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Photo by joypompeoart
On March 15, 2013, Tara Powell and her fiancé, Serge Podrez, decided to quit their day jobs. Five days later they opened DendroCo, an Etsy shop for handmade reclaimed-wood furniture. After only three months, business is booming — but it’s not their established product line that is moving the needle. Instead, Tara and Serge are proud to say that custom requests make up a majority of their business.
Tara and Serge are not alone. Nearly one in five handmade shops on Etsy offer custom items. Etsy has been a key destination for shoppers looking for specially-made goods, from engraved wedding rings to custom couches, and we’re working on tools to make this process easier.
To help us improve the custom orders experience for all our members, more than 5,000 sellers on Etsy have been actively testing enhancements in our prototype team. Thanks to input from all of these sellers, today we are rolling out new and improved tools to request and process custom orders on Etsy.
What’s new?
Sellers can now opt in to prominently display that they accept custom orders on their shop and listing pages, and to receive helpful tools specific to managing custom buyer requests. A pronounced “Request custom order” link lets shoppers less familiar with Etsy know that the seller can make their one-of-a-kind dream items come true. And when shoppers click on that link, a special custom order conversation begins.
A custom order conversation.
What are the benefits?
If you are a seller who already produces custom items, we have a feeling this feature will make your workflow smoother, quicker, and even more engaging. We’ve added a host of helpful tools to move the custom order process along, such as:
- A timeline of events to help you keep track of how each custom order is progressing, with a separate conversation folder just for custom requests.
- The ability to create a private listing just for you and the buyer.
- The ability to create a private listing from an existing listing.
By offering better tools to produce custom items, we aim to foster more of the creative collaboration that makes Etsy a truly meaningful marketplace.
If you are a seller who has yet to offer custom goods, consider adding them to your line of work! Much like it did for these sellers, offering custom items is a great way to showcase your creative talent and create additional revenue. Shoppers on Etsy are eager for unique items, and custom orders allow you to tap into that demand.
If you’d like to join the hundreds of thousands of Etsy sellers offering custom made goods, make sure to enable the “Request custom order” feature in your Shop Settings.
And if you’re a buyer looking for that custom maker who can manifest your whims, check out our Pinterest Boards where we will be posting inspiration with the hashtag, #EtsyCustom.
For more information, be sure to read our FAQs and let us know your thoughts in this forum thread!
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Photo by karinelizabeth
These days, it’s easier than ever to connect with like-minded individuals around the world to bring ideas into reality. People can lend financial support to projects with the click of a button, and crowd-sourced funding sites aggregate individual contributions to achieve astronomical sums in record time. This movement is disrupting the status quo by decentralizing wealth and making opportunities accessible to entrepreneurs and creators around the world. Sounds pretty good to us.
We couldn’t be prouder when the Etsy Little Rock team recently made headlines, featured as a trustee for a program called Kiva City in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bill Clinton attended the launch event and spoke to the enormity of the movement in a compelling speech about how the work of the local Little Rock community is making notable headway toward building a foundation for a new, more robust and versatile economy.
“We’ve got to figure out some way to get the money to people who… have the courage to start their own business, who are willing to risk failure because that’s what makes this economy go,” he explained.
There are many sites and organizations aimed at connecting people and projects with funding. One of the most well-known is the non-profit Kiva, whose mission is to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Kiva enables anyone to lend money to help create opportunity around the world through a global network of microfinance institutions, called field partners.
In the fall of 2011, Kiva launched a pilot program called Kiva Zip, enabling lenders to make zero-interest loans directly to entrepreneurs. To extend the microfinance model to small businesses across America, Kiva additionally developed a location-based program called Kiva City. With Kiva City, financial institutions partner at a local level to facilitate the loans, while community groups and civic leaders serve as “trustees” to build awareness among small business owners, refer them to the program, and vouch for them to receive loans.
Amber Estrada of LatressOntheMenjay, the captain of the Little Rock team, was first approached by Kiva this past winter. At that time, Kiva was laying the groundwork for the March 15 launch of Kiva City Little Rock and wanted the team to get involved so that local Etsians could take advantage of the community-sourced no-interest loans to build their businesses. Once the team became an official trustee, they contacted all their members about the news and put the call out on Facebook that they were looking for borrowers to endorse. So far, three Little Rock team members have been awarded loans through the program. Ximena Loya, of ximenaelle, one such member who was endorsed by the team actually reached her fundraising goal during the launch event! Both Brandi Marazitt (MyBlueMorpho) and Macy Madison (MyNextExHusband) have also received loans since the event, and Emily Young of Princess Puddle Duck is well on her way.
“It was so encouraging and uplifting to see Kiva and small business owners (including our Etsians) work towards taking their small businesses to the next level, one microloan at a time,” gushed Amber. Besides Little Rock, Kiva City has also launched in D.C., Los Angeles, Detroit, and New Orleans. Learn more and apply to bring the program to your hometown here. You can also network with other Etsy members interested in participating in the movement by applying to join the Kiva Team.
In addition to Kiva, there are many platforms that can be used to collect funding for creative, innovative projects. Instead of a zero-interest lending model, however, companies like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow contributors to donate in exchange for non-financial rewards. Just last month, the Milliners of Etsy successfully completed a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo for a fashion show that took place in Three Oaks, Michigan on June 9. And on Thursday, June 27, Indigogo is actually hosting a free workshop called “How to Crowdfund Your Etsy Business” at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto, which you can read more about in this announcement on the Toronto Etsy Street Team’s blog.
We also have an Etsy-curated page of Kickstarter projects that you can browse for inspiration. If you or your Etsy team needs financial assistance to pull off a project, now is the time to reach out and ask your community for help! We’ve even got some tips on getting funding for a team event right here.
Whether it’s to finance an international trip to an innovative conference or take a handmade lamp-building business to the next level, these creative calls for support help fuel a trend in resource sharing — where the value of innovation is made tangible, and connections between individuals are paramount. Our community certainly understands this desire for meaningful exchange. By taking control of the means of production and challenging traditional financial systems, we are all doing our part to transform the world into a more lasting and fulfilling place.
What other crowd-sourced funding platforms have you used? Do you have a fundraising success story to share? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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Photo by Jonpaul Douglass
Count down to Craft Party begins, RSVP here! We’ve loved hearing plans for parties all over the world and can’t wait to share photos and stories. This year’s theme is Craft for Community and for the second year in a row we’ve teamed up with our neighbors at the Brooklyn Bridge Park. This year’s festivities will take place in the Tobacco Warehouse, just down the street from the Brooklyn Etsy Labs.
Love to embroider? We hope you can make it and use your skills to create embroidered and sewn hand puppets. Projects will be donated to a variety of organizations who work with children including: Baby Buggy, Children’s Aid Society, God’s Love We Deliver and Room to Grow. Etsy staff and members of the EtsyNY Team will be available to help sew puppets.
The Tobacco Warehouse is situated in the park between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges — perfect for photos in our DIY photo booth. We’ll have a raffle for new sellers and members, and you’ll have the chance to sample food truck treats from Brooklyn’s best, including Coolhaus and Kimchi Taco.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER . Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, age 18 or older. Entries must be received between 05:00 PM EST on 06/20/13 and 08:00:00 PM EST on 06/20/13. Four drawing from entries received. Go here for Official Rules. Sponsor: Etsy, Inc.
Special thank you to Spoonflower for their donation of badges and puppet materials. Ready to start sewing? Check out Spoonflower’s top ten cut and sew projects from last year’s Craft Party and supplies on Etsy.
Details
Event: Brooklyn Craft Party
What: Make hand puppets to donate to organizations that work with children.
Where: Tobacco Warehouse at the Brooklyn Bridge Park. 26 New Dock Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201.
Food: Food will be available to purchase from: Coolhaus, Kimchi Taco, and more!
Neighborhood: DUMBO, Brooklyn
When: Thursday, June 20
Time: 5 – 8 p.m. Are you an Etsy seller? The first 100 sellers in the door will receive a merit badge sewing project.
Cost: Free (bring cash for food!)
RSVP: Here!
Not in New York? Find a Craft Party near you and join the fun!
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Photo by PenFelt
We had a great time at last month’s Hands-On class and hope you can join us this month in the Brooklyn Etsy Labs for a night of heartfelt crafting. PenFelt will teach a wet felting technique and you’ll learn how to make a set of soft beads with roving from OpulentFibers. Be sure to RSVP to reserve a spot in this free in-person class.
LeBrie Rich, the artist behind PenFelt, lives in Portland, Oregon. Her current show, Masterworks, a series of fiber reproductions of iconic 20th century paintings is on view at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio through July 31.
Felting fanatic? LeBrie is also teaching a Needle Felted Sculpture class at the Textile Arts Center on June 1.
Details:
Event: Hands-On: Felted Beads
What: Learn wet felting technique from PenFelt and take photos in our photo booth.
Where: Etsy Labs, 55 Washington St. Suite 712, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO; Cross streets: Front and Water
When: Thursday, June 6, 5 p.m. ET – 8 p.m. ET
Cost: Free
RSVP: Here!
Video by Etsy Admin Nicole Licht and Clare McGibbon.
Continue readingPhoto by PenFelt
We had a great time at last month’s Hands-On class and hope you can join us this month in the Brooklyn Etsy Labs for a night of heartfelt crafting. PenFelt will teach a wet felting technique and you’ll learn how to make a set of soft beads with roving from OpulentFibers. Be sure to RSVP to reserve a spot in this free in-person class.
LeBrie Rich, the artist behind PenFelt, lives in Portland, Oregon. Her current show, Masterworks, a series of fiber reproductions of iconic 20th century paintings is on view at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio through July 31.
Felting fanatic? LeBrie is also teaching a Needle Felted Sculpture class at the Textile Arts Center on June 1.
Details:
Event: Hands-On: Felted Beads
What: Learn wet felting technique from PenFelt and take photos in our photo booth.
Where: Etsy Labs, 55 Washington St. Suite 712, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO; Cross streets: Front and Water
When: Thursday, June 6, 5 p.m. ET – 8 p.m. ET
Cost: Free
RSVP: Here!
Video by Etsy Admin Nicole Licht and Clare McGibbon.
Continue reading
Photo by JonPaul Douglass
About 7,000 people live in the town of Hudson, right on the river and two hours north of New York City. At the top of town, the freight train often whistles as it slides right down the middle of the street. At the bottom of town, in the middle of the river, the lighthouse’s foghorn calls out as barges fight the current. In the middle of town, 25 Etsy Admin tap on their keyboards. It’s calm and peaceful, barring the occasional office dog eruption.
Etsy’s Hudson annex is in one of the town’s many 1800s brick warehouses left over from the industrial days. Like our building, many old structures in town have been reborn. But I often imagine the sweat and noise that happened here decades ago, when this was a factory churning out lumber, doors and windows for area houses.
Drawing of Traver & Sons from an article in the Hudson Gazette, November 26, 1885.
A dramatic 1871 newspaper article describes entering our office when it was Traver & Sons’ mill: “The ears are greeted by a noise of sawing, buzzing and snapping, as if pandemonium had sent her most infernal orchestra to welcome the visitor to her chosen abode.”
Connecting this past with the present, Etsy Admin Jake found Traver & Sons’ stamp on old wainscoting as he was renovating his house. Folks working here now are living in homes that were made, at least in part, by those buzzing saws.
JonPaul Douglass
Jake and I present Traver & Sons wainscoting from his home.
Even though our work is mostly on computers, we feel we’re carrying on the tradition. This is industry-hallowed ground, and we help thousands of Etsy sellers run their own industries. If you contact Etsy Support, it’s likely the satellites bounce your message to Hudson and back.
JonPaul Douglass
Of course, Etsy’s headquarters are in Brooklyn, NY, and one might think, “Why would a tech company open an office in a little town?” But if you know about the town, it’s an obvious fit.
Laid out by Nantucket whalers, this was a bustling seaport for many years. The town the whalers built for us is still very much here, in the architecture and in the air.
Artists have long found inspiration in the grandeur of the river valley and the neighboring Catskill Mountains. Several famed Hudson River School painters lived in and around town — Thomas Cole, Frederick Church and Sanford Gifford to name a few.
Like most American towns that were based around manufacturing, Hudson declined in the 20th century as industry dried up or went elsewhere. Nevertheless, the spirit has remained and brought about a steady rebirth, owing much to natural beauty and proximity to New York City, as well as the foresight and risks of a few who bought and restored buildings here in the past few decades.
The town is once again full of creative types. It seems like everyone you talk to makes something. The Albany Business Review says Hudson has the highest self-employment rate in New York state. The ingenuity, the artfulness, the respect for craft, and the quirkiness in Hudson are what drew Etsy here.
Also, having a space in a small town means that we can interact with the community in a different way than in a big city, and Hudson has many communities. In a year and a half, we’ve volunteered with the Hudson Black Arts & Cultural Festival, marched in the town’s Pride parade, hosted and attended local craft fairs, and opened our doors for craft nights in conjunction with the library. As in the Brooklyn headquarters, where the office compost goes to a Brooklyn farm, our compost goes to a community garden right down the block.
JonPaul Douglass
Plants adorn the kitchen island, and our compost bin with compostable bags is to the left.
Our desks are made in a woodshop a few doors down by Rob Williams, Jr., who runs GrainWoodwork on Etsy. We’ve bought most of our furniture from shops in Hudson or from local Etsy sellers, like Idaseyeantiques. An artist who lives across the street created a mural and sound installation for us.
JonPaul Douglass
Most Hudson Admin are from the area, or have at least lived here a long time, so we’re just continuing being part of our community. What a special place to call home.
JonPaul Douglass
Are you in our neck of the woods? Come say hi at the Hudson River Exchange, a local handmade and vintage market in town July 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.!
Continue readingPhoto by JonPaul Douglass
About 7,000 people live in the town of Hudson, right on the river and two hours north of New York City. At the top of town, the freight train often whistles as it slides right down the middle of the street. At the bottom of town, in the middle of the river, the lighthouse’s foghorn calls out as barges fight the current. In the middle of town, 25 Etsy Admin tap on their keyboards. It’s calm and peaceful, barring the occasional office dog eruption.
Etsy’s Hudson annex is in one of the town’s many 1800s brick warehouses left over from the industrial days. Like our building, many old structures in town have been reborn. But I often imagine the sweat and noise that happened here decades ago, when this was a factory churning out lumber, doors and windows for area houses.
Drawing of Traver & Sons from an article in the Hudson Gazette, November 26, 1885.
A dramatic 1871 newspaper article describes entering our office when it was Traver & Sons’ mill: “The ears are greeted by a noise of sawing, buzzing and snapping, as if pandemonium had sent her most infernal orchestra to welcome the visitor to her chosen abode.”
Connecting this past with the present, Etsy Admin Jake found Traver & Sons’ stamp on old wainscoting as he was renovating his house. Folks working here now are living in homes that were made, at least in part, by those buzzing saws.
JonPaul Douglass
Jake and I present Traver & Sons wainscoting from his home.
Even though our work is mostly on computers, we feel we’re carrying on the tradition. This is industry-hallowed ground, and we help thousands of Etsy sellers run their own industries. If you contact Etsy Support, it’s likely the satellites bounce your message to Hudson and back.
JonPaul Douglass
Of course, Etsy’s headquarters are in Brooklyn, NY, and one might think, “Why would a tech company open an office in a little town?” But if you know about the town, it’s an obvious fit.
Laid out by Nantucket whalers, this was a bustling seaport for many years. The town the whalers built for us is still very much here, in the architecture and in the air.
Artists have long found inspiration in the grandeur of the river valley and the neighboring Catskill Mountains. Several famed Hudson River School painters lived in and around town — Thomas Cole, Frederick Church and Sanford Gifford to name a few.
Like most American towns that were based around manufacturing, Hudson declined in the 20th century as industry dried up or went elsewhere. Nevertheless, the spirit has remained and brought about a steady rebirth, owing much to natural beauty and proximity to New York City, as well as the foresight and risks of a few who bought and restored buildings here in the past few decades.
The town is once again full of creative types. It seems like everyone you talk to makes something. The Albany Business Review says Hudson has the highest self-employment rate in New York state. The ingenuity, the artfulness, the respect for craft, and the quirkiness in Hudson are what drew Etsy here.
Also, having a space in a small town means that we can interact with the community in a different way than in a big city, and Hudson has many communities. In a year and a half, we’ve volunteered with the Hudson Black Arts & Cultural Festival, marched in the town’s Pride parade, hosted and attended local craft fairs, and opened our doors for craft nights in conjunction with the library. As in the Brooklyn headquarters, where the office compost goes to a Brooklyn farm, our compost goes to a community garden right down the block.
JonPaul Douglass
Plants adorn the kitchen island, and our compost bin with compostable bags is to the left.
Our desks are made in a woodshop a few doors down by Rob Williams, Jr., who runs GrainWoodwork on Etsy. We’ve bought most of our furniture from shops in Hudson or from local Etsy sellers, like Idaseyeantiques. An artist who lives across the street created a mural and sound installation for us.
JonPaul Douglass
Most Hudson Admin are from the area, or have at least lived here a long time, so we’re just continuing being part of our community. What a special place to call home.
JonPaul Douglass
Are you in our neck of the woods? Come say hi at the Hudson River Exchange, a local handmade and vintage market in town July 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.!
Continue reading
Photo by lovintagefinds
With sunny thoughts of summer in the air and Etsy Craft Party around the corner, join us for a full slate of creative programming in San Francisco (June 6), Los Angeles (June 6), San Jose (June 7), and Chicago (June 20). This month’s DIY topics include screenprinting, memento box making, no-sew coasters, and making paracord dog collars for a good cause. All topics are taught by local Etsy sellers and friends of Etsy in each location.
The Etsy Meet & Make program is a series of creative community workshops held in partnership with organizations across the United States. Each month our partners cook up hands-on sessions designed to be fun, educational, and bring the local community together with a DIY spirit.
Craft Lab in San Francisco: Screenprinting
Rick Kitagawa
Join us this month for a quick and dirty introduction to screen printing from local artist Rick Kitagawa, by printing your very own poster! Rick Kitagawa is an SF-based artist and storyteller who creates creepy things and runs the screenprinting ships, The Lords of Print and Monkey and Seal. Whether you want to give your poster as a Father’s Day gift to an art-loving dad or keep it for yourself, you’ll leave with a sweet two-color poster.
Admission for this 21+ event is $10, or $5 if you’re a museum member, and includes supplies, instruction, and beer generously sponsored by Anchor Brewing Company! Please note that registration is highly recommended, and ticket sales end on June 6 at 4 p.m. PT.
With support from Etsy, every month the Museum of Craft and Design organizes Etsy Meet & Make: Craft Lab, where adults can make a project, socialize, and enjoy grown-up refreshments.
When: Thursday, June 6, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. PT (No walk-ins after 8 p.m., please)
Where: Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Fiber Salon in San Jose: No-Sew Coasters
Rebecca Saylor
Join the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles for our second Etsy Meet and Make: Fiber Salon! When many people get their first apartment, get married, or make a move, they look for some well designed, personal items that can make their new place feel cozy and warm. These little coasters are easy to make, yet pack a punch of personality. You can use virtually any fabric to personalize the design of these no-sew coasters that we’ll be making with Rebecca Saylor, from OodleBaDoodle. RSVP is required, and space is limited.
Fiber Salon is a hands-on community craft event hosted the first Friday of each month at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles with support from the Etsy Meet & Make program.
When: Friday, June 7, from 7 to 11 p.m. PT (Sessions start at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m.)
Where: San Jose Museum of Quilt and Textiles, 520 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Craft Bar in Chicago: Pets for Life Craft Party
Heidi Gustad
For this month’s Etsy Meet & Make: Craft Bar Chicago, we’re switching things up a bit. Usually Craft Bar takes place on the first Friday of each month, but for June, we’re combining Craft Bar with Craft Party as an opportunity to use our collective creative powers to help the Chicago Community!
We’re teaming up with the Humane Society’s Pets for Life program to put on a fun community event that puts our craft skills to work for a great cause. The Pets for Life program works directly with underserved communities by providing free animal care and wellness to those who would not normally have access. Join craft blogger Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied and learn how to fashion handmade paracord collars to donate directly to dogs in need. A certified therapy dog will be available during the event for cuddling, while delicious vegan snacks and drinks will be waiting for you at the bar. And, enter our raffle for your chance to win a custom pet portrait from Green Grass Design.
Admission is $5 or a bag of dog or cat food. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of the United State’s Pets for Life program.
When: Thursday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. CT
Where: Mignonette, 1747 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60657
Craft Night in Los Angeles: Memento Boxes
Holly Jerger
This month we’re making memento boxes in the courtyard of the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Bring in a small, personal item and make a special box or container to house and display it in. We’ll have various materials for you to construct and adorn your memento box and make it truly singular and functional. Admission is $7 or free for CAFAM members, and covers materials, snacks, drinks, and instruction. RSVP is required.
When: Thursday, June 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. PT (Doors open at 6:45 p.m.)
Where: Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California
More DIY Projects | Buy Craft Supplies on Etsy
Continue readingPhoto by lovintagefinds
With sunny thoughts of summer in the air and Etsy Craft Party around the corner, join us for a full slate of creative programming in San Francisco (June 6), Los Angeles (June 6), San Jose (June 7), and Chicago (June 20). This month’s DIY topics include screenprinting, memento box making, no-sew coasters, and making paracord dog collars for a good cause. All topics are taught by local Etsy sellers and friends of Etsy in each location.
The Etsy Meet & Make program is a series of creative community workshops held in partnership with organizations across the United States. Each month our partners cook up hands-on sessions designed to be fun, educational, and bring the local community together with a DIY spirit.
Craft Lab in San Francisco: Screenprinting
Rick Kitagawa
Join us this month for a quick and dirty introduction to screen printing from local artist Rick Kitagawa, by printing your very own poster! Rick Kitagawa is an SF-based artist and storyteller who creates creepy things and runs the screenprinting ships, The Lords of Print and Monkey and Seal. Whether you want to give your poster as a Father’s Day gift to an art-loving dad or keep it for yourself, you’ll leave with a sweet two-color poster.
Admission for this 21+ event is $10, or $5 if you’re a museum member, and includes supplies, instruction, and beer generously sponsored by Anchor Brewing Company! Please note that registration is highly recommended, and ticket sales end on June 6 at 4 p.m. PT.
With support from Etsy, every month the Museum of Craft and Design organizes Etsy Meet & Make: Craft Lab, where adults can make a project, socialize, and enjoy grown-up refreshments.
When: Thursday, June 6, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. PT (No walk-ins after 8 p.m., please)
Where: Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Fiber Salon in San Jose: No-Sew Coasters
Rebecca Saylor
Join the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles for our second Etsy Meet and Make: Fiber Salon! When many people get their first apartment, get married, or make a move, they look for some well designed, personal items that can make their new place feel cozy and warm. These little coasters are easy to make, yet pack a punch of personality. You can use virtually any fabric to personalize the design of these no-sew coasters that we’ll be making with Rebecca Saylor, from OodleBaDoodle. RSVP is required, and space is limited.
Fiber Salon is a hands-on community craft event hosted the first Friday of each month at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles with support from the Etsy Meet & Make program.
When: Friday, June 7, from 7 to 11 p.m. PT (Sessions start at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m.)
Where: San Jose Museum of Quilt and Textiles, 520 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Craft Bar in Chicago: Pets for Life Craft Party
Heidi Gustad
For this month’s Etsy Meet & Make: Craft Bar Chicago, we’re switching things up a bit. Usually Craft Bar takes place on the first Friday of each month, but for June, we’re combining Craft Bar with Craft Party as an opportunity to use our collective creative powers to help the Chicago Community!
We’re teaming up with the Humane Society’s Pets for Life program to put on a fun community event that puts our craft skills to work for a great cause. The Pets for Life program works directly with underserved communities by providing free animal care and wellness to those who would not normally have access. Join craft blogger Heidi Gustad of Hands Occupied and learn how to fashion handmade paracord collars to donate directly to dogs in need. A certified therapy dog will be available during the event for cuddling, while delicious vegan snacks and drinks will be waiting for you at the bar. And, enter our raffle for your chance to win a custom pet portrait from Green Grass Design.
Admission is $5 or a bag of dog or cat food. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of the United State’s Pets for Life program.
When: Thursday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. CT
Where: Mignonette, 1747 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60657
Craft Night in Los Angeles: Memento Boxes
Holly Jerger
This month we’re making memento boxes in the courtyard of the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Bring in a small, personal item and make a special box or container to house and display it in. We’ll have various materials for you to construct and adorn your memento box and make it truly singular and functional. Admission is $7 or free for CAFAM members, and covers materials, snacks, drinks, and instruction. RSVP is required.
When: Thursday, June 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. PT (Doors open at 6:45 p.m.)
Where: Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California
More DIY Projects | Buy Craft Supplies on Etsy
Julie Schneider is a Brooklyn-based artist, teacher, and punster. When she's not working on Etsy's community team, she's writing, drawing, and making cards and papercuts. Keep up with her latest creations on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Continue readingIt’s time for another wrap up of Redbubble news and activity. We’ve spotted a bunch of achievements this week, including artists exhibiting and artists showing us their works in progress. Plus many bubblers offering a ton of support and encouragement for each other’™s efforts. Here’s just some of the action we spotted.
works by Aaron Jay – Randyotter
- Aaron Jay and partner Aleksei Bitskoff won the London Cut&Paste tournament.
- Vincent Carrozza has a work in the I Love You Man exhibit in Brooklyn NY.
- DinobotTees had an exhibition table at BCExpo – the UK Comic and Pop Culture Event.
- Hammo has been working on a mural in the Kosmonaut Bar.
-
Liransz created a fantasy storybook illustration tutorial for psd tuts+.
works by AlexandraSophie
- Alexandra Sophie won Best Emerging Photographer of the Year in the [F] awards.
- Rosemary Eagle has two etchings in a travelling exhibition.
- The AddOn Exhibition has begun in Sydney, featuring lots of RB artists work.
- Tara Krebs shared a work in progress and is showing works in two California shows.
-
Debra Fedchin will have work in the Artsbridge 19th Annual Open Juried Show.
by Jasmin Garcia-Verdin
- Jasmin Garcia-Verdin is exhibiting six works in Newark’s IndexNewark Hall this month.
- Muscular Teeth has been busy painting a door from the Franklin Hotel.
- Jeff Jag shared a series of photos of his latest work in progress.
-
Drawsgood asked his fans for ideas for his next sketch.
In other exciting news, we launched our Tattoo Designs Even A Mother Could Love challenge. We’€™d love you to get busy creating a design that your Mother would be unable to resist. You can find out more and submit your entries here
Continue readingCongratulations to all the artists featured above on their news and achievements and a big thanks to the many Bubblers who have taken the time to show their support, leave generous comments or to offer help and advice. Each week we feature a small selection of the big news and the little wins we’€™ve spotted in the Redbubble community but we’d really like this to serve as an intro to your own news. What was the highlight of your week? Do you have any creative plans for the coming week?
Photo by MagMoment
While the soil continues to hold winter’s chill, those emerging vibrant buds are a reassuring sight indeed. Fresh growth is nothing new to the Etsy community, but a 60.1% increase in April 2013 from April 2012′s total of dollars of goods sold still feels just as delightful as late-afternoon sunshine. (At the same time, items sold were up 43.8% year over year.)
The stats:
- $101.8 million of goods (after refunds and cancellations) were sold by our community in April, 0.1% higher than March’s $101.7 million
- That represents 4,259,435 items sold for the month, 6.1% lower than March’s 4,534,479
- 2,830,804 items were listed in the month, 3.5% lower than March’s 2,932,874
- 972,224 new members joined the Etsy community in the month, down 64,128 or 6.2%, from March
- 1.49 billion page views were recorded on the site in April
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Etsy community in April 2013!
Curious about how other months compare? Check out our past Weather Reports for more statistics.
Continue readingPhoto by MagMoment
While the soil continues to hold winter’s chill, those emerging vibrant buds are a reassuring sight indeed. Fresh growth is nothing new to the Etsy community, but a 60.1% increase in April 2013 from April 2012′s total of dollars of goods sold still feels just as delightful as late-afternoon sunshine. (At the same time, items sold were up 43.8% year over year.)
The stats:
- $101.8 million of goods (after refunds and cancellations) were sold by our community in April, 0.1% higher than March’s $101.7 million
- That represents 4,259,435 items sold for the month, 6.1% lower than March’s 4,534,479
- 2,830,804 items were listed in the month, 3.5% lower than March’s 2,932,874
- 972,224 new members joined the Etsy community in the month, down 64,128 or 6.2%, from March
- 1.49 billion page views were recorded on the site in April
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Etsy community in April 2013!
Curious about how other months compare? Check out our past Weather Reports for more statistics.
Continue reading
Fancy flexing your design and illustration muscles? Want to win some awesome prizes? Then dig out your finest drawing implements as we’ve got just the challenge for you.
We’d like you to create a tattoo design so impressive, even your dear Mother will temporarily put aside her fear of you getting inked and jeopardizing your chances of getting a ‘proper job’ one day.
There are cash prizes, temporary tattoos, tees and hoodies up for grabs so don’t dilly dally. Warm up a vat of coffee/gin/absinthe, dust off your art supplies, switch your phone off and get down to business. You’ve got approximately two weeks left to get your designs out of your brains and onto paper (then onto the interwebs).
Find out more and submit your entries here.
A little inspiration from talented RB designers and illustrators
It’s time for another wrap up of news and activity from RB artists. We’ve seen some exciting features, Kickstarter funding, plus celebraties donning your tee designs! Here’s just some of the action we spotted this week …
Works by perdita00
- perdita00 ’s work was featured on the Los Angeles Times website
- nikholmes got funded for his kickstarter project and will illustrate you as a zombie!
- We spotted Ian Leino dressed as Dr Krieger posing with Lucky Yates, the voice of Krieger
- Ian Sokoliwski appeared on BBandBC to discuss Flesh for Frankenstein
- Chris Colfer from Glee was spotted last month in tees by warbucks360 and angicita, check it out here and here
Works by Loui Jover
- Loui Jover was interviewed for Saatchi Online Magzine
- Natalie Ord was interviewed on the ABC Open blog about her photography
- Sophie Smith had an image featured in Paper.Li
- stevethomasart is part of the show ‘Righteous Rides and the Dudes that Drive Them’
- Aimme Stewart shared the trailer for her upcoming children’s book
Work by Aimee Stewart
- In other RB news, our CEO Pilgrim was busy showing off an awesome tee design by harebrained, talking to Fast Company and being all inspirational.
Congratulations to the artists above. Each week we feature a small selection of news, inspiration and achievements we’€™ve spotted but we’€™d really like this to serve as an intro to your own news. What was the highlight of your week? Have you got any creative projects planned for the week?
Continue reading
Photo by lindamonfort
Update: On May 6, the US Senate voted to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would require online sellers who earn over $1M in annual revenues to collect and remit sales tax for every state, not just the one where you live.
The good news is, the bill won’t become law unless it moves through the House of Representatives. We encourage you to call your legislator (find their number here) and let them know where you stand. You can also join the conversation with other sellers in this forum thread. Below is the original blog post that was published on April 22, 2013.
This week, the US Senate will vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that requires online sellers to collect and remit sales tax for every state, regardless of where you live. Right now sellers are only required to collect sales tax in the states where they have a physical presence. (Online buyers are responsible for paying their home state’s sales taxes, but most don’t.)
We at Etsy support the intent of the legislation, to help states reap the tax they are owed, but feel it will unnecessarily burden small businesses. Most Etsy sellers work from home and don’t have the administrative resources to comply with the law. That’s why the “small seller exception” included in the bill is so important. We believe in pushing that exception as high as possible, not only to protect sellers now, but to give their businesses room to grow down the line.
Currently, the bill exempts businesses who earn under $1 million annually, though the level of exception is hotly debated, and some companies have even argued to eliminate it altogether. If you’re thinking, “$1 million, phew, that excludes me,” that’s understandable. $1 million in sales, however, is well below other federal definitions of small business. And the top 500 largest internet retailers make up 93% of lost state revenues. A lower exception hurts small businesses more than it helps states.
With the vote happening this week, we encourage you to call your Senators (you can find their numbers here) and tell them you support increasing the level of the small seller exception in the Marketplace Fairness Act. Hearing directly from constituents makes a lot more impact than just hearing from Etsy staff.
The Etsy community actually put this issue on our radar for the first time last year, when several sellers commented about it on a blog post about Chad’s trip to the US Senate. Since that time, we’ve been meeting with legislators and connecting Etsy sellers directly with D.C. officials to advocate.
This is part of our emerging focus on policy issues that affect our community. Since I arrived at Etsy, I’ve found that politicians often don’t understand the needs or challenges of our community. A seller making jewelry or decor from home is very different than a dentist, gas station owner or a tech start-up. Officials don’t realize how hard it will be for you to comply with a new regulation, or that many existing public programs to support small business don’t help you. We want to change that. So let me know in this forum thread what other governmental policy issues you’re worried about. I’d love to work with you to help solve them.
Althea Erickson is Etsy’s director of public policy, and the seller behind Brooklyn Assembly. Before she joined Etsy, she led the advocacy and policy work at Freelancers Union.
Continue readingPhoto by lindamonfort
Update: On May 6, the US Senate voted to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would require online sellers who earn over $1M in annual revenues to collect and remit sales tax for every state, not just the one where you live.
The good news is, the bill won’t become law unless it moves through the House of Representatives. We encourage you to call your legislator (find their number here) and let them know where you stand. You can also join the conversation with other sellers in this forum thread. Below is the original blog post that was published on April 22, 2013.
This week, the US Senate will vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act, a bill that requires online sellers to collect and remit sales tax for every state, regardless of where you live. Right now sellers are only required to collect sales tax in the states where they have a physical presence. (Online buyers are responsible for paying their home state’s sales taxes, but most don’t.)
We at Etsy support the intent of the legislation, to help states reap the tax they are owed, but feel it will unnecessarily burden small businesses. Most Etsy sellers work from home and don’t have the administrative resources to comply with the law. That’s why the “small seller exception” included in the bill is so important. We believe in pushing that exception as high as possible, not only to protect sellers now, but to give their businesses room to grow down the line.
Currently, the bill exempts businesses who earn under $1 million annually, though the level of exception is hotly debated, and some companies have even argued to eliminate it altogether. If you’re thinking, “$1 million, phew, that excludes me,” that’s understandable. $1 million in sales, however, is well below other federal definitions of small business. And the top 500 largest internet retailers make up 93% of lost state revenues. A lower exception hurts small businesses more than it helps states.
With the vote happening this week, we encourage you to call your Senators (you can find their numbers here) and tell them you support increasing the level of the small seller exception in the Marketplace Fairness Act. Hearing directly from constituents makes a lot more impact than just hearing from Etsy staff.
The Etsy community actually put this issue on our radar for the first time last year, when several sellers commented about it on a blog post about Chad’s trip to the US Senate. Since that time, we’ve been meeting with legislators and connecting Etsy sellers directly with D.C. officials to advocate.
This is part of our emerging focus on policy issues that affect our community. Since I arrived at Etsy, I’ve found that politicians often don’t understand the needs or challenges of our community. A seller making jewelry or decor from home is very different than a dentist, gas station owner or a tech start-up. Officials don’t realize how hard it will be for you to comply with a new regulation, or that many existing public programs to support small business don’t help you. We want to change that. So let me know in this forum thread what other governmental policy issues you’re worried about. I’d love to work with you to help solve them.
Althea Erickson is Etsy’s director of public policy, and the seller behind Brooklyn Assembly. Before she joined Etsy, she led the advocacy and policy work at Freelancers Union.
Continue reading
Photo by Etsy Craft Party
Etsy Craft Party is a one-day celebration of meeting and making. Around the world, we come together to share creative skills with our neighbors. You can organize a Craft Party, or join one in your area. All you need are good friends, craft supplies, and fun!
This year’s theme is Craft for Community. How could you use your craft know-how to make your hometown even better? We encourage you to think about what you love most about your city, what creative skills you have to share, and how you could bring this all together in a fun party that supports your community. Your Craft Party could feature:
- Skill-share: Swapping your creative skills with another.
- Craftivism: Using crafts as a means for positive action, or activism.
- Collaboration: Making a difference by joining forces with a local organization (your town’s community garden, park, farm, hospital, school, arts center, bike shop, thrift store, day care center, senior center, soup kitchen, farmer’s market, or other nonprofit/community group).
How do I get started? First, pick your spirit animal. If you are the leader of the pack, you could be a great Craft Party organizer. More of a party animal? Sign up for a party in your area and show up ready to craft on June 20.
To join a Craft Party, all you have to do is find a party in your area and RSVP via the party’s Eventbrite page.
To organize a Craft Party:
1. Complete the organizer application form.
2. We’ll grant you access to your Craft Party Eventbrite page.
3. Plan your party and invite friends!
Take note! Craft Parties with 25 or more RSVPs on Eventbrite will receive a free box of craft supplies from Spoonflower and Etsy sellers (while supplies last). The deadline to RSVP is May 30, 2013. We set this RSVP deadline so we can get the box of supplies shipped to the party organizer(s) in time. However, we encourage you to continue promoting and garnering RSVPs right up to the day of your Craft Party.
We will also provide every Craft Party organizer with a free, downloadable Craft Party Kit. The Kit will contain: how-to project instructions and templates, party decor ideas, and other tips for hosting your own party – plus some extra delightful surprises.
We encourage you to make your party your own and have fun with it! Here are a few project ideas:
- Make Adopt Me vests for an animal shelter
- Host a creative workshop at the local library to share skills and knowledge with your community
- Get your hands dirty with a garden-related project to support a community garden
- Work with a local bike shop to make bike tube pouches, reduce waste, and promote biking
- Paint a mural to brighten a communal space
- Work with a thrift shop to source materials for an upcycled project (like these denim pillows)
- Make toys for a kids center (like these wooden blocks)
- Make birthday cards for the More Birthdays campaign
- Make pillowcases to donate to a local shelter, hospital, or home as part of the One Million Pillowcase Challenge
- Knit tiny hats for preemies at a children’s hospital
- Make scarves or mittens for a homeless shelter
- Make decorations for a senior center party
- Get together at a park or beach or hiking trail to help with a hands-on outdoors project
- Bring creativity to an unexpected spot, drawing inspiration from The Laundromat Project
- Work with a local non-profit to add value to your community
Let’s celebrate Craft Party together. Share photos of your Craft Party, from prep time to party time, on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #craftparty. We may even include them in a recap blog post or on Facebook!
Join the global celebration on June 20!
What are you planning for Etsy Craft Party 2013? Let us know in the comments below.
Julie Schneider is a Brooklyn-based artist, teacher, and punster. When she's not working on Etsy's community team, she's writing, drawing, and making cards and papercuts. Keep up with her latest creations on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Continue readingIt’s time for another wrap up of news and activity from our Redbubble artists. We’ve seen some exciting exhibition news, advertising features, plenty of action from our artists on social media, plus lots of interesting journals. Here’s just some of the action we spotted this week.
Works by LeaBarozzi
- LeaBarozzi is finishing up a few works for a show in Portland.
- Anders Lindholm will be in NYC participating in an Altered States of Reality exhibit.
- Powerpig’s latest creation has been featured at The Brothers Brick.
- Sumrow offers a free print in a title challenge for his newest work.
Works by Phresha
- Phresha is part of a group exhibition in Detroit on May 10th.
- Matthewdunnart shares a current work in progress – a skateboard piece.
- Randy Spout won 2nd prize in LPAPA’€™s 7th Annual ‘€œLess Is More’ show.
- Celeste Mookherjee’s works have been chosen for a gallery exhibit in California.
- João Figueiredo’s group has released its second issue of Northern Landscape Magazine
Works by Peter Hill & Tatiana R
- A little Red(bubble) bird told us that Peter Hill and Tatiana R were married last week! A big congrats from us here at Redbubble (Mr. Baxter even wore pants). In addition to that, Peter was shortlisted for the 2013 Australian Geographic ANZANG Nature Photographer of the Year Award.
Congratulations to all the artists featured above on their news and achievements and a big thanks to the many Bubblers who have taken the time to show their support, leave generous comments or to offer help and advice. Each week we feature a small selection of the big news and the little wins we’™ve spotted in the Redbubble community but we’d really like this to serve as an intro to your own news. What was the highlight of your week? Do you have any creative plans for the coming week?
If you’d like to keep up to date with the latest RB community happenings, news about meetups, challenges and other awesomeness, follow the Community Team updates here.
Continue readingThere’€™s no such thing as a quiet week on RB and you’€™ve certainly been busy this week. We love to read about artists who have shared their achievements, news, tips and tricks and we’€™re equally impressed by the support and encouragement RB artists offer each other. Here’€™s just some of the action we spotted this week.
Works by Sophie Corrigan
- Sophie Corrigan has been busy writing a rhyming children’s book for her honor’s project.
- Lynette Shelley will be part of a juried art show at the State Museum of Pennsylvania.
- Samantha Higgs had a recent interview published on running your own business.
- Check out Sumrow’s booth at the Denver Starfest.
-
MuscularTeeth takes a bit of graffiti and turns it into an amazing bit of artwork.
Works by Will Zender
- Come see Will Zender at his first exhibition at the Malaca Institute until May 12th.
- Karen Hallion will be at this week’s Chicago Comic Con. Stop by and say hi.
- Pat Bullen has an upcoming exhibit in Wales. She recommends we take the scenic route.
- Check out MeganLara’s very REAL cosplay of Bilie Piper – We can’t tell who is who!
-
Marti Schmidt reminds us of the amazing work of the famous artist Hokusai.
Hokusai inspired works by radiomode, karbondream, thesnuttch, MatMiller, eponymon, Ross Robinson, hubertfineart, and zedsdead
Congratulations to all the artists featured above on their news and achievements and a big thanks to the many Bubblers who have taken the time to show their support, leave generous comments or to offer help and advice. Each week we feature a small selection of the big news and the little wins we’€™ve spotted in the Redbubble community but we’d really like this to serve as an intro to your own news. What was the highlight of your week? Do you have any creative plans for the coming week?
If you’d like to keep up to date with the latest RB community happenings, news about meetups, challenges and other awesomeness, follow the Community Team updates here.
Continue reading
Adventure Awaits by Vintageskies
Maybe it’s the adventurer in us but show us an artwork featuring a mountain and we find ourselves dreaming of far away adventures. We’re not the only ones inspired by perfect peaks and snow dusted summits. Here are just a few fine examples of marvelous mountainous slices of art from the talented folks on RB.
If you’d like to leave a comment for an artist, add a work to your favorites, or buy any of these works, just click on the individual images to visit the work pages. And if you enjoy this collection, please feel free to share this post using the tweet and like buttons at the top right of the page.
Splendour Of The Rockies by Al Bourassa
Mountain Pass by Martin Knight
966 by peter holme
Sierra Mountain Meadow by Elaine Bawden
Alpine Guides by OilPrints
Mont Blanc by Diane Robertson
i57 by Georg Stadler
Impressive beauty of Iceland by BenjFavrat
Block Mountain by Pete Baglia
never enough by swin
Half Dome Yosemite National Park Vintage by Matthew Floyd
Mountain men by Brian Towers
Blue Andes Peru by Carly Chapman
When the mountains speaks, wise men listen by Mirth
Mount Nefarious by dazzamataz
Alemania by Lala Mártin
La Roche Faurio by Rémi Bridot
Mountains by Essi Kimpimaki
5 brothers by Patricia Van Lubeck
Sedona Red Rock by Anelle121314
Mt Semeru by melaniepram
Snow on Mountain by Penny Vogan
Landscape 001 by Sally Barnett
Climbing on Baruntse by Marion Joncheres
Edge of the world by Alex Sharp
Qikiqtarjuaq Nunavut by LouiseLafleur
Mountain View by HDPotwin
Dove Lake (IV), Cradle Mountain, Tasmania by Matthew Stewart
Highlands by damophoto
The Great River by Joe Gilronan
Are there any similar works in your favorites? We’€™d like to invite you to share interesting mountainous artworks by other artists in the comments below. Need help? See our handy guide on posting images and links. And you’€™ll also find more inspiration in these groups:
- Featured Artist: uberkraaft
- How to Break Out of a Creative Rut
- The Weekly Wrap
-
Free Printable Bookplates
Enjoy this post? You may also like:
- Nautical, Oceanic and Seaside Inspired Artworks
- An Epic Collection of Bike Art and Design
- Highlands, Lowlands and Alpine Inspired Art
- Fiat Lux: Let There Be Light
-
Images Inspired by Cross Processing Techniques
View More Art and Design Collections From the RB Blog.
This collection was compiled by by Beth Douglas and Natalie Tyler.
Subscribe to the Redbubble Blog RSS Feed for a regular helping of art and design inspiration.
Photo by PaperAltar
With Mother’s Day around the corner and spring in the air, join us for a full slate of creative community programming on May 2 and 3 in San Jose, San Francisco, LA, and Chicago.
This month we welcome Fiber Salon in San Jose as our newest addition to the Meet & Make roster. Following this launch, Craft Lab will continue to be hosted the first Friday of each month at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. Come show them your support and help kick off their first ever Meet & Make event!
Fiber Salon in San Jose: Victorian Hair Jewelry
For the launch of Etsy Meet & Make: Fiber Salon at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, local Etsy seller Even Howard of Nadene and the SF Etsy Team will teach how to make a modern take on Victorian hair jewelry. While crafting, we’ll discuss the history of this craft that weaves together treasured memories into keepsake objects, as well as explore the techniques of table-woven hair work to create cards or small accessories using embroidery floss in place of hair. Supplies and instruction are provided with RSVP. Following this launch, these free events will continue to be held the first Friday of each month at the Museum.
When: Friday, May 3, from 7 – 11 p.m. PT
Where: San Jose Museum of Quilt and Textiles, 520 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Craft Bar in Chicago: Mother’s Day Projects
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so what better way to celebrate mom than with some beautiful and wearable May flowers? This month, join Craft Bar Chicago and Gina Morgan as we learn the art of bead stringing and make beaded floral creations. Beading not your style? Local artist Wizard at Work will be on-hand to share a simple embossing techniques for handmade cards.
As always, all supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own project to work on. The $5 admission covers all materials and instruction for the projects. Don’t forget to fuel your creativity with drinks and snacks from the bar, served by our resident handsome Craft Bartender crew!
When: Friday, May 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. CT
Where: Mignonette, 1747 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60657
Craft Lab in San Francisco: Printmaking
Just in time for Mother’s Day, join us at the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco for an intro to printmaking! In this simple 20 minute activity, Niki Baker of foreignspell will teach how to make beautiful handmade stationery or art. All the supplies will be on hand for you to carve your own rubber stamp. Or, if sharp tools scare you, try some stamps pre-made by Niki to create fresh designs!
Admission is $10, or $5 if you’re a Museum member, and includes supplies, instruction, and adult beverages. While you’re at the museum, find inspiration in the current exhibition by Rebecca Hutchinson, featuring a porcelain paper-clay installation of leaf-like forms suggesting an unexpected forest.
When: Thursday, May 2, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. PT
Where: Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Craft Night in Los Angeles: Wire Projects
Bend, weave, tie, wrap: the possibilities for wire are endless. At this month’s Craft Night at the Craft and Folk Art Museum, you’ll learn several ways to manipulate wire and create small functional objects or imaginative sculptures. Project demonstrations will be held at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for CAFAM members or $7 at the door for non-members, and covers materials, snacks, drinks, and instruction. RSVP is required.
When: Thursday, May 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. PT
Where: Craft and Folk Art Museum, 5814 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California
More Events | DIY Projects | Buy Craft Supplies on Etsy
Julie Schneider is a Brooklyn-based artist, teacher, and punster. When she's not working on Etsy's community team, she's writing, drawing, and making cards and papercuts. Keep up with her latest creations on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Continue reading
Photo by ruffeoheartslilsnoty
Now that spring is finally here, it’s time to shed your layers and show some leg — or at least some ankle. Etsy seller Maresa Ponitch of Dusty Rose Vintage has gathered a stash of colorful cotton and spandex vintage leggings and is bringing them to the Etsy Labs for an elastic-themed Hands-On. Select the size and color (or feel free to bring your own pair!) and customize your leggings with DIY printing techniques taught by Etsy’s Social Media Coordinator and talented crafter, David Morgan. Check out his blog for more DIY inspiration.
We’ll also have a variety of fabrics available for sewing-savvy folks who want to experiment with making patches. “One-of-a-kind pieces are the antidote in an era of fast fashion — an analog answer to copycat digital looks,” Maresa says. RSVP here to join us in the Etsy Labs on May 2 to get creative and make your own one-of-a-kind leggings.
Maresa has collected vintage since childhood and decided to build a business around her passion. She now sells on Etsy and sources vintage for a variety of stores and stylists. If you want to learn a bit more about the past life of your future favorite article of spandex, Maresa has this to say about her Brooklyn-based treasure trove: “Dusty Rose Vintage is 2,500 square feet of every vintage style and silhouette imaginable. The meticulously organized warehouse is home to 20,000 pounds of vintage gold, sorted in countless rows of garments, from denim cutoffs to festival bags and tees galore.”
David Morgan
Details:
Event: Hands-On: Painted Leggings
What: Print and paint on vintage leggings and take photos in our Magnolia photo booth.
Where: Etsy Labs, 55 Washington St. Suite 712, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO; Cross streets: Front and Water
When: Thursday, May 2, 5 p.m. ET – 8 p.m. ET
Cost: Free (leggings are included; limited sizes and colors!)
RSVP: Here!
David Morgan
Photo by ruffeoheartslilsnoty
Now that spring is finally here, it’s time to shed your layers and show some leg — or at least some ankle. Etsy seller Maresa Ponitch of Dusty Rose Vintage has gathered a stash of colorful cotton and spandex vintage leggings and is bringing them to the Etsy Labs for an elastic-themed Hands-On. Select the size and color (or feel free to bring your own pair!) and customize your leggings with DIY printing techniques taught by Etsy’s Social Media Coordinator and talented crafter, David Morgan. Check out his blog for more DIY inspiration.
We’ll also have a variety of fabrics available for sewing-savvy folks who want to experiment with making patches. “One-of-a-kind pieces are the antidote in an era of fast fashion — an analog answer to copycat digital looks,” Maresa says. RSVP here to join us in the Etsy Labs on May 2 to get creative and make your own one-of-a-kind leggings.
Maresa has collected vintage since childhood and decided to build a business around her passion. She now sells on Etsy and sources vintage for a variety of stores and stylists. If you want to learn a bit more about the past life of your future favorite article of spandex, Maresa has this to say about her Brooklyn-based treasure trove: “Dusty Rose Vintage is 2,500 square feet of every vintage style and silhouette imaginable. The meticulously organized warehouse is home to 20,000 pounds of vintage gold, sorted in countless rows of garments, from denim cutoffs to festival bags and tees galore.”
David Morgan
Details:
Event: Hands-On: Painted Leggings
What: Print and paint on vintage leggings and take photos in our Magnolia photo booth.
Where: Etsy Labs, 55 Washington St. Suite 712, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhood: DUMBO; Cross streets: Front and Water
When: Thursday, May 2, 5 p.m. ET – 8 p.m. ET
Cost: Free (leggings are included; limited sizes and colors!)
RSVP: Here!
David Morgan
If there’€™s one thing an artist must appreciate, it’s the experience of picturing something in the mind’s eye, then turning it into a reality. In his Redbubble profile, uberkraaft (Matt Williams) explains, ‘€˜… I make things I really want to see’€™. The ability to do so with a good deal of finesse and attention to detail brings us our next feature artist.
Matt completed a degree in sculpture at the University of Sheffield and then went on to a Masters in Digital Media at Coventry. But his artistic journey doesn’€™t start there – He’€™s been creating since he was old enough to pick stuff up and, even from a very young age, was never in doubt that his future lay in the creative industries. Right he was, too, since uberkraaft now works as Creative Director in a boutique design agency.
This portfolio is alive with color, although sports some lovely line work in black and white as well. Some pieces might evoke fanciful, funky or even vaguely dark feelings in the viewer, but uberkraaft just hopes you connect with the vibe of the work.
The artist and designer enjoys mixing it up, too. With a mind that’s positively bursting with ideas, he couldn’€™t possibly be confined to a single media: uberkraaft works in paint markers, ink and brush, gouache, pencil and more (that degree in digital media also shines through when he works on a Wacom tablet). We’€™re looking forward to seeing many more works in this great portfolio.
See uberkraaft’s full portfolio here
Click here to view more work from Uberkraaft’s portfolio
This is the thirty-eighth in a series of artist features on the Redbubble blog. As the readership for the blog grows beyond the virtual walls of Redbubble, we’re always looking for opportunities to promote artists and encourage more eyeballs to take a wander through the Redbubble hallways. We aim to write posts that show off the best the Redbubble community has to offer, that engage and entertain artists, both on Redbubble and beyond, and appeal to art and design lovers far and wide. If you’re scratching your head, wondering if there’s some method to the madness or if this is an elaborate experiment involving monkeys and typewriters, you’ll find a more information here.
See the rest of the Featured Artist series here.
Subscribe to the Redbubble Blog RSS Feed for a regular helping of art and design inspiration.
Photo by PulpArt
What happened to Earth Day? In the 43 years since its inception, the movement has deteriorated from one that drove some of the most significant environmental legislation in US history, to yet another platform for corporate marketing. It is hard not to be jaded in an era fraught with greenwashing where seemingly every company on earth touts their eco efforts, large and small, substantial and empty.
But let’s remember that the first Earth Day was not a ploy for publicity, or derived to sell faux “green” merchandise. It was a rallying cry felt across political parties, generations, and demographics, a cry to protect our natural environment with substantial action. The first Earth Day instigated the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s time to take it back!
It is in the original spirit of Earth Day that we want to celebrate by publicly sharing Etsy’s ecological impact reduction goals and our commitment to the planet. From our calculations, we have set aggressive reduction goals, but this is important. By publishing them we are putting ourselves on the hook to deliver.
Our commitment: Etsy is committed to proactively countering the planet’s gathering ecological crises. Etsy embraces our responsibility to minimize the ecological footprint of our operations and our duty to empower and incentivise the users of our platform to do the same.
With these imperatives in mind, we have started the long journey to analyze the complete impact of our business operations. We have largely captured the current impact of our office facilities and data centers. We recognize, however, that the impact of Etsy includes much more than our company operations. As we emphasize every day in the office — Etsy’s success is built on the businesses of our sellers, and that includes their ecological impact.
We are starting to assess the impact of our marketplace, starting with the shipping of goods purchased on Etsy. We are also measuring our operational supply chain, employee commuting, and business travel, because we need to be complete. We don’t want to cop-out with so much at stake. Etsy is a unique company and, we believe, proof that commerce can be lastingly fulfilling and sustainable.
We don’t want to be alone in this. Every business, and individual can contribute to driving the significant reform we need — as did the original Earth Day.
So what can you do?
- Transform your personal impact at Practically Green.
- Switch to using renewable energy at home in just 5 minutes.
- If your company isn’t earnestly measuring and lowering their impact, force the issue! Let management know that companies with strong sustainability programs have 43% more efficient business operations, 43% stronger public image, 55% better morale, and 38% higher employee loyalty than those who don’t. (Sources: Practically Green, Society for Human Resource Management, and “The 5 Traits of Firms that Create Sustainability ROI,” Harvard Business School, 2012)
We want to share all of our ecological work. If your business could benefit from our assessment methodology or improvement strategies, please get in touch.
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