Everyone will love these!!! An Etsy Treasury.

The Beaded Sock Lady of Etsy has supplied us will lots of great items to buy today on Etsy and I am proud to say that I have been included. Do pop along and visit the treasury at Everyone will love these!!! and don't forget you will find a link to TheBeadedSockLady's store there too...

Thank you TheBeadedSockLady!

I think I need to put a little something together myself... time to give some love back! Keep watching for more info.

New DaWanda Collection

My Summer collection is in store now at Sara's Texture Crafts - DaWanda store

The collection is inspired by my love of fabric texture and I have added 3 main product groups; brooches, necklaces and earrings.

For the theme I have chosen a more sophisticated look than my 'fun-in-the-sun' Etsy collection and I have concentrated more on evening cocktail looks.

This collection is also a celebration of Europe, as for the most part DaWanda buyers and sellers are based there. I hope that the Parisian backdrop will help to present that idea.



Necklaces will look stunning worn with an open neck dress and the earrings are a great colour feature. They would also look great against your favourite pashmina, as the cool summer evening air closes in. The brooches I have created would make a great addition to your bag or jacket to finish your look.

The colours I have chosen would also blend in to your early autumn wardrobe; ranging from pinks and lilacs to chocolates and dusty rose.

I will be away until the second week of August, but please place your orders as I have already sold one piece!

Etsy Treasury Feature - And The Winner Is...

Silvia66 has put together a lovely textural treasury, called 'And the winner is...' and bless her little cotton socks she picked me to feature in it! Thank you Silvia66... may it bring you lots of Etsy sales. Sara x

I do recommend a visit as there are lots of stunning items for sale. Here's the link for a closer look - Etsy Treasury - And the winner is...

Craft Product Guide #2 - Sara's Crafty Packs

I want to introduce you to my newest eBay product range... Sara's Crafty Packs. I have been working on these for a while now and have my first rag doll group selling at Sara's Texture Crafts

I have created these as a beginner kit for soft toy making and would advise that children are suppervised during the make-up process (just because some bits are more of a fiddle than others!)




I currently have 4 designs:

1. Dress yourself doll
2. Rosie Ballerina
3. Turquoise Fairy
4. Poppy's Beach Day

Each kit contains full instructions and the doll printed onto 100% Cotton (sold separately in my eBay shop - Computer printable fabric) ready to cut and sew. All you need is your soft toy filling and any optional extras you wish to personalise your doll with.

My DIY rag doll kits cost £4.99 (excluding P & P) each and please remember that I offer worldwide shipping and multiple purchase postage and packaging discounts.

I also currently have a finished Turquoise Fairy doll for purchase in my Etsy store at Turquoise Fairy on Etsy


This is a growing range, so do pop back and take a look. I am hoping to add at least a few more designs for around September.

DaWanda Sellers Blog Group - Update #2

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the second group update.

We had a great week last week, as my group pinboard was featured on DaWanda's pinboard homepage for most of the week. I created this to help give us a bit more exposure and randomly selected an item from each Seller's store to feature. Here's the link to the Pinboard - DaWanda Sellers Blog Group - pinboard

If any of you choose to do your own board featuring the group, please let me know so that I can mention it in the next update. I will also pop over and pin the board to my favourites - the more pins we have the more DaWanda will notice us for another feature!

We also had a mention in my DaWanda interview last week... DaWanda blog - Saras Texture Crafts

Since then we have grown to a cast of 13 sellers (Member List), of which there are some great blogs featuring DaWanda and lots of other crafty stories. So for anyone reading who is not a member, please come in and take a look - you will find links to each blog on the members list, or by pressing 'next' on the webring logo on the right hand panel of this blog.

I also wanted to bring your attention to my Squidoo lens - Your complete guide to buying and selling on DaWanda where you are welcome to add you shop details, blog address and your own tips for buyers and sellers. I run a similar page for Etsy and have found it a useful tool for advertising - maybe my DaWanda version could work for us too? All non-group sellers are also welcome to add their details.

During the last update, on my ideas list I mentioned Seller Features and I am pleased to announce that over the next 2-3 weeks I will be launching my first of these features. So if any of you are interested in becoming a future feature then please drop me a line here, so that I can send you some questions. If any of you are planning your own features again please let me know, so that I can mention you in the next group update.

That's it for today...

Sara x

For anyone interested in joining, please find the application form link here DaWanda Sellers Blog Group - Application form

My Bit of DaWanda News!

I had a fantastic week on DaWanda last week. Not only did Elizabeth (a member of the DaWanda Team) kindly publish my interview on DaWanda's Official Blog. Here's the link to the feature - Sara's Texture Crafts



... but I was also lucky enough to have my 'favourite finds' pinboard featured on DaWanda's pinboard home page!



Maybe I featured one of your items? Here's a link to my pinboard - My Current Favourites on DaWanda

Not sure what DaWanda is? Then pop over to my Squidoo lens, where I have given a write up for new and existing customers of DaWanda - Your Complete Guide to Buying and Selling on DaWanda

Etsy Bloggers Street Team

I have just become a member of the Etsy Bloggers Street Team and hope at some point soon to tell you more about them and share with you my contributions. Their link is under my 'Blogs you should take a look at' section on the right hand panel.

'Diary of an Art Piece' #1 - Diamond Wedding Anniversary Part 2

Once I had all of my fabrics and trimmings together it was time to set out my idea, to see if I had enough materials and to see if the design was workable. I started by laying fabrics and trimmings randomly onto my photo (computer printed onto fabric from my eBay shop ), so as to create a border. I then cut into some of the fabrics to create a foliage effect to compliment the scallop edges at the top and bottom of the frame.

Once I was happy with a look I placed A4 paper around the outside to get an idea of what the finished work would look like when framed. Only then did I start to cut my vintage pieces to size.

I initially started by hand working the details as separate pieces of work. For example the date plaque needed several detail embellishments, from foliage backgrounds, to beading and date embroidering.

I wanted to expand upon the nostalgic idea that I had had for this piece and felt that I could achieve this by creating raw edges to some of the border pieces. I did this by carefully running a pair of scissors on their side along the raw edges of the fabrics. I also continued the vintage idea by working in the vintage-look beads I had purchased I used these to create floral features and to echo the scallop edges at the top and bottom of the frame.

Each separate piece was then hand applied onto the photo background to create the layered border effect. Once applied I would recheck the final picture with my frame, to make sure that areas of details were inside the frame dimensions and could be visibly seen.

Before framing I worked on cutting the photo down, after I had rechecked my sizing against the original frame. By doing this at the later stage, I didn't fray the cotton background during the applique of finer details.

The final touch was framing...

Happy Anniversary Nan and Granddad! ( I hope they like it!)

Spotlight Feature #1 - JET (Jewelry on Etsy) Street Team

This is another of my new features, where I hope to bring you artist, or group bios, as well as museum and gallery introductions. This is my opportunity to share with you to the world of craft around us.

Spotlight Feature #1 – JET (jewelry on Etsy) Street Team

Those of you who have read my blog before, may have noticed that I am a member of the Etsy JET Team, but what does it actually mean? Today I would like to introduce the JETs to you and share with you the teams’ background, ethos, where you can find them and how you can get involved. To make sure I had all of the relevant information I interviewed Tara Van Stelle one of the JETs founding members.

• What is the JET (jewelry on Etsy) street team all about?
  

Jewelry on Etsy Team, JET, was started to provide the large amount of jewelry designers on Etsy, a place to promote and share ideas with each other. We wanted a place for all kinds of artists to come together in a positive atmosphere, where we could help market jewelry on Etsy.

• Who founded the team and when?
  

Jet was started by Tanya Gonzalez, crescentmooncreation.etsy.com and Tara Van Stelle, jewelrybytara.etsy.com and jbtjewelry.com

• How many members do you have?
  
  

Right now, I believe we have 267 members.

• Where can we find you on-line?
  

You can find our weekly thread under the Street Team Forums on Etsy Street Team Forum Link Our main information site is our blog: Jewelry on Etsy Team Blog and you can also find us on MySpace, Jewelry on Etsy Team MySpace and Flickr, Jet Flickr Group

• How do I become a member and what are the terms of membership?
  

Unfortunately, membership is currently closed. When and if it re-opens, there will be a thread announcing this, under Street Teams on Etsy. There is no requirement for joining other than being an Etsy member who designs/sells jewelry. The group is free and all we ask is that you participate occasionally in our many activities.

• Are there any special promotions, offers, or trades available to JET members? And where can we find out about them?
  

To the best of my knowledge, we are not presently having any specific JET related offers. Previously, we have swapped supplies and given out JET only PIF's.

• I would love to buy something from a JET member. Is there a list of sellers and what they sell?
  

You can find our up to date membership list on our blog: Jewelry on Etsy Team Blog In the near future, Etsy will be finishing our page in their blog and everyone will be listed there also.

I would like to thank Tara for her help with bringing you this information and hope that I have been able to give you a good introduction to the JETs.

A new Etsy treasury!

Please come and see me in this great Etsy treasury
COSE MERAVIGLIOSE by Silvia66. It has some really great finds inspired by texture and colour. Good Luck Silvia66 and thank you for including my necklace!

Generousity... it comes in ways you lest expect!

I am always surprised by the generosity I find in others, especially that which comes to me from people I have met on-line and today is no different.

I met Dotty on Etsy, by chance one day when I was posting in the forums, which is a place I often find myself spending too much time! Anyway, Dotty approached me after realising I was fairly new to Etsy and asked if she could feature me in her Indie Finds on Etsy blog. Rather excitedly I agreed, 'What a nice idea!' I thought, 'this could really help me out and what a fantastic thing to be doing for fellow crafters!'

Today Dotty posted her feature New Shop on Etsy - Sarastexturecrafts and I couldn't be more thrilled! Thank you Dotty for what you do for new Etsy stores and I hope in return some of my readers will pop over and check you out.

New Etsy Collection - Summer 2007

It's finally Summer and to celebrate I have created a new collection for my Etsy Store at www.sarastexturecrafts.etsy.com



'Exotic Holiday'

In this collection I have tried to emphasis the importance of colour for this season. Cobalt blues are mixed with oceanic turquoise, hot pinks are contrasted with flashes of firey reds and on brooches I have taken influence from the heat of the Sun, by using red, tangy orange and yellow. This hot colour scheme inspires the idea of perfect beach accessorization - fun shots of colour will work great as you are working on your tan and emphasise your tanned glow when you get home too!

To help me balance colour with theme I have introduced a new material to my range, polymer clay (fimo). As a new area for me I have tried to keep it easy and have worked simple colour contrasts with slightly textured shapes. I have also used decorative beads to decorate my new line of tie on bracelets and anklets.

I have really enjoyed working on this collection, covering new areas of learning is something very dear to me. More than that though I believe I have created a range of items that help to evoke summer sun and summer fun. I hope that you will share that view with me and join me in store.

Prices also capture the fun of Summer and start from just USD6.00, so come and catch your own piece of Summer!

Items will be listed daily and are available in store from today.

Oh, Who's Being Greedy?! Etsy Treasury Feature!

I got myself another feature! No seriously, do pop over and take a peek at this treasury, there are a lot of great products here inspired by the sea.

Thank you Humblebeads!


Thanks to Humblebeads and her amazing Bead Cruise treasury at http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=1825

'Diary of an Art Piece' #1 - Diamond Wedding Anniversary Part 1

Welcome to my first 'Diary of an Art Piece' feature! I want this blog feature to focus on my latest works and how I worked through the process of design and make-up. I'm not going to describe each item step by step, but instead give you an overview of the ideas behind my choices and processes.

Diamond Wedding Anniversary Part 1

My Grandparents will have been married for 60 years this coming August and to celebrate their special day I decided to create a small textile piece as a present.

I started by looking through their old photos and fell in love with their wedding photo, thinking this would be a perfect choice for this occassion. I love 1940s fashion and this picture conjured up nostalgic ideas from fabrics to layout design, so I started to think about expanding on elements that naturally existed in the picture and how I could create a 40s feel. If I could pick up on some of the key features of my Grandmother's dress and veil, I hoped that I might capture some of the 'Wedding Day' and 40s nostaglia in my design.

I printed a copy of their photo in a slight Sepia tone onto 100% cotton fabric, which I sell through my eBay store (Sara's Texture Crafts - eBay Store) and set off for Covent Garden Market where I know a lady that sells lovely antique lace. Fortunately, she had some antique fabrics with scalloped edges, made around 1940/50 which reminded me of my Grandmother's veil. This was a perfect start! I then came across some really pretty lightweight, lawn fabric with embroidery anglaise foliage and plaque designs - this was going to be my border.

After the market it was a short stroll up to Tower Street for The Bead Shop. I couldn't resist adding texture with some vintage look beads! If I combined these with small embroidery stitches, I could create an almost 3-D texture (I was hoping this would add some decadance to my work, which I think is necessary if we are talking nostalgia! Even if it's not true to post-war 1947!)

A little closer to home, I found a frame perfect for my design, with a silvery vintage, paint effect. By choosing my frame early it gave me my final space measurements, this is I think, an essential when you are planning a work which is going to be displayed, for two reasons. Firstly, it saves the budget as you don't want to end up in a situation where you may need to make a custom frame to fit your odd shaped design! Don't get me wrong custom frames can give you an extra special finish, but sometimes they can also blow your budget! You can always customise your frame if it's not quite right! Secondly, it's good planning to work to an estimated dimension - it allows you to precut some materials to size ready for use and will also give you an indication of how many beads, how much thread and how much fabric to buy in the first place. Especially if you are buying from a market stall, as some owners might not be avaliable the next week if you forgot something!

Come back soon for Part 2... Meanwhile I will be focusing on my next Etsy collection due to go into store this week.

DaWanda Sellers Blog Group - Update #1

Good Morning DaWanda Sellers Blog Group!

I'm going to be updating you from time to time, so do keep popping in. I'm looking for some help this week, as well as providing a list of new members.

Ok, so first things first - our members list! It's our first week and we already have 7 fantastic members - check them out at DaWanda Sellers Blog Group - Member List. There are some great blogs, so do pop over and take a peek. You can do this through the list link, or the blog ring which is on my right hand panel (press next).

When I initially set up the group I was originally intending to use it as a way to increase reader numbers to promote our products, but now I think we have the opportunity to do more... So here are my initial ideas of how we as members could help to promote DaWanda Sellers and raise DaWanda awareness. Please post a comment if you would like to expand or amend the ideas list and we will discuss this again in the next update.

Ideas List

1 What Is DaWanda? Members could run a small feature on DaWanda explaining to their readers this new shopping experience.
2 Seller Features - choose your favourite shop and give them a boost.
3 Include that you are a member of the DaWanda Sellers Blog Group in your DaWanda shop's profile - it may encourage new members and buyers.

Ok that's it for now... Have a great day,

Sara x

Etsy Treasury Feature!

Yipee! I just found one of my items featured in an Etsy Treasury by Feltland - Thank you Feltland!

Here's the link for a closer peek... http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=1506