December Team Challenge: "Woodland Winter"

Welcome to RNEST's December Team Challenge! The theme for this month was 
"Woodland Winter"

December Team Challenge: Woodland Winter
(An Etsy Treasury with all the submitted items!)

Earlier this month, we asked our RNEST members to get creative and make items representing an interpretation of "Woodland Winter"...and now YOU, our loyal blog readers, get to pick the winner!  Here's the list of our contestants!

Woodland Wedding Invitation Set by kaseyAjohnson

Holiday Yeti Letterpress Printed Postcard 5x7 by FlyRabbitPress

Custom Lumbering Lumberjack Hat by KarenSwimmer

Humphrey Hedgehog Ring Holder Dish by LoveAndWhiskers

Elegance-Beadwoven Earrings-Gold by KelleysBeading

Evergreen Pine Tree Applique Embroidery Hoop Art 8" by FrecklesAndFrizz

Baby Bears Ready For Hibernating by MoyaLazyFactory

Yeti the Mr Kim by MoyaLazyFactory

Snowflake Recycled Bottlecap Pincushion by MoyaLazyFactory

Votive Candle Holder by FrancescaDeCaire

Arctic Fox Grey Batik Stuffed Animal by PeachesProducts

Japanese Maple Leaf Copper Enamel Earrings by kurpiz

Decorative Tree Handmade Copper Ornament by ManicMetals

Harvest Pixie Scarf by KeenTied

Small Snowy Owl by KiraArts

Cast your vote for your favorite on the poll in the upper, right corner of the blog! 

(Deadline to vote is by midnight on Wednesday, December 19th)

Treasury Tuesday: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The title says it all!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!
by KiraArts, featuring SewIndieShop and MFcrafts

Be sure you click on the other links to see more treasuries! (I can't picture them all so you have to click on them to see!  If you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:

• Enjoy featuring FrecklesAndFrizz
• Romantic Gifts For Her featuring KelleysBeading
• Small Business Saturday featuring PandaWear
• In The Frosty Air featuring MFcrafts
• Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas featuring MFccrafts
• Wintery Holiday Fun featuring MFcrafts
• Purple, No Rain featuring MFccrafts
• On A Pink Cloud - Pink Gifts Under 50 featuring MFcrafts

Curated by RNEST Members:

• Feeling Girly by BeadworkByAmanda
• Recent Favorites of December by KiraArts

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook Page. Your treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Treasury Tuesday: Happy Independence Day!

As you prepare to celebrate Independence Day tomorrow, enjoy these red, white, and blue patriotic treasuries!

Red and White with Blue by MFcrafts, featuring an all RNEST cast

Military Heroes Are Moms and Dads! by MFcrafts , featuring FrecklesAndFrizz, KarenSwimmer, GocksFrocks, KiraArts, and TatteredPearls


Be sure you click on the other links to see more treasuries! (I can't picture them all so you have to click on them to see!  If you don't, you're missing out!)

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook Page. Your treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Treasury Tuesday: Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from RNEST!  Whether you have a sweetheart today or not, you can still love the handmade items in these Valentine-themed treasuries!

Give A Little Handmade Love by KiraArts

featuring InMyHeadStudios, FrancescaDeCaire, and SunshyneSilverwear

Loving Lovely Hearts featuring TheStitchingStudio 

Be sure you click on the other links to see more treasuries! (I can't picture them all so you have to click on them to see!  If you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:

• Here Fishy Fishy featuring HeatherVitticore
• Lucky Goldfish featuring HeatherVitticore
• Guess The Book (Series) featuring HeatherVitticore
• Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut featuring PeachesPictures
• My Favorite Shades From Pink To Purple featuring MFcrafts

Featuring and curated by RNEST Members:

• Tantalizing! by aDifferentView, featuring Missrie
• Fabulous Finger Lakes by k5art, featuring FuzzyBunny
• Minty Fresh Springtime by BeadworkByAmanda, featuring SunshyneSilverwear

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook Page. Your treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Treasury Tuesday: Creatures & Christmas

Sorry I missed Treasury Tuesday last week. I was feeling a bit under the weather. To make up for it, I'm featuring 2 treasuries this week! Both treasuries both feature and are curated by RNEST members.

Black Red and White Christmas

by k5art, featuring Buenahelena, Missrie, aDifferentView, SunshyneSilverwear, PoetCharms, & KiraArts

RNEST Creatures

by SoftShellCrafts, featuring an all-RNEST cast!

Be sure you click on the links below and go see more treasuries that feature some of our other awesome RNEST members! (if you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:

• Wonderful pieces from Rochester, NY featuring OldFamilliarWay & PeachesProducts
• Enchanting featuring HeatherVitticore
• Zoological featuring HeatherVitticore
• Rested and Ready featuring HeatherVitticore
• Watt Are You Talking About? featuring k5art
• 12 Days of Christmas featuring k5art
• The Geek In Me featuring k5art
• Gifts Under $30 featuring k5art
• For Kids 1-92 featuring MFcrafts
• From Russia With Love featuring MFvintage
• I Am the Walrus featuring SoftShellCrafts
• Christmas Cocktail Party featuring FlyRabbitPress
• Geschenke für Judith -1 featuring FlyRabbitpress
• Mad For Plaid. Red Plaid Is Rad featuring FrecklesAndFrizz
• Clean Burning Fun! featuring Buenahelena
• Cocktail Party featuring Buenahelena
• On The Fourth Day of Christmas featuring LoveAndWhiskers
• A Burst Of Light featuring FaerieTails
• FabUlOuS FaUx's to MuSt HaVe!...or just so cool! featuring PeachesProducts

Featuring and curated by RNEST Members:

• I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You featuring an all RNEST cast!
• Crazy Cat Lady by k5art, featuring Buenahelena, GocksFrocks, & FrancescaDeCaire
• We Are An Ocean by k5art featuring PeachesProducts, Missrie, SoftShellCrafts, Kurpisz, BMegDesigns
• Bluebird Holiday by k5art, featuring PinLady, SunshyneSilverwear, and MervAndDelores

Curated by RNEST Members:

• Sneak Attack! 11/28/2011 by k5art

I think one of our newest members, k5art, wins the prize this week for making the most treasuries! (the prize is extra "coolness points"!) ;)

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook Page. Your treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Craftmas Events are on Facebook!

Craftmas Events are now on Facebook! Click the links below to RSVP, then share with your friends!

• Craftmas: Etsy Style! First Friday Holiday Craft Sale
  (Friday, December 2nd, 5pm-9pm & Saturday, December 3rd, noon-4pm)
  A Handmade Holiday hits the Hungerford Building! Come shop from a selection of quality items made by local artists. Give the gift of handmade this holiday season!
  
  
• Clothing Swap
  (Monday, December 5th, 7pm-9pm)
  

  It’s time to clean out that closet!

  Bring in your unwanted clothing and take home some new-to-you pieces for your wardrobe...all for free! RNEST artists will also be available to teach demos with techniques for altering and upcycling your clothes into fun, new items!

  *Any clothing left over at the end of the night will be donated. Nothing will go to waste!
  
  
• Creative Play Session
  (Saturday, December 10th, 7pm-8:30pm)
  Creativity boosting activities and exercises to spark your artistic inspiration and get out of a rut. Come with an open mind and leave with ideas for new projects! (For ages teen and up)
  
  

• Open Craft Night: Etsy Style!
  (Thursday, December 15th, 6pm-9pm)
  Demos: glass pendant soldering, knitting, bead weaving and MORE! Everyone is invited for a handmade, fun-filled evening of simple planned projects and unstructured time with RNEST artists. Bring your crafty works-in-progress, share our supplies, experiment with our tools, and ask us about tips and techniques. A small sampling of our works will also be available for sale.

We hope you can make it to at least one of these events! They should be a lot of fun!

Treasury Tuesday: Independance

I really enjoyed this creative take on a treasury theme celebrating Independence Day by our own SunshyneSilverwear. Hope you all had a happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th!

Be sure you click on the links below and go see more treasuries that feature some of our other awesome RNEST members! (if you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:

• Emotions Are Natural featuring KiraArts
• Somewhere Over The Rainbow featuring KiraArts
• Rainbow featuring KiraArts
• Love Comes In Many Colors featuring KarenSwimmer and KiraArts
• Baby on Board featuring KarenSwimmer
• A Trip To The Farmer's Market featuring KarenSwimmer
• Orange............ featuring KarenSwimmer

Curated by RNEST Members:

• Blue Sky and Lemonade by Sunshynesilverwear
• Staycation by KarenSwimmer

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook Page. Your treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Treasury Tuesday: Patriotic

Memorial Day was yesterday, so this is day "late", but I thought it would be appropriate for this week's featured treasury to be a patriotic one.

Patriotic featuring KarenSwimmer

Be sure you click on the links below and go see more treasuries that feature some of our other awesome RNEST members! (if you don't, you're missing out!)

Featuring RNEST Members:

• A Touch Of Green featuring aDifferentView
• Shadowtime featuring aDifferentView
• Lemon Drop Martini featuring aDifferentView
• Romance Is All Around featuring MervandDelores
• Summer Day featuring MFcrafts
• Flora and Fauna featuring MFvintage

Featuring and curated by RNEST Members:

• Your Love Is Better Than Chocolate featuring Buenahelena, The QuiltedHouse, MereWare, KiraArts, GoldhawkPottery, KarenSwimmer, and FuzzyFunny

Curated by RNEST Members:

• Snap! by KiraArts
• Wishing For A Warm Breeze by KarenSwimmer
• My Wandering Mind by PeachesProducts

* If you make or find a treasury that features an RNEST member, or if you are an RNEST Member who makes a treasury, post the link on the wall at RNEST's Facebook Page. Your treasury could be featured on the next Treasury Tuesday!

Treasury Tuesday: White Christmas

Christmas is this weekend and so this will be the last holiday gift guide of 2010. Whether you're dreaming of a white Christmas or wishing the white stuff would go away already, you can enjoy these bright and white items from our RNEST members.

Under $35 Gift Guide from RNEST (White Christmas)

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Season's Greetings!...and all that jazz! See you next week with some shiney New Year's items!

Treasury Tuesday: Blue & Silver

The holidays don't just have to be about red & green! Wanting to break from the norm, on our first Christmas together, my husband and I decided to decorate our tree in blue, white and silver. My husband likes blue, and I prefer silver over gold.

It was only later on that I learned that those are the colors traditionally associated with Hanukkah (which is December 1st-9th this year). But whether you celebrate Hanukkah or not, you can enjoy the color scheme and these lovely handmade items from our RNEST members!

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (Blue & Silver)

Only two more weeks of gift guides before Christmas! What treasury theme/color scheme would you like to see next?

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!

Trash & Treasures Tuesday: It's Halloween time!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love it all: dressing up, handing out candy and mostly, decorating! Here are some Etsy finds to help you get in the Halloween spirit...

Photo and item from vintagescrapshop

This upcycled dictionary page would be the perfect understated touch to any home decor. I bet it would look cute framed, too!

Photo and item from loda

Cut from a pop can, this little pumpkin pin is too cute.

Photo and item from petitefabrique

If you give Halloween gifts, these spiderweb tags would be a nice finishing touch!

Photo and item from 42things

I bet you could make a super cute fall banner from these upcycled leaves.

Have any good Halloween decorating tips? Find some good items on Etsy? Share 'em in the comments!

Peace & thanks,
Kaitlin

Trash & Treasures Tuesday: What do you mean Father's Day is THIS Sunday?!

How is it the middle of June already!? Father's Day snuck up on me this year, and since my Dad is The Best Dad In The World, I dug around Etsy for some gift inspiration (trash & treasure style, of course).

My pop works for a local payroll company and is a member of the Greece Rotary, so he often sports a tie. This tie tack, made by RNEST's very own Beadwork by Amanda, would definitely spice up his wardrobe.

Made from a piece of recycled circuit board, the tack is a nice blend of traditional and unique.

My dad used to be a DJ and brought a lot of great music into our home. I think a record player would give him a good excuse to dust off his old albums and rock out. This one from Etsy seller All Unique would do the trick.

Over the years, my dad has collected miscellaneous pieces of silverware. One year for Christmas, he presented three complete sets (each unique) in wooden cases he restored to me and my two sisters. It was amazing! Maybe it's time to replenish his supply. Etsy has a ton of great silverware, like this assortment from AB and C.

And while this next idea might not fall into trash or treasure, it's DIY all the way! A superhero's gift box for a super dad, courtesy of AlphaMom.com.

Find any good gifts for Dad? Make him the perfect present? Leave 'em in the comments! And happy Father's Day to all the gents out there who care for and love their families!

(But seriously, my dad is The Best Dad In The World and I'm The Luckiest Daughter In The World. Love you, Big Guy!)

Peace & thanks,
Kaitlin

Make- it Mondays: Mardi Gras Tree

From Buenahelena!

Post Hurricane Katrina, Mardi Gras Graffiti shot by my trip in 2009

So it's February and I still have my Christmas tree up...but I swear I have good reason. This year Mardi Gras falls on February 16. Since I don't have the money to go this year, I have decided to keep this NOLA tradition in my Yankee heart by putting up a Mardi Gras tree. So whip up some Zataran's and join me!

1. Keep your Christmas Tree! Small, colorful, fake ones are the best.
2. String on tons of Mardi Gras beads. Don't have them? Most craft store carry a variety of colors.
3. Add some throws. Throws are items that are thrown from floats during Mardi Gras parades. If you don't have real ones, consider plastic coins, masks, plastic cups, and toy whips and spears.
4. Keep some Mardi Gras gifts under the tree. I'm displaying a highly coveted Muse shoe and a memory case I have made from my trips to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
5. Last, enjoy a bottle of Abita Mardi Gras Bock with your other friends stuck in NY. This could become a fun tradition up here.

VOILA!

Make- it Mondays: Short and Sweet

Happy Holidays!!! (image of Wreath by RNESTer, VictorianPetals)

The Monday before Christmas is hectic for everyone, especially myself as a teacher. From last minute gifts to tying up lessons at school I can barely keep up. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas that feeling of frenzy is in the air. Everywhere besides Etsy that is. For many sellers the rush of sales are long gone, as shipping this week is already too late. I would expect low sales to continue in the following weeks as people play with all of their new toys and get their credit card bills. Yikes! In this down time I suggest a few ideas for Etsy sellers to ring in the New Year.

1. Organize your Etsy budget/sales/purchases/ bills from 2009. See what you made. What worked and what didn't? Get something prepared for the taxman to see.
2. If you have never kept an Etsy account, resolve to start now in 2010.
   
3. Make a new banner for your shop. I know I fall for all those ''New Year, New You" gimmicks. Why can't your shop get a lift too?
4. Take one of your vacation days off to to edit all those posts with the descriptions and tags like holiday, christmas, stocking stuffer etc...
5. Put obvious holiday items at a discount and rename them with SALE in the title. I know a lot of people who do all of their decoration shopping at high discount after the season.
6. Think ahead to Valentine's Day. What can you make in warm colors? Do you have actual vintage Valentines? Pieces for couples or gifts that one might give on a romantic date? Start putting those things together.
7. Give yourself a pat on the back and sleep in. That's an order!

Make-it Mondays: And by "make" I mean SHOP!

From Buenahelena!

This Sunday marks a milestone for our street team. On December 13th we are holding our first organized, public sale event as a team, the R-NEST WinterFest, at the RIT Inn and Conference Center (5257 West Henrietta Rd. Henrietta, NY 14602). Join us from 9 am-4 pm to support fellow team members and shop, shop, shop for great, handmade holiday gifts. Every purchase of $10.00 at an individual seller's booth will buy you a raffle ticket towards free prizes from individual sellers and one grand prize basket of goodies from ALL of our vendors and other street team members.

Top 5 reasons to shop local this year:
1.) Your gifts will be unique! No embarrassing double gifting!
2.) You'll boost small entrepreneurs in Rochester in a tough economy and support its Arts community.
3.) You can rest assured that you are getting a quality item that was ethically produced. Not in a sweat shop. Not by small children working for a pennies a day...(cough, cough Walmart).
4.) You won't get that nagging mall headache. You know that brain overload of too many colors, lights and choices?
5.) You will avoid horrendous traffic and that angry, overtired shopper who will invariably yell at you for "pulling into their space" in crowded parking lots.


If you can't make it to the WinterFest, be sure to visit our team member's Etsy shops. This holiday season many of us are offering specials sales and deals from discounts on multiple purchases to free shipping. (Team members leave you deals in the comments section of this post!) Happy giving! Don't forget to give a little TLC to yourself as well...

Make-it Mondays: Beer Coaster Ornaments!

From Buenahelena!

As the holidays come around I sometimes find myself driven to drink. Why? To celebrate. To gripe. To commune. To escape. Capture all those merry bar visits by making your very own beer coaster ornament!

Here's How:

1. Swipe some amazing coasters next time you're at the bar OR search them out on Etsy from great shops like SalvageSuppliesPlus. I got my collection from a combination of both.


2. Punch a hole into the upper center portion of the coaster.


3. Gather glitter, rhinestones, ribbons, trims, metallic pens etc...to jazz up those coasters.

4. Add a ribbon through the hole and you've got an ornament!

I had the most fun researching the breweries and brands as I began posting these in my Etsy shop. For example, did you know Stella Artois was born on Christmas? Awesome! Don't drink too much though, because you don't want to forget to enter Giveaway #6 from Lauren's Lovelies below and the grand, Mother of All Giveaways next week. Enjoy!