First Weekend - ESST Sponsored Event

The Etsy Supply Street Team is sponsoring a "First Weekend Shopping Extravaganza" for the month of February. We invite all Etsians of every category to participate by placing an announcement in your shop and join us with promoting your shops on the Promo Thread in the Etsy Forums.

This is not a Sale, it is a Shopping Event sponsored by the Etsy Supply Street Team. On the first weekend of each month, Team ESST will sponsor the event from Thursday - Sunday by promoting it both on and off of Etsy.

This month's event will occur from February 5th -8th. Please look for the post "February Shopping Extravaganza sponsored by Team ESST" in the Promos section of the Etsy Forums beginning on Thursday, February 5th around 12:00 AM EDT.

Because Etsy is a Global Marketplace and the seasons, cultures and holidays can vary quite a bit, there is no overall theme. However, we do strongly encourage shops to have a feature, theme or sale as this can pique interest and help draw people to your shop.

You do not have to participate for the whole weekend as we will be posting a fresh new thread each day of the event. You can easily find the new link by checking the last post of the old thread each day.

To join our Shopping Extravaganza, the only requirement is to help promote the event by joining in and bumping the Promotion Thread throughout the weekend. In the thread, please let us know about your shop and what you have to offer our shoppers.

If you blog or twitter, please promote this event to those outside of the Etsy community. It will provide the Etsy community with publicity and add visibility to our shops. As this will become a monthly event, it will be something for shoppers to look forward to.

The First Weekend Shopping Event is sponsored by Team ESST, not by Etsy. More information about our team can be found right here on our blog. If you have any questions about this event please convo one of our members at TheArtistsCloset.etsy.com

Search for the Promo Thread on Etsy.

Sewing Patterns on Etsy

For those of us who enjoy making our own clothes, there is an abundance of patterns on Etsy and especially among our Etsy Supply Street Team members.

Vintage 1976 Girls' Annie Hall-Style Jacket, Vest, Pants and Skirt Pattern from Gremlygirl's shop. This vintage girl's pattern from 1976 begs to be made in corduroy and plaid. Unlined jacket has wide notched lapels and princess seams. Flared pants and skirt have back zipper. The vest has 3 button closure.


Do you knit or crochet? Patterns and Such has an entire category which makes it easy to find knitting and crocheting patterns for babies to adults.

This classic pattern from Sandritocat's Shop will always be in style. I have always loved a button dress, and this pattern is so classic that this style will always be in fashion. It's certainly an any occasion dress.







Last but not least is Creativejnee's Shop You can purchase patterns from the 1920s up to the 1990s. My personal favorite is the Vintage 1980s Nicole Miller Designer Dress and Petticoat Ruffle Square Dance Sewing Pattern







It's true. Team ESST has a great selection of supply sellers with some phenomenal vintage and classic patterns. Visit these shops today:

GremlyGirl
PatternsAndSuch
Sandritocat
Creativejnee

An Idea by Fabric Samples

Shelia from Fabric Samples has a fun idea to share.

Try using Designer Fabric Samples with grommet holes on a drapery rod pole. If you thread them back and forth, they can become a valence, a café curtain, or a half curtain. Some of these samples are gorgeous and could be used alone as a wall hanging on a metal rod. This idea would be great behind a bed, as a faux headboard.

Another fun idea is to attach them to each other with a belt to make a skirt.



These fabric samples come in a variety of color lots and coordinated pattern lots as well. The most fun ones are the 8” wide x 18” long; but, the 12” x 15” are great too.

Shelia at Fabric Samples is full of great ideas for her samples, but would love to hear about more ideas of how to use them. Please leave a comment to share your idea.

Update on CPSIA

Giving themselves more time to figure out how to accommodate small businesses, the CPSA has delayed mandatory testing of items geared towards children for 1 year.

---

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

Bloggers Unite: CPSIA

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then we ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

---

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all. Article from the American Library Association

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” Wall Street Journal Article.

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes.

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Crafts for Kids

This past weekend I spent a lovely morning with the hosts of the Manic Mommies podcast at an event hosted by Role Mommy at the Ritz in downtown NYC. One of the guests was Abby Pecoriello the author of Crafty Mama. She was demonstrating a great, easy to make scarf project which didn't require any sewing or glue. I thought that was pretty creative in itself.

But it got me thinking, we have so many supply shops at our fingertips - including the Team ESST members shops - but often don't know what to make with our kids.

I'd love to hear any ideas you have for crafting with kids in the comments, and hopefully we can start a series of ideas to post here on the blog.

Getting to Know WestCoast SeaGlass

Tell us a bit about yourself and your art life: My name is Mary Beth and I’ve lived along the Pacific Ocean shores and have been a serious sea glass collector most all of my life. I’ve created jewelry as a hobby most all my life also. So, about twelve years ago, I paired my vintage, rare collection with my jewelry design and create full time now, from the two West Coast Sea Glass studios. My studio sits on the beach where I look out at the water and the San Juan Islands all day. I now have a staff of four that creates and sells our jewelry and loose sea glass in galleries and shows all over the world.

What is sea glass: Well, my website says: “Sea glass is a timeless treasure. It begins its journey as refuse glass that was broken then discarded into the sea decades ago. The piece is swept and carried as powerful elements of sand, tide, water and weather perform their renewing work over time and terrain. The colorful jewel washes up on the shore and waits to be discovered.” Sea glass is valued not by how much one can find but often by sentimental or nostalgic value; by the age, color and quality of the piece. I’ve hand-collected these pieces all of my life and now my collection consists of historical pieces and color that just cannot be found any longer.

How did you get into selling it: I began pairing the sea glass with my already established jewelry design when a friend asked me to make her a necklace from an aqua blue piece. She bought it and ordered nine more for Christmas gifts. It hasn’t slowed down since. Just this month, I completed an order for one thousand pieces for a high end resort in Miami, Florida. The loose sea glass gems that I sell from my Etsy store or website are pieces that I would consider “overstock” or something I cannot use in my designs; many of them are the coveted blues and “colors of the sea” that stir the creative side of people. I sell them to crafts people, jewelers and artists all over the world.

What is one thing that most of us don’t know about you: I am a twin, I have a set of twins and my twin sister has twins. Twins are nowhere else in the history of my family on either side. My family often accompanies me on my sea glass excursions.

What was one 2008 highlight with your business: The Travel Channel recently flew me to California where I met their TV crew on an island. I kayaked about as their zodiac boat followed me and filmed. We stopped on a beach, sea glass hunted and I shared stories of history and identified some pieces.

Please visit Mary Beth at her Etsy store at: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5165879 Please visit Mary Beth's Sea Glass Blog at: http://seaglassblog.blogspot.com/

Get to Know -- Patterns and Such

What do you sell?
Patterns And Such has patterns and other supplies and vintage items - the supplies and vintage represent the "such" in our store name. We will always have a variety of patterns including plastic canvas, sewing, knitting, crochet and anything else we destash. Our supplies and vintage will vary as well - currently we have buttons, leather pieces, aida cloth, hair barrettes, vintage needle holder, and vintage craft magazines. Our inventory is constantly changing.

What's your favorite item/line that you sell?
I love when I find a vintage treasure to add to the shop. I would love to keep each and every piece but I know they'll be better cared for and loved by someone who really wants them.

Give us an idea on how to use your products. Do you have a picture of your own project?
I sell knitting patterns, and here is a photo of one of my knitted scarves. This scarf is actually available for purchase in my sister shop, http://ennadoolf.etsy.com. My sister used to do a lot of plastic canvas work and I wish I had photos of some of the creations she made.

How did you choose your user name?
The purpose of this shop was for destashing patterns and I knew I had other supplies that I needed to destash as well, so we added the "and Such" to our shop name.

Biggest indulgence or guilty pleasure?
I watch reality tv shows. But I knit while I watch them, so I figure that validates it and its no longer time totally wasted. :)

Favorite food?
Oh, chocolate of course, and blueberries, not necessarily together.

Favorite non-craft website? Favorite craft website (not Etsy)?
My favorite non-craft website is http://e-guiding.com - it's a Girl Guide / Scout website that is run by volunteers. We maintain several webpages - GuideZone and TuneGuide - that provide resources for Guiding and Scouting leaders for their units or troops.

And my favourite (Canadian spelling!) craft website other than Etsy is http://www.knittinghelp.com because sometimes I need to see how a stitch is done to make sure I'm doing it right and they have great videos.

What is one thing that nobody would know about you.
Good question! I don't think people really know I'm addicted to those reality tv shows! lol

What are your plans/goals for 2009?
I'm going to learn to knit socks. I usually like quicker knitting projects, so this will be a challenge for me. I have also purchased yarn for two afghans, but I'm not sure when I'll knit those. It might not be in 2009.

Where else do you sell?
Our plastic canvas patterns are all displayed on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/patternsandsuch - we haven't added them all to Etsy yet, but eventually will.

And I have a sister shop - http://ennadoolf.etsy.com - where I sell my handmade items such as topsy turvy dolls, corking sets (aka knitting spools), Barbie clothes, handknit cup cozies, scarves, hats and I'll be adding more of my photography.

And I just wanted to add that joining Team ESST was one of the best things I did after opening my shop on Etsy - this team provides great support and I've made some great new friendships.

Please visit Patterns and Such on Etsy.