Fresh Five || Fall Color Preview

Our main goal is to bring you the best and brightest on Etsy.  We also want to showcase the latest or "freshest" finds, so that's why we have created the Fresh Five. The Fresh Five will be five items that are new to a shop + share a common theme. This month's theme is FALL.

Fall? Yes , it's right around the corner and my absolute favorite season of the year.  Summer's nice but it's hot and you can't really get cozy during the Summer.  Fall is about cooler weather and warmer colors.  I picked out items that represent some of my favorite colors for fall like deep teal, burnt orange and rust.

Fresh Five || Fall Color Preview
1.  fall color garland || Palimpsestic
2. Tuileries Garden in Autumn || The Paris Print Shop
3. fox friend || Finkelsteins
4. autumn leaves stamp set || Green Gardern Stamps
5. linden green and teal color block pillow || Jillian Rene Decor

Our June Elite16 Etsy Giveaway Winner IS...

We hope you all enjoyed thinking about where you might like to hang this gorgeous rustic farmhouse photography set of 9 by Kim of Semi Sweet Studios!  One lucky winner is about to take home this awesome prize and have a good time placing Kim's beautiful photography in their home!  Will it go in the guest room, living room, dining room or master bedroom?  Oooh - so exciting!  Thank you to the 747 who entered by joining in the fun and a BIG thank you to Kim for her generous contribution!  We're about to make someone's Friday full of fantastic smiles.  Using the Rafflecopter widget to select a random winner - we now have entry #473 Sandy H. as our one lucky June Elite16 Etsy Giveaway winner!  Congratulations Sandy!  Be sure to let us know how you plan on decorating your home with Kim's fabulous photography set!

You'll find us here every month on the 7th.  Just remember, Lucky 7!  On the 7th of each month, we work with our talented group of Etsy shop owners to bring you this lively event where you can win a handmade item from some of the best shops on Etsy!  We look forward to seeing you then!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Build a Collection || Our Giveaway Challenge

Every month we hold our Lucky 7 Giveaway. It runs from the 7th through the 13th and we are thrilled about this month's prize from Semi Sweet Studios!  The lucky winner will receive a Rustic Farmhouse Photography Set of 9 from Kim's shop. We asked our amazing curator's to build a room around Kim's photography set and here are the results.

Collection: Her 2013 Farmhouse

Curator: Tribute 212

1. silk scarf || by cinne worthington

2. v neck tunic dress || duende 74

3. white wooden birds || The Bird on the Tree

4. slouchy leather hobo bag || Stacy Leigh

5. barn weathervane || Semi Sweet Studios

6. skeleton key necklace || Pannell Supply

Collection: Square Dance

Curator: by Cinne Worthington

1. vintage letterpress letters || Monki Vintage

2. grazing || Semi Sweet Studios

3. where my feet take me || Astrodub

4. star guitar hanger || Spare Time Wood Designs

5. geometric pillow cover || Classic by Nature

6. rustic siding || Avey Christiansen

Collection: Farmhouse Wedding

Curator: Sea & Asters

1. 25 white textured paper hearts || all things white

2. wildflowers || Semi Sweet Studios

3. pink tourmaline stacking rings || Shop Clementine

4. butterfly paper cut card || Mimimi Cards

5. ring bearer dish || Orly Design

6. bohemian headband || Be Something New

Collection: Farmhouse Chic for Summer
Curator: Monki Vintage

1. burlap ottaman pouf || lovintage finds
2. walnut wood cut pendant || Cloth & Ink
3. gold and white pillow || Geometric Electric
4. purple glass bottle || Tribute 212
5. prepared || Semi Sweet Studios


Don't forget to enter the Giveaway!

Our June Elite16 Etsy Giveaway with Kim of Semi Sweet Studios!

Summer is an awesome time to open up the windows and do a one-two-refresh of one's interior!  The bright sunny days shed light onto areas in the home where we feel an itch to change things up.  Our June Elite16 Etsy Giveaway is the perfect opportunity to win a Rustic Farmhouse Photography Set of 9 for your home decor - talk about ~sweet!  Kim of Etsy shop Semi Sweet Studios is offering up one of her best sellers so that ONE lucky winner can take home this amazing set of 9 beautiful photographs!  The soft and feminine palette is woven through each photo and makes for a gorgeous collection which would look stunning in a variety of home decor settings!  Where would you like to hang them?  Is that wall above your couch in the living room looking a little lonely?  Did you just paint the walls in your guest room and now need to add the finishing touches with some art for the walls?  Oh, I'm sorry - forget the guest room, you want it for your own bedroom!  Then let's get you entered right now - scroll down and enter away!

Our June Elite16 Etsy Giveaway runs from June 7-13 and our lucky winner will be announced on Friday the 14th.  Remember, don't forget to spread the love because each time you do extra - we give you extra points to win!  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fresh Five || Fresh Shops

Our main goal is to bring you the best and brightest on Etsy.  We also want to showcase the latest or "freshest" finds, so that's why we have created the Fresh Five. The Fresh Five will be five items that are new to a shop + share a common theme.  This month's theme is Fresh Shops, with our youngest + freshest shop at just two months old and the oldest at a little over a year.  The first six months to a year are so crucial to a new shop, so let's show these great shops some love, if you like their items or shop give them a heart!

Fresh Five || Fresh Shops
1. 11x14 print 'waiting for winter' || Avey Christiansen
2. planted pocket journal || POWpourri
3. ticking pillows || tribute 212
4. wooden birdhouse || The Bird on the Tree
5. zig zag fold over clutch || Geometric Electric

Our April Etsy Elite16 Giveaway Winner IS...

It's going to be a super duper week for one lucky winner who will bring home this gorgeous set of 4 Paris Photographs!  What a fun way to start off the work week with this awesome prize from Nichole of The Paris Print Shop.  Using the Rafflecopter widget, we now have our lucky winner...  Congratulations to Pam C. #255 for winning the random draw!  We hope you're ready to dress up your interior decor with this beautiful Paris Photography Set that Nichole was so generous to offer up as a special prize - thank you so much, Nichole!  Pam, do let us know where you plan on hanging them and have fun adding a splash of Paris to your wall decor!

Our next Elite16 Etsy Giveaway will be next month on May 7th.  Just remember - Lucky 7!  On the 7th of each month, we bring you this fun event and opportunity to win a handmade item from some of the best shops on Etsy!  We'll see you then!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beach Tone Decor!

1. Beach Greeting Cards by Semi Sweet Studios
2.  Modern Sea Glass Painting by Louise Art Studio
3.  Tiny Rustic Ceramic Beach Cottage by Orly Design
4.  4 x 6 Picture Frame by Mmim

There's something so soothing and calming about beach tones that I want to design a meditation room around this color palette!  Summer is around the corner and I don't think it's too early to start thinking about flip flops and bikinis.  Who doesn't want to spend some lazy summer days on the beach?  Well, even if you can't make it to the beach this year, you can invite the essence of the salty air into your home with these beach inspired home decor items.  I chose the beach cards by Kim of Semi Sweet Studios because they would make really cute little framed cards that could be displayed on the wall.  If you're looking for some original art for your walls, check out the gorgeous sea glass modern watercolor painting by Louise of Louise Art Studio.  For those of you who have loads of cool beach photos you'd like to display around, Brooke of Mmim has the perfect frame for you!  And I can't resist this little ceramic beach cottage by Orly of Orly Design - it feels like beach livin' that will fit in your pocket!

It's not quite beach weather here in Maine, but in my heart - I'm already there!

Our April Elite16 Etsy Giveaway with The Paris Print Shop!

We're in for a big treat with this month's Elite16 Etsy giveaway by Nicole of The Paris Print Shop!  One lucky winner is going to bring home Nichole's best selling set of prints - so get ready to transform your living space with a little Parisian flair!  This collection of 4 fine art color photographs in a soft and neutral palette will be a gorgeous compliment to many different decor styles.  Each print measures 8 x 10 with a white boarder and they are printed using high density archival inks on 100% cotton museum quality paper - divine!

Our April Elite16 Etsy Giveaway runs from April 5-12 and our lucky winner will be announced on Monday the 15th.  Remember, don't forget to spread the love because each time you do extra, we give you extra points to win!  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Introduction | Etsy Shop Semi Sweet Studios

Seeing the world through the eyes of a camera lens is a really wonderful experience.  With the coming of digital cameras, it is certain that photography has become much more accessible to people.  It's so easy to pick up a camera + take a photo -click, click.  But being a photographer entails a lot more than just 'pointing + shooting'.  Beyond understanding the technical end of using a digital camera, one has to understand the more subtle nuances of capturing a moment.  You're studying your subject matter, looking at the light, examining textures, checking the entire frame before you release the shutter.  It's like having a conversation with your environment + then communicating that in an image.  Kim of Etsy shop SemiSweet Studios shares her own unique conversation with country landscapes, seascapes, & landscapes.  Her soft palette is soothing + invites you in to experience the world in the way she sees it.  With 221 items to browse, including iPhone cases + jewelry, Kim makes it easy to bring home a little piece of a beautiful world.

  




Shop: Etsy Shop
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My Modern + Bright Valentine

It's the first day of February and that means only two weeks left before Valentine's day. Don't fret! We will be showcasing some great gift ideas all from Etsy.  Today's focus is all about MODERN. Think simple + colorful + graphic and FUN!

1. A modern and bright pillow to freshen up your sofa from Retro Menagerie $36
2. Add a bit of whimsy to any room with this Fancy Chandelier by Uncommon $59
3. Emerald Green + Agate Necklace- you can't go wrong with jewelry from is was and will be $33
4. A girl always needs a clutch and this blue leather one by Milloo makes us swoon $78
5. Send a note to all you love. We love this set of 6 flat notecards by Sparrow Nest Script $15
6. Ceramic love birds. Enough said! by Suite One Studio $ 25
7. J'adore! Parisian graffiti heart card. Ooh la la. from Little Brown Pen $4
8. Airplant + plant pod with a little heart. From Sea and Asters $12.50
9. Abstract + colorful art. Yes you can! By LouisestArt $24.00

Happy shopping and Happy Valentine's Day!

XOXO
Amber

Five Questions: Etsy Shop Carolyn Cochrane Photography

Forget about the millions of people on the internet + the millions of possible connections for a minute.  It's a bit overwhelming to think about getting to know that many people.  For now, we're going to focus on Etsy - you know, the e-commerce website that revolutionized the handmade movement?  Where you can buy handmade + vintage goods, plus art and supplies?  Yes - that Etsy.  This is still a pretty big community and is still a bit overwhelming.  But what if we said, "Hi, come on over here - we're going to introduce you to some very special Etsy shops + we'll do it one at a time so you can really get to know the people behind the shops."  This is no longer overwhelming, but fun + exciting.  

Our series is called Five Questions.  We ask our favorite shops on Etsy to answer the same 5 questions + we've been enjoying learning more about the people behind the shop name.  Today we are featuring Carolyn of CarolynCochrane - we love Carolyn's modern photography + hope you will too!  Enjoy!

Why did you open an Etsy shop?
Over the course of about a year and a half before I opened my shop, I found my passion for photography. I was shooting and editing new pictures around the clock and uploading them every day to Flickr.com for people to see. The feedback I received was so positive, after a while I started wondering if people would want to buy my art. The idea of doing what I am so passionate about and earning money from it at the same time really intrigued me. 

I soon discovered that some of my fellow photographer friends on Flickr had shops on Etsy. I was so fascinated by their shops and thought it was the coolest thing that they were actually selling and shipping their photos. I looked into Etsy, laid out a plan for my shop, took a big gulp and took the "Etsy plunge." :)


What do you think makes your product unique?
I think my photography is unique for two reasons….my passion for color and the moods I try to create in my images. I've had a lot of fans and customers tell me that my simple compositions convey a feeling of peace and calm. I think people are really drawn to that feeling in my photographs. This really brings me a lot of satisfaction as an artist. If my art can bring a customer an extra vibe of calm into their homes or a little extra splash of joy from the color I use in a photograph, then I've done my job.


Describe your studio / creative space.
We have a small second living room in our house that I converted into my workspace.  I'd love to sit here and tell you the room is a highly organized, orderly place but unfortunately it isn't. :( For some reason I was not born with the "tidy gene." Once in a blue moon I get in a mood where I organize my space but it always ends up messy once again. When I'm on a mission to create new images or work on my Etsy shop, straightening up is the last thing on my mind. (This tendency toward messiness though doesn't affect my packages to my customers…I always make sure they are nice and neat.) I do hope I can eventually beat this messy thing…I have visions of a beautiful studio in my mind. Hopefully I'll get to that point some day.


What are your goals for your Etsy shop in 2012?
I just opened my shop in June of 2011 so this year will be my first full year on Etsy. I've already had such a wonderful response to my work, I'm REALLY excited to see more growth this year. There's nothing quite as exciting to me as when new fans find my shop so I'm really looking forward to expanding my fan base. I'll be adding new photographs to my shop all year long. I'd like to add an even bigger variety of color for my customers to choose from. My beach images have been a big hit so far so I'll be adding more beach photographs to the shop as well. I also want to create several collections of coordinating image sets and also add the option of canvas gallery wraps which I'm really excited about. Here's to 2012! :)


What does a day away from the studio look like?
A day away from my studio usually means spending a fun day with either my husband or my adorable little nephews. I don't have kids yet so I've been playing the role of the "fun aunt." I have a blast with my nephews, they're a great escape from work when my eyes need a break from the computer. I love seeing life through their innocent eyes when the world is so new and exciting…it's very inspiring and helps get my creative juices flowing. Other than that, I like to take my little terrier dog Allie for walks in the park, spend time outside or just relax in front of a good tv show with my favorite blanket.

2012 Trend Alert: Make someone's day, send a card the old fashion way!

Even in this digital age, there is no denying the joy one feels when receiving a handwritten card.  The United States Postal Service gets teased by being called names, like 'snail mail', but honestly - who doesn't love opening their mailbox to find a handwritten card?  We hear you, you love email and texting, but sometimes a text just will NOT do!  Making communication personal again is topping the list of 2012's hottest trends and Etsy has you covered!  Put that iphone down + pick up a pen - don't know where to start?  We're here to help! 


We've selected a sampling of precious cards from 4 of our favorite Etsy shops.  Do you love the look, feel and texture of letterpress?  Engage your recipient, nothing compares to the lovely weight + surface of letterpress.  How about a one of a kind mono-printed card for a one of a kind gal pal?  You'll make her feel very special.  What about the lush floral imagery of delicate flowers?  A great way to brighten any day with color + the natural beauty of nature.  Look no further - we make shopping for that perfect card on Etsy super easy!  So - take your pick, get your pen ready and make someone's day!    


1. Valentine's Day Mini Card, set of eight by sweetharvey $10.00
2. Botanical Print, set of four by 88editions $13.88
3. Follow Your Heart Photo Greeting Card, set of eight by CarolynCochrane $28
4. Gerber Daisy 4x6 Postcard Photograph by AmeliaKayPhotography $2.95

Color Focus: Mustard Yellow and Romantic Pastels

We love using the Etsy treasury system to present our hand selected favorites in a mini gallery setting.  Think of them as curated shopping guides, making shopping on Etsy easy!   By using this layout, we are able to create a specific look + feel based on the items we choose, the colors we incorporate, even the title we select works to create a specific mood.  You could wrestle with clunky key words in a search to find what's new + fresh on Etsy, but trust us - we make it A LOT easier with our treasury collections!  But what goes on behind the scenes, how do we actually go about putting a collection together?  Let's take a peek!

When making Etsy treasury collections, it's important to have a clear theme.  In most cases, I (that's me - Amber of redtilestudio!) am usually inspired by a certain item or color and then I build my palette around that first item that inspired the collection. In our first Color Focus series, we are spotlighting the talented Jillian of Jillian Rene Decor.  She creates beautiful collections and a lot of them are color based.  For her Love Birds collection, she used a base color of Mustard Yellow. Other colors, although more subtle, include a pale green, woodsy brown and deep charcoal gray. By using various shades of yellow she ties the whole collection together.  From home decor to accessories, Jillian gives us a great range of items to browse!  Click on any of the images below to start shopping - easy, right?

Main image: Double Cable cowl in Goldenrod by Woolbridge

Double Cable Cowl - Goldenro... Woolbridge $35.00	Paris Postcard Set - French ... littlebrownpen $15.00	Bird Stack Letterpress Bambo... sweetharvey $18.00	OOAK vintage spring time han... BylinaStudio $58.00
ceramic yellow and green lov... catherinereece $16.00	Vintage Creamer and Sugar Bo... bonnbonn $21.00	Little Heart Necklace : Must... NaturalGorgeou... $35.00	Flower Photograph - yellow w... CarolynCochran... $33.00
Mason jar gift labels - lemo... mudandtwig $16.00	Fabric cuff bracelet mustard... PonderandStitc... $29.00	Fall fashion CHIC Diaper Bag... ikabags $69.47	Hand Painted Silver Necklace... TuckooandMooCo... $40.00
Butterscotch Valentine Heart... ThatOldBlueHou... $36.00	Adjustable Scrabble Tile Rin... Flowerleaf $22.00	Sunshine Quote Art: You Make... colorbee $15.00	Big Lemon Yellow Balls 6 Pcs... ThreeBlueBees $11.99

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Okay - why stop at just one of Jillian's collections?  We want more!  Let's see what other Etsy goodies she has selected for us.  Our second Color Focus palette by Jillian is all about Pastels. What could be more romantic and more fitting for an inspiration than conversation hearts? You can see the soft peach, pale pink and green and the baby blue spread throughout Whispers of Romance.  And don't you love the title?  Just another way for us treasury curators to be creative when putting together a treasury shopping guide!  A big thanks to Jillian for making such beautiful collections - we hope you find them to be a fun + joyful way to find items you love on Etsy!  Happy Shopping!!

  Main image: I Love You print by Photography Dream

Long Pale Grey Chunky Knit C... KnitFrekkles $65.00	Love Letters allthingswhite $5.00	The Braided Headband- In Neu... SevenWhiteRabb... $15.00	new year SALE, cream LOVE HE... karoArt $76.00
i love you - photography - V... PhotographyDre... $11.00	The Sunburst Pleated Shift -... alexandragrecc... $198.00	Porcelain Nesting Bowls in S... SuiteOneStudio $110.00	Rustic Farmhouse Teapot, vin... MeshuMaSH $35.00
White flower brooch eco frie... Baymut $25.00	mug coffee tea ceramic cup c... JDWolfePottery $20.00	Peacock Note Card Set Letter... sweetharvey $18.00	A tiny rustic ceramic beach... orlydesign $14.00
Handmade Maple Marshmallows whimsyandspice $6.50	Blue Heart Buttons The Ice Q... CariadClay $5.00	Modern Minimalist Wheel Thro... blueroompotter... $28.00	Natural Lip Gloss in Stardus... Blushie $8.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.