Meet TheTrendyTot!

Today we introduce you to EtsyKids Team Member Jen of The Trendy Tot

• what motivated you to start your shop?

I've worked for many years in product development and consumer products marketing but gave it up to stay at home after my second child was born. Somewhere in between changing diapers and running to soccer practice, I re-discovered my creative side. I taught myself to sew and started making clothes for my daughter. People started taking notice and asking where I got her clothes and if I would make them for their kids. I loved the idea of having a small home-based business that utilized both my business background and my creative side, but I could still have time with my kids. I had been a buyer on etsy and loved the community. It was relatively low risk to set up a shop there, so I jumped right in and never looked back!

• what is the story behind your shop name?

I was looking for a name that conveyed I had cool things for little ones. I had a bunch of names and this one cleared my trademark search so I picked it.

• do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

Oh this is a tough one, I have so many shops I love! Aside from the obvious fabric shops, I love reiter8's recycled sail pillows and bags, tinybully's fingerless gloves and my most favorite etsy purchase of all was a whale from MorningStarDesign.

• what surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

Honestly? How much work it really takes to get started. That first year was like having a new baby--I don't think I slept that entire year.

• what do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

Believe it or not, the business end is not the most challenging for me. I have a business background and MBA, so that part comes easy. The sewing was the hardest thing for me. I had never sewn anything other than a button until 3.5 years ago. I didn't even know how to thread a machine, much less a serger. I often found it frustrating that I couldn't execute the designs I had sketched out. I've really had to push myself out of my comfort zone and learn a lot about fabric, technique and equipment in a short time while others have been perfecting these skills for a lifetime. It requires lots of patience and focus. Thankfully I learn fast, and I practice A LOT. I've also become friendly with several other etsy sellers like Kiki from The Measure, Jayme from Lillipops and Julie from Zozobugbaby and they have taught me quite a bit!

• what's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I love making unique, bold, colorful, fun clothes kids love, but that are practical for mom and every day life. I despise those handmade clothes that can't be machine washed and dried. Who has time to hand wash or dryclean kids clothes? Clothes need to work for active kiddos who crawl, run, jump and get dirty. I use the highest quality materials in everything I do. I test all products on kids and in the wash before I sell them. If it doesn't hold up--it doesn't get sold. Happy Clothes for Little Ones. That's what it's all about.

• how would someone (other then yourself) describe you?

I think other people would describe me as creative and resilient. I'm a big believer of when a door closes a window always opens. Tomorrow is always another day to be and do something new.

• what music do you have on while you are creating?

My musical taste is kind of all over the place. I think the only type of music that I *don't* have on my ipod when I'm creating are rap and country music. I could be listening to Van Morrison one minute and old Cure albums the next. I also find classical music very stimulating to have on in the studio when I'm working.

• what do you do when you aren't working?

When I get free time to myself I enjoy interior design, reading, sailing, playing with my kids and hunting for the perfect find at local antique stores. ...And wishing I had more free time!

• anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

I always tell my kids at bedtime (especially when it's been a challenging day for them and me) that tomorrow is a new day--and a chance to start fresh. Take that opportunity!

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of this month's challenge, 48. Tutu Overalls - Custom - Fall Festival - You choose the size by TheVoodooKitten!

"Darling overalls with a tutu skirt. These are recycled overalls. 

The tutu skirt is made of over 75 yards of tulle in your choice of color or colors. Tulle length can be adjusted to your specifications too."

Cranky Cat Studios (TheVoodooKitten) is a fun store of handmade baby bibs, blankets, tote bags and accessories.  All are done in bright colors and cutting edge prints.  Please visit it here, to view their complete assortment.

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Recipe:: French Onion Soup

A great fall recipe for those cool nights courtesy of Niah Bella Boutique ...


Easy French Onion Soup

several thick slices of stale, or staled in the oven french bread
olive oil
red cooking wine
4-6 onions thinly sliced
one box each of chicken and beef stock, low sodium
two tablespoons of Italian blend seasonings
chopped garlic, or garlic salt
celery salt
sliced provolone cheese
oven safe soup ramekins or soup mugs....

In electric skillet with lid toss in the thinly sliced onions, or chop them if you prefer bite sized pieces, add some olive oil and slowly toss till caramelized, do not burn. Add in the dry seasonings and toss.
Poor the red cooking wine over the onions and let simmer for a min, long enough to open the two boxes of broth! Add both boxes of broth, and lower lid. Allow to simmer.

Once the soup has reduced down a bit you can ladle it into the oven safe mugs, leaving a half in or so at the top to accommodate the bread, place bread on top of soup and add provolone cheese, toast in oven till cheese is just melted, and serve.....

This smells so good, and can be made easily for company as everything can be done ahead and left to simmer till five minutes before serving when you place in the oven to toast... No one ever complains or goes home hungry when you serve comfort food, and this one can look so elegant!

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Scramblin' Spiders

These creepy crawlers never looked so cute! Snag one up for your munchkin to enjoy all month long!

Halloween Spider Shirt by AvysSewRight
Halloween Name Shirt by littlepetuniadesigns
Spiderweb creepers & t-shirts by roseprintsonline
Along Came a Spider Initial Applique Custom Shirt by TheRoyalDetails
Personalized Super Hero Bodysuit or Shirt by siblingspecialtees
Boys Halloween Tie Shirt by lucymaedesigns

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School Days with AveryLane

Guest post from AveryLane.

For parents, the start of a new school year usually prompts shopping trips for crayons, pencils, and notebook paper. For many it stirs memories of their own feelings of anticipation and excitement: first day of school outfits, lunchboxes, and backpacks. For me, one family tradition was our special trip for new school shoes. Every year the kids would scramble into our VW Microbus and head out to the Stride Rite shoe store, a thirty minute car ride. It was usually hot, but this was a trip no one ever seemed to fuss about.

Red shoes, so unpractical, but for our special new school shoes, we were given much liberty in our choice. The signature oblong shaped balloon completed the transaction and mesmerized me all the way home. Exultantly, I would save my shoes for the anticipated day, for when the group of neighborhood kids gathered on the sidewalk and walked in groups of twos, threes, or more toward the school building 3 blocks away. Ecstatic was I to discover no one else had shoes like mine. The feeling of bounding in new school shoes has never been forgotten or too distant in my long term memory.

Traditions are a big deal to my kids today. Among the many traditions we have, we do the new school shoes thing, but I fear it does not hold the same special distinction that it once held. We usually go to Nordstom, where my little one is treated as though the multitude of other shoppers do not exist (once our number is called). Waited on by a courteous attendant, she tries on anything her heart desires and chooses her shoes according to her fancy. The balloon may or may not come at the conclusion of the event, but she does wait eagerly until the first day of school to feel the shoes on her feet again.

Things have indeed changed. Bargains supersede quality. No longer does a parent need to physically go to a store to shop. Online shopping has taken away the burden, or merriment, depending on how you look at things. Adaptation is invention’s twin sister.

Since hand-me-downs are the bulk of our new school clothes wardrobe, a tradition I have created with my little girl is to pick one or two special outfits. She is my biggest fan and helps design a dress or outfit for me to sew for her. She chooses the fabric and style. She watches as my hands cut and stitch together her mind’s creation. As the clothing comes together, I can feel a part of her going into it. I think about her as I work the seams and topstitch the details. Trying on the partially completed new designs to personally fit them to her unique shape, I can see these are special to her. She asks questions and remarks about her excitement for the first day of school; she wonders who will be in her class, or who her teacher will be. It’s clear we are both personally and emotionally invested in her new garb, making it more special. You can’t buy that and it’s not possible to mass produce this.

We've carried this ideal into other traditions, like buying handmade school supplies. I feel strongly that thoughtfulness and caring goes into the product from those hands that personally create the product, something worth supporting. As a little part of the creator goes into the creation, the creator shares herself with others. Here are some thoughtful choices for ethical back to school shopping from some talented and caring Etsykids members:

A sweet pink backpack (right) from ChildishThoughts is sure to help build fond memories this fall season that will last. Or if monsters are the thing that drives them wild, this backpack (left) from TheSewingLoft will have them doing flips.

Accessories for little girls are plentiful on Etsy and EtsyKids sellers have some of the best quality and styles available, from bows to jewelry. I allow my daughters to browse the EtsyKids shops and select their own. We sit together and enjoy reading about the designers and artisans. We love it when we find a seller in our home state of Oregon, so we can do our part to boost the local economy. Help teach your kids about the ethical and helpful choice of shopping local the EtsyKids way, by using the shop local feature on etsy and then use the key words: “EtsyKids Team.”

Here are some of our favorite shops for bows and hats:

 VillaPernilla 

TizzyDee

jjkgirlythings

PerkyBeanies

Sustainable choices are a must for our family. When you do the math, those disposable baggies and juice boxes add up in unnecessary waste to the environment and exuberant cost to the family budget. Here are some lunchtime alternatives that make sense and that the whole family can feel good about. Even teens and parents can get into the Etsykids act, after all they eat lunch, too.

I have learned many EtsyKids Team members will happily take special requests for modifications and specific fabrics.

BrooksBoutique offers a beautiful collection of reusable sandwich bags and snack bags from which to choose. Love this baseball print reusable snack bag from GrannyZann, or a Yogi Bear print. MamaMade has an enormous selection of eco-friendly products, including large and sandwich sized reusable bags. And NanaBrowns offers a custom design listing for a zipper topped lunch tote.

The coolest thing in the modern lunch box has got to be the crochet apple sack. Perfect for the teacher on the first day of school! IrishHooksAndYarn has one listed that she can ship out in about a week.

Brooks Boutique, snack bags

GrannyZann, snack bags

IrishHooksAndYarn, fruit sacks

MamaMade large & sandwich size bags

nanabrowns insulated lunch sack

If you are like me and create handmade wardrobe or supplies for your young ones, there are many supplies to be had on Etsy. From fabric to patterns, DIY can be a snap with the help of Etsykids sellers. MonkeyAndFriends offers fabric and patterns at great prices, and you'll find a wonderful hat patterns at palomiux.

With a little planning, back to school shopping can be fun and memorable for the child. Your choices can be ethical and your selections can be as unique as the child you are shopping for. Don't be in hurry for the next stage of childhood, take the time to enjoy your child today, who she or he is right now. Don't forget to just quietly watch as they walk through the wonder years.

AveryLane the Blog.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: It's time to Vote!

It's time to vote for your favorite item! Voting will be open through midnight EST, September 27th. This month, EtsyKids members were challenged to create an exciting new item based on a theme "Harvest Time". We received a bunch of fantastic entries from some talented people. Each participant was assigned a unique random number. Please note your favorite from the list below and place your vote. You can also view each entry in detail by clicking on links provided at the bottom of this post or HERE. 
(If you can't view the voting poll above, please follow HERE to vote.) 

1. jjkgirlythings
2. mamieco
3. BusyMomDesigns
4. Bella Shade Baby
5. MonthMarkers
6. sweetpetuniabowtique
7. Flatoutfunky
8. amelieandatticus
9. alaApron
10. aunttscloset
11. babygraceprops
12. babswool
13. wallcojr
14. kangacoo
15. craftybeever
16. That's The Cutest Thing
17. jillybeanjar
18. boygirlboygirldesign
19. TutuGorgeousGirl
20. petitefish
21. RagsNRibbons
22. SueSpecialtyShop
23. apple n amos
24. sunnybrookfarmdesign
25. Handprintlady
26. Scarlett Daisies Creations
27. thecrazyelephant
28. bebbyjumpers
29. kyandkin
30. MegOri Girls Boutique
31. lillollipop
32. yourmomdesigns
33. quiltedhugsbibs
34. Corinna's Creations
35. sweetchildofmine7
36. Joe Bangles
37. wildthingsdresses
38. TheFeltedPear
39. Tickled Toes
40. DarceyLaneDesigns
41. busylittlehands
42. Lullaby Mobiles
43. kendrasred
44. tzburps
45. SewBrookstone
46. byohfiddlesticks
47. RedKoalaArt
48. thevoodookitten
49. bisongirl
50. pickledbeads
51. Annalie's Baby Boutique
52. littlepearlquilts
53. LilyBugBoutIque
54. BaaBaaBabyBoutique
55. stewey75
56. crocheting4baby
57. Handmaiden Canada
58. My Lovebug Baby
59. Stitchinnetka
60. TheRoyalDetails
61. cutieflair
62. ROYALBABYYOUNGBLOOD
63. Adrianascloset

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Meet Tenderblue!

Today we introduce you to EtsyKids Team Member Susana of tenderblue

• what motivated you to start your shop?

I want to show the world my creations and when I discovered Etsy I thought it was the best way to do so.

• what is the story behind your shop name?

I love blue and I work with tenderness.

• do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

I love many shops on Etsy, some of them are anapinatellier, Susana Tavares, Tamar, Carambatak, Kraplap and many others.

• what surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

The Etsy community and the users relationships.

• what do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

To capture people’s attention to my work.

• what's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

Create modern baby clothes without loosing the traditional methods of manufacturing them.

• how would someone (other then yourself) describe you?

Calm, sensible, patient, a little bit shy but friendly and tender.

• what music do you have on while you are creating?

I love Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Katie Melua, Eddie Vedder. In general relaxing music.

• what do you do when you aren't working?

I'm a dedicated mother.

• please tell us a little about the children's items market / handmade movement in your Country?

In Portugal, the handmade products, mostly those for children, aren't valued that much, other then by a small group of people.

• anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

I'd like to say that discovering Etsy was very important for me.

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