Saturday's Featured Artist: Umecrafts

Ready for a fancy cup of coffee and some delicious fruit? Today, we'll meet someone that will definitely make us all feel younger and more playful. Her shop offers patterns and tutorials for pretending felt food that every child and their Moms will love. Let's have a chat with Jeanette Lin from Singapore. Her shop, Umecrafts, joined Etsy on Oct 06, 2007 and has 4025 sales so far!


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#1. Describe yourself in 5 words.
A mother, crafter, Tea Addict.

#2. What goodies do you offer in your shop?
Original patterns and easy to follow tutorials to encourage people to make their own handmade felt pretend play food and toys for their kids instead of buying the plastics one.
I also sell quality felt fabrics from Japan at my other etsy shop http://litlbrownbird.etsy.com


#3. How was your shop started?
I started selling the actual felt play food and started having a lot of requests for the patterns. So I switched to patterns instead.


#4. What are some unique things about your shop?
My felt patterns are original with actual cut out paper patterns and very easy to follow. detailed color photographs tutorials. I work with beginner felters in mind.


#5. What or who inspires you?
God and my 1 year old baby, Megan.
























#6. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?
I'll have to say it's the dollhouse, I didn't think I can make it but I did it.


#7. What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Believe in yourself and stay true to your own style. Read up on the useful tips on Etsy's Digest (Etsy Success). Participate in Etsy community where you can get advise & support.


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Beside her wonderful shop , Jeanette also has a blog (www.litlbrownbird.com ) where you can get to know her and her work better. So, don't hesitate to drop by and say "Hi"!

That's all for today's Featured Artist. Your Comment and Feedback are much appreciated! Next Saturday, we'll meet Marijke Janssens from Belgium, and her personalized stationary shop, EnfinLaVoila, where you can find such fantastic calling cards and especially wedding invitations like this one below! You know you don't wanna miss it. See you then!















For more information on "Saturday's Featured Artist" and "Wednesday's Hidden Gem", click here

Saturday's Featured Artist: Umecrafts

Fascinating Fascinators!

These fascinating fascinators made out of peacock feathers are all over Etsy for a reason! I simply can't help adoring them. From being feminie to dramatic, these darlings have it all! What a great combination of luxury and edginess! Enjoy!























From YJDesign

















From Portobello






















From VintageBox1947

















From BelleNouvelleDesigns

Fascinating Fascinators!

Broken yet Whole Necklace (NEW!)

Broken yet Whole Necklace

Broken yet Whole Necklace (NEW!)

Thanks for the lemonade!

What is your favorite "pick me up" song? Here's mine. It's called "Lemonade" by Chris Rice. The music is so fun and catchy while the text is really optimistic. It put a smile on my face every time, and I can't just help singing alone. Enjoy!

(If you love this song and would like to hear more from Chris Rice, I recommend "When did you fall in love" and "Untitled Hymn". Search for these on Youtube, or better yet, buy the CDs!)



"Lemonade"

So go ahead and ask her
For happy ever after
'Cause nobody knows what's coming
So why not take a chance on loving
Come on, pour the glass and tempt me
Either half-full or half-empty
'Cause if it all comes down to flavor
The glass is tipping in my favor

Life gave me lemonade and I can't imaine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath the tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade

Now take your time to answer me
For the beauty of romancing
Is to calm you trembling had with mine
While begging love to fill your eyes
I can hardly breathe while waiting
To find out what your heart is saying
And as we're swirling in this flavor
The world is tilting in our favor

Live gave me lemonade and I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath the tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade

I've got it made
Rest in the shade
And hold my love
While God above
Stirs with a spoon
We share the moon
Smile at the bees
More sugar please
He really loves us after all
We're gonna need another straw
We're gonna need another straw

Life gave me lemonade and I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath the tangerine sky
Life gave me lemonade and I can't imagine why
Born on a sunny day, beneath the tangerine sky
I live life without pretending
I'm a sucker for happy endings
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade
Thanks for the lemonade
(Life gave me lemonade)
Thanks for the lemonade

Thanks for the lemonade!

Wednesday's "Hidden Gem": JudyBFreeman

Howdy! Hope that your Wednesday is going well, but even if things are a little bit crazy, have no fear! Why not sit back, relax and meet our amazing Etsy artist of Wednesday's "Hidden Gem" for a few moments? You'll be glad if you do! This week, the spotlight is on Judy of JudyBFreemans, whose wonderful butterfly wall hanging has been featured on my blog a while ago. Let's take a closer look at this incredible pottery shop and learn about the talented artist behind it!






















Here's our pocket interview with Judy of JudyBFreeman.
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#1. Describe yourself in 5 words.

Creative, funny, caring, potter, disorganized

#2. What goodies do you offer in your shop?

Ceramic whimsical creations including cat, butterfly and fish themed pieces

#3. How was your shop started?

I read about Etsy on a discussion thread on the HGTV website. Thought I'd check it out. Opened up my shop, sold a bowl right off the bat and was hooked!

#4. What are some unique things about your shop?

My fish teapots.

#5. What or who inspires you?

The large scale butterflies were inspired by the work of Georgia O'Keefe. She loved to blow things up, zoom in and explore flowers. I love to blow up b-flies. Besides Georgia, the 4 cats we used to have that are all now in kitty heaven, and coral reef fishies (from our days of scuba diving).




















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

Girls Night Out Lola and Sonya Out on the Town - I had the idea, and as I thought more about the project I kept coming up with more things to add. They're over the top funny and make me laugh. I was so excited that the teapot made it through all of the firings. You have no idea.

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Beside her wonderful shop , Judy also has a blog (http://butterflyfarmpottery.blogspot.com/ ) where you can get to know her and her work better. So, don't hesitate to drop by and say "Hi"!

Nothing makes a bold statement like a good screenprinted tee shirts! Next week, we'll have a chat with Shannon of Royalkane, where you can find the funniest & vintage feel tee-shirts like the one below along with wonderful screen printed pillowcases, throw pillows, hand towels, napkins, etc. Have fun anticipating this great interview! Au Revoir!






















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For more information on "Saturday's Featured Artist" and "Wednesday's Hidden Gem", click here!

Wednesday's "Hidden Gem": JudyBFreeman

NEW listings!!!!

City Chic Hooop Earrings






















Effortless Chic Necklace

NEW listings!!!!

Contentment...

... be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5)

















("Contentment", original painting by StudioJJARTWORKS)

Today is not necessarily an easy day for many of us, and we vent our discontentment in many ways. Recently, I'm praying about confronting a dear friend of mine for constantly putting others down with criticism, which does not say so much about those people are but more about how unhappy/discontent he is with his life... Suddenly, it dawns to me that his and my inability to be content with our circumstances actually hurt us so much more than others, and we are unknowingly pushing joy (and other people) away by refusing to rest and be content.

Contentment is indeed a choice, not just a feeling. Just like love.... Yet, it is definitely not an easy thing to do... So, in case it's getting too hard to be content, God, in his infinite wisdom and love, comes in the picture to give us the most logical reason and the only encouragement we need in order to be content, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Nope, my life is still no where near perfect, but I guess I can truly rest now in this great promise... If the God of the universe is on my side, why am I complaining and refusing to let go of my frustration with life and "let God be God"?

This familiar little verse has been a huge encouragement for me today, and I hope it will give you hope as well. How about you? Are you embracing this promise for yourself today? Let's rejoice in our Lord...

Contentment...