Vintage

I was with some good friends last night who didn't know that Etsy is a great place to buy and sell vintage. This post is for you. Maybe it will get you started. Several of these sellers are here in Spokane. Ragnazidnar uses vintage books to create hard back journals like the one I use. FortheLoveofPete uses vintage barkcloth in some of her bags. The rest of these are straight vintage finds. I think denisebrain, jessjamesjake, and bythewayside are among the best on Etsy at photographing their goods. You can click on any of these items to be taken to the item and the shop. I am sure you will find your own favorites as you browse Etsy's vintage category. I recently found some gorgeous vintage luggage that I will be featuring in my shop soon.

Video Tutorial

My first how to video. Making your own reusable vinyl packaging for a set of A2 size greeting cards. This is a really simple project, and I hope that comes through in the video. I guess I am not a natural because it took 4 takes to get this. I would love to read your comments. I do plan on doing more of these, and I promise they will get better. I have 2 words for myself next time: tripod and hair stylist.

Customers Have Great Ideas

travel change pad bag now with long strap
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

The long adjustable strap was a recent customer request on one of my compact travel change pad bags. I love it. Smart customers who know what they want are one of the reasons I am head over heels about Etsy.

12 seconds...

in a photobooth with Rory. What a great idea these guys had for a party rental business. Rory was eating Ben and Jerry's ice cream. When I showed the kids, they saw that the hats we picked match their favorite LEGOs. Rory is Johnny Thunder and I am an army guy.

Vanessa's Wedding

Etsy's blog, the Storque, has featured some great wedding articles. This one takes the cake. Vanessa, the editor of the Storque, has published an article about her own wedding that includes great pointers for those of us looking to serve brides with what we make. Much to my delight, and this will not surprise you, it also includes a link to a contest that Martha Stewart is running now! Can some of you help me out with this by commenting here about which item I should enter in the contest? I am wondering if I should enter my set of bridesmaids clutches or the yellow one with the vintage pin. Martha is looking for a craft to feature on her show, and since I sell the pattern to make these clutches, I think it's a great entry. My quandary is that in the last 6 weeks, I have sold three sets of clutches that look just like the set in the photo, plus another set in a different fabric that I have yet to make and photograph, so I know it is popular with modern brides. I think the yellow one might appeal to Martha's own style though, even though it has not been as popular on Etsy. Let me complicate it for you now. The set I will be completing this week is in a gorgeous new fabric that has peacocks and lacy designs in teal and bronze and green. maybe I should wait and enter that set? I will post a photo when I get them done. Now I have got to go sew. Please let me know what you think and if you are going to enter anything in the contest.

WhimSylove - I love

Even more than her shop which I really do love, I love the blog. Beware! It is chock full of fun tutorials for great projects to do with your kids. Her latest entry shows how she did a themed birthday party to the max. I find it inspirational and humbling. (Nikki makes me look like a lazy blogger.) Here is the team blog post I did on her this morning, in which Nikki also gives some great advice and is so sweetly relate-able. I would love it if you let me know if you discovered WhimSYlove here, and how you feel about Nikki's blog.