Friday, February 28, 2014

fff vol 105

Favorite finds from the past week:


Etsy find of the week:



Want a Fuggler? I do!!


Please can I move in?



A very cool modern home


Get in my belly!


Yes, this in my belly would make me very happy.



Tee shirt Frames of the week:


Awesome frames, I have been in the market for new glasses for quite a while now (Like 3 years?!). I pretty much have the frames pinned down that I am in love with. But I keep dragging my feet for an unknown reason. I really just need to buy them and switch things up.



Best Cat ever!


No words are needed as to how simply awesome this cat is! I just had to share this little fuzz-ball.



Very excited to have another weekend upon us. I have a lot of The Hive work in store for this weekend - design, labels and packaging. So excited to share with everyone all the new things going on around here. It won't be much longer, I promise.

What does everyone else have going on this weekend? 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Bad word of the day: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate


Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)
TWO

Hazard score key:

Low hazardModerate hazardHigh hazard
What is it?
A  surfactant, detergent, and emulsifier. 


Where is it found?
It is used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners. It is present in nearly all shampoos, scalp treatments, hair color and bleaching agents, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, laundry detergents, and bath oils/bath salts.


The Risk:
According to the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews, research studies have shown links to:
  • Irritation of the skin and eyes
  • Organ toxicity
  • Developmental/reproductive toxicity
  • Neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, and biochemical or cellular changes
  • Possible mutations and cancer
It has also been linked to nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are potent carcinogens that cause your body to absorb nitrates, which are known to be carcinogenic as well. 

(Nitrosamines are graded a level 6 on the EWS Hazard Score)

A couple "natural" companies using this ingredient:
  • Tom's of Maine
  • LUSH
  • many small "all natural",  "Eco-friendly" toting companies on Etsy
My Opinion:
Although it originates from coconuts, the chemical is anything but natural. What bothers me so much are companies that mislead their customers and make up excuses as to why it's in their products. Like telling someone, "well it's for lather"  makes it okay to use?

This chemical actually removes oils from the skin and can cause skin and eye irritations. 

So again this week I ask you, "Why would you put a chemical in products that come in direct contact with your skin and hair (and possibly eyes - we all have those days where we get some shampoo in our eyes!) that have warnings on them to 'prevent contact with the skin and eyes'"

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Buy Handmade vol 96 and GIVEAWAY!!

This week we are in Detroit..



Name: Kelly Mitchell Gazdowicz 
Age: 30
Occupation: Artist
Etsy Shop: Burrowing Home (www.burrowinghome.etsy.com)

Tell us a little about yourself. 

I'm a fine artist and illustrator from Michigan. I work out of my tiny in-home studio; sharing the space with my husband Dave, our two dogs Francis and Charlie and our beast of a cat, Bumblebee. My shop, Burrowing Home is a collection of paper goods and accessories based on my original illustrations.

When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy? 

I've been making art since I first picked up a crayon, but I didn't start selling my work on Etsy in earnest until early 2012. 
 
 


How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it? 

For me, my illustrations are an expression of the things that mean the most to me. Nature, animals, memories, family and home. Burrowing Home represents the need to return to that place; to things that are familiar, safe and loved.

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be? 

I spend about a third of my work day focusing on Etsy and the rest of my time on other projects. So while my business is definitely my full time job, Etsy is only part of that.

How would you describe your creative process? 

My illustrations start with a desire to capture a story, feeling, or mood. It can begin with something small and seemingly insignificant, like the sound of bees humming around an apple tree or something more meaningful like a memory. I then do a series of quick, rough sketches that are slowly refined until I have the illustration composted exactly as I want it. Final images are then carefully drawn or painted taking care to capture even the smallest details. I like to have several projects going at once, that way when I'm tired of working on something I can easily transition to another piece.




Where do you get your inspiration from? 
Inspiration can come from anywhere, but as most of my work focuses on plants and animals, I usually find it walking around outdoors. I try to go hiking as often as I can, bringing my camera in case I run into something exceptional and need to take photos for reference.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows? 

Yes. I really love doing shows because it's a great way to interact with customers face to face and share your story in a really personal way. It's also really helpful from a business stand point to test the waters and see how your products are being received. 

What shows have you taken part of, and do you have a favorite? 

I've done shows all across the US, including Renegade Chicago and San Francisco and Art vs Craft in Milwaukee. Some of my favorites are Atlanta's Indie Craft Experience, Cincinnati Crafty SuperMarket and my all time favorites in my home state, Detroit Urban Craft Fair and DIYpsi.




How long does it take you to prepare for a show? 

Do you have any special methods of getting ready? Doing shows, especially ones that require you to travel out of state, takes a lot of work. Preparation can take anywhere from a few months to a week depending on the scale of the show and how much time I have in between. I make several check lists to help me stay organized and keep myself on track in the days leading up to a show. One of the things I find most helpful is doing at least one trial set up of my display before the big day. Anything can go wrong during the day of a show so it's important to know what you're doing but also be able to make quick changes if need be. I also like to take notes during a show (if there's time) or the night after while things are still fresh in my mind. This helps me to iron out any kinks in my process and continually improve for each new show.

Describe an experience from a show (good or bad) and why that pushes you to continue with your work 
Every show comes with its ups and downs; outdoor shows can sometimes be subject to severe weather, displays can break, you've gone days with little sleep in preparation. But for each of these unfortunate things there are the moments of seeing someone's eyes light up as they walk up to your table and words of encouragement. This is what pushes me to keep going.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do? 

In my downtime one of my favorite things to do is to go hiking and just being outdoors in general. I'm also a big reader and love anything culinary related.



Five years from now you will be… 

Hopefully still making art

Describe yourself in five words

shy, thoughtful, passionate, curious, and driven.

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your Spotify/Pandora, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list? 

Alela Diane, Fleet Foxes, Laura Gibson, Snowblink, and Grimes are some of my favorite artists and are frequent repeats on my playlist.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows? 

The best advice I ever followed was to just do it. I spent way too much time being afraid and worrying if my work was good enough or getting caught up on the notion that I had to have every detail perfect before I could start, but the truth is, you'll never be 100% ready so you might as well jump in. 


Links to shows:
Renegade: www.renegadecraft.com/
Indie Craft Experience: www.ice-atlanta.com/
Crafty Supermarket: craftysupermarket.wordpress.com/
Detroit Urban Craft Fair: detroiturbancraftfair.com/
DIYpsi: diypsiartfair.weebly.com/

I can also be found at:
www.burrowinghome.com
and
For a daily glimpse into my studio and current works in progress I can be found here on Instagram:
instagram.com/kel_o_color



GIVEAWAY!!

Kelly has also generously donated one of her amazing prints to one of you lucky readers! I don't know about you, but I would love to have this framed in my house or studio! Good luck everyone!!





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, February 21, 2014

fff vol 104

Favorite finds from the past week:


Etsy find of the week:



I have been in love with Emily's prints for many many years now. I love how she just keeps expanding and growing her subjects.


Please can I move in?



Simply amazing


Get in my belly!



I could eat carrots everyday..yum



Tee shirt Shoes of the week:


This shop has amazing shoes, there are sooo many that I want to add to my shoe collection.



It's been a very, very long week. I won't go into details. Just been a bad week and am very happy for the weekend to finally be here.

How was everyone's week?

How did everyone like my new feature of "bad word" of the week? Good, bad, don't care?

Hope everyone has a great weekend. This weekend is packaging and design weekend. Lots of great new products to be coming out in the shop in the next few months. Woo hoo!! More details soon.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Bad word of the day! vol 1

For a while now I have wanted to do a new feature each week (and maybe some weeks I will put up more than once a week) to point out nasty ingredients (aka - chemicals) that are in over the counter items.

I find it more and more annoying  and repulsive every time I see shops on Etsy that state how "Eco-Friendly", "Green", "Detergent Free", "All Natural" etc they are, when their items are filled to the brim with nasty, seething chemicals. It is false advertising and if people don't know better, they will just say but they say they are "Eco-Friendly" why would they be using chemicals?! That's just it. Why are they using chemicals and then lying to the public about what their brand actually stands for?

So I'm talking a stand (tho it be a small one) to point out some of these ingredients that are in over the counter (at your box stores) and also handmade items (on Etsy and at markets) to bring awareness that just because a company says they are All Natural - it means nothing. Ingredients say it all. So always check the label!

So here we go.. bad word of the day number one..

Propylene Glycol


Hazard Score: (EWG Risk Score)

Three - 

Hazard score key:

Low hazardModerate hazardHigh hazard
What is it?
A skin conditioning agent, solvent, humectant.

It is widely used as a moisture-carrying ingredient in place of glycerine because it is cheaper and more readily absorbed through the skin. 


Where is it found?
Propylene glycol is used in many skin products, including moisturizers, facial cleansers, foundations, and anti-aging products, as well as mascara and hair color products. 


The Risk:
It is related to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and is known to cause contact dermatitis even at very low concentrations. It is recognized as a neurotoxin by the US National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, and it may cause kidney damage. The Material Safety Data Sheet for propylene glycol warns workers handling this chemical to avoid skin contact.

A few "natural" companies using this ingredient:
  • Tom's of Maine
  • Kiss My Face
  • Aveeno
  • Jason
  • LUSH
My Opinion:
There are also smaller shops on Etsy that I know that use this ingredient in their products that are trying to advise their customer's they are "all natural". I am being nice not exposing them. I am leaving this to the reader to read the ingredients and find them out for yourselves. Maybe they feel, 'hey large "all natural" companies do it, so what's the harm.'

The harm is that this ingredient is anti-freeze. It is used at the airport as a de-icing fluid! Employees are advised if they get this chemical on their skin to wash immediately. 

So yeah, common sense would say, hey lets add this hazardous chemical to our soaps that we put in direct contact with our skin on a daily basis?

...Interesting.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

wiw vol 50 George Gently


90 minutes - 2007- current  
Streaming Netflix

Storyline

The show throws Chief Inspector George Gently into a maelstrom of murders and mayhem, whilst lovingly recreating the swinging sixties as it finally hits the North-East, in perfect and nostalgic detail. With his sidekick, the ambitious and undisciplined Detective Sergeant John Bacchus, they make the perfect police partnership, full of warmth and humor.



This show has become one of my favorites. I seem to gravitate toward British detective shows. I also love that its set in the 60's. It reminds me of a little bit of Columbo, a little bit of Quincy and top off with a little bit of Doc Martin. 

Currently season 1-5 are on Streaming Netflix. Season 5 leaves us with a major cliff hanger. This is the only problem with only having netflix to watch tv shows, because you get hooked on something, and then there is a chance that it may not be updated for a very long time! I have my fingers crossed that it won't be long before season 6 makes it way to Netflix. 

Have you watched George Gently? If you haven't and love 60's crime shows, definitely check this show out, you will not be disappointed. 




Sunday, February 16, 2014

Buy Handmade vol 95

This week we are off to Orange California..


Name: Cyndi Grasman
Age: 40
Occupation: Top Pickle/Owner/Designer




When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?  
I can't remember a time when I wasn't creating!  I've been on Etsy about 1 1/2 years

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
Everyone called me Pickle as a kid.  And when I was naughty (which was often!) I was the Bad Pickle :)

Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?
Yes it has!

How would you describe your creative process?
A complete manic stage where I run around banging my head on various surfaces and screaming at inanimate objects followed by a moment of clarity where I know exactly what i want to do.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
Food, glorious food and all the wonderful people who are in the industry.

Do you also sell your work at craft shows? • What shows have you taken part of, and do you have a favorite? 
Yes, I do shows almost every single weekend.  You can follow me on Facebook if you want to know where I will land next.  Favs?  Hmmmmmmm, I would say Patchwork.  Those ladies rock!



• How long does it take you to prepare for a show? Do you have any special methods of getting ready?

I never stop preparing for shows!  Serious!  I work 7 days a week 11 months out of the year and I am preparing every single day for shows.

How do I prepare. Hhhhmmmm, I am very ritualistic.  I have a box and a spot for everything.  I have to be, not only because I am a loveable kind of OCD Person, but because I am so busy I have to be SUPER organized.
And I do a shot of Jameson before every show to mellow me out (totally kidding).

• Describe an experience from a show (good or bad) and why that pushes you to continue with your work 
Hhhhmmmm, it was wasn't one particular time.  This actually happens at every show at least once.  Someone will (literally) run up to my booth and say "ooooooohhhhhh mmmmmyyyy gooooooooddddd!"  I have never seen shirts like these!  I LOVE THEM!  They are the best thing EVER!"  How can I get tire of hearing that?!



What is your most cherished handmade item?
Easy, my Dad made me a stain glass pickle.  Because Dads are rad and they do stuff like that for their daughters.



Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?'
I'm a huge foodie (duh!).  I love to eat, but I love even more to cook!  And my other passion in life is triathlons and marathons.  How else am I suppose to work off all that delicious food I love so much!?

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
Professional Kazoo Player.  Hey, we all got to dream!

Five years from now you will be…
45!

Describe yourself in five words:
Happy, Lucky, Driven, Alive, Oddball

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <insert whatever type of music player you use here>, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?
Journey!  Totally kidding again.  I have a real noise aversion.  I find it impossible to be creative or think coherently when any noise is happening so  I rarely listen to music and can not stand TV.  I like complete silence.  Even when I run 20 miles I never have music.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
Get a mentor!  



Friday, February 14, 2014

fff vol 103 Valentines Edition

Favorite finds from the past week: VALENTINE'S EDITION


Etsy find of the week:



Very cute shop - another card says "I love you to the moon and back" such great cards!



Please can I move in?



Amazing terraced lot, think of all the gardens you could have..


Get in my belly!


This looks absolutely delicious 


Tee shirt  Dress of the week:




Yes please. I would really like to have this little dress in my ever growing collection.



I hope everyone that celebrates, has a lovely Valentine's day. The mister and I do not celebrate and never have. Our plans, get our friday night pizza and find a movie to watch on Netflix. Sounds like the perfect evening to me. 

This weekend will be more of the same..making soaps and coming up with new recipes. Last weekend I came up with two new recipes for my new mens line that will be out and I have sent samplers to a bunch of men around the country and am eagerly awaiting feedback. I'm very excited to hear what they have to say and if I need to do any tweaking. 

Not much else goes on during my weekends during the winter. I have been also working out a lot lately on my wii u. I love my wii workout, it so much fun and you can switch it up and do countless different workouts from yoga to dance moves. Me and dance moves do not mix. I am so utterly uncoordinated I'm sure I look hilarious when I have attempted to do some of the new dances.

I usually do a combination of yoga, hula hooping, stepping, jogging, and rowing. I really like the way I have it set up currently but I should create new workouts with some different combinations. Does anyone else do the wii u workout? Its so much better and has so many more options than the old wii. I love how you can set up and pick all your different exercises and then it will move quickly between them  and at the end just add up your entire workout and calories burned. They also have an option if you tell them how many calories you want to burn, it will pick different variations for you to do as well. So much fun.

Have a great weekend all and a Happy Valentine's day if you celebrate!



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

wiw vol 49 Escape from Alcatraz


1979 - PG - 1 hour 51 minutes
Streaming Netflix

Storyline

A group of inmates attempt a daring escape from the notorious Alcatraz prison island, from which no-one had managed to escape before. Based on a true story. 


We've watched this movie in the past. I love Clint Eastwood movies and this is no exception. Never seen it? A must watch, especially if you like true crime movies.

Sunday, February 09, 2014

Buy Handmade vol 94

This week we are in Vancouver, B.C. Canada


Name: maria koskela
Age: fortysomething
Occupation: maker
Etsy Shop: mimishop.etsy.com

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a Finn living in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, with a great better half and two sons Oskar and Kasper.



When did you start creating and how long have you been on Etsy?
Gosh, a long time a go. In Finland ‘home economics” are part of the elementary school curriculum, so starting at first grade you learn how to sew, knit and crochet.

I stated selling on Etsy in January 2009 and never looked back.

How did you come up with your business name, is there any special meaning behind it?
I wanted to use my own name, which is really Marja (day to day I use Maria, because people mispronounce my real name so wrong that it gives me goose pumps). So I figured since I can’t use my real one why not just make something up. Mimi was our realtor at the time and I just absolutely loved the graphical components of the name: mimi was born.



Has your Etsy shop become your full time job? If not, would you like it to be?
No, etsy is not my full time job, but making toys is. I do few big craft shows during the year and have multiple wholesale accounts that keeps me more than busy. Right now I am looking for someone to help me with sewing, Anyone?

How would you describe your creative process?
I am a ‘thinker and doer’. Most of the ideas just pop into my mind: often late at night or on my hikes in the beautiful forests that surround us. As the idea develops further: either in my mind or after I have done few doodles I just sit down by my sewing machine and sew as many prototypes as it takes to get it right.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
From my family and the nature that takes my breath away every time I open the front door.



Do you also sell your work at craft shows?
Yes. I do Circle Craft Xmas show every year, Toronto’s One of a Kind Show every second spring. And I pick, choose and rotate few smaller shows every year. My next show will be the Blim market, March 30th @ Heritage hall, Vancouver, BC.

How long does it take you to prepare for a show? Do you have any special methods of getting ready?
It really depends of the show. The bigger ones take about few months and the smaller ones I can be ready in a week, if I have somewhat enough stock in my “warehouse” to start with. Special methods? No, normally just work like a dog.

Describe an experience from a show (good or bad) and why that pushes you to continue with your work 
I love doing the big shows, they are really hard work you feel like a train run over when you are done, but they are priceless experiences. One always meets so nice people: customers and fellow vendors. It is really a great place to connect, exchange experiences and receive direct feedback.



What is your most cherished handmade item?
My very first Musical owl, I made it for my son when he was one. It is in our keepsake box (he is now 11) and that is really how mimi started.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
Ski. Putter around my parents summerhouse, which is on an island in the middle of a lake in Finland. And see great movies.

Was there ever any other job you dreamed of having growing up?
I am sure I did not dream of being ‘a maker’ growing up, maybe like every little girl I thought I would be a flight attended or a doctor. But as I finished high school it was pretty obvious to me that I would work in some kind of creative field.



Five years from now you will be…
Happy and healthy.

Describe yourself in five words:
Good listener, loving mom, stubborn, impulsive, hard worker.

Carrying on with the five theme, if I were to turn on your <insert whatever type of music player you use here>, what five artists/songs would I see on your recently played list?
One Republic, Goldplay, Greenday, REM, Bruno Mars.

Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone thinking about opening their own shop or participating in craft shows?
You will never know if you do not try.