Treasury Tuesdays: Under $25 Gift Guide (Going Green)

We're still giving you Under $25 Gift Guides here on Treasury Tuesdays! Last week's color theme was red...so this week I'm giving you an Etsy Treasury in the other traditional Christmas color...green! Although these shades of green seem to have a bit more of a spring green feel to them than the dark evergreen associated with winter. But there are still some great items that will make you feel cozy. And maybe thinking of warmer seasons will help warm you up as well!

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (Going Green)

Make-it Mondays: Studio #6 Goldhawk Pottery Etc

I am excited to profile a very new member of RNEST this week, who is working from a newly set up studio as well. Sarah Goldhawk, of Goldhawk Pottery Etc is our first ceramicist to be interviewed here on the blog. I have a soft spot for clay work and can tell you there is nothing like drinking coffee from a nice, heavy, hand thrown mug. Make sure to visit Sarah's shop and show some love. So without further ado....

Buenahelena: Where do you work/where is your studio?

Goldhawk: My studio is primarily in the basement of my house in Hilton, NY. The kiln is now in the garage which is attached to the house. It has taken a few months to set up the studio as I received equipment in September and then the kiln was blowing fuses so I had to have some electrical work done.

B: What is your medium or product?
G: I sell functional pottery for daily home use – primarily bowls, plates, mugs, serving dishes, bonsai pots, and more. All pottery is wheel thrown and made of stoneware clay which is fired to a high temperature making it food safe, and safe for use in the microwave, oven and dishwasher.

B: What is the biggest challenge about your space and how have you worked through it?
G: My biggest challenge recently was the electricity. I was not set up in the house properly to fire the kiln so I kept blowing fuses. I had an electrician completely reconfigure the electricity panel and then he created a special outlet in the garage for my kiln. My next challenge may be that the kiln is in the garage and the studio and glazes are in the basement, so I will have to go up and down stairs to transport the pots that need to be fired.


B: Describe a typical day at the studio.

G: I have not had a typical day yet, but here’s how it should go. I would definitely start my day checking email and Facebook (and I hope to start a blog soon), and then throw pots on the wheel. I’d then clean the wheel and trim pots made yesterday or the day before. If I have pots that are bisque-fired already, I might glaze them in the afternoon. If I am firing the kiln, I would likely set up the kiln in the evening and then turn it on first thing the next morning as it will take anywhere from 8-12 hours to fire and it needs to be monitored frequently.

B: What do you love the most about being a crafter/artist/etsy seller?

G: I love the continuous change and surprise of pottery – opening the kiln after each firing is always fun! I love being independent and making my own decisions. I have been laid off twice over the past two years from working in the non-profit education world in Washington, DC. I had wanted to start my own business a long time ago and this triggered it. I am so grateful to Etsy for making it easy for me to launch my shop and the wonderful tools they offer to keep me on the cutting edge for online selling. I sold primarily to friends and family in my early Etsy days but now I’m reaching a wider audience. I could not have done that without Etsy.


Thank you for sharing you studio and process Sarah! If you would like to have your RNEST studio profiled on the blog check out the details here.

Wednesday Wellspring: Congratulations!

Congratulations to Asuka for winning Beadwork by Amanda's awesome circuit jewelry!

And Congratulations to Heather of Merv and Delores for winning this month's "Give Thanks" team challenge with her Happy Turkey Day card! Check out her fabulous items in her mini in the prime parking spot at the top of the blog!

Happy Turkey (or tofurkey) Day to All!!

Treasury Tuesday: A Touch of Red

Thanksgiving is just days away. And then...the horror of Black Friday! Forget about venturing out to stores and taking the chance of getting elbowed in the face while trying to get the best deals on Christmas gifts for your family and friends. Make a point to stay home, curl up with your laptop and a nice cup of tea, and do your shopping online! And better yet, make it an Etsy Christmas!

And if you need some ideas, here's another "Under $25 Gift Guide", featuring RNEST members' items...

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (A Touch of Red)

Be sure to keep an eye out, some members are offering special discounts or free shipping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

Make-it Mondays: Make Your Shop Holiday Rush Ready

This weekend will be one of, if not the, busiest shopping times of the year. The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is a day of long lines, ridiculous crowds, parking mayhem and commercialized insanity. More and more shoppers are looking to buy online and avoid the stampede. Cyber Monday, or the Monday after Thanksgiving has become a popular sale day for strictly online shopping as well. Make your shop one of the calm, sane choices while still offering great holiday sales.

Etsy is doing its part to support shops with sale promotions going on for the Black Friday through Cyber Monday long weekend. Read their article and try out these ideas.

1. Offer a Black Friday thru Cyber Monday Weekend Sale in your Etsy shop.
2. Tag sale items with the words Black Friday Etsy, Cyber Monday Etsy and/or Free Shipping Etsy
   
3. Create a section of your shop for holiday sale items...
   
4. ...or divide the sections of your shop by gift price points
   
5. Promote holiday sales on your blog/twitter/Facebook fanpage
6. Do a Holiday giveaway on your personal blog or on the RNEST team blog
7. Create treasuries supporting holiday items by RNEST street team members and gift treasuries themed by demographic or price point.

Good luck to everyone! With some planning and promotion the sales will come rolling in while you settle into a turkey coma. Now that is something to be thankful for.

Jack's Pick: The Quilted Houses' Jotter Mini Quilted Notebook

Each Friday I select an item created by a member of the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team(RNEST). What criteria do I use? I look for great looking items that I think are well made offered for a great price!

Awhile ago I read a really fascinating book called "How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci." One of the suggestions the book made was to carry around a small notepad with you and jot down all those creative thoughts you have when you have them. If you don't, you

will forget them and may not ever revisit them.

Michelle of the Quilted House probably did this because she is making these wonderfully crafted mini-notebook pad holders that are a delight to the eyes and the mind. I kind of like the colors of this one best, as they are a bit more masculine, but would work for anyone. I can see myself sitting in a coffee shop, writing down all those ideas I have for my own shop.

This could be a great stocking stuffer for anyone! Michelle makes these in a variety of patterns, so check out her shop for other color options.

Wednesday Wellspring: Beadwork by Amanda

Many congratulations to Donna - the Random Number Generator drew your lucky number 4 to win Gock's Frocks' fun Vintage Skaters Winter Twirl Skirt!

And now bubbling up from the well this week, is a fan favorite: Beadwork by Amanda! This wonderful artisan is offering the winner a choice of a circuit ring or mini circuit pendant.

Beadwork by Amanda will be offering FREE SHIPPING throughout November on any purchase - just put RNEST in the message to seller when completing your purchase!

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to THE WORLD!!):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Beadwork by Amanda, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. "Like" Beadwork by Amanda on Facebook.

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. Fan RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, November 23 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesday: A Cool Colored Gift Guide

Okay, we've accepted that Winter is inevitable (although the November weather has been pretty decent lately). But even though we know the temperatures will be dropping and the snow will soon be blowing, we all know the part of winter that makes it all worthwhile right? The Holidays!!!

Yep, gift giving season is fast approaching. And this year, why don't you make it a Handmade Holiday! Whether you need that perfect gift, or just a few fun stocking stuffers, Etsy is a great place to go! You get to skip the crowds, find unique, one-of-a-kind items, and support handmade! This week, I have done some of the work for you and compiled this list of affordable, under $25, handmade gifts...all made by fellow RNESTers!

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (Cool Colors)

This is the cool-colored edition...stay tuned next week for the warm-colored edition!

Make-it Mondays: Studio #5 Turtlefly

Here is another sneak peak into the creative habits our street team members. This week's studio visit is with a member I just met at this month's meeting, Jennie Fox of Turtlefly. Be sure to visit her shop and check out the super cute turkey bibs she has designed for Thanksgiving :) Thanks, Jennie!

Buenahelena: Where do you work/where is your studio?

Turtlefly: My studio is in the attic of my home in West Irondequoit.


B: What is your medium or product?

T: Mostly I create clothing and accessories for women and children as well as
home accessories such as pillows, quilts and table runners. All items are
created using new, repurposed and scrap fabrics.

B: What is the biggest challenge about your space and how have you worked
through it?

T: The biggest challenge for me is that I have allowed some space for my
children to play up there too. If this was not the case it would be great to
have an area dedicated to displaying some of the work. I love being in the
attic because it is like working in a tree house and very bright no matter
what the weather is. I used to have a basement studio and that was not a
very enjoyable space! The only perk to a basement studio is the ability to
bring people in for open house or fittings without having to go through my
whole house to get there.


B: Describe a typical day at the studio.

T: A typical day in my studio is usually made up of a few shifts whenever the
kids allow me to work. If I can engage my daughter in an activity or if the
baby takes a nap, I get more done. It is very hard to spend any length of
time in there. Usually I will set up all the parts of a project and work in
an assembly line manner. I like to get things all cut and ready to sew
during the day. The sewing gets done on the weekends or in the evening when
my husband is home. There is always music playing in the studio, the type of
music is usually influenced by the project at hand.

B: What do you love the most about being a crafter/artist/etsy seller?

T: The thing I love most about being an artist/crafter/etsy seller is that I am
doing what I enjoy first and foremost, but I am also doing what I went to
school for which isn't always possible. I think that I love being at shows
the most because I think that the work I do is appreciated so much more when
people can touch it and see it up close. Etsy is great though because you
can reach so many more people and your work can go all over the world!

Wednesday Wellspring: Gock's Frocks

Bubbling up from the well this week, is a fun and flirty Vintage Skaters Winter Twirl Skirt from Gock's Frocks! The sweet vintage reproduction skater fabric will be sure to be a hit this winter season. The skirt is made from 100% premium quality quilters cotton, preshrunk, machine washable, and available in sizes 12mo-12 years!

Gock's Frocks will be offering FREE SHIPPING throughout November on any purchase - just put RNEST in the message to seller when completing your purchase!

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to US only):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Gock's Frocks, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. Fan Gock's Frocks on Facebook.

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. Fan RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, November 16 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesday: RNEST Clings To Autumn

Hello! I am your new Tuesday RNEST blogger, Kira of KiraArts. Kaitlin of Inky Star Shop is no longer able to bring us her fun and funky Trash and Treasures Tuesdays post. We'll miss her, but we're excited to bring you a new Tuesday Blog series...Treasury Tuesdays! On Treasury Tuesdays I will bring you Etsy Treasuries featuring the creations of our RNEST members. Some weeks the Treasury may feature exclusively RNEST members' work. Other weeks I may choose an RNEST member's piece as a jumping point for a theme and fill the Treasury out with pieces from all over Etsy.

This week's Treasury consists of exclusively RNEST pieces. Snowflakes have started to make their dreaded appearance already here in western New York, and as old man winter approaches, we cling to the crisp coolness and cozy colors of fall...

RNEST Clinging to Autumn

I hope you'll enjoy Treasury Tuesdays! I'll see you next week with another collection of great handmade items!

Make-it Mondays: Studio #4 Kelley's Beading

This particular blog has been enjoyed so much, let's just keep em' coming! This week's studio visit and interview is with Kelley Allen, the creative force behind Kelley's Beading. Kelley makes beautiful lampwork beads. For those of you who don't know, "Lampworking is a type of glasswork that uses a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is formed by blowing and shaping with tools and hand movements. It is also known as flameworking or torchworking, as the modern practice no longer uses oil-fueled lamps."(thank you wikipedia!)

Enjoy!

Buenahelena: Where do you work/where is your studio?

Kelley: My lampworking happens under a hood in the shed. I've been experimenting with silver-laden glass that releases fumes when it's reduced and inhaling that would be dangerous. Jewelry design and beading happens in the living room. I like to be surrounded by activity when I create, so a lot of my work is done in the evening when my family is around.

B: What is your medium or product?

K: I make lampworked glass beads and jewelry.

B: What is the biggest challenge about your space and how have you worked through it?

K: Honestly, my biggest challenge has been a lack of good lighting. New York is surprisingly gloomy-- especially in the fall--and working in the evenings, well, forget it. I have a sun lamp I use when choosing glass and bead colors (Blue Max; highly recommend them!) and I just got a tiny portable light I use when working in the evening with seed beads.

B: Describe a typical day at the studio.

K: On the days I get to lampwork (which still don't come often enough), I get coffee, then turn the kiln on to ramp up while I choose which colors/what type of glass I want to work with. I clean each glass rod with rubbing alcohol and pull whatever stringers I think I'll be using. By then the kiln is up to temperature, so I start winding beads and let the day carry me where it will.

B: What do you love the most about being a crafter/artist/etsy seller?

K: I love the independence. Being a crafter/artist/Etsy seller allows me to access many different talents and skills: I can be alone creating art; I can spend a weekend out with the public at a show; I can meet fellow jewelry lovers in a class; I can be a part of a wonderful community of artists/crafts people/business owners on-line and in person; and I can push the necessary paperwork in my pajamas, What more could I want?

Not much! Thank you Kelley for sharing your process with us. You can see more of Kelley's work at her Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelleysbeading

Wednesday Wellspring: Jackbear Stamps

In a well-deserved win, Jackbear Stamps took the glory and the prime parking spot in the Scaredy Cat Team Challenge! His stamps range from truly spine-tingling to the hilariously clever mini works of art that would be glorious gracing any correspondence! Congratulations, Jackbear!

Make-it Mondays: Make Waves

Our team members are out there making waves again in Rochester!

Amanda of Beadwork by Amanda was profiled by the Rochester Examiner here.

MAYDAY Underground Crafts + Art Luau (created by Amanda and Casey of Peaches Products) will take place this Saturday May 6th and feature several RNEST team members. Check out the fun things they have planned!

Kristen of Gock's Frocks showcased her designs at Rochester Fashion Week at Four Walls Gallery, here.

Beth of Moonblossom Signworks has founded a new Art Co-op with three friends in the old E.P. Reed Shoe Factory. Their premiere show, Boots and Shoes: Variations on a Theme Opens this Friday, November 5th. See the article here.



Team members Michelle of Beauty in the Eye and myself, Buenahelena will have work featured in that show as well.

Did I forget something awesome that you did RNESTer?
Let me know and it will be added :)