Crickets Creations Handcrafted Scarves n Fringies Photo Props

Throw Blanket for Baby Nursery!

2012-01-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Melissa asked me to make her this rose colored throw blanket to decorate her nursing chair in the nursery she decorated for her new baby girl! Congratulations, Mel, and I'm so honored that you chose one of my Crickets Home afghans as a Push Prize for Mama Mel! :)

Here are the photos of the nursery that Mel sent me with the blanket (I made the fringe in ivory, rose, burgundy, maroon, plum purple, sage green and deep teal to coordinate with the rest of the fun decor she'd already picked out):

After Mel's new arrival is weaned, then the will find a new home hanging in the corner of a ceiling in the room as a stuffed toy and doll hammock!

Mission: Decorate Vacation Home with Throw Blanket!

2011-10-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

I had such a fun throw blanket home decor design mission this Columbus Day weekend, thanks to Val in Washington! She contacted me at my interior accents knits boutique, CricketsHome and asked if I could make an accent throw in custom colors to match her new vacation home. Helloooo, are ya kiddin' me?! Custom orders are my specialty because it's so fun and rewarding to make something brand new and tailored to my customer's living space. Besides, it gives me a chance to get to know people a bit better! So, of course, I said, "Yes!"

First, Val sent me some photos of the furnishings that she had so far (I fell in love instantly with those rich, warm browns!):

She asked especially that a little bit of the brights in this special collage with sentimental meaning and handmade by a friend be in the throw (yay, browns AND color, what could be better?!):

She also asked for shorter than usual fringe (9 inches instead of my standard 12 inches); no problem, Val (I offered to make the body of the blanket a bit longer to compensate)!

I sent a photo of another custom throw I'd made with shorter than usual fringe to give her an idea of proportions:

Short Fringe on Long Throw Blanket

And suggested that a blanket in a medium taupe brown like this one I had made for Beth in Germany might be a good base color and Val agreed:

Taupe Brown Rustic Home Decor Throw Blanket

Once Val had checked out at CricketsHome, I got right to work assembling the yarns for the fringe (*squeeeee* I love this part of the design process)! I picked out lots of texture, sparkles, ribbons and pom poms to make the fringe *POP*; I was careful to only make 10% of the yarns colorful like the collage and the remaining 90% in those lovely browns. This is what I came up with:

And here's the final result, Mission Accomplished (I consider it a success because Val wrote when she saw the photos, "I love, love, love it! It is perfect! I can't wait to see it at the vacation house! Yeah!
Thanks so much!")!

Thanks for stopping by and coming along with me on another fun adventure! :)
Celeste (Crickets)

Small Bubble Mailers, Eco-Friendly, Affordable and Biodegradable!

2011-10-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

From EcoEnclose: Biodegradable Bubble Mailers
Now available in a NEW smaller 6x9 size!

We have all come to love the world’s first fully biodegradable bubble mailer! Now EcoEnclose Bubble Mailers are available in a more petite size. Their latest bubble mailer measures 6 x 9 inches and is designed to perfectly accommodate packaging needs for your smaller delicates. I love this company for my online business and they're SO affordable!

EcoEnclose Bubble Mailers are lined with bubble cushioning and are ideal for shipping flat and sturdy objects like jewelry, books, magazines, DVDs, CDs or other things that can retain their shape but need water resistance and padded protection during transportation. Shipping green speaks volumes to your valued eco-conscious customers and they will appreciate both the biodegradability and the re-usability of EcoEnclose mailers.

Their 100% Biodegradable Bubble Mailers:

Will completely biodegrade within 5-60 months.
Returns to the earth as humus and biomass.
Will break down in composting or in LANDFILLS!
Features a handy tear strip for easy opening.
Double adhesive strip that allows reuse before disposal.
Lined with 3/16" biodegradable bubble cushioning.
Are guaranteed to maintain integrity in storage and in use.
Durable, moisture, tear and tamper resistant.
Made in the USA!

Now available for immediate shipping!

Dimensions:

Perfect size for:

Price each:
6 x 9 NEW! Jewelry $.25
7 x 11 DVD/CD $.27
8.5 x 14 Small Book/Magazine $.34
10.5 x 15 Large Book/Catalog $.44

Why is the Fringe Prop Expert Now Making Baby HATS?!

2011-06-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

For years, when asked about baby hats to match my PuffPelts™, Fringie™ blankets and Belly 2 Baby™ wraps in my photo prop boutique, I've referred photographers to order their beanies from fantastic designers such as KnitrGal, OopsIKnitItAgain, KnitWitWoolies, PDXBeanies and other favorites of mine.

I just hadn't caught the hat-making bug (and I'm a big believer in following our own, creative passion)! Besides, I felt like everything had already been done already and as you know, I will only launch a product if it's not available elsewhere.

Then....I had an urge. And I had an idea, too (this image from Lenka Green of Jammin' Swing Photography in Edgewater, Florida is of the finished hat)! :)

Top priority: I Googled to make sure my idea wasn't out there already, even though I had never seen it. Nope; I seem to have really hit on something brand new!

So, I got to knitting (I create without following patterns, so since this was my VERY FIRST hat, I was on my own to decide on the perfect yarn and the right size and number of stitches) .... initially the little beanie-to-be looked like this:

Then I stitched it together and it was really starting to look like a real hat:

But I was just getting started; I still needed to add the 'specialness' that would make it stand out from all other hats! At first it looked like a beanie with fake "hippie hair" attached, ha ha:

Then I bundled it all together to make an adorable stocking cap with a topknot tassel pom at the top (image by Tracy Joy Photography in the Chicagoland, Illinois area):

And here it is shown on a red cylinder with my matching 'Granola' cream fringe hammock /blanket )underneath:

I'll still continue to honor the hard work of fellow prop designers and credit them whenever I gratefully receive a photo of "the pics u take with the props I make," that includes someone else's hat; I love my hat-making peeps! :D And now I'll be adding my design voice to the choir if a photographer would like to order a matching hat along with their Crickets prop blankie.

As always, thank you for your support and interest; I hope you feel the love and appreciation coming from the Crickets Cribb every day!

Hugs,
Celeste (Crickets)
Get a matching hat and blanket set, too!

Nickets' FruitFetti Fusion Lunch!

2011-06-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

So, my husband Nicholas (I get to call him Nicky or Nickets) rocks. He's super 'mazing. And I love him and how he pampers me.

This morning he was watching cooking shows on cable and got all fired up with excitement and creativity (he's the food, beverage and Village Cafe manager at Best Friends Animal Society, which if I do say so myself is the perfect job to showcase his many talents)!

He made a whole new lunch for us, (very) loosely inspired by the exotic fruits and flavors the TV chefs were using. Well, to be exact, he made this for ME since he had his wisdom teeth out on Wednesday (those who follow me on my personal facebook page will see that I FAINTED instead of taking care of him, so pathetic, lol)!

I asked him to write down what it all was so I could share. Here's what it is:

Multi-Grain Medley Rice Garnished With Sliced Fresh Avocado

Steamed Minced Garlic Green And Yellow String Beans

Summer Fruit And Vegetable Salad On A Bed Of Organic Romaine Hearts; Made With Fresh Apricots, Diced Fuji Apples, Sliced Anaheim Green Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, Raw White Onion Rings, Cubed "Follow Your Heart" Vegan Mozzarella Cheese, Chopped Vegan "Gardein" Brand Chipotle Citrus Chicken, Melded With A Dash Of Lime Juice And Thick Mango Nectar Tossed With Fresh Mint And Cilantro. Garnished With Whole Bing Cherries

And here's what it looks like:

Plus ..... Ginger Lime Slush!!!

Is your jaw on the floor at all those yummy, fresh and flavorful ingredients?! I was in picnicking heaven!

But wait, there's more:

Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake for dessert!!!! Holy Goo, Batman (and that's a good thing)!

Nickets, I love you! Thank you!
Crickets

Giveaway: TWO WINNERS of MissRubySue Hair Accessory Photo Props!

2011-05-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

Photographers and Mom-togs, I adore you for letting me design, work and play with you at my Baby Birdz newborn and maternity prop shop! To thank you, I've ordered a couple of one of a kind hair bling accessory headband SURPRISES from MissRubySue to give away (Lori at MissRubySue and I went halfsies on these, that's why we are able to provide TWO PRIZES)!

Here are some examples of other designs from MissRubySue (then below I'll share how to win one of the two, multicolor, flower headbands, each valued at over $50 each!):

How to win???

1) "Like" and leave a comment at my Crickets Creations facebook page (if you're already a fan, THANK YOU! Still leave a comment, please, to verify your entry)

2) AND "Like" and leave a comment at MissRubySue's facebook page

(OPTIONAL: You can enter multiple times by 1) "Tweeting" or 2) "facebooking" this contest and linking back to this blog post. Want more? Add MissRubySue and BabyBirdz to your Circle and/or click to "Like" our etsy shops on facebook here and here)

3) REQUIRED to ENTER: Leave a comment here on this blog once you've "Liked" both of our pages on facebook AND ALSO for EACH "optional" action that you take. Yes, each one! You are gonna win one of these puppies! Woo hoo! Go, Photog Prize Power, GO! :D

Winners will be randomly chosen from the blog comments on Monday, May 16,2011 and after we verify your entry, your stunning MissRubySue design will be mailed to you free of charge!

If you have trouble leaving a comment, please reach me at cricketscreations@live.com

Hugs and luck,
Celeste (Crickets) & Lori

all for fun photography: East Texas Portraits with Josie Hamper!

2010-06-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to introduce you to a very special person and photographer: Josie Hamper of all for fun photography in Longview, East Texas. Josie specializes in on-location, natural light custom portraits of newborns, babies, children, teens and families and you'll love her personal touch and unique perspective!

These two outdoor photos with the 'Granola' cream hammock tied to a branch were captured by Josie (she says that because Baby Lareigh was so new at 15 days old, Josie secured her with a sash by feeding the sash through the open stitching of the hammock and tying her into the hammock):

She's also made good use of my Bohemian Fringie™ multicolor photo prop:

What makes Josie so special is her wonderful personality and fantastic listening and communication. She's such a joy! Thank you, Josie, for shining your light for all of us.

You can also get to know Josie on facebook!

The Efficient Artisan: Tips for Low Stress, High Production

2010-06-23T07:13:00.001-07:00

Time management is a weak point for many "artsy" types; yet the more quality work we can produce in a streamlined manner, the better chance we have of making a living doing what we love! Here are some tips that assist me in my daily creating (I handknit five scarves without cutting corners in a typical day).

Set up work stations: I maintain a designated area for packaging orders with all necessary supplies and information within reach and each work station has the tools necessary to complete task(s) from start to finish without leaving the area.

Here's my "packaging station" computer: it doesn't have to be fancy!

Multiple tool sets: For essential tools, I find it helpful to have one in each work station as well as back ups on hand to avoid, “Oh no, I can’t get anything done, I lost my whatzit!” For example, I have a pair of sharp scissors for the car as well as each work station.

Be flexible: Since my main craft is knitting with yarn, I have a few pairs of each size of needle. That way, if I’m working on a blanket and an order for a scarf comes in, I can set the blanket aside and start right away on the scarf with another needle set.

Organize supply and finished product inventory: If we have and properly use containers, shelving or another keep-it-neat system, we avoid hunting for “that one bead” or “that journal I know I made months ago…”

Prioritize: If a task can only be performed at a particular workstation or time window (for example, my friend Erin Krug only brings out her soap making supplies when her small children are sleeping), then we must focus and work at maximum efficiency during that production opportunity (that includes ignoring facebook!).

Here's Erin with some of her top notch handmade bath and body products!

Take good care: I work best after enough (and not too much) nutritious food and a good night’s rest. I drink water throughout the day because I find staying fully hydrated allows me to think clearly. It also seems to prevent stiff joints and aching muscles, which is important for those of us whose craft involves repetitive motion.

Take a break: I stretch, do a different task, move around (and walk down the hall to the bathroom after all that water!) for about 10 minutes of each production hour.

Find a balance: Studies have found that we are at our most productive when we work “assembly line” style and concentrate on a specific task or set of tasks for a few hours, and then switch roles to alleviate fatigue and maintain speed.

I hope these tips help all my fellow worker bees as they hum along in their hives!

Celeste (Crickets)

Shopping to Do in Kanab, Utah on way to Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zions National Park

2010-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

Looking to do some shopping while passing through Kanab, Utah on your way to Grand Canyon, Bryce or Zions National Parks on vacation (or while you're staying in Kanab to volunteer at Best Friends Animal Society)? Please contact me for an exclusive appointment to peruse my fashion scarves and home accessory throw blankets in person!

You'll be able to meet the designer artisan in person (that's me!) and see, feel and try on my designs in all their soft, colorful glory.

This is a great opportunity to stock up on a batch of scarves so you'll be ready ahead of time for holiday gift giving...or bring back one each for your friends and family as souvenirs from your vacation!

Or I can show you yarn samples so you can special order a fringed, home decor blanket on the spot (I'll complete and then send to your home address so it will be waiting for you upon your return)!

To schedule an appointment (and request that I have your favorite designs on hand), please email cricketscreations@live.com or call 435-689-0907 (9am-9pm Mountain Time).

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Celeste (Crickets)

Photos in this post provided by the following professional photographers:

Ashley Mae Photography in Logan, Utah
Sara Patton Photography in Columbus, Ohio
Lindsay Adams Photography in Houma, Louisiana (site pending)

2010-04-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

Blog Special: FREE Shipping on Belly 2 Baby™ Maternity, Newborn Wraps from Crickets Creations!

Exclusive Discount Special Offer for Blog Reader Moms, Crickets Creations is offering FREE SHIPPING for any of her signature designs, including her fashion scarves, her BRAND NEW large, home accessory fringed throw blankets and most exciting of all, her debut Belly 2 Baby™ wraps! Just write “Mom Blog” in message at checkout to be promptly reimbursed the shipping on an unlimited amount of items in your order!

Celeste (Crickets) shares about her new, unique Belly 2 Baby™ wraps:

I’m so excited about this totally new, Belly 2 Baby™ pregnancy maternity photography prop wrap and newborn infant baby swaddler scarf or cocoon! Expectant mothers can use it during their maternity and newborn portraits!

This lightweight, gauzy and dreamy soft, fringed photo prop line can be used in several different ways; it even works for a pashmina shawl or scarf during senior portrait sessions or looks lovely during a night out!

I can make it either Plum, Taupe, Sage, Pink, Black or Periwinkle Blue. The fringe will be the same color as the body of the wrap unless the customer chooses up to 4 colors to mix and match for the fringe.

And here is a mini photo gallery with some of Crickets' scarves and throw blankets (which make outstanding gifts for graduation, wedding, anniversary or other life events!)

The professional images shared here were captured by the following photographers:

Tracy Joy Photography in Lake Zurich, Illinois
Sara Patton Photography in Columbus, Ohio
Lindsay Adams Photography in Houma, Louisiana (site pending)
Danielle McCann Photography in Florence, Alabama
Amber McDowell Photography in Upstate, South Carolina
Jamie Kristine Photography in Lake Zurich, Illinois
Ashley Mae Photography in Logan, Utah

NEW Belly 2 Baby Maternity, Newborn Senior Scarf Wraps!

2010-04-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

I’m so excited about this totally new, Belly 2 Baby™ pregnancy maternity photography prop wrap and newborn infant baby swaddler scarf, cocoon and even hanging stork pouch sling!

This lightweight, gauzy and dreamy soft, fringed photo prop line because it can be used in several different ways; it even works for a pashmina shawl or scarf during senior portrait sessions or looks lovely during a night out!

I can make it either Plum, Taupe, Sage, Pink, Black or Periwinkle Blue. The fringe will be the same color as the body of the wrap unless the customer chooses up to 4 colors to mix and match for the fringe.

The professional images shared here were captured by the following photographers:

Tracy Joy Photography in Lake Zurich, Illinois
Sara Patton Photography in Columbus, Ohio
Aimee Dugas Photography in Houma, Louisiana
Jamie Kristine Photography, also in Lake Zurich, Illinois
Danielle McCann Photography in Florence, Alabama
Amber McDowell Photography in Boiling Springs, Upstate South Carolina

Also available in EXTRA WIDE for full coverage and ease in hanging shots:

TWINS Hammock Photography Photo Prop Baby Blanket, Brown and Green

2010-04-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

This hand knit, fringed, rectangular, newborn baby blanket afghan throw photo prop with a dark chocolate brown base and fringe on two sides in greens and browns is big enough for twins and can also be used as a hammock sling!

My highly textured, handmade designs are best sellers; I truly enjoy supplying photographers with unique, versatile, top quality newborn infant, baby and child portrait photography props. I appreciate the support of my customers and look forward to working with you!

This dear images with twin boys (their grandma made their diaper covers) were captured and prepared by the absolutely wonderful, professional photographer Cheryl Woody of Frozen Moments Photography in Columbiaville, Michigan

Cheryl writes about the session: "I have a large beanbag bed that I always use under the babies whenever I am lifting them off the table in any manner. The parents each held one end of the hammock and lifted the babies up. I can't wait to use the hammock again!"

See more pro photos of this particular style and size of blanket in use

Purple Green Hammock Fringed Baby Blanket Prop

2010-04-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

This hand knit, fringed, rectangular, newborn baby blanket afghan throw photo prop in greens and dark purples can also be used as a hammock sling!

Thank you so much to Julie Chartier Artiste Photographe in Quebec, Canada at http://www.laphotographe.ca for not only requesting this "Royal Flora" color combo of purples and greens, but for providing these fabulous, professional shots of the blanket with baby.

Julie writes, "I have used the hammock this morning!! It is sooooooo beautiful!!!! Thank you so much!!"

See more pro photos of this particular style and size of blanket in use here (including how it can also be used as a hammock sling):

http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=baby+afghan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5425532&ref=auto

Baby Infant atop my Fringed Blanket Photography Prop in Grassy Greens and Browns!

2010-04-13T13:29:00.001-07:00

I love this little "nature scene" with a baby modeling my fringed, grass green and nature brown photo prop blanket hammock (a special order from Renae Alane's photography in the Fargo, ND area at http://renaealane.com/ ) along with Malane's hand made bumblebee and ladybug outfits! Fly, little wild one, fly! :D

Thank you to Renae and Malane,

Celeste (Crickets)

My Fringed, Yellow Scarf as Photo Prop!

2010-04-06T20:34:00.001-07:00

Thanks so much to Lindsay Adams Photography for using my yellow scarf as senior portrait photo prop! Kaitlyn looks beautiful. :) I can't believe you say that taking pictures is just a hobby!

Tiny Tots Bows with Headbands for Girls!

2010-04-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Monique of Tiny Tots Bows offers professional quality bows, flowered headbands, beanies, clothing and more for girls of all ages, from tiny newborn infant to toddler to school age!

A mother of two herself, Monique designs her photo props and "girlware" in a smoke free environment. She's known for her quick shipping and great customer service and has a delightful personality.

Become a fan of Tiny Tots Bows on facebook and you will be the first to receive news about sales and promotions!

Thanks to professional photographer Jennifer Cottom in West Palm Beach,Florida for this pic with my Super Fringie™ newborn baby photo prop inthe Bohemian colors

2010-04-01T18:27:00.001-07:00

Jennifer, you're rockin' my Super Bohemian Fringie newborn infant baby yarn photo prop...thank you! You've made it extra colorful and...trippy, dude!! :D

Please click this link to see more professional photos of my Fringie yarn photo props in use!

Hugs,

Celeste (Crickets)

Home Interior Design Decor Throw Blankets!

2010-03-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

I'm especially excited about my new, handknit, fringed throw blankets home interiors design decor line! They make fantastic, personalized gifts for life events such as weddings, graduations, housewarmings and more (also available in newborn baby size to be used as photo prop hammocks during portait photography sessions, see bottom photo in this blog post).

In addition, I offer my signature style fashion accessory scarves which focus on color and texture and I'm the original designer of the Fringie™ all yarn photo portrait prop for newborn infants, babies and children.

I have a passion for excellence (okay, okay, I'm a detail freak and a perfectionist) and each of my lines is fashioned with durability, comfort, beauty and usablilty as top priorities. Custom work is my specialty and I engineer and create each of my own, handmade designs! I love to make new friends on facebook, so please drop by and say hello!

My Fringe Scarves as Photo Props for Women and Girls

2010-03-21T20:24:00.001-07:00

These modeled images were captured by the super-nice, obviously talented, fun and delightful Ashley of Ashley Mae Photography. Ashley writes, "I have used your scarves in so many photo sessions. Seriously those scarves have held up better than all of my other scarves I have, they look so delicate but they are strong!! Way to go girl, you are gifted. The texture & colors in these scarves are GORGEOUS and SO unique." Catch more of her work at AMP Photography.

Get details on these scarves and others in my online photo prop boutique!

Hammock Sling! My Fringed, Handknit, Photo Portrait Prop Baby Blanket

2010-03-14T17:53:00.003-07:00

Thank you to professional photographer Katrina Stevenson in Lakeland, Florida for using my hand knit, fringed blanket photo prop as a hammock sling!

Here's a "before" shot of how the photo was made:

Katrina writes: "... I just had both parents to hold it with a bean bag underneath to spot! If for any reason you only have one parent it's possible you could tie one end to your backdrop stand but it may be risky! And I always lay the fringe on the beanbag then place the baby in and then have the parents lift! Hope that helps!"

Please click this link for a full gallery of different ways to use this photo prop and for color ideas (I have hundreds of yarns to choose from!):

Fringed Baby Blanket

These two outdoor photos with the 'Granola' cream hammock tied to a branch were captured by Josie Hamper of All For Fun Photography in Longview, East Texas (she says that because the baby was so new at 15 days old, Josie secured her with a sash by feeding the sash through the open stitching of the hammock and tying her into the hammock):

And the dear image above was captured and prepared by professional photographer Cheryl Woody of Frozen Moments Photography in Columbiaville, Michigan.

Cheryl writes about the session: "I have a large beanbag bed that I always use under the babies whenever I am lifting them off the table in any manner. The parents each held one end of the hammock and lifted the babies up. I can't wait to use the hammock again!" Here's another pic that shows how the hammock was held:

This fringed blanket is different from my all-fringe Fringies™ because these have an actual, rectangular blanket and can also be used as a hammock or hanging sling.

Here's a gorgeous image of my "Calico" hammock blanket, captured by Marsha Dolan of Your Image Photography in Moline, Illinois (Marsha shares that to keep Bailey's head from sinking below the fringe and out of sight, "I actually had her shirt propping her head up."):

Below you'll find a couple of fabulous shots of the cream, green and brown hammock with different backgrounds from Kimberly Bush of Bluff View Photography in Peoria, Illinois:

Here are a few irrestible shots from Julie Chartier Artiste Photographe in Quebec, Canada with babies of various ages and weights (the blanket is stretchy and resilient for versatility):

And here is a sampling of more professional photos of that same style of blanket in some different yarns and poses to get your creative juices flowing! :D

First, the blanket with a flecked cream base and green and brown fringe, photos from Ashley Mae Photography in Logan, Utah. Ashley writes about the blanket, "I was so impressed when I saw it, it's beautiful - the colors are PERRRFECT.! You have such a unique talent. Love how you put colors together!!" You can see even more of her work with this blanket and baby on her blog

And another with the blue ribbon from professional photographer Katrina Stevenson in Lakeland, Florida (the coordinating, argyle legwarmers came from Knotty Baby, please check out her great prices and amazing variety)!:

Two, adorable shots from Renae Alane Photography in Fargo, North Dakota with my "Hula' grass green and nature brown hammock blanket (these AWESOME bumblebee and ladybug outfits from Malane!)

Here's a set of fun pics of the blue ribbon style with various post processing techniques from Trudy Holtz Photography:

And I love how Dawn Howeth of Picture This Photography in Tappahannock, VA has laid her "Royal Flora" purple and green hammock out like a peacock's feathers and wrapped part of the blanket over as a diaper cover (she's clever!):

Thanks for looking, everyone!
Celeste (Crickets)

St. Patrick's Day Irish Green Treasury Makes Etsy Front Page!

2010-03-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that the first time ever, a treasury I've curated from my online scarf, blanket and photo prop boutique on Etsy made it to the front page! It's called "Get Lucky Tonight; Happy St. Patrick's Day, may the luck o' the Irish be with you!" and exclusively features green items from my teammates of the Fulltime Etsy Crafters Team. Here is a photo of the collection (click on the image to enlarge):

It seems like Etsy is really doing a great job lately of showing a more diverse range of sellers and curators on the front page, and I appreciate their efforts!

Celeste (Crickets)

Fringed Throw, Lap Warmer Afghan Blanket (Wedding Gift for Newlywed Couple)

2010-02-28T10:07:00.001-08:00

This hand knit, home decor, fringed throw afghan blanket design is a luxury lap warmer for two. You custom select from a wide range of colors, so it makes the perfect, personalized wedding gift for newlywed couples! You can choose their favorite hues, or match their home decor or favorite sports team (I've got tons of colors, so let your imagination soar).

SPECIAL VALUE: I'm introducing this top quality, 240.00 value blanket at a limited time, 45.00 discount and I'm including shipping at no charge to my customers because I'm so excited to share this new design!

The images here were captured by the talented, fun and delightful Ashley of Ashley Mae Photography in Logan, Utah. Ashley writes about the blanket, "I was so impressed when I saw it, it's beautiful - the colors are PERRRFECT.! You have such a unique talent. Love how you put colors together!!"

I use 3 strands of strong, durable yarn for the base (shown here in flecked cream beige, please let me know which colors you'd like for the base of the throw I design specifically for you).

Then I add one foot of thick, beautiful fringe on each end. The fringe shown includes wet bark browns, cottony creams, deep earth, new grass & olive greens, moss, golden amber, wildfire charcoals and so much more. Again, feel free to ask me to customize for you!

This richly textured throw blanket is warm without being suffocating and is the perfect size to snuggle a person or couple of any size (5.5 feet long including fringe x 3 feet wide to start; it's very elastic because of the special stitch I used, so it easily stretches to 6 feet wide).

I originally designed it for a photographer to use in her portrait photography business, although it would look lovely in any home. When laid long wise, it easily covers the width of a queen sized bed, so it makes a lovely warmer at the foot of the bed in a guest bedroom or in any room of the house.

As with most of my work, please just let me know if you'd like yours a little different; custom orders & special requests are welcome and I generally can make a design more heavy or lightweight, wider or thinner, shorter or longer, use different colors, etc.

My designs are exceptional quality and a great value; this piece is strong and durable for everyday use for many years.

Only soft, designer, vintage or novelty yarns (vegan). No allergenic animal fibers.

Designed & knit in the clean, fresh, high desert air in the heart of Grand Canyon country, USA (no cigarette, perfume or pet odors)

My standard shipping is to anywhere in the world. I ship to U.S. customers via 2-3 day USPS Priority Mail & to international customers via first class.

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Resist wringing to dry. Dry flat.

How to Add Cr8tivity Scrolling Etsy Shopping Cart to Blog; Step by Step Instructions Tutorial

2010-02-03T18:06:00.001-08:00

There's a new widget for our blogs from http://cr8tivity.com/ that creates a scrolling "Buy" shopping cart direct to our Etsy shop (see the "3 Product" widget at upper right)! Here's a step by step instruction tutorial on how I placed this scrolling photo shopping cart on my blog, Crickets Creations Handknit Scarves:

I went to http://cr8tivity.com/

I typed in my etsy shop username into the white field and hit the "helpers" button

I clicked "Widgets" in black font at upper left of screen

I clicked "3 Product" to have 3 items shown at a time (choose how many products you would like to see displayed on your own blog)

I placed my cursor in the "Original Version" text field and hit Ctrl + A at the same time on my keyboard to highlight all of the text in that field.

Then I hit Ctrl + C at the same time to copy that text

Then I went to my blog and logged in (I use blogger/blogspot)

I clicked "Layout" and then clicked "Add a Gadget"

I clicked the "+" sign next to "HTML/JavaScript and a new field appeared

I placed my cursor in the Content field and hit Ctrl + V at the same time on my keyboard to paste in the coding I had copied from the Cr8tivity site.

I added a Title (Shop with Crickets) and clicked to "Save"

I THEN (very important, all your work will be lost without this last step!) clicked the orange "Save" button on the "Add and Arrange Page Elements" page

Then I clicked to "View Blog" to make sure I did it all correctly. :)

Lastly, a made a donation to Troy at http://cr8tivity.com/ as a thank you!

Hope this is helpful for your Etsy online shops and blogs,
Celeste (Crickets)

Hottie Handbags Is Where It's At! ;)

2009-09-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've found a new friend in Susan of Hottie Handbags! She's an animal rescuer like me, she's really nice, she's a great communicator and she's super talented (check out her handbags in the photos below--what detail...and I love her fabric choices!).

Here's a little bit more about Susan's design- and texture-rich handbag accessories:

WELCOME TO HOTTIE HANDBAGS: Handmade Purses with an Attitude!

When you purchase a Hottie Handbag at the online boutique or by custom order, you will receive a one-of-a-kind piece of fabric art designed especially for you. You will own a handbag you can enjoy and are proud to carry with your favorite outfits. Hottie's bags are both fun AND functional.

All items are gift wrapped and include a small token of Hottie Handbags' appreciation for your business.

I know you have many choices out there ... thank you for choosing Hottie Handbags!

Super Fringie: Double Size Fringed Yarn Blanket Photo Prop

2009-06-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Mollie Kendall Photography puts a perfect baby atop my Super Bohemian Fringie!

Care & Use of Your Super Fringie Photo Prop
By Celeste (Crickets), Fringies Designer & Creator

Thank you for choosing my double size Super Fringies for your portrait photography business! This post shares some great ways to get the most use out of your new photography prop.

Stephanie Neal Photography's wonderful depiction of my Super Oatmeal Fringie design...perfect baby not included!

Your Super Fringie will arrive folded and possibly a bit compressed from its journey; you may be surprised by how small it seems at first! Remove it from its packaging, carefully unfold and gently shake, fluff and finger-comb, combing with the fingers of one hand while (optional) stabilizing the center seam with the other (it’s kind of like caring for a very colorful wig)!

Shelly Dibble of Storybook Photography spreads her Bohemian Super Fringie into a 2 feet x 4 feet, sheepskin-sized oval

I find the easiest way to keep the Super Fringie untangled is to carry it by the seam. So, if I were to move it, I would slide one of my hands/forearms under the seam and lift the Super Fringie so that it lays on my forearm (draped kind of like a towel on a waiter's arm in a fancy restaurant).

Spreading your Super Fringie out into an oval shape allows for maximum coverage, giving two feet of additional length (one foot of fringe will extend past each end of the center seam). Your Super Fringie is approximately 2 feet x 2 feet until it’s spread out in an oval; then it grows to 2 feet x 4 feet. This technique is especially helpful to create a “halo” of color all around your subject. Lay the Fringie down in its rectangular shape and then spread out either side of fringe like a fan into a semi-circle, so that it will create an oval. Here’s a picture that shows the seam and how the yarn is arranged:

It’s helpful to pat and jiggle the thick yarn at the center of the “fans” to spread it out toward the ends, and to finger-comb the yarns into place, combing with the fingers of one hand while stabilizing the center seam with the other. It doesn’t have to be perfect! Typically, the baby’s spine will lie along the (comfortable) center seam. Here’s an example from Heather Bridge Photography:

Another option is to use a basket in conjunction with a Super Fringie as in this image by Kayleen Feil Photography:

First, drape the Super Fringie over the front side of the basket like a towel hanging to dry (with the center seam parallel to the lip of the basket). Then, if you like, bring some fringe to the back, inner wall of the basket.

To store your Super Fringie away from dust or pet dander, either drape it over a pants hanger and hang in a closet, or carefully fold and store on a covered shelf or in plastic.

Super Fringies are stain and wear resistant. For occasional spot cleaning, hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Do not wring (gentle squeezing is okay, please do not twist). Dry flat (or blow dry on cool setting).

For photos & ideas with the newborn sized Fringie (half as large as the Super Fringie), please click here

To contact me with questions, please visit my online boutique

Here's a fun gallery of pics of the Super Fringie in use from some of my cherished customers (I welcome watermarked photos emailed to me at cricketscreations@live.com):

Hilarye Schoyt: I love your photography of baby J with my Super Bohemian Fringie!

Cassie Gillespie of CLG Photography got her basket in the garden section of Hobby Lobby and paired it beautifully with my Oatmeal Super Fringie

Jamie Rogers Photography shows off some inventive color manipulation and post processing with my Bohemian Super Fringie

I love the warmth and chemistry in this image by Photography by Patrice with twins and my Oatmeal Super Fringie

Photography by Patrice uses a sheepskin as a bed and my Oatmeal Super Fringie as a blanket!

Here Trudy Holtz Photography snaps newborn Gus nestled in the arms of his parents with the Rainbow Super Fringie as a swaddling "blanket"

Two fun pics from Rae Leytham of a wiggly baby and my Oatmeal Super Fringie

Boston Terrier pup Noah looks comfy in this image by Amy Wilson at Capturing Smiles with my Bohemian Super Fringie

Tracy Joy Photography did such a great job with these images of the Christmas Super Fringie!

Emily Morgalis' treatment of my Super Rainbow Fringie

The wonderful Gina Cristine Photography with my Super Bohemian Fringie

Jennifer Burns Photography, my Super Rainbow Fringie and a sweet baby

Ann Easterling Photography took this amazing pic with my Super Oatmeal Fringie photo prop and her darling Madison!

Thank you again for your support, I'll end with this fun photo from Kelli Klosowski of Limesmile Images with the Rainbow Super Fringie used as a little mat!

7 Course Mother's Day Vegan Dinner from Nicky!

2009-05-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

I really got spoiled for Mother's Day this year; my husband Nicky made me a 7 course, vegan dinner (in addition to presenting me with a card, a bag of my favorite Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos and my fave Harry Potter movie, Goblet of Fire)! You see, since we just got married last month, this is the first year that I've been an "official" stepmom! I missed the kids more than ever on Mother's Day, of course. That part was kind of sad, but the day was made happy by Nicky taking such good care of me. Would you like to see pictures and read about it? :)

He seated me at the table (complete with cloth napkins!) and wouldn't let me do a thing while he brought out first some exceedingly convincing vegan shrimp (not for the squeamish!), served with (yum, yum!) cocktail sauce:

Next came an absolutely delicious salad, with Follow Your Heart Monterey Jack flavored "cheese," fresh strawberries, redleaf lettuce, red onions, Lighthouse Raspberry Lime dressing and almonds:

Then a bowl of one of my favorite ready-made soups from Progresso (hey, come on, folks, he prepared this whole dinner by himself; packaged foods were a lifesaver!):

Along with garlic-herb crostini (cut from a mini baguette from the local grocery store):

Next, the cherished intermezzo was Ben & Jerry's Berried Treasure lemon and berry sorbet:

The two mains came side by side; vegan "cheese" ravioli with more Monterey Jack "cheese" and Boca's "chicken" parmesan, each with a different tomato mushroom sauce:

Lastly, a strawberry bundt cake with chocolate sauce and fresh berries (that cake didn't last long, lemmetellya!):

Here are some of the products that went into this scrumptious feast:

And here's the man who made it all happen! Thanks, honey, I love you so much:

Wishing each of you just as much happiness,
((Hugs))
Celeste (Crickets)

Susana de Tumbleweed Studios!

2009-05-12T09:35:00.000-07:00

Susana, digital artist and jewelry designer, is the owner of Tumbleweedstudios.
As she says:... "A place where you'll find a variety of Items of many avenues of the arts, such as, Giclee Prints, Digital Illustrations, Photography, Note cards, Pet portraits, and a variety of Jewelry items".

She is our featured member this week from Spanglish Team, a very talented group of artisans, crafters and designers who share the passion for quality handmade, one of the kind products.

If you want to see more of her amazing work, please visit her shop and take advantage of the fabulous promo she is offering.

Andrea de AG mode Tiene Many Talents!

2009-05-04T17:37:00.001-07:00

Presenting Andrea of AG mode; fiber artist and Etsy Spanglish Teammate!

Andrea tells us a bit more about herself:

"Since I have memory I’ve being surrounded by fabrics, yarns, hooks, needles, buttons, lace, fashion magazines, and all the other things needed to develop and finish clothing. Since always I live with the design bug in my heart.

I have a BA in Fashion Design from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I specialized in lingerie and intimate garments. I love the well constructed garment, the good fitting clothes, and the unexpected accessories. After working for years in the Fashion industry, I decided to establish my own company, self-publish my originals patterns and sell my own handmade designs.

I love to work with different techniques to obtain stunning results, rich colors and textures. Sewing, knitting, crochet, Tunisian crochet, and beading are my passion."

Handbag Cave: Style to Go!

2009-04-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

At Handbag Cave online boutique, you'll find stylish, fashionable handbags by Raquel Gonzalez; she expertly designs & creates each one with a discerning eye for quality and detail.

I am irresistibly attracted to Raquel's sleek & shiny PRINCESS MAKE UP POUCH In Sour Apple.

As a vegan, I especially love the fact that it's made with faux leather and faux patent leather. Which is your favorite (perhaps it's the corduroy tote shown below with all those bells and whistles)! Let me know by leaving a comment and please, drop by Raquel's online accessories boutique today!

Wedding Pics: The Nicky and Cricky Show!

2009-04-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

Our friend and photog pro Gary Kalpakoff was our photographer and he did a fantastic job--thank you, Gary!

Pics from Celeste & Nicholas' wedding this Saturday; we wanted to share just a few with you, our friends and family who mean so much to us.

First to set the scene...the wedding was held at the XBarH Lodge at Red Rock Retreat here in the high desert of southern Utah near the Grand Canyon. The pine lodge is 10,000 square foot in a gorgeous setting (yes, it really did snow--good thing we didn't get married outside as we were originally planning). Michele and JC, the lodge caretakers, were absolutely perfect. They were so helpful yet inobtrusive and really, really made us, our out of town family guests and all FOUR dogs present feel very welcome (Nicky and I and our families all stayed at the lodge before and after the wedding). Here's a view out of some of the windows in the huge upstairs loft:

My mom, Melena, who drove down from Idaho with her partner Mike, helped me get ready:

The guests were seated both below us and above us, the ceremony was held in the stairwell so everyone could see (this was just one, small part of the gigantic lodge):

I made both mine and our minister Lenny's scarves/wraps (Nicky and his team of pros did everything else!):

We held it together pretty well during the Mark Twain quotes...then our talented and fun musician friend, Victor Gutschalk, who had been playing the ukelele before the ceremony, broke out his classical guitar to sing & play The Wedding Song (There Is Love) by Peter, Paul & Mary:

Nicky started crying first, and that got me all teared up...then we started laughing at ourselves through our tears...we were a mess! Our minister Lenny handed me his kerchief to use:

Our friend Joy Moffat took this photo from the balcony!

Then I passed it on to Nicky:

Then all bets were off during Lenny's recitation of the "What is real?" passage from The Velveteen Rabbit...even Lenny (and most of the audience) lost it and Nicky had to hand him back the handkerchief!

Our friend Joy Moffat took this photo from the balcony!

Go ahead, I dare you...just try to read the passage out loud without tearing up (click on image below to view text):

After the ceremony, we got to hug and thank all our beloved guests, then we headed downstairs to enjoy the delicious, vegetarian spread that Nicky and his team of helpers made ready for us:

And then of course, we enjoyed some of the wonderfully delicious wedding cake that Nicky's cousins Jolene & Jim brought all the way from Colorado (Jolene is a professional cake maker and it shows--each tier was a different flavor and the top two were vegan!):

People keep asking us if we feel any different now that we're married. The fact that the answer is "Yes, we do!" was a surprise even to us (we've been together for over three years and own a home together)! It feels GREAT to be husband and wife and we feel even closer than before, if that's possible. ;)

You may be able to see more photos here and here. Thank you, everyone, for your well wishes, support and simply for being part of our lives. We truly cherish our peeps.

I Organized My Yarn Stash!

2009-04-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Cleaning up my yarn collection was an all day project! Yes, with the wedding just a week and a half away, the push is on to get my scarf and Fringie photo prop studio pretty enough to wow out of town relatives. ;)

I worked all day today and I'm pleased with the results! I now have at least one of every yarn I own in ONE ROOM (and some backstock organized in cupboards in another room by color)!

Below are pictures, one wall at a time, of my newly beautified workspace.

As you enter the room and turn to your left, you'll see my neutrals, one of a kind smooth yarns and samples of each multicolor, textured yarn:

Next we see a huge shelf loaded with backstock of smooth yarns (this is where I pull out up to 34 yarns at a time to make fringe tassels, Fringe-O-Rama Scarves or Fringies). To the left are some of the flowers I use for my U Pick 'Em flowered boas. Below the shelf are some backstock and ribbon yarns:

Here we see my not-so-organized desk aka "packaging station." It, uh, didn't get organized today. Martian Manhunter can be seen in the upper left, casting a friendly and watchful eye over the process (we christened the cricket "Legs," he's the mascot from Mulan & was a birthday present from Nicky):

Lastly, yet more backstock, more ribbon yarns, the matrix/ladder yarns I use to make my See Through Lightweights line of scarves, "kits" of yarn I use for Fringies and Fringe-O-Ramas and...drumroll, please...finished product (scarves)!! Here we are:

Hope you enjoyed the little tour...yes, it may look like mess, mess and more mess. Still, it's all set up in a way that makes sense to me and will allow me to work more quickly and efficiently!

Family Pictures from Montana: My Homestate!

2009-03-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

My brother Marcus just sent me these pics of my niece Sage and nephew Luke. I miss them so (they live in Stevensville, close to Lolo and Missoula, Montana where we grew up).

The horses shown are their rescued horses (Cory is the redder mother and the more brown horse is her daughter). That's quite a story...the two had been separated when their original owner gave them up, then reunited when Hope (my sister in law) and Marcus adopted them from two separate sources. Sweet, huh? You can see the obvious bond between Sage and her equine family members. Hope practices natural horsemanship with the horses and it's evident that they sense that they are a valued, respected part of family life.

Thistle (their beautiful dog in the picture below) was adopted from a local shelter, already grown up, housetrained, great with kids and the other animals--what a great find she is! :)

These pictures are a bit of a time warp...Sage looks tons like me and Luke is the spitting image of my younger brother (Marcus). If you'd told me that you'd just found these photos in a drawer somewhere of my brother and I, I would have believed you!

Care & Use of Your Fringie Professional Photography Portrait Prop

2009-02-23T20:05:00.000-08:00

By Celeste (Crickets), Designer & Creator of Fringies Professional Photography Portrait Props

NOTE: Please click HERE to learn more about the double size Super Fringie (twice as large as the Fringies shown in this post, the Super expands to an oval about the same size as a sheepskin)

Thank you for choosing Fringies for your portrait photography business! Below are some great ways to get the most use out of your new photography prop.

Your Fringie will arrive folded and possibly a bit compressed from its journey. Remove it from its packaging, carefully unfold and gently shake, fluff and finger-comb, combing with the fingers of one hand while (optional) stabilizing the center seam with the other (it’s kind of like caring for a very colorful wig)!

Spreading your Fringie out into an oval shape allows for maximum coverage, giving two feet of additional length (one foot of fringe will extend past each end of the center seam). This technique is especially helpful to create a “halo” of color all around a newborn baby. Lay the Fringie down in its rectangular shape:

Then spread out either side of fringe like a fan into a semi-circle, so that it will create an oval. Here’s a picture that shows the seam and how the yarn is arranged:

It’s helpful to pat and jiggle the thick yarn at the center of the “fans” to spread it out toward the ends, and to finger-comb the yarns into place, combing with the fingers of one hand while stabilizing the center seam with the other. It doesn’t have to be perfect! Typically, the baby’s spine will lie along the (comfortable) center seam. Here’s an example from award-winning photographer Wende Trew of A Timeless Image of my Rainbow Fringie:

Another option is to use a basket in conjunction with a Fringie (TIP: TJMaxx can be a great source for prop baskets at a value price; I hear from my photographer customers that if the basket seems too small in the store, it's probably just right for newborns). Smaller baskets can be lined completely with the Fringie, like this image of the Bohemian Fringie by photo pro DeeDee DiMarco:

First, drape the Fringie over the front side of the basket like a towel hanging to dry (with the center seam parallel to the lip of the basket). Then, bring some fringe to the back, inner wall of the basket, as shown above.
For larger or deeper baskets, fill the bottom with folded towels or blankets to bring the baby and the Fringie into better view, as in the image below of my Rainbow Fringie, also by Wende Trew (the cute hat was knit by Allison of Pinch Knits):

Here's another example of a basket filled with towels with my Reversible Candy Shoppe Fringie on top...thanks for the photo, Suzanne Ivey of Ivey's Photography:

Or for maximum fringe showing outside the basket, bring both sides of fringe to the front, with the seam running from the inside lip of the basket toward the bottom of the basket (perpendicular to the floor), as in this photo by Tonia Kinch of Delicate Impressions Photography. This is a standard sized Candy Shoppe Fringie, yet it looks huge:

Here's one more from Tonia of the same Fringie, different baby, different pose (get the matching hat here):

I like how Kristina of Visual Empathy doubled my Bohemian Fringie slightly off-center for a full, "layered" effect, then brought all the ends to the front of the basket:

The Fringie can also be used as a newborn nest, as in this image by Leslie Cowger of LC Photography of the Rainbow Fringie:

or this shallow basket nest by rising star Amanda Cutler of Pumpkin Pie Photography with my Bohemian Fringie:

Here's another nest from Tracy Joy Photography, made with my Oatmeal Fringie:

Check out this pioneering idea from Heavenesque (my Oatmeal Fringie used as a blanket wrap!):

Here are a couple of other ideas for the Bohemian Fringie from Laura Bailey Photography:

To store your Fringie away from dust or pet dander, either drape it over a pants hanger and hang in a closet, or carefully fold and store on a covered shelf or in plastic.

Fringies are stain and wear resistant. For occasional spot cleaning, hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Do not wring (gentle squeezing is okay, please do not twist). Dry flat (or blow dry on cool setting).

For more photos or to contact me with questions, please visit my online boutique. Thank you again for your support, I'll end with a little photo gallery from some of my professional photographer customers who have been kind enough to send me pics from their photo sessions with my Fringies:

I love these photos of my Oatmeal Fringie from Neta Herron Photography and how she's put a snuggly blanket underneath as a backdrop for Fringie and Baby:

Here's a fun photo from Brianne Elizabeth Photography of her daughter Raelyn modeling my Reversible Candy Shoppe Fringie (Raelyn is 16 months in the picture and there's just room for the Fringie to drape over the front of the larger basket--it still looks great)!

And another from Brianne, same Fringie, this time with a tiny newborn:

Lastly Brianne shows a Reversible Candy Shoppe Fringie with the more masculine side up:

I love this fantastic shot from Dawn Simmons of Lasting Treasures Photography of my Bohemian Fringie...little Bella weighs only five pounds!:

Here's a beauty from Nicole Pellegrino of Snips & Snails Photography of my Rainbow Fringie:

And just in from Christina Traster of Snickerdoodles Photography of my Bohemian Fringie:

These two photos of my NEON Rainbow Fringie from Abbi Garling of Your Memories Photography are so different, I cherish them both:

Here's a great pic of the super-expressive Brayden, son of Leslie Cowger of LC Photography of the Rainbow Fringie:

NOTE: Please click HERE to learn more about the double size Super Fringie (twice as large as the Fringies shown in this post, the Super expands to an oval about the same size as a sheepskin)

Please continue to check back for more fun photos; I'm adding all the time as my wonderful photog pro customers send them to me (thank you, thank you, you are truly cherished)! :)

Hey Peeps: Thanks for the Props!

2009-02-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

Almost every week, some generous soul takes care and time to promote my handmade scarf and photo prop boutique in their blog or website.

This week, I'm especially thankful to learn that three outstanding folks will be sharing Crickets Creations with the world (in no particular order):

Connie has listed me as a sponsor of her Dirty Footprints Studio Talk Show. She writes:

"As the Artist and writer behind the blog Dirty Footprints Studio, I love to support and be inspired by other Artists and Creative Souls. Dirty Footprints Studio Talk is an opportunity to speak with these individuals and share their personal journey of creativity and Art with others!"

This week's program features Jennifer from Gallery Girl and Corrine from JafaBrit's Art. Find out more and listen in on the show's blog

As if that weren't enough, Tracy, Gina & Susanne of PropInsanity are listing me as a vendor on their high-traffic site (already 500+ readers and they just launched)!
Many thanks for their high-power marketing skills, impeccable organization and great communication to go with their fantastic, positive attitudes! Just click on "OUR VENDORS!" in a day or so to see the button/banner they created for me and other fantastic creators of photo shoot props for professional photographers.

And what a wonderful, beautiful new friend I have found in Tanya McGill.

Her art is female acting, singing and voice-over talent--wow! And she's one of my most enthusiastic scarf customers...she's even going to put a link to my online boutique on her website--thanks, T!

See how lucky I am to know such amazing people?? Thank you to all of you ladies and to everyone else who has supported me along the way. *HUGS*

Nicholas & Celeste's Wedding Details!

2009-01-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

Whether you'll be joining us in spirit or in person, we hope you'll be part of our big day! Here's the invitation that Nicky made up for us (he's so good!):

And here's a link to the XBarH lodge where the wedding will be...awesome place and the caretakers Michele and J.C. are super nice!

Red Rock Retreat

A Personal Post: News Sandwich, Anyone?

2009-01-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

You know how in the business world, management is supposed to deliver a "compliment sandwich" where they first say something nice, then something not-so-nice, then finish up with a compliment or kudo? Well, 2008 has been a "news sandwich" for our family, with the sad news alternating with the happy news.

Each time something major would happen, I've wanted to blog about it...and before I got to it, something else major would happen! So, finally, here it is, all in a nutshell (a copy and paste of our Holiday Letter to friends & family)...and for those of you wondering who Nicholas (Nicky) is, he's my sweetie, my muse & inspiration and the very reason I had the confidence and support to start this whole, crazy scarf designing business in the first place! Our letter to you all...

Happy Holidays from the Heart of Canyon Country!

So much has happened this year, we hardly know where to begin! Biggest news first: Nicholas proposed to Celeste at a formal dinner in Salt Lake City in front of about 60 new and old friends…her answer was a resounding, “YES!” We finished out the evening by being quite possibly the happiest couple in a crowd of 21,000 at the annual Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. A night to remember for a lifetime…we’ll keep you posted on an exact date, we’re looking at next Spring, 2009. Thank you all for your support and well wishes these past 3 years; we’re looking forward to many, many more.

As if a crowd-grabbing proposal weren’t enough, Celeste is basking in a bit of public glory with her booming scarf business: Vegetarian Times, a national magazine, pictured one of her designs on page 62 of the January 2009 issue (it's #2 on the Hot Picks list next to a blurb about the Vegan Etsy team that Celeste belongs to). If you get a chance, pick up a copy at your local newsstand! In fact, business with her online scarf boutique is so bustling, that when she was laid off in November, she was actually relieved because it gave her time to fill all those scarf orders! She hopes to continue concentrating fulltime on designing & selling her scarves.

We’ve been blessed to be able to visit with so much family this year, including both of our dads and stepmoms, Nicholas’ beautiful daughter Hannah who is growing up so fast & Celeste’s mom & her sweetie Mike. We’ve enjoyed keeping in touch with Nicholas’ mom who moved to the big city of Seattle late last year, and look forward to seeing her real soon….maybe at a certain someone’s upcoming wedding here in Utah. ;)

Especially important, we are glad to have had the joy and honor of visiting both Celeste & Nicholas’ grandmas shortly before they each passed away. Although we miss these two, spunky farm girls and their love of life and sense of fun, it does give us some comfort to know that they’re in a better place & that they each left behind large families to carry on their legacy of love & integrity.

We said goodbye to two amazing ladies who were the heart of their families in the span of a month’s time…followed by losing our beloved dog, Cosmo, unexpectedly last week. Cosmo was with Nicholas, every day, through thick & thin, for a decade and our home is not the same without him. Again, our hearts are breaking at losing someone so special, while at the same time we are glad he didn’t suffer and that the tumor that was growing unbeknownst to us didn’t slow him down or effect his quality of life until his last day—he even played in the snow with our other dog, Cinema, and ate with gusto the evening beforehand. Like Celeste says, “Cosmo had 15 years of good days, and one bad day…. Well, maybe the day he got neutered wasn’t so hot, but other than that…”

That’s our year in a nutshell—the happiness and the tears. Next year we will be reporting about the fun we all shared at our wedding!

Love,
Nicholas & Celeste

Lorelei's Atelier Jewelry: Welcome to Etsy!

2008-12-30T09:43:00.000-08:00

This month, I was introduced to Lorelei of Lorelei's Atelier, a new jewelry boutique on Etsy, your place to buy & sell all things handmade.

Lorelei is a very special person. She's beautiful both inside and out. Her designs are soothing, almost nurturing, affirming and grounded. Do you see what I mean in these pictures? I love their cool weight. Their quality is palpable.

What's most important about Lorelei, though, is her goodness as a person. She's positive, she has integrity, honor and humility. I met Lorelei when she became an appreciative, friendly customer, buying scarves for herself and loved ones. Her obvious, genuine caring & kindness for those around her inspired me to feature her today. What an incredible person.

Please help me welcome Lorelei to Etsy by visiting her online jewelry boutique full of semi precious stones and quality metals. Be sure to add her shop to your favorites while you're there! :) Thanks, everyone and Happy New Year!

Why Won't June Act Like a Little Lady?

2008-11-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

I know, I usually like to show a sampling of items from a shop I'm featuring. In the case of the wonderful Amy of tinyviolet, I'm so captivated by how she created and presented a doll named June that this post is ALL about June! Read on...

"Hello, June! June is the middle of three sisters, and her nickname is Junebug. She's a tomboy, preferring a nice tall tree to climb or a pickup game of baseball with the neighborhood boys to tea parties or anything "froo froo". You won't find ribbons in her hair unless it's picture day, and even then only until a moment after the insufferable deed is done.

Junebug is one of a kind and she has dark brown hair. Her body is made of upcycled baby clothes. (Mom tries to dress Junebug and Little Sister Janine the same, even though they are not twins.) The heart on the front of her dress is a real pocket for storing frogs, jacks, and treasure maps! :)

Junebug measures approximately 16 inches long and her sweet face is handpainted. She's a very helpful sort of child, although she does tend to shun any clothing she may deem excessive (once June's shoes were inexplicably found in the freezer behind some ears of corn)."

I also especially enjoy the hair and meaning behind Coral, a peaceful doll with a relaxed expression. Please visit her by clicking on her name....

Steampunk & Vintage & Glorious...Oh MY!

2008-11-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

Susan of Callooh Callay jewelry, vintage, etc. has class, style & integrity.

Just look at these amazing images of her eclectic offerings. They range from steampunk style jewelry made from vintage buttons and findings to vintage postcards & more (I just HAD to show off this early 20th century example depicting the Grand Canyon, since that's just an hour from my home in the high desert). What ties everything together is her impeccable taste, eye for detail and dedication to presenting only the best.

I've been wanting to feature Susan's online jewelry and vintage boutique for a long time, and today she gave me the perfect excuse by including my Red n Pink Delight Rose and Crimson Handknit Scarf in her stunning collection called Drinking the Koolaid. Thank you, Susan (that scarf design has made it to Etsy front page several times, and your treasury is gorgeous...maybe we'll get there together again)!

Susan can also be found on flickr and her blog.

SageWest Art Gladdens the Heart

2008-11-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

I'm such a Western Gal. Other than the first 10 months of my life spent in Germany, I've never resided east of the Continental Divide. I've lived in Montana, Oregon, California and now beautiful Utah.

I am truly touched by the art of Sage West Studios. Every piece seems to have personal meaning:

Being from Kansas, sunflowers are one of my Nicky's favorite flowers

We have a Quaking Aspen in our back yard here in Utah

We saw elk last time we drove to the Grand Canyon an hour away.

And you'll have to message me privately to find out the rooster significance (cute little story about the birds and the bees when I was a kid)! ;)

I'm deeply honored to be a member of the Utah Etsy Team along with Sage West Studios from beautiful Cache Valley!

Cracking the Glass Ceiling with Marjorie's Cracked!

2008-11-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

I love being part of the animal-friendly teams on Etsy, your place to buy & sell all things handmade. I belong to all four and enjoy them immensely. Here is a little more information about the teams and their respective focuses!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Marjorie, one of the newest members of the EtsyVeg team! Marjorie is so nice and fun, and I adore her online shop's profile:

"Marjorie's Cracked Plate Jewelry Store offers unique handcrafted jewelry made from broken china, porcelain and ceramic using wire wrap and wire crochet techniques. Also custom orders are taken to transform customer's broken china into lovely jewelry pieces that will be treasured for years to come. No more throwing your treasured broken china away! Now also offering sea glass jewelry."

I absolutely love this concept. Talk about reduce, reuse, recycle and HONOR...for our pasts, for items' ability to be repurposed...wow! Talk about "cracking" the glass ceiling on our consumeristic, throw-away society (pun intended)!

I just gotta crow about an Amazing Arizonian!

2008-11-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

I live just 5 miles from the Arizona border and an hour north of the Grand Canyon. This post is to give a shout out to my "neighbor" in Tucson's two shops, Arizona Skies crafts and Earthly Creations jewelry. Her items are shown throughout this post.

Pretty, right? My faves are the trumpet/bell shaped flower earrings.

Wow, can she put together a good-looking treasury, too! Check this one out:

Neapolitan Ice Cream

Hurry, though, it's only going to be viewable for another few hours. And already 150 views!

Maria Elena's Having a Jewelry Sale for the Holidays!

2008-11-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

Maria Elena is one of my very favorite names! More to the point, Maria Elena of Wearable Designs by M.E.G. is having a storewide sale for the holidays! Every one of her delectable pieces is discounted right now (53 pairs of earrings to choose from as well as several bracelet and necklace designs should get you off to a good start)!

From Maria Elena's profile:

"I LOVE creating AFFORDABLE, ONE-OF-A-KIND HANDMADE JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES. I use the finest quality elements to create, including and not limited to high quality gemstones/semi-precious stones, swarovski crystals, glass beads, sterling silver, metal, brass and copper. My handcrafted jewelry is often of LIMITED EDITION and is one-of-a-kind, many jewelry pieces I will only create once. Many of my handcrafted jewelry pieces are often advertised at Girls Night Out events which supports women in small businesses. Thanks for checking out my shop."

Thank you, Maria Elena, for being a positive force in the world...including when you put my Violet Purple and Pink Berry Handknit Scarf in your "Pretty!" treasury (a treasury is like "seller's picks" on Etsy, where Maria Elena and I both sell our handmade items).

You can check out her blog and get a chance to win free jewelry here, too!

Over the Moon about Dancing Mooney

2008-11-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

This post about my dear friend Janell of Dancing Mooney is long overdue!

She's such a wonderful person; positive, caring and fun. At DancingMooney's you'll find excellence in Beaded Jewelry, Collage Art and Handmade Soap! I've shown an example of each in this post...and wish I had room to show all seven, dreamy pages of her online shop. Please visit her online today (pssst: her work makes fantastic stocking stuffers)!

One of the things I love about Janell is that she often lets me know when one of my scarves is on the front page of Etsy, "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade." I love getting my "Mooney alerts!" And today, I got to return the favor when her Oregon Mornings treasury was chosen for the front page! Thanks, Janell, for including my Non-Fat Chocolate Milk Skinny Boa Handknit Narrow Scarf in Cream and Taupe - 100 Percent Donated to Animal Charity in your collection! :)

Please also visit her blog and twitter!

Julie & Co's Jaw-Dropping Japanese Temari Ball Decorations

2008-10-23T12:12:00.001-07:00

Since words couldn't possible do Julie's Temari work justice (she's a color GENIUS!), and I couldn't possibly fit all of my favorite pieces in this blog post...

...I invite you to simply visit her online gallery, instead, where her shop announceent invites us:

"Welcome to my little corner of Etsy and enjoy browsing through my handmade items! I love to work with my hands, I delight in the feel of soft cotton, smooth threads, cool crochet hooks, and fuzzy yarn. I love beauty and texture, detail and color. I have been sewing, crafting, creating and imagining for over 30 years and still find joy in each new project and idea.

Japanese Temari hand balls are my passion -- their colors and symmetry delight me and their design and precision challenge me. These ancient folk art creations are visually stunning and so wonderful to display. Perfect for housewarming gifts, unique thank-you offerings, and special-day gift giving.

Please linger, browse, envision temari in your home and in your custom colors! Be inspired!"

Julie, I couldn't be more inspired, thank you for putting your outstanding work "out there" for everyone to enjoy!

Why Does Desiree Do It?

2008-10-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

Desiree's profile in her online jewelry boutique, Desiree Designs, reads like the beginning of a fascinating book:

"I'm from New Mexico originally, the child of flower children but adopted by a Catholic schoolteacher."

I'm featuring Desiree today as a thank you for putting my Red & Pink Delight Crimson Rose Handknit Scarf in her Red, Sexy, Fabulous or Fascinating treasury, with alluring images ranging from the subtle to blatant--in a good way!

One thing I'm always interested in when discovering a new artist is what drives or inspires them to create (most of us are BOTH driven AND inspired, lol). Desiree explains:

"WHY I BEAD:
The earring craze began after giving up on Cheap Crap...I used to love that I could buy several pairs at once for so little... but they always fell apart and were made from questionable metals that made my skin turn green... so I decided to make my own, using better materials (no base metal!) and my own aesthetic, honed in many years of beading, macrame and other self-decorative arts."

Thank you, Desiree, for living your dream!

From Denmark, with Love!

2008-10-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

This post is set to the tune of Tom Jones InterNATional, baby! :)

Yesterday, the extremely talented Lisa Astrup sent me a note all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark! She's blogged about me in her Me & My Jewelry blog...in DANISH! How cool is that?! I feel sooo cosmopolitan!

And guess what? Like me, Lisa ships her handmade creations (some are pictured here) worldwide! She charges only $4 USD (United States Dollars) to ship the first piece of jewelry anywhere in the world, $2 each for additional items. Wowza!

I especially enjoy how she photographs her pieces with the tools that helped her handcraft each piece. I feel like if a ring or necklace can handle being hammered or plied, it's meant to be USED & ENJOYED in "real life." Wouldn't you agree?

I found a really nice jewelry designer: MrsThunder!

2008-10-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love meeting nice people? I know I sure do! I was recently introduced to Mrs. Thunder when she sent me a conversation on Etsy to let me know that she'd included my Halloween Green Apple n Black Unisex Handknit Scarf for Wicked Elphie Elphaba Fans in her first treasury ever, entitled Misunderstood and featuring all things green & black witch.

I especially like her quote, "Jewelry is meant to be worn, not put away until the next big fancy dress party comes along ;)"

I've included a few of her jewelry pieces here. My favorites are the "sets" of earrings, bracelet & necklace together. I've never noticed that before on Etsy and I think it's a really nice touch! Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thunder.

An Exceptional Jewelry Design Artist: LB Jeweled

2008-10-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

With LB Jeweled, the hardest part is picking a favorite! Each piece is a unique, inspired design using only the finest quality materials.

I *thought* my favorite was the conch shell pendant...but then I saw the colored teardrop necklace...and then the artful arrangement of the different greens in the beaded necklace...decisions, decisions!

This Texas-based online jewelry boutique is worth checking out! And if you have the time, please also visit their latest "Absolutely Amazing!" treasury, which includes my Chocolate Sparkles See Through Handknit Scarf.

I have a fascination with...

2008-10-19T12:15:00.001-07:00

...photographs from days gone by. I have even collected old photographs of people and places I knew nothing about. I can stare at an old photograph for hours, trying to imagine if the photo was realistic (if some of the reality had been lost in translation), wondering how it felt to be there, discerning details such as temperature and time of day.

What a pleasure it's been to discover, then, Marianne of Clancy's Classics. I really think that Marianne's Etsy shop announcement explains her work & vision best:

"Welcome to Clancy's Classics, offering art prints and cards from original photographic glass negatives, my original polaroid transfers and my collection of fine art vintage photographs.

I have been collecting glass negatives ranging in size from 2X3 inches to 8X10 inches for many years. I have traversed the globe to find images printed on glass which I then scan and tint and make into wonderful prints for framing and cards to send, keep or frame.
MY polaroid transfers were created from 1970-2004 and I have really started to feel re-invigorated and stunned by the subtle colors and hues that these images have.
I will offer them as cards and prints.
I also have a large collection of images from the 1910s and 20s. I call them Americana Snapshots.

I have recently decided to offer some of my original vintage images as I have boxes of them everywhere and some are really wonderful for collage or altered books or a myriad of art projects and expressions..or if you are a purest.. just for the love of the vintage image itself...

Each photograph has a story and I love trying to figure that story out.. I think that mystery is what has kept me in my great joy and love of the vintage image! Also my dad was always carrying around a camera with slide film or movie film in it so our large family of 11 couldn't go anywhere without a few photos for the memory. I think I have loved photos of any kind all my life and I just can't stop myself! Thanks dad!!

I love them all and hope you will too!"

The Pleasing Art of Jessica Doyle

2008-10-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I'm heartened by Jessica's prints and originals. I love gardening--or, rather, putzing in the yard, wandering around in my gardening gloves, just being "in the moment." Jessica's pieces feel organic to me. They remind me of the sun on my face, dirt in close proximity, the smell of a crushed leaf.

Her process is palpable. We're constantly reminded to, "Just be" and to let the present surround us, embrace us. When I look at Jessica's work, I have no other choice. I'm not only placed firmly in my own present, I'm also transported to her present when she was making the piece.

If this all sounds a bit too much...it's nothing I can explain. I'm just wondering: Do you feel it, too?

Quality Bath & Body from Astrida Naturals

2008-10-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

Would you like expertly packaged, luxury-grade bath & body products made with 100% raw shea butter? Then please visit Astrida Naturals, shipping to you or your loved one's home from Chicago, Illinois. And it's really no wonder that Maia of Astrida's work looks good enough to give away as gifts: her other business is Media Move graphic design!

Here's more information about shea butter, one of nature's miracles, from Astrida's profile:

My name is Maia and I am the creator of Astrida Naturals. All of the products in my shop are handcrafted by me especially for you! I specialize in creating products that are made with unrefined shea butter.

UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER INFO

How does shea butter benefit my skin and hair?

Regular use of unrefined shea butter produces softer, smoother healthier skin and is safe for all skin types. Shea butter is a natural source of vitamins A, E, and F. These antioxidants help the skin to retain its natural elasticity, absorb moisture from the air, and help prevent premature wrinkles by boosting collagen production.

Shea butter contains natural UV sun protection that is estimated to be around an SPF 6. Daily use of shea butter on the face and body reduces sun exposure, which in turn slows down the rate of aging. Shea butter also acts as a natural mantle against elements of cigarette smoke, smog and chemical pollutants in the atmosphere.

Shea butter can also help your hair. It provides moisture to dry or damaged hair from the roots to the very tips, repairing and protecting against weather damage, dryness and brittleness. It also absorbs quickly and completely into the scalp to rehydrate without clogging pores. It is particularly beneficial for processed and heat-treated hair, and is an excellent treatment for dry scalp.

Unrefined Shea Butter is known for many benefits:

Known to help heal:
Sun damaged skin and burns
Scres and blemishes
Small wounds and scrapes
Helps to prevent and relieve diaper rash
Relieves itching insect bites & stings
Relieves muscle fatigue, aches & tension

Use for skin care:
Absorbs quickly into skin leaving it smooth and soft
Increases elasticity
Moisturizes dry and chapped skin and lips
Helps to reduce wrinkles by boosting collagen production
Helps to reduce and prevent stretch marks and fade scars
Relieves eczema
Minimizes razor bumps and can be used as a shave cream

Use for hair care:
Heat slightly for a hot oil treatment
Dread maintenance
Scalp moisturizer
Protects hair from environmental elements
Prevents hair breakage

Please visit Maia's latest treasury, which includes one of my favorite new designs, Red & Pink Delight Rose & Crimson Handknit Scarf!

Kindred Spirit Alert!

2008-10-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

Kelly of Lean Dog Pottery and I are both members of the wonderful Etsy Veg team, part of Etsy's handmade community (your place to buy and sell all things handmade)!

We also agree on the statement that Kelly makes in her shop announcement: "Sometimes I can't sleep at night because I am thinking about new things to create!! :P"

Kelly and I also both love the complementary color combination of violet & yellow together; she's even made an EtsyVeg Team treasury all yellow and purple! Thank you, Kelly, for including my Solid Gold Yellow Sunshine Handknit Scarf in your collection!

You can check out the treasury through today, and also find Kelly (including where the name Lean Dog Pottery came from) in her blog. Kelly is also a member of the California etsy team and has a flickr account to check out, as well!

Fun with WhimsiDoodle!

2008-10-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

I think we could all use a little fun in our days, and Jen of Whimsidoodle is here to provide!

Jen shop is full of community and family, her supply sources are reputable and she supports her fellow New England artists. To read more about this wonderful designer from Maine, please see her online Profile and her new blog.

Meanwhile, please enjoy these most definitely fun items from her online gallery (I'm especially enjoying "Whimsi's Onesies" cards, tee hee)! Thanks, Jen, for being a shining light for all of us and for making your fellow artisans a Green & Brown treasury (including my Autumn Twilight Harvest Ribbon Scarf is Blue Yellow Brown Burgundy Copper for Fall Holidays).

Mod Art Originals & Prints from Cathy Scarlett!

2008-10-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share some of the artwork of Cathy Scarlett! I really, really love her clean, mod style. Even more, I love the confident spark of her art pieces. Most of all, I love the incredible colors!! I can see her work gracing both design-savvy homes and businesses.

I originally contacted Cathy, a member of Idaho Indie Works (a street team on Etsy, your place to buy & sell all things handmade), because her home studio is based out of Boise. My mom moved to Mountain Home, near Boise, last year and spends a lot of time in Boise, where her sweetie lives.

Anyway, Cathy was nice enough to write back right away and even let me know that she's including my Solid Gold Sunshine Handknit Scarf in her new treasury collection of Etsy finds.

Cathy, thanks so much, I love your palette, you deserve your success this holiday giving season!

A Friend of a Friend is a Friend, Indeed!

2008-10-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

Today, I'd like you to meet Jill of JILLreDESIGNS. Yes, that's "JILLre" as in "Jewelry." *wink* You're loving her sense of humor, right?

You bet, Jill welcomes special requests and custom orders...just in case her 3 pages of colorful, diverse designs leave you hungry for more!

Here's the fun part: how I know Jill! You see, my friend Valerie (the Valerie of mistflowerstudio, the same Valerie I keep mentioning in my posts here) adores Jill & I met Jill through Valerie. And if she's good enough for Valerie, she's good enough for me! :) And Iris of Brown Bunny by Iris hats knows both Valerie and Jill, so it's a "circle of friends."

So, you know how yesterday I blogged about how Iris put Valerie, Jill & I in a treasury together? Well, she's done it again with her I Love Bubblegum treasury. And Jill has a treasury with Iris, Valerie & I called You look purrrfect!

So, yeah, I'm feelin' the love and feelin' pretty goofy for not being treasury literate, myself! I thought the least I can do is feature each of these Three Craftsyteers in my blog. ;)

What's to Love About Iris??

2008-10-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have writer's block when it comes to writing about Iris of Brown Bunny by Iris, due to her utter fabulousness! Look at these amazing hats that she designs and creates herself!

AND, not only is Iris my favorite flower, I named my beloved childhood cat Iris.

Iris is so smart, too--when she creates a treasury, she puts "families" of Etsy sellers together who know one another. How does she keep track of it all?!

For example, in her latest Pretty Ones collection, she's included my Solid Gold Yellow Sunshine Handknit Scarf alongside my friend Valerie's mosaic flower pinback buttons and our mutual buddy Jill's Golden Autumn Browns Charm Style Bracelet! How did Iris even KNOW we were a trio of pals? What an amazing designer and an even more amazing person. Thanks, Iris, you're a blessing to us all!

What do the "L" and "B" stand for?

2008-10-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about shopping on Etsy (your place to buy & sell all things handmade) is that I know I'm buying from individual business owners...not some huge conglomerate or department store or retail monstrosity.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to one such fiber artist, Patty of L & B Accessories. The fact that the "L" and "B" stand for her two children, Lilly & Blayne, adds a special touch.

I was thrilled to learn that the family has adopted two rescued, shelter kittens (my "real" job is with Best Friends Animal Society)--way to be part of the solution!

So now, when you visit L & B Accessories for quality, innovative handbags, purses, satchels, wallets & more, you'll know you're supporting both a loving family and the handmade movement, as well!

Oh, Canada! Oh, Nancy!

2008-10-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

I've got a soft spot for all things North (of the American border, that is). You see, I grew up in Montana, just hours away from the Canadian border. As a child, our family was just as likely to vacation to Banff or Niagara Falls as we were to head to Yellowstone or Glacier parks. How blessed are we to live near such incredible beauty!

My point? The fact that Nancy of Wallis Designs makes her beautiful jewelry (shown in this post) from her home in Whitby, Canada, makes her even more special in my eyes!

I love to see artists who are happy in their work, so Nancy's shop announcement warms my heart: "I love to play with colourful glass beads, shining sterling silver and sparkling crystals. It just makes me happy."

And she uses only good quality glass beads, swarovski crystals and semi-precious stones with sterling silver or copper--no pearls, bone, shell, coral, feathers or other animal products, which warms the cockles of my vegan heart. ;)

You can also find Nancy on her website and blog

The Eclectic, Artistic Mind...

2008-10-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday, on my way out the door "to town" with Nicky to get (more) Halloween supplies and (more) yarn, I get a message from Lori of BACLORI--yes, the B.A.C. part stands for Basement Art Creations!

She wanted to let me know that she'd included my Orange to Burgundy Red Fire Handknit Scarf in her latest, artistically titled Warm Soul & Wonder collection of images. If you get a chance today, please come check out the treasury she's put together--very quirky and endearing, just like Lori's shop! I stink at making treasuries, so I've put together a kind of "treasury" here of some of my favorites of Lori's photographs.

Lest you be hoodwinked into thinking that Lori only exc"els in photography, let me assure you, she also offers cards, jewelry, charms, key chains & more. She explains in her online Profile:

"Basement Art Creations was founded on the notion that great things can come from sleepless nights (and of course slight delirium). Or at most if not great things then at least some "things". After wandering about aimlessly in the wee hours, becoming addicted to countless sci-fi thrillers and organizing and re-organizing the art, jewelry and photo supplies in the basement over and over again it was decided that an interesting hobby which could utilize all of this was in order. With a short attention span and a zillion ideas bouncing around it became apparent a direction was needed, someplace to start putting ideas, jewelry designs, fun photographs and other such eclectic items for sale. This is how Basement Art Creations was conceived.. While I believe that imagination, creativity and insomnia seem to compliment each other on some deep, surreal and idealistic level that lends itself to my projects . . .In the end I really do just hope that you find something you like!"

The Quali"T" of "QT Pa2T"

2008-10-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Quality & attention to detail are two of the nicest things about supporting handmade artists. For example, please check out the shop announcement of QT PA2T (yes, that sounds out as "Cutie Patootie!"):

'All of my items are handcrafted with attention to detail ... All ribbon ends are heat sealed to prevent fraying (even the ends you don't see). I hand sew all of my bows, too..."

The other nice thing about buying handmade is that you get to deal with a "real person." Here's a little more about Whitney of QT, from her online Profile:

"I am a very happy Stay At Home Mom to 3 "QT PA2Ts". I have 2 girly girls and that's where the love for making girly accessories bloomed. I hope you enjoy checking out my shop!!"

Most importantly for me, I love the community of handmade artists that I find on Etsy, "your place to buy & sell all things handmade." For example, Whitney also writes in her shop announcement: "Check out my pal's shop for super cute scrabble tile pendants~ raychelham.etsy.com." Yes, that's the same Raychelham featured here recently! And, Whitney was kind enough to add my new
Chocolate Ganache Brown Teddy Bear Handknit Scarf to her latest Chocolate Covered Oranges treasury, which I truly feel is front page material...what do you think?? :)

Bright Ho-Riyze-onz with Riyze Designz

2008-10-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to featuring Brandy of Riyze Designs and her about to be opened second shop, Flax.

First, she's got style(you're totally lovin' the Birdhouse Hanging Ornament of hers, pictured here along with other images from her shop, right??)!

Second, she's got personality! From her online Artist's Profile:

"Lets see I Like:
Getting my hands dirty
Reading
Playing in the Park
Taking walks with the girls
keeping Busy
playing on the computer
Music"

Third, she must like animals, since her avatar on Etsy is a kitty...Which is a huge bonus in my book, since my "day" job is with Best Friends Animal Society.

Fourth, she's community-minded: Thanks, Brandy, for including my Autumn Twilight Harvest Ribbon Scarf is Blue Yellow Brown Burgundy Copper for Fall Holidays in your Bountiful Harvest treasury!

Welcome, Mariah Brown!

2008-10-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Mariah Brown is our newest addition to the Utah team on Etsy, your place to buy & sell all things handmade!

Here's what Mariah says in her online Profile:

"Hi! My name is Mariah Brown. I am the mother of the cutest 1 year old boy ever!! Between being mom and wife, I don't have a lot of spare time, but the little I do have goes to making jewelry. I started making jewelry earlier this year after taking a beginner's class that got me addicted! I am learning new things every day, and continue to get excited about the things I'm making. It's neat to put a little piece of me into every piece I make. I hope you like what you see and come back often!"

Mariah's already off to a great start, joining teams and making treasuries! And thanks so much, Mariah, for including my Pumpkin Squash and Harvest Berries, Handknit Autumn Harvest Fall Scarf in your warm, hearty A Taste of Fall treasury!

I HAVE to share this shop with you...

2008-10-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

...as a Halloween freak, I can't resist!

Red's Creative Corner, (otherwise known as Raychelham is bursting at the seams with holiday-centric (and every other-centric) scrabble tile pendants, including those pictured here. Which is your favorite (pls post as comment at bottom of this post)??

From Red's shop announcement (good stuff, here!):

"Welcome to my shop! I offer low shipping costs for scrabble tile pendants and an affordable listing price. Each piece is handmade with care and affection. Zero shipping cost for additional pendants. Use your imagination and let me know if I can make a Custom Photo Pendant for you. See my custom listings. Thanks for visiting!"

And how! :)

Old MacDougall Had a Heather...

2008-10-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'm anything BUT Scottish, almost literally! I've parts Irish, English, Welsh, Seminole & Cherokee, Spanish Moor....dizzy yet? I'm sure there's more! But, alas, not a drop of Scot.

Still, I have a love affair with all things Scottish. For example, one of my favorite singers is Catherine-Ann MacPhee, who sings in the language of the Gael.

Maybe it's just the embarrassing number of times I saw Braveheart in the 90's. Maybe I'm a Highlander at heart. At any rate, my obsession with plaid prompted me to create my Specially Handknit Scottish Plaid Tartan Red Black White Scarf for Indie Hipster Teens with Style. No, it's not "true" tartan. Here's what I write about it:

"I am soooooo proud of myself for designing this freakin' awesome scarf! Plaid is usually woven on a loom & I utilized every last one of my creative brain cells to figure out a way to knit instead of weave to make this warm, incredible, "plaid" design. The perfect choice for anyone young, happening & free thinking. Absolutely "wow" with a miniskirt, tights and clunky shoes/boots. Think schoolgirl charm with a major kick of fashion. Here's to uniform freaks."

So, anyway, back to Scotland...this morning I'm bumbling through the Etsy online treasuries and I come across one titled "Old MacDougall had a...." and I open it up and it continues, "TARTAN, of course!" and it's all tartan plaids (and wanna-be's, including my scarf)!

Okay, no, wait, it gets better...Heather of Heather Knitz, who made the treasury, writes:

"Yep, the MacDougalls are my clan and while not all of these are "tartans," it certainly is an ode to the Scottish tartan!"

How jealous am I??? Anyway, I just have to tell you a bit about Heather's online shop, it's super cool for crafters & handmade enthusiasts! There are 600+ how-to's, tutorials, patterns, supplies & more in her virtual "artisan's emporium!" We're talking buttons, fabric, hair accessories...32 pages of fun....WOW!! And all super reasonably priced, too. The pictures in this post is just a tiny sampling of all that Heather has to offer. If you love creating, especially for holiday gift-giving, please check Heather out...and help a Highlander in the process! ;)

Angel Press: We Ain't Just Angels!

2008-10-05T15:41:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween Time on Etsy, your place to buy & sell all things handmade, and Angel Press is breaking with their usual "angelic" presentation to get in the spirit with the fun pendants pictured here! From the artists' Profile online:

"Welcome to Angel Press. We are a collective of artists offering an array of unique and exciting designs. We are very much into upcycling. Many of the paper products you see have been crafted from items headed for the recycle bin and instead are created into something fun and pretty. Many items are one-of-a-kind or limited editions because we use found and recycled objects. We do incorporate new materials into our work as well. We do not specialize in anything in particular; rather, we create whatever whimsical items we feel like making that day. Have fun looking!

Love from "the ladies and gentleman at AngelPress""

Come by and visit their online gallery (link above) and be sure to thank them for including my Chocolate Biscuit Dark Brown and Creamy Tan Handknit Scarf in their latest Ensemble in Cream & Tan visual collection, viewable through Wednesday!

Julie Truly is a Jewelie in the Garden!

2008-10-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

Settle on in, it's Story Time! :) Okay, so, before I moved to Utah near the Grand Canyon, I lived in the Portland, Oregon area. And as some of you know, I'm a companion animal spay/neuter advocate.

So, when I lived in Oregon, I volunteered as the v.p. of a statewide spay/neuter funding & referral nonprofit, Pet OverPopulation Prevention Advocates, or POPPA. Anyway, we raised about 1/2 our funding with a resale plant nursery called Recycled Gardens. We'd re-sell donated plant and garden goodies to the public at discount prices. Our "relix" shop in a circa 1930's barn was full of home and garden items made with 75% reclaimed materials, many made by local artisans. It was a very cool idea and it funded about half of the 3,000 animals POPPA helped out every year.

I'm telling you all this because when I saw the stained glass windchime work of Julie DeGroot of Jewels In The Garden, it took me right back to the pieces we sold at Recycled Gardens! Which is funny, because Julie designs her one-of-a-kind chimes (some pictured here) on the complete opposite side of the continent, in eastern New York! Each piece is prettier than the next and when you visit her online gallery, you can almost hear the tinkling chimes dancing in the breeze.

And Julie's philosophy, which can be seen in her online Profile, is right in line with nature-lovers everywhere:

"A garden should be filled with not only plants & love, but little surprises throughout it. Something to catch your eye & drag you in to sit awhile to stop and smell the roses.
My heart and soul goes into all of my art.
Always on the look out for vintage glass, beads, or objects to reuse. I love to upcycle pieces into my art.
Taking nothing and turning it into something!"

Thanks, Julie, for spreading your creativity and wisdom to us all!

Jessie McCann, Goddess in Her Own Right

2008-10-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

At our house, we watch a LOT of Wonder Woman. I mean a LOT! You'll also find Wonder Woman action figures, comic books, hardcover books, etc, etc. She's one of Nicky's all-time favorite superheroes, and I'm a huge fan, too (especially of the Linda Carter T.V. series)!

So our little hearts thrill to the sound of Wonder Woman's signature battle call-out, "Hera, give me strength!"

Now that you know that little tidbit about our family, you'll imagine my delight when I was going through the Treasuries Section on Etsy (Your place to buy & sell all things handmade) and came across a new Mauve Beautiful collection from Jessie McCann.

Thanks, Jessie, for including my A Rose is a Rose Pink Handknit Scarf, that's what caught my attention about your feminine, soft and pretty collection of rose, mauve & pink items!

Still wondering what this has to do with Wonder Woman?? Well, Jessie's online jewelry boutique is full of voluptuous, cool-headed, assertive pieces named after goddesses such as Hera, Artemis and one of my favorites, Athena! So as soon as I saw her simple, elegant pieces (some pictured here), I got all happy because the Hera design made me think of Wonder Woman! A look into my circuitous mind, hee hee. ;)

Feeling Romantic? Come to Avalon!

2008-09-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

I was a complete & utter bookworm growing up, and fantasy/science fiction were my favorite genres. I was so addicted to reading, I'd even fake a leg ache so I could take the hot pad to bed and read under the covers by the light of its control panels (not recommended, now I have terrible eyesight)!

So now, anything related to Camelot, Avalon, princesses, chivalry, etc. has me swooning for those dreamy days of my childhood.

Which is why I just had to blog about Treasures of Avalon's online jewelry boutique, full of pirates, goddesses & days of yore. Come join this self-professed roving band of gypsies and order a piece of romantique for your life!

I'm Knots Kidding, This Jewelry is Wonderful!

2008-09-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

Please excuse the pun...I'm just so exciting about the totally unique, knotted necklaces, earrings and more offered by Knots by Marcela! Please check out the super cool pictures of Mar's work in this post, just a few examples of the nearly 200 one-of-a-kind pieces in her shop on Etsy, your place to buy & sell all things handmade.

Please head on over to Marcela's online jewelry boutique for irrestible, affordable adornments!

Here's a little bit more about Marcela, from her Profile:

I am a 41 year old woman with 2 beatiful kids; I live in Cambridge, Massachusetts with them and my husband.
my background is as an internal medical doctor and work in medicine as a consultant in Boston.
Jewelry making has been my favorite hobby since I was a little kid. This passion is growing and growing and I keep adding new ideas and materials . I personally never leave the house without wearing a piece of jewelry(lately mostly mine...)and always get compliments. I love creating these pieces and from the first moment of choosing the colors until the piece is finished I cherish every single minute of it.

Blaizyring a New Fashion Trail

2008-09-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Wanna see the fun, fun, fun at Blaizyre? Check out these cool pics of altered clothing, then head on down to her online boutique, part of Etsy, your place to buy and sell all things handmade.

From Blaizyre's shop announcement:

♥Altered Clothing: Always bold, original, creative, and inspiring!

♥Let the streets be your catwalk!

♥Altered Clothing believes you should have fun, experiment....and be a little risky!

I also offer free shipping with every purchase!(I only ship to places within the United States)

100% Smoke free!!!

xoxo

PS, all my proceeds after costs are given to animals or people in need either through cash donation or by purchased donations. Currently I am focusing on a local youth outreach program!

~~~~

You like? :) I like that Blaizyre has included my new Slate Silver Grey and Soft White Handknit Scarf - So Thick and Wide, It's Almost a Shawl in her latest treasury collection of Etsy handmade items. The treasury's called Zebras (So, are they white with black stripes or black with white stripes?) and you can check it out and comment through today only! Thanks for stopping by. :)

I'm a Girl and to Me That's Only Great...

2008-09-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

...I am proud that my silhouette is curvy...know that song?

It's one of my faves, especially Peggy Lee's version. My Aunt Susan and I used to walk the suburban neighborhood streets at night when everyone else was asleep, belting out our heartfelt renditions of every verse.

I love ruffles, lace, edging, trim, ribbons and all things feminine. :)

So, when I saw the AMAZING artistry of Nebraskan belle Shannon of RecycledGlamour, I simply HAD to blog about it!

She upcycles existing clothing by adding unique fabrics, crocheted flowers, lace edging and more...*sigh*...so romantic, especially her slip dresses!

I hope you enjoy these photographs from her shop!

Bookmarks & Brooches With a Twist

2008-09-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

You're looking for unique gifts for holiday giving, right? That's why I'd like to introduce you to Marge of Rock Creek Creations.

Based out of Eau Claire (Clear Water), Wisconsin, Marge specializes in colorful, diverse fiber art bookmarks and brooches...but she's also versed in the following crafts:

Crocheting, Knitting, Counted Cross Stitch, Sewing, Embroidery, Tatting, Quilting, Hand Dyeing Fabric, Triangle Loom Weaving, Polymer Clay and Jewelry Making. A person should try everything once.

And right now, Marge is having a sale:

Buy 3 Book Marks or Woven Accessories from my Etsy shop, and get one item free. Normal conditions apply. Least expensive item is the free item. Please check out with 3 items in your cart, pay the normal way via paypal and in the note to seller section, please let me know which item you would like free.

For more, please visit Marge's blog
Have fun tackling your holiday shopping early and hassle-free with Rock Creek's fabulous, handcrafted creations!

Little Brown Bird Rocks My World!

2008-09-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so maaaaybeee I went a little overboard and put too many photographs of Little Brown Birds' jewelry in this blog post. Really, though...can you blame me? Look at the personality, the depth, the richness of each of these pieces.

Here's more info about Little Brown Bird's work, in the artist's own words:

"I am a proud member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET). Search JETTEAM to find more wonderful items from JET members.

My art is not limited to any one medium. I love photography, writing, painting, singing, acting...I could go on and on. Still, my love for all things shiny keeps me happily engrossed in jewelry design. Every piece created is a product of a restless imagination.

I prefer to use semiprecious stones or interesting glass beads in my work and love to pair them with sterling and .999 Fine Silver, yet I will not overlook the aesthetic value of a beautiful bead or found object simply because it is a base metal. My style is ever changing and evolving. As a result, you will find a little bit of everything in my work. I don't believe in stifling my creative energy and will try my hand at just about anything.

I am an adventure seeker and traveler and always hungry to discover new things. I have been greatly influenced by my travels and the amazing people I have met along the way. Having zip-lined through the cloud forest canopies of Costa Rica, jumped off of a bridge into the Urubamba River in Peru, hiked the Andes to Machu Picchu, traveled Death Road in Bolivia, and driven the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago...I have learned that life is something to be embraced with all senses. I believe life and art hold the same truths...that it must not only be viewed, but heard, touched, smelled, and tasted with an open heart, an open mind, and always with an open-mouthed hearty guffaw.

I have a variety of collections to complement any style and price point for young girls to women. I will happily accept orders for custom sizing or a change in clasp or ear post/wire on any of my pieces.

My work has been featured on-line and at local boutiques. I welcome inquiries for wholesale opportunities at boutiques and galleries. Please contact me for details.

You are welcome to visit these other sites to view additional items not seen in my shop. All items are available for purchase unless otherwise noted.

Blog
Flickr
Silkfair
iCraft

And please stop by my In The Raw creative supplies shop which has just opened in January 2008.