Here Kitty Kitty Kitty

One of the best things about this 90/90 blog challenge (90 blogs in 90 days!!) is the opportunity to meet a lot of Etsy artists previously unknown to me. Some are new to Etsy, some are just new to me, but they've all been fun to investigate and find the things I like best about them. One shop that's new to me is Lazy Cat Gifts, and one would think I would have come across them sooner given their name and their fabulous work, but no, they were lost in the crowd for me. No more.

Named in honor of their kitty friends (although I know a few people who would claim the name of their shop is highly redundant - what cat isn't lazy?!! - lol!), their pictures appear above, snagged from their very clever blog. Nemo is little and orange, Mittens is a polydactyl tuxedo, Zorro is the princess who likes to sleep on yarn, and Emma is Mittens' sister who loves to snuggle. (Zorro and Emma look like my Stella!) Lazy Cat Gifts was created by three friends in Ann Arbor, MI. Two of them were in medical school at the University of Michigan and the third worked in a laboratory there (yea laboratorians!!). They were all inspired by their grandmothers who crocheted, and have applied that inspiration to both jewelry and accessories for their shop.



They began their enterprise at local craft shows, and then began on Etsy in January 2007. They have really enjoyed the community on Etsy, as I have, and it has the added bonus for them in allowing them to continue in their business even though one of the partners moved to Philadelphia.





They enjoy using the skills from their grandmothers to create wonderfully hip and modern pieces. They crochet in both yarn and wire, creating artisan bead crochet jewelry, scarves, hats, etc., and are constantly looking for ways to expand crochet.

As I mentioned above that they have a blog, I want to point out their very clever "match-up" features. What a helpful thing to provide for shoppers! Click on the image below to get to the post where they show how to complete a look starting with this fabulous crocheted necklace. Maybe they should consider a personal shopping career - they sure can pull a look together!

So take a trip over to Lazy Cat Gifts, check out their blog for great features on other Etsy artists as well as their fun match ups, and get shopping!

More on Gifts that Give

Do you have someone on your gift list that has adopted or will be adopting a child from China? This gorgeous bracelet created by Etsy artist Deanna Roux of FancyFreeMe has a very special meaning that would be just perfect for that someone. It’s a symbol for anyone who is lucky and blessed enough to have built their family by adopting a child from China.

In addition to its beauty and symbolic significance, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these bracelets will go to Harmony Outreach, a 501(c) (3), non-profit organization that helps to save abandoned babies and children in China by ensuring they receive the medical treatment, therapy or schooling they need while they complete their journey from abandonment and hopelessness to redemption and love.

Each element in the bracelet has been carefully chosen to have a meaning for this outreach effort. Click on the image above to find out more, and visit Deanna's blog to get the full story and more information about Harmony Outreach.

Awaken the Goddess Within

Many of the artists at Etsy profess a life-long calling to art. One of the site's gifts is that it provides such a friendly forum (haha, even though sometimes the "Forums" are not so friendly!) for these artists to showcase their artistic expressions. An artist such as this is Andee Harston from Orlando, who loves to draw, paint, sculpt, make jewelry, and most recently, express herself in photography. Her jewelry business, Celtic Goddess Jewelry, was started in early 2001.


Andee's life and her art is influenced by spiritual learning, nature and goddess and Celtic imagery, and she identifies very strongly with her Celtic heritage. I found her spiritual and natural pieces very compelling, with a strong design sense, and beautifully elegant lines.






She has also launched a bath-and-body shop, Sacred Waters Bath, offering soaps in unique shapes and scents, bath teas and more.



You can see all of her work on her website gallery, shop at Celtic Goddess Jewelry, and learn more about Andee and her views on the world and other indie artists on her blog.

Three's Company

Creativity sometimes is a solitary pursuit, and sometimes breeds cooperativity. In the case of KreativeMindz from Cincinnati, an Etsy company of three began when the husband and wife team of Aly and Beau, supporting each other through love, laughter and creativity, teamed up with An-G, one of Aly's best friends.

They mostly make clothing (in all sizes and colors), Goddess Wraps™, Hot Packs, bags, purses, wallets, cuffs and many other cool things! Beau is a very skilled craftsman and carpenter. Check out their Wooden Kreationz section.

All this "kreativity" didn't just rise up by spontaneous generation. Aly was born and raised in a home of artists, and the kids in the family were always doing some sort of "project". Continuing for Aly throughout her life, dipping her hands in all sorts of creative projects, she found her niche in sewing. She enjoys working with the different fibers to see what can be done with them. She began her sewing career traveling all over the country selling her clothes at music shows and festivals.

Now a stay-at-home-mom, she misses that traveling life sometimes, but feels so blessed to have her 2 wonderful and beautiful children, and so very thankful to have the Etsy opportunity to work at home and be able to watch her children grow. Aly and Beau also enjoy their land and organic gardens, hiking, fishing, swimming, playing, camping, fires, drum circles and a show when they can catch one. As mentioned above, Beau is a carpenter and loves working with his hands and building wonderful things! The sewing is assisted by An-G, who lives in Columbus and where she just graduated from vet school. (There we go again with the recurring theme of creative scientists!)

Kruise their KreativeMindz shop for colorful kreations, and take a trip to their blog to find out more.

A Charming Etsy Star

The Etsy artist behind Earth Charms describes her shop as "A little store run by someone with a big passion for natural stones and their metaphysical properties." She transforms that passion into jewelry and other gift items, and provides for her buyers all the information considered as attributes for the beautiful stones that she has selected for her pieces for that added dimension of meaning to art and/or adornment. Take for example the elegant kyanite earrings below - a stone believed to enhance communication and loyalty - how perfect for earrings!

I love the Bio in Earth Charms' Etsy shop - a prose/poem that tells you so much about her:


My name is: a title used to facilitate communication.
My home is: a little slice of paradise despite the paper-thin walls and windows.
My goal is: to make macrame fashionable.
My soul is: owned by a thieving kitty.
My dreams are: not all that unrealistic, and involve comfort instead of riches.
My life is: meant to be enjoyed to the fullest.




So expect to be charmed when you visit Earth Charms, and find out more on her blog.

Untie a Ribbon on Some Signature Pieces

There are so many wonderful handcrafted items on Etsy, it should be so very easy to shop handmade this Holiday Season. At Signature Sterling, the gift opportunities abound! One of my favorites from Sue's shop leads this post, with fabulous beads and colors inspired by "Hairspray."


Sue enjoys designing, creating, and just plain playing with a variety of beads - but mainly sterling silver, semiprecious, lampwork, Czech glass, and Swarovski crystals/pearls. When she's not beading, she loves being a soccer mom. When you stop by Signature Sterling be sure to check out her links to some other terrific, creative "Etsians" - especially the TBO, the Bead Hive, JET, EtsyMom, and etsyBead groups. Need help finding these talented artists? Go to the Etsy home site and search for TBO, BHV, JETT, EtsyMom, and etsyBead in tags,titles. You'll get a great list to choose from!

And yes, Sue is a Buckeye fan - check out her blog for proof positive on that point. But she supports fans of all types - for a great gift idea for that super-fan in your life, check out her "Colors" line for custom items tailored to school colors and activities.

Hope for Whirled Peas Update

I'm so happy - two of my pieces in the Hope for Whirled Peas Collection (see this post to get the whole scoop) I have dedicated to raising funds for the Fisher House Foundation have sold! Actually, one necklace was a special request as gift for a mom expecting twins - what a sweet idea! I hope that this is the beginning of a successful charity opportunity. Thanks to my two buyers so far - your purchases are greatly appreciated!

Down to Earth

Maybe it's the season, maybe the lack of rain leaving all the grasses tinder-box brown, maybe even my mood....but I found myself drawn to the lovely earth-shades of jewelry in the shops that belong to Etsy artist formerly-known-as-Berry Patch Designs, now becoming Silver Shadow (a change prompted by a name conflict with another e-seller on that OTHER e-site). She also maintains an "alternate reality" shop at Undercurrent. A member of Etsy's EarthPath Artisans Street Team, Berry Patch/Silver Shadow loves life but not drama, animals, people-watching, and keeping an individualistic approach. Here is how she describes her approach to design: "I love to combine the varying colors and textures of the natural world. There are so many feelings and places to love about our world!"


Her materials remind her of those places and feelings: turquoise, jasper and agate in their infinite varieties, other semiprecious gems, like amazonite's soft greens, garnet's rich wine colors, bronzite's gold-flecked chocolate depths. High quality man-made glass and metal beads join in the visual symphony; they have their own brightness and feelings to contribute to her designs.

What does she love most designing jewelry? Hearing and seeing that people enjoy wearing her jewelry. I bet she hears that a lot.


Her "mad ramblings" about jewelry design can be found at her Strains Asylum, and her designs at Berry Patch Designs, Silver Shadow, and Undercurrent.

Feed your Head

and your eyes! I found the work of Etsy jewelry artist Alternate Bliss to have all the aspects of desirable accessories (for me, anyway) - clean style, beautiful materials, and something to spark the mind. Tanya Brumett, a mixed media artist who includes jewelry in her offerings (as well as ACEOs, original art and art prints), works a lot in fine silver clay to create little pure silver masterpieces like the White Rabbit.


I especially love pieces that incorporate words to pique your interest, or reflect your attitude, or focus your daily walk. For many, the word "Imagine" is just that kind of word, even a call to action as it evokes the utopian words of John Lennon.

And speaking of music, an apparent source of inspiration for Alternate Bliss, these "99 Red Balloons" earrings recall the anti-war protest song of Nena's from the '80s, as well as the movie, “Le Ballon Rouge,” a short film directed by French film-maker Albert Lamorisse in 1956. This film follows the adventures of a young boy who finds a large, red balloon throughout the streets of Paris. In their wanderings around Paris, the young boy and the balloon encounter a gang of bullies, but tragedy is replaced by a magically happy ending.

So feed your head with evocative and beautiful jewelry from Alternate Bliss, check out her art while you're there, and find out her musings on life through her blog.

Company is Coming!

The holiday season is upon us. In fact next week is Thanksgiving - are you ready yet? Ack, I'm not! It's so early this year. But it's not too late to add those special touches to your activities that will make memories of the season last for a lifetime. There's an artist on Etsy that has items that fit that bill nicely, I would think, for those interested in making the season special. At Mommy and Me Boutique the specialty is adult and toddler aprons; fun, funky, traditional, vintage. Just perfect for those holiday baking and cooking activities, and turning what could be a mundane chore into an "event" and a memory cherished for a lifetime - "when Mommy and me made cookies together." These aprons are designed for today's mother and child to show off their own sense of style; you can be sure "these are not your mother "s aprons."


Other passions at Mommy and Me involve creating toddler skirts and baby items and she enjoy sworking with designer fabric and ribbons. Loving care and personal expression are put into each one. All work is done in a pet free and smoke free environment, so you can be assured your fabric items will arrive allergen-free, and ready for making memories.

See more of her lovelies, as "every little girl likes something special" at her Etsy shop and her blog. Now, back to planning for next week!

Fired up for Wired Up

I got the opportunity to e-interview Etsy jewelry artist Alicia Weeks from Wyred On Wire - an artist who loves to work in wire and semi-precious gemstones as much as I do.

So Alicia, how did you get into your craft? When I was 8 years old my grandparent bought me a huge beading kit for Christmas. I fell in love with beads and jewelry that day. I loved putting the different colors combinations together from there it grew.


What inspires you? I'm inspired by life in general. There isn't much that doesn't inspire me: friends, family other artist, media. I can go for a walk and be inspired or a trying to sleep.

What challenges you in your art? Pictures, Pictures, Pictures. I definitely need to work on my photography skills in the new year. I will be getting a new camera and getting some lessons.

How long have you had your shop? I joined Etsy in March; however, it was awhile afterwards that I started posting items for sale.

Do you consider your shop a job or a hobby? I don't consider making my jewelry a job. I love making my jewelry. However, the paperwork, the photography, web presence, etc., does sometimes turn it into a job.

Do you have any advice for fellow Etsy shop owners? I don't think I have really been here long enough to give advice for Etsy shop owners, but some good advice to anyone: be true to yourself.

And lastly, what is your favorite fun fact about yourself? It's not really a fun fact, I think it's rather sad and slightly ironic. I love earrings; however, I am allergic to them. I still wear them. I just make sure that when I am home I take them out. Yes, a jewelry designer who is allergic to earrings.


Thanks, Alicia, for sharing about yourself and your work. So sorry about that earring allergy! The lovely items featured here are available at Wyred on Wire, and you can find out more about Alicia at Blogger and on her gallery website.

Ready, Get "Set", Go!

Pulling together a "look" can be as simple as classic clothes with an added pop of accessory adornments. Coordinated sets of jewelry are the specialty of Etsy shop Adornments by BJ, a jewelry artist with an exceptional eye for beautiful stones and well-balanced compositions (just check out the lead picture - what gorgeous larimar!). Her passion for her art is evident in all her creations, to amazing and striking results. She has designs to fit all budgets and styles, from casual to elegant, from bold to demure, and you'll never have to worry about what earrings to wear with the stunning necklace you've chosen - BJ has made the set for you!


I'm especially in love with this gold/purple combo of amethyst and yellow jasper - yum yum!









So, ready, set, go grab an eyeful at Adornments by BJ, and check out her blog, too! I'm sure you'll find a load of goodies.

Kuddly Warmth for Your Babes

Toni Anderson from Fairbanks, Alaska, is a new Etsy shop owner, joining only this September, but is already up and running with 21 sales! She heard about Etsy from her college roommate, who is a photographer in Minneapolis. Overall, Toni has been creating her items for one year, and when she was deciding on a name for her shop, she wanted to pick a name that would reflect both what she makes and had a personal meaning to her. Kuddle Bugz Threadz is inspired from her 16-month-old twins, Tori and Trista, her true “KuddleBugz”. With the need in Fairbanks for warm baby items, she felt a tug at her heart to use her talents to help other mom's keep their "kuddle bugz" warm, too!


Toni works in fleece and flannel, and her first project was last year for Christmas when she made her boyfriend a Washington Huskies fleece blanket. Her favorite item in her shop is this Purple Paisley Infant Car Seat Cover. Mine, of course, is the cute burp cloth at the end of this post. Although she considers her first job is to be a "Mommy to two beautiful little twin girls," she promotes her business by handing out business cards, putting up flyers around town, word of mouth referrals, emailing family/friends, and participating in forums on Etsy. Her advice to other indie craft artists is "Don’t give up! Keep giving it 110% because it will pay off!"


Her future plans include to continue making sales, adding new items each week. Toni hopes that it will make enough profit so that she will be able to say at home with her girls! So for keeping your little ones warm and cozy this winter, check out Kuddle Bugz Threadz shop, and find out more about Toni and her cute little Kuddle Bugz on her blog.

Always Good to Stick with the Classics

Dina Cuomo of New York, the Etsy jewelry artist behind Elektra Jewelry Design, became entranced with jewelry and jewelry design following a trip to Greece at the age of 15. The classical pieces in 18K and 24K gold she found there fascinated her, and she brought many pieces back with her to enjoy for many years. The seeds that were planted after that influential trip sprouted and grew into an indie business after a chance escape from the cold on a ski vacation led her to take a jewelry-making class. Love of design and love of process came together, and in March 2007, she opened her Etsy shop.



Her designs are gracious and elegant compositions of semiprecious gemstones, sterling silver and top quality gold vermeil. Her design goal is to create pieces that are timeless and well-made so that they can be worn for years to come, just as she enjoyed those classical pieces from Greece.







For elegant, classic design in jewelry, you would do well to spend some time at Elektra Jewelry Design and find out more about Dina on her blog.