What's New Wednesday

Check out these great new items from your Winnipeg Esty Street Team!

WEST Summer Promotion: Just The Goods

Nothing would please me more this morning than to introduce you to Just The Goods.

Just The Goods specializes in natural skin care products.

From the Just The Goods profile:
"I am a Winnipeg-based producer of handmade, natural and affordable skin care products for everyone. I am a fully compliant member of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and I promise to always retain my commitment to that agreement!

Every day indulgences shouldn’t cost the earth or our health. It *is* affordable to look and feel great without unnecessary exposure to petrochemicals, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and artificial fragrances, dyes, and flavours. Everything I make features “just the goods” and nothing else. All items are vegan, with the exception of lip balm -- there are two versions of that."

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Check out this Just The Goods product:

Why are genuinely natural fragrance oils so darned expensive? Jojoba oil is a commonly used base due to it's shelf stability, but Just the Goods has discovered that grape seed oil and vitamin E does the job just as well and at a more accessible price…

Spicy Nights is a sensual tryst involving the aphrodisiac effects of ylang ylang and cinnamon and the energetic freshness of sweet orange -- get playful and have fun!

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If you would like to keep up with Just The Goods please visit the links below:
Just The Goods on Etsy 
Just The Goods website
Just The Goods Facebook Fanpage
Just The Goods on Twitter


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And if you'd like a chance to win the item featured above along with 15 other fabulous WEST creations, please visit this treasury link and leave a thoughtful comment on the treasury page.  Simple!


*** Only comments on the treasury itself count for entry into the giveaway.  But you're more than welcome to introduce yourself, ask questions and tell us a spicy joke to go with the "spicy nights" perfume oil featured in the comments below****

WEST Summer Promotion: Prairie Threads

In the coming weeks, I will be introducing you to some awesome Winnipeg Etsy Street Team (WEST) shops that are participating in the WEST Summer Promotion that we're currently having!

I'm so excited to introduce you to Prairie Threads today.

Prairie Threads specializes in eco-friendly quilted, stitched and knit items, all made by hand.

Laura is the owner of Prairie Threads and explains what her shop is all about:

"Welcome to PrairieThreads, coming from my humble home on the Canadian Prairies. Everything in my shop is individually handmade by me. I have always been driven to create, and I have a passion for reclaiming and repurposing materials, including yarn and fabrics. I love transforming something that might otherwise end up in a landfill into something beautiful, functional, and one-of-a-kind. As William Morris said it best: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

My coiled mats are each one of a kind, unique designs made individually with love and an attention to detail. "

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Speaking of coiled mats - check this one out:

These eco-friendly coiled mats use up bits and pieces of leftover fabric--this one uses a light aqua fabric with sweet tiny white flowers. To make each one, I wrap strips of fabric around cording, then coil it and stitch it together. Each one is unique and fun!

You can use them:
• under a hot dish
• as a mug rug
• under a candle
• with a flower arrangement
• under a plant
• for teacher or hostess gifts
• as a hat (my daughter's idea!)

Finished size: approximately 20 cm (7.75") diameter

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If you would like to keep up with Laura and Prairie Threads, please visit the links below:
Prairie Threads on Etsy
Laura on Twitter
Prairie Threads/ Prairie Peasant on Facebook
Prairie Threads/ Prairie Peasant Blog

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And if you'd like a chance to win the item featured above along with 15 other fabulous WEST creations, please visit this treasury link and leave a thoughtful comment on the treasury page.  Simple!

**** Only comments placed on the treasury itself will be counted for the giveaway, but you're more than welcome to introduce yourself, ask Laura a question or tell her how awesome she is in the comment section below****

Win ALL the items in Treasury - free shipping too!!!

A Summer time treasury GIVEAWAY! Simply leave a thoughtful comment on Etsy in the treasury, be from continental US or Canada and you will be entered. Draw date July 2, 2012. Winner will be contacted on Etsy. Thoughtful comments, express why you like this treasury.

Crafty Minions VIII May 26

The next installment of Crafty Minions is around the corner!

May 26

11am to 5pm

274 Garry Street at Aqua Books

One more time before they move to 123 Princess!

Crafty Minons VII was supposed to be the last one on Garry Street, but construction delays mean that for a final time, we'll be minioning our craft on Garry Street!

So, come on down to 274 Garry Street, between Portage and Graham (just north of the post office), between 11am-5pm. There's free street parking for 2 hours on Saturdays, too! And Aqua Books is doing a final clear out on everything they don't want to take with them to the new address, another excuse to go!
WESTies' that will be there:
PrairiePeasant/PrairieThreads,
Sogasoap
Hoshiidesigns
WeAreBoundTogether
DragonNerd
PeriwinkleDzyns

What's New Wednesday

New great items from your local Etsians! Check it out!

Father's Day is coming fast, a new treasury!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTAzMDI4Njd8MjcyMDI3Mjg4NQ/daddy-father-papa-pae-what-will-you-give

Feature Friday: Flatlanders Soap Co

Meet Sarah Fox of Flatlanders So co. Sarah started making natural soap because of her sensitivites to the chemicals often found in commercial soaps. Coming from a long line of artisans she, along with her mom, have taken soap making to a new, and unique level - felted soap! I had never heard of felted soap until I saw Sarah's, what a neat idea!

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?
The trio of Aqua & White Felted Peppermint Soap Balls. I really like colour combination and the vintage aesthetic. My mom felted them and I love her work, she is very creative and talented. She does about 1/2 - 2/3rds of the felted items in the shop.  She is the one who introduced me to felting in the first place when she gave me a lovely pair of felted slippers for Christmas a few years ago. She also introduced me to felted soap. I was making plain soap bars at the time, developing my new soap company, and she stumbled upon felted soap on the internet and made me a bar. The rest is history. I still make plain bars, but making the felted soap is a really fun process.

Long term aspirations for your shop? 

Well, I plan to continue to be active on Etsy to keep a regular connection to other Winnipeg Crafters. Etsy was a great way for me to get linked into the local crafts community. I also have the goal of having at least 100 items in my shop and to get enough sales to support myself financially.

Advise to those planning to open an online shop...

I have two bits of advice: 

Have good photos. I've noticed that items for sale that have a very good quality photo tend to be favorites more, which gives them more exposure. Take a look at Etsy's photo tips and heed their advice.

Be active. Join a local street team, they tend to be very supportive and willing to take time out to answer questions you may have. Join a treasury team, create treasuries, favorite items and shops you really like. Add people to your circle who favorite cool things you like.

What /who inspires what you?

Architecture, quilt patterns, vintage wallpaper patterns, the thought of being my own boss. 

I like crafting because I think I would go bonkers if I couldn't make art. 

Some of the crafts that I make aside from (soap) are,

Honestly, I don't have time for other crafts presently, but if I were to do another project it would probably involve finishing the blanket I started crocheting 2 years ago. I might also knit myself a new winter hat or something. In my fantasy life I can quilt, make patterns and sew remarkably well, make bonsai trees, and lace.

I choose handmade because

I think knowing how to make things with your own two hands is important. I find handmade products to be of a higher, often timeless quality. I take issue with modern manufacturer’s planned obsolescence of their goods. Handmade products often last longer and can be repaired more easily. I also think it is important to support small scale, local economies.

I am currently reading

The Man Who Never Died: The Life, Times and Legacy of Joe Hill, American Labor Icon. It's pretty amazing. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about history, particularly histories of the oppressed.

I am currently listening to

In the Aeroplane over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel

I combat creative blocks by

changing up my routine.

Other non-crafty things I like to do:

tend to plants, cycle, hang out with my fur-baby Judy the Cat, travel, sleep.

You can aslo find Sarah at;
www.facebook.com/pages/Flatlanders-Soap-Co/267885379929893 
https://twitter.com/#!/FlatlandersSoap

Winnipeg Beach Sale

See a WESTie in the wild!

DragonNerd will be selling their creative fractal wire jewelry at Winnipeg Beach on Saturday May 19

Winnipeg Beach Recreation Center 32 Hamilton Ave 9am to 4pm Saturday May 19, 2012

Head up to the lake and shop for handmade on the way!

What's New Wednesday

Heading into a blissful weather weekend for May, here's a WEST treasury

Look at these, don't they make you think of you floating, special tender times.
Enjoy!

'On Cloud Nine' by NancyBloklandPottery

floating, ethereal , full of hope, that's spring with handmade and Vintage items by WEST.

Baby headbands - White ... BirdieAndDot $8.00	Little Peanut Baby Knot... cottoncupcakes... $13.00	Handspun alpaca cotton ... Maplelanellama... $120.00	Spring Yarn Wreath. Fre... HeartfeltYarnW... $46.00
Embellished, Beaded, Br... hoshiidesigns $138.00	Rabbit Fur PomPom Ponyt... YamasMarie $7.99	BOGO sale - Geometric F... ToxieDesigns $26.00	Flat White Bath Fluff P... Magination $7.50
Chunky Cowl. Wool Cowl.... SmashLyn $36.00	14 Karat White Gold Dia... WarpedMetal $294.00	Fractal Necklace - Nest... DragonNerd $24.00	Argentium silver semi H... waterleliejewe... $18.00
Pink owls Moccasins (6 ... TawnyBee $20.00	Light Pink Swarovski Cr... thesilveragend... $28.00	Ruby Feathers White Fea... rubyfeathers $95.00	Dyed Faux Cashmere (Nyl... WWNaturals $3.00

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What's New Wednesday

Treasury Tuesday

'Norman Rockwell Inspired' by TawnyBee

In honour of the Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, I have chosen a painting on the very left of each row and then 3 WInnipeg Etsy Street Team items to go with it on the right.

Vintage Paper Ephemera ... nancesnostalgi... $3.50	SALE BEST Bamboo Fleece... VoilaAndreanne $179.00	SALE 50% OFF // Faux Ch... PrairieThreads $16.00	Crochet Burgundy Earfla... chalicerae $25.00
SALE Young Gallant - Vi... VintageZen $20.00	Choose your Rebound Jou... PrairiePeasant $32.00	Red and white checkered... Evecouture $45.00	Mint Yarn Wreath. Sprin... HeartfeltYarnW... $50.00
Norman Rockwell Picture... hopscotchmemor... $12.00	Vegan Extra Moisturizin... JustTheGoods $9.90	Steam Punk Ring Recycle... aeliosdesign $41.00	TUXEDO Sweater - Size 4... Magination $58.00
Vintage Cross Stitch No... hopscotchmemor... $129.00	Pottery Vase or Utensil... MostlyStonewar... $28.00	Very Rare Tin Vintage &... BitchinKitschK... $30.00	Bless My Thoughts.. Lit... CowsandUdderTh... $5.00

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What's New Wednesday

Treasury Tuesday

'May Flowers' by weareboundtogether

Purple Flower Necklace FibreSeedling $35.00	original watercolor sma... DreamBurnArt $7.99	pillow... ruffle flower... BabbsBoutique $42.00	Spring Yarn Wreath. Cha... HeartfeltYarnW... $48.00
watercolor pencil on pa... DreamBurnArt $20.00	LITTLE DAISY FLOWER ear... waterleliejewe... $20.00	Flower Heart Buttons (S... TheGoblinCave $2.00	Fascinator. Hair Piece.... OhHappyDayWinn... $25.00
Simple Necklace with Gu... sageandolivia $38.00	3 Handmade Felted Soap ... FlatlandersSoa... $14.95	Spring floral bag handmadeforuni... $45.00	Purple Feather Hair Fas... PrairieWireDes... $30.00
Pottery Jewellery Earri... NancyBloklandP... $24.00	1 purple, 2 pink flower... heavensearth $12.00	Polka Dot Flowers Mocca... TawnyBee $15.00	Zipper Cosmetic Pouch -... BirdieAndDot $8.00

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