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.

I Love Wearing HippieChicJewelz!!!

During the Etsy Self Taught Artist's Treasury (STAT) Team's BSP (Barter Sales Promotion), I traded for some lovely items from Julianne of HippieChicJewelz...and I love her fun and artsy jewelry! I feel like each piece conveys something about my personality; I adore the original style of each one-of-kind creation! The necklace I am wearing above is called "Purple Flower Power"...and as you can see below, my baby nephew Bobby is very fascinated with it (this is my husband's favorite piece too)!

Here I am wearing a stunningly flirty pair of heart shaped earrings by HippieChicJewelz titled "Sweetheart Earrings". Don't I look PRETTY?! Ha ha, I'm not conceited...right?!



...And here I am with a lovely masterpiece around my neck titled "Mad for Plaid Queen of Hearts"!
I encourage everyone to check out Julianne's delightful, creative, and beautiful Etsy shop HippieChicJewelz!

Donating to Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Efforts in Japan

The adorable image above features a "Japan Disaster Relief Aid - Cupcake Topper" by The Giving Madam.

My heart goes out to the dear people of Japan, I have created several team treasuries featuring members of the Etsy teams I am involved with and items that are donating to Japan relief funds. In my shop Eco-Friendly Freckles, I will be sending 20% of all of my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister and tin sales to the Salvation Army’s earthquake relief efforts in Japan. You can view all of my "Japan Relief" decoupage tins here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecofriendlyfreckles?section_id=6793761
The Etsy Recycler's Guild relief efforts for Japan are featured on our team blog...my donating items are mentioned too. :-)
http://etsyrecyclersguild.blogspot.com/2011/03/etsy-sellers-show-love-to-japan-and-how.html
Here are some team treasuries I have created featuring team items and items donating to earthquake/tsunami relief efforts for Japan:

"The Sugar Plums and Cherry Blossoms of Japan - Donations for Relief Efforts" for the Etsy Self Taught Artists Treasury (STAT) Team.

"Wishbone Doggies Love Japan - Donations for Relief Efforts" for the EtsyBloggers Team.

"Owl Always Love Japan - Donations for Relief Efforts" for the Etsy Recycler's Guild Team.

"Soaring Sympathy for Japan - Donations for Relief Efforts" for the Oklahoma Disciples of Etsy Team.

"Tears and Healing for Japan - Donations for Relief Efforts" for the Etsy Natural Healer's Guild.

Protect, Cherish, Nurture Our Loving Mother Earth

The captivating image above is a beautiful print of the original painting "Mother Nature: Protect, Nurture, Cherish" by Bitowhimsey.

Another one of my team blog articles has been posted on the Etsy Recycler's Guild Team Blog! This one is titled "Reuse and Recycle Your Packaging Materials"; I suggest some things that you can recycle and use in your Etsy shop orders for packaging, as well as feature several Etsy Recycler's Guild member upcycled packaging items (package tags, stationary, business cards, etc.). Please check it out!

http://etsyrecyclersguild.blogspot.com/2011/03/reuse-and-recycle-your-packaging.html

Getting motivated to do your part by protecting, cherishing, and nurturing our amazing planet this coming Earth Day? Well, here are two treasuries that my spark some ideas and further encourage your nature-loving aspirations!

Here is a treasury created by my sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, and is titled "Earth Day Dreaming". This darling treasury is an entry for this week's Etsy STAT Team Treasury Challenge...Please view this treasury!!! Andrea's chances of winning the challenge increases with the more views her treasury gets! She features my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Little Miss Cupcake" in this delightful collection!

I created this treasury titled "Capture the Beauty of Spring" featuring all members from the Etsy Recyclers Guild!!!

The Etsy STAT Team Exposure Game!

The Self Taught Artist's Treasury (STAT) Team has created a fun-filled way to spread the word about team member's shop items...The Exposure Game! Each team member participating in the game lists one shop item that they want to promote with a complementary catchy phrase along with copying and pasting all of the other participants selected item links and phrases and shares them any way they can (blog, facebook fan page, twitter, treasuries, etc.). Here is an example here on my sister's, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, blog:

http://storybookartifact.blogspot.com/2011/03/self-taught-artists-expose-their.html

Below are two treasuries that I created today featuring all members of the Etsy STAT Team; those participating in the Exposure Game and a few other lucky ones!

Eternal Playfulness - STAT Team EXPOSURE GAME Treasury 1:

Earthy Gypsy - STAT Team EXPOSURE GAME Treasury 2:

A Day in the Park...Take a Walk and Get Some Sunshine!

The delightful image above is an item from the Etsy shop Cupcake Cutiees Designs titled "Day in the Park Digital Clipart Elements" . I enjoyed a fun walk in the sun at a local park with my darling twin sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, and her sweet baby boy (and my adorable nephew) Bobby yesterday! What a fun-filled afternoon we had!
I created a blog article for the Etsy Recycler's Guild blog about "The Healing Benefits of Sunshine". Please check out this informative blog article that features two items from Etsy Recycler's Guild members!Speaking of promoting Etsy Recycler's Guild shops, Kitchen Robots by Leuckit created this charming treasury titled "A Walk Outside..." where all Etsy Recycler's Guild members are featured. My "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister is featured in this treasury too!My "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" upcycled tin is also featured in this bright and sunny treasury created by STAT Team Captain HippieChicJewelz titled "Put Some Bright In Your Life" and is one of the participating treasuries in the STAT Team Tuesday Treasury Challenge! My dear sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, also featured my "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" upcycled tin in her STAT Team Challenge Treasury "The Bright Side of Black"...Thank you Andy!

Also, I would like to share that the awesome Etsy STAT Team is participating in a rewarding pursuit called the "Exposure Game"; during the week, each member selects an item from their shop that they would like featured in the Exposure Game and on Friday all of the members participating in the game will promote all of the STAT Team members' selected shop items however they wish (this could be by creating treasuries, promoting on Facebook fan pages or blogs, etc.). STAT Team member Planet Calamari is participating in the Exposure Game and she has made a wonderful treasury for the game titled "Exposing the ESTY STAT TEAM Part 1" and she also features my "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" upcycled tin.

Pretty Pin-ups and Sensational Treasuries

This alluring image is a set of "7 Vintage Pin Up Girls from Esquire Magazine 1950's" by Songbird Industries.

I am smitten over some sensational treasuries on a Sunday afternoon...this first one is titled "Green and Orange" and is created by Ottupura. She features my Vintage 60's Playboy Pinup Print.
My Vintage 60's Playboy Pin-up (pictured above) is also featured in this other lovely treasury titled "The Bold & the Beautiful" by Etsy STAT Team member Yifat Bareket Jewelry Designs.Darling Etsy STAT Team member Yifat Bareket Jewelry Designs has also created another treasury with my newest upcycled decoupage tin "Sunshine on a Rainy Day", that features a pretty pinup girl, in her treasury "And the OSCAR goes to...".
This alluring pinup is an "ELVGREN - BURLESQUE SHOWGIRL PIN-UP FINE ART GICLEE PRINT" by VANGUARDGALLERY.
Now it's time to take a trip to the old west and gaze at my treasury titled "At the Ole Saloon". I feature my sister's, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, original sketch "Man Behind the Story" and four other members from the Oklahoma Disciples of Etsy Team in this treasury!

My Latest Work of Art in My Shop!

Sunshine on a Rainy Day - Hand-Painted Upcycled Decoupage Decor Tin/Canister:

"Save up for a rainy day" with this precious, meticulously handcrafted, one-of-a-kind money tin. This upcycled tin once contained cookies, now it has been painted and decoupaged with this lovely scene of a woman who has saved up for that rainy day. She sits upon a vintage trunk as she is surrounded by her savings, umbrella, and reminders that everything is going to be okay. The lady featured holds a sign with the "You Are My Sunshine" lyrics and is displayed behind a young girl with an umbrella looking towards a flying golden kitten which represents the sun rising from the clouds after a storm. This tin is covered with many inspirational yogi tea tags as well as charming, vintage twenties inspired images. This elegant piece can hold an array of desired items such as tea, candies, and sentimental items...and most definitely money or a coin collection! In these pictures, the shine on the canister is from the glossy Mod Podge finish. I applied two coats of Mod Podge to this canister so the images are protected, yet you can still feel the fun texture of the freckles!The eco-friendly recycled materials used in this item are: a tin/canister with fitting tin lid, magazine clippings, and yogi tea tags. This tin measures 3 inches tall and 7 inches wide. The interior of this tin is painted a shiny, luxurious gold!
My darling sister, Andrea of Storybook Artifact, featured this newest upcycled decoupage creation of mine "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" in her Etsy STAT Team treasury "Bee Wealthy, Wise, and Whimiscal".

I also created a Etsy STAT Team treasury today titled "The Pearls of Penelope"; with a play-on-words title, I pay homage to one of my favorite classic cartoons of all time "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop". This glamorous treasury features elegant beauties embellished with pearls. I feature Mademoiselle in Pearls, a lovely sketch from Andrea's Storybook Artifact; I also feature six new members of the Etsy STAT Team!