cut into half inch pieces
1 pint of grape or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 water
2 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
Pepper and red pepper flakes
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp capers
1/4 pine nuts

1 lb penne (I used whole wheat to make it healthier)

Directions:
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium high heat, Add the celery and cook 3 or so minutes until slightly softened. Add the eggplant and tomatoes.
Meanwhile combine the tomato paste, vinegar, 1/4 of water, 2 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp of pepper and the sugar. Stir into the eggplant.

Reduce heat to medium low and cover. Cook until eggplant is tender (around 15-20 minutes).
Remove from heat and stir in the capers and pine nuts.

Meanwhile cook the penne. Toss with 1 tbsp of olive oil and let cool.
Combine the pasta and eggplant before serving.



Adapted from Real Simple

Spa Day Etsy Finds

Fall is the time of year when I revert to my at home spa treaments. In the summer the sun gives my skin a nice glow but as the days get colder I find my skin getting dryer and my complexion looking duller and we cant have that! Oh no!

I will post a few of my at home spa solutions in the coming weeks but in the mean time here are my top Etsy Spa Finds. So when its cold outside invite your girlfriends round and enjoy a relaxing spa day

Turkish Bath Towel...PESHTEMAL by Turkish Bath http://TurkishBath.etsy.com

Therapeutic Neck and Shoulder Wrap Flaxseed and Rice Lavender Scented by Comfy Creations http://ComfyCreations.etsy.com

Aromatherapy Candle - New Organic Bergamot and coriander with essential oils by Lil Sprout http://Lilsprout.etsy.com

Foot Gunk No. 1 - deodorizing foot scrub by Sugar Chills http://SugarChills.etsy.com

Beautiful Bath Tea by monamiga http://monamiga.etsy.com

Red Currant Luxury Bubble Bath by Bubble Tub http://bubbletub.etsy.com

Lime Margarita Dead Sea Salt Cold Process Handmade Soap Bar by Lippincott Soap Co http://LippincottSoapCo.etsy.com

Gudonya Whipped Clean Foaming Body Wash in Citrus Blast by Gudonya Too http://GudonyaToo.etsy.com

Luxuria Silk Sleep Mask by Doodle Bugs Fun Fabrics http://doodlebugsfunfabrics.etsy.com

Tangerine Felt Flower Woven Spa Slippers by The Blooming South http://TheBloomingSouth.etsy.com

Organic Spa Facial Kit - Cleanser, Steam, Masque, Spritz, Serum, Moisturizer by Spa Goddess http://SpaGoddess.etsy.com

First Ever New York City Yarn Crawl

Been meaning to stock u on new yarns?

This weekend 14 participating yarn stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn are joining forces to host the first ever New York City Yarn Crawl - a free self-guided tour for knitters and crocheters.

"To encourage exploration of the city's yarn shops and promote the needle arts, 14 of New York's largest yarn retailers are hosting this special event, Friday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 12."

There will also be a scavenger hunt involving all 14 stores and prizes to be won!

For more info about participating stores check out www.nycyarncrawl.com/

Etsy Seller Feature Green Eyed Butterfly

"Dancing"

This weeks Etsy Seller Feature is on Patricia Halstead from Etsy shop "Green-Eyed Butterfly". Pat was born and raised in New Jersey but currently lives in Diamond Bar, California, thirty miles east of Los Angeles. Pat sells her original art prints, ACEO's,original paintings, bibs, totes for children, shirts, and book plates in her Etsy shop. Each of her prints is an original drawn by Pat, colored on the computer and printed with a Hewlett Packard Pro printer using archival Vivara ink.

"Bird Floral"

"I love to draw and have been doing it for many years. As a grandmother, I particularly enjoy doing art for children's rooms."

"Print on Canvas"

What do you love about painting and drawing?
I have painted and drawn all of my life and it's just a natural way of expressing myself;
it's relaxing and gives me a lot of pleasure.

Do you have any formal training in painting and drawing?
I studied art, design and computer illustration in college and received a certificate in
design.

What attracts you to oil painting?
There are times that I enjoy oil painting but I usually prefer watercolors and computer
illustration.

For those of us who dont know, what are ACEOs?

I paint a lot of ACEO's which are art trading cards. These are always 2 1/2" X 3 1/2"
and are either originals or limited edition prints.

Do you have a favorite item in your Etsy shop?
Usually my favorite item in my shop is the one I just completed. I'm happy with the way
my "Dancing" print turned out which is my largest one, 14" x 18". It is very colorful
and was inspired by my grand daughter who loves to dance and always wears her sunglasses.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_2&listing_id=29055529&ga_search_query=dancing&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_7237070

Do you do your craft full-time?
I fit my artwork into and around my other responsibilities involving my husband who is retired and my family. I try to work on it everyday.



Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I find inspiration for my watercolors and oils in nature; I love painting flowers. My whimsical
art work is mostly geared toward children and my grand daughter has been my inspiration for that.

"Bookplate"

"Baby Onesie"

What do you love about your business?
Since I love to draw and paint, having an online business is a way for me to showcase my
work. It also gives me great satisfaction when someone like something enough to buy it.

What makes you unique at Etsy?
I would say that most artists on Etsy are unique because we all create from our imaginations. There are so many wonderful artists there and they all want to sell their work and and each is unique in their own way.

"Frog Tea Party"

"Nursery Print - Elephant"

Do you have any crafting tips to share?
I guess the only crafting tip I have is to learn as much as you can about your craft through
classes, books and the internet.

Do you have any small business tips to share?
Having a small internet business takes a lot of work. There is so much competition that you have to spend a lot of your creative energy finding ways to be seen. I personally list and renew several times a day since it's so easy to get buried on Etsy. I spend some time in the forums but mostly I find places to advertise which requires a lot of searching. I also have other online shops and a Facebook Fan Page.

Do you have any tips to share for anyone who is thinking about setting up an Etsy shop?
If you plan on setting up an Etsy Shop be prepared to promote constantly and getting known takes time..

Shop Green Eyed Butterfly at the below places:

Etsy: http://greeneyedbutterfly.etsy.com
http://www.winkelf.com/greeneyedbutterfly
Buy and Sell Handmade : http://www.madeitmyself.com/user/greeneyedbutterf.aspx
Handmade Fusion : http://www.handmadefusion.com/shop.php?user_id=100918
Art Cards Wanted : http://www.artcardswanted.com/artist.cfm?MID=4243
Facebook Fan Page : http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Green-Eyed-Butterfly/91914178096