Member Spotlight: Texas Tarts


This week's member spotlight shines on Jacky Tart the Texan behind etsy shop TexasTarts1. She lovingly cuts, shapes and sands each jewelry piece by hand out of recycled vinyl records. Her jewelry is a lovely mix of old vinyl with a modern stylish twist. She loves creating new uses for discarded objects. Jacky is a super example of making recycling fun.


She's always looking for new ways to wear music and insists that "No good music was harmed in the making of these items."

I first enjoyed seeing and touching her vinyl jewelry at the Jingle Bash in December and later discovered that her pieces are also available at Make Studio in the Bishop Arts District.


posted by: Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby

Get Ready!


Get set to kick off the spring season Etsy Dallas style!

Etsy Dallas, who first brought you the famous Beer-B-Q trunk show and the Jingle Bash, is doing it again - even bigger and better this time.

The first annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash will be held at the historic South Side on Lamar building in Dallas on Saturday May 16th from 11am to 5pm. The show will feature handpicked artists/crafters, music, a Make 'N' Take Crafts table, an Etsy Dallas-sized raffle, and all the fun of Etsy Dallas. There is no cost to the public for admission or entertainment. It will be a family-friendly environment with a hip, fun vibe full of handmade love and good times. Think of it as a party - not your typical craft show!

Check back later for more information.

Love,
Etsy Dallas

Eco•Ideas: "Green" Valentines Day


Each year at Valentine's Day there are millions of cards bought, given, mailed and received. That’s a heck of a lot of virgin paper that eventually goes to the land fill. Instead, read the back of cards before purchasing -- look for cards that are FSC certified or that contain post consumer paper. By doing this, you are purchasing paper products that are recycled or made from trees harvested by entities that have a tree replanting program. This helps us all be a little easier on the earth.

Flower giving is wide spread tradition on Valentine's Day. Check out the beautiful organic flowers available at Organic Bouquet and be sure to compost them after you've enjoyed them. Their flowers are sustainably grown and certified organic. They have several bouquets available that donate 5% of the purchase price to charity. A definite win-win. Chocolate is another popular gift for Valentine's Day. This year try giving Endagered Species chocolates which are ethically traded, kosher and come in a reusable box not to mention delicious.

article by Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby

Apply for Etsy Dallas Today!


Hello potential Etsy Dallas member! Thank you for your interest in joining our team. Please read over the following guidelines. If you meet them, we'd love to have you apply! Applications for 2009 Membership are available January 15 through January 31. That gives you two weeks to submit applications and dues.

The team will begin accepting members once a year - in January/February, with the option to add members throughout the year on an "invitation-only" basis. Membership will be limited to 60 members, give or take a few depending on the "invite-only" clause.

$20 annual dues will be in effect. This will cover the cost of our web site, Flickr page, promo card swaps (you won't have to pay for them yourself anymore!), promotions, marketing, deposits on event locales, etc.

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BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Get access to the Google group where advice, questions, team plans, and general crafty know-how is posted daily.
Get listed on our web site, which receives numerous hits each day. (We've even had to purchase more bandwidth several times due to high traffic volume.)

Be included in blog postings such as Member Spotlights and Category Spotlights.

Get a guaranteed booth space in our team shows, so long as booths are still available once you apply. Members will get first crack at applying to shows before non-members do.

Get a member rate discount to shows. Non-members will have to pay a higher booth fee, but will be welcome to apply and participate in our shows, if space allows.

Your $20 annual due will pay for itself and then some!

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MEMBER GUIDELINES

1) Have an active Etsy shop with items listed for sale.

2) Sell your own handmade goods, following Etsy's policies.

3) Live within a 30-mile radius of the center of Dallas. To find out if you qualify: go to Google maps, type in your address, and get directions to Dallas, TX, USA.

4) Make an effort to be active in some way - either remotely by participating online via our Google group, blog contributing, etc. and/or actively in our shows and get-togethers.

5) Be juried in to the group. We will be looking at quality and variety of work and past group participation (if applicable).

6) Pay $20 at the time of application in order to be considered for membership. If you are not juried in or miss the deadline, you will be refunded the entire $20.

7) Meet all requirements and submit complete applications. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

8) Meet the deadlines. Sorry, no exceptions!

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MEMBER APPLICATION

Fill out all fields, using "N/A" if not applicable. Paste + Copy and email completed application to our Member Email Address. Once you submit the application, send $20 payment to Etsy Dallas Treasury via Paypal. No other form of payment will be accepted.

Name (first and last):
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Phone Number:
Primary Email Address (submit only one):
Etsy Shop (link):
Web Site (link):
Blog (link):
What do you create? (2-3 sentences max)
Have you been a member of Etsy Dallas before?
If so, what things did you do to participate in the team? (Google group, crafting circles, team shows, card swaps, promoting the team on your blog, etc.)
How do you see yourself participating in the team in 2009?
Are there any specific volunteer roles you'd like to take? (blog contributing, planning meet-ups, helping out at our shows, etc.)
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Etsy Dallas?

Thank you for your interest in joining Etsy Dallas!

Member Spotlight: Scribbles









Mandi of Scribbles has a great attention to detail and loads of patience. Her beaded pens and hand bound journals are beautiful.

She lives here in Dallas with her husband Cody and dog Ruby. The Texas A&M Alum has a full time job and when not working can be found in art classes or beading the day away. Beading is her personal escape - she seems to enter a more peaceful state of mind while beading. It is certainly a "labor of love" since each pen or journal can take hours. She's been beading for a decade and in the future, she would like to make a living by beading. Be sure to check out Mandi's shop -- you too can have a little piece of art to carry through your day.

posted by: Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby

Eco•Ideas: Green Packaging

When you receive a package in the mail, what do you do with the packaging after you've opened it? Unfortunately, lots of packaging materials get thrown away.

Recycling and reusing can help save space in our landfills as well as save time and money going to buy new packaging materials. If still in usable condition, all these items work great a second and third time;
• boxes
• padded envelopes
• bubble wrap
• packing peanuts

These materials would also be appreciated and recycled by someone you know who is moving in the near future. Happy Recycling!

article by Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby

Member Spotlight: Dowdy Studio


Let's give a round of applause for our Etsy Dallas newcomver Dylan Dowdy of Dowdy Studio! I've had the opportunity to watch this up-and-coming artist grow and develop over the past year. He's gone from virtual unknown to Mr. T-Shirt/Caterer Extraordinaire.

It's been very exciting to see what can come out of his head and on to a t-shirt. He is growing in leaps in and bounds, and bouding in leaps and growth! All of his creations are hand-drawn and silk-screened to perfection. Check out his cool t-shirt designs and show him some love. He was not only a vendor at the 1st Annual 2008 Jingle Bash, but he was also our great caterer. Thanks Dylan!

by b.liscious/brenda

Eco•Ideas: Green Gift Wrap


Green Gift Wrap

Have you thought about making an effort to use green gift wrap this year? It's unusually pretty and you'll feel good about using it.

Using the newspaper after you've read it for gift wrap is great -- it gets one more use before it hits the recycle bin. Newspapers in other languages are good for this use -- since you can't read the words, they kind of form a pattern. The cartoon section is also good for this use since they are generally the most colorful pages. For small packages, using a page from a magazine can make a beautiful gift presentation. Just pick a page with a pretty picture and get to wrapping.

Click here for a tutorial on how to make your own gift bows out of magazine pages.

Set aside that sturdy little box that previously contained soap, a box that once housed cookies and perhaps a couple jewelry boxes before they get to the recycle bin. Hoard those little white plastic inner seals from juice and milk. Used in a group they make a cute little "bow-like" decorations for packages. Ornaments can also make beautiful package decorations.

There are so many gift items that can be used as the outside wrap and contain another gift inside. Just be creative! For instance, a fun little evening bag could be great gift wrap for opera/symphony tickets. A large glass storage container could contain a gift certificate for a cooking class and be disguised by a lovely set of kitchen towels. A gift card can easily be disguised in a box or other container. For those items that are just too big to wrap or have a shape that would be a giveaway, treasure hunt hints can be left to lead the recipient to a closet where the items are waiting.

article by Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby

Etsy Dallas Helps Out the Community

The 1st Annual Jingle Bash @ Sons of Hermann Hall wasn't just about arts and crafts. Etsy Dallas got a little boost of those feel-good warm and fuzzies by reaching out to the community to lend a hand.

The junior girls of Girl Scout Troop #1637 of Irving ran the famous Etsy Dallas Make-&-Take craft table, coordinated by ED's own Carrie Partch of Atom-In. Jingle Bash shoppers chose to craft either a holiday ornament or festive ring for free. All supplies were either donated or purchased by Etsy Dallas and its members.

In addition, the girls ran another table collecting food donations for Irving Cares Food Pantry. They collected 48 food items and raised $29 in cash donations. Etsy Dallas surprised the troop by donating an additional $50 toward the food drive. We were thrilled to help out those in need!

Check out the Girl Scouts in action at the Jingle Bash HERE. Thank you girls!

article by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Thanks DFW Quick!

If you picked up a copy of your DFW Quick Newspaper today you might have noticed the best spread in the world. Quick picked 8 of our own very talented Etsy Dallas teammates to feature in their Holiday Gift Guide.

Read the full article here.

Gift locally here

Also, visit the featured artist's sites.

Congratulations to Becki our Funky Finds Giveaway Winner!


Congratulations to fellow Dallas-ite Becki Howard who won some handmade goodness in the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash Give-away sponsored on Funky Finds.




Christmas has come a month early from Becky with over $270 in handmade loot from these talented artists/crafters:

Dowdy Studio: Original Owl silk screened tee (retail value, $25)
Pamela Michelle: Art print (retail value, $35)
Tefi Designs: Juicy Fruit Necklace (retail value, $32)
Patti Haskins: Stuffed Drawing-Flying Dog (retail value, $20)
Bijoujuju: ‘Treelightful’ polymer pendant (retail value, $11)
Karma Crochet: Wool Headband in Red shades (retail value, $20)
LolaFalk: The Lola Mini-Zip Pouch (retail value, $22.00)
MiaMaria Designs: “Calavera” craft apron (retail value, $24)
Michele Cook Designs: Copper & Blue bead earrings (retail value, $15)
Cut Out & Collect: Japanese Linen Scooter Pouch (retail value, $15)
Freeforged Jewelry: Ionic-Sterling silver molecule post earrings (retail value, $16)
Starrydance: Lucky Cat necklace (retail value, $12.00)
Designing-Diva: Pink Fused Glass Guitar Pendant (retail value, $25.00)

Posted by Randi/ Dallas Designing-Diva

Jingle Bash on Funky Finds Giveaway Contest!


Now's your chance to get an unbelievable collection of hot Etsy Dallas items on Funky Finds.

To celebrate the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash, the Etsy Dallas group is sponsoring a Swag giveaway. You have the chance to win some awesome swag with a retail value of $270 pictured above! The Swag includes the following items donated by Etsy Dallas members.

Items included in the Etsy Dallas Jingle Bash Swag Bag:

Dowdy Studio: Original Owl silk screened tee (retail value, $25)
Pamela Michelle: Art print (retail value, $35)
Tefi Designs: Juicy Fruit Necklace (retail value, $32)
Patti Haskins: Stuffed Drawing-Flying Dog (retail value, $20)
Bijoujuju: ‘Treelightful’ polymer pendant (retail value, $11)
Karma Crochet: Wool Headband in Red shades (retail value, $20)
LolaFalk: The Lola Mini-Zip Pouch (retail value, $22.00)
MiaMaria Designs: “Calavera” craft apron (retail value, $24)
Michele Cook Designs: Copper & Blue bead earrings (retail value, $15)
Cut Out & Collect: Japanese Linen Scooter Pouch (retail value, $15)
Freeforged Jewelry: Ionic-Sterling silver molecule post earrings (retail value, $16)
Starrydance: Lucky Cat necklace (retail value, $12.00)
Designing-Diva: Pink Fused Glass Guitar Pendant (retail value, $25.00)
Link
To enter: Go to http://www.funkyfinds.blogspot.com/
Then, visit the Jingle Bash Vendor shops listed on the Etsy Dallas blog and choose something you think would be a great gift for someone on your holiday shopping list. Leave a comment THE FUNKY FIND'S POST noting the item you have chosen. A winner will be randomly selected & announced on Saturday, November 22. The winner must live in the continental U.S. and must provide a mailing address upon winning.

Good Luck!

Etsy Dallas
by Pamela/Pamela Michelle

Jingle Bash Music!

Etsy Dallas is proud to announce the Jingle Bash music crew:

Nathan Jones is a seasoned musician playing in bands since 1997 going across the board with genres and instruments. He is now going towards uncharted territory as a solo artist hoping to bring his life lessons and history to the ears of many.

Mc Bammer is our karaoke specialist from 8-10pm in the upstairs ballroom. Bammer is an artist, photographer, and my favorite: she loves to decorate cakes.

DJ Jappy X is the mix master extraordinaire, mixin' with the best of em! Let's get jiggy with him, because he is our second floor DJ. Word!

Love b.liscious/brenda