Mattie Reid Chicago blog contest

I am very excited to offer Mattie Reid Chicago readers a chance to win a $20 store credit at our Etsy shop. Don't want to wait for the contest to end to get something from our shop? Use coupon code "ETSY20" and get 20% off anything in our store. Coupon expires 3/31/11.

The giveaway details are as follows:
1. Visit our shop, find something you really like and come back here and comment.
2. Heart our shop or favorite an item for extra entries and then come back here and comment.
3. Earn one extra entry for following our blog. Come back here and comment and tell us you are following our blog.

Contest ends Thursday March 31, 2011 at midnight CST.
Limit is $20 store credit.
Open to residents worldwide.
Winner will be drawn randomly.

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The Earth Laughs in Flowers - An Etsy treasury featuring items from the Handmadeology team

'The Earth Laughs in Flowers' by HoneyFromTheBee

Maybe we can give it a little tickle?

Pink Flower Drop Earrin... 3pearls $16.00	Natural Ranuncula and B... fanciestrands $15.00	Felted flower brooch - ... galafilc $16.00
Daisy. Earrings petalandpink $20.00	Flower Fairy Yellow OOA... CraftaholicWom... $25.00	Flutter - Carefree summ... joystclaire $15.00
Spring flower bouquet f... elsahats $40.00	Cherry Blossoms II- an ... SunnyLeeStudio $70.00	Handmade Victorian Loli... JiltedCoquette $22.00
Pocket Full Of Sunshine tamaralove1 $23.00	1 Pair Blue Moon Brand ... TUTreasures $5.50	Fine Art Photography: ... TatterBeans $18.00
Jonquils Sterling Silve... ZurDesigns $50.00	pink blooms gift tags s... studiozuzu $5.00	Cuff bracelet made from... mattiereidchic... $48.00
Custom Size Double Flow... KnitzyBlonde $26.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

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Things I love today!

Cotton paper origami lampshade - size L $69

I absolutely LOVE this lamp. It has an amazing origami design! I found this item on the front page of Etsy last week and I added it in my favorites!

Platinum Antique Edwardian Art Deco 1.75ct Diamond Filigree Engagement Ring $6950

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love vintage jewelry. This ring is one of my absolute favs! I can't remember how or when I found this ring, but all I can say is that I want this ring! It's so stunning and it's from the Art Deco period, which is my all time favorite!

Black Lace - Nightfall .... Beaded Crochet Necklace - Flowers $118

I love crochet jewelry. This piece is really awesome! I also love the color black. How fabulous would this look with a scoop neck dress or top?

Felted slippers BLACK and 2 roses brooch set $80

My friend Debbie is really into learning how to felt. She's even signed up to take a class. I started looking around at felted slippers when she told me she wanted to learn and I found these cute slippers. I love the added roses on top. So adorable!

Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Rocket Tripod Lamp $395

I love vintage lamps and I love them even more when they're mid century modern vintage lamps. This lamp rocks!

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Interview with Gloria of Lolailo

Lolailo is a shop who believes in the importance of reducing and reusing. Lolailo is based out of Fairfield, California and is owned and operated by my Etsy Recyclers Guild team member, Gloria.



Q. Tell me a little about yourself:

When I am not unemployed, I am a winemaker. I grew up in Spain. I live near the Napa Valley, I am married to a winemaker, and I must say we drink quite well at our house. In my newly found spare time I have reconnected with my crafts, which is something that had been falling by the wayside little by little. I also take classes at the community college by my house and practice kickboxing.

Q. When did you first start crafting?

My mom is a very creative person, and I’ve been crafting since I was able to hold a pair of scissors, pretty much.

Q. Please describe your work in detail. What's your favorite type of crafting/art?

I primarily make bulletin/message boards using wine corks and old frames. My love for corks came through my job. I was fascinated by the typography and design that each producer used. I was dismayed at these very interesting and diverse corks ending up in the garbage after a tasting, so I started hoarding them. I investigated what to do with them, and of all the many crafts you can use corks for, the bulletin board was my favorite. I am a pragmatic person, so I like things that have a function. I go to thrift stores and garage sales and look for frames suited to become cork boards.

Q. How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

I have become more flexible, in that I can see more possibilities on frames that perhaps I would have dismissed earlier on. I decorate the frames, paint them, nail beer caps onto them... Anything to rescue unloved frames from the landfill.

Q. Where do you get your inspiration?

I get a lot of inspiration from the frames themselves. There is nothing standard about creating something out of a “found object”, so when I’m ready to tackle a new project, I just throw some corks into the frame and start playing with them, forming a design, changing it, and eventually I come up with a plan.

Q. Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

Online at Lolailo.

Q. What advice can you give other crafters when selling their items?

I am trying to figure out so many things myself! I find Etsy to be full of very experienced and talented artisans, who tackle crafting as a business. I read the forums and the blogs as much as I can, and try to heed their advice.

Q. Describe yourself in three words:

Recently Etsy had a similar exercise, but we had six words! This exercise was based on Ernest Hemingway's claim that he could write a good story in six words.
I wrote:
“Spanish winemaker hates throwing corks away”

Q. Is there is anything else you'd like to share with us?

Treasuries are a wonderful way to connect with other Etsians, promote your items and develop an aesthetic eye. The fairest treasury team I know is the Pay It Forward Team. We follow the Golden Rule and try to be as helpful as possible. Please look us up! Everybody is welcome to join!

You can find Gloria online at the following places:

Lolailo on Etsy
Facebook
Twitter
Kaboodle

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Handmade accessories...Why be without them?

I think accessories can brighten up any outfit. Why be drab when you can be cute and sassy by adding handmade accessories to garments. Handmade items are unique and can make your dull, ordinary outfit spectacular!

The purpled up in plaid bloom pin by $18 by Sweet & Dirty’s Emporium

I love the combination of textures in this purpled pin as well as the top stitching and button details. It looks cute on a top and I also think it would be cute on a coat or tote bag.

Cream Infinity Scarf / Recycled T-Shirt $20 by Oh-Zie

This scarf is super cute and would dress up any t-shirt or sweater. It's made from an old t-shirt and has a cute brown flower detail to dress it up a bit. Great way to recycle an old item if I don't say so myself.

Vintage wool plaid button bobbies/hair pins $6 by Mattie Reid Chicago

These hair pins were actually made by me. I used to be a vintage button hoarder and started making things with them. I've made a lot of hair accessories with the buttons that had a matching mate. I think these buttons would look cute on anyone.

The Etsy Recyclers Guild Team has a lot of talented artists who make eco-friendly products. All products are recycled into something else, which is beneficial to everyone. Our team motto is basically, "We live green, we love to recycle, and that's what brought us together. Our team believes in Random Acts of Kindness, a movement to promote each other's shops and spread the word about living green." To shop handmade items on our team, you can click here.

Handmade goodness with art deco flair

I love, love vintage items and especially vintage items from the art deco era. I frequent estate sales and make a lot of my handcrafted items from broken pieces of vintage jewelry of leftover trims.

Art deco filigree leaf belt buckle cuff bracelet $45



Nature was a big part of art deco design and filigree was often used as a design element in art deco pieces.

Black Elastic Headband with Antique Vintage Brooch Pin $48


Many times, the pieces were just shiny, elaborate, decorative statement pieces.

Vintage art deco marcasite shoe clip cuff bracelet with velvet ribbon $65


Regardless of what the pieces were, they are still beautiful to this day. I just like to reform them into something new and different. You can take a closer look at the items above by clicking on each photo. You'll then be redirected to the actual item. For other upcycled/recycled vintage jewelry pieces, please visit Mattie Reid Chicago on Etsy or visit Mattie Reid Chicago online.

$75 store credit for upcycled handmade items at Mattie Reid Chicago

I'm offering a $75 store credit for my Etsy shop when my Facebook page reaches 300 fans. My page is currently lingering at 98 fans. Please visit my Facebook page and become a fan today! Winner will be drawn randomly once our page reaches 300 fans! Spread the word!