Monday Morning Mosaics

Accessories are a part of life, especially in the fall and winter when you start dressing warmer and bundling up.

Today's Monday Mosaic is all about accessorizing from purses to hair accessories, scarves and more. Take a look at these four talented artisans that caught my eye in the handmade market place this weekend.

Betsy and Bess - Unique Upcycled Purses & Handmade Accessories

Elizabeth from Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Looking out for the environment and the economy with eco-friendly products and up-cycled items, this shop is filled with wonderful warm accessories for winter weather along side beautiful totes, purses, wallets and bags galore. They are also offering some beautiful handcrafted Christmas Stockings for the holidays!

Bien Aime Beloved - DIY Flower Tutorials and Custom Made Blooms

Cara Hunter from Atlanta, Georgia

Whether you're looking for pretty blooms to buy and wear or some tutorials so that you can make them yourself, this shop has just what you're looking for with lots of DIY flower tutorials as well as ready-made blooms and an open policy for custom orders that will allow you to order just what you're looking for.

Peeko Apparel - OOAK Indie Made Clothing, Accessories and Jewellery

Brook Fung from San Francisco, California

Cutting edge style and fashion all displayed in beautiful photos abound in this shop that carries everything from jewelry and scarves to headbands, turbans, bags, belts as well as clothing. The shop has a very urban feel and is filled with innovative accessories that are sure to be a hit.

Jordani Sarreal - Clutches, Coin Purses, Cosmetic Bags and More

Jordani Sarreal from Tacoma, Washington

Sewing since the age of five, you can be sure that the accessories you find in this shop are going to be of high quality and beautifully made. The pouches, clutches and more in this shop are created with beautiful, colorful prints and lots of style. Artist welcomes wholesale, consignment, and custom orders.

The handmade marketplace and the talented artisans you'll find there are a terrific alternative to commercial products and with the added bonus of personalized care and an attention to detail and quality that commercial products lack.

When shopping for accessories for this season or the next, don't forget to browse through artisan works and see what you can find, you'll be surprised at just how much creativity, originality and quality is out there!

16 Remarkable Weekend Finds!

An Etsy Treasury curated by Sidereal ~ After Dark

Click on the picture below to be taken to a page where you can browse individual items you like that you see pictured here as well as the shops where these items were found and artisans behind them all!

Credits go to: amberalexander, ChYMieRa, elgarboart, EmeraldTownRaven, FableAndFury, FirebirdJewellery, Gilliauna, gothicrow, IsabellasArt, kryptickreations1031, MamasHouse, Sidereal, sintwister, thedustyraven, thegoodewife, theothermagdalene and TheVintageParlor.

Handmade Crafts, Accessories, Paintings and More

A pair of sisters that love to create and have meshed their two styles into one to design unique handmade items. Their shop, Ardent Reverie on Etsy, is a beautiful display of this mesh of fashion and style combined with a love of crafting.

Melanie and Meghan Mina began their Etsy store in late 2009 and have made a success out of their love for crafting by sharing their creativity with others. They've won awards and drawn interest from around the world with their unique style.

Ardent Reverie on Etsy is filled with a variety of crafts and accessories including feather and flower hair accessories, delicate jewelry and necklaces, hats, scarves, purses and even a selection of solid perfumes!

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT ARDENT REVERIE'S SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN CLICK RIGHT HERE.

If you like what you see in the Ardent Reverie shop, you may also enjoy visiting the Ardent Reverie website where you can learn more about their designs as well as the artistic sisters behind them as well as find out about discounts and giveaways! Or, if you prefer, you can also stop by and say hi to Melanie and Meghan on Facebook or Twitter!

[This blog post is a "BESTeam Feature" for the Boosting Etsy Shops Team. The BESTeam is dedicated to helping its members promote their shops and assisting each other in marketing, advertising and sharing the tips and tricks of running an online business. If you are a seller on Etsy and are interested in becoming a member of the BESTeam, the team is accepting new members and you can find more information about the team as well as apply to become a member HERE.]

16 Remarkable Weekend Finds!

An Etsy Treasury curated by mysticwynd ~ When That Deep Purple Falls...

Click on the picture below to be taken to a page where you can browse individual items you like that you see pictured here as well as the shops where these items were found and artisans behind them all!

Credits go to: Ametista, ArtsyTartsyJewels, BabbidgePatch, Eugena777, gilliauna, jnoriginals, MagdaleneJewels, Mostlyflowers, mysticwynd, PrizedPossessions, RainyDayArt, randomcreative, RockStash, sassalynne, SilverSmack, Thyme2dream and winemakerssister.

Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry, Accessories and Gifts - A Rare Post by Leal

Today's feature shop is run by an artisan that I spent a great deal of time with online. We are both members of the Etsy Bloggers Team as well as mentoring members of the Boosting Etsy Shops Team on Etsy.

Both of these teams are geared towards helping promote others and helping other sellers "learn the ropes" of selling online. This is especially true for the Boosting Etsy Shops Team, where Karen works tirelessly to keep everything running smoothly both behind the scenes as well as up front and center for everyone involved.

Karen also runs her own shop on Etsy as well. MysticWynd on Etsy is filled with beautiful jewelry not to mention really impressive displays -of- that jewelry through her product photos as well. In fact, over the upcoming spring season, I hope to take a few lessons from her creatively inspired displays and try to incorporate them into my own picture taking endeavors.

Instead of being organized in the traditional (and often boring) sections of "necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc", Karen has set up her shop in a fresh and inspiring collections of sections such as "Angels, Fairies and Fantasy" and "Floral, Forest and Butterflies" as well as many other themes.

This shop is a terrific place to stop this spring to refresh your jewelry selection with some new pieces or just a fun place to brows and pick up a couple new favorites to add to your collection.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT MYSTICWYND'S ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN CLICK RIGHT HERE!

You can also take a look and read over at Karen's Mystic Wynd blog where they often feature new crafting ideas, projects, reviews and other interesting tidbits.... Or you can stop by and visit her on Facebook or Twitter!

Funky and Fun Hats and More - A Rare Post by Leal

While I was in the airport the other day on my way to visit family, I saw a girl wearing a knit hat that looked like a giraffe's head. Now, I have to admit, if I'd seen this hat in a store I would have thought "what were they thinking?" but looking at this girl wearing this silly hat, it just fit.

It looked fun and happy, silly and cheerful on her head. And when I commented "great hat", because it really did seem perfect for her, she brightened up with a lighter bounce to her step and a brighter smile on her face.

So, I've changed my mind about silly hats.

Cyndesplace on Etsy has a handful of cute and fun, silly and happy hats in their stock that would be perfect examples of the kind of hats I'm talking about too. Their shop has a variety of silly hats and practical purses, totes and bags. It's a place where whimsy and functional meet in handmade accessories.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT CYNDESPLACE ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Flirty and Fun - Light and Cheery Jewelry by Leo and Junie

As an avid jewelry aficionado, I have to tell you that I visit a lot of jewelry shops and when I came across today's shop, it immediately made me smile.

Then I saw the earrings pictured here in this post and it also triggered my immediate "ooohhhh! I want!" response as well!

Leo and Junie on Etsy is a lovely little shop filled with flirty and fun handmade jewelry with a bit of a modern flair with a touch of vintage feel. They feature charms, gemstones, crystals and sterling as well as a number of vintage bits.

The jewelry in this shop is inspired by nature, gardens, the ocean, butterflies, fairies and other whimsical things and the artist loves incorporating one-of-a-kind vintage beads into her pieces.

If you're looking for a delicate little accessory for yourself or to give as a gift for an upcoming event or the holidays, this might just be the shop you've been looking for, so be sure to stop by and take a look around.

TO VISIT THE LEOANDJUNIE SHOP ON ETSY, YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!

You can also visit Leo and Junie on their blog or stop by and say hi on their Facebook page or on Twitter!

One of a Kind Eco-Friendly Fashion and Accessories from Pondhopper on Etsy

I can't remember where I first saw today's shop, but I admit to being instantly impressed. In fact, I fell in love at first glace!

Pondhopper on Etsy is filled with unique style and an eclectic variety of upcycled clothing and accessories that are both creative and gorgeous!

There are skirts and dresses, tops and shrugs and much more. Not to mention, some absolutely gorgeous spats for converting any pair of shoes into a work of art to wear.

That isn't all Pondhopper has to offer, either because there's also jewelry and purses, hats and hair accessories and so much more. It's one of those shops that you could browse in for hours and still find something new, unique and exciting just a click away.

Everything in Pondhopper is designed and handmade by the shop owner, Lorraine, in her little studio in Alberta, Canada within an animal-free and smoke-free environment. (If you've ever ordered clothes and had them show up smelling of cig smoke, you'll know how very special and important this is!!)

Each item is a unique, one of a kind piece created spontaneously without patterns, and includes artful tattering, raw edges and visible stitching.

This style is not just unique but eye-catching as well and I love how her pieces turn out with an almost whimsical style and yet both fun and high-fashion type of feel to them.

Lorraine is always searching for gently used bits and pieces of fabric, ephemera and more to incorporate into her work and her extremely talented hands have created a shop filled with beautiful pieces you won't want to miss.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT LORRAINE'S PONDHOPPER SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Vintage Clothes, Accessories and Shoes at Oma Vintage

I love shoes. You have NO idea. I own so many shoes I could probably (almost) wear a different pair every day for a year. I'm horrible about it too, because I'll buy in a heartbeat if I see something I like.

Shoes were what first caught my eye in today's shop too. There was a pair of boots in there that I fell in love with (sold now but oooh were they gorgeous!) and wanted so bad. Not the right size was all that held me back but there's plenty of other items in Oma Vintage that -are- my size and I'm more than a little tempted by.

Oma Vintage on Etsy is a terrific little vintage shop filled with clothes and shoes. Not only that, but they're one of the only vintage shops selling clothing that gives you copious amounts of pictures so you can have a clear view of what it is your buying. I like that. I think it's necessary if you're not going to be able to try on the clothes until after you buy them.

And, not only do they have a shop on Etsy, but they have a retail store in the Philadelphia area as well as a website! So if you like a vintage touch to your outfits or love shopping vintage racks for by-gone styles, stop by and check them out!

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT OMA VINTAGE'S SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Also! Oma Vintage is in transition from their old location on Etsy to their new one! Everything in their old shop is currently on super-sale so be sure to stop by and check out their old location as well!

Wonders of the Pacific Northwest

OOOOppphh! I've been nipped in the bum by life-in-general and I'm going to be out of town for the weekend!

Before I go, though, I'd love to introduce you to one more shop for the month of July! This shop became one of my favorites the moment that I first saw it, and the reason for that is very basic, and very simple.

The shop reminds me of home.

When I moved to Canada, I already knew how much I would miss Washington state but I had no idea at the amount of homesickness I'd feel for familiar sights and scents I was leaving behind. Don't get me wrong, British Columbia is beautiful! But it just doesn't quite stack up to the familiar beauty of home.

Sykin's NW Wonders on Etsy is filled with photography of familiar places from my past. From views of beautiful La Push, Washington to pictures of rainforest and driftwood on the beach. It's all familiar to me. I've been there many, many times. And Sykin's photos show off the absolute beauty of the area to perfection.

Sykin's NW Wonders also carries a handful of other handcrafted items. Jewelry and accessories are scattered like pebbles on a beach among pictures of sea, sand and forest. It's a wonderful shop and I'm positive you'll enjoy a visit so go take a look!

TO VISIT SYKIN'S NW WONDERS ON ETSY YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURES ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!

You may also enjoy visiting Sykin's website or Facebook page!

Funky Eco-Friendly Jewelry and Accessories

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July yesterday!

Today I'd like to introduce you to a member of Etsy who is not just a team member in the BESTeam (Boosting Etsy Shops Team) that I've mentioned here on the blog in the past but is also a fellow member of the QESTeam (Queer Etsy Street Team)!

The Queer Etsy Street Team is a very supportive and wonderful team of sellers who fit into the spectrum of the LGBTQ society (that would be Lesbian Gay Bi Transgenders Queer). Since July is Pride Month, it's my honor to be able to introduce to you one of the members of this team during such an important time of year!

Ellesbeads on Etsy is filled with funky eco-friendly jewelry and accessories including not just Pride Jewelry but also earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, charms, brooches, barrettes, bookmarks, cell charms and more. I'm particularly intrigued by the rings they have for sale. As you can see by the picture in this post, they're very unique!

Everything is colorful and bright and absolutely beautiful, much of which is vintage inspired with a twist and often takes recycled goods as well as donated and discarded items and combines them with beautiful beads to create many of the pieces offered!

TO VISIT ELLESBEADS ON ETSY, YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!

You might also enjoy checking out Ellesbeads blog, as well as their Facebook page and Twitter page!

[This blog post is a "BESTeam Feature" for the Boosting Etsy Shops Team. The BESTeam is dedicated to helping its members promote their shops and assisting each other in marketing, advertising and sharing the tips and tricks of running an online business. If you are a seller on Etsy and are interested in becoming a member of the BESTeam, the team is accepting new members and you can find more information about the team as well as apply to become a member HERE.]

For the Love of Vintage and All Things Girly

I can't help but love this style of hair bow, and today's shop is full of them. I love the tips of each of the flower petals and how they curve up and at the same time the bow manages to still look... plump and lush.

I always picture these bows clipped into the hair of girls with lush full dark curls, like a burst of spring nestled among the curls. I love this idea, even if I personally don't have the hair for it.

Gardenmis on Etsy has a number of these bows in stock and a few other styles as well.

The owner of a shop is a self confessed girly girl and loves all things vintage, handmade and just all around girly. Her shop is a testament to this with tons of beautiful girly bits and pieces to browse through.

Gardenmis uses quality materials and repurposing/upcycling whenever possible in her hair bows (and occasional bits of jewelry as well!) and believes in going green and using less but making it count for more. She also does custom orders and all of her handmade items are one of a kind and many are hand-stitched with absolutely nothing mass produced.

TO VISIT GARDENMIS' SHOP ON ETSY, YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!

Whimsical Handmade Jewelry

I absolutely love today's shop. As a jewelry designer, I'm also a major fan of jewelry shopping and I love it when I can come across a shop where the designer's style is so different than my own and yet still appeals to me right to the quick.

That's today's shop!

Rachel Sudlow Jewelry is filled with wonderful, beautiful delicate pieces that are both unique and lovely all at the same time.

I'm a particular fan of the little sweet pea necklaces she makes.

They're so adorable!

She offers them in a combination of choices from one pea in a pod, which speaks to me of independent uniqueness, to the comradeship of two, three or four peas in a pod. Some even come with little charms attached with preprinted or personalized sayings!

I'm also intrigued by the jewelry in her shop where she's created unique pieces from bowled coins. These are just remarkable and I've never seen anything like them before!

Rachel offers a wonderful selection, and the two I've mentioned here in this article don't even come close to doing justice to her shop.

Whether you're looking for rings, piercings, necklaces or any number of unique or traditional pieces, you won't want to miss out on this artist's beautiful work.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES ABOVE TO VISIT RACHEL SUDLOW'S JEWELRY SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Versatility and a Statement - A Rare Post by Leal

When you run a business where you need customers for your income, one of the hardest things you can do for your business is trying to find your target market. It can be extremely beneficial, but that's not to say it's not without its difficulties.

Today we're featuring a jewelry designer that has found that market and carefully incorporated it into their products with stunningly beautiful results.

John Tozzi of Seattle, Washington is the artist behind these beautiful pieces that I'm referring to. (Be careful Googling him, he also is a rather inspiring nude photographer so some of the links you come up with might not be exactly "work friendly", but if you like nude art photography, I definitely recommend looking him up.)

He's focused his jewelry design on pieces for women who gear their wardrobe to have as much versatility as possible. These are women who fill the majority of their closet space with separates that they can mix and match in order to get a lot of mileage out of just a few pieces.

John Tozzi's jewelery is then designed to be just as versatile and views his jewelry not as an accessory so much as an extension of that kind of versatile wardrobe.

Galleria di Giani is John Tozzi's jewelry shop on Etsy, and you can find a variety of these beautiful, versatile pieces available there. What I personally enjoy about his pieces is that every one of them uses gemstones in their design, some of those gemstones being very unique, like the Kashgar Garnet that he and I are both apparently drawn to very strongly.

It's an honor to know John personally, and I can vouch for his dedication to his work and his designs. He's very personable and easy to talk with and, I imagine, he's just as easy to work with as well.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT JOHN TOZZI'S GALLERIA DI GIANI SHOP ON ETSY AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Accssories you just wont want to do without...

Oh yeah, I'm in love. Really. I am.

I finally found a shop that fits both sides of a very complicated personality, and so now? I'm in love.

Sophia Pip is the artist behind the shop in question, and you really have to see her work to believe it.

When I first discovered this shop, it was through the bracelet posted here on the right. I love the whole combination of elegance and danger in this bracelet and it's one of those pieces that just strikes your fancy right away and you don't want to do without.

Then... I followed the link and stepped into her shop and my "I WANT THAT" radar exploded!

Sophia Pip has a beautiful collection of jewelry in her shop and the two styles between cutting edge and elegance don't combat but have been blended into a unique style of casual elegance into her designs that's all her own and absolutely irresistible.

Whether you like sterling Silver, copper, brass or 14K GF, you're sure to find something you like in this shop. She uses high quality and/or unusual gemstones, organically shaped seaglass, high lustre baroque pearls, vintage beads and handcrafted ceramic pieces for accents in much of her work, but simplicity is always the theme. And, she makes everything from the basics to the more involved, creating a wide variety that keeps things interesting in her shop!

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT SOPHIAPIP'S ETSY SHOP AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Lazy Sunny Mornings

Today, I woke up feeling peaceful and relaxed and I'd forgotten to close my window blinds the night before. What this meant, is that I had a dapple of spring sunlight shimmering through my windows and a little (much welcome) added warmth to go with it.

When I rolled over to look at the window, I was captivated by the dance of light on the window panes and the flicker and shimmer of sunlight through the leaves of the tree outside. The sunshine made the leaves glow a bright and vibrant green, which spoke to me on a base level about spring growth and new life.

Today's feature artist has a piece in her shop that fits so well into this experience, and you can see it featured right here in this post!

Poppy Glass is a small glass art shop in Etsy that has a beautiful collection of stained glass artwork contained within. Light catchers, lawn ornaments and other beautiful accessories for both yourself and your home are on display, and all the stained glass bits are created and soldered in the dedicated traditions of long ago.

Kay, the talented artist behind Poppy Glass, makes some truly unique and beautiful pieces so be sure to stop by and check her out! You won't want to miss this beautiful shop.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT KAY'S POPPY GLASS ETSY SHOP AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Love At First Blush

I don't know if it's the pictures and presentation or just the actual pieces themselves, but when I first saw the products of today's artisan's shop, I was nearly speechless.

I'm in love. I didn't even blush first either!

The shop, Love at First Blush, is ran by a very talented fashion designer and artist named Sabrina who specializes in hand cut leather cuffs and accessories. Each item she makes is is crafted and cut by hand to be unique and one-of-a-kind.

LoveAtFirstBlush is inspired by fairy tales, vintage details, watercolor paintings, Japanese art, and vintage lingerie.

The collection is currently focused on hand cut leather accessories. Sabrina's designs are absolutely breathtaking and definitely a must-see. She even does custom work!

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT LOVEATFIRSTBLUSH'S SHOP AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Turning Chaos into Harmony

In today's feature shop, they state they're "The best selection of Irish Crochet jewelry and gifts on Etsy." And you can believe it too! I can honestly say I've never seen anything like the intricate, beautiful pieces this shop contains anywhere else on Etsy. I do a LOT of browsing on Etsy, too!

As Emily says in her profile, Whether it's beading, crocheting, knitting or sewing, it all has one thing in common, the thread that holds it all together.

I mean, sure, there's lots of knitters, crocheters and tatters out there. That goes without saying. But it's not often you find the ones that have stamped their own personal style and appeal on ever piece they make. That in itself is a rare art and it makes each and everyone of their pieces a unique piece of art.

In Nothingbutstring's shop you'll be sure to find lots of these unique pieces and designs for both you and your home's decor. Emily's work is something you really don't want to miss, and I admit that I, myself, have my eye on a few pieces in her shop that I'd love to have for myself.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE TO VISIT NOTHINGBUTSTRING'S SHOP AND TAKE A LOOK AROUND OR, IF YOU PREFER, CLICK RIGHT HERE.

Valentines Day is Coming

I'm a big fan of the romanticism of watercolors. Soft shades and imperfection blending together to create... perfection. This concept is both touchingly beautiful and intriguing to me.

This is also how today's artist caught my eye. Cynthia Callan isn't just ready for Valentines Day... in my eyes she's living it 365 days a year.

Her shop is filled with wearable watercolors and decorative ornaments of the same. Each one is totally unique and absolutely perfect; romantic and beautiful through and through.

Cynthia has a wide variety of watercolor pieces. In fact, I had a really hard time choosing which piece to show you in this post. Her site offers necklaces, pins, ornaments and stationary just to name a few. There's also a variety of designs available in lots of soft, beautiful colors.

TO VISIT CYNTHIACALLAN'S SHOP YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!

A New, Positive Turn on an Old Theme

"For over 50 years we've had the peace sign that we all know. Unfortunately, the symbol with the "arms" facing down, represents death and despair.

We've taken the symbol and simply turned it around. Now the arms are raised up in hope, joy and positive energy.

Rather than anti-war, it's pro-peace. It may seem like a small change, but as you know, it's always better to wish for what you want, rather than what you don't want. Only a positive intent achieves a positive result."

This is the introduction on the "Turn Peace Around" Etsy shop's front page, an it says it better than I ever could! I love the idea behind this shop, and I love the pieces they have for sale there too! They currently carry hemp jewelry, beautiful hand-painted totes and magnets and have plans to offer much more in the future as well.

I personally have my eye on one of their totes, and if you agree with their message and like to shop green, I can't think of a better bag for the cause so you should check them out too!

TO VISIT TURNPEACEAROUND'S SHOP YOU CAN CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR, IF YOU'D RATHER, CLICK RIGHT HERE!