Treasury Tree Challenge! (January Week 2)

Welcome to a New Year and a new installment of the Treasury Tree Challenge- a fun competition to inspire us all to create awesome treasuries and discover great new shops! 

Anyone with an Etsy account and the desire to curate can enter! 

This week's featured item is from Tera of CreativityisMessy: 

Love Birds Necklace by CreativityisMessy

Here are the rules: 

1) Use this item in your treasury. You treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item. 

2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury. 

3) In addition to the featured item you must include at least four Tree Team members within your treasury, placed within the top three rows. Here's a list of current members. 

Tip: All of the Treasury Tree members' items can be found by clicking here and searching the team's items by key word. 

4) Tag your treasury with "treeteamchallenge". For your remaining tags, try to come up with relevant and diverse key words. Try to pay attention to what's trending on Etsy and around the web! 

5) Use the phrase "Tree Challenge" in your title (you can just stick it at the end in parentheses if you want).

6) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the url for this blog post. 

7) IMPORTANT: Return here and post a link to your treasury as a comment to this blog post. Entries will only count if they've been posted on the blog! 

Note: 
-You can make as many Tree Challenge treasuries as you want. 
-You are not required to be a Tree Team member in order to participate in (or win!) these challenges. 
-Participants are allowed to win more than once, but are not eligible if they have just won a challenge or are currently the featured item. 
-If any of the guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from the challenge. (boo!) 

You have until 12 noon (EST) on Monday, January 21st to create your treasury or treasuries. The winner will be announced within 24 hours after the challenge ends. The winner will be selected by the featured item seller. Some guidelines for selection include the number of views and favorites they receive, but overall discretion is up to that week's judge. If your treasury is the winner you will be notified as soon as possible, and we'll give you the chance to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in the next challenge. If you do not have an Etsy shop we'll ask you to nominate an item from the winning treasury to begin the next challenge. 

 Good luck and have fun!

<3

All Work and No Play...

Check out these great spooky gray picks from fellow team member Molly of MollyFinds!

Here we have:

1. Halloween Skeleton Headband by Jill of BeSomethingNew

2. Spider Hair Pin by Kim of EmbellishingYou

3. Creepy Jewelry Spider Necklace by Deb of TheBrassHussy

4. Get Your Hands Off Unisex TShirt by rabbitandeye

5. Death Pedals Skeleton Bike Dress by PoisonPaws

6. Halloween Spider Pet Bow Tie by SirGaryCollection

Let's all have a wonderfully creepy October!  

September Giveaway: Lavender Fields Polka Dot Earrings

Polka Dot Earrings-Lavender Fields by BobbiLewin

Welcome to the September Treasury Tree giveaway! Each month we give away some Etsy treasure to one lucky blog reader. 

 This month we're giving away a lovely pair of crochet earrings made by Bobbi Lewin. These pastel lavender polka dot earrings were crocheted in the woods using fine cotton thread and a tiny steel hook. Each 1 inch circle dangles from a surgical steel ear wire. 

 Bobbi is a mixed media and fiber artist who comes from a long line of needleworkers. Her pieces are beautifully intricate, lovingly crafted, and inspired by her daily life. 

 If you want to win these earrings all you need to do is visit BobbiLewin's Etsy shop, then come back to the blog and leave a comment saying which item from the shop you like best. If you tweet, Facebook, blog or post on any other social media about the giveaway, you can leave additional comments saying you have done so. Every comment on this blog entry counts as one entry into the draw. 

 So get over to BobbiLewin and find some treasure! 

 Good Luck! 

 The Rules:

 - Anyone can enter, from anywhere in the world, except for Treasury Tree team leaders and captains. 
- Every comment on this blog entry counts as an entry into the draw. However, any comment which is not an entry as described above will be removed. 
- The giveaway ends at noon PST on Sunday September 23rd. 
- One winner will be picked using a random number generator and announced on Monday September 24th. 
 - Please make sure that we can contact you in some way from your comment. 
- The prize is the Lavender Polka Dot Crochet Earrings made by BobbiLewin shown in the photo above, it will be shipped to the winner by USPS.

<3

Friday Finds-Kitsch is Good for the Soul!

Thanks to Hope of BlackbirdandPeacock for picking out these great finds!

Check out these upcycled or vintage kitschy finds that make you feel good- and make the planet happy too!

The other day I stumbled upon this vintage nymph from MeshuMash's totally rad shop and fell in love!  So pretty, she definitely belongs on Great Aunt Adilla's windowsill.

Vintage Nymph Figurine by Meshumash

This chillin' clay gnome necklace by Creativity is Messy makes me smile.  And the bottle cap she uses is recycled- very cool!

Chillin' With My Gnomie by CreativityisMessy

Not sure where Molly from Molly Finds unearths her vintage goodies, but I seriously am in awe of all of her treasures.  This donkey is too adorable!

Vintage Baby Donkey Planter by MollyFinds

These sweet upcycled candlestick holders by Trash Things are sooo awesomely pink.

Watermelon Pink Brass Candle Holders by Trash Things

Christmas + kitty cats= absolute kitsch.   Thank you, OooohStitchy.

Christmas Cat Embroidery Hoop by OooohStitchy

Stay tuned for more fabulous Etsy discoveries next Friday!

<3

August Giveaway. Crochet Cuff Bracelet by JustColor

Crochet Cuff Bracelet by JustColor

Welcome to the August Treasury Tree giveaway! Each month we give away some Etsy treasure to one lucky blog reader.

This month we're giving away a delicate and colorful cuff bracelet made by JustColor. The cuff bracelet is hand crocheted in a beautiful shade of fine cotton yarn, trimmed with a silver tone chain and a beautiful floral silver metal toggle clasp that closes in front of the bracelet and acts as the main feature of the piece.

I asked Karineh, from JustColor what inspires her, here's what she said:

"I have always been creative, having been surrounded by creative people since childhood. Although at times I have been pulled to other directions, I have always felt the need to return to creativity. I am inspired by colors in nature and how they can effect our moods! I get exited by discovering new fibers and materials which dominate my existence!"

If you want to win this cuff bracelet all you need to do is visit JustColor's Etsy shop, then come back to the blog and leave a comment saying which item from the shop you like best. If you tweet, Facebook, blog or post on any other social media about the giveaway, you can leave additional comments saying you have done so. Every comment on this blog entry counts as one entry into the draw.

So get over to JustColor and find some treasure!

Good Luck.

The Rules

- Anyone can enter, from anywhere in the world, except for Treasury Tree team leaders and captains.

- Every comment on this blog entry counts as an entry into the draw. However, any comment which is not an entry as described above will be removed.

- The giveaway ends at noon PST on Sunday August 19th.

- One winner will be picked using a random number generator and announced on Monday August 20th.  

- Please make sure that we can contact you in some way from your comment.

- The prize is the Crochet Cuff Bracelet made by JustColor shown in the photo above, it will be shipped to the winner by USPS.

July Giveaway. A Bird's Nest Necklace by CreativityisMessy

http://www.etsy.com/listing/83966486/birds-nest-necklace-freshwater-pearl

Welcome to the first of our monthly Treasury Tree giveaways! Each month we'll be giving away some Etsy treasure to one lucky blog reader.

This month the treasure up for grabs is this beautiful Bird's Nest Necklace hand made by CreativityisMessy. The necklace depicts a small dove circling around her nest full of eggs. The aged brass chain is accented with a small Moonlight Swarovski Crystal Bicone. The small bird is colored in a white hand patina, and the wire wrapped nest surrounds three white freshwater pearl "eggs".

Creativity is Messy, so I asked Tera, the brains behind that name and this necklace what creativity means to her:

"Making jewelry for me is something that I live to do. My inspiration comes from everywhere, and will come to me at the craziest, most inopportune times... like in the middle of the night, at my day job or driving around town running errands. I can't control my creativity... It runs wild and free within me."

If you want to win this necklace all you need to do is visit CreativityisMessy's Etsy shop, then come back to the blog and leave a comment saying which item from the shop you like best. If you tweet, Facebook, blog or post on any other social media about the giveaway, you can leave additional comments saying you have done so. Every comment on this blog entry counts as one entry into the draw.

So get over to CreativityisMessy and find some treasure!

Good Luck.


The Rules
- Anyone can enter, from anywhere in the world, except for Treasury Tree team leaders and captains.
- Every comment on this blog entry counts as an entry into the draw. However, any comment which is not an entry as described above will be removed.
- The giveaway ends at midnight PST on Sunday July 29th.
- One winner will be picked using a random number generator and announced on Monday July 30th.        
- Please make sure that we can contact you in some way from your comment.
- The prize is the Bird's Nest Necklace made by CreativityisMessy shown in the photo above, it will be shipped to the winner by USPS.

Treasury Tree Challenge (July Week 3)

Welcome to the Treasury Tree Challenge! A fun competition to inspire us all to make great treasuries. Remember, anyone can enter.

The item for this week's challenge is from TheWhirlwind:

Retro Flower Necklace by TheWhirlwind

Here are the rules:  

1) Use this item in your treasury.  Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

 2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

 3) In addition to the featured item you must include at least four Tree Team members within your treasury, placed within the top three rows. Here’s a list of members.

Tip: all of The Treasury Tree members' items can be found by clicking here and searching the team's items by key word. 

 4) Tag your treasury with "treeteamchallenge".  For your remaining tags, try to come up with relevant and diverse key words.

5) Use the phrase “Tree Challenge” in your title (you can just stick it at the end in parentheses if you want).

6) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

 7) Return here and post a link to your treasury as a comment to this blog post.  Entries will only count if they've been posted on the blog! 

Note: 
-You can make as many Tree Challenge treasuries as you want.
-You are not required to be a Tree member in order to participate in (or win!) these challenges.
-Participants are allowed to win more than once.
-If any of the seven guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge. (boo!) 

You have until 12 noon (EST) on Tuesday, July 24th to create your treasury (or treasuries).
The winner will be announced that day! The winner will be selected based upon the number of views and favorites they receive, and will be selected by the featured seller.

If your treasury is the winner you will be notified as soon as possible, and we’ll give you the chance to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge.

If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate an item from the winning treasury to begin the next challenge.

Good luck and have fun!!

Christmas in July

Many Etsy shops have a Christmas in July sale from now until July 22, including lots of Treasury Tree favorites. 

Stock up on a rainbow of great gifts for the holidays.

Red – Ruby Heart Necklace by AnnalisJewelry

Orange – Personalized Bird Pillow Case by ClassicByNature

Yellow – Vintage Yellow nightie byReverseChronology

Green – Nature Photograph – NaturalHeart by MollysMuses

Blue - Galaxy Handmade Paper by blackbirdandpeacock

Purple - Purple and Blue Lace Necklaceby TheWhirlwind  

Black – Black Chain Earrings by JustColor

White – White Acorn Pearl Earrings byTheBrassHussy

Follow this link for more Christmas in July sales http://www.etsy.com/people/TheTreasuryTree/favorites?content_search_query=cij and be sure to look at the announcement in each shop to find how long the sale is on and what the discount is. 

New Treasury Tree Challenge!

Welcome to the latest installment of the Treasury Tree Challenge!

It's been awhile, but we are bringing back our weekly treasury challenge!  Anyone can enter, whether or not you are on the team or have an Etsy shop.

The item for this week's challenge is from The Treasury Tree's Own Paula aka Venbead:

Enamel Flower Bangle Bracelet by Venbead

Here are the rules: 

1) Use this item in your treasury.  Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

 2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

 3) In addition to the featured item you must include at least four Tree Team members within your treasury, placed within the top three rows. Here’s a list of members.

Tip: all of The Treasury Tree members' items can be found by clicking here and searching the team's items by key word.

 4) Tag your treasury with "treeteamchallenge".  For your remaining tags, try to come up with relevant and diverse key words.

5) Use the phrase “Tree Challenge” in your title (you can just stick it at the end in parentheses if you want).

6) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

 7) Return here and post a link to your treasury as a comment to this blog post.  Entries will only count if they've been posted on the blog!

Note:
-You can make as many Tree Challenge treasuries as you want.
-You are not required to be a Tree member in order to participate in (or win!) these challenges.
-Participants are allowed to win more than once.
-If any of the seven guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge. (boo!)

You have until 12 noon (EST) on Tuesday, July 17th to create your treasury (or treasuries).
The winner will be announced that day! The winner will be selected based upon the number of views and favorites they receive, and will be selected by the featured seller.

If your treasury is the winner you will be notified as soon as possible, and we’ll give you the chance to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge.

If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate an item from the winning treasury to begin the next challenge.

 Good luck and have fun!!

A Ruby Red Letter Day

The Treasury Tree blog is back in business, our team of treasure hunters will be bringing you giveaways, competitions, sales sneak peaks, coupon codes and a look into the Etsy treasure chest.


That's quite a cause for celebration. So we thought we'd start with some roaring red finds.  

How about some statement jewelry? This gorgeous piece is made by JustColor she's used a vintage button as the focal point and created a choker with a real tribal feel. Very dramatic!

Ruby is the birthstone for July and this beautiful deco ring would be quite a gift for someone special. It's available from Adin, based in Antwerp, Belgium.

Dare to wear red, on just one shoulder too! This Summer dress is designed and made by Tangente who was recently featured on the Etsy blog. 

Great treasure isn't always sparkly. Here's a find that's well within every shopper's budget. A retro 8-bit balloon, design on a red Moleskine notebook. BlackbirdandPeacock, are a partnership; Joe creates the design, carves a stamp of that design and then Hope turns the stamp into a card, notebook or t-shirt. I wonder which one of them is the blackbird and which is the peacock? 

And last but not least, we can't mention ruby red, without thinking of these. Custom made ruby slippers by PrincessPumps.

Featured Member Karineh of JustColor

This week's featured member is Karineh of JustColor. Karineh is one of our founding members and a very talented knitter and crocheter. Her shop is filled with colorful textural accessories and interesting unique jewelry. We asked Karineh to tell us about her art.

Hi Karineh, would you be so kind as to tell us who you are, what you sell, what you are all about?

My name is Karineh and I live in Glendale, California. I am one of 3 children, the only girl (I wish I had a sister) and two older brothers. I have been creating since I was very young. I believe I inherited this from my mother’s side of the family. I also played the piano for many years which I regret stopping and replacing it with sports. The last part of my education was at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland where I learned about many aspects of art and use of materials. It was here I realized the natural power in my hands and fingers.
I make handmade knit and crochet accessories for women. I also make jewelry using metal chains, glass beads or stones. I recently started creating a collection which is a mixture of all of my favorite elements; luxury yarns, chains, stones, beads and leather. It is still under development. I also like to mix some special vintage pieces in some of my work.

Who are your business inspirations?

The list could be too long and very difficult for me to answer. I am not necessarily inspired by large conglomerates’ success. I am more inspired by small, hard working businesses who have managed to succeed through their creativity and imagination.
I have an aunt who became a single mother of a 3 year old in the late 1940s. Despite having to endure many hardships she managed to build up a very successful business with her natural dressmaking and her amazing talent in crafting and creating. She also raised her son to be a very successful businessman.
I am inspired by my mother who I watched creating and crafting since I can remember.

Do you sell online full time? If not, what is your other business/job?

Right now I do work full time on my Etsy shop which means I am doing something for my shop 24/7. Even when I am dreaming. Lol! I have always worked in the fashion world, either as a designer, wholesaler or in the forefront of fashion in retail management and visual merchandising.

What is the biggest challenge when selling your work online?

The biggest challenge is to be noticed and get the word out there. I think most of online businesses would agree with this. Finding one’s customer base and marketing it appropriately is half of the battle.

Tell us about how you got your start selling your craft, either online or local?

I have been selling my craft on and off throughout my adulthood. I had not been creating too much for a few years. After a while I started feeling like something was missing from my life, the void and emptiness that only creativity fills. I decided to pick up my knitting again. One thing lead to many. I am a collector of objects, such as unique small vintage pieces, buttons and lace. I started using them in my work and my jewelry, which I initially made to give as presents. One day a friend of mine mentioned Etsy. I had never heard of it before. I came home, turned on my computer and wham, I created my shop that day. The rest is history.
I don’t do a lot of craft shows. I used to many years ago. I do some local, small craft shows if I can. I normally prefer to be at home surrounded by beautiful objects and yarns.

Tell us why you do what you do (your particular craft; why make it a business vs just a hobby).

I have to do what I do. It’s the need to create, to make something out of nothing, to introduce a different point of view and a new expression of how I see the world for whosoever might be interested. It’s very personal.
There aren’t a lot of people on this earth who make a living out of their passion. Why not turn your passion or your hobby into your business? I think that’s the highest pleasure anyone can get out of life.
Are there any tips or tricks to selling online vs local that you can share?

Maybe there is. Actually I am sure there is but I am also sure I am not the one to give advice in that regard. It’s a constant learning process and I am still a student. One thing I am sure of is that one must have the three Ps, Patience, Persistence and Perseverance.

A few of my favorite Etsy shops:

Now this is hard for me, since I appreciate so many difference and diverse work of art and craft, from one end of the scope to another, but here are a few of my favorites.
LBCpaper, StoneHood, BobbiLewin, infinityarts and many more.