Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Cheer

In ten days, it will be Christmas. Most Etsy sellers guarantee Christmas delivery for purchases made by December 18. Christmas joy inspires this post!

***Poinsettia French Press Cozy from anniekdesigns***

http://www.etsy.com/listing/103871976/poinsettia-french-coffee-press-cozy

***Joyful Christmas wreath by threesistersharvest***

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83612402/wreath-of-joy-for-winter-time-also

***Christmas coasters by rusticpatriotgirl***

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85949471/fancy-christmas-coasters-gold-green-and

***Christmas Gift Tags by ShannaMicheleDesigns***

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85418362/bird-christmas-gift-tag-dont-open-until

***Small Envelopes by teenytinyenvelopes***

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86038049/14-teeny-tiny-miniature-square-christmas?ref=v1_other_2

***Cross Stitched Christmas Ornament by stitchinmommy***

http://www.etsy.com/listing/17338169/christmas-ornament-cross-stitch-gift

Ho!Ho!Ho! Hope this post brings on holiday cheer and Christmas spirit! Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

Posted by Millie Chauser, http://www.etsy.com/shop/mhandmade

and http://www.etsy.com/shop/eocrafter

Artist Profile - Pink Pianos

There are so many amazing artists and creators in the CCCOE community.  We're going to take some time each month to introduce them to you -- starting with Hilary Hahn of Pink Pianos.  

When did you learn to do what you do?
I have always been creating things for as long as I can remember. I honed my techniques formally through studying Set Design, Fine Art, and Interior Design. I learned to do restoration work through experience. I began my Etsy shop hunting and renewing pieces as a hobby with the dream of having an art show. To my surprise, my furniture sold quickly online and I ended up with an Etsy shop instead. 

Describe your shop. How would you describe your style?
My shop is a curated mix of vintage renewed design and fresh fine art paintings. My style is naturally evolving. I love Scandinavian design, vintage objects, and natural treasures that I come across when adventuring. 


What are your favorite pieces to make?
My favorite pieces to craft depend largely on my mood or the season. Overall, I am drawn to natural wood, linen, and watercolor as a medium. I enjoy the results of seeing an antique transformed in a completely modern way. 

What inspires you?

Nature, color, and travel are constant inspirations to me. I live for the way old wood looks once it has been sanded, oiled, and refinished naturally. 

What does your workspace look like?

My outdoor studio is in the garage. I call it my furniture shop. The best part is that it is on sunny alley with bougainvillea and all day a steady stream of neighbors walk their dogs passed me. They often get involved in the projects that I'm working on. Several of them have even commissioned me to refinish their heirlooms and antiques. I have an indoor studio where I work when it gets too chilly.

My home in Los Angeles is art-filled and eclectic. One of the perks of being an artist is meeting other artists and amassing a mini collection. My husband likes modernity and I blend vintage pieces in a curated way. 

How do you spend your time when you're not creating?
In my spare time, I relax through yoga and biking. I seek out a chance to connect to nature via the mountains or the beaches on the outskirts of the city. I love to hang out with my husband and go walking with friends. 

What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast? 
I love to start my morning with granola and almond milk and fruit with coffee or tea.

Where would you like your shop to be 5 years from now? In 5 years, I would like my shop to offer a full line of home accessories. I would like to combine painting with home décor to create my upholstery fabrics and surface design for products. I envision a pop-up shop in the near future, where I partner with like-minded artisans. 

Where else can we find your work (online an in person)?
At the moment, Etsy is the main venue for my shop. I am a member of the Create:Fixate artist community and I do shows around Los Angeles with this group of artists. I am currently looking for boutiques that may be interested in showcasing my furniture designs. 

Where can we learn more about you? I write a blog called PinkPIanos, where I share my passion for fine art and handmade design one restoration project at a time. Please join me on Pinterest where we can share our ideas and become friends. 

Everyone make sure to reach out to Hilary! 

If you're interested in being profiled, just contact Julia A. This post contributed by Julia A. of the BackLoop.  

Deck the Tree

It pains me to do it, but I'm actually going to be on season for once. Yep, I'm actually going to acknowledge that Christmas is coming. (I know, this is so unlike me.) But I saw this dragon ornament (too cute!), and I knew I had a topic. Even if it is, gasp, December appropriate.

Blue and Silver Dragon Ornament by Featherwurm

So, once I got started looking, I found all sorts of cute things. Like this glass wire wrapped one.

Glass Wire Wrapped Ornament by Glass Art Elements

And continuing the tree theme.

Christmas Tree Ornaments by Caroline4art

What an interesting idea. Recycling beer bottles. For ornaments.

One Beer Ornament by bottlehood

Or using sheet music. I have a few musician friends who would appreciate this on their trees.

Sheet Music Origami Ornament by Graceline Paper Studio

And of course I'm always partial to knitting, even if it's just knit prints.

Knitted Print Holiday Ornaments by Black Cat Bazaar

And while my medium isn't beading, I'm sure some of yours is, and the pattern for this ornament is available. There's something kind of cool about making your own amazing ornaments.

Lace Picot Beaded Ornament Pattern by Arhyonel Designs

A few years ago I knitted some ornaments. Maybe next year I'll make some more and add them to my shop.  

This post contributed by Liz from Zizi Rho Designs. Happy holidays.  

Holiday Craft Fairs

It's that time of year - Holiday Craft Fair season is upon us.  Whether you've been planning for this since summer or just decided to participate in a community Bazaar, over the next few weeks, we'll be featuring tips, tricks, and suggestions for your holiday booth success.

First - How much do you bring?

The most common advice is to figure out how much you plan to make at the show....and then bring 3-4 times that amount. 

But wait. How do you know how much you should plan to make? There are a lot of things you could take into consideration but to keep things simple right now, let's just go with booth fee.   Ideally I'd like to make 10 times my booth fee (this is just sales not profit).

So here's what all of that looks like for an imaginary show you may have coming up:

Booth fee x 10 = sales goal

                  $100 x 10 = $1000

Sales goal x 3 = amount (in sales potential) you need to bring

                  $1000 x 3 = $3000

So if you plan on making $1000 at a show you should bring at least $3000 worth of merchandise. 

But if you've decided to have a table at the local Bazaar, and they're only asking for $25, then it works out more like this:

$25 x 10 = $250 (sales goal)

250 x 3 = $750 (merchandise on hand)

So what's your experience been with stocking your booth? How do you gauge how many of each color you bring? Be sure to check in for the next post about booth set up.

This post contributed byJulia A. of The BackLoop.    

About Time

I hear it everywhere. "Wow, where did [insert month here] go?" And now they're starting to wonder where 2012 has gotten to. Which got me to thinking about time. And that lead me to thinking about clocks.  

What with the end of daylight saving time and the end of the year, time seemed an appropriate subject. First up, actual working clocks. And various team members have brought us some beauties.

Fused Glass Clock by Nor Cal Art Glass

Floral Wall Clock by Jessilyn Joy

Woodland Squirrel Mosaic Clock by Be Mine Forever

But clocks don't just have to be to tell time. Clock designs work in jewelry as well.

Cuckoo Clock Earrings by Paganucci Designs

Clock bobby pins. I had not thought of that.

Time in Paris Gunmetal Bobby Pins by The Pink Camellia

Clocks make great images. Here's one on a card.

Thinking of You Card by Quirky 'n Berkeley Cards

And this photograph is stunning. Sigh. I wish I was in Paris.

Time to Go Back to Paris Photograph by Sonja Caldwell Photography

I guess I'm just about out of time... Until next time. Yeah, I guess I could do this all day.  

This post contributed by Liz of Zizi Rho Designs. Blogger has done something weird, so the photos no longer link back to the items on Etsy. That link is now in the caption.  

How Others Package

Sometimes gifts are so beautifully packaged that they make the actual gift so much more special. I still have the packaging from a little jewelry shop on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. My husband bought me a necklace 20 years ago and I've saved the box plus the ribbon and sticker it came with, which I had carefully put back together.

Wearing the necklace the other day made me wonder  how fellow CCCOE teammates gift wrap or present their handmade goodies.

Here are some I found. I hope they inspire you to think or rethink your presentation!

From LisamariesPiece
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LisamariesPiece

From iCharming
http://www.etsy.com/shop/iCharming

From SoPrettySoVain
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoPrettySoVain

From thepinkcamellia
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkcamellia

From sliceofdelight
http://www.etsy.com/shop/asliceofdelight

Thanks for reading! If you have ideas of what you would like to read about in this blog, please let Liz or me know, or better yet, you could write a guest blog. If a novice like me can do it, you can too.

Posted by Millie
http://www.etsy.com/shop/eocrafter
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mhandmade

A Little Green

For October, I thought I'd see what green items our team has made...  

Green? What, you were expecting orange?  

(I just finished the cutest--if I do say so myself--green patchwork purse. I have green on my mind.)  

I love knits. And crochet. So, of course, the yarny items stood out. Felt is such a perfect fabric for coasters (I wonder that I didn't think of this.)  

Felted Coasters by Stitchy Impressions

This scarf is such a stunning dark green.

Lily of the Valley by Knit Purl Squirrel

I've never been able to get a brim to work on a hat. I'll have to ask how she did it.

Newsboy by Betty Atkins

Here's a paler green on a sewn purse. Great shape.

Mint Green Reversible Purse by A Stone's Throw

I can't seem to do a post without a pair of earrings. I wonder why that is.

Bali Style Drop Earrings by Jeanine Designs

Very cheery. And there's just something about a purple/green combo that I love.

Upcycled Glass Stash Jar by Crazie Happy

And if you have a mezuzah affixed to your doorway, what better cover for it than one in green.

Mezuzah Cover by ClayMystique

This post contributed by Liz at Zizi Rho Designs who cannot do a post with a color theme in a color that makes sense for that month. It's a thing.

Also, we're looking for volunteers to post here, guest or regular. Let us know. We'd love to have you on board.

Opals or Tourmalines - October Birthstones

If you were born in October, lucky you! Your birthstones are tourmalines and opals, awesomely gorgeous gemstones! Here is a small sample of October birthstone jewelry from our CCCOE mates:

From Emayuka, I found these earrings with watermelon tourmaline slices. Aren't they fab? 

But, just in case you'd rather have opals, here is a delish opal necklace with dangling labradorites on a sterling silver chain from JewelryBySonjaBlume

How about a necklace with tourmalines? 

Here's one from DistinqueJewelry. Beautiful!!!

What? Wow! A four finger opal ring from NINOTCHKAgoods. How original is that? 

Love, love, love these earrings by SurfAndSand. Check out how many tourmalines are in these earrings. Ninety-six!

I love pink opals, so I couldn't leave out BellaBeadsOriginals' necklace. Had to include pinkness!

There were so many beauties from our major talented team. It was so hard to choose, but that's how life works, gotta make choices. I'm happy with the ones I've just made!

September Finds

In my monthly quest to highlight CCCOE shops that you might not have noticed, I stumbled across some interesting jewelry finds.  

Bobbie pins in orange? Oooh...

Hot like Fire Bobbies by Ronies

And this is very hippie/bohemian.

2 in 1 Head Chain by Brielle Belle

What a great pale bracelet. I'm sure this would go with just about everything in your wardrobe.

4 Wrap Moonstone Bracelet by Plumdragon Products

I've seen the feather earrings, so why not a feathered anklet?

Bohemian Style Anklet by Lost Coast Arts

And these long, slender earrings are such a lovely shade of pink.

Pink Chalcedony Rose Gold Earrings by jewelryNgemstones

The geek in me loves the octopus in space.

Space Octopus Necklace by Little Smarty Pantz

Since my medium is fiber, I am awed by those that make things from metal.

Turquoise Mixed Metal Necklace by Copper Tree Art

Make sure to check out these shops. The links in the captions take you to the shops while the pics will link you directly to these items. Happy shopping.

This post was contributed by Liz from Zizi Rho Designs. Happy September.