BESTeam Feature: Redemption Art

Redemption Art is the place to find vintage, hand made, and upcycled art from Hawaii. Connie, the owner of RedemptionArt, is retired from the corporate world. Now Connie gets to nurture her creative side.

Connie made this Vintage Hawaiian Hula Girl Outfit Newborn to Three Months Handmade from vintage material.

Here is a Handmade Hawaiian Puka Necklace 18 inches.

In Hawaii, puka shell necklaces were traditionally worn by people who were traveling by sea. The shells were thought to ensure a peaceful, safe voyage.

This is a Vintage Hawaiian Libby's Pineapple Juice Ad 1950's.

This 1960's style headband was made by Connie using vintage fabric.  She got the pattern from a vintage headband. Now that is creative!

Do You Love Me Surfer Girl Spring Time Head Band

Here is a pair of oh-so-cute Artsy Coconut Girl Hand Made Earrings.

This Barbarian Princess Handwoven Upcycled Wristlet with Garnets was inspired by Princess Kaiulani who was Hawaii's last reigning princess.

There was a movie made about Princess Kaiulani in 2009 called Princess Kaiulani.






There are lots more wonderful items in the Redemption Art Etsy Shop, so head on over and check it out! You can also visit Connie's blog called Island Buzzy.

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The Boosting Etsy Shops Team (BESTeam) is a group of Etsy sellers dedicated to promoting each others Etsy Shops through our blogs, twitter and Facebook pages. New members are always welcome.

Update On New Family Member, Sunny

On April 9th, I got a new kitten.  He is about 4 1/2 months old, and his name is Sunny. Here is the first post about Sunny: New Family Member, Sunny.

My other cats, Jerry (7 years old) and Brady (4) took almost a week to give Sunny a lukewarm welcome to the family. Maggie (6) still is not impressed with her new brother, but Jerry and Brady have become hospitable. Brady will play with Sunny sometimes, however, Sunny tends to push playing a bit too far for Brady's liking.

About three times a day, Sunny uses our home as a speedway.  He zooms from room to room at high speeds. There doesn't seem to be any set travel plan, it looks totally like random, sporadic mad dashes.

One thing Sunny started doing about five days ago, was sleeping on the cat condo. The first time I saw him on it, I wondered what Brady would do to him when he realized that the new guy was on his condo.  Brady has always been the only cat to use it since I bought it. But...Brady has been a trooper about it. He doesn't seem to mind at all.

Sunny does have one habit that none of the other cats have ever had, which is to climb up my hanging clothes in the closet to get to the top shelf. I've never seen him do it, and I don't usually realize he is up there until boxes of things begin to land on the closet floor with big thuds.

Before Sunny arrived, I hadn't realized how quiet and peaceful my home had become. Now I am reminded ever day about how quickly things can change, and how nice it can be to change things up a bit.

Friday Finds: Cat Pouches

Today I searched Etsy for handmade cat pouches. There were 971 items that came up. Of course, I didn't check out all 971 cat pouches. I don't have that much time on my hands :-0 I did, however search through quite a few pages, and picked out the items below.

Easter is coming up fast. Any one of these handcrafted items would look great in an Easter basket. After your mother, sister, wife, daughter, etc. got finished eating all the goodies in the basket, they would be left with a keepsake that they could use for years to come. They might forget what candies you got them, but they wouldn't forget the handmade gift that was included. What could be better than that?

First up is a Perfect Little Wristlet and Credit Card Holder - Cats And Coffee by Caprimo Designs.

In this shop, you can find wristlets, hipsters, gadget cases and disc holders.  Very nice shop!

Next is this Button Flap Closure Novelty Clutch Bag from BeautifulSeams. This shop offers quilted items, clutch bags, totes, and more. Free shipping to US on all items.

While visiting this shop, be sure to check out the beautiful Quilted Rag Basket. It is amazing!

Here is a iPhone 3G 4G iPod iTouch Android Droid Blackberry Cell Phone Pouch Case Sleeve Padded in Siamese Cats on Pink by Steel Dahlia.

In this shop you can find lots of cell phone and Blackberry cases, sleeves and cozys.

This case would make the perfect Mother's Day Present for me!!!! I think I will send the link to my adult kids and just write, "Isn't this the cutest iPhone case you've ever seen?" Maybe one of them will get the hint :-)

Here is a HELP Japan: Vintage Japanese Kimono Cat (Kitty) Pouch. At Kazue West you can find handmade handbags and accessories.

50% of all sales will be donated to the JapanEarthquake/Tsunami: Emergency Support for Affected Children.

Next up is this Pocket Mirror - Sunshine Kittens velvet pouch included by Kikichoo.  Buy 3 pocket mirrors, get the 4th free!

This shop offers original artwork on canvas, framed and on button badges.

The artist, Loraine, has 5 cats; Cherry, Poppy, Ruby, Mimi, and Mr Hector.

And last is a Ewesful Pouch - Fushia Kitty by Ewenique Essentials. All items are made with Ewe in mind!

Debbie, the owner of Ewenique Essentials makes and sells quilted and knitted items, as well as soap.







Thanks for stopping by and viewing this weeks Friday Cat Finds.  You are welcome back next week to see what I pick out then.  Have a great weekend!

BESTeam Feature: Alexander's Designs

Alexander's Designs is run by a wife and husband team, Jenny and Skip Alexander.  They are a self employed couple who work construction together and make jewelry together. Their handcrafted jewelry includes a unique blend of Swarovski Crystals, lamp work beads, glass beads, semi-precious gemstones, sterling silver, fine silver, pewter, and gold.

Ugly Glass is a line of glass Jenny and Skip create in their home studio. The process for making Ugly Glass starts with torching the glass, and then it is put into a special blanket to cool. Next it is annealed in a Kiln to relieve internal stresses. The annealing process significantly increases the strength of the glass.

Here is a Double Amber Purple Blob One Of of A Kind Ugly Glass Pendant  filled with swirls of many beautiful colors.

This is an Ugly Glass Borosilicate Glass Captured Flower Pendant from Skips Captured Flower Series.





There are lots more Ugly Glass pendants in the shop. Each one is unique and beautiful.



Alexander's Designs also offers customized photo pendants like the one below. Simply send Jenny a photo, and she will create a decal from it that she then fires onto a glass pendant. These would make wonderful gifts!

Sepia Photo Pendant - Customizable










Jenny and Skip also make Etched Copper Pendants. The one below is a hand drawn flower made from one of Jenny's sketches.

Etched Copper Pendant









I hope you have enjoyed learning a bit of the processes that go into making the jewelry created by Jenny and Skip. The jewelry itself is stunning, but learning a bit about how it is created, makes me appreciate the jewelry at Alexander's Designs that much more.

You can sign up for Alexander's Designs Mailing List to receive special sales information and coupon codes.

Jenny and Skip have three other shops: Classically Simple, Beadery Destash and Ugly Glass. You can also find Jenny and Skip at: Alexander's Designs Blog, Alexander's Designs Website and Alexander's Designs Facebook Page.


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The Boosting Etsy Shops Team (BESTeam) is a group of Etsy sellers dedicated to promoting each others Etsy Shops through our blogs, twitter and Facebook pages. New members are always welcome.

Wordless Wednesday: Busy Knitting

Tigger

New Family Member, Sunny

I answered an add on craigslist for a four month old kitten that was rescued from a barn.  Last evening I went to see the kitten and fell in love with him immediately.  Needless to say, I brought him home with me.

 

He has big paws, purrs a lot, and loves to be held and petted. Last evening he check his new home out over and over again.  Once in awhile he would take a few minutes rest, then went right back to exploring.

Sunny is sweet and friendly.  Last night, he slept on the bed with me curled up to my head.... well, part of the night he did that, the other part of the night he stayed pretty much in the same place, except that he was playing.  

Jerry, Maggie and Brady (my other cats) have not welcomed him into the family yet, but that is to be expected.  Probably by tomorrow Sunny and Brady will be running around together playing.  Brady is four years old, but a kitten at heart.

BESTeam Feature: MsFormaldehyde

This week I am featuring the MsFormaldehyde Etsy Shop. This shop is owned by Kelly from San Diego, California where she was born and raised.  Kelly loves everything Tiki, Tiki Oasis, Polynesian, Hawaiian and Day of the Dead.  She offers an array of creative items like carved skulls, sugar skulls, Gothic, Voodoo, glitter fashion, Lowbrow, Lolita Pinup, Hello Kitty and Dita Burlesque accessories.

Tropical green cream skull paradise orchid tiki luau barrette

Hot pink feather fascinator, rhinestone, pink guinea feather, clip, headband

Skull plumeria barrettes

Kelly offers accessories for weddings like the White Gardenia Bridal Head Piece below. She does wedding flowers for all types of weddings.

White Gardenia, Wedding, Bridal head piece, accented with guinea feathers, Offbeat wedding

Kelly, also, offers lots of Day of the Dead items. The Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a yearly celebration observed on November 2. On this day the deceased are remembered by family and friends. The celebration often consists of parties, visiting the grave of the loved one, and the building of private altars to honor the deceased.

Day of the dead skull earrings

Green day of the dead skull, white ranunculus flower, green feather fascinator

You can also find Kelly on her MsFormaldehyde blog, and her MsFormaldehyde Facebook Page.

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The Boosting Etsy Shops Team (BESTeam) is a group of Etsy sellers dedicated to promoting each others Etsy Shops through their blogs, twitter and Facebook pages. New members are always welcome.