"Love-ly" Greetings

HEART's A-FIRE with Red ROSE Flourish Handmade Card: a new item in the SalonD'Arte shoppe at Etsy.

Show your love with this hand-stamped card: 5 1/2" tall x 4" wide made with My Minds Eye patterned paper, featuring a hand-stamped embossed layered rose with flourish and finished off with satin ribbon. Inside is blank for adding personal message and comes with an envelope for mailing. **Each card is handmade; there may be slight variation in stamped image and patterned paper texturing.

Happy Valentine's Day everybody! I will be celebrating with my husband of 18 years by camping out on the sofa with snacks to watch the Daytona 500 & the return of Nascar racing ; )

Visiting with Wellspring Creations

EtsyTwitter Team's Shop of the Week!

The shop of the week for January 25-31 is from Northern California. When shopping in Wellspring Creations you will find beautiful pieces of jewelry that combine lovely stones or crystals with wire: necklaces, bracelets/cuffs, earrings, and rings.

Judy, owner and designer of Wellspring Creations, shows her love for taking a straight piece of wire and turning it into something unique. "With wire and a lovely stone, my imagination simply blooms and I get to play with symmetry, asymmetry, and geometric design."

She would like all of our readers to know that "I find unusual stones; sometimes beads (with a drilled hole) or cabochons (a flattened, polished stone with no hole). Many of my finds come from only one mine in the whole world! I consider the stone and how best to wrap it so that the stone is secure and the setting shows off the stone, rather than overwhelms it. I prefer using natural stones and high quality wire, mostly sterling silver, but often work with fine (nearly pure) silver, copper, and 14K gold filled wire. Since I put a lot of time and consideration into each piece, I prefer the components to be high quality, so they last well. I try to make every piece an heirloom." Her designs ship internationally so everyone can enjoy one of her beautiful pieces of work!

One of the things I love about Judy is that she is always tweeting about her team members sales and the EtsyTwitter Team's important information. She is always Direct Messaging her fellow tweeter's just to see how they are doing. When asked about how she uses twitter and her tricks she told me: "My followers are my Twitter friends. I follow people that I find interesting and engage in conversations. I think of Twitter as a cocktail party: I go to meet new people, touch bases with old friends and, occasionally, talk about my work. Most of my tweets are comments or responses to other people's tweets. I retweet when it's something I personally find interesting or think others would. I sometimes tweet about my work process--what movie I'm watching while I wrap a pendant; if the light/weather is good enough to photograph my work on a particular day; and a few times a week I tweet a link to an item in my shop. I probably tweet links to others' items a bit more than my own to provide some variety and introduce folks to other handmade artists in a gracious way."

Judy's new years resolution for her store is to work on her photographs so that they "look as good as the jewelry I'm trying to photograph! This is often reflected in feedback from clients delighted how much better their purchase looks in their hand than the picture they saw in the Etsy listing!"

Judy is offering a free handcrafted gift with any purchase from my Etsy shop during the week of January 25-31, 2010.

Use code: SOTW in the comments at checkout.

To learn more about Judy and Wellspring Creations please follow the links below:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WSCreations
Etsy Shop: http://www.wellspringcreations.etsy.com/
Facebook: http://www.artist.to/WellspringCreations
Blog: http://www.wellspringcreations.blogspot.com/

Thank you Judy for sharing all of this information with us. We wish you a very successful 2010!

Need to feed your SweetTooth?

Find your Fix at Sweetwater Inspirations -
EtsyTwitter Team's Shop of the Week:

In Sweetwater Inspirations , owner and designer Wendy Hamilton offers her customers distinctive hand-crafted jewelry of exceptional quality and value. Within her shop you can find gifts for men, women, brides, and teens. You can see that in every piece that Wendy makes she takes pride and is very meticulous with her workmanship to ensure a special pieces for each of her customers. Please see her shop for international shipping details and convo her if you need more information.


Wendy admits that "I love to work with metal wire (sterling, copper, brass) and love the sparkle and unique qualities found in glass, stone, and semi-precious beads. I choose materials of quality and pride myself on representing my materials and jewelry with integrity. I purchase my materials in small quantities, so I sell limited production or one of a kind pieces."

She explained to me that her inspirations really are not much of inspiration as it is an "Addiction. Really, my inspiration is as uncontrived as seeing something new to 'play' with, the interplay of color, or the hypnotic affect of sparkly things. Although my husband groans at stepping into a bead or craft store, he has learned to bring his Blackberry for company and is really very patient when my head starts spinning with possibilities."

Although Wendy is new to Twitter and Etsy (opened on 1/5/09: Happy One Year!!) she would like to share what she has learned on Twitter: "I’ve tried to develop a following for my business by tweeting new items in my shop; but I also like the camaraderie of tweeting with other business owners. I think that Twitter and especially the Etsy Twitter Team offer a great way for business owners to connect and help support each other. It’s amazing how a kind tweet or re-tweet has the ability to open each business to a whole new network of people."

Since her store just celebrated its first anniversary on Etsy, Wendy has taken on the following resolution for 2010: "Last year I put a lot of time into learning about e-commerce and developing the software I needed to make my business end run efficiently. This year I am taking courses to hone and expand my metalworking skills and will put more of my time into design development and building my portfolio."

Good luck Wendy! We look forward to seeing your new metal work and designs in 2010!

From January 18th-24th Wendy is offering the following discount in her shop:

FREE US SHIPPING on all items in her Etsy shop
- PLUS a 10% discount on purchases totaling $50 or more* ·
Discount will be refunded to PayPal after payment or you may convo her before payment for a revised invoice. Texas residents - applicable purchase of $50 is calculated before sales tax. International shipping is not included in applicable minimum purchase and discount does not apply to shipping.


Wow! What a great idea to tell our DH and family members to do while we shop for the things we love the most! Thanks for the amazing tips Wendy about your shop and about your how you work on Twitter.

To learn more about Sweetwater Inspirations please visit Wendy's shop at:
http://sweetwatergifts.etsy.com/

Use the links below to follow Sweetwater's latest information:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SweetwaterGifts
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweetwater-Inspirations/115542896770

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade SweetwaterGifts.etsy.com

EtsyTwitter Team has found...

the Lost Mitten: ETT Shop of the Week

When stepping into this week's Shop of the Week, LostMitten.etsy.com, you can feel Lauren Y.'s love for all things that come from video games. Lauren's shop includes handmade crafts, Perler Bead goods for your office and home, needlepoint creations, Nintendo DS cases, and more. In addition to video games, she loves to knit and crochet! You have to check out these amazing fingerless gloves and awesome hats! A perfect gift for this chilly season (and I do mean chilly)! Lost Mitten is also known for a variety of pinback buttons.

Lauren's shop ships internationally and is located in Brantford, Ontario, Canada (near Hamilton, Toronto, London). Lauren would like all of her customers to know that "Each item in the Lost Mitten Etsy Shop is lovingly handmade by me. The designs and concepts for the creations are a collaboration between myself and my fiancé, Paul. My shop has been open since September 2006."

Here at the Etsy Twitter Team we love to share our tricks and favorite ways to use Twitter. Lauren has told me that she just "loves to tweet about my handmade creations and anything else that happens in day-to-day life. I have met some awesome people through my tweets, so I feel that it is important to make these connections and friendships for an improved Twitter experience. I think it is important to establish a balance between tweeting for your business and tweeting about yourself because people don't want to feel like they are being advertised to all of the time. They want to hear about your interests and other interesting things, too!"

So true Lauren and we love to read your tweets about what’s going on in your Etsy store and your day-to-day life!

Lauren's favorite part of her craft is when she finds out that one of her items have made a wonderful gift for anyone or themselves. Her favorite items to make are the Perler Bead items that she started to make in 2006 when her shop opened on Etsy. Lauren also enjoys taking on new challenges in her craft. (Please convo her for custom made items.)

Since it is the beginning of 2010, we have challenged all of our members to take on a New Year’s Resolution. Lauren admits (like most of us here at ETT) that Etsy becomes addicting. She hopes to spend more time creating this year as a part-time job. We wish you tons of luck, Lauren, in this new resolution and want to say congratulations to you and Paul on planning your wedding.

Follow her on Twitter: @lostmitten
Fan her Facebook Pages: http://www.facebook.com/lostmittenetsy
http://www.facebook.com/lostmitten
Read her blog: http://lostmittenblog.blogspot.com

This week ONLY (ends January 17, 2010):
10% off all items for anyone who mentions this article! Mention "Etsy Twitter Team" in comments at checkout and after payment is received via PayPal she will refund you for the amount of the discount.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade lostmitten.etsy.com

Scrapping the New Year in Style

EtsyTwitter Team's Shop Of The Week:
Scrap With Style

If you're always on the lookout for unique papers and embellishments, Scrap With Style is a dream come true.

As owner Janelle Jones says, "I have papers, ribbons, rub-ons, embellishments, cardstock, scrapbook albums, fun things that can bring family photographs to life! I also make some premade scrapbook albums (paper-bag, recycled CD style and others) and put together page kits and cut paper packs too."


A stay-at-home/work-at-home mom with two little girls, Janelle finds inspiration " in the tons of pictures I take of my two girls. Those pictures are what got me into scrapbooking and making photo projects! I really love displaying family photos."


She also loves the fact that the business allows her to work at home alongside her girls, ages 2 and 4. "My 4 year old particularly likes to help with packing the orders and ribbons!"

From a business perspective, Janelle finds Twitter great for connecting with fellow crafters. "I love to meet people and I really enjoy the social aspect of twitter. It's fun to meet other crafty people and share tricks and tips about papercrafting!"

The shop happily ships both across the country and internationally.

For more information about ScrapWithStyle:

http://www.twitter.com/scrapwithstyle
http://facebook.com/scrapwithstyle
http://janellescraps.com/
http://scrapwithstyle.com/

For this week, Janelle is offering the following great discounts:

10% off orders of $5 or more, 15% off orders of $10 or more, and 20% off orders of $20 or more just put "SOTW" in msg to seller @ checkout. Refunds made via paypal or you can request an updated invoice before payment.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade scrapwithstyle.etsy.com

Go Under the Sea with Noadi's Art -

EtsyTwitter Team's Shop Of The Week


"Merry Squidmas" Everyone! Noadi's Art under the sea and scientific creations are unique and have a sense of whimsy - they always make me SMILE - proving even geeky things can be artsy and chic. I really love Sheryl's specimens in a jar. This brain in a jar necklace is the perfect keepsake to commemorate my seven years of working "BRAINSTORMS" Advertising [really] and the good old days...we actually made Christmas Cards with brains. We had a photo shoot with a shelf of brains in Jars and another with a large gelatin brain that we photoshopped into a string of christmas lights [back when photoshop was a baby and didn't have all the bells and whistles it has today, or layers for that matter]. Those were the days...

And if all Noadi's swimming and science stuff has worked up an appetite, Noadi can also fill your appetite with the "Culinary Cuttlefish" - a blog about Sheryl's passion for cooking. With all things culinary to feed your mind and stomach - AND - homestyle recipes, in a quirky, step-by-step experimental fashion. YES, I am a fan. For the new year, I am preparing my first roast beef following her recipe ; )

There's a genuine love and passion behind the sculpture and jewelry that you find swimming at Noadi's. Cephalopods, fossils, crabs, and other denizens of the sea fill this shop and artist Sheryl Westleigh wouldn't have it any other way. A 27 year old Maine native, Sheryl's love for science and these unique and intelligent creatures inspires every one of her original, polymer clay creations.

From intricately tentacled steampunk cephalopods bristling with gears to quirky specimen jar pendants and platypus ornaments, you can find the perfect gift for the science lover in your life, or for yourself, in this unique shop.

Sheryl says, " I really do love the subjects I base my creations on.It's really wonderful that I've found an outlet for it that sells, and that allows me to bring in my other interests."


In addition to the Etsy Twitter Team, Sheryl is also a member of Seller Helping Sellers on Etsy, and has plenty of tips for those wanting to use Twitter as a means of promoting work and building your business.
"Make strategic use of autoposting of new items and deals. No more than 3 new items at a time. When I have deals that are scheduled to autopost, I do it no more than once every 4 hours. That seems to be a frequency that gets enough attention from my followers without becoming annoying. I also network with others who share my interests in science, etc, outside of the Etsy community, and that has led to sales. "

Sheryl's favorite thing about her art? "That I can do it for a living. And working with polymer clay is a joy, too. I love the stuff! Its so versatile." But marine animals and polymer clay aren't her only loves- she has a beautiful llama named Lauren, as well.

Noadi ships internationally to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Europe. Visit Noadi's Art at http://noadi.etsy.com/ or find her on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/noadi
Blog: http://noadi.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.noadi.net/

Free stamped octopus cards with every order, no code needed.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade noadi.etsy.com

12 Crafts of Christmas - Simple Elegance

Every year for the past 6 or 7 now, I make a batch of crafty goodness for my Grandmother in Chicago. She is 86 this year and teaches painting classes. She has dozens of students and I make her two dozen ornaments to give to her students.

These vellum quilled paper snowflakes are this year's creation. They are actually what I started to do way back when, for my very first batch of ornaments, but there was so much paper piecing, I wasn't able to finish them in time. I was looking around my studio for something else and came across these that were halfway completed. Forgetting what I went upstairs for in the first place, I grabbed the bag and went to work finishing these "Simply Elegant" beauties...it took two nights of quilling to finish them off.

The package was received yesterday afternoon and my Grandmother loves them. She gives them out a luncheon this week : )

Stay tuned, I have more crafty Christmas goodness to share....

12 Crafts of Christmas is here!!!

Every other Christmas my husband and I travel to Chicago to spend the holiday with my Grandmother. There is nothing like experiencing Christmas in Chicago (ok maybe Paris may win out, but I've only been to Paris in April). I sort of know what I'm talking about living in South Florida where just two days ago it was 92! Yes 92 yuk!!! We do have a very nice annual Winterfest boat parade, but it's not the Festival of Trees at the MOSI in Chi-town...

For these travel holidays, I have my Holiday Tree to bring the holiday cheer to my house, without dragging out all the trimmings. Fashioned from wood dowels, and square of wooden fence post is lavishly embellished just like a regular tree - adorned with keepsakes, family photos, paper snowflakes, Scrapbooking embellishments, ribbon and garland. This is just the one side, and there is more to be added yet, but I snapped this photo before I junked it up too much - less is more...

This makes a beautiful centerpiece on the table and keeps the family busy reminiscing on all the photos I cherish on this tree. Best of all, I can change it for any season.

This tree is approx 26" tall and longest limb is 14". If you are interested in a naked tree form, base, various size hooks & star for the top ready to assemble and decorate - I'm happy to produce as custom orders for $15 each plus shipping. Please E-mail me at mail { at } sbartist dot com.

Check back tomorrow for the next installment of my 12 Crafts of Christmas ; )

A Candy Cane Christmas

With Love, From the EtsyTwitter Team

Thanks to Lois at foxygknits for this awesome post on her blog "Foxy G's Den of i-KNIT-quity"
and for featuring one of our Paper Lanterns in this...

When a chill hits the air, acageebee digs out her cozy winter gear and is reminded of the warmth her old friends bring. This candy cane striped scarf always makes her smile:

Candy Cane Scarf Painting by acageebee

Here is a welcome that is fit enough for Candy Land itself:

Peppermint Welcome Ornament by FromNancysHeart

This is one-of-a-kind ornament is reminiscent of peppermint swirl candies:

CHRISTMAS Vintage Candy Cane Swirl Large Origami Paper Lantern by SalonDArte

A Candy Cane Red peppermint candle that will burn for 40-60 hours:

Candy Cane Candle by DavesHomemade

How about a peppermint mocha latte festively wrapped in this peppermint stick coffee cozy?

Peppermint Stick Coffee Cozy by HandmadebySandi

Wouldn’t this taste delish in your hot chocolate or cocoa? Or just by themselves - simple & minty sweet...oooh in vanilla ice cream with dark chocolate hershey's syrup...mmmmm

Candy Cane Marshmallows by VintageConfections

And when you write to Santa, you’ll need to give him your return address:

Medium Candy Cane Holiday Address Stamp by purplelemondesigns

A darling little tissue cozy for a purse or schoolbag – just the right size to fill a stocking:

Peppermint Tissue Cozy by AmieVoltaire

You can decorate your tree or a gift package with this altered domino:

Glitter Candy Cane by inmyheadstudios

Merry Christmas to all – And to all a good night!

Big Announcement!!!

SalonD'Arte has been selected as one of the Holiday Sampler artisans. I am so excited to be part of this. Also one of my EtsyTwitter Team members ACageyBee is part of the Holiday Sampler, too.

I've been working my fingertips to the bone folding hundreds - LITERALLY... hundreds of paper squares making ornaments to prepare for my submission for the Holiday Sampler.



For those of you who are subscribers, I hope you enjoy a my gift of a Handmade Holiday to you, with a paper origami ornament, that is not only beautiful, but easy to make and I've included instructions to begin a new Handmade Holiday tradition with your family and friends.

I'll begin a special "12 Crafts of Christmas" post beginning this weekend...so check back to see what I've been up to in elf land : )

Getting to know JusShar Designs...

EtsyTwitter Team Shop Of The Week

Brr! Winter's chill is in the air even here in Atlanta, and that means getting out the warm toasty goodness of my fav pair of fingerless gloves. It also means its time to pay a visit to Jusshar Designs. This snuggly Etsy shop is brimful of hats, scarves, fingerless gloves, shrugs and more, all designed with enough flair to keep winter's worst at bay in style.

Owner Beth Newbern-Hallam loves the satisfaction of taking a "skein or two of yarn and creating something from it. I'm also really beginning to appreciate the process of making yarn. I've been slowly starting to take raw fleece and spin it into yarn. I haven't done enough to actually make something with it because there is so much involved. I have a new respect for spinners!"

Beth gathers inspiration from everywhere. "Every time I see a show, movie, or commercial with fiber creations in it, I think to myself...."bookmark that idea for later". Sometimes I can't sit back and enjoy the movie for all the fiber seeking I'm doing.
Mainly, though, I knit and crochet because I absolutely love to do it. It's almost like I HAVE to do it to feel right with the world."

A growing fondness for the warm beauty of Icelandic wool is fueling Beth's newest interest in working with raw fleece.

"Icelandic sheep are gorgeous animals, and their wool is so incredibly soft. I haven't dyed any of it yet, because I really like the earthy tones ...reds, browns, and blacks are my favorites."

Jusshar Designs is happy to ship internationally as well as create custom items. "I absolutely adore making the sweater shrugs that I have listed as a custom item in my shop! I was surprised at how popular they are with brides."

Beautiful handknits and crocheted pieces make fabulous gifts, so now's the time to take advantage of the discount below:

10% off For Fans of Jusshar on Facebook, With

Free Shipping in the US and Discounted Rates for Those Outside

The US.

Visit JusShar Designs: http://jusshar.etsy.com/

Follow Jusshar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jusShar

Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jusshardesigns

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade jusshar.etsy.com

Yarn Coture - EtsyTwitter Team's

Shop Of the Week!

Exquisitely knitted creations take center stage in YarnCoture. The shop is filled with amazing pieces that will have you looking forward to weather cold enough to wear them!

Owner Maryum Karim says, "I try to offer a wide variety of designs to appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers. I love to create custom designs as well as OOAK (one-of-a-kind) items in order to provide a personal shopping experience for my customers. Every item is made with great care and will not bear the Yarncoture name until I feel that it's just right. I am constantly educating myself on new knitting and crocheting techniques to improve my craft. "

In addition to scarves, shawls, and fingerless gloves, Maryum also offers vintage inspired designs. "My favorite pieces that I make are my Vintage Inspired Ascot neckties... I just love the simplicity of the design! "

Maryum admits that inspirations for her stylish creations come from everywhere. "I can have a dream about a design and then wake up and create it that same day. On the other hand, a set of beautiful vintage buttons or really funky novelty yarn may inspire me to make something new. A medley of my vintage patterns collection or just a simple knit or crochet pattern coupled with my special touch will sometimes do the trick. It all depends on what mood I'm in!"

A self-taught knitter, Maryum's passion for her craft is another source of inspiration. "there's always a new technique, stitch pattern, a new yarn fiber, or design to try or learn. I love the way the yarn feels as it glides off my knitting needles or how quickly I can crochet a beautiful flower. I also love the fact that I have been teaching my 2 daughters to knit and crochet, and have even featured some of their finished pieces in my shop! Being able to pass these ancient crafts down to my daughers has truly been a joy! "

Maryum admits that its sometimes difficult to balance all the areas of her busy life, so her favorite twitter trick is using her shop Facebook Page to update twitter as well. " I love to tweet, however lately I have been swamped preparing for an upcoming craft show as well as custom orders. Tweeting through my Facebook fan page saves me a lot of time and enables me to allow my fans as well as fellow "Twitteroos" to sneak a first peek at new items in my shop. I usually tweet about my day and sometimes ask fellow Twitterers about theirs. Watching what others are saying also helps me to get a feel for my audience and what a potential buyer may be looking for. "

YarnCoture offers unique gift ideas for everyone on your gift list, including great accessories for those hard-to buy-for men on your list, and ships both domestic and international.

Free standard worldwide shipping for every item in my shop. This special offer will be available through December. Priority Mail and Express mail services will be available for an additional charge.

Follow YarnCoture:

http://www.facebook.com/yarncoture

http://www.twitter.com/yarncoture

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade yarncoture.etsy.com

Today's the Big Day!

Today is Black Friday - the official launch of the Holiday season. I am in the studio working on ornaments and other "Handmade Holiday" goodies.

As part of the huge Etsy event, SalonDArte is offering FREE worldwide shipping* and gift wrapping on all purchases through Cyber Monday. To see other participating shops in this event check out my friends with the EtsyTwitter Team and IndieSmiles.com for beautifully handcrafted items and great sales for the Black Friday Extravaganza.

Shipping will be via USPS first class parcel post. Due to the fragile nature of handmade paper ornaments - this tends to make the shipping a little costly. I am an artist and I want to put my handmade originals in as many happy hands as possible this holiday season : )

I am offering shipping upgrades - and these can be purchased additionally. Please convo for cost upgrades for Priority mail or overnight shipping upgrades. I be happy to bundle shipping costs on multiple items. I do not profit from nor markup shipping costs.

I hope everyone has a great Black Friday weekend! I'm going to get back to working on my "Handmade Holiday" creations and this year's ornament creation for my Grandmother's 2 dozen painting students...SMb

Happy Thanksgiving

I am a turkey baby, my first meal was Thanksgiving dinner. My mother had me at 3:05am after a big family Thanksgiving dinner 38 years ago today. This is my favorite holiday and my birthday all wrapped up in pumpkin pie.

So, I celebrated by cooking a feast for my husband, myself, and my best girlfriend who is from Louisiana. Born and raised on turkey feasts, this is my cooking specialty. This year, I made an Emeril's CAJUN turkey. I highly recommend this recipe, this spicy version is sure to please. My guest "Cajun" was raging with delight. It is roasted like traditional turkey, but with a cayanne "Kick" and stripes of spicy goodness in the meat. Mouth-watering isn't it...this needs smell-a-vision...



Emeril's "Pepper Stuffed Turkey" Recipe [also in "Real and Rustic" cookbook by Emeril Lagasse].

Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter cut into 1/4-inch slices
• Salt and cayenne pepper
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 8 to 10 pickled peppers (recommended: Cajun Chef Brand Sport Peppers)
• 3 tablespoons pickle juice from the pepper jar
• 1 small turkey, about 10 to 12 pounds

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Season the butter with salt and cayenne pepper. Freeze the butter for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, combine the onions, peppers, garlic, sport peppers and pickle juice together. Season the mixture with salt and cayenne pepper.

Place a large towel on a cutting board. Place the turkey directly on top of the cloth. This will prevent the turkey from sliding. Remove the neck, gizzards and livers from the cavity of the turkey. Rinse the turkey under cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey, breast side up, on the work surface with the cavity facing you. Using a sharp knife, make three slits on either side of the breast bone, without breaking through the skin. Insert 2 to 3 slices of the frozen butter into each slit. Season each slit with salt and cayenne pepper. Insert about a teaspoon of the vegetable mixture into each slit, pushing with your fingers. Gently pull the drumstick forward and outward to expose the inner thigh Pull the skin away from the meat. Make a slit following the bone line from the top of each leg. Using your index finger, make a path and stuff with the butter and vegetables. Season the skin which has been loosened around the inner thigh with salt and cayenne pepper. With the neck opening facing you, lift the skin flap and make a slit down each wing from the shoulder, again following the bone lines. Stuff each wing with butter and vegetables. Season the outside of the turkey with salt and cayenne pepper. Stuff the cavity with any leftover butter and vegetables. Secure the wings by folding the lower half back over the top of the wing. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Place the turkey in a large deep roasting pan.

Roast the turkey for 15 to 20 minutes. Lower the heat to 350 degrees F. Cover the turkey with a lid and bake for about 3 to 3 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear. Remove from the pan and let cool for 10 minutes. Lift the turkey out of the pan and carve. Serve with the pan juices.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. We all have much to be thankful - family and friends, our health, good home cooking... and pumpkin pie! SMb

My Friend Linda B and our

Friends at EtsyChai Team Are Having A Sale!

EtsyChai and Etsy Israel Hanukkah Contest & Sale

Several of our Etsy Twitter Team members are on the EtsyChai and EtsyIsrael Teams. So we’re helping to promote their sale and contest because they were kind enough to blog and tweet our Trunk Show. I love working with other teams to make promotions a success!

The details: Many of their team shops are offering discounts until November 22nd. A list of participating shops is on the blog at http://etsychai.blogspot.com

The contest: Shops have hidden an image of a Menorah. The people who find the most Menorah images will win prizes. Prize winners will win a prize bundle (1 per winner). And, while you're looking for images, you will see some great discounts on handmade Hanukkah and other handcrafted items.

So go check their blog out at http://etsychai.blogspot.com for some great deals and a chance to win neat prizes! Happy shopping!

Journey of Love Designs:

EtsyTwitter Team's Shop of the Week

Denise Kung, of JourneyofLoveDesigns.etsy.com, is a woman after my own heart. Most of her work is made with fascinating papers, many of them Japanese papers. I absolutely love paper! I want to buy everything in her shop!

She specializes in stationary, paper gifts, magnets, and even related products like invitations, escort cards, and table numbers.

Denise also has a second Etsy shop called SeashellBaby.etsy.com. She lists products made by her mother. Her mother had to retire early due to her poor health. Now she knits and crochets to pass the time. She loves to come up with new products to make. What a nice mother-daughter story!

Denise is currently working with Japanese chiyogami paper (chiyogami is a type of Japanese paper decorated with brightly colored, woodblock-printed patterns) for her products. “I recently returned from a trip to Japan. I bought a few sheets of chiyogami paper and will be using them for my new products. I would love to buy the whole store of paper! The colors and textures are so beautiful and delicate. I am inspired by the colors and patterns of the papers I work with and find. I am a visual person so my eyes get tickled when I see certain papers,” says Denise about her adoration of paper. Her work reflects an interest in Asian design like in this Chinese New Year Paper Orb Ornament.

“I have always loved creating things. My craft allows me to come up with ideas and carry them out to put together materials and create something new from them. Also, when I get an event related order, I enlist the help of my mother and we bond over our work.”

Follow her on Twitter: @journeyoflove
Read her blog: http://journeyoflovedesigns.blogspot.com
Fan her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Journey-of-Love-Designs

Special for This Week Only:

Free set of 6 gift tags with any order
from Journey of Love Designs.

Free set of 2 scrubbies/coasters with any order
from Seashell Baby.

Use code: "Etsytwitterteam"

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade journeyoflovedesigns.etsy.com

Gifts & Goodies for One of a Kind Celebrations

Custom Event Graphic designed by SMBdesign

Ah, the holiday season...chestnuts roasting on an open fire, frothy cocoa with melted marshmallows, the deep woodsy smell of fresh pine in the cool, crisp air, bumper to bumper traffic, crowded shopping malls, endless gift lists...

If the last three things on that list didn't exactly make you think "winter wonderland", the EtsyTwitter Team has a solution for you this year! We want to help you get a jumpstart on your holidays this week, with some great gift ideas, awesome recipes, and creative ways to wrap gifts that will leave you with more time to sit by the fire (and more money in your pocket!) Click here to visit our team's crafty and homemade goodness to give the gift of a Handmade Holiday... Sb

Visiting with Jenco13: EtsyTwitter Team's

Shop Of The Week...

Jen is one of my new pals in the EtsyTwitter Team. She is always answering questions and giving INVALUABLE advice to her fellow Etsians and I have learned so much from her insight. Also, I made a special "New York Yankees" themed handmade wedding card enclosure for her friends that just got married. They got the "ultimate gift" the Yankees won the World Series...



Anyway, Jen's takes her work to heart - her work is perfection, with unique & bright color combinations - I just love this jazzy red furry scarf! She also cares about others as she uses 10% of her shop sales for care packages to send to the troops overseas - an effort I will soon be joining as my sister ships off to Iraq later this year. I am expecting to receive my very own Jenco13 original cup cozy any day now...I am all for the go-green effort. Please take a few moments to get cuddled up with a cup of cocoa, a good book and one of Jenco13's "crocheted from the heart" creations.

Visiting Jenco13 is a sure way to feel a serious need for something warm. Multi-colored shawls, scarves (with pockets!), cup cozies, cuddly baby blankets and more fill this Etsy store.

Jen freely admits that most of her items narrowly miss being kept. "I love each item I make and sometimes find them very hard to part with! I spend anywhere between 6-8 hours on a scarf to make sure my stitches are even and consistent. If it's not up to my standards, I rip out the stitches until I'm satisfied. I only sell things that I would use myself. When I'm done making things, my husband, Joe, normally has to remind me I already have a million scarves and cup cozies of my own!"

Jen credits her mom, a graphic designer and artist herself, with inspiring her. "She is amazing with colors! We try to get together at least once every 6 months to do an art day for the girls."

Husband Joe is also supportive. "He is an amazing supporter of my art work and never says to me, 'You're crocheting again?' He helps me pick out what my next projects are going to be."

Jen ships her work internationally and is happy to do custom items. "I love to take custom orders from people when they see something new that I have not thought about making before."

As head of the Etsy Twitter Team's PR Committee, Jen is an avid user of Twitter and has a few tricks of the trade to share.


"Each month I go on to friendorfollow.com to see who has been following me, who are my friends, and who is not following me. I first figure out who is no longer using their accounts and get rid of those friends, so that I have room to add those who are following me. I only spend about 30 minutes or so, because you can really get caught up doing things on Twitter!"

She also makes it a point to respond. "I ALWAYS respond to those who RT my information, recommend me for #followfridays or DM me. I feel its important to make those connections on Twitter."

Jen credits persistence and determination for helping her get her store going. "I am the little engine that could! I never give up on things. When times are tough, I stick to my goal and keep on trucking."

Become a fan of Jen on Facebook : http://tinyurl.com/ygnf96e or Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jenco13

Jenco13 is offering a two deals this week:

CUP COZIES ARE BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!
SCARVES ARE BUY ONE GET ONE 1/2 PRICED!
USE THE COUPON CODE -ETTROCKS!

Please note these deals are for the the lesser or equal amount of the second item chosen. Custom orders are welcome. It will be refunded through paypal within 24 hours of purchase. Buyer is responsible for shipping and handling of all items purchased (please see special rates for second items). Priority mail rates are available for US customers only.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade Jenco13.etsy.com

Getting to know Linda B's Beaded Jewelry

EtsyTwitter Team Shop Of The Week:

Since I've been a member of the ETT, Linda has been very active with the group, as well as very active with getting the word out on her fellow artisans - on top of running her own Etsy shop of beautiful creations. I for one as a newbie, have been featured in one of her weekly top 10 lists on her blog and I as well as many other are grateful for her time an generosity to the EtsyTwitter Team! Thanks for everything you do for us Linda, oh & BTW, hope you have a great Birthday this week, too : )

Take a virtual step into Linda Blatchford's Etsy shop and you will find yourself surrounded by fun, fresh, beaded creations. Gemstones and Swarovski crystals pair up with sterling silver and unexpected found objects in these one-of-a-kind designs that reflect Linda's love of color and symbolism.

Her initial inspiration often comes from the colors or shapes of her ever-expanding bead collection. "I see an image in my mind and as I create it, I may have to tweak it. I love it when it turns out better than my imagination. If it’s not spiffy, I start over. Now, I’m looking for more recycled items to work with: bottlecaps, pine cones, etc."

In addition to bracelets, earrings, and pendants, Linda also makes wire Kippahs and gorgeous Judaica themed creations that she is happy to customize with favorite colors or gemstones.

An avid Twitter user and dedicated Etsy Twitter Team member, Linda has a few Twitter tricks up her artistic sleeves. " I “converse” on Twitter, in addition to using it as a promotional tool. I use TweetDeck and have several columns tracking my teams and topics of interest. I follow other people’s followers to connect with more people and use bitly.com to see how many people click on my tweets."

Linda recently became the new team leader for the EtsyChai Team and also features fellow artisans weekly on her busy blog, http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com/ , but never lets the weight of a big to-do list weigh down her creativity.

"I am passionate about beading, and find it relaxing and fun! My favorite thing about it is that I can have different projects going on at the same time. Beaded earrings can take about an hour, while other pieces have different components and steps. "

With gift giving just around the corner ( 54 shopping days!), Linda's fabulous designs are sure to please friends and family on your list, as well as brighten up your own holiday mood!

In honor of her November 1 birthday, Linda is offering a week long discount:

20% off purchases totaling $10, excluding shipping

November 2 - November 8

Where to find Linda:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lindab142

Blog: http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/linorstore

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade lindab142.etsy.com

Holly Berry Altered Holiday Notebook

New in the SalonD'Arte shoppe Holly Berry Altered Notebook

With the holidays fast approaching, this charming altered notebook in traditional Christmas red and holly green is sure to make planning a snap. This would also make a great stocking stuffer or a place to enclose a gift card.