Brooklyn Handmade Boutique Closing!



Do you ever dream of a handmade shop? Say a handmade shop that sold all things from Etsy? A shop that you could hold Etsy items you've been coveting, in your own two hands? Well this place ACTUALLY existed!




But alas, it will be no more. This Sunday 4pm - 8pm, Fact and Fancy (75B Hoyt St. Brooklyn, NY 11201), run by the amazingly talented Daniellexo, is having its closing party. I've heard rumors of door prizes and HOT TODDIES, ladies and gentlemen. So your name on the guest list is a MUST!!





I hope to see some of you there! Please give a holler if you plan to come and we can coordinate times so we can all meet! WOO HOO!

Amy
ThePeachTree

The {NewNew} Handmade Valentines

Want to give something meaningful this Valentine's Day?

Etsy is partnering with City Meals on Wheels to deliver hot meals to 18,000 elderly in our area and on top of that - they want to brighten their day with YOUR handmade Valentine's cards. For details on how youc an particpate - visit The Storque for instuctions. Too late to make and send you Valentine? You can always donate directly to here!



Thanks so much to Groundsel, Jack Blue Hand Bags, Jantar, Waisze, MSwedowsky and Kokalaki Jewelry for making and donating these fantastically unique cards to the elderly in our area.


-Kimm
KimmChi.etsy.com

Cabin Fever Project #1: The Fabric Banner

(The First in a Two Part Series)
by Lorina / beadscarf.com

So, what to do?? It’s so cold you can’t even imagine going outside to do anything. But yet, despite the 999 channels you have on cable, 5 different video game systems and countless chores around the house, you just don’t want to do anything indoors either. It’s called Cabin Fever! This is the perfect time to undertake a project that you have waited for the perfect opportunity to start on, and since you won’t be doing much else, you may just complete this one in a single day!

So with that in mind, I have prepared a rough guide to creating your very own fabric banner for when you do go out there into the real world to display your wonderful wares come springtime craft markets.

You’ll need:
Your Logo in digital format
An image editing application (such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign)
A printer
Some felt, or other snarky fabric
A fabric backdrop to put it all together on
Pins (to hold your pattern in place)
A good pair of scissors
Needle and thread or a sewing machine and liquid stitch- a no stitch glue (optional)
Snacks, to eat while you are taking a break because your hand hurts so darn much!
Patience (!)

How to:

1. Open your image in an application which will allow you to scale it to your specs and tile it as a banner.
2. Print that image in grayscale. It may span several pages depending on the size you scale it to.
3. Carefully cut out your logo or other images so that you can make a ‘pattern’ to use.
4. Pin the logo you just cut out from the paper to the felt or other snarky fabric.




5. Carefully cut around the pattern so that the fabric takes the shape of your paper. (Note: This is the worst part of the process, your hands will hurt, take breaks, eat snacks.)



6.Remove the pins from your pattern/fabric and place your logo or other image onto your fabric backdrop. When you are happy with the layout, either pin it down so that you can sew it down or Liquid Stitch.


7. Hem the banner, trim the banner and voila! Sit back and revel in your accomplishment, show off to other vendors that you made it all by yourself!

8. You can hang it by using a few large safety pins and twine.






Stay tuned for Cabin Fever Project #2 later this month!

How a California Girl Survives a New York Winter

Moving across the country from Sunny California to Snowy Upstate New York was quite an experience. I still recall my now husband teaching me to tie on a scarf that first snowy winter.

Well I’ve come a long way in the almost 8 years I’ve lived in New York. I’m sure you born and bred New Yorkers learned all of this from your mother’s milk. This is for the rest of us.


Layers

Probably the most important thing I ever learned: How to put on about 50 more layers than anyone would notice. Thin soft layers underneath all leading towards the big chunky ones on the outside.

These fingerless gloves are perfect for finding your metrocard or keys without talking off your mittens, from ShutterKate.

My natural proclivity is to wear dark melancholy colors to match the landscape and sky (especially here in NYC), but my mood suffers. I try to brighten my day with brightly colored scarves and hats.

Like this bright pink Cowl from SpattersandJayne.


Moisturizing

I hate high maintenance. I’m not awake enough in the mornings to do all that. But I never leave the house on a cold day without moisturizing, especially my face, hands, and lips.

I love that these lotion jars are the right size to fit in my purse to keep my hands nice all day, from Nordea’s Soaperie.


Staying Inside

While I spend all summer outdoors, I try to spend all winter (when I can) indoors. I invite friends over. I take naps with my cat. I read lots of books.

Reading made easy with these quirky bookmarks from Beacon Bookmarks.

I learned the hard way how dreary it gets all winter long without enough sun. I’ve finally understood why my husband has to turn all of the lights in the apartment on when he’s home. So brighten up your space with good colors, bright lights, and beautiful things.

Like this beautiful lamp from YoursTrulyxoxo.


If All Else Fails, Go On Vacation

Everyone else seems to do it too.




By a professed California Girl (even if I didn’t know it until I moved across the country)

Karen

http://karensmonsters.etsy.com
http://karensmonsters.blogspot.com