Do you Ning?

If not, you should! Did you know that the Etsy Chat Team has a Ning Social Network that serves as our "base of operations"? It's a great place to interact with other team members, post photos, start some great discussions, etc. Find it HERE!

I've spent most of the morning making some changes to our site, so you'll find it looking pretty and fresh ;-). Also, check out the Forums, as I have created categories to help manage and more easliy find discussions.

If you are an Etsy Chat Team member but haven't registered for our Ning network, do so now!

Another Chat Team Treasury

I was lucky enough to snag a treasury this morning and I filled it with wonderful Chat Team pretties! Click on the photo to go to the treasury :)

Misty Does Melt & Pour

Melt & Pour soap (MP) is considered the easiest soap to make. This is true in the fact that there's no waiting for your soaps to cure like when you make Cold Process soap, and there's no playing with dangerous chemicals (lye) as you do in both Cold Process and Hot Process soap.

But don't let the "easy" term fool you. There is a lot more that goes into making MP soap than just melting and pouring.

First you need to find a good base. We use only all natural bases, which means none of our soaps contain SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) or other chemicals. This is a personal decision, and I am not bashing bases or people who use bases with SLS in it. There are MANY suppliers you can find by doing a simple google search.

Once you find a quality base, there are a few more things you need. Soap molds, a scale, microwave safe bowls, spatulas, measuring equipment, skin safe colors/dyes, and of course, skin safe fragrance and/or essential oils.

For this soap you will need the following:

Scale

2 microwave safe bowls/pyrex measuring cups

2 spatulas

pipettes to measure your fragrance/essential oil (you can use small measuring cups, too...like the kind that come with your liquid cold medicines)

All Natural Goat's Milk Soap Base

Cafe Mocha Fragrance Oil

Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Coffee Grounds

Skin safe dye/color

Now that you have it all, you can just melt, add your color and scent and pour, right? Nope! When it comes to fragrance and essential oils, knowledge is important. Many fragrances and essential oils aren't skin safe at certain percentages or at all. Do your homework and research the maximum amount that can be safely used in your soap.

Ok, now that I have that out of the way, let's have some soapy fun!

Today we are making 2 bars of layered Orange Mocha soap in our all natural goat's milk soap base. The top layer will be scented with Sweet Orange Essential Oil and the bottom layer will be scented in Cafe Mocha Fragrance Oil. For this soap, I am doing equal amounts of soap for each later....meaning, my mold will make a 5 ounce bar of soap, so I am going to do 2.5 ounces for each layer.

First, I weigh out my soap. 5 ounces for each scent (remember, 2.5 ounces per layer, per bar).

Next I put my soap in the microwave for 1 minute on half power. Don't use full power...you want to melt your soap, not cook it! 1 minute is perfect to melt the soap completely without leaving it too hot. If your soap is too hot, any fragrance you add to it will evaporate as it cools.

Now I am going to measure out my Sweet Orange Essential Oil and add it to my melted soap. I am using my scents at 2%.

I mix that thoroughly until the essential oil is completely blended with the soap.

Then I add my color. When it comes to color, start on the low side and add a drop or two at a time until you get the desired color. Becareful not to add too much....a good rule of thumb is, if your soap suds turn colors when you use it, you added too much dye. The bubbles and suds should remain white.

Once your color is added, it's time to pour our first layer into the mold. You can then let it sit out and firm up, or if you are impatient like me, pop the baby in the freezer for about 10 minutes...it will harden up quickly.

While that's in the freezer, it's time to start on our bottom layer. Once again, melt down your 5 ounces of soap in the microwave for 1 minute at half power.

Add the Cafe Mocha Fragrance Oil and mix it in well...

then add your coffee grounds. For this soap, I did about 1.5 to 2 teaspoons total for both bars. You can increase or decrease this to suit your tastes. Mix well.

Now, I let this sit for a while. I want my soap to cool considerably, to almost a runny, gooey stage so that 1) the coffee grounds will suspend nicely and not all sink to the bottom or rise to the top and 2) when I pour this layer, I don't want it to melt my first layer.

Once your soap has cooled and is ready to pour, take your mold out of the freezer and then spray with rubbing alcohol. About 3 good squirts per soap. This serves 2 purposes. 1) the alcohol serves as an "adhesive" for the two layers. It allows the top and bottom layer to stick together. Without the alcohol, when you unmold your soap, the two layers would come apart. 2) the alcohol gets rid of any air bubbles that form on the top of the soap leaving a nice smooth surface. Don't worry...the alcohol complete dissapates from your soap as it hardens up.

Now you are ready to pour your second layer. Once you have poured, let your soap sit until it has firmed up and is ready to be unmolded. Again, if you are impatient like me, after about 5 minutes, put your soap back in the freezer for a about 15 minutes or so and then it will pop right out of your mold.

Congratulations!!! You have made soap! Not just any soap...but a deliciously scented Orange Mocha TWO layer soap!

Balanced Interview and Giveaway!

1. Who is Balanced?

My name is Rachel. I'm originally from Northern California, but currently living in Dublin, Ireland with my wonderful Irish husband and our baby Ginger, the cat.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

Oh goodness. I've been making things all my life. But, regarding my Etsy shop, I've been making jewelry for about 10 years. I do papercrafts as well, my sold section shows a set of cards I did. I paint also and sell prints an another venue you can find on my blog, http://balancedcrafts.com.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Everywhere really. Nature, art, fashion. I browse a lot of magazines and read a lot of blogs. I'm inspired everyday.

4. What is your favorite medium?

I haven't met a medium I didn't like yet and I'm always looking for new ones. Right now I'm trying out encaustic painting, but the old stand buys like oil, acrylic, pencils, chalk, etc. are always near. I do a lot of digital painting these days as well. And with jewelry, I would say beadweaving as opposed to bead stringing, though I love that too.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

I suppose it is. I'm always working on it in one way or another and I have no other job, so, yeah. :P

6. How did you find Etsy?

Magic.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

I think it was all the awesome people I met.

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

Wow, I am no good at these 'favorite' questions. I love and am proud of every single thing I make to sell, or I wouldn't put it out into the world. I'm very sensitive, haha. I do, however, have a special fondness for the beadwoven pieces as there is more time put into them.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

My head is spinning trying to think of favorites, honestly. There are just so many!

10.Tips for other Artists?

Yes, though it's not originally mine.“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some" by Robert Fulghum.

11. Tell me a secret about yourself!

I know where you live. (If you've ordered from me that is.:P)

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

Just a sincere thank you. I'm so glad to be a part of this team and to have met the wonderful people in it. It's a lovely thing.

Balanced is offering this beautiful Pearly Squares Bracelet in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to her Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her items is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Sunday, March 8th at midnight EST.

MyMotherMary Interview and Giveaway!!

1. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

I do all kinds of needle craft, but have been concentrating on sewing, machine embroidery and crocheting. I received my first sewing machine at the age of 6, and have been sewing since! I can’t even remember my first project. My mother taught my brothers and I how to crochet as well. After a long car rides, we kids would crochet chains of yarn. The person who crocheted the longest chain would get a prize. My mother knew how to keep us busy! My first sale was of crocheted hair ties. My second sales job was selling doll clothes to classmates!

2. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Working with a customer on a custom item is the most inspiring. I just love getting an idea from a client and bouncing ideas back and forth. What first starts out as a simple idea usually ends up becoming a beautiful, personal item.Alchemy, I have discovered, is a wonderful place! It allows me to create a custom item for a customer, freeing my creativity more than the listings allow.

3. What is your favorite medium?

I love cotton…in yarns, materials and threads! Different combinations of such a simple item can create a keep-sake for years to come. In our closet, I have beautiful little gowns hand made for my daughters. They are 100% batiste cotton with hand embroidered shadow work. They were a joy to work on, and I look forward to the day my daughters have little girls to where them again.

4. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

Everything seems to be on the side! I am a mom to eight kids ranging from 16 years old to 9 months old. They will always come first. My etsy business is growing fast, but I always try to remember to pull back if it interferes with my family life. Usually the kids are just as excited as I am when I create a new item or have a new sale. I could easily become a work alcoholic, but my kids are keeping me grounded.

5. How did you find Etsy?

I found Etsy through a friend who urged me to set up a shop. After a year of her encouragement, I finally took her advice. I am so glad I did!

6. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

I have a bit of the blarney in me! Becoming addicted to Etsy chat seemed to happen instantly. Can you imagine? A room full of people who love to chat and craft, all in one place?? That’s just asking for addiction to happen!

7. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

My favorite piece is the custom tote I made for Pumpkinpye517 (a fellow etsian). She wanted a tote with her daughters name embroidered on it. It turned out wonderfully! I love it, and from what I hear, so does Pumpkinpye517ei!

8. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

Favorite shop? Oh my! That is hard! There are so many wonderful crafters that I can’t just pick one. The crafts and skills that are on display are just amazing!

9.Tips for other Artists?

Believe in your work. An artist gave my daughter great advice, value your art and never give it away. Too many times we see our items as “simple” and think no one would pay for them. Don’t fall into this trap! Value your work, and others will too.

10. Tell me a secret about yourself!!??

For a while I was on the way to being a college professor. I was even a graduate assistant, teaching and grading papers for professors. How life has changed for me!

11. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”~ Mother Theresa

There are so many quotes from Mother Theresa that I love, but this is one of my favorites. It reminds me to do all things in my life with love.

MyMotherMary is offering these adorable Squishy-Soft Baby Blocks in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to MyMotherMary's Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her items is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Friday, February 27th at midnight EST.

BeInspiredDesigns Interview and Giveaway!

1. Who is Be Inspired Designs?

My name is Inga Leonce. I live in “Hot-lanta” (Atlanta, Ga) with my lovely husband, three kids and dog. I graduated from Gwinnett Tech with a degree in Photography. My home is filled with up and coming artist as we are all pursuing art in some fashion.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

I am a self taught jewelry designer. I currently run two shops on Etsy. Be Inspired Designs where I sell upcycled Scrabble Tile Pendants and Ingas Gems where I sell gemstone jewelry. After taking a break from product photography in the late 90’s (showing my age) I began making gemstone jewelry as a hobby. After a friend suggested that I start selling my jewelry, I began to throw home parties and eventually opened my own website. I have been selling my wares for over seven years and I’m currently focusing my time on my scrabble tile pendant shop. My mom and I love playing scrabble and to be able to use those little tiles in a creative way has been great. I’ve added phone charms, hair bows, magnets to my shop. I’m currently working on something special for those “blank” tiles. I’m not telling yet, you’ll have to check my shop in the near future to see what it is!

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from this beautiful world that we live in. I love to incorporate bright colors, nature and different cultures into my pendant designs.

4. What is your favorite medium?

For me, this question has many answers. Currently, I would say Japanese washi paper and digital painting.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

My Etsy shop is my full time job.

6. How did you find Etsy?

I found Etsy in 2007 after I became totally exhausted running my own website.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

Unfortunately, when I originally signed up with Etsy in 2007, I was unable to use the Etsy chat rooms or even view a Treasury. For almost a year I tried everything the techs said to do but to no avail. So for me chat was something I read about in the forums but couldn’t participate in. I felt like an outsider. I switched internet service providers and they installed Firefox onto my computer and to my amazement, chat opened up. I was so excited that I began to spend way too much time in the chat rooms! I have met some awesome people in Etsy chat, we talk about our lives, businesses, showcase each others work and shop; what more could a girl ask for!

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

My favorite piece is “The Lord’s Prayer” Scrabble Pendant. I haven’t sold any on Etsy as yet but I wear one and it reminds me to never lose faith and keep moving forward towards my dreams while loving people in the process.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

Heathens Hearth is my favorite shop. I met these two beautiful young ladies in chat and there was something special about them. For the longest time I actually thought Heathens Hearth was one person with two very distinct personalities (some type of multiple personality disorder) but it pays to read a shops “profile” lol. I love their handmade bath and massage oils as I am a “spa baby”. There shop is defiantly my new “gift shop” for family and friends.

10. Tips for other Artists?

When it comes to business, we are all artist but we also have to keep in mind that we are in the “service” industry. Provide good customer service, respond quickly to convos and never talk bad about your customers. Most of all do what you love, make it your own and have fun. Enjoy the journey!

11. Tell me a secret about yourself.

Shhh, don’t tell anyone but I run a business in my PJ’s! I’ve always wanted to do that so with coffee in hand and fuzzy slippers on my feet I run Be Inspired Designs!

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

See you in chat!

Inga is offering this awesome pendant in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to BeInspiredDesign's Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her pendants is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Thursday, February 19th at midnight EST.

Chataholics anonymous

Dear Chat Team,

I am going on a supply finding mission. Once I come home, I will give you a REAL BLOG post.

Until then, let me leave all of you CHAT ADDICTS with a little Dictionary.com wisdom:


ad⋅dic⋅tion   /əˈdɪkʃən/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uh-dik-shuhn]

–noun the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
1595–1605; < L addictiōn- (s. of addictiō) a giving over, surrender. See addict, -ion

Be back later to Edit with a more FUN post!

vetrinagirl

1. Who is vetrinagirl?

VetrinaGirl is a free spirited woman whom has made her home in Italy thanks to her fantastic husband. She has an amazing little boy and basically tries to go through life with a big smile on her face.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

I do various different types of crafting and art and have always been considered a “creative type” but have never tried to make a business out of it until now.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

I pull my inspiration from everything around me, whether it be my silly son or the vibrant streets of Italy.

4. What is your favorite medium?

I don’t have a specific favourite, it really is just whichever way the creative energy is flowing that day.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

Etsy is not my full time job, I am a window decorator as well. However I think I prefer to stay on Etsy all day long!

6. How did you find Etsy?

I found Etsy one day as I was browsing through some creative blogs

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

One day I decided to try the chat rooms. I had never “chatted” before. I typed in “hello” and the rest is history. I am hooked!

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

I would have to say most definitely that my favourite piece I have made is my Vintage Button Cuff. I sort of have a button obsession going on at the moment and it was wonderful to create.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

I have so many...please don’t make me name just one!

10.Tips for other Artists?

Be true to who you are.

11. Tell me a secret about yourself.

Now it wouldn’t be a secret anymore then would?!?

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

I love being apart of the Etsy world. I have met some of the kindest, funniest and most creative people I have ever known. I encourage everyone to live life to the fullest, be positive and create gorgeous thin

Wiseoldowl

A member of the Etsy Chatters Team and a maker of gorgeous jewelry (among other things!) Wiseoldowl is our first featured seller!

1. Who is wiseoldowl?

I'm neither as old or as wise as I would have you think. I'm a new mommy to the most incredible baby boy. I live in Raleigh, North Carolina with my husband and our three crazy puppy dogs.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

I really love it all. If it requires creativity or ingenuity I'm in. No matter if it's actually labor or requires an inane amount of detail - I am proud of my creativity, and hope to help others find what makes them artistic as well. I've been into painting, drawing and crocheting since I was very young - my grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 6 or 7. I've been making jewelry with beads since I was about 16, so almost 9 years. (Good for you, those who can do the math.)

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Everything. From animals, buildings, nature in general, friends, a well accessorized individual. I definitely always have my eyes open. One thing that can be said about me is that I pay constant attention to detail. Do you have a new haircut? I'll be the first to notice.

4. What is your favorite medium?

Right now I really love chain and brass charms. I really like any arts or crafts supplies and could wander around AC Moore for hours.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

It is definitely an on the side project. While I would love for it to bring in enough money to at least support my coffee addiction - I enjoy just being a part of such a fine group of people.

6. How did you find Etsy?

I have no clue, actually. I can't remember for the life of me.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

Etsy chatters are hilarious, intelligent and inspired people. It's so nice to talk to people with whom I have something in common. (HA! Just kidding.)

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

I really can't pick just one! I certainly have pieces that I've made for my shop that I've loved and turned around and made one for myself, that's the great thing about making accessories - and why I originally got started with it, when I didn't have something to match an outfit, voila! I made something!

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

Oh, I couldn't say. Check out my favorites, there are some incredibly talented people on Etsy!

10. Tips for other Artists?

Do what you enjoy! Everyday find time to invest in yourself and practice your craft.

11. Tell me a secret about yourself.

I have a scar on my left side from when I was little. I was climbing a tree in a dress, and when I fell a branch pierced me. I'll never forget that walk from the tree to my house, sobbing and holding my dress up, all bunched around my waist. Classy, I know.

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. -Dr Seuss

And these are a few of my favorite things...

I snagged a treasury this morning (weeeeeeee!) and put together just a few of my favorite creations made by my other team members.

Show it some love!