April Category Spotlight: Art + Graphic Design

Continuing our blog series spotlighting our team member categories, I decided that I would present April’s topic of Art + Graphic Design by making a shopping list of my favorite picks.

Being in a group of talented people who make such unique and interesting art, it's difficult not to spend money I should be using to replenish my own supplies. So if I lived in my perfect world of endless money, these are the items I would purchase from the wonderfully creative Etsy Dallas members in the Art + Graphic Design category.

bee things: This husband and wife team makes adorable prints. The combination of their solid color design and the cute illustrations of things like monkeys and birds makes them almost impossible to resist.

What I Would Buy: Happy Groceries reusable tote
When I saw this grocery bag, it was love at first sight. There really isn’t anything about it that I don’t love. From far away it looks like a wonderful abstract pattern, but when you get up close you are rewarded with all the little details and the smiling faces on the little food.

Chet Art: Chet Phillips is an amazingly talented artist. His attention to detail and texture in his illustrations are so eye-catching.

What I Would Buy: Literary Pets trading cards
I love the product design for Chet Art’s Literary Pets trading cards. It feels like cheating picking this as one item, because you get not only this beautifully designed package, but 20 trading cards as well. Each card is a clever play on names of famous literary masters, not to mention the wonderful illustrations!

Noshii: Nosheen Iqbal makes jewelry and wall art by embroidering on wood. I love her use of combining the soft texture of floss (thread) with the harsher texture of wood. It makes for some beautiful contrasts.

What I Would Buy: Brolly Blues wall art
Of all the items in Noshii’s shop, I am fondest of “Brolly Blues.” It’s so simple but so appealing. This little umbrella embroidered into wood comes in a nice little shadow box. I think this would go perfectly above my workspace at home.

Pamela Michelle: Artist Pamela Jackson offers a variety of items within her shop. I love how everything she creates is colorful, yet delicate.

What I Would Buy: Foxy Fox art print
I have to admit that I have a fondness for foxes. But there is just something special about Pamela Michelle’s “Foxy Fox” print. I think he is just too cute and mischievous not to find a place on my wall!

Paper Fingers: Christina of Paper Fingers specializes in ink jet archival prints. I really enjoy their subtle color palette of greens, light blues, pinks, yellows, and browns. Any fan of typography will also be able to appreciate their ABC prints.

What I Would Buy: "L is for Library" print
It was hard to pick just one letter, but I finally decided on “L is for Library” due in no small part because of my fondness for books and the written word. This print would look awesome in a frame right above my jam-packed bookshelves!

Seen Studios: Another husband and wife team, Karl Green and Kathleen Heikes of Seen Studios are undeniably talented photographers. They have the ability to capture the soul of the unique places they visit.

What I Would Buy: Terlingua Cemetery photograph
Telingua Cemetery is my personal favorite of Seen Studio’s photographs. I love the texture of the stones and the little items you can see inside.

The Miscellany: Artist and teacher, Dianna Walsh, creates art prints that are so colorful and so full of personality. When you look at her gorgeous art prints you can’t help but love the characters within them.

What I Would Buy: I Still Love You print
I just love the “I Still Love You” print. The subject is so sad and something we can all relate to, but the colors are so bright and luscious that you can’t help but smile when you look at it.


And that's my Etsy Dallas Art + Graphic Design dream shopping list! Check out all of these artists at the upcoming 2nd Annual Spring Bash on May 1st at South Side on Lamar.

by Summer of Signifying Not

Spring has Sprung!

After a weird and wonderful winter, Spring has finally arrived. Here are some ideas to help you get into the groove of the season - in acrostic form, of course!

Sunshine Get outside and enjoy the moderate temperature combined with the longer days – more chances for rays!

Prune Take care of dead winter branches and prepare for new buds about to pop.

Road Trip Wanderlust and wildflowers meet in East Texas.

Invest in a new pair of outdoor shoes for walking, running, hiking and biking.

Nest Spruce up your indoor life with new throw pillows, a new piece of art, new paint, or just rearrange the furniture to freshen up a room.

Garage Sale Time to declutter, destash, and dejunkify while trolling other people’s trash for your new treasures.

HAS

Sunscreen Did I mention going outside already?

Pretty Pastel florals on light spring dresses are so appealing.

Rituals Spring cleaning, finally putting away the winter clothes, firing up the grill for the first time - we all have our own ways of marking the change in seasons.

Utilize Tap into your crafty skills with fresh new spring projects. I’ve been sewing spring aprons for friends and nieces – a challenge for me!

Negotiate Find time for yourself to recharge, whether that means meeting up with best friends or scoring some solo time.

Get Up and Go! Spring just makes you feel good.

And don't forget to jump into spring at the 2nd Annual Spring Bash on May 1 featuring 60 artists and crafters from Dallas (and beyond! - Austin, Oklahoma, and Minnesota).
by Anne of Modest Ambition

Weekend Guide - Spring Shopping Online

Spring welcomes in the warm weather and blooming flowers! And we're pretty sure all of Dallas is thrilled to welcome it, too, after a crazy cold and snowy winter.

This weekend, in between enjoying the warmer weather, luscious greenery and friends and family, Etsy Dallas invites you to hop on that internet, go to Etsy.com and enjoy spring thru the eyes and hands of the artists living and creating in the Dallas area. Below is a little spring-inspired collection of goodies from our very own Etsy Dallas members.

To shop our Spring-inspired collection of Etsy Dallas picks, click on the links below. Starting from top left:
9. Cut Out and Collect - Let the Sunshine Clutch

Browse even more Etsy Dallas member goodies here. Or go to Etsy.com and in the search box type in the official team tag: etsydallas2010. And don't miss shopping local Dallas talent at the upcoming 2nd Annual Spring Bash on May 1st! More details here.

posted by
Pamela Michelle

How to have fun & make something! by Pamela Michelle


I love the book Happy Kitty Bunny Pony! It's filled with cute delightful images to turn any bad day into an explosion of happiness. I found a copy at the local discount book store at a really affordable rate, so I decided I'd have my fun with it. And what better than to plaster some happiness on my blank bathroom wall. This was an cheap easy and fun project that I want to share with you, So grab your art project hat and get to creating! yay!

Materials:
1. Picture Book that you don't mind destroying
2. a bunch of frames, different sizes and styles(thrift store finds are great. My most expensive one was $1)
3. Paint
4. Scissors

I started by arranging my frames on the floor to get the perfect arrangement. I made sure most of them were touching another frame to give the illusion that this was one big piece of art.
Then once that was set, I chose a color pallet that went along with the bright happy colors in the book. Some of the frames I left their original color, but others I spray painted. Be sure you take out the glass from the frame before spray painting (I'm reminding you, because sometimes I make this mistake, oops).

Then once it's all dry, take your picture book and cut out your favorite images to fit in the frames. Most times frames have a cardboard insert that you can use as a sizing guide when cutting out your images.

When you're finished pop in all those pics and get to hanging!!!! And add that super fun to any room in your house!

posted by - Pamela Michelle

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide: March 26-28



Poppytalkhandmade
It doesn't matter what the weather is like this weekend. Poppytalk blog is presenting a virtual craft fair, Poppytalkhandmade. You have all the excuses in the world, and approval from Etsy Dallas, not to get dressed this weekend and do your handmade shopping online!

Date: March 15th - April 15th
Time: 24/7
Location: online
More info: click here
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Noshii

Monkey Love for Our Own ChetArt

An Etsy purchase transforms into an "Automagical" experience.
by Chet Philips of ChetArt

Back in late December I was greeted by a super sized order of 20 prints from my Etsy shop - all monkey-related images. I noticed the buyer was Ben Chestnut, co-founder of email marketing company, MailChimp. I was proud to learn that he planned to pass them out as Christmas presents to his company's employees. Monkey like!


A few weeks passed and it became apparent that the collection of ChetArt Etsy prints lounging in cubicles and on walls around the offices of MailChimp were starting to work some subtle monkey magic.

In January, MailChimp's video impresario extraordinaire, Joshua Rosenbaum, contacted me with details of a project they thought would be just right for me. And how! The job was for a long mural banner to be used for MailChimp's presence at the annual South by Southwest conference in Austin. It would serve as a large announcement to the world of a variety of "Automagic" features the company offers. Read my blog post about the mural.


Their art direction was very straightforward: Invent a whimsical environment with a Rube Goldberg sprinkling of silly devices, add in some monkeys, Steampunk flavor to taste and… a unicorn. The resulting composition was greeted with happy Chimp screams from the entire crew. Read Ben Chestnut's blog post about the mural.

The folks at MailChimp were a total pleasure to work with and the job was satisfying fun. A job, I have to say, would not have happened without Etsy bringing Ben and me together in the first place!

Announcing the 2010 Spring Bash Artists!

We here at Bash central are proud to announce the artists and crafters for this year's 2nd Annual Spring Bash. The list is long and the talent is incredible. This is going to be one amazing show!


ALL ARTISTS BY CATEGORY

Accessories
Alicia Colina-Ashby, Irving TX
bows and arrows, Dallas TX
Feather by Feather, Owasso OK
Karmacrochet, Dallas TX
Midnight Snack, Allen TX
Silla Soup, Dallas TX
Superchica, Dallas TX
superjennylove, Bozeman MT
Tara to the T, Oak Cliff TX

Art + Graphic Design
3 Bears Studio, Red Oak TX
beethings, Dallas TX
Chet Phillips Illustration, Dallas TX
Miney Mo, Argyle TX
Noshii, Richardson TX
paperfingers, Richardson TX
Seen Studios, Dallas TX
The Miscellany, Sachse TX

Baby, Kids, Maternity
Loop and Lil, Richardson TX
Mama Dee's Boutique, Arlington TX
mere designs, Richardson TX
Three Yellow Starfish, Farmers Branch TX
XY Factory, Arlington TX

Bags + Purses
2enju, Oak Cliff TX
*annemarie* Style for the Individual, Austin TX
Banana Showcase, Duncanville TX
Cut Out and Collect, Arlington TX
Miamaria Design, Dallas TX
Nerdbomber, Garland TX
Rachel Elise, Denton TX
Textile Fetish, Austin TX

Body Care
SylettSoap, Dallas TX
The Pig and the Peacock, Dallas TX
The Pink Sink, Flower Mound TX
Where Water Comes Down, Coppell TX

Clothing
Dowdy Studio, Richardson TX
Harrilu, Plano TX
Signifying Not, Dallas TX

Home Goods + Decor
Both Hands Studio, Dallas TX
Ferrochie Studio, Dallas TX
Jane Joss, Arlington TX
laura davis / design lab, Oak Cliff TX
One-Up Designs, Dallas TX
Rimrock View Studio, Arlington TX

Jewelry
adaptive reUse, Austin TX
bonny beads, Irving TX
eye on the sparrow, Dallas TX
Haute Hardware, Dallas TX
Kessler Craftsman, Oak Cliff TX
Maggie May I, N. Richland Hills TX
Pamela Michelle, Richardson TX
Tefi Designs, Oak Cliff TX
Texas Tarts, Garland TX
The Gleeful Peacock, Tulsa OK

Other Fun Stuff
Fuzzy Muffins, Denton TX
Hip Hazel Hoops, Dallas TX
Peace Traveler, Grapevine TX
Wrap Couture, Dallas TX

Paper Goods
Color Box Design, Dallas TX
Oh Louise!, Dallas TX
The Paper Nest Co., Dallas TX

On a final note, we want to thank each and every person who applied for the Bash. Believe us, the choices were not easy, but there was simply too little space to fit everyone in. We love you all, encourage you to apply again (because you never know what the dynamics of a show will be like) and thank you from the bottom of our heart for supporting the Bash and the handmade movement in Dallas.

posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide: March 20-21


Saturday & Sunday

ArtScape

95 artist outdoor craft festival amid 500,000 blooming bulbs at the Arboretum in Dallas.


Date: March 20 & 21

Location: Dallas Arboretum, Dallas, TX

More Info: click here

Cost of admission: Free with paid admission to the Arboretum ($10)

Participating Etsy Dallas members: Kessler Craftsman & Both Hands Studio



Thursday thru Saturday

SXSW Artists Market at Guero's

When SXSW happens in Austin - the whole city comes out to celebrate. If you are looking for some free music, great food, and local shopping - come by Guero's Taco Bar on South Congress for three days during March!


Date: March 18-20

Location: Guero's Taco Bar, South Congress, Austin

Cost of admission: Free

More Info: click here

Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Tara to the T



Saturday
If you're in Austin for SXSW, be sure to stop by our Etsy Dallas friends, Etsy Austin, as they put on their own street art market on South Congress. Personally shop through over 25 handmade artists and find everything from jewelry, clothing, accessories, pottery and more. And if you miss it this Saturday, have no fear my friends, Etsy Austin holds the Art Market every 3rd Saturday of the month.

Date: March 20
Time 11am - 6pm
Location: 1600 block of South Congress, by Hello Cupcake! Austin
Cost of admission: Free
More Info: click here

The First Green of Spring

It's almost spring and that means - almost St. Patrick's Day!

No matter how you choose to celebrate – going to a parade, wearing green, drinking green beer or pretending to be Irish – you're sure to enjoy these beautiful handmade gift finds for St. Patrick's Day!

Green beer not your thing? Warm yourself up with a cup of delicious Irish Creme coffee from one of Etsy Dallas' newest members, Downtown Roasters (green mug recommended, but not required).

Find Downtown Roasters in person at the Coffee Haus Downtown in Arlington, Texas!


Dress your four legged friends for warmth and style with crocheted creations from another Etsy Dallas newbie, Oh So Micro. Dressing them in green will keep them from getting a chill (and a pinch!) on this brisk St. Patrick's Day.







From another new Etsy Dallas member ILDVED, and viking jeweler extraordinaire, this lovely piece will help you feel the green with sterling silver and reindeer moss all wrapped up in a ring.

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide: March 11-14


March 11 - 14


Saturday Events!
Link


White Rock Local Market

Description of event: Local food, local goods and local friends are what make our community special. Facilitating the sale of fresh and nutritious produce, meat and dairy, breads, and artisan foods is a solid step to strengthening our community. But not just food – we also introduce vendors selling their art, pottery, clothes and more.


Date: March 13

Time: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Location: 702 N. Buckner, Dallas, TX

More info: click here

Cost: free!!

Participating Etsy Dallas members: Modest Ambition



Thursday Night
Penny Darling Trunk Show
Penny Darling is a neo victorian inspired accessories line designed by Tara Tonini. We are 1976will be hosting a trunk show to show off the spring collection.

Date: Thursday March 11th
Time:
6:30pm
Location:
We are 1976, 1902 N. Henderson Dallas, TX 75206
More Info:
click here
and here
Cost:
Free!
Participating Etsy Dallas members:
Tara to the T

Etsy Dallas Weekend Guide: March4-7



Thursday

The Kessler Craftsman Art Demo at Artisan’s Collective
This coming Thursday night come out to the Bishop Arts District to celebrate 1st Thursday. The Kessler Craftsman will be at Artisan’s Collective in the Bishop Arts District demonstrating his glass work and allowing folks to make a fused glass dragonfly pendant or a fused glass mosaic pendant for just $10 each! If you’ve hesitated to make the plunge and take a class by the Kessler Craftsman, this is your chance to get in on the action! While you're hanging out in the Bishop Arts District be sure to grab a tasty burger from Hunky's and stop by our friends at Make Studio to shop some modern arts and crafts.


Date: Thursday, March 4th
Location: Artisan's Collective, Bishop Arts District, Dallas
More info: Click here and here




Saturday




2010 Guyer Choir Craft Show

Booths overflowing with unique handmade crafts, items for you, your family, and your home. Food and Entertainment. Bring the children for pictures with the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt.


Date: Saturday, March 6th

Time: 9am-4pm

Location: Guyer HS, Denton, TX

More Info: Click Here

Cost: FREE

Participating Etsy Dallas members: maggie may i

Category Spotlight: Baby, Kids and Maternity

I'm proud to present you with a new blog article that will come out each month spotlighting one of our team member categories. As a new mom (okay, newish - my son is over a year old), I jumped at the chance to shine a light on our members who make stylish and adorable handmade goods for babies, kids, and preggies. Check out the talent!

Amanda of Loop + Lil is new to our team, but she's no Bash newbie - we were fortunate to have her participate in last year's Jingle Bash! According to her Etsy profile, "Loop + Lil creates one-of-a-kind baby and toddler clothes as well as accessories for children and adults using vintage and vintage-inspired fabrics and simple, classic designs." Better yet, all items are crafted by hand right here in Dallas. My favorite are her little birdie mobiles.


Another team newbie, Dora of Mama Dee's Boutique decided to create boys' clothing when she was pregnant and unable to find a good selection. I have a boy toddler monster - I know what she means! Lucky for us moms with boys, Mama Dee's makes adorable baby clothing using the applique method. And you doesn't love an appliques octopus?

The newbie trend continues. Meredith of Mere Designs may be new to our team, but she is a talented graphic artist who's cultivated a beautiful online Etsy shop for almost two years. Meredith specializes in mobiles and prints perfect for any nursery needing a splash of color or touch of quality handmade. I love love love her paper mobiles.

You may recognize Margaret of Three Yellow Starfish. As a seasoned Etsy Dallas member, we have featured her adorable product photographs starring some of the most adorable babies I've ever seen. While the babies may be the center of these photos, her pinafores and bloomers are the stars. Made with quality designer fabric, Margaret sews some of the best robot pants my son, Ian, has ever seen!

Stephanie of XY Factory makes rockin' maternity clothes featuring latino-inspired motifs like La Loteria images and Day of the Dead skulls. Who says being pregnant means being reduced to wearing kaftans and Snuggies? Rock that bump out with some of Stephanie's designs!

Pictured above #1: paper mobile by Mere Designs, girl's top by Loop + Lil, and bloomers by Three Yellow Starfish

Pictured above #2: t-shirt by Loop + Lil, baby onesie by Mama Dee's Boutique, and maternity top by XY Factory

Article written by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Cooking With Etsy Dallas: Stuffed Peppers

Whether your trying to eat healthy but with flavor or simply looking to try something new for dinner, you can't go wrong with stuffed peppers. This is a wonderful, quick, and healthy recipe that everyone will enjoy!

Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients you will need:
2 whole peppers (either yellow, orange, or red, Green peppers don’t turn out well)
1 whole red onion
½ cup of Portobello baby mushrooms
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
2 garlic cloves or 1 Tbsp of garlic powder
2 Tbsp safflower or coconut oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice peppers in half.

Once oven has reached 425 degrees, place peppers on a baking sheet and bake with open sides up for 20 minutes.

While the peppers are baking you need a good open frying pan. Add oil and set heat to medium. Finely dice mushrooms… I prefer using a cheese grater. Dice the entire onion. Crush the garlic and mix with mushrooms and onions in the heated pan. Add your mixture into the pan and sauté for 5 minutes. Once the onions have begun to caramelize, toss in the remaining ingredients.

*An alternative to the oil is just 1 Tbsp of water, you just have to watch and stir more often.


Once the mixture has been sautéed, the peppers should be done with their 20 minutes. Carefully take out the peppers and keep them on the baking sheet. Take your saute mixture and spoon it evenly inside the peppers and continue to bake for 10 more minutes.

The peppers had been devoured before I had a chance to take a photo of the final product but they should look something like this: (You can leave the pepper stem on but I prefer to take it off.)

Photo courtesy of Nibbledish

Enjoy!
- Margaret of Three Yellow Starfish

Calling All Artists, Designers, and Crafters



Etsy Dallas, the original local craft collective, will offer up quality handmade goods from over 50 local artists and designers on Saturday, May 1st from 11am-5pm. In the spirit of supporting the local handmade movement, the Bash will be held at South Side on Lamar (1409 South Lamar St.) a local historic gem in the heart of The Cedars neighborhood just south of downtown.

Along with hand-picked locally-made goods, the Bash will offer up live DJ music, free charity raffle, photo booth, DIY crafts, and 50 free goody bags stuffed with top quality handmade swag. Admission is free. Sponsorship packages available on our web site. Come on out to the Bash - a hip, modern craft event full of shopping, music, and handmade good times. Think of it as a celebration - not just your typical craft show!

Artist applications are now being accepted now through March 5th. Please click here for more info about how to become a Spring Bash 2010 artist. Artist applications are closed.

The Spring Bash loves it's sponsors. If you have a business that would like to sponsor the Spring Bash, please click here for more information.

Posted by: Pamela Michelle



The Couples of Etsy Dallas



Aw, February... Etsy Dallas is by no means immune to the month of LOVE. In fact, many of us believe our significant others are a part of Etsy Dallas, too (and in some cases, they really are team members themselves). We'd love to take some time to introduce you to a few couples of Etsy Dallas.

Erin, of Haute Hardware, and her husband Rod have been together for four years (top left). Erin swears she knew he was a keeper when he helped her at her first craft show, which just so happened to be an outdoor, weekend-long event in the cold of December. And wanna know a secret? Turns out Rod is pretty talented in jewelry making, helping Erin however he can. We're always thrilled to see this pair at our parties and events.

Shay and Jeff (top right) make up Bee Things, one of our most recent additions to the team. The name "Bee Things" comes from Jeff's nickname for Shay - he used to tease her about her things around the house, saying they were her "bee things." They work very closely, dreaming up ideas and then executing each one. Welcome to the team, love birds!

Laura of laura davis/ design lab has been with Etsy Dallas since the First Annual Spring Bash and we feel like we've seen just as much of her boyfriend, Jeff, as we've seen of her! This super cute couple (seen second left) met in a woodworking & metals shop. Jeff comes from an architecture background and you can see some of his diagrams pop up in a few of Laura's drool-worthy embroidery. Although she loves to use super-snarky anti-love phrases, I'd bet there aren't too many of those phrases thrown around their home.

Stephanie, of XY Factory, has been married to her husband Aaron for six years. They work back to back in their little studio - Aaron just recently opened an etsy shop of his own, called Berserk Shirts. Check them out in the second right photo.

James and Carrie (third left), of OneUpDesigns, met in Portland and have been together thirteen (they swear it's lucky) years! They were very sneaky in their interview - it seems they have some top secret colloborative work to unveil at the upcoming Spring Bash. A lucky year indeed!

Our Etsy Dallas founder, Stephanie Hindall of TefiDesigns, has been with her boyfriend Jason since May 23, 2001 (which Stephanie points out is Bonnie & Clyde's death anniversary). Jason has continued to be hugely supportive of Stephanie at shows, when she's working on her jewelry, and of the team. I don't even think he minds us calling him "Tefi's Baby Daddy." Did you see cute baby Ian in the third right photo?

PamelaMichelle and Dylan of DowdyStudio (seen bottom left) are both Leadership Team Members of Etsy Dallas. You can find them sharing a booth and displaying together at local shows. Pamela has even worked a bit on using some of Dylan's art for her jewelry. We can't wait to see all the collaborations to come out of this pairing... 'cause they're totally gettin' hitched in October!!

If you've ever purchased from Harrilu at an event, there's a good chance you met both artist Megan and her husband Michael. It's fairly obvious that she's proud to have such great support: turns out he's pretty handy when a screen need re-stretching or some paperwork needs attention. They stand as proof: you can actually meet the love of your life at a bar on New Years. Who knew!

Jenna, of Wrap Couture, and her husband Justin are always the life of an Etsy Dallas party. Justin helps Jenna out at shows and she returns the favor by helping him out in his photography business. They just celebrated their third wedding anniversary!

We hope you have some special plans for Valentine's Day - whether it's going out, staying in, being with the one you love, or just treating yourself. And if you don't have a Valentine this year, we hope you'll be ours!

- With love from Etsy Dallas
(post written by Cheyne of Cut Out and Collect, who can be seen kissing fellow Etsy Dallas member Thomas, of DowntownRoasters in the bottom right photo).

Meet the 2010 Members!

We are so excited to finally unveil the line-up of our 2010 members. This is one awesome-ly talented group of local Dallas artists and crafters - we couldn't be more pleased! The competition was fierce, and we truly thank everyone who applied. The task was not an easy one! So without further ado, we bring you the 2010 Etsy Dallas Members!


P.S. Check out the following Valentine's Day gift guides to see some of our talented newbies' handmade work!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For Him

Picking out a gift for that special guy can be a tricky adventure. Etsy Dallas to the rescue with some suggestions to help you make a fab handmade gift-y decision this Valentine's Day.


For the band guy (or wannabe), this great bracelet by eye on the sparrow is made from recycled guitar and bass strings from local bands. While it looks cool & is eco-friendly, it also helps support local musicians.


Check out this cool tee from Dowdy Studio. It features an original illustration of the "Rocker Hand" done by Dylan and is hand silk screened onto a 100% cotton prewashed v-neck tee . After you see how good it looks on your man, you may want to kidnap it from his closet to wear yourself! (Maybe you should get two?)


This Black Leather Glycerin Soap from The Pig and the Peacock has a beautiful mock crock texture that is a must see and touch. The fragrance is like soft leather that's like "buttah" with a bit of sensual and sexy thrown in for good measure.

Consider giving all three -- he'll look good and smell good! Happy Shopping and Happy Valentine's Day a little early!

Valentine Day Gift Guide: For Her

Thinking about everyday chocolate and flowers for that special gal this Valentine's Day? Why not go one step further and give her something lovely and handmade? Here are some girly gifties from the Etsy Dallas Team that are sure to please.


This pretty soap from Where Water Comes Down smells sweet like strawberry and baby powder. The sweetness will linger longer than just Valentine's Day. Be sure to check out her other available soaps as well.


This whimsical 8" x 10" print of an original painting from The Miscellany was inspired by the feeling of the artist's first date with her now husband.


This sweet valentine letterpress card from Color Box Design + Letterpress is tied with a velvet ribbon. Cupid is helping deliver the message "Be Mine" -- who wouldn't be thrilled to receive this?

This cute and fun fabric plant for Jane Joss is perfect and thoughtful gift even for those with a brown thumb. This 5" tall beauty made with Moda's Ambrosia in Rose fabric and is sure to brighten any decor– green thumb not required.

On your mark, get set, go shopping! While you're at it, check out great items from the rest of the Etsy Dallas team.

DIY Valentine: Love Letter Tutorial


You, as a crafter extraordinaire, have the card covered, but when it comes to putting pen to paper, you end up with a giant ink blob. If you have trouble writing the actual love letter that goes inside your intricately cut paper heart card, this is the DIY tutorial for you. Think of it as a “Choose Your Own Adventure” meets “Mad Libs” for love. You can customize and make it as quirky-funny or as romantic as you want.

Let’s start with deciding what kind of relationship you’re in.

A. Serious – hubby/wifey-type relationship
B. Semi-serious – boyfriend/girlfriend
C. New love – puppy love beginnings

Option A. Serious

Dearest (nickname),

Ever since I first met you (date and where), I knew that you were the one for me.

I think back to our first date at (location and year) and our first kiss (location and year).

This time of year reminds me how much I (favorite loving word, ex: treasure, cherish, value) your love, friendship and support.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love Always,
(Your nickname)


Option B. Semi-Serious

Dearest (nickname),

I can’t believe that it’s been (length of time) since we first started dating.

When I look into your (color) eyes, I see such kindness and warmth.

All the (favorite candy or food, ex: chocolate filled heart-shaped boxes) in the world couldn’t express how much you mean to me.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love,
(Your nickname)


Option C. New Love

Dearest (nickname),

I’m so excited about spending more time getting to know you and going (what do you have in common that you do together? ex: biking) with you!

Thank you for making our (first or second) Valentine’s special by spending it with me.
You are as sweet as (favorite candy) to me!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Heart,
(Your nickname)


Written and illustrated by Anne/modestambition