Meet Etsy Seller Whimsy Wendy

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Whimsy Wendy

Whimsy Wendy has been selling on Etsy since March 2007, she sell party decor, room decor, tutus and dress up products, made to last...her quality is in her stitching. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.


What motivated you to start your shop?
After having children, I had this incredible creative itch I just couldn't scratch. I waiting until both my girls headed off to all-day school, then began fooling around on the sewing machine. A good friend had read an article about Etsy and urged me to start up a shop. That was 2007.

What is the story behind your shop name?
My husband and I were trying to come up with a 'sticky' name and I kept putting "Wendy" first. He suggested turning it around. It's a tongue twister but its stuck.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
When I first got started I think I was so surprised that people from around the country and the world wanted to buy things that I made with my hands. It's humbling and gratifying at the same time.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I think my most favorite creations I make are my tulle puffs. They're perfect for parties or room decor. They are an easy 'pop' of color and can be made in any color combination you can think of. They were originally created out of my leftover tutu yardage and have been hugely popular. They were even highlighted in Brides Magazine last Spring.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
The most challenging thing about being a Etsy seller has ben that for the rare occasion I have had to shut down my shop, it's taken a lot longer to get my 'mo jo' going again. There is something of a rhythm or pattern to listing and sales and when you shut down your store for a period of time, it takes a lot more effort to start the wheel turning again.

How would someone (other then you) describe you?
I think most of my friends and family would describe me as positive, fun, creative and energetic. I love good energy and always try to surround myself with good people, beautiful colors and pretty things. It really helps to feed my soul.

What do you do when you aren't working?
When I'm not working, I'm 'parenting' my two teenaged girls. They are great kids and have probably taught me more about myself than I've taught them. My husband and I also love to travel. We're saving up for our next (cross your fingers) trip to Italy.

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Activities for Preschoolers this Fall

If your three year old is like mine, and thinks summer will never end, you too are trying to get outdoors as much as possible this tail end of summer and appreciate the fresh air before winter. When you live in the Midwest, winter can stretch on and beyond 4, 5, 6 months. We stock up on our vitamin D and sunlight while we can!

On days your child isn’t at preschool, or if he stays home all day, a few new games and activities in your tool box will be fun! Most children this age are very interested in learning through all their senses: touch, taste, smell, feel, and sound. The world is their classroom and it’s our job as parents to help them find ways to creatively learn.

Yarn Braiding

This little activity takes only a few materials and yields lots of fun.

Materials: 2-4 skeins of a chunky yarn, a roll of sturdy tape like packaging tape, a table with chairs

Cut three long (12-14 inches) pieces of yarn, knot them all together. Leave a long tail after the knot where you can tape it down to a edge of a table. Pull up a few chairs and teach your child how to braid. Knot off the end, and hang it on your porch as a festive fall decoration. If braiding is difficult, teach sliding knots.

Leaf Book

This hands-on experience offers hunting, research, patience, and all sorts of other life lessons.

Materials: a dozen or more leaves from your neighborhood, wax paper, a thick book, a notebook, tape or glue

Collect leafs of different shapes, colors, and sizes on your walk about. Press the leaves between two pieces of wax in a large book like the dictionary. After one week, retrieve the leaves and paste or tape into a notebook. Research the leaves and write their names down under each leaf. If your child takes to it, write down more facts about the trees, the bark, the shapes of the branches. Build on this notebook over time and your child will have a beautiful leaf book!

Be sure to bring something to carry those leaves in, perhaps a wooden dump truck like this one offered by KPTCO? 

Painted Cards

A note for any occasion comes better from your artist child. Cut these and keep them in a place you can easily grab them for birthdays, thank yous, and holidays.

Materials: paint of your choice (finger, brush, watercolor), a large roll of paper, tape, scissors, a blank permanent marker

Roll out a large scroll of paper onto the ground and tape around the outer edge such that your child can easily paint without the paper moving. Encourage them to cover the whole paper with color, shapes, and movement. Get their hands and feet into it, too! Experience paint with their whole bodies! After it dries, cut heart shaped cards that fold open out of the paper, and voila! Greeting cards for every occasion. Have your child write, or you help them write, their name on the front. Instant mailable art.

After you’re done with your painting, work on your child’s scissor skills with this wonderful Montessori Preschooler Paper from Liveable Learning here. 

Spice Book

Use the child’s sense of smell and even taste with this next activity. Start opening their taste buds early!

Materials: 6-12 different dried spices from your pantry, small dishes to accompany the number, lined notebook, glue, pen or pencil

Present your child with an array of dried spices in small dishes, encouraging them to smell and taste as they desire. Don’t tell them what they are, but ask for guesses. Have them select which ones they want to adhere to their spice book. Dedicate a page to each spice, drop a generous dollop of glue on the page and press the spice into it, allowing it to dry thoroughly. Write down adjectives the child selects for the spice, and then talk about which food it goes well with. Consult the spice book next time your little one is helping you cook!

Enjoy these last days of summer and encourage your child to learn with all their senses—it will be joyful for both of you!

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September Design Challenge Winner!

September's Design Challenge had the theme "Football Fever".
We had lots of lovely entries from our team member but the winning entry with the most votes was...

Football Beanie with Ear Flaps from TupeloHoneys

Is your little one ready for the big game? This adorable football hat will melt any football fan's heart. If needed for a girl just specify in "notes to seller" box at check out if you would like the laces and stripes done in pink.

~ TupeloHoneys

Here are some more lovely items from TupeloHoneys!

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Meet Etsy Seller Avry Couture Creations

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Avry Couture Creations

Avry Couture Creations has been selling on Etsy since November 2011, she sell adorable baby headbands and lace petti rompers. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.


What motivated you to start your shop?
After realizing there is absolutely nothing cute in the stores around here we live for newborn and baby hair accessories, I began designing my own little creations. My little girl had the craziest hair and wearing a headband just made sense, not to mention made her look fab. We got compliments everywhere we went, that's when I began my Etsy shop.

What is the story behind your shop name?
Avry is my first and only daughter. I love Juicy Couture, and added in creations just so I wasn't stealing Juicy's thing.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I was surprised that my shop took off so fast, I had orders in first week. Being able to do something I love for work is amazing. When I began I still was working full time as a medical Esthetician. Slowly I cut back days and now Avry Couture Creations is full time. It is so fun making new headbands and outfits for the seasons and holidays. Nothing is better then seeing fan photo's of their little girls in my own creations. Makes my day.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/160904000/baby-headbands-childrens-headbands
Some thing like this is the most fun. All the details make it one of a kind.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
More then anything it is finding a proper balance between work and family..

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
There is a headband for any style and age in my shop. From the daintiest to the most glamorous extra big headband, there is truly something for everyone and every budget.

How would someone (other then you) describe you?
Laid back, friendly and helpful.

What do you do when you aren't working?
Relax with my family.

Avry Couture Creations is offering 15% discount to all our blog readers. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "AVRY2" at checkout.

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Hang It Up! Displaying Children's Art

Contributed by Cindy, of coopercreations

School is in full swing which means lots and lots of creative works coming home each day.

If you are anything like me, you give loads of praise to the construction paper, painted and glued masterpieces and then place them in a pile for a few weeks until they start to cascade onto the floor – you then move them into a sacred file or box never to be seen again.

Now, while giving praise to any and all artwork your child creates is VERY important you can’t look past the importance of placing those “most favorite” works of art on display. This doesn't mean setting it on the mantle for a week or two then moving it aside as a new piece replaces it. It also doesn't mean hanging it on the revolving refrigerator door. What it does mean is elevating the work of art to a level your child perceives as “important”. Yes, it means placing it in an actual frame and hanging it on your wall with an actual nail!
 

You will not believe the complete and totally aw that comes from your child’s face as they gaze upon their very own artwork being displayed next to art and photos of the utmost importance in your home. I would not have believed this if I hadn't seen it for myself.

Despite my praise and encouragement, my son had always lacked confidence in his artwork. He wasn't terribly interested in painting and drawing. Being an artist myself, I was sad for him. Creating art is a wonderful process I wanted him to share in it. So I did something so simple that changed his art world - while he was out playing one afternoon, I took 5 pieces of his artwork, framed and hung them. I specifically took down works of art and vacation photos that hung in key spots in the house and replaced them with his.



I can’t describe the look on his face when he saw his framed creations hanging in their place. It was a look of pride, delight and complete accomplishment all at once. It was so heartwarming.

Now my son proudly points out all of his masterpieces to our guests and has been sketching and painting with zeal ever since.

Who would have thought!? Something so simple could make such a big difference. Here are a few tips I found to be helpful when hanging artwork.

• Buy frames on sale and keep a stash handy. (Ikea has very inexpensive frames)
• Set up a collage wall of frames. It is easy to add more frames without having to search for fresh wall space.
• Look for discounted, tacky artwork that has been matted and framed in bargain bins. Pop out the outdated prints and pop yours in. It will look like you spent big bucks for it.
• Place scrapbook paper behind artwork that is too small to fill a standard frame. It gives the illusion of a mat and is most often of archival quality so it won’t fade.
• You can’t possibly hang all of their artwork so choose their favorites and place the others in a hope chest specifically for artwork. Don’t hide it in a closet never to be seen again – flip the lid open on rainy days and peruse through the masterpieces. You can have a custom box painted to match your décor. I keep mine in the family room. 

Cindy Cooper is a Huntersville, North Carolina artist who specializes in painting everything and anything.    You can find her handpainted toy boxes and children's room themed painted canvases in her Etsy Shop, CooperCreations.  If you live in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, Cindy is available for mural work.  Visit her website, for more information and to schedule a consultation.  Cindy is also on Facebook, stop by and say, "Hello!"

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Re-purposed Glass Jar Jack-O-Lantern Fall Craft

This is a fun and relatively quick Halloween craft project you can do with your children.  Save a few glass jars and you can make a whole row of jack-o-lanters to decorate you home.  The directions are simple and you can keep this craft and reuse it again and again for many years.

You will need:
masking tape
clean glass jar
paint or foam brush
orange acrylic paint ( non-toxic and washable)
battery operated tea light
Modge Podge

Directions:
Cut the masking tape into simple Jack O -Lantern face pieces( I made all triangles) and stick onto the jar.
Paint the jar with the orange paint.
after the paint dries pull off the tape pieces
cover the entire jar with Modge Podge so that the paint won't chip.
Put the battery powered tea light in after it's all dry.

Dorinda's shop, Raising Green Kids, offers eco-friendly products for your family. Follow her on Facebook and twitter and at her blog.

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Treasury Challenge #18- Pirates and booty!

The theme for the EtsyKids Team treasury challenge #18 was "Pirates and booty!". Our team members created lots of beautiful treasuries featuring some amazing items, but the winner with 187 views is...

'Shiver Me Timbers!' by MaiseysDaiseys

Thank you MaiseysDaiseys for creating such a lovely treasury!

MaiseysDaiseys makes paper mache flower accessories, so maybe not something you would find a pirate wearing but we think they are lovely! We just love this pink and dot daisy paper mache headband.

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