Meet the 2018 Etsy Dallas team

Etsy Dallas is a local craft collective run by a juried group of crafters, artists and designers in Dallas who sell their wares on Etsy. (No, we aren't the same as Etsy. We have the blessing of Etsy as the official team for the Dallas metroplex.) We are an all-volunteer group who are serious about our handmade businesses and the success of this team and its endeavors.

Etsy Dallas began in 2007 and was the first city team in Texas. Since the founding, our members have been invested in the Dallas community, working with Etsy Dallas to benefit different aspects of the creative community and culture that makes this a great city. The team is run by a group of volunteers known as the Leadership Team.

Sabrina and Jenny, Co-Presidents of Etsy Dallas, run The Pig and the Peacock

SaRatta, Vice President of Etsy Dallas, runs Expressions Bracelets

Molly, Secretary for Etsy Dallas, runs Tokodots

Alexis, Community Director for Etsy Dallas, runs Whipped Up Wonderful

Rori, Social Media Director for Etsy Dallas, runs MadeByRori

Lesia, Graphics Queen of Etsy Dallas, runs SurlyBunny

The mission of Etsy Dallas is to promote the handmade movement in the Greater Dallas area and beyond. You can browse all our member artists for some of the best handmade wares around. 

We hope to see y'all at our events this year. We had a great start to the year with our Love Letters Challenge. And there is much more to come! You can sign up for our newsletter to be sure you don't miss anything. 

A Jingle Bash wrap and a bit of a treat

Big thank you hearts to everyone who made Jingle Bash 2013 a success. We're looking at you, volunteers, sponsors, photographers, vendors and savvy shoppers. We wanted to share a few of our favorite photos from the day. And we want to thank you, dear reader, for your continued support of independent artists and makers. 

A few of our member shops have special coupon codes for you! Check out these Etsy Dallas team shops and save. 

MariForssell: Use code ETSYDALLAS20 to save 20 percent through March 31, 2014.

FreckledChicken: Use code PEEP2014 to save 20 percent through March 31, 2014.

Regal Cottage: Use code WONDERSOFWONDERS to save 20 percent through January 31, 2014.

Creative Input by Liz: Use code Creative2014 to save 20 percent through March 30, 2014.

The Pig & The Peacock: Use code ETSYDALLAS20 to save 20 percent through March 31, 2014.

MadeByRori: Use code JINGLENEWYEAR to save $2.14 through March 31, 2014.

Hello, Summer!

A few finds to sweeten your summer. 

Mer-Jack Ladies Tee by Dowdy Studio
Sweet Citrus and Lavender Body Scrub by The Pig and the Peacock
Obsidian and Coral Chevron Necklace by estieMade
Travel Laundry Bag by Jenni20 Designs
Red Bicycle Notebook by MadebyRori
Blue Yonder Photographic Print by YLK Photography

For the love of mom

There's so much to love about the special women in your life--the moms, grandmas, aunties, and other ladies who give you so much love and encouragement all year long. 

And though there's absolutely no way one gift can really express just how grateful you are, I know a few ladies in my life who wouldn't turn a gift down! 

So in the spirit and loving and giving, we've curated just a few things in the treasury below from our artists and members--simple, thoughtful gifts that will let someone know in a small way just how much you really care. 

Click through, and you'll find gifts for the traveler, the gardener, the fashionista, the minimalist...

Crafty Book Review: Paper Made!

Kayte Terry may have your dream job. According to her bio, she is the merchandising manager for Anthropologie, a crafter, and a freelance fashion and prop stylist. Swoon!

She also happens to be the author behind the super fun craft book Paper Made!, which features 101 projects all made with paper. And, of course, the photography and styling is gorgeous.

You can find Paper Made! on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Prepare to lose yourself in a paper wonderland!

The projects are beautiful and would make lovely handmade gifts for the holidays. You don’t have to be a creative genius to successfully complete the projects. The instructions are clear and easy to follow and Kayte always lists all the items you need to complete each project.

The book begins with some tips on techniques and tools. There is also a great list of resources, suppliers and blogs to check out.

Projects are rated by level (1-5) so you can create something as simple as the Piece of (Cup)cake Paper Flower or as complex as the Modern Fete Silhouette Chandelier. There are instructions for everything from shelves made of books to jewelry made with paper. What a crafty way to recycle!

Posted by Rori of MadeByRori.

Adorable DIY Halloween Treats

Trick-or-treat time is almost here! This fun DIY project from Rori of MadeByRori might just make your house the most popular in the neighborhood with all the ghouls and goblins. 

Here are the supplies you will need: the cardboard from toilet paper rolls (you can also cut paper towel rolls to size, if needed); scissors; scrap paper in Halloween colors; scrap pieces of ribbon or twine; candy; double-stick tape; cellophane.

How to make these awesome Halloween treats:

1.   Cut scrap paper to 6 x 4 1/8 inches to fit the toilet paper roll. You may have some excess outside the edge of the roll, but that’s okay.

2.   Put double-stick tape around each end of the toilet paper tube and around the middle. Carefully wrap the tube with the paper. You’ll have about an inch of overlap, so add an extra strip inside the end of your paper for extra hold.

3.   Now center the wrapped tube in a piece of cellophane. I cut the cellophane into pieces of 13 x 8.5 inches. You want to roll along the 8.5-inch length, so there’s plenty left on either side. Use a small piece of double-stick tape to secure the cellophane to itself when you reach the end.

4.   Tie off one end of the cellophane with ribbon or twine (about 6.5 inches should be enough for one end), leaving the other end open so you can put in a few pieces of candy. Fun!

5.   Tie off the other end and you’re done!

6.   Put your adorable treats in a bowl and get ready to impress the neighbors.

These also make fun party takeaways. And they’re a good way to spice up the office candy bowl. 

The Queen is my Hero

Queen Elizabeth proved to the world that she does indeed have a keen sense of humor when she "dropped in" to the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony by parachute!

Here are a few Her Majesty-inspired picks from Etsy Dallas:

Retro Floral Envelope Clutch by K8Made

Keep Calm and Carry On Notebook by MadeByRori

Shade of Purple Bunting by Three Yellow Starfish

Dainty Lace Cuff by estieMade

Crochet Teacup Ornament by Sheepish Knit Crochet

Vintage Scarf Pillow by Butter Design Lab

Be Courageous Letterpress Art Print by Honeycomb Print Shop

Three Cheers for the Queen!

Crafty Book Review: Big-Ass Book of Crafts and Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2

Ok, crafty people, get out your supplies, clear off your table and get ready to make something awesome as Rori from Made by Rori reviews the Big-Ass Book of Crafts and Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2 by Mark Montano.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts features 384 pages of projects including olive oil body lotion, a drinking-straw starburst hanging light, and kid-art napkins (also pretty fun for us grown-up kids). This full-color collection was published in 2008. The photographs by Auxy Espinoza are beautiful and make it hard to choose which project to start first.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2 is the same length as the first and was published in 2011. It’s not quite as good as the first, but the projects are still pretty great. New projects in this follow-up include concrete planters, zipper pumps (pretty awesome way to add new life to an old pair of heels), and 99-cent-store shadow boxes.

One of the great things about both BABC books is how customizable the projects are. It’s incredibly easy to personalize just about all the projects to suit your taste or the taste of a lucky recipient. The best part of these books is the explanation and instruction provided. Although some of the pieces require access to a sewing machine or certain tools, most just require collecting the supplies, grabbing some glue or scissors and getting creative. There are more than 300 projects between the two books, so every artist and craft addict will find plenty to love.

Mark Montano is the crafty guy behind both BABC books. He has written several books including The Big-Ass Book of Home Décor, Pulp Fiction, and Dollar Store Décor. You might remember him from TLC’s While You Were Out and other TV shows. You can find Montano’s on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

Links:

Mark Montano on Etsy 

BABC on Amazon  

BABC 2 on Barnes and Noble  

Treasury Giveaway: Gifts for Mother

Hooray! Hooray! A giveaway! And just in time for Mother’s Day! That’s enough rhyming … for now. Sure, mom loves those flowers and chocolates, but why not get her something that lasts?

One lucky winner will get this entire treasury from some of the fabulous artists of Etsy Dallas. Whether you’re searching for a gift for your mom, yourself or someone who deserves a little handmade awesomeness, Etsy Dallas members have the perfect item.

Here’s how to enter:

1)    Comment – Sign in to your Etsy Account and comment on this Treasury.

2)    Share – Share the love on your blog, facebook page or twitter account.

3)    Let us know – Post in the comments below all the places you shared this giveaway.

The winner will be chosen through random.org and announced on April 18, 2012. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Big thank you hearts go out to the generous shop owners who contributed to this giveaway. Please check out their shops to see all the lovely items they have to offer:

Paper Beats Rock, Dowdy Studio, Modest Ambition, YLK Photography, Butter Design Lab, Jenni 20 Designs, Both Hands Studio, ReGeared, Midnight Snack, Three Yellow Starfish, Karma Crochet, Two Clay Hands, Silla Soup, estieMade, Maggie May I, and K8made.

And thank you to Rori from MadeByRori for curating this lovely collection.