Stellar Seller: TjTUnraveled

This week's Stellar Seller is TjTUnraveled, who makes gorgeous handdyed yarn. She was nominated by KnitandPearl who has purchased from her several times and always turns out fantastic things with her yarn! Read the interview below, and visit her shop and her blog.

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

I am a substitute school teacher and I have been knitting since I was 12 years old. I have 2 Etsy stores, tjtunraveled, and tjtdesign.

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

I started on Etsy in 2007 when my husbands co-worker told me about the site. I love to knit and I wanted a place I could sell all of the pieces I started to collect. There are only so many knitted gifts you can give to your friends and family. I loved the community feel of Etsy and how easy it was to get started. I still get exited with each piece I sell.

How did you get into dying yarn and what inspires you to create the colorways you do?

After about a year, I was searching for another outlet for my creative side. I had been interested in opening up a new store and I was researching hand-dyed yarn. I thought about how I could connect the two stores together. Tjtunraveled came from the idea that it is a deconstructed version of my knitting store. My husband is such a driving force for the yarn store. He went to school for art and has such a wonderful eye and color palate. I am always going to him to work out ideas and come up with new shades to use. I also love when people ask me for special request colorways. I get requests for colorways based on a mood, or a place someone has visited. I have even gotten requests for colorways based on baby clothes and diaper covers. I often use those colorways again in my store for general sale.

I am inspired by the natural world around me as well as my love for knitting. When I come up with new colorways, I am always imagining how the colors would look in a scarf or other accessories. I think that perspective helps me come up with some wild colorways. I love when I re-skein the yarn after dying and seeing how the colors look together.

Describe yourself in 1 word:

If I had to describe myself in one word I think it would be organized. I am constantly working out new projects while juggling work, knitting, my dog Otis, and many other things.

Tell us your favorite:

I really don't have a favorite saying or word...My favorite color is blue and my favorite book is 1984 by George Orwell. It is what made me want to go into Sociology for my undergraduate work. I don't really have a favorite holiday either, but I love the winter. There is something about the cold and rain that I just love. That is why Oregon will always be my home.

I think all of my customers that sell on Etsy are my favorite sellers. I love to see what they create with my yarn. KnitandPearl is one of those stores. She creates such beautiful and unique pieces I am a little jealous of her work! Artisanimpact is another great Etsy store. Their pieces are just gorgeous!

Cinco De Mayo, an Etsy Owls Challenge!

We decided to honor Cinco de Mayo by having ourselves a little creative challenge. The theme was simple, all you had to do was make something honoring Mexican or Mexican-American culture. Our last challenge was just a few weeks ago, so due to the shorter creating period we only had 3 owlies enter this challenge, but no worries, because all 3 of them brought awesome stuff to the table.

Check out the entries below and vote for your favorite in the poll on the left. There are two photos per entry.

If you cannot vote in the poll, put your vote in the comments here, but be sure to say the poll doesn't work for you or your vote will not be counted.

Entries:

LoveAlisa's Cinco De Mayo Clutch:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24535239

SquareJane's Cinco de Mayo Taco Earrings

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24612612

Ickydogcreations Cinco de Mayo with Chihuahua flair

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24483628

For other fun Cinco de Mayo activities, check out EtsyBaby's Cinco de Mayo Challenge or visit the Spanglish team's blog for the history of the day. Feliz Cinco de Mayo from all of us!

Owls find Frida!

As in Frida Kahlo. :) I keep it no secret that she's such a favorite of mine, and it came out recently that she's a favorite of several other team members as well. Since today's Cinco de Mayo, we thought we'd pay a bit of hommage to our favorite mujer de México, Frida!

This is a bit different than a normal Owl Finds, and several items are from the same sellers, as there are some shops on Etsy who are all about Frida, and they have awesome stuff. This is also just the surface of the Frida items on Etsy, click here to search through over 1,500 items for your favorites.

Click on any picture for the item on Etsy. :) (Also, watch for our July creative challenge all in honor of Frida!)

moonscreations

I just did a quick search on Frida and this little Moon bun chica popped up. Isn't she adorable??? I think Frida would approve.

sewsewsuckurtoe

This little Frida's modeled after the artist's favorite portrait of Frida. Can you guess which one? (hint, the picture's in the listing too so you can check your answer!)

Six06

Six06 is hands down one of my favorite shops on Etsy, and a recent find too! Artist Julie Zarate does some gorgeous work, and Frida's only a small part of her entourage.

Frida's La Caza Azul

La Ultima Fiesta

Maracardenas

This shop has Frida gone wild, on jewelry, on mirrors, on everything! And these Frida's are gorgeous too! As if Frida's not enough, she's channeling Picasso too. (part of me just died of total bliss...)

Frida & her Sugar Skulls keychain

CatBoxArtStudio

CatBoxArtStudio has some very cool Frida items, such as this 2009 desk calendar made from a CD case. How cool is that?

Death Chokes Me Art Pocket Mirror

Minimalista

Minimalista makes some of the coolest Frida-wear out there. She's got Viva La Frida shirts in a variety of sizes, colors, and styles.

Go Frida!

Owl Spotlight: RemixStudio

So, I’ll be frank, I had some trouble thinking of something to talk about. Moving, nah, I talk about moving 93% of my day, I certainly didn’t want to bore you all with that. Tshirt thrifting, while certainly interesting, I haven’t had many recent adventures doing so, and I couldn’t think of any mild wisdom I could mine anyway. So, other than working, I decided to go over some of my favorite blogs. Yes, some of my favorite blogs. Now, you will notice something—they aren’t really craft related. Nope, off of the top of my head they aren’t at all. But these are blogs I read and they inform my thinking in some way or another.

Cakewrecks

Cakewrecks is how I’ve learned to laugh so hard I can cry. Really, this blog is all about what happens when you don’t do something well, or, what is better known as people will mock you. Cakes gone so wrong, I can’t help think it’s a reminder for all of us to do whatever we do really, really well. And it’s also a grammar lesson for all of us.
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/ (or also on Twitter @cakewrecks)

Popwatch

This is my way of knowing what’s going on in the world. There are a variety (and I do mean variety) of posts, but I enjoy the randomness of it all. There is no way I would hear about half of the movies out there, I am simply just not that hip anymore.
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/

Pioneer Woman

Last, but not least is by far my favorite, Pioneer Woman. Pioneer Woman just won Blog of the Year at the bloggies just a few months ago, but if that’s not reason enough to check her out, let me attempt to summarize what it’s all about. Children, ranches, food, cowboys, sushi, citygirl-meets-cowboy, cows, remodeling, gardening, education, photography, photoshop, giveaways, wild horses, and..wow, I could go on. Pioneer's engaging photography and writing style is certainly what drew me in, and I was more than hooked when I realized I friend I knew in college was proposed to through Pioneer Woman’s blog (her fiancé is now officially awesome in my book.) Lastly, Pioneer Woman is a great photographer and has lots of tutorials on both how to take better pictures and how to use photoshop to make your pictures even better. If you have photoshop, don’t forget to download her Photoshop Action Sets, they are an incredibly useful tool! http://thepioneerwoman.com/

RemixStudio , also known as Liz, makes awesome bags from t-shirts in addition to some graphic design. Check out her Etsy shop and get to know her a bit better by reading her blog. You can also check out her previous Spotlight (full of design camp adventures) here

Burrowing Owls: Cards

Send that owl lover in your life a nice owllo with one of these precious owlie cards. Or say owl love you forever. I could really keep going all day...

Featured artists and items:

http://thepoint.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21174854

http://thanks4lookin.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20892601

http://sparklepaw.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21574263

http://txbutterfly74.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24203224

http://hdawnparratt.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22289838

http://stampersaurus.etsy.com/

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24264223

Burrowing Owls: Walls

We've been building this list for a while, because it's been an effort to find the right collection of prints and paintings. I met some of these people in the Etsy chats the other night and they shared their paintings with me. These items are all ready to find a new home on your walls. Bring some owls into your life, will ya?







Featured artists and items:


http://susanrodio.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19584027


http://kacchan.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13707358


http://polygnome.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22480408


http://tamarhammer.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20422068


http://swipxa.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23393715


http://thelonebeader.etsy.com/
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15660959

Happy Baby from the Owls!

This post is in honor of everyone who is expecting a little Owlet in the coming future! We'd especially like to say congrats to Zemphira who has a new one coming any time now and also to one of our newer Owls AlexanderRose who is due in June! Happy Baby from the Owls!!

lalala08 recently spent some time conducting an Etsy Search baby shower, and compiled this list of things perfect for that ultimate hospital trip! So shop for yourself, or shop for that loved one or friend of yours who's getting ready to welcome a new bundle of joy!

1. A big, beautiful bag to carry all those things you can't do without! Bonus -- doubles as an ultra gorgeous diaper bag later. Amelia Large Tote Bag by urbanharmonie


2. Hello, lip balm! Helps keep your lips looking and feeling beautiful as you shout at your partner for doing this to you. (just kidding!) Ananda Organic Vegan Bliss for your lips in Dandelion by jewelalchemy


3. Stay hydrated! Opt for a pretty mug or cup to keep your ice chips in instead of the icky styrofoam ones! Polka Dot Mug by BMLangPottery


4. Find a focal point! Why not bring along a picture of something calming to help you focus between contractions? Vintage Art Deco Wooden Picture Frame by RobertaGrove


5. So, hospital socks...yeah, ew. Bring along your favorite pair of slippers instead!
Spring Equinox Flat by HydraHeart


6. Don't forget your robe, too! Hospital gowns get the same "ew" factor as the socks!
Knee Length Kimono Style Robe by plumprettysugar


7. Wash cloths/baby wipes/nursing pads/whatever! You will be glad you packed these.
Pack of 6 Single-Ply Hemp/OC Reusable Cloth Wipes by sewfussy


8. Something cute for your wee one to wear home, or for the hospital pictures!
Bird Onesie and Burp Cloth Set by valeriya


9. Don't you love when chic and functionality come together, like in this dress made with nursing moms in mind? Don't forget to bring something simple, comfortable, and lovely to wear home yourself! This Floral Life sweater dress by replicca