Where it's Made - Regal Cottage



Regina of Regal Cottage's Home Studio


Where is your creative studio space? 
My creative space is our home office that I have completely hi-jacked! My husband, Aaron, also works from home most days. We used to share this space which was nice until we discovered that the hum of my sewing machine was not good background noise for his phone conferences. So I did what I had to and kicked him out! This is a really great space because it has tons of built-in storage and a nice long tabletop area where I can really spread my work out. 

What do you make there? 
Toys, toys, and more toys!

What is your favorite item in your creative space? 
A small watercolor painting that my Dad painted.

Favorite Halloween candy? 
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

Weekend Guide: October 26 + 27 + 28

Blues, Bandits & BBQ 

Date: Friday, Oct. 26th and Saturday, Oct 27th 
Time: Friday 4-9pm and Saturday 12-6pm
Location: Future site of the Davis Street Market Development, 715 W Davis, Dallas 
More Info: http://www.gooakcliff.org/blues-bandits-bbq/ 
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio
Cyclesomatic 2012 

Date: Saturday, Oct. 27th 
Time: 11am-3pm 
Location: Rosemont Primary School, 1919 Stevens Forest Drive, Dallas
More Info: http://bikefriendlyoc.org/cyclesomatic-2012/ 
Participating Etsy Dallas Member: ReGEARED 

Where it's Made - Jenni20 Designs


Jenni of Jenni20 Designs' Creative Space in her Cottage
Here's Jenni in front of her acid green bookshelf she salvaged and painted and dedicates to all her jenni20 designs fabric. (Her own stash lives in a dark closet, but she lets her j20 fabric decorate her studio...colorful fun and so easy to be inspired by.)

Where is your creative studio space?
My studio space is in my little cottage...I make all kinds of messes in that room...and also my jenni20 travel accessories. 

 What do you make in your creative studio space?
I paint, sew, quilt, embroider, write, daydream, and read in this space. (My childhood daybed is installed in this room and I spend a lot of time, cross legged on that, staring at fabrics and deciding what to put together next.)


 What is your favorite item in your space?
My favorite item in my space is this little poodle pincushion I thrifted...or bought on Etsy....I honestly can't remember. He sits on my pretty vintage desk and doesn't actually get used because I'm kind of klutzy and I don't want to break him when I'm spazzing about by my sewing machine. I'll take a glamour shot of him. You'll see. He's precious.

Favorite Halloween candy?
My favorite Halloween candy is.....Mounds. Oh my, mini coconut dark chocolate pieces of loveliness. Mmmmm. (They're not allowed in the studio.)

Where it's Made - DCimaginations


Chau of DCimagination's Couch Studio


Where is your creative studio space?
My couch in the family room.

What do you make there?
Fun knitted hats and sweaters for dogs

What is your favorite item in your creative space?
My dogs of course! They sit with me and occassionally lend a helping paw.  Just like how they currently are in the photo.

Favorite Halloween candy?
The classic Pop Rocks!

Where it's Made - Christie Cone Ceramics



Christie of Christie Cone Ceramic's Sunroom Studio


Where is your creative studio space?
In a funny little sunroom on the back of my house.

What do you make there?
Ceramics galore.

What is your favorite item in your creative space?
A little marino moss ball in a tiny little tube that my sister gave me.

Favorite Halloween candy?

Reeses pieces. Mmmm.

Weekend Guide: October 20 + 21 An Online Sale!


 Looks like this weekend will be the perfect time to sit back and relax with a cozy cup of tea and let the handmade goodies be delivered to your doorstep. These Etsy Dallas shops are having online sales this weekend with free shipping. 

La Alica Earth Friendly Frills

Alicia creates the most amazing purses, jewelry, accessories and home decor from reclaimed paper. Use coupon code: FREESHIP at checkout for free shipping on any item at La Alica.


Local Honey Sweet Handmade and Custom Illustrations

Kelly Christine hand illustrates custom family portraits and makes awesome personalized burlap pillows. Use coupon code: OCTFREESHIPPING at checkout for free shipping on any item at Local Honey.



ReGEARED ReCLAIMED. ReINVENTED.

Rachel reclaims bicycle parts and transforms them into art, jewelry, and furniture. Use coupon code: ETSYDALLASFREE for free shipping on any item at ReGEARED.



Regal Cottage Eco Fab Fun for Little Ones

Regina makes adorable toys and baby gifts from the perfect eco-fab combo of organic cotton and vintage fabrics. Use coupon code: REGALFREESHIP for free shipping on any item at Regal Cottage.

Adorable DIY Halloween Treats




Trick-or-treat time is almost here! This fun DIY project from Rori of MadeByRori might just make your house the most popular in the neighborhood with all the ghouls and goblins. 


Here are the supplies you will need: the cardboard from toilet paper rolls (you can also cut paper towel rolls to size, if needed); scissors; scrap paper in Halloween colors; scrap pieces of ribbon or twine; candy; double-stick tape; cellophane.

How to make these awesome Halloween treats:

1.   Cut scrap paper to 6 x 4 1/8 inches to fit the toilet paper roll. You may have some excess outside the edge of the roll, but that’s okay.
2.   Put double-stick tape around each end of the toilet paper tube and around the middle. Carefully wrap the tube with the paper. You’ll have about an inch of overlap, so add an extra strip inside the end of your paper for extra hold.
3.   Now center the wrapped tube in a piece of cellophane. I cut the cellophane into pieces of 13 x 8.5 inches. You want to roll along the 8.5-inch length, so there’s plenty left on either side. Use a small piece of double-stick tape to secure the cellophane to itself when you reach the end.
4.   Tie off one end of the cellophane with ribbon or twine (about 6.5 inches should be enough for one end), leaving the other end open so you can put in a few pieces of candy. Fun!
5.   Tie off the other end and you’re done!
6.   Put your adorable treats in a bowl and get ready to impress the neighbors.


These also make fun party takeaways. And they’re a good way to spice up the office candy bowl. 

Where it's Made - mere designs



Meredith of mere design's Office Studio

Where is your creative studio space?
My creative space is the office of my family's house in Richardson, Texas.

What do you make in your creative space?
I cut lots and lots of paper to design colorful mobiles for children's rooms there.

What's your favorite item in your space?
Aside from my partners in crime who are always underfoot (my 12-year-old dog and 1-year-old son), my new favorite item in the space is Lauren Gregg's "Be Excellent to Each Other" print from a pop culture exhibit at Gallery 1988 -- inspired by Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, of course!

Favorite Halloween candy?
My favorite Halloween candy is the Hershey's Special Dark miniature bar. My brother didn't like them, so I got all of his growing up.

Where it's Made - Seventy-five Apparel


Creth and Eddie of Seventy-five Apparel's Garage Studio


Where is your creative studio space?
Our creative studio space is in Eddie's garage in Richardson, Texas.
What do you make there?
We screen print t-shirts, wall art, and apparel.

What is your favorite item in your creative space?
Favorite item in our creative space is our stereo. Music makes the work easy.

 Favorite Halloween candy?
Cotton candy?! I know you won't get cotton candy as you're trick or treating but you will get it at most Halloween parties and it's AMAZING!

Learn How to Green your Halloween


What will you dress up as this year? Time will tell...

I recently learned about the Third Annual National Costume Swap Day – it's October 13th this year. You can join the adventure on Facebook. Or start an event in your own area, learn how at GreenHalloween.org  



Bring your child's Halloween costume from last year and walk away with a different one. This event includes costumes for kids, adults and pets too! You pay nothing just bring costume(s) with you for swapping! 

I love this idea!! By swapping costumes, you save stuff from the landfills, it's free, meet fun people and get cool costumes. What's not to love!?

Find an event close to you. The count down is on...

This eco-idea brought to you by Alicia of La Alicia

Weekend Guide: October 12 + 13 + 14


Pegasus Plaza Market 
Date: Friday, Oct. 12th
Time: 11am - 2pm
Location: Main & Akard in Downtown Dallas
More Info:  http://dowdystudio.blogspot.com/2011/03/wheres-that-wagon.html
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio 

Arts Goggle
Date: Saturday, Oct. 13th
Time: 4pm-10pm
Location: Near Southside in Ft Worth (1207 W. Magnolia) 
Urban Street Bazaar

Date: Saturday, Oct. 13th and Sunday, Oct. 14th
Time: Saturday 12-8pm, Sunday 12-4pm
Location: Bishop Arts District, Dallas
More Info: http://makeitindiegenius.squarespace.com/urban-street-bazaar1/
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Pamplemousse1983, estieMade, Dowdy Studio 


Etsy Dallas Pillow Talk

This past weekend, Dallas teased us with the first cold weather spurt it has seen in quite some time. After a million days of a million degree heat, the colder it gets, the more we all want to snuggle up with our loved ones by a cozy fireplace in a giant pillow and blanket palette.  Here to prepare you with the perfect cold weather pillow pile is me, Pamela Dowdy from Dowdy Studio.

We know a thing or two about pillows, as we create some for our shop too. Plus we have quite a collection of our own that are always great couch companions, fort builders and of course, house-maker-prettiers.

First, I want to make sure you are super excited:


Are you thrilled now? K, good

Now get ready for some unconventional pillow talk.

I've secretly stalked all the Etsy Dallas pillow maker members to find the best for your fireplace pillow palette collections. After all my pillow peepings, here's what I have for you:



Local Honey's Texas pillow reminds me of that one winter we had a couple years back where the Texas had strange white fluffy stuff all over it, and my cat was like "WTF, is this?!?! And why so fun to lick??"



BUTTER's Drop it Like it's Hot Pillow is totally talking about misplacing your body mass to the floor by the fireplace. Pass me the hot cocoa, but don't drop that, because it is hot.   



 Midnight Snack's Toast Pillow will butter up any pillow party situation. It's possible it will also make you hungry. So you should probably go ahead and get the matching bacon one too. 



 To add a full bucket of cuteness to this pillow palette party, grab one of these Owl Pillows from Regal Cottage. If you're sitting solo at your pillow party, add this guy as your plus one. He's a good cuddler, listener and his eyes are so dreamy, you'll be forgetting all about the chili weather outside in no time.



For you trekkies, who are like "Why make pillow palette when I can have Star-Trek marathon on the couch!?!" Set phasers to pillow mode and have Scotty join you....er well, his pillow formation of himself. And before I reveal too much about my Star Trek knowledge, go where no pillow party has gone before with Yellow Bug Boutique's Star Trek themed pillows.



Here's our Dowdy Studio contribution to the pillow party, Viking Wood Beard. Unlike the cute owl above, this pillow viking is more likely to steal your firewood, booze and take off in his giant wooden ship to pillage more pillow parties. We apologize for his behavior, but I guess that's what you get when you invite an unruly viking over for a quiet relaxing evening by the fireplace. What were you thinking?


Have a favorite pillow from the Etsy Dallas artists above? Let us know. Want to tell us how you enjoy the cold days inside? Tell us!

Shop more pillows and all the Etsy Dallas member's shops here.

Happy pillow party!
-Pamela

Product Spotlight: A Brave New World

Columbus Day this year is October 8th. Here are a few picks from the Etsy Dallas team to inspire your adventures.
Go & Be Daring art print by Honeycomb Print Shop

Morning at Sotol Vista art print by Seen Studios

Blue Quartz Branch necklace by estieMade

Hungry Blue Fish wall vase by Two Clay Hands

Super Ride Tee by Dowdy Studio

Make Christopher Columbus proud. Get out there and conquer the world!

Weekend Guide: September 28 + 29 + 30



Indie Emporium


 Date: Friday, Sept. 28th and Saturday, Sept. 29th
Time: Friday 7-11 pm , Saturday 12-10pm 
Location: Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 East Brady, Tulsa, OK
More Info: indieemporium.com
Participating Etsy Dallas Member: Pamplemousse1983





Fort Worth Music Fest

Date: Friday, Sept. 28th and Saturday, Sept. 29thTime: Friday 3pm-10pm, Saturday 1pm - 10pm 
Location: Will Rodgers Memorial Center, 3401 West Lancaster Avenue,  Fort WorthMore Info: http://www.fwfest.com/
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio, Kessler Craftsman 
White Rock Paper Scissors

Date: Saturday, Sept. 29th & Sunday, Sept. 30th
Time: 9am-4pm
Location: 530 Northlake Dr., Dallas, TX 75218
More Info: laalicia.blogspot.com
Participating Etsy Dallas Member: La Alicia

Weekend Guide: September 22nd + September 23rd

Two Art Studios*One Party 
Date: Saturday, Sept 22nd
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Location: Dowdy Studio & Napkin Art Studio - 10025 Garland Rd #G & #H
Dallas
More Info: Dowdy Studio Blog
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio, Napkin Art Studio 

Dallas Handmade Arts Market 

Date: Saturday, Sept. 22nd and Sunday, Sept. 23rd
Time: 10am-7pm on Saturday, 11am-5pm on Sunday
Location: 327 Cole St, Dallas
More Info: http://www.dallashandmade.com
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Pamplemousse1983 

Munger Place Days Home Tour 2012 

Date: Sunday, Sept. 23rd
Time: 12-6pm
Location: 4900 Tremont Street, Dallas. See this helpful Map.
More Info: http://www.mungerplace.com/tour_2012.html
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: K8made, Butter

Time to Hit the Books in Style


Popsicles, summer school, vacations and fun times - they just flew by! Now it's time to get serious and hit the books. With that in mind, here are a few fun essentials for easing back to your studies.


Whale notebook, $9, Made by Rori



Periodic Table Book Bag, $22.50, Yellow Bug Boutique




Lemon Verbena Soap, $5.50, ThePigAndThePeacock




iPad Case, $30, BUTTERdesignlab

Prepare to have a great fall semester.

Weekend Guide: Sept. 8 + 9



White Rock Local Market

 Date: Sat, Sept 8th
Time: 8am - 1pm
Location: 701 N. Buckner Blvd, Dallas
More Info: http://www.whiterocklocalmarket.com/
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio 



Dallas Untapped
Date: Sat, Sept 8th 
Time: 1pm - 11pm
Location: Trinity Groves, 334 Singleton Boulevard, Dallas
More Info: http://untapped-festival.com/
Participating Etsy Dallas Members: Dowdy Studio 

Craftivities Sneak Peek

It's almost party time! 
Craft Party time that is. 
Here's a little sneaky peek at what we have planned.


This celebration is all about the craft, so let's get right to it. Oil and Cotton has planned two exciting craft activities for this party. The first is based on Operation Rainbow Brains (O>R>B>), a street art project that uses chalk pastels to create gradients of rainbow colors on trees throughout Oak Cliff. We will create miniature versions of this project on sticks and small branches with pastels and yarn.


A second activity will be a miniature fabric wall hanging using scraps of fabric. We will have small precut linen/cotton/canvas banners and fabric swatches with needles, thread (and glue for the sewing challenged). We will create abstract fabric collage wall hangings that can be hung from the rainbow branches (made in the first project) or cord.


It's not a party without food and beverages. We've got that covered! For this Craft Party, we'll have complimentary sodas and Shiner on tap, and two local favorite food trucks will join us for dinner. FOOD TRUCKS?? Oh yeah! Come hungry and bring some funds to help show your support for Gandolfo's and Trailercakes.  Gandolfo's NY Deli is proud to offer a variety of delicious homemade deli salads and fresh ingredients. The premium meats and freshly baked breads make up the best sandwiches. (They have great vegetarian options too). "One bite and you are there!" And at Trailercakes, their goal is to serve the best tasting cupcakes you’ve ever had, while evoking nostalgic emotions of happiness and bliss. "Happiness comes in many forms, and we hope to summon those emotions the moment the first bit of frosting hits the lips. That, to us, is the icing on the cake and why we like to say ‘happiness is in the frosting.' "

 And of course, Etsy Dallas believes every celebration needs a photo booth, so we've got that too! Rosemary from Paper Beats Rock has created another amazing photo booth for us, so we can get all snap happy when we are done getting our craft on!

See you there!

Where: Oil and Cotton, 837 W. 7th Street, Dallas, Texas 75208
When: Friday, August 24th
Time: 7-9pm 
What: Two craft tables, raffle prizes, photo booth, food and drinks
Cost: Free, but you may want to bring some $$ for dinner