Etsy Owls Black Friday Sales!

Check out all of these great Owlie shops for some amazing Black Friday specials.

Please read the details of each sale, as some members are only running on certain days. With Etsy's new coupon code feature, you should also check the Shop Announcements and see if there's a new Coupon Code for some amazing specials!

Shops are presented below in alphabetical order. Again, please make sure you check Shop Announcements for new details about individual sales, and pay attention to dates!

ADragonflysDream

Free Worldwide Shipping!

AnaDiazArte 

11/26 - 11/29 weekend SALE!!!!! Thanksgiving Sale! 15% off @ my shop. Please note: I will be shipping on Tuesday, 11/30/10

Use coupon code THKSGIVINGSALE15 during checkout.

BlackCatMima

Black Friday Weekend Sale! 10% off your Entire Purchase November 24 - 29, 2010


Use Coupon Code BFWE10 at Checkout



BumperStickersNMore

15% off storewide! Sale ends 11/30. Same special also available at her handmade shop SweetGrassValley

Coupon Code at Checkout: CMASSHOPWKND
 



ChicBoutiqueJewelry

Free Shipping on All Orders over $10.

DreamBirdPhotos

50% off Storewide! Sale ends at the end of the day Cyber Monday, 11/29/2010.


Coupon Code: HALFPRICEPHOTO



Jonikay52

Free shipping from Black Friday to Dec. 15th. Added special 15% discount on all items Black Fri. and Cyber Mon.

No Coupon Code! Contact Jonikay52 for questions.

SpunkiChick25

CYBER MONDAY ONLY! 40% off Storewide

Coupon Code: CYBERMONDAY


Until December 25th, Holiday Sale! 15% off Storewide.

Coupon Code: HOLIDAY15. (Cannot be combined with Cyber Monday sale!)

Dreamy Jamie Knits (or suenosdejmi)

50% off storewide starting Black Friday 11/26/2010 & ending end of day Cyber Monday, 11/29/2010.


Coupon Code: BLACKFRIDAYSALE.

For Thanksgiving Day, and after Cyber Monday, ending end of day Monday, December 6th, get 25% off storewide!


Coupon Code: Discount25

(These sales cannot be combined!)



YadYarn!

Free Sbipping Store Wide! Shipping is already adjusted, Sale Ends 12/3

Cinco De Mayo Challenge!

Happy 5th of May everyone! We decided to celebrate by having a Cinco de Mayo creative challenge. We did it kind of last minute, so we've only got 3 entries, but they're 3 amazing entries! Vote in the poll on the right for your favorite! Voting will end Tuesday May 11th.

Also, information on  Cinco de Mayo

In alphabetical order:

Anadiazarte and her Agave Tequilana Freeform Crochet Brooch

IckyDogCreations and her Bulgy Eyed Cinco de Mayo Chihuahua

Zemphira and her Frida Kahlo Snap Pouch

 

Easter basket ideas from the OWLs team!

Buttons the Bunny Puppet

squarejane

Alice in Wonderland Iphone cozy

HappyKATT

Little pink beaded flower ponytail holder

Tattietats

When Pigs Fly amigurumi

suenosdejmi

Zombie bunny

IckyDogCreations

Spring Dragonfly bookmark

vee41dmb

Pink Easter Bunny

zemphira

Fuzzy Bunny Necklace

MABjewelry

Blue Hue Rose bobby pin and ring set

GoldenPondStudio

Hootables!

We're launching Hootables, an Etsy Owls gift collection. Need a holiday gift? Check out Hootables for a series of beautiful gifts and items. We've just set up today, so stay tuned for the pretties!

Burrowing Owls - Halloween Owls

With Halloween fast approaching, I thought it appropriate to share some of the wonderful Halloween inspired owls on Etsy! There are too many to choose from, but here is a sample.

sarada - Owl Painting

Harker - BOOtiful bag

blackbirdfolkart - Owl treat bowl

EeirieEmporium - Owl wall hanging

pastelly - Halloween Owl

JMcGuinness - Beware the Pumpkins greeting card

Trunk Show Giveaway Prize Packages

These are the prize packages available to win during the Etsy Owls Trunk Show tonight in Etsy's Virtual Labs. These prizes will be given away with trivia questions throughout the show. The show starts at 7:00 pm eastern time, be there or be square!

Thanks to all Owls members who donated the awesomeness below.

General info:

Most prize packages shown here come with postcards or a photo from dreambirdphotos even if it's not shown in the photo. Packages that include cards will say so in the description. Also, some packages also include items that are not pictured, such as gift certificates from sellers. These will be delivered by the sellers via convo.

Prize package that contain soap: Soaps are made with goat's milk base and scented with macha tea. For more questions concerning soaps, contact gypsyeye

Prize package 1 (above): Pouch and earrings from Hollystott, owl pendant from WeiOpenSecret,
soap from gypsyeye and postcards from dreambirdphotos.

Prize Package # 2 (above): Pouch from Hollystott , earrings from KnitandPearl , and button from WeiOpenSecret Package also includes postcards from dreambirdphotos



Prize Package # 3 (above): Pouch and earrings from Hollystott , soap from gypsyeye, an ACEO from remixstudio, and postcards from dreambirdphotos

Prize Package # 4 (above): Pouch from hollystott, button and tip cards from WeiOpenSecret, soap from gypsyeye, and an ACEO from remixstudio.

Prize Package # 5 (above): Pouch from hollystott, soap and earrings from Gypsyeye, 4x6 photo from dreambirdphotos

Prize Package # 6: (above): Pouch and love monster from Hollystott, 4x6 photo from dreambirdphotos. This package also includes this little guy from inkypaws. Will ship seperately.

Prize package # 7 (above): Pouch and earrings from hollystott, ACEO from remixstudio, gift tags and button from WeiOpenSecret. Also includes postcards from dreambirdphotos.

Prize Package # 8 (above): Pouch and earrings from Hollystott, soap from Gypsyeye, button from WeiOpenSecret. Package also includes postcards from dreambirdphotos and a $5 gift certificate to PresentsforPirates . Gift certificate will be sent via Etsy convo.



Prize Package # 9: A custom business card wallet from Squarejane. Pictured are monster wallets but she'll design anything the winner chooses!

Prize Package # 10: Two gift certificates, a $10 gift certificate to lalala08 and a $5 gift certificate to PresentsforPirates. These will both be sent via Etsy convos.

Prize Package # 11: Two gift certificates, a $10 gift certificate to hollystott and a $5 gift certificate to CocoStIves . These will be sent via Etsy convos.

Prize Package # 12: A $25 gift certificate to KnitandPearl. Winner can choose to receive gift certificate code via convo or be mailed a certificate for gift giving.

Summer Finds - Strawberries!

Summer is the time for fresh fruit! And in my opinion, there's nothing quite as delicious as strawberries! By themselves, strawberry shortcake, parfait, icecream . . . I can never get enough! So of course I had to go in search of yummy strawberries on Etsy. Makes me wanna eat my computer screen . . .Featured Shops:
kategreiner
dennisanderson
melbangel
HerOwnFrequency
loobas
BubblesUpByBethieB

SummerFinds

Owls Find Cephalopods!!

I couldn't resist!! Who doesn't love a cephalopod! Squid, octopi, cuttlefish . . . they're so fantastical it makes my brain hurt! I just wanna squish 'em!!! Enjoy their cuteness!

Featured sellers:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5408586

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6418630

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5352938

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5849939

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6335064

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=12650

This OwlFinds list was brought to you by Ickydogcreations. Enjoy!

The Owls on Facebook!

We've gone Facebook, there's no going back!!!

We've now got a Fan Page on Facebook! Yep! It's pretty crazy! Come be our fan to find out great info on when we're having sales (like our participating members in the Yart sale and our Trunk Show!!)


Join Our Facebook Fan Page!!!

Etsy 101, Owls Style: Getting Started

In anticipation of our August Trunk Show, we're going to be posting a series of articles all about the Etsy process. These articles will cover everything from the basics of Etsy (how to register, search, and purchase), how to use Paypal, to an indepth look at the Etsy Virtual Labs (where we're having the show).

This first look will be all about getting started on Etsy, how to register, and how to find what you're looking for.

Step 1: Signing Up: Welcome to Etsy.com!

The image below is the main page at http://www.etsy.com/

The red circle in the top right corner is where you should begin. Of course, if you already have an Etsy account, you would click 'sign in', but since we're assuming you don't, you click Register

The registration process is really simple, you just provide a username, password, and an email address. One thing to consider is that your username can NEVER be changed, so think about it before you choose it. Also, if you decide to become a seller, it would be your username too (unless you opened up a seperate shop, which requires a seperate email address.)

After this process, check your email for an email from Etsy confirming your sign up, and then you're good to go!! If you already have a Paypal account, you can start buying right away. If you don't have a Paypal account, you'll have to set one up, but it's pretty easy. Look for a coming tutorial on how to set that up in the next few days!



Step 2: Finding What You're Looking For



So, now you're signed up for Etsy, now what??

If you know what you're looking for on Etsy, it's as easy as typing it in the search engine and seeing what's out there. Looking back at the picture above, the search box is hard to miss on the main Etsy page. I've circled it with a big blue circle just to help out. You just pick a catagory from the drop down menu on the left (handmade, vintage, supplies, all items, or sellers) and then just type your search terms in the box.

Search tips:

To save you time, if you have a really specific item in mind, be specific in your search. The difference between 'knitted scarf' and 'green knitted scarf' is about 14,000 listings. So being specific is important.

Also, a great Etsy search feature is the word 'NOT'. Etsy sellers are allowed to tag their items with a series of search tags. Sometimes these tags can go against what you're looking for. For example, lets go back to that scarf search. If you search 'green knitted scarf', you get everything tagged with those words. Sellers who lists cowls or neckwarmers or shawls might also list them as scarves. But you're looking for a scarf, not a cowl. So you tell the search engine this, 'green knitted scarf not cowl' and it takes out all items tagged with cowl. You can keep adding to narrow it down as far as you can get it.

What's coming up in the Owls 101 series? More search tips and a look at Advanced Search, Alchemy, and also signing up for Paypal.

Etsy 101: Owls Style

In anticipation of our August Trunk Show, we're going to be posting a series of articles all about the Etsy process. These articles will cover everything from the basics of Etsy (how to register, search, and purchase), how to use Paypal, to an indepth look at the Etsy Virtual Labs (where we're having the show).

We'll also be linking to some great resources straight from Etsy, including how-tos and FAQ's.

These will be great resources for anyone who hasn't seen Etsy before, but will also help Etsians who might not be familiar with the Labs be able to enjoy the show! We'll be starting this coming week, so stay tuned!!

Do you Zazzle? We do!

Have you heard about Zazzle?

Zazzle's this pretty neat website where you can custom design your own items, and you can also open a storefront selling your designs. Cafepress works the same way, and both communities are a cool way to explore a LOT of interesting designs or make something for yourself that you can't find anywhere else.

A few of our team members have opened shops on Zazzle, check them out!


make custom gifts at Zazzle


create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Exploring SORCO with Squarejane

Today the family and I made a nice little Sunday trip to the open house at S.O.R.C.O. or the South Okanagan Rehabilitation Center for Owls. All animals hold a strong place in my heart but birds are especially dear to me. This center is almost entirely run by volunteer resources, funds and supplies. If you love owls like i do, please take a moment to check out their website and see what you can do to help out -- particularly if you are in the Okanagan region of BC Canada.

S.O.R.C.O is located about 12 KM north of Oliver BC and they do incredible work helping rehabilitate raptors that are injured or have fallen from nests or become ill etc. They often take in birds who have fed on carrion on roadsides and been hit by cars. Sometimes bald eagles will eat so much that they can no longer fly! Wherever possible, the center releases the birds back into the wild. They are also trying to start up a breeding and reintroduction of burrowing owls to the South Okanagan. This is a project near and dear to my heart as I adore burrowing owls! They are no longer present in the region due to encroachment on their lands by people, orchards and vineyards and due to a lack of the animals which burrowing owls like to make homes out of their dens. Badgers for example are no longer found in the area.

It really is a precious habitat here. The Okanagan is not the kind of land most people think about when they hear "Canada".


Arid, sagebrush and grasses on sandy and or rocky soil make up the region. It really is a little slice of dessert. The flora and fauna of the area are rare to find in Canada. It's one of the many reasons i love living here. The fantastic weather doesn't hurt either!


Here is a bald eagle that was rescued by the sanctuary. He came in with a collapsed lung. He is faring much better now. Such beauty!



Some owls at the center showing that owls really don't like being bothered when they are sleepy, nor do they like a tidy room. Reminds me of my daughter!


S.O.R.C.O breeds many different types of rodents for food for the raptors. This is a necessity due to the plans of releasing the recouperated birds. If they are unsure of what is food or how to catch and eat it, they will not survive in the wild. Many of the birds that are rescued are infants when brought in. A little sad because this little baby mouse was painfully cute!


Mice like him grow up however to keep little owls like this guy Charlie alive. Charlie was near death from starvation when he was brought in. He had to be fed through a tube initially. While there today, we watched as Charlie scarfed down a mouse like it was a cheeseburger and complain hungrily for more.

They had face painting as well as a band, a barbecue and a garage sale at the open house. I got a wicked strawberry cookie jar, a 60's fisher price school bus and some starwars fabric for next to nothing. Woo HOO!

Here my son Henry is getting an orange owl painted at his request by a very nice lady.


One more owl to remind you that we can all help out in our own way with our time, our money or our spirit to make a change in our world or our community. For the next 6 weeks, i will donate 10 % of all proceeds from my Etsy store to S.O.R.C.O.

Editors Note: We also have an item in the OWLS shop that will go to benefit this charity. This is Merv, and he's looking for a great home with a loving family! 100% of the proceeds from his purchase will be donated to this great bird charity, so he can help out his fellow winged friends!

Walk Now for Autism with lalala08

It's not often that on an April morning in Pennsylvania, it's 60 degrees outside before 9AM... but that was exactly the case this past Saturday when my fiance Chris and I arrived at Walk Now for Autism in Allentown, PA. Others had been arriving since 8AM (some even camped out the night before), so parking was already scarce. We ended up having to park pretty far from the festivities, but it was a nice warm-up for the Walk! When we came over the hill towards the park, there were people everywhere -- every age, every gender, every race... and they were all smiling (minus one or two crying babies!). The sun was shining, and we were all ready to go!

We met up with Chris' work team, Koch's Kids, where they had a group picture taken, and then we wandered around for a bit. We picked up some free drinks and refreshments, including tiny pretzels shaped like puzzle pieces! We pet lots of cute dogs, and admired the other teams and families all around us. This year's Miss Pennsylvania sang the National Anthem, and then Darth Vader and some Storm Troopers appeared on top of the bridge over the starting line and we all counted down to the beginning of the Walk -- it was very exciting. We passed through a large balloon arch, where life-size Crayola crayons, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and some Storm Troopers greeted us as we began the Walk. Cheerleaders from a local school cheered everyone on as they walked. There was laughter filling the air, and a live band played back at the main grounds.

Those who stayed behind enjoyed the music, met local businesses and organizations, and watched as children jumped around in giant blow-ups! We walked along the Lehigh River with the sun at our backs and a cool breeze in the air. It was really lovely. We passed over a covered bridge, trekked up rocky hills, and watched as fishermen cast their lines into the river. There was a shortcut for those who wanted/needed one, but we were doing fine so Chris and I continued on. We paused only once to look at some bass calmly swimming in the river. Once we finished, Applebee's had tents set up to give everyone some free snacks (boneless chicken wings, pasta salad, and fresh veggies and fruit! yum!). We sat and enjoyed our treats as we reflected on what we had just accomplished. I am proud to say that I didn't really feel the burn until we had to go back up over the hill to our car! It was such a great day, and for such a great cause!

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so through August by visiting the Walk Now for Autism website. Additionally, the EtsyOWLs still have some amazing items available in the team shop! And I have decided to extend to 4/30 my offer of donating 10% of every purchase from my shop to the Walk! Check out my shop here! Thank you to our friends, family, and everyone for all of your support! Together we can all make a difference!

Still want to donate? Lehigh Valley's gearing up for their 2010 walk, info available here

Stellar Seller: LemonTreeStudio

This week's Stellar Seller is lemontreestudio. She was nominated by blackcatmima who had a wonderful shopping experience with her and wanted to share it with the world! Check out her interview and then visit her shop to see just why she's so Stellar!


*Tell us and the Etsy world a bit about you, anything you'd like to share

Hi owl lovers! My name is Shelly and I am a lucky wife to a wonderful hubby and stay at home mom to my darling Lilyana. I heart paper, fabric, sewing, crocheting, jewelry making, graphic design and love dreaming up new crafty creations (which usally take place in the wee hours of the night)! I have a passion for collecting vintage, traveling, the outdoors and decorating. Most of my inspiration comes from different textiles, vintage emphemera and other incredibly talented crafters!

*How did you meet Etsy? Was it love at first sight?

I discovered Etsy while searching online for a little girls pinafore tutorial. I had every intention of sewing one myself, until I ran into Etsy and all the fabulous sellers. I ended up BUYING several for my daughter instead of making one! It was definitely love at first sight. I opened up a shop within a month of discovering Etsy and haven't looked back.

*How did you get into making what you make?

I can remember being a tomboy at 6, making little houses and villages for worms, frogs and other various critters....all elaborate and functional, LOL! I loved seeing creations come to life and have been going ever since.

*Describe yourself in 1 word: scatter-brained

*Do you have a favorite:

word or saying? BLOOM
dessert? Puppy Chow (and not the kind for dogs)
book and/or author? I am more of a magazine kind of girl
vacation spot (real or dream!) love Vegas, Hawaii, New York.....would LOVE to visit Australia
Etsy seller? Ooooh, too many to list...there are so many talented artists on etsy....I am amazed everday! I especially love http://prettylilthings.etsy.com/ (and many, many more!)

April Rain Challenge

The theme of our April's Challenge was to create based on a word. The team submitted words and then we voted, and 'rain' won the most votes. So, several team members submitted rainy items :) See them all here or check out the end of the post for the individual item links on Etsy.

To vote for your favorite, use the poll on the left. Voting will go for 1 week.

Important: Some voters have problems with the Blogger poll. If it doesn't work for you, please post your vote in the comments on this post. Be sure to let us know that the poll didn't work for you when you post or your vote will not be counted!!

Here are the item links:

blackcatmima: Rain Cloud Barrette

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23916978

gypsyeye: Cascade Earrings:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23918230

lalala08: Raindrop Earrings:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23931275

lovealisa: April Showers Market Tote

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23951190

shisie: Rainy Days Are For... (wall hanging)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23920953

Squarejane: Spring in Vancouver (painting)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23954842

WeiOpenSecret: Rain Glass Necklace:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16224846

Stellar Seller: ChopstixWaits

Tell us and the Etsy world a bit about you, anything you'd like to share...

My name is Chopstix Waits. I live in rochester ny with my great dane Angus and my hairless cat Chicken. I grew up here, traveled a bit when i was younger , and ended up buying a house a few years ago.I am a self taught seamstress and fiber artist. I sew,spin,felt and crochet full time, and spend most of my days in my attic studio. In my free time I west african dance, contra dance, and am currently learning russian, i also enjoy the occasional late night and slightly intoxicated dance party. When i can find the time, I love to travel for inspiration and textiles.

How did you meet Etsy? Was it love at first sight?

Etsy and i met at just the right time! I had quit my part time job bartending, and although i was doing some bridal , and costuming work, there is just not much of a market for my work in the city where i live. A friend of mine had an etsy shop, and i decided to check it out. I was lucky to have a small customer base that came with me and really got the ball rolling on etsy for me. I now work almost full time on etsy, and love how easy it is to use, and that i can reach a global market of customers.

How did you get into making what you make?

I have been sewing for as long as i can remember. Most of my family are artist and craftsman, and i grew up around a lot of creativity. When i was younger, i started making my own clothes because i could never find what i wanted. I love the color, history, and integrity of traditional clothing from India, Asia, and Africa, and i take constant inspiration from this.

Describe yourself in 1 word: wonderlust

Do you have a favorite:

favorite word or saying: As of late i am obsessed with this line from Pablo Nerudas Ode to sadness: "I will sweep the bits and pieces of your carcass to the four corners of the wind" . Its not really a saying, but beautiful in context

favorite color: bright
Favorite author: too many to choose just one, right now i am reading The hunter, the hammer and heaven by Robert Young Pelton.I also swear by lonely planet guide books.
Favorite holiday: I celebrate at random
Favorite etsy seller:I have a couple of favorites i have to mention, these ladies have their own sense of style, and a color aesthetic that i love:katwise eviegreenpixie

Owls find daffodils!

One of our new members, ickydogcreations has inspired hopes of a true Spring in all of us with this gorgeous owlfinds full of daffodils! See all of Etsy's daffodil offerings here. Happy Spring!




http://peartreegallery.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23549418

http://angelfireartglass.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20912577



http://janetlily.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23382867



http://pollypainting.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23472323


http://studiomem.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21986370


http://mizusugi.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23487359


http://rachelled.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22591566


http://ziemabir.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18446582

Tutorial: Making a Lightbox with Lovealisa

LoveAlisa recently decided to dive into the world of lightbox making, and she was nice enough to take photos along the way to write up a tutorial for the blog. Follow this to start the path to better photography in no time!

Creating your own Professional Photography Studio

It has become apparent to me that I need to improve my product photos. They aren’t terribly awful, but I want them to stand out and show off how fantastic they are in my eyes! So, I started researching and heard a lot about Light Boxes. I basically took my design from this lovely tutorial (http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html), with some insignificant but duly noted changes. Most of this low cost project can be found rummaging around my pantry/craft area/closets for items of use.

Go Gather your Supplies!!!

• 1. One Box (about 14x14x14 seemed like the right size, just eyeball it. Eventually I’ll make one capable of holding my totes)


• 2. Scissors/Exacto Knife (to cut out your panels. Be careful, I sliced my fingers holding onto scissors and sawing…)


• 3. Parchment Paper (or anything to diffuse light… tissue paper, thin white fabric etc)


• 4. Poster Board (in white, and/or optional black)


• 5. Tacky Glue (tape works if you have strong packing or electric tape… which I did not.)

Costs:

I forgot that my hubby and I live in a one-bedroom apartment, and we don’t have a lot to rummage through. So, I did purchase a few items. Box: $4.50 Poster Board: $0.49

Steps:

1. Cut out three square panels from three sides (see photo). If you don’t want your hubby calling you “Alisa Scissor Hands” please be careful how you hold your sharp tools.

OPTIONAL: Cut out the bottom side of your box so you can take your light box outside and photograph immovable plant life and other items.

2. Cut parchment paper to match the empty panels plus 1 inch room on each side.

3. Glue the parchment paper to cover the panels. (I tried to use scotch tape, but I realized after taping ALL the panels on, that it didn’t work and it all fell off.)

4. While the glue dries, trim the poster board to a width of 14 inches and slide it into place.

5. Bada Bing, Bada Boom. You are done. Go take the best photos of your Etsy items!

Note: I have been using this outside with natural light (which works) but you can also use two lamps on either side.

Check out the above bracelet in the Etsy Owls shop where proceeds go 100% to Autism research! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5271044&section_id=5156130