Possum Blossom

We interrupt this program...

2008-12-08T14:07:00.000-08:00

Taking a break from all the wedding madness (which, to be quite honest, hasn't become nearly as mad as I expected) to bring you a preview of the newest additions to the SnuggleBirds family. SnuggleBirds is my new label for sweet little bird-shaped purses and other bird-themed bags, wristlets, and pouches.

I am clearancing out JunkMostWondrous so I can focus solely on SnuggleBirds in 2009. I had a decent run with JunkMostWondrous, but let's face it, folks: the amount of 'collected and assembled' jewelry on Etsy far outweighs the demand for the product. I averaged about one sale a week in 2008. Not too shabby, but barely enough to break even on supplies, packaging, shipping, advertising, listing, and renewing, not to mention compensating my time.

My hope is that SnuggleBirds will be something fun, different, and unique. Part of my new business plan also dictates that Etsy will not be my only selling outlet. I am looking into other online venues, as well as area B&M locations. So without further ado, I give you a sneak peek at some of my new products, which I hope to release in January 2009:

These guys are cut and ready for detailing and assembly!

Gingko Garden with purple:

Pink Lemonade with purple:

Honey Harvest with yellow:

In the works!

Palace Peacock (will have green lining & wing pocket):

Mushroom Meadow (will have green lining & wing pocket):

Also on deck, posh puppy prints and pretty birds!

My Handmade Wedding, Part II: The Invitations

2008-11-04T10:53:00.000-08:00

I had NO idea that wedding invitations were so complicated. I set out to make my invitations with the idea that I could embellish some blank cards and print my message inside. Apparently, I was very, very wrong. There are generally at least three envelopes involved, extremely specific wording, and the terror that you will be forever shunned by society if you fail to follow protocol.

My cousin and self-appointed (and indispensable) wedding planner, a seasoned veteran of several weddings including one of her own, helped me navigate the treacherous waters of "DIY" invitations. Together we selected an "invitation suite" (and evoked the wrath of a Michaels store associate as we opened the box to see how everything looked). I chose the one as blank as possible, so I could add my beautiful red bird embellishments from niklindesigns1225.

I spent about 12 hours of labor on 40 invitations. The most time-consuming part by far was doing the calligraphy for both the addresses and return addresses. Oh, and as for my least favorite part-- remember that episode of Seinfeld where George is getting married, but his fiance dies from licking the cheap envelopes? Well, I didn't die, but I did get a paper cut on my tongue.

When I was FINALLY done, I sealed my envelopes with these gorgeous bird stickers from digitalpaperie.

I think the finished product turned out wonderfully and although it was a lot of work, doing it myself both saved me money and allowed me to create exactly what I wanted.

My Handmade Wedding, Part I

2008-10-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have about two months to pull together a wedding. Why, you ask, when most people plan their weddings a year ahead, would I choose to have a wedding two months from now? Well, the progress of my relationship has been a bit unconventional from the start. Rather than having an official engagement, B & I decided to elope. Then guilt set in, and I said, "why don't we have a civil ceremony and have our moms as witnesses?" Then somehow we decided to get married in one of those cutesy little chapels in North Carolina. That way, we could invite our close friends and family. Somehow the whole thing just spun out of control and led to me practically having a nervous breakdown as I wailed, "There is no way we can pull this together."

And so we decided to get married in a church (as B wanted) and invite whoever we wanted. However, in light of the economy in general and our own finances in particular, we decided to make it a laid-back and informal affair. No army of bridesmaids, no Vera Wang gown, just me and B and the people we love.

Given my crafty streak and our mutual love of quality, handmade goods, B and I decided that having a strong handmade factor in our wedding was important. And so I will be blogging about it each step of the way, sharing our great handmade finds with you.

Look for my next post about our handmade wedding invitations, which will combine my craftiness with the talents of another Etsian.

Finest Feathers in Green and Gold

2008-07-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Etsy's Treasury feature allows users to "curate" their own list of 12 items plus 4 alternates. You can only make a Treasury when the number of lists drops below 333. Treasury slots are highly coveted because 1) they are fun to make and 2) there is a small chance that your Treasury will be chosen for the front page, giving the curator instant fame and glamour. Or at least a little extra exposure.

Today, the Treasury list dropped below 333. Over 500 people were waiting to jump on a slot, and most of them were successful. In the short, seconds-long window in which the slot was open, the number of Treasuries jumped from 332 to 803. That is by far the highest number I've seen; no word yet as to whether that's an official record-breaker.

I was one of the lucky "few" that snagged a slot. I love doing bird treasuries because there are so many beautiful examples of avian arts and crafts on Etsy. I decided to narrow my theme to a particular color scheme as well, choosing green and yellow as an homage to high summertime in the South.

Here's my Big 12:

To check out the other 700+ Treasuries, visit http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php

Finally Finished!

2008-07-20T15:41:00.001-07:00

My Singer and I heaved a collective sigh of relief today... we finally finished the owl purse. There were times when both of us almost gave up, but we made it through. As a reward for my Singer, I'm going to dethread her, take her apart and give her a good cleaning and oiling, change her needle, and then let her rest for a while. I was also glad to retire the ironing board and free up some space in my catastrophe of a craft room.

So how did the owl purse turn out? I'll pick up where my last post left off.

I finally got both sides lined

and I added a coin pocket:

The final product (I went with a button closure- still not brave enough to attempt a zipper):

It's far from perfect. For example, one side is bigger than the other. All things considered, it's not too bad for a first attempt. I am only mildly embarrassed to be seen with it in public.

My Latest (Amateur) Sewing Projects

2008-07-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

My spankin' new Singer Prelude has been getting quite the workout since we moved. Thanks to our nosy (and noisy) neighbors, I decided to tackle the issue of window treatments first. Up to this point, my biggest project had been the ugly brown book pouch. I was a little intimidated, but figured I might as well try. I got some great tips from the nice craft lady at WalMart's fabric counter. (Yes, I know, we're all supposed to hate WalMart and shun anyone who patronizes the place, but short of driving 80 miles, it was my only source for affordable fabric). Given the selection, I picked out some real doozies. I think this teal Chinese dragon print is my favorite:

That curtain was a brilliant innovation in window covering design (please read with tongue in cheek). The back door in our rented house is brand new, and I was pretty sure the landlady would not appreciate me installing hardware right off the bat. Luckily the door was also metal. I just sewed magnets into the top.

My other curtains were a bit more traditional (and time-consuming). The process got tedious at times, but I think it was a good learning experience. I felt ready to tackle another big project: making a purse.

I chose an adorable, butter-yellow Hot Couturier owl fabric with a rich, chocolate-brown satin lining. Perfect for fall, assuming it all turns out alright.

Keep in mind I have never worked with or even seen a pattern. I decided to try my hand at making my own. It couldn't be that hard, right? This is what I came up with:

I guess I didn't screw up too bad, since it yielded four fairly uniform sections, plus a strap and button flap:

That's all the progress I've made so far. Time to really take the plunge: I'm even going to attempt a zipper.

Major Makeover in the Works

2008-07-16T17:25:00.001-07:00

I am a huge fan of home makeover shows. I am slightly obsessed with "before and after" pictures. Since I'm living in a brand new place and making a career change, I think it's the perfect time to give my shop a big facelift. I'm currently designing a new banner and avatar, and I'm planning to take my shop in a slightly different direction. I'm working on building up inventory that showcases the Appalachian influence I hope to reflect in my jewelry. As they become available, I will be posting updates and new pictures here at PossumBlossom.

This means a lot more flora- and fauna-themed pieces will be appearing, and I will be incorporating some antique components as well.

Items in my current inventory that don't quite fit with this new direction will be put in a special clearance section at rock-bottom prices. I hope to unveil the new & improved JunkMostWondrous around the first of August. In the meantime, I'm offering free shipping on all my current stock. If you have any suggestions for the makeover, leave me a comment!

Where Have You Been?!

2008-07-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

In the three weeks or so since I last posted, I have been quite the busy beaver. My boyfriend and I moved from an apartment in Blacksburg to a house in the most awesome little mountain town. It's been a stressful process, but worth every minute.

We also got to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday in the new house! Notice the gaping hole in the top of the cake... this is what happens when you put the icing on while the cake is still hot.

Unfortunately, I've been without internet access in the interim, so I've let my shop fall by the wayside. My first move upon getting back online was to order some beautiful art for our new place. I ordered this stunning owl print from the talented HadleyHutton called Barn Owl. I promptly framed it and hung it above the fireplace.

Now that I'm all settled in, I think it's the perfect time for a major shop overhaul & makeover, so keep your eye out for changes! In the plans are a new banner and avatar and some cool new sections.

Big Summer Moving Sale

2008-06-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is a great time of year to score some good Etsy bargains-- just do a search for the word "sale" or "yart sale." I'm holding a big moving sale from now until whenever I get all moved in and settled, which could be a month from now. The idea is to reduce my inventory as much as possible while at the same time, generating some funds to help with moving expenses. My sale features:

-Free Shipping on all jewelry

-20% Off all Shadowbox art

-50% Off already reduced items in the "SALE" section of my shop (these items are dirt cheap and going fast!)

-Buy One Get One FREE on all prints

Happy bargain hunting!

Just Listed, Version 2.0

2008-06-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've had the past week almost completely free to craft and create to my heart's content. Consequently, I've listed 4 new pairs of earrings and 3 new necklaces. Some of my favorites:

Whole Ages Have Fled necklace- I try to give my stuff clever names, but was having trouble coming up with something involving Ivy. The name of this one is from a Charles Dickens poem, "The Ivy Green."

Pocketful of Posies earrings- these were fun to make because of the spiral copper stem. I was also happy to find a use for the lovely purple flowers, which had served in a past life as part of some vintage post earrings.

She Waits by the Sea necklace- special thanks to Brian for helping me name this one. It was originally entitled "Miss Blue," which was horribly unimaginative.

My Foray into Book Bag Design

2008-06-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

So my boyfriend, overestimating my powers of craftiness, asked me to make him a bag to safely store books while he's at work. (He has an army backpack that he keeps with him, but he landscapes in the summer so everything gets dirty.) He wanted it made out of an old brown towel.

Me, I'm no seamstress. Just got a sewing machine in April & have done two little projects with it. But I'm such an optimist when it comes to crafts. I decide that while it might be ugly & utilitarian on the outside, the inside will be lined with nice, pretty fabric. And it will have a really cool button. Oh, and maybe a little storage pouch inside for bookmarks...

So I go get all the stuff I need, which includes heavy-duty thread & machine needles, plus the liner fabric -yellow with Japanese maple leaves- & a cool horn button.

It takes an eternity to cut everything. Have you every cut terry cloth? Brown fuzz EVERYWHERE. Finally get it cut. Now for the sewing machine...
Load the bobbin with thread. Ok, I remember this part. Thread the machine. So far, so good. Raise the bobbin thread. OH HELL. Not happening. I cried a little. I got stabbed with pins a little. I drank a little. FINALLY I get it to work, after ripping wads of brown heavy-duty thread out of my sewing machine's innards.

Keep in mind that I am going about this from a completely non-professional standpoint. I decided that I should first sew the lining onto the terry. It ended up a little crooked, and the seams were a bit reminiscent of Frankenstein's monster, but it wasn't a total wash at this point.

Next, I turned it so the lining was on the outside and sewed the two side seams. Again, a little crooked but not completely heinous. So now I have the basic body of the bag and I'm pretty proud of myself! Time for the embellishments.

I tried sewing a piece of blue ribbon trim along the bottom of the closure flap. There is a quilt design called Drunkard's Path, which is actually a very pretty symmetrical and geometric pattern. My stitching on the ribbon much more closely resembled a REAL drunkard's path. I ended up cutting the bottom off, trim and all. I figure it's okay if the flap is just a little bit shorter than originally planned.

Okay, forget the ribbon. Time to work on the buttonhole. I read my handy Singer Prelude manual only to find that I am supposed to have a special buttonhole FOOT. Pssht, I think to myself. I can do it without some fancy foot.

One hour later, I have an ugly brown bag with an ugly gash surrounded by ugly stitching. Nothing for it now, I'll just sew on the button and be done with it.

Well damned if the button doesn't have to be hand-sewn. I spend another 30 minutes doing this. By the time I've finished, I've consumed 3 shots of whiskey, been stabbed about 6 times, wasted about 30 yards of thread, and covered all work surfaces with brown terry fuzz.

The bag is ugly. But you know what? He needed a sturdy, nondescript bag in which to store his beloved books away from the dirt and grass, and by God, he got one.

Another Suffocating Summer in Virginia

2008-06-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Here it is, the beginning of June, and already it is shaping up to be another miserably hot summer. This is especially bad for those of us who work outdoors, like my English teacher boyfriend who spends his summers landscaping, or like my dear self who works at a rec camp for all of June and July.

Luckily, autumn in Virginia more than compensates for the swampy summers. Below are some fabulous fall-inspired Etsy finds to help us look forward to more comfortable temperatures!

Send your friends these maple leaf notecards by BeeDazzlesGifts. In the dead of summer. Act like it's perfectly normal.

I've had my eye on these gold-dipped oak leaf earrings for quite some time. Plus, the seller OSSMedicineJewelry is using the proceeds from her products to fund a documentary about the vanishing of the honey bees. Not only will your ears be very enviable, you'll be helping a great cause! You can check out the trailer at www.vanishingbees.com/trailer.html.

Wrap yourself in luxury with one of Phydeaux's Lucky Minx scarves. Beautiful colors! Miss Brenda of Phydeaux describes Lucky Minx as "super soft and silky, and I love the yarn so much, I'm keeping one for myself! I have several skeins in stock, so can make several scarves."

And finally, you can keep fall on your wall all year 'round with a nice big 8x12" Robert Socha photo, Autumn Glow.

Images used with artists' permission.

Just Listed

2008-06-01T08:25:00.001-07:00

After what seems like a weeks-long hiatus from making new things, as I finished up my first year working in a school, I have finally made and listed two new necklaces.

This might be the funnest piece I've ever made. I am really tempted to keep it:

Gin-Soaked Bar-Room Queen necklace

This little lovely is perfect for summer:

Picnic in the Meadow necklace

Memorial Day Sale

2008-05-26T07:02:00.001-07:00

Sales and special promotions abound today on Etsy, and my shop is included. Today's promotions:

♥ 20% off all Shadowboxes

♥ Free Shipping on all Jewelry

♥ Buy One Get One Free on all Photography & Prints

Update: My Memorial Day sale has yielded one sale so far... my Sweet Honey in the Rock necklace has found a new home in Texas!

Vikings are the New Pirates

2008-05-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

... but pirates are still pretty bad-ass. For proof, check out my Anne Bonny necklace, named for the baddest bitch to sail the seven seas.

However, I grudgingly admit that Jack Sparrow and his ilk must move over and make room for fearsome Norse warriors. I think Led Zeppelin summed it up best:

"We come from the land of the ice and snow,

From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.

The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,

To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming! "

You can really get into the spirit with a hand-forged Thor's Hammer necklace from WhiteHartForge. Smashingly authentic.

If you're willing to shell out the big bucks, you can rock out in true Viking style in a ceremonial Viking helm from TomBanwell. You can find more information on his off-Etsy website.

For your more delicate Viking side, Excely has a beautiful Viking ship necklace.

Even the kiddies can get in on the action with one of Blennox's Viking finger puppets or a Viking backpack from HerzensArt.

And if you want to display your Viking pride on your walls, check out this fantastic Viking ship print from DeLaRenaissance.

More pictures coming soon!

Images used with artists' permission.

"Everyone Should Have One"

2008-05-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

This post was inspired by a recent Etsy purchase I made. I ordered a blue kaleidoscope pendant from BlossomArts, and it is beautiful. When leaving feedback, I felt compelled to mention that everyone should have one. Then I polled the Etc. forum folk to find out what other people think everyone should have one of. This is what they had to say:

weaselbunny says:
I had a custom scrabble necklace made of my Etsy avatar. I had visions of all Etsians wearing them at craft fairs and such so we could recognize eachother ;)http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11758217
Seller: BrownEyedPeas

stoopidgerl says:
Everyone needs a FatDaddy cupcake. ;o) YUM!!!!!!http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5235881
Seller: FatDaddyBakeShop

LoveMeKnotCreations says:
cause you just never know...http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11723242
Seller: DippyLuLu

AliciaBock says:
I have at least 10 of these headbands, to match every outfit http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10830600 I couldn't make it through the summer without them.
Seller: Nestlings

sproutonline says:
This soap seriously made my complexion infinitely, better! I will never use anything else!! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11499709
Seller: AromaticBodyOils

And finally,

fruition says:
Tooth chips-this totally made my teeth healthier and less sensitive it's not as harsh as regular tooth paste and it makes my teeth feel squeaky clean! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10856675
Seller: RoseofSharonAcres

More pictures coming soon!

Images used with artists' permission.

The Owl Tree

2008-05-17T06:15:00.001-07:00

I have been a long-time owl aficionado. These days it seems you can find owls perched in just about every retail location imaginable, and Etsy is certainly no exception. A plethora of owls are just waiting to fly home with you!

Get a set of four colorful owl gocco prints from KerryBeary.

SweetBabu's barn owl t-shirt reminds me of the awesome owl from The Labyrinth. SweetBabu's Julie says, "The only thing that comes to mind regarding owls is their global presence. From my home in the chilly Northwest to the tropics of Panama. How beautiful they all are! I also sell vintage owl decor regularly in my shared vintage etsy site: www.astelier.etsy.com."

The hammered silver owl earrings in MelanieFavreau's shop are a modern twist on a classic image.

1AEON's black and gold owl face tote is fierce!

Images used with the artists' permission.

Faux Lascaux

2008-05-12T17:14:00.000-07:00

The beautiful cave paintings in Lascaux, France were discovered in 1940 by a group of teens. The paintings are believed to be around 16, 000 years old. Their discovery taught us that artistic expression is at the root of human civilization.

I found a couple great Etsy sellers with items reminiscent of the Lascaux cave paintings:

The first to catch my eye was AThousandHorse, with bold, primitive-style ink drawings of prancing horses.

I then fell in love with the work of MorrisPottery. Their covetable plates, bowls, and vases are emblazoned with totemic animal designs on stoneware that seems chipped from the walls of an ancient cave.

Images used with the artists' permission.

Custom Couture

2008-05-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

I find it strangely satisfying to respond, "It's handmade" when people inquire about a piece I'm wearing. Since discovering the handmade mecca known as Etsy in 2007, I have stumbled upon enough fantastic jewelry makers, purse designers, tailors, seamstresses, and dressmakers to overhaul even the most discerning dandy's wardrobe.

MadeWithLoveByHannah features some very cool, fairy tale-inspired handprinted skirts. Some of the scenes include Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel. She also prints skirts with scherenschnitte, a traditional German paper-cutting technique.

MissBrache creates all kinds of clothes, but her most notable productions are her sexy, retro-inspired swimsuits. She custom-makes them according to measurements you send her.

For the menfolk, ToyBreaker hand-silkscreens neckties and accessories. I never thought neckties could be cool until I found this shop. They have a variety of tie materials to choose from (microfiber, silk, cotton) and dozens of edgy designs.

In the sea of purse sellers on Etsy, TheOtherSister stands out with her gorgeous botanical handbags, which look like bouquets of blossoms, and her geek-chic Bibliogirl line of surprisingly sexy leatherbound book-shaped purses.

JaneBonBon specializes in dresses and skirts for plus-sized women. She accepts custom measurements for some of her designs, including her sexy housewife-style red polkadot dress.

BotanicalBird's shop features beautiful, nature-inspired jewelry, like her intricate Scarab's Garden necklace.

And for the earthy types, EarthGarden creates handmade leather "elf boots," which resemble knee-high moccasins. You can choose from a variety of colors.

And the moral of the story is... whatever you're looking for, you can probably find it on Etsy. Not only will you have awesome stuff that no one else has, you'll also be supporting an indie business. Buy handmade!