Valentine's Day is Coming Sooner Than You Think!

Be Ready for that special day

You never know what unique goodies you're going to find in the Promotional Frenzy BNR Treasury!

This coming Monday, January 10th from 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM EST we have some special treats for you!

I got it made a few days early during our thread's Treasury Day and now all you shoppers have 2 1/2 days to go window shopping in some fascinating Etsy shops to pick out something at your liesure in advance of our opening.

I have left the link visible rather than just putting a list of links in my blog as I have done in the past.

The above bowl of anatomical hearts is brought to you by bubblegenius, a bath and body shop with some avante garde products you would never imagine.

Here's the link to the upcoming BNR;

Feel The Love;

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d27d19b36b86d91fe50bc7e/closed-until-monday-400-pm-est-feel-the#4d27ffd0a9fb8eef0569b607

Please click, comment, and take some time looking at all the exciting things offered. Then bring your shopping list on Monday and jump right in. Your sweety will appreciate that you went out of your way to get her something she'll love, or if you are the one to receive a gift this Valentine's day be sure to send your hubby or significant other over there and let them know what you like from these sellers.

If you're a buyer only and don't have an Etsy shop you can play too! Just let us know and if you would like to pick a replacement shop from your favorites that can fill the spot of the person you're buying from.

Last week's jewelry specific BNR went well. Almost all the featured jewelry sellers got bought out and because this was the first of it's kind we didn't see high volume sales like has been typical in most of our BNRs but I believe it's only a matter of time before the buying public gets used to buying higher priced things through BNRs.

We will alternate from week to week; doing a regular BNR with a mix of different categories, and then do a specialty one. There are more categories I want to work on and we will eventually do these more than once to build up a market for each over time.

You never know, this might become the next shopping craze of the future!

Speaking With A Voice Both Soft and Strong

King of the Garden (ACEO) - $5.00
A print of a watercolor, pen and ink original measures 2 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches; the same size as baseball trading cards. The paper is acid free, lignin free, and 100% cotton.

Glory2727 is an art-based business run by a painter Gloria Wilson who resides in Holly Hill, Florida. Using watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, pen and ink, and a variety of other sealants and varnishes, she tailors her artwork to that which she is embellishing, be it a piece of watercolor paper, a glass, or a bar of soap.

This artist has an excellent command of her medium, blending and shading to achieve lifelike effects in her flowers and animals. Using a variety of styles such as impressionism, as in this painting, Bird of Paradise (note cards), a tropical and dramatic flower endemic to Florida, her work speaks loudly without being too deliberate, not to detract from the spntaneity of the moment. Created using gestured lines, and light versus dark on the same brush; reminiscent of techniques used in wood painting and Japanese brush painting, one can feel the warmth generated as well as the movement of each leaf and petal as it curves tenderly and shines in the sunlight, its parameters more defined by color gradient than by definitive boundaries.

Bird of Paradise Note card Set of 8 - $10.00
These cards measure 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 wide and fits into an invitational size envelope. The 8 cards and 8 envelopes are enclosed in a clear plastic box. All work done at home by the artist including the printing.

Others are rendered focusing more on fine details, accentuating line and crisp contrast to bring out the soft and dreamy watercolors inside.

This card set; called Two Butterflies shows exquisite depth and richness utilizing both lighting and darkness to give one a feeling of vibrancy.

Two Butterflies set of 8 - $12.00
These prints of original paintings are 5 1/4" x 4 1/4 ". The box comes with 8 cards (4 of each) butterfly image along with envelopes.

If you are more the type who buys things you can use, why not buy something with a little bit of art on it in the process. These are not like the dime-a-dozen commercially painted shakers you find in Rich's department store housewares department, but instead original and one-of-a-kind;

Pick a Pair - $8.00
Grapes painted with acrylics on a salt and pepper shaker

Salt and Peppers - $8.00
Gerber Daisies painted with acrylics on a salt and pepper shaker

If you would like to see more of what Gloria has available, go to her shop on Etsy;
http://Glory2727.etsy.com

and read her blog to learn more about the artist and her activities;
http://frommybrush.blogspot.com

A Bunch of Fruit

Rhodonite Briolette Necklace - $10.00
Necklace made out of a Rhodonite briolette bead with a Rhodonite tumbled nugget.
The drop measures about 1 3/4 inches long, and the chain measures about 16 inches long.
(Be sure to look at the matching earrings in her Etsy store; great for Valentine’s Day)!

Scorpienna is an Engineering student from Rolla, Missouri, who loves parrots and has one for a pet. The look of her jewelry is consistent with this interest in that the colors she chooses are bold, bright, and dramatic. Her style is crisp and bright with a simplicity that is unencumbered, yet never boring, accentuated by a bright white background in most of her pictures.

These below remind me of balloons you would see at a street festival, bursting with fullness and billowing out in all directions. The artist has a number of designs that are reminiscent of balloons, candy, or fruit hanging, and she has more earrings than anything else. Whether this is intentional or whether it just ended up that way I am not sure, but it seems to be working because she has sold 125 items since October 17, 2006. Aptly names, these earrings really do look like hard candy sour balls, now that I think of it.

Candy Cluster Earrings - $18.00
Rainbow, candy-colored cat's eye glass beads with all silver plated findings. They measure a total of 1 1/2 inches long.

Curled like a snake, this necklace has a creamy blend of colors and is beautifully photographed. The length can be changed upon request.

Pink and Gray Swirl Necklace - $24.00

Made of round and rounded diamond/nugget-shaped pink and gray swirl Czech glass beads with black Czech glass spacer beads. The necklace attaches with a silver-plated lobster claw clasp. It measures about 21 1/2 inches long.

For those of you who love contrast and oxidation, these are definitely rich with depth. These large circles are really in right now and the pink really pops against the dark metal. Again we see a reoccurring theme of pink and black (or a very dark gray) for maximum impact, using contrasting dark and light colors.

Oxidized Pink Circle Earrings - $18.00
Earrings measure 1 1/4 inches long from the bottom of the ear wires, with fancy sparkly, spiral-cut, pink Czech glass beads on oxidized sterling silver circles and ear wires.

You will be happy to know that most of Scorpienna’s jewelry can be obtained for under $30.00.
She wants her customers to be satisfied and will do whatever she can so that you will be happy with your purchase.

Why not pick a pair today?

http://scorpienna.etsy.com

Read more on the artist and her activities on her blogs;

http://myspace.com/scorpienna

http://scorpienna.livejournal.com

Something Really Cool Just Popped Up!

Say it with Flowers - $5.00
Card is 6.5”x5” and has layers of cardstock flowers cut out and glued on

QuirkynBerkley located in Berkeley California is owned by an artist who makes handmade cards and other paper products. One of the interesting techniques she uses is origami which makes these cards extra special! The artist loves to experiment and works at her craft for hours engineering new and creative ways to bring you enjoyment that will last the test of time. Her handmade paper items are both aesthetically pleasing and well-constructed.

Tiny Origami Boxes - $10.00
Five cute little boxes, measuring approximately 1.25x1.25x3/4 inches and made of beautiful, luxurious, textured yuzen chiyogami paper. They're the perfect size for rings or earrings. The artist glued the inside tabs to make them sturdier, although the paper is a good, substantial weight. Lids are printed, boxes are coordinating solid colors.

"I started making cards for friends several years ago, and in December, 2004,”the artist says. “Idle words became action when I sold holiday cards to the florist down the street. Almost all of my cards are one of a kind.”

Butterflies (set of 4) - $12.00
These one-of-a-kind cards are 6.5x5”, hand stamped then heat embossed in gold, both the image and the lower edge of the cards. Then they were watercolored by hand. Inside is blank so you can inscribe a personal message.


Pink Iris No. 3 – $4.00
This is a 6.5”x5” Iris-fold card, so-called because the folds of paper in the center of the card resemble the lens of a camera's iris. Each small folded strip of paper is laid down at a very precise angle to create the effect. (There are three cards made in this series, labeled Pink Iris No. 1 through No. 3). Inside is blank so you can inscribe your own message.

If you think you would be interesting in learning some of these techniques yourself, you may want to purchase this book which goes into a number of fascinating ways of using paper. (The artist liked it so much she bought it twice under different titles).

Book - Artistry in Paper – $10.00
Marked down from $18.95, is a soft-cover instructional book by Paul Jackson. This one is brand new and covers topics including: using molds, assembly, layering paper strips, papermaking, decorative ideas, folded surfaces, representational, pop-ups, paper Mache, paper sculpture and modular origami. All of the concepts are well illustrated and instructions are one step at a time; filled with gorgeous photographs.

See more of her work at:
QuirkynBerkeley.etsy.com

To see custom samples, go to:
http://www.picturetrail.com/photos/quirkynberkeley

Read her blog at:
http://quirkynberkeley.blogspot.com

Why Not Make Your Point~In Style!

Bushisms Blank Notecards (Set of 4) - $6.00
cards are made of a 110lb bright white cardstock and measure approx. 4.25" x 5.5"
The set includes 4 bright white envelopes and come packaged in a resealable clear cellophane bag.

Michael P. Gresh, owner of Darjeeling Paper Ltd. and co-owner of DemiGod Studios makes all kind of paper products, but his specialty is his hand-bound journals, created entirely by hand. The covers are made from 100% recyclable material, and the cover finishes are made of an acid-free and lignen-free paper.

Michael's products speak for themselves. One can plainly see that they are expertly crafted and beautiful aesthetically, from the choices of paper and fabric he uses, down to the precision binding of the books. The embellishment is under-stated, but well-placed where it counts to give his line a polished and professional look.

4x4 Green Hand-bound Hardcover Journal - $17.00
Finished with a "faux-distressed" cardstock and features a handy interchangeable nameplate on the cover, measurements; approximately 4-1/8" x 4-1/8". The interior cover pages are made from a black linen stock, and it has 108 bright white blank sheets.


4x6 Paisley Hand-bound Hardcover Journal - $27.00
Book measures approx. 4-1/8" x 6-1/8". The interior cover pages are made from a black linen stock, and it has 108 bright white blank sheets.

Michael started Darjeeling Paper, Ltd. as a way to showcase his paper goods, and to distinguish his works as a new product division of DemiGod.

He designs hotels as his “day job”, but plans one day to open up his own brick and mortar store.

Bright and Colorful Notecards - Set of 4 - $6.00
Cards are approximately 4" x 5 1/2" and are packaged together in a re-sealable cellophane pouch, along with four blank white envelopes. Shipments are mailed in a stay-flat cardboard box.

Darjeelingpaper currently accepts PayPal only, but no worries; you can pay with your credit card through PayPal even if you don’t have a PayPal account. Purchasing couldn’t be any easier! Just click on Buy Now to get to the buying form, choose the “PayPal; credit card without a PayPal account” option and you’re all set!

For more beautifully crafted paper products go to:
http://darjeelingpaper.etsy.com
http://www.darjeelingpaper.com
http://demigodstudio.etsy.com

To learn more about the artist, read his blog:
http://darjeelingpaper.com/blog

Hand-sewn and Home-grown

Soandsewcrafty is a small craft business whose owner, Opp, Alabama native Karen Copeland, stitches a variety of interesting homespun items, with a sense of humor and playfulness. Among the many items she makes are costumes for pets (like this pumpkin outfit from which her orange tabby peaks out from over its shoulder to see who might be staring),

The lovely blue, green and yellow paisley handbag (shown at top),

these adorable cat silhouette pillows,

scrubs with Christmas trees and other unusual patterns on them, cloth sanitary pads, throws, and a mix of other fabric items.

Karen describes how she was introduced to needle and thread. “I have been sewing for almost as long as I can remember. My mother and her mother were talented seamstresses, painters....just plain "crafty" people, and I suppose I inherited that from them! And believe me I am thankful to them for that!”

Four years ago a car accident left Karen permanently disabled with a broken leg that never quite healed. In constant pain, she is unable to sit or stand for lengths of time, so opening an online store on Etsy gave her the venue she needed to make some extra money to supplement her monthly disability check, and the impetus to clear out a lot of the fabric she’d been hoarding for years. Like most artists, she loves her supplies and relishes going out to buy more whenever she can.

Her sewing gives her a sense of purpose and accomplishment, and when she’s immersed in transforming fabric into something useful or fun, she can forget about the stresses of life for awhile and enjoy the process.

You can find heartwarming gifts for everyone in the family and friends too at
http://soandsewcrafty.etsy.com/
and to learn more about the artist behind Soandsewcrafty, take a look at her blogs:
http://www.soandsewcrafty.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/soandsewcrafty