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Is this not just the most fun treat ever??!! I just about died when I found out that you could put YOUR OWN photos on M & Ms. I think that is the coolest idea. It may not be handmade, but it’s close…you can take the photo and then get it transfered to any color M & M you want! These little yummies are perfect for birthdays, showers, or anniversaries, even those days when you are feeling kinda blue and need an ego boost. Little pieces of chocolate with big YOUs on them are sure to make you smile…

posted by s.

I love these.  So cute.  So yummy.  So perfect for a cup of tea!

Heart-Shaped Sugar, Sur La Table, $29.95

posted by s. 

Ok, I have a new favorite blog. Pink Penguin. Love it. The author has bunches of darling tutorials and she provides very step-by-step instructions with photos. The projects are too cute and completely practical and useful! Here are a few of my favorites…

Fabric Basket, image courtesy of Pink Penguin

Stylish Pen Case, image courtesy of Pink Penguin

I’m going to give these a try for sure! I am on summer break now, so I have all the time in the world to get crafty. That is the best part about my job. Oh I forgot to mention that the author of Pink Penguin is incredibly friendly and always responds to comments…I love that!

posted by s.

I cannot wait to see this movie!  This little robot is THE CUTEST. Check out his little video vignettes here…they are pretty funny.

I am lovin’ this hat.

Ramblin’ Rose Engineer Hat, by Super Jenny Love, $42.00

You must check out the other adorable hats Super Jenny Love creates…it is summer now and that’s the perfect season for sporting cute fashion accessories like these…

posted by s. 

I came across a new on-line crafty magazine today! I love finding new reads.  Well, really this is not a “new” magazine per say…I just hadn’t ever seen it before…it’s called Venus Zine: Emerging Creativity.  It’s pretty cool.  It focuses on women in music, art, film, fashion, the DIY world…totally check it out!  Fun stuff.

I love finding my name out and about in the world. Street signs, song titles, book titles, store names…you name it, if it has my name on it, it thrills me.  Well today I stumbled upon a font named after yours truly! Veer has a font called the Sarah Script. Of course, it isn’t spelled correctly, but ya know, my name can be tricky to spell, so it’s ok. This font is a lively script and I love it. In fact I am absolutely crazy about fonts in general. I am taking a typography class in the fall and I cannot wait! I’ll keep you posted on all the neat info I learn…

  Sarah Script, image and font by Veer

 posted by s.

I am so sorry that I haven’t posted in ages. The end of the school year is always so hectic! There is just so much to do. And this year it’s especially crazy because I just accepted a new position for next year at a different school so I have to pack up my entire classroom…and let me tell ya, that is no small job!

Anyways, on to the posting for the day…I stumbled upon this tutorial by Craft Pudding and thought it was just darling. It’s for a little card holder. Of course, I don’t have any business cards of my own to store inside, because as a teacher, I don’t really hand out business cards; but I could certainly store the ones I collect from other people inside a cute crafted creation like this…

Card Holder by Craft Pudding

photo courtesy of Craft Pudding

posted by s.

Maicen’s style is clean, quirky, and a little fantasy all rolled into one. Not only is their work aesthetically appealing, but it also won’t hurt your wallet at only $12 for most prints and if you’d like to carry their work with you on a daily basis, they even have keychains!

Key-Chain Girl by Maicen $8

1. In the wide world of crafts, how did you come upon drawing and prints?
I never was very interested in craft untill I was about maybee 15 years old, and then it just went on to becoming almost a way of life. I love drawing, painting and making things.

2. If you could keep up to 5 tools for crafting, what would you choose?
Thats easy, I would keep paper, a black pen, pencil, rubber and a my laminating-machine.

3. When did you decide to start selling?
I started selling almost by accident, we had been making some postcards at school and on my way home I dropped by a store, then started talking to the owner, she had a look at them and decided that she wanted them in her store, then I found Flickr and Etsy and I think thats a great way to sell my goods.

4. Where do you find the inspiration for your products?
Everyday things. People, spring, colours, other artists, etc.

Large Print Limited Edition by Maicen $12

5. Describe your creative process from design to the final product.
I dont know how to explain my process, because I normally just get an idea then do it. I draw up my design, and then take it over with a pen. I have recently also been making some key-holders that I draw and then have them laminated you can see them at my Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/maicen/

6. How do you go about deciding how to price your items?
This I find very hard, I usualy talk to my mom and my friends what they think it should cost, then I see what other people on etsy take.
This is a problem because Norwegian money are very high, so I cant always compeet with other prices.

7. How many hours per week do you typically spend working on your craft?
I spend about a couple of hours a day, sometimes more, sometimes less:)

8. What do you credit your success on etsy to?
I am not sure if I am a success on etsy yet:)

9. Do you have any advice to give fellow crafters that are thinking of selling or have just opened their shop?
Don`t give up and advertising, advertising and advertising!

10. What do you hope and see for the future of Maicen in the next year? Five years?
I am hoping to be able to live of my drawings, and to never stop going forward.

posted by Jane

The other day I was driving behind a truck that obviously was in the Koi Pond industry.  I wasn’t aware such an industry existed, but if you would like a Koi Pond in your backyard, I can refer you to someone!  Anyways, the truck’s license plate cracked me up…it said:

KOICRZY

I think that’s so funny…ya know, like “boy crazy”…

So I thought I would see if I could find any Koi related products on Etsy, just for fun.  I found 43 pages worth!  Again, I had no idea people were such fans of these fish!  Here are a few of my favorites…

 Glass Tile and Japanese Paper Magnets, by Blue Sky Studios, set of 4 for $6

Airbrushed Koi Fish Shoes, by Dinosaurbox $50

Koi Hoodie, Ahpeele $65

posted by s.