Friday, June 24, 2011

Friday Finds: Fighting Social Injustice to Make a Better World

Meet Kate from OnBehalfOf located in Saint Louis, Missouri. She has such a big heart for other people that are hurting and suffering, and helping others to see the world that is beyond themselves.

Since our world system has enabled a small percent of us to live richly, lacking nothing, while the majority of beautiful people lack even the basic necessities in life, she regrets and is sorry that she is part of the priveleged minority and does what she help to change this injustice for other people.

Her heart and the aim of her life is to do what she can in fighting this injustice, and helping those in this society to see that. She says "Now that I have seen, I am responsible. I believe in possibility. I believe in God's providence. He knows my heart because He made it that way. And He's done so much already. I'm a small girl, but I am pretty determined that not everything about me will be small."

Ninety percent of the proceeds from each item in her shop go to provide clean water in developing countries, free modern day slaves, care for orphans, or provide medical help to those with HIV. Kate says, "I do, however believe in using beauty to fight back against the ugliness in our world, and fighting back against forces of injustice with acts of selfless love. Please wear or display my art on behalf of hope, and on behalf of the people who will receive it through the proceeds of this shop."

Programs your purchases from her shop go to support:

I had a chance to ask Kate a few more questions about her and her shop, and here are her answers:

How did you choose your shop name?
I chose the name On Behalf Of because the proceeds that I make work on behalf of those in need around the world.

What does a typical day look like for you?
During the school year, I wake up at five in the morning, go to work at an elementary school from 6-9, then go to college from 9-2, then back to work from 3-6. It always feels like I'm running from start to finish!

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
Definitely summer. I'm originally from LA, so I need to be in the sun as much as possible. In Missouri, this doesn't happen very much...

You can also find Kate on one of her two blogs: artonbehalfof.blogspot.com and ktgresh.blogspot.com.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Friday Finds: Handmade accessories from msformaldehyde

Today I am featuring msformaldehyde of sunny San Diego. She makes handmade accessories you can't find anywhere else. She loves everything tiki, polynesian, hawaii, and tiki oasis, and does wedding flowers for all types of weddings.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I wear my heart on my sleeve

How did you get your start on Etsy?
Making own my stuff and decided to sell it.

How did you choose your shop name?
I am a unemployed science girl.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Making new creations and post office hopefully.

Most people have something or someone they look to for inspiration - what or who is yours?
I come up with ideas, I love art and go to museums. I love fashion and it inspires me daily.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
Raising a great son. He is the light of my life and is a brain tumor/cancer survivor. We have been through a lot the past 2 years. I love him so.

You can also find msformaldehyde on Facebook, Twitter, her own website, and her blog.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Friday Finds: Our Home to Yours

Today I am featuring ourhometoyours, a cute crafty shop run by mother and daughter team Debbi and Amanda. They started the shop as a means of keeping in touch, and the shop is based in Stony Point, NC.

Debbi (mom) is a "professional" mother. She has bio kids, foster kids, and a newly adopted kid. Art is her stress reliever and favorite hobby. Her mother was an exceptional artist and she hopes to be half as good as her mom was. Debbi is thrilled and proud to be doing this with her own artist daughter.

Amanda (daughter) is a working mom of a toddler and life is never dull. She has her Masters in Graphic Design and is currently looking for a job in that area. Fine Art is her background and she hopes to be able to offer her drawings for sale along with her crafts. Amanda designs all the banners and avatars for their shop, and she hopes to have her own graphic design business someday.

Sit down with a cup of coffee, and join me in getting to know this fabulous mother-daughter team better.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
We both love old black and white movies and musicals, and our favorite movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I think Mandy mentioned it first (?) maybe? but I do remember it was while she was in Kansas and as a SAHM she started to crochet again. She mentioned the site, and I started it, to keep us connected.

How did you choose your shop name?
I just thought of it, don't know why, but we liked the sound of it, homey and family oriented.

What does a typical day look like for you?
For both of us it is crazy and hectic. Mandy now works at Wal-mart, so I keep her son Owen when both Mandy and her husband Brandon are working. He's 2 and a real trip, lol. I am a SAHM with a retired husband, and a 10 year old daughter that I homeschool. So we don't have typical days, :) Oh, and we are both therapeutic foster parents. I have 2 foster children at home with me, and they will soon have 1.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
My favorite season is summer...I love heat and to travel. I think Mandy's is fall, with the colors. We both love Christmas.

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
There are too many to chose from, for both of us. But we both have a strong faith in God and in His leading in our lives, so we don't spend much time regretting the past.

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I'm very outgoing - I'm one that never met a stranger. But that also makes me gullible and flighty sometimes. Mandy is very grounded and seems serious at first, but she has a great sense of humor, very subtle but very funny.

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
Mine is opal, and mandy was born in November.

You can also find their in their other Etsy shop, on their blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Creating the Hive.


If you are an Etsy seller that likes to blog, come check out the BESTeam for fun, support, and promotions!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Friday Finds: Knitful Dezigns

Meet Veronica Boegel of Etsy shop mamitabella93 which she calls Knitful Dezigns.

She loves art, and her knitful dezigns are basic everyday items designed to make life a bit more enjoyable. Sit down and relax, and have fun reading more about her.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
One thing most people don't know about me is that i dream of owning a bakery in Italy someday. Im a certified cake decorator with a license and all, but I dont have time for it like I used to :( jeje

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I started on shopping first, I loved the "Handmade" Concept and it drew me to sell my dezigns online, I was hesitant to selling online but so far so good :)

How did you choose your shop name?
Ooo tough one, I'd have to say it just popped into my head one day. I wanted something simple but also unique. I'm sure most people wonder why I spell Dezigns with a z... It's my dash of vavoom if you know what i mean jejeje :)

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day is always different for me, especially after just having moved to another state my routine is sort of whacky, but i like to fit in some knitting time when im extremely stressed or extremely bored jeje! Im only 17 so im also still in school, not technically though because im homeschooled :)

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
WINTER :) I love the crisp, cold feeling on my face... It never ceases to bring a smile to my face. I dont really know why though.... Maybe because i was born in the winter? jaja

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
The hardest decision I have ever had to make (so far) is picking whether or not to get a GED or to keep working towards a High school diploma... You see I am working on finishing up a Pilots license, and it takes alot of time and work. Its like a College course full of difficult classes, courses, and seminars. I truly love flying and I even considered just getting a GED so i could just keep working towards my PL. With a lot of thought and prayer I decided a HSD would be better. Even though I might finish later than most my age I know I'll finish :)

What do you consider your best personality trait?
Mmmm, the one that gets me into most trouble... Truthfulness, I like to let people know what I think. Sometimes though I should keep it to myself and I don't, but most times its the funnest thing about me. I guess it could also be called "outgoing-ness"

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
My birthstone is Blue Topaz :) I love it, but if i could honestly choose it would be turquoise! DEFINITELY!

You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, her blog, and on weebly.