Merchants Menagerie

The breathtaking scene above is a picture of an vibrantly-colored painting titled "Christmas Shopping Cityscape" by Renie Britenbucher.

Christmas shoppers are already pondering over which gifts they want to get their loved ones for this years festive beloved holiday. The Etsy Recyclers Guild Team is prepared and ready to fulfill the shopper's dream as well as offer many of the hottest trends of the season; which can be found on the Etsy Blog in this month's Etsy Merchandising Desk.

In this blog article, I would like to acknowledge some of the hot trends of the season mentioned in this month's Merchandising Desk and feature Etsy Recyclers Guild Team members who have trendy, related shop items with high-quality pictures that would look AWESOME in your next Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Treasury!!!

STEAMPUNK!
"Vintage Ornate Labyrinth Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Pendant Necklace" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Leader Storybook Artifact

PLAID!

"Eco 13 inch Laptop Bag in Blue Black and Green Wool Plaid" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member WrapCycle

PEACOCKS!
"60's Black Velvet Handpainted Peacock Sweet" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member Sweet Lucies

POLKA DOTS!

"Vintage 70's Black Collar Polka Dot Dress XS Maxi Full" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member Soulrust

HONEYSUCKLE PINK!

"Vintage 60's Honeysuckle Pink Newport Stripes Scarf" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Eco-Friendly Freckles

LETTERPRESS BLOCKS!

"2 Piece Print Blocks Signature New Jersey Scrapbooking or Collage Mixed Media Work" by Former Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain RetroChalet

VIDEO GAME INSPIRED REFERENCES!

"Nintendo Notebook Journal Recycled from a Monopoly Game Board" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member HeavenSentCrafts

OWLS!

"Large Vintage Owl Pendant Gold Pewter Metal" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member RecycledWares

Lady's Luncheon Luxuries and GIVEAWAY!!!

Ever once in a while, ladies need to take time to confide in their friends, indulge in satisfyingly sweet treats, and delight themselves with the luxurious lovely embellishments that bring smiles to our faces and remind us of our fun femininity! Below several Etsy Recyclers Guild member feminine frills are featured that will assist the wholehearted hostess in putting together a desirable lady's luncheon; be it a bridal shower, birthday party, or maybe just for a spot of tea with the dashing dames!

But FIRST! I would like to announce that a dear friend of mine Cinderella of Cinderella Chats is hosting a BLOG GIVEAWAY for a gorgeously girly handcrafted table cloth!!!
To enter to win this adorable handmade tablecloth there are two requirements:

- Become a follower of the Cinderella Chats Blog.

-...And tell Cinderella why you would like to have the tablecloth in the comments section of her blog post.

Entries must be submitted by midnight September 30, 2011 and you may only enter one submission. The WINNER will be posted by 6pm on October 1, 2011.

"Vintage Lefton China Roses Lady Fingers Vase" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Leader Storybook Artifact
"24pc Harmony House Talk of the Town Melamac Set - Service for 6 Melamine Picnic Plastic" by RetroChalet; Former Team Captain of the Etsy Recyclers Guild

"Vintage 40's Art Deco Florentine Silver Plate Ice Tea or Dessert Spoons (Set of 6)" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Eco-Friendly Freckles

"Four Peach and Purple Flower Vintage Linen Napkins" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member LuvvinJewels

"Dreaming Dancer Ceramic Teapot" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member Adrien Art

"Vintage Fifties Tablecloth Floral Harmony House Sears Roebuck" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member Soulrust

"Vintage Mustard Yellow Sugar and Creamer, Franciscan and HH 1966 Kitschy Set" by Etsy Recyclers Guild Member RetroBabs

This blog post was contributed by Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles.

Support My Sister to WIN Treasury Challenge!!!

Trees are FULL of knowledge...They bless us with the wonderful plants and fruits of LIFE!!!

Please Click and Comment on my sister's (Andrea of Storybook Artifact) treasury titled "Tree of Knowledge"...this treasury of hers brings awareness to preserving our precious trees and it is entered into a treasury challenge...and I want her to WIN!!! Her treasury needs views! Thanks you everyone...You are WONDERFUL!!!

www.etsy.com/treasury/MTI2MzgxMjd8NjMyNDk4Mzc3/tree-of-knowledge

Think Like a Madison Avenue Mad Woman and Get Your Treasury on Etsy's Front Page!

I love the show Mad Men, it takes place in the sizzling sixties on Madison Avenue...where it all happens! To be sensationally successful in advertising and gettting your treasury on Etsy's Front Page, you've got to be on the cutting edge of the hottest trends and put out an ad (in our case: a treasury) that brings forth the pizazz our client (which is Etsy) is looking for! So in other words, the monthly Merchandising Desk article that Etsy posts on their blog every month is our guideline to fulfilling the desires of our client: Etsy.

The elements of a treasury that set apart ordinary treasuries and Front Page treasuries are as follows:

• The treasury MUST "flow". There needs to be a cohesive theme presented throughout the entire treasury. The BEST themes are those chosen by Etsy featured in their Merchandising Desk article...Give the client what they want! For instance, a popular theme right now is the upcoming holiday "Halloween"; in a treasury with this theme, you want to make sure that you depict the spirit of this holiday such as Ghosts & Goblins or Pumpkin Patches...Just remember not to feature an item that doesn't fit with the theme.
• Complementary Colors: Feature a color or an array of colors that complement one another and are presented throughout the entire treasury. I notice that a lot of curators don't seem to take this in consideration...BACKGROUND color. So many of us are focused on making sure the colors of the items flow, but are not necessarily thinking about the background color of the item listings; these colors are just as important for the flow of your treasury. Below is an example; it is a treasury by STAT Team Leader Andrea of Storybook Artifact. Notice how not only are the item colors of purple, red, and green depicted throughout the whole treasury, but the bright white background color is shown in every item listing in the treasury. This makes the treasury really stand out and POP! It seems to me that a bright white background is the most popular background color featured on Etsy front page...but I have also noticed charcoal grays or an ecru or beige. I would also like to add that not all Front Page treasuries feature all items with the same background color, but these types of treasuries REALLY have color flow. If most items featured have a white background with gray colored items, then it is not unusual to see a gray colored background featuring a bright white-colored item in this treasury.

"Mischievous is My Middle Name" by Storybook Artifact

• Have an eclectic assortment of item categories featured in your treasury! Don't just have a treasury with a bunch of clothing and jewelry. Try to integrate furniture, kitchenware, men's interests, bath & beauty products, as well as handmade AND vintage items. Etsy likes for their front page treasuries to feature ALL sorts of items so their customers will have lots to choose from!
• I know it is easiest to appeal to woman with all of Etsy's feminine clothing, jewelry, etc. However, Etsy is wanting to feature more and MORE masculine and/or unisex treasuries...so keep this in mind; creating a manly treasury might be the one more thing you need to get a treasury on Etsy's Front Page!
• I find myself creating treasuries that depict a character; male or female, I enjoy trying to capture a personality within my treasury. I feel this also helps the flow of my treasury as well as fascinate the viewers. I like for my treasuries to tell a story and when I create a character, I can do just that! If my treasury is about a woman, I will often give her a name (which I sometimes feature in my treasury title) and I show item listings that portray a similar-looking woman with the same hair color...this helps capture a true singular character.
• Catchy Treasury Titles! Whether you pick song lyrics, movie titles, or are just being creative; pick a treasury title that is catchy and will intrigue people to click and view your treasury.
• Even more importantly...the first four items you feature in your treasury are the MOST IMPORTANT because this is what Etsy and other viewers will see before they click on your treasury. These item images need to be bright, bold, and very eye-catching...as well as capture and set the tune for the entire theme of the treasury.
• Lastly, make your treasury easy to find by using ALL of the available room for tags. Pick popular searched tags by using terms found in the Etsy Merchandising Desk article of the month that fit the theme or characteristics of your treasury.
  

Go ahead, impress your clients with your Mad Woman Marketing Skills!

Written by: Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles

The Hot Honeysuckle Home Decor Trend of 2011!

"Filigree Flowers - 8x8 Honeysuckle Art Photography Print" by HoneyTree

The hot home decor color of 2011 is the cheerful pinkish red called Honeysuckle, according to Pantone, which provides color services for design professionals in interiors, fashion and graphics. "Funky Green Hand-Painted Small Bowl" by CraftUnikat

"This color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

This shade of pink can go Barbie in a hurry. But small doses could go a long way: accent pillows, a Moroccan pouf, a dish towel or one wall of a bedroom. ("10 Home Decor and Design Trends for 2011" by Stacy Downs of McClatchy Newspapers)

"Hand Crocheted Doily - New Azalea 14 inches" by TableTopJewels

In this blog article, we share the fun and trendy Honeysuckle Pink home decor items of the Etsy STAT Team! Please check out the shops featured and let's get hip with honeysuckle this summer of 2011!
"Bubbles - Wall Clock" by ShellyKa

"Vintage Lefton China Roses Lady Fingers Vase" by Storybook Artifact

"Sunrise Batik Cathedral Window Pillow Cover - 18 inch" by WarmnFuzzies

"Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk - Alice in Wonderland Themed Hand-Painted Upcycled Decoupage Canister" by Eco-Friendly Freckles

"Limited Edition Giclee Print Pop Art - If the Shoe Fits" by Art and Wares

"Vintage Hull Vase - Pink Blue Shabby Chic" by Zenful Goods"Embroidered Dresser Scarf Tablerunner Vintage" by Nettie's Collectibles

"Pink and Blue Mexican Lotteria Shadow Box" by Little Bird and Chick

"Pink Floral Light Switch Cover" by CJ's Baubles
...Last and certainly not least, have some hummingbirds with your honeysuckle with this lovely "Hand-Painted Candle Holder with Hummingbirds - Decorative Glass Art" by Sylwia Glass Art.

June's Featured EtsyBlogger Tamdoll and Another Sister Shop Sale!

Congratulations fellow EtsyBlogger Tammy Gross of Tamdoll for being this month's "Featured EtsyBlogger"!!! I'm enchanted with this one-of-a-kind gorgeous "White Queen - Fiber Charm for Necklace or Brooch" by Tamdoll...Absolutely BREATHTAKING!!! It reminds me of the beautiful White Queen in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (which happens to be my favorite tale of all time)!

...Speaking of Alice in Wonderland, the SISTER SHOP SALE of the month (which will be ending soon) encompasses just this theme!!!
My twin sister and darling best friend, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, is offering her Vintage Alice Flowers and Birds Cake Topper Candle Holders Set for FREE with the purchase of my new hand-painted upcycled (Alice in Wonderland themed) decoupage canister "Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk"!!! Have a very HAPPY "Un-Birthday" with this FREE gift sale! This offer ends at the end of this month of June.

Summer Colors Sister Shop Sales - EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival

Sister Shop Sales!!! This month of June, I am offering my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Young Love" for FREE with the purchase of my sister Andrea's (of Storybook Artifact) painting "Is He the Man of My Dreams" (pictured above)...Below is a picture of my one-of-a-kind decoupage canister "Young Love" (the free gift):

Summer is a time for picnics, hiking, camping, biking, and all kinds of fun outdoor activities. For this EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival, I have created a treasury featuring nine EtsyBlogger items (as well as Andrea's "Is He the Man of My Dreams" painting) encompassing all of these summertime activities...along with the colors that remind me of summer: blue, green, and yellow (sky, grass, and sun)!!! I've titled this treasury "Midsummer Day Dream".

Boost Your Health With Kombucha!

The delightful image above is an original oil painting titled "Lightness Becomes You" by fellow Etsy Recycler's Guild member Adrien Art.
Feel energized, detox your body, and boost your health with kombucha tea!
Kombucha Tea is a biological active product fermented with a living culture ("scoby") to become a natural living food high in enzymes. Scientific research shows the benefits of Kombucha, whose high concentration of probiotic-rich acids can provide a powerful energy boost, as well as detoxify and cleanse the blood of disease-causing toxins, allowing the body to alleviate a wide spectrum of ailments and conditions; from the mildest indisposition to the most serious diseases.

Drinking Kombucha tea regularly has been shown to benefit the human body by:

* balancing the metabolism
* cleansing the blood and regulating pH levels
* improving liver, gall bladder, and digestive function
* detoxifying the body and enhancing the immune system
* raising overall energy level
This summer while the heat is intense and you're enjoying some fresh air, have yourself a cool, refreshing glass of kombucha and detox while you hydrate!

If you are interested in making your own kombucha at home, I have organic kombucha scobies in my Etsy shop for making this delicious and nutritious probiotic beverage; with this kombucha scoby all you need is some black or green tea and you are on your way to kombucha-making success. Also, with each order of my kombucha scobies, I send a step-by-step picture tutorial that I have made to assist you in making your first batch of kombucha tea!

Free Gift of Shakespeare Tea with the Purchase of My Art Piece

Special This Month: My darling sister Andrea's Etsy Shop, Storybook Artifact, is offering a free gift of her Shakespeare Tea Blend (packaged by the ounce in a decorated wax-sealed bag), with the purchase of my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Shakespeare's Muse" (a wonderful combination gift)!!! Please note that this is a limited time offer: good through the month of May.You can view her Shakespeare Tea Blend and my "Shakespeare's Muse" decoupage canister here:

Shakespeare Tea Blend

"Shakespeare's Muse" hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister

Also, please check out a recent treasury my sweet sister Andrea of Storybook Artifact created that was inspired by this offer and features my "Shakespeare's Muse" decoupage canister titled "Within the Mind of Shakespeare".

May's Featured EtsyBlogger is Nancy of NanjoDogz!

Congratulations fellow EtsyBlogger Nancy of NanjoDogz for being this month's "Featured EtsyBlogger"!!! I absolutely adore this Little Polymer Clay Bookworm Bead that I found in this delightful Etsy shop! It reminds me of cute bookworm mascot from my small town local library...he encouraged me to read so many books. What better thing to do for summertime leisure than to read a good book! I have created a treasury featuring this NanjoDogz item titled "Summertime Leisure"!!!
Speaking of a good summer read, I love this vintage book collection of the little leather library titled "Victorian Literature Collection" that my sister, Andrea, has in her Etsy shop, Storybook Artifact.Andrea also has an adorable hand-painted bookmark that is called "Princess Story-Bookmark Original Oil Painting" which I also feature in the treasury above.