Featured Etsy Seller - Gerdas Garden

Gerdas Garden

Etsy Shop Name: GerdasGarden

Your Name: Gerda Collins

Age: over 40 :)

What do you make?: Watercolor paintings, cards, prints

For how long?: 3.5 years

Shop description: My shop is filled with the great outdoors, flowers, landscapes, anything that grows.

Random fact about yourself: I think I am immune to Poison Oak


 I paint what moves me... my art flows from inside. Each painting is a unique journey.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GerdasGarden?ref=seller_info

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GerdasGarden?ref=seller_info

Rainbow Ball - Free Pattern

Avery when I showed her,  her new toy.

  Copyright © Jessica Boyer 2011 All Rights Reserved.

Materials:

– 1 Red Heart Super Saver Economy – Primary (A)

– Hook size: H/5mm

– Yarn needle

– Fiberfill stuffing

– Scissors

– Bell ( if you use a small bell the sound will be very muffled so I suggest using a plastic cat ball toy like in the photo below.   It just sounds the best to me.  Not super loud and not too quiet.) 

What I use for bell

Notes:

Stitches used: ch, sc 

Ball is worked in continuous rounds unless stated differently.

Ball:

With A ch 2  

Round 1: 6sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Round 2: 2sc in ea sc around. (12)

Round 3: *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (18)

Round 4: *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (24)

Round 5: *sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (30)

Round 6: *sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (36)

Round 7: sc in ea sc around.

Round 8: *sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (42)

Round 9: *sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (48)

Round 10: *sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (54)

Round 11-20: sc in ea sc around.

Round 21: *sc2tog, sc in next 7 sc; repeat from* around. (48)

Round 22: *sc2tog, sc in next 6 sc; repeat from* around.. (42)

Round 23: *sc2tog, sc in next 5 sc; repeat from*  around. (36)

Round 24: sc in ea sc around.

Round 25: *sc2tog, sc in next 4 sc; repeat from* around.(30)

Round 26: *sc2tog, sc in next 3 sc; repeat from* around. (24)

Surround bell with stuffing.

Fill about ¼ of the ball with stuffing.

Place bell and stuffing in ball.

Continue to stuff ball trying to keep the bell in the center of the ball, until it is firm.

Round 27: *sc2tog, sc in next 2sc; repeat from* around. (18)

Round 28: *sc2tog, sc in next sc; repeat from* around. (12)

Round 29: *sc2tog, repeat from* until hole is closed.

Fasten off .  

Weave in ends.

Eye Balls - Crochetliens

I was trying to think of another baby toy to do and I came up with these guys.  I like them a lot I think I am going to make a couple more.  My daughter LOVES these.  I was thinking about writing up a pattern too.  but I am not sure how I would explain the mouth.  You can find them in my shop www.crochetliens.etsy.com.

I crocheted this simple ball for Avery.  Thinking I will post the pattern for free on here very soon.

Almost Done with Mom's Blanket.

I finished the squares for my Mom's blanket now I have a wide border to do.  

Featured Etsy Seller - Deviant Candy

Deviant Candy

Shop Name: DeviantCandy

Your Name: Marie Jensen

Age: 27

What do you make? 
I make whimsical and weird creations out of polymer clay. My recent venture has been polymer clay cameo's and dragon snails. Everything is 100% handmade and one of a kind!

How long have you been making your polymer clay creations?
I have been creating for a little over a year. 

Random fact about yourself: I live in Montana. No, we do not have cows in our backyards.

Anything else you might want to include: You can find my past work at my website:www.deviantcandy.com and request custom orders! 

www.etsy.com/shop/DeviantCandy

Link to shop: www.etsy.com/shop/DeviantCandy

Featured Etsy Seller - Megan's Beaded Designs

Megan's Beaded Designs

Etsy Shop Name: Megan's Beaded Designs

Your Name: Megan (who wouldn't thought, right!?!? :-))

Age: 22

What do you make?: Pretty jewelry, patterns, hair accessories, and paintings!

How long have you been making it? 
FOREVER! Literally since before I was 5. My grandfather was into Native style beadwork, so my sister and I picked it up when we were very young.

Shop description: 
Unique beaded jewelry and accessories, perfect for showing off your individuality! All of my items are handmade, beaded by me. That means everything from my bead embroidered headbands to my peyote bracelets were created painstakingly one bead at a time. You wouldn't think so with my super low prices, but it's true! This is a shop that does NOT simply glue an already-ready applique to a metal band and call it good. I make all of my designs MYSELF.

Random fact about yourself: 
I have some of the strangest music taste ever. My favorites include (but are not limited to) Broadway musical soundtracks, and heavy metal like Metallica and Godsmack.

megansbeadeddesigns.etsy.com

Link to your shop: megansbeadeddesigns.etsy.com

I have a few other shops on Etsy too, not as full as this one, but I'm hoping to expand on them eventually. They are:glamour365.etsy.com, steampunkdream.etsy.com, andmeganscreativedesign.etsy.com. 

You can also like me on Facebook here: facebook.com/megansbeadeddesigns
Or twitter here: twitter.com/glamour365
And read my blog here: megansbeadeddesigns.wordpress.com

Featured Etsy Seller - Papersouls

Papersouls

Etsy Shop Name: Papersouls

Your Name: Jules Royce
Age: 28


What do you make?
I make polymer jewelry, mostly octopi, in bright awesome colors and clothing accessories (hats, purses) that are fun and out of the ordinary. Ever want an octoring in your fave color?

How long have you been sewing, and making polymer jewelry?
Lets see, I've been sewing since I was a kid, and when I was really small I made animals out of clay to play with my other toys. I really started selling about three years ago, with the encouragement of family and friends. I always thought my creations were kinda strange and noone else would like them but me, and boy was I wrong!


Shop description: Awesome Jewelry and Accessories for you to punk it up, rock it up or whatever you do! I make what makes me happy and hopefully it'll make you happy too!


Random fact about yourself: I'm a native Texan but I love to travel. I currently have no permanent address, and live in Norway. When I return I'll be selling/living out fo my camper in Austin, and this is just the way I like it!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/papersouls

http://www.etsy.com/shop/papersouls

Today's Projects

  I found this pattern http://stefanina.blogspot.com/2011/01/colored-granny-cover-for-pencils-step.html 
today and remembered that I had some Mason jars that I wasn't using.  The first one I made was using her pattern, I just added some rows.  I think my jar was taller than the pattern called for.  I now have a place for my crochet hooks.  I LOVE her pattern!

 Then I was wondering if I could make something like that, with acrylic yarn, but kept not fitting  right so I used different stitches and made this.  I was trying to think of what I could do with it, so I stuck a candle in the jar to see how it looked.

Not bad, but I'll probably use it to put change in :)

Why do I do these things.

   I am starting my Mom's blanket over.  It just seems too plan. I am still using the same pattern but I am making 5 squares across instead of 7 and making a really wide border.  I just need to figure out how to go from a row of sc to a groups of 3 like you would do in a granny square.  and I am making an extra sc row around each row of squares.  I need to have it done by March 10 why I am deciding to try something new now is beyond me. Hopefully it will be worth it. I really want to make my Mom something she will love.

Metal Madness Bracelet from Crochet! Magazine

Just made this bracelet from a pattern in my Crochet! magazine.  I didn't do the border because I think it would have been to wide, and I ran out of string anyway.  I don't love it. I don't hate it. I'll probably never wear it in public.  Just wanted to see how it looked in person.

Featured Etsy Seller

My first featured Etsy shop is DaVine Jewelry.    

Etsy Shop Name: DaVine Jewelry
Your Name: Danielle Vaillancourt
Age: 30

What do you make?: Jewelry

How long have you been making jewelry?

I've been making jewelry in one form or another since I was a little girl- I used to play around with beads to make my own jewelry and proudly wear it to school as a kid. I was always fascinated by my mother and grandmother's jewelry collections, i would sit for hours trying things on and inspecting them. In 4th grade my grandmother gave me a bunch of her old costume jewelry to play with and take apart to make new things with- I loved it! By the time I got to high school I started manipulating wire to create my own links, chains, and fun patterns to incorporate with all the beads I had collected over the years. When I went to RISD I came very close to being a sculpture major since I enjoyed working in 3D, but then I realized that if I majored in Jewelry & Metalsmithing I could combine that with my passion for jewelry- making tiny "sculptures" that people could wear.

Shop description: I sell jewelry handmade by me and inspired by patterns and forms found in nature. Here in New England, there is much to be inspired by, with our miles and miles of coastline, beaches, forests, and mountains. I love finding treasures and incorporating them into my work!

Random fact about yourself: For the longest time growing up I wanted to be a marine biologist. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DaVineJewelry

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DaVineJewelry

Featured Etsy Seller

I am constantly looking at all the great things people post on Etsy.  Someone once posted one of my items on their blog.  I think I am going to start doing something like that myself.  Maybe a short interview, pics of their shop and a link.  I better start thinking of some questions to ask.

   Avery turned 1 yesterday!  We had a cupcake party for her on Saturday.  

 Avery's birthday is coming up.  We are having a cupcake themed party for her on Saturday.  I can't believe how fast the year flew by.  I think she is going to be walking by the end of the week.

    

 I haven't heard back from leisure arts, but I posted my pattern on Etsy and it sold!  I am definitely going to write out more patterns.  A lot of people seem to like my alien rattle so I think I am going to go back and try to figure out how I made it. Now I regret not writing things down.  I want to finish making my Mom's throw before I do all that.  I wasn't able to finish for Christmas, so I want to have it done by her birthday.  

  

   

Sleepy Black Bear/Polar Bear

Copyright © Jessica Boyer 2011 All Rights Reserved.

    I submitted pictures of my bears to Leisure Arts today.  They said it takes 3-4 weeks for them to review the picture and decide weather or not it is something they are interested in. I am not sure if I should sell it on Etsy, or if I can sell it while I wait for an answer from them.  

Christmas

  Well Christmas didn't turn out exactly as I expected.  I was fine Christmas Eve, and got to be with my family.  Christmas morning I woke up with the flu (thanks Santa).  So we opened gifts in the morning then my husband and Avery spent the day at his parents.  Avery had a great time both days so I am really happy she enjoyed her first Christmas.  She loves all of her new toys and has enough clothes to last her until she grows out of 18 months.  I am also glad I at least got to celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Christmas plans

   Christmas is going to be crazy this year.  It is Avery's first Christmas and I am SO excited.  We gave her one of her gifts the other day.  She started tearing off the paper piece by tiny piece.  Once she saw that there was something under it she started going nuts.  We got her a toy cell phone because she is always trying to take everybody's.  She loves it.  My mom gave her a stuffed talking dog today while we were over, making stuff for Christmas Eve.  She has so much stuff to open Christmas and Christmas Eve she isn't going to know what to do with herself. 

    We are going all over the place, tomorrow we have my husband's aunt's party.  Christmas Eve we go to my parent's party then his parent's house to be with his family.  Then Christmas we are going to Memere and Pepere's, my Dad's, his parent's to eat, my parent's, then back to his parent's for games.  

   Christmas hasn't been the same since my grandfather past away.  I loved him so much and think about him everyday.  Avery has brought back my Christmas spirit.  If he was still alive I know they would have had so much fun together.  This year going to be amazing not because it is going to be like it used to be, but because it is a new kind of Christmas, with new traditions and my beautiful baby girl.

Goat for Jill

Copyright © Jessica Boyer 2010 All Rights Reserved.

Beer Coolie

Beer coolie I made for a Christmas gift.

Copyright © Jessica Boyer 2010 All Rights Reserved.

Think this is going to be the first pattern I make.

Avery with Santa