CasaSugar

Etsy Finds: March Madness Hits Home

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0700

March Madness is here! While I don't consider myself much of a basketball fan, I do like the energy and communal spirit that bring shouting and high-fiving friends together as they grasp their brackets in their sweaty hands. I may show up at a Final Four party looking forward to the chips and dip most, but either way, I'm not showing up empty-handed and neither should you. Instead of bringing an underwhelming six-pack to your pal's party, score some cool points and consider palming one of these basketball-themed treats for your hoopin' hostess.

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Etsy Finds: Make Newspapers New Again

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:00 -0800

Newspapers aren't what they once were. Sure they still give our us daily dose of information, but we don't rely on their paper format like we did not so long ago. While we may depend on blogs or online news feeds to satiate our instantaneous appetites, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the printed word beyond our front doorstep. Check out these nifty newspaper knickknacks in this edition of Etsy Finds!

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Etsy Finds: Marching Right Along

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0800

Left, right, left. When the third month of the year hits, many minds start seeing green and thinking of clovers, but I can't help but drift to the literal side of the label. Are you equally charmed by all things marching?

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Cool Idea: Driftwood Key Holder

CasaSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0800

Children can hardly walk by a large piece of driftwood and let it be. Adults? Our goal is often not to step on it. A quick look at this design for a Driftwood Key Hanger ($14) from Etsy seller Bricheese has me thinking like a child and envisioning new ways to use sustainable items.

Instead of tossing this Y-shaped branch back into the water or compost bin, the artist added a few hooks to the piece of wood and attached a wall hook to the back. Small and unassuming, it is the perfect place to hang keys and a small purse. So the next time you pass by an interestingly shaped piece of wood, check it out for sturdiness and consider adding some fun hooks to it for an entryway talking point.

House Tour: Yvonne's German Flat

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:00:00 -0800

Yvonne, her husband, and their three children have been expats for the last seven years, and in that time have lived everywhere from Mexico City to Istanbul. Currently, the family lives in Germany, where Yvonne runs an Etsy shop, crafts, cooks, decorates, and enjoys her family and home. A tour of her home reveals a great eye for color and decor. Take a peek at her lovely home!
Source: Flickr User Moline

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Etsy Finds: Indoor Gardening

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:00:06 -0800

Yesterday, I inspired you with some cool terrariums. Today, I'm back with some Etsy finds that will help you add a bit of green to your Winter home. Better yet, the plants included in this post are all very easy to care for!

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House Tour: Maya's New York Farmhouse

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:00:14 -0800

For those of us who dream about leaving the city and living a more rural lifestyle, crafter, DIYer, and mom, Maya, may just be living out our country life fantasy. Maya writes, "After living in many different apartments and flats for most of my life (mostly in San Francisco), I always yearned for a home in the country. I now live with my family in my dream home, an old farmhouse in rural upstate New York. Most of it was built in the 1850s, the addition was 1910. All of the floors are the original wide planks. There's so much unique, dark woodwork in the downstairs that we've gone for a very natural palette with a lot of white to brighten the space and accentuate the woodsy feeling."

Maya notes that nearly all of the furniture in her home has been found via Craigslist, auctions, and garage sales, which was at first a necessity, and now a conscious choice, since she says that she loves to fill her home with objects and pieces with a history.

She says, "Since I design sustainable home wares, many of my prototypes and seconds end up being honored on our couch or holding our books and magazines. I have a lot of artists in my family, including my children, so the walls are covered predominantly with family art. The rest of the pieces vary from my favorite indie artists to some vintage prints. I believe our homes should be a unique reflection of those who reside there and if you're lucky be in a location that inspires. I'm quite grateful for everyday I wake up to the birds calling, and the neighbors' cows lowing." Take a peek at Maya's inspirational country home, and then head over to her Etsy shop to pick up a few of her handmade goods.

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Etsy Finds: Skeleton Key Motifs

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:34 -0800

Victorian skeleton keys are no longer used on our doors, but their decorative shapes are still beautiful and worthy of display. So I thought I'd round up housewares that showcase their intricate forms. Come take a look!

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Etsy Finds: Dresses to Impress

CasaSugar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:30:15 -0800

I've long been a fan of using dresses as decor, but how about decorating your walls with artwork and photography featuring frocks? I've found some pretty pinafores and party dresses suitable for framing. See if any of these dresses catch your eye.

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Cool Idea: Craft Hope For Haiti

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:30:24 -0800

Looking for more ways to support the rescue efforts in Haiti? Now, you can buy handcrafted goods while also giving to charity, thanks to the Etsy Shop Craft Hope. All of the crafted items in the shop, including art, home goods, quilts, children's goods, and more, have been generously donated by the crafting community, with the entire proceeds of the Craft Hope Etsy shop benefiting Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.

Sarah, one of the wonderful women behind Craft Hope, writes:

Jade and I started this effort as a quick offshoot of Craft Hope because we wanted to help and knew that sending things was not a viable option. We hatched a little idea about the shop on Etsy and figured we’d raise a few hundred dollars. We had this pie in the sky idea that we’d maybe get to $5,000 eventually. You all got us there by yesterday at noon. As of now, we’re rapidly approaching the $10,000 mark. Amazing. Overwhelming.

Please take a few minutes to check out the hundreds of items in the shop and see if there is any item you might want to get for yourself or a loved one. (I personally love this Black and White Brocade Coptic Bound Book for $35). You can feel great about your purchase, knowing that it will help Doctors Without Borders complete its important work in Haiti.