Handmade Moon

For Furry Friends

2011-03-22T08:49:00.004-04:00

A little over a month ago, I was contacted by a very sweet gal in Tokyo named Yoko who was interested in having me make her a custom Rabbit Tote. Her avatar, a photo of a cute, fuzzy, gray bunny hanging out of a shoulder bag, indicated that my rabbit totes were a perfect match for her. I had sold one in my Etsy shop about a week earlier and she was curious if I could make her another. I agreed and got to work taking pictures of fabric in my personal stash and searching Etsy to help her find a print that would be just right for the liner. We exchanged quite a few emails in the following days. She was looking for a specific size so she would be able to carry her sketchbook with her and she also wanted a matching drawstring pouch for her colored pencils.

After settling on fabrics and sizes, I got to sewing. I was just about finished when I decided to double-check the measurements. Somehow, I had a brain-fart when I was doing my math and I had made the bag just a tad too small. 'Shouldn't be a problem', I thought, 'I'll just make another', but that's when I realized that I didn't have enough fabric left... oops. I spent the next few hours scouring the internet for more of the tile patterned cotton to no avail. With my tail between my legs, I emailed Tokyo to let Yoko know what had happened.

Luckily for me, she was very understanding of the situation. We spent the next few days emailing some more so I could assist her in picking out a new liner fabric. Eventually, she found some more fabric she loved in another Etsy shop. I ordered a few yards and waited for it's arrival to start the sewing again.

Dozens of emails and weeks later, I finally finished the custom Rabbit Tote and drawstring pouch. I packed it up and dropped it off at the post office on the evening of March 10th. Several hours later, Japan was struck with one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history, which was followed by a devastating tsunami in the north.

When I awoke on the morning of the 11th and heard the news, I immediately went to my computer to email Yoko. This tragedy suddenly felt much closer to home despite the fact that it happened on the other side of the world in a country I've never been to. I wasn't sure what I wanted to say, but I felt desperate to know if Yoko was okay. To my surprise, she replied within a few hours.

She said that she was safe and unharmed. She had been at work when the earthquake hit and was stuck there until late in the evening because of power outages and the trains being shut down. She indicated that her apartment was a mess but that all of her friends, family, and pet rabbits were okay. It was a short email but all I needed to hear. I was struck by the notion that her rabbits made her short list of safe loved ones.

I don't have any pets currently, but have had many over the years. From dogs to horses, goats to goldfish, and birds to even bunnies... I think we've had one of everything at some point or another. As I began to process the magnitude of what was happening in Japan, I started thinking about how 4-legged furry friends can really provide therapeutic comfort and companionship in trying times. I thought about Yoko and her obvious love for her rabbits. The timing of my path crossing with Yoko's felt serendipitous. It inspired me to get involved.You can help me raise money for World Vets and their efforts to rescue animals in Japan by purchasing one of my 'Rising Sun Buttons' or a pair of my red and white Reflection Drop Earrings. I will be donating 100% of the profits from each sale. World Vets operates in a number of countries around the world to provide veterinary services in times of need and in under-serviced regions. You can learn more about them here: http://www.worldvets.org/.
I hope you'll consider rocking one of my buttons. You'd be supporting handmade (high five!) and a stellar organization (double high five!). I'm also happy to create a custom listing with as many buttons as you'd like (you can reach me through email [moonandsundries-at-gmail-dot-com] or Etsy Convo). Spread the love with your friends and family ~♥~

Welcome Back Bags & Bookmarks!

2011-02-08T20:16:00.005-05:00

I've spent the last week or so taking oodles of photos and listing new things in my Etsy shop. I'm thrilled to be welcoming back bags and bookmarks to the mix. Both products had been offered in my shop previously but hadn't been seen in recent months.The bookmarks are noteworthy because they're part of my new effort to keep my studio as close to zero-waste as possible. They're crafted from scrap fabric and scrap polyester stabilizer, which is used in the creation of my wallets. There's lots more to come in my shop too, so be sure to stay tuned. Cards will be reappearing in the near future and T-Totes should be making a comeback soon as well. In the meantime, because it's the season of love, I'm offering 15% off your entire purchase when you use coupon code 'VALENTINE2011'. Offer good through Valentine's Day.

Be well. Spread Craft & Love.

Hello (Feb.) 2011!

2011-02-01T09:34:00.003-05:00

Hello 2011! I realize that's a bit belated but you've gotta start somewhere, right? Today, I find myself buried under the pile of snow that is the Northeast. My Love is away touring the country with a rock 'n' roll band and I'm here at home, holding down the fort and doing my best to keep up with the shoveling and the wood stove. When I'm not busy juggling snow and cord wood around, I'm planning Moon & Sundries' attack for the upcoming year... craft shows, music festivals, Etsy. I'd also like to introduce some new products; perhaps a new style of wallet, some new bag styles (something a little fancier than totes), clutches, passport cases, travel tags. I've been toying with the idea of opening a home decor shop on Etsy too... throw pillows, wall quilts, coasters, etc. My ideas often outrun the pace of my hands but that's alright because big ideas are what lead to big things in this life.

Oy vay...

2010-09-22T08:33:00.009-04:00

Oy vay... I can't believe how neglected this poor blog has become. Summer just got away from me, and now fall wants to do the same. So much has happened since my last blog posting when the calendar changed from June to July. I participated in a number of great shows this summer with one of the major highlights being the Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA. This 2-day music festival was a blast... I even got to be set-up next to one of my dear friends, Ben Westbrook of BMW Ironworks. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

View of the main stage from my booth.

Festival attendees visit my booth.

This summer I devised a new display for my bags and totes.

I also had a custom button case built for me... I LOVE IT!

Balloons afire on Saturday night.

Sunday afternoon balloon launch.

In the coming weeks, I'll be sure to share more pics from my whirlwind of a summer. Hope you had a blast under the big warm sun this year as well ~♥~

Farewell June, Hello JULY!

2010-06-30T21:26:00.011-04:00

I am quite pleased to announce that you can now find my 1" pin-back buttons at Inspirit Common, located in Northampton MA. Sometime in the next week or so, you'll also be able to purchase my new 1" magnets at the shop! Hooray! If you ever find yourself visiting the Pioneer Valley, be sure to stop by Inspirit Common's lovely gift shop, and take a yoga or drumming class while you're at it!

In other news, I had a lovely time at both Handmade In The Park and the South End Open Market this past weekend. We evaded the rain throughout and lots of friendly faces came out to both events. Thank you to everyone who attended and made it such an enjoyable weekend!

This week I've been restocking my button inventory, sewing some wallets, taking pictures for new listings, and weeding my garden... But there's tons more to scratch off my 'to do' list! Luckily, I've got the house all to myself and NPR to keep me company (yes, that's right, I am a giant NPR dork). Despite all the busy business, I did manage to find the time to snap a few beautiful pics in my yard last night. Here are a few of my favorites...Farewell June, Hello JULY...

~Cheers~

Fabulous Fox

2010-06-24T16:35:00.010-04:00

Holy smokes... I've been on the move so much lately that an entire month has slipped past me since I last posted on this blog! I've been busy crafting and making, vending at markets and shows, working on building Artisans of Western MA, getting my ducks in a row for the Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar, working in my garden, and seeing live music (a major source of inspiration!); YIKES! There's so much that I'd like to share with you on this here lil' blog... I'll just start with a few pictures that I snapped in my driveway yesterday, shortly after returning from a mini-vacation...They're so damn cute... they're making it hard to stay focused and productive... I've seen them a few times now and I seem to be spending more and more of my time staring out the window, hoping for their return. I'll be sure to post more pics if they visit again.

Enjoy your afternoon! ~Cheers~

Delightful Lovelies

2010-05-26T08:13:00.011-04:00

As the weather warms up and the forest around my house comes to life, it can be hard to find a balance between work and play. There are days (and weeks) where I don't want to do anything in my house. But that's the beauty of running my own business... When the weather is glorious, I can take a break and head for the garden. This has been one of those weeks that the outdoors is calling me. My Love is leaving for a summer tour in a few days so I've been taking every opportunity to go and frolic outside with him. We've gotten a little gardening work done, gone for some hikes, and yesterday we dipped into an icy cold mountain stream. On Monday, I snapped a few pictures of the delightful lovelies that are growing in our yard, while my Love pruned wild blueberries. Here's a few of my favorite shots...Enjoy your day!

A Great Start to the Season...

2010-05-21T08:36:00.011-04:00

Vendors get prepared for the weekend. Photo by Lou Leelyn.

Last weekend, I headed east to Boston to sell my work at the South End Open Market with my friend Lou of Lou's Upcycles. It was a long weekend and a lot of work but totally worth all the effort. My Saturday morning started at 4:00am and I arrived home at 9:30 Sunday night. It's a lot of work to set-up and break-down a mini storefront each day! Luckily, we stayed with a friend of mine in Cambridge on Saturday night. Despite the long days, I had a lot of fun chatting with customers and fellow vendors, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect or picturesque! There was a strong turnout and I happened to bump into old friends from high school and college. The new location for the market is great. It's easier to find, on a major road (Albany St), and visible from I-93. Plus, the new spot is just one block away from the Medieval Manor, a theater-restaurant that my family owns and operates. We'll have to head there for some good laughs, feast, n' flagon after one of the upcoming markets!

Part of the Moon & Sundries display.

Moon & Sundries' Pressed Leaf Earrings. Photo by Lou Leelyn.

In other news, I just found out that I will be selling my work in the Community Marketplace at the Garlic & Arts Festival this year! I'm jumping out of my seat I'm so excited! This is one of my very favorite cultural events and I'm so honored and excited to be a part of it for the first time this year. Mark your calendars for October 2 & 3... you don't want to miss it!

Enjoy your weekend!

Craft Show Craziness Begins

2010-05-12T09:20:00.008-04:00

The time has finally come... after a quiet start to the year, the craft show season is upon us. I have already participated in 4 shows thus far in 2010, but now I'm getting into the thick of things (You can see my complete 2010 show schedule down the right hand side of this blog).

Last weekend I was part of a lovely little show in Florence MA called the Annual Mother's Day Craft Fair and Plant Sale. It was lots of fun to do, as there were many Artisans of Western MA in attendance. I love that I've made pals with so many other local vendors through this group. Shows seem to fly by in a flash when you've got some friends there with you.

Up next is Opening Weekend at Boston's South End Open Market (also referred to as SoWa Market), this Saturday and Sunday. So far, it looks like we're going to have fantastic weather (knock on wood)... 70's and partly cloudy. It should be a grand ole time- a farmer's market, lots of crafty folks, and an antique market- It all adds up to an awesomely unique outdoor shopping experience. I'll be sharing my booth with the lovely Lou Leelyn of Lou's Upcycles. Also at the market will be our good friend from AWM, Betsy Archer, selling her photo t-shirts and such. I'll have lots of new work with me this weekend, things that have not yet debuted in my Etsy shop. You won't want to miss this celebratory event that's kicking off the South End Open Market's 2010 season. Visit their website for more info: http://southendopenmarket.com

Hope to see you out at a show sometime this summer! ~Cheers~

Sustainability Festival + The Front Page

2010-04-26T10:26:00.006-04:00

This past Saturday, I participated in Amherst's First Annual Sustainability Festival. Many of my peers from the Artisans of Western Mass also participated and we were all set-up next to each other. The weather was gorgeous and lots of people came out to check out the demonstrations, music, and craft. I used to live in the center of Amherst, so it was a real treat to see lots of friends on the common that I haven't seen in a while. It was also so lovely, to be set-up amidst all of my new crafty friends. The other people behind the Artisans of Western Mass have really become quite dear to me... It's so nice to have found a supportive network of people who are on the same path as me. We took this group shot in my tent at the end of the day... Unfortunately, I think we're missing two people who were still assisting their customers. Throughout the day, my biggest seller was my buttons, which makes perfect sense seeing as it was a sustainability festival and my buttons all deliver messages about the earth, agriculture, and community. Really, the entire weekend was all about the buttons for me... On Sunday afternoon, a set of my buttons in my Etsy shop were featured on Etsy's front page! This was incredibly exciting... I've been with Etsy for almost 3 years and this is my first front page appearance. It's a real milestone for my business. My product photographs have improved drastically over the last few years and I couldn't be happier about this latest development. Here's a screenshot from yesterday:
I hope that you enjoyed your weekend as well. Get out there and soak up the spring; it's beautiful out there! Cheers~

AWM Gets Some Press

2010-04-06T18:58:00.005-04:00

I've been working diligently with some other area artisans to get a new organization off the ground. I guess I haven't mentioned it much here on this blog, but things are really starting to move. The time is now to get a 'buy local, buy handmade' movement off the ground in Western Mass. Energy for this movement abounds. Our new group, Artisans of Western Mass (AWM), is striving to be the driving force behind this simple message.

Back in February, while I was vending at the Stitches, Needles, 'N' Guns Alternative Craft Fair, I met a nice gal named Heather Vandenengel who was interviewing crafters about their trade for a journalism paper she was writing. She approached my space and asked me some questions about Moon & Sundries. While I was chatting about my business, I mentioned Artisans of Western Mass and our conversation shifted to the group. A few weeks after the event, Heather contacted me again about writing a piece on AWM. I was happy to share the story about our new beginnings and put her in touch with some other members.

Here is the resulting article...

By Heather Vandenengel

Western Massachusetts has been a haven for the locally grown food movement for years, but it is now extending its support to local artists.

A group taking advantage of the support is The Artisans of Western Mass, a collective of about 40 members who are encouraging Western Mass shoppers to stay local for their craft needs.

“Our idea was to piggyback on that idea and to educate people in our community that shopping local doesn’t just mean supporting local farmers but also supporting local artists and turning to them for local decor and accessories as well,” said Karen Ducey, a 28-year-old crafter from Shutesbury who helped form the group.

The collaborative, which formed in October of 2009, materialized from the popular craft shop website, Etsy. The website gives members the chance to join “street teams”, based on geographic location or type of craft, Ducey said.

The Western Massachusetts street team had about 100 members online, but when they had monthly meetings, the majority would not show up, she said. However, there was a core group of five people who consistently did and decided to form the Artisans of Western Mass.

“We wanted to create a physical presence in western Mass and not just an internet based one,” said Ducey, who primarily sells cloth wallets, checkbooks and pressed-leaf jewelry.

From there, the group has expanded to 40 artists from Western Massachusetts counties who work together by sharing skills, helping each other find spots on the craft show circuit and supporting new artists.

“By being part of an artisan collective, an artist is not on their own desert island while navigating the show season,” said a founding member Lou Leelyn, in an e-mail.

Leelyn, 33, makes “upcycled” bags and accessories out of un-recyclable plastic wrappers and packaging, like a small pocketbook made from a Sun Chips bag.

The sustainability also comes full circle within the group. “The trash that I make in my studio, I save and give it to Lou,” said Ducey.

Promoting their products and practices as green is an important selling point for their products, they said.

“I boast about everything that I do to make my shop green on Etsy,” Ducey said.

The collective also provide skill-sharing workshops on how to sell your shop as being very environmentally forward thinking as well as how to take better product photography and how to use credit card machines, she said.

Despite getting a later start, Leeyln says that the local crafting movement can be as successful as the locally grown food movement.

“Just as food is a necessity, so is art. There are baby showers, birthdays, holidays, weddings, and other occasions every day that need a little something to be purchased, she said.

“These items are being purchased at larger chain stores, malls, box stores and online from other states when an artist could be living right down the street who can provide a better product with less environmentally harmful materials.”

Artisans of Western Mass is one of several local artist collectives in Massachusetts, said Leelyn.

The group Berkshire Made, whose tagline is “buy locally, buy handmade”, has existed for about a year longer than Aristans of Western Mass, said Ducey. Unlike Artisans of Western Mass, there is closed enrollment and members have to apply and be voted in, said Ducey.

“There are many many other groups promoting the arts in the area but none are like us in the way we are using art to increase local economies through purchasing power,” said Leelyn.

Spring Treasury

2010-03-27T18:40:00.007-04:00

About a week ago, my Yellow Iris Wallet was featured in a lovely springtime Treasury on Etsy. Although the Treasury is expired now, I wanted to share it with you here. 'New Shoots' was curated by Kendra of Underhill House (aka knittyvet.etsy.com). It features an array of work from talented Western Mass artisans...I am quite happy to say that my daffodil and garlic shoots are indeed up- a true sign of the abundant summer to come!

Enjoy your weekend~

Old Deerfield Spring Sampler

2010-03-11T08:29:00.004-05:00

There is only 2 days left until my first major craft show of the year! I've been sewing like mad to build as much inventory as I can... Hopefully I'm fully prepared. I will be there with 3 of my Artisan of Western MA comrades... Lou's Upcycles, Katie Ray Arts, and Sieber Designs. We'll be in booths 147-150. It's supposed to be a rainy weekend up here in the Northeast; so if you're in the area and looking for something to do, come check out the handcrafted work of over 200 vendors! There will be demos and crafting workshops, and you could win shopping gift certificates. Here are the show details:
The Old Deerfield Spring Sampler
Saturday & Sunday- March 13 & 14; 10am - 5pm each day
The Young Building at the Eastern States Exposition Center
1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield MA
Admission is $6 (print admission coupons off the Old Deerfield website!)
http://www.deerfield-craft.org/

Nose to the Grindstone

2010-02-26T08:42:00.003-05:00

There's so much going on in my little crafting corner of the world! Production is steady. Some of the new displays that I ordered have arrived. I used a coupon to score a new pop-up tent for a great price (I'm switching from the EZ-Up brand to Caravan... I will keep you posted on my thoughts regarding the two). I met with a very nice gal from a local non-profit about spaces to have craft shows in. And now, the countdown is on... I have 2 weeks to finish preparing for the Old Deerfield Spring Sampler. There's lots to do between now and then but I think I've got it well outlined... production, Production, PRODUCTION, print some more business cards, redo tags for products, make new table signs, practice setting up my display, pack and then quadruple check my pack to make sure I'm not missing anything, and then cram in whatever other production that I have time for. *sigh* I'll have to treat myself to a little something special when this is all over :)

Happy Friday!

Birthday Break

2010-02-21T09:56:00.003-05:00

Hello! I was absent from my blog this past week... Wednesday was my birthday and I've had so much going on lately that it's been challenging to keep up with things here. I have cranked production up into high gear because I found out that I have been accepted as a vendor at the Old Deerfield Craft Fairs. There are 4 of these shows throughout the year: The Spring Sampler, The Summer Fair, The Fall Fair, and The Christmas Sampler. I'll be vending at all of them except the Fall Fair (unfortunately, the Fall Fair falls on the same weekend as stART On The Street and that's my very favorite show, so I can't skip it). These are by far the biggest and most professional shows that I have been accepted to thus far in my crafting career! I have been accepted as part of the Artisans of Western MA group application... I'm really excited that our group will be represented at these shows. We will all be set-up together in one area, which is nice because I will know my neighbors and we'll be able to support each other throughout the events. We will also be working to spread the good word about buying locally and handmade right in western Massachusetts as well as handing out additional info about our group. The Spring Sampler is just around the corner- only 3 weeks away! Gadzooks, I have a lot to do!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 18 :: All you need is LOVE

2010-02-10T20:12:00.005-05:00

Happy Valentines Day... almost! This week's 'Karen's Picks' pays tribute to the holiday of love, handmade style. After you see these sweet treats, you'll never want to step foot in a hallmark again. Enjoy!

Let Mr. and Mrs. Pacman share their magnetizing love with you from your refrigerator all year round. By Livethislife777, $11.50.This t-shirt is perfect for tandem lovers! One of my teachers from high school retired from teaching and rode a tandem across the country with his wife... this tee reminds me of them. By darkcycleclothing, $18.Be mine. Be my belt. By BareTree, $15.
If you occasionally suffer from 'trucker talk', like myself, this Valentine is the perfect exclamation for your lover. By Glademade, $4.50. I love these two little lovebugs. So sweet and simple. By alinahayes, $17.I love coffee, a lot. If you love it as much as I do, you would go to great lengths to drink it while it's hot... So show off your love for coffee with this love smitten cozy. By KnittyVet, $8.50.
These colorful crayons would be a playful way to share your love with your little buddies. By GaddyNipperCrayons, $5.95.This little red bird wants to sing love songs to you all day long. By NewMoonStudio, $15.Sweet and simple earrings for the lovely lady in your life. By phoebestreasure, $12.An iconic quote and one of life's ultimate truths... By Tessyla, $12.50.
Spread LOVE. ~Cheers~

Craft Show Saturday!

2010-02-04T08:39:00.008-05:00

This Saturday, February 6, I will be participating in my first craft show of 2010. The Stitches, Needles, N' Guns Alternative Craft Fair will be taking place on the 4th floor of the Printers Building, 44 Portland Street, Worcester MA. The show goes from 10am - 3pm and is being sponsored by Central Mass Roller Derby. I can't wait! This will also be the first show that Moon & Sundries will be accepting credit and debit cards. I'm looking forward to seeing how this will impact my sales. I've been opposed to taking cards for a long time and for a variety of reasons, but in the end, fellow crafters have convinced me that it's worth the fees, time, and hassle. We shall see.

Here's the event poster. It makes me want to improve upon my illustration skills. I think the Snowflake Bazaar poster needs a little help this year...I'm also really looking forward to checking out the space that this event is being held in. The event coordinators sent out two photos to give the vendors a preview... I'm sharing my sneak peek with you here... They aren't top quality shots, but they give you an idea.
I love all the graffiti and big windows. It looks like the perfect setting for an alternative craft fair. I hope to see you and yours at the event this Saturday... Because what else are you going to do on a freezing cold winter's day?

~Cheers~

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 17 :: Warm Winter Knits

2010-01-28T19:51:00.012-05:00

And we're back! After a long hiatus for Karen's Picks, my weekly feature triumphantly returns! Without further ado, let's get down to business.

This week's picks are all items that would keep you quite warm and cozy through the winter. I live deep in the woods of the northeast United States, so warm (and stylish) knits are important accessories... You don't want to leave home without them.

For many, keeping that cup o' joe warm in the morning is critical. Now you can keep your favorite beverage warm and look good doing it. By CuffeShop, $14.Leg warmers are an under appreciated winter accessory. I like the simplicity of these ones. They'd be nice to lounge around in... By midnghtdolphin, $30.These mittens are beautiful. I fell in love with them the moment I saw them. So sweet and simple. By sweetcaitlin, $18.I don't do heels. Ever. But if I did, and I wanted to wear them out on a blistery evening, I would want some of these lovelies... By scarfmaker, $42.I'm going to start off by saying that fingerless gloves must be very popular these days. About 75% of the products found under gloves and mittens on Etsy are fingerless. Who knew? Personally speaking, I like my fingers covered. But I do appreciate fingerless gloves for driving. Anyways, after searching through tons of them, I finally settled on a pair that I really like. By homelab, $35.This neckwarmer is reversible... and the best part is that each side features different buttons- one side is quite feminine, while the other more masculine. This is a neckwarmer that you can share with your lover! (not at the same time, of course...) By yarncoture, $69.I don't get all dolled up very often, but this would be a lovely shrug to wear over a little black dress at a wintry party. So pretty... By trendyknitting, $72.If you know me, you know that everything in my closest has a hood attached to it. It's actually a little but silly. But anyways... This hooded scarf is just my speed. I think I need one. By Wrapt, $32.
These are just plain amazing. They make me want to go skiing and drink hot cocoa. By MockPinkDesigns, $40.Maybe you want to knit your own amazing accessories? This pattern looks great. And I love the name of this shop... By karendipity, $8.
And lastly, I had to include these. They are just the cutest darn things that I have seen in a long time. I want every small child on earth to wear them. By SaintReagansHollow, $39.99.
Enjoy the day and keep warm. ~ Cheers ~

January: To Love, Or Not To Love

2010-01-23T10:30:00.009-05:00

There are lots of reasons that I love January in New England, but there are also some things that I'm not so fond of. I like it because it's often snow-covered and beautiful. A hush falls upon the forest surrounding my home. Life slows down and allows for some mental catch-up following the madness of the holidays. Our wood stove burns away through the days and nights making our space warm and cozy. There's time to do new craft projects and play around with new ideas. Time for books and movies and board games. But what I really don't like so much is the lack of time I spend outdoors. I realized this past week that I hadn't been outside, except to walk to my car, since New Years! Unacceptable if you ask me. It's not that I'm scared of hanging out in the cold... I just don't do it as often as I should. Maybe it's the shorter days, or the process of getting prepared for the cold... I don't know. But I'd like to resolve to going out more, cold weather and all. I spoke with a friend who is living in a big city in China the other day and she reminded me that not everyone is so lucky as to have a forest to romp around in that's just out their back door. So on Thursday of this week, my brother and I took a short jaunt down my road. I snapped a few pictures and I thought I'd share them here. I hope you enjoy them! Cheers~

Staying on track in 2010

2010-01-20T18:44:00.005-05:00

It's been a busy and productive start to the new year for Moon & Sundries...

A few weeks back, I went and met with a gallery manager in Westfield, MA about having the gallery carry my work. I am quite pleased to announce that you can now find my creations at Shaker Gifts: Arts & Organics. They are carrying my wallets, Pressed Leaf Jewelry, and my bead-stitched jewelry. I'm really excited to get my foot in the door with such a fantastic shop, whose inventory is about 95% locally produced. If you're in the area, or passing through MA on the turnpike, be sure to stop in and check out all the handmade treasures! The gallery is located at: 16 Union Ave, in the Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, Westfield MA.

I've also been deep in production mode. I'm trying to get as much stuff made as I can while I'm trapped in my house through the winter. Lots of fabric has been cut for wallets, many tiny beads have been stitched into place... There has even been a new line of Valentine's Day cards introduced to my Etsy shop.

Last week, I met with members of the Artisans of Western MA. We're a new group whose focus is to promote the lively local arts scene right here in our neck of the woods. We're gaining momentum and there are lots of plans on the horizon for 2010... I can't wait to see what we'll accomplish this year!

Today, I finally got around to signing up with Propay. This means that I now have the ability to accept debit and credit cards at craft shows. You'll never need to stop off at an ATM on your way to see me ever again! Hooray!

Hope you're having a great and productive day as well! Cheers to you~

Fresh Start For A New Year

2010-01-06T18:49:00.011-05:00

I've done it! I've finally done it! I've cleaned my studio! By the time Christmas had rolled around, you couldn't even walk in there. After three days of sorting, cleaning, dusting, organizing, folding, rearranging, and purging, the craft room is once again a working space! I took a few before and after pictures to show you just what I'm talking about. Here are a few of the before shots...I like how this one demonstrates my use of the ironing board as a table...And here's the 'Fresh Start'... (Funny how is still looks crazy... I'm such a pack-rat!)
It feels so much better in there. I'm really looking forward to a productive and prosperous year... the only way to get that started was to start with a clean slate. I'm so happy to say that I can check my first major task of the year off the list!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T17:54:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year! It's a whole new decade out there! I hope you enjoyed the holiday festivities with lots of friends and family around you!

I've been quite absent from the internet in the last month or so... lots of craft shows, holiday gift crafting, and travel have kept me quite busy. I wrapped up the year with a week of great shows up in Burlington VT with the Blues & Lasers and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. A rocking party was had by all.

A few weeks back, I got to curate a Treasury on Etsy. Now that it has expired, I wanted to share it with you here... All of the selected work was made locally, right here in western MA. Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year! Cheers!

It's Ice

2009-12-20T16:20:00.004-05:00

This morning, I got to curate my second ever Treasury on Etsy. I put one together that's titled 'It's Ice'. For all you crazy hippies out there, you may understand the reference (am I revealing too much of myself here?). For the rest of you, 'It's Ice' is the title of a Phish song off of the 1993 album Rift. The art on the album's cover is iconic; it was created by David Welker. This Treasury that I put together uses the icy blue colors of the album art to create a cool collection of handmade treasures.

All of the work that was selected for this Treasury was created right here in western Massachussetts. Almost exactly one year ago, this area was hit with a major ice storm. Today, the damage is still evident from the snapped and bent trees in many communities. I dedicate this treasury to all my friendly local artisans who survived the big storm with me. Oh yeah, and to creative, original music. Cheers!

PS- Be sure to go over and check the Treasury out while it's live on Etsy. It expires at noon on Tuesday... I'll post a picture of it here after it expires.

Friday Night Craft Party

2009-12-19T21:08:00.005-05:00

On Friday night, my friend Ben hosted a party/craft show in his home. Four of us set up our handmade goods around the house. There was a fire in the fireplace and tasty food in the kitchen. Acapella filled the air as friends gathered for some last minute holiday shopping and drinks. The atmosphere was festive and a good time was had by all. It was the perfect ending to a crazy and hectic craft show season. I hope you're enjoying your friends and family throughout the holidays. Keep warm and cozy...
Cheers to you!

Chestnuts Roasting

2009-12-17T10:51:00.007-05:00

Hello! Sorry for being so absent from this here blog... you know how life gets during the holidays though. (I promise to bring back Karen's Picks in January!)

I wanted to quickly share with you a treasury that my work was selected for. It's expired now, but have no fear, I snapped a picture of it. This one features the work of Western MA Etsians. We're currently in the process of jump-starting a new campaign to Buy Local and Buy Handmade here in this beautiful region. We just launched a new web site and there are plans in the works to go BIG in 2010! Check out our new site, www.artisansofwmass.com and follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/artisansofwmass! Without further ado, here is "Chestnuts Roasting" by KnittyVet...Happy Holidays!

Craft Show Mania

2009-12-09T13:29:00.004-05:00

Woah. What a crazy few weeks. I survived hosting my fourth annual craft show, The Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar. It took place this past Saturday and then I followed it up with another craft show in Worcester on Sunday (stART At The Station). All in all, it was a successful weekend, but I'm glad it's over... I can sleep again! But I can't slip into full winter hibernation quite yet; I have another craft show coming up this Sunday- The Stars & Skulls Crafty Craft Fair. You don't want to miss this event. It's put on by the valley's very own roller derby team! There will be 25 alternative indie vendors, a dj, and girls with pink hair zooming around on roller skates. Be there!

Curating My First Treasury!

2009-11-20T09:52:00.002-05:00

Woohoo! I snagged my very first Treasury on Etsy! Basically you've got to time it just right to 'win' the chance to curate one. I'm so excited about this opportunity! I decided to promote my fellow teammates from Artisans of Western MA. We're a new group that's trying to jumpstart the 'Buy Local, Buy Handmade' campaign in the area. Check out my Treasury live on Etsy right now! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=95482

You can find more beautiful creations from Western MA by searching 'wmass team' on Etsy.

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 16 :: Snowflake Bazaar

2009-11-18T10:56:00.008-05:00

After a brief two week hiatus, Karen's Picks is back in action! It's been a busy few weeks (as I'm sure it has been for all in crafty business land) but I'm happy to say that things are running smoothly and I'm getting really excited about my upcoming holiday show run. Which brings me to this week's theme: Snowflake Bazaar. All of the items listed below are made by local artisans who will be participating in this year's Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar (the annual craft show that I host). I'm quite pleased with this year's line-up of vendors, it's shaping up to be a great day! Without further ado...

Treat the seamstress in your life to a unique and fresh smelling pin cushion. Made with balsam for a nice crisp scent. (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: cloth dolls, place mats, cloth napkins, baby blankets, ornaments). By SewSoft, $13.This necklace would be a great gift for the songbird in your life. Sweet and simple. (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: collage jewelry, steampunk jewelry, watch part jewelry, vintage inspired jewelry). By valleyofthedoll (aka Rusty Pomegranate), $7.
These wine glass charms would be great for your holiday hosting. None of your guests will ever need to wonder which glass is their own again! (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: jewelry, bath products, gift tags, magnets). By SunMoonStars, $6.50.I love the look of these hammered Copper Squiggle Earrings. Sure to be a unique gift! (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: lamp pulls, book marks, beaded jewelry). By ATBcreations, $14.I've had the pleasure of seeing this wall quilt up-close and in person. It's exquisite! (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: Christmas stockings, ornaments, pins & brooches, cards, art quilts). By SylvanQuilts, $155.This bag is made with colorful handwoven fabric and would make a really special and unique gift for your mom, sister, bff, etc. (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: bags, aprons, touch cases). By StargazerStudios, $48.
Butterfly wing jewelry would be quite a treat for the nature lover in your world. These are made with real butterfly wings... how special! (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: pressed leaf jewelry, glitter pop rings, fused glass jewelry). By PoPkO, $43.At this point in Karen's Picks, you may be thinking: ok, all this stuff is great and beautiful, but what about the men on my shopping list? Have no fear; bottle openers are here! This one happens to be made from an old railroad spike... pretty nifty if you ask me. (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: lamps, utensils, jewelry displays, and lots more unique bottle openers). By hammeronsteel (aka BMW Ironworks), $40.You could run a pretty fancy bar with all the treats to be aquired at the Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar. I like the elegant simplicity of this Tree Bottle Stopper. (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: glass ornaments, glass beads, glass jewelry, more bottle stopppers, vessels, metal sculptures). By katierayart, $32.Keep your head warm this winter with a hand-crocheted hat! It's always important to buy yourself a little something during the holidays! (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor: crocheted hats, mittens, bags and more). By bigcheesecrafts, $15.And now I'm going to toot my own horn for a moment...
Keep your cash stowed away, safely within the fence... err, wallet. Sure to be a unique gift for the urbanite it your life. (Things you may also find at the Bazaar by this vendor (me): wallets for him and her, pressed leaf jewelry, bead stitched jewelry, bags and purses, 1 inch pin-back buttons, pressed leaf notecards, ornaments). By moonandsundries, $23.

There will be one other vendor joining us, BakedEarthBoutique, who works in clay to make bowls, masks, wall hangings, etc. Her Etsy shop does not currently have anything listed in it, so I don't have anything to show you now, but trust me, her work is great!

We will also be selling raffle tickets at the Bazaar to give away some wonderful handmade gifts that were crafted by our vendors as well as some other area artisans. All proceeds will help jumpstart our new group Artisans of Western MA. We seek to spread the good word: Buy Local, Buy Handmade.

And on top of all the greatness you see above in this blog post, The Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar welcomes back local folk-rock all-stars Rusty Belle for a live performance at 2pm. We also welcome newcomers to the Bazaar stage The Fine & Dandy Trio. They're sloted to play at noon. Here's the skinny on the rest of the event details:

4th Annual Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar
Saturday, December 5, 2009
9am - 4pm
The Unitarian Meetinghouse
121 North Pleasant Street, Amherst MA
Free Admission!

Visit us online at: snowflakebazaar.googlepages.com
Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/SnowflakeBazaar

Hope to see you at the show!

Formatting Sobered Up

2009-11-12T10:46:00.003-05:00

OK! We're back in action! After some frustrating hours of tinkering around this morning, the website for The Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar is starting to look normal again. It's not quite where it was before the formatting fiasco, but at least now there isn't any text or photos overlapping. Sometimes I really wish I knew more about html, Photoshop, Illustrator, web design, and computers in general. I seem to get around ok, but I am so dependent on other people to help me. It's really frustrating to have a vision of exactly what you want in your head but not be able to format it in computer land. I'm hoping to take some classes in the future... I'd like to start with some lessons in Photoshop and Illustrator. I know I would use them so much if I only knew how!

Here's hoping your day goes smooth and kink-free! Cheers!

Drunken Formatting

2009-11-11T16:22:00.004-05:00

Aaaahhh! So much to do and so little time! The shrinking amount of daylight seems to exaggerate this. I've been quite busy. Things are moving along quite well with Snowflake Bazaar planning, although today I noticed that the formatting on the website is all out of whack suddenly. I use Google Pages for the site because I don't know the first thing about making a webpage. In the past, it's been a great tool! But it was still in beta form and Google has been talking about switching over to Google Sites (which is an updated version of Google Pages) for awhile now. Well, just after I got my page all squared away for this year's Bazaar, they decided to switch my site over. Now the formatting looks like it got drunk. I know I'll be able to fix it... but I have a feeling it's gonna take me some time.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to get some serious production going so that I'm fully prepared for the three holiday shows that I have coming up. There is a huge batch of Leaf Jewelry that's almost done and tonight I'll be cutting fabric for wallets.

I also changed my shop avatar today. This is my business logo but for some reason it's been missing from my shop banner and avatar. It's time to get serious about building the Moon & Sundries brand!
I hope to get a Karen's Picks out this week. Be patient with me, and stay tuned!

Holiday Craft Shows

2009-11-07T10:11:00.005-05:00

I am quite pleased to announce that in addition to my own holiday bazaar, I will also be participating in 'stART At The Station' on December 6, in Worcester, MA, and 'The Stars & Skulls Crafty Craft Fair' on December 13, in Hadley, MA. I've done both of these shows before and I am really looking forward to this year's events. The show in Worcester is put on by the same people who organize the amazing 'stART On The Street' but this event takes place in the beautifully renovated train station of Worcester. The Stars & Skulls Fair is a quirky, indie-punk show that benefits the local roller derby team... I couldn't think of a better way to round out my holiday show line-up! And I'm in love with their logo... so classy in a punk-rock DIY sort of way :)Hope to see you at all these awesome shows in December!

Snowflake Bazaar Mania

2009-11-05T14:59:00.004-05:00

Life's been a little hectic for me lately. I've been trying to juggle steady production of goods with planning and organizing for the annual craft show that I host, The Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to spend as much time as I would like to on photographing and listing items in my Etsy shop. I just need to stick to a solid schedule for the next few weeks and I'll get everything done that I need to. Although I missed posting Karen's Picks on time this week, I did get the Bazaar's webpage updated and also was able to start a Facebook Fan Page for the event. Now people can follow my progress as I sticth together the 4th Annual Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar. It's shaping up to be a great one! We have a dozen very talented craftsfolk as well as live music from Rusty Belle... It's a gathering not to be missed!

200 Hearts and Counting...

2009-10-29T20:59:00.004-04:00

Hooray! My Etsy shop has reached 200 hearts! For those of you who are scratching your head and saying "what in the world does reaching 200 hearts mean?", it doesn't really mean anything. Essentially, 200 people have bookmarked my shop. Which, to me, is quite exciting. I was hoping to hit 200 by the end of October and I did it! To mark the occasion, I'm running a sale in my shop this weekend... Buy one piece of Leaf Jewelry and get the second piece (of equal or lesser value) FREE! This is the perfect opportunity to get something nice for yourself and get a little holiday shopping done at the same time! To take advantage of this great offer, simply purchase both of the pieces you'd like and type 'WEEKEND DEALS' in the 'message to seller' during checkout. I will promptly refund the difference. (This is the easiest and best way for me to offer this sale with one-of-a-kind pieces... my apologies for needing to pay for it all up front... I'll be near a computer all weekend so you won't need to wait long for your refund). The sale starts at 12:01 am EST Friday (that's tonight!) and runs through 11:59 pm EST Sunday; don't miss out!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 15 :: Fall Back

2009-10-28T15:15:00.011-04:00

Daylight Saving Time is upon us once again. This weekend, many people around the world will turn their clocks back one hour. Did you know that Daylight Saving Time is not federally regulated in the United States? Arizona and Hawaii don't participate in all this time travel business. The topic has been controversial throughout history. I recommend checking out Wikipedia or this article by National Geographic for more interesting tidbits about this bizarre custom.

This week's Karen's Picks showcases some wonderful ways to tell time. Don't forget to turn the clocks back... You'll get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning; perfect for snoozing off the candy hangover. Enjoy!

I majored in Geography in college. I'm a giant map dork. This clock would be a classy touch to an office or study. By IMOTIME, $32.This clock would be great in a big or little kid's room. By SackReligious, $40.It's Dali time. But don't forget, it's all relative. By PragmaticEffects, $50.
I love the original painting in this classic looking alarm clock. By tuesday79, $75.This one is made from an old record. Zen-like and recycled. Huzzah! By bearlyart, $19.99.Smooth lines and a modern design. Let this clock ease your transition between night and day. By pilotdesign, $45.I've always had a thing for Mission Style furniture. I've picked up this admiration from my mom. This clock is a beautiful example of the style. By PhilsWoodcrafts, $325.I love the creativity on Etsy when in comes to using recycled materials. Recycled Sunburst Clock is a shining example of this. By c2design, $25.The original painting on this piece is beautiful and serene. Gazing at it is a calming way to pass the time. By CreativeCanvasClocks, $74.
I know I've already featured this seller, but I LOVE these clocks. Before, I featured the Autumn Moon Clock. Today, I feature Silver Moon Clock. By CyberMoon, $16.

Until next time ;)

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 14 :: Rocktober

2009-10-22T09:08:00.007-04:00

My Love is my favorite Rock n' Roller. He brings the sound to the people. As a live audio engineer, he tours the country and occasionally exciting places around the world to tweak the levels and volume that blast from various stages. This morning, he left for the weekend to do a mini run around the Northeast with Soulive. I miss him when he leaves, but the show must go on. Today, I dedicate Karen's Picks to all those rock n' rollers out there who relentlessly tour the world to deliver ethereal tunes to the people, all the while, enriching our lives. Enjoy!

Perhaps the most iconic set of lips in rock... or maybe even the world. Wear this scrabble tile necklace with rock n' roll pride. By craftyaddictions, $7.50.Keep your earbuds safely tucked away in this nifty little tin. By tinytins, $4.99.
I dedicate this next pick specifically to my older sister. She graduated from high school in the late 80's... All I can say is that the pictures are amazing. My sister and most other ladies of that era, have deep-seeded love for Jon Bon Jovi. I don't quite understand it, but hey, they probably don't understand my love for Eddie Vedder. This purse is made from a 45 album cover. By rocknrecycle, $26.95.Here's a super cute bib that makes a great gift for the daddy-baby rock duo in your life. By fun2wear2, $5.99.Take this piece straight to the stage! This guitar is gorgeous... the grain in the wood is just astounding. By joetill, $3,250.
Hendrix is a guitar god. Hang the rock legend on your wall with this vibrant digital design. By DirtyMirror, $20.Although rock n' roll doesn't call for the use of cufflinks very often, if you needed them for a special occasion, these would be the ones. By cosmofashionslave, $14.95.I know some leading ladies who need a button like this. By allisonbook, $1.
I love these earrings made from recycled guitar strings. By cheapdatejewelry, $20.And here's a sweet necklace to match. By PluckingPendants, $28.
This poster pretty much sums it all up. By oneshymouse, $28.
Happy Rocking. Now go see some live music at a venue near you!

And The Winner Is...

2009-10-21T19:05:00.005-04:00

This Saturday I participated in the 40th Annual Bizarre Bazaar in Pittsfield, MA. The show was a fundraiser to raise money for programs run through the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center. This bazaar featured over 100 vendors. My neighbor was Susan of Simply Susan's, a beeswax candle business. Her and her husband were funny and quite pleasurable to spend the day with. I even bought some beautiful candles from them to burn during our occasional power outages.

Early Saturday morning a gentleman came around the bazaar offering tickets for a vendor only 50/50 raffle. I decided to buy a ticket. They were a $1 each or 3 for $2. Since I had only made $2 in sales so far, I decided to buy only one ticket and save my other dollar. I asked the man if they would be calling the winner that night or notifying him or her that day. He replied that the winner would be told that day, to which I responded, "you mean you'll be telling me that I won later today". He laughed and said "Yeah, sure. Except you're the fourth person I've said that to so far." Sure enough... some hours later... a lady stopped by my table with an envelope that had my name on it. I actually won the raffle. Unfortunately, the man who sold me the ticket was not there to see me collect my winnings. I have to say, the whole situation made my day.

Karen's Picks will come to you tomorrow (Thursday)... Stay tuned.

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 13 :: Living Fossils

2009-10-14T10:33:00.011-04:00

The other day, I listed a new wallet in my shop. It was made using a black fabric with white ginkgo leaf silhouettes; it's quite nice. My love affair with the Ginkgo Tree started a few years ago when I was living in a big cooperative house. One of my roommates had her family staying with us, in from Bulgaria. Basil, my housemate's father, was a colorful and unique fellow who had decided one of his life's missions was to plant ginkgo trees everywhere. While he stayed with us, he harvested dozens of small Ginkgo clones and potted them all in our backyard. Some were given away, some were planted around the property, and some perished. When I moved out, I managed to find 2 trees that were still in their starter pots... they had survived the winter in our yard and I decided to take them with me. I still have those little trees and I think I may try and train them to become bonsais. The thought of this alone brings me great joy!

When I listed the new wallet in my shop, I checked out the Wikipedia page on Ginkgo Trees. I already knew that they were one of the oldest tree species on earth; but what I learned I find even more fascinating. Ginkgo Trees are "living fossils" which means that their only known genetic relatives are fossils. They've been around since the Jurassic period, some 270 million years... That makes them as old as dinosaurs; yikes!

This week's Karen's Picks pays homage to this ancient species. I also wanted this week to highlight how specific you can be in your Etsy searches and still get tons of great products to come up. When I searched the word "ginkgo" over 500 items appeared! Happy Ginkgo perusing!

Fabulous Ginkgo Coasters made from organic cotton. By rohmer, $17.A simple pitcher with clean lines and contour. By soule, $26.Beautifully detailed original pen and ink drawing. By naturescharms, $40.This gourd box was grown and decorated by the artisan, I think that makes it extra special. By midnightcoiler, $45.One pound of dried cut Gingko leaf to use for your heart's desires. I'd make medicinal tea! By TheGypsyCaravan, $14.95.So simple and beautiful. I love these earrings! By ginkgo, $26.Gorgeous Ginkgo leaf hemp skirt. Perfect for woodland pixies! By JenniferJoyCreative, $99.50.
Here's a little silk Ginkgo love for that special man in your life. By amysfunkyfibers, $44.A beautiful Opulent Gold Ginkgo Ribbon Bound Journal would make a lovely gift. By KupoKiley, $35.
This necklace is beyond clever and creative, fusing the art of haiku with beautiful craftsmenship. By metalology, $88.

leaves of green and gold
fall silently before me
a cloud of color I couldn't feature all these great Ginkgo gifts without throwing in my wallet. Hope no one minds my self-promotion :) By moonandsundries, $30.I love the purple twist on these classy notecards. By CindyLindgren, $6.
Modern and unique wrapping paper that would work great for many special occasions (And perfect for wrapping up any of these Gingko themed gifts!). By nicoletter, $3.50.
Enjoy the rest of your week!

Bizarre Bazaar

2009-10-12T18:08:00.004-04:00

This Saturday, October 17th, I will be taking part in the 40th Annual Bizarre Bazaar Arts & Crafts Show in Pittsfield, MA. The show benefits the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, whose mission states that they are "a multi-service organization empowering children and youth, with a special emphasis on girls, to become responsible, confident and personally fulfilled individual." I think this show will be a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to the drive out there. Pittsfield is located in the beautiful Berkshires of Western MA and we're in peak foliage season around here... It should be a lovely drive! I snapped a picture of the postcard for the event...I'm going to go and cut some more fabric for wallets now... Enjoy your evening.

Home Workin' Weekend

2009-10-11T16:18:00.007-04:00

This has been a productive weekend for my Love and I. We harvested the last of our tomatoes, some greens, a few carrots, and oodles of juicy red raspberries. The herbs that have been hanging to dry have been sorted and jarred for future use. We've been cooking down homemade tomato sauce for 2 days now... I hope it's good :) Check out this awesome carrot I grew! I'm such a dork... Can you tell how excited I am?!
In the midst of all this harvest and preservation, I've also been photographing items to list in my Etsy Shop. I listed three NEW things today... 2 wallets and a bat brooch!This is the second Bat Brooch that I've put up in my shop to celebrate Halloween! I've not offered anything like it before but I'm excited to be doing a little hand-sewing. Everything else I make is done on a machine. It's inspiring me to learn some embroidery techniques... may be a fun project for January, when life slows down a little more. The best part about these bats is that they are made from Ecospun Felt which is made up entirely of post-consumer plastic bottles. Oh the joy :)

I hope you're enjoying your long weekend and that you are reinvigorated for the shortened week ahead! Cheers to you!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 12 :: Costumes

2009-10-10T13:09:00.012-04:00

With Halloween just around the corner, I wanted to take the opportunity to show off a few more spectacular costumes found on Etsy. This weeks Karen's Picks is dedicated to all all those awesome handmade costumes out there! If you don't have the time to get crafty this year, consider buying Halloween attire on Etsy... The costumes and accessories are unique, creative, and quirky! Only a few weeks left to get ready...

Cutest pumpkin ever. And when your little tyke gets all wound up on sugar, he's got extra padding for all that 'bouncing off the walls'. By dahlhartlane, $88.95.This divine and sparkling gown would be perfect for an Elvira costume, or just the sexiest witch on the block. By Uniquery, $100.
Here's a great all-in-one costume for the kid and the stroller. Absolutely adorable. By mapletree2000, $90. Spice up your night with this Sassy Flamenco Dancer costume. By amandalyn, $45.This awesome Frankenstein hat could easily be matched with some clothes around the house to make a fantastic costume! By burchanddaughters, $35.Frolic the forests as a Satyr and pick up a few Nymphs along the way with this amazing leather mask. By teonova, $110.
I wanna rock n' roll all night and party everyday! YES... this costume is bad*ss! The listing is for a custom costume with up to 4 hours of production time... Let your imagination run wild and get your order in by Monday the 12th! By squarejane, $45.I think you might actually be able to cast spells in this stunning gown! By WizadoresWorkshop, $150.
This costume is fun, quirky, cute, and affordable. Make your little man a lumberjack with this handmade beard (Also available in adult sizes!). By tiffpippin, $10.Beautiful, handmade, and a versatile costume accessory... who needs more? By TotusMel, $55.

What will you be for Halloween this year?

Tales From The Quabbin

2009-10-05T18:19:00.014-04:00

Today my Love and I went for a hike around the Quabbin Reservoir. The area has become a beautiful nature preserve as a result of the watershed being protected. This reservoir provides most of eastern Massachusetts with drinking water.Long ago, the state was facing a water crisis and the small towns that occupied the valley were sacrificed to provide the state with reliable drinking water; dams were built and the valley was flooded.
Today we hiked around the western top tip of the body of water. This natural bonsai is growing out of an old stump along the water's edge... so special!
This is beaver territory; there was scrap "lumber" from them all over the place...

Look at these crazy mushrooms that were growing out of an ailing Oak tree...Cheers to clean drinking water and wild spaces! Have a good one!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 11 :: Fall Harvest

2009-10-01T18:09:00.009-04:00

It's the 1st of October today! What the heck happened to September?! The days have been zooming past me lately; I need to slow down and enjoy the fall. It's my favorite season of the year but it always seems to pass in a flash!

Today, for 'Karen's Picks', I have selected some great seasonal delights from Etsy! Keep warm and enjoy!

Welcome autumn into your life and home with this simple and beautiful wreath! By hempbybrenda, $40.I love this shirt. The name says it all: Snuggle Up Top. By SHIHAR, $85.This long sleeve batik tee is a great fall gift for that special outdoor lover in your life! By innerwolfbatik, $30.Do you like to knit? Here's a kit to make your own 'Convertible Orange Shrug, Cowl, Poncho, Scarf'. It comes with the yarn, buttons, matching thread, and instructions. Seems like the perfect fall craft project and accessory to me! By BoopieCreations, $30.
These Victorian Cuffs are so fantastic! Adds a special something to that fall coat! By whiletheyplay, $45. Wild Grape Jam would be an extraordinary addition to your toast at breakfast time. It looks tasty and delicious! By mirasolfarm, $6.50.
Keep your kitchen clean and tidy with handcrafted dishcloths in fall harvest colors. By pinkpatrice, $10.50.Serve up some slices of a crisp apple on this autumnal Oak Leaf Cutting Board. By prettydreamer, $18.
Cute and functional Oval Pot Holders in rustic fall colors. So sweet... I can see myself pulling the pie out of the oven now! By MarciGirlDesigns, $12.Live green-ly this fall by using cloth napkins! You'll never want to use disposables again once you wipe your chin with these beauties. By TerreMum, $22.

Happy harvest days to you!

Nice Nasturtiums

2009-09-28T15:11:00.005-04:00

It's an absolutely beautiful day here in western MA. There's a nice breeze and a warm shining sun. Our fall bearing raspberry canes are finally bearing ruby gem gifts! Although the nasturtiums in my garden are beginning to come to their end, they've been a bold and colorful blessing upon our summer salads. I took a few pictures of them a few weeks back when they were in their prime...I hope you've been enjoying the outdoors as the warm season winds down. Get out there and take it all in while you can!

Have a great week!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 10 :: Trick-or-Treat

2009-09-25T10:07:00.012-04:00

Halloween could quite possibly be my favorite celebration of the year! I love getting dressed up and decorating the place. A few years back, my Love and I went crazy decorating and preparing the yard for trick-or-treaters. We even created a small cemetary. Our front door was on the side of the house so candy seekers needed to come into the yard and come down our walkway. We rigged up a line that ran from a second story window, over the walkway, and down into the yard. Then we hooked up a pulley and attached a ghost that I made. When people wandered into our yard for candy, my Love would let the ghost fly down the line over the heads of our unsuspecting guests. I think we scared more of the parents who stood back and waited; the kids were so distracted by the prospect of sugar that many of them never even noticed the spirit flying over head. Sadly, now that we live way out in the woods, we don't get any trick-or-treaters. But that only means that we need to take the party elsewhere!This week's 'Karen's Picks' highlights some of the wonderfully spooky and creative halloween offerings of Etsy. I hope you're inspired to go big this year!

These earrings are delightfully dreadful;they would be a great accessory for a witch costume! (I've had the same witch dress (pictured above) for at least 20 years... it's my default costume when I don't come up with something else). By cheryloz, $12.I have fond memories of Burt and Ernie. They're such genuine friends! This is a great costume for the little tyke who is easily frightened... it's soft and friendly! Burt is available too! By NotTheKitchenSink, $20.I'm glad that we have a holiday that honors bats. The recent outbreak of White Nose Syndrome in bats is both sad and scary... our ecosystem is so delicate and intricate. We need bats to eat bugs like misquitoes! Anywho, this necklace is adorable and worth wearing all year. You can by one from SoStrawberry, $6.50.When I set out to find some spooky treats for you this morning, I had no idea that I would find something so extravagent and spectacular! This would be AWESOME to have at your home fright-fest! It even closes up! I want one! By VonErickson, $3,500.
Did you know you can get makeup on Etsy? This stuff is vegan, chemical free, and never tested on animals. It's the Twilight Character Makeup Kit and comes with a pot of Twilight foundation (to give you a pale, vampire-ish look), Karmic Red shadow, Black Steel shadow, a Baby Kabuki application brush, and an apple flavored lip balm in deep red; a complete set for all your ghoulish needs! By pinkquartzminerals, $30.
I'm absolutely in love with this little guy! He makes me melt. By zparkleys, $45.I've had my eye on this shop for a long time. The Mary Janes that this girl embelishes are incredible. I want a pair. So cute and unique. These ones are perfect for the Halloween season! By emandsprout, $24.
If you're going to go trick-or-treating, you'll need a bag to carry all your treats in! The transluscent ghost on this one is especially spooky! By eminandems, $15.Pumpkins are great decor for not only Halloween, but also Thanksgiving. These needle-felted gems are bold and vibrant and are the perfect accent for your home or office! By Tutuki, $18.
Spiders are the architects of the underworld! Set the mood with these hand engraved Web Candle Holders by daydreemdesigns, $14.
Happy Friday to you! Enjoy your weekend and don't foget to start planning out your costume!

Don't Want stART to Stop...

2009-09-22T20:32:00.008-04:00

This weekend's stART On The Street festival in Worcester, MA was fantastic! No one could have asked for more perfect weather... It was crystal blue skies all day and a comfortable 70 degrees. There was roughly 250 vendors and a whopping 30,000 attendees!
I got to meet lots of friendly shoppers and had a lot of great conversations with people. The energy was high and the place was packed. And to top it off, I had great sales!I've decided that the best part about making wallets is that people who have formerly purchased them like to pull them out of their bag and show them to me. I love seeing my work in action! One lady was kind enough to step into my booth and exclaim, "Buy her wallets; this is the best one I've ever spent my money on!" as she waived her's through the air. This not only made my day, it made my year! (If you're out there reading this, Thank you; you're the best!)

Another great aspect of the day was having the opportunity to meet some of the vendors. The vendors right around me were all awesome. I bought an original drawing from my neighbor to the back, Erik Nasinnyk. I love it and am now just trying to figure out where I should hang it. I was quite pleased to have Dawn from SleyTheDent stop by and introduce herself. I also got to meet Liz of MadeInLowell which was a treat. It's nice to have the opportunity to meet others who play a similar game of Life as you. I wish there was more time for it at these types of events.

It will take a while for the glow from this weekend to wear off. It's days like Sunday that keep you going when times are tough. It's not just the boost in sales; it's the feedback, the dialog, and the relationships that you build with the people who are directly supporting you and their community. Hooray for shopping local and shopping handmade! I can't wait 'til next year!

These are a few of the human tape sculptures that were made as part of the 'stART In Motion' theme for this year's event. I snapped a few pictures at the end of the day when I went to retrieve my car... needless to say, the lighting isn't great... but you get the idea.

Happy Autumn to you! Enjoy your week!

stART Treasury

2009-09-18T18:39:00.006-04:00

I am frantically running around trying to get ready to leave for Worcester for the weekend. There is always so much to do to get ready for a big show! Luckily, the weather forecast looks great... upper 60's to lower 70's with no chance of rain... perfect for a fall street festival!

A few weeks back Dawn, from SleyTheDent.etsy.com, made a treasury on Etsy that was composed of things you may find at 'stART On The Street'. If you didn't get a chance to check out the treasury when it was live on the web, here it is for you now! I thought I would post it today to show off more of the wonderful items you'll be able to find this weekend.
Remember, stART On The Street, Sunday, September 20, 11-5, Park Ave, Worcester, MA, Be there, or be Square.

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 9 :: stART On The Street 2009

2009-09-17T09:51:00.009-04:00

This Sunday, September 20th, is stART On The Street in Worcester, MA. It's one of my favorite shows of the year! This is a HUGE event that offers a little something for everyone. There are roughly 250 vendors from all over New England that will be hawking their handmade wears along Park Ave. You can also expect live music, street performances, kid's activities, and local restaurants serving up the good eats. The festivities run from 11am to 5pm... get there early to make all the rounds... there is tons to see and do! The event is FREE but be sure to support this amazing not-for-profit group (stART) by purchasing one of this year's 'stART In Motion' t-shirts (By artist Scott Boilard), a tote, and/or bumper stickers. This group of dedicated volunteers has truly helped to reinvent Worcester as a cultural arts hub!

This week's 'Karen's Picks' highlights just a few of the artists who will be participating in stART On The Street. Remember, there will be almost 250 vendors in attendance, this is an event worth checking out! Here's a preview of what you'll see on Sunday... Enjoy!

I love the color of Carnelian. These earrings are striking yet elegant. The perfect addition to your little black dress. By FancyFreeMe, $20.It does not get any better than a hand-painted greeting card; especially when it's as cute as this one! By happydaystudio, $5. Hold your pants up while showing your strength and resistance against the evil powers that be with this super hip ceramic belt buckle. By harmonyarts, $20. (*Please note: this artist just notified me that a family affair has come up and they won't be able to make it. Please support this artist's shop on Etsy!)Coolest bookmark... ever. I want to get one this weekend! By heatherjeany, $2.I love to knit. Unfortunately, it's been at least a year since I've picked up my needles. I'm hoping to get a project or two going this January when things calm down a little for me and my business. This yarn makes me want to knit NOW! It's gorgeous! Handspun and hand dyed. By inlerah, $25.With all of the sewing that I do, I'm a sucker for cute pincushions. I'm also a cupcake junkie. I would love to get one of these for Christmas (hint, hint). By madeinlowell, $28.This upcycled wooden pencil box is adorned with vintage rulers and is the perfect scholastic addition to any desk. Be studious. Be organized. Give your pencils a real home. By MalcolmStudioShop, $22.Crystal Popko of PoPkO is one of my favorite local vendors. She's awesome and sweet and makes gorgeous butterfly jewelry! (I also really love her Glitter Pop Party Rings!) Here's one of her vibrant butterfly pendants... Gorgeous! By PoPkO, $65.This floral brooch is too cute! Made from upcycled vintage zippers, you can feel good knowing you look good and you're saving material from the landfill! Hooray! By zippinning, $22.I can't ever get enough music (which I suppose is a good thing because my boyfriend is an audio engineer). I desperately want to learn how to play the guitar. I may need to add it to my list of activities for January. I know that I'll want an awesome and colorful guitar strap for when I'm a rich and famous rock star. I really like the handwoven straps that are made by SleyTheDent, $39.I hope you've enjoyed this preview of all of the wonderful things that will be available at stART On The Street. Come on down and join us for a day of fun and celebration!

Balloon Festival Postponed

2009-09-12T10:27:00.007-04:00

Today's Balloon Festival in Look Park has been postponed until tomorrow because of the rain. Unfortunately, I was not made aware that this event had a rain date and packed my car and drove all the way down to Florence, only to discover that it wasn't happening. I was up at 6:30 am, ran around like crazy to make sure I would be on time, arrived at the park 10 minutes early, and then was back home again by 9:30. Although I'm irked with this situation, I suppose it's a good thing that I don't need to sit in the rain all day long. With this last-second change of plans, I'm not quite sure how I want to spend my time today. I think I may hunker down in my studio and get some sewing done. stART On The Street in Worcester is coming up next week and I want to be fully prepared... it's often my best show of the year! I really enjoy the stART events in Worcester and I'm looking forward to going back to my old stomping grounds (I went to school there at Clark U.).I tried to capture the rings of the raindrops in the pictures... I think I need some more practice at it :)

Stay dry and enjoy your day!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 8 :: Making A House A Home

2009-09-09T11:57:00.004-04:00

As you may know, from previous posts, I've been busily trying to makeover my house in the last few weeks. Our roommates have moved next door and My Love and I are living on our own for the very first time! I've been piecing together a lot of housewares from my mom and step-dad's old barn... there's enough dishware in there to open a restaurant. I've also got my eye on some wonderful handmade creations on Etsy! I know Karen's Picks was 'Domestic Delights' just a few weeks back but I couldn't help myself from picking out more home treasures. So for this week, I bring you 'Making A House A Home'. Enjoy!

I love this wreath for several reasons. First, it's made with real leaves. Second, I love pressed leaves; you just can't replicate the smooth and simple lines of nature. Third, it was handmade in New Hampshire, home to my childhood. By NHWoodscreations, $18.Fresh baked bread is a scrumptious treat! Although I like my bread sliced, sometimes I want it thick and sometimes I like it thin. That's where your very own bread knife comes in handy. This one is a functional beauty; I'm wild about turquoise inlay! By redrockzone, $29.95.It never hurts to look good while your cooking. This lovely oven mitt will protect your hands, as well as add to your modern day Betty-home-maker charm! By Mybb, $10.My dad built a beautiful shaker style table for me a few years back. It's been in storage as I've moved from one big crazy house to another. I've finally busted it out to add to my living room. Now all I need is some coasters to protect it's lovely finish. This one makes me smile and it might need to find a new home on my table! By robotcandy, $6.Now that we have more rooms to fill in our house, we'll need some more clocks. We don't carry cell phones around these parts 'cause they don't work up here in the hills. So we tell time the old fashioned analog way. This Autumn Moon Clock is simply spectacular! By CyberMoon, $16.
Light switch plate covers are a great way to personalize any room. I've seen a lot of great ones over the years; from vintage comic book images, to fancy home dec fabrics. But this one may top the cake. The detail in the design is simply exquisite! I love it! By brightcolorart, $30.Soft, creamy, luxurious... your feet will die and go to heaven! This amazing 5'x 8' rug is made from discarded t-shirts; it was hand-dyed with coffee. I want one. By talkingsquid, $499.In the year that I've been living up on this hill in the woods, we've lost power quite a few times. The first time, it was out for 6 long days. Subsequently, I've learned to keep lots of candles on hand and I'm always looking for new ways to hold them. This forged steel candleholder would look great on my wall and would likely come in handy. By baconsquarefarm, $65.A great couch calls for a set of colorful, comfy pillows. This one is made from a beautiful teal cotton with a lovely nature sillhoute print. By joom, $16.Ok, so now that I've got my house all re-decorated and feeling home-like, it's time for me and My Love to sit back and relax with a glass of wine out of an amazing goblet like this one. Cheers to handmade beauty! By MuddyWaters, $18.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's picks... I was a treat to pick them out! Happy home decorating!

Excuse # 847,626,511,013

2009-09-05T09:50:00.003-04:00

If you're a member of my family, or one of my former teachers/professors, you know I'm full of excuses as to why I'm never on time. I promise that's not what this blog will turn into... despite me making a lot of excuses for myself lately. That being said, I'm gonna do it again just one more time. I failed at getting Karen's Picks out on time again this week. But this excuse is a good one! I've been moving. Not to a different address, but to a different room in my house. Our housemates have moved next door and my love and I are stretching out into the entire house. It's an exciting time but there's SO MUCH to do! It's the first time that either of us have lived without roommates. Recently, I realized that in the ten years since I left my mom's house, I've lived with over 100 people! I love all those people dearly and have really enjoyed living in co-ops and community situations, but the time has come for us to live alone. So have patience with me as I clean, sort, reorganize, paint, build a bookcase, and rebuild my box-spring that I cut in half to get up the stairs. I promise I'll fall back into a routine soon!

Enjoy your long weekend!

ChiliFest

2009-08-31T22:41:00.007-04:00

Once again this weekend, I participated as a craft vendor at a local farm festival. This weekend was ChiliFest at Stone Soup Farm in Belchertown, MA. It was originally scheduled for Saturday but postponed until Sunday because of rainy weather. I have to say, it was well worth the delay; we had perfect weather on Sunday! Stone Soup Farm is a lovely place that grows a wide array of beautiful fresh produce. There was lots of great food to snack on including a variety of salsas that were made from different types of hot peppers. They even had a chili cookoff!

I was also lucky enough to have my craft show schedule overlap with Rusty Belle's tour again at ChiliFest. Although they were only 3 this weekend (down one Jazer), they still rocked my world. I used to live with all of them in the Amity House and I miss hearing their sweet melodies drift into my room as they rehearsed at night.
It's been such a treat to meet so many friendly local farmers in the last few weeks. I recommend getting out to a farm festival this fall. You not only get the chance to meet new people, you also get to acquaint yourself with the place that your food is grown! These events often feature local artisans, live music, and tasty treats; it doesn't get any better than that! If you can't make it to any special farm events, be sure to do some of your own apple picking this fall, you'll be happy you did!

Rainy Day Farm Festivals

2009-08-29T13:39:00.009-04:00

Last Saturday, I participated as a craft vendor at Red Fire Farm's 9th Annual Tomato Festival. Although the weather was a bit crazy and intermittent, there was a great turnout of friendly folks who were there to enjoy and soak in the fun & festivities. I was flying solo that day, so I didn't really get a chance to wander around. But I was close enough to the stage to hear my old pals Rusty Belle play and I was lucky enough to be setup directly in front of a row of zinnias and sunflowers. Red Fire Farm is a beautiful place that abounds with organic glory! All of the farm staff is kind and full of smiles! I will definitely be going back in the future. Although I forgot my camera, my old friend Jazer lent me his so I could capture my setup, which quite possibly had the most beautiful backdrop it's ever had.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such an awesome day! I hope to participate in this show for many years to come!

*CHILIFEST* Stone Soup Farm's ChiliFest, which was supposed to be taking place today, has been postponed until tomorrow in hopes of some better weather. Please come out and join us for a day of live music, local artisans, hayrides, chili cook-offs, and more! Hope to see you tomorrow! 275 Jackson Street, Belchertown, MA; 12-6 pm.

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 7 :: Back to School

2009-08-26T20:03:00.003-04:00

I was startled to see parents waiting for the school bus to return with their children this afternoon as I drove down my road. It's crazy to think it, but today was the first day of school in my town. The rainy July that we had here in New England made this summer feel quite short. Nevertheless, school is back in session and that's why this week's Picks is 'Back to School'.

The first thing you need to get ready for a new school year is a spiffy new backpack. This penguin pack would be absolutely adorable on your little munchkin! By BoutiqueID, $50.
Here is a backpack for the grown-up gals. It transforms between a cute backpack and a gorgeous shoulder bag. I would love to have one of these! By MimsMaine, $76.

This felt ID tag may save your little one from loosing his or her stuff. Cute and practical! By MiChiMa, $3.
You'll need a delightful little pencil case like this one, to keep all of your writing utensils handy! By Cheryland, $13.
Here's a beautiful handmade wooden pen to put in your owl pencil case. Made from native walnut. By WoodenPensandPencils, $29.
A small sketchbook (or two!) is a must have for any back-to-school-er. This gem of a notebook is modern, compact, and made from recycled materials... Huzzah! By BurgundyDistrict, $10.
Here's another lovely little hand-bound book for your thoughts and notes. One-of-a-kind. By OliveArt, $13.
My nephew was recently diagnosed with a peanut allergy. I've been thinking about how important it is for any new teachers or daycare providers to know that a child has a food allergy. These helpful tags are a constant reminder when attached to a child's day bag. By TagsOnBags, $5; marked down from $6.

I've always liked to pack my own lunch. In high school I remember reusing plastic shopping bags to carry my lunch. There are plenty of better looking, reusable, options on Etsy! I particularly like this bright and cheery one by JulieMeyer, $21.
Carry your sandwich in reusable style as well! These 'Sandwich Saks' are made with a food-safe nylon that is free of PVC, Phthalates, BPA, and lead. Who knew your lunch could look so good while saving our landfills from disposable garbage? By WasteNotSaks, $7.50.
Treat your apples right with this stylish purple 'Apple Sweater'. You'll have the finest dressed produce in school! By HandmaidenBC, $14.
Got a little one who loves to doodle and draw? This 'Crayon Wallet', complete with a pad of paper, is a cute and functional toy. By GetSassed, $12; marked down from $15.
Thanks for checking out Karen's Picks this week! Good luck on your next academic endeavor!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 6 :: Organic T-Shirts

2009-08-13T09:51:00.007-04:00

Once again, I've failed to get Karen's Picks out on time. So I decided to just skip a week. Think of it as a mere hiccup in time. The good news is that I've been deep in wallet production. The ladies' wallets have been revamped and I'll be introducing them to my Etsy shop sometime in the upcoming weeks. I've also recently added some more shows & festivals to my fall line-up. I'm excited to get back into the swing of doing shows and meeting people face-to-face!

On to Karen's Picks... This week's theme is 'Organic T-Shirts'. I love organic cotton; it's soft, clean, good for you, and easy on the environment! When you partner those characteristics with the amazing creativity and talent of Etsy artists, you get some pretty amazing t-shirts!

This first t-shirt delivers a very important message: 'Buy Handmade'! I love the color and I also dig the v-neck style. A must have for any Etsian! By phippsart, $24.
A few days ago, I made and canned my own blackberry jam. It was a fun project that I will be reaping the benefits of throughout the winter. Show the world how you can! By, GreenGirlsGlobal, $26.
Yesterday, as I was looking for tees to include in my picks, I came across this shirt... which I also happened to be wearing. I picked mine up at 'stART on the Street' in Worcester, MA and was quite pleased to stumble across it here on Etsy! (This is one of my favorite shirts in my collection!) By planetcarolyn, $28.
Adorable kid. Super cute tee. Enough said. By silkoak, $17.
I love the sweet simplicity of this delightful t-shirt by maryink, $28.
This tee is for those guys who like to let their inner child out to play. By circlesandsquares, $28.
I would love to add this shirt to my collection! It turns out, I already own another design from this same shop! (I've got the 'Beet The System' tee!) By jpharris, $20.
The redwoods of the pacific northwest are a mystical and magical! Celebrate the diversity of our earth with this beautiful hand-dyed t-shirt. By LookForFiddleheads, $28.

'A Whale-Respected Man'. Need I say more? By SquidInkKollective, $25.
I love the off-centered giraffe print on this 'earth moss' colored shirt. It's a lovely, simple print on a stylish, fitted tee. By branchhandmade, $22.
The beautiful image on this t-shirt insights peace and serenity. By Loftymornings, $26.
Be well, support handmade!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 5 :: Domestic Delights

2009-08-09T18:50:00.006-04:00

This week's belated version of Karen's Picks is all about making your home feel unique! I've got some redecorating coming up so I've decided to pick some items that would be a perfect fit in my rustic post and beam home! Do you have an underlying theme in your home decor?

This Rustic Serving Trio is a beautiful set crafted just down the road from my house! I'd love to serve up some tasty treats with it! By firewoodfurniture, $47.
I love having lots of plants in my house. They add a splash of color and certain plants even help improve indoor air quality! This amazingly cute Snail Planter is made from a vintage design and would look adorable with a spider plant growing out it's back! By fruitflypie, $39.99.
It doesn't get any better than HANDMADE with RECYCLED MATERIALS! Love this Funky Fork Coat Rack, by jjevensen, $20.
I think that this flower vase was made with my house in mind. I really, really like it! And it's even made with a glass vase liner so that it holds water nice and neatly. By MadeintheHV, $24.
The carving done on the handle of this handmade broomstick is magical! Who thought cleaning could look so good? By BROOMCHICK, $64.
Cupcakes are my favorite thing in the world to bake and this batter bowl would be a lovely addition to my array of kitchen tools! By risingsky, $27.95.
These 'On A Limb' shelves are simply exquisite! The clean lines, elegant branches, and eastern design are amazing! If it's possible to find true love in furniture, I think I've found it. By edgelinewoodstudio, $2,800.
Bring a piece of the great outdoors into your living room with this guarenteed one-of-a-kind driftwood table! By morowood, $248.
My old pal Ben Westbrook makes delightful forged steel churchkeys (aka bottle openers). Each one is unique and sure to bring you lots of pleasure as it will surely open many fine beverages to come! By hammeronsteel, $20.
Once again, it really doesn't get any better than HANDMADE with RECYCLED MATERIALS! I've made one or two of these recycled-bottle glasses myself, but these ones in particular have a lovely rounded finished rim! It would be great to have an entire set like this, crafted from old wine bottles! By bodhicitta, $70.

Hope you had a nice, relaxing weekend! Enjoy the week ahead!

Porcupine & Tomato Festival

2009-08-07T13:00:00.009-04:00

Great news... I will be vending at Red Fire Farm's 9th Annual Tomato Festival! The best part is that my old pals Rusty Belle will be performing there! This event includes crafters and artisans, live music, a 5k Tomato Trot, wagon rides, kid's activities, pick your own, and a tomato tasting. The festival features 100 varieties of organic hybrid and heirloom tomatoes! Oh my! And it's only 2 weeks away! So mark your calendars and come on down to the tomato part of town :)

I apologize again for not getting Karen's Picks out on time this week. I have not forgotten about it. My love's computer is busted so we've been sharing mine lately... so I haven't been getting all my computer activities in. Have no fear, Karen's Picks will be posted before the weekend is out! (I can't bring myself to do it right now because it may be the most beautiful day out... ever.) But for now I will leave you with a few pictures of our porcupine friend who came for a visit the other day. Enjoy!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 4 :: Nostalgia

2009-07-30T11:13:00.006-04:00

Occasionally I will pass by an object in a storefront and will suddenly be thrust into memories from the past. It could be a toy or a photograph, or even some vintage clothing. But whatever the object may be, it creates a longing to return to a happy and comfortable place. These 'trigger' objects are quite likely to vary from person to person but the emotions they conjure up are a common thread amongst us. The theme for Karen's Picks this week is 'nostalgia', and while I can't guarantee that these items will make you nostalgic, I certainly hope that they make you smile and make you consider what things trigger feelings of nostalgia for you! Enjoy!

I LOVED to play with Lego's as a child! They could entertain me for hours! I have vivid memories of building castles with my dad and brother. These cuff links would make a colorful and playful addition to any wedding! By qacreate, $10.

The sight and sounds of Elvis take a lot of people back in time. This cross stitch pattern allows you to make your own American icon wall art! By AllStitches, $4.
My dad had an amazing antique tool collection. This collection was primarily woodworking tools but he did have some antique kitchen tools as well. My favorite was the apple peeler that not only peeled the apple, it took the core out and sliced it up! He used to bring it into my school and would ask all the kids to guess what it was before he demonstrated. I still have the one we used as kids! And I've managed to find one in the vintage section on etsy. Still new in the box! By itsjustv, $15.

Aaahh, the 80's! What a special time in our history... Funny clothes, big hair, and what now feels like archaic technology. What ever happened to your old tape collection? Mix Tape 1" Pinback Button by ButtonHead, $1.50.

I had a spirograph set as a child and a few years ago I discovered it in some boxes! Occassionally I will bust it out to make a card for a friend or to entertain younger house guests. These magnets were created in a spirograph style and they are quite fantastic! By Polymath, $12.

It's funny how much old technology can make you feel nostalgic. I guess it makes sense in this age of rapid technological advances. A gal I used to live with would type snail mail letters to her friends and loved ones on an old typewriter. She liked the feel of it and I miss the sounds of it. One of these days I'm going to find myself and old beautiful typewriter to write my own love letters on. In the meantime, there's this gorgeous photograph to transport you back in time. By oneeyeopen, $25.

My Glow Worm was my buddy as a child. I loved how it glowed in the dark! When I was searching for items of nostalgia and came accross these earrings, I let out a squeal! The faces even glow in the dark! By CharlieCarter, $9.

When we got our first dog, my brother was a wee little peanut. At the time, he had a bit of a speech impediment. When we started discussing what to name our puppy, he really wanted to name her She-Ra, as in the Princess of Power, except we kept hearing Sheba. Sheba stuck, but everytime I see She-Ra, I think of our childhood dog and my little brother. You can be the Princess of Power with these awesome earrings! By elsbells, $8.

If there is such a thing as an iconic highway, it's US Route 66. The path was laid in 1926 and was a major passageway for people seeking work and heading west throughout the dustbowl of the 1930's. Originally it was 2,448 miles long but was rerouted many times and eventually disbanded as a major highway in 1985. In some states the old highway has been designated as a scenic byway. Route 66 represents travel and new adventures. It's even been sung about by rock legends like the Rolling Stones. Hang this handmade roadsign in your living room to be reminded of adventures past, present, and future. By familyattic, $47.95.

Here's some more technology of days past. A Polaroid picture was as good as it got for instant gratification before the dawn of digital cameras. Sadly, in 2008, the Polaroid company announced that they would end production of instant film. But you don't have to say goodbye to polaroid forever... You can hang this bright print on your wall to take you back in time! By exit343design, $20.

I hope you've enjoyed these items that make me nostalgic. What does it for you?

Fuga Dalla Prigione

2009-07-29T21:28:00.006-04:00

I've just discovered through Craftopolis that one of my wallets has been selected for another treasury... this one is graphically superb and truly AMAZING! It's called 'Fuga Dalla Prigione: Escape From Prison'. It was put together by PipingHotPapers with a little help in translation from ixela. I am posting it here, but please do go over to the treasury on Etsy and click around! Your comments are appreciated by the curator and the handmade community!

Also, I apologize for not getting Karen's Picks out today... Somehow the day just slipped away. I'll be posting it tomorrow though. The theme for the week will be 'nostalgia'. What makes you nostalgic?

'Wascally Wabbit'

2009-07-25T08:43:00.005-04:00

Oh boy! My Carrot Wallet has been chosen for another treasury and I really like this one! It's called 'The Color of Wabbit Food: Some Things for That Wascally Wabbit' and it's been curated by abbasgirl. Stop by this treasury to leave a comment and click around!

For those of you who are less versed in the ways of Etsy... A treasury gains ranking amongst other treasuries based on the number of unique visitors, the number of clicks within the treasury, and the number of comments. The higher a given treasury is ranked, the more likely it is that more people will see it as it climbs to the front page of the treasury lists. The Treasury section on Etsy is often where the admins get their selections for the main page of Etsy, which is another reason to try and build ranking in a given treasury. You have to be logged on to your Etsy account to have your clicks counted! And only your first 10 or 12 clicks of the day get counted (I can't remember the exact number). It's also important to note that treasuries only last 2-3 days, so when someone tells you that they've been selected for one, get on over there and start clicking away!

Enjoy your weekend!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 3 :: Rainy Days

2009-07-22T19:59:00.005-04:00

There has been an extraordinary amount of rain around here this summer. My garden is soggy; the mosquitoes are thick. But the major advantage to all this precipitation is that it's been much easier to stay focused on my work inside. Lately, I've been feeling like if you can't beat the rain, embrace it... Which brings me to today's 'Rainy Day' theme. Stay dry and enjoy!

I love how the clouds in this print look like fabric... And the gal has some pretty sweet rain boots! By Kecky, $15.

Cuddle up with this pillow on the next rainy day in your neighborhood. By diffractionfiber, $32.

This necklace is so darn cute, I almost can't handle it. By LycheeKiss, $22.

For those of you who are wishing to just sleep all the rainy days away, this sleepmask is for you! By kocorococo, $28.

Here's a quite fashionable way to beat the rain. I particularly like the pockets on this coat! By Emilykatz, $188 (on sale from $360!)

My love just returned from a business trip to Japan. He's been over there many times. Someday I would like to go with him, even if it's raining. 'Rainy Day in Japan' by sarahayashi, $15.

I love hoodies. I wear one almost everyday. This one would be a fantastic addition to my collection (hint, hint ;)) By kachingdesign, $48.

Perhaps the rain makes you grumpy and grumbly... This pin tells the world, so you don't have to. By Coolbeans717, $8.

This gal seem to be having quite a time of her puddle stomping, rainy day walk. She makes me smile! By missbrigette, $30.

Happy Wednesday! You've made it half way through the week!

Allium Sativum

2009-07-21T20:27:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was a day that I've been awaiting for quite some time! We finally harvested our garlic! This is the first year that we've grown it ourselves and I think it came out great! Despite being easy to grow, it does take some patience. We planted it in November and have tended to it just a few times since then. We used all of the garlic scapes for some incredible scape pesto!

We grew 80 bulbs in these delicious varieties: Chesnok Red, Music, Doc's German, Ukranian, Georgia Crystal, Bogatyr, and Rosewood.

Sinking your teeth into a fresh-from-the-earth piece of garlic is sort of like biting into a fresh apple; it's crisp, but with serious KICK!

All of the bulbs have been tagged by variety and are now being cured. Hopefully our supply will last us awhile, but I already know that I want to grow more for next year!

Happy gardening!

'Lazy Lizard'

2009-07-19T19:49:00.004-04:00

Another treasury! (I think maybe I should buy a lotto ticket or something!) This treasury is called 'Lazy Lizard' and it's a playful composition of lizard themed goods! Thank you to Emburr for including my Lizard Wallet is this fantastic curated collection!

2009-07-17T17:45:00.004-04:00

Gadzooks! Another treasury! This is my lucky week! It had been such a long time since I had been in any and then all of a sudden I've been picked for 4 in about a week! It really is an honor to have my work selected for these and I can't thank the curators enough!

This treasury is called 'Angels Arrested' and it has some dramatic indigo & purples... I really love the combination of all the items! A big thanks to emmarts for selecting my Blackberries Wallet!

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

Treasury West

2009-07-16T13:52:00.004-04:00

I've had my Zinnia Wallet selected for another treasury! This particular wallet seems to be a popular one... it's accumulated quite a few hearts in a short period of time! For those of you who don't know about item and shop hearts, they are basically bookmarks of people's favorites on Etsy.

This treasury is another bold and brightly colored one that was put together by Meg, one of my fellow Western Mass Street Team members. Meg's Etsy shop is called SunMoonStars and she primarily sells wine glass charms, jewelry, and some vintage supplies and treasures. A big thanks to Meg for putting this lovely curated gallery of goods together!

Be sure to visit this treaury soon! They only last for a few days! You can get to it directly by clicking here.

Looking for more wonderful handmade goods from western MA? Search "wmass team" on Etsy for the full array of products being offered around here!

Karen's Picks :: Vol. 2 :: The Forest

2009-07-15T11:08:00.009-04:00

Hello! It's time for the second edition of Karen's Picks! This week the theme I have chosen is 'the forest'. I live deep in the woods and I wouldn't want it any other way! In my backyard the moss covers the forest floor like a carpet, and on rare occasions I am blessed with visits from an owl, a fox, turkeys, or deer. If you don't have the opportunity to experience the forest very often, Etsy has a wonderful array of woodland themed gifts and goods. Here are some of my favorites...

These beautiful hand painted nesting owls would make a lovely addition to your mantel. By SavageArtworks, $54.

Wear this lovely little hand-stitched treasure on your lapel. Just be sure the squirrels don't try to get at it! By lupin, $13.25.

I love the moon and I love the forest! I think I need this original acrylic painting for my living room! By AmyGiacomelli, $199.

You can hug a tree on your couch with these spectacular birch pillows! By myimaginaryboyfriend, $45.

This print is magical. It would be perfect for a little girl's whimsical bedroom! By HidenSeek, $7.70.

Wall decals are gaining momentum as a great way to personalize your living space. I really like this one by LeenTheGraphicsQueen, $17.50.

One year for Halloween, I went as a mudslide. It was a funny and quirky handmade costume that included sticks in my hair. These Bronze Twig Hairpins would have been a better and cuter option! By 4TheSparrowsNest, $15.50.

Moss terrariums are easy to care for and bring the forest right to your desk! By Greenbriar, $18.

This tree will help you hold your pants up. I love it! By BareTree, $15.

The soft, muted colors in this fine art print are both beautiful and calming. By NatureMandalas, $14.

And last but not least, is a little shameless self-promotion. These little gems allow you to take a piece of the forest with you wherever you go! By moonandsundries (me!), $20.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's picks! Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Wilco loves you baby!

2009-07-13T09:16:00.004-04:00

This weekend, my mom and I went to go see WILCO at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, MA. It was a fantastically fun time! Although the forcast called for rain starting at 5, the precipitation held off until just after 10, which meant we got to see the vast majority of the show before they called it. I bumped into an old pal from my freshman dorm in college, as well as a newer friend whom I've recently met through mutual friends!

Before the show, my mom and I got a bite to eat at the Life Alive Urban Oasis and Organic Cafe... It was quite tasty. I found it on the internet using happycow.net. (Do you know about HappyCow? If you are vegetarian or just really into eating healthy, HappyCow is critical to know about... especially if you ever travel. Basically you can search for veggie friendly restuarants and health food stores based on a specific location. My boyfriend rellies on this page as a veg-head who travels regularly for work. It has provided critical info for me when I'm out and about and I highly recommend it for the next time you're traveling!)

The most pleasant surprise of the evening came about half way through the show when the gal standing next to us started talking to her friends. I immediately recognized her voice as the co-host of The Roundtable program on my local NPR station, WAMC. I listen to this show everyday. One of the best parts of the program is that this particular co-host, Sarah LaDuke, is a huge Wilco fan! I've listened to several of her interviews with Jeff Tweedy, Wilco's frontman. The funny thing is that I had just been telling my mom about Sarah's interviews about a half an hour before she appeared next to us. I had to have a 'geek-out' moment and tell her that I was an avid listener and big fan of the show. She was friendly and sweet, and told me how her favorite part of her job was getting to interview Wilco from time to time.

All in all, it was a lot of fun to go out and see some great music with my mom. If you haven't seen any music being performed live & in-person lately, DO IT! It provides a huge amount of inspiration in my life and work, plus it's a way to unwind from the daily grind.

Wilco loves you baby! Happy Monday, enjoy the week!

Treasuries!

2009-07-10T21:01:00.005-04:00

Today, when I got home from my other job, I was pleasantly pleased to discover that two of my items had been selected for two different treasuries! What a treat! In light of this exciting news, I finally figured out how to take snapshots of treasuries so that they can be saved to a blog...

The first treasury is called 'Leafy Goodness' chosen by TheFancyLamb. My 'Fern Necklace' was chosen for this...

The second treasury is called 'Happy Valley' and was created by a street team member of mine over at firewoodfurniture. This one is made up entirely of Western Mass Street Team member's work. My 'Zinnia Wallet' was chosen for it...

Many, many thanks to TheFancyLamb and firewoodfurniture! It's an honor to have my work chosen for these and placed amongst such fantastic creations!

Enjoy the weekend!

Karen's Picks:: Vol. 1

2009-07-08T11:28:00.008-04:00

I've decided to start a new weekly feature on my blog. A lot of my friends and family know what Etsy is, but I don't think many of them have really explored all that Etsy has to offer. I am continually amazed by all the creative things popping up on Etsy, so I've decided to start 'Karen's Picks'. Hopefully this will happen every Wednesday! Each week I will pick some of my new favorites from Etsy and feature them here for you to discover!

This week's theme is Summer... Etsy is full of all sorts of wonderful summertime items! From garden treasures, to stunning swimwear; if you can dream of it, someone on Etsy is making it! Enjoy!

This bathing suit is exquisite! I love all of the details and sweet summer colors! By ladramaqueen, $140.
What would summer be without hot dogs (or tofu-pups!) on the grill? Now you can can always be reminded of your favorite summer bbq with these silly earrings! By shayaaron, $10.

One of my favorite smells of summer is lavender! I can't get enough of it's soothing essence! This fine art print captures a fragrant summer evening perfectly! By meganrhodes, $25.

Every gal needs a large bag in the summer to carry all her precious treasures in. This reversible bag allows you two different styles in one! By retrofied, $48.

Gardens are peaceful sanctuaries. No garden is complete without a touch of art and sculpture. By bluemetal, $95.
Hang summer on your wall all year round with this eye-popping poppy painting! By OriginalsbyParis, $110.

Fun, colorful, unique wallets are the perfect accessory for summer! Luckily, my shop has an array of perfect summertime choices! Here is one for the farmer boy in your life, $23, and a 'tasty' one for the special lady in your life, $28. By (me!) moonandsundries.

Happy Summer!

Summer Days

2009-06-29T17:55:00.007-04:00

I am a little embarrassed. My personal goal had been to post to this blog at least once a week. But it's been slightly more like once a month lately. What can I say?.... It is finally summer! I've been busy gardening, going to see live music, and socializing with old friends and new. Life has been great! I have managed to sneak some crafting into my schedule too, but have not been too good about keeping up with the internet side of life.

A few weeks back, I joined several other Western Mass Etsy sellers in a craft market during Easthampton's BearFest. Although it was a fairly toasty day, the rain held off and we had quite a nice flow of friendly faces throughout afternoon! It was also a pleasure to put some names to the faces of the other Etsy sellers on my team. There is an amazing selection of high quality handmade goodies being created right around me! If you're interested in seeing the work of Etsy's Western Mass Street Team, just enter "wmass team" into the search bar.

It's likely that wherever you are, there are fantastic things being made near you too. Search the name of your city or town on Etsy's Shop Local page to find beautiful local treasures!

Happy summer! Go play outside!

Craft Market Saturday!

2009-06-09T21:48:00.003-04:00

Looking for some fun, unique, handmade gifts for yourself or a friend? Come and check out Etsy's western mass seller's craft market this Saturaday, June 13, from 2pm-8pm in Easthampton, MA. The market will be in conjunction with Easthampton's Bear Fest and will be held in the parking lot next to the Nashawannuck Gallery. The Bear Fest is a celebration of the arts that features over 30 bear sculptures that have been decorated by local and regional artists. June 13th is Easthampton's kick-off event for the city's 4 month long exhibit. Come check out all the bears and some more locally made goods this Saturday! More information about the Bear Fest can be found at http://easthamptonbearfest.com. I'll be there with lots of new wallets and leaf jewelry; I hope to see you there too!

CRAFT MARKET
Saturday, June 13
2-8 pm
Lot next to NASHAWANNUCK GALLERY
40 cottage Street
EASTHAMPTON, MA

Happy Birthday, Paulo!

2009-05-14T08:13:00.007-04:00

Paul and I, Turtle Rock Wyoming, September 2004

It's my 'little' brother's birthday today; except he's not so little. The days of me towering over him are long over. He's one quarter centenarian on this day. I have a bit of an obsession with those folks who are able to spend 100+ years on this planet... so I like to think of birthdays relative to this. I made Paul a blanket by serging two pieces of fleece together. It's white on one side and has a Boston Red Sox print on the other; perfect for a chill-y fall game at Fenway. Then I got him a fantastically silly card by Pinecone+Chickadee. I bought the card at a local craft show called Twist, but you can buy cards and other neat stuff from their Etsy shop. I wanted to post a picture of the card here, but I've already given it to my brother and Pinecone+Chickadee's shop doesn't currently have this one in stock. It was a florescent orange and electric blue print of toadstools and a funny little snail with a mustache. It's amazing.

I'm still working on the NUTS piñata and I promise that I'll be posting photos with instructions on how to make your own next week. If I remember to, I'll try and snap some shots of the thing being busted open too! Enjoy your Thursday!

So Much To Do... So Little Time

2009-05-11T09:09:00.006-04:00

First, let me start off by saying, Happy belated Mother's day to all those lovely Momma's out there! This year there has been an influx of new mom's around me... I guess I'm at that age. So I send a special congratulations out to all those first-timers!

I've been a little absent from the internet lately but have still had Etsy and crafting on the mind. The major distraction in my life has been preparing for a college reunion party that I'm throwing! I can't wait! I haven't seen all my girls together in a least 3 years... just 4 days left to go! Huzzah! Yesterday, my brother, who is much bigger and stronger than I, helped me build the fire pit in our yard. It had been more of a fire mound when we moved in. I don't think anyone had cleaned it out in years. My roommate and I had started digging about a week ago... it took us a long time and we definitely didn't finish. But then Paul swept in and before I knew it we actually had a deeply dug out fire pit complete with a protruding stone slab for boiling water! Thanks Paulo! There has been so much to do but each day I've been able to cross something else off the list... I painted my room last week, stitched up some curtains for bedroom privacy, hung shelves and decorations... I guess we never really finished unpacking in the fall. There has also been some gardening work happening.

As for Etsy, I attended a Western Mass Street Team meeting on the 3rd. It was a really great opportunity to meet a few other Etsy sellers in the area. We drank some beer and threw some ideas around. I even got to meet Ed of Wook Woodworking... I bought some Tree Buttons from him and his wife Alexandra during the holidays and I must say, they are pretty amazing! They have an excellent eye for detail. Someday when I'm rich and famous, my house with definitely hold some of their exquisite furniture pieces. It's nice to share ideas with fellow artists and crafters and get an idea of what other people are doing to stay active in their businesses. I need to be much more active; after all the excitement of this weekend passes, I will be devoting substantially more time to my shop.

Today will be one filled with more crafting... I'll be continuing to work on the NUTS piñata for my party. NUTS is an acronym for Night Under The Stars (the actual reunion part of the weekend that will be happening at Clark University). I'm going literal with this theme. Pictures and directions on how to make your own silly piñata will follow later... .

Have a great day and enjoy your week!

Earth Day

2009-04-22T09:11:00.004-04:00

Flower buds are beginning to pop open and color is returning to the browns of winter... I love spring! The raised garden bed that I built has been filled with compost, one 4-gallon bucket at a time. It came from the UMass Department of Waste Management in Amherst, MA and it was a fantastic deal. I don't have a truck which is why I needed to take all the compost in buckets. They have buckets there that you can use with a $0.25 deposit a piece. Then it costs $0.50/bucket to fill them. I think it took about 50 buckets to fill my 10' x 4' raised bed. The compost is made from horse manure, leaves and yard waste; it's thoroughly broken down and looks rich in color. I can't wait to plant some lettuce seeds in the bed next week!

In other news, I successfully completed my taxes on time. Although I had to fork over a bunch of money, it's a giant relief to know that it's done for another year. I also said farewell to my love for the next month... He's out on a bus tour with Soulive, bringing live music to the ears of many. I'm always sad to see him leave but also look forward to the opportunity to get lots of work done.

Unfortunately, all this activity has kept me away from my Etsy shop for the last week or two. I'm hoping to get some new items listed this week, despite the fact that I want to do a lot of work in the garden and paint my bedroom. We'll see how much actually gets accomplished :)

Happy Earth Day! Go enjoy the outdoors today!

Taxes, Blogging, and New Hearts

2009-04-10T09:00:00.004-04:00

It's that special time of year once again... Tax season. I can't stand doing my taxes (but who can, really?). Mine are especially not fun because I never get any money back (I always owe!) and I do them by myself. Hopefully in the next year or two, I will actually make enough money to justify an accountant. But until then, I guess I'll just have to suffer through it. Unfortunately, I am a major procrastinator, which means taxes for the next week for me. yucky. Its also a bummer because I don't have any items that are ready to list in my shop... so, nothing new until next week.

In other news, I seem to be taking giant strides in my online business. I think I've actually been living under a rock until now. I previously had no idea how to drive traffic to my shop. I think it's because I've never really been an online junkie. The internet can be exciting, but I've never been one to spend hours clicking away. I'm learning that if you want to run an online business, you kind of need to have some sort of online presence. I just started going into the Etsy Forums and have discovered the 'Promotions' section. Last Saturday, I played around in 'Promotions' for 3 hours, and saw about a 10% increase in my number of overall shop hearts. It had taken me a year to build up to 94 hearts... and then 3 hours to bring it up to 104. It also resulted in a sale! And on top of all that excitement, I met a bunch of really great Etsy sellers too!

In the midst of all this promoting, I also posted to several forums about this blog. I think there may actually be some people out there that I don't know personally who are reading this now! (gosh, I am easily excitable). While promoting my blog, I got the chance to visit many other blogs that are authored by other Etsy shop owners. This was a great learning experience for me. I have to admit that I never blogged or read blogs, prior to starting this one. I kind of thought that an online journal was a silly thing. But I kept hearing that a blog was a good way to promote your shop so I decided to start one. Sometimes, I can't think about what to write about. But visiting all these other blogs has inspired me! Lots of other bloggers feature Etsy artists, run contests and promotions, post favorites from other shops, and more! The possibilities are endless! I may have more to write about than my garden and cupcakes after all! Don't worry though, I will definitely keep posting pictures of my delectable desserts!

Happy Friday!

Kink in my neck

2009-04-07T08:20:00.005-04:00

I think I scared the spring away... All this talk about nice weather, and flowers, and gardens. Now it could snow here today. Oh well. It will be over SO SOON! I guess the timing of this cold snap isn't so bad; I managed to get one of the discs in my neck to bulge again. Yuck. and Ouch. If you've never had a disc in your neck or back flair-up, you are a very lucky person. It is incredibly painful! I had a severe scenario like this about two years ago. It took me out for almost two weeks. I visited with a chiropractor a few times, but there was a miss-communication about my insurance... they told me my insurance would cover it and then after five $150 visits, they said "oh no, wait a minute, your insurance doesn't cover this". Not what you want to hear when you are in pain, desperate for help, and broke. So I stopped going. Luckily, the chiropractor was a very nice lady who showed me how to do some targeting stretching and re-tracking of my spine. From there, I decided that I needed to be proactive in my spinal health, so I started going to yoga regularly. I had a few small set-backs with my neck along the way, but over the course of 7 months of a regular practice, I felt like I was stronger, more flexible, and had substantially better posture. Then the Bizarrest Little Snowflake Bazaar happened. That is the annual holiday craft show that I put together. It's overwhelming to run something like that by yourself. I started feeling like I was running out of time to get everything done so I started sacrificing a yoga class here and there. I never intended to quit. But I did. I am embarrassed to say that despite having a much calmer life since New Year's, I have not been back to yoga class since the holiday storm. And now, here I am, talking about this stupid kink in my neck again. I wonder if I'll learn my lesson this time. Perhaps I'll eventually figure out that 1 hour of time devoted to my body is more important than squeezing in a bit more office work. Maybe I'll realize that giving my body what it needs will result in my body giving me what I need. I think when I work this knot out of my neck, it will be time to give back to my physical self again. Plus, bathing suit season is on the horizon :)

-Namaste-

Veggie Bed

2009-04-02T13:50:00.009-04:00

Wow, what a fabulous day in my little nook of the world! Almost all of the snow has vanished out of our yard and we're making headway on our garden plans! Today I finished building a raised bed for our front yard. It was fairly simple to do... We followed some directions in an organic gardening book that I received for Christmas. It measures about 10' long by 4' wide, which should be large enough to grow quite a bit of food! We decided to use completely untreated wood, even though it will rot in the next few seasons... This way we won't have to question the health of our soil. It took us a few hours to build; we hand cut all the wood and then drilled all the pieces together using galvanized deck screws. I can't wait to see things growing in it! The picture shows the bed upside down while in the midst of construction. The support beams that run across the middle will be buried beneath the dirt.

While I was outside crafting the bed for my summer vegetables, I heard a woodpecker knocking along just a few trees away. I managed to catch this shot of him before he ventured off...

And then Sam spotted the sun hitting some fungus on a downed tree in our yard. It looked like it was on fire! While I was taking pictures of that, I couldn't help but notice some moss glowing on a tree stump near by... The vibrant colors of the forest are alive again!

Spring Distractions

2009-03-30T13:12:00.005-04:00

Hello! I'm still alive, I've just been thoroughly distracted by the warmer weather that we've had here lately! Delightfully wonderful things are happening outside... the first signs of spring flowers have appeared in our yard. I love the excitement of raking back a few leaves and discovering bulbous beings poking their heads through the ground! I especially like finding the ones that have busted straight through the dead leaves that lay in their way!

As for Moon & Sundries, I'm currently in the midst of making a fresh batch of men's wallets. Hopefully, I'll get them listed in the next week or so. There are also new T-Totes being listed and I will be running a FREE SHIPPING sale on the T-Totes during the month of April in honor of Earth Day! Be sure to drop by for a visit!

Happy Lovely Spring!

Egg Carton Waste Baskets

2009-03-15T14:08:00.013-04:00

This weekend I decided to do a little craft project for myself... Sometimes I feel like I use all my crafting energy (and time!) on making things for others. It's nice to do something for me once in a while... Anyways, I finally got around to making Egg Carton Waste Baskets for my house. This is a project that I found in a craft book from the 70's that I have unfortunately lost. If I ever find the book or figure out what it is called, I will be sure to note it here. I originally made these useful and recycled receptacles with a little girl that I was doing a craft class with a few summers back. I immediately fell in love with them. They are easy to make with kids of most ages, simple, and useful. So I have decided to post some step-by-step instructions for them here!

Materials

7 egg cartons (you want them to be relatively clean. Don't use ones that have had eggs break in them!)
Pipe cleaners --> 3 or 4 should be enough
9" aluminum pie plate (gently used (and cleaned) pie plates work great)
A plastic shopping bag to use as a liner

Tools

Scissors (that you don't mind cutting pipe cleaners with)
Hole Punch

Assembly

Take your egg cartons and carefully remove the tops to all of them by gently tearing along the seam that connects the top to the bottom. Discard the tops of the cartons.
Take one of the bottoms and punch 3 holes down each side so that the holes are tucked in the little nooks between egg cups and evenly spaced. Continue doing this to all the egg carton bottoms. The photo below depicts the hole placement.
Set egg carton bottoms aside. Now take your pipe cleaners and cut them all up into roughly 3" long pieces. Set aside.
Now take two of your egg carton bottoms and place them side-by-side and right-side-up. Your punched holes should line up. Start at the holes at one end. Take one of your pipe cleaner cuts and push both ends through the two side-by-side holes that are now lined up.
Flip both cartons over. Take the two pipe cleaner ends that are sticking through and twist them together. Bend them and tuck the sharp ends in to create a fuzzy looking nub.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the two cartons are tied together. Now take another carton and tie it to the bunch. Keep repeating this until all 7 egg carton bottoms have been tied together side-by-side.
7. Stand the bunch upright with the inside of the egg cartons facing you. Nuzzle the aluminum pie plate in the lowest layer of egg nooks and curl the the egg cartons around it so that the pie plate is acting as the bottom of your waste basket.
8. Now tie the first egg carton bottom to the last.
9. Line your new receptacle with a plastic shopping bag.

Now you have an awesome new waste basket! I like to use mine for paper recycling! If you're feeling really fancy, you can paint the egg cartons before assembly with acrylic paint. Let the egg cartons dry completely before you tie them together though, the carton material gets a little soggy when it's wet with paint.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Spring Fever

2009-03-09T21:54:00.006-04:00

The snow just doesn't seem to want to let up around here. Every time we have a warm day and the majority of the snow melts, it snows again two days later. I'm beginning to get antsy. The garden is calling me and I'm itching to start turning soil! I have big plans this year... I want to grow all sorts of things and turn the yard into our own little piece of paradise! But in the meantime, I am trying to take advantage of the colder days inside to get as much crafting done as I can. This weekend I did lots of bead stitching as well as cut paper to make some pressed leaf cards. I used to make lots of these and then stopped a few years ago for some unknown reason... I like their simple elegance and I think they will add some nice variety to my sho p.

Here's a picture of a lovely spring flower, popping through a bed of leaves, that I took last spring. Let's hope warmer weather is just around the corner! Have a nice week!

Keeping Busy

2009-03-05T17:03:00.017-05:00

This week has been a busy one for Moon & Sundries! I've been crafting, taking pictures, listing items, and attempting to educate myself on a variety of topics relating to my Etsy shop. I've got quite a few new Ladies Wallets and also have a nice batch of Leaf Jewelry in the works. I've been trying to clean out my leaf presses as much as possible to make room for the 2009 batch that will be budding soon! Some leaves have a very small window of time in which they are appropriate for harvesting to press for my jewelry. Oak leaves are perhaps the toughest to catch at just the right size... I've found that in as little as 3 days they are too large.

On Tuesday night I attended a meeting in the Etsy Virtual Labs regarding Google Analytics which is a powerful tool that tracks web traffic. I've been running Analytics for a few weeks now and I am amazed by what I have learned! I think my favorite aspect to this tool is the ability to see what countries my visitors are coming from. I have much more international traffic than I previously thought! Now, thanks to this new info, I will be updating my shipping profile for some countries to make it easier and faster for many people to complete the checkout process. I'm hoping this will lead to my first of many international sales!

I've also been busy brainstorming some ideas for new products that I could sell for slightly less money. I know the economy has certainly taken it's toll on my wallet lately and I'm sure it's affecting other's too. I'm hoping to add some pouches and clutch type pieces in the $10-$15 range. I will also be reintroducing my 1" pin-back buttons just in time for Earth Day! All of my buttons are made from prints of my original drawings and they're all inspired by the natural world around us. I'm looking forward to getting these little gems back in my shop!

On a final note... I got my Etsy app to start working on my facebook page. I've had quite a few old friends visit my shop and drop me a note. It feels good to catch up with people and see new and old photos of so many familiar faces. Maybe there is a small place for facebook in my life afterall...

Social Networking Paradigm

2009-03-01T12:31:00.003-05:00

I've caved in... I've finally joined Facebook. It's something that I've been avoiding for a long time now. I just haven't been very interested in online "social networking". I'm still not sure how I feel about it. There are some wonderful people from my past that I'm sure I will be ecstatic about reconnecting with... But there are also some others that I don't really need to get back in touch with. Not because they are bad people or because we had some sort of falling out... but because I just don't need to know what is going on in their life on a day-to-day basis, and I don't think they need to know about mine (funny how I'm writing all of this on a very public blog!). Maybe it's just the language that these online networking tools use that bothers me. Just because we sat next to each other in a lab 5 years ago doesn't make us "friends". When I think about my real friends (the one's who are typically forced to listen to these sorts of rants on the phone or in person) I think about people that I trust, respect, and love. Obviously there is no cut and dry list of friend or foe. Everyone has varying degrees of friendships with different people. I suppose that if you open your heart enough, anyone and everyone could be your friend. Maybe I've just gotten myself all worked up about this because I often feel like I have very few friends... and somehow in just 2 days of facebooking I have 50 "friends" (I certainly didn't get 50 phone calls on my birthday 2 weeks ago). I suppose that it won't hurt me to "friend" the random girl that I lived down the hall from in college.... It just all seems a little bizarre to me. But in the end, all of my "friends" (whether they be real Friends or just acquiantances) will know that I'm putting all I've got into Moon & Sundries... and that's something that I want to tell the whole world about! The funny part about all of this though is that I finally joined facebook when I found out there was an Etsy Mini Shop Application (sort of like my Etsy Mini along the left hand side of my blog) and ever since I've joined there has been some sort of kink in the App and it won't load to my Facebook Wall. I think maybe there's a secret conspiracy to drag me out from under the rock I live beneath to get me to start socializing again. Who knows, maybe I'll even make some new friends.

Shutesbury Cream Pie Cakes

2009-02-25T08:28:00.000-05:00

The last week has been a fairly productive one for me and my shop. I have been adding new items to the store (almost) everyday! It feels good to be active in it again. It's truly amazing how many more hits my shop gets when I am listing things regularly. On that note though, the amount of jewelry on etsy is overwhelming. Generally when I list a new non-jewelry item it may get 10 hits in its first few hours. But when I list a new jewelry item it may sit for a few days before anyone clicks on it. And I have a suspicious feeling that the clicks I get on jewelry items are from people that I know (not that that is a bad thing or anything... I'm just saying that you could drown in jewelry on etsy). Sometimes I am truly amazed that I have sold any jewelry on Etsy at all!

Speaking of jewelry, there is a new product being introduced to my line of crafty crafts... Adjustable leaf necklaces are now available! And they're unisex! Check them out!

And then there were cupcakes. I made vegan "Boston vs. Brooklyn Cream Pie Cupcakes" this weekend and they were spectacular! Although, I like to think of them more as Shutesbury vs. Amherst Cream Pie Cupcakes (that's more my world). Out of the dozen or so recipes that I've tried out of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, these may make the top 3 or 4. It's amazing how close you can get to a cream custard with NO dairy! Check out how scrumptious they look... I'm in love with them.

It's my party...

2009-02-21T09:36:00.001-05:00

This week marked one more of my adventurous rotations around the sun. 27 times I've propelled myself alongside this planet through space. It's kinda funny when you think about it like that. Anyways, I got all excited about running a Birthday Sale in my shop... I have some new items listed and was hoping maybe I might pick up a small amount of traffic via the Birthday Search on Etsy. The Birthday Search just happens to be one of my favorite search engines on Etsy. I don't know why. I guess I'm sort of obsessed with making a big deal out of birthdays. So on Tuesday (my birthday) I got up early and posted that there was a 20% off sale in my shop. Just for fun, I decided to look for my avatar in the birthday search. But it wasn't there! So I double checked that my birthday was viewable in my public profile (which it was), and then I sent an email to Etsy Support explaining my predicament. I recieved a very nice email in response that explained that the system only looks for birthdays once a day and that my avatar must have been skipped somehow. So I changed my birthday to the 18th to try and run my sale a day late and on the 18th my avatar didn't show up either! I've notified Etsy about this again and they said that they would be looking into it. I should note that although I am very disapointed that my b-day got skipped by the search engine, I am once again incredibly impressed with Etsy Support. They are prompt, friendly, polite, and they do a great job at generally answering my questions. For that, I thank you Etsy. So if anyone reading this is interested in making a purchase in my store, I would be happy to extend my 20% off sale until the end of February. Just put "BIRTHDAY BLOG" in the message to seller and wait for a revised invoice before sending your money via paypal. Hooray! And Happy Birthday ME!

Heart Shaped Felt

2009-02-14T20:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I made this little felt heart magnet about two weeks ago to give my hands something new and exciting to work on. I forgot how soothing hand-stitching can be!

~Spread LOVE~