Etsy at home

Recently interior decorator Emily Henderson (love her!) was featured on the Etsy blog giving her Expert Guide to buying art on Etsy, you can see it here  - lots of great tips and cool art too.  Emily also posted on her own blog about quick
how-to on quick spring Vignettes and used a fabulous cactus print by artandpeople .   This wonderful print has been in my Etsy favs for a while now...it looks fantastic on her wall, dont you think?!  I do love Emily's interior style!



Way too much awesome-ness over at Etsy.
I can only look at the moment because since we are planning a new build (yes! it will happen) I can only plan right now so no 'home' purchases for me for a while!

Hope you enjoy my Etsy at Home picks!
Happy Friday!

Top image via Emily Henderson 
Etsy items  1 / 2/ 3/ 4/ 5

Mumma I love you...

With Mothers Day just around the corner,  I've selected some lovely things from my Etsy Favourites to share.  I adore Etsy for all things special, unique, pretty...and made with love by people who love what they do!
Beautiful things for that Beautiful Mum in your life!

 Items from Top (L-R)
1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * 5 * 6

A Girl called Carmen....

This week I'm really excited to feature Carmen on the blog, another Creative Girl you should get to know.
I had seen Carmen around at a few local Etsy events and we had a chance to chat at the recent Sydney Etsy Team 'Show and Tell' gathering in Newtown - she's so warm and friendly and a very talented Illustrator and designer!
Carmen's illustrations are so delicately beautiful and she illustrates with such fine detail.  I love all   her animal prints - their faces and expressions show SO much character!  I also love the airy feel to Carmen's illustrations.

Welcome Carmen!
Can you tell us what is is currently inspiring you? 
The change of season,
botanicals, and the delicate lines in nature.

What creative plans do you have planned this year?
 I have so many plans, just need the time to do them all!
This year, I’m very much focused on expanding my range. I want to create a series of greeting cards, invitations and kids apparels.
On top of that, I want to dabble in the world of fine arts and do more experiments with different mediums, composition and scale.

Can you define to us your personal style? 
My personal style is very different to my work.
My work is very delicate and muted while in real life I’m very colourful and love mixing patterns and texture. I love the juxtaposition of the two styles, it adds interest to my everyday life.

Do you have a favourite colour? 
I love yellow! just writing about it now makes me happy. I use it a lot during the planning and concept stage, it’s a colour which helps me to focus and to think clearly.


What about a favourite Smell or Fragrance? 
 My favourite fragrance is Om by Miller et Bertaux. It is a spicy and woody sense which is a mix of grown up elegance and a warm embrace.

Imagine your most perfect day – what would it look like? 
My most perfect day would have to be art related. It would start with a visit to a local gallery, then maybe a visit to Art on King to buy more art supplies and then a walk home with a big cup of hot chocolate and ideas for a new drawing project.

What do you love about your City?
The creative energy. It seems like everyone I meet these day are either chasing their dreams, starting a new project or doing something fantastical. I think our city is more vibrant and alive than ever before and we are so lucky to live in such a creative city like Sydney.

Do you have a favourite quote you'd like to share with us?
I used to collect quotes but not anymore. I try to clear my head of clutter where possible. Sometimes you can be so focus on people’s ideas that you forget your own.

Thanks so much Carmen for this little Q&A session!  Its been great to get to know a little bit more about you.
To connect with Carmen and to see more of her work and what she's been doing lately head on over to her Etsy Shop 'Drawn by Carmen'  
her Website , instagram feed (we all love Instagram!) and Carmen's  Facebook page

a girl called Clair....

I came across Clair’s wonderful food illustrations recently, and they made me feel like I was in the middle of a European Summer! delightful!
Of course I was curious to see more of her work, as I love discovering new illustrators.  Varied in subject matter Clair's illustrations are warm, and earthy and unique in illustrative style.
Clair’s colourful  'City Life'  illustrations of London (my favourite city!!),  for ‘Paper Rose’ Greetings are fun with so much detail!
I’m really happy to feature Clair on the blog today, as part of my Creative Girl series.
Welcome Clair!
Can you tell us what is currently inspiring you? 
I have a few illustrators that are particularly inspiring me at the moment- Nina Cosford, Amy Victoria Marsh and Yasmeen Ismail to name a few.
I went to a workshop recently, run by a lady called Mrs Bertimus. She collects so many beautiful little treasures, and lots of antiques. Just being in a studio surrounded by all those goodies I found really inspiring.
I’m always looking out for new ideas and ways of working, especially in bookshops. Needless to say, I love Pinterest - that’s where you can find a lot of my inspiration!

Name 3 things you couldn’t live without right now? 
Quink ink, Empress Grey tea (which I’ve only recently discovered!) and my little vase of fresh flowers which sits at my desk and keeps me cheerful.

Can you define to us your personal style? 
I think my personal style is happy and quirky. I like creating work that makes people smile and I feel that is the purpose of my work in many ways. As well as illustrations for children, I also do a lot of food illustration. This has a slightly more organic and wholesome feel to it.

What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on some travel themed artwork which is something quite new for me. I’m enjoying the challenge of making something completely different, and I hope that I will continue to be pushed in new directions as I move forward.



Do you have a favourite colour or colour combinations?
I love autumn colour combinations, and at the moment I have a bit of a thing for dark turquoise. It’s just lovely!
What about a favourite Smell or Fragrance? 
My mum’s freshly baked Victoria sponge cake!

What do you love about your City/Town?
I love the fact that I’m not too far away from London, which is full of inspiration and could be explored endlessly. I only graduated in 2014 so have spent the last three years in Falmouth, Cornwall. I have a special place in my heart for that town! It has a beautiful harbour, lots of beaches and countryside and so many lovely friends live there.

Do you have a favourite quote you'd like to share with us?
I have too many to choose from! This is one that I especially love, Proverbs 31:25, ‘She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.’

thanks so much Clair, its been great to learn more about you - to connect with Clair,  head on over to her Website
Etsy Shop * Facebook
Tumblr  * Pinterest and of course
Instagram 

Scent of Summer

It feels like our Summer has been extended for like ever! not that I'm complaining, its awesome!
I love the sunshine, the extra hours of light in the day especially when I get home from work and I have a ton of things I want to do.
Summer always makes me feel good.  Alive!
I also love Summer scents.  The nose is a powerful tool...scents bring up memories and can transport us, make us feel and remember wonderful things...
My favourite Summer smells are jasmine and honeysuckle - these floral scents always remind me of Cyprus which is one of the worlds Sunniest islands!
...of course salt water and the smell of the sea, fresh herbs in salad, lemon and coconut for a tropical twist. What are you favourite Summer scents?

Some gorgeous Summery scented candles found on Etsy - for that Endless Summer!

Top image by Chris Warnes for Home Beautiful magazine
Candles from top  Jasmine Breeze Soy Candle by TokyoFactory * Fresh Mint & Lime triple wick Candle by Black Arrow Candles *  Watermelon soy Candle by Blue Tapestry * Lychee & Peony Candle by Maison Blanche

Etsy Pop Up Market

Tomorrow night I'm having a little Etsy stall part of  'The Rocks Village bizarre'
so much happening down at
'The Rocks' and they are predicting a scorcher of a day tomorrow so who wants to head on home after work??
...come on down...
Say Hello!

There will be 8 Etsy stalls as well as loads of yummy food, music, art installations and of course the high energy DJ/Dancer
Peter Baecker (he was a huge hit last week!!) - you can check it all out here
I've got a variety of Greeting cards and Gift tags to offer...I've been a busy gal making things!

Organised Chaos....

I sometimes don’t like the mess that results in a great crafty session especially when I’m still in a ‘work in progress’ stage and I have no intention of clearing anything up as yet.
I' lucky enough to have a crafty work area set up in my house but for some reason I like to bring all my supplies into the family room and work there…its my organised chaos!


I’m preparing for the ‘Rocks Twilight Market’ which will be part of ‘The Rocks Village Bizarre’.
 – it starts this Friday night and should be awesome!!
There will be different Etsy Sellers every Friday night for 7 weeks and my stall will be there on 14th November so things are feeling a little frantic!!

Ive only experienced a stall at School held Market so I’m feeling this might be a tad busier…ohhh don’t want to get nervous now …fingers crossed I’ll be organised, on track and will and slowly getting there.

Sydney Etsy meet up....

Last week I went along to the Sydney 'Etsy' meet-up hosted by Aussie Etsy Admins, Courtney and Jennie  - it was a school night, I was buggered after work and my new long train commute
but I managed to get my mum to look after the boys until Andrew got home -  I'm so glad I did go as I got to meet some new Etsians and had a really enjoyable evening!
The catch up was held at the 'The Wild Rover' in Surry Hills, daggy me walked straight past it...well I wasn't expecting a private door of what was an old shirt-making factory ( from when the Rag Trade was booming in Surry Hills).
I wish I had taken more photos but the bar was moody and dark (not sleazy and dark...phew!) but here are some lovely products from some creative and passionate Sydney Etsians that hung out the other night!
(L-R) * Black Arrow candles *  Chase Fate *  AntiPastel *  Zest&Lime *  Me and Tex * MissWrightDesigns *

Etsy Design Awards

Some great news for Australian Etsy Sellers!
Australian sellers with active Etsy shops are invited to enter the 'Etsy Design Awards'.
Not only will  you be featured in the December issue of 'Inside Out' magazine
but you can win a trip to Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, New York!!!
Now thats a cool prize, non?!

The Etsy Design Awards have been created to recognise creative excellence and there's lots of that in the Australian Etsy community that's for sure!
Check out all the details here 

Etsy Stories: My Sweet Prints

I first met Janette from 'My Sweet Prints' a few years ago at a Sydney blogger catch-up.  I've always followed her blog and work online - lately we've been Instagram buddies too!
When I gave my son Neo a little bedroom makeover which you can see here  and here,  I bought one of Janette's customised 'A World to Discover' print - we love it!
Janette's amazing art prints adorn many walls in many homes.
Her work is bold, bright and can be customised -  a perfect inexpensive way to update any room or workspace!

Hi Janette!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself 
I'm an early 30's Mum of two boys from Sydney. I'm a Graphic Designer by trade and I worked in Magazine Advertising before having babies.
My passions and interests are interiors, homes, architecture, design, craft and art, kind of anything creative.

When did you discover Etsy? 
I discovered Etsy back in 2009 it wasn't as gigantic as it is these days but it was such a unique website - being able to have your own little shop with already established traffic was just amazing to me.

What inspired you to start selling on Etsy ?
I was on maternity leave with my first son and I knew I didn't want to go back into the magazine world with deadlines, travelling into the city each day etc.
So I thought I would do my own thing, logos, business cards, any sort of freelance Graphic Design - but I don't actually enjoy that sort of design work!
I'd made a few prints for friends and everyone said I should sell them, so when I discovered Etsy I thought I might as well give it a go. My son was six months old and so I gave myself six months to try and get 'My Sweet Prints' earning a certain target amount per week - to see if it would actually be a viable work option. And it happened! I was lucky to have been picked up by quite a few journalists and stylists and the exposure just built it up to a thriving little business!

Can you describe your creative process?
It varies but it might just be a thought, an idea or a saying which I could picture turning into a print. But basically I just think about what I would want on my boy's walls or on our walls at home. Anything that is sweet, sentimental, feel-good, makes you smile, is kind of the
'My Sweet Prints' ethos.
I have a folder on my computer with lots of designs that have never made the cut over the years.

When you initially launched your Etsy shop, did you ever think that you'd be able to make a living selling your beautiful prints?
I hoped and dreamed and I worked really hard to make it work but no, when I initially hit the 'Create an Account' button on Etsy it was just a 'Let's just see how this goes' type of thing. I had not business plan, hadn't even really worked out packaging, labeling or accounting.

Why does the Etsy marketplace work for you?
It gives me flexibility, if we decide to go away on a short weekend away I can just put the shop on Holiday Mode. It also gets so much traffic from all around the world that you don't have to be constantly driving traffic to your shop, the traffic comes to you!
I get most of my overseas orders through etsy.

How has the freedom of having your own Etsy Shop impacted your lifestyle?
It has totally impacted it!
I can be around for my boys, if one of them is sick I don't have to call up a boss and apologize... I can just work around appointments and outings etc.
On the flipside when it's really busy it means I'm working most nights, and it can be hard to switch off but the positives totally out weigh the negatives.

Thanks so much Janette - it was great chatting about Etsy with you!

If you are a creative or know someone who would be a great Etsy Seller than its so easy to open an Etsy shop - Etsy are offering 20 free listings for any new shop!  Head on over to the
Etsy Promotions page and use my special code AnastasiaEDA to get started!

Etsy Stories: the Fox and the Spoon

This week I'm shining the spotlight on Etsy and I have blog interviews lined up with two creative Sydney-based Etsy shop owners.
Etsy is a vibrant community.  I myself, am thrilled to be part of the fun and it sure has helped me to express and nurture my creativity.  I'm also a keen Etsy buyer and it's always my first stop when Im looking for gifts and unique items.
There are so many wonderful items on Etsy!

First off we have Maria from the beautifully curated shop 'The fox and the spoon' which sells rustic vintage decor, kitchenalia and props for events, styling and the home.
Hi Maria!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I grew up in the seaside town of Kiama. It was very small when I was little. The main shopping centre was closed on Sundays and you couldn’t buy bread on the weekends – that sort of thing; but it was a very beautiful place to grow up and I was free to go and play outside all day.
My family owned a small Motel there so I learnt about customer service from a very young age. That’s what I enjoy now most about my shop, talking with my lovely customers and just making sure they have a positive experience through my shop and of course, Etsy.

When did you discover Etsy? 
Early 2010. I hadn’t heard of Etsy before but a girlfriend mentioned it to me as a place to start selling my vintage wares. I remember I couldn’t believe my eyes. Everything was so beautiful and there were so many shops! I still love getting lost in Etsy!

What inspired you to start selling on Etsy ?
I’ve always loved old things – collecting them, displaying them, using them and of course giving them away as gifts. When I decided not to return to work after our 2nd child was born luckily a very good friend told me we should open an Etsy shop together .
Even though she never joined me because of her work commitments she has been such a huge part of my experience on Etsy and our conversations about our vintage finds (and baking!) continually inspire me.

What is the meaning behind your Shop name? 
Her surname is Fox which is such a cool name but my surname is not as exciting. We were in her kitchen trying to think of something that would go with, “the fox” and her husband says, “and the spoon!” I love to cook so it just seemed to fit.

When you initially launched your Etsy shop, did you ever think that you'd be able to make a living selling your beautiful vintage finds?
I had not had an online shop before and I was worried that my photos or my descriptions would not be good enough for selling them to someone who can’t reach out and touch the item.
I don’t know what I was so worried about - people who love vintage are lovely! I thank all of my customers, people who add me or one of my pieces to their favourites or people like yourself who include me in their blogs, magazines, websites and treasuries.
All of these lovely people give me the spirit to keep pursuing this beautiful dream.

Why does the Etsy marketplace work for you? 
I think people visit Etsy for a visual feast. They like to come here for ideas, inspiration and to find that individual piece. You may have someone looking for inspiration for their wedding. They can visit Etsy and see donuts sitting in birch holders or vintage chalkboards used as menus or even personalised laser-cut cake toppers. No matter what you trade on Etsy, we all seem to fit together into this cohesive circle of individual retailers which is a thrill to be part of.

How has the freedom of having your own Etsy Shop impacted your lifestyle? 
When I returned to work when our first child was 9 months old I felt nothing but guilt.
When I was due to return after our 2nd child was born I knew I couldn’t go through leaving another child at daycare all day. Running my shop has given me something to really strive for and make my own but being there for my children has been priceless.
I can work during the day while they are at School and then pick them up in the afternoons and meet friends at the park or take them to an after school activity or even help out in reading groups . I think we are all so much happier now that we have time for each other and Etsy has allowed me that freedom.

Thanks so much Maria!
To see Maria's stunning shop and current listings head on over to 'The Fox and the Spoon'  

If you are a creative maker, a creator or like Maria, have a passion for unique Vintage, then the Etsy Marketplace might be perfect for you!
Its so easy to open an Etsy shop and right now Etsy are offering 20 free listings for any new shop
head on over to the Etsy Promotions page and use my special code AnastasiaEDA to get started!

my Etsy picks of the Week

Happy Friday!
I'm home today.  There is no place I'd rather be, the sun is shining outside, I have all the windows open and the cool breeze is just wonderful.  Lots of laundry has been done, and I'm planning to bake a cake real soon...its one of those days where I can potter about and not feel rushed.
Here are my Etsy picks of the week - Stellar beauty...star quality...
I'm really loving these beautiful intense, vivid blue finds...
Grouped together, blue has a deep mystical feel...Celestial wonder...

Top image
Nicole Bentley for
Marie Claire Australia
* Blue Agate Coasters by VagabondQueen *
Aqua Aura quartz Crystals by iLoveLotus  * Save the date double sided Card by HooplaLove * Golden Blue paper bowl  by Djaliforyou *
Goldstone sterling silver ring by noblegnome *
Planet necklace by
BeautySpot

Etsy picks of the Week - potting shed

I love this photo that I had saved from UK Vogue ages ago - the potting room full of life...green life! what a great room - the perfect place to get your hands dirty then stop for a cup of tea or two...
Enjoy my Etsy picks of the week...




























Top image: Carter Smith
Etsy Finds:
Vintage Green Dish from Giromondo Vintage * Botanical illustrations by Hamutelet * Herb Sticker decals by Zesty Graphics  *
300gram Linen  from YarnStories * Prettiest flower photographic print by InMost Light * Vintage tea cups from NancysTeaShop

Etsy Craft Party 2014

....here are some pictures and highlights from the 'Sydney Etsy Team's'
Etsy craft party the other night.
The venue was part of the Ultimo Community Centre -  a very cool arts/craft studio just like in high school - perfect for what we needed and spacious enough to fit all our guests.
It had a really creative feel about it ...I like that all the tables had evidence of experimental fun (paint splatters everywhere...)
The evening went by really quickly and before you knew it, it was time to pack up, clean up and go home...
Everyone got to make something which was awesome and it was a great evening!
Etsy fans, buyers and sellers came together, and  lots of new friendships formed over Craft and Creativity!