BESTeam Feature: You Are My Sunshine!

You Are My Sunshine is packed with lovely handmade flower brooches, fabric flower hair pins, rings, earrings, bracelets, cuffs as well as some items for your home! Many of Nina's accessories would be perfect for a wedding or bridal party. You can’t help but feel this designer’s love for vintage in her newly created items.

Her little poker chip pendants are so unique – and would definitely make a statement!  These pendants have vintage dictionary pictures such as hinges, an albatross, microscopes, opera glasses, anatomical human eye, human ear, and acorns. These are just a few examples.

She incorporates recycled and reclaimed fabrics as well as vintage and new components.

This shop has a special place in my heart!  “You Are My Sunshine” is the song my grandmother used to sing to me hundreds of years ago.

If you love vintage – don’t miss Nina’s second shop at esty, mysunshine vintage.

You can also find You Are My Sunshine here:

http://youaremysunshine-etsy.flickr.com
(upcoming handmade and vintage items are posted here!)

Facebook: http://youaremysunshine.facebook.com

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/mysunshine4etsy

Vividly Violet

Here is a TREASURY collection of beautiful purple items that have been created by the members of the BESTeam at Etsy.

BESTeam Feature of the Week - Moonangelnay

Moonangelnay – an Etsy shop that specializes in Original Home Decor Altered Photography & Photo Jewelry. Naomi creates fine art & contemporary digital photography prints to adorn your walls! Her unique style has an abstract outlook on nature.  Her work is inspired by animals, flowers, landscapes, vintage, dreams, vibrant color and favoring styles of macro, bokeh and lomography.

Her extensive shop has something for everyone – with the holidays around the corner this is a great find!  I love her photo jewelry.  Her collage tile sheets are great for a variety of craft projects - such a brilliant idea! The flower and animal photography as well as all her art is exceptional! Stop by and shop!

This Week's BESTeam Feature

Turquoise Angels at Etsy is a family owned company specializing in infusing art and clothing. They provide ever evolving, stylish printed and handmade apparel and accessories.  This mother-daughter design team covers the generation gap by combining unique patterns and prints fashionable for all ages. You will find the sweetest hair accessories and tutus for the darling little girl in your life!  This mother and daughter team is ready for the holiday season with colorful Christmas and Hannukah hair bows and headbands!  The pretty, colorful tutus make a perfect gift for your little princess or ballerina. Now is a good time to get a head start on your holiday shopping.

Tibetan Inspiration

My new Tibetan Collection of jewelry was inspired by my trip to this remote mountain area. All of the beads, medallions, Buddhas, and prayer wheels were purchased at the local markets.  The Tibetan women carry  the brass medallions with them all the time. These medallions have the animals of the zodiac and symbolize protection for the wearer's loved ones.  The women pin the medallions to the blankets in which they carry the babies on their backs.  They are also pinned them to their clothing.  The little white and brown beads which are used as prayer beads were purchased in Shigatze - they are bone with little bits of red and turquoise inlaid. The medallions and beads were found in the market in Lhasa.
Here's a sneak peek of my newest pieces. They'll be uploaded on Etsy soon.

Fashion Wire

This week’s feature is Fashion Wire.  Connie is a wire wrap artist and jewelry designer who works magic with wire. Her jewelry is gorgeous! Her combinations of silver or copper wire with gemstones, pearls,  or coins create unique rings, pendants, and earrings! Check out her etsy shop or her ebay storefront! If you want to learn some of her techniques, you can purchase her tutorials.  Her newest creations are posted on her facebook. 

Midnightchalk

Welcome to Sandra of  Midnightchalk who recently joined the BESTeam and is fairly new to Etsy as well.  Stop by and check out her lovely photos and art work.  Her blog displays her latest pieces and tells the story behind each one.   You can feel the beauty of nature in her photos as she captures the flowers and countryside in England. Enjoy her lovely work!

BESTeam Feature: Wayfaring Magnolia

Looking for an eclectic shop – visit Wayfaring Magnolia at Esty. This young college graduate has a wonderful collection of treasures! There are a variety of vintage items: small plates, vintage shoes, skirts, clutches, and buttons – just to name a few. 

              














There is also a collection of adorable picture frames, which always make a great gift. Add a personal photo and you are all set to go with a perfect present!

Amanda finds new inspirations daily so stop by often as her shop will change along with her interests.

Love Elycia

Elycia is an engineer turned crafter!  Her Etsy shop is full of creative and cute things: headbands, vintage, and prints as well as some Halloween headbands. Her headbands are cleverly whimsical – each one would be fun to wear.  I love the moustache! It’s a headband or a disguise!  

She loves knitting, crocheting, drawing, and  sewing.  She also loves searching for vintage items.  When her closet gets too full, she might be willing to part with some of them so keep an eye on her shop for some great pieces.

You may want to stop her cool blog "Every Girl Has a Story" to Veg Out with Elycia and participate in National Vegetarian Month. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Farmers' Market

The farmers' market near our house has the most amazing fruits and vegetables!    The produce is arranged so beautifully. Chile is known for growing a variety of crops - many of which are exported around the world. I can hardly wait for berry season!

If you don't want to leave the comfort of your home, you can check out the Farmers' Market at Etsy:

Click here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c9fcd4691c78eef590905fd/farmers-market

Viva Chile!

September 18 is known as Dieciocho!  Independence Day. This year marks Chile's 200th birthday! In honor of this memorable day I have created a Treasury which includes items from Etsy's Chilean artists as well as items that represent or relate to this magnificent country. Viva Chile!!!!

You can view the actual treasury here - http://fb.me/IefsbvvB.

Road Trip to Chimbaronga

furniture market

One Saturday we drove south to Chimbaronga.  Along the way we stopped at a furniture market not far from our destination. Interesting designs - we bought two chairs and a bench.  Next stop - the basket market.   All the baskets and furniture are hand made by the local villagers, so we were pleased to support them and help keep these crafts alive.  So many great things to buy: shelves, lamps, chairs, and all kinds of baskets in every shape and size. Fortunately, we had a truck!

Hola from Chile!

We have been in Chile just over a month now!  Our move has been so smooth and easy - everything has come together like clockwork. Within our first week, we bought a car and found a house. The second week we moved in and our shipment arrived from Thailand. We spent that weekend unpacking - there is just way too much stuff!  With our house sort of "ready," our jobs began!  Santiago feels like home!
My first impressions:
The scenery is amazing!  There is always a view of the Andes no matter where you are.  The snowcaps loom over the city.  The people are so friendly and helpful!  Since it is winter, it can get rather cold!  But I am enjoying the change of temperatures and came prepared.  It can be colder inside the house/building than outside.
All is well,  and we are enjoying this new chapter in our life. 

Dining in the Big Apple

I spent the weekend with my daughter in NYC. For the past few months. she has been compiling a list of restaurants for us to try! Here are our recommendations - not listed in any particular order.
1. Lokal - Near Bedford in Brooklyn - great for lunch or a late breakfast.
2. Roberto's - a little hidden gem in Brooklyn - specializing in Italian food - Delicious pizza!
3. Balthazar's - Soho;  step back into the past!  Great Sunday brunch.
4.  Curly's - East Village - vegetarian never tasted SO good!
5.  El Cantinero's - East Village - Mexican - killer margaritas!
6.  Grey Dog - Chelsea - need a hearty, down home breakfast? This is the place!
7. Angelina's Kitchen - East Village - organic home cooking.

Our Home to Yours

Our Home to Yours

Debbi and Amanda, a mother/daughter duo,  combine their artistic talents for their Etsy shop “Our Home to Yours.”  How wonderful to be able to work with your daughter  even though they live 1200 miles apart.  Etsy brings them together.   Both are busy full time moms who find art to be a great stress reliever

This charming shop features a variety of handcrafted items. Select from children's stuffed animals, vintage, home décor, accessories/jewelry, photography, and wedding items. 

They also have a sister shop Vintage Vinyls.  There is a collection of 33.5 LP albums, classic oldies, and unusual music. The categories include classic rock, soft rock, opera, Latino,  Hawaiian, and holiday music.

Debbi is offering a 15% discount to my readers so please let her know you read about her shops here.

Follow them on Blogspot at: http://www.ourhometoyourscrafts.blogspot.com/
Or  on twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/ourhometoyours

 Or join their fan page on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/ourhometoyours