You BUG Me! Anti-Valentine's Day Treasury (Team Undiscovered Treasury Challenge)

Today I created a new treasury for the Team Undiscovered Wednesday Treasury Challenge. The theme presented to us for our treasuries was Anti-Valentine's Day, so I decided to title my treasury "You BUG Me!" Many of the featured items come from shops that have yet to be discovered, meaning they have very few sales. Be the first to check them out with all of their creepy crawly glory...



The above image is of a soap bar from the shop of FoggyMorningSundries. The link to check out more of her lovely items is:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/FoggyMorningSundries?ref=pr_shop_more

I also found a really cool light-up spider and many other great items. Come check out the whole treasury at:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d3749ffc7ab8eeff4bdf322/valentines-day-bugs-me-team-undiscovered?ref=pr_treasury

Anyone can participate in the Wednesday Treasury Challenge. Just check out the blog post at:

http://theundiscoveredofetsy.blogspot.com/2011/01/its-time-wednesday-undiscovered.html

My Pouncing Premier at Hug a Bug

Well, here goes nothin'...

I have pounced several times to check out the new creativitiy brewing up on Etsy.com, but I have never made it official by blogging about it for the Team Undiscovered Pounce Tuesdays. Today I am breaking that streak.

First and foremost... If you aren't familiar with the Pounce feature on Etsy's homepage, here is a little description:

On the homepage of Etsy.com, on the left hand side, slightly over midway down the page, there is a Pounce button. If you click on that button, it will allow you to browse new Etsy shops. There are two different settings (new shops and just sold shops). If you select the new shops option, then you will be able to check out shops who have not made their first sale yet. This is where I found today's feature...

I found a cute, little shop today. The shop owner's name is Angela Fitzgerald, and her shop is called Hug a Bug. Not only has Angela not yet made her first sale, but she only opened her shop December 06, 2010, so she is very new to Etsy. There is not even a profile listed yet for her and her shop, so I was able to find out very little about her. I do know, however, that she sells handmade diaper bags that are super adorable! They have a super cute button closure at the top and are made from various vibrant fabrics. The pricing is very affordable, so I encourage you all to go and check her out at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/afitzgerald29?ref=pr_shop


Here are a two examples of diaper bags that she has listed in her Etsy shop...

I hope you love Hug a Bug as much as I did!

Come Pounce with me again sometime to see what other new shops are out there waiting to be discovered...

Dolls, dolls, dolls

Ok... So I knew my daughters really wanted me to make them each a doll for Christmas... What did I do? I waited until the last minute to make them. I have three daughters, so this was no small task. Let's just say I don't do my best work at 2am either. Well, they got their dolls. I did finish them in time for Christmas morning, well almost. The dolls themselves were finished, but they ended up being put under the tree naked! I just ran out of time and energy to make their dresses. The worst part about it all is that I STILL have not made their dresses. My poor girls have been playing with naked dollies the whole time. I really need to get on that. Here are some pics of the little cuties in progress and finished (well, as finished as they are to date). Each doll has a likeness to the daughter who received it (eye color and hair color).

First Etsy Sale!!!

I made my first sale in my Etsy shop yesterday!!  It was one of my items that was featured in a BNR.  See BNR post for explanation if necessary.  The item I sold was one of the dolls that I made (pictured in a previous post).  Now I hope the sales keep coming.  Don't forget out the coupon code HappyHolidays15 to get you 15% off of anything in my shop.  Come check it out.  Coupon code applies to custom orders as well.  Here is a pic of the dolly I shipped out this morning.

New BNR Treasuries on Etsy.com

BNR Definition:  A treasury (collection) of items from various Etsy shops.  If you have an Etsy shop, you can buy an item from the collection, and then you can feature one of your items in the place of the item you purchased.  It's a great way to get your shop noticed and to buy some really great items. 

Here is a link to a pretty cool BNR.  It features a bunch of new sellers on Etsy.  Check it out and click on as many items as you can to help it stay on the first page in the Treasury Search!  If you have an Etsy shop, you can buy and then you can feature one of your items in the place of the item you purchased.  It's a great way to get your shop noticed and to buy some really great items.  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d114bc298466d91da3360eb/free-open-bnr-checkout-etsys-hottest-new?index=14

Here is another BNR Treasury link. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d12053b12f48eefa31bdb62/openundiscovered-etsy-newbie-bnr-by?index=0&page=4#comments

Check them out!  Most of these artists/ crafters are undiscovered...  Be the first...

Handsewn Dolls Tip

I have been making handmade dolls recently.  I just decided to try it one day.  I use no pattern.  It is all just trial and error, so every one is TRULY different.  The first doll I made was surely a challenge.  After making several, I have determined that it is important to do as much as possible (hair, face, etc...) before actually sewing the doll body together.  On my last one, I actually embroidered the mouth and sewed on the hair and eyes on before sewing the front and back pieces of the doll body together.  It made for a nicer finished product and an easier process.  If anyone else has any other suggestions or tips for rag doll making, please post.  I am interested to read them, and I am sure others are as well.  Happy crafting!!

New Items

I finally have added some items to my Etsy shop.  They are not even new items.  I have just not gotten around to adding them to the shop until now.  Well at least I got them up.  I have several more to add, so keep checking in on the shop to see new items.  I would love to check out your Etsy shop if you have one or any other online shop where you sell your handmade items, so post a link, and I can't wait to see what you all have to offer!