Happy Thanksgiving

Contributor post by Dawn from DeeDeeDeesigns

Thanksgiving is an American holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November… read on to learn more about this holiday and check out team shops who have items to help celebrate this day.

Stock Lane Studio from StockLaneStudio says

Like many holidays, Thanksgiving means different things to different people.

It usually centers on being grateful for the many wonderful things in our lives, sort of like a family harvest celebration, enjoying the bounty from the growing season. Along with the thank you’s , the holiday revolves around Food, Family, football and US history (the Pilgrim kind).

It is one of the most travelled holidays of the year in the US, when college students, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles and grandparents come together for a large dinner featuring turkey and pie.

That’s why I have included this Home Sweet Home printable:

Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says

Thanksgiving day for our family has been more like coming together day. All our family would come together ( we are about 20 people) on that day, everyone brings some food like: mashed potatoes, turkey, pumpkin pie, stuffing, salad, drinks, fruits. We pray before food and say our thank you for all we have. Then we would eat, talk, have fun. It’s usually very noisy. Kids running around the house, dogs are having fun also. It’s just one big fun day.

Sue and Misty from shabbyshopgirls says

It is tradition in our family to have a centerpiece, such as this turkey planter, that we all spend a few moments of reflection and write what we are thankful for on a piece of paper and put it in the planter.

When it is time to sit down together for Thanksgiving dinner, our family says grace and then we each take one of the pieces of paper and read what each of our family members are thankful for.

We’ve had different centerpieces over the years and different people at the dinner table. It is a wonderful way to involve all those who join us at Thanksgiving and a way to give thanks!

Gari Anne from beadloverskorner says

Thanksgiving has great historic value but for me it has become a time to gather with family members and remember how blessed we are and to be thankful for everything.

We have a blended family: my husband has two boys and I have two boys. When they were young he and I met and married and blended the two families together. There were many challenges over the years, and to say that the boys were a handful growing up would be an understatement.

Now when we gather at this time we see these young men as they start their own families, reminisce over the times when they were younger, laugh and enjoy special foods and dishes that we only have once or twice a year. It is a blessing that we had the courage and strength to blend the group into a family and I am so proud of the men they have become!

Ginny C from GRCTreasures says

I have a small family and Thanksgiving for me means having them for a Turkey dinner, of course. Sides of a corn casserole, home-made cranberry sauce from fresh Jersey cranberries, mashed potatoes because my daughter loves them and a few more sides. Dessert is usually my home-made pumpkin pie. Enough food for an army even though I usually only have 6 at the most. It also means getting out my good china which I got in 1972 and still love it. You need a big platter for the turkey, like this vintage one from my shop.

Annie from DesignedbyAnneliese says

I am from Australia too and am interested in what others have to say about Thanksgiving! I made these place cards / name cards with the idea of families sitting around the dinning table enjoying a yummy meal together as they talk about what they are thankful for.

Sarah Johnson from BellaBoutique23 says

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for family, celebrate each other and all the blessings that God has given us. There is so much to be grateful for in our lives. It is so easy to get busy and not be able to see family members and it is so nice when we are able to get all the family together. We have turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, cranberries, relishes, rolls, jello salad with whip cream, yams and for dessert usually pumpkin pie and pecan pie. The table is set with the best china and my father will say a prayer of thanksgiving before we eat and then in the evening we usually play board games and card games.

Melissa R from missy69 says

Thanksgiving, here in the USA, started because the Pilgrims were truly thankful that they had survived the long hard winter, even though many of them had died. They were thankful for the assistance of the local Native Americans for teaching them how to grow food, and what food was safe to eat. They were just plain thankful. That is how it started, and it became a tradition.

I for one believe we should be thankful every day, not just one day, but it is still fun to get together with family, and friends. Eat a huge meal until you can’t move, then lie on the couch and watch football. Thanksgiving is my husband’s favorite holiday, go figure food and football, lol. It is also the day that my Christmas prep begins. Our tree goes up, and it is decorated, all on Thanksgiving evening. This is a tradition from my childhood, and one I carry on to this day. I am new to wood burning, and I love how the piece below came out. I got this pineapple wood candy dish at the thrift store. I hand draw all my designs onto my wood pieces, and then I burn the picture on. Since I love to paint, this is just a new form of art for me. I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving!

FrameYourStory from Frameyourstory says

On Thanksgiving day, we are thankful so we handcrafted this plaque that tells our story. The plaque also is a positive statement that we believe is a good thing.

Richard and Tatiana from DesignstheLimit says

Thanksgiving is one of the most interesting holidays of the year. Growing up in the U.S.A. you love Easter candy and Halloween candy and if you are lucky you can make the candy stretch from one holiday to the other. Christmas and birthdays are for presents, but children do not understand or have a deep appreciation of Thanksgiving until they get older. A couple of years living on campus or in your first apartment and suddenly Thanksgiving has shot up to the top of your list of favorite holidays of the year! Forgetting the history, in modern society the shared cultural experience of Thanksgiving is a profound appreciation to our creator and a genuine thankfulness for the life which we are granted. It is the most humble, most simple, most inclusive, and most endearing holiday our the American way! Invite a stranger, a soldier, or anyone who can’t make it home for the holidays to dine with you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM DESIGN’S THE LIMIT!

MaryAnne from KeepsakesStudio says

This year I am celebrating with my best friend’s (mainly) Italian family. That means there is not even a mediocre cook in the bunch. However, it falls to me to carve the turkey! They assume because my father was a professional chef I should know these things, and since I only do this once a year, I have to review technique for the next few days so I won’t embarrass myself!

As my shop primarily focuses on sewing patterns, I don’t have much to offer, but I do include here one of my favorites: an overlooked pattern with lots of potential. I think the table runner, fabric leaf bowl, and fabric leaf garland have a ton of decorating potential for the table at Thanksgiving. I can see the garland wending it way down a table covered with the runner, and the bowl full of nuts ready to be shelled. I also see this pattern made up in Christmas fabrics as well, especially a garland made of metallic fabric: gold, copper, silver and bronze.

Can you tell I love decorating for the holidays?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ETSY CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!

10 Years of Trends – Owls

Contributor post by Alicia of AliciasFindings

This month Etsy celebrates 10 years as a global community of makers, inventors, and collectors.Today, we’re turning our attention to 5 memorable trends that have made their mark over the years.

http://blog.etsy.com/en/2015/10-years-of-etsy-trends/

“Since most owls are active at night, they have a mysterious quality that we associate with the elusive.”

We wanted to know if any of our CIJ members had any Owl items in their shop and the story behind the item.

Gari Anne from beadloverskorner  says:

I carry a wonderful line of pewter beads and findings by Green Girl Studios in my shop, and this is one of my favorites of their owl beads! Bubo was the owl that Athena sent to help Perseus in The Clash of the Titans movie. Bubo is also a genus made up of Horned owls and Eagle owls.

Ina from InaSudjana states: 

There was a time when Owls dominated most girls nursery decorations. Truly. I think it’s because they appear in many children books, they’re whimsical, and they mostly live in children’s imaginary world as we don’t see owls very often especially if we live in suburban streets and we’re not nocturnal…With their popularity comes many requests for them in my shop. Here is one

Melissa R from missy69 explains:

Owls are fascinating, and some people find them creepy, and maybe even scary. As a new, and constantly learning artist, I find abstract art sometimes creepy, and fascinating, much like owls. As part of an Art challenge to create Abstract Art, I created this beautiful doodle owl. Her eyes are a little creepy, lol.

Carola Bartz  discusses:

I think I have the love for owls in my genes! My mom loved owls and collected little owl trinkets. Ever since my family and I witnessed the upbringing of two owlets in one of our regional parks I have created little owls as well. This particular print of my original mixed media painting is my favorite since I combined it with my love for the American Southwest. The original painting is not for sale as it is so close to my heart.

Christina Paul from lebeauchaton said:

I frequently feature owls in my shop – and have a blog with an owl logo I love how expressive their faces can be – they seem always to be thinking and feeling thoughts.

Annie from DesignedbyAnneliese states:

I love little cute owls like the ones on these cards. Actually I really like any fluffy animal and the little white fluffy owls are so cute. I have been fortunate to see an owl in the wild one night when visiting a friend’s house. It was a lovely moment!

Sue from SuesAkornShop says:

I love owls and enjoyed seeing a big one in our back yard years ago. I have quite a few owl items in my shop because I really like them.

Lorraine from EyeGloArts said:

A wise old owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?The origins and history of ‘A wise old owl’ are vague, however its meaning isn’t, basically it would be told to children in an attempt to teach the child the virtue of being quiet! The lyrics of ‘A wise old owl’ poem are derived from the saying ‘a wise old owl’ based on an owl’s behavior of watching and patiently waiting when hunting its prey. Legends concerning the owl are recorded in Greek, Celtic, Native American and Aborigine mythology. The owl is especially associated with wisdom in Greek mythology being linked with Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. Athens is named from the Goddess Athena and its emblem is the owl. The owl was, for many years, viewed as a sinister bird only hunting at night when only evil spirits and witches were abroad – hence the connection with as a Witches Familiar! A wise old owl – “Children should be seen and not heard!

Sara Wyatt from CustomCrayonsbySara stated:

I love owls – they peek out here and there in various decor in my home, including my girls’ room. Until now, I have never really thought about why I like them. Owls make me think of a forest, and forests make me thing of Autumn. I LOVE autumn. The year could be composed of 11 months of fall and the other seasons could cram into the other 1 month and I would be perfectly happy. So I added these little cuties to my shop!

Lucy Clasen from LuDesignsCreations says:

Owls were my Mom’s favorite so now I love them too! They are so neat with their large eyes and the ability to swivel their head. Wonderful birds.

Jennifer Loftfield from CaffeinatedPapercuts states:

I find owls so cute and adorable. I had so many people asking me at craft shows if I had anything owl I simply *had* to add something! The magnets I created are such a big hit that this year I added key chains to the mix as well.

Rachel Placek from LoveandPerFurCrochet explained:

This is one of my most popular items in my shop, the Owl Mug Cozy. I started crocheting these when a friend requested one after seeing the crochet pattern online. It was one of the first crochet patterns I actually spent money on and I am glad I did. It is very intricate with a lot of weaving of ends and I did not like making these at first. But, after many orders of them I have become quite proficient at creating them and actually enjoy it! And they are oh so cute with so much personality. I’ve even branched out from this pattern to create a panda bear and a penguin and will soon offer a duck model so keep an eye out. Thanks for letting me share this here.

Candy Rauber from WickedlyCreative said:

Personally I love owls and visit the “Audubon Center for Birds of Prey” whenever I can. I wanted to design an owl that was unique and whimsical for a hand embroidered pillow. I infused a nature theme within my owl design, by making his wings “leaves” and placing flowers on his chest. I wanted to offer a handmade item that would bring joy to an owl lover.

Lelia Valois from ValoisFelts explained:

I think my true love of owls started from growing up reading Harry Potter and being in love with his pet, Hedwig. Snowy owls are definitely my favorite, and one of my favorite of all birds.

One of my favorite ‘owl facts’ is that a historical favorite of mine, Florence Nightingale, kept an owl she named Athena as a pet.

Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says:

I loved Owls since I was a child. They always seemed so wise, gracious and mysterious at the same time. Owls to me associate with school, books and Winnie Pooh story. I remember how my teacher put the wooden Owl statue on her desk at the beginning of the class.

Now with Fall season coming I made these honey mustard color boot cuffs and attached the wise Owl from the 1970’s as accessory.

Ginny C from GRCTreasures discussed:

I too am drawn to owls when I am out “hunting”, in fact this Saturday I bought another one at a yard sale. I said to my husband I may have to keep this one for myself. The vintage owl is from the 70’s and I took the picture outside on my back patio to show how it would look in its proper environment so to speak.

BeLuliDesigns said:

The Owl fabric in this listing is what I bought to create my very 1st Nappy Wallet for my first-born son. 4 years ago. I now make many Nappy/Diaper wallets & am happy to present one of my newest creations!

This Owl design will find its new owner soon enough.

Patricia from TheOldBarnDoor states:

I find owls somewhat mysterious – often heard and seldom seen. We have many types here around our farm and frankly my chickens could do without them but I quite like their single steady focus on things – although a bit aloof.

I managed to capture this handsome fellow one nasty winter day. He was actually perched on the deck railing right outside my bedroom window hunkered down against the elements.

Owls are found in legends among many cultures, as well as many other reasons are why the Owl is one of the 10 Year of Trends for Etsy.

International Day of Friendship – July 30th

Contributor post by Dawn from DeeDeeDeesigns

International Day of Friendship is July 30th, and I asked the Etsy Christmas in July team if they had any items in their shops that would make a great gift for this special day…. these are the responses I received from team members:

Joshua Farrally from FarrallyManMade says friendship is something that can last a lifetime. Friends are people you lean on during the good and bad times. They have your back but can also call you out when you need to be called out on something.

I have several friendship bracelets in various styles in my shop. Friendship bracelets are a sign or symbol of friendship. Traditionally friendship bracelets are bracelets given to you by a friend. Traditionally, a friend would tie a bracelet onto your wrist while making a wish and it was to be worn until it fell off, which means the wish was to come true at that moment.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/231547761/friendship-bracelet-minimalist-paracord

Patricia from TheOldBarnDoor says I love this quote about friendship:

“Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them but you know they’re always there”
Christy EvansFriends come in all shapes and sizes. These two ladies go everywhere together; you never see one without the other.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/226046785/buff-orpingtons-in-window-velveteen

Stock Lane Studio from StockLaneStudio says this is what friendship is all about: getting out there and having fun!

It’s a universal, international way to make and keep friends!

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/StockLaneStudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Ina from InaSudjana says friendship to me means standing by my side; whether I’m happy or sad, whatever my situation is. A true friend is someone I’m fully comfortable with, even when there isn’t anything to talk about. I don’t think we have to talk all the time; we just enjoy each other’s company even in silence!My heart shaped bookmark reflects this perfectly.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/177510587/heart-1x-bookmark-felt-bookmark-feather

Kelly from ColourscapeStudios says friendship to me is knowing that you can live worlds apart and as soon as you’re back together you can pick up no matter how long it’s been. These are the people you get to choose to be part of your family.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/160073286/let-us-be-grateful-for-the-people-who

Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says for me FRIENDSHIP especially International friendship means a lot! Friends are like two socks or a paire of glove: together and never appart or close in my heart but to far in a life.

My childhood friend who is the best friend ever, very kind and supportive lives in my birth country Latvia. Her name is Dace. Now when we cannot meet as often as used to, we chitchat or talk on phone and internet. But when we go to Latvia we always meet together and have fun. Even our children are friends now and they have fun together.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/216676191/arm-warmers-gloves-mittens-accessories?ref=teams_post

Carola Bartz from CarolaBartz says let me start with a different take about international friendship. I grew up in Germany (lived there for 40 years) and during my teen years pen friendships were encouraged in school. I signed up and got my first pen pal at 13 – she was from Cardiff in Wales, UK. She was the first of many penpals from all over the world I had over the years. Some of them I met in person, and with some of them I still keep in touch. Two of them I actually met last year again when I was in Europe. Today we’re mainly keeping in touch via Facebook which I think is a great platform for (international) friendship. I often write about friendship on my blog – and I also have people in the blogosphere that I consider friends even though I haven’t met them in person (yet).

The words of a song on this Girl Scout Brownie mini journal say it all:
“Make new friends,
but keep the old,
one is silver
and the other is gold.”

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/217180737/brownie-girl-scout-mini-journal-make-new

Dawn from DeeDeeDeesigns says friendship is about sharing good times with family and friends and what better way to do this than with food and wine!!

When celebrating with friends, or just getting together for the fun of it, I love to present food to share in individual eclectic handmade bowls and plates …. this adds a touch of intimacy and caring to the gathering and makes it special.

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/210375099/handmade-ceramic-bowl-stoneware-clay

Annie from DesignedbyAnneliese says

When I was younger I had a pen friend who lived on the other side of the world. We would often write to each other about what we had been up to. One day she travelled to Australia and I was able to meet her for the first time which was very exciting! This set of envelopes would be lovely to send a friend or pen pal a letter!

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/238024966/5-cherry-blossom-envelopes-patterned

So, celebrate International Friendship Day with a great gift from a member of the Christmas in July Team!

 

 

Mother’s Day – Gift Ideas

Contributor post by Megha of bytheartbug

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and here are some lovely gift ideas to celebrate this special occasion.

Dawn Whitehand from DeeDeeDeesigns says,

As well drawing my inspiration from the natural environment I also use recycled products to create some of my jewellery (because of my love of the environment and the need to minimize waste)

This necklace has been created using recycled buttons and beads and makes a great statement for those mums who love to care for the environment and make a fashion statement at the same time!

Bar Necklace Upcycled Buttons and Beads

Catherine Clifford from DesignsByCnC says,

When I was little, I loved to play dress up with my Mother’s clothes. She had beautiful high heeled shoes and lots of great hats. This is my favorite card in my shop, because it reminds me of her.

Happy Mother’s Day Card

Lia Russo from Ghirlandiamo says,

Generally all necessary little things to sew something are collected, at worst, in a drawer or, in the best case, in an old cakes tin box.
For this reason I thought to create a nice basket specifically dedicated to sewing.

I hope my cheerful decorate basket will be a nice gift for a beloved mom!

Decorated sewing basket

Arek from ARPELC says,

Mother’s birthstone necklace in 14k gold- the precious gift for wonderful Mothers with heart and birthstone set inside.

Diamond gold necklace with heart

Kristen Sargent from KestrelCollection says,

I made a Mother & Daughter matching bracelet set. This is something sweet that can connect the two, like a sophisticated friendship bracelet. It would make a great gift for mom from a daughter of any age.

Pink Pearl & Gold – Mother Daughter Bracelet Set

Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says,

I knitted this delicate Baby Alpaca cowl scarf thinking of all of the women’s in my life: my mom, grandma and sisters. They all live to far from me. I imagined how they would wear this soft and cozy cowl everyday to work, to store, to beach in a cool day or just to be warm and stylish. This and other cowls in my store would be perfect gift for them!

Knitted Cowl Scarf

Sharon from SharPharMade says,

For the mom that sews …

Butterick 3677 Sewing Craft Pattern

Lin Collette from rhodyart says,

This is a gift for the really offbeat mom who loves zombies!

Ideal for fans of American Horror Story and the Walking Dead, it’s a mini collage on canvas that can be displayed in small niches, on a desk, or a shelf. What’s special about the piece, if only to me, is that the woman on the piece is my mother when she was expecting my oldest brother way back in 1949. So it truly is honoring Mother’s Day.

Zombie Inspired Small Art for Lovers of the Undead

Sarah Johnson from BellaBoutique23 says,

I am so thankful that I can call my Mom my best friend. She is always there for me to love and support, she is the one person I want to share my joys and sorrows, and she stands by me through it all. This beautiful little card says just that with a simple greeting, “My Mother, My Friend” and is also a gift with 4 tea light candles to give a special Mom.

Mother’s Day Greeting Card

Becky from LollysCubbyHole says,

Pretty for Mom or Mom-To-Be! I love the fact that I can bring my grandma’s garden into my house with a wreath or two… ah, memories..they are the best!

Ivory Burlap Wreath

Sue and Misty from shabbyshopgirls says,

My mother had a little girls tea set to play with when she was just a girl, which my sister and I also played with. To this day she loves to collect cups & saucers! This is a gorgeous Lefton set with dainty little Violets! Perfect size for just a spot of tea!

Vintage Lefton Demitasse Cup and Saucer

 OldBookSmith from OldBookSmith says,

Everyone knows how many roles a mother is called upon to fill, and how many different hats she wears over the years of parenting. We wanted to honor these many responsibilities in a lighthearted way, and created this dictionary print as the perfect gift to show mom her many talents have not gone unnoticed!

MOTHER Dictionary Print

Member Feature: Ankleknits

Contributor post by Michelle of EviesToolEmporium

Please join us in welcoming Sandra of Ankleknits, our featured member!

Ankleknits

Tell us about yourself.       

I lived in Branson MO for 5 years now and I love it. My family and I come from Northen Europe where I lived all my childhood and school years. At school we had mandatory classes where we learned different life skills like cooking, sewing, weaving, knitting, crocheting and also gardening.

At home my grandmother was a great knitter and she helped me a lot with knitting especially.

When did you open your business and what make you decide to do so?

I opened my business in September 2013. Before the store opening I knitted and crocheted  different outfits for my family and for my self. I gave handmade gifts in birthday’s to my friends like scarves and hats. People just started to ask me where I am selling my items and that was the point where I decided to sell it on Etsy.

Tell us a bit about your products.           

Before I starting to make something I put a lot of  thoughts and love in it! I would carefully choose what yarn to get and what pattern to use for it.

In my shop you will find high quality accessories  for ladies and girls. There is also some kitchen accessories what I made.

What inspires your work?           

I’m getting a lot of inspiration from nature, weather and fashion magazines of course. Usually when seasons changes my mind is full of ideas what to make.

What are your future goals for the business this year? What is your dream for this business?         

My dream and goal for this year is to expand more in style, color and size.

What makes your business stand out from businesses that sell similar products?

I think my business stands out from another similar businesses with my cute ankle warmers.

Tell us a bit about your work space. Do you have a separate studio?

Well a separate studio should be in my future plan!

But I have a separate work space for now where I can make my dreams come true. It’s a lighted corner with a soft couch in my room. All of my beautiful yarn is kept in closed bins in a shelf.

What have you learned since opening your business that you wish you had known before hand?

I have learned a lot about pricing and shipping from forums and teams! I wish I would know that since opening.

Any advice for those thinking about selling on Etsy?

My advice before selling on Etsy is do the careful research all about the product you want to sell, how to price and ship your items and who is your target market to be?

When you’re not working, what do you like to do to unwind and have fun? Do you have any hobbies?

When I am not working on my project I relax with my children, we love walking, going to park and eating out. One of my hobbies are photography. I love taking photos of nature, flowers, animals.

I also love gardening! I can’t wait for spring to come when I will plant some vegetables and flowers. My youngest son loves peas!

In Summer we usually go to lake to swim. It’s so much fun!

What is your favorite quote?

Love what you do and do what you love!

That’s my favorite quote.

Where can people find out more about your business?  

People can follow me on Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/ Sandra_crochet

Instagram:
www.Instagram.com/Ankleknits

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ankleknits/312284485631412?

Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ankleknits

  Is there anything else you’d like to share?         

Thank you CIJ leaders and all the Etsy members and leaders for helping with sales and to be featured in this blog.

________
If you would like to be featured, please go to the CIJ Etsy Forum and fill out the questionnaire. Please note you must be a member of the CIJ Etsy team to be featured.

February – New Arrivals

Contributor post by Michelle of EviesToolEmporium

The new year continues to be the perfect time to add new arrivals to your Etsy shop! Our customers are looking forward to the upcoming season and we want to give them what they’re looking for. Here are February new arrivals from members of the Christmas In July team.

Sally Manke from SallyManke says

The art quilt is a result of me sprinting to complete quilts for a local quilt show I chair. We hang the show on Wednesday and each quilt displayed must me new. The image depicted is Arcadia Dunes Preserve, a continual source of inspiration for my art quilts.
Amazing stands of white birch flow through the preserve making the perfect backdrop to a forest floor filled with blooms. Catching this view during the annual fall color shows makes winter quilting feel a bit warmer.

Birch Trees And Forest Flowers Quilted Wall Hanging From SallyManke

Christine Parker from modernimpressionist says

The cardinal was painted from photos available on the Paint My Photo site. I love the bright red against the snow in February.

Cardinal In Snow Painting From modernimpressionist

Bee Macneil and Caroline Pinnington from PaintedSongbird says

This chalk board has been saved, upcycled with love and turned sparkly new. We’ve selected a new paint colour for the frame, we’ve reused the original back board as the blackboard, used several coats of paint for extra durability, waxed and distressed the frame to give it an aged look. We love it and Annie Sloan’s gorgeous colour. We’ve photographed it in our English country lane showing the place it was created. We hope you like it too.

Medium Sized Blackboard From PaintedSongbird

Kelly from ColourscapeStudios says

I’ve recently upgraded my printer and can now offer all my typography, photography and digital illustrations in 11 x 14in/A3 sizes!

This quote really spoke to me when I saw it… I have such a love of nature and the universe so I created this print to capture the quote as I saw it in my mind.

We Are All Made Of Stars Galaxy Print From ColourscapeStudios

Wendy WN from WoodNotions says

I’ve just added two new handmade wood-cut ornaments to my shop!
These two new arrivals were inspired by one of my favorite customers. He hand-makes musical instruments, requiring sound hole covers or rosettes. It’s such an honor to have one of my designs featured on a beautiful handmade musical instrument. Rosette designs can be very challenging for me since they quite often start out at a tiny, 1-3/4 inch diameter. We seem to connect on the design concepts and are still working together,15 designs and 2 years later!
Once the rosettes are converted to an ornament, I add them to my shop. I love to add names, dates, places, etc. to ornaments to make them extra special for the recipients…or I can make them into rosettes, basket centers, or embellishments for other crafting projects.

Galloping Horse Wood Ornament From WoodNotions

Penguin Wooden Ornament From WoodNotions

Cindy and Alexis from PlethoraGifts says

Here’s a new favorite of mine. Just love the hot pink mixed with the vintage bronze wire and chain. I’ve combined repurposed floral beads and beads with a bit of bling to create this wirewrapped necklace. I scoured the internet to find a distinctive chain that would give the necklace a vintage look.

Pink And Bronze Necklace From PlethoraGifts

Sarah Black from SilkRoadNeedleArts

Irishman’s Cashmere Merino scarf

This yarn is a cashmere merino blend, and I dyed it in spring greens- I choose this crochet pattern because I liked the way the short stripes contrasted with the long, skinny scarf- I love a long scarf myself–so I can toss the ends over my shoulder!

Cashmere Scarf From SilkRoadNeedleArts

beverly from designbcb says

I have a HUGE yarn stash – about 25 bins worth of yarn and since that’s a big investment in space and money, I want to make sure I use up as much of a ball of yarn that I can. Headbands are cute, fast and can be embellished and sized for form, fashion and function. I had the idea of making ski bands as a way of using leftover yarn. They can be made out of any yarn I have and are a quick, enjoyable knit that I can relax and do.

Orchid Knit Headband From Knit360five

Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says

I love cowls, scarfs and all neck warmers! They give your outfit that finishing touch. I was looking for new Spring accessory which would be soft to touch, light but warm all in one. So I knitted this Lavender cowl from very soft to touch and light but warm baby Alpaca blend yarn. This cowl is wearable in any season and any holiday like Valentine’s day, Easter or Mother’s day.

Knitted Lavender Cowl From Ankleknits

Angie Fitzpatrick from CraftyMom75 says

This product originally was just an idea I had for a gift for my Sister-in-law for her birthday. She is a lover of books, school principal, and has spent her life helping children with education, from her own to disadvantaged children in her school. After posting it on Instagram one evening, I had multiple requests for more, so I have just finished my first one to sell.

Book Lover Decorative Pillow Cover From CraftyMom75

Angie from RusticHomespun says

I am a quilter and love traditional scrappy patchwork quilts. I have so many fabric strips and blocks left over from my previous quilt making that I used them to make cushion/pillow covers and other projects. I do not let my fabric scraps go to waste at all! The blocks are arranged in a very popular and traditional design setting called Rail Fence Block. The cushion covers come in two sizes and they are one-of-a-kind item in my shop.

Scrappy Patchwork Quilted Cushion Cover From RusticHomespun

Sherri from ButterflyFeetDigital

I didn’t have enough of my favorite color purple in my shop, so I rounded up papers I had already created and put them into one mega pack – 21 designs in varying shades of purple and lavender. Rather eclectic, but I like the way it turned out.

Purple Digital Paper From ButterflyFeetDigital

Csilla Molnar from STILLforSTYLE

I love vintage home decorations and I frequently go at flea markets for searching nice, vintage decor items. This coffee grinder mill is from such a market. After I bought it I reconditioned, painted cream and treated with varnish effect fine cracks. I decorated it with hand painted lace and handmade fabric flowers.
This object is decorative , but can also be used for storage of jewelry or memories.

Vintage Decorative Coffee Grinder Mill From STILLforSTYLE

Heike Birkmann from KarlasWoodDreams says

When I start making this wreath I was thinking about the colors. It was a really bad dark day outside, so I gave the color pink a look and here we go! Making the wreath brightened up my day, because the color pink always gives me a smile! Enjoy the day with a little bit of pink!

Pink Heart Wreath From KarlasWoodDreams

Jennifer Loftfield from CaffeinatedPapercuts says

Besides being here on Etsy, I’m also a member of several design teams. I came across this stamp from one of them and just HAD to use it! And so this anti-valentine full of sarcasm & snark was born!

Alone on Valentine’s Day Anti-Valentine full Of Sadness and Snark From CaffeinatedPapercuts

New Year – New Arrivals

Contributor post by Michelle of EviesToolEmporium

A new year is the perfect time to add new arrivals to your Etsy shop! Our customers are looking forward to the upcoming year and we want to give them what they’re looking for. Here are new arrivals from members of the Christmas In July team.

Julie Tarampi from JulemiJewelry says

Here is one of the few new beaded wire chain bracelets that I have launched this year. Although I do not have any autistic family members, I have worked closely with children in speech therapy in the past. During that period, I have learned so much about the disability and how speech therapy helps the children communicate. I had chosen pretty multi-colored tourmaline for the multi functional therapies that help autistic children.

Autism Beaded Bracelet From JulemiJewelry

Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says

There is one of my newest listings. I started to knit headbands for me and my daughter this winter. Everyone loves them because they are soft, warm, stretchy and easy to care for. And Ladies, headbands don’t mess up your hair. I got orders from my neighbors and from complete strangers from my town and now I am selling them in my Etsy shop.

Knitted Brown Headband From Ankleknits

Kelly from ColourscapeStudios says

Brand new this evening! I created this rainbow print for my daughter’s room, as she is absolutely loving them at the moment! If she could, she’d have rainbows on everything she owns. At the moment her print (and drawing them each day) is keeping her happy.

Rainbow Art Print From ColourscapeStudios

Patricia from RitzyandGlitzy says

This is my latest creation. I love anything Southwestern or Native American. I’ve used many different components for this bracelet because I wanted it to be outstanding. This piece is for women and makes a great gift.

Southwestern Triple Strand Bracelet From RitzyandGlitzy

Cindy and Alexis from PlethoraGifts says

I was so excited to find these beads. They remind me of a red velvet dress and I think they are perfect for a romantic candlelight dinner on Valentine’s Day!

Marsala Velvet Earrings From PlethoraGifts

Corkycrafts from Corkycrafts says

While creating new bottle tags, a client asked for golden hues so I made these and she said they reminded her of suncatchers so I made more for the shop.

New Arrival Wine Bottle Gift Tag From Corkycrafts

I also am starting my spring line – considering how cold it is in Texas I’m having a touch of cabin fever!

Red Poppy Seeds From Corkycrafts

Scarlett Valo from ScarlettValo says

Here is one of my latest and favorite necklaces. The idea of this necklace came to me from my love to Shakespeare plays. This one is named “Ophelia’s End” because ever since I found the central brass piece of the pendant I couldn’t stop thinking this looked so much to what poor Ophelia’s body (from Shakespeare’s Hamlet) would have looked like after she drawn, flooding in the water in between flowers and weeds. The materials used are of course brass antiqued findings (different sizes and shapes) all of them in Art Nouveau Style and then I complimented this beautiful old gold metallic tone with colors that reminisce water from a clear creek and droplets reflecting the light of day (light sweet aquamarine and golden crystal drops).

Art Nouveau Necklace From ScarlettValo

Nat from TrendyEarth says

This is one of my newest iPhone 6/Samsung Galaxy s4/s5 wool sleeves. The wool sleeves/covers are made from wool sweaters that I purchase from thrift stores and then felted. Many of the sweaters have seen better days, and I’m giving them a new purpose! I love finding sweaters that have nice designs, and really liked this pink argyle design.

iPhone 6 – Samsung Galaxy S4 or S5 – Wool Sleeve From TrendyEarth

Jutta Green from GreenDesignsCS says

I had found some wonderful rough natural citrine nuggets and was dying to use them with one of my others stones. The rough crackle agate seemed a good match, but looked a bit dull. I found some Karen Hill Tribe silver beads in one of the drawers that I loved when I got them but never used in any of my bracelets. The bead gives a good focal point on the opposite side of the bracelet. Sometimes when I use heavy stones they slide on the wrist, this way there is something to look at on the other side.

Crude Black Crackle Agate Bracelet From GreenDesignsCS

Ramona Friggasdotter from UrdHandicrafts says

Here is my newest bracelet. Not only it is special to me because I planned making a torc like this for a long time, but I also love it because of its materials. It is made by recycling an old, broken vintage bangle, so it is an eco silver piece – it has its own history and was brought back to life in a historical form.

Sterling Silver Forged Torc Bracelet From UrdHandicrafts

Top Tips for Cooking Light (Even during the Holidays)

Contributor post by Amy of BeadsAndThreadsbyAmy

The Holidays are all about indulgence, opulence, and spending time with the ones you love.  Our Team has come together to offer you suggestions for shaving off a few calories so that indulgence doesn’t go all to our hips!

1) Tisha from quiltytherapy says

 In an effort to get more fiber and heart healthy fats into our diet we almost always have avocado on Taco Tuesdays. We sub out the sour cream and cheese and use avocado to provide that creamy texture. We don’t miss the salt and excess fat.  Make sure to have napkins handy on Taco Tuesday, it can get really messy.

Napkins for Taco Night!

2) Angie from SucculentBathAndBody says

 Each year we have a large garden, and that alone inspires healthier eating with fresh veggies grown in our own soil, not over-farmed land depleted of minerals. It starts in the spring with homegrown lettuce for salads, and continues into late summer with tomatoes and peppers. I love to combine a 15 oz. can of chickpeas with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and a little onion for a quick salad that is low in calories and high in protein, vitamins and minerals. Simply dress the salad with 4 tablespoons olive oil, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 4 teaspoons white wine vinegar and salt & pepper to taste. And, if you like to garden (or just know that fall yard and garden clean-up are coming up soon), you’ll need Succulent Bath & Body’s “Johna’s Garden” gardener’s soap, made with organic essential oils, activated charcoal for extra cleaning power, and magnesium-rich Epsom salts for scrubbing.

Great idea for gardeners!

3) Sandra crochet from Ankleknits says

 I was born in Europe. And when I was a child we had our own fruit and vegetable garden, so my mom always used fresh produce from garden all year long. And now I have 3 children and I am growing my own vegetables and strawberries so my kids would know how they grow and tastes. We often drink peppermint tea from our little garden and I always use coasters under the tea cups.

Coasters under healthy tea is a great idea for those cold winter evenings!

4) Elizabeth Wellburn from ElizabethLovesGlass says

A “build it yourself” salad is always fun and healthy at family gatherings. A big bowl of greens, then smaller dishes of sliced tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, etc. so guests can choose what they want. We tend to keep the dressings simple – often just a pair of shaker bottles for oil and balsamic vinegar. Goes with almost any meal!These crystal serving utensils could be a great part of such a mini salad bar.

Salad Bars are a great idea for holiday gatherings!

5) Angie Fitzpatrick from CraftyMom75 says

 WE love pureeing and “hiding” veggies in our meals so our little guys will eat their veggies. For example, pumpkin puree blends magically into spaghetti sauce and no one knows it! Plus, always have a great helper to keep you on your toes!

Nothing says cooking like potholders!

6) Kelly from ColourscapeStudios says

Growing my own herbs and veg has become one of the smartest things I decided to do. I have pots full of goodness, ranging from basil to strawberries, red onions to thyme! Our two year old thinks it’s awesome that we can go into the backyard and pick our food, and it’s really made her more interested in eating more, so it’s a win/win!

Great gift for the chef with everything!

7) Megha Silvano from byTheArtBug says

Instead of buying ready-made Jams from the store why not make your own!

This way you can control and know the ingredients that go in. Here is a simple 3 ingredient home-made Strawberry Jam Recipe.
Ingredients:
1 Cup chopped Strawberries.
3/4 Cup Sugar.(or you can add more if needed)
1 Tsp Lemon Juice.
*both sugar and lemon juice act as natural preservatives.

Method:
Mix everything together and cook in a non stick pan till the mixture thickens and leaves the edges of the pan.
Cool and Store in an airtight glass container and refrigerate.
It would be good for 2-3 months. (Unless you like eating spoonfuls like me)

Warm jam and biscuits on Christmas morning sounds just lovely!

8) Amy Spock from BeadsandThreadsbyAmy says

I love substituting oil or butter in cookie recipes with applesauce. My husband loves my applesauce raisin oatmeal cookies made this way. It takes some playing around with the amount, but it is well worth the effort! Any time I bake, I love my apron! Saves me laundry and stains on my clothes, and wearing it always reminds me of my grandmother.

Aprons are great holiday gifts for the health-conscious chef.