Featured Seller: June from Threshold Paper Art

This week's featured seller is June from Threshold Paper Art.

I was born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada while very young. Interior design was my main occupation. I have a passion for all that is unique and handmade. I have always been on a quest for beauty doing whatever possible to enhance my surroundings and those of my clients. My love of interior design and craft was born. My craft repertoire included batik, decoupage, faux painting interiors, and mosaics. I was dubbed the glue gun queen by my friends.

Ever since my daughter brought home colorful notices home from school, I have been recycling them into homemade paper to produce unique cards. After several years of card making, the themes I was drawn to exploring required a larger format. I recycle paper and other organic material and transform it into art. I cast, embed, and collage the paper with a variety of materials such as metal, found objects, thread, mica, and text to create dimensional imagery. Hand-spun art fibers add a rich textural component to some pieces.

My design sensibility embraces both the old and the new. I explore themes of antiquity and faith, including biblical symbolism. Antiquity is created both by the rich textural properties of the paper and the symbols of the past.

The recurring theme in my art is transformation. Even the paper I make goes through the process of being destroyed in its original plant form, only to be transformed into a work of art. Inspiration is drawn from many sources including nature, ancient times, instrumental music, as well as contemporary design. The transcendent aspect of nature has a strong impact on my work. Much time is spent contemplating the majesty of nature. My sincere desire is to inspire and uplift others.

Check out Threshold Paper Art for more unique artwork. You can also follow the shop on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured Seller: Carol of Little Victoria Design

It has been nearly a year since I've posted a feature on an Etsy seller! I'm starting it up again with Carol of Little Victoria Design. 

I make jewelry and hair accessories. It's something I started near the end of my first maternity leave. I wasn't too familiar with Etsy until I was shopping for wedding and baby items.

I am always trying new ideas. When I noticed many young girls do not have pierced ears, I started adding options for clip-on earrings to the shop. I will also have an option for non-metal earrings soon.

My shop caters to all ages. You can shop for yourself, your daughter, your grandma, or whomever.

Check out Little Victoria Design for more lovely and quirky jewelry! You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Summer in Snow Valley Clean Romance Novels

Remember my feature post and review of the romance novel set Christmas in Snow Valley? Well, the authors have come out with another set for some clean summer romance reading! And the best part is that, like last time, the book set will be on sale for $0.99 for a limited time, so buy your digital copy of Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) today!

The #1 Bestselling Amazon authors of Christmas in Snow Valley have teamed up again with six wonderful summer romances that are sure to make your summer sweet and sassy!

Catching Caytie by Amazon Top Seller Cindy Roland Anderson

On the night Caytie Holbrook intends to break up with her cheating boyfriend, he blindsides her by announcing their engagement at a dinner party. When Caytie discovers her father is in on the scheme, she runs away from her home in Beverly Hills to hide out at her uncle’s ranch in Snow Valley, Montana. While Snow Valley is a beautiful place, Caytie only plans to stay until her twenty-fifth birthday when she’ll inherit a trust fund her grandmother left her, allowing her to pursue her dream to move to Italy. That is, until she meets Jace McAllister, an incredibly sexy—although somewhat grumpy—cowboy who threatens to disrupt her plans.

Tin Foil Tiaras by Amazon Top Seller Jeanette Lewis

Cameron Elliott has come to Snow Valley to coach Annalisa Drake in the Miss Snow Valley pageant and prove to her demanding boss that she deserves a place at the prestigious Westbrooke Agency. But Annalisa’s handsome and protective big brother, Kyle, is determined to keep his sister from becoming a reluctant beauty queen. As Cameron tries to win Kyle over, Kyle insists some things are more valuable than a title, and as crazy as it sounds, Cameron might just believe him.

A Touch of Love by Amazon Top Seller Cami Checketts

Annie Stirland has endured a lifetime of teasing, embarrassment, and isolation due to her speech impediment. When irresistible cowboy, Luke Wilson, seems to be falling for her, she’s certain he’s too good to be true. A tragedy involving his ex-girlfriend proves she’s right. What man can resist sheltering someone they once loved? Annie knows she should walk away, but Luke isn’t ready to give her up.

First Love; Love First by Amazon Top Seller Taylor Hart 

Janet Snow doesn’t expect to get caught in a full-blown make-out session at her brother’s wedding. Especially not with Michael Hamilton, the boy she’d written off ten years ago. Even though they both agree to no complications, Janet’s not sure they can stick to it given their past. After a trip to the hot springs, a helicopter ride, and a proposal, even the most cautious single mother would start to wonder if true love really is just about the timing. Now Janet has to make a choice—play it safe or trust that her first love could also be her last.

Romancing Rebecca by Amazon Top Seller and Award-winning Author, Kimberley Montpetit

Rebecca Dash loved spending her teen summers swooning over Jane Austen and helping her aunt at the Starry Skies Bed & Breakfast in Snow Valley. But as a recent college grad, she’d rather write sappy romance novels than go out with guys that make her a nervous wreck. When a team of firefighters set up camp on the lawns of the B&B and Captain Wade catches her eye, Becca soon learns that there’s more to a happily-ever-after than a flirty fireman with muscles the size of the Montana hills.

Love in Light and Shadow by Amazon Top Seller and Award-winning author Lucy McConnell

Mercedes O’Shay has sworn off gorgeous men because they have a tendency to break her heart. When she meets her new neighbor, Chet Bauer, she immediately puts him in the Do Not Date category based on his well-defined muscles and stunning blue eyes. But the more Mercedes learns about the cowboy who reads classics and forges iron, the more she realizes the heart doesn’t see in black and white; it sees light and shadows.

Featured Seller: Danielle from Anchored Archer

It's been a while since I've done a feature! This week's featured seller is Danielle from Anchored Archer.

My passion for jewelry began when I was a child roaming through antique stores with my mom every weekend. Being no more than three feet tall at the time, the only thing at eye level was the dazzling displays of fine jewelry.

I've always been in motion and in search of a creative outlet. I've experimented with and taken classes in every genre of craft and arts possible, including painting, drawing, sewing, crocheting, and photography. While I enjoyed all of these crafts, I never really felt satisfied and I still needed a way to keep my hands busy when I got home from my day job as a mechanical engineer. This mindset is what eventually brought me to jewelry design.

A strong believer in DIY with a deep curiosity for discovering how things are made, I dove head first into jewelry making desiring to make my own versions of gorgeous items I coveted in magazines. What began as a small hobby has become a serious labor of love. My analytical and detail oriented background has given me the ability to teach myself techniques as I've needed them and to find new and inventive ways to apply my inspiration.

My work is inspired by many vintage themes, from intricate Victorian fashion to the natural swirling forms of art nouveau architecture. My ideas take these grand, romantic themes and traditional techniques and make them relevant to today's modern fashion.

For a full portfolio of Danielle's work, visit her Etsy shop or Anchoredarcher.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter (@anchoredarcher). New customers can use the coupon code BLOGFREESHIP for free shipping on orders over $30.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Featured Seller: Oana from Art is Art 2014

This week's featured seller is Oana from Art is Art 2014.

I love art. I am a professional watercolor painter and calligrapher. I figured, why not do artful invitations with what I already know? Love my job :)

Check out Art is Art 2014 for more original artwork and even custom portraits. Use the coupon code OANA2014 for 10% off! You can also follow the shop on Facebook.

Featured Seller: RJ from Jewelry by RJ

This week's featured seller is RJ from Jewelry by RJ.

I'm a third-year medical student, and I have recently started making jewelry. It all started last summer while I was tirelessly studying for my board exams. It turned out to be a wonderful creative outlet that I could do while listening to lectures via podcast. At that time, I was just making a few wrap bracelets for myself.

After my boards (which I passed, by the way), I had a ton of leftover jewelry materials, so I made a few pieces for my mom and sister. One thing led to another, and my shop opened on September 27, 2013. Since then, I have become very passionate about making jewelry, learning new techniques, and of course,running  my Etsy shop.

My inspiration comes from many sources. Two of my biggest influences are everyday items and current trends. Something as simple as a rope or a plant can spark an idea for an awesome new piece. I also use current trends in a general sense, but I like to put a quirky twist on each piece that I create. I believe it makes my pieces personal and unique.

I place a lot of emphasis on durability, comfort and wear-ability. Being in the medical field, I am a very detail oriented person, and the quality of my jewelry reflects that. I make sure that each piece fits and flatters when worn. A super cute piece is meaningless if it doesn't look good on you.

Check out Jewelry by RJ for more fun colors and designs. If you like something, use the code WINTER10 for 10% off today and tomorrow! You can also follow RJ on Pinterest.

Featured Seller: Michelle from Black Wolf Designs

This week's featured seller is Michelle from Black Wolf Designs. She has cute designs and great prices!

I'm based in New Jersey and I'm a stay-at-home mom with 3 kids, 2 in school and 1 at home with me. I make hand-stamped personalized necklaces and key chains. I have everything from couples' key chains to necklaces with birthstones for Mom or Grandma.

I started hand stamping in November 2013. I was looking for a piece of jewelry that had my kids' birthstones on them. I was on Pinterest and came across some beautiful hand stamped necklaces. I said to myself, "Wow. How do they do that?" So I started researching stamping. The more and more I read about it, the more it just seemed to fit me. I had to try it. I don't know how I never started doing this sooner. I love it!

Check out Black Wolf Designs for more stamped designs. You can also follow Michelle and her shop on Facebook and Instagram.

Featured Seller: Liga & Guntis of Klik Klak Blocks

This week's featured sellers are Liga and Guntis of Klik Klak Blocks.

We are a young family from Latvia with two lovely kids, Valters (3 years) and Paula (6 months).  Our family business is making handmade natural wooden toy building blocks for children. We first thought about producing wooden blocks when Valters was about 2 years old. We wanted him to have the best-quality toy blocks made from natural wood: organic, non-toxic, and completely safe. Watching him playing with the blocks, we understood it's worth trying to make the same joy for other children. So we founded a small company, bought all the necessary equipment, and started making blocks. The name of the blocks was given after hearing their sound while our son was playing with them: klik klak klik klak.

First we made an e-shop in Latvia*. People loved our wooden blocks and suggested we sell internationally. We opened online shops on Etsy and ArtFire. It’s just the very beginning now and we are extremely happy about every sale we get. It’s such a special moment for us! Our values are personal attitude and high quality.
 

Our wooden toy building blocks are made just like the ones we had in our own childhood: big enough for playing, smooth for little fingers, and no sharp edges. All the blocks are made of the highest quality pine and are treated with natural linseed oil. Why pine? Not only because of its great look and texture, but also because of its great qualities. Pine energetically is a "giving" kind of wood. You can feel it yourself: take the toy in your hands and you will feel the warmth. Pine also increases immunity, gives positive energy, and takes stress away.

We sometimes are asked why wooden blocks are better than plastic ones. We always answer that the main difference between plastic and wooden blocks is the wooden ones are alive! They really are! They give you the positive energy of wood while playing with them. You could never get that from plastic toys.

Although we are new online sellers, there is one thing we can advise: love what you do and make it as personal as possible. We love sharing personal stories and many customers have written us that they love it. For example, our 50 Christmas wooden blocks are much more popular than the others because there’s a very personal story behind them and we shared it online: 

Our son, Valters, is 3.5 years old and loves playing with the building blocks made by his Dad. Every day after coming home from preschool we hear different kind of sounds while he is playing with the blocks - he imagines them to be cars, trains, bikes, telephones, TVs, etc. - and he builds houses, castles, and towers. Valters has a very special friend at his preschool, a cute girl called Jenny. One evening we asked Valters about his wishes on Christmas presents. He answered that he would like to receive new books from Santa Claus. Then we asked, "And what about your girlfriend Jenny? What would she want to receive on Christmas?" He answered, "I will give her a part of my wooden blocks." We asked,"Why?" And he seriously answered, "Then we both will be able to build a bridge to each other's house."

*Latvia is one of the European Union countries. It’s a small country – just a little bit more than 2 million inhabitants – so our main value is people. We have amazing talents living in Latvia. We are proud of our first Olympic Champion in BMX, Maris Strombergs; we are proud of our Maestro, Raimonds Pauls, who creates great compositions; we are proud of our most popular band, BrainStorm; we are proud of so many great people who have done big things to make our small country known worldwide. Latvia is also a very green country with lots of woods, parks, and green territories. We love that! Our capital city, Riga, is a well-known city worldwide and popular destination. Our family lives in Valmiera, which is eighth largest city in Latvia, about 100 km away from Riga.

Check out Klik Klak Blocks for more amazing block sets and other wooden trinkets. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured Seller: Jessica from Buns and Bows

This week's featured seller is Jessica from Buns and Bows. She is a very talented artist!

Hello! My name is Jessica and I am the proud owner of three beautiful bunnies. I have always enjoyed painting digitally (using a pen tablet and Photoshop); however, it was my rabbits that inspired me to paint their portraits.

I have really come to know my bunnies' individual personalities. One particular bun seems to think she is the queen of our apartment! This gave me the idea to paint on accessories which help show off the characteristics of each pet. It is great having the power to turn a cute little bun in to a gangster with gold bling!

Check out Buns and Bows for more adorable portraits and gift ideas for your pet owner friend. You can also find Buns and Bows on Twitter and check out Jessica's site for cute photos of her bunnies and guinea pig.

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.