Around the Team

Just in time for Valentine's Day. Think Eco² says:

Our handmade eco-friendly wine gift boxes are a memorable gift. We are a San Diego-based company offering wine & liquor gifts, wine racks, garden planters, and rustic wedding decor.

Handmade Wooden Wine Box by Think Eco²

Little Smarty Pantz says:

I hand draw all of my art, and enhance them digitally. It's my creative outlet, outside of my day job. (I am an artist for the entertainment industry - commercials, tv shows, films, etc.) So it is so nice to design for me rather than for work. :)

Personalized Valentine's Plate by Little Smarty Pantz

They have several plate designs especially for Valentine's Day. Make sure to click the link and check them out.

And Allie from Allie's Adornments was kind enough to find some more Valentine's Day finds from the team:

Narwhal Love by Maid of Clay Ceramics

Leather Luggage Tag by Tresijas

Shower Them with Hearts by Pacific Paradise Soap

Bookmark by Vision Quest

Cupid's Garden by Allie's Adornments

Felted Case by ohmay designs

Beachy

We're in the depths of January, and the last thing I want to think about is winter. (Luckily, the weather is cooperating, this week at least.) What I want to think about is summer, and what is more summer than the beach?  

And what is more beachy than seashells?  

Shell on Lucite Base by The Seashell Collection

Perhaps we can't get to the beach, but we can wear beachy jewelry.

Hilton Head Beach Necklace by Jolie Verre

Purple Beach Stones Earrings by Beach Girl Beads

Or we can put up some beachy art on our walls.

Big Sur Coast Watercolor by Deborah Olliff Studio

Oceanside Pier Photo by Nessy's Nest

How about some beachy soap?

Marine Street Beach Handmade Soap by Pacific Paradise Soap

Summer will be here before we know it.  

This post was contributed by Liz from Zizi Rho Designs who is not necessarily looking forward to the summer, but who just couldn't do a seasonal theme that goes with the current season.  

A Festival of Smells

Perusing Etsy, as I do from time to time, I ran into a listing for lip balm. Lip balm?  

It surprises me the things that are sold on Etsy. I guess my imagination is limited. It doesn't occur to me to look for things that I use every day. Why buy the same things everyone else buys from faceless corporations when you can find individuals who make the same things with a lot more care? 

I searched a category I had never paid much attention to before--Bath and Beauty. (Click on the pictures to get to the item listings. A link to the shop is in the captions.)

What is a bath without soap? (Psst, Sue. What does hemp mint beer smell like?)

Hemp Mint Beer Soap by The Skin You're In

Ah, lavender grapefruit. I bet that smells divine.

Lavender Grapefruit Artisan Soap by Pacific Paradise Soap

And I'm such a sucker for chocolate in any form.

Chocolate Heaven Cupcake Soap by Joy Soap Works

Then I found the body butters. I love body butter. And in lilac.

Lilac Scented Body Butter Cream by Bee Perfect

And this one also has lavender essential oil in it. (She's got a bunch of balms and salves as well.)

Velvety Soft Body Butter by Tanza Botanicals

And the thing that started it all--lip balm. This sounds like an interesting formula. I bet it smells wonderful.

Masala Rose Chai Lip Balm by Gwendolyn Rose Botanicals

I've been talking a lot about how these must smell, so of course I had to include something that's all about the smell--perfume.

Natural Perfume Roll Ons by JoAnne Bassett

Make sure to check out the Bath and Beauty category. I was surprised by what was there. You might be too.

This post contributed by Liz from Zizi Rho Designs, who is on a mission to find beautiful aromas. At least this month.  

In the Garden

April showers brought May flowers and now gardens are full of June blooms. Here are some fanciful finds for you and your garden. Already forget what you planted? Here are some great reminders from Pretty Paris.

Don't forget your four legged furry friends! Let them chew on this handmade eggplant dog toy from Wags and Wiggles.

Need a little music to help you relax? This adorable Dolphin Wind Chime from Copper Unique should do the trick.

No garden is complete without a bird feeder. Check out this one from Lean Dog Pottery.

After a long day gardening you are bound to be covered with dirt. Try Pacific Paradise Soap Amazing Gardener's Soap with Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Super Fine Pumice and Clay.

No time or space to garden? No worries, this print from Jane Elizabeths is all you need.

Don't forget to brag about your garden and gardening skills with all your friends. Send them these adorable note cards from Sophie n Me.

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.

CCCOE Member Studio Tour: Featured Artist: Pacific Paradise Soap Company

Dead Sea Bath Salt Soak Scrub

Custom Order

Tell us a little about yourself and how it all began.

I have been a very creative person my entire life. For fun, I took a soap making class with 2 Chemist friends from a lady on a farm out in the country more than a decade ago. The 3 of us would get together and make soap for Christmas presents over the years. Last year, after 23 years as a Senior Scientist, I experienced a Company wide lay off. A few friends & relatives suggested I should start a Soap Company. I thought working from home would give me more flexibility with my hours & allow our Son to not be in daycare. I’ve always been organized & really motivated to excel at whatever I do. I surely do not miss the hour and a half daily commute! Working from home is really a lifestyle. I really love what I do & it’s a good thing because I’m almost always working. That’s how Pacific Paradise Soap Company was born.Soap Rack and Soapmaker Where do you work? Show us your space please! Anita labeling her soap While vacationing last summer my Brother-in-law asked me “Where in the house do you make your soap?” and my Husband quickly interjected “Everywhere!”. I was shocked! But after I thought about it for a bit I realized he was right. Soap has taken over the house; the office, the spare bedroom, the hallway, the garage, the laundry room, the kitchen…one entire room in the house is filled with drying racks, flowers, lavender my Mom has grown, colored paper, boxes, ribbons, bags, salts, and soaps. I label soaps on the counter in the hallway where you are suppose to fold laundry. When I’m making a batch of soap I take over the kitchen, the laundry room & the garage. My husband can no longer park his truck in our 3 car garage because of the racks of soap. I also keep butters, oils, shipping supplies, molds, essential oils, fragrance oils, wooden bowls, gift crates, colorants, the gazebo & tables for craft fairs & farmers markets. The laundry room also has shelves of fancy molded soaps. 12 soap bar cutter What is your favorite tool? My favorite tool is the log cutter my Dad & I made. He assembled a 3 sided square with smooth wood & drilled 2 holes that I put a guitar string through. This tool makes the first cut that reveals the beautiful end result of my labor of love. I also really like my 12 bar cutter & my edging tool. What time of the day are you the most productive/inspired? I am most productive while my Son is in school for obvious reasons.3 Bar Soap Sets What inspires you? I wake up inspired with so many new ideas pouring out that I now keep paper & pen on my headboard. I am always thinking of new products to add to my store. I am inspired by Mother Nature. Sometimes I am inspired by customers needs or something said in conversation. How do you promote yourself and your shop? I promote myself, my shop & my team by communicating in the forums on etsy, Flickr, Team Blogs & at Craft Fairs. How long have you been on Etsy? I have been selling on etsy since October 2008. What else do you enjoy doing other than creating? I also enjoy gardening, doing yoga, making cards, aqua aerobics & going to the beach. What would you like to see happen/change with CCCOE? I would like to see more people buying from CCCOE. What is your favorite thing about CCCOE? My favorite thing about CCCOE is all the support & camaraderie. I also love the monthly challenges. What is your favorite food? My favorite food is chocolate J I also really enjoy ethnic foods like Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican & Italian. Favorite book or movie? My favorite book is The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. My favorite movies are The Thomas Crown Affair & National Treasure. One thing you absolutely cannot live without? I absolutely cannot live without happiness Lastly what piece that you have created is your favorite and why? My favorite piece is a Fancy molded soap that says “Love” in a wooden dish. My Dad turns wooden bowls & platters on a lathe & I use them for my fancy molded soaps. I think Love says it all. Thanks so much to Anita of Pacific Paradise Soap for sharing her space and her work with us! Be sure to stop by her shop to treat yourself.