Bluegrass Etsy Street Team

Our Holiday Giveaway!

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:38:00 +0000

We are excited to announce the winner of the November giveaway!! Wanda B. of Winnipeg, Manitoba is the winner of the necklace from 3Magpies.

Our December giveaway will be drawn in two short weeks so that the winner can enjoy it during the holidays. The December giveaway is created by our very own Belinda Johnston of WanderingWhimsies. Be sure to check out her shop for other cute whimsical items for the holidays!

Description: This 5 1/2 inch star shaped wood snowman is holding a banner made from a piece of vintage quilt with "Joy to the World" hand-stitched across the banner. Several small jingle bells adorn the edges of the banner.

The snowman is painted a light buttermilk color, sanded along the edges and lightly antiqued for an time worn appearance. This beautiful country primitive snowman ornament does have a wire hanger attached for hanging on your tree or wreath, but will also stand on its own on a shelf or mantle.

This item is valued at $15.95.

Want to win? Here's what you need to do. Visit the WanderingWhimsies etsy shop here. Come back to this blog post and leave a comment on something in Belinda's shop. Give Belinda ideas about what you like or ask a question of her. For additional chances to win, subscribe to this blog, become a follower, tweet about the contest or put the contest on your blog. Be sure to let us know with separate comments so you get additional chances to win.

We'll draw a random winner on December 15 and will post that week.

Good luck to all and Happy Holidays from the Bluegrass Etsy Team!!

Black Friday Cyber Monday promotions on Etsy

auroras_garden@insightbb.com (Auroras_Garden) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Teambluegrass is on top of the Black Friday fun! Here are a list of Kentucky handmade shops and the promotions they are having for Black Friday and Cyber Monday! You can click here to shop the whole teams listings or enter "teambluegrass" in the search bar on Etsy.com to find everything made by us!

LeslieN is having a sale and FREE SHIPPING in her jewelry shop for Black Friday All prices will be marked down by 10% just in time for morning Black Friday shoppers! She has a gorgeous selection of natural gemstone jewelry.

Glorybeherbals is having free shipping in her shop of all natural herbal products. Glorybeherbals is also known as Jackie who has been doing our Kentucky Wild Weeds Series here on the blog! She really knows her stuff!

BlessedBe is having Free Shipping all the way till Christmas! She has BEAUTIFUL Christian themed jewelry. Perfect for the Christian in your life!

WhimsyBeading is having 15% off everything from Friday till Monday and also Free Shipping! They specialize in PLUS sizes and make gorgeous elegantly crafted Beadwoven works of art with a steampunk/gothic/victorian feel.

WanderingWhimsies is having 10% off ALL orders and 15% off all order over $40.00 Free shipping to US and Canada! Wandering Whimsies has a fine selection of handmade primitives, Raggedies and other beautiful things, check her out!

DoMosaics is having 10% off all 5x7 Mosaic Frames and Mirrors till Dec 15th. They have a gorgeous selection of handmade mosaic frames, trivets, mirrors, and more!

PurpleGypsyStudio is having 10% off and free shipping 11-27 thru 11-30. This shop has gorgeous hand fired pottery. What a great gift!

LaDonna Eastman is having a sale in both of her shops Ladonnaedesigns And ClosetVintage She is having free shipping and 20% off in both shops Black Friday thru Cyber Monday!

SewFriendzy is having 10% off thru Paypal refund Black Friday thru Cyber Monday. They are our newest members who make lovely Pet beds, bags, totes and more!

AimeePlus3 is having 10% off in her shop via Paypal refund. She has an amazing assortment of pet beds, collars, leashes and other pet goodies!

Creativeeyestudio is having Free shipping to US and Canada Balck friday thru Cyber Monday!
She has handmade cards as well as gorgeous handmade Jewelry. All her earwires are Sterling Silver and she has a large selection to choose from.

SmackinArt is having a special "Let's Make a Deal!" Buy one item from textiles and get 1/2 off (the one of the lesser value). Buy one ACEO and get one FREE. Buy one print and get 1/2 off another one.

Lunabudknits is having 10% off ALL merchandise Nov 27th thru Nov 30th. This means EVERYTHING...Wheels, roving, carders, fiber, ALLLL of her stuff. She even has some hemp top!! Everything for your spinning needs can be found here. 10% off via refund thru paypal after purchase.

BellaSmiles is having Free shipping till monday and a 7$ vintage necklace sale!

Sarabeedesigns is having free shipping in the US and half price shipping internationally. Sarabee has gorgeous drop spindles, hand painted roving, polymer clay Poke me nots for your knitting needles, gorgeous hand dyed yarn etc....

I will update this post as I hear of more team members having sales, if you are on the team and have a sale I have not mentioned here please add it to our forum thread here and I will update this post accordingly.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Our November Giveaway from 3 Magpies!

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:20:00 +0000

It's time again for another Bluegrass Etsy team giveaway!! Our giveaways have been going strong for a year now. We started doing this in November of 2008. Hard to believe it has been a year already!

Our winner for the 2nd half of October was Vicki W. of Fargo, North Dakota. Vicki is the winner of the custom bib and burp cloth set created by our very own Angela Latham of Spool of Plenty. Angela is also on Feature Friday so check out her shop if you haven't already.

Our November giveaway comes to us from Denise Johnson of 3 Magpies.

Here is Denise's description:

This is a beautiful mother of pearl gogo pendant measuring 50mm strung on a waxed cotton cord. Very versatile, may be worn every day or dressed up for those special holiday occasions.

This beautiful necklace is valued at $13.

Want to win? Here's what you need to do. Visit the 3 Magpies etsy shop here. Come back to this blog post and leave a comment on something in Denise's shop. Give Denise ideas about what you like or ask a question of her. For additional chances to win, subscribe to this blog, become a follower, tweet about the contest or put the contest on your blog. Be sure to let us know with a separate comment so you get an additional chance to win.

We'll draw a random winner on November 30 and will post the first week of December.

Good luck to all!

BEST Team in Print

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:38:00 +0000

Our Bluegrass etsy team recently advertised in Arts Across Kentucky, a local magazine focusing on Kentucky arts and crafts. We are so proud to be the recipient of a etsy team grant to help us cover the cost of the ad. The ad is on the inside front cover - a great location!

In case you missed it, we just had to show it off a little more.

Our thanks to team member Brandy of WickedSisterDesigns who created the art for us!

Go Team!

Feature Friday: Angela Latham - Spool of Plenty

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:39:00 +0000

Today we feature the sewing skills of Angela Latham of Spool of Plenty. Angela has lots of knowledge and tips about etsy forums and chatrooms and is a great help to our Bluegrass etsy team. She has traveled a great distance to attend our team meetings. We are happy to have her!

How did you first hear about etsy?

My sister in law in Florida told me about etsy.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I don't know that I could pick a favorite! I really Enjoy sewing and embroidering right now but I dabble in other things too on the side.

How did you get started as a designer?

My Grandmother was always sewing and quilting so I guess I picked it up from her. I took some classes in High School and went on to graduate from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design. Now that I am a stay at home mom, I use my free time to make things to put in my shop and give out as gifts.

What inspires you to create?

Colors and Fabrics. I constantly have ideas for all kinds of things bouncing around in my head! Sometimes it can get overwhelming!

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I think I signed up for the team in September of 2008. I was on the etsy team page when I saw there was a group in KY. I have been to two team meetings now and it really helps me stay motivated.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

Do what makes you happy. Make your own unique style and stand out!

Anything else you would like to add?

Shop Local when you can to support small stores and the Handmade world!

***************

Thanks Angela for letting us learn a little more about you!

To see more of Angela's creations, please visit her Spool of Plenty etsy shop here!

Wandering Whimsies Front Page!

noreply@blogger.com (Spoolofplenty) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:59:00 +0000

I just want everyone to know that our very own Wandering Whimsies has made the etsy front page! Her item Country Christmas Trees was grouped with others picked from Etsy's categories! How exciting! Congrats Wandering Whimsies!

October Team Giveaway: Part 2

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:29:00 +0000

Our lucky winner of the first October giveaway from Whimsy Beading is Linda K of California. Congratulations Linda. Kelly and Joey will be in touch with you when your prize ships!

We are so excited to announce Part 2 of our special giveaways for the month of October! This too-cute giveaway is generously donated by Angela Latham of Spool of Plenty.

Personalized Burp cloth and Bib set - valued at $12

You choose the bib color and the fabric to customize this prize! SpoolofPlenty will contact you with the details when you win!

How to Enter?
To enter, please visit Angela's Spool of Plenty shop. Come back here to leave a comment and tell us what you like about Angela's shop. If you tweet about the contest let us know for another chance to win. If you post this contest at your blog, leave a comment with the link for yet another chance to win. Finally, if you are not already a subscriber to our blog, enter your email in the subscribe box for another chance to win. Just let us know that you have become a subscriber.

This contest ends on October 31. We'll post the winner here, so stay tuned! Good luck to all and thanks for playing!!

Feature Friday: Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:39:00 +0000

Today we feature the talented Toni Johnson of Vernon Avenue. If you love handbags (and what woman doesn't?) you need to check out her work. Toni was recently featured in the Autumn issue of Haute Handbags!

How did you first hear about etsy?

I found it on the internet about 3 years ago.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I have been making things and being creative for as long as I can remember. I love art classes as a child and grew into it naturally. My Mom gave me the freedom to be creative and paint murals on the wall, have a purple mohawk and "redesign" my clothes too. So, it has been ingrained into my everyday life. Maybe the purple mohawk was not the best idea but it was an outlet. I love to paint, draw, bake, sew and pretty much anything I can get my hands on.

How did you get started as a designer?

See above! ha! I started in high school making my own purses and changing my clothes to my liking. Then I moved on to design school.

What inspires you to create?

Travelling and seeing new places inspires me. Also, the history of handbags. I like to go back and look at the different cultures and learn about all different types of bags.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I have been a member about 9 months. I learned about them by reading stories about the street teams on The Storque.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

Make what you love and the rest will come. Try not to make things "just" for money.

Anything else you would like to add?

I think etsy is a wonderful thing and it has given so many artists and people a community to thrive on on it's own terms.

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To see more of Toni's colorful and unique handbags, visit her Vernon Ave etsy shop! They make great gifts!

And check out Toni's fun posts at her HandmadeMoonshine blog.

Feature Friday: Danielle Hammon of Lovelettersdesigns

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:31:00 +0000

Today we feature a new team member and jewelry artist, Danielle Hammon of Lovelettersdesigns.

How did you first hear about etsy?

I believe I saw it on a blog a few years ago. I’ve wanted to have my own shop ever since but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I took the plunge and decided to do it.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I am the Design Director for Underwired Magazine, a local women’s magazine in the Greater Louisville/Southern Indiana area. I decided to start I make earrings to sell on etsy about three months ago. I wanted to create earrings that were unique, but also simple and sophisticated. I love the simple elegance of v-shaped earwire to take a fun element or bead and make it a little more grown up. I think there is really something in my shop for everyone. Whether meeting a friend for coffee, or going out for a night on the town, my designs are functional and eye catching. I wear them everyday and get compliments all the time!

How did you get started as a designer?

I have done art for as long as I have been able to hold a crayon. My mom was constantly making things growing up. Our dining room turned into a workshop every year in November as my mom started making Christmas gifts for people, most of which showcased her painting skills. I started making my own jewelry in high school and have kept is as a hobby until now. It hasn’t been until recently that I thought about turning it into something more. I was in a bead store with my sister in July and I thought suddenly “I can do this, I’m going to do this.” I came home, made a bunch of earrings and opened my shop the next day.

What inspires you to create?

I draw inspiration from everywhere... art and design, nature, life. My husband has been a huge encouragment. He has been the push I need sometimes to go out and make my dreams happen.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I have been a Bluegrass team member for about a month and a half. I met Kim and Libby when they were thinking about advertising with Underwired. At that point I was only a month into my shop. The night I met them I had my first sale!

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

I’m more in a place of taking advice rather than giving it right now, but I have learned so much in the little time I’ve been a part of etsy. I guess my advice would be to take advantage of every resource out there. There are so many! And don’t give up or get discouraged.

****************

Great advice Danielle!
To see more of Danielle's creations, visit her Lovelettersdesigns etsy shop.

Share our Success: WilmothFarms

auroras_garden@insightbb.com (Auroras_Garden) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Our very own Rachel Blanton of Wilmothfarms soaps was featured in the News-Enterprise paper today on October 7th 2009 !

We are so proud of you Rachel! The write up was great and so were the pictures! Congratulations and here is to your continued success on Etsy and Artfire and also Locally! You go girl!

Fall Craft Expo in Shelbyville

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Nine members of the Bluegrass etsy team were set up last month at the Shelby County High School Fall Expo. Team members were able to socialize a bit and promote their creations as well as promoting their online etsy and artfire shops. Here are some pictures from the event!

Libby Goldsmith and her great smelling Maylees Garden soaps!

Kim Ries with Creative Eye Studio displays handcrafted jewelry and greeting cards.

Joey and Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading with jewelry designed for plus sized women!

Becky Keith, Carolyn Campbell and Robin Green display their sewing skills!

Carolyn Mallin showcases her beautiful metalsmithing jewelry talent!

LeeAnn Christenson features her handcrafted kitchen textiles!

Some beautiful purses created by Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave.

Jessica Brown of the Pink Needle displays her sewing talent!

October Team Giveaway: Part 1

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:12:00 +0000

The winner of our September giveaway, donated by Tina Mackin of Smackinart is "haptree" of the UK. Congrats haptree, we will be in touch with you to get your address so we can send out your cards and 'zine.

Being that October is the beginning of the fall season, we will be hosting TWO giveaways this month!

The first giveaway for October was generously donated by Joey and Kelly Graves, the beading team behind Whimsy Beading.

Boo To You! October is here, and it's time to trick or treat with a fun necklace from Joey and Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading! This 20" necklace of fiber optic glass beads in orange and grey, silver spacers and Swarovski crystals spells out every ghost's favorite word and will be a fun addition to anyone's holiday jewelry wardrobe. Valued at $25.00, it's sure to be a sweet treat to the lucky winner!

How to Enter?
To enter, please visit Kelly and Joey's Whimsy Beading shop. Come back here to leave a comment and tell us what you like about their shop. If you tweet about the contest let us know for another chance to win. If you post this contest at your blog, leave a comment with the link for yet another chance to win. Finally, if you are not already a subscriber to our blog, enter your email in the subscribe box for another chance to win. Just let us know that you have become a subscriber.

This contest ends on October 14. We'll post the winner here and then announce the second part of our giveaway.

Good luck to all and thanks for playing!!

Kentucky Wild Weeds: Plantain

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

Today Jackie Alberti of Glorybeherbals discusses another "Kentucky Wild Weed" - this one is called Plantain.

This is another one of those very useful yard “weeds”. Plantain is EVERYWHERE - be glad because it can really come in handy if you need to treat a wound quickly. Plantain is cooling and soothing and can be used on insect bites and stings, nettle stings, cuts, scrapes, burns, and irritation. Most herbalists suggest plucking fresh leaves and chewing them a little before applying them to a wound. Personally, I am not crazy about the idea of putting anything from the ground into my mouth without washing it first. I like to roll fresh leaves between the palms of my hands until it feels wet. Thus releases the cooling mucilage-then it can be rubbed or laid over the affected area.

The seeds are used as a bulk forming laxative called psyllium.

**************
If you have any questions about Jackie's articles or want to know more about native Kentucky plants, please contact Jackie at her Glory Be Herbals blog.

Feature Friday: Wandering Whimsies

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:39:00 +0000

Today we feature Belinda Johnson of Wandering Whimsies, a talented member of our Bluegrass Etsy Team!

How did you first hear about etsy?

The first time I heard about etsy was several years ago while I was sitting in the school parking lot waiting to pick up my son. I always carry a project to work on, no matter where I'm at, and the lady parked next to me was sewing also. We started talking about crafts and the local shows coming up. I told her about my website and she told me about etsy and her shop.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I'm located in Radcliff, KY, just outside of Ft. Knox. We are retired Navy and when the US Army offered my husband a job here, we packed up and relocated one last time. I'm now a stay at home Mom with two teenagers (one a freshman and one is a senior) and work full time on my crafts. I have my etsy shop, a .com website, wholesale to specialty giftshops around the country and do several craft shows a year.

My favorite craft is sewing! I love primitive country decor and enjoy designing and creating my stitcheries, little "critters" (such as my sheep) and seasonal items, like pumpkins and snowmen.

How did you get started as a designer?

I was taught to embroider and sew at a young age by my mom, aunt and grandmothers and it's always been something I've done. As an adult, I spent my spare time working on projects and doing craft shows wherever we were stationed.

What inspires you to create?

Anything can be an inspiration! Things I see, something that someone says, a piece of fabric, etc. It stays in the back of my mind until an idea just "clicks". My best ideas seem to happen right before I fall asleep or in the middle of the night! My husband isn't concerned anymore when I get up to write down an idea or sketch a rough pattern.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I joined the Bluegrass team near the beginning of this year. I kept reading in the forums about being part of a team. So I checked all the teams listed (and there are quite a few) that sounded interesting and I may have common interests with.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

To keep working at what you like to do, don't be afraid to try something new and challenging; and above all, never give up! Keep going even though you may want to quit - success, personal and otherwise, doesn't happen overnight.

*****************

Thanks Belinda for the interview. It was great learning more about you and we are happy that you selected Bluegrass etsy when you were looking for a team!

To see more of Belinda's art and craft, please visit her Wandering Whimsies etsy shop!

Share Our Success: Vernon Ave in Haute Handbags

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:52:00 +0000

A big round of applause goes out to our very own Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave who was featured in the Autumn 2009 issue of Haute Handbags!! The magazine just hit the newstands this week. Be sure to check out a copy and congratulate Toni on her success! Two of her lovely clutch purses are shown in the article.

To see more about it, check out the latest Haute Handbags issue published by Stampington.

To see more of Toni's purses, check out her Vernon Ave etsy shop.

Team Meeting In Bernheim Forest Fall 2009

auroras_garden@insightbb.com (Auroras_Garden) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Our team meeting at beautiful Bernheim Forest was a blast! We went over quite a few topics during our meeting thanks to the impeccable organization skills of Kim Ries, who made an agenda of topics that need attention from the team.

First thing was handing out a team roster, this is invaluable to all of us since we want to encourage shopping within the team, and its nice to be able to have an easy way to contact other members for networking. The team roster is available for download if any member would like it please contact me or Kim and we can send you the file.

We talked about our ad coming in the October-December issue of Arts Across Kentucky. Kim passed around the printed out ad to show how it will look in the magazine. Many many thanks to our resident graphic designer Brandy of WickedSisterDesigns for designing this ad for us, it will make each of us so proud to see it in print!

We talked about our monthly giveaway, and have taken sign ups into next year for this. We will be having 2 giveaways in October so get ready!!

We talked about the samples box that our wonderful Jackie Alberti (Of Kentucky WIld weeds fame) of Glorybeherbals will be accepting donations of samples for the box which will be sold in our team shop to raise funds for the team treasury. Anyone wanting to send a donation for her box can contact Jackie.

We also talked about membership issues...this has been a hot topic all year since we do have a large portion of the team that is not active in any way. We will be taking action in the next few days to hopefully thin out the team a bit and get us into one smaller and more organized and active group that can have each member promoting the team and their fellow team mates on various social networks to help us all gain more overall sales and boost ALL of our shops popularity.

We all had a wonderful lunch served by Isaacs Cafe, All the food was large portions and in my opinion very much worth the money spent. The vegetables were very tasty and very fresh. Everything we got looked so delicious I wished I had more than one stomach! I would definitely go back there with my family just to hang out and eat! Thanks so much to Carolyn of CowgirlRosie fame for running our lunch orders over there, and many many thanks to the staff at Isaacs for preparing such a wonderful delicious and nutritious lunch for our team! We needed the extra vitamins after all that talking and trading we did!

We got to hear some wonderful stories from our members. One such story was the story of Angus McEwan. He is the handsome ram/sheep that is pictured to the right and at the top. He apparently was a very naughty boy and got his twitter account deleted....now he spends his time blogging about the Whimsybeading husband and wife team of Kelly and Joey Graves. Thanks guys for bringing Angus - he made my day! I hope he didn't cause any trouble on the way home.

We got to meet with two of our newest members of a sewing team called SewFriendzy. They create gorgeous dog leashes, beds and other pet wares. Leighann brought a beautifully made halloween bag with a kitty applique on it to the meeting...I left with it! My daughter adores kitties and I had to have it for her! Her work is VERY professional and this is coming from a long time seamstress. I highly recommend checking them out if you're in the market for an item for your pet.If you are a jewelry lover, one member does jewelry! Her shop HumanKindness is full of treasures to behold! Many warm welcomes to our newest members of the team! Its a pleasure to have you all!

In summary it was an awesome day and we get to get together again very soon as we will be having a Christmas get together at Brendans on Shelbyville Road in Louisville on Dec 12th. Thanks so much to Joey Graves for setting this up for us I cant wait to try that Veggie Quesadilla Kelly mentioned! This venue serves alcohol so bring your designated driver and goods to swap! I am so looking forward to getting together once again with the team for good times, lots of laughs and trading!

Team photo from left to right:
Libby Goldsmith ( Mayleesgarden )
Kelly Graves (Whimsybeading)
Carolyn Campbell (Cowgirlrosie)
Joseph Graves (Whimsybeading) Angela Latham (Spoolofplenty)
Paulena ( Paulena )
And our wonderous meeting organizer who deserves more than a thousand thank yous for all her hard work for the team, Kim Ries (Creativeeyestudio)

Not pictured but who came to the meeting (we were having so much fun we forgot about pictures till it was time to go!)
Toni of Vernon Ave (Who by the way is having an article about her in the new issue of Haute Handbags! GO TONI!)
Leighann and Sherry from SewFriendzy
Tina Mackin from SmackinArt
And Asha from MisfitDreamers

Thanks so much to all who were able to come out, and next big meeting hopefully will be in the spring in Lexington!

Feature Friday: Jackie Alberti - GloryBeHerbals

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:08:00 +0000

Today on Feature Friday, we focus on Jackie Alberti of GloryBeHerbals. If you have been following the blog you will recognize Jackie's name from the Kentucky Wild Weeds articles that she writes for us. Now we learn a little more about Jackie and her love of plants, flowers and herbs.

How did you first hear about etsy?

I first heard about etsy from another student in my herbal program.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

My favorite is aromatherapy but I also love herbs. I also knit and crochet when the urge strikes me but that's usually for family gifts.

How did you get started as a designer?

I have always been interested in herbs. I seriously studied herbs and essential oils a few years ago because I was getting really concerned about how many chemicals my family is exposed to. I really believe that plants are God's gift to us and they can sometimes work in ways that pharmaceuticals can't. After I was using herbs and essential oils for a few months I realized how much better my stress levels were and I was off all my prescription meds, plus I wasn't having any of the nasty side effects. How great is that!

What inspires you to create?

Sometimes it seems to come out of nowhere. Definitely a new herb or essential oil will inspire creativity. Sometimes I am trying to find a new protocol for a specific condition and I will be drawn to a certain plant or oil.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I have been on the team for about a year and a half now. I was invited to join not long after I signed up on etsy and I'm really glad I joined. We have really nice people and it's great to have a group supporting each other. BEST is a great team and I hope more members will be inspired to participate more. We have some members that are working SO HARD for the benefit of the whole team! If we could get half the team this passionate we probably could take over the world-or at least the state.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

I think being an active member of a street team really helps with networking and morale. I also say keep on doing what makes you happy and listen to your customers.

Anything else you would like to add?

Actually I have a new store for perfumery where I am using mainly fragrance oils plus some natural perfumes. It's at JASaromatics if anyone would like to check it out. I also love to do custom work for customers-it challenges me in a great way.

*************

Thanks Jackie for the interview. In addition to Jackie's JASaromatics shop, you may also want to check out her Glorybeherbals etsy shop!

To see more of the talented arts and crafts from Kentucky Handmade, go to etsy.com and type in teambluegrass in the search box.

Its That Time Again. Team Meet And Greet!

auroras_garden@insightbb.com (Auroras_Garden) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:34:00 +0000

Well, team its almost time for us to get together, giggle like little girls, and eat some lunch at Isaacs Cafe in beautiful Bernheim Forest!

Our team meeting is set for this Saturday September 26th from about 11-ish till about 4-ish. I never want these things to end so I could easily party up into the night with you guys if you want to.

We have been informed no booze is allowed on the property. BOOOO!!!!!!

It is Ok however to bring items to barter and trade! I love trading!

Bring your promo items to swap with others, Feel free to bring samples of your work too! At our last meet and greet we got to see some AMAZING work by Jama Watts, and Jenni Phillips of Lucajenn So if you got something you wanna show off, bring it! We would LOVE to Oooo and Ahhh over your creations!

We will be discussing a lot of team related stuff so bring your thinking caps too. We want to make the team more exciting for you and also help you to make your shop be the best it can be. So bring your questions, and ideas too.

Kim and I are looking very forward to meeting each and every one of you coming out on Saturday. Kim and Carolyn have worked very hard to get this thing together, and I wish to thank them for all their hard work to make this meeting a success!

GO TEAM!!!!!!

Photo credits:
Above left courtesy of TheUnderstory
Bottom right courtesy of SewFriendzy
Click on the picture to see the listing for that item if you wish!

Kentucky Wild Weeds: Peppermint

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:34:00 +0000

We have another installment of our Kentucky Wild Weeds series from Jackie Alberti of Glorybeherbals. Today Jackie will discuss peppermint.

If you aren’t familiar with peppermint you must be from another planet! Peppermint is used extensively to flavor commercial products including candy, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. It is also one of the most useful herbs you’ll ever use. Peppermint is cooling and warming-and it seems to know if your body needs warming or cooling. It stimulates appetite, circulation, mental function and relieves muscle spasms. The menthol content also makes it useful to open breathing passages when you’re suffering from allergies or colds.

To make a medicinal tea with peppermint you can boil some water, chop a teaspoon or two of fresh leaves, take your water off the heat and let the peppermint leaves steep in the water (covered) for 20 minutes. This tea can be sipped to relieve indigestion (and IBS) or added to bath water or a footbath to cool you down and relieve fatigue and pain. One of my favorite baths is rosemary and peppermint. I take this bath after I have spent the morning toiling in the garden but still have a full days work ahead of me. It takes care of my muscle aches and keeps me going for the rest of the day.

If you like to carry a water bottle in the summer, try dropping a sprig of fresh peppermint into the bottle. It really cools you down on a hot summer’s day.

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To learn more about medicinal uses of plants and herbs, feel free to contact Jackie through her Glory Be Herbals etsy shop.

Share our Success: Tina Mackin of Smackin Art

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Our very own multi-talented team member, Tina Mackin is a finalist in the Today's Woman "18" themed contest. Tina's art submission is shown above.

We'll find out the winner sometime after October 12.

Good luck Tina! Teambluegrass is proud of you!

Feature Friday: Maylees Garden

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Today's interview focuses on Libby Goldsmith of Maylees Garden. Libby is also the leader of our Bluegrass etsy team! We hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about her!

How did you first hear about etsy?

A good friend of mine, Kelly went from ebay to Etsy. I too was selling on Ebay at the time in 2006. Her shop was my first exposure to Etsy, and I fell in love with it! It was cheaper than Ebay for sure and it featured ONLY handmade goods. At the time this was not commonplace like it is now. So of course I jumped on the bandwagon along with some others who made the style of clothing I make. I been on Etsy ever since. So my thanks to Kelly, for finding Etsy to begin with and heading over there and talking so much about it.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I am a work at home mama of 2 boys ages 11 and 16 and a girl who will be 2 in October on the 15th. I have been sewing plus size clothing since 2005, and I have been making soap seriously since 2007. I am a fibromyalgia survivor, and an arthritis survivor. I have chronic pain every day but I am determined to not let it slow me down. Life with chronic pain is difficult at times, and also frightening at other times if I have a flare up that is severe. It effects every aspect of my life, but I have become a stronger person for it. I always say as long as I have my right mind and my two good hands, I can create.

I am a columnist for handmadenews.org in the Marketing Dept. I have always loved writing, and I seem to have a knack for marketing so it made sense I would end up with this job. We have some very talented writers in the marketing Dept including our own Kellibeans who is a wiz at this stuff. Check us out!

I have a fan page on Facebook and a personal page. I love having new fans and friends so friend me and fan me! Also be sure to visit my crafty blog.

I am also the leader of this Etsy team now! I am quite proud of what we have done here in bringing the handmade movement to Kentucky and promoting ourselves as a team. I get really excited thinking of where this team can go. We have done so much this year, I expect next year to be even bigger and better!

Needless to say I am pretty busy, but when I get a spare moment I like to dabble in other arts and crafts, I have picked up crocheting lately, and spinning my own yarn from wool. I also like to dabble in dying methods, tie dye, batik, all the fun messy stuff! I like to keep an open mind creatively. I stumbled upon my talent for making clothing by accident, so I wonder what other talents are in my head just waiting to come out and play!

I can't say I have one favorite craft, I love sewing and I also love making soap too. I can use my creativity in different ways with both mediums. I love blending scents and inventing new ones with my soap. With my clothing I love making new patterns, and I get a great deal of joy from knowing I have made a plus sized woman feel beautiful. All too often plus size ladies feel less than gorgeous, and its sad. I happen to think plus size is the best size! Big mama's Unite!

How did you get started as a designer?

My mother has always been pretty crafty, She made soft sculptured dolls back in the 80's and I would help her with them. Mom was always creating something even if it was just the awesomest supper you ever ate. Mom and her endless creativity has been a huge inspiration. My father was also quite creative, he built me the most gorgeous furniture. I will treasure it always. His masterpiece was a bench made from an old twin size headboard and footboard for a bed. He used the headboard for the back of the bench and cut the footboard in half to make the sides of the bench. He added a board to sit on and some nice decorative touches, and Voila! I have a true work of art that starts up many conversations right in my house. Mom and Dad were my first inspiration to create, the seed was planted when I was just a wee girl. It has grown over the years.

What inspires you to create?

When I sniff my essential oils, I get ideas for blending. When I see beautiful fabric it inspires me to make something pretty with it. The changing of seasons is a big inspiration too. I love using the colors and scents of fall or spring in my work with soap and clothing. I draw a lot of inspiration from nature with both my chosen art forms. I like to keep my soaps as natural and pure as I can while still having fun with the medium, and I like to represent nature in my appliques on my clothing. My favorite applique I have designed is one with cat tails by a pond. My next favorite is my tree with the big roots.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I found out about the team from the team page on Etsy. I was pretty happy to see there was a team for Kentucky. I joined up in 2007...I think. It's been a while. I was one of the first several members invited to our Ning site after it got set up. I was very honored when Corinne asked me to be the leader when she had to move out of state. It has been quite an adventure and I have learned so much through doing this. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

Promote yourself, be friendly online, join several social networks and get your name "out there." Make yourself visible to people and they will see how cool you are and of course want to check your shop out.

Make sure your shop looks good, great pictures, good descriptions, use all the tags Etsy gives you to use to describe your items, and read up on SEO and what it means for you and your business. Educate yourself to how the internet works, and how search engines work to make yourself be more visible. Check out Google base as well. Etsy doesn't list each of your listings to Google you have to do that part yourself. So get down to Google Base and get it done! The more traffic you can pull from google searches the more sales you will make. Bottom line is, READ! Dig in the internet and educate yourself, it is a lot of work at first to promote a new shop and to get the sales, but once you get the customer base its easier over time. All your hard work in the beginning will pay off, just don't give up! If other people are successful selling online there is no reason why YOU can't be successful too. Be passionate, think positive, and go for it!

Anything else you’d like to add?

Think positive. Project a beautiful future for yourself. Hugz are free so give and receive them often. Love each other. Smile a lot. Don't sweat the small stuff, seriously. Life is short, live it joyfully!

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Thanks Libby for allowing us to interview you. We are happy to have you leading our team, as you are so driven and enthusiastic! If readers have any questions for Libby, please leave a comment. She is eager to share her marketing ideas with everyone. And if you haven't tried her soaps, you don't know what you're missing! Check out her Maylees Garden etsy shop and her artfire shop!

To see more of the talented artists from Kentucky Handmade, go to www.etsy.com and type teambluegrass in the search box.

Bluegrass Sept Giveaway: SmackinArt

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:06:00 +0000

Our lucky winner of the August giveaway from Purrprints is Jacque Curl of Missouri. Congratulations Jacque. Becca will be in touch with you when your prize ships!

We'd now like to announce our giveaway for the month of September!

This month's prize come to us from the very talented Tina Mackin of SmackinArt Studio. Tina is giving away three hydrangea watercolor greeting cards and a copy of her original 'zine, the "Poetry and Essay Issue."

Total value of this prize is $15.

To enter, please visit Tina's SmackinArt shop and come back here to leave a comment and tell us what you like about her shop or her art. If you tweet about the contest let us know for another chance to win. If you post this contest at your blog, leave a comment with the link for yet another chance to win. Finally, if you are not already a subscriber to our blog, enter your email in the subscribe box for another chance to win.

The contest ends September 30. We'll draw a random winner that evening and post by the first week of October.

Good luck to all and thanks for playing!!

Etsy Moment Video Contest : Lucajenn

auroras_garden@insightbb.com (Auroras_Garden) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:25:00 +0000

TheMidnightOrange has submitted a video for the new Etsy Moment Video contest and it features the paper dolls made by our own Lucajenn! If you have a moment please go vote for this video on the Etsy Handmade Moment Video site. To vote you have to be signed in to Etsy, so be sure to sign in first!

Here is a preview of the video:

Bluegrass Cookin: Deep Fried Candy Bars

auroras_garden@insightbb.com (Auroras_Garden) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Welcome to my first installment of Bluegrass Cookin'! It is my goal to bring you unhealthy sinful treats you can make right in your own kitchen with as few ingredients as possible to make an awesome treat! Of course from time to time I may bring HEALTHY choices, but for now lets do the fun stuff. Now lets get cookin'!

Today I bring you: Deep Fried Candy bars!!!!

I had an oppurtunity to go to the mega spectacular Heartland Music festival in Elizabethtown and while I was there I was tempted by the smells of sausage and onions cooking, cotton candy being spun, and deep fried candy bars! I stood and watched carefully the nice man who was serving up these treats and I uncovered a secret...they use funnel cake batter. Or you can use my recipe and have a batter almost as awesome!

The nitty Gritty:

*1 cup of self rising flour ( who has time to mess with baking powder!)
*5 or more tablespoons of sugar (I recommend Turbinado cause its healthier)
* 1 egg
*water/soy or rice milk or regular milk use enough to make a batter that is thinner than pudding but thicker than water...kinda like a pancake batter. (Sorry I never measure this part!)
*vegetable oil to fill the smallest pan you got. These arent very big so you don't need a huge pan. Its best to cook one at a time.
*And last but not least you need packs of those "fun size" candy bars. Snickers, Milky Way, Reese's cups, whatever your favorite is! You can also use Oreos for this too!

How to pull it off:

Mix up all the above ingredients with the exception of the candy bars. While you're doing this, put the oil in the pan and fire it up on medium heat. You don't want the oil TOO hot but you want it hot enough to start cooking the batter as soon as you drop these puppies in there.

Once your oil is hot, and your batter mixed up, let's get busy!

Take some tongs and pick up a candy bar...dont eat it! resist the temptation! Drop it in the batter and get it coated REAL good. Make sure its a pretty thick layer. Drop it all in the hot oil....turn when one side is brown. They should float on top of the oil too, so turning is tricky.

When your candies are nice and golden brown, take them out with the tongs and put them on a paper towel to drain real good.

Resist temptation to eat, and repeat this process till you have enough candy bars to feed the crowd that has now gathered around you.

You can sprinkle these with powdered sugar if you wish! Best served warm and melty. With vanilla ice cream is best.

Sorry I do not have pictures of the finished product as my son and I ate them all before I thought about posting the recipe! Boy were they GOOOD!

Feature Friday: The Pink Needle

kimberven@earthlink.net (KimberlyRies) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Today we feature another talented Bluegrass team member, Jessica Brown of the Pink Needle. Jessica's style is cute, whimsical and feminine!

How did you first hear about etsy?

I heard about etsy through the blogging community. I had never even read blogs until I heard about Nie's story (from the Nie Nie Dialogues) and from there I've been hooked.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I'm Jessica :D I live in Louisville and am the wife to a man obsessed with batman and the mother to a pesky cat named Alfred Kittyworth the First. My favorite craft used to be crochet but recently I've really been enjoying sewing. There's something so wonderful about taking a piece fabric and turning it into something beautiful.

What inspires you to create?

Nothing inspires me more than to see what other people are doing. I love that so many people are taking it upon themselves to make the world a more beautiful place and I love being a part of that.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I've been a member of the BEST team for about 6 months now and I heard about the team from fellow teammate Spoolofplenty. I was in one of the etsy chat rooms one day and she told me that I should check it out. I'm so glad I did.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

Don't give up! Sometimes it just takes a little perseverance!

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Thanks Jessica!

To see more of Jessica's creations, visit the Pink Needle etsy shop, and check out her musings about life at her blog.

To see more talented artists from the Bluegrass etsy team, go to www.etsy.com and in the search box type teambluegrass. Shop local, shop handmade!