Salute the Troops - Then and Now

Thanks so much to ilovevintagestuff for including my military stars and stripes and sewing kit in a marvelous patriotic Etsy treasury:



Please check out ilovevintagestuff's amazing Etsy shop...you'll find hundreds of wonderful vintage items.

~ Thanksgiving Dinner ~

Thanks so much to Wendy at WillowCreekJewelry for including my Frank M. Whiting Sterling Silver Carving Set in a wonderful holiday Etsy treasury:



Click on the link above to visit WillowCreekJewelry's marvelous Etsy shop!

Can't Sleep...Clowns will eat me

Thanks so much to DianesCloset for featuring my Frank M. Whiting sterling silver carving set in a scary Etsy treasury:



Check out DianesCloset Etsy store by clicking on the link above...she's got a wonderful assortment of vintage clothing!

M is for Man and Music and Memories

Thanks so much to SimplySuzula for featuring my antique brass reeds in a beautifully composed Etsy vestiesteam treasury:



Please make sure to check out SimplySuzula's wonderful vintage Etsy shop by clicking on the link above...it's crammed full of all kinds of goodies.

M is for Masks

Thanks so much to WishingWellsGlass for featuring my antique wax cloth mask in a really neat Etsy treasury:



Click on the link above to visit WishingWellsGlass wonderful Etsy shop!

C is for.....Cody!

Thanks so much to Ronda of stemsofstone for including my John Lennon book in a moving tribute to her stepson Cody in the form of an Etsy treasury:



Please stop by stemsofstone's Etsy store (fantastic handmade jewelry)...just click on the link above.

Misty evening

Thanks so much to lucietales for featuring my antique silk sewing kit in a hauntingly beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to check out lucietales wonderful Etsy shop by clicking on the link above...you'll find wonderful and unique jewelry handmade in France.

Perestroika Etsy Style

Mikhail Gorbachev defined Perestroika, in part, as:

"Perestroika means overcoming the stagnation process, breaking down the braking mechanism, creating a dependable and effective mechanism for acceleration of social and economic progress and giving it greater dynamism." Source: Mikhail Gorbachev, Perestroika (New York: Harper Collins, 1987).

Certainly, if you buy and/or sell on Etsy, you know there is no stagnation and the brakes are off. And I, for one, have found it a dependable and effective mechanism for social and economic progress.

Etsy is not just a venue to buy and sell; it's a lifestyle, maybe even a compulsion, if you let it. The shopkeepers on Etsy are limited to selling handcrafted items, supplies to create handcrafted items or vintage goods (defined as 20 years or older). The assortment of goods is outstanding and the creativity of the artisans who sell their creations on Etsy is amazing.

Each Etsy shopkeeper sets up their unique shop. They provide as much information as they care to share in their profile, create or select a picture banner and organize the shop into sections if they so choose.

It takes some time to get acclimated, to learn the ins and outs. There are new terms to learn, terms like "circle", "treasury list", "hearted", "favorite", "admire", "front page", "convo". I remember the first person who "hearted" my shop (Old Cottage). I was so excited! I didn't know what a "treasury list" was for the first couple of weeks and then I received a "convo" advising me that one of my items had been included in a treasury. More excitement.

One of the unique features on Etsy is the amazingly gorgeous photos each shopkeeper posts to display items for sale. A good photo will, of course, help to sell an item, but on Etsy it's more. A good photo is coveted. You can "favorite" items and the photos of all the items you favorite are saved in a listing. You can then use these wonderful photos to create a treasury list.

Any Etsy member can curate a treasury which a listing of 16 photos of items for sale on Etsy. You should not include any of your own items, only items of other shopkeepers. It's a way to help promote sales for others and yet also get your shop in front of the eyes of others. Usually there is some connected theme to these items and to create a successful treasury, the photos should be outstanding. Once you create your treasury, you can then post it live on Etsy for all to see. Fellow Etsians can then view the list, click on individual items included in the treasury, and comment on the list. They can also "admire" the list. All of these activities are tracked and counted. The popularity or "hotness" of a treasury could possibly catapult to the coveted Etsy front page.

I create treasury lists because I enjoy the creative process, the viewing and selecting and piecing together of 16 photos into a beautiful cohesive work of art. I also use the treasury as a way to support other Etsians who have commented, admired or favorited one of my items or lists. It's my way of thanking them. I created the following treasury "Pendants" for just that purpose. And this treasury did find it's way to the number one spot of the front page. It had just over 300 views when I went to bed the night I created it and had over 1100 views when I awoke the next morning. Exactly why this happened, I don't know. But there were a few shopkeepers who were featured who obviously promoted this list to the hilt.



There are many Etsy "teams" that you could join...such as vintage teams, treasury teams, teams according to your craft or location, age, hobbies, pets...you name it and there's probably a team for it. And there's a tremendous amount of community in some of these teams. Some teams are almost like family...you greet your fellow team mates in the morning, let them know what's going on with you during the day and log out at night.

If there is an Etsy shop that you admire and would like to follow their activities, their favorites, their treasuries, then you can put these shops in your "circle" and you get to follow what's going on with them.

And one of the things I enjoy most is communicating with wonderful people from around the world. I get to visit their shops, see their amazing creations, feature their items in my treasuries and have my items featured in theirs. We are a community and we are all working together for a common good: the success of our fellow Etsians as well as our own.

Perestroika Etsy style...I love it!

Setting the Table for Thanksgiving

Thanks so much to VintageCreekside for featuring my Frank M. Whiting sterling silver carving set in a beautiful Etsy treasury:



Make sure to check out VintageCreekside's fantastic Etsy shop by clicking on the link above!

Can't escape my nature

Thanks so much to BarnshopAntiques for featuring my Natural Resources of the US book in a naturally wonderful Etsy treasury:



Check out BarnshopAntiques marvelous Etsy shop by clicking on the link above!

The grey

Thanks so much to Yanina from nafanyafelt for featuring my wooden apples in a marvelous Etsy treasury:



Please check out nafanyafelt's wonderful shop by clicking on the link above. Yanina has beautiful handmade felted scarves...

Silver is love!

Thanks so much to aysunconcept for featuring my Simpson Hall Miller "Silver" pattern silverplate fork in a stunning Etsy treasury:



Just click on the link above to visit aysunconcept's wonderful Etsy shop!

I Aim to Misbehave...

Thanks so much to whyzee for featuring my milk glass button in a strikingly beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please stop by whyzee's wonderful Etsy shop by clicking on the link above...you won't be disappointed!

Handmade with passion

Thanks so much to Kailajewellery for featuring my antique Wyandotte toy truck in her wonderful Etsy treasury:



Check out her amazing Etsy shop by clicking on the link above!

Setting the HARVEST TABLE - In Vintage Style

Thanks so much to TheOldBarnDoor for featuring my Frank M. Whiting sterling silver carving set in a wonderful Etsy Vintage Team treasury:



Please make sure to visit TheOldBarnDoor's marvelous vintage shop (amazing selection of postcards, trade cards, stamps, ephemera) on Etsy...just click on the link above.

merriment and wonder ...

Thanks so much to GreatMaineWoodworker for featuring my little red bakelite Scottie dog pencil sharpener in a wonderful Etsy treasury:



Make sure to stop by GreatMaineWoodworker's fantastic Etsy shop...just click the link above.

From Uptown to Downtown

Thanks so much to Metalmorphis for including my Frank M. Whiting Sterling Silver carving set in a beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to check out Metalmorphis shop on Etsy by clicking on the link above...you'll find exquisite handmade jewelry!

Jump In To Color!

A while back a friend of mine had moved into a new home and all the walls were white. She had inherited some vintage family furniture and wasn't sure how to arrange it or what to do with it. She was thinking of just storing it in the garage and buying inexpensive new furniture that would fit into her budget.

I asked her how she felt about perhaps painting the focal fireplace wall and just trying out the family furniture to see how it looked. She said she'd consider painting the wall...what color was I thinking?

"Red" was my answer.

"Red!" "I hate red," she responded and looked at me like I had lost my mind.

"Look, the worst thing that happens is that we try it, you hate it, and we paint it back white. What's the big deal? Give it a try."

After a lot of persuading, she finally gave in.

We painted the wall a deeper red first with a very lightly brushed top coat of a brick shade. That light top coat gave the red a very interesting depth. The mantle was white, so we painted it a glossy Kona coffee color that would work nicely with her vintage mahogany side tables and coffee table. It also would work nicely with the brown and red Persian area rug.

She had three old red velvet upholstered chairs, a lovely Oriental silk screen, an antique coral color kimino, lamps with round brown glass bases and bronze metallic shades and various accessory items.

Pictured is the result...she loved it. And all it cost was the price of the paint. (That's the kimono hanging on the right wall!)

life stages

Thanks so much to paddyridge for featuring my agate egg in a wonderful Vintage Etsy Society team challenge treasury:



Check out paddyridge's etsy shop by clicking on the link above. It's full of "useful vintage goods"!

Cosy, Lazy Afternoon

Thanks so much to foxfragaria for featuring my miniature rabbit and topiaries in a lovely and warm Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to stop by foxfragaria's beautiful Etsy shop by clicking on the link above.

Virginia Moon

Thanks so much to AthertonsVintage for including my mother of pearl crescent moon shaped buttons in a beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to check out AthertonsVintage shop on Etsy by clicking the link above...you won't be disappointed!

Gift Lover's Guide

Thanks so much to rockysprings1984 for including my antique Wyandotte toy truck in a beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to stop by rocksprings1984 fantastic vintage shop on Etsy by clicking on the link above.

November Reflections

Thanks so much to Winfielddyingarts for including my Atlas canning jars in a beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to stop by Winfielddyingarts beautiful Etsy shop by clicking on the link above.

Modern romance

Thanks so much to Lilyja for featuring my glass salt shakers in her beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to check out Lilyja's wonderful Etsy shop...it's full of gorgeous handmade jewelry! Just click the link above.

Brief Encounters of the Squirrel Kind

Thanks so much to VivaChloe for featuring my Figural Walnut Sewing Kit in her creative (and adorable) Etsy Vintage Team treasury:



Please make sure to check out VivaChloe's fantastic vintage shop on Etsy...just click on the link above.

Egg salent!!! Eggs ackly!!! Eggs tream!!

Thanks so much to jackrockx for featuring my stone egg in an egg quisite Etsy treasury!



Please take a look at jackrockx wonderful Etsy store which includes a fantastic selection of vintage hats...just click on the link above.

Safe

Thanks so much to DivineOrders for featuring my Safe Seal Canning Jar in a beautiful and inspirational Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to visit DivineOrders beautiful Etsy shop by clicking on the link above.

Bakeltie is a Deee-lite!

Thanks so much to LuckyWishesCharms for featuring my little red Scottie Dog bakelite pencil sharpener in their colorful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to stop by LuckyWishesCharms and check out their fun Etsy shop...just click on the link above.

A Fall Romance

Thanks so much to baublesandmore for featuring my faux pearl necklace and earrings on a beautiful Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to visit baublesandmore on Etsy by clicking on the link above...the shop is chock full of wonderful vintage items, baubles and more!

In the Navy - WLV Team

Thanks so much to Tassie1 for including my U.S. Navy Air Navigation Notebook in her marvelous Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to visit her wonderful Etsy shop at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TassiesTreasures?ref=si_shop

Open your Heart

Thanks so much to Zelda110 for featuring my Kent cigarette packs and ashtray in her wonderfully crafted Etsy treasury:



Please make sure to stop by Zelda110's marvelous vintage Etsy shop...just click the link above.

A Village

Thanks so much to MollyFinds for including my Chein Litho Tin Horse in her wonderful "A Village" Etsy vestiesteam treasury:



Please make sure to click the link above and check out MollyFinds Etsy shop...she has a fantastic selection of vintage collectibles, items for your home decor and collectibles that have a story of their own. Retro kitchen, collectible pieces and antique prints.

October Earth Tone Collection

Thanks so much to 10karri for featuring my antique Wyandotte toy truck in her wonderful Etsy Vintage Team treasury:



Please make sure to check out 10karri's fantastic vintage shop on Etsy by clicking on the link above.

Let's Get to Know Our Kitchen Again!

Thanks so much to ilovevintagestuff for featuring my vintage cookie cutters in their wonderful Etsy We Love Vintage Team treasury:



Please make sure to check out ilovevintagestuff's Etsy shop...it's a mother and daughter team joint effort with a wonderful assortment of vintage items. Just click on the link above.