Board No. 72 - Summer Knits

Getting this in right before the deadline...typical me. I have been struggling trying to figure out just how I wanted to showcase the amazing work of Etsy Blogger of the Month for June, LazyTcrochet. Her knits — including shawls, scarfs, caps and cuffs — are beautiful, but I couldn't figure out a tie-in for a post since it's scorching outside...THEN, I saw this wonderful bangle (see the center of the board) she made. I have never seen anything like it, so I thought I'd do a chunky bracelet post. I've been in a bangle mood ever since I saw a couple the other day on Etsy while browsing. So, without further ado (and to make it in before the month's over):

Top row: Wavy Wood Bangle from prettyfine; Bangle from beebles; Peacock Cuff from dirtystory; Wood Cuff With Brass Inlay from FernStreetDesigns
Second row: Hand-Painted Cherry Blossom Braclet from amy987; Chunky Knit Bangle Bracelet from LazyTcrochet; Four Skinny Stacking Bangles in Exotic Woods from inbloomdesigns
Third row: Wood Eco-Bangle Bracelet - New Directions from SquishySushi; Bangle Bracelet from YarnFaced
Bottom row: Flower Bangle from BODYACCENTS; Summer Fun Polymer Clay Bangle from pjlacasse; Hand-Dyed Silk Bangle Bracelet from jules7; Angel Eyes Avatar Bracelet from austinrock

Board No. 71 - A New Kind of Stitch 'N Bitch

I love that cross stitch is the new knitting and that it's totally being transformed into the 21st century. I remember learning how to cross stitch from my grandma at a very young age, and I even to this day I still have a very elaborate one that she did for me in my bedroom and a very simple, kitschy one that I did hanging in my bathroom. It's such a fun hobby that is easy to pick up whenever you have a spare minute, throw in your purse for on-the-go stitching. And so many of the new patterns I'm seeing for sale on Etsy are perfect for a modern house — not you're typical grandma-pattern. (These are both patterns and finished stitches for those at any level.)

Top row: He, he, he Cross Stitch from essjay; You're Slightly Cracked Cross Stitch Sampler from crossstitchnerd; Clyde Pin from stitchandplay
Middle row: Red Stapler PDF Pattern from Nrapture; Woody Allen Profile from StitchOutLoud; Once I Thought I Was Wrong Stitch Saying from stitchinginseattle
Bottom row: Giraffe Counted Cross Stitch Pattern from WooHooCrossStitch; Lollipop Flowers Cross Stitch Pattern from StitchNotions; Michael Ian Black Tweet Stitch from youheartus

Board No. 70 - Artisan-Style Recess

I love when Congress goes on recess — it means that I can go on a bit of a recess! So, for my third(!) post of the day, here's some fantastic Etsy artists who are trying to make their first commission.

Top row: Namaste from judywestergard; Streamers from MorganLeMastersPhoto; Perfection from inspiredviews
Middle row: Spirit Bird II from ElisCooke; Diamond-Shaped Mirror from flpaintmaster; Onion from vacco
Bottom row: Baa from lovecows; Nesting from haschroeder; Coke Addiction from milemurtanovski

Board No. 69 - Getting Into Position

I stumbled upon this photo, what I am dubbing "Turtle Does Cobra," and was inspired by it and my new-found desire to shed a couple pounds, to find some new yogawear (both comfy and stylish — reminds me of this cozy-clothes post). Like the turtle, I'm going all natural here:

Top row: Cowl Neck/Hood Hemp Tank from gaiaconceptions; Organic Bamboo Racerback Top from Enuwbe; Organic Bamboo Lao Tzu Quote Cap-Sleeve Yoga Shirt from InnerPeaceDesigns
Middle row: Soy and Organic Cotton Jersey Tie Up Capri Pants from sandmaiden; Organic Cotton Meditation Wrap from consciousclothing; Bamboo Sun Salute Tank from eastmeetswest
Bottom row: Hemp/Organic Cotton 'Ties That Bind' Wrap Shirt from louderthanwords; Hemp and Organic Cotton Drawstring Gauchos from gaiaconceptions; Organic Bamboo Velour Wrap and Pants Set from econica

Board No. 68 - A Little Birdie Told Me to Write You a Letter

I stumbled upon this totally mod Mid-century card set from deedee914 and was instantly inspired to write a letter — I couldn't choose just one to show you, so I had to do all five! Then that inspired a search for all tweety stationary (it's kind of like combining the old with the new!).

Top row: Bird and Queen Anne Lace Set from designhutusa; Thank You Note Cards from artandphilanthropy; Chirp Note Cards from craftedbylindy
Middle row: Personalized Bird Stationary from kojodesigns; Vintage Blue Bird Stationary Set from kitschkitch; Love Birds Note Card Set from inkedbylauren
Bottom row: A Birthday Wish Card from bellaseradesigns; Chirp Letter Set from wevegotpaper; Bird Printable Stationary Set from happypapers

Board No. 67 - The Music Will Never Die

Remembering the man who influenced millions and will be remembered for all the joy he brought. Share your memories with the Etsy community via Storque.

Top row: 1980s Moon Walk Style Change Tray from finalscore; Dancing Michael Jackson Wall Decals from PaulasDecal; Jacko Tee from popdestroy; Original Hand Painting from maragoes
Middle row: Michael Jackson Tribute Canvas Tote from Queenkutie; Men's MJ Sleeveless Tee from MRTdesigns; Limited Edition 24K Gold Button from BusyBeaver; Off the Wall Record Notebook from TheDarkMonkey
Bottom row: Missing A Star Necklace from onelifejewelry; Michael Jackson Scrabble Tile Pendant from VanityDesign; Michael Jackson Thriller Collage from Artisticso; MJ as a Kid Canvas Tote from Baostudio

Board No. 66 - Browsing Around 11:30

I had a little down time, so around 11:30 EST I decided to look to see what Etsians were listing in their shops. I am constantly amazed by what interesting ideas people come up with, and I just love watching the streaming list of new items pop up. It also shows me some of the trends going on not only in the world of Etsy, but in design and fashion, as well. So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite listings from 11:30 a.m. to noon today:

Top row: A Girl's Best Friend Wallet from jennalou06; Deer Friend Handcut Greeting Card from papermichelle; Under the Sea Necklace from poetsummer; Joy of Cooking Diagram Placemat Set from girlscantell
Second row: Heavenly Hawaiian Farms Market Tote from SasakiCreations; Steampunk Clockwork Ring from nouveaumotley; Anniversary Greet Card from SilhouetteBlue; Simplify Earrings from WildWomanJewelry
Third row: Pewter Ginkgo Leaf Bracelet from shoda; Colosseum Tee from GC67; Modern Architectural Pattern Black Two-Piece Swim Suit from LaBronz; Vintage Metal and Enamel Cuffs from theturniptruck
Bottom row: Linen Tea Towel from Jewelweeds; Pencil Buttons from thaifabshop; Fabric Flower Headband from NavyPerl; Hedgehog Necklace from MollyBitters

Board No. 65 - Set, Spike, Match

With Wimbledon going on, the peak of the tennis season has hit. I thought it would be apropos to seek out some fun tennis-theme items on Etsy — maybe for a U.S. Open party or a quick match on the courts yourself. (I had the glasses shown at right in my shop, but a good friend bought them — a good friend who happens to be heading to England this weekend to catch the tail end of the Wimbledon series.)

Top row: Quilted Tennis Racket Bag from twogirlsandamom; Tennis Star Earrings from kimazier; Tennis is my Racket Necklace from DolphinMoonCreations; Time for Tennis Steampunk Ring from 2vesupplies
Second row: Tennis Journal/Sketchbook from StoriesDivinations; Tennis Skirt from AvantGarb; Tennis Ball Earrings from Juzii; Vintage Tennis Dish from crabvilleinautumn
Third row: Vintage Wooden Tennis Racket and Press from sydg; Vintage Metal Tennis Player Brooch from bearandbunny; Tennis is for Lovers Canvas Tote from VintageFunland; Round Tennis Business Cards/Calling Cards from candicenkatiesart
Bottom row: Tennis Snap Wallet from mittenmaker; Vintage Glasbake Tennis Coffee Mug from vintagealcove; Tennis Love Letterpress Greeting Card from smockpaper; 72 Tennis Ball Beads from beadgiant

Board No. 64 - OH - IO

Here's post No. 2 on my way to 50 Nifty. I'm heading to Cincinnati this weekend for a wedding and whereas I didn't have much love for Jersey, there is an odd place in my heart for Ohio. I am from the Buckeye State and spent 18 years growing up in the land of Cleve, so it will always be my home state (and the state that introduced me to my boyfriend, an OSU graduate).

Top tow: Sterling Silver Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Guitar Pick from AndrosCreations; Ohio in 1915 Wood Broach from ME2Designs; Buckeye Tie Dye Women's Tee from TwoFishTieDye
Middle row: Handcut Ohio Sterling Silver Necklace from MaxineDear; Homegrown in Ohio Onesie from nothingasitseams; Vintage Cardinal Gold-Plated Cameo Locket from birdylove
Bottom row: Hand-Crocheted Ohio State Buckeye's Throw from dmsdelights; Vintage Ohio Blue Charm from saltsmansoap; Ohio State Plate from RememberMeMonCherie

Board No. 63 - Take a Hike!

One of the many things I'm currently working on is a review of a hiking book, cleverly titled "Take a Hike." (It's pretty good.) It's gotten me really excited to get outside and explore some new trails. So, here's some hiking-inspired items to get you outside, exercising and feeling great!

Top row: Share the Trail Shirt from Pedal1Long; His or Her Washable Wool Hiking Socks from NeedfulThingsofSalem; Vintage Orange Galvanized Metal and Plastic Canteen from vintageagogirlMiddle row: Carved Bear Baby Onsie from mylie; Forest Photo Print from Scarlettfox; Red Striped Hiking Belt from stitchaline509
Bottom row: Going Hiking Resin Necklace from aPassionForFashion; Travel Silverware Set from ponyup; Campers' Soap-to-Go from SudsNSuch

Board No. 62 - Undiscovered Artists

Artists should be discovered before their death these days — it's not like the Dark Ages when there was no Internet to spread the word or advertise amazing (or not-so-amazing) talents. Here are some I found on Etsy:
Top row: Modern Tree Painting from BrittneyIngallls; Red and Yellow and Pink and Green from saskiaphotography; Chinese Bowl Still Life from tonnyzheng
Middle row: Peacock from LBPaintings; Handmade Ceramic Mug (or Vase) from ArtonDepot;Tranquility Photography of Coral Bells in a Cobalt Vase from PrairieGardenStudio
Bottom row: The Dandelion (Highlands Collection) from deenasphotographs; Red Tulips Original Watercolor from cestlaViv; Paper Reflections from PaperForests

Board No. 61 - Undiscovered Jewelers

I love these pounce undiscovered posts — it makes me happy to help market and spread the good work of new Etsy sellers. These jewelers have some pretty exceptional talent and I think the world deserves to know!

Top row: Icing on the Cake Earrings from AshleyHWeddings; Mystic Topaz Earrings from tealandolive; Aqua Blue Earrings from MallorysTreasures
Second row: Silver Wire and Pearl Twist Earrings from cariadjewellery; Hammered Square Necklace from erga; Seaside Twist Vintage Clip on Earrings from nosnowjewelry
Third row: Flower Crochet Long Necklace With Beads from girlybunches; Handmade Earrings from xkarebarex; Circus Earrings from mollybeard
Bottom row: Bronze Flower Earrings from miscellaneousgirl; Alexandria Earrings from MayaTobias; Riviera Estrella Pendant Brass from frankjewellery

Board No. 60 - Button Me Up

While searching for Pounce Undiscovered posts, I noticed a big trend popping up: There were buttons being used everywhere for all sorts of different projects. Here are some fun ones (with some button-inspired items, too) from undiscovered sellers:

Top row: Pink and Cream Pearl Hair Clip from BaiMai; Yellow Button Pin from blueeyedsmith; Button Necklace from tinybransbeads
Middle row: P.S. I Love You Faux Diamand Button Ring from pensandneedles; Bright Blue Button Ring from buttonjewelryandmore; Spring Flower Brooch from BedazzledBoutique
Bottom row: Button Bracelet from sassyaccessories; Orange-Beige Dream Knitted Change Purse from zemieb; Large-Statement Necklace from redzebradesigns

Board No. 59 - Pounce Back

I'm here, I promise. Hopefully I can post a few today to make up for my last post being Friday. And, while looking for some items for this pounce undiscovered post I came across way too many items for just one board, so check back for some more-themed boards, this one's the random other stuff. (And as a heads up, I'm feeling a bit girlie today.)

Top row: Birdhouse with Hand-Painted Trees from swurme; Scrumptious Strawberry Shortcake Girls Costume Dress from dottyscloset; AuntieCookie-Designed ABC Blocks from blockage
Middle row: Wonderland by Momo Tweedle Dum Jam from VidaFabrics; Anchor Earrings from heartsandstripes; Who Gives a Hoot Unisex Onesie from YourPrintsCharming
Bottom row: Asymmetric Jersey Dress from betty2744; Cheerily Checkered Thermos from captainkitsch; Greek Key to Life Embroidered Cotton Pillows from Dahlush

Board No. 58 - Back to School, Already

No summer break for me as I start back up for summer semester tomorrow, grr! (I'm in a round-the-calendar part-time grad school program.) So, I'm going to make the best of it by having the best school supplies around, all with fun colors to brighten my very long school days.

Top row: Vintage TWA Getaway Carry On-Bag from jwhite2 (I already have this bag and love it!); Pencil Barrettes from thebestthings; Modern Number Canisters from sweetshorn
Inset: Sculptured Acrylic Pen from WaynesWoodWorks
Middle row: My Trunks CA Roll from bhive; Elton John Record Album Journal from VinylFrontier; Prep School Business Card Case from GracieDesigns
Bottom row: Three-Ring Fabric-Covered Binder With Internal Pockets from KayTees; Binder Clips from pbandjcreations; Calculator Watch Cuff Bracelet from BraveMoonman

Board No. 57 - ACEO What?

While I was searching for items for my New Jersey post the other day (it was a fun trip, by the way), I came across a Zach Braff Original ACEO drawing — I was searching Garden State, the nickname of the state and my favorite movie and soundtrack of all time — and I was baffled as to what an ACEO was. I may be way behind the times here as there are hundreds of them to be found on Etsy, but I had to wiki it.

It turns out to be something pretty cool: ACEOs, otherwise known as Artist Trading Cards, are "miniature works of art about the same size as baseball cards. ... The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origin in Switzerland."

I'm thinking about maybe doing a wall of several of them framed. I found so many I liked that I made four color groupings that can each work as a larger collage — and I could have made so many more but this is already excessive. Here are some of my favorite originals:

TOMATO AND OLIVE

Top row: Zach Braff Colored Pencil Drawing from CarrieScott; Cherrys from biggirl4664; Arizona Cactus from biggirl4664
Middle row: Still Life With Bird Watercolor from vusova; Pussy Willows No. 1 from JessicaDoyle; Fruit Loops Watercolor from Blakeswork
Bottom row: Apple Painting on Silk from kjmART; My Sari Acrylics on Tissue Paper from LemachiGallery; Flirting in the 60s from HandmadeHelp

ALL NATURAL

Top row: Purple Iris Painting on Silk from kjmART; Beetle Colored Pencil Bug Card (Part of a really cool 30 bugs in 30 days collection; good for a collage in itself!) from samanthasartstudio; Purple Flower Fabric Collage from sojournquilts
Middle row: Magenta Abstract Flowers Watercolor and Ink from artbyshelleyann105; Blue Autumn Altered Photography from dahliahousestudios; Flame Flower Acrylics on Tissue Paper from LemachiGallery
Bottom row: Brothel Series Paintings from PoedyPencilPrincess; Depths Abstract Painting from artangel; Teal Metal Trees from CopperLeafStudios

A CHILD'S IMAGINATION

Top row: Twisted Tree from missyandme; Tree of Life Watercolor from molMolly; Carpenter Ant from JulieSuzanne
Middle row: Abstract Flowers 1 from DreamON; The Kindest of Lions Watercolor from vusova; Butterfly Watercolor from thanks4lookin
Bottom row: Fish With Red Flowers Collage from lifeneedsart; Oak Leaf Watercolor from paratu; Negative Space Swirls from Parrish

MANY FACES

Top row: Blossom Painting from suze; Black Tuxedo Cat from GalleryJuana; Magnolias No. 3 from JessicaDoyle
Middle row: A Man in a Red Room from JulieSuzanne; Harsh Realities from iluvlucy8; Love Birch from Blakeswork
Bottom row: Arrival Art Photograph from dahliahousestudios; Girl With Blue Hair Contemplates the Void from HandmadeHelp; Flower Patch Watercolor from DreamON

Board No. 56 - My Almost Treasury

I was over looking at a friend's treasury in Treasury West a few minutes ago and noticed the list had gotten down to 223 boards — it opens up to new ones at 222. So I stalked. I decided what I wanted to do and I refreshed every five seconds until I couldn't handle it and just had to go to the bathroom. Well, when I got back, there were 343. Oh well. Anyway, here are the items I was going to post:
Top row: Baby Shoes 60s Leather from petitvintage; Colorful Bowling Pins from sweetshorn; Vintage Carter's Yellow Play Suit from PlayingHouse
Second row: Vintage Peanuts Snoopy Coin Bank from kitschkitch; 1950s Children's Book 'Little Duckling' from elizabethwrenvintage; 1970s Children's BINGO Game Cards from sushipotparts
Third row: Vintage Double Sided United States Map Puzzle from bouquet; Vintage Set 26 Wooden Alphabet Blocks from storybookcharm; Vintage Modernist Chubby Elephant Toy Figures from ScottieinaCanoe
Bottom row: Rolling Horse from thebestthings; Large Monkey Couple - 1960s Vintage Wooden Toys from UncommonEye; Vintage Wooden Toys from johnmo

Board No. 55 - In Envy of the June's Pearl

I have always been so envious of June's birthstone: the pearl. I have an August birthday and while I love green, I don't always love that I am stuck with peridot — it's just not as classy and timeless and beautiful as the tiny, iridescent gems of the sea. So, in celebration of June, I present you with some of my favorite pearlescent items (both handmade and vintage, fake and real).

Top row: Blue Serenity Earrings from TulipsTreasureBox; Goddess Necklace from TheAbbey; Oxidized Coin Pearl Pendant Necklace from MoonMystic; Bird Nest Earrings from AKeepersJackpot
Second row: Rustic Pearl Pendant from LavenderCottage; Mermaid Necklace from Kecky; Pearl Photo Print from imagenero; Such a Square White Pearl Necklace from flightfancy
Third row: Something Special Rosette Necklace from littlejardin; Aurora Borealis Fantsy Wrap Gemstone Necklace from flightfancy; Chocolate and Wine Pearl Ring from LTheval; Bird's Nest Pendant with Freshwater Pearl Egg from mamasmagicstudio
Bottom row: Purely Demure Earrings from pastelpetals; Nesting Necklace VII from GreaterYesterday; Moonlit Trees Necklace With Gold Aspen Leaf from briguysgirls; Love Charm Necklace from tamar

* blue denotes an Etsy Bloggers Team member's store/item!