Personalized QR code

How adorable is this card? And, if your honey is anything like mine (a huge techy), then he or she constantly has their smartphone handy. How sweet would it be to leave a personalized message that he or she had to decipher. LOVE.

Home is Where the Heart is: Michigan

As a military spouse if it often hard to settle down and call one place ‘home’, as you are constantly on the move. We have been fortunate enough (knock on wood!) to be able to stay in one spot. And hopefully stay there even when the hubby retires. I think this piece of art is a great representation of our home.

Guitar Pick

Is your valentine totally into music? Or, does he and she totally rock out on the guitar? Well, then they will love this guitar pick! It’s made from 18 gauge copper and will, as the shop owner says, “put some serious love in your music.” Adorable. And for $9.99, you are getting an awesome gift, without breaking the bank.

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day finds?

Etsy Monday: Megan’s Valentine Faves is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Total swoonworthy….

Black Abstract Bow Ankle Cuffs

*Height: 1″ leather band
*Length: approx. 9 1/4″
*Color/Fabrics used: black horsehair trim, black leather band (non-leather is also available upon request)
*Closure: metal snaps

Dreamy, right?! I think these are super fierce. How great would they be with leggings or an awesome little black dress?! LOVE! And, if you’d like them in another color, no problem! Just let Joy know and she’s happy to oblige!

Black Leather Chain Belt

*Size: XS/S (27-28″ waist), M/L (29-30″ waist), XL (31-32″) (advise when ordering)
*Color/Fabrics used: 3″ black elastic (at center back), black leather, metal chains
*Closure: metal clasp

Words cannot express the fabulousness of this belt. Seriously. I’m drooling over it.

MOHAWK Leopard and Black Feather Shoe Cuff

*Height: 2″ wide elastic, approx. 5 1/2″ feathers
*Length: 9 1/2″
*Color/Fabrics used: black iridescent feathers, leopard elastic band
*Closure: hook & eyes

I wish I had the guts to wear these! They rock! And I’m a total fan of leopard, too, so I’m in love.

How awesome is J Dot Designs?! And now, for one week only, you can get free shipping on all items in the shop. Just use the code “EtsyMonday” during checkout. This code will be good until February 6.

Joy was kind enough to answer some questions. Enjoy!

1. What made you want to start your Etsy shop?

I’ve always been a creative person and had this idea for a way that you could dress up your shoes. I did some research and couldn’t really find what I was looking for, so I decided to just do it and set up my etsy shop.

2. What is the most fabulous piece you’ve ever made?

Hmm, thats a hard one. I think the purple suede spats with pink & blue feathers are especially fabulous (in my opinion).

3. What is your favorite item in your shop?

I was obsessed with the hot pink warrior cuffs for a while but now I’m loving the spats with chains.

4. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everywhere, I keep a notebook to jot down ideas. It comes at the most random moments sometimes.

5. What is your favorite color?

Turquoise.

Thanks so much Joy! And remember, from now until February 6 you can get free shipping with the code ‘EtsyMonday’. Happy shopping!

Etsy Monday: J Dot Designs is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

French love pillow cover 

How adorable is this pillow cover?! I love the combination of the stone colored linen and the black print and lace. Ooo la la.

 Gold love frame

Grey and yellow are my favorite colors. So I totally need this frame. Stat.

And I know Christmas is over, but how darling is this stocking!?

Linen stocking

My husband and I just have stockings I got from the Dollar Store. These would totally make the perfect addition, as I love the rustic feel. Plus the natural linen color totally goes with any decor. LOVE.

 I hope you all love this shop as much as I do. I’m totally on a home decor kick. Plus I think these would make fab gifts for new homeowners! Happy shopping!

Etsy Monday: Fleur de Pamplemousse is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

One of the nicest things about these vinyl art pieces is, if your style changes, or you aren’t a super huge fan of your husband adding a Spiderman sticker on your living room wall, they are easy enough to change. They all come with easy instuctions and only take minutes to apply. This sounds like the perfect compromise for decor for our home.

Check out the pieces that I’m smitten with!

Counting Sheep

This is darling for a little kids room! And I love the idea of alternating the colors of the sheep. How precious. The default color is black, but if you want another color choice, just ask! Your choices are: Black, White, Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, Light Sky Blue, Soft Pink, Lime Green, Grey, Brown, Beige, Burgundy, Gold and Silver.

Swirl Flower Floral Design

This idea is great. We have a fireplace with no mantle that I haven’t a clue what to do with. I love this concept. And if the husband doesn’t, no sweat. I can totally remove it. Easy as pie. Mmmm, pie.

Tall Bare Trees

I love this idea so much! The hubby and I all are about family. This is a very creative way to display photos without just hanging them up haphazardly. I totally think I need this.

And, if you’ve fallen in love with Stickerbrand like I have, then you’ll be super excited to hear that they are offering readers 15% off using the code FAB2012.

Eric was kind enough to answer some questions. Enjoy!

1. If you could have any wall decal hanging on the wall in your home, what would it be and why?

Any large wall decals that cover the entire wall is our favorite types of decals. We have the Japanese Great Wave Hokusai (#363B) wall decal in our dining room wall. The look on the faces of people walking into our home for the first time are always priceless. And the first question that always seems to asked is, ” Wow, did you paint that?”

2. What is your favorite decal in your shop?

My favorite decal design changes from week to week. We have 5 full time artist that are always designing new decals. 200 new designs are added to our collection each month. At the moment my favorite wall decal designs are the Whale Shark wall decal and the large Koi Fish Wave wall decal.

Whale Shark (OS_ES109B)
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/stickerbrand/4182180/Vinyl_Wall_De…

Koi Fish Wave (OS_MB118B)
www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/stickerbrand/4185349/Vinyl_Wall_De…

3. Do you take custom orders?

We do make custom orders however that also depends on the design that is requested. Some designs are too difficult and costly to produce and therefore we might have to pass on the custom order. But overall, if you have a ready-made vector design, we can produce it for you.

4. Where do you get your inspiration to create new designs?

Creative ideas are everywhere I go. Just last month we stopped at the Georgia Aquarium and saw the most beautiful majestic creature and the largest fish in the world, the gentle “Whale Shark”. When we got home from our mini vacation, I started on a design of a whale shark and it is currently one of my favorite designs at the moment.

Thanks Eric! And don’t forget to use the code FAB2012 for 15% off! Happy decorating!

Etsy Monday: Stickerbrand is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Do you watch Mad Men? Well, doesn’t this skirt totally have that Mad Men feel?! And the color! Oh the color! I die.

Vintage 60s Mad Men Pencil Skirt

And this skirt not only qualifies for free shipping, but it’s also 20% off. Enter the code NEWYEAR in the coupon field. Or don’t, so I can buy it.

Vintage 70s Delicate Sweater

I am smitten with this sweater. The delicateness of the details, the color, and the doily collar just make it such a classic. The flower embroidery comes in lavendar, peach, rose and mauve. LOVE.

 Vintage Tunic

This tunic is adorable. I am not a huge fan of tight stuff on me personally, so I tend to lean towards the tunic route. I think these colors are great, too!

And don’t forget your 20% off! Now through January 11, enter NEWYEAR. And if you aren’t able to shop this week, check out the deal breakdowns below using the coupon code!

 January 1 – 11: 20% off

Megan and Nora were kind enough to answer some questions. Enjoy!

1. What has been your most favorite vintage find?

Aren’t they just the cutest?! Don’t forget now through the 11th to enter the code NEWYEAR for 20% off! Happy shopping!

Etsy Monday: Two Birds Boutique is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Red extra long fingerless gloves

I love love love everything about these. The extra long length, the thumb covering, the color, and of course, that they are made from  fleece is made with up to 89% recycled polyester content. Another cool feature? Each package is wrapped with the leftover material made into a skinny scarf. So it’s like two items for the price of one!

Hot Pink Recycled fingerless gloves

These hot pink gloves are a size large, but they also come in small and medium. These gloves are thumbless and have black stitching. I totally dig them.

Purple Fleece Cape Vest Hoodie

I am smitten with this piece. I love the purple/teal combination, as well as the whole concept. I want.  Be sure to check out all the ways you can wear this item. I love me some versitility!

I hope you all love X Mittens as much as I do! Happy shopping!

Etsy Monday: X Mittens is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Slugs 

I am the worlds biggest baby when my feet are cold. Seriously, it can totally ruin my whole day. These little numbers make me happy. And they are pretty darn cute too! They come in a small/medium (6-8) and medium/large (9-11). LOVE!

Oversize Shirt

This shirt literally made me jump for joy. It’s sooo comfy. And I have to give props to my hubby, as this shirt needs to be pre-ordered and he totally did that. Good job dear. This shirt comes in a small, medium, or large, with fitted sleeves and a flowy bodice. I love love love it. Gracias husband!

 Lampwork Bead

I have been asking for a Pandora type bracelet for awhile now. And I got one. I love love love this bead. The colors are just stunning!

Did you get anything Etsy for Christmas? Please share!

Etsy Monday: Megan’s Etsy gifts is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

I actually had the pleasure of purchasing from them recently. I needed an ornament for a friend that is a runner. I purchased the runner ornament, pictured below.

 This ornament is no longer available, but here are the details: “1 2×2 square tile ornament and basic black lowercase “run” in metallic shimmer lettering on beige tile.” I loved it. And so did my friend. It was even better than in the photo!

One of the coolest things ever is the fact that they will make coasters out your race number bib. This seriously makes me want to run a marathon. Almost.

Race number bib coasters

And, if you have run a maraton/triathlon, etc, and are thinking, “eek, I so don’t want to part with my bib” no fear! 26MileStones states that you may ”specify if you prefer that a color copy of the bib be used, and the original will be shipped back with your order. Or, YOU make the copy, (laser copy preferred, as there is less risk of the ink running) and send that.” This listing is for four coasters and is $22, plus $6.99 US shipping. Not too bad of a deal if I do say so myself!

Commit Square Tile Magnets

These magnets may just be the motivation I need to actually follow through with my commitments. I will have to face them each time I open the fridge. Hopefully seeing them each day will give me the strength to commit to what I say I’m going to do.

Hope you enjoyed 26MileStones as much as I have!

Etsy Monday: 26 MileStones is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

Leather Bracelet- White

Chevron is all the rage these days! However, I totally want to wear this pattern, but am slightly terrified. Sometimes when I try to wear trends I tend to look like I’m trying too hard. This is a great way to be trendy! This bracelet is also handpainted, so no two bracelets are exactly the same. I love that.

Hot Air Balloon card

This card is black, white and coral, which are three of my favorite colors! If they aren’t yours, no fret! This card can be customized just for you!

Framed Vintage Paperback: Slipping Beauty

This piece of art serves dual purposes. One, it’s fab and can be hung or placed as is to add a vintage touch to your decor. Two, the paperback is in great condition so you can totally read some short stories from Avon Books from 1952. I know just the room I’d put this in!

William and Jessica were kind enough to answer some questions. Enjoy!

1. How did you and William come up with your Etsy shop?

William and I began creating together the first time we ever met. One of our first projects together were the button earrings (seen in our etsy shop) and things only grew from there! After a year of dating long-distance–I was in San Francisco and he was in Austin–I decided to move back to Texas, where I had lived for 10 years prior. Once I got back, William and I continued making, and with the encouragement of a friend that owns a jewelry boutique here in town, we opened an Etsy shop with our first collection in May.

2. What material(s) do you enjoy working with the most?

I think, for us, it’s a tossup between brass and leather. Brass, with it’s nautical affiliations, proved to be the best material for the current collection. Brass has a fantastic quality about it when it antiques–the unique markings in the metal come out, and it earns a beautiful patina. It can also be polished to stay shiny and golden—we like that it has two extremes! Leather has a warm and rustic feel to it. It is beautiful when left alone, but also makes for a fantastic foundation for the addition of designs–both tooled and painted. Leather has a lasting quality to it that translates for both men and women, which we appreciate.

3. What is your favorite color? What is William’s favorite color?

Jessica: My favorite color changes…I suppose you could say that I’m fickle! Currently, I am in love with deep fall colors, like cranberry red, navy blue, and forest green. But I’m desperately in love with adding neon splashes to this kind of a color palette—just a bit of florescent pink or orange instantly turns a color palette that was very popular in the early 90s into a modern, playful theme. But two months ago, I was gung-ho seafoam green and light pink. I still love those. Can my answer be all of them?

William: Turquoise.
: )

4. What is your favorite item in your shop?

Jessica: It’s really hard to pick one–we don’t create things that we don’t love! I would say that I rotate every few weeks between pieces that I wear. Right now I’m wearing the Large 30″ Triangle Chevron Necklace, and I really love it! It seems to go with so many outfits—from a cute patterned dress to a T-shirt and jeans! I also wear the Black and White Chevron Lariat bracelet with a “J” initial almost every day.

William: My favorite is Jessica Blake. Oh, my favorite item in the shop? I really like the Pecos Handpainted bracelet in white with the yellow chevron pattern–the mustard color seems to be spot on for the fall season, and it’s really easy to wear!

Thank you so much William and Jessica!

Etsy Monday: Son of a Sailor is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.

The one item that initially caught my attention was this recipe card holder.

Wood Flip Recipe Card Holder

I totally need this to keep me organized. This card holder comes with ten inserts, which can hold 20 recipe cards, but feel free to add more inserts, since the rings can be opened very easily. And the wood boards make for easy clean-up. Believe me, I’m super messy. This is a necessity.

Recipe Card Gift Set

These recipe cards are a must in my household. As previously mentioned, I will print recipes out from the internet in my effort to become the next top chef. These cards (which of course can fit in the above holder!) are great to jot those recipes down on and am sure will be way easier to organize. This set includes 25 cards and is packaged in a lovely bookcloth covered card holder.

Winter Tea Towel set

This tea towel set would be a great hostess gift! Tartella has taken the motto, “eat. live. love. repeat” and screen printed it onto a tea towel. These towels are made with 100% cotton flour sacks and are totally washable. Which is good because I make messes…This set comes in two color choices- green (shown) or vintage blue, with the motto towel in blue and the whisks have orange handles. It’s too hard to choose! I love them both!

And, from December 5-11, Tartella is offering free shipping on all U.S. and Canadian Etsy orders. For U.S. Orders, use Coupon Code TARTYFREESHIP upon checking out. If you are in Canada, make sure you convo Tartella and they will set up a reserved listing with the adjusted shipping rate.

Andrea was kind enough to answer some questions, enjoy!

1. How did you come up with your shop’s name?

I knew that I wanted to make up a name, so that I didn’t have to worry about getting web addresses, trademarks, etc. and I also knew that I wanted it to have something to do with baking. So, I made lists of words that I liked (both cooking related and non) and just started putting them together to see what worked. Tart was on the list because pies and tarts are my favorite desserts, and Ella was the name of my cat. I sent my favorites to my friends and had them vote…and, Tartella won!

2. What is your favorite item in your shop?

I think I’d have to say the Bread Print is my current favorite. Bread is my absolute favorite thing to bake and eat, and I love how those illustrations came out. But, Whisk Tea Towels are a perennial favorite.

3. I see you work with your sister. Who’s the better cook between the two of you? (I frankly, can’t cook to save my life!)

My sister is just starting to cook and lives in a different city, so I haven’t tasted a lot of what she has prepared. But, her pumpkin pie outshone my apple pie this Thanksgiving (at least, according to my husband, who is supposed to have clear allegiance to my cooking!), so I think I have some mighty competition in the future. We both draw on experiences of our grandmother’s farm cooking and our mother’s Norwegian heritage, so our food preferences and what we choose to cook and bake is often similar. I add in quite a bit of French-based and comfort food (read: rich & creamy), while my sister experiments more with Asian dishes.

4. What was the first item you created?

The first items I designed for Tartella were letterpress recipe cards and cookbook marks (available at www.tartella.com). I originally thought that I would produce mainly paper and stationary products, since that was my background. But, then I took silkscreen classes and started printing on textiles like tea towels. Customers at shows responded really well to them, and I started spending more time and energy on textile products. I still design and produce new recipe cards and cookbook marks every year, though, since there is always a core customer base that still uses and appreciates these products (like me!).

Thanks Andrea!

Etsy Monday: Tartella is a post from: Fantabulously Frugal.