The California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) is a group of independent artists, crafters, & artisans from California who sell their wares on Etsy.com.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Earth Day California!!

Hello! My name is Gwendolyn Garcia, also known as seller GwendolynForever on etsy. Since 1970, April 22 has become the internationally recognized day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of a clean, healthy environment. It was founded by a senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, who witnessed the devastating effects of an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. He became deeply angered when he came upon an overall lack of action towards awareness and change by politicians in Washington. He decided that if changes were going to be made in favor of preserving the environment for ourselves and posterity, it was going to happen by educating people. Earth Day is a day dedicated to awareness and education for people of all walks of life and all manner of lifestyle. Earth Day is an opportunity to stop and consider the impact of our actions and to make small changes that can have meaningful effects in the long run. Earth Day is about common sense. I used the tags "cccoe team" and "eco friendly" to find the sellers being featured in today's blog post... Click on the images to visit each shop, and Enjoy! Did you know that somewhere between 5 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed each year, that 60-100 million barrels of oil are needed to produce the world's plastic bags each year, and that most plastic bags take up to 400 years to biodegrade? (Facts gathered from Natural Environment. Com) Not only is this large tote from merahmuda aesthetically pleasing, but it is sturdily designed using interfacing and denim lining, and it is made from recycled t-shirts, knits and knit remnants. Support local economy, creativity, and the environment all at the same time! Did you know that plastic bottles take hundreds of years to fully biodegrade, and that when they do biodegrade they leech toxic particles into the environment? Did you know that plastic takes up about 11% of landfill space, that people in the U.S. throw away about 2.5 million plastic containers per hour, and that our country's landfills are closing at a rate of about 2 per day? (Information gathered from Professor's House.) This clever pillow from pillowfarm is made from eco felt, a felt made of plastic bottles! What a great way to take plastic bottles out of our oceans and landfills and turn them into a beautiful work of art! Did you know that hardrock mining, which includes the extraction of metals like gold, silver and copper "can cause significant impacts on the environment, potentially affecting ground and surface waters, aquatic life, vegetation, soils, air, wildlife, and human health"? (Information gathered from Earthworks) We all enjoy the beauty of precious metals which makes this bracelet, made from recycled silver, by Raminta, so special. The fluidity of the design was made for comfort while the olive branch and the engraving within the bracelet are a gentle reminder to be peaceful. Simply gorgeous! Glass is usually considered environmentally friendly, but did you know that the production of glass can be very hazardous to both the factory workers and the environment? Such problems as noise pollution, water pollution, dust pollution, and air pollution (due to the fine dust of the raw materials used to make glass) are some the problems glass factory workers and their neighboring communities have to deal with. Did you know that glass will not naturally biodegrade if kept in ideal environment? Did you know that many examples of ancient glass artifacts, such as bottles, vessels, and beads exist fully in tact to this day? (Information gathered from Wikipedia/See photos of ancient glass at Ancient Resource) No one can deny the beauty and versatility of glass which is what makes these recycled Coca Cola bottle glasses so amazing! Created by bottlehead, these glasses are a beautiful, ingenious way to keep glass out of landfills, and will make great conversation pieces as well! Did you know that 14% of landfill space is taken up by newspaper and that decomposing paper produces methane gas, a potential greenhouse gas that is 20 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide? Recycling paper helps to keep it out of landfills, helping to slow the rate at which landfills fill up. (Information gathered from Love To Know) These paper creations from paperNplastic are an artful way to reuse and recycle paper, keeping it out of our landfills! This shop carries a fascinating array of products including beautiful paper flower bouquets, banners, boxes and more- all made from paper! These Romanesque Hand Hammered Brass Earrings by arcoirishandcrafted are a stylish way to make the most of what we have. Made from the leftover scraps of metal from jewelry making, they were saved from the scrap pile by being transformed into this versatile and gorgeous pair of earrings! Did you know that wool has been used by humanity for 12, 000 years? It is renewable, sustainable, long-lasting, versatile, and biodegradable. A simple, beautiful fiber that can be used in a myriad of ways. (Information gathered from Helios Carpets) Take these Slice of Log Woodsy Wool coasters by JeanineDesigns. They are a perfect combination of fun artisan craftsmanship and practicality. Wool is naturally water-repellent due to a naturally occurring presence of an oil, Lanolin, but it is also super-absorbent. These wool coasters are a perfect way to protect your furniture! Did you know that most plastics contain harmful additives to increase their softness and flexibility while also helping them to be shatter proof? These additives are Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Phthalates are used in the manufacture of many baby and children's products, and BPA's have been linked to a variety of scary health problems via scientific studies involving lab rats. (Information gathered from About.Com) These precious stuffed dolls, made by zfla, are made from recycled materials. Cashmere and wool sweaters were repurposed into these adorable toys, which are then stuffed with organic cotton fill. So nice! Not only is this Chandelier Glass and Pearl Brass Necklace, by Nansglam, elegant and classy, it is made from natural and repurposed components! Items that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill, like the repurposed chandelier crystal or the vintage brass chain, have been expertly put together to create a versatile necklace of timeless grace and simple beauty. This is a necklace sure to be admired almost any woman. Well done! Enjoy this edgy Grommet Tote in Black Gator embossed leather by salvageshop. Another creative seller rescuing perfectly functional yet unwanted materials from ending up in the trash. What a unique tote! Beeswax is the ideal material for candlemaking for a great many reasons! Did you know that beeswax particles released into the air adhere to dust and dirt, actually cleaning the air? Candles made from beeswax burn longer than candles made from other materials, don't release toxins like benzene, acrolyn, lead stearic acid into the air, burn brighter, and produce a naturally pleasant aroma? (Information gathered from Arbour Environment Shoppe) These beautiful Honey Amber Rose tapers from ForestCandleStudio not only promise a most delicious scent, but are artfully and beautifully crafted. There were so many great eco-friendly products, and I wish I could have listed them all! I hope you all have enjoyed reading this post and learning about these sellers... Until next month!!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Incredible Edibles - Real and Imaginary

I never thought I would become one of those people who talks about what they're going to have for dinner while they're eating lunch. Well, I've officially morphed into a Florida retiree! It's not that I dwell so much on regular food, it's the sweet stuff that's front and center on my food radar. It's the desserts that I crave much more than food that sustains your health. Dessert is about sustaining your SOUL. And my soul needs lots of sustaining. Lots and lots. Pass the Creme Brulee, please. KECookies is one of the few sellers on the California team that make "real" edibles. I've ordered KE Cookies before and let me tell you, they were delicious. So much so that my stomach was literally growling (not at all kidding) as I was scrolling through her shop to see which photo to use. It was torture that I couldn't reach into the screen and eat them right on the spot. It was so hard to choose which one of Roscata's polymer faux food masterpieces to use in this post. Since I've been in a sushi mood this week I chose this one. i love that there's even a little wasabi and ginger to complement the toro and ebi.
My favorite guilty pleasure on Easter is gorging on deviled eggs. This sweet little amigurumi is by UnaTuna. What's cute is the yoke can be taken out of the shell for double the eggy pleasure.
Even dogs can get in on the nummie action with a stop at DogCityBakery. They even have mini "Taco" treats that look like the real thing, but I'm sure the dogs won't appreciate how very cute they are before they wolf them down. Fun gift for the new mommy of a furbaby. I have a confession, my stomach was growling looking through the doggie treats 1) because they look a lot like human treats, and 2) I'm really hungry! I knew I should have written this post on a full stomach!
The detail that goes into TheFeltedPear's felt food is amazing. Everything in her shop shows the same level of craftsmanship.
I just bought a box of animal cookies a couple of weeks ago and these look as good as the real thing. LaurelBushman creates these fun refrigerator magnets from polymer clay and decorates them so they're almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
First it was dogs, and now even zombies can get in on the feeding frenzy. BRAINNNNNZZZZZ!!! What's even cooler about these brain-shaped soaps from Rosaleendhu is that they are bacon scented.
Let's promote the members of CCCOE by forwarding the link to this blog to Twitter and Facebook. Also, please remember to tag your items CCCOE TEAM so I can find you. Don't forget that other CCCOE members use this tag when they searching for items to use in team treasuries.
This post was submitted by Felicia of MaidofClay ceramics.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Taurus!

Born April 20 thru May 21 the Taurus is the earthiest among all earth signs of the zodiac. Represented by the Bull which is prized for strength and stamina, the Taurus does not move unless there is something worth moving for.

Taurus by Stardust They are peace lovers and are more practical than intellectual. They are loyal and can endure relationships without betrayals. Blue Dragonflies in the Spring Peace Sign Tree by LauraLi They are homely and prefer staying indoors with a good eye for materialistic things, luxury and well furnished lifestyle. They like good food, permanency, and all the comforts life can offer. They hate to break their routine or be rushed.

Dish with Blue Crystalline Glaze by ClayMystique

Designer Pillow Cover with Coral by SeashellCollection Though they are patient and peaceful by nature, Taureans are extremely possessive with their own possessions as well as with their partners. They often tend to get jealous, if not given necessary attention. They can be very stubborn and obsessive at times.

Be Mine Creature Magnet by FranticMeerkat Famous Taurus include Katharine Hepburn, George Clooney, Billy Joel, William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci and Florence Nightingale.

4th in our series of Astrological Signs by Sophie n Me

Monday, April 18, 2011

Spotlight on....

Welcome to our 7th installment of the Spotlight Series by Sophie n Me. Today we are meeting...
1. Your First name and name of your shop(s)?
Hi, I'm Kelly from Perfectly Paper

2. Day or night job if you have one. During the day I work from home as a clinical analyst for a pharmaceutical health insurance company. Basically, I do a lot of math.

3. Where do you get the inspiration for your designs/shop? My inspiration came from wanting to create gorgeous flowers that last forever. I wanted to keep the bouquet from my wedding and it didn't turn out so well. Now I create flowers that look beautiful the day of your wedding and continue to look great for years to come.

Lilac Paper Rose Bouquet Hand Painted

Pretty in Pink Paper Rose Bouquet Hand Painted 4. What was your favorite board game as a child? I played a lot of Sorry. 5. What did you have for lunch today? It isn't lunch time yet here in SoCal, but I had a strawberry/banana/peach/blackberry smoothie for breakfast this morning. Mini Paper Rose Hair Pin Hand Painted

6. Finish this sentence "I wish I could...." Quit my day job! 7. Deal or No Deal or Who wants to be a Millionaire? Who wants to be a Millionaire - takes skill instead of just luck.
8. What makes you smile? My husband and my cute kitties Paper Rose Pew Clip Hand Painted
9. What don't people know about you? Hmmm...probably lots of things. I have about 2 terabytes worth of movies and TV shows on my computer. :)
10. How many hours do you spend a day searching for stuff on Etsy? Not nearly as many as I should. I usually spend an hour a day on Etsy, some days a lot more and sometimes I go a few days without any Etsy-ness.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Spring Knits

It's spring. The weather has warmed up. It's time to put away all that winter gear. All those lovely knits. Wait a minute...

Just because it's gotten warmer doesn't mean that the knits have to go away. There are lovely knits that are perfect for this time of year.

Head-to-toe knits are a bit different for spring. For the head, a headband by Murielle Knitwear. And for the "toe" a pair of spats by EfiaFair.





Sweaters aren't out of the question either, as long as they are light and sleeveless. (These also transition into summer.) Like the mini dress from Peacefu1 or sleeveless knit top from Raghouse International.  





Knits don't have to mean clothing, though. You can find knit jewelry as well such as earrings from Zizi Rho Designs or a bangle bracelet (crocheted, but we are talking yarn and stitches, and crochet is basically a sister craft of knit anyway) by hooray4lala.






Knits can also house your necessary electronics. What better way to house your cell phone or mp3 player than in some knits such as those from Ohmay or susanneedlehands.  






Speaking of houses, spring is time for spring cleaning and...some decorating? How about a couple pillows like these from The Red Bungalow and Stitchy Impressions. (Yes, the second one is crocheted. But crochet is cool, too.)  





It's spring. It's time to pull out the knits. 

This post contributed by Liz from Zizi Rho Designs. All pictures link back to their shops on etsy.com.  

Friday, April 1, 2011

California Sunshine

We finally got some much needed sunshine! Here are a few shops to brighten your day and bring a smile to your face.


Paper leaves for your walls in golden yellow from Paperleaves

Paperleaves is a shop from Camarillo California. These nicely packaged leaves are hand cut and each one has a foam sticker backing. Kristen of Paperleaves suggests a customizable wall treatment to evoke a tree house or forest. What a great idea, that way you'll have sunshine all year around !







Pale Sunshine handspun yarn from Excavations

Excavations is a shop from Hemet California. This beautiful yarn is called Pale Sunshine and has been hand dyed and spun. If you prefer your sun not quite so bright this would be perfect for you !







Mr. Sunshine needle felted bear by Beadztoo

Little Mr. Sunshine here comes from Northern California, San Rafael to be exact. Made by hand, obviously with love, from Beadztoo. He's been completely hand needle-felted from golden yellow and orange wool roving into a handsome adorable bear. This little guy is sure to bring a smile to anyones face!







Giant Sungold Sunflower Bouquet by Dolcechic

Candace Rose of  Dolce Chic is from Northern California. Her beautiful photograph titled Giant Sungold Sunflower Bouquet is a wonderful choice for a print to brighten up your day and any room.






You are my sunshine by Chocolateandsteel

Last but not least is a little fine silver pendant that says it all ! Made by Chocolateandsteel from Los Angles.  It even comes with a little sparkle.


Take a moment to visit these sunny shops, you can click on all pictures & links : )




This post was contributed by Tania Cavenecia Torres a jewelry designer from the San Francisco Bay Area