Favorite Etsy Shop- Jerseymaids

so it's sort of a funny random story...of how I came to "know" Lauren, the owner of Jerseymaids.

first of all, anyone named Lauren is cool in my book...(yes I have very strict criteria...)

but it was in December of last year, that a woman stopped me at a craft show and said "hey!  you're the girl who's friends with Danielle!"

to which I replied..."hmmm...I don't know, I might know a Danielle..."


well the weird thing is...I actually knew who she was talking about after she started to describe her...I had 'met' her at Baltimore's comic convention- I don't know the exact name- when I was there a few years ago with my super talented cousin Brian, who was selling his art...Danielle, who writes the comic, Girls with Slingshots was there- I scooped her card, and got hooked reading her comic...

well it turns out Lauren (also a Lauren B) whose shop also has the name Jersey in it, also happens to live in Maryland!  and she is friends with Danielle- actually friends...not just met once ;) 

if that's not enough weird coincidences for you...I don't know what is!  a case of mistaken identity...but flattering, since it's a very talented person I was mistaken for :)



and it just so happens that her work is amazing- combining her love of photography with jewelry and accessories...and even cufflinks, and cases for your iPhone!  it seems like every time I check in, she's got a new product!

these cute hairpins

or these adorable hot air balloon earrings

and awesome cases for your iPhone...you can pick out one of her photos, or even send in one of your own for a custom case :)

 here is the necklace I got from her, when she was having a sale on Fab.com




it's hard to see the photo...so here is a close-up of the image of the Cherry Blossoms :)

I get lots of compliments when I wear it :)  and it's fun to know a fellow Lauren B from Jersey made it :)

so go check out her shop and blog :)  and pick up some gifts...and something for yourself too ;)

Favorite Esty Shop- Graphic Anthology

Ah!  How wonderful it is when my worlds collide!

I was browsing on Pinterest for the 5th time today (wish I was joking...do they have AA for Pinterest?) and I found this really cute print from Etsy...which sums up my whole day pretty much:

Time for Coffee print 

How cute is this?  So then I naturally started browsing through the shop it came from...and as I suspected...other cute things!  Go check out Graphic Anthology for other cute stuff like this:

Always Say Please and Thank You print

Shut the Front Door print

Eat Dessert First print

makes me want to redecorate my kitchen!!

Favorite Etsy Shop - The Littlest Bean

for this week's favorite shop, I am bringing the love right back home to The Littlest Bean, run by Jen Menkhaus, BEST leader extraordinaire!  she truly does everything, and does it well...keeps our group running and still manages to create beautiful designs in felt- and she's always coming up with something new!

most likely you'll be drawn to her shop or booth by all the bright pops of color...like what you see in her felt circle rings

or maybe you need a pretty flower headband?  who doesn't!?!

and another new design that I just love...the bubble necklace!

check out The Littlest Bean on Etsy, for all your colorful, felt needs...you know you have them!!  and the best part about all of Jen's work...is that most things can be custom ordered- in any color you want!!  felt galore!!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Bella Puzzles

you might remember this seller from my Friday Finds this week...but there were so many amazing puzzles in this shop, I wanted to share some more!

working at an Elementary School, I've sort of reconnected with puzzles, and these are just so beautiful, I'd want to finish them, and frame them for my wall!

this first puzzle is made of art by Stephen Moore, and the puzzle is hand cut...150 pieces, and some of them are cut into fun shapes like animals!

or this image of Wtich on her Broomstick, with cats and pumpkins as puzzle pieces!

you can even have your own photographs turned into puzzles!  and in each box you'll find at least one monkey puzzle piece...the signature style!  what fun!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Cutesy but not Cutesy

Another favorite shop of mine is Cutesy but not Cutesy run by the adorable Diane Koss!  Her monsters just melted my heart and the soft fabrics will make you want to pick one up, give it a hug, or in the case of the hoodies...put one on, and never take it off!

the Monster Banana Split is too cute to eat!

or make your morning coffee even cuter with the Cutesy Bunny Mug

and keep warm in this fantastically cute Monster Hoodie

all of Diane's creations are one of a kind, stitched with love, by hand- and she even uses eco-friendly felt!  visit her shop and blog for more monsterific fun...find out where you can see her at a show this year, or just buy yourself some furry cutesy goodness!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Bunny with a Toolbelt

If you know me, you know how much I love cute stuff...especially if it is colorful and involves adorable animals...so much to my delight, I stumbled upon this shop, bunny with a tool belt, the other day :)


even they "put a bird on it"

or you can seal up your "in-progress" wine bottles with this adorable stopper

and if you want something a little less conventional...how about an adorable wedding cake topper?

Favorite Etsy Shop - Wabisabi Brooklyn

I feel like I could go on and on about the nice- and extremely talented! - people I met last summer at the BMAC show, so I will :)

MaryAnne of Wabisabi Brooklyn is as sweet as she is creative - her line of work includes re-purposing coins into fabulous jewelry!!  *she's also the one who's inspired me to make my posts about lists!  which I hope is an interesting addition to the blog!!

Along with the coins, she uses photographs and decoupage techniques to create beautiful works of art you can wear!


I love her miniature coin earrings- teeny little quarters you can wear on your ears!

and of course the state quarter necklace- I love me anything that has NJ on it!!

and for the guys- you can get them cufflinks made with nickles and photos of the Brooklyn Bridge!

make sure you check out her shop on Etsy!  you will not be disappointed!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Fisk & Fern

another one of my new friends, from the BMAC show in August, was Laura of Fisk & Fern...I instantly fell in love with her cute illustrations, and all the ways you could give, display and wear them!

who wouldn't love to cook breakfast wearing this adorable Bacon Monster Apron??

and now that I am officially a resident of Pigtown, these cards would be perfect for sending a note to friends :)

these erasers are too cute to use!  I think I'd just sit them on my desk and stare at them!!

her shop tagline says "silly and strange paper and homegoods"...guess I'm silly and strange too, because I love it all!! :)

Favorite Etsy Shop - HuiYi Tan

through the magic of Etsy Circles, I was recently introduced to this shop, and instantly fell in love!  the jewelry in this shop is so unique, and quirky...with the materials used ranging from silver, to enamel, pearls, and even colored pencils...yes you heard me right!



these are just some of the designs you can find made from colored pencils- necklaces and earrings!

and what about zippers for earrings?

or a cute set of weather inspired earrings, handmade in sterling silver?

this shop just makes me smile, everything is so colorful!  head on over and check out HiuYi Tan for yourself!!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Diffraction Fiber

another Etsy shop that I've had "favorited" for quite a while, is Diffraction Fiber- maker of pillows for any and everybody!  these quirky designs spread the gamut from food to computer keys to many other kinds of nostalgia...and best of all?  they're made from eco-friendly materials!!

how could you not love these whimsical pillows?!  my personal favorite, is the peanut butter and jelly- not only a favorite lunch of mine, but also they do make quite a cute couple :)

 

but that's not where the cuteness ends...check out some of my other favorites from this shop below!

a pillow that looks like bacon?  yum!

a fortune cookie...now I want Chinese food...

or a super silly spilled ketchup packet pillow

Favorite Etsy Shop - Love Elaine

this week's favorite shop is not only one of my Etsy favs, but owned by a friend from college!  Christen and I not only both went to VT, but we met in our sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and are both originally from New Jersey!  and now, to add to our list of commonalities, we are both following our creative dreams on Etsy! 

her Etsy shop, Love Elaine, features her handmade tote bags, place mats, quilts and much more!  she had much success over the holidays with stockings, tree skirts and gift bags!

some of her lovely items include this unique fabric wreath

and a perfect hostess gift- a wine bag!

and, a fabulous apron!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Punky Bunny

another one of the new friends I made while at the BMAC show in August was Emily, a Jersey Girl who now lives on the other side of the country, is also a fabulous jewelry designer!  I always tend to find fellow New Jerseyians, and obviously we became fast friends...but her work is also really cool and inspiring!  her shop, Punky Bunny designs is another one of my Etsy favorites!!

some of my favorite items include this secret message ring

these cute recycled silver poppy earrings

and these amazing bronzed bangle bracelets made from real tree branches!

Favorite Etsy Shop - Kimmchi

while you all know that my wholesale experience at the BMAC show in August was quite overwhelming (and in the end, very positive because I was forced to take a good hard look at my business, and made a decision of where I wanted it to grow...) one of my favorite things about that show, was some of the great friends we made while we sat in the dimly lit convention center for three, very long days...

one of those new friends is the talented mind behind the Etsy shop, Kimmchi

a member of the New York Etsy team, and based out of Brooklyn, Kimm is a busy bee putting out new designs often!  the silk screened images can be found on shirts, scarves and bags, and while some designs are abstract, others have cool images like flowers, city scapes, or even an angry tv!

shes as nice a person as her designs are fabulous!  go ahead, and shop over at Kimmchi! 

Favorite Etsy Shop - knap

even though I make jewelry, which I typically end up wearing myself as well...I am always tempted by new designs I find on Etsy!  one of my new favorites, Knap is a shop based out of Japan...the pieces in this shop are made of sterling silver and different colored glass, and it is stunning!! 

these beautiful designs are also very reasonably priced, which made me impulse buy them, moments after discovering this shop!  I am now the proud owner of these dark glass drop earrings...and bonus- they shipped and arrived so quickly!!!  go shop Knap!!  you won't be disappointed!

Favorite Etsy Shop - DogBoneArt

I love cute, kooky stuff...and the shop of DogBoneArt is no exception...I mean, pirate cupcakes? what is better then that??

here are a few of my favorite items from their shop :)

pirate cupcake apron...for when you bake pirate cupcakes, of course :)




















Joe Penguin Plushie...it's a penguin, so of course I want one :)















Vampire Baker t-shirt...no cakes made of garlic here ;)