New Beading Books

I have been unusually quiet online lately.  This is mostly due to the large amount of writing I've been doing in the real world.  In the last few months I've put the finishing touches on three beading books.  Teaming with our amazing Bead World staff, we've released a trio of fun instructional books.  These beauties have everything you've come to love in Bead World books -- lots of helpful pictures, step by step instructions and great project ideas!

• Seed Bead Basics: the Bead World Way!, by Lezli Goodwin with Mary Brown, Bailey DeGraff, Robynne Hughes, Nancy Katz and Kim Lucas, $12.99  This great seed bead primer has all the info you need to get started with simple seed bead projects.  Learn how to tie off threads, add new threads, connect various kinds of clasps and more!  Patterns include:
• DNA Spiral Bracelet
• Flower Garden (Fringe) Bracelet
• Sidewinder Bracelet
• Double Sidewinder Bracelet
• Peyote Stitch Bracelet
• Right Angle Weave Bracelet





Pictured: Right Angle Weave Bracelet


• Beyond Basics: All Tied Up! by Lezli Goodwin with Mary Brown, Breanne Determan, Robynne Hughes, Sara Martin, Kate Stanley and Karen Thompson, $12.99  Take your beading to the next level with fun twists on traditional textile techniques!  Utilize crochet, macrame and kumihimo to create hip, modern jewelry you'll love!  Patterns include:
• Beaded Hemp Bracelet
• Macrame Bracelet with Slide Clasp
• 3 Strand Wire Crochet Necklace
• Twisted Crochet Necklace
• Crocheted Cuff Bracelet
• Kumihimo Necklace
• Beaded Kumihimo

Pictured: Macrame Bracelet with Slide Clasp

                                   

• Chain Maille for Beginners, by Lezli Goodwin with Mary Brown, Judy Corning, Robynne Hughes and Lisa Kearn, $12.99  Everything you need to know to get started with basic chain maille, including how to choose the right rings for the project, closing jump rings properly and some beautiful classic designs.  Patterns include:
• Cha Cha Bracelet with Borosilicate Glass Beads
• 2 in 2 Bracelet
• 2 in 1 Earrings
• Copper Flower Earrings
• Fleurette Earrings
• Spiral Bracelet





Pictured: Copper Flower Earrings, Fleurette Earrings and 2 in 1 Earrings



Friday Finds: Potholder Set With Schooner Boats

This set of two potholders featuring schooner boats on a brown background comes from the Etsy shop of SewingGranny. Known for her exquisite handiwork, SewingGranny's shop features handcrafted quilts, kitchen items such as aprons and potholders, burp clothes for the little ones in your life, coffee cozies, and a variety of other lovely items.

Based on Prince Edward Island, an amazingly beautiful province located in the Maritimes, it is only fitting that a number of items in her shop have a nautical theme, such as this potholder set. Come check out SewingGranny's shop for more handsewn, handquilted items!

You can also find SewingGranny's beautifully handsewn goods at: Wood Islands Lighthouse, Orwell Corner Historical Village, and Bisonview Studio Crafts.

Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team and SewingGranny

And the Winner is....

Wow! what a race with so many OUTSTANDING treasuries to chose from!!!

Congratulations to PauperHandmade for winning the May/June OCT Treasury Challenge. She has chosen this item from her shop for the July Challenge.

Woolly Bunny Friend - 15 inch - Lambswool

Please include this item in a treasury with at least 10 other Oh Canada Team Members. What would be really great is if the last 6 are also Canadian Etsians too, but they certainly don't have to be.

Also, be sure to tag your treasury with "OCT challenge", "ohcanadateam" and "etsyteams" and include the phrase "OCT challenge" somewhere in your title so your treasury can be easily found.

The Challenge will end on July 13th at midnight. Over the week following we will gather the votes for the most popular T.

Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team

Shop Spotlight: Jen's Dream Decor

I love taking photos and I almost never have them up on display because I never know where or how to display them. How do you put your treasured photographs up in an elegant and fashionable way? Well, with beautiful photo memory boards from Jen's Dream Decor. Jen also works very hard to create beautiful magnet boards, jewellery holders, and other decorative items for your home.

Oh Canada: Of all the things that you sell, which item or style is your favorite?

Jen: I really love making my Photo Memory Boards the best. I have introduced a gathering technique which I do over double ribbons which really looks lovely and romantic.

Oh Canada: Where did you learn your skills?

Jen: I took a 5 year long night school program in Interior decorating which has helped a lot in the design of products and in fabric choice. A lot of the upholstery and sewing skills I learned in my previous life as a collector bear designer and maker.

Oh Canada: Everyone has different motivations for making their unique wares. What drives you to create?

Jen: What I really love is the feeling of timelessness that comes when you create, where you look up at the clock and can’t believe how much time has passed. There is simply nothing like it.

Oh Canada: If you could learn to use any new technique or material, what would it be?

Jen: The art of upholstery is something I admire and love to do in my limited fashion in my shop. I would love to do more and larger projects like headboards.

Oh Canada: Any plans to incorporate a new product into your shop this year?

Jen: Yes, a lot of plans…I’ve become re-interested in decoupage and plan to make book ends and expand on my line of key racks and coat racks.

Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?

Jen: I love having creative control and being part of this fabulous amazing group of talented artists.

Oh Canada: Do you have a number one tip for new sellers? 

Jen: Join this team (lol) seriously, joining a team to give you support and friendship is the best thing I ever did.

Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing to buy on Etsy?

Jen: Supplies, I can’t believe how fabulous the sources are on this site. It would take years to find all these products if I didn’t have Etsy. I also love to support the other members of my teams as much as possible.

Oh Canada: What is the number one best item in your shop right now?

Jen: I love this frame(see photo to the left), which was a rare and wonderful garage sale find.



Keep up with Jen and see what new discoveries she has made by visiting her Facebook Fan Page. You can also follow her on Twitter and drop by her shop to buy a beautiful, handmade treasure for your home.





Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team

Friday Finds: Cupcake Soaps

They look good enough to eat, don't they? But wait, these delicious looking creations from CarvelCountrySoaps are soaps, not desserts! Like everything else in CarvelCountrySoaps' Etsy shop, they're made with top quality ingredients, and are free from harsh chemicals and parabens. So, stop by and pick up a pampering treat for you or someone you love today!

Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team and CarvelCountrySoaps.

Father's Day Art

I'm always in search of the perfect father's day gift and birthday gift for my husband, which is NOT easy because he's the type of person who A. doesn't want anything and B. if there was something he really wanted, he'd buy it himself. He recently got a new office at work and I thought what better way to spruce it up then to add some artwork to the wall!

Shutterfly to the rescue!  Not only do they make great photo albums and photo prints at a great price, but they also make mouted wall art. You get to pick the layout and photos and they make the art, ready to be mounted to your wall! Now if you're a last minute person, like I tend to be when it comes to shopping for gifts, then the expedited shipping might break your budget! BUT, seeing as I fell in love with the idea, I had to suck it up... ps. tomorrow is the last day for expedited shipping for father's day, so take a look and see what they have!

Mounted Wall Art

View the entire collection of cards.

I chose a few of his favorite pictures of Maddie from various photo shoots over the last couple years. It's going to look great in his office!

The Finalists for the May OCT Challenge

It’s time to vote for your favorite collection in our latest treasury challenge!

Congratulations to the 4 finalists RecycledandResewn, PauperHandmade, WestCoastGlass, and TheSilverBobbin !

Have a look at each of these treasuries, then choose your favorite in the poll at the right. The winner will choose an item from their shop for our next treasury challenge!


Voting is open until Sunday June 19th at 12am EST. The winner will be announced on Monday June 20th. Thanks for playing, and good luck to our finalists!



Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team