SPRING!

Spring will be pretty.

Just give it a week,

When flowers are blooming down by the creek.

Bees will be buzzing as trees start to bud,

But for the moment I'm covered with mud.

Snow has been melting, since winter is through,

Replacing the whiteness with puddles of goo.

I stepped off the sidewalk and into the ooze.

Next thing I knew, I stepped out of my shoes!

Mud on my ankles and mud on my clothes.

I stumbled face-first and got mud up my nose.

Spring will be pretty, but I must confess, The first days of spring are a muckety mess!

-Dave Crawley

Team Feature - Posh Nursery

As most of you know, one of the great tools available to shops on Etsy is the ability to become involved in various teams. This is a great way for different people, from around the world, to connect with other shops that have like interests, shop listings, who live in common areas, etc.

Becoming a member of a team means you are now part of a group of people who will support you, share ideas, promote you, and, even sometimes, shop from you! I love that this is available to shop owners and feel that only positive things came from participating in this way.

One such team that I am thrilled to introduce is called Posh Nursery. This is a group of people who have focused their shops to specialize in items that are primarily meant for nurseries and children’s rooms. Although the team is still fairly new, the membership has been growing steadily and the quality of shops involved is stellar.

How lovely is it to have a group of people dedicated to making your little one’s first bedroom something magical? A lot of hard work and thought have built the foundation for your perfect nursery so it only makes sense to go to a team like Posh Nursery to find everything you’re hoping to find when starting out on your decorating journey.

The Posh Nursery team boasts fabulous shops that specialize in items such as custom bedding, stuffies, artwork (including custom work), wall letters, toys, organization, mobiles, and keepsake items – just to name a few.

I love this Baptism/First Communion memory box from The Memory Keepers. As a mom to a young child I am always gathering little items (photos, ribbons, tickets, certificates…) to remind me of special occasions with my daughter. This, however, can cause clutter and, unfortunately, things sometimes get lost. Using a memory box gives all your special mementos a unique home and ensures that you will be able to enjoy them many years from now.

The custom wall hangings available at Slharnisch are simply amazing! The hand-painting craftsmanship is impeccable and having something like this in your nursery would absolutely be one of a kind. I love anything that is customizable and this, obviously, fits with that. This is so unique and is definitely something to set your nursery apart.

I can’t say enough about these hand painted wall letters from Bouncing Off the Walls. I love love love the motif in this listing – it is so fun, whimsy, and just plain adorable. You can tell the care and absolutely effort put into all the letters available in this shop; there is a wide variety to choose from as well so you know you will leave finding exactly what you want.

I love this shop. Sea Urchin Studio offers wonderful alphabet prints that are so versatile for different décor ideas. My personal favorite are these sea creatures, set in a beautiful pastel tone. Use these letters to spell out the entire alphabet or just choose the letters in your child’s name. So cute and so much fun!

I love this next shop because they align really well with my own décor tastes. I love a nursery that includes elegance and class – not always just the cutesy stuff. These pillow cases from Chloe and Olive Dot Com would look just gorgeous adorning your gliding chair or as part of your child’s bedding. The colours work well with the soft hues generally found in a nursery and become an eye-catching piece to anyone coming to admire your little one’s abode.

And finally, I want to point out these super cute custom Hippo oil paintings from Baby Sully’s Art. This shop does specialize in items for both boys AND girls but I did want to draw attention specifically to this item as it is maybe geared more towards the male gender. They sometimes get forgotten in the baby decorating world (and from what I hear from friends with little boys – in the clothing department as well!). I always hear, “there are so many cute things for girls, but what about the boys?!” Well, look no further – thank you Baby Sully’s Art. I love these painting (customizable!!) and how special would it be to have personalized hand-painted artwork for your little man’s room?

As I mentioned, this is just a sampling of the shops who call the Posh Nursery team home. I would suggest to you to go and check them out whether you are planning a nursery of your own or know someone who is. Fabulous gifts for new moms and dads and an easy way to find them.

If you would like to find out more about the Posh Nursery team you can check out their team page HERE or you can type in “posh nursery” in the Etsy search engine.

Welcome to a Special Cottage Guest!

Where to start? Well, first off, I think I’ll start with a really warm welcome to our special cottage guest – Bouvier Jewelry. This shop, I have to say, is one of my all time favourites on Etsy and I’m thrilled to have the chance to sit and talk with someone who, I think, is an Etsy inspiration!

Located out of Virginia, USA, Bouvier Jewelry is a shop that doesn’t just make and sell gorgeous jewelry but, rather, creates jewelry art that has been inspired from her worldwide travels. The pieces featured in this shop are elegant, timeless, chic and, to put it simply, beautiful.

I have been following Bouvier Jewelry almost since it’s inception in early 2009. I was immediately taken aback by the stunning necklaces I found in the shop and was quickly hooked on the tremendous variety of earrings, bracelets, and event jewelry I also found there. I adore big, hearty necklaces in particular and Bouvier Jewelry’s use of semi-precious and precious stones was right up my alley. Sterling silver, pearls, gemstones, and vintage finds soon found a place in my heart as I explored and fell in love with (and I’m not kidding) nearly every piece in the shop!!

As I mentioned, I got the opportunity to speak with the owner of Bouvier Jewelry and was interested to hear her views on our wonderful Etsyland!

When did you first hear about Etsy? Was it a tough decision to open up shop?

I had been making jewelry for myself and my friends for several years. My friend Cara is the one who suggested it. She convinced me that more people than me (and my friends) would want to wear my designs.
It wasn’t a tough decision to start the shop at all! In fact, it all made a lot of sense, and once I started, everything really fell into place. It’s one of the best and most fun things I’ve ever done!

Where did the name Bouvier Jewelry come from?

I wanted a name that invoked simplicity and timelessness. Since ‘Bouvier’ is my last name, it was an easy choice.

Where do you major inspirations come from for your jewelry?

From so many places! I visit museums, read magazines, wander through shops and boutiques… anywhere “color” strikes me. I also get a lot of inspiration from the seasons. In the winter, I want something a little more subdued. In the summer, it’s all about color, and anything you can wear with a summer dress. In a recent trip to San Francisco, I was inspired by the Middle Eastern shops with all their bright colors and luxe fabrics. It reminded me of Marrakesh. One of my upcoming summer collections is going to be reflective of exotic colors and spices. I can’t wait. I’m designing like crazy right now.

What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about having an Etsy shop?

The people I meet! I have some wonderful customers, who make me so happy to do what I do. I also love meeting new people, designing custom pieces for people, and hearing their stories. One of the most rewarding things for me is hearing the “after story”, or getting a picture of a wedding or event where someone wore my jewelry. It’s such a great feeling.



And what would you say, then, is the most challenging thing about having an Etsy shop?

To have a successful Etsy shop, it requires a lot of time and dedication. Like everyone else, I have a busy life, and finding the time to make my shop the way I want it to be can be a challenge.

If you could add any feature to Etsy, if any, what would it be?

I wish I could design the layout of my own shop more so than what Etsy allows, but it works for now. I suppose someday I will have my own website, but until that day comes, Etsy is a great venue for my creativity.

What would you say, in terms of advice, to people who are new to selling on Etsy?

You get out of your shop what you put into it. Having a successful shop requires good photography, good writing and product descriptions, and building a sense of trust and rapport with your customers. It’s all about how you brand yourself. You have to figure out who you are and how you want to communicate that through your products to your customers. I’ve talked to a few new Etsy sellers, who haven’t sold anything in the first couple months of having a shop, who get very discouraged. But I tell them to keep at it. Make sure the photos are bright and inviting. Make sure the writing is good, and keep making it better. It takes a lot of work. I’m constantly trying to improve upon what I’m doing. Getting good photographs that show the beauty of the jewelry is the hardest part for me, so that’s something I continually try to improve upon.

I also feel like it’s important to have a fair return policy. Buying things online can be scary for some people. There’s nothing worse than being “stuck with something” that doesn’t work for you. Accepting returns builds trust with customers, which is a key to success on Etsy.


One of the most fun things about Etsy is finding other shops that you love and always return to...who do you love on Etsy?

My two favorite sellers are:
- Heart My Closet: www.etsy.com/shop/heartmycloset. They make custom dresses. I have gotten several super gorgeous dresses that make me feel like a pin-up girl. The work is impeccable and the turnaround is quick.

- Donna Geissler Photography: www.etsy.com/shop/donnageissler. Her photography is calming, wistful, romantic, and beautiful. In my hectic life, her work makes me feel so good!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me here at the Hand Crafted Cottage!!! Do you have any final thoughts?

Having an Etsy shop has been so fun and such a great creative outlet for me. The best thing is the connection that is formed with other artists and people who appreciate art. I’m so happy to be part of such a great community of people!


Whether you are looking for a gorgeous signature piece, something to wear on a special occasion, or just because, Bouvier Jewelry is somewhere you must stop by and fall in love with a piece...or two...or, if you are me...all of them!
Please take a moment and check out Bouvier Jewelry. Post in the comments section below which is your favourite piece – I love to compare our wish lists!!