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!!!

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.

EtsyBlogger's Blog Carnival "Thinking Green": What Are You Doing to Make This a Greener Planet?

On the 28th of this month, Janet from "Honey from the Bee: Artisan Jewelry Inspired by Nature & Vintage Elements" will be hosting February's second blog carnival for EtsyBloggers on her blog "Honey from the Bee". The theme is "Thinking Green", Janet asks participants to write about what they're doing to make this planet greener. She says this could be about your art or just around the house or at work.

It didn't take me long to ponder over this because I have be "thinking green" for a long time. I have taken my artistic talent and combined it with my love for recycling to produce a one-of-a-kind functional, upcycled art piece that isn't only decorative but something lovely for the greenies too!

I recycle tin and steel cans along with magazine clippings and yogi tea tags and I incorporate all of these items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill somewhere and use them in my art creations! I create my upcycled decoupage canisters by selecting and cutting desired magazine clippings and yogi tea tags and arranging them in a complementary pattern to produce an original theme and story.

I then paint the inside of each canister with a color that complements the hues of the images on the piece. All of my upcycled decoupage canisters are hand-painted with a glossy black background and small white freckles; which unlike polka dots are not perfectly symmetrical, hence the name of my shop "Eco-Friendly Freckles". These delightful freckles create a texture that is pleasant to feel, and a look that is unique and fun!

This greenie project of mine creates a beautiful, functional art piece that can be used to hold pens/pencils, paint brushes, kitchen utensils, teas, bath salts, soaps, candies, and anything your imagination can come up with! These upcycled canisters are great for containing presents too!

To view all of my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canisters in my Etsy shop, you can find them here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecofriendlyfreckles?section_id=6793761

I have discovered an Etsy team that I LOVE!!! The Etsy Recycler's Guild is a GLOBAL community of Eco-Artists, crafters & vintage gurus, who have united in the name of GREEN, Team Tag: WASTENOT- founded in 2007., "recycled" in 2009, and have grown by leaps and bounds. Our tag is "Wastenot" which really sums it up.

We believe in recycling, repurposing, upcycling, and reclamation of used or discarded goods. We use these components in our crafts, jewelry, merchandise, clothing, and in our artwork. We also encourage sale of vintage goods, and house greenies who have developed alternative solutions for reduction of the carbon footprint.

We live green, we love to recycle, and that's what brought us together. Our team believes in Random Acts of Kindness, a movement to promote each other's shops and spread the word about living green.

For more about us view our blog at http://EtsyRecyclersGuild.blogspot.com

Thank You to All of My Wonderfully Sweet Team Members!

I was pleasantly surprised that Cindy of Retro Chalet, the team captain of the Etsy Recycler's Guild, featured a wonderful review for my Kratom Leaf Powder on her personal blog: Ira Mency! Thank you Cindy so very much!

http://iramency.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-just-adore-eco-friendly-freckles-and.html

Also, my kratom leaf powder "Royal White Sumatra" was featured today in an absolutely ravishing and elegant treasury titled "Tea With Eliza Doolittle" created by Etsy STAT Team member Junkyard Glitter...it is so "loverly"! ;-)


Another one of my medicinal herbs was featured in a fun and earthy treasury titled "Uncover" created by Etsy STAT Team member Room of Your Own Vintage Shop; she features my White Willow Bark.



Etsy Recycler's Guild Team Leader Heather of Texas Vintage kindly featured my "Expressive Soul" hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister in her blog post "Handmade Things I Love".



One of my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canisters "Little Miss Cupcake" is featured in a beautiful treasury titled "STAT Team Treasury Challenge Its A Cruel World" created by Etsy STAT Team leader Oddball Art Co.

Great American Love Stories

John and Jackie, a memorable presidential couple whose love for one another was profound and passionate. They will forever be remembered in the hearts and minds of the American people as a pair with strong values and love for their spouses and America.

"I love her [Jackie] deeply and have done everything for her. I've no feeling of letting her down because I've put her foremost in everything." - John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy
Source: Sally Bedell Smith. Grace and Power: The Private World of the Kennedy White House. pg. 178.Both of the images above are vintage sixties prints of the Kennedys and they can be found in my Etsy Shop "Eco-Friendly Freckles".

Who doesn't adore a good love story?! You can read "Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy's Love Story" here:

http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/jacqueline-bouvier-john-f-kennedy-love-story/
My vintage 60's Jackie Kennedy print is featured in this classy and sophisticated treasury titled "Feeling all Black & White" by fellow Etsy Recycler's Guild member "Texas Vintage".
Another Great American Love Story that I am always "warm and fuzzy" and enchanted by is "Gone with the Wind". The alluring Scarlett O'Hara and dashing Rhett Butler are an absolutely ravishing couple in this classic American film full of passion! The image above is actually one of the vintage prints in my shop titled "Timeless Vintage 60's Gone with the Wind Paper Ephemera Print".

How about for a Valentine's date, you cuddle up with your sweetheart this chilly winter season and watch the romantic American classic "Gone with the Wind"! To embrace the spirit of the film, check out these rapturous treasuries:
This beautiful treasury was created by Anjasarts as a loving tribute to her dear Great Grandmother who passed away yesterday morning...I am honored to have my Vintage Gone with the Wind Print featured in such a precious and sentimental treasury (titled "Gone with the Wind...").
This arousing and very passionate treasury is titled "Do It With Passion!!!!!" by Vintage Canadian; in this treasury my Vintage Gone with the Wind Print is also featured.
Oooh la la, this heavenly elegant and romantic treasury just in time for Valentine's Day is created by fellow STAT Team member "Splattered with Paint" and is titled "We are..."; she features my Vintage 60's Playboy Pinup Print.

Become a Recycling Guild Master!

Helping our beautiful earth is very rewarding; recycling is one of the best ways to do this! Although, we can always try to improve our recycling skills so we can be on our way to be a Recycler's Guild Master! For inspiration, check out these wonderful upcycled, repurposed creations from the Etsy Recycler's Guild...I am so happy to be a member!

http://etsyrecyclersguild.blogspot.com/p/monthly-spotlight.html
I have stumbled upon some eye-opening information about the detrimental effects of American's consumption and the recycling solutions! Please check out this intriguing blog post titled "Baby Steps to Making a Difference" on the "Sew Sew Recycling" blog; she has a very informative video that I highly suggest you all see. Also, peak into her adorable Etsy shop "Recycled T's" filled with upcycled goodies!

Speaking of upcycled goodies, my newest hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister "Expressive Soul" is featured in a beautiful vibrant blue treasury titled "An Eclectic Mix" created by Sarah's Shoppe.
Here is a fun, lovely, and crafty upcycling project and great gift idea! On my sister Andrea's blog "Storybook Artifact" she features the pretty upcycled napkin holders I made for her out of recycled paper towel rolls. She also posts a couple links to some how to videos showing you just how to make this elegant napkin holders...this is a fun craft project!

http://storybookartifact.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-it-yourself-lovely-handmade-napkin.html
One of Andrea's items from her Storybook Artifact Etsy Shop was featured in a delightful treasury featuring all new undiscovered Etsy shops! Come check it out...it is titled "Pounce on These Undiscovered Shops" and is created by "Sunshine and Showers"; she features Andrea's Vintage Children's Storybook Cookie Cutters.

Girl Talk!

Woo hoo, its time for some GIRL TALK! I love it when girls get together and talk about what we love, value, and enjoy...Boys just don't understand how we can have so much fun with our frills! I take pleasure in discovering the beautiful, little one-of-a-kind treasures on Etsy and I love how happy simple indulgences like chocolate and elegant embellishments like pearls and lace make me feel!

In this blog post, I share all of the little luxuries that girls (from big to small) cherish; things that bring us happiness, spontaneity, beauty, and a sense of individuality. Please sent back, enjoy the girly treasuries, and share what it is about being a girl that you love. Here is one of the things I love:

What I love about being a girl is I can spend an entire day exploring the local thrift stores and garage sales with my grandmother and sister and have a care-free, fun-filled day while stopping by a little cafe' to share stories, munch on a decadent dessert, and sip on yummy cocktails. Although, I love going out with my husband, after about thirty minutes in a thrift store he is ready to go (ha ha, of course he always fancies a good dessert and cocktail)!

This is a treasury that I made yesterday called "Baby Lambs and Blue & Pink Buttons"; it features all items from members of the Etsy Recycler's Guild (I have their blog button on my sidebar)! I joined the guild yesterday and I love this group; everyone is so friendly and helpful! I am so happy to be part of a group that values the gift of recycling and better yet...upcycling! A lot of the members sell vintage items as well. ;-)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67314220/expressive-soul-hand-painted-upcycled

I listed another artistic repurposed creation last night; one of my hand-painted upcycled, decoupage canisters titled "Expressive Soul". The Etsy Recycler's Guild is the perfect team for my upcycled art...I am so happy to have stumbled upon it!

Here is a treasury that I am featured in today titled "Let's talk about girls..." and is created by asiabataev, a fellow team member of the Self Taught Artists Treasury "STAT Team"; she features one of my 60's vintage print ads.