Lip Balm

I can't stand that famous lip balm that you can buy at every supermarket, drug store, convenience store, discount store - you get the picture. I know they've improved the formulation and its not the stick of wax it used to be, but I just can't move past it.

So as winter approaches, I was on my annual search for the perfect lipbalm. I actually found one a few year ago that I really liked. It was based in shea butter and was smooth and creamy and $8 a tube. And my dog loved to eat it which is always a sign that I have found the right one.

Well, I decided to try to find a better lip balm on Etsy. I happened to be in the forums one Saturday night a few weeks ago when I spotted a SNS (Saturday Night Special) from Daisy Cakes Soap's for lip balm - buy one get one free!. I quickly checked out this shop and found a latte flavored lip balm - my absolute favorite lip balm flavor. I ordered two (remember, one was free).

When I opened the package that arrived a few days later (with a free sample of soap inside) I was beside myself with joy. I had found the perfect lip balm on my first try. "This gentle vegetable-based balm, like all Daisy Cakes Soap's balms, is vegan-friendly. It soothes & protects lips without petroleum or chemical preservatives. The base for the balm includes cocoabutter, sweet almond, avocado, & jojoba oil and slick candellila wax instead of beeswax". It is subtly flavored with a vanilla latte, and has a rich, creamy texture that is exactly what I wanted. And it is only $2.75 a tube.

The true test of this item was validated yesterday when I walked into my bedroom and my dog was eating my new lip balm. Luckily I have the free one to hold me over until I can order more. Daisy Cakes Soap's also carrys soaps, soy candles and gift sets.

Try A ZineToday

I admit it. I have never read a zine before. But I have become very curious about this little niche in the universe of publishing since becoming an Etsy shopowner.

As near as I can tell, zines are self published little tomes that fall into many categories - comics, cookbooks, DIY info, art, fiction, non-fiction and even the rantings of folks who have something (and actually sometimes nothing) to get off their chests. Here are just a few randomly selected from my Etsy search:

The Big Exit by Sputnik Press, the story of what happens when nuring home patients get restless

Gas Tank by Gas Tank, a collection of vegan recipies

The Relishdress Reader by Relishdress, a monthly crafty zine

Zoombie Coloring Book by Pickled Punk, 20 pages of monsters for your viewing and coloring pleasure

Anon by 2 Little Wings, a zine of non sequitur thoughts, art, and collage

So, having admitted to never having read a zine, I cannot actually recommend any of the zines items I have just listed. But I am going to pick one of them and purchase it tonight and begin my foray into the world of zines. I encourage you to do the same.

Etsy Alchemy Is Disable

It appears that in preparation for v2 of Etsy, due this fall, the Alchemy feature on Etsy has been disable on a temporary basis. This has caused me to have a bad day, because I have done more than half of my business over the past month from Alchemy bids.

What is Alchemy you ask? Alchemy is a place on Etsy where anyone can go and request to have almost anything custom made. Buyers ask for things to be made and any Etsy seller can bid to make them. Once the buyer decides on a seller and the seller accepts the project, its a go. It is a great tool for newbies at Etsy to find some business that hopefully becomes repeat business. I just sent off three Alchemy projects this week and I have three more in the pipeline.

So, please, please, please Etsy ADMIN, bring back Alchemy very soon.

Today, Its All About Me

I'm a little under the weather tonight and I don't feel like thinking too much, so today my featured Etsy shop is mine - MLR Studio. I opened my shop in June 2006, but really didn't pay it any reall attention until mid September. Now I am addicted.

MLR Studio started out as my line of handcrafted jewelry. To date, I have really only featured OOAK and limited edition items on Etsy. These items feature rich colors, plus vinage, natural and handmade pendants and lots of recycled and found objects. I specialize in custom designs and revivals of old and tired jewelry. My creations are appropriate for almost any age and can work for special occasion, every day or "just because". One of my favorite items on Etsy right now is this PMC pendant made from an abandoned wasp nest.

In late 2006 MLR Studio will feature my new accessories and gift lines, in addition to several new jewelry collections. These items will be available just in time for holiday shopping, so check back often. New items are listed everyday.

Felting

I want to start felting. But, I just can't fit another category of crafts into my studio right now. So when I say that I am so jealous of Tara the Etsy shopowner responsible for Funky by Tara you'll know why when you visit her shop.

While her bio states that jewelry is Tara's passion, her shop leaves one with the impression that her current passion is felting. Tara is self taught and from the looks of the items she has listed at Etsy, she is a very good student. The items at Funky by Tara range from accessories items like felted acron earrings and card cases to houseware items such as felted bowls, and my favorite, a felted lidded jar, all in the colors of autumn. Her prices are great and she encourages special orders. I cant wait to see what she lists next.

Fused Glass

The result of the process of layering bits and pieces of glass of multiple shapes, colors and sizes and then firing them in the kiln is called "fused glass". This process can be repeated numerous times until the artist obtains the desired look. Many fused glass artists add dichroic glass into the mix. Dichroic glass appears to shimmer and change color at different angles and can look like foil or leafing inside the glass.

The Etsy shop featured today is Glass House Jewelry a newbie to Etsy, having joined just one month ago. A NY artist, this shopowner has been designing glass and jewelry for museums and boutiques. Etsy is her first experience in selling directly to the public.

The items sold at Glass House Jewelry are mostly finished jewelry pieces created by the artist and featuring her fused & dichroic glass cabachons, pendants and beads. She also has some PMC pieces. All items are one of a kind due to the uniqueness of the glass. Prices in the shop are reasonable and "special orders are welcome". It says so right on the front page of this shop.

Art

All Esty shopowners must select a category for every item they list in their shop. Speaking from experience, it is not always easy to decide which category is right for some items. For example, I have several pendants in my shop that were created using two materials - abandon wasp nests and PMC3 (precious metal clay - it fires to .999 fine silver for those of you not in the know).

If you check out my shop today, you will find these pieces listed under the Jewelry category. But not long ago, I had them listed as Art. Why did I change my mind? The truth is I didn't - these pieces are Art to me. But the business person side of my brain kept telling the artist side that the buying public would be confused by calling jewelry Art.

Today, I am featuring two Etsy shopowners, with very different perspectives, who can definitely call their work Art without confusing anyone.

Nina Kuriloff (NYC) has been working as an artist for over 20 years. Her work is exhibited in galleries throughout the US. When you enter her Etsy shop, you are greeted with original artwork that explodes with color and swirls and curves. You'll find portraits, landscapes and nudes all of which exhibit Kuriloff's distinctive style. And while this writer enjoys just about everything in this shop, its Kuriloff's trees that really made me a fan of this talented artist.

The other featured shop today is Xom. This Texas shopowner is a full time film student whose canvas is clothing and medium is the sharpie marker. His work is all original, drawn directly onto tee shirts, accessories and yes, sometimes even paper. His perspective is urban meets Pirates of the Caribbean. You'll find items in a variety of sizes for men, women and children. Xom also takes custom requests.

Doodads & Thingies

As I was looking through the Etsy Treasury this morning, I found the item pictured above and I just could not wait to share. Have you figured out where the "M" came from? I'll give you a hint. The Treasury topic was "Recycled".

Allison Strine is an award winning mixed media artist by day and a wife and mom by night. Her Etsy shop, Allison Strine Designs
is an explosion of colors, words and "Ladybirds". The 1.25" collage pendants are original works of art on the front with fabulous little expressions of "exuberance" on the back.

My favorite item, however, is the pendant I mentioned at the beginning of this piece. The "M" pendant , and the rest of the alphabet for that matter, are made from recycled vintage license plates, fabric, glass, lead free solder and sterling silver jumprings.

Each pendant is unique and comes gift boxed. Prices range from $10 to $20. 30" ball chains are available for $1 extra. Allison Strine Designs will create a custom order for you if your letter or number is not available when you visit the shop. Just contact her and you'll have your own little trinket made just for you.

Am I an artist, designer or craftsperson?

In an effort to end the ongoing debate in my head, I searched the definitions of artist, designer and craftsperson on wordnet.princeton.edu. and received the following results.

An artist is a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination. A designer creates plans to be used in making something. And a craftsperson is a creator of great skill in the manual arts.

So I guess the answer is I am all three.