Friday, July 29, 2011

7 questions • Caroline of NewHopeBeading



7 Questions with Caroline of NewHopeBeading on Etsy

1. Where do you live? I live in Hunterdon County, NJ. It is actually very rural out here…. well at least to me as I grew up 5 miles from NYC. I LOVE where we live. It is only one hour to Manhattan in one direction and an hour and a half to Philly in the other direction, yet my town looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Our biggest problem is how to keep the deer, fox, bunny, and groundhogs out of our vegetable garden. I like to call where we live “pretend country” because for a City girl like me that is ideal… I need my City fix but I LOVE raising the kids here.


2. What are you obsessed with lately? Ah well I’d say PMC… can you tell? I am totally and hopelessly obsessed with precious metal clay.  I now see everything as something I could potentially stamp in silver.  I have been heard saying on many occasions, “Hmmm wonder if I could stamp that?” Same thing with phrase. My husband will say something and I will say,”Wonder if that will fit on a dogtag?”

I think I like precious metal clay so much because it makes me feel like Midas when I fire what looks like a simple piece of clay and it turns to pure silver…. except, as my 9 year old will point out to me, Midas was gold LOL (hey close enough little dude).


3. Coffee, tea or both? Coffee. They say the human body is over 60% water but it is a medical anomaly that my body is, in fact, over 60% coffee. Without a steady stream of caffeine I will wither way.

4. What is your favorite thing about being on Etsy? I have met sooo many amazing people and friends. I am constantly blown away by the talent from all over the globe. I love, too, that I get paid to do what I love. My Etsy shop allows me to work to pay for my daughter’s epilepsy meds (only a small potion of which are covered by insurance) yet still be home and close at hand should the school ever call me with an emergency … which, knock wood, they have not since she has been on meds.


Care to share a photo of you when you were little? Yes! This is my 4th grade picture… isn’t that collar groovy?

5. And what is your least favorite thing about being on Etsy? Left to my druthers I would just create and create and create and would not worry about marketing at all.

6. What are you afraid of? I am most afraid that my daughter will get injured again if she has a bad seizure. She was injured when she had her first seizure 3 years ago (she hit her head on the desk at school). We have been lucky in that her epilepsy has been well controlled by meds since. In fact so well controlled that she will be spending sometime in the hospital in August as they think she may have outgrown her seizures. While this makes me very happy on one level, the thought of her coming off meds terrifies me on another. BTW if you visit my shop in August and find it closed for a few days you’ll know I will be with her at the hospital, please visit back the following week :)







7. Who are you in love with? My kids and my husband… who I think is taking this picture and I, as always, am being camera shy. This picture is a few years old but I choose it because it also shows the old red mill on the Main street in our town.

Friday, July 22, 2011

giveaway • cocoabeans

 

Dream Team Member Giveaway: 

Gorgeous Hand Dyed Twine - 4 colors: 15 yard each!

by Cocoabeans!

 

Here is your chance to win these fabulous hand dyed twine sets in 4 gorgeous colors from Cocoabeans!  Don’t miss out on this fabulous giveaway! You will get: Taupe, Aqua, Pomegranate, and Cantaloupe!


TO PURCHASE:

These twines (and other colors) are available for immediate purchase HERE!

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
 Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! 

1 Entry Visit Cocoabean’s shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CocoaBeans?ref=seller_info and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry Follow the Dream Team Blog, leave a comment here that you completed this.

1 Entry Heart Cocoabeans’ Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

Extra Entries:

Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did! You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. 

Feel free to use this tweet or something similar: 

Win #twine Hand Dyed Twine in 4 Colors! http://ow.ly/5Lsao  #blog #giveaway Ends 8/5! RT @dreamteametsy 

1 Entry Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog so we can find you!

1 EntryBlog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a link here.

1 EntryEnter another one of our contests HERE and post which one you entered.

GUIDELINES/RULES:
  •  Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.
  • This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday, August 5th.
  •  The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by August 8th and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.
  •  This giveaway is open worldwide.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Get the Look • Dickie Greenleaf

                                                            The Talented Mr. Ripley 1999


Rhett again from RhettDidntGiveADamn, with the promised follow up to the Get the Look: Marge Sherwood. Marge has the 50's summer thing down pat, but so do the leading men in the film! In particular we're going to have a look at the fashion sense of Dickie Greenleaf. Say hello to light, summery and preppy.

 Let's jump right in with a great striped polo shirt from CairoVintage:


Next we need some great white slacks and this vintage pair from semprevintage are perfectly cuffable!


How about a linen blazer to help your man dress it up for evening? I like this light blue jacket from hannahbe:


To tie up this look you need a great pair of light, comfy (and vintage) shoes. I love this pair from woodensleepers:


By now you've got to be channeling Dickie Greenleaf pretty heavy. But there's one last thing that could really turn this look out. Remember the ring? Sport this handmade option from jewelscurnow

 
Now you've got the inspiration you need to get decked out in cool summer vintage. So hey, grab your partner, dress one another up and take on the world ala Marge and Dickie.

xo,


        Rhett

Friday, July 15, 2011

giveaway • victoriaenglishcharm


 Dream Team Member Giveaway: 

Snowdrop - 10x8 Print

by victoriaenglishcharm 



Here is your chance to win this gorgeous print by
 victoriaenglishcharm!

  
Don’t miss out on this fabulous giveaway!
   

Snowdrop. BOGO. 10x8 print


TO PURCHASE:

This print is available for immediate purchase HERE!

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entries:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! 

1 Entry - Visit victoriaenglishcharm’s shop at 
and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry - Follow the Dream Team Blog, leave a comment here that you completed this.


Extra Entries:
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! Please leave a separate comment for each entry.


1 Entry - Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did!You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. 

Feel free to use this tweet or something similar: 
WIN this gorgeous print by victoriaenglishcharm @dreamteametsy    http://tinyurl.com/6a5q5lw #giveaway

1 Entry - Heart victoriaenglishcharm's Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

1 Entry - Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog so we can find you!

1 Entry - Blog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a link here.

1 Entry - Enter another one of our contests HERE and post which one you entered.


GUIDELINES/RULES:
  • Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.
  • This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday, July 29th
  • The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by July 31st and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.
  • This giveaway is open worldwide.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

cook eat drink • Tomato Basil Vinaigrette: a Summer Delight



This is Toni from Bucktoothed Bunny and I am sharing my sister’s incredibly tasty vinaigrette recipe. My sister, Traci, is a vinaigrette fanatic and created this fabulous recipe that has become a family favorite. It tastes so fresh and is bursting with flavor. 


6 grape tomatoes
2 scallions, chopped
4 basil leaves, chopped
1 cup balsamic vinegar
½ cup olive oil
Salt is optional

Put tomatoes, scallions, basil, and ¼ cup of the vinegar in a blender. Blend well, about 20 seconds. Then, using a rubber spatula, scrape the sides of the blender to get everything down in the bottom. Blend again on high for about 30 seconds. The idea is to get the veggies chopped finely for a smooth dressing. Add the rest of the vinegar and the oil. (If you want salt, add it here) Blend on high until incorporated, about another 30 seconds.


For the optimal salad experience, use basil, chopped grape tomatoes and chopped scallions in addition to a good lettuce in your salad. This enhances the flavors in the dressing. We’ve been using romaine lettuce and adding chopped cucumbers as well. As with any salad, remember to have your lettuce clean and dry so it holds the dressing.


I hope you'll give it a try! 

Friday, July 8, 2011

things we carry• laurenblythedesigns




Left to right, bottom row: Neutral leather bag from Banana Republic, tattered wallet, silver business card holder with my laurenblythedesigns Etsy shop business cards. Middle row: California Baby Sunscreen, Cars 2 Fruit Snacks, Blackberry, Nars and Armani lipstick collection (this is nothing compared to what I don’t carry!) Top row: Tea (coffee) cup cozy from Knit Storm on Etsy, black hair clip, bottle of Advil, vintage 1980s tortoise shell cat eye sunglasses and one of my designs: Garland earrings in black

Lauren’s purse

Hi, I'm Lauren from
laurenblythedesigns! Here is a look inside my purse. By the way, I don’t use one purse all the time, I have a few and often change them out depending on the season. Since it's summer I am using my casual summer bag.  The day I photographed this I had to run errands: to the Post Office to mail jewelry orders, the bank and then the mall, with a Starbucks on the way of course!  The bag is from last summer from Banana Republic. It’s such a classic look that really goes with everything.

The bag may change, but the daily carry doesn't change much:

Wallet. A must of course to pay for the post office, the daily Cappuccino and the occasional mall stroll (see my lipstick stash below!), as well as 5 year old child needs. Can you say Monkey Business? Or an ice cream cone? Or snacks at the pool? The wallet is just something I got a few years ago and I liked how neutral it is. Nothing special about it except of course it does what it should!




Silver business card case was a birthday gift last year and I love it! It fits my “vintage” style and it holds my Etsy shop cards well!

California Baby Sunscreen. I carry this around for my 5 year old. When we are out at a park or something I hate forgetting sunscreen. This has no chemicals but it’s also not waterproof so not the one we use for the pool and such but it’s great to have around. 

Cars 2 Fruit Snack. Five year old obsessions: Cars 2 and Fruit Snacks! What more could a little boy ask for? I like to have one with me when I pick him up from camp and he’s hungry or just as a pick me up any other day.

Blackberry. Love it! Need I say more?




Lipstick collection! Ok I admit I have a huge lipstick addiction and this is only part of it- the rest is on my vanity table. When I am feeling down, I buy a new lipstick. When it’s a new season, I buy a new lipstick. When I am bored, I buy a new lipstick. Sometimes I think of how much all these cost and think of what I could REALLY buy instead!  Here are some of my faves: Armani gloss in #45 which looks fantastic over Armani lipstick in #101. Amazing nudes. Nars lipstick pencil in New Lover (don't ya love the name?).  I love the color but you have to sharpen it since it's a pencil and I don’t carry a sharpener with me so if it’s too low, I am out of luck! Nars gloss in Orgasm (I can't make these names up!) that looks great over Nars lipstick in Tzigane – peachy nude.  Chanel in Mademoiselle (a peachy pink). This sold out last summer so I hunted it down as I had to have it- and now I never wear it. It’s a gorgeous color though! I should wear it.



Green Java Cup Cozy from Knitstorm on Etsy. Since I am a coffee (make that a nonfat cocoa cappuccino) addict, I figure using this was less wasteful than the paper one’s you get at the coffee shops. Plus it's super cute! I also use it for ice cold drinks in the summer!

Hair clip- Target. I have them in a ton of colors!



Garland Earrings in black from my Etsy shop. I have these in my purse as my girlfriends love these earrings in black and I have a pair to deliver to a friend. Ever since one of my friends asked if they came in black, they have been a local hit ever since- well not just local, all the way to Chicago I kid you not!  I have not added black to my Etsy shop because my Garland Earrings in Mustard turned out to be one of the most amazing photos I have taken as luck would have it. Since I can’t duplicate that photo, I feel adding another color will devalue how gorgeous the mustard one's are. So mustard is all that’s available on Etsy (unless you ask me of course!)



These are very old Cat sunglasses. My mom bought these for me from a lovely boutique when I was fresh out of college in the late 1980s so they are now vintage- wow! (and boy do I feel old).  I wore them a lot then aand then retired them until the last year or so and brought them back out. They fit me so well and I get a ton of complements on them!

So that's the purse of the moment! The only thing missing is my car key which are always hanging on the key holder by the door and my little snapshot book that holds my son's photos and my wedding photos.

That's it. That's the daily carry.

giveaway • shoponalark


Dream Team Member Giveaway: 

Paper Butterfly Specimen Collection Wall or Tabletop Decor

by Shoponalark!

 

Here is your chance to win this gorgeous butterfly art collection by Shoponalark!  Don’t miss out on this fabulous giveaway!




TO PURCHASE:

This print is available for immediate purchase HERE!

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! 

1 Entry Visit Shoponalark’s shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/shoponalark?ref=seller_info and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry Follow the Dream Team Blog, leave a comment here that you completed this.

1 Entry Like Shoponalark on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/shoponalark and leave a comment here that you are “liked” her facebook page.

Extra Entries:
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 Entry - Follow Shoponalark on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/shoponalark, leave a comment you have completed this here.

1 Entry - Follow Shoponalark on Her Blog and leave a comment here that you have completed this.

1 Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did! You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. 

Feel free to use this tweet or something similar: 
Win #art #butterflies Paper Butterfly Specimen Collection http://ow.ly/5Ac1M #blog #giveaway Ends 7/22! RT @dreamteametsy @shoponalark

1 EntryHeart Shoponalark’s Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

1 Entry Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog so we can find you!

1 EntryBlog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a link here.

1 EntryEnter another one of our contests HERE and post which one you entered.

GUIDELINES/RULES:
  •  Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.
  • This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday, July 22nd
  •  The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by July 25 and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.
  •  This giveaway is US only please!

Friday, July 1, 2011

giveaway • bucktoothedbunny


Dream Team Member Giveaway: 

He Had Me at Hello - Vintage Photo on a Grey Cotton Canvas Field Bag

by Bucktoothedbunny!

 

Here is your chance to win this fabulous tote bag with vintage detail by Bucktoothedbunny!  Don’t miss out on this fabulous giveaway!





TO PURCHASE:

This print is available for immediate purchase HERE!

TO WIN:

Mandatory Entry:

Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win! 

1 Entry Visit Bucktoothedbunny’s shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BucktoothedBunny?ref=pr_shop_more and browse around and leave a comment here with your favorite item!

1 Entry Follow the Dream Team Blog, leave a comment here that you completed this.

1 Entry Like Bucktoothedbunny on Facebook:  Bucktoothedbunny's Facebook Page and leave a comment here that you are “liked” her facebook page.

Extra Entries:
Make sure to include your email address or a way to contact you if you win!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1 Entry - Follow Bucktoothedbunny on Twitter: twitter.com/BucktoothedBunn, leave a comment you have completed this here.

1 Entry – Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment here that you did! You can tweet once per day and each tweet will count as another entry, just make sure you leave a separate comment for each tweet. 

Feel free to use this tweet or something similar: 

Win #vintage #photo Cotton Grey Tote Bag #blog #giveaway Ends 7/15! RT @dreamteametsy @bucktoothedbunn http://ow.ly/5v9zW

1 Entry Heart Bucktoothedbunny's Etsy shop and leave a comment here with your Etsy username.

1 Entry Grab the Dream Team blog button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment here that you completed that with a link to your blog so we can find you!

1 EntryBlog about this giveaway on your blog, and leave a link here.

1 EntryEnter another one of our contests HERE and post which one you entered.

GUIDELINES/RULES:
  •  Please make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry.
  • This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Friday, July 15th
  •  The winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will have the winner announced by July 18th and he/she will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address. If a winner cannot be contacted, another winner will be randomly chosen.
  •  This giveaway is open worldwide.

7 questions • Tonya of CityCrochet




Tonya is the woman behind CityCrochet, an Etsy shop that sells unique and beautiful crocheted and felted accessories as well as felted home décor items. The dreamteam recently caught up with Tonya on her way to a post office.


1. Where do you live?
I live in Richmond, VA, a nice city full of history. Its geographical position is great. It’s just 2 hours away from the ocean, Appalachia mountains and D.C. with its museums and rich cultural life. I actually grew up in Moscow, Russia and moved to the U.S. 12 years ago with my husband, who is half Russian and half Hungarian. I love Moscow and try to go back for a visit every year.

2. What are you obsessed with lately?
It’s actually felting. I started felting a while ago but still cannot get enough of it. It’s so rewarding to work with wool creating completely unique and beautiful items adding just water and soap. The process is very eco-friendly and that suits me well. I myself enjoy wearing items made of natural materials and make accessories in my shop as environment friendly as possible. The technique of felting has been known for centuries. It was especially advanced and well established in northern countries where I come from. People used decorated felt to build houses. They used it as clothing, shoes, blankets, toys. I’m glad to be able to continue an old Russian tradition of felting!

3. Coffee, tea or both?
Tea, definitely. We drink only black leaf tea in our family which I actually bring from Russia every time I go there. Somehow it’s impossible to buy black leaf tea in any local supermarket. Even Wholefoods doesn’t carry it.
4. What is your favorite thing about being on Etsy?
I’ve met so many amazing people on Etsy! I honestly think that Etsians are the biggest asset of Etsy. I befriended great craftsmen and simply nice people from all over the world be it Sweden, Argentina or Siberia. I admire people I met on Etsy for being so adventurous, creative, self-motivated, stubborn (in a good sense) and brave. It’s one thing to open your shop while living in Brooklyn, NY and it’s a completely different story to have a shop on Etsy while living in a small town in Siberia. The number of obstacles one has to overcome to make one’s shop active is enormous. I simply admire these people!

Care to share a photo of you when you were little?
5. And what is your least favorite thing about being on Etsy?
You know it’s probably people too. We all inspire each other. The creative process is based on inspiration and exchange of ideas. I think that is totally OK. What is not OK is when people take your pictures and claim they belong to them, when people copy your descriptions without even changing a word, when people post your pictures on their web-sites without even letting you know about it. With huge benefits of Etsy being a global well-recognized marketplace come certain pitfalls we have to deal with.

6. What are you afraid of?
Butterflies, believe it or not! I can definitely admire them from afar but I wouldn’t dare touching one!




7. Who are you in love with?
I have a great family that includes my husband and our two sons. I have my dear parents who live in Moscow, Russia and my little brother (not that little any more) who lives in Moscow and has three sons. My husband’s family lives in Hungary. So it’s one wonderful extended family that is spread out all over the world. Welcome to the 21st century!