NEW fantastic finds

IT'S A LONG WEEKEND!!!
The shops that I want to show you today are all new, and waiting for their first sale. They are amazing shops!! Please take the time to visit their shop and see all their wonderful items!!


Sheep Space is from the UK and offers hand spun yarn in amazing colors.







Jennifer Labella Art is from Canada, has the most amazing water color paintings.






Bliss in a Tea Cup is from Canada and has a wonderful collection of treasures and things to make us smile.







Mill Creek Primitivesis from Streator and have a unique collection of primitive signs and folkart items.

Jazzy Baggy is from Detroit and has unique one of a kind bags and wristlets.

Fantastic Finds!!

Another installment of Friday's Fantastic Finds. I love these shops! Every week when I pick 6 shops from the list of followers I'm amazed at the talent out there. This week there is quite a variety of shops to choose from. They are all wonderful and worth a look see!! Please check each one out.

Also you will notice on the right sidebar that the mini's are from different Steampunk shops I have found on Etsy. I had decided to do themes each week with the mini's. After talking to my oldest son on the weekend, Steampunk became this weeks theme. Luke thinks that steampunk is the greatest art form out there and is amazed at what people can make. He's right - some of the items are truely amazing! If you have any ideas on themes for future weeks of mini's please make a suggestion in the comments. I change the mini's every weekend.
Now - without further ado - Friday's Finds:

Ashlawn Farms is a wonderful shop with rag quilts, bags and patterns. I bought one of her patterns to make raggedy bags! Ashlawn Farms is having a sale on rag quilt patterns until the 20th.



Creative Spirit Too is an amazing bead shop. They have polymer beads, handmade raw canes, jewelry, and supplies.



Hollyz Hobby has the most beautiful handmade quilts. They are also quilted the old fashioned way - by hand.



Lady Jane's Emporium has a variety of wonderful chic, whim, vintage, and prim items. These are my favorites.



Polka Dot Candle is a lovely smelling shop!! (I can imagine - can't I?) This shops carries, candles, and home frangrance sprays in wide range of scents.



Soft Pencil is a shop full of original art, prints, printable designs and more. Amazing talent.

Fantastic Finds

Oh - it is so nice to have the computer back!! I was starting to drive my family nuts. At least I had a couple of books to read.
Here are the next 6 "fantastic finds" from my list of followers! Can't believe how many awesome shops are out in blog land.

Mama Mayborne Designs is an amazing jewelry shop on Etsy. She has earrings, bracelets and necklaces in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles.




Magick Moon Soap Wurks is a wonderful Bath & Body shop. They have a "Soap of the Month" club, and an amazing variety of soaps & lotions.




Book Wormz has wonderful book marks that are impossible to loose. With all the reading I've been doing lately - I might have to get one!!




Oodle Kadoodle Prim is a gathering of patterns & time worn treasures from the past, that have come together, from days of old and sweet simplicity. I think I might beable to fool the family with this pie!!




Hand Sculpted Jewelry has a wonderful collection of hand made jewelry. Very unique pieces!




Ashley Pahl Designs has a wide variety of cards, gift tags and stationary. These cards are amazing!

Pine Ridge Primitives

Pine Ridge Primitives is proudly owned by Cortney, who resides in Ohio. This shop has been open for approximately 8 months now.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

My husband and I have a farm and at the front of the property is a row of pine trees and our property is on the top of a hill. The farm is called Pine Ridge Farms so it is just a spin off of that.

#2. When did you start crafting?

My mother is an avid sewer and started a craft shop when I was 3. So crafting is pretty well in my blood. It's funny through I do not like to sew on a sewing machine like she does. Me and the sewing machine just do not get along.

#3. What or who inspires you?

My mother inspires me. She is an exceptional women. She started her craft store just for some extra money. Then after working for a company for almost 20 years my dad (who was about to retire)lost his job when another company bought out his place of employment. With dad just a couple years from retiring it was hard to find a company that would hire him so he and mom teamed up. Dad repaires sewing machines and mom crafts. Together they have a sucessful buisness. During the hard times while dad was looking for a job mom buckled down and kept the family together with her craft store.

#4. Do you have a day job?

I do I am the unit secretary for a surgery center at my local hospital.

#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

I love to make rag balls. Each one is different and unique. I could not make 2 alike if I tried. I make mine differnt than most do. It is also an item I can make while watching t.v. in the evening before going to bed.

Audrey's Accolades:

This is a lovely shop with quite an array of items. You can find stitchery, baskets, wreaths, and more. Cortney makes wonderful primitive items like my favorite. Love the colors in this wreath.

Tan, Green, and Light Blue frayed fabric wreath. 12 inches round.Fabric all hand frayed. Looks great hanging on the wall or on an antique cupboard door.

Wood & Fabric

Wood & Fabric is a shop run by Michelle who lives in St. Marie, Quebec Canada, with her two daughters.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

When I gave my name for my first craft show I needed a business name and all I had in my booth was painted wood item and dolls. So I had the idea to call me "bois et tissu" and by that time my business card was a stamped clothpin with my business name! Later I discover ebay and I simply translated in wood-and-fabric. Even if I don't do much doll anymore I kept my name with etsy.

#2. When did you start crafting?

Like most of us (crafter) I always crafted as far as I can remember. My mom show me how to sew and knit when I was young. And my father was a carpenter so I also played with saw, hammer and nails... But I felt in love with decorative painting years ago when I bought my first painting magazine. So hubby bought for me a first scroll saw and it was it! I did my first craft show couple months later...

#3. What or who inspires you?

I love to go in garage sale during summer time (and second hand shop during winter time!) and find unusual items to paint on. But a couple years ago I discover scrapbooking and I just love to go in a scrapbooking store and look at all the paper and little things and get inspire with colors, textures...

#4. Do you have a day job?

No, I don't work outside.

#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

It is hard to choose (it is like asking to a mother which kid do you prefer? LOL) but I think it is my desk top calendar. I love so much doing scrapbooking. I can do that for hours...

Audrey's Accolades:

I really like this shop. Michelle does wonderful painting on some of the coolest items. The mix of fabric & painting and adding greenery to some items is wonderful. I really like the sheep in the first picture, but have choosen this as my favorite - it's just too cute.

This wooden birdhouse measures approx. 13½" high. I also painted a bird shape tag. The back is a white board where you can write a little note or message with and erasable marker. I sealed this set with matte finish sealer.Indoor use only.

Friday's Fantastic Finds

Here is another installment of Fantastic Finds!! If you've been here before - you will know that I'm addicted to bags, pendants, earrings, art, soaps & lotions. Ok - I like everything! Who knew there was food on Etsy? Amazing!! Some of the finds this week are made from recycled materials (2 bags, a painting, a clock). Enjoy these finds and please click on the pics and visit these wonderful shops. They have many more items that will surprise you!!















Starting next week - I think I will begin featuring only 4 shops and post the pics of 2 items from each shop.  If you have a cool shop with interesting items - leave a comment and I will check it out.  

Prims by Andrea

Andrea lives in the Finger Lake Region of Upstate NY. She has been married for 10 years to a lovely man who makes it possible to stay home with the children. In her spare time she makes beautiful pieces of art. Her shop is Prims by Andrea.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

My shop name is pretty boring/self explanatory since I do primitive artwork...in hindsight, I wish I'd chosen something more exciting!

#2 When did you start crafting?

I've always "dabbled" in art, but just decided to give it a try full-time while staying home with my young children - unfortunately, I've ended up spending more money (on supplies, etc.--the art supply store is my weakness!) than I've made--at some point, I'd love to supplement the family income with my art. Maybe 2009 is my year--who knows!?

#3 What or who inspires you?

I am inspired by all things primitive--I call my style "grubby-prim" because I antique the heck out of every artwork. I love yo-yo quilts, but have yet to been able to afford one for my home--so I sometimes use paper "yo-yo s" in my artwork!

#4 Do you have a day job?

No day job, except having a 3 and 1 year old at home with me--okay, I have a BIG job!

#5 What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12238615 Crow Among the Roses. This is my most fav. piece Ever! It took a lot of time to create because of it's size. I love how it's abstract and primitive at the same time--inspired by the yo-yos again!

Audrey's Accolades:

Mixed media is something I know nothing about. Infact I had never heard of it till I started on Etsy. So of course I had to ask Andrea what she did to create her art & what mixed media was to her. Here is her answer:

My mixed media collages are done on canvas. (Other artists might/could use wood or other materials, but I prefer the canvas--makes it feel more like "art" :) The background and some details are done in acrylic paints. The "decoration" is made of paper, collaged on to the canvas--scrap booking paper, to be more specific, so it's acid-free and won't yellow or fade. I antique all my pieces with aging polish to make them look vintage (or 'grubby-prim' as I like to call it :) and add a layer of varnish for preservation purposes. Then I accent with the piece with various buttons and/or different notions for a unique 3-D effect. There are a myriad of different mixed media artists on Etsy (and in general) and each has their own unique style, but this is how I do it :)

Okay - I understand better now. Sounds like fun and the outcome is amazing!! Now to pick my favorite. Tough choice again, and when you go to Andrea's shop you'll understand why. I love angels so I picked this piece.

This angel was inspired by my love for the PiNK Christmas! I call my style "grubby-prim" because I antique the heck out of all of my pieces. It differs from most of my work in that I've added angel dust (okay, glitter :) to her wings.It is done on a quality 8" x 10" canvas (no staples in the sides) and edges are painted black for a finished look--ready to hang!The piece is varnished with a matte sealer for preservation purposes.