Member Interview

Hi there, Elizabeth of Foret! 

Please tell us a bit about yourself. 

Foret, my core shop name and brand, is derived from part of my surname and was the name of a signature line of apparel which I came up with in the early 90’s. It actually has a little tent (a circumflex accent mark) over the E which shows that there used to be an S there - the word in French for ‘forest.’ I had done this to make a break from my other design business which is officially called “Santa Fe Jewelry and Design.” Now, that business which I had founded in 1984 is on hold while Foret is sallying forth into the world. This is all in the spirit of making my business more portable, personal, and less defined by location…although I have lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for 30 years. 

I have been self-employed all my life with parallel careers in the arts and healing. My work has ranged into photography and the entertainment industry to spiritual counseling and hands on healing. I have to narrow things down for the purpose of commerce, so I have chosen jewelry/fashion and aspects of my healing work. The array of items I offer across the three Etsy shops is my attempt to express this twofold focus: jewelry, crystals, astrology, healing amulets, unique supplies, fashion accessories, and a bit of this and that in the vintage/pack rat department. You know…fun with a spiritual back beat!

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?
At first, I noticed treasuries and then I went to the team thread and learned. I felt an instant connection and so I applied. This team stands out to me as something very special in the world of Etsy. It is a bright star of love and support for the sake of those very qualities, and so I am happy and honored to be part of this gentle community.

Of your current creations, which are your favorites?

Psychedelic Cloud Pendant Necklace

At Foret, which I recently revamped from top to bottom to make it all about free worldwide shipping and everything $100 and less (still have a bunch of higher end and have to figure out where to place them), I have to say that my favorite is my Psychedelic Cloud Pendant Necklace and the earrings which complement it.

Although I have been making jewelry for decades, I have been putting off smashing on metal until recently. I love it. I won a bench block and hammer and have been pounding on things whenever I can.

Multi Color Gems, Pearls Earrings

At DivineDesignByForet, all of my ELEMENTALZ are my favorites. These are where healing and art come together for me, and I love them as if they were my children. I especially enjoy making one specifically for someone with a healing intent. When I get to do that, all of my skills and talents are brought in and I can step out of the way while Spirit guides the process. 

Staurolite Baltic Amber Ammonite and Garnet ELEMENTALZ Pendant

At ForetTwo, any of the hawk’s eye (naturally blue and colorful tiger eye) is beloved to me right now.

12mm Round Hawks Eye Blue Tiger Eye Beads

 I love these too…. Never seen anything quite like these beads.

7mm Round Faceted Mulit Color Ruby Beads

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it?

Oooo! What an interesting question. Although I have in my possession many beautiful and interesting objects…from ethnographic wonders which I have collected over the years to rocks to items from family, I am not attached to any particular thing. I imagine suddenly losing everything, and I know I would be in shock for a little while but I would be able to move forward. I am not about things, I suppose. Ironic, eh? My business is all about creating things out of materials. Hence, one of my mottos: there is always more.

What do you collect?
People and ideas…and probably a bit of dust if I sit still too long.

Where would you like to be and what do you hope to be doing ten years from now?

Ten years from now, if I am still on this planet, I want to be living in Siracusa in Sicily, writing all the time, looking at the sun rise over the Mediterranean, and Skyping with my son who will be a famous actor by then.

Healing Amulet Pendant - Sacred Marriage ELEMENTALZ

Finds 'n' Fancies

mighty fine oak

(ripped out of Anthropologie's clothing home page--such a clever artistic detail!)

Autumn Leaf by DovieMoon, Spun Gold outfit from Anthropologie
The Calling by corid, Acorn Cap Necklace tutorial by A Foothill Home Companion


original watercolor paintings by gollybard

Ivory Sash clutch by eclu, Murmur Summer intaglio print by carlikirstin
Purled Onyx outfit from Anthropologie, Oak Leaf finger wrap by BrillianceFound

Oh, how I long for Fall! This is about the time of year my impatience for it sets in. The stores are filling their racks with cool weather clothing in warm autumnal tones, but it's still hitting the mid-nineties around here. They tease! I want to eat soup and chili and wash it down with hot chocolate, but my cravings are forced to wait. The anticipation makes that first crisp morning all the more welcome so I'll summon my patience and harvest some Fall eye-candy as I wait.

What are y'all anticipating with the arrival of cool weather? --katie :D

Weekly Challenge

Hello lovelies!

It's time to announce our Weekly Challenge winner!
This week's theme was "dreamy"

Our winner is Elizabeth from Foret
with her Shimmery Pastel Gemstone Choker Necklace
with Rainbow Moonstone, Amethyst and Aquamarine.

Congratulations
and Happy Birthday
Elizabeth!

A big thank you to
Angie from Cherry and Violet
Jill from Antiqueish
Erica from Mazzy Jewelry Designs
Kristin from loveartworks
who also participated last week.

You can check out their fabulous entries on our Weekly Challenge page.

Elizabeth's choice for this week's theme:
"aging gracefully"

To participate in the fun:
1) Start creating!
2) List the item in your Etsy shop.
3) Contact me with a link to your entry by next Monday (August 3oth) 12 midnight EST.

**I just want to remind all of our teammates
who sell vintage or supplies that you can enter too!**

I will post all of the lovely entries on our Weekly Challenge page as they come in. The new winner will be posted here next Wednesday. The winner then gets to choose the following week's theme, and of course, it's winner!

Happy creating!
xo, Jen

Treasury Tags

Are you tagging your treasuries?

You have up to 18 tags that you can include in your treasury and should try to use as many as you can. Why? Because Etsy Admin and potential customers search on words and phrases to find your treasury.

What words should you use for your tags? If you are on a team, for instance TeamEPE, and have made a treasury full of its members, you should tag with teamepe. The search is not case sensitive. Or, if you are participating in a challenge treasury you should use the designated challenge term. If you pay attention to Etsy's monthly marketing report and your treasury is designed appropriately you should include some of the words from their suggestions. Make sure you include colors as well and some emotion words.

Pay attention to the Etsy finds and the phrases that are included at the bottom. If you click on one of those phrases it brings you to an entire list of treasuries that include those phrases. And, yes, you can go back into your treasury to edit tags and include one of those phrases. But, remember when you include a string of words or a phrase the customer/admin would have to search on it exactly. For instance the phrase, "falling into autumn." That exact search term would have to be the search term. Or, if you use a string of words, "blue box fall," not many people are going to put that string in the search box, so you are going to lose the potential of your treasury being found. They may search on the word "box," but your treasury isn't going to appear because it's within a string of words. Hope that makes sense!

Have you become addicted to making treasuries? I think they are all getting more and more beautiful and sophisticated!

Our Joy-ous Treasury Challenge Winners!

And the Winners are...

After 94 Votes on our 9 Finalists, here are our Amazing, Joy-ous 3!

These Beauties will be judging our next Challenge...and for good reason!

First up with her Lovely, Dreamy treasury,

TrickyFox

with

"Joy and Pain, Like Sunshine and Rain."

Next, with her Beautiful, Earthy treasury,

GinnyHuber

with

"S-pectations of Joy."

Last, but certainly not least with her Soft, Dainty treasury,

KneeDeepOriginals

with

"Tickled Pink and Jumpin for Joy!"

Huge, Joy-ous Thank you's

to everyone who participated in making such beautiful treasuries and for voting!

Such amazing support from a truly incredible team!

Keep watch for our next Treasury Challenge theme coming soon!!

Member Interview

 

Hi there! Please tell us about yourself.

I’m Dawn, of LaTouchables, from the sunny Rhine Valley in Southern Germany. I’ve been living in Germany for twenty years now, but my roots are basically American midwest with some northern and southern thrown in. 

A summer storm is approaching our town.

Five minutes away by bike, I'm in the country.

I thought long before I chose the name, ‘LaTouchables’. I wanted something with a foreign yet familiar sound. It’s also a play on words. Most importantly, it’s easy to remember, easy to say, and conveys a hand-made sensibility. 

My beloved Pfaff machine

My niece, who models for me, she's the face of LaTouchables.

My studio

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?

A lot of the friends I’d been making on Etsy were drawn into Etsy Project Embrace around the time of it’s development. I was also interested—first of all because cancer is not a foreign word to me—many of my friends and family members have dealt with it. I like the idea of ‘empowerment through involvement’—community involvement ends isolation. And this kind of medieval mind-set that still sneaks up on us in the 21st century (barricade the door, worry your beads)—well, that has to be discarded like a ball and chain.

What are your favorite creations in your shop?
I fall in love with everything at the time of making, but I could say, I like The Pharoah necklace, The Desert Scorpion bracelet, Northern Shores necklace, Plum Tart bracelet—stop me! 

The Pharoah

The Desert Scorpion

Northern Shores

Plum Tart

Oh, Japanese Intrigue and The Shibori cuff.

Japanese Intrigue

Shibori

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it?

Difficult—I’d say my memory—and that comes from the way I grew up learning to remember, as opposed to mindlessly watching television (our tv was often on the blink or just never on), so I was encouraged to read, to remember poems, to learn music by heart, and to entertain myself.

A defining moment in my life was living in Morocco.

What do you collect?

I try not to collect anything. I do have a most excellent collection of 2nd-rate novels—because the good ones I pass on…

Some good books I held onto :-D

Oh—I collect slips of paper with hand-written messages from my loved ones—help!

Do you have a blog?
Yes: http://latouchablesbagsandthings.blogspot.com

Where would you like to be and what do you hope to be doing ten years from now?

On earth, healthy, hopeful, active, the usual culprits…

My big passion is walking.

Finds 'n' Fancies

blue willow

Tea-dyed Basket by ALottaJazz, My Cup of Tea by yennnie
Blue Floral Tea Towel by emilyhogarth, Felicity Cake Bunting by KikiLaRu

Willow Headband by acpetrille
Willow Recycled Cup Brooch by MeOldChina

Surprise photo by magnesina, Blue Linen Party Frock from VintageFrocksOfFancy
Like Tea by tabidesigns, Vintage Blue Willow Tea Set from suesuegonzalas

Weekly Challenge

Hello lovelies!

It's time to announce our Weekly Challenge winner!
This week's theme was "playing in fall leaves"

Our winner is Jean from 3squares
with her Peruvian Blue necklace.

Congratulations Jean!

A big thank you to
Katie from BlackStar
Carmela from Beggar's Tomb Pottery
Rebecca from Knee Deep Originals
Erica from Mazzy Jewelry Designs
Suz from Simply Suzula
Jill from Moonlight Beadworks
who also participated last week.

You can check out their fabulous entries on our Weekly Challenge page.

Jean's choice for this week's theme:
"dreamy"

To participate in the fun:
1) Start creating!
2) List the item in your Etsy shop.
3) Contact me with a link to your entry by next Monday (August 23rd) 12 midnight EST.

**I just want to remind all of our teammates
who sell vintage or supplies that you can enter too!**

I will post all of the lovely entries on our Weekly Challenge page as they come in. The new winner will be posted here next Wednesday. The winner then gets to choose the following week's theme, and of course, it's winner!

Happy creating!
xo, Jen

Vote for the Most En-Joy-able Project Embrace Treasury!

For our second challenge, we all used the word "Joy" as the theme of our treasuries.

Besides being part of an amazing team, what brings joy to you? Prizes!

Three of our shops have graciously given prizes for the winner which means we will have three, count em' three winners!

Those lucky folks will get the privilege of judging our next challenge.

Our judges this week:

Rose- JaneElizabeths

Mollie-RoughMagicCreations

Erica- MazzyJewelryDesigns

Thank you to everyone who participated. Let the voting begin!

Joyful Confetti

The Joy Luck Club

The Joy of Fall

Joy and Pain, Like Sunshine and Rain

GALA: Oooooooooooodles of JOY!

Tickled Pink and Jumpin' for JOY!

"a thing of beauty is a joy forever" (Keats)

S-pectations of Joy

Autumn Joy

Which did you enJOY the most?
	.....Joyful confetti......... by Jealousydesign
	The Joy Luck Club by Monarchdancer
	The Joy of Fall by Kathleencavalaro
	Joy and pain, like sunshine and rain by TrickyFox
	GALA: Oooooooodles of JOY! by loveartworks
	Tickled Pink and Jumpin' for JOY! by KneeDeepOriginals
	"a thing of beauty is a joy forever" (Keats) by Inthewineroom
	S-pectations of joy by ginnyhuber
	Autumn joy by blackstar
pollcode.com free polls

Member Interview

Obe sacked out on the couch

Hi, I'm Cait of barefootweaver.

Hi there, Cait!  Please tell us about yourself.

I have been living in upstate New York for the past 18 years. A very peaceful place in the country which is sort of stuck in the 50s. We bought our farm which was a dump and my husband (Gary) bribed me with a horse to get me to move happily from the Village of Potsdam to the outskirts. We have spent the last 18 years working on the inside of the house, of course, but at least my kids know how to fix things now! :) I have 3 boys: Adam 30 (to be married Sept 5!!) Alex (21 and pursuing his engineering degree at Clarkson U), and Noah (19 and going to Skidmore in Sept after taking a year off between high school to have an adventure). They all light up my life!

Me on Dommie (I ALWAYS wear a helmet but I just jumped on for a picture!!)

We also share the farm with 2 horses (Dommie and Duke), 1 dog (Obe), and 4 cats (Ballou, Lucy, Mieux, and Adam's cat Magic on a long-term loan).

I have been weaving for 18 years now having learned from a dear friend who has since passed on. I love the rhythm of the work, throwing the shuttle and beating the resulting cloth, but what I love best is the designing and making of the warp, winding it on and threading it, weaving a little and then I can see if what I had in my head is what I actually achieved.

A warp being designed before it goes on the loom

And I am totally inspired by color combinations. I will pull over in the car if I see a flower combination I like or an unusual color outfit on someone and try to write it down descriptively for weaving later! I actually chose my name a long time ago because I always weave barefoot or with socks in the winter. It's hard and clunky to work the pedals on the loom with big ole shoes! So the name was a natural.

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace? 

I learned about Etsy Project Embrace also from treasuries. I found that the artists that I most admired and used in treasuries were all involved. Finally, Kristin convo'd me and asked if I wanted to join. It's funny because I think that was in September last year and my sister-in-law had just finished chemo for breast cancer. So I was honored to be asked. Then December 11 2009 I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Totally weird. So I found myself being so supported by all these amazing survivors as well as artists who just plain cared about what we were going through! And survivors Laura, Peggy, and Ginny have been very inspirating to me. I have met some wonderful people through this group--too many to name here and feel very close to them!

Do you have a blog?
Yes: http://barefootweavercait.blogspot.com

What is your favorite item in your shop?

I love my scarves because they give me a chance to work up different color combinations without a huge investment in threads and yarn. But my favorite is probably the Red, Red Rose Wrap.

Red, Red Rose Wrap

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it?

I cherish my mother's engagement ring. She is 89 years old and one of my favorite people. My children also made a book for me for my birthday--"(A Few Of The) Reasons Why We Love You." They filled it with sentences, stories, paragraphs...made me cry and I will treasure it forever.

Do you have a collection?

I used to collect horse figures when I was small but now since I have the real thing I guess I mostly collect yarns and I have a huge collection of artwork that my kids did!

My horse collection

Where would you like to be, and what would you like to be doing 10 years from now?

In 10 years I would like to be grandmothering (is that a word?)(no pressure, kids!)! Actually just to be here weaving and riding would be fine with me!

Some cotton cones for towels