.. project felt ..

Guess What?

2008-05-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

I'm opening a new Etsy Shop. Whoot Whoot. Yeppers, can't believe it. What am I thinking? Another shop to promote? Another shop to deal with on a daily basis? I don't know to be sure.I'm addicted to the art of crafting and creating things. All I know is my inner artist is yearning for more than just felt. Why limit myself? Why not reach for the sky?

So details you want right. Well, the new shop is deerthreads.etsy.com . It's a shop that will specialize in all things cute, practical, whimsical, and very reasonably priced. Although I don't actually have anything made yet ( supplies are on there way), I have great ideas for magnets, hair ties, pins, key chains, change purses, small sachets, buttons etc. etc. I have a whole big list of wonderful cutesy things that I cant wait to start making.

Just today, I made this banner while I was at work. It's a work in progress, but it will have to do for now.

Here is an image of the custom stamp I designed that I' having an etsy seller make me as we speak. I'm going to use it on my packaging using soy based inks and on my business cards using recycled papers.

I'm so excited! Pictures of new products will follow very soon.

p.s I'm working on a little "deer threads, " letter if you will. A little poem/letter to add to my packaging and business cards.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-30T18:33:00.001-07:00

Wanna Cupecake?

2008-04-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

I created this today just goofing around. I really dig how it came out. I like how the icing mimics the skull teeth. Still running into some technical issues but Ill get there. I still need to learn how to shade. What shall we call her? Hmm...sweet cakes?

Sour Apple

2008-04-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Not this apple! She is as cute as can be. My first apple drawing. I haven't learned any techniques for shading yet. When I do, I'm going to go back and shade her. I think Ill call her Betsy. You like? Hmm.. what's next? maybe a she will have a baby in the form of a plum!

P.S, if anyone knows how to resize these images so they are bigger pleas feel free to share.

Where Have I Been?

2008-04-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

I know I know, I have some explaining to do. I can't remember the last time I blogged. It's a dirty shame isn't it! I'm most sure I have lost some of my faithful readers. So let me explain.

First, this craft show I'm preparing for has me pulling my hair daily. The show is on May 10th. It's my first show and I have been crocheting and felting till I can't see anymore. So enough about that.

One the good side, I have taken on a new venture. Something I have wanted to do since I could remember. Graphic design. Yes, I have taken on the task of teaching myself the skills necessary to be a successful designer. Not only that, but I have also taken the challenge of learning web design as well. Whew, makes me tired just writing about it.

Most of my days and evenings for the past three weeks or so have consisted of me raising money to purchase Adobe Illustrator and Dreamweaver. Once I purchased the programs, I scoured the web for tutorials and lessons on how to use these monstrous programs. As you can see from the image above, although it's cute, I have a long ways to go. I'm learning more and more everyday. I love it so much that I've already done two banners for some Etsy friends as a way to practice interacting with clients.

Now some of you may say, 'well what about felting'? I ask myself this same question as well. The thing is, felting is time consuming. It's a craft that I love but at the same time cannot make a decent living doing. If you have read my posts from way back you already now that I hate my job more than mayonnaise. And I puke on mayo, trust me. So I needed to do so soul searching and figure out what I was going to do with my life.

The job market in the country in non existent and living in a small town doesn't help. Most decent paying jobs require a degree of some sort. Who can afford college? I have a phobia of debt. I dug myself a whole when I was 18 and it took me almost 4 years to re cooperate. Not going there again. I just can't fathom paying over 100,000 for someone to tell me how the color wheel works and why Picaso cut his ear. Get what I'm dishing. I was born with a special talent of design. I always had it and i always will.

So you ask ' well Tara, most graphic design jobs require degrees as well'. Your right. BUT, yes there is a big but. An online portfolio can speak for itself. Once I have a year experience under my belt with these programs and I feel comfortable navigating my way around, I will start to build my online portfolio and start hitting the job market. How can an employer turn someone down with a portfolio to die for? Degree or not.

One more things I would like to discuss before I end my evening. This blog had three major focuses; me, Etsy, and the environment. The last couple months has been so hectic and stressful that I decided to no longer restrain myself to just those topics. I know that the most successful blogs are the ones who have a focus. But I also think it's important to share and discuss things that are random as well. I want to keep my readers curious. What's she going to write about today sort of thing. I find myself wanting to write about so many things but I have restrained myself because I tried to maintain the theme of this blog. I can no longer do that. I must break free from the box and speak freely about what I please. I hope you all will take my decision with grace as I do and enjoy my blog just the same. The next month or so will be interesting. I feel better already. I have things bottled up inside of me that I just can't wait to share with you.

But for now, please enjoy this second vector image I created just a little bit ago. I think I'll name it tulip. Original huh? Just kidding. What do you think? I would love to hear your comments. I need all the critism I can get ♥

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-09T15:45:00.001-07:00

New Banner

2008-04-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

I made my own banner! My very first one. All my other ones have been custom made for me. But this time, I wanted to make something of my own. I figured out how to make one in Power Point of all places. Because I don't have the uber expensive Photoshop, I was a little leery on what Power Point could actually do. But, it turned out great.

Hope you like. Oh, and you know I had to sneak in that little recycle symbol too :)

Now if I can just figure out how to upload it to my blog. Anyone wanna tell me how?

To see a better image of my new banner, visit my shop.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

What's Up With Team EcoEtsy

2008-04-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

As the leader of the EcoEtsy street team, I thought I would take some time to blog about the who's and what's of the team. To be honest, the back office part of the team, which is my job is taking up most of my time lately. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as I know all the hard work will pay off, and It already is.

We have grown as a team so much in the last 6 months, that just have to brag about a few things.

First, we have a team blog. The blog is ran by Letitiah, me, Kittenmiami, Fashiongreentbags, and Lapomme. We do weekly Eco tips, donated by the team members. We hope to one day compile all those tips into a zine and sell in our up and coming team shop. Each week, we also do a little game called theme nominations. The members scour Etsy by searching our team tag, 'teamecoetsy', and try to find items that match the theme of the week. It's a lot of fun and you get to discover new shops.

We also just launched a team website, ecoetsy.com. Shutterkate is the brains behind the site. We thank her greatly for her hard work in getting this site up so quickly for us. This is a huge milestone for the team. It will expand our web presence and give us another outlet to spread the green love. The site was just launched today, so check it often and watch it grow. We will soon have our team shops listed by category, a bio of the team, and any events and team sales that we have planned for the future listed on the site.

A very talented designer and team member, Lolaness, has donated her time and skills to create a series of promos for the team. They are hosted on her personal website. The team members are able to visit her site and download the templates and print them out using found and recycled paper. Each season, Lolaness comes out with a new design to reflect the time of year. Since it's spring, she just launched our spring promos. They are better than ever! We even have seed packets we can print and put seeds into as little gifts in our packaging.

Lately, most of my time has been going to a series of Storque articles that the EcoEtsy and Trashion Teams are collaborating on. In celebration of the upcoming Earth Day, we are writing all about green living, shopping, crafting, etc. I must read. The articles are due April 9 Th, but we don't have a definite date for when the articles will be launching.

With all this excitement going on in the team, I can't help bu be proud to be a leader of such a wonderful group of people. I'm truly blessed to be a part of a team that shares the same values and morals as I do. Thanks a lot team for all your hard work!

My Etsy Find of The Week ::Elephannie

2008-03-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

I guess on of my favorite things about artist, Elephannie is the fact that she lives my dream. read her profile on Etsy and you'll see what I mean.

Elephannie creates a beautiful array of decals to make your home different from your neighbors, to say the least. These vinyl stickers are easily removed. What a break through for those of us apartment dwellers. No need to worry about ruining your start white apartment walls. These decals are PERFECT for sprucing up any space, where you can't necessary paint.

I'm super excited to one day own a home and fill it with all these simple and uber cute decals. I can see birds in my bathroom and little dear running along the stove backdrop in the kitchen. Oh what a wonderful feeling.

Here are some of my favorites from Elephannies's Etsy shop

Doe A Deer $ 18 USD

Cold Birds $ 11 USD

Poppies $ 16 USD

Tip Blitz

2008-03-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

1. Buy in bulk as much as possible. You'll save on unnecessary packaging and less frequent trips to the grocery store meaning less gas and more cash in your pocket.

2. Educate yourself on the claims made on products such as "All natural" or " Organically Grown" The FDA has standards that each product needs to meet in order to have these statements on there packaging, but they aren't as strict as you think. Being an educated consumer will allow you to make the best informed decision when you are purchasing goods.

3. Make a wish list online of all your favorite green products. Tell your friends and family about your new life change and email them you list. This way, your sure to get some Eco- friendly products when it's time to receive gifts.

4. Buy fair trade sugar, coffee and tea whenever possible.

5. Keep things simple. Only buy what you need or enjoy. The less you buy the less you will waste.

6. Buy bleach-free toilet paper made from the highest post consumer waste you can find.

7. Use a dry erase board instead of a note pad when leaving messages for friends and family.

8. It's yard sale season. take advantage of it. Buy items that others have already used. Most of the time, these left over yard sale items wind up in the dump after the sale.

9. Make a recycling fact sheet to pass around your neighborhood. Educate you fellow peers on what your town recycled and where they can take them. Most people are too busy to research this themselves. Spread your knowledge.

10. Leave your grass clippings on the lawn after you mow. This acts as a fertilizer and also protects your lawn from those hot drought summer days.

EARTH HOUR

2008-03-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

This March 29Th at 8pm environmentalists, hippies, Eco-friendlies, business, and anyone who else who cares about our mother earth will turn the lights off for 1 hour.

It all started last year on March 31st, when the WWF ( World Wide Fund For Nature ) in Sydney Australia organized the first ever Earth Hour. The city estimated nearly 2.2 million people participated and may have saved between 2.1 % and 10.2% of the electricity for that hour. This year, it's an international event.

For more information you can visit earthhour. org

Pss.. March 29Th is also my birthday :)

Spring

2008-03-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

What does Spring mean to me? Well, I'll show you...

At a Distance print by Lilly Moon $ 15 USD

Lemon Sprout Earrings by A Sweet Mag Pie $ 13 USD

Nest of Three Necklace by Artistic Creations $ 44 USD

Mini Flower Brooch by Jenmenkhaus $5.25 USD

Patchwork Bunny Pattern By Adelaide Lemonade $ 3 USD

Butterfly Wing Glass Necklace by PopPkO $ 65 USD

Hi Mr. Oak Tree by Hi Tree $ 60 USD

Someone Please stop me! I could go on and on. Spring is in the air. Ah, what a wonderful feeling.

Weddings Gone Eco

2008-03-19T17:28:00.000-07:00

Etsy is doing a series of articles dedicated to Eco friendly weddings. Tis the season for engaged couples to start freaking out over their wedding dates soon to come. Today, Etsy featured one seller who had an Eco friendly wedding. So I thought I would share a little of the story with you.

Dana a.k.a Thomasina from Etsy, created a beautiful D.I.Y Eco friendly wedding. I'm going to share a few things with you that Dana did to save money and the planet.

First up, the invites. She found a paper maker at a local thrift store for $4. Her and hubby made paper and envelopes from old magazines. They turned out great!

The wedding was held at a local bar that also housed a business that salvages old historic pieces from soon to be demolished buildings. As you can see form the image below, the atmosphere screams charm. What a lovely setting.

They found these amazing bamboo disposable and biodegradable plates and utensils. The bamboo is organically grown and guaranteed to biodegrade in 4-6 mths. They look to me like a fancy set of wooded dinnerware that you would find in a Pier 1 of sorts. Never would have thought these beauties are disposable. I wonder if you can wash them? The company of these plates are not given but I'm on the hunt.

To read the full article about this wedding visit the Storque article over at Etsy.com.

I'm not married yet, and this article is giving me the itch to start planning my own Eco wedding. I hope all you brides to be will be inspired to do the same.

Buygreen.com

2008-03-18T19:04:00.000-07:00

As if Etsy shopping wasn't consuming my life enough, I cam across a site the other day that makes me go " I gotta have that!" Buygreen.com is a site made for us by us Eco - friendly citizens. The people at buygreen.com are so into their efforts that everything from their office supplies to their packing materials are all recycled.

Each product on the site is rated using 4 key factors, source material, manufacturing, use and disposal. Each product is then given a score based on how well they fit into each category. The site displays the products score so you know how that particular product rates among the rest.

I like the idea that someone is finally holding these companies accountable for there false claims of Eco and green products. Something can be recycled or made from 100% organic cotton, but that doesn't always mean that the company or the manufacturer is conscience about there carbon footprint or other materials used to create the product. All these things matter too .

Buygreen also purchases carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint to zero. They also participate in an organization called 1% for the planet. Where businesses can donate 1% of their profit to support Eco practices and research.

Of course I had to do some browsing of my own and because I'm doing my part by not buying unless I have to, I must say, it's tempting to grab some of these Eco - cool products below.

Wooden USB Memory Stick $59 USD

If I didn't already have one, I would be purchasing this for sure. I just love this.

Braided twine Dog Collar $ 12 USD

My poochie would love this. But, she doesn't wear a collar.

solar hybrid Flash Light $ 19.95 USD

Think Before You Buy : Precycling

2008-03-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of Upcycling, but what about Precycling? To me, it seems like a much better concept to get accustom to. Precycling reduces your foot print meaning you have to worry less about recycling. It makes you think about what you are buying BEFORE you purchase in order to reduce the amount of waste you create in the first place.

Some precycling tips to get you started...

>Don't take a bag for small purchases. Or big purchases for that matter. If your going strait to your car, why must you have a bag for it? And if you aren't going to your car, snatch yourself a tote and fill er up!

>Don't buy single use products such as plastic plates, spoons, razors etc. Be selective in your choices. Bu razors of high quality so they will last longer and also save you some cash too.

>Shop on the outer limits of your grocery store. Anytime you enter an isle, your sure to grab a box or any other pre packaged item that you then have to worry about recycling. Try buying more fruits and grains. Grab your meats from the deli rather than grabbing from the frozen food section where everything is pre packaged with styrofoam.

>Choose concentrates whenever possible. Again, this saves money and also will last a lot longer preventing you from re buying more packaging.

ECO ETSY Street Team Scavenger Hunt

2008-03-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Eco Etsy Street Team is holding it's first scavenger hunt on Etsy this Sunday, March 16th. You have a chance to win prizes donated by the Eco Etsy members. Join in on the fun! The hunt starts at 12pm EST and ends at 12am EST or until all the prizes are spoken for.

You can visit the team blog at http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com for more detailed instructions on how to participate.

So come out and celebrate the lucky holiday with us!

*please note

The details of the hunt will not be posted on the blog until tomorrow evening, March 15.

For All My Loyal Readers...

2008-03-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

I have created a new feature for all my faithful blog readers. If you look to the side, you will see a Weekly Special. I will be offering a new item each week at a discounted price as a thank you for everyone's support with making this blog a success. This week's feature is my new felted brooch for $8 USD pluse .50 shipping.

Since this is a new venture for me, I want to keep things as simple as possible so I'm only offering this to U.S Residents. I will only ship to a U.S address at this time.

Hope you enjoy!

Stay tuned next week to see the new special ♥

Eco Etsy Street Team Find

2008-03-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I'm the leader of the street team on Etsy called EcoEtsy. We are a group of Etsy sellers who have a passion for saving the Earth. We share tips, projects, run sales, and challenges together, to raise awareness about the importance of being Eco friendly in our business practices as well as in our day to day lives.

You can read more about our team on the team blog. If you are an Etsy seller and share the same passions as we do, there is a link on the team blog at the top right with instructions on how to join the team.

Each week, I will try to showcase an item from one of the team members by searching the team tag 'teamecoetsy'. You too, can search for all our members Eco products on Etsy by using the same tag word.

Here is what caught my eye this week...

Niccocjm creates these wonderful Eco friendly shopping bags. Very elegant and chic. I'm in love with the colors selection and the cute saying on the front of the bag. What a great idea.

Visit the Mon Petite Chien Etsy shop for more goodies!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-03-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hmmm....why didn't I think of that ?

2008-03-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

What a neat idea this designer Dana Roth came up with. Recycled beer can rings. Recycling those beer cans from the drunken fest the night before turns out to be a rather interesting fashion statement. Who knew, drinking from a soda can had it's benefits.

Gifts.com showcases some of the works as well as bracelets and earrings. For $4o USD, you can have one of your own and they look to be of very high quality too.

For $90 USD you can snag one of these bracelets show below. I just love this idea!

My Etsy Find Of The Week :: Olive ::

2008-03-09T13:08:00.001-07:00

This weeks Etsy finds come from Etsy seller, Olive. We come from the same love of all things vintage and the love of redecorating our rooms. I do this often.

Olive creates some beautiful pillows made from the most exquisite fabric. The patterns and colors are oh so wonderful! I'm digging the organic patterns and clean lines.

Olive also carried brooches, cards, art, purses, etc. So check it out

Here are a few of my favorites...

50's Bird Cage Pillow $ 18 USD

Come To My Neighborhood Pillow $ 18 USD

It's Promo Time Again

2008-03-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

And look what I came up with. Needle Felted Ball Key Chains. Simple and to the point. I attached my moo cards to them as well. These babies will go in the mail tomorrow for the second EcoEtsy Street Team Promo Swap.

Awesome New Tool !

2008-03-08T05:02:00.001-08:00

I just stumbled upon this new tool by Flickr. A must see. You can do all sorts of things with your images! Check out this mosaic that I created with some of my works below. Wouldn't that make a great flyer? I'm addicted. Check it out at www.bighuglabs.com

Customer Photos

2008-03-07T04:17:00.000-08:00

I did a custom order for a gal on Etsy last week but unfortunately, I was unable to get a snap shot before I sent the package out due to bad weather. So she photographed them for me !

Thanks Nina Bagley :)

Felted Nesting bowls set of three $45 USD

I love this wonderful grey blue shade of yarn I found. Just lovely and perfect for any color scheme.

You can find more of these felted bowls in my Etsy shop.

I also did a set of pods in the same color as well. Shown below. These are still for sale which is surprising considering the pure beauty of them.

Set of three Felted Pods $ 30 USD

Eco Craft Show Part I

2008-03-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start a series of Eco craft show posts since that is what's currently consuming my life right now. Actually, this will be my very first craft show meaning I have absolutely nothing to get started. Being the Eco savvy chick I am, I thought it would be fun to blog about my experience leading up to craft show day ( which hasn't been decided yet by the way).

So this evening I'm going to talk about what to do first when you decide that you want to do a craft show.

Step 1
Make sure you have the proper taxing licensing and other legal documents before the day of the show. Some states require you have a resales license before you sell in that state. You can determine what documents you need by contacting the local city council of the town holding the fair or visit www.irs.gov.

Step 2
Start making a list of anything and everything you think you may need for the big day. I have a list about three pages long. Obviously, some of those things will be weeded out as time goes by but it's a starting point.

Here a few good sites that have pre made lists to get you started...

Craftersport.com
Sunshineglassworks.com
katieisgreat80.blogspot.com

Once you have your list, you need to make another list that will determine what you need to purchase and or do first. This is what I'm currently working on now.

Step 3
Soon after you make your list of essentials, you need to figure out how you want your booth to look. What feeling are you trying to convey? What design elements do you want to incorporate ? These are just a few questions to think about. Do a rough sketch if you have to. It's important to also know what the measurements of the space and table are that you will be using. In fact, you should get that information right away before you start any design planning.

Here are a few sites to browse around for design ideas...
Arts and Crafts Group on Flickr
beadingbystacie.com

Really, there are tones of images online for your viewing pleasure. Just do a Google search for craft fair pictures.

Tomorrow I will talk about the next step in your craft fair preparation after you have a vision in mind. As well as ways to save money and help the planet along the way too! Don't worry, Eco friendly ideas are soon to follow!
Stay tuned...

Wordless Wednesday

2008-03-05T15:24:00.001-08:00

Eco This and That's

2008-03-04T16:50:00.001-08:00

Because I had so much time today, not really. I was browsing around the net trying to find something to blog about tonight. I have been slacking in the Eco articles lately I know. So here are a few this and that's to hold you over.

National Geographic has a neat little quiz you can take to test your "green" knowledge. Click here to see what you score. Pss. I got a 90% !

Remember last year's pet recall? If you care about your kids like I do ( bailey and Ruca) you will feed them all natural organic dog and cat food.

Try cat food. Or Instinct Chicken Formula

Wanna try something different than the regular old Vodka? A new organic liqueur has come onto the market called Veev Liquer. made with prickly pear extract, this stuff is suppose to give you less hangovers. I'll be the judge of that.

This one made me chuckle. Instead of using an electric can opener, try using the old school manual crankers. You'll save electricity and burn a couple calories while your at it. :)

75% of trash can be recycled but only 25% is. More than I thought was actually recycled anyway.

Earth 911 is an online site that allows you to enter your zip code to find your nearest recycling center. You should already know that since you already recycle right? I thought so.

Well that's all for now folks. Have a great evening and remember, always brush your teeth with the water off!

My Etsy Find Of The Week :: Haru ::

2008-03-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Haru has a passion for vintage items and paper. I do too! Maybe this is why I'm drawn to the elegantly beautiful wreaths she creates using old vintage papers from all walks of life.

When you visit the Haru Etsy shop, you will see a collection of wreaths that will blow your mind. Each description has a list of papers that were used in creating the wreaths. I love the idea that paper is being recycled and used to make the most beautiful things. Who says recycled can't be pretty?

Here are a few of my favorites...

The Mystery of the White Bird Paper Wreath $ 80 USD

Sweet Memories Paper Wreath $ 80 USD

New Item

2008-03-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

Brooches. Yes, I fed into the trend and decided to create a line of felted brooches. I couldn't help myself. The idea actually came from the need for promo items for a promo swap I'm participating in this month. I wanted to create something simple and quick that I could give away as a little sample of my felted work.

Well, let's just say that idea didn't turn out too well, as the brooches took a lot longer then expected to create. I have different color combos ( shown below) listed in my Etsy shop right now. More to come as usual so stay tuned. In fact, I'm working on more today.

So the moral of the story is, I have a great new product at an awesome price point, but still no promos.

Enjoy!

Felted Brooch with Vintage cream button $ 10 USD

Color = Yellow

2008-02-28T17:14:00.000-08:00

My days recently have been filled with blue and grays. I have been slackin on the bloggin and to be quite frank, very stressed in my personal life. But in order to keep my blog happy and de stressed. I thought that yellow would do the trick.

Henry and Penny $18 USD by Little Bit Funky

Pod Earrings $ 12.50 USD by Girlinworld

Filigree Tree in Ochre Print $ 1o USD by Me Art Design

What's Red And Super Cute?

2008-02-25T16:40:00.000-08:00

My adorable new felted apple! I'm going to make a green and yellow one too. So stay tuned. Available now in my Etsy shop.

My Etsy Find Of The Week :: Chet And Dot ::

2008-02-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

This might just be the cutest shop I have come across on Etsy thus far. Wait, I say that all the time. Like candy for a baby, I want everything I see. My eyes pop out of my head and I swoon over the delightfulness of Chet And Dot. You can prominently see that Chet And Dot are inspired greatly on Japanese design. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to the beautiful things that adorn the shop. I highly recommend that you not only visit the Chet and Dot Etsy shop but also the Chet and Dot Blog. There, you will find the cutest goodies and storied behind them. A few of my favorites...

Horned Owl $ 18 USD

Sewing Kit - Little Birds House $ 24 USD

Woolen Bowl Of Pink and Red $ 14 USD

Game Night

2008-02-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

I recently hosted a game night at my home for my co- workers. I didn't have enough dinnerware to serve everyone who was coming over. I couldn't bare the thought of buying paper or plastic plates and silverware. So I went on a search to find a more Eco friendly way of doing things.

I could A, borrow some dinnerware from a neighbor, but that's kinda weird don't ya think? I could B, tell everyone to eat with there fingers and dig in! that didn't go over too well either. Or I could C, buy this super cool new product made from sugar cane! Yes, sugar cane. These dinner sets ( shown below) will biodegrade in 180 days. The price wasn't bad at all either.

Here is the breakdown for those of you who are caught in a jam like I was...

16 oz. Bowl (pack of 50): $8.50
12 oz. Cup (pack of 50): $9.00
7″ Plate (pack of 50): $6.50
9″ Plate (pack of 50): $9.00
9″ Compartmentalized Plate (pack of 50): $9.00
12″ Oval Platter (pack of 10): $5.50
Fork, Knife, Spoon (50 of each): $14.00

Well worth the price huh? You can find them at branchhome.com I was lucky to find them local one a trip to the city. Stock up while you can if you have to purchase them online. You never know when you'll be nominated to host a work event.

Fuzzy Fingers

2008-02-23T05:18:00.000-08:00

I've had these felted rings made for quite some time now. I have been waiting for some sunlight to photograph them. I'm still not 100% happy with the quality of the images but they are good for now.

You can purchase these in my Etsy shop now ♥

Felted Rings sizes 6.5 - 8.0 $12 USD

Oh and a new set of pods came about too!

Felted Pods Set Of Three $ 30 USD

Recycled Fire Wood Yah!

2008-02-20T17:49:00.000-08:00

BRRRR......it's cold out there. Here in the North East we are battling some server drops in temperature. It made me think of all the warm fireplaces out there that I don't have the luxury to own.

Dirtworks.net has an awesome product for all you fireplace dwellers. Wood made from recycled saw dust particle that have been compressed using heat. Now we can sit near the burning fire with our loved ones this winter and swoon over the fact that no trees were cut for our heating pleasure.

True Fuel wood also produces fewer pollutants and less smoke than regular wood. pound for pound, True Fuel gives off more heat too!

Visit Dirtworks.net to see more statistics on this new Eco friendly product.

Recycled Can Be Beautiful

2008-02-19T05:30:00.000-08:00

People associate recycled with ugly, old, stinky, from the trash whatever. I would like to set the record strait that recycled can be beautiful too!

Case in point...

Recycled Silky Poppy Pin $ 4 USD By foundling

Eco Silver Ring $ 55 USD By Jesse Danger

Handmade Recycled Paper Tags $ 5 USD By Claudia's Creations

.....and there's more where that came from.....

The Make My Day Award

2008-02-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

Jo from Daisy Chain Designs has sent me a 'You make my day' award! I love doing these sorts of things.

To pass the award on, here are the details :
1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day.
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Display the “You Make My Day Award” logo
4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news.

Ok, here it goes. Fun stuff !

1. Lilli Tutu : This blog makes me smile each time I visit it. I enjoy the whimsical images of little tots wearing cute things.

2. Bakerella : Oh so cute and insanely sweet treats are featured on this blog. Love it!

3. Wee Wonderfuls : Another blog of uber cuteness. I just can't get enough .

4. Love It A lot : Because sometimes I need to be inspired. And this blog has some great finds.

5. My Recycled Bags : It's fun to see what new creations come about. So inspiring and so recycled!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-02-14T16:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know it's not Wednesday, But I forgot yesterday. Plus today is Valentines Day. Cut me a break will ya ♥

Great Things Are Happening

2008-02-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

One of my New Year resolutions was to start branching out from Etsy. I feel the need to broaden my market and really start getting my name out there as a fiber artist.

I started with a list of online shops and blogs I wanted to either sell to or be featured in. I knew going into it that I would get very few responses if not any at all. So you can imagine when I heard back from two people, how happy I was.

The first venue is an online boutique called Three Potato Four Shop. It's run by a husband and wife who are in love with all things vintage and unique. I contacted them about potentially being intersted in my felted items. They responded very generously by requesting sample. After they received the sample, they proceeded to place a wholesale order with me. How fun!

After a whole month of waiting, my acorns are finally listed on there site. :)

Below is one of the photos they took of my acorns.

As if that's not enough, Modern Dose had requested some felted nesting bowls. They are a well known Indie company who has so far given me great recognition.

I feel accomplished so far this year and I'm proud of myself for taking the plunge and growing my business. I see many more hopes and dreams coming true in the future for Project Felt.

Ok, stepping down off the soap box. ♥

My Etsy Find Of The Week :: Pinky Pig ::

2008-02-11T05:16:00.000-08:00

Cute is all I can say about this Etsy seller. Carol from the land of Oz knows how to whip up some great little zipper pouches, Brooches, and hair ties.

I like to swoon over the Japanese like fabric. Her products are expertly sewn in the cutest of patterns. I'm particularly fond of the little elephant brooches. I have had on hearted from some time now. And if your into Bylthe dolls, well she has some itsy bitsy socks for your dolls too!

I hope to one day be able to snatch up some of the items listed below. Take a look at the Pinky Pig shop and be prepared to be smothered in uber style and cuteness.

Little Boxy Mini Pouches $ 12 USD Each

Cute Felt Elephant Brooches $ 8.50 USD Each

Mini Wallet Card Cases $ 7.50 USD Each

Color = Green

2008-02-09T17:06:00.000-08:00

I can't go wrong with green! Here are some shades of green that will relax and sooth your brain.

Connectedness Print by Ground Work $ 20 USD

Turquoise and Olivine Earrings By Bingeyer $ 15 USD

Yellow And Green Pears Journal by Stacy Handmade $ 15 USD

Tangled Up In Blue

2008-02-09T17:04:00.001-08:00

All Nestled In Treasury

2008-02-09T17:00:00.001-08:00

A Fine Line Treasury

2008-02-09T16:54:00.001-08:00

Lucky Origami Stars Eco Style

2008-02-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

I found a new obsession. I have always been drawn to all things Japanese. The little cartoon characters, the wonderful crafts and craft books, The cute little packaging, the culture, everything just amazes me about that whole part of the world.

I was bored at work yesterday and started searching for origami. I came across these little itsy bitsy "lucky stars". They seemed easy enough to start out with. So to make a long story short, I have been obsessing over making these little guys for the last 48 hours. I already have 100 stars made. :) I have a glass jar at work filled up with shades of green, teal, blues, pinks and yellow. When I came home last night, I decided to reuse some old magazines and make recycled ones.

I have yet to decide what I'm going to do with them yet. Everyone keeps asking me. I may keep them. I may include some in my packages, or I may try to sell them. Who knows. I do know however, that everyone must try to make some. I'm sure you will be addicted as well.

Pictured below are a few that I made this morning as soon as I woke up made from an old Crate and Barrel magazine.

Fun Fun ♥

Pss...here is a really great You Tub video link on how to make them.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-02-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

Eco Etsy Beauties

2008-02-06T16:39:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin and Avacado

2008-02-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start showcasing all the treasuries I'm in over at Etsy.com since I now figured out how to do it...♥

Eco Ellen

2008-02-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

In reading the The Green Book ( link on the side) which I hope you all went out a got already, I'm intrigued by the celebrity quotes that were gathered. I don't know, I guess I thought celebrities had better things to think about then saving the earth. But if you think about it, they have the most resources and money to actually do something big about it. Here is a quote taken from the book by Ellen Degeneres

" People don't realize how little it takes to change our world for the better. Here's something I didn't know: I thought that all the oil in our oceans was caused by tanker spills. It's not. I learned that twenty-four million out of the twenty- nine million gallons of oil that goes into North America's ocean are cause by human activity. Twenty-four million gallons! That's crazy! I usually use it by the tablespoon. What happens is we pour our cooking oil down the drain, top off our gas tanks, and hose down the grease from our cars into storm drains, then it goes into our oceans. " (end quote)

Bet you didn't know that huh. I use it by the tablespoon too and it usually goes right into my mouth. But like Ellen says, we don't realize how the dumbest things such as cleaning our cars can impact the ecosystem. I'm personally a fan of underwater sea life. So beautiful in color. It makes me sad to think that I am contributing to there extinction with out even realizing it. This post tonight is a perfect example of why I started an Eco blog. People don't know this stuff. It just doesn't cross our minds. We weren't raised to be aware of things like this. It wasn't an issue back then. I hope that all my faithful readers tell one friend about my blog, so they too can learn a little about what they can do to preserve the Earth.

Snow white sea glass pendant $30 USD by Sea Find Designs

Vintage Plastic Ship Round Cabochons $ 3 USD by Epoch Beads

Ocean Grass $28 USD by Susannah Tucker

My Etsy Find Of The Week::The Star Craft::

2008-02-03T14:22:00.000-08:00

The shop name speaks for itself. What talent and patients this etsy seller has right? And oh so colorful shades of paper manipulated into beautiful stars and cranes.

The Star Craft has over 10 years experience folding paper. And it surly shows. Her stars as she describes in her profile are not a form of origami but rather a form of basketry. If you read her descriptions on one of her stars, she describes how they are formed.

Her origami cranes are folded using hand dyed Japanese paper, strung with swarovski crystals. The cranes are folded with a wish for peace. A very interesting story accompanies her listings. I can picture my ceiling filled with paper stars shinning in the sun as it flows through the windows. How a young girl would dream of such a room.

Each star is folded using Moravian Paper and dipped in paraffin wax and sprinkled with glitter. Just divine.

It was hard to pick just three things to highlight from The Star Craft's shop. I love everything and I want a collection to adorn my craft room.

Yellowy Cosmos in a jar $ 24 USD

World Eqality Paper Crane $ 14 USD

Crimson Steller Crystals $ 14 USD

Totally Irrelevant

2008-02-03T06:51:00.000-08:00

I know this not in character of my blog and not something you would expect to see, but something is drawing me to cupcakes lately. Well, for awhile now, I have been obsessing over anything cupcake related.

This is mainly for my own records as I must have these for my wedding some day. So think of it as a little note to myself online not to forget about these little beauties.

Bakerella is a blog all about cakes and decorating. I'm not sure how I came across this blog or what I was even searching. I do know it wasn't cakes. Stupid google. The cake is made like normal then crumbled up in a bowl, mixed with cream cheese and shaped into little cupcakes. A popsicle stick is inserted and they are put in the fridge to harden. Once hardened they are dipped in chocolate and decorated oh so nicely.

Above are these adorable little pink balls of cake! Just as cute as the cupcakes.

Speaking of Cupcakes...

Cupecake Pincushion by Betzwhite $ 36 USD

Sweet Tooth Magnet Set by BlockPartyPress $ 20 USD

Cupcake Salt And Pepper Shakers By Patticake

Newspaper Yarn?

2008-02-02T14:55:00.000-08:00

You guessed it. A member from the Eco Etsy street team brought this to my attention today and I immediately had to come over here and tell you all about it. And as a little side note, if anyone knows how to do this or makes it or whatever, I want to know because I want some asap!

The site appears to be a blog where someone named Greetje Van Tiem did a college project on spinning newspaper into yarn. In reading the responses to the blog post, most say that they did this many many years ago. Mostly using crepe papers. I'm amazed by the up cycling meets beauty in the yarn. Think of how many newspapers are thrown away each day. If we could recycle all those papers and spin them into yarn I think I would pass out and die from happiness.

Here is the blog link if you are interested in reading the article. Not much there but a bunch of responses. I googled the yarn to see if there was a place to purchase it. Turns out, blog all over the world are blogging about this stuff. What an overnight success!

Also in searching deep into the google search ( like 4 pages back) I found a blog called curious weaver who explains how to make this yarn. Click here for that info. Still no finding on where I can buy some. Oh well, I'll keep searching.

Color = Gray

2008-02-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

It was a bad bad day for me. Ice storm, broken bum from falling, wet soggy frizzy hair from the humidity. I'm just feeling gray today. Oh and I'm super gray because I realized that I forgot to blog yesterday! What the heck? Sorry folks. I'm back on track now.

Here is my gray moody finds for the night...

Sad Cloud by SoSheSews $10 USD

Beach Stone Hear Pendant by SteppingStones $ 50 USD

Just Branches Print by Nottoopink $12 USD

Lord please let tomorrow be a better day....amen ♥

Wordless Wednesday

2008-01-30T16:16:00.001-08:00

Save money on Cloths

2008-01-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

I know, I'm a gal too. And I love to shop for cloths. But, I learned a couple things along the way. I'm going to outline for you my rules for saving money on cloths and you will be saving the environment too with out any effort!

1. Don't buy trendy clothing. Keep it classic. Keep it edgy but still wearable for at least another year.

How does this save you money?
You spend less cash buying cloths every season and less money on gas making emergency trips to the mall.

How does this save the earth?
You have the clothing for longer therefore less waste in the landfills. Less trips to the mall and of course, less support of the sweat shops that actually manufacture the clothing.

Bamboo shirt $ 24 USD What a steal! I paid almost double for mine.

2. By clothing that doesn't need dry cleaning.

How does this save you money?
No dry cleaning bills

How does this save the earth?
Dry cleaners contrary to popular belief, use some pretty harsh chemicals. You are contributing to the pollution by giving them your garments. You will also save a dry cleaning bag that will probably get thrown out as well as those go awful metal hangers that I'm sure you don't want in your closet.

Bamboo Hoodie $ 44 USD

3. If you are fortunate enough, don't dry your clothing. Hang dry baby!

How does this save you money?
Your using less energy, less wear and tear on your dryer which means it will last longer, and less wear and tear on your clothing, so you buy less frequently.

How does this save the earth?
Again, less energy being generated.

Color Grown Cotton Peasent Dress $ 105 USD ( Pricy but beautiful)

4. Please Please separate your white from your darks.

How does this save you money?
You won't ruin you favorite white cami and therefor feel the need to buy another one.

How does this save the earth?
Less waste produced from clothing that the goodwill or other second hand store because of dye stains. Most second hand store won't take your clothing if it has rips or stains on it.

Keep these in mind as you are shopping.

.. From my closet to yours ♥

Recent Blog Features

2008-01-28T18:02:00.000-08:00

Raven From Dirty Pretty Things was so nice to do a blog feature on me Yesterday. You can view the feature at ravenxxxx.blogspot.com. Oh and please do check out her shop and especially her profile on Etsy. She truly is an inspiration for all us small town folk. Thanks Raven!

Charm City Craft Mafia also did a blog feature on me this week too. Man, I must be a popular gal these days, yeah right. *dreaming* You can view that feature here. Thanks Charm City!

My Etsy Find Of The Week::Hand Grown Pottery::

2008-01-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

I just purchased two of the sweetest little dishes by Leesa Brinkley from Hand Grown Pottery. So why not tell the world all about her and her simple and overly adorable pottery.

With a natural rugged texture and simple designs, Leesa created some wonderful pieces of functional little dishes , stones and tags. Her shop names says it all. I love the rustic and nature inspired feel that Leesa incorporates into her work. I'm a very simple kinda gal and I love anything that makes a statement without being over the top. Even though I haven't received my order yet, I know for sure that Ill be back for more. I have a vision of ten little dishes stacked up on a side table! Oh, I can't wait!

Here are a few of my favorites from Hand Grown Pottery...

Tiny Garden $6 USD

White Flower Bowl Set $21 USD

Recycle That Yarn!

2008-01-25T15:45:00.001-08:00

Recycling yarn is easy (well sometimes) and basically free yarn. The best place to find old sweaters and such to "unravel" are at flea markets and second hand stores. You may think gross, I'm not knitting with that stuff. Well, contrary to popular belief, all garments at second hand stores are washed before they are re sold. Ans some haven't been worn before.

Scouring sales racks at cheap clothing stores are great too. A few Etsy artists are masters at this technique and I'll be interviewing each of them as the weeks go by. So we all can learn how to save some yarn!

If you have no desire to sit and unravel your own yarn but still like the idea of using recycled yarn, I have just the lady for you. Crafftyarn is a member of the EcoEtsy street team that I lead. She is the first person that comes to mind when I think recycled yarn. It amazes me how beautiful the yarn looks after its been unraveled from a sweater. Just like new! Check out her Etsy shop and see if anything tickles your fancy.

Here are some of her shop finds that I find rather well, amazing!

Orange Red Ribbon Yarn

Ecru and white ribbon yarn

To find out more on how to recycle your own yarn, I have compiled a few sites to reference.

www.az.com
www.neauveau.com
www.momsbudget.com
www.lisaradunz.blogspot.com

Happy yarn recycling!

The Storque Blurp

2008-01-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised to be mentioned in the Etsy online newspaper, The Storque. I thought that I would share it with the rest of you. It's an article written by The Funky Felter. Her work is amazing. She felts all sorts of accessories. Check out her Etsy shop.

In the meantime, enjoy this article, all about felt ♥

And for some photo fun, here are a few of my products currently for sale in my Etsy shop.

Felted Nesting Bowls

Felted Pods

Wordless Wednesday

2008-01-23T17:28:00.001-08:00

I want the FACTS!!!

2008-01-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

Ok you want facts, here ya go. Hold your chin up cause it's guarenteed to drop once read.

> Over 1.5 Billion lighters wind up in landfills each year.

> Telephone books make up almost 10% percent of waste at dump sites.

> An idle vehicle emits 20 times more pollution than one traveling 32 MPH.

> 2 million books, 350 million magazines, and 24 billion newspapers are thrown away each year.

> 100,000 CD's are thrown away each year along with 5.5 million boxes of software.

> Americans throw away approximatly 179,000 tons of batteries per year.

> 40% of all lead waste comes from inproper disposal of electronics.

> Each year, 40 billion plastic utensils are thrown into landfills.

> Between 10 and 15% of a TV's energy is still used when it's plugged in and turned off.

> 1.4 million movie tickets are thrown away each year.

That's all I have to say today.

facts taken from the book, The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen

My Etsy Find Of The Week :: Dirty Pretty Things ::

2008-01-19T16:31:00.000-08:00

I just met Raven from Dirty Pretty Things the other day. Turns out we are from the same town. What a small world. She now lives in LA where she creates wonderful pieces of work. Everything from greeting cards, to sculptures, to magnets. Not all Etsyians can get away with such an array of products and be successful, but Raven does a pretty darn good job at it.

Dirty Pretty Things moved to NYC after high school and became a fashion designer and model for 13 years of her life! Wow what an adventure. I'm jealous. Dirty Pretty comes from Raven's two sided personality. I'm font of people who can pull this off. You can see in her work, some things are dark and others are bright and whimsy, like her avatar. Although, in my opinion, her avatar can be a mix of both.

Fun fact about Raven's work is she was featured in the Smithsonian museum when she was only 17! This woman is so inspirational. Please read her profile for more interesting facts.

As for now, this is what I'm loving in Dirty Pretty Things Etsy shop...

Vivienne in the Graveyard $20 USD

Gorgeous Asian-Inspired Candle $ 8 USD

Cute Little Mushrooms $20 USD

Color = Pink

2008-01-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

I have been seeing a lot of hot pink in and around my travels so here are some of my fav's that include this smoking color... it's not for little girls anymore ♥

Girls Night out Earrings By: Clevergirl $25 USD

Hot Momma Felt Pin By: AnnieandOlive $ 6 USD

Biggie Hot Scarf By: BossyBootsDesigns $50 USD

Herbal Meds?

2008-01-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, no one is more scared of the doc than me. Mostly because I was never exposed to them much as a child and I had a very bad surgery experience that I can still remember very vividly. That said, I'm always looking for natural cures or remedies to magically take all my health problems away. Ok, so not to the extreme that it sounds. Yes, I visit the dentist every six months and have my yearly you know what. But all those little pains in my brain and in my chest, well, lets just say, I can be a hypercondriact, not sure how to spell that, at times.

I wanted to create a little notebook of natural remedies from old grannies in the 50s and 60s. You know, the teaspoon of sugar makes the medicine go down, and a shot of whisky makes the pain go away sort of thing. I can across this Herbal Medicine kit, that I'm not sure if I'm totally sold on yet.

It's a kit that comes with an instructional DVD to teach you how to make all sorts of natural products to cure your sore feet, your headaches and your back pains to say the least. What if I mess up and mix the wrong herbs? Will I die? Will I explode? Who knows.

You can find this kit at Lerningherbs.com for $67.00. The site sorta reminds me of an infomercial. Not really pleasing to the eye, and very wordy. So, to make a long story short, I think Ill be passing this one up. But for those of you who may be interested, take a look and form your own thoughts and opinions.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-01-16T17:22:00.000-08:00

Global Warming

Staging Part II

2008-01-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm still working on making my photos more inviting and I found a way to kill two birds with one stone too! I'm creating new products this month. Retiring some old designs and giving some a makeover. There will be lots to see in the next two months over at Project Felt so stay tuned.

In the meantime I wanted to share two of my new designs to all my faithful blog readers before it launches on Etsy.

Felted Acorn Jar:

You may already know that I have some felted acorn jars in my shop. Those will be going away and be replaced with the new and improved Acorn Jar design. I tweaked my pattern a little and made the design a little more representative of an actual acorn. It's sweet, simple and very cute!

Pom Poms:

A completely new product for me. This is something that is fresh and new that I haven't quite figured out how to market yet. There are so many different things that you can do with this guys it's hard to tell what will sell and what won't. Currently, I have one hanging in my car around the rear view mirror. You could also do what I did in the staging picture and hang them from tree branches to create a whimsical look. The possibilities are endless. More on these later.

My Etsy Find Of The Week::Casto Creations::

2008-01-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

My friend from Etsy linked my blog to hers yesterday, So I'm returning the favor and making her my Etsy Find of The Week this week.

So welcome Casto Creations! Aside from the most beautiful product images, Casto has some of the most elegant jewelry I have yet to see on Etsy. Very stunning and bold pieces of art that make me wanna touch my computer screen.

Casto Creations fuses metal together to create her pieces. I'm particularly fond of the choice of beads used as well. They remind me of when I was creating jewelry. Guess we have the same taste in beads.

Here are a few of my favorites from Casto Creation Etsy shop..

Ocean Jasper Nest Wire Wrapped Ring $37.00 USD

Freshwater Pearl Necklace $ 42.00 USD

Teardrop Ruby Earrings $ 95.00 USD

Staging

2008-01-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

Awhile ago I decided to redo my business and give my image a makeover. You may remember me posting about my progress. Well since then, I have had great success with selling and my Etsy shop is doing great. I have had great responses and compliments on my work and the overall feel you get when you visit my shop. However, some things need to change. You have to switch it up a bit and keep things fresh.

I recently noticed a huge drop in sales. Partly because of the time of year and partly because I have not been listing any "new" products since Christmas is over. I'm still winding down from the hectic season and quite frankly, taking a breather from crocheting my fingers off.

While it's slow, I have decided to stage my photos. Staging is when you take a product, a room whatever and add elements to it to create a feel or set the tone of the space. My images are pretty strait forward and very plain and simple. Don't get me wrong, this is the style I was going for when re doing my shop, but some people may think it's stark or uninviting.

So to ease those feelings I have decided to start re doing my photos. I want to also give my buyers an idea of what my products can be used for. So this is a great way to show that off.

I have only done three stages so far. below I have them listed for your view. Any feedback would be appreciated. ♥

Set of three Nesting bowls $45 USD
Original image

Image staged

Felted Needle Jackets $13 USD
Original Image

Image staged

Felted Square Nesting Bowls set of three $45 USD
Original Image

Image staged

I have very little pretty space in my apartment right now so close ups are all I have to work with. Eventually, I will start staging a larger space, meaning, wall paper, shelving, stands etc. This of course takes more money than I want to spend at the current time. I like everyone else, are broke too.

Color = Teal

2008-01-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

Ok new theme post. Every Saturday I'm going to start featuring a color and all the beautiful things I find and see that incorporate my color of the week. This will help me keep track of all the color trends and whats in and out for the season. Please don't think I'm straying away from my blog's overall theme itself as most of what you will see will still be Eco friendly!

First color to be featured: Teal (hmm my second favorite)

Washed teal recycled glass tile from ecofriendlyflooring.com

Sworn Virgins Teal Miami Shirt Eco friendly knit bamboo from Emoda.com

Large Serving Bowl From Dishfullsofdoodles

I wonder what next week's color will be? Green? Purple? I don't know.

All things paper

2008-01-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

I'm on a paper kick lately. I really want to open a paper etsy shop. It's on my to do list. But for now, all I can do is admire all the talented paper crafters on Etsy as of now. So here are a few of my finds (recycled of course)

Recycled Novelty envelopes set of 4 by: Kateblack $11.00 USD

set of six newspaper dove ornaments By: Palomasnest $14.50 USD

Red Poppy Thank You Cards (6) By: The Craft Pantry $ 10.00 USD

Recycled Vines II, neckpiece By: The Off Beat Artists $ 50.00 USD

Crafty Craftiness

2008-01-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

Wanna see some pictures of my work space? My super small not really interesting and needs some organization work space? Here it is.

Notice the post its on the wall. Yea, I think I need a planner

A closer look at the not so organized messy small desk

A super cheap shelving system and file folders shoved into a plastic container. Nice.

It may not look organized to you but I know what's what in my yarn stash. Back off!

And my kitty Ruca just for fun ♥

So what's my new years resolution? Nothing. I don't believe in them. Hah you thought I was gonna say organize. Nope. But Ill think about it.

Some Me Time

2008-01-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

I was thinking of what to blog about tonight and I realized that I have not featured any of my own crafty goodies in a long time. So tonight will be short and sweet with a little bit of me in it.

Felted Nesting bowls set of three $45 USD

Felted Card Holder $12 USD

Felted Acorn Jar Med. Size $20 USD

projectfelt.etsy.com

shameless self promotion I know, but it's my blog right?

The kitchen is where the heart is

2008-01-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

so why not make it as eco efficient as possible right? As I said yestday, I was going to be posting about The Green Book and my facinating finds while reading. The first section talks about ways to reduce energy and converve in your kitchen. So here are a few simple but interesting tips and facts taken from the book for all to ponder.

> Run full when you run your dishwasher. DON'T pre rinse you dishes either. You can save up to 20 gallons of water per dish load.

> Try not to waste food. Save leftovers for future meals. You can save 20 pounds of food anually if you reduce your food waste by a slice of bread each day!

> Use cold water when you run your garbage disposal. Or don't use it at all. Try composting your waste instead. Disposal waste can disrupt nutrient balances in water and soil ecosystems which can then harm wildlife.

Recycled Tee Shirt Scrubbers $10 USD By Right Brain Thinker

> Try not to preheat for more than 10 minutes. By reducing the amount of time your oven is one by one hour, you will save an average of 2 killowatt hours of energy.

> Keep your head out of the refridgerator! Also a big energy reducer. When you are cooking, get everything out of the fidge you need in one trip and put it all away in one trip.

> Use glass or porcelain containers to store food. Plastic will leach chemicals into your food causeing health problems.

Dish cloths handmade $13 USD set of three by MF Crafts

> Use leftover shopping bags as garbage bags. Save money and spare up to seventeen trees when 1 ton of bags are saved.

Like I said, very simple and sometimes a no brainer. But honestly, how many people actually do the above? Think about it. Think about your daily routines and see where you can improve your kitchen life. Tomorrow we will talk about the bathroom ♥

The Green Book

2008-01-08T16:19:00.001-08:00

The everyday guide to saving the planet. I picked up this book the other day and I'm just now getting some time to sit and read it. So far, I'm very impressed with the simplicity of the ideas and facts gathered. I have a very short attention span and if a book to too blah or filled with complicated words or boring facts, I won't read it.

Written by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen with incerpts from Cameron Diaz , Ellen Degeneres, Will Ferrell, Faith Hill, Martha Stewart, Dale Ernhart JR, Owen Wilson, Robert Redford, Jeniffer Aniston, Tim Mcgraw, Tyra Banks, Tiki Barber and Justin Timberlake, this book I have a feeling will be in my purse or car as a reference when in need. I will be interested to see what these celebs. have to say about being green and what they are doing in there nice luxurious lives to be better the planet.

As, I make my way through this book, Ill be sharing my thoughts and some things I have learned from reading with everyone. So stay tuned!

For more info. about this book visit readthegreenbook.com

Buy Fair

2008-01-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

Ten thousand villages is a home away from home for me. I visit my local shop to get away from the city and travel across the world where art, beauty, love and dramatic attention to detail is all under one roof. When I need something special in a pinch and it's too late to order from Etsy or other handmade market places, I turn to Ten Thousand Villages for all my last minute gift giving needs and help support the fair trade movement.

Fair trade is just another way we can help the environment. Many if not all artisans from other countries create wonderful works of art with what little they have in there village or community. Sustainability and recycling natural resources are just a few Eco practices used by these incredibly talented artisans.

TTV is a part of a world wide movement with over 300 IFAT members and over 70 countries.

The IFAT principals of fair trade include:

1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
2. Transparency and accountability
3. Capacity building
4. Payment of a fair price
5. Gender equity
6. Good working conditions
7. Care for the environment

IFAT stands for International Fair Trade Organization. Created in 1989 IFAT's mission is to improve the lively hoods and well beings of disadvantage producers. TTV is just one of the thousands of companies that meet the standards of the IFAT. The IFAT performs annual audits and requires a signed contract to make sure that retailers who promote fair trade are in fact purchasing fair trade products.

Buying Fair trade can actually improve the lives of the poorest people by offering a "fair" wage which then allows under developed tribes, towns, groups etc. to create schooling, health clinics and housing for there community.

This topic is very interesting and so important to our well being as a whole. It's important to promote and support such companies that buy fair trade. In talking with most people, they don't even know what fair trade is or what it even means to us and the world. And how fair trade can transform the way we look at mass produced goods and how badly we need to stop the importing of rancid, cheap, way overprices items from countries that don't pay their workers a penny for hours and hours of laborious work. These type of working conditions will not stop unless we stop supporting it. It's up to us and only us to change the world.

A few of my faves from Ten Thousand Villages...

Recycled Paper Hot Mat $6.00 USD

Waru Leaf Journal: $16.00 USD

Singing Bowl: $68.00 USD

My Etsy Find Of The Week :: Coffin Color ::

2008-01-06T10:20:00.000-08:00

Not only is the name genius but the eye colors are super hot and mind blowing bright. I'm a huge fan of mineral makeup. I have been using mineral makeup for about four years now and I'm always on the prowl for new up and coming lines of cosmetics to dabble in to.

Coffin Color is no exception when it comes to fun colors. I had to insert this quote from there Bio on Etsy...
"Staffed by two bitchin' horror-rock-lovin' babes - Melissa and Xiane - Coffin Color is here to give YOU a chance to deck yourself out in natural, mineral eye shadows that break through the norm. We like LOUD and CRAZY and FUN color and we want you to know it!"

Because I couldn't have said it any better. All of the eye shadows are completely vegan. We love that! Some are matte some are shimmery and some are just plain down rockin.

Now, you can get a sample pack of Coffin Colors eyeshadow for $20 USD. It's on my list trust me.

A few of my faves...

Seeds + Cards = Plants !

2008-01-04T17:38:00.000-08:00

That's right. I found the coolest thing the other day. A card that you can plant. Now I must say, I'm the anti card giver. Ask anyone. You don't get cards from me because frankly I think they are a waste of money and paper. But this, this wonderful invention I found just changed my mind forever!

Round Robin Press creates wonderful letterpress cards for all occasions that actually have plantable seeds embedded into them. So not only are you getting a card, but your getting some wonderful plants as well. What a way to reuse right.

Each card has an exquisite design on the front. Turn it over and you have instructions on how to plant your card.

Visit roundrobinpress.esty.com to see more of these uber cool cards.

As always, here are few of my faves....

Hello Plantable Card: $6.00 USD

Variety Four Pack: $ 20.00 USD

Lusting over Lush

2008-01-03T17:42:00.001-08:00

I took a recent trip to the city yesterday and came across a Lush store. I have eyeing this all natural organic bath line for some time now. I didn't want to order online due to my pickiness of natural bath products. It was like a dream, walking into an all organic colorful rainbow of sweet smells and hella cool products.

What Lush believes in....
Fresh
No animal testing
Hand Made
Ambiance
Good Value

Lush is an age old company first started in the late seventies. They sold there first product the The Body Shop in 1978. Today Lush has over 370 shoppes around the world. Mail order businesses are operated through countries such as UK, Canada, Australia, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Hong Kong, just to name a few. they have entities all over the world. Each one operates separately therefore may have different products and promotions.

Most products are discontinues frequently because everything is made is small batches which have expiration dates. Depending on where you go or where you live, you are sure to find something different.

It's inspiring as a hand made esta myself to see such a small company grow and still maintain its values and quality. They also have an unbelievable following of customers that come together on the sites very own chat rooms. It's amazing to troll through all the threads and see what rave people are talking about. I even remember seeing Jennifer Love on the E! channel boasting about Lush.

I snagged a whole cart full of stuff while I could. I wanted to try everything. The staff was very helpful and uber cool to talk to.

Here are a few of my favorites so far, but if your interested HURRY because they only stay fresh for so long!

Big Blue Bath Bomb $5.40 USD ( These things are huge!)

Rehab Shampoo $ 11.50 USD ( When I asked the girl at the store what this was, she said "only the best shampoo ever"! Ha, I love it.

Ambrosia $7.95 USD ( A must have for ANYONE who shaves)

T is for Toes $ 9.95 USD ( I must admit, I need help in this department)

Wordless Wednesday

2007-12-20T05:53:00.001-08:00

image courtesy of crowndozen.com

You Can Save The Planet By: Richard Hough

2007-12-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

Hmm....don't ask me why I was browsing Amazon.com for books. I'm not quite sure yet. But what I do know that while looking, I came across a book by Richard Hough called You Can Save The Planet.

A book about walks you through a typical day of a person and teaches you your contribution to the preservation of saving the earth. Fully illustrated and very factual information make this book an interesting read for those who are interested in learning more about what we can do in our daily lives and travels to conserve.

Richard Hough is a journalist and focuses on writing about environmental issues. This book incorporates links to websites, information about fair trade, carbon footprint, traveling and other very important hot topics.

I might be taking a trip to the local Borders for this one very soon. I'll report back with my opinions when I'm finished reading.

You can purchase this book online, like I said at Amazon.com or at Guardianbooks.uk
But I prefer to bike 1mile up the road and grab it LOCALLY.

My Etsy Find of The Week :: Ink + Wit ::

2007-12-15T16:27:00.000-08:00

I'm in the market for a 2008 calendar as most people are at this time of year, and during my searches, I came across this lovely Etsy seller, Tarahogan from Ink+Wit.

Ink+Wit is an art and design studio that specializes in fine art prints, stationary, custom designs, and original work. I'm particularly drawn to the letterpress stationary and of course the calendar that I have been eying up. Which I do believe they sold out of today. Bummer. There letterpress work is left to be desired and very simple and elegant. I love the patterns and colors used in the pieces. I see the next Paper Source uprising!

You can visit there Etsy shop or there website at inkandwit.com to see even more fun and cute stuff.

More faves of mine from their shop...

It's Laundry Day

2007-12-14T05:21:00.000-08:00

(image courtesy of Calobee)

And I'm on the hunt for some Eco friendly cleaning supplies. Here is what I found so far....

Lavender Dryer Bag: $8.00 USD by: PinkDixie

Scrip Scrap Wash Cloth $ 5.00 USD By: Lillipopguild

Laundry Powder $ 6.00 USD by: Nanu

Morning Dove Laundry Basket $ 210.00 USD By: Thekeepershouse

Set of Two Dots Tea Towels $ 16.00 USD By: Theorangebicycle

Paper

2007-12-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

I was browsing my latest edition of Craft Magazine and got a little interested in making paper. I told myself a long time ago that I would stick to one craft and master it. Well, this one may be a little to hard to pass up. I must try it! This particular article from Craft tells you how to make paper from recycled ads, junk mail, leaves etc. How cool yeah.

So why not a recycled calendar for the new LEAP year! Over 52 million calendars are sold each year in the USA according to Ideal Bit. You could get a PDA or some other form of electronic day keeper, but what happens when that piece of electronics breaks or you see the super cool new model that you must have? It goes right to the land fills. It's a catch 22.

I prefer the old fashion method of writing things down on paper. Mainly because it's a lost art and keeps my vocabulary skills in check. :) I recently have become aware of the type of notebooks I buy. Recycled papers of all kinds are coming onto the market. This makes me happy. Before, these things were only available online. Now, I can walk into my local staples or Office Max and pick up a recycled notebook or calendar! Yeah for progress.

Here are few of my favorite recycled books, calendars, papers etc. Oh, and don't be surprised if after the new year I'm showcasing my lovely new handmade papers.

MomME Weekly Planner by Lobotome $19.95 USD

Journal by Green Line Paper $ 14.95 USD

2008 Calendar by Eco Calendar $14.95 USD

Wordless Wednesday

2007-12-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

My Etsy Find of The Week :: Black Bags ::

2007-12-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

Black Bags from Etsy.com has some great little stocking stuffers. She uses the most modern and unusual fabrics that are colorful and fun. Her tree fabric happens to be my favorite.

Black Bags creates wristlets , shoulder bags, hand bags and key fob wristlets. Each one is so expertly sewn together, it makes me jealous of her sewing abilities.

These bags are made using canvases from her neighboring state, South Carolina. This especially makes me happy because that means Black Bags is environmentally conscious and a supporter of our local businesses.

Each bag boasts an adjustable shoulder strap, a key fob holder, magnetic snap closure, three interior pockets and three exterior pockets. What a great bag yeah!

I snagged this up for myself just before I wrote this....

Here are a few others that I added to my Christmas wish list...

Speaking of Birds....

2007-12-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

I know I recently posted about birds in the last few weeks, but I can't get enough of them. I was browsing the Oh Joy! blog and came across an online boutique called Makool. They have the most exquisite selection of whimsical birdies that I have yet to come across. So, I must share my finds with the rest of my faithful readers.

Each birdy comes with their own little story. It's fun to browse the selection and read all the little blurbs about each one. I have a few favorites but I'm not telling!

Some are made from recycled materials as well. Maybe they all are, who knows, the site really doesn't specify.

Makool also has handbags, ceramics, jewelry and some other cool things. A site worth checking out. Bonus! Free shipping in the US. ♥

In the meantime, let me give you a sneak peak of what they have to offer...

Radar: $68.00 USD

Willow Cup: $48.00 USD

Popcorn Carry All: $172.00 USD

Wordless Wednesday

2007-12-06T04:57:00.001-08:00

Oh Joy!

2007-12-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

Yep, I was mentioned, if you will on the infamous Oh Joy! blog. I was notified by a customer who found me through the blog. The lovely picture below is courtesy of Jill from Rose and Radish. She put a unique twist on my Felted Pods by squishing it into a tiny bowl. How cute. Hmmm....gives me more ideas too! Thanks Oh Joy! and Jill for being so kind to me and my felt :)

EcoSpheres ♥ them !

2007-12-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

I've been researching these spheres of wonder for some time now. I know I want one, like yesterday, but they are uber expensive and I'm scared I will kill everything inside of it.

An EcoSphere is a completly enclosed glass sphere or pod, that houses a complete Eco system. Each sphere is filled with micro-organisms, bright red shrimp and algae and filtered sea water. All these things live harmonisly together in a clear glass ball of beauty. It's like having you own little world. Self contained and self sufficient.

Some EcoSpheres can live to be 7yrs. old, although the oldest one living to date is 14yrs old with one shrimp still going strong. Most EcoSpheres have a life span on average of 2 to 3 years.

There is v ery little care needed to own an Ecosphere, however, after a little research, I found that what care is needed is extrememly important to keeping your sphere alive.

Here are a the MUST KNOW rules if you plan to buy an Ecosphere...

> Do not let your Ecosphere get too hot or too cold. Your sphere must be kept between 60 and 85 degrees F.
> Do provide artificial sunlight or indirect sunlight for your sphere for 6 to 12 hours a day. This keeps the algae in check. Putting you EcoSphere directly in front of a window will cause an algae growth to rapidly, therefore causeing your system to toxify itself.
> Do not pick up your EcoSphere excessivly. This will cause the temerateure to rise.
> Do not shake your sphere. (obviously)
> Do not place your Ecosphere on Tv's, sterio equipment, fireplaces or near heating and radiator vents.

So now that you know a little about these neat little worlds, you want one? I advise to please do some reaserach before you jump into purchasing one. They are expensive, and you do want to know what you are doing before you invest your money. With that said, it's well worth every penny.

Here are a few websites where you can purchase an EcoSphere...
> AbundantEarth.com
>TreeHugger.com
> Eco-Sphere.com

My Etsy Find of The Week :: Cotton Bird Designs ::

2007-12-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

I will always love birds, whether they are the "in" animal of the season or not. And the creations from Cotton Bird Designs are just the most adorable things.

Cotton Bird Designs has a love for all things vintage as well as old paraphernalia. Her birds are made from mostly re purposed fabrics and papers. She then hand stitches the birds together and fills them with hypo - allergenic fiber. Tiny little wire legs are attached using floral wire.

Her collection of birdies are growing popular and are selling out quickly. Take a look at her sold items in her Etsy Shop to see more examples of her work. I want one! It's going on my Christmas list for sure.

Her are a few of my favorite birds...

Paper and Ribbon and Trees Oh My!

2007-11-29T16:57:00.000-08:00

Each year, Americans waste over a million extra tons of trash during the holiday season. Let's think of some creative ways we can reduce our foot print this season.

Interesting fun fact for ya too... If each family reused 2 feet of ribbon, we could save over 38,000 miles and wrap the entire planet with it! I can't believe it.

1. Think of what gifts you buy that really need wrapping in the first place. Why not try and shop some thrift stores and snag some baskets to fill with goodies. Some things like, bottles etc. are hard to wrap anyways and this will save you mega time.

2. Trees are staple in the Christian home this season, be choosy about where your family buys your tree. Look for a tree farm where tree are grown and replaced each year rather then purchasing from a forest where they most likely will not be replaced. Better yet, invest in a fake tree. Save some cash in the long run. Just add some pine scented sachets to the branches and know one will know.

3. What to do with the tree after Christmas you ask? Have it ground into wood chips to use as mulch for your garden in the spring.

4. Use low energy Christmas lights. If you must use lights all over the house and look like the North Pole itself, go ahead, but be responsible about it. They are 90% more efficient than traditional lights. If everyone replaced there old lights with LED's, then we could save over 2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each month. :)

That's all my holiday tips for now. But stay tunes as more ideas come to mind to make your holidays even more green ♥

Change

2007-11-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

This was a pleasent surprise I came across when looking for hot cocoa, go figure. Google needs to refine there search terms just a bit. But at any rate, I found a company that put together an Eco friendly gift box for the gift giving season. Rather geneous inf you ask me. And quite frankly, hoping I get one for Christmas.

Starterkitforchange.com has come up with the most creative Eco-friendly gift I have seen yet this season. A box full of Eco goodies. Promote, educate, motivate, activate, communicate is there motto. Clever huh? Everything down to the tags on the basket are eco friendly being made from lokta tree shavings.

What does the box include you ask?

> Booklet
> Arbor Day plantable seeds
> Gratitude Cards
>Sudoku Book
> Journal
> Recycled Pencile
> Fair trade hot chocolate
> Tote Bag
> Charity Envelopes

Price per box: $40 USD An unbelievable deal. Hurry before it's too late to ship in time! Visit starterkitforchange.com to snag yours ♥

Upon looking at the site more deeply, I came across this super cool tote bag that boasts the companies name on it. They look very well made and at $20 USD, I'm putting this on my list too!

My Etsy Find of The Week :: Kfarrell ::

2007-11-26T04:11:00.000-08:00

I was excited to find someone using two of my favorite materials and creating one awesome line of jewelry. The soft fuzzy feeling and look of felt meets the strong, empowerment of Sterling Silver. Yet, both are so beautiful.

Each piece Kfarrell designs has a bit of colorful felt peeking out of it. Makes your curious to see what's inside and how it's constructed.

Along with metal and felt, Kfarrell also works with metal and crochet, and metal and paper.
Visit her Etsy shop to see more of her exquisite work in detail.

Her a a few of my favorites...

Eco Levi's ?

2007-11-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I had to take a second look as well when I discover the new Eco-friendly jeans that the ever so popular Levi's company launched not to long ago. Surprisingly very well designed and very modern looking for us mod chicks.

The jeans are made from 98% organic cotton and 2% spandex. Pricing is high for Levi's but not out of range comparatively speaking. A pair of Lucy brand jeans can run you in upwards of $150 bucks. Who has that money? I'm a starving artist. I sure don't.

Currently, there are only 8 styles to choose from. I'm sure more will be revealed as the "green" movement progresses.

Above: Wide Leg Trouser $78.00

Felt Rings

2007-11-22T17:50:00.000-08:00

The latest and greatest. Watch out! I'm not sure if the public is ready for this. Just kidding. But they are super cool and you have to be super cool to wear them, and if you don't have one, then your not super cool anyways. See where I'm going with this. What I'm saying is, you MUST have one.

Yeah, I'm bringing them back

2007-11-21T17:55:00.001-08:00

By popular demand that is. My Felted Baby Mocs that everyone oohed and aahed over last season. I stopped making them partly because I had such a demand for them, I was starting to feel like a sweat shop worker. The orders were out of the world! Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all. But at this time last year, I was new to the scene and didn't realize the success of the product I had. This was when I had my old shop under a different name. I have one pair listed in my shop so far. I'm kinda scared that I'll wake up tomorrow morning with ten emails for custom orders. I'm armed and ready. Yarn and hook in hand to make some baby feets warm this winter. I feel as if it's my duty to serve the young and hip indie babies out there. Get em while there hot and before I take them away again!