Pet Valentine

Posted on January 25, 2013 by sassmuffins

Valentine Beanie

Isn’t this the most adorable Pomeranian photo you’ve ever seen? The valentine beanie hat adorning it’s head is by Eternal Light Shop is just too precious for words! The hat ties under the dog’s chin and obviously makes for some great photo opportunities. The owner Priscilla uses the best quality 100% acrylic yarn and can customize the hat in different colors and sizes. She has been crocheting since she was 12 years old, and puts a lot of love into each piece she makes!

Heart Collar

Cute, cute heart collar for your beloved dog is by Etsy seller BowWow Store. Definitely both paws up for this one! Custom made in various sizes, this collar features a quick release side accent buckle, wide mouth nylon slip lock buckle and a heavy weight nickel plated D-ring to attach to your pets leash. The collar is sewn on a industrial sewing machine using the strongest thread available. A matching leash in available for some collars. BowWow Store has been selling collars and other pet products at dog shows and craft fairs in the northeast for the past 10 years.

“Be Mine” Dog Tag

Happy Valentines Day!! Great “Be Mine” metal dog tag by Woo Woo Workshop should get your pooch plenty of love! The “Juliet” Woo Woo Tag™ is the shop’s newest design with triple layered metal. Made of a soldered nickel silver heart onto a scalloped copper plate with two layers of lightweight aluminum, the design just begs to be touched. The tag has an aluminum contact backer with space for adding pet name and contact information. Be sure to visit both Melissa’s Etsy site and her beautiful blog to see all of her unique handmade designs.

The tag is ready for wear right out of the package, and is sealed with clear polyurethane for protection. Woo Woo Workshop guarantees that your pet will have the coolest tag on the block. Love is in the air!

A Big Woof!

Posted on January 18, 2013 by sassmuffins

It’s Etsy Friday and I’ve got some really great dog finds!

Border Collie Artwork

First is some fantastic original graphic artwork by Etsy seller Gemini Studio. Artist Stephen Fowler creates giclee prints of his original illustrations on archival matte finish paper. This particular print is 12″x12″, but custom and larger sizes are available upon request. It is a hand signed and numbered print.

Stephen professes a “fascination with big graphic artwork, vintage/urban design, and advertising posters”. Although Gemini Studio began as a handmade greeting card company, it now includes a variety of media including graphic design, photography and illustration. Themes include Cats & Dogs, typography, Chicago themes, Food & Drink, and other beautiful designs. Also be sure to check out Stephen’s website at geministudioart.com. Inspiring! Although his art must look just fabulous on big loft walls, I’ve no doubt it will look just as nice in your home or office (or both)!

Engraved Buckle Dog Collars

Need a colorful personalized dog collar for your pet? Or an engraved buckle on that collar? Check out these great pieces by Shop Mimi Green! What a fantastic idea to combine the info normally found on your dog’s tag right onto the collar’s buckle. Your pooch will be styling and safe! Buckles are made of a hybrid metal/plastic and are lightweight. Washable designer fabrics stitched to tough nylon webbing make the collars both durable and easily cleaned.

This classic cotton collar comes in 5 sizes and 2 widths. No matter if you have a Great Dane or a tiny Chihuahua, a laminated cotton collar by Shop Mimi Green will fit your dog just right, be super strong and match your dog’s cool style! Be sure to check out their collars in bridal leather (3 colors) and many wonderful shades of the softest velvet.

Dog Placemat

Bring on the messy dinner! These great oil cloth and chalkboard placemats by Diggity Dawg Designs make cleanup a breeze. The one shown in the photo has a lovely turqoise dot border design, and comes with a single white piece of chalk in it’s own coordinated carrying case.

Personalize with your pet’s name or your own endearing words or design. Free your imagination and get creative! I love items that are beautifully and simply designed, yet serve a very practical purpose. These oil cloth and chalk mats score on both counts. They can be used on any flooring, and are easily cleaned by wiping with a wet sponge or damp towel. Then just air dry and you are ready to go again!

Chalk Mats measure approx. 12″ x 19″ and fit standard size pet food and water bowls. There’s room for two bowls on each mat. Each comes packaged with a custom hang tag which makes them ready for gift giving. When on the Diggity Dawg site, but sure to also check out her toy hampers and cute toys for dogs.

Dog Pillow

Val’s Art Studio makes some truly detailed and beautiful felted design pillows. I just love this one with the little terrier. So cute! Val needle felts a “painting” out of wool roving onto recycled, felted sweater fabric. Then she uses ribbon and trims on the pillow sides, and a coordinated print fabric for the pillow back. Pillows are stuffed with an organic cotton/bamboo, eco-friendly non allergic batting. These are personalized by using a photo of your favorite pet, and then turned into either a pillow as you see here or a wall hanging. Each is a true endeavor of love!

The measurements are approximately 9 x 11″ – 11 x 12″. These are “art” pillows and meant for gentle/decorative use only, and can be created in either the box style design or with a ruffled trim. Let Val know if you have a color preference and she will work with your color palette, keeping in mind that recycled sweaters are used as the base for each of these one-of-a-kind pillows. Also, if you want, your pet’s name can be added to the design for an additional $25.00.

Favorite Finds

Posted on January 11, 2013 by sassmuffins

It’s Etsy Friday again and I’m here this week to bring you some of my favorite items! Enjoy Shopping!

Aquamarine Ring

This lovely aquamarine and copper ring with it’s crystalline beauty is made by Midwest Alchemy. The shard of aquamarine is surrounded in a electroformed copper band and has been treated with LOS, sealed with Renaissance Wax and has a matte finish. Each unique piece of jewelry by Kelly at Midwest Alchemy is completely handmade in her studio in northern Ohio.

Stones are chosen for their color, texture, shape and feel. I just love the mix of the more rustic sculptural copper element along with the natural beauty of the rough gemstones. Rings and pendants are also available with stones of crystal, amethyst, quarts, topaz, opal, tourmaline, garnet, sapphire, citrine, druzy, labradorite, turquoise, chrysoprase, pyrite, and pearl. Truly something for everyone!

Midwest Alchemy is also an Etsy Featured Shop.

Vintage Inspired Straw Hat

I simply adore vintage inspired designs, and Ella from Ella Gajewska Hatsin Poland makes some of the finest millinery you’ve ever seen! This particular piece is a fashioned after straw hats from the 1920’s with a small brim and asymmetric crown. It is beautifully detailed with hand applied Swarovski crystals on a soft natural ostrich feather.This elegant hat has been hand blocked and is an original design. The shop owner can create something beautiful and customized just for you, depending on your interests. She has a lovely Etsy shop full of all types of hats – everything from her “Teddy Bear Winter Hat” (you have to see that one!), to knit caps, fedoras, and romantic turn-of-the-century designs. So stunningly beautiful!

Skeleton Key

There is just something about old keys and vintage architectural pieces that I find fascinating. I think it’s because when I touch these little pieces of history I always stop to reflect on who might have created them, owned them, or used them in times long ago. Such is the case with these pretty little metal skeleton keys sold by Etsy seller ChokkoVintage.

Chokko Vintage provides this information about skeleton keys (quoted from ehow.com):

“Skeleton keys were designed centuries ago to open warded lock types. Warded locks are simple systems with a set of movable plates inside. When a properly shaped key bit was used, the plates would push aside to release the lock. Skeleton keys were also simple, with generic bits capable of opening many different locks regardless of the maker and key bit style. The use of ward locks declined in the late 1800s, but some use continued into the 20th century. The development of more secure locking mechanisms led to the disposal of the old locks and keys.”

These little keys are beautiful as home decor, in crafting projects, or…I can picture one on a chain that rests on the bodice of my vintage dress form! Chokko Vintage has many to choose from; all keys ship from Thailand.

Keeping It Local

Posted on January 4, 2013 by sassmuffins

After the organized get together with fellow Etsy sellers in Austin, Texas last Saturday, I am delighted to introduce several of them via this week’s Etsy finds! So many great local artists!

Fiber Bracelet

Rachel Anderson of One Man’s Trash makes these really cute fiber bracelets from braided satin, scrap cords, and wrapped cotton fibers. Add some vintage style floral twill end trim, a stretch loop and buttons, and they fit perfectly around the wrist. They are all unique and really colorful! According to Rachel, they are, “A little bit 80’s…a little bit hipster..and just weird enough to make your jeans and ratty t-shirt cool enough for happy hour.” Gotta love that, and the fact that these beauties are recycled and re-purposed! Rachel also has some lovely necklaces, earrings, and rings in her shop, all made with salvaged materials. I think she must get pretty excited when she comes across a little box of vintage fabric and notion treasures that nobody else knows what to do with.

Flying V Guitar Bib

Love, love, love the cute baby and children’s clothing pieces from seller Baby Bolt (Striking Kidswear). Austin is certainly known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”, and there’s no reason not to introduce the kiddos at an early age to electric guitars! The custom guitar design is zigzag stitched onto this classic size bib (for babies 6-24 months). The reverse is a soft flannel in black and white line checks. This bib has been lined with an extra layer of flannel for extra drool absorbency, which gives it a nice weight and feel. Just place around baby’s neck and attach with the super soft velcro that won’t scratch sensitive infant skin.

All fabric used by Baby Bolt is washed in eco friendly dye and fragrance free detergent prior to sewing to ensure minimal shrinkage, and finished clothing can be machine washed and dried. All clothing designs have been tested on babies and children both at home and on the playground prior to listing in the shop. Your kids will love them, and so will you!

Feto Soap

These bars of oatmeal, milk, and honey soap by Feto Soap are so pretty with their “bee” design. A soap favored by both men and women, it is scented with a delicious blend of honey, almond, and vanilla. Yum! The honey in this soap comes from local Texas wildflowers, and no colorants have been added. It’s great for dry and sensitive skin. This hypo-allergenic and coconut oil based soap weighs 1.7 ounces and measures: 2 x 2 x 1″. It is packaged in a white organza drawstring bag.

All Feto Soap items are handmade locally in small batches in Austin, TX. Soap is made from scratch with both cold and hot process methods. The shop carries glycerin soap, perfumes, lip balms, lotion bars and NEW shea butter sugar scrubs! Products are carried in retail outlets around the country, and are sold in many Austin boutique stores. Feto Soap products are offered as private label, guest bars, bridal shower favors, wedding favors, and baby shower favors. You can also have them shipped as a gift directly to your recipient!

Feto soaps have been featured on Home and Garden Television’s Show, That’s Clever, BUST, Woman’s Day Magazine, and The Chicago Tribune.

Strong Poster

This great poster measures 8×10 inches and is professionally printed on high quality paper. Each poster comes individually packaged in a clear protective cover and includes backing board for shipping stability. All proceeds from this particular item in the Tisa’s Creations shop will be donated to the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas.

Tisa’s shop carries simple, modern paper items including cards and stationary. You can also check out her website at: www.tisasspot.blogspot.com.

Etsy in Austin

Posted on January 3, 2013 by sassmuffins

I was so excited last weekend to be a part of an Etsy “Home for the Holidays” in Austin, Texas! Kim Konen from the Etsy Brooklyn office said it was the first time they had a meeting like this in Austin. We met at the Easy Tiger bake shop and beer garden on East 6th Street from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Those that sell on Etsy were invited to bring something they make, and most did. There were about 40 crafters and artists at the event. Temperatures were cool at the outdoor tables, but conversation was definitely warm and inviting. Etsy staff offered to pick up the food tab, and provided platters with treats including oversize pretzels, sausage, cheese, and jerkey from Easy Tiger, and we all had time to visit and exchange ideas. For me it was just so great to meet others that were also sellers on Etsy. I felt good that I had learned enough in the past year to be able to help some other sellers just starting out on Etsy, yet I also got some great tips from Etsy folks who had been selling much longer than me. My four best tips for the day:

1) List my business name, “Sassmuffins”, on all my Etsy listing tags, so that people can find me easier.

2) Invite my friends to my business Facebook page.

3) List my Etsy shop as SassMuffins.etsy.com, rather than http://www.etsy.com/shop/SassMuffins. Whew, much easier on the eyes. I’ll have to remember this on future advertising.

4) Join Austin Craft Riot (formerly Etsy Austin), a local group of artists, crafters, vintage & supply sellers promoting the handmade revolution in Austin, TX!

All in all, this was a super get together for Etsy staff and sellers. I am definitely going to join Austin Craft Riot for their monthly meetings (every month except November/December), so I can learn even more. Thank you Etsy for bringing us together in Austin!

Sassmuffins

Products for Pets and People

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