happy holidays! and we heart firstlightglass!

seriously, i owe firstlightglass a HUGE apology. not only have i slacked on writing up this feature since she was crowned the hands-down winner of october's design challenge, but because she and i have NEVER traded. her shop is GORGEOUS. and having worked alongside several lampworkers/fused glass artists, i know how much work goes into what she does!

mama by day, glass artist by night (or whenever she can squeeze it in), Dawn makes gorgeous dichroic fused glass pendants, fused glass artworks such as candle holders and fabulous plates and nightlights - and my favorites - slumped glass bottle spoonrests and cheese boards! she has a wonderful sense of color and design which is reflected in the photographs of her work in her etsy shop. with a background in architecture, fine art and city planning, Dawn definitely redefines "renaissance woman".

working from her home studio in jacksonville, FLA, Dawn continues to make awesome creations that delight all of us tradeaholics! thank you, Dawn, for sharing your amazing work with us!!!

now, the details for february's design challenge! Dawn has chosen the theme "It's COLD Outside!" as inspiration this time around.

the rules are simple:

- entries will be accepted until february 17th, 2011.

- only one entry per shop

- all entries MUST be handmade and listed for sale/trade in your Etsy shop. (no supplies or destash please!)

- all entries must reflect in some way the current theme "it's cold outside!"

- tag your item with this month's challenge tag "tradefebruary11" so that people can find your item!

- starting on february 10th, CONVO muffintopdesigns with a photo of your entry (it's easier to post on blogspot that way - plus it keeps me better organized)

Feel free to promote the challenge - and yourself! - via facebook, twitter, etsy, your blog or hot air balloon! the voting will start on february 19th and go till the 26th!

thanks to you all - especially firstlightglass! - for being so awesome! happy holidays and as always - TRADE ON!

xoxoox muffin & raevyn

a spooky halloween... and the challenge is ON!

hiddengatedesigns

sweetpb

mjowest

i am so sorry about being late in posting this awesome design challenge... but it is definitely worth the wait! please vote on the sidebar - and spread the word about the voting! we'd love to get as many as we can! the poll will be closed on the 29th - just in time for halloween - so get voting! (if you did send me an entry before the deadline and i have forgotten to include it in this post, please convo me ASAP and i'll add you to this post! (i won't be able to add new people to the poll however, sorry!))

cortsthings

darlingdilemma



feltedkitten



firstlightglass




lizziebeesthings

lostsentiments

love2embellish

monkeytreecreations

thebackyardbear

yellowee

October's Design Challenge!

we cannot believe that it is OCTOBER already! where did the summer go? and it's time for another design challenge! the winner of the last challenge - the lovely rayvenwoodmanor - has chosen "a spooky hallowe'en" as this month's inspiration!

entries will be accepted from now until the 17th of october. the rules are simple:

- only one entry per shop

- the item must be a handmade item, listed on etsy, and made by you (no supplies or destash, please)

- the item must somehow reflect the theme "a spooky hallowe'en"!

- tag your item with this month's challenge tag - "tradeoctober10"

- convo muffintopdesigns via etsy with a photo of your item (so that it's easier to post on the blog during voting!)

feel free to promote the challenge - and yourself, if you enter! - via twitter, facebook, on the etsy forums, and/or on your blog! the voting will start on october 18th and go till october 25th here on the blog and the winner will be announced on october 26th - just in time for HALLOWE'EN!!!!

so dust off your witch's hat and your broom and get creating! (thank you again, rayvenwoodmanor! and thank you, readingbunky for the photo of your awesome shirt!)

rayvenwoodmanor wins again... and our hallowe'en design challenge!

as you probably figured out by now, the lovely rayvenwoodmanor swept our design challenge voting and is the winner!!! congratulations - seriously, that lovely boutonniere certainly deserved every vote!

in the spirit of all things haunted and ghostly, our lovely winner has chosen "a spooky hallowe'en" as the next challenge! so put your creative hat on and get thinking... more details on how to enter to follow ASAP!

thanks again to everyone who entered!

team treasuries! go team TRADEAHOLICS!

We have a new forum thread on ning. It is for team treasuries!! A few members have pointed out that we should be using the treasuries to promote our team - get team members sales and maybe on the front page! So we are encouraging members to go out and make treasuries featuring team members. We have a very large team (858 members), and if we view, click and comment on each others team treasuries it could go a long way towards promoting and getting sales!! So we started a forum to post treasuries that you make featuring team members. http://tradeaholics.ning.com/forum/topics/team-treasuries Even if you don't make a treasury, please take a look at the thread and go to the treasuries that other members post. It only takes a small amount of time, and it is so helpful. Click and comment!!

(treasury courtesy of the lovely huggermugger!)

TIME TO VOTE! August's TradeAHolics' Design Challenge

so, without further ado, here are your design challenge submissions for this month's theme - "a diamond in the rough"! please take the time to check out the talents of your fellow tradeaholics' (you can click on the links underneath each photo to see the full listing) and VOTE for your favorite on the sidebar! you have till august 25th to vote, at which time, the winner will be announced! thank you to all the shops that entered... we LOVE seeing what inspires you!

stopher

ravyenwoodmanor

mycellardoor

muffintopdesigns

cookiesforsale

feel free to blog, tweet, facebook this challenge - the more votes, the better!

august's design challenge!

as promised, the design challenges are back! so, without further ado, august's challenge is ON! this month's challenge has been chosen by the lovely rayvenwoodmanor and is "A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH".

entries will be accepted from now until the 17th of august. the rules are simple:
- only one entry per shop
- the item must be a handmade item, listed on etsy, and made by you (no supplies or destash, please)
- the item must somehow reflect the theme as chosen by the previous challenge winner
- tag your item with this month's challenge tag - "tradeaugust10"
- convo muffintopdesigns via etsy with a photo of your item (so that it's easier to post on the blog during voting!)

feel free to promote the challenge - and yourself, if you enter! - via twitter, facebook, on the etsy forums, and/or on your blog! the voting will start on august 18th and go till august 25th here on the blog and the winner will be announced on august 26th. SO GO AND GET CREATIVE! (and thank you again, rayvenwoodmanor!)

rayvenwood manor rocks! (and more design challenge info!)

i have been the most awful tradeaholic. especially with the design challenge. i cannot apologize enough to you guys for being so lax with my duties. but between my return to work (i miss you, maternity leave!) and us selling, buying and moving into a new house, things have been crazy around here.





but, i'm mostly settled now, and i owe the wonderful rayvenwoodmanor this feature for winning March's design challenge! her shop is full of fabulous pretties and you HAVE to check it out. so without further ado, here is her long overdue interview! we love you, anastacia!





What made you decide to open shop on Etsy?


Etsy gives the seller the ability to reach many potential buyers all across the world while creating an environment where you can share and learn from other artists as well.





What does your shop feature?


Rayvenwodmanor's product line consists of Custom Jewelry, Handmade Hair Accessories, Heirloom Crystal Bridal Bouquets with matching Bridal Party Accessories, Unique Swavorski Crystal Headpieces and Hair Jewelry, Cake Toppers, and custom made jewelry. Each item made by Rayvenwood Manor is exquisite and unique.





What is your inspiration for your designs?


Every item from Rayvenwoodmanor has a little piece of my life incorporated into it, whether it be past, present, or future. My inspiration on a daily basis to create beautiful handmade items is my wonderful husband, who supports what ever I do, and my beautiful 19 month old son, who is inspiration incarnate for anything.





A couple of your favorite shop selections include...


Swarovski Crystal Bridal Bouquets which are custom made for each client... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12996557


Anything with bunny rabbits! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38011747





Any other Web sites (blog, facebook page, twitter) that everyone can find you at?http://rayvenwoodmanor.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Orlando-FL/Rayvenwoodmanor/112053788807480

Please stay tuned for details on August's design challenge! we will be having these again on a regular basis, so get ready!!!!!

March's Design Challenge Entries! - MARCH ON!

without further ado, here are the entries for this month's design challenge - MARCH ON! please vote for your favorite on the sidebar. keep watching this space for the winner and next month's challenge!!!!! and thanks to everyone who entered! YOU ROCK!

0namesleft3

createdbythe3maries

flowerchildcreations

glassredefined

glasylassy

julieellyndesigns

northstarornaments

prettyhairclippies

rayvenwoodmanor

tessacotton

thebackyardbear

yellowee

congrats to designedbyginalouise - our february design challenge winner! PLUS march's challenge details!

Inspired clothing doesn't have to be new or designer to be awesome. Gina, at Designedbyginalouise.etsy.com has proven that. With the first of her Spring and Summer Island Hopping tunic listings, A Cloudy Day http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_1&listing_id=40556657 has swept the voting for the Tradeaholics February Design Challenge. Cute maribou removable trim along the top is remnicient of a cloudy day and Gina's trademark roses and leaves adorn the waistband on this cute tunic. And the entire dress is made from recycled and upcycled materials! Not only a design challenge entry but eco-friendly too.

We recently sat down to talk with Gina about her shop, and her design challenge win. Here's what she had to say:

* What made you decide to open shop on Etsy? "A friend of mine was nagging me for a few years to open up my own shop on Etsy. Then after I spent a night browsing on the sites for HOURS I decided to join the fun."

* What does your shop feature? "I create Eco-Friendly Altered Couture. Which means I take things you would normally throw out and turn them into upcycled clothing and accessories. All my designs are one-of-a-kind (OOAK), although I do take custom orders to make similar designs in other sizes and colors."* Where else do you sale? "I also design jewelry from bits and pieces of antique jewelry mixed with some new to create OOAK pieces at http://www.etsy.com/shop/GinaLouisesBling "

* What is your inspiration for your designs? "It is so hard to narrow down what inspires me to create my designs. First would be the colors; I love colors and the way they dance together on a canvas. I buy an outdated thrift shop blouse because I loved the colors and then I'd create something from it. It becomes anything from a scarf to a dining room chair cover. I've worked in film and TV most of my adult life, hence me being inspired by many Hollywood costume designers. I am also inspired by roses. The colors, the way they dance in the warm summer breeze, and the unique shape of each petal. I incorporate them in my designs a lot."

* A couple of your favorite shop selections include... "My favs are my pieced together feminine dresses that can be worn on a Caribbean Island or to a Wedding. I make them from pieces of damaged lace table clothes, old shabby curtains and even prom dress pieces. I have lots of those coming in the next couple of months as soon as my custom orders slow down."

* Any other Web sites (blog, facebook page, twitter) that everyone can find you at? "I was a big blogger, then I got too busy and stopped for a long time. I just opened a new blog specifically for Etsy fans that I have to get back into. It can be found at http://designedbyginalouise.blogspot.com/

Facebook for Etsy - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1080765004

* Anything special you would like to add? "Etsy has been a blessing in disguise. It has brought many new wonderful people, as well as boutiques into my life and it makes me wake up with a smile every morning and I look forward to my next creation. I love to open up my esty mail and read beautiful letters from people all over the world telling me that they love my designs. It's a really great feeling.Many thanks to all who voted for me and took the time to visit my shop. See ya at the next trade!"

and now, without further ado... this month's challenge, as chosen by ginalouise, is "MARCH ON". Challenge entries will be accepted through the 16th and voting will take place from 17-25 of March.

The rules are simple: Only one entry per shop per month please.The item must follow our monthly challenge theme, chosen by the past month's winner.

Challenge entry days will be opened through the 16th of each month. Voting will take place from 17-25 of each month. The winner will be announced and featured on the Tradeaholic blog each month. Your challenge entry does NOT have to be an item for trade in your store, simply something handmade you have listed in your store. There's no trading involved in this challenge (of course, unless you want to.)
This month's design challenge is "MARCH ON". Show us your theme inspired item for sale in your store. Entries will be accepted through March 16 and voting will take place March 17-25 on the Tradeaholics' blog (http://etsytradeaholics.blogspot.com/). Show off your items via Etsy with the team challenge tag "tradeonmarch10" without those pesky ". (If you don't tag your challenge item correctly, it will not be included in the voting. Tags will change monthly.)

so go and get creative! and congratulations again, ginalouise!

Last Minute Trade Frenzy!

you asked, we're gonna deliver!

we're having an impromptu, quick and dirty, Trade Frenzy this SATURDAY, february 27th, from 8am to 8pm EST!!! 12 hours of trading goodness!!!!!

what is a Frenzy, you ask? a Trade Frenzy is just like a Trade and Stay event, but much shorter and we don't keep track of the trades. (i repeat - WE WILL NOT BE KEEPING TRACK! so don't get your knickers in a knot! lol)

check out this post if you need info on what a trade and stay is: http://tradeaholics.ning.com/forum/topics/trade-and-stay-tutorial

and here is the start list if you're interested (and you KNOW you are!)

bowutifulhairbow.etsy.com
bragginrightsbath.etsy.com or tcornell.etsy.com
camelotjewels.etsy.com or cullenjewels.etsy.com
clevelandairbrushart.etsy.com or theodapore.etsy.com
hillsidebathandbody.etsy.com or hillsidebakery.etsy.com
littlepinkorchard.etsy.com or minimodernist.etsy.com
Rayvenwoodmanor.etsy.com
splurge.etsy.com
themayflower.etsy.com
tstopher.etsy.com

ready, set, trade on!

February's Design Challenge Entries!!!

pendant by glassredefined

without further ado, here are the entries to the february design challenge - "a cloudy sky"!!!! so please vote for your favorite - AND PLEASE ONLY VOTE ONCE! the winner will be announced on february 26th and featured here on the blog! SO GO VOTE!!!!

abespoketouch

angiehandmade

brightcircle

cappysueclay

chainflower

cleanb

countrywindows

createdbythe3maries

creationsbycori

designedbyginalouise

householdwords

jerseymaids

julieellyndesigns

kelsilove

mrssmeow

nikkisuniques

onestopclothingshop

paperleaves

rachelherzog

sharonkaydesigns

SWeetiepooh

tessacotton

theodapore

thegirlyplace

triplestitch