This Weeks Featured Shop Recycle Momma

My newest shop Recycle Momma is a true labor of love. I'd like to do something constructive for our kids and grandkids future. Saving the Environment seems like something I can accomplish in this weird world right now, one peice of clothing at a time.So I refashion old jeans, shirts, skirts, linens and things with bits and peices of new fabrics into something fresh and new. My grand parents and parents lived by the motto Make Do, Do Over or Do Without and saved back something for me so now I can do that for my grandkids. I'd like the recycled items we make to look so good the recycled bits are just part of the whole finished product and not the focus of attention.I have Also started a blog teaching about sewing and recycling as wellhttp://sweetpeaology.blogspot.com/my shop http://www.recyclemomma.etsy.com/

You can have a look at her shop by clicking the above link, and please retweet her so others can learn about her too.

Last Day To Enter This Months Giveaway

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED NEW GIVEAWAY COMING THIS WEEK, CHECK BACK!!!!!!


Leave your comment to be entered in this months give away for a set of reusable snack bags. http://thatgirlscrafty.blogspot.com/2009/07/giveaway-month-of-august-set-of.html

The winner will be announced tomorrow on that girls crafty.

Fun Back to school Handmade Items

Wow summer vacation just flew by!! Here in Switzerland, the kids went back to school last week. In honor of this special time of year I am compiling a list of handmade items especially for back to school. Enjoy, and be sweet retweet. :)

Composition books by Fun Frieda http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29512099
School Rocks Tshirt by my personalized tshirt http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29938279
Key Fob wristlet by Marisas Favorites http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29940803
Little Brown Monkey Pencil Case by Rohmer http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29943903
School Rocks Digital collage sheet by cupcake cuties http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29944206
Back to school teeny card set by Paper Follie http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29876577
Girly Skull Dress by Holy Crap Clothing http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29774563
Smart Cookie Tshirt by Oh Bananas http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29816536
Flap Sack Book Bag by Belles Mademoiselles http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29793739

This Weeks Featured Shop Kaur Funktion

Hello everyone! My name is Manju Dhat, otherwise known as Kreative Kaur of Kaur Funktion. I was born and raised in the lush mountains of the Fraser Valley, just outside Vancouver, Canada. Background on the word "Kaur":Kaur (sounds like "core") and in the Punjabi language means "lioness" or "princess". It is a middle name given to every female that is born to the Sikh faith. It's rather interesting seeing that Sikhs were once nomads 500 years ago and here I am, in reflection, a world traveller seeking greater insight to life complimenting my artistic pursuits.Kaur Funktion is a marketplace for the love of creative intentions. I scour the globe seeking artisans that fuse these intentions. Because of our similarities and uniqueness, Kaur Funktion is our avenue to work with our ideas in our individual specialty. My flavor being large scale oil painting. My friends and I have a saying, "Go large, or go home." Lol... this also is applicable to our journey in life, wouldn't you say?Eventually, the offerings from this website will allow me to benefit my humanitarian pursuits and further my social intentions through my own artistic and business practice. I have worked with many non-profits thus far, including UN Volunteers, explorASIAN, and my lifetime project, Dhata Foundation (http://www.dhata.org). I have a belief that has sustained me thus far, and that is "Art Saves Lives". Art can be labelled on many levels, but I think it's the act of creating that drives me to invest my time in something that contributes to the beauty and inspiration that the world has to offer. By creating a business of artistic practices with other "like" minded individuals, I hope to nurture and fuel these humanitarian pursuits.Lifelong endeavor:"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

You can visit her shop by clicking here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6355427

If you love her shop please retweet her so others can learn about her

Vote For Me!!! Or Not :)

I have entered the etsykids challenge for August. The theme was Halloween my most favorite holiday of the year. I made designer jack o lantern and ghost iron appliques. There are many many cute entries and you can have look by clicking below, and you can also vote for me or not. :)

http://etsykids.blogspot.com/2009/08/etsykids-design-challenge-vote-now.html

Girls Halter Dress with Elastic Top Tutorial Very Easy

This dress is a fun and easy project for beginner and more expierenced sewers alike. It's a great summertime piece, that can be layered for fall, and used as a shirt next year. :)





1) Start by measuring the little sweetie length wise and width wise, and cut 2 same size rectangles, always adding an inch or 2 for hemming and the casing. I usually like to make mine a little on the wider side as it will add fullness to the dress. Wider=fuller.





2) Hem the bottom of each piece.





3) Make your neck strap by cutting a 2" wide by the length you need strip of fabric. Fold with RIGHT sides together, and sew. Now turn right side out by poking a safety pin in one side and feeding it through to the other side.





4) Now put your hemmed rectangles together and sew up the sides.


5) Make your casing by folding over the top 1/2" and again about an inch. Press and sew.


6) Cut your elastic about 1" to an 1/2" smaller than needed otherwise it will be too big.


7) Feed it though your casing sew together and sew casing shut.


8) Now sew your neck strap to the front of the dress in the middle.

Voila You are Finished!!

If you want, you can get creative and can add iron on appliques, or paint directly on the dress as I did.

If You Like this Tutorial please be sweet and retweet

I was Mentioned!!!!

Well not me but my newest shop Simply Banners & Ads got a mention in an article on another handmade blog. I am honoerd. Here is the link if anyone would like to check it out. I love this blolg btw. http://bycoco.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-type-of-button-creatively-crafted.html

This Weeks Featured Seller Moon Duck Designs

My name is Kristyn Youngblood and my shop is called Moon Duck Designs. I create handmade, ecofriendly bracelets out of recycled magazines and wood. Each bracelet is unique, and no two are alike. I was inspired to make these during a collage project in my Mixed Media class. All the students were rummaging through stacks and stacks of old magazines, and I realized how many magazines were just lying around my house and how many I have thrown away in the past! So I put all my old magazines to good use and recycled them! Also, every bangle is made from poplar wood, so don't worry! Poplars are very fast growing trees and many are grown on plantations with the sole purpose of being cut down to make wood, paper, etc. My how "green" of me! =] I can also make a custom designs! I just love creating these bracelets, and I hope people enjoy them too!

You can visit her shop by clicking here http://www.moonduckdesigns.etsy.com/

If you like her shop retweet her so others can learn about her too.

New Online Magazine

The Etsykids street team of which I am a proud member has come out with a new seasonal magazine this month called modern Handmade Child. It features all kinds of cool stuff for kids such as kid friendly recepies, activities, clothing, accessories, etc. It's also has freebie sewing tutorials. A great place to advertise your shop. They offer different ad size slots. I am not sure of the pricing but that info can be easily obtained. You can see the magazine by clicking here http://modernhandmadechild.com/

If you need a new ad or banner for your shop feel free to visit me at http://www.simplybannersnads.etsy.com/ I will give you 15% off my already low prices. Just mention that girls crafty. I do photo banners and Ads, as well as ads with animation of up to 4 images. I also have a lot of inexpensive premade banners and avatars.

New Sampler Boxes are Here!!

The Ultimate European Sampler boxes have gone on sale. For only $10.00 + shipping you can get an awesome box full if goodies from artisans all over Europe. They make great gifts, and are lots and lots of fun. You can purchase by visiting http://www.geteurofied.etsy.com/ , or you can learn more about Get Eurofied, and see which shops are participating by clicking here http://www.geteurofied.com/ They are definetly worth a look!!

Soooo Funny I came Across this Today

A little something for all you Charlie Brown fans

This Weeks Featured Shop JJ& K Girly Things

I am Retired after thirty years. My roll now is homemaker and busy grandmother of one boy and three girls. I have always liked crafting. Learned from my mother how to sew, knit and crochet. When my children were teenagers I went back to school and studied art history, drawing and watercolor. This lead me to decorative painting on gourds.
I started making hair bows for my little girls and their various cheer squads. When my daughters grew up, married and started having little girls of their own I got back into making bows. I accumulated so many that they suggested I start selling Them. That was the start of JJ&K's girly things. I first had a store on ebay. I had some success there and great feedback but I discovered Etsy. I became truly inspired by all the talented crafters I found on Etsy. I especially love how helpful everyone is in the Etsy community. I am looking forward to a great experience in my craft through etsy and hopefully some success in selling. I am a member of two teams on Etsy. I am a proud member of ETSYKIDS group ETSYKIDS SOUTH and the CHRISTIAN ARTISTS AND CRAFTERS TEAM.

You can visit her shop here www.jjkgirlythings.etsy.com

If you like her items please retrweet this post so others can learn about her.