Board No. 84 - The Symbol of Summer Into Fall

It was really hard to choose which of EtsyBlogger of the Month miesmama's items to feature — there were so many fantastic items to pick from. She does a lot of unique crafts and I especially love all of her work with felt, and so much of it seemed summery, even if it's made out of a heavier material. The one that stood out to me the most, though, was the tote with a coneflower, likely because I am starting to see these flowers pop up all over the place and I just love them. To me, they symbolize the transition from summer to fall — one of my favorite times of the year (probably because it's around my birthday)!

Featured item: miesmama's Purple Coneflower Sweater Tote, which is made out of a recycled sweater!
Top row: Purple Coneflower and Butterfly Wool Applique Pin Cushion from StrandsandStitches; Purple Coneflower Dress in Plum Linen from CorysHandmade
Middle row: Summer Cone Flowers Enamel Earrings from leafingearth; Girls Hand Painted Tee from wendymarsh; The Purple Coneflower Modern Art Print from artistscs28; One At A Time Fine Art Photograph from AmeliaKayPhotography
Bottom row: Purple Coneflower Note Cards from onecrazychicken; Touch Abstract Coneflower Closeup Photo from flandersfield; Pink Coneflower Wildflower Miniture Watercolor from BillingsleyRose; Coneflower Enhanced Photo from ClaudiaLord

Board No. 83 - Going Green

It seems like this is the time for teams to get together for a cause! Well, here is another one I'd like to highlight: The Etsy Twitter Team is Going Green with tips, tricks, giveaways and sales on green products this week. (Plus, they're having a scavenger hunt, which is always fun and a good way to get people to visit loads of shops! Though this one is really hard — I only found one of the eight and I visited EVERY shop. As a hint, I featured the one I did find...) Here are some of my favorites from the sale:

Top row: Black Rubon Alphabet for Scrapbooking Letters from scrapwithstyle; Houndstooth Garden Bouquet Clutch from pinswithfury; Beachcombed Sea Buttons from NovaScotiaBeachGlass; Poker Chip Altered Art Pendant Burnt Orange Butterfly from prettywhimsical
Second row: The Coraline- A Vintage Upcycled Felted Flowers Pillow from FirebirdHouse; Go Green Hand Painted Canvas Tote from HandmadeBySandi; Go Green Leaf Handmade Silver Necklace from PunkyJane; Natural Felted Organic Soaps from herbanlifestyle
Third row: Apple Dress Striped Recycled Pillowcase Jumper from Amievoltaire ; Recycled Vintage Bead Earrings from threepeats; Link You Fill My Hearts Print from geekdetails; Cable Knit Mug Cozy from waysideviolet
Bottom row: Upcycled Lady Godiva Earrings from ThatsHeadley; Cockle Shell Gold Earrings from prettycheap; Wooden Soap Dish / Soap Deck from crochetgal; Crochet Criss Cross Scarf Pattern from JaybirdDesigns

Board No. 82 - Christmas in July

The Etsy Bloggers team (which I am part of) is having a Christmas in July sale (which I am not part of, out of pure laziness of course - it also started last week and I'm just getting this up...). Click here for the complete list of stores participating, but here are some highlights:

Top row: Peter the Dancing Panda Onesie from twozanyzebras; Blue Sky Cloe Cloisonne Earrings from lindab142; Fancy Christmas Dangles from roseworksjewelry; PlayTime Potholder Set from veryverdant
Middle row: Poppy the Pipette Garden Fairy from beckykazana; Snowman Howlite Earrings from AKeepersJackpot; Curly Cute - Hand Knit Ruffled Holiday Scarves from FoxyGknits; Rainbow Sorbet Jade Necklace from FabulousChic
Bottom row: Angel Dust - Moonstone and Copper Angel Earrings from BeadedTail; Mollie Clutch In Alexander Henry's Red Carolina from TiLTcreations; Gingerbread Whipped Sugar Scrub from spottedcowsoaps; Vegas Strip - Rainbow Striped Bead Dangle Earrings from BeadedTail

★★★ And, here's the lazy man's out: If you mention this blog post when ordering from my store through July 31, I'll refund you 15% of your purchase (not including shipping). Just remember, you have to mention the post!

Board No. 81 - Etsy's Popularity Means More to Pounce on

I am definitely not the first person to make note of this, but as Etsy becomes increasingly popular, there are more and more sellers and it is harder to standout among the crowd. Your listing quickly gets buried in category listings and you have to offer something special (discounts, free shipping etc.) in order to entice people to buy from you. Plus the bad economy... Anyway, as I was searching for items for my regular pounce undiscovered posts I was noticing that there seems to be a more-than-usual amount of fantastic artisans and crafters that haven't had any sales. Here's some of my favorites:

Top row: Three-Strap Belt from MeanttoB; Fading Heart Earrings from ssMiscellany; Vintage Dominic De Rosa Fuscia Heels from RoseandJigs
Middle row: Chocolate Milk Onsies from MissTwiggy; Love Note Card from sandpiper; Romantic Grey Dress from miablaz
Bottom row: Summer Afternoon Mint Dress from gooodmorning; Cowboy and Indian Earrings from navillusmik; Fresh Peaches Bracelet from pearlandpebble

Board No. 80 - Shopping for a Cause

I may be late to the game, but I just learned today about the amazing Etsy sellers who have come together to help a friend though Etsy Project Embrace. Many sellers are giving a portion of their sales to help a "fellow dear and darling Etsian, Laura Slocum, conquer and utterly defeat ovarian cancer! Money goes to American Cancer Society." See Laura's story here. I am truly amazed by the way that Etsians come together for causes and support of each other. Here are some of the fabulous items that are being sold for the charitable cause:

Featured above: Laura Ovarian Cancer Survivor Bracelet from adornbyamysingley
First row: Material Original Oil Painting from teamzvonik; Confetti Crochet Women Scarf in Turquoise from kanokwalee; Five Blossoms Ring from UnaOdd; Colorful Lights Swarovski Suncatcher from creativelytangled
Middle row: Vintage Yellow Daisy Glass Cup from Colourshoppevintage; Mid-Century Cups and Saucers from 5gardenias; Sterling Love Necklace from PianoBenchDesigns; Eavesdrop Necklace from jennreese7
Bottom row: Garden Funky Floral Serving Dish from loveartworks; Touareg Blue Earrings from fleurfatale; I Love You So Much Typewriter Card from maclancy; Ruffle Scarf in Blue from innovationdesign

Board No. 79 - The Great Commonwealth

In honor of my trip out into the hills of Virginia — namely the Loudoun County Wine Trail — this weekend, I thought I'd continue the 50 Nifty series with the great Commonwealth.

Featured in center: Skyline Drive - Shenandoah National Park, Virginia - Set of 5 Vintage 1930s Postcards from ProsperosBookshelf
Top row: Virginia License Plate Photo Album from tagliatela; Vintage Virginia Enamel Charm from trialbycupcakes; Pentagon Steel Bracelet Bengals from lucymachine; Wayward ACEO Print from AlteredAbbey
Second row: Spring from Underneath (Dogwood in Richmond) Photo from gallogirlphotos; Richmond, VA Love Moleskin Journal from artsharkdesigns
Third row: The Virginia Original Painting from patdehart; Richmond, Virginia Map Pinback Button Set from XOHandworks
Bottom row: Vintage Virginia Glass Tray from lookonmytreasures; Virginia Tobacco on Canvas - 8x10 from lyoungstudio; UVA Wahoo's Girls Dress from theclassicbaby; Virginia Tech Baby Bib from LydibugDesigns