South by South-Worth it!

So although I have officially come out as a hater for Sby SW, I did venture down to see the booth at Hill Country Weavers on South Congress. I brought my 2 year old and my hungover husband with me, and I missed getting to meet Beth by 10 minutes.
I did see some really eclectic and creative work, and get to talk to some friendly girls whose name I can't remember( Stephanie?) I Always do that! I hate that! Sorry,
But the really friendly girls showed me all of the stuff for sale and I have to say, I was impressed.
Here is what they have---
Soap made from goats milk that I wanted to eat( I didn't)
Silky Belts made from vintage-y fabric that I thought were way too cheap for the proffesional quality of the sewing and beautiful fabric.
Cute stamp jewelry( I loved the Texas necklace whoever you are)Cheap! I think it was only 20 dollars and I was going to come back and buy it until my daughter threw up in Big Top Candy and we had to rush back to the car( the smell of throw up makes Jeff, My husband, want to throw up. He is a real baby about this)
Also, bright colorful whimsical newborn outfits with tulle( I love tulle)
Also, Handmade sandwich bags
Also, pretty jewelry in all price ranges

It's really an extravaganza down there and I suggest everyone go by, even just to look. Afterwards we went to the cupcake trailer and the Candy Shop( worth a trip down to South Congress in itself) and then, well, you already know about the throw up.
I can't say enough good things about this group of crafters. I did not experience soul crushing hatred for this South by Southwest event. Thank you girls for bringing me out!

Can you please turn that down?

I am about to reveal a big secret. It may damage my reputation, I may lose friends. I might even be labeled "Anti Austin", but I can't keep it inside any longer.
I hate South by Southwest.
I hate the crowds( even though they are bringing in revenue for the small businesses in our community-which is awesome)
I hate all of the snotty looking kids in their skinny jeans who cross the street against the signal and give me the stink eye( as if they could read my thoughts)
Even though I myself routinely cross the street whenever I feel like it " F the Man and his "lights"-I am crossing".
Even though I too own skinny jeans.
I don't understand why people would fly here, at their own expense, to stand in a parking lot and listen to loud music. I don't understand how it doesn't annoy them that they can't talk to each other over the noise, screaming communication into someones ear over a lukewarm cup of alcohol.
Listen,try not to hate me. I am completely aware of my shortcomings as an Austinite, maybe as a human being.
If one lives in Austin, and does not enjoy live music, it can be social suicide. "Wouldn't you rather just buy the CD?" I say, and people look at me as though I am retarded.
So, as my first post to introduce myself to the etsy street team, I am laying it all out on the line, folks.
The catch is this--the etsy street team is having an event at Hill Country Weavers on South Congress tomorrow, and I think I'm actually going to go. Not just to meet them, but also to see all of the cool stuff in person that these people make WITH THEIR VERY OWN HANDS.
The point being, I don't even like people. I don't even like music.
And yet-I am planning on going, because it looks like it's going to be really fun.
This is about the most positive endorsement an old, skinny jeans wearing misanthrope can give. See you there ( can you turn the music down when I get there? Thanks!)

March is National Craft Month!

The hard work and dedication put forth by many Team Etsy Austin members in order to showcase Team wares at SXSW 2009 seemingly makes 'National Craft Month' just that much more apropos for our group! The members of our group, and all Etsy-ites for that matter, are linked by a love of all things hand-made; indeed, I'm sure that we would all agree that there is an immense satisfaction in procuring and producing items rendered by hand.

People have been 'crafting' since the dawn of humanity, but the identification of an actual 'arts and crafts movement' began in Europe and America during the Industrial Revolution, around 1860-1910. This movement was fueled by artists and craftspeople reacting against the 'soulless' mass production of the machine age and the eccentric and antiquated styles of Victorianism. Followers of the movement sought to emphasize the personal satisfaction gained from crafting and the better quality of goods produced by individuals rather than machines, and to eliminate humanity's subservience to machinery, both as worker and consumer. The aesthetic and principles of the arts and crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th century still holds true in the 21st century marketplace, as evidenced by the prodigious popularity of arts and crafts websites such as Etsy.

Below, I have featured a sample of some of the many arts and crafts, from a variety of disciplines, produced by our talented Team Etsy Austin members. Whether you are a crocheter, knitter, jeweler, artist, etc., I wish you successful crafting/arting and a very happy National Craft Month!!! ;-) xoxo, Holly@BowerbirdDesign

Information Source: Wikipedia

Gearing Up for SXSW '09

One of the great things about living in Austin, Texas is being able to participate in a number of festivals and community events throughout the year. Probably our most famous annual event is the South By Southwest Music, Film and Interactive Festival that happens in March. People from all over the world come to our fair city for ten days of showcases, parties, and free stuff! This year, the Etsy Austin Street Team will be heading out with lots of free goodies to promote our Etsy stores. Not only will we be selling our wares on South Congress, we'll also be giving free craft demos and hitting the streets with hundreds of handmade bags full of free stuff for whoever wants it!

In keeping with the SXSW spirit of indie artists coming together to see and be seen, we will be out in person to mingle with the visitors and Austinites alike. You can find us in front of Hill Country Weavers on South Congress on March 14^th, 15^th, 20^th, and 21^st from noon to 7pm each day. We'll also be downtown during those times, giving out handmade bags filled with creative swag items! We've all been busy little bees the past couple months, collecting the tee shirts that we're recycling into bags, having sewing parties to crank them out, and making hundreds of promos to fill them with! We've also created coupons, fliers, and post cards to hand out, which should help everyone on the team get some biz. We've been busy, but it has been fun, and we're all looking forward to our Promo Blitz Bag-Stuffing party this weekend, where it will all come together.

If you're in Austin during SXSW, please come and say hello!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is only 8 days and 11 hours away, which means there are only 8 days left of drunken revelry and debaucherous fun before those of Western Christian faith begin a 40-day long season of abstinence and prayer which starts on Ash Wednesday and culminates on Easter Sunday. Many cultures celebrate the days before Ash Wednesday; however, few festivals are as famous as New Orleans' Mardi Gras. The first Mardi Gras celebration, including a parade and ball, was held in New Orleans by the Krewe of Comus on February 24, 1857. The Mardi Gras that everyone is familiar with today - complete with multiple Krewes and their balls, parades of elaborate floats, throws of beads, doubloons, etc - began around 1870. The preponderance of Mardi Gras festivities in cities across the US has been steadily increasing throughout the years, but I think those in the know would agree that there is no celebration that compares to that of New Orleans. I hold a very special place in my heart for Mardi Gras celebrations pre-Katrina, as I spent many Mardi Gras seasons in New Orleans with my family during the 1990s - those memories are some the fondest of my life! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about if you have experienced New Orleans' Mardi Gras pre or post Katrina - it makes no difference, New Orleans will always be a special place with an unconquerable spirit! To honor the City of New Orleans and the Mardi Gras season I have created a teametsyaustin mini of purple, green, and gold (yellow.) These traditional colors of Mardi Gras were chosen and assigned meaning by Rex, the King of Carnival, in 1892: purple is for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. I hope someone out there in Etsy land asks you, in the traditional Mardi Gras parade yell: 'hey, lady, throw me something!' Obviously, of course, for a price!

Best to everyone - please remember me and all of the unique teametsyaustin members in your treasuries and favorites, not just the same handful of usual suspects, as I and they need the help as much as everyone. I try very hard to show equal representation of all teametsyaustin members in my posts, favorites, etc, despite my photographic or personal interests - I may not know you personally yet, but I care about showing all team members some love! We are a TEAM!! Yay team! Take care everyone! Holly @ BowerbirdDesign

Information sources: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/ and Wikipedia

i heart the heart of Texas Treasury

i heart the heart of Texas Treasury, originally uploaded by Trixie SweetWolf.

Happy Valentines Day Team! Y'all are awesome.
This treasury has already expired, sorry if you missed it live, but here it is!
=)
Cathie

"The February born shall find Sincerity and peace of mind, Freedom from passion and from care, If they, the amethyst will wear..."

Now that February is upon us, I thought I would pay homage to those born in said month by blogging upon some tidbits about the traditional February birthstone, amethyst. Amethyst is a variety of quartz that manifests itself in varying shades of purple via the iron and manganese in its crystals. The word 'amethyst' is a variant of the Greek word 'amethystos' which is loosely translated as 'not drunken' - the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the wearing of amethyst amulets and use of amethyst drinking vessels would protect them from intoxication. The story of how the sparkly, violet, gemstone came to be be known as 'amethyst' comes from Greek mythology. According to myth, Amethyst was a beautiful nymph who worshipped at the altar of Artemis, the goddess of forest, hills, and hunt. Artemis had apparently rebuffed advances by her half-brother, Dionysus, the god of wine and intoxication, and, unfortunately, Amethyst happened to be the first creature to cross Dionysus' path in his scorned and wrathful state. The story goes that Dionysus unleashed his pet tigers upon poor Amethyst who, in her panic-stricken state, prayed to Artemis for help. Artemis answered by turning Amethyst into a clear crystal statue which instantly sobered up the drunken, and now remorseful, Dionysus. In respect and sorrow, Dionysus emptied his cup of very rare and scared wine over the crystal likeness of Amethyst in the hopes of returning her from stone to flesh. Alas. Amethyst remained a beautiful crystal statue, but became stained with the beautiful purple color of Dionysus' wine; hence the amethyst stone we know today. The ancient Greeks and Romans truly were magnificent story-tellers! It is said that Saint Valentine, whom we are to thank for the namesake February holiday, wore an amethyst ring which is why amethyst was declared the birthstone of February. Amethyst is said to impart clarity and ward off evil thoughts and is revered for spiritual and mental cleansing. Many teametsyaustin members make use of amethyst stones in their designs and I have posted a picture of a few examples of these plus a few other items that showcase the color purple. I wish everyone born in February a very happy birthday and, perhaps, if we all buy a piece of teametsyaustin amethyst we will feel the effects of positive thoughts and good karma! Take care everyone! xoxo Holly @ BowerbirdDesign & The Bowerbird's Bower
information sources: http://www.shinjyujewelry.com/id32.html; http://www.uniquejewelryguide.com/february-birthstone.html