New Workshops: Stamp Making and Silk Painting with ETSY NY Team Member!

Just in time for the Holidays, Etsy NY team member, Rekha Krishnamurthi of DivineNYCo is offering more of her popular "Design Your Own Silk Scarf"  and new "Carve Your Own Stamp for the Holidays" classes through Sidetour.com.  Please note these workshops are not an EtsyNY Team event, they are independently run by Rekha, a fellow Team member.

Design Your Own Silk Scarf

In this 2-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to paint on silk and design your own silk scarf using silk dyes, eyedroppers, resists and other tools. Once the scarf sets and dries, you’ll have a beautiful creation to take home! All tools and dyes will be supplied. Participants are encouraged to dress casually and bring their creativity and design ideas with them! Though sample designs will be provided to help inspire you.

Workshop dates:

Oct 25, 2014 12:00 – 2:00pm

Nov 4, 2014 6:30 – 8:30pm

Nov 15, 2014 12:00 – 2:00pm

Nov 18, 2014 6:30 – 8:30pm

Dec 6, 2014 12:00 – 2:00pm

Dec 9, 2014 6:30 – 8:30pm

Dec 13, 2014 12:00 – 2:00pm

Location: Upper West Side, 2255 Broadway, New York, NY 10024 (between 80th and 81st Streets)

Cost: $65.00

Please CLICK HERE to register (you will be re-directed to SideTours.com)

Carve Your Own Rubber Stamp in time for the Holidays

Holiday decorating might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word linoleum, but in this workshop you will learn how to transform a plain, unassuming lino-block into a one-of-a-kind stamp with countless seasonal uses. Using a lino-cutter, you’ll learn how to imprint your own unique design into a linoleum block, adding a personal touch to gift tags, cards and wrapping paper.  Watch a demonstration on how to roll your stamp with ink and print on fabric or paper.  You’ll leave with your one-of-a-kind rubber stamp along with detailed written instructions on how to print with ink at home.

Workshop Dates:

Oct 28, 2014: 6:30 – 8:30pm

Nov 1, 2014: 2:00 – 4:00pm

Nov 8, 2014: 2:00 – 4:00pm

Location: Ripley Grier Studio, 520 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018

Cost: $55.00

CLICK HERE to register (you will be re-directed to SideTours.com)

Both classes look to be not just creatively exciting, but great for gift giving and crafting this Holiday season. 

Fab Friday's 5 Finds

party pom poms from little Knitty Things

Halloween is around the corner. 

I always find dressing up so stressful and now that I have a child there is double the stress.  I have to come up with an outfit for her.  Well if you are like me and want to be festive but not full on Frankenstein I purchased one simple wig.  It is a day where you can dress up.  Minerva Knits offers fun and festive bow ties and they glow in the dark! 

Glow in the dark bow tie by Minerva Knits on Etsy

A fascinator has so many uses and can be worn after Halloween.  Bring it out for holiday parties and New Year's Eve.  A classic item that will attend many future weddings with you or funerals.  Artikal NYC has one for you and whatever event you are attending.  

fascinator from Artikal NYC

Unicorn Horn by Brooklyn Owl

Unicorns are replacing the owl motif on many things and you can join the trend!  Step it up with a sparkle horn from Brooklyn Owl. 

And if you are in desperate need to dress your child up, check out this adorable penguin costume from Mama Luna Design. 

Mama Luna Design on Etsy

Check in next week for Friday's Fab 5 Finds featuring Autumn Colors and Wear!

Thanks for reading and shop local!

Tracey

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

Going on this Weekend

Taking a break from Friday Fab 5 Finds today to talk about NYC Yarn Crawl happening this weekend, October 11th and 12th.   The NYC Yarn Crawl was the first city to conduct a yarn crawl.  For those of you who don't know what a yarn crawl is, it's like a pub crawl.  You visit the yarn stores who are participating in the crawl, there are prizes from different stores and the NYC Yarn Crawl conducts their own scavenger hunt!  Unlike a pub crawl, you make your own schedule and route.  There is no charge and no pre-registration.   It's a great thing to do in early fall because of the weather and this gives you an excuse to visit yarn stores you normally wouldn't visit.   Most stores offer discounts, La Casita in Brooklyn on Smith St are treating their guests to a complimentary mimosa or bellini! I know what my first stop will be!

I asked some of our Etsy NY Teamies who focus on yarn as their craft, what are their faves from the yarn crawl.   Sharmeen from Minerva Knits crawls with her yarn group Pints and Purls.  Her fave stores are Brooklyn General and Argyle Yarn. When asked what she would yarn bomb if she had the opportunity? The Brooklyn Bridge! I love it!

Viking Hoodie from Minerva Knits

Alicia from Birdy 27 Designs has never done the yarn crawl because this is her busy season.  She hopes to crawl some year but in the mean time she did share with me her yarn bomb fantasy.  Outfitting the windows in Macys, Saks or Neiman Marcus with big chunky, funky hats and cowls.  So keep an eye out!

Birdy 27 Designs

Yarn Crawl isn't the only fiber activity this weekend.  The 3rd Annual Kings County Fiber Festival will be taking place at Stone Park in Park Slope, Gowanus.  Since I won't be working on Saturday I will be checking this out for the first time.  Not only is this an awesome park, great for kids, and easy to get to (R to Union) but it's in my hood.

Kings County Fiber Festival photo from http://www.kingscountyfiberfestival.org/

photo from http://www.kingscountyfiberfestival.org/

Spinning, weaving, crocheting, knitting, dyers and more can be found at this Saturday only festival! So if you are a yarn crafter you have a busy weekend ahead of you!

Tracey

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

HEALTH & BEAUTY: Decoding Green Juices

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See the supermarket aisle in the photo…we live there! Okay okay…we don't actually "live" there, but you'll often find us there studying the ingredient labels on each bottle.

We've probably tried the majority of the green juices that you see on the shelves since we like to drink our fruits and vegetables as well as eat them. We often bring a bottle of green juice with us when we're at our various markets. But with so many types of green juices out there, how do we choose the "right" ones? Are all green juices created equal?

Here are some things we look for in green juices:

1. Look for cold-pressed. Cold-pressure processing crushes and presses the fruits and vegetables, using processes that generate less heat. This keeps the juice as fresh and as nutrient-rich as possible.
2. USDA organic and non-GMO (genetically modified organism) preferred. Food and beverage companies that have these certifications operate and process their products in accordance with specific government regulations.
3. Avoid added sugars and salts. Many fruits and vegetables have natural sugars and sodium, so keep an eye out for ingredient labels that have added sweeteners such as cane sugar, corn syrup, and other artificial sweeteners.
4. Take note of the top ingredients. If the juices include a plethora of other ingredients or the top ingredients are not the ones being touted, then they may not be the ones to choose.

We hope this helps in decoding green juices. And, we hope to bump into you in the green juice aisles some time :).

Thank you for being kind to your body!

published by Susan Ng / www.NaturallySusans.Etsy.com / www.NaturallySusans.com

MEET the ARTISAN: S2 Stationery & Design + GIVEAWAYS

"MEET the ARTISAN" is a blog series that spotlights Etsy New York Team artisans and their craft. In this feature, we learn more about Sara, the creator of S2 Stationery & Design. 

Q: What is S2 Stationery & Design? Can you briefly describe your business for us?

A: S2 Stationery & Design is truly a company that uses "design" as a way to usher in communication in all aspects of our lives - personal, business, and everywhere else in between.

Q: Some artisans develop their products to meet consumer needs, while others craft products based on things and/or experiences that inspire them. What is the inspiration behind your business?

A: This questions could take this entire post. My inspiration is (and has been) largely based on experiences in every day life and while traveling.  S2 was decided years ago in my youth (although I had no idea of it at the time), when I loved playing with paper. It came full circle after my father's death in 2009 while traveling around Italy after running the Rome Marathon. A dream woke me up at 3am one morning and I woke up knowing that this was my calling; my passion to pursue. It helps that I was in Italy, one of the most beautiful countries in the World and the colors, food, smells, and people inspired me daily. 

To a degree, though, consumer needs is also an inspiration, although not the focal point. My stationery is not a life style brand. I'm hardly interested in keeping loyal customers, although I do love them and appreciate them! For me what is important is that a card or set of stationery inspires the customer to write and communicate their emotions. In other words, if a customer buys one card from S2 Stationery & Design and it allows them to be vulnerable and share sentiment that they might otherwise not, that is worth more than continuous sales from products that aren't necessary and are a strain to the environment.  Should they return to me because the quality is top notch, or they really like my product, then great! But the idea that a card sale can turn into a potential pencil set sale, or an annual calendar sale is not my inspiration.

Q: Oftentimes, each artisan has a different strategy and objective for their business. What are the next steps for you and your business?

A:  There are a lot of steps I want to take. My big goal for 2015 is the Stationery Show at the Javits Center. It's huge and the real deal. I'm also working on positioning my Etsy shop a bit more and separating the custom work from the social stationery. While custom work fits into the social stationery category, it is a different monster and requires a lot more effort and work. I'd love to have them parallel in building S2, but not as closely tied as they are now. 

The other big thing is that I'm working on ways to integrate large scale communication. When I was a child we had pen pals and I loved my pen pals. While not trying to bring back pen pals, I'm thinking creatively on ways to bring about peace and acceptance through communication, food, and social stationery.  In other words, 2015 is going to be busy!

Q: As many artisans look to grow and further develop their businesses, do you have some advice that you can share with fellow artisans?

A:  Take it slow. Running a business is a lot of work. When I started, I thought I could do everything quickly and easily thanks to technology, but it's a lot of work. It can be overwhelming sometimes - so much so that a person can end up burned out fast. It's also important to know the difference between part-time and full-time business running. I quit my job earlier this year to focus on S2 full-time and it's been exhausting, frustrating, and at times I've almost called it quits. Yet, something has kept me fighting and that is the understanding that it all takes time. People who have relatively easy success had struggles, too. Just remember to breathe and if know that if you have the heart, you have the stomach.

Special thanks to Sara for sharing with us. You can find her products showcased on her Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/S2StationeryDesign. And, details of her special product GIVEAWAYS are below. Please enter for your chance to win one of three "My Thankful Space" paper place mats!

A gorgeous decorative piece (and keepsake if food and water damage are minimal) to any Thanksgiving table, the "My Thankful Space" place mats are delicate, but sturdy and a great gift to give those giving thanks in your home. The larger, patterned paper is artisan paper from China.  The top layer is a text weight (32lb) metallic paper to compliment the back layer.  It is best to use a marker such as a sharpie to avoid smudging and for immediate drying.  Each place mat is cut to approximately 12"x18" and assembled by hand. 

Enter to win here! To enter simply, like the"S2 Stationery & Design" page on Facebook and/or this blog post, along with a comment with three things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving.  Three (3) winners will be selected randomly for one of three sets of paper place mats. (Marker not included!) 

One set of the white and silver place mats has 8; one set of blue and gold place mats has 10; one set of red and gold place mats has 10.  Please include in your comment what color placements you prefer.  Winners will be notified within 24 hours of being selected for shipping information.  Good luck!

Published by Susan Ng / www.NaturallySusans.com / www.NaturallySusans.Etsy.com

Nostalgic Toys - Ride Ons

A child's first experience with ride-on toys is and was probably a rocking horse.  After the rocking horse, we probably experienced the Radio Flyer Red Wagon and then our tricycles.  
Ride on toys are one of the most memorable and exciting parts of growing up.  

At this September's Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show, there was no shortage of classic ride on toys.  Here are just a few pictures of the vast amount of kinds they had available for purchase. 

The toys of old look real cool to collectors nowadays but safety and quality control has definitely improved.   The rocking horse/chair below was cute but not at all safe. 

My first ride on toy in 1979.

Ride-on Toys have come a long way....

Written by Melanie Ann Mercado of M Ann M Creations and Watermelon Party Shop