GET 20% OFF from September 15-30 with EFA Birthday Bash Code!

CUSTOMERS CELEBRATING THE Etsy For Animals BIRTHDAY BASH AT ETSY: Are you shopping with a coupon from the EFA birthday bash?
If so, during the checkout process in the "Notes to Seller" just enter the coupon "code" you were given.
Don't have a coupon yet but want one? Please use mine, "SALLS", here or in any store participating in the bash (everyone has a different code and we get prizes if ours is used the most, so be careful not to switch codes!)
To find out who's participating or more about the EFA Birthday Bash Extravaganza and how the coupon works, please check out http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org/index.php/promotions/27-bday-bash/11-bday-bash-finale-coupon-commotion

Over 120 Etsy shops are accepting the coupon!

Check your popularity status

storybeader over at etsy bloggers posted this link

http://www.assets.cc/link_popularity.php

Where you can check the popularity of your domain.

It makes for interesting reading!

Xmas planning it's never too early!

Tiny Fig has a fab guide to planning for the holiday season ie Xmas!!! here.
Her etsy shop is here.

Maybe I'll have to have a long hard read of it tonight and formulate my plan!

August featured blogger

This month's featured blogger is Tulips Treasure Box

Her Blog is here.

There are some lovely pictures taken from around her home, which are lovely.

I especially love this wrist cuff available on etsy. The colours are lovely very summery!

Congrats to Tulip on the honour!

Childhood memories

September 1st's blog carnival topic is about chilhood and what you remember doing as a child.

I used to really like making model kits when I was a kid, and that's what I remember really enjoying.

They were usually little houses either in a kit form or from a book.

I had a whole little village at one point!

My love of making things has obviously stayed with me into adulthood. There's always a cross stitch or some arty project on the go in my house.

Interview with Helen of cattoo

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting?

I'm a 30 year old British artist living in the city of Hull. Animals and nature are my main inspiration, including 'Neo' my cat, being a secondhand-shop-a-holic and travelling about in my husbands 1970s VW Campervan. I have been crafting for most of my life really, drawing and creating characters since I can remember. Art was the only thing I was ever good at in school and wished I was left to only focus on that subject alone :-). In 1999 I gained a HND in Creative Studies at Humberside & Lincoln University, then moved onto fulltime work as a Reprographics Assistant at a local news paper. After 3 years service there, I then moved onto volunteering and freelancing in the community, running arts and media workshops. This then led me onto my current job at a youth council, were I qualified as a nationally qualified youth worker at Hull University in 2007. Here I listen, support and help young people campaign on issues that they are concerned about in there local area.It was only around a year ago that I started crafting properly again, it is hard fitting it all in when you work fulltime. Spending a little less time infront of the box and net is the key to finding more crafting time I think :-)

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?

In my shop I currently sell prints of my illustration's, including brooches inspired from my artwork. These illustrations are of eccentric cats called Cattoo, who love their tattoo's 'cat+tattoo=cattoo' :-). I'm not fully sure where the idea came from, I just love cats, enjoy drawing them and having them as pets.Cattoo.etsy offically opened on 28th July 2008, so it's a baby really. I am currently working on some other items, such as tote bags, cards and plush toy cats, so watch this space :-) Through my sales on Etsy I am also raising money for Cats Protection and am a proud member of Etsy for animals ( http://etsyforanimals.etsy.com/ )

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?

My faviourite item in my Etsy shop has to be 'Hello Sun' http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13764490, as it not only represents the simple enjoyment of a cat sunning itself but it also has a beautiful oriental look about it.

4. What other craft would you like to try?

I would love to have a go at every possible craft I can get my hands on really, although if I had to choose one new craft I would like to have a go at Gocco printing. As I think this medium could work well with my Cattoo illustrations.

5. Do you have a blog or website?

My website is ( http://www.cattoo.co.uk/ ) and my blog is ( http://www.justalittlepeek-justalittlepeek.blogspot.com/ )

Interview with Sharks and Static

1. Tell us a little about yourself and when did you start crafting.
I've always been a bit of a crafty lass making my own bags and skirts - I think it comes from wanting to look a little different from everyone else!
I set up Sharks and Static 2 years ago making alternative and hand made jewellery.

2. What do you sell in your etsy shop and how long has it been open?
I've only just recently opened a store on Etsy as I wanted somewhere to sell one off items. My main lines which I try to change every season through my store on the website http://www.sharksandstatic.com/.

3. What is your favourite item in your shop?
I the custom Tattoo Banners as they're so indvidual and you can really make a statement with them. I have made ones for myself which say: Femme Fatale, Hello Sailor and Zombie. You can have a lot of fun with them!

4. What other craft would you like to try?
I'm really inspired by Burlesque. I love the combination of saucy and cheeky! I'm just beginning to play around with fascinators, frilly knickers and pasties. Once i've got a collection together i'm hoping to launch it under D.D. Divine's PinUp Palace!

5. Do you have a blog or website?
ooooh lots of places:

http://www.sharksandstatic.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5181796

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharks-and-Static/9847399490?ref=s

http://www.myspace.com/sharksandstatic