June/ July Creative Challenge Submissions

Pop Art Lips Necklace by A Little Offbeat

Well, it's that time again! Sorry to post this a little late this month, but we are now ready to accept submissions for our latest Creative Challenge!  The theme for this challenge is A Midsummer Night's Dream.  We hope you had some time to put your needles to work in creating some amazing midsummer night themed pieces!

Leave a link here to your entry.  You have until July 30th to post your link.  Your creation can be something on Etsy or your own personal blog, basically anywhere that you can provide a link to.

Voting will be held starting July 31 and ending on August 2.

We are excited to see what creations you have made!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Creative Challenge Voting

It's time to vote for our favorite April/ May Creative Challenge piece!  The theme this time around was Fairy Tales, and here they are for you to take a gander at!  Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment below!  Voting will be open until May 31st (this Friday), so get your vote in and spread the word!  The winner will not only get to choose the theme for our next creative challenge, but they will also be in the running for our 2013 Favorite Creative Challenge Winner!

Cinderella and Stepsisters by Aimee

Alice in Wonderland by Danny V

Medusa by FunWithNeedles

Little Red Riding Hood by AniaJane

Thanks for taking a look!  Leave your vote in the comments section below!

December/ January Creative Challenge Submissions

Wall Art by Baby Gazelle

Hello everyone!  It's time for our creative challenge submissions!  We hope you're enjoying your winter and that it inspired you for our current creative challenge theme: Winter Sports.

Leave a link here to your entry.  You have until January 26th to post your link.  Your creation can be something on Etsy or your own personal blog, basically anywhere that you can provide a link to.

Voting will be held next week.

We cannot wait to see what you guys have come up with!

Captain's Notes

Ahoy!

If you will pardon my cheesiness, I would like to use this week's installment of notes from the captain to introduce myself. My name is Nicole and I am taking over captain's duties for the Etsy NeedleArts Team. On Etsy I go by AniaJane, which is a mash-up of parts of my two-year-old daughter's name. She seems cool with it so far. I was born in Western New York (Go Buffalo!) and still live here with my family. It's a cool little place, even if Tom Brady doesn't like our hotels.

I've been sewing since my husband gave me a machine for Christmas three years ago, and now I like to mix it with free style hand embroidery. I love drawing designs and working them onto a piece of fabric with my needle and thread and then making something wearable or useful out of it. I enjoy learning new stitches and I am really interested in making the shapes of the stitches themselves a main feature in my design.

I've been doing this for a bit under a year and have had my shop on Etsy for only half of that time, so I still have a lot to learn, and that is why I am so excited about becoming captain of this team. We have members doing all sorts of cool things with the needle arts and I want to be inspired by and promote their great work!

I want to thank Amanda for doing a great job captain-ing us this far. I look forward to building on the hard work the leaders of this team have already done and to finding new ways to engage and grow our team.

~Nicole

Team Challenge Voting

Okay Team, so here are the items for the team challenge.  You can click on all the images to be taken to the original posting for more information.  Please enter your vote in the comments below.  Voting will end Sunday night and we will announce the winner Monday!

Good luck everyone!

Trio of pincushions by Sprincushions

(Bird Wall Hanging by Stuffandnonsense)

(Finding Feathers by Marysgranddaughter)

(Mario Fire Flower by Tails32X)

(3 Owls and a Tree by Thirtyone13)

(Darwin's Tree of Life by Professor Godzilla)

(Butterfly Cross Stitch Pattern by Stitchnmomma)

(Two Birds by Sewjenaissance)

Captain's Notes

(Taft by AmandaJean)

Happy Friday Etsyneaters!

I hope you all are having a wonderful week and are gearing up for a fun fourth!

We have had quite a few new additions to our team this week.  Welcome to all the new members, please feel free to contact myself or any of the other leaders if you have questions about anything.  We are happy to have you!

If you haven't already, please make sure you get your vote in for the current team challenge.  Votes will close Tuesday the 5th.  You can see the entries and post your vote here!

See you all next week. 

Amanda, AKA Pilous Percilla

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Making Your Own Fabric Labels

Fabric labels are a great addition to clothing, accessories, or even a fabric-based art piece. I always think a label makes something look just a little more professional and special. I've never tried labeling my items, however, so I am excited to try out this week's tutorials!

Thank you to Bekah, aka Beetastic, for the idea for this week's post, and the link to the first tutorial!

Making Labels Using Twill Tape and Iron-On Transfers : With this method, you print the text onto the iron-on transfers (which you can purchase at stores like Wal-Mart or Michael's), apply the transfer to ribbon or twill tape, and then apply the tape or ribbon to the item that you want to label.

Video: Using Freezer Paper and Normal Computer Paper : With this method, you use your ink jet printer to print the text directly onto the fabric, then cut the fabric and apply it to the item you want to label. This method is going to be cheaper, but has more room for error since not all ink jet printer ink is going to be permanent even when heat set.

Making Labels for Clothing Using Your Printer: This method discusses pre-treating your fabric to make it "take" the ink more easily.

If you have a typewriter, try these Typed Labels. This method is quick, easy, and has a cool retro feel to it. These make me want a typewriter!

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Social Media Part One

New members- Be sure to use our "Categories" drop-down menu on the right to be able to access all the previous tips and tricks! Or use this link. You can also use the categories drop-down menu to see all our featured sellers, treasuries, patterns, etc!

For your reading enjoyment today I bring you a collection of resources that can help you using social media on Etsy. Next week I'll focus on creating your own videos, like the Flickr video featured below!

Etsy 2008 Twitter Blog

Twitter Tips from Squidoo

Etsy Sellers on DeviantArt

Etsy Deviants on DeviantArt

Creating Tumblr for Etsy

Etsy on Tumblr Team

EcoEtsy Tips on Facebook

EtsyNeat Tips about Facebook

EcoEtsy Tips about Flickr

ButtonHead's Video about Flickr

Captain's Notes

 (cuff from loftfullofgoodies, please click image to see listing)

Happy Friday everyone!  

I am sorry I missed you all last week, we were feverishly working on getting ready for last weekend's art festival and I missed my weekly post!

Its been a low-key two weeks for the team.  Some folks are gearing up for the Summer festival circuit and others are meeting new goals in their sales and shops (Congrats Gretchen)!

I want to welcome our new members skryanka, graceandlight, bradleybb, and loftfullofgoodies.  We are happy to have you all on our team!  

That's all for now from the captain front.  Now time to share you weekly goodies!

Amanda, AKA Pilous Percilla

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Stretcher Bar Frames

Next time you're going to tackle a particularly large or time-consuming embroidery project, consider using wooden stretcher bars as both a substitute for a hoop and an easy way to finish your project. Once you've completing your stitching, it's easy to stick a nail in the wall and pop your work right up!

I've purchased stretcher bars from Jerry's Art-A-Rama and AC Moore, but they're available at any any typical craft or art supply store. Price varies greatly with length, and you often receive a discount if you buy multiples of the same size.

The number one trick I've found when using stretcher bars, not just for embroidery but also for mounting fabric panels, is to use a rubber mallet to beat the bars together... and enlist someone stronger than you if you have stick arms like me! If you plan to use a hoop and then mount your work using stretcher bars, be careful to look at the work as your stretch it to make sure you don't distort the image. Also, don't forget to leave a good couple of inches and extra fabric around the design so that you have room to wrap the fabric around the bars!

Notes from the VooDoo Cafe shows how to use stretcher bars.

Stretcher bar frames and accessories at Berlin Embroidery

Evertite Stretcher Bars for Embroidery

Weekly Team Treasury

After many unsuccessful attempts yesterday, I was finally able to get Etsy Treasury to cooperate with me this morning.

Enjoy! :)

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: May Flowers

This week I bring you a collection of tutorials on embroidering flowers... Because April showers bring May flowers! (Here in central NC it's been April showers bring more showers... Ugh!)

Embroidered Felt Flower

Buttonhole Stitch Flowers

Ribbon Embroidery Carnation

Multiple Stitches for Flowers (With Videos)

Jenny Hart's Lazy Lotus

Long-Tailed Daisy (Scroll down)

Silk Ribbon Zinnias

If you use any of these tutorials, be sure to post pictures and link here in a comment!

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Store Your Thread!

How do you store your embroidery floss?

I'll admit, some of my "method" involves stuffing it into a box to sort "later" (and later... and later...). However, I do use some organizational tools, and I found a few interesting ideas online as well.

My favorite organizing piece- the divided plastic box. I like "Prism" by ArtBin because it's thick, snaps shut well, and wasn't expensive. I have the box with six different compartments. I put different color families into each of the sections so it's easy to find the color I need for a project. I don't use the traditional little white cardboard cards since they tend to kink the floss, so I keep the papers on and lay the skeins down flat in the containers.

I covet one of these DMC floss cabinets. A little out of my price range, but how cool! They remind me of vintage store displays.

How much fun is this "Dollar Store" craft-- Ice trays used for storage AND easy identification of colors.

This cute vintage domino box makes great storage for floss once the skeins are wound on cards (or in this case, plastic canvas).

This box-and-bag method looks like a lot of work, but the results are great.

This blogger had the same problem I've had with many of the notebooks marketed to embroiderers-- the floss falls out! She solved the problem with a little ingenuity and sewing.

Weekly Team Treasury

Happy Thursday everyone! 

This week's treasury features some of the lovely accessories made by our fellow teammates! 

I hope you all enjoy!

Til next week!

♥, Pilous



Weekly Treasury Post

This week's theme is "We're So Hot, We're Seeing Red".  I have been on a real red kick lately, maybe because its my son's favorite color?  Either way, please click the photo above to see the treasury.

I hope every one is having a wonderful week...for those who work, only one more day!

See you all next week!

Cheers,

Pilous

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Improving your Etsy SEO

Your SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is an important part of getting your work seen by potential buyers. Search engines like Google only use a certain number of characters, so you have to use your title and description, shop announcement, shop title, etc. carefully. You don't want to waste valuable characters on words that buyers aren't going to use in a search.

I recommend starting with Etsy's HELP guide to SEO here. It tells you which parts of your shop and listing are used for search engines, so you can tailor your keywords to achieve the greatest impact.

Handmadeology has an excellent post about SEO.

Etsy user "SEOWebDesign" has a great series in the forums that goes into lots of detail about SEO. Find the first post in the series of six here.

There is also a video on this page, created by DanielleXO (Etsy admin).

An important SEO tip: set up Google Analytics if you haven't already. (What is Google Analytics?) This will help you figure out which search keywords to use once you know where to put them. To set up Google Analytics with your Etsy shop, log in to "My Etsy", go to "Options" and "Web Analytics". This will allow Google Analytics to access your shop to create your analytics reports. I use two main features on Analytics-- both are under "Traffic Sources" (on the left hand menu when you log in to Analytics). One is the list of referring sites-- this tells you which websites people are using to access your site. The second is the list of keywords-- this tells you which search terms people use to find your products.

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: The Perfect Satin Stitch

Today I'm bringing you a collection of tutorials and my own advice about how to perfect your satin stitch.

1. From "Stitch School", a blog all about stitches: Satin Stitch

2. The classic Sharon B's stitch dictionary: Satin stitch

3. From Needle 'N Thread: Serious Padded Satin Stitch

Heart by LAMDesigns

(Don't want to satin stitch today? Try crayon tinting with this excellent tutorial... I plan to write my own soon, but this one pretty much covers it!)

Tiki by Samskiart

My personal advice about satin stitches:

1. Use fewer strands of floss-- 2-3 is ideal for most projects. I've used all six before for a fun, chunky look, but not a classic satin look.

2. Use satin stitches on small areas. If you try to cover too large an area, your stitches will hang loose and look bad.

3. Cover the entire back the same way you did the front. This gives more stability to your stitches and makes it easier to keep them close together.

4. Even if you prefer surface embroidery (like me), practice your satin stitch on aida cloth (cross-stitch fabric). This will allow you to get a hang for spacing out your stitches correctly.

Bridal handkerchief by MutantAngel

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Using Etsy Circles and the Activity Feed

You have probably noticed a new link (now a button) on the far left when you log in to Etsy's homepage. I'm not really sure what its proper name is, but it reminds me of several things... a whirlpool, a tornado, hypnotism glasses, that weird circular thing that James Bond likes to walk through... Whatever you call it, this button leads you to your activity feed.

This is something totally new for Etsy in the past few months, and I personally LOVE it. Every time someone adds an item in your shop to their favorites, or shares your item in a treasury, or makes a purchase, that activity shows up in your activity feed. It helps me see which items are "hot" with potential buyers. It's free market research that automatically pops up without me having to do anything!

In addition to activity related directly to your own shop, your activity feed also shows the activity of people that you've added to your "circle". The benefits of using circles are harder for me to understand. I think the idea is that circles allow sellers to help promote each other because any item I "favorite" will show up on the activity feed of anyone in my circle.

Here are some helpful posts from the Etsy forum about circles:

For Anyone Still Not Sure About Circles and The Activity Feed

Have Circles/Activity Feeds Helped Your Sales?

Answers about Circles/Activity Feeds from the admin who created them.

The Unofficial Etsy Forums also had some interesting discussions about Circles:

Circles and Friendship (The thread isn't as negative as the title makes it sound.)

I'm still debating about whether or not I like the circles feature, but it definitely has potential.

How have you been using Circles and the Activity Feed?

Weekly Treasury Post Brought to You By juneatnoon

Good Morning and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Somehow I totally missed the opportunity to create a Green-Themed Treasury for today...sigh.

This week I wanted to share another team member treasury this time created by no other than our fearless leader Juneatnoon.  You can fine her lovely treasury here.

I hope you all are having a wonderful week and are busily working on your Blue creations for next Friday (I know I am!)

Til next Wednesday!

♥, Pilous

Tips and Tricks Tuesday: Mounting Your Work

I spent this weekend visiting Houston, TX for my cousin's wedding, so today's post is going to be short and sweet as I continue to play catch-up! (It's amazing what being gone for three days will do to your schedule.)

Today's featured tutorial is by our team captain, Gretchen aka JuneAtNoon.

Gretchen has an excellent tutorial on her blog about mounting an embroidered fabric piece using the lacing method:

http://www.juneatnoon.com/2009/10/lacing-an-embroidery/

Definitely worth a look, if for no other reason than her pictures are great!

Needle N' Thread also has a tutorial about lacing and framing an finished piece:

http://www.needlenthread.com/2007/12/finish-work-how-to-frame-piece-of.html

Polka and Bloom (who sells lovely embroidery patterns, by the way) has a tutorial about how to frame embroidery using a hoop, which is very popular on Etsy:

http://blog.polkaandbloom.com/2010/06/embroidery-hoop-framing-tutorial.html

That's all for this week! Happy stitching!