Our Elite 16 Etsy Style Guide Winner Is...

Forest Woodland Autumn Tree ... redtilestudio $28.00	6 tiny custom gnome figurine... HandyMaiden $80.00	Green Fern - A woodland porc... peifferStudios $29.00	Tiny Woodland Treasures Ston... ALDDesigns $20.00
Edible Chocolate Cocoa Bean ... andiespecialty... $42.00	WISH Burlap Banner - We Do C... sherisewsweet $20.00	Cheery Gnome hat for 1-3 ye... bebeandalicego... $25.00	Hedgehog Embroidery Hoop Art... erinf115 $29.00
Fir Needle & Spruce Beer Soa... sweetpinesoaps $5.50	Forest photograph - Autumn, ... irenesuchocki $30.00	Small Cloche terrarium with ... teresab123 $30.00	Tiny house pendant little co... orlydesign $14.00
Vintage Woodland Paint by Nu... saltcityspice $26.00	Woodland - Perfume Sample anurain $2.25	Edible Wild Sugar Mushrooms ... andiespecialty... $150.00	Vintage Gnome shavingkitsupp... $18.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

A BIG congratulations to Julie of fabgabs vintage clothing for her totally quirky and super fun collection Gno Place Like Home!    A clever play on a well known phrase, this collection is filled with the earthy delights of a gnome's home.  One can almost sense the fresh woodland smell of the forest floor and imagine the life of a gnome.  We challenged our members last week with the theme Quirky Gift Guide - seems easy enough, right?  Nope.  Not only did members have to work in an item from Brooke's shop peifferStudios as she was the winner from our last challenge, but they had to build a cohesive collection around a 'quirky' theme.  We had such a great time reviewing all  91 Etsy Quirky Gift Guides and simply fell in love with Julie's theme, title, and selections.  As the winner for our Elite 16 Etsy Style Guide challenge, an item from Julie's Etsy shop fabgabs will be featured in the top row of our next challenge.  Congratulations Julie - all your collections were amazing!  

Honorable Mentions:

Where to begin!  When we say we had a great time reviewing the collections, we mean it!  It's always hard to choose just one winner when you have so many strong submissions, so let us first begin by thanking all our Etsy Insiders for their beautiful and well curated collections - such a variety of themes and Etsy selections.  And even though we say this each time, we mean it when we say we wish we could highlight every single collection!   They were all really fun gift guides , but some of them definitely stood out as 'quirky'.   So, let's begin here.  

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We like to think of the challenges as a creative exercise for our members - we all know they enjoy making Etsy treasuries, so why not have fun at the same time?  But where do they get their inspiration?  Good question!  How about a movie you love?  In this collection by littlebrownpen, Nichole sneaks in a confession that she watches "Coal Miner's Daughter" over and over.  Her Etsy selections tell a great story and we fell in love!  We're even inspired to watch the movie...again...and maybe again!  Nichole, you may soon have other followers of this biographical film about Lorette Lynn! 

Appalachian Mountain Cabin -... YdnarImaging $30.00	Vintage primitive silver alu... AnnaLouVintage $26.99	Red Slouchy Hat Woolbridge $28.00	Wait - A rustic porcelain an... peifferStudios $34.00
Vintage Mens Shirt Large - P... SwedeHeartVint... $35.00	Woodland Black Bear Stonewar... ALDDesigns $40.00	Clove Exfoliating Glycerin S... BabylonSoapCo $5.50	Horse Art photograph nusery ... AmandaRaeK $30.00
A Red Jeep - 8X10 Fine Art P... margaretlillia... $26.00	SALE-vintage 1965 patsy clin... vintagegingerb... $4.00	Retro Photo- Route 66 Sign A... TCaponePhoto $30.00	apple pie delivery only MmmMmmYummy $20.00
Vintage 50's rockabilly ... Filone $45.00	Bourbon Barrel Pony, Frankli... Patsysjoy $18.00	Vintage 50s Kay Parlor Sunbu... energyfortheso... $255.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

When making your selections for an Etsy treasury, the possibilites are endless!   Our challenge theme was Quirky Gift Guide, but that is just a general direction - it's like if someone told you to drive North, but didn't tell you which road to take.  This collection below by Adrienne of aspeerstudio captures the spirit of Etsy - You Can't Find These at Target!  Such a great angle to take and how can you resist the cute picture of the little dachshund.   Doesn't it seem like he can actually talk, speaking with those adorable eyes!  (Ok, now you know.  We both have a weak spot for animals!)  Great title Adrienne!

  

307 Do you really want me to... edart $18.00	Mushroom Cloud - reversible ... peifferStudios $36.00	Air Plant - LIVE Moby Creatu... EarthSeaWarrio... $50.00	Square Inch Art - Mixed Medi... palimpsestic $50.00
Vintage Viewmaster Junior Pr... lovintagefinds $49.00	Dog Art Print limited Editio... LouisestArt $25.00	Lost Button Necklace - Made ... TheAngryWeathe... $65.00	cockroach HELLO tray catherinereece $16.00
Granny Jam, a crocheted Gra... deestraperlo $18.00	Olive Tray in Rustic Black W... grayworksdesig... $75.00	Vintage Wooden Letter Blocks... retrovertigo $130.00	Unusual Sea Urchin Spine Pic... madebymano $175.00
vintage summer camp bow everyeskimo $29.00	Vintage Silver Unusual Beetl... FourSailAccess... $22.00	LOVE YOU - braille engraved ... ordnery $35.00	LICENSE PLATE BUCKLE vintage... randitan $46.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

I mentioned that we all love to make treasuries right?  Which means that even when we don't have to - we're making them!  Here we have Brooke of peifferStudios.   You know, the winner from our last  challenge?  Well, clearly she just couldn't resist coming to the party - and if you're going to come to a party, you wouldn't want to show up empty handed...right?  Oui!  We got such a kick out of Brooke's collection with the definitely quirky title and items to match her theme of I'd buy you these my sweet, but you see...NPR was having it's fun drive and well...  Pure perfection Brooke! 

Bike Bicycle Vintage Bicycle... sweetharvey $18.00	Bolo Tie - "Bow Lo"... iheartnorwegia... $45.00	Math Bookmark Collage from V... palimpsestic $16.00	Vintage Sheet Music Boxes - ... Mmim $21.00
Tiny Butterfly Red Harmonica... Meanglean $18.00	Beethoven 5th Symphony Note ... YellowBugBouti... $32.00	Vintage music paper heart br... ismay $7.50	PERSONALIZED pencils gift fo... RightBrainy $16.50
J.S. Bach and L. van Beethov... kaftansarafan $45.00	Vintage black and cream radi... AnnaLouVintage $39.99	Domino Size Glass Metal Fram... goddessglass10... $8.00	A Visual Compendium of Notab... Popchartlab $25.00
Carved Bust on Pedestal - Fr... GreySquirrelAn... $25.00	Set of 4 Vintage Classical M... robinseggbleun... $37.00	Piano Spiral Notebook Journa... stevenjameskea... $8.00	60s Mens Music Note Cuff Lin... snootieseconds $24.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Are you still having fun?  Because we've got 2 more collections to highlight!  So, let's break it down.  

Here's our top pick for MOST UNIQUE.

You may or may not know who Louis Leakey is, but to the hearts of fellow anthropologists - this collection was a winner!  Louis who?  Louis Leakey was a famous paleoanthropologist and archaeologist in Africa - hence the African motifs!  Jenn of palimpsestic is always finding really unique themes and yes, she was one of our winners too!  Here she tells the tale of Sahara, who just happens to have a humongous crush on Louis Leakey - nicely done Jenn!

African Wax Print Bundle Six... LollypopFabric... $17.00	Archaeological Excavation Ba... mikimartinez $14.00	Ancient Moon Labradorite Amu... Vocisconnesse $40.50	Earthy Gourd Vase with Cherr... peifferStudios $152.00
Vintage Hand Carved Wooden L... littleshopofph... $24.00	Set of Two 5x5 - Zebra Strip... AmeliaKayPhoto... $22.00	Vintage Hippie Dress Bright ... zwzzy $50.00	Handwoven Kenya bag oldbutlovely $24.00
Vintage Animal Hide Bongo Dr... bonnbonn $24.00	African Love LolaAndCash $55.00	The Turban Headband- In Knit... WhiteRabbit7 $14.00	White Moth Lace Bead Necklac... LaTouchables $42.00
Collectible African Mask - V... Artstock $58.00	Anthropology Bracelet- Tiger... elliecreations $20.00	Coin Ring - Kenya - 10 Cents... TheRingTree $34.50	animal totem okapi HandyMaiden $33.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

And FINALLY.  Let us finish this journey by telling you about Catherine of catherinereece.  She was the inspiration for our theme as we kept seeing her fun collections with titles like For Cindy: a girl who likes chihuahuas and Chinese noodles  or what about this one For Chad: the Gladiator in your life .  We're all game for some good ol' fashion fun, aren't we?  We thought so!   So we were just curious to see what our other Etsy treasury curators would come up with - we're all creative folks, so why not open the floor?   Catherine's collection Elite 16 Gift Guide for Elaine:  She likes to feel like a natural woman won our vote hands down for the prettiest collection!  Her color palette creates such a lovely mood that speaks to the strength of being a natural and beautiful woman - stunning Catherine!

rustic flower bridal crown (... whichgoose $45.00	Medium Magnolia on Natural G... parksideharmon... $35.00	autumn colors fall rust burn... AmandaRaeK $15.00	Reveal - An earthy porcelain... peifferStudios $29.00
Mint Spruce Soap // Sage, G... sweetpinesoaps $5.50	Antique cooper wheat necklac... stavroula $32.00	Chunky Cowl Neck Warmer Neck... natalya1905 $35.00	Set of Three Air Plant Globe... seaandasters $70.00
Origami Lotus Flower Decorat... fishandlotus $6.50	BAGUETTE Cutting Board in Ru... grayworksdesig... $56.00	Autumn woodland photograph -... irenesuchocki $30.00	Fabric Copper Underwing Moth... BlueTerracotta $30.00
3 Piece Tear Drop Small Serv... baanliving $30.00	Hand sculpted wooden acorns... plad $12.00	Gift from Nature - Set of 4 ... TropicalGarden $22.00	The Giving Tree- red skelet... PoPkO $46.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

In closing - thank you so much to each and every one of you who submitted.  You are all so talented and we are inspired each time we hold a challenge.  Aside from being fun for us, we hope that our challenge gives you an idea of what's fresh and exciting inside Etsy!  

Now listen...

There's been a slight change in our schedule for the last week of October.  We'll be announcing a very exciting 'happening' shortly - this 'happening' prevents us from being available to oversee the challenge.  Ok - but what's so exciting about that!  True...  Well, you'll just have to stay tuned!