Featured Seller: Erin from Dramatique Designs

This week's featured seller is Erin from the whimsical, colorful shop Dramatique Designs, home of upcycled fashions:

I started Dramatique Designs about 3 years ago. I am self-taught; I never went to design school. I am an artist at heart, from acting to dancing, so it felt natural to start designing and sewing. I finally felt like I had chosen the right career for myself--and it only took 32 years!

I love creating something new out of something old. So much care, love, and fabulousness goes into my work. Every piece of clothing has a story to tell, and I love telling fantastical stories through my fashion. I have been an actor in theater for over 15 years, so it seemed only natural to integrate drama into what I create. I am heavily influenced by the dreamy designs of the past, from Jane Austen’s classic and delicate style dresses to the bright mess of color in the 60s. I do not limit myself to one era; I love to create it all! It was so easy to come up with the name for my business, as I have always had a flair for the dramatic.

I joined Etsy on the encouragement of my mother. She felt it would be a good way to showcase my wares, and hopefully sell them. I also have my own personal website where I sell my items. Like my Facebook page and comment or follow my blog and comment for 10% off your order! (Email me for code: erin@dramatiquedesigns.com.)

Check out Dramatique Designs for more fun fashions and accessories, including tote bags! You can also follow the shop on Twitter. For fall and winter knit fashions, check out Erin's other shop, HipKnitism.

Renattoni Knitted Baby Booties Giveaway [CLOSED]

I am very excited to have a giveaway up for you! The lovely contributors are from the shop Renattoni:

We are three sisters from Peru who love to knit and sew high-end couture clothing and accessories for babies and children, with luxurious, best-quality organic natural fibers, organic Pima cotton, and baby Alpaca wool. 

Working with traditional textures and fabrics, we make heirloom handknit pieces for babies, and adorable toddler and girls' dresses in cotton, silks, and cotton wools. 

We also sell the yarns used to knit the beautiful pieces at our other shop, Bel Punto.

 
One of you will win a pair of girl or boy booties! See something darling you just have to get right now? Use the coupon code BABYGIVE for 20% off!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fabletics Athletic Apparel

A few months ago, I saw a Facebook ad for Fabletics, an athletic apparel company cofounded by the actress Kate Hudson. I looked around and bought this fabulous outfit:

I absolutely love it! The shirt is airy, long, and comfortable, and I love the style. The shorts are modest and not too tight like other Spandex shorts. A sports bra was also included, but the only size they had left was too small, so I sold it on eBay for half of what I paid for the whole outfit! New members can get outfits for as low as $25 with free shipping. And signing up does not mean you have to continue buying. Fabletics will send you an email on the first of each month with personalized outfits, which you can opt out of buying. If you forget, they give you one free pass. After that, the fee is credited to your account, so it's not lost money but available for once you do decide to buy something again. They also accept returns and exchanges.

The best part is the reviews, which include a fitting rating to help you decide which size to buy. It was very useful for me since I usually don't buy clothes online for sizing reasons. Thanks to the advice others left, the size I chose fit perfectly!

If you are looking for stylish, bright, fun workout clothes, accessories, and equipment, then I highly recommend trying Fabletics! This is the next outfit I want to get:

Featured Seller: Rita from WhiteQuiet

This week's featured seller is Rita from WhiteQuiet, a shop of lovely crocheted items and vintage-inspired illustrations.

My name is Rita, and I am from Moscow, Russia. One day I decided to mix up my hobbies: handcrafting, fashion, design, and Internet marketing. Then I spiced it up with my favorite styles: bohemian, tribal, rustic, cottage chic, and vintage. I like playing with colors and getting inspired by nature. I work with all natural materials: pure wool, cotton, linen, soy yarn, gemstones, wood, and metal.

My Etsy shop is pretty new; I am still looking for the right concept and the right way to run my online business. I am really happy to find and join the Etsy community, and I hope to stay here for long.

Check out WhiteQuiet for more pretty products! You can also follow Rita and her shop on Tumblr, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Featured Sellers: Unique Artists on Etsy

This week's featured sellers all share one thing in common: they sell artwork. First is Nicole of Art, Design and Dreams, seller of photography cards and upcycled vintage items.

Exploring the world, its society and culture. Experimenting with its materials. Preserving real beauty. Discovering true happiness. Staying curious. That is my way as a crossmedia designer to approach art, design and dreams.

Facebook
Blog
Site

Second is Stanka of Lady Art Talk, seller of collages and wall art.

Design, the manufacturing of different things, the redesigning of clothes from old materials – these were always a part of my life. Since I can remember, I was always painting and coloring anything I could get my hands into. However, university education and my profession brought me to entirely different areas, like economy and sociology. A part of me was still waiting for the opportunity to create, and when I took the decision to do what I like most, everything became clear, and the next steps followed naturally.

About two years ago, I decided to do something new. While surfing on the Internet, I discovered lots of videos related to the work I do now – instantaneously I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I always had a passion for changing things into something else, and collage opened up a new possibility to express this emotion. Etsy popped up as 'the' place for selling my work. The magic of inspirational art is that it reminds you of who you are.

Twitter
Pinterest

Third is Janet from Made by JH, seller of handpainted iPhone cases.

I am a painter and student, living in the little big city of Charlotte, NC. I have studied accounting and marketing, but ultimately found my love in the arts. I love luxury fashion, hot fries, and family. I have a passion for making everyday items into a work of art. I am inspired by the sea, bold colors, textures, and the work of Vincent Van Gogh.

Facebook
Instagram

The Indian Bazaar $10 Store Credit Giveaway [CLOSED]

I am pleased to welcome back Vishruti and host another giveaway for her second shop, The Indian Bazaar, for which one of you will win $10 store credit!

You may have already met me from my Indian journal giveaway here, but for you new readers, my name is Vishruti and I am from Mumbai. The Indian Bazaar started almost a year ago, and so far it has gained a loyal customer base that I am very proud of. The shop is aimed to become your one-stop shop for all things Indian--from Indian bindis to organic Ayurveda incenses. 

The items in my shop are a beautiful mix of vintage, supplies, and handmade Indian products. If you don't find what you are looking for or see something you like in my sold orders, please do not hesitate to contact me! I welcome bulk orders and custom orders too, so please tell me if you have any requirements for party favors, reselling at fairs and conventions, stocking in art and culture shops, etc.

Vishruti sent me some incense and this lovely canvas clutch wallet:

Smiles
*I'm not a fan of incense (or 99 percent of most scents, for that matter), so I had my friend who loves incense review it. She says the aroma is sweet and pleasant.
*The clutch wallet is great because it has two large pockets, where I can put my phone; small pockets for credit or business cards, which fit perfectly; and a loop for carrying a pen. I also love the snap closure to ensure nothing will fall out. It's a great little clutch for when you just need your essentials. The little bird on it is super cute too!
*Nice variety of items in the shop.
*Great customer service.

Frowns
*I'm one of the few people who still carry change, and there is no place for keeping coins in this wallet.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ali Brown Photography Newborn Flower Headbands Giveaway [CLOSED]

I am co-hosting a giveaway from Ali Brown Photography for 3 newborn tie-back headbands, the perfect photo props for your newborn's first photo shoot!

A little about Ali:

I am a San Diego portrait photographer. I especially love newborn photography and working with those sweet babies.

As a photographer I was always looking for perfect newborn props for my shoots. Knowing how to sew, and having always been into crafting and creating, I decided I would try my hand at a bonnet. I loved designing my own and then bringing it to fruition. I was hooked! 

I put lots of love and time into each piece I make. I truly enjoy doing something creative and without limits, and being able to share it with others!

I absolutely love being part of the Etsy community! It's such a supportive, talented group of artists. I could spend hours browsing the creative work of others!

Ali also makes fascinators and floral headpieces for women, bow ties for baby boys, tutus, earrings, and rag banners.

 

One of you lucky readers will win 3 beautiful tie-back headbands!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angelorian Tradition Stamped Spoon & Customized Stamped Key Chain Giveaway [CLOSED]

Stamping metal is all the rage right now, and Crystal from Angelorian Tradition makes it all.

I began my Etsy shop in July 2012. I started metal stamping shortly before opening my shop and have crocheted and sewed for years. I have always been known for being creatively driven, and I love to try new techniques and ideas, so Etsy has been the perfect place to be the creative person I am☺. Everything I do, including selling vintage, is very handwork oriented and time intensive. Accordingly, I love working with details, from the pieces I sell to the packaging I use. In the end. everything I do comes together with a lot of sweat and love and becomes something special♥.

Crystal also has 3 other shops:

1. Angelorian Baby: burp cloths, hair clips, baby booties
2. Linda's Garden Path: stamped spoon plant markers
3. Party Lovely: cupcake liners & fabric tape

One of you will win a stamped tea spoon and customized key chain!

1 entry: Visit this listing and tell me how you would customize the key chain.

1 entry: Heart Angelorian Tradition on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Angelorian Tradition on Pinterest.

1 entry: Follow The Angelorian Tradition blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry: Like Angelorian Tradition on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Rules

• Please leave a separate comment for each entry. 
• Please leave your email address with one of your comments so I can contact you if you win.
• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, March 31. 
• This giveaway is open to the U.S. only.

Featured Seller: Ashley from Ershware

This week's featured seller is Ashley from Ershware.

My background is in art and design. I have an MFA in Art and an MLA in Landscape Architecture, and a love for fashion, eco-friendly materials and processes, and dressing my son in the coolest clothes I can find or make! I basically started my shop after making hats, accessories, and screen-prints for my son and seeing the reaction of people out and about. Pretty soon, my son (and main model) began to become recognized around town in the oddest of places!

My nickname is Ersh and I have an art/landscape design business called Ershworks, so Ershware seemed to be a natural extension and fit for my Etsy shop featuring kids 'wares'. I love the creative process, and especially love the thrill of the hunt to find just the right t-shirt to upcycle. This branched out into screen-printing, other hat forms, and lately experimentation with other clothing items that I hope to start production on soon.

All the hats are double lined in super soft t-shirt material that is either upcycled from well-loved t-shirts or made in soft jersey cotton. It’s important to have soft, comfortable, stretchy material, a point my son makes every time I try to put on a different kind of hat.

Currently, other than the upcycled graphic hats, the hats are made to order, in sizes that fit infants to pre-schoolers (and beyond - my 11-year-old niece loves her bunny hat). All the items are handmade by me in my home studio, squeezed in between preschool pick-up/drop-off and nap times. I like the one-of-a-kind quality that guarantees no two will turn out exactly the same.  

Check out Ershware for more cute designs. If you see something you like, use the coupon code France15 for 15% off! You can also find Ershware on Facebook and Pinterest.

Rakun Shop $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway [CLOSED]

I have another wonderful giveaway for you: a $25 gift certificate to the lovely and whimsical Rakun Shop!

 I grew up in a very crafty household with an artist mom and an entrepreneur dad, so I started making things to sell when I was really young. My dad used to drive my sisters and me to the farmers' market at 4 a.m. so we could sell friendship bracelets and flower pens. 

I made stuff as a side gig for years before deciding to jump into making things full time. I was working in a corporate fashion job and feeling really stifled. This was before Etsy, so I had to figure out how to build an e-commerce website all on my own and beg boutiques to carry my line. It was challenging and really frustrating at times. I started daydreaming about a perfect boutique for artisans just getting started, and I realized that opening such a boutique was just what I wanted to do.

When I set out to find a spot for my brick and mortar, I knew that I needed to keep costs low to allow giving as much back to artisans as possible and avoid a lot of initial investment. So I bought a two-house property in Denver's Art District. I opened the shop in the front house, and I live in the carriage house.

My shop carries all local design, and I am the first venture into retail for a lot of the artists in my shop. I love helping people figure out their branding and pricing, tweak Etsy listings, and just lend an ear when they need to vent. In fact, I spent so much time chatting with local creatives about their business over cups of tea that I recently opened a teeny, tiny tea house in the shop! Now my tiny space is always bustling with folks collaborating and creating, and the vibe is really inspiring.

I like that I have created a real community in my shop that drags people away from their virtual worlds from time to time. It feels like a quilting bee or something, which resonates with my old-fashioned sensibilities and taste (in my own craft, I'm drawn to vintage materials and folk motifs). I love playing a small part in keeping artisan traditions and community alive.

Mandatory entry: Visit Rakun Shop and tell me what you would buy with the $25 gift certificate.

1 entry: Heart Rakun Shop on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Rakun Shop on Twitter. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like Rakun Shop on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MDT on Wednesday, November 20. The winner will be announced Thursday, November 21. Please leave your email address in one of your entries so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open worldwide. Please note that these goods are not intended for children under 3 years old. Good luck!

Trinkets by Dana Mobile & Hair Clip Giveaway [CLOSED]

Finally a giveaway again! The generous seller contributing to this giveaway is Dana from Trinkets by Dana, a cute shop selling origami, jewelry, and other accessories. She also sells typography and photography at Retroreve.

I'm Dana. I'm 22 years old with a bachelors in psychology and currently pursuing the prerequisites for a masters in the Occupational Therapy program (MSOT). I started my Etsy shop in my freshman year of college (2009) just to get some crafting time in during all the school stress and chaos. It was more for my sanity-- a hobby-- but Trinkets moved on to be a fun little business over the years. 

I work on an assortment of crafts from origami, simple jewelry, original mixed media art, and fine art photography. The term trinkets really seemed to capture that all and never limit my crafting options at the same time. :) Overall, I'm into making people feel good and happy with these trinkets since it is the little things that make you happy. 

 
One of you lucky readers will win an origami star mobile and a set of plaid bow hair clips, a $28 value!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Trinkets by Dana or Retroreve, and tell me your favorite item.

1 entry: Heart Trinkets by Dana on Etsy. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like Trinkets by Dana on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Like The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on Facebook. Leave your username.

1 entry: Follow Dana's blog on GFC.

1 entry: Follow this blog on GFC.

1 entry each (4 total possible): Post this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or your blog.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. MDT on Saturday, November 16. The winner will be announced Monday, November 18. Please leave your email in one of your comments so I can contact you if you win. This giveaway is open to the U.S only. Good luck!

Featured Seller: Esther from Happy in Red

This week's featured seller is Esther from Happy in Red.

I am Esther, a 30-something living in Utrecht, The Netherlands, with my husband. I love to crochet and sew and sell my crochet blankets and vintage-inspired bags in my little Etsy shop.

As a child growing up I used to watch my grandmother crochet, but unfortunately I never got to learn it from her. I picked up the crochet hook three years ago and taught myself how to crochet using a library book and Youtube! Not long after that I bought a sewing machine and took a beginners' class. Thanks to that and so many helpful tutorials online I learned how to sew.

Oh how scared was I to start my own Etsy shop. I guess more and more friends started requesting a bag or a crocheted blanket and that made me realize that maybe other people would like my handmade items as well. I thought long and hard about what I would sell... took a deep breath... and opened my shop on my 30th birthday.

You can find me on my blog: happyinred.blogspot.com
On Twitter: twitter.com/SoHappyInRed
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/HappyInRed
On Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sohappyinred

Check out Esther's shop for more beautiful bags and crocheted goodies. Use the code HAPPYFALL2013 for a 10% discount until December 1!