I DARE you not to fall in love with these!

I am constantly amazed by the level of talent and artistry I find while browsing the shops on Etsy. I seem to go through phases of favorites, not so much of the shops themselves, but of the category they fall within. At first it was baby blankets, then earrings, followed by knits. My current desireds bring talent and artistry to a whole new level – yes, I’m talking about the astounding drawings and prints created by our extremely talented Etsians.

I think you could probably find a print of literally anything you can think of on Etsy. My personal favorites include character animation and mixed medium and collage art. The cottage is all about whimsy, warm fuzzies, and individuality and I think these prints carry all that and more.

This print from Miss Brigette immediately caught my eye. I have always entertained the idea of being a librarian (something about being surrounded by wonderful old books all day really appeals to me) and this librarian certainly has style. It was actually very hard to pick a favorite from her shop because I’m in love with every single piece! Miss Brigette’s shop also offers original paintings as well, I salivate at the idea. After touring this wonderful shop and dreaming about having one of her pieces on every wall in the cottage I was so happy to see that I could continue exploring her wonderful world of whimsy and charm through her blog at http://www.brigetteb.blogspot.com/.

I came across this print on the front page of Etsy and immediately fell in love with it. I have been wanting to do an Alice In Wonderland themed room for my little girl for a while now and with this print from Krize, I can now do it with style! Another important element that I got from this listing stemmed from one of the pictures Krize had, showing the print in an ornate styled frame. GORGEOUS. This obviously opened up a world of possibilities for me and I can’t wait to get started decorating!


This next print is so beautiful and fresh looking. The prints from Cori D are limited edition archival prints and are simply stunning. I love this one in particular because it reminds me of me and my girl, and what is art if it doesn’t speak to you on a personal level? Another super cool feature of this shop – spider ornaments…don’t ask, just go and check them out!


Next is a beautiful print from Café Baudelaire who’s tag line: Romanic, Enchanting, Whimsical Collage Prints and Aceos pretty much sum up everything that is good in life. I also had a hard time picking my favorite from this shop’s collection; I am so drawn to the old world feeling they possess. In the end this print toting a Parisian mannequin spiked with striking lilac coloured lace won over my heart.


And finally, The Nebulous Kingdom finishes off my lovely collection of prints with her dazzling Enchanted Christmas Print. For anyone who follows my blog you know how much of a sucker I am for anything Christmas! I love attention to detail and this print has it (check out the adorable moon). I feel like I’m looking into a Tim Burton movie frame when I look at The Nebulous Kingdom’s work, and I mean that as a huge complement. It’s dark and touching all at the same time.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the cool prints you can find on Etsy. The great thing about art is that it tells a story unique to the viewer. Depending on who you are and where you are in your life the story you see is constantly changing shape. Well, that, and they are just plain fun!

Romance is in the Air

I have a child, perhaps, like many of you do. I love her so much and generally spend most of my time thinking about her, organizing her day, and making sure she has everything she needs. Being a parent is so very rewarding and, at times, so very demanding! Here at the cottage we are very kid friendly and love to see toys being played with, blankets being dragged through the mud, and little food bits sneaking behind literally every corner of the house. That’s what it’s like when you have little people running around.

Now, as much as I love the kid friendly, cartoon filled, bottle cleaning life that I have become accustomed to, I also believe in making time for me and my husband. Yes, I’m talking about the celebrated date night. When we grow up and make our darling little families, sometimes we forget to work on the relationship between us and our others. That’s why it’s important to actually work at our relationships (yes work) and make sure that you and your partner rejoice in a little romantic one on one time.


This gorgeous vintage dress is so startling red that I can hardly take my eyes off it! Imagine yourself in a little bistro in this classic and romantic piece sipping on some delicious coffee and holding hands under the table with your other. This dress from Great Grandma Agnes is so lovely - all eyes will deservedly be on the lady in red.


This stunning pearl necklace from Final Touch would be an eye catching addition worn with this vintage dress. Dazzling hematite pearls coupled with a distinctive sterling silver floral toggle scream elegance. There is nothing more classic than a beautiful set of pearls and I’m drawn to this set because they present a traditional look with a lot of flair.


To finish off the look for our date night I would love to see this vintage sterling silver ring from Mexico on my finger. I found this beautiful ring at Tania Cavenecia and love how full of character it is. The inside is stamped with “925 Mexico” and a makers mark adding to its distinctiveness.

Another must for date night – your trusty pocket mirror! Nothing puts a halt on a romantic evening like the dreaded spinach in the teeth or uneven lipstick trick. Zoom Berry boasts several different pretty motifs on their very affordably priced Chiyogami mirrors, which also include a velvet bag for storage.

And finally, as your date night is coming to an end, what better way to set the mood than with a stimulating candle from Lilsprout. These amazing candles are ECO friendly and made from 100% soy. I love that you can create your own custom candle pack, even choosing your own single note essential oils. There are many scents to choose from and Lilsprout has all your options clearly laid out and easy to understand.

What a romantic evening of coffees and candle light, holding hands and looking great. The baby is asleep, the cottage is quite.

Only Four Months Until Christmas!

Yes, I'm one of those people. I shop year round for my Christmas presents and advocate listening to Christmas carols in the summer. I would work in the North Pole if I could. I love everything about Christmas; from family traditions to the pounds and pounds of chocolate that I consume to the hustle and bustle of the overpacked shops. I often say I work best under pressure, and there is no pressure like festive pressure.

With that being said, I have (of course) started Christmas shopping for those in my life, begining with a point and click in my favorite Etsy shops. My first goal - my office co-workers. This can be a tough one! First of all, depending on the size of your office, do you even do gifts and if you do, how much do you spend? For my own office, there are 10 people in my area and I thought I'd like to do a small something for everyone but still make it personalized and within reason when it comes to price. Hmmmm...that's a tough one.

It WAS a tough one, however, until I discovered Hall's Closet!

These beautiful coasters are the perfect gift to hand out at the office Christmas party!! Monogramed in beautiful script, in the colours of your choice, a coaster with your co-workers initial on it is a sure hit! Most people are coffee or tea drinkers and this would look great on anyone's desk - even if they don't drink coffee or tea, they are still great for a glass of water or even just to display.

I am so excited to hand these out to my office because I think they show genuine care and thought towards a gift for someone you probably see more than many members of your own family! They come at a very affordable price and are sure to earn you the title of office hero!

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping

Oh shopping…my favorite hobby!! I recently left the cottage to do some much needed retail therapy at the market – well, at the Etsy market of course!

I love purchasing items through Etsy for many reasons; it’s a great feeling to support fellow artisans, local or otherwise, and the huge supply of just about anything you can think of is great. I think I love Etsy most, however, because when I buy a gift here for someone it always seems like I’ve hit a home run! The grueling work of trying to figure out what the perfect gift is and then having to go out and actually find that item is virtually gone! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not just buying stuff for other people here – I certainly don’t have that kind of will power!

Here are a few items that I can give testament to – they are all fabulous and all owned by me! I sing their praises to anyone who will happen to listen and, with these items, you can certainly buy with confidence!

One of my first purchases on Etsy were these gorgeous garnet earrings from Splurge. I came across this line somewhere in her shop, “Life is complicated enough, your jewelry shouldn't have to be” - the simple lines and shapes of her jewelry, combined with the stunning stones she uses speaks true to that and you feel simply refreshed when wearing one of her pieces!


This invitation, coming from one of my all time favorite Etsy shops, Sweet Papers, is what I have just mailed out for my daughter’s first birthday party. I love every single design that this shop has to offer and am finding myself constantly checking it for any new items…I just can’t get enough! If you check out Sweet Papers be sure to take note of her Christmas photo cards, so adorable and it’s never to early to start getting prepared for the holiday season!!

This is an item I’ve also purchase for my daughter’s first birthday…the pattern to these amazingly delicious looking pieces of felt cake from Little Crickets. I was a bit wary of buying a pattern (I am making these cake pieces as give aways to all the kids coming to the party) but this seller totally put my mind at ease and offered so much support to this novice felt crafter! I’m so very excited to give these to our little guests!


I recently gave this sign as a wedding gift and it was such a hit! I even had other guest e-mailing me afterwards asking where I purchased it from. Savoie Faire Photo has such great ideas to offer for weddings, baby showers, home warming’s, or just to have for your self! And you really can’t beat the price for such a unique item!


My newest item! I’m so excited about this one…my mom always used to pressure my sister and me to buy the so called “lunch purse”. She just loved the idea of them (in her own words, “they’re just so neat!”) but I could never find a design that fit my style – until I found The Patty Pan Shop! Now I’m the one pressuring people to buy the lunch purse!!


I’m a sucker for jewelry and have always wanted a genuine onyx bead necklace. I love this stone because it generally always feels cool to the touch and it shines so beautifully. In the listing for this necklace from Kenton Beadworks the seller confided that she also has one and that she wears it everyday…I must admit, I wear mine almost everyday as well!


When I’m not wearing my onyx bead necklace I’m wearing this piece made especially for me by DearAnge. I recently returned to work after being on maternity leave for just over a year and , needless to say, it was hard to leave my baby! I really wanted to take a piece of her with me to the office - whenever I’m missing her (the other tag has my dog’s name on it) I can always find comfort in this piece.


Another sign that I’ve just recently purchase is this incredible birth announcement from Grace Hester Designs. I can’t wait to give it to the new parents because it’s so unique and different than the regular baby clothes and toys you see at baby showers. Plus I can definitely see this become an heirloom piece (which I love).


Another one of my favorite shops – Little Jumping Beans, make these shoes that can only be described as perfection! I have actually bought two pairs from her because they just work so well. I find the leather shoes so hard to get on my baby’s feet because she always balls up her foot when I’m trying to get them on! These ones fit so well, are so easy to get on her foot, wash really easily and are so super cute.

And finally, I end my shopping spree with this customizable stamp from Modern Art Stamps. I love this shop because they offer such a wide variety of great customizable stamps that are so whimsical and fun. Can’t beat their pricing either and no shipping fees!!

Okay – after all that shopping I’m wiped out! My cottage, however, is going to be brimming with pride from all my new Etsy finds and I can’t wait to show them off to all my guests! Oh yeah, did you notice that I said I love Etsy because I can buy awesome gifts for other people and that, from the items above, only two things were gifts…like I said, no self control!

Our First Cottage Guest - The Meg Shop

I thought it was about time to have a guest visit us here at the Hand Crafted Cottage. I am so pleased that Meghan from The Meg Shop decided to pop in! I just love her jewellery shop, which is filled with breathtakingly beautiful pieces! Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and even a sale or two - she has everything a girl could need!

As I look through her catalogue of beauties I am particularly drawn to these Olive Cluster earrings. Stunning in colour, I can imagine myself wearing them with a multitude of outfits, in a multitude of different occasions. I feel like these are the types of earrings where you choose an outfit to compliment them and not the other way around!

As we sip on some sweet tea in the garden I'm eager to ask Meg some questions about her shop:

Meg, tell me, when did you join Etsy?

I joined Etsy in June of 2009 to sell my handmade jewellery. I'm still very new at this, but I'm loving it!
And what is something about your shop that we may not know?

I don't know, I hope to carry only sterling silver in the future!
What is your personal favorite from all your items in your shop?

My favorite piece listed at the moment is my Jet Rock Candy Pendant! I spent hours on it and am so happy with the way it turned out!

So where else can we find you besides your Etsy shop?

I recently created a fan page on facebook. Just search The Meg Shop and it should come up! (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Red-Deer-AB/The-Meg-Shop-Unique-Handmade-Jewelry/103756593606?ref=ts ) I will be keeping this page updated with pictures of new items, information on sales in my Etsy shop, and upcoming giveaways! You can also find me on Twitter, my username is TheMegShop.
What would you say is your favorite thing about Etsy?

I love everything about Etsy! It's an amazing venue to showcase your handmade items, and a great place to find unique gifts. I love reading all the Featured Seller and Quit Your Day Job articles. I find them to be so inspiring!
What is your favorite Etsy shop right now(it's so great to give shout-outs isn't it!)?

I have so many! RockoAndAddie has the cutest little blankets, I can't wait to have another baby! I love everything from Bonzie, and BloomStudios has some amazing pieces! And definitely ellembee!!! I could go on and on...
What is one thing that you can say sets you apart as an Etsy shop owner?

Well I would like to say what sets me apart is how much I truly care that my customers love their items, but this can be said of many shop owners on Etsy!

*Look at how gorgeous these are!! I think it's clear how much care and love she puts into each piece!

So, fun question - let's say you were stuck on an island and could only have one Etsy purchase until you were rescued...what would it be?

This quilt from SFOQuilter! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26419887 I'm such a blanket person, and I want this one in the worst way!
What is one thing you would like to see Etsy improve or change?

I would love to be able to have my prices in Canadian dollars. I think a lot of Canadian buyers would appreciate this!
And, last but not least, I must know...what is your favorite animal??!!

I love elephants! I think they are amazing!

Meg - thank you so much for taking the time to come and visit me here at the Hand Crafted Cottage!! Your jewellery is simply stunning and wish you all the best with your Etsy shop and beyond!

August Days

"The sprinkler twirls.

The summer wanes.

The pavement wears

Popsicle stains.

The playground grass

Is worn to dust.

The weary swings

Creak, creak with rust.

The trees are bored

With being green.

Some people leave

The local scene

And go to seaside

Bungalows

And take off nearly

All their clothes."

A poem by John Updike

The lazy and warm days of August are upon us. One of my favorite things about this summer time month is going to my local farmer's market and stocking up on all the delicious fresh fruits, veggies and meats it has to offer!! Mmmm...imagine swinging on your front porch swing as the sun goes down and enjoying some fresh strawberries, blueberries, and watermelon along with a healthy serving of whipped cream...

So, granted, these aren't real pieces of fruit but they are just as scrumptious! Wooly Knits N Bits makes these super fun fruit hats, perfect for little boys or girls. The super soft feel of these hats and the round design are just right for a comfortable fit on baby's head!

The summer is quickly slipping from our grip so let's enjoy what's left of the warmth on our skin and the sunshine's glow on our face!

Furry Friends of the Cottage

I am a pet person. I just love those furry little monsters...they give us so much and ask for so little so in return. Personally I am a dog person but I do have room in my heart for all creatures great and small. In think a pet is living proof that you can express love without using any words at all. Every time my dog, Bruce, greets me at the door - whether I've been gone for 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days - it's like his excitement to see me knows no bounds! Imagine if our spouses greeted us at the door like this after a long day at work? I think all of a sudden picking up their dirty socks wouldn't bother us as much.

When I was younger I use to say that I was going to grow up and live on a wiener dog ranch. As it turned out, I do not live on that ranch (although that would have been really cool!) so here at the Hand Crafted Cottage I am going to make sure that there is always a gang of pets exploring the grounds!

This fabulous collar and leash set from Furry Paws Boutique is so cute and supports one of my favorite things - polka dots!! How stylish would your pooch be walking down the street wearing this, showing off to all the other dogs that are, incidentally, wearing the same old same old collars from Pet Superstore? This is an absolute must have! (and rumour has it Furry Paws is offering free shipping until the end of the day on Sunday, August 2!).

No collar is complete without the appropriate tag of course. For the kitty in you life a "tuna breath" tag, I'm sure, seems more than fitting. The Urban Puppy totes the cutest and most hilarious pet tags I have ever seen - and everyone knows that when you have a pet you need a sense of humor!

To the right is another tag, this time for our barking friends, from Nicole Marie C. I love this tag because of its simple elegance and I love hand stamped items...there is always so much love put into them!

Here at the Cottage we are not limited to dogs and cats. There is a plethora of rabbits, rodents, birds, and the odd piglet or two. I would be so proud to offer my bunnies these absolutely adorable carrot shaped rabbit toys from Freyja's Fire Shop. These wonderful little toys are stuffed with organic timothy hay and dried sweet potato and carrot...even if I didn't have a rabbit I would buy them simply to display them during the fall!!

I love this bowl from Paris Chic Boutique because of it's french flair and because of the fact that it's big enough to handle a dog with a little meat on it's bones!! It may be Le Bow-wow but it's not in any way Le frou-frou! It is also dishwasher safe which is great because that gives us more time to go out and play with the dogs!

And finally, at the end of the day when we are all curling up in our soft comfortable beds, isn't it nice to know the our pets can too? Annie's Sweat Shop is one of my all time favorite Etsy shops.
Her beds are Eco friendly (made from recycled fleece), customizable, machine washable and just plain fabulous. I love that your pup can just climb right in and be snug as a bug!

Like I said before, our pets give us so much and ask for so little in return. Even if they're asking for little, however, isn't it nice to treat them once in a while to such fabulous items as these?