Reclaimed Tennis Balls

my new passion is finding ways to re-use or up-cycle discarded and often forgotten about items. lately i've been focused on tennis balls. our local tennis club just throws these little darlings away by the hundreds in the summer... in the winter, thankfully, they donate them to local schools and after school programs for crafts and chair stoppers.

after having a child of my own, going through 2 days of back labor before even being admitted to Labor/Delivery and then going thru 16 hours of hospital labor, tennis balls were my major source of comfort. throw a couple in a sock and you have a back massager from heaven! even after delivery i found fun new ways to use my little invention.

after being asked about my little sock wonder from many friends and a few family members, i thought there had to be a better way than to buy new socks and stuff them with used tennis balls. and "peanuts" were born!

i only use previously abused tennis balls from the local indoor tennis club. re-claimed 100% wool yarn and remnant fabric that was destined for the trash (never used) in all of the products. No two are alike and all are hand sewn and crocheted.

MeLisa, 28, SAHM, hyenacart.com/Kokomele
Baltimore, MD
Friday, October 24, 2008 10:24 am

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Moth to a flame

Like a moth to a flame I was drawn to well...this moth made by a flame. Pun intended.

I buy handmade because I like to know that I am supporting someone who is following their dream of using their talent. I feel like my money is going to someone who really appreciates it.

Nina, 28, artist, beadsinthebelfry.etsy.com
washington dc metro area
Saturday, August 2, 2008 6:14 pm

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The Little Things

I love the little things. As in, the little whiskers stitched on my red kitty or the tiny felt berries made for a family of felt gnomes.

Personally I like to make little things. I think little things have big character. They're easy for tiny hands to hold and don't take up too much space. When I was a little kid I loved to set up miniature dollhouse scenes, and everything would be perfect down to the last miniscule cup for a two-inch doll to hold. I still like to set up scenes, and I still delight at seeing tiny versions of things.

And anyway, isn't it the little things that count?

Chloe, 15, Etsian, www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5159475
USA
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 5:49 pm

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Knowing where it came from..

My family buys handmade or homegrown because we like to know where our goods come from and where the money is going. I love spending my hard earned money on something that I know was made with heart. I love knowing that I'm supporting another small business, or that I may be helping to keep a Mom, Dad or both at home.

Kickshaw Confections, Confectioner/Chocolatier, www.kickshawconfections.com
Philly Burbs
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 2:04 pm

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Etsy for Bath&Body

I'm a make-up, lotion, anything-pretty-and-smells-good junkie. Let's just say I can easily spend a couple of hours in Sephora. I started purchasing all my bath and body related products on Etsy about a month ago. I started because 1 - I have a shop on Etsy that I love and work on, so I'm already in front of (or near) my computer, 2 - I love the idea of products made in small batches. To me that means that more time and care was taken to create the products. 3 - Vegan, good-for-your skin stuff is all I'm about now that I've turned 30 (okay, 31) and I wish I had started going the more organic route earlier!

Some of my favorite bath products come from Satinpetalsoap.etsy.com - she makes the best smelling vanilla/shea lotion I've tried and Gudonyatoo.etsy.com has some incredible washes, as well as hair care products.
Dressgreen.etsy.com and ayelet17 (Sun Kissed Bud is the name of the shop) makes excellent face care products - I was a little apprehensive about purchasing products for my face, but, honestly, after using products from these two shops there is no going back! The quality and the all-important smell of these products is unbelievable!
Then came the make-up purchases. I have tried mineral make-up from three wonderful places: Mixology, Pink Quartz, and Mineral Make Up are ALL awesome - they also each have incredible sample sets - so check them out!!
Now, not only do I purchase the majority of my bath and body needs off Etsy, my gifts come from here, too - it's going to be a very Merry Etsy Holiday Season around my house!

The Pretty Peacock, 31, Jewelry Designer, theprettypeacock.etsy.com
Seattle
Monday, July 7, 2008 12:50 pm

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