Jaybird Designs – E.T. Shop of the Week

Hope you’re not sick of my red picks each time there’s a shop of the week.  (I really can’t help myself.)  Well, this week’s favorite is from Jaybird Designs, and yes, it’s a child’s hat… if my girls were small enough, this is what I’d have them wear.  As a matter of fact, I’m regretting not learning to crochet years ago, she has wonderful original patterns at her shop (Leisure Arts booklet of her patterns, too) and it would have been fun to make these.

You can read a great interview with this professional designer over at the Etsy Twitter Team blog. And “Special Deal for the Week: Free shipping if you mention "TWITTER Team Rocks" in the comments at check out. She will refund your shipping cost!!”

Free & Green

How it works is, when you buy from any participating shops listed on the March Madness page, and provide the promo code "Free & Green" in the Message to Seller box during checkout, you'll receive a gift from that EcoEtsy seller along with your purchase! Happy green (and free) shopping!

Friday Fusion

Going for some alliteration, coming up with post titles isn’t my favorite thing to do. I didn’t know what else to call this, but wanted to have a post with a bunch of different things.  As usual, I’d love reader feedback.  Being here online to connect with others is what my blog is about (for me) and if nobody’s reading it, what am I doing it for?  Are frequent, shorter posts more appealing? Or long ones? Personally, I like posts with pictures – those usually draw me in to read what is being said.

---

Visit earthhour.org and pledge to turn off your lights “8:30PM local time, wherever you live on planet earth. Saturday 28 March 2009”.

---

Things to do with toilet paper cardboard tubes.  I wish I had read this list before throwing my seeds into a tray of potting soil.  I had attempted to make little pots out of newspaper but it got tedious after about… four…   via my daily email from IdealBite.

---

Have a blog?  Check this out:  http://typealyzer.com/.  I’m not too sure of the “engaging in physical out-door activities” part (I like long walks but am not known to be athletic in any sense of the word).  Very accurate otherwise!

The analysis indicates that the author of tamdoll.blogspot.com is of the type:

ESTP - The Doers

 

The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.
The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

---

Anyone else addicted to woot! ?  If not, it’s worth checking out, if not for the one-item-a-day sales, or the occasional “woot-off’s” then for the sometimes hilarious product descriptions.

Just one more link.  I love Super Punch.  These are some of the most unique things I’ve seen online.

Banana Yarn

I follow a bunch of folks on twitter, and one of them is Beaniebanks.  No idea how we connected, but I read on her blog one day that she had “Banana Fibre” & I was so intrigued.  When she mentioned that it was up for sale… I grabbed it! Yes, I’m prone to impulse purchases… (I know I’m not the only one out there.)  Ok, I’ll admit, some impulses don’t always turn out to be as lovely as I anticipated… but this one exceeded my expectations.  This yarn is so vibrant and so, so soft, I have to think of something special to do with it.  Shop here.

I’ll take suggestions if you have ideas what I can make with it. There’s about 60 grams of DK weight yarn (what would that be, around 60 yards?).  Or, why not just spill the beans on one of your impulse purchases and make me feel like I’m not alone?

A Crochet-Along, a challenge, and letter of last week.

I learned to crochet last year and can’t believe it took me so long to pick up this great craft.  I also joined Fabric Knitting & Crochet at Ravelry & on Flickr (hosted by Heather Knitz who makes beautiful projects, crafting supplies, craft kits, patterns and tutorials).

At Ravelry, there’s a March Knit/Crochet-along “Baskets” and “The Complementary Color Challenge”.  So, here’s what I’ve come up with….

First step was to dig through my stash of fabrics and decide what would be complementary – pink and green popped out at me with their spring appeal.  Oh yeah, let’s throw in “K” week for “Kelly Green”.  Off to the ironing board I go with the pink fabric and what do I discover??? My vintage pink fabric scraps have turned out to be someone’s work-in-progress.  (A bag if clothes and fabric from a local senior, love these finds!)

So, will add that to my “to-do” pile.. it’s a toddler size I think(it’s sitting on top of my clothes dryer and is kind of small).  Not sure how I’ll put it together yet.  Will take suggestions!

Well, to make a long story short, ripping fabric into strips is not my favorite thing to do… but I went ahead and free-formed a bowl and edging. Took the edging out and did it over again.  Here’s what I came up with, finally:

Kelly green bowl with pink scalloped edging.  Overall, I think this working with fabric is something I have to get the hang of.  It looks like I needed to pull tighter in some spots or finesse the size needle I used per the width of the fabric.

Sowing

Here are my cherry tomatoes, so happy they’ve sprouted!  I save my seeds from year to year, but haven’t started plants for at least one year.. wasn’t sure if anything would germinate.  So far I’ve got sugar pumpkins and these.  I’m a bit disappointed, but not surprised, that many of my flower seeds or peppers haven’t emerged.  They were probably in storage for too long.  Or I’ve planted them too deep.  I’ll give it another week before I go out and buy some new seeds, oh how I hate to do that!

Does anyone else save their seeds? I can’t even remember where most of these plants originated.  Some were purchased plants and seeds about 10 years ago and others were salvaged from supermarket produce.  Yes, I know, I get hybrid plants sometimes… but that’s the fun!  Not knowing exactly what’s going to come up…

Love this article! “Michelle Obama To Plant White House Edible Garden”

And check out this lovely sunflower mash-up from “www.MyShoppingConnection.com”:

3/25 saw this & wanted to share, thought it was so clever:    

      Magic In The Garden FAIRY TALE SEED KITS

From the Uncommon Goods website: “Kids don't need a fairy godmother to make their gardening wishes come true! With these cool kits, they'll be able to combine make-believe and gardening to grow Cinderella's Magic Pumpkin, Jack's Magic Beans and the Princess' Pea.

These little recycled tin canisters have all the ingredients needed for kids to become green thumbs, including a stake, pencil, growth chart, fun activities, recipes, and certified organic seeds. A great way to get kids interested in organic gardening. Made in Idaho.  $12.00 “

ReneeSuich – E.T. Shop of the Week

I have never seen anything like this, etsy sellers never cease to amaze me!  Renee handcrafts and sells these unique Key Beads in her shop:

I think these little creations are so wonderful.  I like the contrast between the sturdy metal keys and the beads with their soft colors and the seeming fragility of the glass (assured though in the listing to be “Kiln Annealed, which adds strength and durability.”). What did that key unlock?

 

I couldn’t resist also posting this pretty lampwork bead, it looks so nice with this beach glass and has a little bit of sparkle in the center. 

I hope you enjoy visiting each shop of the week, each one is unique and backed by a real artist.  You can read an interview with Renee over at the Etsy Twitter Team Blog.

Prize Packed & Shipped

A week ago the Etsy Twitter Team had a St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt contest and I offered this springy yellow Posy brooch as a prize.  Jennifer I. won it and I sent it along with a shamrock pin and a couple of greeting cards featuring my Serenity© Mermaid doll (pattern at my etsy shop, and I’ll include a card with every pattern purchase).

I’m still working on learning to use my digital camera, have had it for years, but until now have only used the macro feature.  What I’m trying to learn how to master is the depth of field perception – so not everything behind the main object will be blurry.  I keep taking tons of pictures at different F#  (I’m so technical, eh?) with the plans to compare each one but by the time I get the pictures on my pc I’ve forgotten which order pictures were taken and things are too subtle for me to notice.  Will have to work on this some more.  If you’re familiar with this, please leave me some comments, I’m open to suggestions!

Going to work now on my “K” project for the Letter of the Week.  And, I feel like a complete idiot.  Of course, knitting starts with “k”.  But did I think of that?  No….  instead I’m working on tearing some fabric apart for a kelly-green basket I’m going to crochet.  Should have a picture or two up here tomorrow.

Expiring in 3 days is this listing – I’m not going to renew it, will probably use the matryoshka dolls as parts in my own craft project at some future time.  So… if you want it – grab it now!

Jewel Craft Designs – E.T. Shop of the Week

The Etsy Twitter group really has the most wonderful artists participating in the Shop of the Week; I’ve been enjoying picking out favorites and keeping these in mind for my future shopping.

This week – jewelcraftdesigns – a creative, handmade jewelry artist.   As soon as I saw this necklace, I knew it would be my favorite out of her whole shop:

“Constructivist Necklace”

I’ve never seen anything like this, and if there’s nothing I like better, it’s being unique! 

Makeup Monday, part II

Part I here - Makeup Monday.

I’m truly loving the Neutrogena makeup.  To top off my comments from last week, I have to say I’m so pleased with the shadows – I love it that there’s spf 15, and the mascara makes me look like I have lots of lashes, not just 10 big black clumpy ones.  And the Mineral Sheers creamy concealer? My new makeup bag staple.  It sounds corny, but I’ve always trusted Neutrogena moisturizers on my sensitive skin, and now I’m so happy there’s makeup, too.  Would any of my readers like a coupon?   I have a couple for $3 off the concealer, foundation, powder or blush; and $1.50 off shadow, eyeliner or mascara.  Leave me a comment here and I’ll reply via email.  I’d like to know if you’ve tried the Neutrogena makeup yet, or why you’d like to.  I’ll be Bzzing about it back at the BzzAgent site, too.

Don’t forget to read previous posts here, too.  Yesterday I mentioned a contest I’ve submitted a prize for – find the leprechaun to enter and win!  And if you’d like to swap blog buttons or get email updates, check out my sidebars.  And thanks for visiting!

Week’s Round Up

 Etsy Bloggers Street Team Blog Carnival

This is a new group I’ve joined and each month they put out questions for us to blog about – this week: “What spring-y things have you been noticing lately? “

Now, this is a good one for me – since there’s still 2 feet of snow on my lawn & there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight!!! But… I have noticed the cheeping of birds.  It’s funny how you don’t notice they’re gone until suddenly, you wake up one morning and instead of the silence outside you hear their little chirps.  It’s really nice, I just hope they’re finding food out there.  Granted my house does seem to have the most snow – it’s like we’re in our own zone here – neighbors and lower on the hill there’s lots of thawing going on… so they should be fine. 

The other thing I’m noticing is my pull away from dreary colors and the urge to create in brighter tones!  Since real flowers won’t be coming until June around here, I’ve been creating my own in vibrant hues:

“J” for Jewel-Tones

This project is still in the works, so just posting pictures of these little crochet bits for now.  I love to make these little pieces and then work them into other things I’m making… but many of them just can’t seem to get finished.  Remember these?  One day I’ll finish them all, I’m sure of it.

And of course, there’s the spring-time holidays with lots of green popping up everywhere, if not at my house, than virtually at least!!

And speaking of green, here’s a contest I’ve donated a prize for – St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt Contest. Ten leprechauns pictures are hidden in Etsy Twitter Team shops. Finding one enters you in a chance to win prizes given away by the various shops. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Entries must be received by midnight EST on March 16th. Click the link to get all the details!

 

Tamdoll Love on the Internet

I’m honored to be among so many wonderful artists -

 

My Pink Percussion Cuff Bracelet is on IndieSpotting page!

 

 

 

oldworldprimitives and

beadworkbyamanda

included me in these beautiful treasuries!

In two treasuries: Sherbert Necklace - Soft Fabric Beads with Shell Pearls.

Thank you, thank you!

The Week’s Not Over Yet

I’ve still to think about my “J” project… have been working on something and maybe I’ll get to finish it today, or at least take a picture to post about.

Wondering if anyone knew they made, or has tried Neutrogena makeup yet – I’ll blog more about it on Monday, but you can still leave a comment at this post from a few days ago.

Been crocheting, working on some wool bunnies – I’d like to make 3 of them and machine felt them – let’s see how that goes…. I think I need to get a new “to-do” list in order, feeling a bit scattered right now with projects all over the place.  There’s clothing I’d like to make, bags I need to finish and bracelets in progress.

Here’s a button I made for sharing with blogs -

Just copy the code below and paste in the appropriate place at your website -

<a href="http://tamdoll.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="tamdolldotnet" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_wc3-XBkXdU4/SbqnFoT1XhI/AAAAAAAACTg/atYn7qQ5Wj4/s144/buttonjpg130.jpg" /></a>

If you add it to your blog sidebar, or have one you’d like to swap with me, don’t forget to leave a comment!  I love your comments and especially would like to know how you came by my site – do you subscribe? or are you new here? Welcome old and new friends, I hope you enjoy your visit!

Thank you to Katydid and Kid for the wonderful tutorial how to do this!

Emmakat – E.T. Shop of the Week

I know, I know, it’s not red.  I keep getting drawn back to teal this spring and loved this pair of earrings from the Etsy Twitter shop of the week, Emmakat.  And it was hard to pick just one favorite to post here, I had a few!  Everything she makes is really lovely and unique.

It’s fascinating to read how each person comes to their art, you can see Emma’s interview at the Etsy Twitter blog. 

Emmakat is offering a storewide 10% discount (including sale items) for readers. Just leave a note to seller mentioning “EtsyTwitter Shop of the Week” and wait for a revised invoice from her before paying.

Do you have any favorites from the shops that have been featured so far?

Makeup Monday

On Monday I usually don’t wear makeup if I’m not going to work.  It’s my face’s day off. And let me tell you, it needs it.  I like to wear makeup.  (Sometimes I get carried away.)  Today I’m trying something new – Neutrogena makeup.  I’m involved with BzzAgent, and they supplied me with products to try & “Bzz” about.  I was sent a Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit,  eye shadows, eyeliner and mascara.  Besides using their moisturizer and sunblock I hadn’t even realized that they make cosmetics until now.

So far, I love the concealer.  Love it! It was super creamy and just what my eyes needed.  (I wear concealer every day.)  The one I received was Fair colored, I need a darker one and will definitely be purchasing this in a different shade.  And a bonus – SPF 20!  (Right now I’m using Mary Kay concealer.)

Next, I tried the “Nourishing Eyeliner” in Brown Sugar.  And you know what? I like this, too.  Normally, I use a cream pencil eyeliner and then spend time blending it in along with some eye shadow – this was very creamy and the color was nice and not too dark.  Built in smudger helped.  I’ve probably been wearing my eyeliner too dark since this didn’t need much work.  Again, this was nice and creamy and didn’t tug at my eyes.  (My current eyeliner is Avon brand glimmersticks.)

Jury is still out on the “Healthy Volume” mascara.  Mascara never works well for me the first few times out of the tube, need to coat it up a bit on the brush before I like the amount that gets on my lashes.  Doesn’t help that I have teeny, almost-blonde eyelashes, either.  Hmmm, maybe I should have before and after pics? But, would probably want to edit them to death before posting online – will have to think about that.  (My current mascara is CoverGirl LashBlast.)

I’ll try the eye shadow this week and keep using these products, report back next Monday.  Psyched for the shadows, too – they have SPF 15 which will definitely help keep back those sun freckles that my –almost 40- skin seems to be accumulating with the years, despite sunblock and sunglasses every single day.

And I know a lot of makeup is not the safest thing to be putting on my skin all the time.  I don’t use chemicals to clean my house, don’t dye my [slowly graying] hair, and try to keep as many additives out of the foods I purchase/grow/bake for my family (don’t get me started on artificial sweeteners and the nasty side effects I’ve suffered!).  Makeup is just one vice I can’t shake, and don’t want to just yet. 

I’m wondering what you think about your makeup, are you super loyal to your brands? What would make you try something new?  Or, do you just want me to shut up and talk about my crafting?  You can also visit www.neutrogena.com. 

Design by Nora – Featured Etsy Blogger for March 2009

The first thought I had when I clicked on Nora’s blog was “delightful”.  Then I went over to her shop and my thoughts were reinforced.  Everything there is so pretty.  My favorite (red, of course!):

She has many wonderful flower earrings listed, but I couldn’t resist picking this bag out first (I don’t wear earrings too often but I carry a handbag wherever I go!)  In the listing it says “This listing is for my uncle, Naz, who has been making leather purses for 30 years for companies such as Isabella Fiore and Goldenbleu. This purse is one of many of his original designs.”  Wow.  Talent runs in the family! 

Here’s a pair of her adorable handmade earrings, and it looks like she’s having a reduced price sale and free shipping right now:

---

I joined a few groups to help me promote my own etsy business - this Etsy Bloggers group being one of them and I keep getting surprised each week/month by the things I get to share.  Through group postings, blogs, or Twitter, I’m getting to “meet” a lot of people I never would have if I had just stayed here and talked about my own business all the time.  Sounds a little sappy, doesn’t it?  Even when I’m home alone crafting things, there’s a whole world of people out there that I’m connected to and it’s wonderful to see everyone’s comments, get emails or shop ♥’s.  I feel lucky to be part of a great creative community, it’s often inspiring and keeps me motivated to continue creating.

“I” is for…..

Idiot?  All week long I’ve been worrying about what kind of craft I’d work on for the letter “I”.  AND I’ve been working on crocheting these four-leaf clovers for St. Patrick’s Day…. I had a hook and some yarn on the couch.  Another bunch of yarn in my handbag to keep me busy while I ran errands and waited on line someplace.  I even left some yarn and another hook next to my bed.  It wasn’t until midnight last night that I realized:

I is for Irish!

(Although to be honest, the only connections I have to anything Irish are tenuous – my mom’s birthday is St. Pat’s day, an Irish step-father in-law & a daughter named Molly.)

Ingredients: Green yarn, crochet hook, pin backs, witch’s pot from Halloween turned into Pot of Gold, yellow fabric to stuff into bottom of pot, and mini cupcake liners ironed flat for a nice backing for each pin.

These will be at Apotheca in Goffstown, NH until they’re all gone.

Letter of the week inspired by Craftside blog.

AngelKissesJewelry – E.T. Shop of the Week

The jewelry at this inspiring shop is soooo nice.  Be sure to click and stop by AngelKissesJewelry!  Here’s my favorite from the shop, I love the way the beads have a glow to them:

From the EtsyTwitter Blog: “From March 2 - 8, 10% of all proceeds from sales will go to support HIV Positive women in Addis Kidan, Ethiopia, through the Good Samaritan Organization. Sherry personally visits this organization in Ethiopia to ensure the funds go directly to the women. Her next visit to Ethiopia is scheduled for March 16, 2009.”