Crazy Etsyversary sale!

My second anniversary on Etsy, or Etsyversary as the cool Etsy kids call it, is Tuesday, June 7th. I've had a great time selling on Etsy, met a whole bunch of wonderful customers and sellers, and am gleefully happy about the entire experience. In short, I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

So, I thought we should celebrate with a big old sale! June 5th through the 12th, everything in my shop will be marked down 30%, including sale items. Stop in and get yourself some summertime bling! Here's the linkie just for you: MABjewelry on Etsy.

And thanks to everyone for all of your support and love and fun over the past couple of years. I wonder how many miles of Beadalon beading wire I've used during that time?

Now, we need some cake and a walk off!

Get your domestic on with MeAndMySewingMachine

My friend Gini has opened a fresh new Etsy shop, MeAndMySewingMachine, full of domestic goddess wear--the most fabulous aprons on earth. Here's her sexy little "Hotter than a pepper sprout" reversible cocktail apron.
And the retro pup cool of her "pampered pooches" half apron.

Dig this "rock tattoo" half apron! For the badass in you.

This coy little "corny picnic" apron is retro fab, with its ruffles and rickrack.

And this full "cherries jubilee" apron is classically ladylike.

Gini has a great eye for fabric, and everything she designs is perfectly made. It's time to fancy up your next dinner party or picnic, or pretty up your daily house happiness. The pocketed aprons would also be fantastic for craft shows, when you always need another pocket for money, pens, and other stuff.

Stop by Gini's bright and joyful shop. She's the hostess with the mostest.

MeAndMySewingMachine on Etsy.

What's MAB making?

Flaming heart necklace, turquoise and copper make me happy.

Skeleton key earrings, in gunmetal. I love gunmetal.

Geisha asymmetric bracelet, with fun sparkly dangles.

Bold art glass necklace, this focal bead is full of wow.

Vintage cage pendant with dice, can't you feel how lucky this little guy from the Forties is?

Asymmetric flower bracelet, so bright and springy.

Heart and keyhole earrings, and I used delicious vintage crystals.

Vintage skeleton key necklace, this is a Victorian door key, and it's huge!

What's new? Youfamizm!

I started a new Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago. Because I don't have enough going on. This little venture is called Youfamizm, and I'm selling happy hand embroidered stuff in hoops. So, I can express my love of Facebook.
My love of British and/or drag queen descriptive words.

My love of Seventies glam rock songs.

My love of Stephen King books.

My love of pithy come-backs.

My love of sunshine.

And my love of Eighties pop songs that are remakes of reggae songs about drugs!

I forgot how calming embroidery could be. And fun, too. Stop in and visit Youfamizm! And what little words or phrases would you like to see in a hoop? I'm making a list. It's a really long list. . .

Happy April Fool's Day Sale!

In honor of April Fool's Day and the glory of Mr. T, I have a coupon code up in my shop through this Sunday, April 3rd. Use the coupon code APRIL25 at checkout, before paying, in my MABjewelry shop for 25% off your purchase. And today, please pity fools.

Spotlight on metroretrovintage

Vintage 1950's Reddy Kilowatt Electric Company mascot earrings

So, dear readers, I've been unrelentingly busy over the past couple of weeks, and my blog has been badly neglected. I've listed a ton of vintage jewelry in my GUSsupply shop on Etsy, and I've had a fantastic mentor in metroretrovintage, my kitten cousin. She knows everything about vintage treasures, and has come to my aid a hundred thousand times. That may be an overstatement, but it surely seems like a hundred thousand times.

Her Etsy shop is full of fantastic finds, and I thought it might be nice to make a killer stunning outfit from her listings!

Yes, I'm staring with Reddy Kilowatt earrings. Why? Because they are ultimately groovy.

Vintage 1930's-40's black bakelite bangle bracelets

Then, let's stack up these yummy bakelite bangles. Bakelite is delicious.

Vintage 1940's black felt sequin sculptural doll hat
We're going to need an appropriate hat.

Vintage 1940's black velvet swing opera wrap coat

And I have a weakness for opulet outerwear. Seriously, does it get any better than this velvet coat? I say, NO!

Vintage 1940's black crepe beaded cocktail dress and jacket

This frock should do the trick.

Victorian red bohemian garnet rose cut brooch
And the finishing touch, a sparkling pin. Our ability to accessorize is what differentiates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, you know.
Now, we are dressed to go to the grocery store. Huzzah!
Stop in and say hi to metroretrovintage on Etsy. She has great stuff, is full of fun, and knows the difference between bakelite and lucite. Plus, she's one of the sweetest kittens around.

Spotlight on poppyseedcats

Poppyseedcats is an amazing, cat-centric artist on Etsy. She creates gorgeous aluminum wire cat sculptures in all sizes and personalities. I have honestly never seen anything quite like them. Aren't they unique and magical!

And the great news is that she just found out that three of her lifesized wire cat sculptures were accepted by judges for an exhibition at Hull's main art gallery in the United Kingdom. Those sculptures are pictured here, and I love them. An honor well-deserved, right?

Also, poppy just found out she's going to be an auntie, so it has been a great week for her.

Stop in for all of her fantastic feline creations (as well as other charming critters) at poppyseedcats on Etsy. But don't buy the one I want before I get to it, all right?

Etsian experiences terrible loss

designedbylucinda, who has helped many Etsians through difficult times and laughed with us through the good times, had a house fire several days ago, and her son was killed. I can't think of more tragic news.

Please, read this thread over at the UEF boards for information on donations. Let's all pitch in however we can.

Peace.

What's MAB making?

Dichroic glass heart necklace

So shiny and pretty for Valentine's Day

Tudor style chandelier earrings

The vintage disk crystals are unbelievable.

Gustav Klimt two-sided portrait pendant

One of my favorite artists of all time

Red lampwork leafy bead necklace

These beads are gorgeous, with gold flecks.

Copper fleur de lys bracelet

The mossy beads make me happy.

Copper filigree earrings

So lacy and light

Steampunk pendant with vintage ladies watch

I couldn't bring myself to take this watch apart. It was just too pretty like it is.

Etsy News Break: Death of the forums

Etsy is closing the doors on most of its public forums. In an action they have coyly named "Forum Migration," all public forums, except for possibly Announcements, Site Help and Bugs, will be fractured into various teams, many without open memberships, all with Team Captains and Team Leaders. At present, these team forum boards are not searchable. What this means is this:

If you are a new Etsy member, either buyer or seller, and you have a question or run into a situation that you need help with, more than likely you are not going to be able to find an answer with a simple search or by opening a new thread.

If you are a longtime Etsy member who has developed friendships, mentorships and bonds with other Etsians, it will be much more difficult to maintain that community in such a fractured structure. True, at this point, we may just be going through a messy transition period. But I sincerely believe (along with at least 95% of the Etsians who have responded to this announcement) that this will kill the community that Etsy claims to love. I have seen people help each other, professionally and personally, in the forums every single day. Sometimes, the emotional connections have brought tears to my eyes. Yes, there's a lot of crap, bickering and uselessness, but I would say that the positives far, far outweigh the negatives.

If the collective community has a problem with an Etsy action, as they legitimately have in the past, the dissent will be compartmentalized into team forum boards that may not be visible in Google searches. And if Etsy is either preparing to go public or sell outright, it's in their best interests to clean up the joint. This is one way of cleaning up.

If you are on a team, you can be removed from the team and have your posts deleted and your threads closed by a Team Captain or Leader. Also, you can be denied membership to many teams. Not to mention that it's going to be difficult to find the teams that might best address your concerns, and to keep track of all of those teams. So much easier to just scan the forum page and see the news and group concerns of the day, right?

Etsians are acting--either by forming teams or setting up alternative meeting places, like the Unofficial Etsy Forums over on proboards. I'm still investigating these different options. Right now, it seems like a terrible mess to me. Today, for the first time in a year and a half, I had time to sit down and work on my shop for a few hours, and I didn't want to. That is just sad.

Those of you who use and love Etsy, how do you feel about these changes?

Signed--

Bereft and frozen in Ohio

Spotlight on zippityduda

See the gorgeous banner up there with my shop name on it? Zippityduda made that especially for me, to use on my tables or tent at shows. It is one of the most beautifully crafted, professionally designed items I have bought off of Etsy, and I kinda want to hang it up in my living room year round.

Zippity is the Young Quiliting Phenom from Minneapolis. She can sew anything for you. Anything you want! She has a vast collection of fabrics, and a head full of fantastic ideas. If you can dream it, she can sew it up for you.

Coffee cozy sleeve - choose your fabrics

Q: What is your idea of earthly happiness?

A: Well-rested, well-fed, not too warm, not too cool, projects to complete but no panicky deadlines, and the company of good friends.

Q: The quality you most admire in a man?

A: Tenderness.

Q: The quality you most admire in a woman?

A: Certainty.

Be Mine bunting banner garland

Q: Your favorite virtue?

A: A sense of humor - If you can't laugh about what happens in life, it's a pretty long, sad trip.

Q: Your favorite occupation?

A: Anything that involves helping other people's lives run more smoothly.

Q: Your most marked characteristic?

A: Openness.

Groovy quilted wall hanging

Q: What are your favorite names?

A: Well, I'm partial to the two I gave my children: Harrison and Glory.

Q: Your favorite words:

A: I like words that sound like what they are. For example, "tintinabulation" is that delicious sound ice cubes make when bouncing off the side of a cocktail glass.

Q: Your favorite sound?

A: Laughter. Gut-busting, tears rolling, can't-catch-your-breath laughter.

Fresh fun Frankentote fabric shopping bag

Q: What natural gift would you most like to possess?

A: Musical ability.

Q: What is your motto?

A: The whole poem "Desiderata" sums up my outlook on life, but my favorite passage is this one:

"Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

no less than the trees and stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."

Sweet Cherry Pie fabric jewelry roll

Q: Tell us about your Etsy shop and what you do there!

A: My Etsy shop, Zippityduda, is a place for me to hawk my wares which I obsessively create during my every spare moment. Even without the shop, I'd still spend an indordinate amount of time quilting and sewing, but we would have needed a bigger house by now to store it all. I am in love with fabric, and hoard it obsessively, which I maintain is still cheaper than drugs or therapy - it just requires more space in my home. I love a good challenge and find the most joy when creating a custom, one-of-a-kind piece for someone who thought they'd never be able to get exactly what they needed.

And that, dear readers, is exactly what Zip did for me. Stop by her Etsy shop and say howdy!

Spotlight on SquidBullySquid

SquidBullySquid is a plush cephalopod designer with a happening and happy shop on Etsy. She's from Seattle. She rides her bike through all kinds of weather. She lived on a sailboat for three years and has a ball pit in her apartment. Oh, and she makes the coolest squids ever. I love me some Squiddy. Here's a list of random philosophical questions with her wonderful replies.

Q: What is your idea of earthly happiness?

A: Freedom, comfort, and a good smooth Scotch.

Q: The quality you most admire in a man?

A: I like it when men listen. Although, when I'm admiring them, I'm usually admiring their eyes, tattoos and ability to hold liquor.

Q: The quality you most admire in a woman?

A: Confidence, motivation, kindness and a healthy dose of adventure. A good figure never hurt either.

Squid in rust red and dark blue

Q: What is your favorite virtue?

A: Lust! No, patience? Crap, I misunderstood the question.

Q: Your favorite occupation?

A: I miss fixing boats. Classic wood boats have so much personality.

Q: Your most marked characteristic?

A: My skin! Ha! I have a bunch of tattoos!

Giant Super Squid

Q: What are your favorite names?

A: October, Lunchbox, Tiberius

Q: Your favorite words?

A: I love you.

Q: Your favorite sounds?

A: The wind in the rigging and the gentle waves lapping against the hull of a boat.

Q: What is your motto?

A: Be awesome, have fun, smile lots, be nice to people. Always ALWAYS tip the bartender.

Q: What natural gift would you most like to possess?

A: I wish I could sing! I even took vocal lessons for nearly a year. The vocal coach said, "I can't make you good. But I can make you better."

Baby Giant Squid in teal and pink

Tell us about your Etsy shop and what you do there!

SquidBullySquid is pretty self-explanatory, I'd think. I crochet cute, yet anatomically approximate squids, festoon them with buttons, and hope the public loves them as much as I do. I've been working on branching out to other cephalopods. I hope to introduce octopuses and cuttlefish into the shop this year. The whole endeavor started as a way to get rid of my acrylic yarn, so I had room for fancy wool and other fibers for knitting. I taught myself the amigurumi style crochet from the internet and made some blobby looking sea creatures. Now I have more acrylic yarn than I know what to do with. Boxes and boxes of it! After a full year, I finally settled on a design I like. I don't have any written pattern, so I freehand every squid with a loose idea of formula. My favorite part is choosing colors and putting all the little button suckers at the end.

My goal is to sell another thirty squids on Etsy this year. Really though? I'm here for the community. Team Bacon! is the sweetest group of crafty people I've ever met. I adore all of my friends in the Etc. Forum, and I have so much fun being a part of this site.

Hearts and stars and love and sharks!

Yours truly from the dinohouse,

Cass

Etsy is like old time, small town America, featuring Team Bacon!

My mom always talks about small town America in the Fifties and Sixties, how everyone knew everyone, and Main Street was lined with charming individual shops for everything you needed. No Wal-Mart where you went and bought everything you needed from a huge, faceless corporation, but a bunch of individual shopkeepers who knew your name and cared about customers.

Etsy is a lot like that. A lovely batch of sellers where you can get great stuff you want and need from people who know you and want to make you happy.

Bacon from the butcher shop!

Bacon tags, from teambacon

Fresh veggies from the produce stand!

Garden peas pendant, from LonesomeRoadStudio2

Hot coffee from the corner cafe!

Coffee Fueled messenger bag, from gothicreations

Seafood from the fish monger!

Blue and pink squid, from SquidBullySquid

Sweet honey from the beekeeper!

Queen Bee milk and honey soap, from HelloCrafty

Brown eggs from the chicken keeper!

Fried Egg Smiling dish cloth, from kitchekitsch

An arranged marriage from the matchmaker!

Just Married bunting banner garland, from Zippityduda

A new sailboat from the boat maker!

Silver origami sailboat pendant, from AllegroArts

And of course gorgeous jewelry from the jeweler!

Let's Go Sterling Silver Necklace from ZestyB

Okay, maybe you couldn't get a sailboat and arranged marriage on Main Street in small town America, but you really can find anything you could possibly dream of on Etsy.
It's my happy small town.