Everyone has bad habits. They’re usually a way for our subconscious to cope with stress or anxiety. Sometimes we slide into these negative behaviors slowly over time, sometimes they’re learned from others and sometimes they’re leftover remnants of the past. The good news is that you can transform bad habits into good ones!
Read MoreEtsy NY Street Team 2015 Celebrate Brooklyn! Press Release
When: June 3th – August 12th
What: Etsy NY Street Team Back with BRIC at Celebrate Brooklyn!
Where: Prospect Park Bandshell
9th Street and Prospect Park entrance
Website: https://www.facebook.com/EtsyNYatCBK
Contact: Melissa Kelly melissa@bitmjewelry.com
Etsy NY Back at Celebrate Brooklyn!; Vibrant Offerings of NYC’s Handmade Best
Back for a fifth season, the Etsy New York Street Team, a vibrant collective of multi-discipline handmade artists, will be partnering again with BRIC as the sole merchandise vendor for Celebrate Brooklyn! The premier outdoor summer festival concert series in Prospect Park.
From June 3rd through August 12th, Etsy New York will grant show attendees exclusive access to a carefully curated, all-handmade capsule market chock full of goods made by local artisans who also work on-site during all of the shows. Come in and talk shop with any one of them to find out more about NYC and the handmade market community, the techniques that go into producing their wares, or just to pop in and say hi.
Products this year include natural gemstone, textured enamel, African glass, vintage-inspired and edgy gem and metal jewelry; small batch screen-printed t-shirts, organic critter-centric children’s clothing and accessories (unicorn horns!); one-of-a-kind, ethereal headbands and hairpieces; all-natural skincare products and eco-friendly soap and candles in wonderfully original scents; hand-sewn picnic blankets (with phone and shoe pockets!) and other pretty handmade linens.
As if that weren’t enough, EtsyNY will also be featuring a wonderful array of completely unique, funky and cool original art and accouterment for the discerning city shopper; subway and landmark inspired wall hangings, quirky business and beverage accessories, original hand-painted artwork and fun, retro-inspired housewares. Nobody visiting one of the terrific events at Celebrate Brooklyn! this summer, be ye a local or visitor, will want to leave without supporting the artists by taking home something locally-made and one-of-a-kind from the shop as a token to mark their show experience.
And what an experience it will be! Headliners for the free concerts this year include such luminaries as Chaka Khan, Esperanza Spalding, tUnE-yArDs, Lucius, Lucinda Williams and The New Pornographers. And that’s just a few! Also, there will be a handful of terrific benefit concerts to attend throughout the season, including Damien Rice, Interpol, Modest Mouse and Willie Nelson & Family. These benefit shows help to raise vital funds to provide for free all of the other world-class performing arts programming that happens at Celebrate Brooklyn!
About Celebrate Brooklyn!
In its 36th season, Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of New York City’s longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979 as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn! was an early anchor in the park’s revitalization. Over its history, the festival has presented over 2,000 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough’s diversity. Most Celebrate Brooklyn! performances are free!
About BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn
BRIC Arts | Media | Bklyn is a multidisciplinary arts and media non-profit dedicated to presenting contemporary arts, performing arts and community media programs that are reflective of Brooklyn’s diverse communities, and to providing resources and platforms to support the creative process.
About the Etsy New York Street Team
Created in the summer of 2007, the Etsy New York Street Team is made up of close to 200 artists, designers and crafters based in the metro New York area who create and sell handmade items on Etsy.com, a global marketplace for handmade goods. The group was formed to provide a forum for local, Etsy-based artisans to support one another in their business endeavors and to promote the beauty and availability of locally made, carefully crafted products to the public. To learn more about Etsy New York Street Team visit www.etsyny.com
I’m so excited that summer is truly upon as after a long season of cold inconsistent temperatures! Summer season implies dining alfresco, beach excursions and of course, enjoying a picnic in the park!
Manhattan and the surrounding area is no stranger to parks – despite it being a concrete jungle, there are plenty of hidden parks scattered throughout the city. Take the time to explore and you’ll be sure to find the perfect picnic spot!
Whether you are planning for a special occasion or just a casual gathering of friends, here is a list to help you plan the perfect picnic.
As this is the most important aspect of a picnic, you’ll want to plan your menu carefully. Select foods that can be prepared in advance, served at room temperature and that travel well. Avoid foods that require sauces or condiments and require cutting. In fact hand-held food is best or select foods that can be eaten with just a fork.
Be environmentally friendly and avoid plastic wrap and throwaway containers. Instead, opt for eco-friendly takeout food trays made from sugarcane (a renewable resource), colorful baking dishes, tins or other lightweight containers.
Remember to include other necessities like napkins (cloth if possible), tea towels, tablecloth and a picnic blanket! If you don’t have a picnic basket, pack items in canvas bags. Use an insulated bag for any food items that need to remain chilled.
Remember to clean up after you’ve enjoyed your picnic. Pack trash bags, moist toilettes and paper towers.
A picnic can be an opportunity to relax and engage in conversation with your guests or perhaps you have an afternoon planned full of activities and games. Either way – plan your activities. A picnic is also a great time to engage in simple crafts!
For more ideas for ideas and inspiration, take a peak at my Summer Picnics Pinterest board!
Post by: Rekha Krishnamurthi | ETSY Shop: DivineNYCo | Website: www.divineny.com
"MEET the ARTISAN" is a blog series that spotlights Etsy New York Team artisans and their craft. In this feature, we learn more about Dina, the creator of Bugged Out.
Q: What is Bugged Out? Can you briefly describe your business for us?
A: Bugged Out is a line of my screen printed whimsical bug, fruit, veggie and critter designs on organic cotton onesies and T-shirts, cotton fleece hoodies, recycled cotton canvas tote bags and note cards. All Bugged Out products are designed and hand printed by my husband and me in NYC.
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: Bugged Out has a very personal meaning and has to do with my diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. In April of that same year I formed a team for the MS Walk and named it “Bugged Out." I designed team T-shirts with an ant design, and my friends, family, and even complete strangers loved them! For the next several years the same happened with our team T-shirts with my other bug designs - so many people commented how great these designs would be on kids’ clothes that I decided to start Bugged Out, the company, in 2007! A percentage of the proceeds from Bugged Out sales goes directly to Multiple Sclerosis research at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Q: Oftentimes, each artisan has a different strategy and objective for their business. What are the next steps for you and your business?
A: To keep growing and hopefully soon have a small Bugged Out store!
Q: Can you tell us some of the partners you have made? Retail stores where we can find your product?
A: You can find Bugged Out in many retail and gallery shops. A few of the local ones are the Shop in the Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, Better Than Jam, Willy’s Toy Box and Lab Brooklyn.
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: I strongly advise to consider the production process when designing.
Special thanks to Dina for sharing with us. You can find her products showcased on her Etsy shop at www.buggedout.etsy.com. And, details of her special product GIVEAWAY are below. Please enter for your chance to win!
Bugged Out reusable totebag made from recycled cotton canvas, with our fly design and “b.y.o.b. bring your own bug” on one side; the other side is blank.
Entry period ends at 11:59pm on Friday, May 15, 2015.
Each of us has the potential to open our hearts and engage in a compassionate, fulfilling life. For artists, this openness is key to connecting with your audience. You are unique in the market because of your special story, so you need to be open enough to share it! Your story resonates with your customers because they want to share your joy. Learning how to stay open, even when times are tough, can improve the quality of our lives and our businesses. Here are four ways you can become and stay open:
Read MoreIn honor of Earth Day, we share this tutorial from the archives of our old team blog on upcycling paper bags (from the grocery store and other stores) into envelopes you can use to mail letters (April is National Letter Writing Month!) to your loved ones. It's also another great way to get crafty and give something a new life before it goes to the recycling bin.
The tutorial includes a print out envelope template for you to use to create your own. Huzzah!
If you make envelopes, please share your experience in the comments. We'd love to see what you create. You can also share them on the team Facebook page if you are inclined.
Happy Earth Day! Happy crafting!
Sara, S2 Stationery & Design