Etsy NY Rocks BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!

Etsy NY has fantastic news to chase away your hump-day doldrums this week: Wednesday, June 8th marks the opening night concert for the 37th season of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! This music festival is one of New York City’s longest running outdoor performing arts concerts. Launched in 1979 to reinvigorate Brooklyn's performing arts scene and to bring people back into neglected Prospect Park, BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! was an early anchor in the park’s revitalization. Across the years, the festival has presented over 2,000 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough’s diversity.

What does this have to do with Etsy NY, you say? We've partnered with BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! for the past five years, and we're excited to work with them again this summer, running the sole merchandise booth!

Everyone loves a memento of an amazing concert experience, and Etsy NY is here to deliver. This is not your typical merchandise tent. Of course we'll have BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! goodies for sale, but you can also check out a carefully curated, all-handmade capsule market chock-full of goods made by Etsy NY local artists – your friendly staff during all the shows. Come in and talk shop to find out more about our handmade market collective, the techniques that go into producing our wares, or just to say hi when you need a dance break. Whether you are a local Brooklynite or a visitor to the borough, we're sure you'll find something to love.

Can't wait until tomorrow to see what's on tap this year? Here's a sneak peek of the Etsy NY makers to tide you over!

Rachel is the force behind Ye Old Stamping Grounds - your source for fun and quirky hand-stamped metal keychains, bottle openers, and carabiners. Her designs are inspired by Brooklyn, music, wanderlust, geek pride, and emojis. Put a smile on your face each time you use your keys. The lightweight and modern designs also work great as gifts.

Designed and made in Brooklyn, traceytoole designs creates everything your picnic needs. Denim picnic blankets, Hawaiian-style pillows, cloth napkins, and even something for the kids. Keep the little ones entertained with their own artist roll-up kit complete with color-me fabric and markers.

Suniq makes one-of-a-kind upcycled clothing and accessories. Upcycling makes her happy as she gives each piece a new life. Her one-of-a-kind designs can be worn many different ways.

Suit Up Peanut was created in 2014 - the day owner Maddy's nephew was born. Using Carter brand's amazingly soft cotton onesies and tee shirts, her clever designs are the perfect addition to any child's wardrobe, all at an affordable price.

Slope Girl Knits specializes in handmade personalized gifts and decorations to make the most special moments matter more. From hats, headbands, and scarves to buntings and tote bags, all items are knit, sewn, crocheted and embroidered in Brooklyn, NY by Emily herself.

Rock That Gem is owned by Molly, a gemologist working in the jewelry industry for over fourteen years! Using her gem skills and expertise, she chooses the very best stones to create fabulous necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.

Rising Phoenixx makes all-natural bath and body products using simple and uncomplicated ingredients. Each item is formulated by Coleen Phoenixx, a mercurial, multi-tasking, do-it-all diva. Her products keep up with her rock n' roll life style, and yours!

Located in Brooklyn, Prairiefunk specializes in modern, easy-to-wear hammered metal and natural gemstone jewelry inspired by the artisans of antiquity. These elegant, eclectic, and stylish pieces can be worn in multiple ways.

Naturally Susan's products are what your sensitive skin is craving, with ingredients that stay as pure to nature as possible. Susan's products are effective, long lasting, and versatile. You'll want to add these eco-friendly, travel-friendly, and cruelty-free options to your daily routine.

konnichiwagrl makes quirky cards and other little accessories that serve as both an easy way to say "hey!" or a strike up a conversation. What's better than sharing a mutual love of pizza or poop than wearing one or gifting it to a friend?

Kaibelle creates block-printed stationery, textiles, and home decor. All designs are inspired by organic forms, hand-carved, and printed by hand in Brooklyn.

Jes Switaj creates unique and eye-catching graphic designs. These images are screen printed onto t-shirts, blankets, and handmade silk neckties.

J. Topolski hand-carves and acid-etches jewelry inspired by the city and animals. Don't miss the limited release special-edition charm jewelry just created for the Bandshell!

Brooklyn Owl creates magical unicorn horns, monster horns, and mermaid hair clips that are the perfect addition to any imaginative play adventure. Brighten a child's day with these Brooklyn made hair accessories.

Be in the Moment jewelry was established in 2010 with an eye for creating functional and original wearable artisan jewelry. Melissa works to create colorful and unique enamel jewelry as well as beautiful sterling silver bracelets and rings, perfect for every occasion.

Aperture Agog is a mischievous blend of photography, stationery, and textile art inspired by dirty NYC. You won't be able to resist these unique pieces of art!

Follow along with our adventures on the Etsy NY BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Facebook page!

See you at the Bandshell!

Wednesday, June 8th is the free opening night concert featuring Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (6:30PM Gates, 8:15PM Show). Motown comeback queen Sharon Jones, and the Dap-Kings, the beating heart of Bushwick-based Daptone Records, are hellbent on topping their legendary 2010 closing night show. Check out the video for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' 2014 Grammy nominated album "Give the People What They Want."

Post by Rachel Soares // xoxo from NYC // Ye Old Stamping Grounds // Instagram // Facebook

Winter Soups

chicken cilantro soup

We have a few more weeks till Spring although mother nature is really teasing us.  Temperatures in New York have been 10 to 20 degrees above normal.  Then they take a nose dive into the teens. I woke up to a few inches of snow this morning which of course a freshly fallen snow is beautiful.  Either way, when the cold weather hits I really enjoy making soup!  I have been experimenting this season mostly with recipes from the website Food52.   One of the many things I like about this website is that I can save my recipes to folders that I name. It can be meat, vegetarian,  tomato based, seafood based, creamy or brothy.  

I usually tweek the recipe a bit so I can use up something in the fridge or to cater it more to my daughter (nothing spicy or hot).  Here are 3 of my favorite soups I have made this past winter.  All recipes are from food52.com which I then as I said adjusted a bit.

chicken cilantro soup

Chicken Cilantro Soup, this soup is made with a bunch of cilantro which I love! However the final outcome isn't heavy tasting with cilantro.  I also used 2 chicken breasts that I had instead of a full roasted chicken or chicken parts. Another addition was one red potato (to use it up before it goes bad) and a cup of garbanzo beans or chi chi beans, a Harper fave. 

photo by Judy Allen from Food52

Number two is Lasagna soup. Indulgent and tasty! Perfect for a cold winter day.  Once again I adjusted it.  I did not use regular sausage, instead I substituted turkey sausage.  Instead of fire roasted tomatoes I used regular canned diced tomatoes. And no lasagna noodles, I used whatever pasta I had on hand.  One side note, my husband, daughter, neighbors and their one year old son all loved this!

Number 3 is Minestrone.  The addition in this one was cheese tortellini.  I feel sometimes soup isn't a meal and I wanted this to be a Sunday meal.  After the soup is served I added a dollop of basil pesto and a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar to the top.  These really take it up a notch.  The balsamic vinegar my parents brought back from Italy (in the photo below) is thick and sweet.  I served the soup with kalamata olive rolls.  Quite tasty!

Happy Friday and happy cooking! Please share any winter favorite recipes you might have.

Tracey

http://www.traceytoole.com/  |    https://www.etsy.com/shop/traceytoole

Fabrics for the Kitchen

What makes a good fabric for the kitchen? Whether it's an apron or a tea towel/ dish towel, which fabric is better than another? Why do chefs and bakers prefer one over the other?  Here is a brief rundown of what's what and what you might like.

Linen: do you immediately think of summer dresses or pants?  Timeless and classic.  Linen fibers are from the flax plant and much stronger than cotton.  They yield cool yet absorbent fabrics.  However they do wrinkle easily.  This fabric makes a perfect kitchen apron, a place where it gets hot! 

cassandra ellis linen fabric

Chambray: a plain weave fabric made of a white weft and colored warp yarn creating a beautiful watercolor look.  It's cotton, it's sturdy.  Light to medium weight.  Great fabric for aprons or table cloth. 

above chambray fabric from fabric.com by Robert Kaufman

Denim:  Really? Denim?  Yes.  Many kitchens are now preferring or wearing denim.  Denim as you know comes in many weights and weaves.  From 3 oz to 16 oz, denim is made to take a beating.  It is woven in a twill weave, a zig zag or angled weave.  This makes it quite strong and hard to tear. Similar to chambray it is sometimes made with 2 different colored yarns.  Denim will make a great apron for kitchen wear, restaurant wear or studio wear.   Don't buy something too heavy because it may become cumbersome and hot in a kitchen.

Do you have a fabric you love to use in the kitchen? Or something you absolutely will not use! Please share!

Happy Friday!

Tracey Toole

www.traceytoole.com  |    www.traceytoole.etsy.com

Part II DIY Fall Kitchen Patchwork Trivet

Last Friday we demonstrated a tutorial of how to make a patchwork trivet for your kitchen. Today we will finish it up with part II.  If you missed part I you can find it right here.   I know with the change of weather I am ready to start having hot coffees and warming teas.  

Last week's last step was making the patchwork top part of the trivet. It should look like this. 

1. The bottom row is sewn to the middle row, be sure to match seams and press with steamy iron.  Then sew the middle row to the top row. Repeat same steps.

2. SQUARE IT UP.  This means you need to cut the sides to make sure it is even.  It's ok if it ends up being smaller than 9" square or not a complete square.

3. Step 3 you are going to start making the quilt sandwich. Take your wool, place your batting on top of that, then your trivet top on top face up. 

4. Pin the layers together and sew along the seams. You can use regular straight pins or basting pins.  It's good to use a Walking Foot but if you don't have one that's ok. 

5. Attaching the bias tape binding. When you first start to attach it you need to fold over one short end raw edge about a half inch.  

Be sure to fold the short raw edge as above. 

6.  Sew a half inch seam allowance around all of the edges. 

7. Fold raw edge and wrap to top side of trivet. Pin. 

step 7B


8. Sew an edge stitch.  This is a stitch right along the grey binding. 

 

Step 9. Done! Have a cup of tea!

final trivet 2 colors.png

If you have any questions please let me know.  Next tutorial will be the Apple Picking Tote on October 16th. 

Have a lovely weekend! 

Tracey Toole

www.traceytoole.etsy.com   |    www.traceytoole.com

Etsy NY Team at Celebrate Brooklyn this Summer

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Mae West

cbk 1

When:  JUNE 3 – AUGUST 12

Where: AT THE PROSPECT PARK BANDSHELL (9th Street and Prospect Park Entrance)

Back for a fifth season, members of the Etsy New York Street Team will be partnering again with BRIC as the sole merchandise vendor for Celebrate Brooklyn! the premier outdoor summer festival concert series in Prospect Park. Seventeen vendors, from a variety of disciplines, will grant show attendees exclusive access to a carefully curated, all-handmade capsule market chock full of local goods, ALL SUMMER LONG!

Here is the first of a four-part post showcasing but a small selection of the amazing products available this year:

Sophisticated casual cotton linen picnic blankets, napkins, tea towels, runners and aprons.  Natural fabrics, unexpected colorways. Made in Park Slope.

 gold star pendant from Prairie Funk

 

Prairiefunk features chic, hand-hammered metal and gemstone jewelry with an emphasis on natural shapes, to create modern pieces inspired by antiquity.

flask by citybitz

flask by citybitz

Citybitz’s focus is on NY details. The urban collection features original photography combined with metal, resin and glass as well as cuff links, card cases, cigarette cases, compact mirrors, flasks, money clips and mirrors.

Susan's products are made with all natural ingredients, so that you can enjoy nature's beauty. Her skin care portfolio includes moisturizers, lip balms, body scrubs, facial masks, dry shampoo, hand sanitizer, bug spray, and more. Made in NYC.

Bubbles App is a Harlem based small business that produces natural, vegan candles and soap focusing on locally sourced ingredients, with some natural butters sourced from Ghana. The body products and the candles produce are vegan and biodegradable, and our candles are made of eco-friendly and sustainable palm wax.

In total there will be 17 designers and makers representing Etsy NY at Celebrate Brooklyn this summer.  Check back for our other featured artists.

written by Melissa Hile

 

Celebrate Brooklyn Artists Lineup Part 4

For the past few weeks we have been posting about the designers and creators who will be selling at this year's Celebrate Brooklyn Festival in Prospect Park.  Today is part 4.  Celebrate Brooklyn! started Wednesday June 4th  and is held in Prospect Park.

tote by bugged out

tote by bugged out

Did you arrive to the park carrying all of your supplies? Check out Bugged Out! They have the cutest and most unique tote bags perfect for NYC.  A sturdy canvas tote with bug illustrations.  New to the line this summer is the bedbug!   Dina is the creator of Bugged Out, a line of screen printed whimsical bug, fruit, veggie and critter designs on organic cotton baby and kids clothing, tote bags and note cards. Bugged Out started with team T-shirts for Dina’s MS Walk team way back in 1998!  All Bugged Out designs are developed in our NYC studio, and our products are screen printed by hand in our Long Island City, Queens print shop. A percentage of the proceeds from Bugged Out sales goes directly to Multiple Sclerosis research. We are excited to return to the Etsy NY shop at Celebrate Brooklyn for our 4th season! Check them out online at buggedout.etsy.com.

flattie picnic blanket by traceytoole

flattie picnic blanket by traceytoole

Did you forget to bring something to sit on for the concert?  Stop by the EtsyNY booth and pick up a picnic blanket.  traceytoole is a line of housewares focusing on picnic blankets, napkins and tea towels for this year’s Celebrate Brooklyn.  The organic blankets will feature prints by the famous artist Charley Harper. Founded many years ago in Portland while working at Columbia Sportswear, she likes creating items that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.  Canvas, cotton wovens and yarndyes are some of her preferred fabrics to work with.  Tracey is on the EtsyNY blog team and also writes her own blog, as well as teach sewing.  Past times include  painting, gardening, quilting and knitting.  These hobbies influence her products thru color and mediums. Tracey's studio is in Park Slope. Tracey is a freelance designer and a new mom.   This is her second year at Celebrate Brooklyn, after taking last summer off after having a baby.  She enjoys Celebrate Brooklyn because it is outside and the audience is uniquely Brooklyn! Shop online at tracey's etsy shop.

picnic blanket featuring charley harper print

picnic blanket featuring charley harper print

Brooklyn DIY kits

Brooklyn DIY kits

Want to buy something uniquely Brooklyn and also learn a skill? DIY, do it yourself.  Brooklyn DIY Supply creates prepackaged kits and supplies for busy adults to make homemade crafts and gifts. Founded by Bex and Elissa, they are two Brooklyn-based craftsters who live to make stuff and love to share what they've learned about making homemade consumables. From soap to pickles to cocktail bitters, they’ve taken the legwork out of DIY by providing you everything you need to make sensual, edible, or imbibe-able delights. They love what they do because they are first and foremost teachers, and they believe the world is a better place when you can create. This is their second year at Celebrate Brooklyn, where they love being part of the Etsy community.   Pick up a new hobby at Celebrate Brooklyn this year with a kit from Brooklyn DIY Supply. Come to your next picnic with pickles, mustard or pretzels!

pretzel kit by Brooklyn DIY Supply

pretzel kit by Brooklyn DIY Supply

So next time you visit Celebrate Brooklyn! Pick yourself up a Bugged Out tote, grab a blanket to sit on and get a Brooklyn DIY kit for some crafting after the concert!

See you at the show!

Tracey

https://www.etsy.com/shop/traceytoole