Next weeks Featured Seller Enlighted Artisan

Since I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow (most swiss get one week off during Feb. for skiing, so cool) Anyways, next week I will be in the alps, and not near my computer, so I would like to share next weeks featured shop/seller who makes some super amazing stuff. I hope you enjoy!!

I am a relatively new seller on etsy (this is my fourth week). I'm slowly building up my inventory as I design and finish new pieces. I've been painting stones for a few years, but mostly just for fun or to give them away, although I have done a few small craft fairs. I taught myself origami last year, again just for fun.I've known about etsy for a few years, but never really considered becoming a seller myself until a couple of months ago. I plan to broaden my offerings over the coming weeks and months to include altered art, a wider array of painted stones, maybe some origami box sets (marketed for storage of jewelry, keepsakes, etc), decoupaged origami boxes, and cigar box art and accessories. I actually listed my first cigar box purse last night.I've always loved to make things, but I don't think I've ever taken a class. It's not that I'm opposed to them, but rather that I've always been one to kind of just figure stuff out. I see something I want to do, so I go buy a couple of books (or in today's Jetsonian age, hop on the Internet), deconstruct it and try to figure out how it's done, or just get a general idea and wing it. It is for this reason, I'm proud to say, that I never produce a "perfect" product. If I wanted something perfect, I'd commission Martha Stewart...I prefer personality!I get ideas all the time, and often in odd places. For this reason, I always carry my blue graph-paper notebook with me. I have a lot of drive time to work and back every day, which counts as primo idea time for me.I love talking to people and making new friends. I also love to do custom pieces. I love convos and welcome them at any time...whether it's to ask a question, make a suggestion, request a custom piece or just to say hi.Here are all of my links:etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/EnlightenedArtisanblog: http://enlightenedartisan.blogspot.com/twitter: http://twitter.com/NlitenedArtisanfacebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/EnlightenedArtisan

Please visit her shop to see all her super fun items, or become her fan on FB, or follow her blog.

Eco Friendly Diapers!!!

Ok sorry to go all baby on you, but I have have been searching for some eco friendly diapers. I have found a few that I like, but I really like these that I found on etsy. These diapers are awesome!! Not only are they washable, but they are also size adjustable! How great is that? They work from newborn up to size 2 years. I will be getting some of these. The other diapers I have found come in different sizes requiring you to purchase at every size change which for babies happens fast, so not exactly what I was looking for. The afterjoy diapers are also quite a bit cheaper than others I have seen at around $8 per diaper.

I read somewhere that it takes 1,000 years for a diaper to breakdown. Since this will be my 3rd baby I really don't want to contribute more diapers to our landfils. Anyways should you be interested in eco friendly size adjustable diapers check out this site.

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

This Weeks Featured Seller Dana Laymon Photography and Design

I live in Wilmington, NC with my husband and have a full time job but do wedding and portrait photography on the side. This is my passion! I live at the beach and love it! It's so easy to find inspiration here. But we just had a our 1st snow last week and it was great! We usually don't get any. I have opened my Etsy shop to help make a little extra for the family since my husband is currently looking for a job. But i have found this great community and wealth of knowledge on this site and I love it! I haven't been successful like i was hoping but I know my big break is coming :) I really want to get into more of a photograph product line so keep a lookout for more of that in my shop! I have a Haiti picture in my shop where 100% of the money is going to Haiti: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39520727.

Some fun and Free Sewing Tutorial Links

I found out a few weeks ago that we are expecting a new family member coming in September!! So I have have been looking for some fun and easy tutorials for baby stuff as I have gotten rid of EVERYTHING!!! I would prefer to make things to buying them anyway. Hope you enjoy these links, I know I will!!

Rabbit ear babies beanie made from an old T-shirt. (sewing required) http://www.rookiemoms.com/sew-a-quick-newborn-hat-from-a-t-shirt/
Bunny Ear Beanie with a shirt sleeve (less sewing required)
http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2008/10/quick-craft-t-shirt-sleeve-baby-hat.html
Wooden tile memory game set
http://www.make-baby-stuff.com/wood-toy-to-make.html
Baby Jumpsuit (looks more advanced) Pattern pieces available for printing
http://babypatterns.atspace.com/epatjumps.html
Baby Blanket (looks pretty simple)
http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/make-a-baby-blanket.html
Soft Baby Blocks. I love this one, but it looks a bit complicated
http://www.make-your-own-baby-stuff.com/baby-blocks.html
Baby Bib
http://chickpeastudio.typepad.com/chickpea_sewing_studio/2008/01/chickpea-infant.html
Burp Cloth using cloth diapers (fun and easy)
http://anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com/2007/03/such-mystery-not.html
Burp cloth NOT using cloth diapers
http://thelongestyear.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/easy-peasy-burp-cloth-tutorial.html

There are so many wonderful and free tuts on the web it's amazing, this list is only a few I found to be easy to follow. Good Luck and happy sewing!!

An Eco Friendly Craft Project Tutorial

This Weeks Featured Shop Katie Anne Creations

I totally fell in love with this shop, she makes some of the most interesting and cool items from things most of us would just throw away (hopefully in the recycler) :) So hope you enjoy this weeks featured shop, and will visit her.

I have been making things since I was a little girl playing with macaroni noodles. Over the years I have done everything from painting to soap making and am really into using anything recycled. My favorite craft that I have discovered is making jewelry from recycled cans and used gift cards. I am a soda addict and everyone who is around me knows it! So, this craft is perfect for me. My funniest experience with this craft is asking people for their cans. People look at me strangely sometimes but I explain to them what I do with the cans and they at least pretend to be ok with it :) I have to ask my rowdy male neighbors for their beer cans since I myself don't drink and they think it is awesome!Please check out all my handmade creations and let me know what you think. My favorite part of crafting is seeing people happy with my products. I love doing custom orders and am good at almost any craft project as I have taught crafting classes to both adults and children. I currently have my items for sale on my website http://www.katieanncreations.etsy.com/ and am in a few stores. I want to get my items out to more stores so if you know of any that may like my stuff, please let me know. If you yourself are a crafter...don't give up! Keep on crafting and eventually you will find what you like to do! I am convo friendly and love to chat!P.S.-We only have one planet so lets do our part to take care of it...please recycle :)Check out my other etsy store at CraftyCollegeGirls.etsy.com