Latest BNR Treasury; Like Chocolate for the Soul

This BNR Treasury's only been open a few hours and already has 5 sales and counting!
You can buy in for just a $3.00 minimum purchase of anything fron the stores of these 16 featured sellers!

Some of the featured sellers are running special deals for today only so don't miss it!

And you can buy in more than once!

Come click, comment and shop!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cb60d8f740f6d91a9042b89/open-fun-games-bnr-44-sales-total-round?page=6#comments

Update: Closed at 7:00 PM EST

New Treasury will carry over everyone left next week!

Stay tuned!

My supply shop is featured and I haven't been bought out yet, hint, hint... I have some excellent buys everyday! No need for a special day to offer deals!

I've got my eye on these delicious treats by Michellesthisandthat;

Which item are you drooling over?

Listening To A Higher Calling

Bobo Batik Mini Mew Mew Kitty Cat Folk Art - $15.00
100% cotton batik fabric stuffed with polyester fiber fill over a wire leg armature.

MaryAnn Anderson of Backwoodscreations, a former Medicaid policy writer for the state of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services creates absolutely gorgeous animal figures made from fabric and stuffing sculpted, and shaped around an armature!

What struck me immediately about her work was just how well she is able to capture the animal’s expression, (especially in her cats), and I was blown away by how low her prices are for the product she offers. With items easily worth $150 apiece, the artist seems somewhat shy when asked about her most expensive sale, particularly humble about her sculptures.

“Most of my work is moderately priced because I want it to be accessible to a wide range of people. I have had several paintings that have been commissioned and sold for decent prices by an unknown artist (me). I sold a couple of commissioned paintings for $200-$250. It was work very different than what I sell on Etsy. More traditional portraiture (corgis) done in acrylics on canvas.”

This downplaying of her profitability of these pieces could very likely be because she feels, as many artists do; that the work chooses her rather than the other way around, although these may be where her biggest potential lies in terms of financial viability.

Fergus Calico Cat Feral Feline Series Folk Art Sculpture EFA - $35.00
100% cotton clothe stuffed with polyester fiberfill over a wire armature Fergus is hand-painted. As a member of EFA (Etsy for animals) I will donate 10% to the selected charity of the month that this cat is adopted in.

“I currently do some pickup consulting work here and there but most of my money comes from making and selling the product of my creativity. The fabric animal sculptures are what have given me a precarious toe hold into the possibility of making a decent livelihood out of doing what thrills me. But I also create work that has meaning to me in many different forms. I think of it as listening to the everyday sacred. I am a steward of this earth. It is up to me to protect it, love it and take care of it. I make the animals that talk to me. Some talk more than others. The materials used sometimes just lend themselves to being what they are. The basic shapes are a jumping off point.”

When asked how she captures the cats' expressions so realistically, she answers, “Honestly I don't know.” Notice the cat at the top which seems to be staring longingly at you to take him home. Not only expressions are captured, but if you notice some of the other cats you'll see that body language is also expressed quite realistically! Perhaps work like this is divinely guided. It has often been theorized that artists enter a type of meditative state while working which gives them (us) an exceptional receptiveness on a metaphysical level. I know what she means when she says these animals “talk” to her. This is an experience of being that seems etched upon the “collective unconscious” for artists since the beginning of time, unique in the form in which it comes, yet Universal.

How did she learn to make these sculptures? By learning the basics, and then with lots of experimentation.

“No one taught me directly, “here, this is how you do it”. They are an accumulation of skills gathered over the years. Knowing how to sew and what a dart does as well as how to be forgiving to oneself during the process is important. Working with fabric and embellishment was not a far stretch from what I learned as a child from my mother. Many of the hand skills that I use today I learned from her. She was a lot more traditional in their usage than I am, but she gave me a firm foundation in "just do it". Mastery comes with doing. So I keep doing to get that mastery of my medium and techniques; always ongoing and never will stop.”

Little Bird Big Heart Decorative freestanding Fabric Sculpture EFA Charity - $14.00
Made out of a red, pink and green floral print cotton fabric with contrasting wings. Stands 4 inches tall. 10% from the sale of this item goes to the monthly EFA (Etsy for Animals) charity.

About a year ago after having worked in the Medicaid system for some time, she decided life was too short to wait any longer to start living her dream. The answer for her was not only to change what she was doing for a living, but to change her whole sense of priorities, and to re-evaluate what was really important in her life underneath all the window-dressing.

“I needed to use my creative energies or perish. I also had a dear friend get diagnosed with cancer and live six more months. He had always said "I will do it when I retire." That was a really big wake up call for me. So I quit (the) security and ran open-armed into the future. I needed to use those skills I had put myself through college 25 years ago to get. I had gotten a degree in painting from Maine College of Art after deciding RISD was too expensive. I had been denying my creative needs for years and it was time to STOP!

When I was working a “socially acceptable” job and was making decent money with benefits and all the trappings that went along with it I was miserable for the most part and didn't really grok to (realize/acknowledge) that fact. When I made the decision to quit that, a sense of peace came over me. I knew I was making the right decision. I figured I would try it until my bank account got to a certain figure. That was over a year ago and the figure hasn't been hit. Part of the reason for that is my life has become much, much simpler in needs and desires. I don't have to buy things to work (clothes, shoes, lunches), nor am I on the road commuting two hours a day. The less "things" I have or buy the happier I am, and the more I am able to stop and appreciate what I do have and the natural beauty in the environment around me. When I worked (in a traditional job), buying things is what I did to make me happy. Now I don't do that because I am happy with how I am living and what I am doing.”

Benny Feral Feline Folkart Fabric Sculpture Batik Striping - $33.00
Benny measures roughly 9" tall by 9 inches long. He is made in a smoke free environment out of 100% cotton fabric stuffed with polyester fiberfill and padded wire.

MaryAnn currently sells her work at Spiralworks Artisans Gallery (soon to be known as River Roads Artisans Gallery) in Skowhegan Maine. She also does custom work through her own website and her Etsy store. The artist is working on getting together her portfolio to go show her work to other brick and mortar stores. “It is hard to sell oneself I think. But if I want to stay doing this I have to invest that time in myself.”She has had the most success locally through word-of-mouth.

“I have learned tons on Etsy from people on the forums, usually people much younger then myself” says MaryAnn. “I have picked up tips on how to use the internet to help get exposure for my work. I knew I wanted to be successful but there is also a realistic side to me so I am just finishing up a class on writing a business plan. That has been very helpful in looking at short and long-term goals, pricing, recordkeeping etc. It was free and reinforced some of the things I already knew and is also giving me an opportunity to network with other creative women in central Maine as well as learning good business practices. Even mistakes are valuable tools. I can kick myself for making bad choices but in the end they work to my advantage because I learn from them. Plus I have found some helpful blogs such as Luann Udell’s blog http://luannudell.wordpress.com/ . She has great business tips for many things.”

The artist reflects on what her most important take-home message might be. “My best lesson, I don't know who taught me; maybe it was learned over time, is that I can't and won't be everything to everybody. Some people absolutely do not like my work. I on the other hand don't like everybody’s either. But I have to have respect for it, their process and their voice. Hopefully they will have the same for mine.”

Who could possibly not like this regal kitty?!

Chloe Feral Feline Folk Art Fabric Cat Sculpture - $28.00
A midsized cat standing at approximately 8 inches tall and 12 inches long. 100% cotton fabric stuffed with polyester fiberfill and a polyester covered armature wire

Books that have been particularly helpful to MaryAnn that she can recommend are The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and she is currently reading Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

“I have just started that but it looks like it will help with distancing myself from my inner and outer critics. There is also a book similar to the Artist's Way which looks like it might be good to work through and that is Fearless Creating by Eric Maisel. I have a list! and not enough hours in the days.”

As far as new techniques she would like to tackle, MaryAnn is interested in learning Lampwork someday.

Her plans for selling to holiday shoppers are to continue to keep a wide range of price points, package nicely, and ship promptly. “I also stick in a thank you card to everyone who buys” says MaryAnn, “and for those people who are frequent buyers I slip in a little extra perk here and there.

Future work, like the birds, will be more embellished, I think. These ones currently are about shape and line. Now I need to “ice the cake” so to speak.”

When asked what her long-term goals are for her business, MaryAnn had this to say. “To make my living from my work and have it speak to those around me, well also those in the rest of the world too.”

I can hardly wait to see what she does with dogs!

For more of these lovely creations or to place a custom order, go to:
http://backwoodscreations.etsy.com
and
www.backwoodscreations.net

To learn more about the artist and activities she’s involved in, read her blog: http://backwoodscreations.blogspot.com

Peace, Love, and Recycling

Patchwork Purse - $15.00
Made from leftover fabric from a throw-pillow. The front is a patchwork of a fancy swan, a flower, and some solids, plus the border around the top (which is also the same as the strap on the bag). The backside is a large image of the swans around an ornate flower. The inside liner is white.

Katie of Knuckletoes from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada makes mod and funky clothing and accessories items from recycled materials, both for the style, and also as a way to help the environment. A lot of the items in this shop remind me of things that were popular during the ‘60s. Those were the good old days.

Her other shop Revynalized specializes in items made from old recycled record albums.

Plaid Floral Tote Bag - $10.00
This tote bag is made of a heavy black fabric with a pink and orange plaid floral pattern on a black background. It falls about at hip length.

Purple Skirt - $25.00
Made of a lightweight silky fabric, this skirt has an elastic waistband, and fit's approximately a 34" waist.

Stone Hemp Necklace - $15.00
Hand braided with white and brown quill beads, amber beads and this great handmade centerpiece of stone wrapped in wire. One end has a loop and the other has loose strings for tying.

To find more cool handmade vintage items go to:
http://knuckletoes.etsy.com
http://revinylized.etsy.com

To learn more about the artist, take a look at her blog:
http://knuckletoes.blogspot.com

Natures Mimicry

Autumn Earth Mandala Art Quilt - $80.00
Hand-dyed fabrics by the artist; measures 13 inches across

Indigoluna based in Silverton, Oregon has been a fiber artist for 15 years, having done one kind of art or another all her life, her work has appeared on the cover of the 2005 Quilting Arts Calender, in Artella Magazine, Art/Quilt Magazine, Fiberarts Design Book 6, as well as many juried shows.

You can tell by her style that she has grown up with a love of nature. As a child she walked in the woods, picked wild mushrooms, and played in the blackberry bushes, captivated with the tree-covered landscape and taking in all the beauty that was around her. She mentions in her Etsy profile studying moss. Take a look at this art quilt devoted to exactly that.

The Secret Life of Moss - Art Quilt Collage - $95.00
Photographic printed transfer on cotton fabric; 8 X 10 art quilt embellished with yarn

Many of her pieces are inspired by natural forms and even the textures look almost like they came from the bark of certain types of trees or based on the fur of animals.

Her colors incorporate a lot of greens, reds, yellow, orange, and blue used together to give a rich depth to her pieces, and they are almost all punctuated by beautiful textures, with lots of frayed natural torn-looking edges and layering of one type or another. These business card carrying cases are really clever and quite beautiful! She has several currently available, but I really love this one.

Magic Pop-Up Business Card Carrying Case - $16.00
Cards fit snugly down inside and when you pull the beaded ribbon, they pop up like magic!

She is energized by trying things that are uncharted to see if they will work. This one below is fantastic and I’m sure she had to think outside the box to complete it!

Fiber Art/Mixed-Media Vessel - $85.00
Triangular vessel was created from the artist’s hand-dyed/rusted fabrics fused to Timtex and embellished with funky fibers, copper mesh and carnelian beads. It stands 10 inches high.

For those of you with a miniscule amount of money to spend, you can still have a tiny piece of art from Indigoluna for a very reasonable price; in fact she is nearly giving away these inchie lapel pins. They are so well-made and are created from beautiful and unusual fabrics you can’t find just anywhere. Yes, they are small, but fine! At this price you can afford to get a nice gift for your boss and all the office staff.

Beach Trip Quilted Inchie Lapel Pin - $10.00
1.5 inch square quilted mixed-media pin embellished with beaded wire dangles

See her Etsy store here:
http://Indigoluna.etsy.com

and to learn more about the artist, read her blog:
http://indigoluna.typepad.com/indigo_luna/

Creating from the Ground Up

Phunky Purple Capris - $40.00
Triple-stitched 100% cotton new fabric; waist: 37" completely out (can be "cinched" to as small as needed), length: 33" and inseam 18".

KreativeMindz located in Wordsville, Ohio is the brainchild of Aly and Beau Stacy. It includes a variety of sewn items and woodwork.

Interestingly the couple has both been in lines of work that involved making things with their hands. Aly used to work in the in set building and design for commercials (and sometimes still does), but mostly stays home now with her children. Beau is a carpenter who builds Timber Frame homes.

Aly’s style was first influenced at age 15 when she was planning to go see the Grateful Dead. She admired the gypsy style shirts and skirts she saw on other concert-goers, so she decided to sew a patchwork skirt so she’d have something “cool” to wear. At the time not many of these types of clothes were available commercially or at least they weren’t readily available, so this got her thinking about beautiful fabrics and what she could do with them. Her husband grew up learning woodworking from his father, so the handmade wooden boxes were natural for him to make.

The skills both brought with them complemented each other and were probably what brought them together and what makes them a good fit to this day.

The work of the two has a decidedly spiritual feel to it drawing from African symbolism and a natural, earthy quality, almost pioneer-like.

This husband and wife team belongs to Etsy EarthPath Artisans Street Team.

When asked how her spirituality impacts on her art, Aly responded, “I do not practice any set "religion", but I am a VERY spiritual person and feel very connected to the earth and the universe. When I am creating a piece, I will only do it if I'm in the right "space". NEVER do I sew if I am unhappy or angry, or any "negative" emotion. When I sew I am thinking good things and putting good intentions into what I am making. If it is a custom piece I think of that person and what the item will be for them. I believe that my intentions go into the piece. May sound fruity, but this is what I believe and have even been told that others could "feel" these intentions.”

Having her son at the tender age of 20 all naturally was a life-changing experience for her and an opportunity for personal growth. It was empowering and enlightening and quite a learning experience.

They are not currently selling their work in any stores but plan to start doing so in the New Year.

Aly used to sell her clothing at shows and festivals many years ago and she has found that her handmade pants seem to sell the best; lined patchwork pants back then, and her Capri pants with appliqué on Etsy.

Aly would like to expand her skills to include felting and batik, and Beau would like to start making bowls and cooking utensils.

Mineral Elemental Cloth - $45.00
Derived from African culture, the mandala in the center is original artwork by the artist’s mother, Judith Bajus Davis (you can check out some of her work at http://www.egads-it.com/). printed on fabric and then appliqued on by the artist with different colored threads to represent all five elements. cloth is 31" long and 21 3/4" wide. It includes handmade bamboo hanging rod (pictured) made by Beau.

The Tribal Tree Sunburst Handcrafted Box - $22.00
OOAK, Douglas Fir Box with narrow brass hinges.12" long, 6" wide and 4 3/8" tall, Inside: 10 5/8" long, 4 1/2" wide and 3" tall.


Healing Herbal Hot Pack with Removable Cover - $20.00
Filled with herbs; Eucalyptus Leaf and Calendula. The essential oils used are Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Lime, Bergamont, Rosemary, Tangerine, White Camphor, Chamomile, Cedarwood, and Sweet Orange. Heat in microwave for 1-2 minutes.

When asked about their goals for their business Aly says “Honestly, I would like our business to be our main source of income. It is our dream and our goal...to be able to work at home and raise our children...all at the same time. The kids really get in to our projects now.”

Be on the lookout for more hotpacks, keepsake boxes, and some stockings for the holidays. Buy a special gift for a loved one.

Go to their online store for more great gifts:
http://KreativeMindz.etsy.com

and to their blog to keep up with what’s going on with the artists: http://kreativemindzthreadz.blogspot.com/

It's Your Bag! Can You Dig It?

Messenger Bag in Pink and Gray - $40.00
Amy Butler fabric with cotton lining
12.5 inches wide (this measurement is taken from side seam to side seam)10.5 inches tall3.75 inches deepStrap is 50 inches long and just slightly over 1 inch wide.

Kelly VanVoltenburg, proprietor of Banana Showcase located in Duncanville, Texas offers lively floral prints and repeating patters in her cloth items. Handbags, Kleenex holders, and Keychains are her specialty. Some of the fabrics she uses are vintage and others current. All items are made in a pet-free and smoke-free environment.

You can tell by her descriptions that the bags she makes are built to last. Many have multiple layers and are triple-stitched. And if that's not enoough to convince you to snap one up, her prices are fabulous!

This one below is a steal (marked down from $22.00)!

Smaller Basic Bag in Pink and Green - $13.25
100% cotton; discontinued Amy Butler print


Messenger Bag in Camo Hearts - $40.00
black baby wale corduroy, and Khaki cotton

This Tissue Holder is really pretty. I just love the intensity of the yellow and red design! She manages to make something utilitarian exciting and that is quite an accomplishment!

Tissue Holder in Yellow Flowers - $4.00
Cotton, measures approx. 5.75 inches long X 3.25 inches wide

Kelly’s customers are raving about her work.

Below are just a few of the many glowing endorsements from those who have received her creations;

“So wonderful! This was exactly what I was looking for; thank you so much for making it.”

“A wonderful seller - extremely responsive to personal requests.”

“GORGEOUS purse! Kelly went waaaay above and beyond to make sure the purse would be exactly what I was looking for. Definitely a favorite seller!”

"Super awesome craftsmanship! I am so happy with these purses, that I have bought several and have been telling everyone who will listen to buy one - they are that well made!"

Go to her Etsy store to get one of these for yourself or to give as a gift:
http://BananaShowcase.etsy.com

and to learn more about the artist, see her blog: http://kellyvanvoltenburg.typepad.com/bananashowcase/

It’s Beginning to Smell A lot Like Christmas!

Zoe Stewart of Zoestewartuk lives in Edinburgh, Scotland and sews a variety of things including aprons, stuffed creatures made from Scottish Tartan with hypoallergenic stuffing, T-shirts, and occasionally vintage items.

Her specialty is these really unusual elongated hanging hearts that go on a hook for decoration and to make the room smell good. Stuffed with either Lavender or Heather, these create a nice ambiance throughout your home. It has been known for a long time that scent evokes emotion, and Lavender in particular tends to make people feel comforted.

Pink and Green Polkadotted Heart- $24.00
Measures approx 42cm in length and approx 15cm across

Pretty in Polkas- $30.00
Made of 100% cotton, for ages 4-7

This huggable creature just might make little ones no longer afraid of “monsters under the bed”. He’s friendly and doesn’t bite, and he can even be used as a pillow.

Henry- $24.00
Made from Scottish Tartan, and measures 25cm tall by 25cm wide
These will make great feel-good gifts around the holidays.

Check out what else she’s got at:
http://zoestewartuk.etsy.com

and to learn more about the artist see her blog:
http://zoestewart.blogspot.com

Cuddle Your Baby with Fleece from The Great White North

Diaper Cake

Toni Anderson came to live in Alaska 13 years ago, and she and her boyfriend, a firefighter, moved from Kodiak to the North Pole 3 years ago. The area is not all that remote as one might imagine with the typical images conjured up most associated with the Alaskan wilderness of dog-powered mushing sleds and unpaved and rugged terrain, primitive housing, and trading posts cut off from the rest of the world, but nevertheless, shopping is very difficult, the town having only a few stores and no mall. For this reason many local people buy online. There are only 2 stores that carry baby/maternity items in the Fairbanks area, the biggest neighboring town about 10 miles away with a population of about 30,000 people.

The inspiration for her business KuddleBugs Threads came from the seamstress’s two 15 month old twin daughters, Tori and Trista, and a need among the local mothers for quality and selection in warm clothes for their children. At sub-zero temperatures the winters can get pretty brutal in the North Pole, and making her fleece baby accessories gets her through the long, dark days (maybe nights would be a better description).

“Where I live the temperatures are very crazy” she exclaims. “The summers can get up to 80 or 90 degrees F and the winters plunge to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. We already have 5 inches of snow on the ground and the temperatures have been in the single digits! One of the things that are so interesting to me is the change in daylight hours. The summers get up to 21 hours of daylight on the longest day, where in the winter, the shortest day of the year has 2 hours 40 minutes of daylight!”

She buys most of her supplies nearby because she wants to support the local economy, and because the cost of shipping these materials to Alaska is too expensive.

Among the unique items she offers are infant car seat covers (a must-have in that bitter cold weather), booties, hats, and mittens made for Toddlers. These ice blue and white mittens will keep even the worst chill out of tiny hands.

Toni recently just finished a local show at the Ft. Wainwright Army Base, her first one, and it was a lot of fun and a great success! Her boyfriend had to work that day so she just packed her two girls into the car and set out on the new adventure on her own. The experience went smoothly and she says the twins were a big help.

She has only been in business 1 month, so she is not sure whether or not there is a big tourist market for her items, but so far she has sold mostly to the locals out of her home.

The Diaper Cake (shown at top) is really creative, and it looks like it provides enough to last a new mother a very long time. It would make a clever gift for a baby shower.

These Disco Party Booties are one of the few items Toni carries made of lighter weight cotton. They sure aren’t that typical muted pastel you see in all the commercial stores.

One thing you'll really notice is all the unique and different fabric prints. The maker has chosen quite a selection of cloth that is anything but run-of-the-mill; some of it even comical. Check out this Monkeying Around car seat cover.

All items available through her Etsy online store are shipped Priority Mail and can take approximately 3-5 days for delivery. She ships on Thursdays, but if you need your piece sooner that may be prearranged. Toni ships her work worldwide by First Class mail.

If you’re looking for something specific she will accept custom orders. Please contact her through Etsy to let her know what colors and specifics you are looking for.

In addition to her finished babywear Toni also offers Gift Certificates!

Keep on the lookout for more of these creative items coming soon!

See her Etsy shop at:
http://KuddleBugzThreadz.etsy.com

And to stay updated on the artist check out her blog at:
http://kuddlebugzthreadz.blogspot.com

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