Countdown to Christmas: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK TEN: Win an Adjustable Fairy Elven Choker / Necklace from Thyme 2 Dream!

WEEK TEN: Win an Adjustable Fairy Elven Choker / Necklace from Karla Hall at Thyme 2 Dream in WINNER'S CHOICE of colors!

According to Karla, "I believe that the root of my artistic career really came about as a result of a restless need to do something with all the creative energy I was no longer using as my kids became more independent. I just suddenly had this consuming passion to make things. I played with polymer clay for awhile, got into beading, and then I discovered wire working and was totally hooked! I first started making sun catchers and trying my hand at wind chimes and such, but then one day my 89-year-old grandmother asked me if I could make a pair of ear cuffs for her. This appealed to me as well; I had never had pierced ears and loved dangly earrings. Basically, I started making the sort of jewelry that I loved, but could never find anywhere else. The results of that effort have evolved into a full-time jewelry business."

"I love growing things but am a terrible gardener- I created my crystal leaf gardens because they are much easier to keep alive. I delight in fanciful stories from literature, theater, and music, and I am fascinated by the process of trying to convey the enchantment from one genre to another," Karla notes.

She credits Alphonse Mucha and his artistic love affair with the actress Sarah Bernhardt, the jewelry he adorned his portrait models with, as well as the designs he actually had made into jewelry pieces in collaboration with French jeweler Georges Fouquet, for much of her inspiration. "I like to think I might be related to him somewhere back there- my maternal grandparents are from the same region of the Czech Republic where he was born. I also love the work of Arthur Rackham, Maxfield Parrish, Rick Griffin and N C Wyeth."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN the Adjustable Fairy Elven choker necklace, simply visit Karla's Etsy Shop thyme2dream.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Include in your comment a link to your post! Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. Monday Oct. 26, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Karla to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings, and good luck to you!

The winner of this drawing is Anne J! Congratulations!

Countdown to Christmas: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK NINE: Win a Sparkle Flower Power magnet set Sparkle Book from Anne B. Vinyl!

WEEK NINE: Win one Sparkle Flower Power (set of four vinyl magnets) and one Sparkle Book (Vinyl Composition Book Cover) in the mini composition book size from Anne Hollond at Anne B. Vinyl!

Says Anne, "I've been sewing with various vinyl fabrics for the past 10 years. I started on a whim, after seeing a segment on Martha Stewart's television show about oilcloth placemats. After I made the placemats, I couldn't stop thinking about what else I could make with this amazing fabric, and I discovered other vinyl fabrics that were also incredibly appealing. I still can't stop! My inspiration comes from all over. I tend to just be in a constant state of viewing the world through a vinyl lens. I'm always jotting down ideas for things that I think would look fabulous in vinyl, or things that are already made of vinyl but aren't made of cool vinyl! (That's how the pocket protectors came about.) I'm also very lucky -- and very grateful -- to have so many people (especially on Etsy) approach me with ideas. I've currently got several fun projects in the works based on these ideas. One of them, in an amusing full-circle way, is a set of placemats!"

Anne notes that it's hard for her to pick a favorite item. "So many of them have interesting and sentimental back-stories. In a general sense, I'm particularly fond of the appliqued designs. They're very challenging, because the sewing is slow and the margin for error is tiny, but I really enjoy the challenge and the end result. I'm also very proud of my collaborative projects with Christy Schneider at The Petite Press - Project Nerd Power, Project Sip-in-Style, and Project Sup-in-Style."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN the SPARKLE FLOWER POWER magnet set and SPARKLE BOOK mini composition book, simply visit Anne's Etsy Shop annebvinyl.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Include in your comment a link to your post! Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Monday Oct. 19, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Anne to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings, and good luck to you!

This week's winner is DOTTY JANE! Congratulations!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programing ...

to bring you some black and orange goodies ...

1. Dia de los Muertos Sparkle Cuff - Reversible Vinyl Bracelet (annebvinyl)
2. Perfection. Bracelet (LynspiredJewelry)
3. Boo It's Halloween, Standard Pillowcase (tinystitches)
4. Orange Birdie Earrings (creativeARTchicka)

Tuesday Tutorial:: Felt Sandwich Bread

I recently needed a mess free way for 50 kids ages 3-11 to make PBJ sandwiches as part of a relay race. Real sandwich bread, peanut butter and jelly weren't a practical option because of cost, waste and the mess/allergy factor, so I turned to what I know best ... fabric. Specifically felt. Felt sandwich bread, felt peanut butter, felt jelly - it was perfect. No excessive waste, no sticky fingers, no epi pens, and it was all totally reusable after the activity in my kids play "pantry."

Here's my very simple tutorial for the sandwich bread. Definitely get enough supplies to make a loaf, about 10 slices. And start brainstorming other sandwich fixings you can create using felt ... lettuce, tomato slices, deli meats, cheese.

If you know a young child who loves to pretend they run a bakery, cafe or grocery store, go on picnics with giants or serve tea to Teddy and Willow each afternoon; making a little sandwich kit would be a thoughtful, unique, inexpensive, handmade gift they would love! Sweeten the deal with a few iced sugar cookies.

Written and submitted by TinyStitches.

Countdown to Christmas: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK EIGHT: Win anything in shop from Dumb Kid Designs!

WEEK EIGHT: Win your choice of any wallet/card holder, passport holder, or pocketbook in her shop from Susanne Brink at Dumb Kid Designs!

According to Susanne, "I have always considered myself creative and crafty, so it is hard to pinpoint when I really first started making stuff. So I found Etsy a little over 2 years ago and took a shot to see if anyone other than my family and friends liked what I made. I'm really glad I did; I love it!"

Susanne says she dreams a lot and thinks that due to this, everyone and everything inspires her. "I try to take it all in. It works out for me because working with paper as a base for my items, my possibilities are endless that way. My products are pretty similar, except in size really. I cannot say I have a favorite item, because I use them all. I personally like the maps the best. I can get lost in them for hours. They remind me of where I have been and where I want to go. Who lives here and who lives there. They are also my favorite item to sell too. My customers tend to tell me stories of why they want a certain place/city, and that's what makes it so much more real. It's fun for me that way."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN YOUR CHOICE OF ANY ITEM IN HER SHOP, simply visit Susanne's Etsy Shop dumbkiddesigns.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Include in your comment a link to your post! Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Monday Oct. 5, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Susanne to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

This week's winner is Joyful Girl Naturals! Congratulations!

Countdown to Christmas: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK SEVEN: Win TULIP EARRINGS from Newelry Jewelry!

WEEK SEVEN: Win a beautiful pair of tulip earrings in the winner's choice of pink or blue from Anchalee Srimongkolkul at Newelry Jewelry! See her Etsy shop listing here for the prize description and more photos!

Says Anchalee, "It all started couple of years ago when I tried to fix a broken eyeglass holder myself. One thing lead to another, and I began making jewelry for myself, my friends and my family. I enjoy making it so much, but there are too many pieces to wear myself! So I decided to try selling them on Etsy. Most of my pieces are one of a kind."

Anchalee likes to use real stones, her favorites being tourmaline, turquoise, rose quartz, and rutiliated quartz. "I also like to use natural-colored freshwater pearls. I also found some beautiful high-quality glass beads and handmade lampwork beads from other artisans, and these also inspire me to create my jewelry." Her favorite metals to work with are sterling silver and 14K gold filled. "I explore using other materials such as brass or copper sometimes. All the jewelry in my shop is made as if I were making it for my own. I feel every single piece is special and unique. I hope people who see my jewelry like it too."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN THESE GORGEOUS EARRINGS, simply visit Anchalee's Etsy Shop newelryjewelry.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Include in your comment a link to your post! Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. Monday Sept. 28, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Anchalee to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this drawing is JennTRC! Congratulations!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 6: WINNER'S CHOICE of ANY BABY SLING from Polkadot Papoose!

WEEK SIX: Win a baby sling of your choice from Tara Harrup at Polkadot Papoose! According to Tara, "Everyone has hobbies, and I’ve had my string — cake making, soapmaking, photography. I may have even tried macrame, though I can’t remember now — but most of these passions cooled. After wearing my infant son in a fabric baby sling four years ago, however, I had that transcendent 'I could really improve this product' moment, and Polkadot Papoose was born."

"My flesh-and-blood inspirations are my boys, Aedan and Silas, who remind me daily of the value of snuggles, but in a more esoteric sense, I draw light from colorful writers and artists such as Frida Kahlo, Maya Angelou, and Isabel Allende, as well as literary characters and even a few well-known creative individuals who camped on the melancholy side of life, such as Sylvia Plath."

"While my favorite sling is the Artemesia, my favorite item currently in my shop are the Diaper Dots. It’s a classically pretty scented sachet that can be stuffed in shoes, purses, diaper bags, or drawers, and it seems to always draw comments. In general, however, I love making anything that brings color and life and contented smiles into the everyday lives of my customers. That, I suspect, is really why all of us crafters are in business."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN YOUR CHOICE OF ANY BABY SLING IN HER SHOP, simply visit Tara's Etsy Shop polkadotpapoose.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. Monday Sept. 21, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Tara to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this week's drawing is sarsosari! Congratulations!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 5: WINNER'S CHOICE of ANY ITEM IN SHOP up to $15 from Jewelry by Shirley!

The KC ETSY TEAM is proud and excited to feature COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 18 weeks of wonderful blog giveaways from now until December! Don't miss your chance to win some fabulous free goodies from this very talented team!

WEEK FIVE: Win the item of your choice (up to $15) from Shirley Borchardt at Jewelry by Shirley! Shirley started making jewelry about 3 years ago when her mother-in-law bought her a jewelry kit for Christmas. According to Shirley, "The beads themselves inspire me. I look at the materials for a while and an idea just comes to me."

"I don't know that I have a favorite item. I love all of my creations. I often joke with family and friends that I hate to sell my jewelry. I myself am a jewelry lover and collector. I have always found it difficult to find quality jewelry at affordable prices. The jewelry that can be bought cheap is usually mass produced cheaply and breaks easily. My jewelry is quality without the cost."

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN YOUR CHOICE OF ANY ITEM IN HER SHOP, simply visit Shirley's Etsy Shop shirleyborchardt.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop, then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. For an EXTRA ENTRY, become a follower of this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know you've done so. For yet a THIRD entry, Tweet on Twitter or blog about this contest on your own blog, including a link to this blog, and BE SURE TO POST A SEPARATE COMMENT letting us know. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009. Monday Sept. 14, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact Shirley to claim his/her prize. Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!

And the winner of this week's drawing is LoveCharlesVintage! Congratulations!