New Member Welcome!

RainbowMetalJewelery

firforest

SparksByDesign

Road Trip Dine Outs - Alberta Eats

Wow it's been a few weeks since my last update and recipe. I'm sorry about that.  Now that my son is done Preschool for the year summer has come on full force at my house.  I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things. By the way.. I am not the only person who gets to share great things with you.  I am very thankful for some great Ladies that are part of the Alberta Street Team on Etsy.

  So anyways since the holidays mean more road running for many of us.  I wanted to share some local spots that you gotta check out.  First up is one from Norma (aka junquete) Here's what she had to say.
"If any of you are looking for a destination on a nice Sunday drive check out the Honey Store off HWY 7! 
It's fabulous. They make their own wines as well. That tasting is fun and great. 
They have honeys you can try as well. I love the clover, lavender and the dandelion honeys but they were all good. 
I can't remember if I tried rose but the orange blossom is fabulous too.

And the prices are really reasonable! 

Very worth the drive"


If you are ever driving up North of Edmonton in the little town of Westlock on a Saturday you must check out JD's Roadhouse Cafe located on highway 18 west going towards Barrhead.  This is a gem of a spot.  It is a great spot for kids and the atmosphere is like something out of the 50's.  What is even cooler is the kids get to have a really cool car or truck bring them their food. The children's menu is also aimed to please. Our little guy love the buttermilk pancakes.  The staff are wonderful and the food is great.  A real must see.

 I am in the process of planning our meals for this week and I think I've got some good ones to share for this week. So stay tuned... now that life has gotten well somewhat settled.

Cheers!!
Kimberley

creationzmini, New Member Feature !

creationzmini

Name (first only) and city/town you live in?
My name is Catherine and I am very fortunate to live in the beautiful town of Banff.

What you sell and why?
With an endless imagination I always like to push myself to learn and create a variety of unique items. I would describe my style has colourful, trendy with a retro flair.
I currently sell Miniatures, Christmas Stockings, Ornaments, polymer clay and origami jewelry and dollhouse miniatures.

When and how you got started?
I had always been creative as a child and always had tons of projects on the go. I think the motivation behind the business side of things came from my parents. They encouraged my siblings and I to do garage sales and would let us keep all the money. Since we were all creative, we didn’t really do the typical junk yard event.Instead, we would dress up in costumes, bake goodies, sell pumpkins  along with some of our art projects and we did fairly well!  But it wasn’t until I was successful with my first Etsy shop that I realized maybe I could take this seriously.

How did you decide on your shop name?
I wanted a name that was short, bilingual and that would describe what I create. Since I knew I would be selling an assortment of products Creations came to mind and I added the letter Z to make it unique.

Is there an item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?
This is a hard question, on certain days I prefer a particular medium over another. If I had to narrow it down sculpting in clay would be my preference. Sculpting in miniature scales is almost like a form of meditation for me. It forces me to be patient and really focus on one thing at a time. When the piece is completed to my standards, it makes me feel so happy.

What’s your favourite part of the selling experience?
Selling all over the world! I am always excited when I get a sale from a customer that lives across the ocean. It feels very rewarding that someone you’ve never met appreciates what you do. It makes me feel connected somehow.

Do you have a day job?
I work as an event coordinator for digital media related programs. This creates the perfect balance between my creative business and logical thinking job. It also gets very crazy busy at times.

Are there other crafts you’d like to try?
I have a constant desire for new creative knowledge so the list is long. Amongst others I will be taking laser cutting and stop motion animation courses in the near future.

creationzbycatherine

Please provide 5 random facts about yourself to help the team get to know you better.
-I am passionate about traveling and I’ve backpacked in15 different countries
-I love dancing like nobody is watching!
-I have a degree in set design and costume design
-I love candies, pickles, peanut butter and sushi (but not all at once of course)
-I believe in living life to the fullest with a creative and adventurous life. Life is too short to not be doing what you love

Additional info
creationzbycatherine/ Etsy shop of trendy Christmas stockings
minicreationz Pinterest
CreationzMini Facebook

New Member Welcome !

LittleFeatherCharms

Rastaquouere

Rastaquouere, New Member Feature !

Rastaquouere

Name (first only) and city/town you live in?

Marie-Michelle, Calgary (Alberta).

What you sell and why?

High end, one off, handcrafted children's garments made up in lush, unconventional and couture fabrics. I was fed up with mass produced, homogeneous and standardized retail offerings. I couldn't stand seeing clothing made entirely from synthetic fibers and knowing full well in what subpar conditions it might have been made on the other side of the world. I'm no revolutionary but I wasn't going to mimic systemic practices I don't believe in. It was important for me to be able to sell clothing that was different, unique and that I thought had soul, if only because it was loved and made by human hands.

When and how you got started?

Back when we were still living in France and my son turned three and started going to preschool, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I had always been fascinated by fashion and costume but couldn’t sew anything to save my life. I had been a French lit major with a minor in Drama but my costume skills were limited to the sketchpad. I managed to convince my mother-in-law to teach me the basics and she lovingly and very patiently taught me everything I needed to know about hand sewing and embroidery. She also sat me down in front of her old Singer and off I went! The experience was contagious as I’ve been sewing and designing ever since.

How did you decide on your shop name?

“Rastaquouère” is a 19th century French word with a pejorative connotation coined to describe exotic looking individuals, usually strangers, who shamelessly exhibited their wealth and loud clothing. Far be it from me that I should singlehandedly attempt to rehabilitate words with an objectionable past but the political incorrectness and the rich and satisfying phonetic soundscape of the word seemed a match for my practice of a marginal sort of luxury.

Is there an item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

Every item in my shop represents growth and a unique kind of journey. If I had to choose just one item though I think it would be the Neobarroco jacket. The making of those sleeves was quite a roller coaster ride!

What’s your favourite part of the selling experience?

I was surprised by the sheer exhilaration brought about by my first sale. It was a real confidence boost, which I needed, being new to the selling world and sometimes feeling that I’m groping blind. I really love packing an order. It has become quite ceremonial really… the choice of paper, the careful wrapping, the addition of a handmade and stamped card, the trip to the post office, the hope that the customer will be just as pleased with the purchase as by the fixings.

Do you have a day job?

I write short stories and freelance as a translator out of my home. I've also worked as a literary critic for a weekly and as an actor, a PR rep and translator for a local theatre company. I have the good fortune of having a husband with a "real" job as a university professor!

Are there other crafts you’d like to try?

I would love to be able to knit. My attempts so far have only resulted in Gordian tangles but I’m confident that with a little patience and time I’ll eventually be able to get my head into it!

Please provide 5 random facts about yourself to help the team get to know you better. Thank you!

Red is my all-time favourite colour.

I have a passion for pastry making and once debated if I shouldn’t become a pastry chef.

I have lived in Cyprus and France and miss Europe and the lifestyle dearly.

I am a fabric addict… at this point it’s probably a clinical condition.

I enjoy biting social satire, theatre, art in general and in particular, books, the absurd, prolepsis, Celine (the writer not the diva), Ducharme, Perec, Queneau, Jarmusch, Hendrix, Supergrass, the Pink Floyd and other geezers of rock, the molecular properties of cotton candy, cashmere sweaters, snapdragons and peonies, vintage pressure cooker gaskets, comic opera subterfuge, and lists...

ADDITIONAL INFO

Blog - rastacuero.blogspot.ca
Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48329342@N06/
Facebook - Rastaquouere

Aubrey Loves Dolls, New Member Feature !

AubreyLovesDolls

Name (first only) and city/town you live in?

Andrea, Edmonton AB (We just moved here from Victoria BC in October J )

 What you sell and why?

 I sell mostly plushy dolls and teddy bears, I’m starting to venture out a bit with coasters. There are a lot of kids in my family and making cute dolls seems to be a good way to give as birthday presents.

When and how you got started?

I started about three years ago, my sister is an accomplished jewelry maker and sells at her local farmers market. I made a monster doll (it wasn't really a monster it look more like a funny looking puppy, but for some reason we just started calling in ‘monster doll’ ) and she fell in love and asked me to make some more so she can sell them with her jewelry  Then I fell in love with all the pretty patterns on etsy and everything took off from there. It’s been a great journey!

 How did you decide on your shop name?

The name of the shop comes from my first daughter, Aubrey. Every doll I made she had to give them cuddles and a kiss. Aubrey has been my biggest fan loving every single doll I make even when I don’t do the best job with matching fabrics.

Is there an item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

That would have to be the Pocket Pixie, a Gingermelon design. One of my popular dolls that sell out every time. I love this doll cause it’s such a versatile pattern.

What’s your favorite part of the selling experience?

Meeting people especially other SAHMs. I also love seeing children s faces when they see my dolls. The way they look and examine the doll, grin and then give their new doll a cuddle. It really is addicting.

Do you have a day job?

My main and most important job is raising my two girls, Aubrey 3 and Camilla 10 months.

Are there other crafts you’d like to try?

I've recently started spinning my own yarn with a drop spindle and I’m also trying out wet felting.

Please provide 5 random facts about yourself to help the team get to know you better.

Well, my husband and I just got married April 30th!! *big happy dance* It was beautiful, I made my own wedding dress!

I own a pet tarantula!

I’m a twin!

I love aquariums, especially saltwater reefs. I use to have one before becoming a mom and I hope some day to have another.

And I want to live on a hobby farm, have a garden and raise some fiber animals. We've always have lived in an apartment (we just upgraded to a duplex!), but I grew up with animals and having lots of space. I miss that and would love to have that for my girls.


on facebook ;  Aubrey.Loves.Dolls
http://pinterest.com/andreascheffer/boards/

SmallFryBabys, New Member Feature !

SmallFryBabys

Name (first only) and city/town you live in?
Tracy -Medicine Hat but moving to Calgary next month :)

What you sell and why?
 Too much too list - 1st Birthday Cake Smash Outfits, Fabric Pennant Banners, Bibs, Ties, Hairclips, & lots more

When and how you got started?
 About 5 years ago needed a hobby after I had my first born :)

How did you decide on your shop name?
My friend helped me

Is there an item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?
Fabric Banners are So fun to make!

What’s your favourite part of the selling experience?
I just enjoy it ! Gets me out of the house!

Do you have a day job?
Yup being a full time mother of 2 under 5 & running my business

Are there other crafts you’d like to try?
 Nope Im too busy as it is!

 Please provide 5 random facts about yourself to help the team get to know you better.
 LOVE to travel,
 Love being with my kids,
 Love Crafts could craft for days on end!
I love the Hobby Lobby could get a job there its too bad they don't have any in Canada :(
& I love working out!


On Facebook: Small-Fry-Baby-Toddler-Creations