Is it time to decorate the tree yet??

Contributed by: Sandie of ZaftigDelights & KnitzyBlonde

I don't know about you, but I'm like a little kid when it comes to Christmas.  I love Thanksgiving, don't get me wrong, but I'm so excited for the day after.  Why??  Well, it has nothing to do with shopping.  You won't get me out to the stores on "Black Friday"! (I'll be shopping from home on Etsy.com this holiday season!!) So what do I do on the day after the Turkey overload?  I'm off to the Christmas tree lot to pick out the cutest and most perfect Christmas tree.  I take it home - put on "White Christmas" and decorate the center of our holiday celebrations.

I'm an ornament collector, and I can't wait to get out all my ornaments each year, lovingly collected over the years, (some that are as old as I am!), unwrap them and hang them on the tree.  What total treat that is for me.  I always remember back to when I first got each ornament and the sentiment surrounding it, etc.  I can't wait!!

Do you collect ornaments, or just love buying them?  Well, we have a treat for you!  The Etteam is going to be hosting a "Holiday Ornament Giveaway" right here on this blog, starting Friday, Nov 26th.  And these are the most delightful and gorgeous handmade ornaments you've seen!  So be sure to stop back here on Friday 11/26 and enter our fabulous "Holiday Ornament Giveaway".

In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy this treasury I curated today of mostly ornaments from the Etteam member shops!

'Is it TIME to DECORATE the TREE yet??' by KnitzyBlonde

Who's excited to put up their Christmas tree?? Do you love ornaments? If so keep an eye our on the Etteam blog: http://etsytreasuryteam.blogspot.com for an amazing Holiday "ornament" giveaway that starts on Friday, 11/26!!

Vintage Wall Clock ... glasspanic $	Tree Chic Giclee P... Absurdious $18.00	Personalized Snowma... AngelEllie $12.00
Holiday Hook-Up 5X7... fosterbk $18.00	Memory Bracelet - R... TheApple $28.00	Celestial Stars Orn... TheMudPlace $14.00
Coneflower Echinace... GwydionsGarden $38.00	Ornaments - Pastel ... KimsCraftyAppl... $31.65	Okra Santa Christma... midnightcoiler $12.00
Hand Painted Christ... HandPaintedPet... $14.95	Primitive Snowman TeresasPrimTre... $10.00	Silver and Red Doub... bythewayside $5.00
Holiday Wreath - Me... laurelsbylauri... $50.00	Tree Ornament - Stu... Fishstikks $12.00	Hamsa. Hand of God.... efiwarsh $29.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Etteam Gift Guide on Etsy's Front Page!

This fabulous "Under $25 - Gift Guide" treasury was curated by Lollyflower, and featured on Etsy's first page this afternoon, 11/18.  Congrats all!  

'Simple Gift Guide...UNDER $25' by Lollyflower

Simple modern gifts for all in the fam.

Midair Ring - Yello... TheIntuitiveGa... $24.00	Fab Lab Abq Tool Ba... madeABQ $18.00	RESERVED for Jasmin... PineandMain $14.00
Small Bowl, Stonew... midnightcoiler $10.00	Vintage 1970s I Lo... westbournegrov... $23.00	California Original... BarkingSandsVi... $24.00
Wee Chunky Book - C... WeeBindery $20.00	Put a Ring on It - ... Misspottery $	Hand Painted Ebony ... HandPaintedPet... $21.50
Agave 5x7 Print of ... redtilestudio $16.00	Ring - Vintage Type... TheApple $8.00	Pack of 4 lavender ... Angelshair $20.00
Triple Cube Necklac... littleobywolfb... $24.00	Jewelry - Coro Wove... bytheway $7.50	SPECIAL SIZE - Hand... FromtheEarthto... $19.50

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Friendships & Support: A Wonderful Benefit to Etsy Teams

Joining a team on Etsy is a wonderful way to connect with other sellers, find support and advice.  But occasionally extraordinary connections and lifelong friendships occur.  We'd like to share just such a story with you of an extraordinary connection with two sellers on the Etsy Treasury Team.  

We hope you enjoy this lovely story from Donna, of LaughingFridge.

~

I was delighted to become a member of the Etsy Treasury Team a short time ago. I love to make treasuries and thought this would be just the right team to join.  I discovered in a very short time that this team is not just about making treasuries; it's about making friends as well.  Amazing friends.  I'd like to tell you a wonderful story about one of them, but keep the tissue box close by....

In September our 8 yr old pug Lucy became very sick.  I made a treasury called "Ode to Pug" as a kind of get well card for her. All the members of this wonderful team expressed their concern and well wishes for our Lucy. One of the team members, Anna of Rebornasart and ALDDesigns , was inspired by my treasury to create a papier mache pug sculpture.  She asked me if she could name her sculpture Lucy. I was very touched by her request and of course said yes. Although Anna had never seen Lucy, she felt a connection to her while creating her pug sculpture. Then Anna sent me a wonderful email saying she wanted me to have her Lucy sculpture.  These are her words...

"It would mean a lot to me if she went to live with you. I've got a very special connection to animals, I get along with them better than people actually, and somehow although I don't even know her, I've got a really special feeling about Lucy. I hope you don't think I'm weird, I'd just really love for you to have this."

Shortly after Anna started her sculpture, Lucy underwent surgery to repair her damaged lung.  Sadly, she passed away during the procedure, and my heart was broken.  I sent an email to Anna letting her know. Many tears flowed between the two of us. I cried as I was telling Anna what happened.  She cried as she finished her Lucy sculpture. I sent Anna some pictures of Lucy and she was amazed at how much her sculpture looked like our sweet pug girl.  Anna put her heart and soul into this sculpture, and when I received her gift I cried again, but this time they were happy tears. Her amazing sculpture had Lucy's essence and spirit and I felt very comforted by it. She is proudly displayed on our mantel and every time I look at her I smile.

My grief has turned into fond memories with the help of Anna and her wonderful gift.  Out of tragedy, a real friendship was developed.  All the members of the Etsy Treasury Team expressed their heartfelt condolences and helped me deal with my loss.  There is so much more to this team than just creating and sharing treasuries; they are real people who truly care about each other and I'm so happy to be a part of this wonderful group!

~ Lucy ~

Featured ETTEAM Seller: MidnightCoiler

Contributed by Cindy of Yellow Bug Boutique:


Lynn Hoyt, owner of Midnightcoiler, lives in Blounts Creek, NC on a 75 acre non-working farm with her husband, Howard and 2 wonderful dogs. Lynn is certainly not new to ETTeam... actually, she is the backbone behind the team as our fearless leader. Lynn's Etsy shop opened in March 2008 and specializes in hand carved gourds as well as coiled and twined baskets.

Years ago Lynn visited a gourd show in Virginia and was intrigued by all the creations. There she realized that this was something she wanted to try. When they moved to their farm, she had lots of room to grow gourds, so she dove right in and actually taught herself how to carve.

Baskets came next. Lynn always admired coiled needle baskets so she contacted a local artist, Pamela ( also know as Bazketmakr and Purpletoedgypsy.... another talented ETTeam member) who became her friend, teacher, and mentor.

Lynn's interest in pottery started just a few years ago after sharing some studio space with a local potter. She soon purchased her own small kiln and now makes miniature bowls, buttons, pendants, and charms. Next she plans to tackle the pottery wheel she received as a gift from her hubby.

To see more of Midnightcoiler beautiful work:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/midnightcoiler
http://midnightcoiler.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/MidnightCoiler

Another fabulous Etsy front page by ETTEAM!

'Artful Gifts 2' by fuchsiabloomstudio

the second in my gift guide series- this one in chocolate and cranberry!

Elegant Geometric D... tasifashion $99.00	Friends - 5x7 Fine ... Lori411 $15.00	Circle with Squares... redtilestudio $45.00
rosaline . necklace themustardseed... $	Pair of Rust Appli... YellowBugBouti... $100.00	Rhode Island 1800s ... westbournegrov... $32.00
Crazy Lace Agate Ca... abacusbeadcrea... $32.00	Holiday Wreath - Tw... laurelsbylauri... $40.00	1960s Vintage Mod R... RunzwithVintag... $34.00
Beautiful Faceted G... pjlacasse $32.00	Brown Pottery Vesse... Hindsvik $24.00	Shoes - Coral and G... bytheway $25.00
Bacon. Screenprinte... toybreaker $30.00	Cranberry Pendleton... WoolyBison $140.00	Brown Speckled Cowl... AGoodYarn11 $48.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.