Calligraphy Friday

Happy Friday!  I adore Friday evenings - the entire weekend stretches out, filled with possibilities - and the time with which to explore them!

This is my latest calligraphy creation: My initials are JK, so I have always loved playing with a combination of the two, which is essentially an extended, very fancy K.  This is intended for printing on personalized notecards - I hope to have a series of them (A - Z) - Thoughts?  Pricing?  Pricing is probably the scariest thing to me!


Part two of the Etsy Showcase Experiment this weekend:  On Sunday, January 17, I will be in the Weddings Showcase for my calligraphy - How will it go?  Stay tuned!

Check out TheKnot.com for NJ starting Monday - I will be listed as a Calligraphy Vendor (which means I need to get my website up to speed...  Any suggestions very welcome!

New scarves :-) and a SALE

SALE --- Take a look at my Etsy Shop Funky And Elegant - I just marked down a bunch of scarves, and made shipping free on multiple items purchases!!

Just uploaded a couple new scarves to Etsy:

The Charcoal Boyfriend Scarf

68 inches long, and oh so soft :-)  See detail on the right for the cool tweed pattern

Rose Pink Eco - Chic Metro Scarf: Hand knit from yarn made out of recycled plastic bottles, this is a a sleek, sophisticated scarf - reversible cables, with a loop at one end for a quick pull through - stay warm all winter long :-)  No bulk, no double loops or unsightly bulges from knots to keep your scarf in place - this is the winter accessory for the girl on the move!

Looking for some good reading today?  Check out The Lost Earring's Blog at http://www.thelostearring.blogspot.com/, and her shop at http://www.thelostearring.etsy.com/ for some amazing upcycled accessories like these: Bright White Film Negative Earrings.  They're a fun blast from the past

Friday, I'm in love

Bonus points if you know what song the title is from ;-)

Happy Friday!  I have made my very first Etsy treasury of eco-friendly eco-chic items --- things that used to be bottles (I decided not to discriminate between plastic and glass since there are so many cool things made from both!)  --- Check it out: "I used to be a bottle..." - All kinds of awesome, so please check it out and leave comments here/there with what you think!

A sample: MaryJeansThings makes this gorgeous Multicolored Plastic Water Bottle Bouquet ---->

That's right... all of the gorgeous flowers (only $15!!) are made from plastic water bottles... and she also makes beautiful suncatcher mobiles from plastic bottles and takeout containers... the only thing I use my takeout containers for is to take more food to work so this is an amazing UP-cycle!

Leave me a comment with your eco friendly picks and I might feature them and/or you (you can leave a link to items on or off Etsy, and let me know if its a favorite pick from another shop :-) ).

I'm going to go play with my brand new HP Mini - See to the left!  Mine is from moving at theight time and purchasing a all in one internet/phone package from Verizon, but they're surprisingly afforadable... at least when I compare to my computer (which I can't bring myself to think of as 'old' at only 2 years old), which has the same general specs...  I'm also going to try to get Google Webmaster Tools to up the exposure my website gets --- right now it's not much :-(

Watch out tomorrow --- I'm going to be talking about new follower The Lost Earring, her blog, and her Etsy Shop, which has some very amazing eco-awesome jewelry --- If you take a look tonight, be sure to post a comment with your favorite piece!

Wednesday Whimsy

From the whimsical side of Etsy, I present, as promised MissChevious - and her "pretty shiny things"...  In college my dorm room sported a bumper sticker proclaiming that I was "easily distracted by pretty shiny things" so I was obviously predisposed to like this shop --- And that was more than confirmed ---

A particular favorite is the Song Bird Antiqued Brass and Red Glass Layered Necklace --> and at only $17, its a major bargain - I love 'statement' pieces - accessories that take a simple black top and make people stop, stare, and say "wow, you look nice today" - the downside though, is that these are memorable pieces - not to be worn every day.  Consequently, I always feel guilty spending a lot on something that I only wear a couple times a month  --- At $17, this is a guilt free indulgence! 




<--- I have been on a Mezuzah hunt for my new house - For the uninitated, a Mezuzah is affixed to doorposts of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah of having the words of the Shema (a daily prayer, "Hear O Israel, The Lord Our God, The Lord Is One) affixed to the doorpost --- This actually dates from the time Moses and the 10th plague... you can read more here if you're interested.  In any event, Mezuzahs over the past several centuries have become more than just a small box holidng a scroll attached to a doorway... There are a lot of beautiful ones out there!  Right now I'm putting this one, by Artazia on my wish list ;-)  (For those interested, my birthday is in March - yay!)

Hope everyone is staying warm --- It's brrr cold here, and windy to boot!  I'm going back to knitting, and attempting to unravel the mysteries of Search Engine Optimization!  Leave a comment if you have any advice on that, want to be featured here, or anything else...  And please chck out my Etsy shop at the link at the top of the page or here: http://www.funkyandelegant.etsy.com/ and my website http://www.procalligraphy.com/ -  Critiques on either welcome!

M-I-C-K-E-Y

I wasn't planning to be online tonight but I got home early...  My aunt passed away on Saturday, so I attended her funeral - never fun.  She was a fun person - full of joy, and she adored Mickey Mouse.  I mean, LOVED --- She had Mickey memorabilia, Mickey dishes (surprisingly awesome, not tacky at all!), so in her honor, I have found some other funky and elegant Mickey-ana -

Melissa's Magic Spot has all kinds of awesome earrings, many featuring Disney -- My favorites are the Mr Mouse Red Earrings - And at $4, (and available in a LOT of colors), they're a fun way to bring some Mickey to your day :-)

Also funky, but with an art deco elegance, are these Mouse Coasters from ReeCreates -

 She makes beautiful tile coasters (formerly floor tiles - nice way to recycle and upcycle!) in a variety of themes and styles, including some elegant flowers and can "reecreate" pretty much any style according to her Etsy shop announcement!

Tomorrow:  Featuring MissChevious - As a preview, take a look at this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37663829 ---  Beautiful jewelry - if you have a favorite piece, leave a comment here!

Very tired from a long and sad day --- Thanks for all the well wishes!

The Best(y) of Etsy

Based on my inquiry regarding website on Etsy's Forums (http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6394188&page=1), I found the following items that are just too good to wait to feature:

The Funky:

Seville83 (see her blog here, I also follow her blog!), in addition to having really funny posts about her life, fiancee, etc., creates beautiful screen printed bags, with the promise that she can add a zipper to anything... and really, how cool is that?  (I say this having had the crushing experience of finding an adorable tote only to realize that its lack of zipper makes it utterly impractical for my run around crazy life)

Check out the Pineapple Express Bag - It's upcycled from a tank top and totally adorable:






Elegant:

I am loving pretty much everything that WishArtGlass has in her shop - it's filled with beautiful stained glass candle holders, jewelry and light catchers.  When I was very young my parents created and sold stained art glass so I have a soft spot for the medium, but whether you have ever see anyone cut glass with amazing precision, her work is breathtakingly amazing --- Take a look at the Modern Fused Glass Necklace Aqua Cranberry: It's different than anything I have seen, but it's liquid appearance is undeniably elegant, making it an eye catching and verstaile piece of art disguised as jewelry!

Want to be featured next?  Leave a comment here with a link to your shop :-)

I won't be posting tomorrow due to a funeral, but expect to be back online on Wednesday.

Manic Monday

Updates to the website (http://www.procalligraphy.com/) complete for the moment and I have just signed an agreement to be a featured vendor on theknot.com... a prospect that is thrilling but also more than a little terrifying.  As a single girl still looking for Mr. Right (or Dr. Right... or High Royal Highness King Right... you know, whatever), I have dreamed of the aforementioned "Right" but aside from mourning the fact that deceased realtives will not be at my wedding, I have never fantasized about my wedding...  And so I am fascinated by this world, a subculture almost, that is based entirely on creating the perfect wedding.  Of course, when King of the World, His Royal Right shows up at my door with my diamond ring, I'm sure I will be grateful for the blogs, board posts, vendor listings, and planners provided!  Let's hope that some of the current brides are interested in my calligraphy!

Some awesome Etsy items for the day:

Glamasaurs - Also on her blog: Blog.Glamasaurus.Com.  All the way from Switzerland, she creates beautifully kitschy accessories based in my favorite things... dessert!  Check out this one: Pink Cupcak Polymer Clay Necklace

Also beyond awesome is Etsy Seller Dirty Dishes - For three reasons:

A.  Her name

B. Her tagline: The shop for things I won't show my mom.  After all, don't we all have some hysterically awesome items like that!

C. Her cool mugs like this one: ... and honestly, I can't possibly be the only person who sometimes wishes she had her own fleet of flying monkeys... right?  Right?? 

On that potentially destructive moment ;-)  I am off to continue knitting for http://www.funkyandelegant.etsy.com/, and brainstorming other promotion idea for http://www.procalligraphy.com/.  As always, suggestions welcome!

I took the website plunge!

Breaking news!  After years of toying with the idea, I have finally committed (all $14.95 a year) to a website advertising my calligraphy services.  Check it out at ProCalligraphy.com  (wait a day and check again if not live yet).  Mention my blog for a discount!

Something else to love:  Jewels by Trish: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JewelsbyTrish.  Trish, also a follower to this blog, creates deliciously creative jewelry like the Pumpkin Delights:

Bonus points for describing it as "funky"! 

Sunday Status + Steampunk Things to Love

Garnet Scarf: Finished and available for sale! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37738825



Here's a picture:

In other Funky and/or Elegant News, I am loving some of the Steampunk jewelry on Etsy - I saw League of Extraordinary Gentlemen a few years ago, loved it, and just recently learned that it, and this AMAZING genre of what-if sci fi fantasy lit set in the late 1800s was called Steampunk... and that's not all. Steampunk also includes jewelry and art that's made from watch gears and other machine parts --- See some of my favorites here:

Bulova Gold Jeweled Vintage Watch Movement Cufflinks

Makes me wish that as a woman (who has never looked good in buttoned up blouses...I'm more of a sweater girl), I had cause to wear cufflinks!  




Simple Steampunk Vintage Watch Movement Necklace

Things to love:  The seller is named The SteamPunk Trunk, and they sell all kinds of awesome SteamPunk - ery :-)





Go to Etsy and do a search for Steampunk for more gorgeous creations!

Funky|Elegant: The Etsy Shop

Welcome Funky and Elegant: The Blog

(A perhaps too subtle Spaceballs reference)

I run the Etsy shop: http://www.funkyandelegant.etsy.com/, which features custom Calligraphy for weddings, bnai mitzvot (bar and bat mitzvahs), holidays, and other occasions, and knits, including scarves and sweaters for dogs.

Mocha, see picture, is my dachshund hybrid... as in the awesome ears are from what the vet thinks may be some Chihuaua genetics ;-) She's mostly dachshund though - which means VERY long, and skinny, so the sweaters I now make and sell really started with our disappointment in the pet store offerings. The scarves started when I wanted something cute, warm, and matching for me.

Back to knitting - The Etsy shop doesn't stock itself ;-) and I'm hoping more listings = sales... Te former economics major within me is dying to create a spreadsheet analyzing the effect. Will report back soon ;-)

Current project: garnet red pull through cable scarf - knit in eco fabulous recycled plastic bottles and acrylic yarn. Who knew water bottles could be so cozy?