Neat Things: Typedrawer Jewelry Displays

Recycling is good...upcycling is even better! I discovered these clever display boxes made from vintage typesetters boxes from Bluebird Heaven. I lean toward the dark stained wood since it shows the natural grain best but the painted versions are fun, too!

Doors and Windows - The Holiday Collection

Evergreen Holiday Wreath Door2Door $55.00	Winter house --- little cabi... Cookstah $45.00
Rudolph Classic White Reinde... Middleburg $69.00	Girl at the window - ACEO - ... SmallPaintings $4.00
The What'll I Do Pup - 5... chelebert12 $21.00	Vintage Pewter Candle Holder... LillyQueenBead... $15.00
Greeting Card Set - The Nutt... elr104 $12.00	Red Door says... Christmas..... papermadeneces... $25.00
Winter Photographs and Vinta... PicsandPanes $80.00	One of a Kind Natural Advent... DearAdam $82.00
Frost Feathers - 5x7 inch ic... LittleOddMe $6.75	White house with pine tree i... Pinderella $11.95
SPARLKLE 5 x 7 Photographic ... hlkparis $10.00	holiday double decker bus f... mummysam $8.50
Miniature Christmas wreath cinen $11.50	12 inch Christmas Photo Adve... MadeCreatively $9.95

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All That Jazz

All of these items (and 9 more) are featured in my latest Etsy Treasury - ALL THAT JAZZ - an ode to my fave genre of music! Visit the treasury, leave comments, share the link and click the items for more info and shop.

Enjoy! *Hands Up - Fingers Wiggling*

R is for Road Trip

Suitcase in hand
In yet another new city.
She places it on the ground,
Across from a metal container
Steps on top of it.
And starts to sing.

This is how she keeps going.
Travel she must.

Verse from Vivacious Photography
Travel art and gear via Etsy


click grid to enlarge and go shopping!

Simply Personalized

Simple, silver and special. I found these little handmade lovelies over at The Vintage Pearl, and knew you guys would like 'em.

Visit soon if you want to order for Mother's Day--the cut off date is April 20th. She also offers gift certificates in case you can't decide which you love best!

Neat Things: Taupe..who says beige is boring?

All items shown were discovered on Etsy--handmade and vintage. Click images to shop!

Etsy Sketch: Cats

It's been awhile since I've made an Etsy Sketch (not to be confused with an Etch-a-sketch!) so here's a bevy of kitties for you to enjoy. Vintage home decor, original art, note cards, wall decals, jewelry, fashion accessories, a classic 70s children's book and fine art photography--click to make the grid larger and then pick a shop to visit!

Artist Profile: Galit Barak Jewelry Designer

Tell me a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.

My name is Galit Barak, a bit about my name: "Gal" in Hebrew means wave, "Galit" is the feminine form for this word and only used as name. It's also the shorting of my grandmother's name "Margalit" which means, "pearl". "Barak" in Hebrew means lightning. I'm 22 years old from Israel. I live in a small town next to the Mediterranean Sea.

Apart from creating what do you do?


I work as a part-time Au Pair for three adorable kids; try to swim and to cook something tasty everyday!

What first made you want to become an artist?


I always loved to create, since I was a kid I have drawn, painted and crafted practically anything I get my hands on, and I studied fine arts in high school. I learned to knit and crochet and decided to explore the technique a bit more. I started by using simple metal wires and after I gained confidence, I graduated to sterling silver and gold-filled wire.

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

I don't really have a formal process. I see the stones, the pearls and the wire and I start to play. I experience and make something new every time. If I like the result, I try to sell it and then I make more pieces.

What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?


I really love painters! I admire the work of Klimt, Van Gogh and Kandinsky, but I'm not yet familiar with any great jewelry designers.

Where else can people find your work and connect with you online?

My Etsy shop, Galit Barak Jewelry Designer, my blog, and on Twitter. If you are an Israeli or come to tour Israel you are welcome to visit my studio and try on my jewelry in person!

Images copyright Galit Barak - copyright 2009.

Etsy Profile: Sue aka LuLu Bug Jewelry

Tell me a bit about yourself..
My name is Sue and I'm in Santa Rosa, California, about an hour north of San Francisco. I've been working in the jewelry industry since 1992, first making other peoples stuff and at the moment my job is designing for a small manufacturer. I rediscovered my passion for making personal jewelry after taking a Precious Metal Clay workshop 1.5 years ago.


two little peas in a pod necklace - $68

Apart from creating art, what do you do?

Up until this year, my all consuming hobby was racing motorcycles! I did it for 7 years, against men on paved, twisty race tracks. I even have a few trophies and second place overall season finish to my name. Once my Etsy business started growing, I decided to focus on that instead, so no racing this year. Once upon a time (before racing) I traveled a lot. I hope to be able to do that again someday.

tiny little bird earrings - $32

What first made you want to become an artist?

I've loved art since I was little, the desire to create something has always been there. My mom is very crafty, so we were always making things.Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.I'm trained as a traditional silversmith, but now I work entirely in Precious Metal Clay (PMC) which is silver in a clay like form. It was developed in Japan as a way to use silver reclaimed from manufacturing, and it's a green product. After I form a piece in the clay, it's fired in a kiln at 1650 degrees for two hours and the particles fuse, forming a pure silver object. It's kind of like magic! My jeweler's bench and kiln are right in my living room, it's very clean, unlike traditional silversmithing.

lemon slice necklace - $78

Right now I work 32 hours a week at my day job, and 40+ on my own work. I really like to work late at night, but this is causing me to be quite sleep deprived lately! There are so many things I want to try and experiment with, I never have a lack of things to work on. I usually have a list of developed ideas that I want to try, and sketchbooks filled with doodles and thoughts that I look through frequently.

monarch butterfly necklace - $87

What artists have influenced you and inspire you to create?

There isn't any one artist that stands out - I'm always looking at art, and when I see something that I like, I try to determine exactly what quality it is that I find appealing, and then think about how I might incorporate that into what I do. My main inspiration is nature, so I'm always looking around me. The possibilities are endless! I've been riding my bicycle to my day job lately, and find it's the best time to dream up new things to make. What looks like a bunch of dry weeds when zooming by in a car actually turns out to be beautiful shapes and forms when you're going by at bicycle speed. Just slowing down and taking a look around outside every day keeps the ideas flowing. There is beauty to be found everywhere, if you just look at things a bit differently. I try to express that in my jewelry.

bunny rabbit necklace - $36

Where else can people find your work?

In my Etsy shop, LuLu Bug Jewelry, on my blog, and Cosa Verde. All that keeps me really busy!

All images are by and copyright of LuLu Bug Jewelry, 2009.

Etsy: Navy and Lime

Click on the photo grid for a much larger view

t 2 b, l 2 r:
white & navy nautical vintage dress - joules, lime green cups - imelda vintage, two mojitos 70s vintage scarf - the lucky fish, birds on wire navy hoodie - basho, yo lime bird notecard - happy day studio, vintage navy t-shirt dress - dalena vintage, lime cat note card - mod dog shop, lime shoulder wrap pattern - crocheteria, vintage 60s navy skirt - green eden vintage, vintage bakelite lime bangles - true colors for you, vintage print dress - joules, bette davis vintage pumps - thrush, lime fused glass pendant - bay design, lime crochet beret - savannah lane design

All items displayed in this post are from the shops of Etsy. Many of these shops carry vintage goods that are one-of-a-kind...and maybe just perfect for YOU. Please visit their links to view more vintage and handmade shopping goodness galore!