Team Birthdays!!!

January
Jan 8 princesschibi.etsy.com
Jan 13 coleydinosaur.etsy.com & Melodydoll.etsy.com
Jan 23 jiltedcoquette.etsy.com 
Jan 28 DestinationDesign.etsy.com

February
Feb 15 emandsprout.etsy.com
Feb 17 TangerineDog.etsy.com

March
Mar 2 dollhouseonline.etsy.com
Mar 4 SophieToffeeCo.etsy.com
Mar 6 SugarpopClothing.etsy.com
Mar 15 zebracakes.etsy.com
Mar 27 aselfportrait.etsy.com

April
Apr 3 SewOeno.etsy.com
Apr 26 KelseyGenna.etsy.com
Apr 30 candyparadeshop.etsy.com

May
May 7 sassygraceboutique.etsy.com
May 14 CandyChick.etsy.com

June
Jun 6 Cuddlebugeeshi.etsy.com
Jun 9 gwyllion.etsy.com
Jun 14 CrimsonEtClover.etsy.com
Jun 21 samandrodger.etsy.com
Jun 25 folksylove.etsy.com

July
Jul 11 RusticRainbow.etsy.com
Jul 13 aPeacockPicnic.etsy.com
Jul 28 dellamore.etsy.com

August
Aug 6 TwinkieChan.etsy.com
Aug 19 Ladykonnyaku.etsy.com
Aug 21 mousseauchocolat.etsy.com

September
Sept 12 KittyDearest.etsy.com
Sept 20 stardustsupply.etsy.com
Sept 21 3LittleBowsBoutique.etsy.com

October
Oct 12 kumacrafts.etsy.com
Oct 27 exousia.etsy.com

November
Nov 7 sugarfreecreazioni.etsy.com
Nov 22 SilverLeica.etsy.com
Nov 24 ToxicLove.etsy.com
Nov 30 Laceybabydoll.etsy.com

December
Dec 4 carrotcake.etsy.com
Dec 28 FrostedCrossbones.etsy.com
Dec 30 berrysweettreats.etsy.com

Meet Liz of KittyDearest!

Liz

Name: Liz Sindler
Birthdate: Sept 12 (a girl never tells her age *blushes*)
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Shop Name: Kitty Dearest

When and why did you first join Etsy?
i can't remember exactly when i joined because i deactivated my first account. but i joined spring 2008.  i joined to buy my boyfriend a hand crocheted pillow shaped like boobs as a funny gift *blushes*.

Liz & Kent, Halloween

Did you open your shop right away?
not right away. for a long time i just looked at things and admired other sellers. i kept talking about how i wanted to open a shop, and my boyfriend kept encouraging me to. he kept saying he would be so proud and excited if i opened a shop! so a great deal of the credit goes to him. (he is the sweetest and most thoughtful boy, i love him dearly!)

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty? 
the biggest reason is how sweet and supportive every member is. no one is stuck up, and everyone really just enjoys being part of etsy and part of a wonderful, great team! really, i am so impressed by how wonderful everyone is! it's just so much fun! i love all our sweet girls!

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?
actually... that's not really an easy one. it changes constantly and depends on what it is in regards to! but i think a failsafe is pale green - it is calming and comforting. i'm obsessed with mustard right now, but unfortunately it looks terrible on me.

Azlan

How did you choose your shop's name?
i wanted a sweet name, and i wanted it to have to do with my life which my kitty azlan was a big part of. he passed away, but i have two new wonderful kitties!

Saffron Mesh & Lace Tunic

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?
my saffron mesh and lace tunic. i love the color and i'm obsessed with ultra fine mesh right now. the inset is the shape of a bustier. i thought it would be an interesting visual to have the representation of a tight fitting, structured item of clothing floating on the outside of a diaphanous, free fitting piece of clothing. it's really sexy in a different sort of way, and i'm really happy with how it turned out. it's great for layering, and has so many possibilities! belts, leggings, contrasting tanks underneath, slouchy sweaters.... and the list goes on! i'm going to make one for myself!

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?
i love indie, foreign, and offbeat comedy films, and music - although i couldn't tell you what they're playing on the radio these days. also i am part of a bike coop where you build your own bicycle, and then help others and volunteer time! i loooove horseback riding, but rarely get to. i learned english style as a kid.

Sebastian, Liz, & Max

Do you have any pets? 
yessss! my two wonderful kitties max and violet, and my puppy sebastian!!!! i got violet first, from a shelter. she is a cross-eyed siamese who is very clumsy. then i have max who is still a bit of a kitten who i recently rescued from a bad home. he is a flame point siamese, and really really rambunctious, but very slowly recovering from a bad illness! (their alter egos are violent and mad max). two weeks after i got max i found sebastian (a little chocolate brown mix terrier) as a stray wandering around downtown through traffic! i followed him all around town for about 45 min. trying to coax him over. finally i had a friend meet me with some food and a blanket, and we carried him home. it was love at first sight! i also found a baby squirrel about a year ago and nursed him to health until he was better to go back out into the wild! her name was equinox b/c i found her the day of the fall equinox.

Baby Equinox

What is your most cherished possession and why? 
my pets of course. and then probably my pink blanky that i've had since i was a baby which is now just in shreds from being loved so much. although, if there was a fire i'd probably also grab this gorgeous vintage wire and wood birdcage that a dear friend from college found in a dumpster. i also love my hand-built bike from vintage parts!

Violet

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy? that is realllllly tough. there are things that my boyfriend and family have bought me that are awesome! and tons of vintage and handmade i've bought myself. ok, actually that question is impossible! so, here are two things among many many wonderful things! these earrings were a trade with lovely seller windup girl. they are perfect statement earrings! and these handlebar wraps b/c i love my bike (it's my only mode of transportation and handbuilt by me) and they were part handmade by me too because you get to sew them on!

Tell us about your family members. they are so great!
we are really close, have a great time hanging out, and have a goofy sense of humor. we like to get together and have great food and wine, and watch good movies. i don't know what i'd do without them.

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?
my boyfriend Kent. laphroaig scotch. first aid kit because i am accident prone.

What things inspire you to craft/create? 
nature, and the love of beautiful things. also work from countless other artists!

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?
plug away and don't get discouraged. enjoying what you are doing and staying true to your own inspiration is the most important! the presentation and titles of your items are really crucial too. photography is a challenge, but i think the best thing you can do is use tons of natural light if you don't have professional lighting. light bulbs just don't cut it. also, i'm really bad at social networking, but i think that is majorly important in today's environment, so joining a team can be a big huge help! also, use your etsy resources! there are tons of awesome tutorials and advice from admin and other sellers! organization is key. keep inspiration handy. i like to take magazine clippings, fabric swatches, photos and more on a design board with a theme to keep me inspired and my collection cohesive.

Meet Kelly of Imyourpresent!

Name: Kelly Eident

Birthdate: June 28th, 1984

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Shop Name: Imyourpresent

When and why did you first join Etsy?

I first joined etsy in November of 2006. It was a few months after I graduated from college and I was half heartedly looking for a job. I wanted to find somewhere online where I could start selling the things I made and even though I didn't know that much about etsy yet it seemed like the best place.

Did you open your shop right away?
Yes, I signed up to be a seller, I had no idea that I'd also start shopping so much on etsy too, or that it would soon become my whole life!

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?

I love Etsy and the community of designers. I really cherish all the friendships I have made because of Etsy! All the girls on etsyteaparty are awesome and an inspiration to me.

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?
Purple, pink, black, white, gold and silver!

How did you choose your shop's name?

The name fits really well with the style of clothing that I make, very cute and girly and everything is wrapped up with a bow!

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why (add URL)?

I love these dresses I've been making from vintage tshirts- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39805098I think they are really fun and unique. Plus I get to go shopping all the time to find more!

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy? I love thrift and antique shopping and spend a lot of time on weekends going on shopping adventures with my boyfriend. I also love to cook and bake. On the weekends I love going out with my friends and having people over my apartment. I also just started playing keyboard in the band Triangle Forest.

Do you have any pets?

I have an awesome cat name Meatball!

What is your most cherished possession and why?

My apartment is covered with things that my friends have made me, and those pieces are the most special to me! My boyfriend also made me a beautiful necklace for christmas because my favorite necklace that I wore all the time before recently broke while i was out and I lost a piece to it. The necklace he made me is a gold kaleidoscope that you can look into. He covered it with rhinestones and hung it with little charms.

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?

Everything I have bought from Etsy is so awesome I wouldn't be able to pick one!

Tell us about your family members.

I have a sister Jenny who is a year older than me & goes to Stanford business school and a younger brother Drew who is a senior in high school. My mom is a math teacher in Connecticut and my dad is an economic developer, he lives in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi.

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things,what would they be?

My boyfriend, a handle of whiskey, and a boat to get back!

What things inspire you to craft/create?

Seeing the amazing things other people make on etsy is a huge inspiration. I am inspired by different things all the time, tacky 80s prom dresses, elaborately decorated cakes, porcelain figurines. Most of my outfits and accessories come from what I would want to wear next and its fun being able to make so many clothes, my closest is the fullest its ever been!

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?

Make things that are true to yourself rather than what you think would sell, people are most attracted to innovative and unique ideas that only you can come up with. Also, try and list as often as possible, make sure you are constantly working and coming up with new ideas! Everything in your shop should be cohesive and look nice, pictures are so important. And always be kind, humble and appreciative to every customer you have whether is your first or 5,000th. If you make the whole buying experience as good as possible they will surely come back!

Blast From The Past

Who doesn't love the '80s? The fun bright colors, cropped tops, the spandex, and even the cute characters from television make the '80s unforgetable and loved by many! Here are some awesome retro inspired finds that will bring you back in time!

If you're interested in purchasing any of these goodies, just click the pics!

Iridescent Sweet Pink Sparkle Mermaid Hair Bow $6 by SugarPopClothing

This bow by SugarPopClothing totally reminds me of the cute bow that Cherry Merry Muffin wore! What do you think? Any resemblance? Either way, I love it!

TMNT $20 by RainbowSweetStitch

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Heroes in a half shell! Turtle power!

Cowabunga dudes!

Vintage Animal Wall Decorations $19 by PinkHelloKitty

Retro Reebok Hi-Tops Chain Earrings $7 by Melodydoll

Barbie would be mega jealous of these!

Pink Popsicle Panic Hair Clips $5 by Cuddlebugeeshi

Rainbow Heart Perler Necklace $6 by Coleydinosaur

So Rad!

Party Girl Pin $8 by Laceybabydoll

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Smurfette Tshirt $24 by SewOeno



Yay for Smurfs! Amber even made a Papa Smurf one! Go check it out!

80's Retro Giraffe Tights $25 by 123lalalovely