Nature's Shadow Box - Etsy Seller Photography Tip

 "Tiny Vintage Camera Nested 12x12 Fine Art Photography" by Etsy Shop Twin Satori

I am certainly no expert, but through the years I have experimented with several different ways of shooting my photography for my Etsy shop Eco-Friendly Freckles, and with many trial and error experiments I have discovered that the best "technique" for my optimal photography style! You can read the full article here on my personal "Eco-Friendly Freckles" blog in the article titled: "Nature's Shadow Box - Etsy Seller Photography Tip".

"For the Love of Cameras: 8x10 Fine Art Photography Print" by Etsy Shop Squeeky Chic

 This blog article was contributed by the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles

Health Benefits of Cooking with Lard...in a Birthday Cherry Pie!

In my personal "Eco-Friendly Freckles" blog, I talk about the Health Benefits of Cooking with Lard...in a Birthday Cherry Pie! You might be surprised about just how nutritious this old fashioned kitchen staple ingredient is...and how it transforms your homemade pastries into something spectacular...just like grandma made it!

A 1916 Squire's Pure Leaf Lard advertisement...YES, lard "makes tempting pastry"!

  This blog article was contributed by the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles

For the Love of Nature Petal and Sprig

Petal and Sprig offers this over-sized canvas tote, $30!

Do a few things today to go greener!

1.  Check with Earth411.com to see who in your area takes those old plastic grocery bags! On the East Coast you can take your old plastic grocery bags to Giant, where they will be recycled into new plastic items. 

Along these same lines:

2.  Use a reusable grocery bag for your shopping. Petal and Sprig on Etsy offers great oversized canvas totes for $30, which would go great at the Whole Foods Market when buying lots of items. The main complaint about the eco bags is they are too small. These are larger and big enough to take to the gym, the grocery store or shopping mall!

Petal and Sprig on Etsy offers lovely floral print of Allium for only $10. What a great gift idea.

For a gift:

3. Give flowers, but not the real kind. Why kill beautiful flowers, pay someone to waste gas and deliver them, when you can give the same with a lovely floral print photo?  Petal and Sprig on Etsy offers $10 gorgeous close up floral photography in 4x6 size. These are are lovely accent decorations on the wall.  You can buy a cheap frame for, and give the gift that keeps on giving----these flowers won't die, lose their smell or require water!


4. Use cloth napkins. Overall using cloth napkins will prove to be a way to reduce paper towel and napkin waste in your house. As for using more washing cycles, you  have to do the laundry anyhow and these napkins can easily be done with your laundry and not take much more room. 

5.  Buy a watch that operates on natural movement and does not require batteries!


Have a great green day!

Naturally Color Your Cake Frosting with Dried Hibiscus Flowers!

 "Glowing Inside" 5x7 print by Etsy Shop Jeff Coat Art

I have always been mesmerized by the beauty of hibiscus flowers. My beloved Grandpa Bill would grow big hibiscus blooms in his garden and I often remember him picking one for me which I would then put in my hair like one of the beautiful Tahitian ladies in the famous Paul Gauguin's paintings. Below is a painting of a hibiscus flower that I found on Etsy that is absolutely stunning!

 "Red Hibiscus Painting" by Etsy Shop Onerase: Original Art by William Gilliam

In April, I made this brightly colored Barbie doll cake to celebrate the welcoming of my precious baby niece Lydia. I naturally colored the cake frosting with a homemade hibiscus syrup. Isn't the color vibrant?! The recipe is very simple. All I used was about 1/2 - 3/4 of a cup of dried hibiscus flowers; I placed them in a small pot with about 3/4 - 1 cup of water and I added 1/4 cup of sugar. I simmered this "tea" on low for an hour or so until the liquid reduced down to a thicker solution "syrup". While simmering, I made my buttercream frosting which was just a few sticks of softened butter that I blended with powdered sugar (sweeten to taste). Once my hibiscus syrup was ready, I added it to my frosting and I was amazed at how beautifully radiant the color was! It made a dark raspberry pink color...which was almost red!

Here is an example of what your tea will look like below; you can find these dried hibiscus flowers "Organic Hibiscus Tea" in Etsy shop Happy Earth Tea:

Looking for a vintage Barbie doll for a homemade doll cake? I have some here in my Etsy Shop: Vintage Barbie Dolls.

 This blog article was contributed by the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team Captain Jessica of Eco-Friendly Freckles