Fall Wedding Planning | Part 3

April 11, 2016 by NY Handmade Collective

Welcome to part 3 of the Etsy NY Team's wedding series featuring fall wedding planning! While wedding season is about to be in full swing for summer, there are a number of brides who still have some time to plan the details of their nuptials! With that being said, this collection of handmade products goes beyond New York City and brings together the best that Etsy has to offer from vendors all over the world. Place your orders now! ;)

A good wedding starts and ends with the details. And Lavender Paper ie knows amazing details! Intricate and elaborate laser cut wedding invitations from California are sure to catch the eye of your guest and get them excited for your big day.

When your walking down the aisle, your guests will swoon over the stunning handmade lace on this Leanne Marshall wedding dress. The silhouette of this Leanimal gown is simple and streamlined allowing the eye to focus on the detail.

And if you adore unique details, this creative and classic boutonnière from Rosy Lily Florals in Huntsville, Alabama is sure to impress. With a single cedar rose accented with preserved wild, tan gypsophila and preserved soft caspia it's a perfect addition to a fall wedding!

These etched wood of these table numbers by Manta Makes LTD elevate any tablescape. I love how they sit off the table and allow people to see them from afar, beautiful and functional!

And finally combining our themes of laser cutting and wood this beautiful cake topper from Wedding Rustic Deco is one-of-a-kind. It's personalized and brings together the fall tree theme for a cohesive look.

Happy planning!

~Amberlee

Amberlee Isabella Home

Time to Blossom

April 08, 2016 by NY Handmade Collective

Many years ago I moved from Taiwan to attend college in Boston. To all those around me I exuded excitement, but only I knew how terrified I was. That wide-eyed 17-year-old wanted so bad to achieve her dreams, to make friends and to fit into a new country.

My story starts out like many others, and with time, I hope that who I am and what drives me, will come out in bits and pieces in later entries. Nowadays people can hardly guess I grew up in a foreign country, and have an even harder time believing I experienced culture shock when I first came.

How did I overcome this? 1. Open to criticism, and 2. paid a painful amount of attention to what made me different.

I committed to change my accent, the way I talked, and the way I acted. These were all surface things I was willing to give up. However, when a family friend told me it was time to change my wardrobe, I was offended. Strange right? Seeing that it was the most surface out of all the things.

I didn’t grow up with much of a budget for nice clothes, so what goes into my closet always went through a selective process to express who I am, and to walk with that pride everyday. Some of my pieces are on trend, while others are odd and vintage. I am proud of my collection, the stories that go with the choices, and the sense of personal style that has developed. Still my family friend was right, I had a new home, and I had to figure out how to play nice with my surroundings while not losing ‘me’.

Since then I have grown to incorporate various clothing styles while being weirdly me. I enjoy bringing inspiration from my travels and environment to my wardrobe, so with that I'm here to share my travel inspired fashion choices.

Spring is in the air! And my current fashion appetite is all about floral prints! Even with my allergies, I’m craving pretty flowers - so I say we all give in and become one with nature.

I’ve been drooling over the luxuriously bold and flirty Liberty London prints for years now, and am ecstatic to find out that Uniqlo and J.Crew have finally caught on and merged these amazing floral prints into their line.

Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 3.19.07 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 3.19.24 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 3.24.55 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 3.25.16 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 3.25.52 PM.png

Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 3.25.32 PM.png

But really what sold me on flower-on-flower-on-more-flower is my trip to Kyoto, Japan last spring. The Japanese have been mixing and matching bright colors and florals for centuries in their traditional kimonos! I was fortunate enough to experience it first hand among the cherry blossoms, and now I am excited to flower-up again this spring in my new home.

Embrace the flower you were always meant to be this spring! Make Bambi proud!

Photo credits to Alex Zhang (Flickr @KaiserFenix)

Please enjoy these flowery inspired creations by the Etsy New York Team:

Unicorn Music Box Locket by Clockworkfantastica|My Secret Music Box — Unicorn Music Box Locket by **Clockworkfantastica|My Secret Music Box**

Liberty London Floral Earmuffs by Moobury — Liberty London Floral Earmuffs by **Moobury**

Blue Rose Linen Makeup Bag by Chubby ABC — Blue Rose Linen Makeup Bag by **Chubby ABC**

Floral Corduroy Hat by DeathXDesign — Floral Corduroy Hat by **DeathXDesign**

Handpainted Floral Silk Scarf by Divine NY & Co. — Handpainted Floral Silk Scarf by **Divine NY & Co.**

Post by Eugenia || www.moobury.com || Etsy || Facebook & Instagram @Moobury

Hat Trend Roundup | Easter Bonnet Parade

April 07, 2016 by NY Handmade Collective

The Easter Bonnet Parade is a spectacle of locals and tourists donning spring themed hats. This beloved tradition marks the end of winter in NYC and dates back to the late 1800's. Today it attracts attention from local and national media including Time Out New York and WGSN. Junior Baby Hatter even bumped into Humans of New York! Being a hat family, we had to make an appearance to admire the extravagant headdresses. From butterflies to baskets to bunnies, here’s a roundup of the top 5 hat trends Junior Baby Hatter spotted parading down 5th Avenue.

Metamorphosis

After a long winter, clusters of butterflies float above crowns and emerge from brims of hats and bonnets.

In Full Bloom

Hats and headdresses brimming with spring blossoms.

Wearing local Etsy Seller, Dora Marra, Easter Derby Hat, $90. Buy it here — Wearing local Etsy Seller, Dora Marra, Easter Derby Hat, $90. *Buy it here*

Spotted another Dora Marra Easter Fascinator, $80. Buy it here — Spotted another Dora Marra Easter Fascinator, $80. *Buy it here*

Birds and the Bees

Nest and hive hats that are a home for the birds and the bees.

Basket Case

Wicker Easter basket headdresses filled with brightly colored eggs and flowers.

Hippity Hoppity

Wouldn’t be an Easter Parade without a few floppy ears springing from caps, hats and bonnets.

Photos by Alex Velazquez

Markisha Velazquez is the designer and owner of Junior Baby Hatter, based in Weehawken, NJ. When she’s not making dapper caps for babies and toddlers she commutes to New York with her family and blogs about her adventures in the city. She gravitates towards things that are eclectic, ethnic, vintage, colorful, and have multiple influences. She loves hat making because hats are nostalgic yet timeless.

Open Workshop, April 7, 2016 - "Trademark and Brand Protection"

April 04, 2016 by NY Handmade Collective

Join the Etsy NY Team to learn about Trademark and Brand Protection at our first open workshop of the year!

Trademark and Brand Protection

In today’s hyper-competitive business world, establishing a strong brand and creative presence is important to any business success. Otherwise known as "intellectual property," brands, names, logos, artwork and designs can become the most important and valuable asset of a business. Yet many business owners either fail to undertake this consideration or are unsure how to properly protect their IP.

This workshop will help you understand the legal aspects of branding, the risks in not undertaking proper IP clearances, the steps to prepare for licensing of IP and the benefits derived from registration of IP. This is a great way for entrepreneurs and small business owners to learn the basics about intellectual property and the reasons they need to invest their time and effort into brand protection.

Speaker: Laurie Marshall

As a trademark attorney with close to 20 years of experience, Laurie currently represents hundreds of small businesses and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, assisting them with the legal aspects of branding their company at an affordable, flat fee. Many of these clients have come through Shark Tank’s Daymond John Academy. Previously, Laurie handled the trademarks for Major League Baseball for 10 years and continues to represent many MLB clubs and the National Basketball Association. She speaks regularly on the Legal Aspects of Branding a Small Business at events and conferences throughout the country.

When: Thursday, April 7, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (EDT)

Where: The Yard in Herald Square - 106 West 32nd Street, New York, NY - View Map

Ticket Prices: $5.00, Etsy NY Members; $16.82, Non-Members

Buy a Ticket!

Eating with the Seasons: Spring Menu - Dessert and Tea

April 03, 2016 by NY Handmade Collective in "recipes"

It's the last part of our spring menu, and many people's favorite -- dessert! Your belly is full with that tasty artichoke, lemony asparagus, and bitter greens pesto noodles. But there's always room for pie, right?

The credit for this recipe goes entirely to my husband. A few weeks ago I had a hankering for a cheesecake or cream pie (in all likelihood after watching an episode of Golden Girls) and he set to making us one. As a vegan you often get to have fun playing around with traditional recipes to make them equally tasty (if not more so) without the milk, eggs, and butter. Our first run with this pie was good but not mind-boggling. After simplifying the ingredients, the second pie was perfect! There may have been a third and fourth pie since then as well... This recipe employs one of my husband's favorite ways to measure ingredients and ensure the dish tastes the same each time -- by weighing them. For those makers out there, this is one of those times when you get to use your mailing scale for fun!

This pie is perfect for spring -- light, mouth-watering, and a crowd-pleaser. You can even forgo the crust and use this filling to make little pudding cups! Make this pie a day ahead so it has time to set.

LEMON TOFU CREAM PIE WITH A GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

Serves 8

Ingredients:

14 oz brick of firm tofu

60 grams organic dark brown sugar, or your preferred dry sweetener

70 grams lemon juice

5 grams vanilla extract

less than 1 gram sea salt

Pre-made organic graham cracker crust (or your favorite crust recipe, pre-baked)

Place the sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and sea salt in a blender (a Vitamix makes this filling extra smooth). Blend until all the sugar and salt has dissolved in the lemon juice. Remove the tofu from the package and rinse under cool water. We want to remove the excess water within the tofu. You can do this by putting the tofu in a colander, covering it with a plate, and putting a weight on top (a can of beans or bag of sugar works well) and letting it sit for a while. Or put the tofu in the middle of a clean dishtowel, fold the ends together, and twist to wring out the excess water. Get as much water out as you can, otherwise the final mixture will be too soupy. There is no firming agent like agar or tapioca in this recipe. The firmness of the filling will come from the dissolved sugar and the chilly rest time in the fridge.

Add the squeezed tofu to the liquid mixture in the blender and blend until smooth. Pour the filling into your favorite pie crust. For this pie we kept the filling low compared to the crust. If you love a filling that's close to the top of the pie edge, feel free to double the recipe! Spread the filling smooth with a knife, or make a design using a fork, or use your fingers to give it a swirl. Have fun with it! Cover with tin foil or parchment paper and put in the fridge to rest for at least 12 hours. 24 hours is even better. Giving it at least 12 hours in the fridge will help the tofu settle and set while also giving the alcohol in the vanilla time to evaporate. Without the evaporation time, some of the bitter flavor of the vanilla extract may linger.

Garnish with seasonal berries and some mint or basil leaves. Cut a slice and enjoy!

The night is winding down, the spring air has cooled, and you're looking forward to a warm beverage to cap off the night. A hot mug of kukicha tea with freshly sliced ginger is just what you need! (If you can grow your own ginger, all the better!) Kukicha tea is made from the twigs of the tea bush and offers a very low caffeine content (90% less than a cup of coffee). The tannins in the tea balance both acids and alkalines in your food, and aids in the digestion of grains. If I could only drink one kind of tea for the rest of my life, it would be kukicha! It has a dark but smooth flavor that's warming and satisfying.

Fresh ginger is perfect to eat in the spring time. It aids in digestion, fights infection, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Have you ever noticed those headaches you might get after a new spring day in the sun and air that turned brisk and chilly once the sun went down? Ginger can help relieve that pain! Ginger adds a warm spiciness to this hot beverage. Drink this tea 20-30 minutes after your meal -- drinking liquids while eating can dilute your digestive juices. Feel free to chew on the ginger slices when you reach the bottom of the mug for an added bonus!

KUKICHA TEA WITH FRESH GINGER SLICES

1 bag of kukicha tea

1/2 inch of fresh organic ginger, sliced

Filtered water

Place the tea bag and sliced ginger in your favorite mug. Boil the water, and then let it sit a few minutes before pouring into your mug. If the water is boiling hot it will start to cook the ginger. Let the tea steep for five minutes and then drink when the temperature is just right. Take a moment to reflect on the delicious meal, the good people you shared it with, and the joys in your life.

It has been wonderful to put together these recipes that are near and dear to me for all of you. I can't wait to hear what your favorite dish was! See you back here at the summer solstice for a whole new menu of seasonal meals!

Molly Clarke // Rock That Gem

Trend Watch: Rope Baskets

April 01, 2016 by NY Handmade Collective

I love baskets! I am always attracted to them. And always tempted to buy them. Have you noticed lately all of the rope baskets available? Or rope basket tutorials? It really is quite easy to make. Today I have a list of websites showing a variety of rope basket tutorials.

By looking at the above picture would you be surprised it is put together by hot glue? The rope is actually cording/piping used on furniture and pillows. You can find this diy here.

Another no sew option is from Martha Stewart. Her team uses flower pots to wrap the rope around.

If you know how to sew there are 2 options you can choose, Sweet Paul and Elise Blaha blogs have tutorials. Using a neon pink thread really adds to the pop! You can find Elise's tutorial right here.

Sweet Paul, who is based here in Brooklyn, takes it one step further. Dyeing! This would be a great weekend project because dyeing can sometimes be messy. But dip dyeing has such a beautiful effect. dip dye rope bowl project

All you need for the above projects is clothes line rope that you can find at your local hardware store. Enjoy!

Tracey