dallas

{Hit the Books!} Handmade Gifts for Back to School

Summer is winding down fast, and that means back to school shopping is in full force. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or student, our gift guide of must-have school accessories and teacher gifts will help you hit the books.

Professors and students will love these stylish, refillable leather journals by Ox & Pine. Personalize it with initials, graduation year, or a favorite quote.

Professors and students will love these stylish, refillable leather journals by Ox & Pine. Personalize it with initials, graduation year, or a favorite quote.

Be sure to get a teacher thank you card by Kat French Design for those everyday super heroes.

Be sure to get a teacher thank you card by Kat French Design for those everyday super heroes.

On the professor’s desk or away at college, display cherished memories with this desk photo holder by Creteation.

On the professor’s desk or away at college, display cherished memories with this desk photo holder by Creteation.

Rock your school ID with a personalized leather lanyard by Ox & Pine.

Rock your school ID with a personalized leather lanyard by Ox & Pine.

When it’s time for a little R&R, relax with a DIY kit for watercolor cacti by Maya X Kiwi.

When it’s time for a little R&R, relax with a DIY kit for watercolor cacti by Maya X Kiwi.

Mark your page with a personalized leather bookmark by Ox & Pine. Make it a truly special gift by adding their name, graduation year, or favorite quote.

Mark your page with a personalized leather bookmark by Ox & Pine. Make it a truly special gift by adding their name, graduation year, or favorite quote.

Even during finals, remember to breathe with these gorgeous hand stamped mini cuffs by Kathleen Care Jewelry.

Even during finals, remember to breathe with these gorgeous hand stamped mini cuffs by Kathleen Care Jewelry.

Teachers and parents alike deserve to unwind with these DIY watercolor kits by Maxa X Kiwi.

Teachers and parents alike deserve to unwind with these DIY watercolor kits by Maxa X Kiwi.

Handy gifts for all the super manly teachers and students in your life, Sasha’s Hand Poured.

Handy gifts for all the super manly teachers and students in your life, Sasha’s Hand Poured.

Some teachers make a difference beyond words. Show your appreciation with a customizable teacher bangle by Expressions Bracelets.

Some teachers make a difference beyond words. Show your appreciation with a customizable teacher bangle by Expressions Bracelets.

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{Red, White & Blue Roundup!} Your Local Gift Guide for July Shopping

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Summer is sizzling, and your to do list is a mile long, so let’s make shopping easy for you. Whether you’re looking for amazingness for your BFF's birthday, a thank you for that special coworker you share glares with during meetings, or some long overdue self care, we have the perfect summer gifts from local handmade artists in the DFW area. Shop local, support your community, and feel all warm and fuzzy knowing you mean the world to a small business. Enjoy our gift guide of modern Americana-inspired favorites and not-so-traditional red, white, and blue goodies.

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{Artist Spotlight} Ox & Pine

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Stephanie’s booth is always one of the most popular spots at the Bash so we know many of you will be excited to find Ox & Pine at the 2019 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash. We caught up with her for a quick Q&A just for y’all …

What are you most looking forward to for the Spring Bash?
Seeing and meeting customers in person. I love being able to talk one-on-one and to learn about the special gifts they're giving that we can help a little with.

Is your shop offering anything new, special or different at the Bash?
We have our famous leather luggage tags and will be selling our lovingly dubbed cheery mishaps for a big discount (leather journals that are cut a little funky or have a large scar).

What is your favorite part of prepping for an upcoming show?
It's exciting to think what fun and special personalizations everyone will have us stamp on their leather good.

What makes this event special for you?
We really only do the Etsy Bashes, so we really put our heart and soul into it.

Is there a story behind your shop/business name?
We went with something descriptive of what we do — ox for the leather and pine for the paper.

What is a typical day of work like for you?
I look through messages and go over orders each day. Then, it will vary from product development to working on social media and other marketing.

What is your professional background and how did it lead you to the creative work you are pursuing now?
I spent years learning leatherworking and bookbinding before starting to sell my leather goods.

How would you describe your shop?
We make personalized, handcrafted leather goods that create a connection through meaningful gift-giving.

What inspires your work?
A desire for beautiful and functional leather goods that mean something and will last forever.

What do you find the most challenging about your work?
Figuring out the best processes and fine-tuning our products to what others need.

Do you have any tips for finding work/life balance?
It's a daily challenge that sometimes you feel like you're winning at and other days you don't.

Shop from dozens of artists offering unique handmade wares at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 4. From original art, home goods, and artisanal soaps to local jewelry designers, leather workers and so much more! Check out the event on Facebook here. And find out how to shop the Bash like a pro here. We’ll see y’all at the Bash! 

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{Artist Spotlight} Untamed Arte

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The unique pieces from Untamed Arte are sure to dazzle. We are so excited to see what Stephanie has for you in her booth at the 2019 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash on May 4. Stephanie took a moment for a quick Q&A session just for y’all …

What are you most looking forward to for the Spring Bash?
The Etsy Dallas team always does an amazing job putting the event together so I'm just excited to see the turnout.

Is your shop offering anything new, special or different at the Bash?
My shop is working on new designs, making the Spring Bash the first market where people can see them in person. I will also be giving out special discounts.

What is your favorite part of prepping for an upcoming show?
Creating my inventory and just hoping whatever I make will bring joy to the person who purchases it because I make my things with a lot of love.

What makes this event special for you?
Mostly the team that creates it. It really shows how hard they work. The Bash is one of very few events I've seen that has such a loyal following. 

Is there a story behind your business name?
I name my shop Untamed Arte because I have a ton of ideas that sometimes have no connection to anything I have created in the past or plan on creating. I just love experimenting and exploring new concepts. 

What is a typical day of work like for you?
A lot of prep work. For me its probably 90% prep and 10% of actually creating. 

What is your professional background and how did it lead you to the creative work you are pursuing now?
It has always been a hobby. My passion for it never stopped growing, and I finally decided to go full force with it. 

How would you describe your shop?
Random and colorful. I try to make eye catching items that pull you in. 

What inspires your work?
Lately, western decor has been inspiring me. 

What do you find the most challenging about your work?
I would say trying to find the most efficient way of making my products. 

Do you have any tips for finding work/life balance?
It's okay to take breaks. 

hop from dozens of artists offering unique handmade wares at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 4. From original art, home goods, and artisanal soaps to local jewelry designers, leather workers and so much more! Check out the event on Facebook here. And find out how to shop the Bash like a pro here. We’ll see y’all at the Bash! 

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{We love you, Mom!} Your Local Gift Guide for Mother's Day Shopping

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Whether you’re shopping for your mom, a friend, that coworker two cubicles down who is always covered in cat hair or your bestie who’s expecting, we have the perfect Mother’s Day gifts from makers right here in the DFW area. Shop local, shop small and support your community. It’s a win all around, if you ask us. Here are a few of our favorite finds for all the moms in your life.

Sponsor Spotlight: DallasChild

Dallas-Fort Worth is booming! We live in such an exciting city with so much to offer, it can sometimes be overwhelming to keep up. Enter Dallas Child. Etsy Dallas is so happy to have a long standing relationship with this awesome local resource. I have sung their praises a few times before. If you have a family, and live in the area, you need to check out their site and publication! You will never have to wonder what you might be missing, or who the best doctors in town are, or which Summer camp is right for your kiddo again. 

Etsy Dallas and Paws in the City

Last month the Etsy Dallas Team hung out with Paws in the City. A local all-volunteer, no kill organization with a commitment to ending overpopulation, neglect, and abuse of DFW area cats and dogs.

No one is on a payroll at Paws in the City, so all funds raised goes straight to the dogs (and kitties)! And that’s a very good thing!

We hung out with some amazing fluff balls and made a variety of dog toys while raising awareness and funds for their amazing charity.

 

We thought this would be a great time to share with you how to pull together an event for a worthy charity in your area.

 

Step One: Look for charity organizations in your area.

We know that you are following at least 5 different charities on Facebook. Reach out! They want to hear from you!!

 

Step Two: Grab your crew

Your book club, your Girl Scouts, your craft guild, your friends!

 

Step Three: Make a plan!

Each charity has different needs. Usually the bottom line is raising funds. Find out what the charity needs and work for them.

Some ideas -

Pets : make some handmade toys/bankets/treats to raise funds

Kids : make handmade toys, arts and crafts and more to - help a book or School supply drive

Seniors : art is so therapeutic! (and we sort of LOVE art for all causes), use to help raise awareness for Meals on Wheels and other great senior charities.

 

Step Four: Buy the supplies

Or ask for donations! You don’t have to break the bank. Work with upcycled items, supplies from your own private stash (between the Etsy Dallas team, we have enough “extra” supplies to outfit a craft army.

 

Step Five: Decide a date and rally!!

Work with the Charity’s schedule (not yours). Send out social media blasts, create an event on Facebook or another good event planning platform.

 

Step Six: Get to crafting and have fun!

We had so much fun! We made super cute dog toys, we got to know more about the foster parents of the dogs that came out, and learn more about what they do. We even raised some money for their amazing cause!

 

 

A note from the President here at Etsy Dallas:

Thank you everyone who came out to our Craft + Adoption event today at Café Izmir benefitting Paws in the City! Etsy Dallas volunteers had a great time teaching others how to make DIY dog toys many of which were enjoyed by the PITC foster dogs!

 

Foster pups enjoyed the nice spring weather and all the attention they were getting. Several applications were put in for foster dogs and we hope they all find their forever home soon! Thank you to Cafe Izmir for offering up their patio for such a wonderful cause.