Archive for the ‘etsy favorites’ Category

Dear friends, although I do not have a girl (I have a 2year old boy that is keeping me far too busy right now) I must confess I’ve fallen in love with Pettiskirts.

Have you heard of them? They are fantastically voluminous skirts pretty much based on a vintage petticoat pattern using a modern non fraying fabric.

Dream Spun Kids

little pink dragonfly

Mix and Match, Colours and Patterns…the limit is your imagination: I guess that’s why I fell in love with it, that and the amazing volume that the bottom ruffles create. There is yards upon yards of fabric here ladies; believe me, I’ve already made three and it’s been a ruffling marathon!

Since I discovered them a couple of months ago, I’ve been googling and searching on the internet for tutorials and materials…

To buy, these lovelies go anywhere from 45euros to 100e ‘pricy’ you’ll probably think. But when you realize the amount of work involved, the price seems to make more sense.

I do have two favorite Pettiskirts designers…one is Belle Ame:

But my favorite pettiskirt boutique has to be Kaiya Eve Couture : fantastic concept, products, fabrics and photography! And it’s supposed to be the original Pettiskirt. Unfortunately I can’t show you pics but you can hop on to the link. Kandi Lightner, the designer has appeared on Martha Stewart 

I hope to share with you a few tutorial links next time if you fancy having a go ^_^and pictures of my first attempts!

Belle Ame

Belle Ame

I’m really getting into the retro 40′s/50′s vibe. I’ve actually realized just looking around and following a few vintage inspired blogs, that I love the 50′s lifestyle, fashion and the way women where curvacious and womanly. Figure hugging dresses, circle skirts, eye liner and red lips, It really is a killer look. And you can really dress it down too!

So here’s a little short list of my retro inspired faves on Etsy, Hope you like:

Salor swimsuit by www.fablesbybarrie.etsy.com

Ceramic Anchor Buckle belt by www.Cassieart.etsy.com

 Custom made Galaxy dress fishtail pencil style by www.heartmycloset.etsy.com

Modern flair small purse by www.msnizbit.etsy.com

Send your fabric for custom shoes by www.nataliefaye1031.etsy.com

Kristelle austrian crystal bracelet by www.laclaire.etsy.com

Classic Black Satin Bow Headband by www.bloomsnbows.etsy.com

Baby Doll Trinket Keepsake – www.funwallart.etsy.com

Organic upcycled Kinn Jones hat - www.sparkyjones.etsy.com

OOAK padded linen etui box - www.tialys.etsy.com

Print by www.valentinadesign.etsy.com

Mini envelope clutch by www.nanabysally.etsy.com

This week I’ve enrolled into my first ever dress making class: 2 hours for 6 weeks, learning how to make your very own garment.

So there I am, checking www.sewingdirect.co.uk out for dress patterns. My thinking behind it was that the most complex pattern -as far as beginners go- I’ll go for, the most I’ll learn…and I’ll have help at hand anyway…hum…Here’s what I had in mind;

Day dress by Donna Karan Vogue 1220

I think it looks stunning. I like it. But then our Tutor said something about how disheartened you could get if you were to take on a project that was too much. That really taking on  and finishing a simple project would actually boost our confidence.

It got me thinking – this woman knows what she’s talking about, let’s not play it too hard. I was a bit ambitious.  Let’s not run before we can walk. Especially because adding to the level difficulty of the dress, I’ve got to remember that whatever pattern I’ll take on, I’ll have to lengthen here and there (I’m over 6ft tall)…

So taking it all in and thinking that I’ll always be able to do V 1220 when I get more experienced, I’ve finally settled for…

Very Easy Vogue (I didn’t make it up, that’s what it’s called) 8683

I thought it would be quite versatile, with or without leaves. In extra I was thinking of an Obi belt either to make or buy. I spotted a gorgeous one here from www.voknits.etsy.com

Next, when I receive my pattern (I do HOPE I’ll get it before my class wednesday :O ) I’ve got to pick the fabric…

What kind of material would you see?

I cannot believe how many treasuries I have been included in! I’m very thankful and hope we can all click away…

Don’t forget to search for the words ‘craftyirelandteam’ and ‘teamfrench’ to have a look at what the irish and french crafters are up to on Etsy!

Home is where the heart is by me - Nice Day design

Let’s take the sun at home – by Douceslaines

Love and jewels are forever - by Creamarie

For pretty women -  by Mediterraneangirl

Tresors Francais -by  bohemienneivy

A fairy tale romance - byAmor

Did you know that you can find Etsy blogs from different contries? Well for a while now I have been following Etsy.fr and the blog of the Etsy french handmade team where you get Etsy only with a bit of French flair

 I’m pleased to say that I have been accepted as a member.

The web site shows all the talented artisan french speakers there is out there

From www.petitechacal.etsy.com SALE Cath Kidston Fabric cubes handmade necklace

Petit sac crocher brooch with a leather flower from www.madeinfrance.etsy.com

Classic Grey beaded cord chocker by www.kankou.etsy.com

Please click on pic to go and check out my treasury ^_^

A new challenge for the Etsy Ireland team has arised. Rach from Balanced is the one behind the operation: All the participants who desire to make a treasury can do so for the next 4 days. It should feature 8-10 fellow team members and not include one of our items. Voting will be done via a poll widget on friday 15 Oct  here and the winner will be announced next Wednesday, Oct. 20. All the participant treasuries can be found here. The winner will receive a a little feature post here on the blog AND their Etsy Mini listed in the sidebar for one whole week!

The theme is Comfort…My chosen colour combo here is what I find comfy. I don’t know why I just do! Hope you like it, there’s nice items and shops there that are worth looking at

Oh! and a great tip I found (maybe you already knew about it) but I couldn’t ‘catch’ treasuries pictures. What I needed was a screenshot and I found a website for it http://www.thumbalizr.com/ where you can thumb your pages! Brillant!

Here’s the latest treasury I’ve been featured in, selected by www.thelittlebluecottage.etsy.com 

Please click away using the link above, the more clicks, the better chance this treasury has to make it to the front of Etsy

• Baby Shoes  TissaGibbons $30.00 USD 

• 
  FREE SHIPPING – SPRING …  vivibijoux$89.00 USD

   

• 
  Hey diddle diddle  myfanwynia$555.00 USD

   

• 
  I AM A BOY DON’T CALL M…  SneakyOwls$12.00 USD

   

• 
  Hand knit classic Irish…  IrishWoolen$48.00 USD

   

• 
  Berrylicious Summer Dress  Leatherstreasure$29.50 USD

   

• 
  Baby Quilt  curlyrip$75.00 USD

   

• 
  Little Green Princess …  thelittleblue…$15.00 USD

   

• 
  The Peckish Moon – Lisa…  meluseenaSold

   

• 
  Happy Owl Dress  beefreekidscl…$35.00 USD

   

• 
  Crochet Beanie hat  crochetingfor…$10.00 USD

   

• 
  White lace Baby appliqu… LittleSnippets $4.00 USD

   

• 
  Handmade Baby Bell with…  patchworkdeli…$16.00 USD

   

• 
  Handmade Personalised C…  LuckyRainbowD… $5.00 USD

   

• 
  Mrs Rabbit making tea -…  tanyabond$12.00 USD

   

• 

Baby quilt – Apples and Ice cream www.mukkymonkey.etsy.com $100

Please click away here on this new treasury by www.balanced.etsy.com , my Sunny me Earrings are featured there ^_^

The theme is fab! I’m delighted that I discovered through this selection an artist from the Crafty Ireland Etsy team called Meluseena from www.meluseena.etsy.com . She’s very talented and I love some of her prints. Especially that one that I keep an eye on :

This week, it’s all about print and fabric! I love both, so I hope you enjoy this weekly selection.

The fabric is real Chic and the contrast between pink, yellow,white and black adds to the fab layered design…Really, you wouldn’t want to cook a bolognese sauce with that on, it’s too cute to get tomatoe sauce all over yourself

Business card holder damask by www.ocstylescreations.etsy.com $7.99

I love it and love everything there is in the shop! go and check it out. When practical goes with good looking, can you ask for more?!

Jamestown toile Jewelry pouch by www.susankeepsake.etsy.com $21

Useful and lovely, handy for your jewellery when you go away. I think the fabric and the inner gingham with loads and loads of pocket are so well thought out. Brillant idea!

Dandy damask pleated bag by www.bagsbycolette.etsy.com $49

Can you tell I’m into teal and white and black and damask…lol If you look at the item in the shop, you’ll see it’s as practical as it looks good.

Groovy gurlz jungle love bag by www.groovygurlz.etsy.com $18.50

Being a child at heart, I could easily wear this. Plus it’s reversible with, guess what…polka dots…An other thing I’m really into these days…

In fact, what I’m into right now ( as we’re talking about it) is ( in no particular order or link):

♥ marshmallows

♥ polka dots and damask

♥ teal/turquoise and black&white

♥ bows and ribbons

♥ anything ‘make your own’ ( I’m intrigued at how people make homemade stuff)

♥ have a nosey at people’s workshops

♥ oreos (they’re quite addictive you know)

♥ amazon’s craft books dpt (I could spend hours browsing and adding to my wishlist)

Ok, We are going to stop here because I’ve got to put the baby to bed…and we don’t want to bore you to death. lol.

Speak to you next post ^_^