Wearable Art for Fall

1. Candied Apple Scarflette - StirDesigns
2. Geranium Hat Set - ExcessoriesKC
3. Fringed Nuno Scarf - thefunkyfelter

Weekend Festivals

If you love handmade art like we do and are itching to get out and see what area artists have to offer, just about every weekend in September and October has a festival happening where artists and crafters alike will have their handmade creations for sale. So get your umbrella ready, pull on sensible shoes and bring a waterproof tote bag for all your treasured finds; we're going festival hopping!

River Market Art Festival on Saturday, September 13th, 10 am-5pm. The art tents will be set up on Delaware Street, a block west of the Farmer's Market area. Sweet Mud Clay Works, will be participating in this festival showcasing beautifully crafted, handmade porcelain earrings.

Lawrence Fall Arts & Crafts Festival on Sunday, September 14th, 10am-5pm. Art tents will be set up in South Park just south of downtown Lawrence at 12th and Massachusetts St. Ni-Chern Designs and Thyme2dream, will both be among the 200 artists showing their work Sunday. Ni-Chern Designs' chic line of handbags, wristlets and pouches, and Thyme2dream's magical jewelry, ear cuffs, tiaras, and more are not to be missed.

Beautiful Beaded Bangles

Just a few of the gorgeous bracelets KCEtsy Team Members have to offer:
Left: Thyme2dream, Elven Forest Fairy Vine Bracelet or Arm Cuff.
Top right: Angelfire Art Glass, Turquoise Treasures Lampwork Bracelet
Middle right: JewlLi - petite moonstone and garnet bracelet
Bottom right: baxtershouse - Black Onyx with Dangles

Want to try your hand a making a simple bracelet? KCEtsy team member TinyStitches, came across this tutorial for making a chic bracelet using handmade paper beads. A great project for a night with girlfriends, a tween slumber party, or mother daughter craft day. Dig through your scrapbook papers, magazine pages, or even wrapping paper scraps, purchase a couple of beads and a jewelry clasp and in no time flat you'll have an inexpensive bracelet you made all by yourself.

Inspiration: Arthur Rackhan's Faery World

I used to have a big poster of this painting on my wall when I was 16. All I knew about it then, was the caption said, "Queen Mab". Many years later, when I found it on the web it was entitled "Feeling Very Undancey Indeed," and when I researched it a bit more I discovered it was actually from Arthur Rackham's illustrations for J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.

Ah, so that explains why I loved the painting so much! I love J. M. Barrie. The world has lost way too much of its innocence these days, consequently I work very diligently to hang on to as much of mine as I can. Reading Peter Pan every few years is one of my favorite ways to accomplish this.

According to our beloved Mr. Barrie, dancey is how the faeries say they are happy... so undancey is faerie-folk language for a wee bit dispirited or some such thing. It is Queen Mab, and the reason she is feeling undancey is too long to go into here, but Dover Publications is issuing a new edition of the book with Arthur Rackham's original illustrations next month, so you can go and read the story for yourself if you are curious.

One of the things I love most about Arthur Rackham's illustrations of Queen Mab are the beautiful tones of ivory and burgandy that he used... it seemed only natural when I was asked to create a wedding set in these colours that they should be named after the undancey faery Queen.

When I finished the tiara, I went to find the Undancey picture again and was delighted to see how much tiara looks like it belonged to her! I have also made a hair clip, earrings, two necklaces and a bracelet in this series. They are my new personal favorites, and are available in my etsy shop, look for "Queen Mab's Wedding"


*Written by Thyme2dream.

Take Time to Smell the ...

1. Knit Flower Pin (Stir Designs)
2. English Garden Lampwork Pair (angelfireartglass)
3. Funky Flower Hair Pin (thefunkyfelter)
4. Happy and Orange 4x6 matted print (Sylvia C.)
5. CHERISH Me Collage Magnetic Frame (collagecontessa)
6. Flower Pop Headband (StirExcess)
7. Cosmos II fine art print (LitteBirdPhoto)
8. Spring Garden Locket (JewlLi)

Find more "flower inspired" work by KCEtsy Artists here.

* Written by TinyStitches.

KCEtsy Art Helps Support Charities

Etsy artists and crafters are an extremely giving lot. The following KCEtsy artists donate either a portion of their sales or are matching the donations of their clients to local and national charities.



lbloter - Pink Ribbon Soldered Pendant Charm
A portion of the sale of each Pink Ribbon pendant will be sent to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer research.

threeredtrees - Hilde
10% of every Original Sock Dog purchase from three red trees is donated to the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, a wonderful, caring, no-kill animal shelter where I have been volunteering since January 2005.

nicherndesigns - Small pouch, Ginger Blossom
10% of all proceeds are donated to Prevent Cancer Foundation (preventcancer.org)!

bbesigns - Handmade Cards and Gift Tags
bbesigns is participating in, Mission Soldier Support organized by EtsyGreetings Street Team. Each participant is sending blank cards for our soldiers overseas to use. You're welcome to join in and purchase one or more cards to donate. The cards will be sent to capturedtimebooks.etsy.com who is shipping them to the soldiers. bbesigns will DOUBLE the amount of cards purchased for this cause. If you buy one card, I will send two. If you buy six cards, I will send twelve and so on. More information is available here.

The Sweet Smell of KCEtsy

Who doesn't love a great smelling candle, or a fantastic bar of luxury soap or stepping into a soothing, hot bubble bath and then, covering your skin a light, sweet smelling lotion. Handmade bath and body products are the ultimate in self pampering. And these KCEtsy artists pride themselves in providing a top quality product - better than anything you can purchase in the stores - that is affordable AND organic - meaning is great for your skin and body as well as the enviornment. Can you get better than that?

thegaudygoddess' ophelias Apoth.e.cary bath and body products •
therusticowl's Vegan Soy Candles •
ajscountrycottage's Luxury Artisan Soaps •
lafngirl's fragrance bead sachet

Personalize It with KCEtsy

Handmade art is always a one-of-a-kind expression of the artist and the individual who purchases it. Likewise a handmade card or accessory – given as a gift or kept for yourself – designed and crafted by a talented artist can become a personalized a piece of art when you have them customize the item to your specific tastes.

Here are a few of the KCEtsy artists offering personalization:

semiprecious1: Unique, personalized, wearable art jewelry

bbsigns: Handmade cards and gift tags, personalized note and greeting cards.

karenkayartworks: Original art and prints, personalized sketchbooks.

RetrospectiveDesign: Custom wedding invitation packages, stationary and photo montages.

MondeDesign: Custom monogrammed wedding & children's accessories.