The Baby Kitties

Name: Erica Limberg

Shop Name : The Baby Kitties

Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

SHOP LINK: http://www.thebabykitties.etsy.com/

I'm happy to welcome Erica to our group. Erica's a greenie vintage seller who believes in repurposing and selling vintage goodies, ephemera, collectibles and supplies. She loves dealing in vintage and keeping these items alive instead of landing unwanted in a landfill.

Erica loves to trade items with other sellers and has her store stocked full of affordable deals at all times. In June of 2009, I wrote an article about here in the Funky Junque Chronicles (Read it HERE) . At that time she had 790 sales. Just six months later, she has nearly doubled that. What's the secret Erica? I need to know!

I can only assume the forumla is

Good stuff + Great prices + Great customer service = Total Sweetness.

Here are some highlights from Erica's shop. This item she is selling as a tiny planter or toothpick holder. Just an example of Erica's love for repurposing things!

Welcome Erica and thanks for joining. Visit Erica HERE.

The Floating Market

Shop Name: The Floating Market

Owner: Katherine Olson

Location: Madison Below. WI

Shop Link: http://www.thefloatingmarket.etsy.com/

Katherine's creations are made from upcycled and recycled goods. She loves finding cool items to use in local thirft stores. In her store, you will find cufflinks, earrings, necklaces, and hair pieces here. She says her inspiration comes from urban fantasy such as Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" (book and mini-series), Charles De Lint's Newford stories, and the Borderland Series (Terri Windling et al.)

She combines p-poc, steampunk, and a little something of her own in each piece. When she's not making this cool wearable art, she is also the proprietor of Irving Place Photography (also on Etsy!). Find more about her at the links below.

Check out her Floating Market shop on Etsy HERE.

You can read an interview with her HERE on the Trashion Blog

Her other store, Irving Place Photography on Etsy is HERE.

You can read moer about her at: http://irvingplace.net/

and check out her photos on FLICKR at the link below!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irvingplace

TheBackyardBear

Shop Name: The Backyard Bear

Name: Mary Ann

Location: Bracebridge, Muskota ,CANADA

Etsy Link: http://thebackyardbear.etsy.com/

Mary Ann's shop is full of whimsical hand painted novelties, all made from upcycled and recycled bits of nature and vintage goodness. Tic tac toe boards incorporate mother nature and make for beautiful playtimes. Driftwood collected on the Muskota River give way to gorgeous painings. Smooth river rocks turn into brooches and pins each hand painted and depicting nature in it's finest. Be sure to check out this shop as it is full of great one of a kind gift ideas. Resuse, Recycle and Reclaim are just a few vocabulary words you will find here.

Check out her shop HERE.

JenLucasDesigns

Shop Name: JenLucasDesigns

Owner Name: Jennifer

Location: Greenville, SC

Shop Link: http://jenlucasdesigns.etsy.com/

This shop is all about repurposing, enter the Yo-Yo Bow! A bow for your hair made from recycled plastic milk jugs and repurposed cotton fabric scraps from a fellow Etsian! Jen has also been working on a line of cork jewelry from repurposed wine corks and semi precious stones. You never know what greenie items you will find here, and be sure to check this shop out for cute and adorable accessories! From hairpins to earrings, you never know what may lurk in this awesome shop!

Visit her Etsy shop HERE.

Hey I Remember That

Name: Pamela Morrow

Location: Flagler Beach, Florida

Shop Name: Hey I Remember That

Etsy Shop Link: http://www.heyirememberthat.etsy.com/

What a great VINTAGE shop!

Pamela says it best in her store profile:

"There's just something about vintage that wraps itself around my heart. I have handpicked each and every item wishing that I could keep them all. Everything that you see in my shop is something that I would love to personally wear, use or display in my own home. By opening my store I am still able to experience each piece as I pass it on to you. I hope that you will take a step inside, look around, and say 'hey, I remember that.' "

From cool novelties, to vintage clothing, to housewares, you'll find a little bit of everything here!

To visit Pamela's vintage store on Etsy, go HERE.

She also has handcrafted fused bag 100% recycled totes in her sister store, THEONLYGIRL.

GlenandConstance

Shop Name: Glen & Constance

Owner: Amy

Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Etsy Link: http://www.glenandconstance.etsy.com/

Legend has it that Amy started sewing at only four years old, making her very own dress. Today Amy carries on that tradition bringing you one of a kind items using recycled materials. In her wonderful shop you will find everything from dresses and outwear, to bridal and every day fashions. A great place to buy a gift for that special person. Amy offers gift certificates and loves custom orders too!

Amy does a great job promoting her shop!

Check out her blog at http://bobbinoodle.blogspot.com/

Contact her on twitter: Name - > bobbinoodle

She is on MySpace ---> myspace.com/glenandconstance

And on Facebook: Search "glen and constance"

Or, go to her Etsy store HERE.

Felted Woolies

Shop Name: Felted Woolies

Owner: Lora

Location: Dublin, Ohio

Shop Link: http://www.feltedwoolies.etsy.com/

Lora is making all kinds of cool felted woolie things out of thrift store sweaters and upcycled yarns. Check out some of her designs, which may include monsters, mittens, woolie ball gifts, and woolie animals. These designs are downright adorable and make great gift ideas! Here are just a few things you may find in her shop! They are so cute!

For more information on Lora or her creations, visit her blog HERE.

Check out the Felted Woolies site on Etsy HERE.

Ecstasea

Shop Name: Ecstasea

Owner: Tina

Location: Hong Kong

Shop Link: http://www.ecstasea.etsy.com/

Tina collects and finds this wonderful sea glass, and fashions it into jewelry. Aside from drilling and rubbing it with olive oil, you are getting an all natural "found" product. Check out her lovely designs. You will find everything from earrings to necklaces and more in this lovely colorful store.

Visit her blog here:
http://ecstasea-at-etsy.blogspot.com/

or learn more about her at her website:

http://ecstaseaglass.googlepages.com/

Visit her Etsy shop now by clicking HERE.

DoLoBo Jewelry

Name: Donald Louis Booker

Shop: DoLoBo Jewelry

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Shop Link: http://www.dolobojewelry.etsy.com/

Donald Louis Booker is an artist known to many as DoLoBo. He paints, draws, illustrates, and creates jewelry out of semi-precious gemstones and old wire wrapping techniques.

He has done everything from painted snowball trucks in Baltimore, to illustrate a children's book (The Prism: Book One, Princess Nedia).

Don believes in recycling, and wishes he was more involved with Etsy. "I've been focusing taking care of my parents full time as they are elderly and need me now. My art can wait. I hope to do more creating soon."

Don is 47, single, and best friends with Alfie, his faithful dog.

Oddly, Don's live in father whom he has been caring for has been creating art at age 88. Read about it on Associated Content by clicking here, or in the "Art is Healing" section of this blog.

Visit Don on Etsy HERE or learn more about him at http://www.doloboart.com/

Cristines Mittens

Name: Cristine

Shop Name: Cristines Mittens

Location: Washington, D.C.

Etsy Link: http://cristinesmittens.etsy.com/

Cristine says it best in her Etsy store Bio:

"After buying a seemingly endless string of mittens (and being endlessly disappointed), I decided to make some myself. With a huge helping hand from my Mother-in-law, who is a magician with a sewing machine, here is the end result. This pattern is incredibly warm, sturdy, and really comfortable."

She continues, "Machine washed wool from recycled sweaters provides a durable water resistant exterior and the polar fleece lining gives you the warmth to brave nearly any winter activity from driving, to skiing, to going for a walk."

Check out her Etsy shop HERE!

Check out a front page article about her wonderful upcycled sweater mittens in Boing Boing--read it HERE

ConsciousCrafts

Shop Name: ConsciousCrafts

Owner: Cortney

Location: Carrigaholt, Kilrush (Co Clare Ireland)

Etsy Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Consciouscrafts

This shop is full of gorgeous hand woven items. Some eco-friendly items you will find here are made from discarded and reclaimed goods, such as fishing rope found on the beach. From the wearable to the usable, it's all in this shop.

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Cortney describes it best: "Living in West Clare, the pace is relaxed; life is simple yet abundant. Conscious Crafts by West Clare Weavers grew from the idea that reclaimed fishing rope could be woven into something usable in the home."

* * *

She continues, "Today, we weave reclaimed and new materials into usable goods for personal and home use, we also try to "upstruct" other reclaimed goods whenever possible. We thrive on inspiration from our surroundings to create these functional goods. Our intention is to colour the corner we live in and share our happiness with others through a sustainable, home-based venture." They ship worldwide and you should really check out these cool finds!

Check out the ConsciousCrafts shop HERE.