Creation of the Week: Cute Tags

Great tags that you can use for any occasions.

Mr. & Mrs. scrabble love tags are great to attach to party favors. Maybe for wedding or bridal shower?



Cute birdie tags, maybe?

Or the sweet owl tags?

They are available at my shop.

Spotted Tuesday: Cozy Green

This week I'm inspired by
Something green....
Something brown
Something that has the earthy flavor to it.

Enjoy looking at these beautiful findings.


1st row from the left:

tied up pillowcase in dark choclate with beige and leaf-green by rukkola

Pear Coasters Set of 4 by crochele

Handmade home decor Antique Botanicals Burdock vintage style by concentric

2nd row from the left:

Flourish in Brown Pleated A-Line Bag by atouchofstardust

Brooch Porcelain Flower Button and Copper Filigree Green Blue Aqua Spring 2010 by go2girl

Pillowcase Dress Happy All Over with Brown Ribbon Ties by jazzygirlboutique

Winner of Filigreephotos' Giveaway

Congratulations Cynthia (#135)! You won the $20 gift certificate to spend on filigreenphotos.

Thank you Liga and Janis for sponsoring this great giveaway.

Thanks again to all of you for entering the contest. You can enter the current contest from Briole here.

Giveaway: 8x10 print from Briole

This week giveaway is sponsored by Heather of Briole: (1) 8x10 print of YOUR choice.
I encourage you to read her profile featured yesterday and get inspired!

There are so ways to win. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry.

How to enter to win:

Mandatory entry:

• Go to Briole shop. Return to my Adore By Nat blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from her store.

Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):

• Earn 2 entries - Go to yesterday's post to get to know her more.
  

Leave a comment there (yesterday's post) on at least one the following: what you learn from her interview, what you want to see more on her shop and why, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated.

Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.

• Heart her shop and earn an entry. Simply let me know your Etsy username.

• Follow my blog and you earn another entry. If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.

• Become her Facebook Fan and you earn another entry. If you're a fan already, you'll also get an entry. Let me know your FB username please.

• Become my Facebook Fan and you earn another entry. If you're a fan already, you'll also get an entry. Let me know your FB username please.

• Follow adorebynat on twitter and earn an entry.

• Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat" in your tweet. Each tweet worths one entry and you can tweet each day until the end of the contest (a maximum of one tweet per day is counted). That's a total of 7 entries!

• Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.

• Purchase an item from Briole or my shop and earn 5 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting me know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on May 1st, 2010. Contest opens worldwide.

Don't forget to leave me your e-mail address. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn by the artist herself on Sunday, May 2nd by a random number generator. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

Saturday Artisan: Briole

Meet this week Saturday Artisan: Heather, proud shop owner of Briole.

What caught my attention when I visited her shop at the first time was those sharp and crisp colors in her photographs. Simply stunning! I'd bet the actual photographs are way better than pictured.

I really like her 2010 goal. It's something that I actually plan to do after being too exhausted every single day for the last 2 months, trying to do everything which we all know is impossible (I'm NOT a wonder woman!).

So read on and learn about this fantastic artist and stay tuned for tomorrow's exciting giveaway from Briole.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ crafts that you make?
My name is Heather Green, I grew up in Minnesota and worked my way down the Mississippi, living in St. Louis and then moving to New Orleans in May 2005. I met a great guy when I first moved to New Orleans and during hurricane Katrina, we evacuated back to St. Louis, settled in and got married a little over a year later. We like to think of our marriage one of the good things that came out of Hurricane Katrina. I was born into a family of crafty women, I am a fifth generation quilter besides enjoying my first artistic love, photography! For me, photography is a great opportunity to look at so many of the amazing things in the world in a new perspective. It brings me great joy to capture a detail or moment in time that I may have otherwise overlooked.

What is your favorite item in your shop?
This is a hard question! My favorite images are probably the three "Abstract Palm" photos. They are so vibrant and colorful and almost look like abstract paintings. I have them hung over my couch and I never get tired of looking at them.


Do you have a favourite Etsy seller?
All of them! No seriously, there are so many amazing artist on Etsy that it would be impossible to pick just one.

What inspires you?
My mom, Jan Douglas, who is am amazing quilt artist and starting her own company, my husband who is always encouraging me to be the best I can be and the beauty in nature.

What is your goal for 2010?
To slow down and enjoy every day and every opportunity that comes my way. Life is too short and goes by faster and faster all the time, I want to live in the moment so I don't have any regrets later about life passing me by.

What is your favourite tool that you cannot live without?
My camera! None of this would be possible without it.




How do you promote your shop?
I have a facebook fan page and I try to be involved in the Etsy community by posting in the forums and occasionally stopping in to say hi in the chat rooms. I also always have business cards on me and try to give them out whenever an opportunity presents itself!

Any advice for a newbie running his or her on-line shop?
Use the tools available through the Etsy community before setting up your shop. I spent a ton of time in the forums before starting my shop and I feel like it really prepared me to start a successful shop.

During this recession time, tell us one thing that you do to save money?
My husband and I are staying home more and enjoying things like playing cards and cooking rather than feeling like we have to go out to have fun.


Thank you Heather for sharing and thanks everyone who takes the time to learn more about Heather.

I'm Featured at Simply Said

I'm excited to share with you that I was featured at Simply Said blog.

Ms. Jen, the owner of the blog says such kind words:

There’s no doubt that paper is addicting. This week, Simply Said chats with fellow paper guru Natalie as she gives us a little peek into her DIY mantra and how her creative journey led her to turn out creations that are quite easy to adore.

.... and she herself is such a talented artist. No kidding!

If you can remember, she was a featured artist here in my blog and sponsored a giveaway.

So...go on. Read the interview we had and you may know a little more about me. Don't forget to leave any feedback you may have. We LOVE to hear from you! :-)

Spotted Tuesday: Sassy in Pink

This week Spotted Tuesday is inspired by me wanting to be a girly-girly girl. Lol. Sometimes I just want to look sassy... but you know that idea soon depleted when I have to chase little Ethan who knows that running around at a grocery store equals freedom.

Enjoy these beautiful handmade items found on Etsy.


1st row from left:

Rose glass and sterling silver round link earrings by girlygirlbead

PRINTABLE Bridal Shower Circle Stickers by PoshPixels

Pink Purse Handmade in Amy Butlers Lotus collection Pleated by StitchnStudio


2nd row from left:

The CHLOE Vintage Inspired Apron by Boojiboo

PICKING DAISIES Sugar Cookie Party Favors by sugarandflour

Pink Crochet Beanie by CelesteandCompany

Winner of modesambition's giveaway

Happy Monday!

Boy, this weekend flew by so fast!

But I'm happy to annouce someone is having extra fantastic Monday.

Congratulations Abby of Abbyloves (#82)! You won the beautiful scarf courtesy of modesambition.

Thank you Anne for sponsoring this great giveaway.

Thanks again to all of you for entering the contest. You can enter the current contest filigreephotos here.

Giveaway: $20 Gift Certificate from Filigreephotos

This week giveaway is sponsored by filigreephotos: a $20 gift certificate to spend at filigreephotos shop.

I encourage you to read their profile featured yesterday and get inspired!

There are so ways to win. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry.

How to enter to win:

Mandatory entry:

• Go to filigreephotos shop. Return to my Adore By Nat blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from her store.

Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):

• Earn 2 entries - Go to yesterday's post to get to know her more.
  

Leave a comment there (yesterday's post) on at least one the following: what you learn from her interview, what you want to see more on her shop and why, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated.

Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.

• Heart their shop and earn an entry. Simply let me know your Etsy username.

• Follow my blog and you earn another entry. If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.

• Become their Facebook Fan and you earn another entry. If you're a fan already, you'll also get an entry. Let me know your FB username please.

• Become my Facebook Fan and you earn another entry. If you're a fan already, you'll also get an entry. Let me know your FB username please.

• Follow filigreenphotos on twitter and earn an entry.

• Follow adorebynat on twitter and earn an entry.

• Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat" in your tweet. Each tweet worths one entry and you can tweet each day until the end of the contest (a maximum of one tweet per day is counted). That's a total of 7 entries!

• Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.

• Purchase an item from filigreephotos or my shop and earn 5 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting me know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on April 24th, 2010. Contest opens worldwide.

Don't forget to leave me your e-mail address. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn on Sunday, April 25th by a random number generator. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

Saturday Artisan: filigreephotos

Meet this week Saturday Artisan couple, Liga and Janis of filigreephotos. A couple who each has a special talent and sharing it with the world. I'm in awe of how beautiful snapshots of nature Janis was able to take. And calling himself, ameteur photograph? Hmm...he's just being humble, IMO.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ crafts that you make?
We come from small country in Europe – Latvia. We live in beautiful rural area, in fact biosphere reserve. So almost every day we se beauty of nature and it’s inspiring. Janis is amateur photographer. I’m unemployed for now so as I have free time I decided to promote my husband’s wonderful artwork.

What is your favourite item in your shop?
In fact there are two – Snowflake photo

Snowflake – it was a miraculous moment to see it after uploading from camera to PC – so detailed, fragile and unique...you’ll never see something like this with naked eye.


and owl photo

Owl – this kind of owls are quite rare here in our country so we were very lucky to see it and even more to take photo of it. This photo also shows skill of Janis as a photographer – it’s taken with vintage heavy manual lens (MTO-500)... and it’s not easy to photograph flying bird with manual lens!


What is your best seller?
We haven’t had many sales yet, because we’re newbies on Etsy. But for now our best seller is photo cards.

How does your day go in general?
Janis has regular job, so he goes to work in the morning. I usually do what’s needed to be done at home – like cleaning, cooking...but most of my day 10.00am – 4 or 5 pm is dedicated to promoting our Etsy shop. Listings, promoting in forums, twitter. Not very long time ago we started our blog and I plan to make facebook fan page also! (and they have a FB fanpage by the time this interview is posted). Actually these things take a lot of time. In the evening Janis often does some photo projects and I do my crafts – I make lamps. (and she finally opened a store selling the lamps, yei!! It's FiligreeCreations.

Do you have a favourite Etsy seller?
We don’t have one particular favorite. But I have a favorite thread – in Etsy forums promotion section there is a wonderful thread with many lovely and helpful people – Enyaeires thread. Many thanks to people of this thread for helping and being so nice to us!

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by many small things like good tea, snow, smell of rain, but I never can get an answer to this question from Janis – he says to him inspiration just comes from somewhere and it has nothing to do with outer factors... :-) he does not know himself.



What is your goal for 2010?
Hmm..hard to say – we have a list of goals actually. It’s about being seen and inspire!

What is your favourite tool that you cannot live without?
For Janis it’s his pile of photo equipment – especially he loves manual lenses. My is not a tool – it’s my senses. It may sound wierd, but I mostly get my inspiration from all the small things (like I mentioned before) – smell of tea, rain, trees, seeing moments in nature – like birds playing in the snow. And I can’t do anything properly if I don’t have inspiration.



How do you promote your shop?
We’re always looking for new ways to promote our shop. For now it’s Etsy forums, blog (www.filigreephotos.blogspot.com ), and twitter (http://twitter.com/filigreephotos ).

Any advice for a newbie running his or her on-line shop?

We’re newbies, so we don’t have much advice to give...but I guess I could mention some things... 1) Be kind and nice to everyone. Treat them as you want yourself to be treated. 2) Good photos are important if you want to be really successful. There’s piles of info available on internet about improving quality of your photos. Invest time in visual appearance of your shop and it’ll pay back.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's giveaway!

Creations of the Week - Teabag Holder for Baby Shower

Last week I was contacted by a client who wondered if I could make her teabag holders in pink. She will need them for her baby shower.

That's how I spent last weekend. Shopping for the papers and completing this custom order over the weekend while at the same time spending my days with my family.


30 teabag holders in bubblegum pink.

I usually use patterned papers for my teabag holders as they would have designs of some sort. But I really like these too. They are made of cardstock (textured) and just as lovely as those made from patterned papers. My client wanted these done plain because she would like to add a 2x2 sticker in the center. I could only imagine that it'll be just perfect when she adds the sticker on.


Happy Friday!

Spotted Tuesday: Timeless Pearls

This week Spotted Tuesday is inspired by one of timeless treasure of all time: pearls. They are so classic and elegant, IMHO.

1st row from the left:

Shabby sky blue and aqua sparkle flower rhinestone repurposed vintage brooch chic magnet by Blingnets

Tiffany Blue Chiffon Flower Hair Pins by Nomsa

2nd row from the left:
Sweet assembly of vintage photo framed iSn mother of pearl by pinkysattic

Turquoise And Pearls Rosary Chain Necklace On Gold by BellaBeadsOriginals

Winner of handmadebyannepotter

Hope you have a great Monday so far.

And to the extra lucky one who has a fantastic Monday, shutterboo (#54) for winning Banjar Bali earrings from handmadebyannepotter.

Thank you Anne for sponsoring this great giveaway.

Thanks again to all of you for entering the contest. You can enter the current contest here.

Giveaway: Everyday Circle Scarf, Turquoise

This week giveaway is sponsored by modestambition: a pretty Everyday Circle Scarf, Turquoise.

This soft versatile scarf is designed for hard everyday wear. It is crocheted from 100% acrylic and won't fade or shrink in rain or snow. The comfortable slouchy styling makes this a perfect choice for all day wear.

I encourage you to read her profile featured yesterday.

There are eight ways to win. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry. How to enter to win:

Mandatory entry:

• Go to modestambition shop. Return to my Adore By Nat blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from her store.

Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):

• Earn 2 entries - Go to yesterday's post to get to know her more.
  

Leave a comment there (yesterday's post) on at least one the following: what you learn from her interview, what you want to see more on her shop, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated.

Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.

• Heart her shop and earn an entry. Simply let me know your Etsy username.

• Follow my blog and you earn another entry. If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.

• Become my Facebook Fan and you earn another entry. If you're a fan already, you'll also get an entry. Let me know your FB username please.

• Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat" in your tweet. Each tweet worths one entry and you can tweet each day until the end of the contest (a maximum of one tweet per day is counted). That's a total of 7 entries!

• Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.

• Purchase an item from modestambition or my shop and earn 5 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting me know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on April 17th, 2010. Contest opens worldwide.

Don't forget to leave me your e-mail address. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn on Sunday, April 18th by a random number generator. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

Saturday Artisan: modestambition

Meet this week Saturday Artisan: Anne Lawrence, the artist behind a great shop, modestambition.

Learn from her on how to be creative starting from tackling other crafts to how to make her packaging pretty and environmentally friendly.


Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ crafts that you make?
I studied art and art history in school. I learned to crochet when I was eight. I’m the type of person who always has to have their hands busy. I am constantly working on or thinking about new projects. I love to crochet and work with fiber, but I’m also a big fan of paper – collages, origami, making paper, and so on. In my Etsy shop I focus on
crochet, but I’ve starting making more elaborate sewn and collaged paper tags for my items for display at craft shows.

What is your favourite item in your shop?
Currently, I’m really excited about the hoods I’ve been making. They are each so unique. I make sure to challenge myself on the technique for each of these.
Here's one:

What is your best seller?
My crocheted button pins are by far my best seller off Etsy at local craft shows.

On Etsy, my crocheted shrugs are very popular for the mother-of-the-bride and bridesmaids.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by color, texture, interesting fibers, period literature and films, Jane Austen, folk art, contemporary art, and things I see on the street.

What is your favourite tool that you cannot live without?
My crochet hooks of course!

Any advice for a newbie running his or her on-line shop? Try different ways of promoting yourself and really think about your audience. Be as original as possible and true to your own ideas.


During this recession time, tell us one thing that you do to save
money?
I try to make the presentation of my mailed items as lovely and thoughtful as possible. I’ve started sewing little pockets from scrap fabric instead of using tissue paper.



Crochet is fairly light and durable so shipping is easy.
I also reduce paper waste by printing the invoice and mailing label on the same sheet of paper, then I do a quick little accordion fold so the label information faces out and the
invoice is tucked inside with a little arrow showing from the outside and the word “receipt”. I hate producing extra paperwork and paper waste so this keeps things easy for me.


Anything else you would like to share?
In my art day jobs I work to connect people to art. Buying handmade is one of the most direct ways for people to experience art/craft in their lives. You may be able to buy something cheaper at the mall on sale, but when you buy from the maker you create a link, a relationship, really, that is not only more meaningful but that brings us back to a human scale.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's giveaway sponsored by modestambition!

Creations of the Week

This week I focus on making more masculine cards.


Granted that this maybe still a bit cute but cute is not only for girls. There are cute guys out there, aren't there?



Awww....together is a wonderful place to be! Perfect for anniversary or wedding occasion, or anything where love is involved.

I'll be making more of these on the weekend and list them on my shop.

Spotted Tuesday: Shabby Chic

This week Spotted Tuesday is inspired by sweet baby chicks (above) designed by none other than my talented friend, Vink of VinkDesign.

Enjoy :-)



1st row from the left:

Hand Dyed Yellow Impressionist Daisy Jersey Ruffle Scarf by atelierfrost

Enamel Flower Necklace - Steampunk Alice in Wonderland by bionicunicorn

Ayala Levinger Art bags - OOAK Vintage fabric shoulder bag by AyalaLevinger


2nd row from the left:

Solid 18K Yellow Gold earrings with Smooth Smokey Quartz and microfaceted Citrine - Eos by Arctida

Friendship Soap Collection by SatinandBirch

Pair of cushion covers Retro flower print large yellow flowers 16 inch pillow by Ruthscrafts

Winner of Jacarandadesigns

Congratulations Kim (#35) !!! You'll the lucky one winning jacarandadesigns's beautiful pair of peach earrings. Thank you Jane for sponsoring this great giveaway.

Thanks again to all of you for entering the contest. You can enter the current contest here.

Happy Monday!

Giveaway: Banjar Bali Earrings

This week giveaway is sponsored by handmadebyannepotter: an exotic pair of Banjar Bali earrings.

These exotic beauties are going to your favorite statement earrings. Deep teal glass beads are enhanced with gorgeous Bali silver bead caps and bright silver tone findings to make these earrings a glorious ode to Balinese style. The large glass beads are a rich teal blue/green with a subtle mottling of taupe and measure 12mm across. The bead caps are real silver-plated Balinese caps with tiny rope detailing and dot pattern to reflect light making a sparkling complement to the more serious teal beads. Tiny silver tone beads and simple wraps finish off these beautiful components. Hung on simple bright silver tone wires, these earrings hang 1.5”. These earrings have that effortless globe-trotting panache – like you just stepped off the plane from your Indonesian holiday.

Read her profile featured yesterday.

There are seven ways to win. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry. How to enter to win:

Mandatory entry:

• Go to handmadebyannepotter shop. Return to my Adore By Nat blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from her store.

Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):

• Heart her shop and earn an entry. Simply let me know your Etsy username.
• Follow my blog and you earn another entry. If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.
• Become my Facebook Fan and you earn another entry. If you're a fan already, you'll also get an entry. Let me know your FB username please.
  
• Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat" in your tweet. Each tweet worths one entry and you can tweet each day until the end of the contest (a maximum of one tweet per day is counted). That's a total of 7 entries!
  
• Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.
• Purchase an item from handmadebyannepotter or my shop and earn 5 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting me know by leaving comments :-)
  

Contest starts now and ends on April 10th, 2010. Contest opens worldwide.
Don't forget to leave me your e-mail address. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn on Sunday, April 11th by a random number generator. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

Saturday Artisan: handmadebyannepotter

This week Saturday Artisan is Anne of handmadebyannepotter, a talented multi-media and global artist, I called.

In her shop, she offers selections of bags/ purses, jewelries, accessories, home decors, etc. I love how she embraces different cultures and collaborates that passion into what she makes. You could clearly see that in her shop. More importantly, what even made her worth of being Saturday Artisan? Her good and kind heart: she gives 50% of all proceeds to missions.


Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/ craft that you make?
I am a stay-at-home mom to five children. I have been sewing for as long as I can remember, but I work with a lot of different media. I knit, crochet, quilt, paint, bead, needlepoint, embroider, etc. It’s my goal to be able to make anything I dream up (and I dream up a lot of stuff!) so I am trying to be proficient in whatever looks wonderful.


What is your favourite item in your shop?
Probably my Happy Birthday, Thomas A. Edison! Necklace.


I like beautiful things, but I also like to laugh a lot. This piece is perfect: beautiful AND it has a great personality.

What is your best seller?
My NAUGHTY Lumps of Coal. They’re a funny stocking stuffer for all the grumpy people in our lives.

Anne, if I may add: this Provence Monogrammed Grain Sack Pillow seems to be the 'hot item' now since the last time we talked. I'm sure your lumps of coal will be selling like nuts when we're closer to Christmas again this year.


What inspires you?
Travel and cultural art traditions like Thai pagodas, Mexican Milagros, Coptic crosses, Chinese chops (square name stamps), Pacific totem poles, and African masks.

What is your favourite tool that you cannot live without?
My mom gave me a pair of artery clamps for Christmas one year. I thought she was nuts. I use them all the time because they clamp like pliers, lock in place and get in narrow spots. They’re great for beadwork, woodwork, and turning fabric tubes for sewing. Mom, you’re brilliant!

During this recession time, tell us one thing that you do to save money?
I love to use recycled and repurposed materials; this is just how I like to operate. But when I feel that my budget is tight, I deliberately try to work out of my stash and try to reinvent tired elements. This is a creative challenge, but it stretches me and pushes my creativity to the next level.

Any tutorial that you’d like to share, pretty please?
Well OK, because you asked so nicely. Here’s how I make my Goa Silk Necklace.


Take long lengths of silk or rayon seam binding and sew them together, end to end (I shoot for 160”-170” total). Then place one end under your sewing machine presser foot, and begin twisting until is forms a tight tube of fabric. Zigzag over the cord and continue to twist (same direction for the whole length) until you reach the end. Butt ends together and zigzag over joint. Global gorgeous.

Stay-tuned for tomorrow's giveaway that Anne will be sponsoring. In the meantime, feel free to leisurely browse her shop.