Trim the Tree with Fish?

Looking for an adorable and unique Christmas decoration? Well, look no further! Holly the Holiday Jellyfish will look simply stunning hanging from your Christmas tree this year!



Holly is versatile though and would look great hanging from your car's rear view mirror, a door knob on your dresser or pantry, hanging out next to the mistletoe or anywhere else you need a little holiday cuteness!

Don't want a Christmas themed jellyfish? Have no fear! I can create a custom jellyfish in any color of the rainbow! Just send me a convo in Etsy and let me know what you are looking for!

Treasury Fun!

Its holiday shopping time! That means fun gift guide treasuries! My favorite person to shop for is my 3.5 yr old little man. Knowing what a little boy wants is very easy - but finding it among the dresses, flowers, hair bows, baby dolls and endless sea of pink can be quite challenging!

My little guy has been asking me to make him another turtle and a snake for quite some time now, so I better get hopping on it!

Of course, I will likely give it to him as soon as its done, since he loves to watch me make toys. Maybe I'll pick up a few things from my Gift Guide for Little Men treasury to save for Christmas morning!

I've also been included in two great treasuries
A gorgeous Pink & Black treasury by BBlonski Designs featuring my hot pink make-up remover pads


And a fun treasury featuring other great EtsyNJ artists by KIRWEN1004 which includes my adorable Mandy the Octopus!


Have you started your holiday shopping yet?

Giveaway - Last Chance to Enter!

Have you entered my plush octopus giveaway? There are many ways to enter, you can get up to 13 entries! The giveaway closes at midnight tonight, so get your comments in now!!

Scarves for Special Olympics

Last year I found out about a great charity called Scarves for Special Olympics. Crafters all over the planet knit or crochet scarves and donate them to the athletes, coaches and family members that participate in the Special Olympics. Sadly, I found out too late to be able to participate. I am ready for this year!! The program has gotten so much attention and so much love that they have expanded and now there are several states participating in the program. New Jersey has requested 1,000 scarves for their participants!! I put in my pledge and already have two completed.



Want to learn more? Want to join in on the fun? Check out their website, Facebook Fan Page and Twitter

Wordless Wednesday

Plush Octopus Giveaway - Closed!

The giveaway has ended! Thanks to everyone who entered!

I've been debating doing a blog giveaway for the longest time, but couldn't decide what the prize would be. I love making plush animals and the animal that is the most fun to make is an octopus - they are cute and friendly and they have 8 legs! What could be more fun?!?

Anyway, this giveaway is for one blue plush octopus hand crocheted by me using 100% acrylic yarn and stuffed is hypoallergenic polyester filling. This little guy measures 4 inches tall with 4 inch long tentacles. His eyes and face are hand sewn making him absolutely adorable and safe for children of every age. I will also include a hand crocheted 100% cotton washcloth, dish cloth and pair of face scrubbers in surprise colors!



How can you win this fabulous prize? Simple! The first step is to visit my Etsy shop and come back here and leave a comment telling me which item is your favorite. (this step is mandatory)

Here are some optional things you can do for extra entries, each one gets you one entry and you must leave a separate comment for each one.

1) Follow my blog using Google Friend Connect
2) Heart my Etsy shop
3) Heart any item in my Etsy shop and include which item you've hearted in the comment
4) Follow me on Twitter
5) Like my Facebook page
6) Tweet about the giveaway and post a link to the tweet in the comment. (can be done daily)
Plush octopus #giveaway by @madebymelissa, get up to 13 entries! http://bit.ly/9W4GSJ, ends 11/7
7) Post a link to the giveaway on Facebook and tag my Facebook page.
8) Write about the giveaway in your blog, include a link to the blog post in your comment.

For an extra FIVE entries, make a purchase from my Etsy shop between now and midnight on November 7. Come back here and tell everyone what you bought! (note, you must leave 5 separate comments)

Contest ends on midnight, Monday, November 7. Please be sure that you include a way for me to contact you if you've won (email, Etsy shop, Twitter, etc). The winner will have 48 hours to reply and send me their mailing address. I will ship to anywhere in the world!

Just a note, comments need to be approved before they post publicly on the blog, I will be checking in daily to read and approve comments, just because you don't see it publish, it doesn't mean that it didn't go through!

Good luck!!

Halloween Fun

It's almost time for Halloween! This is the first year that my little guy "gets" it, so he picked out his own costume this year! My little man will be Batman, the main question is - will he actually wear the mask/hood? Time will tell...



There is still time to order some fun Halloween accessories from my shop, I have cute pendants and an adorable Halloween star baby blanket.


And wouldn't Abbie be an adorable Halloween surprise for the little ones (like my son) who don't eat candy?!?


Have a happy and safe Halloween!
~Melissa~

Handmade Shower Favors

One of my best friends is getting married this weekend! YAY!! Her shower was a couple of weeks ago and she asked me to be in charge of the favors. I happily accepted the task and tried to think of something that would be unique and useful. I browsed through the shops of some of my EtsyNJ friends and came across this listing by Dragon's Den. Amanda is awesome to work with and her list of scents is amazing. I knew I needed the soaps to be orange, I just needed to select a scent that matched the color, I finally settled on a scent called summer kisses and ordered 60 soaps plus layered votive candles for game prizes.

Now, my friend asked me to make something for the favors, so what could I made that goes with handmade soaps? Hrm... I know, washcloths!! It took 4 one pound cones of white cotton yarn and about 2 months of nonstop crocheting, but I did it! 60 washcloths, all hand crocheted by yours truly! I have a photo somewhere of the piles of all 60 washcloths, just in case you were curious what that many washcloths looks like. I'll look for it and post it later on.

Here is the photo of the finished product arranged on a table at the shower


And a closeup shot:

(Photos courtesy of Scott Evans Photography)

The favors were a big hit! People were commenting on how they couldn't believe that they were 100% handmade and how they were so pretty and useful. Two thumbs up for Dragon's Den and Made By Melissa!!

New Treasury - Purely Perfectly Peach

My lacy peach baby blanket has been featured in a gorgeous treasury by PatJNJ on Etsy, please check it out and leave a comment!

New Dishcloths!

Need to spruce up your kitchen? Tired of that stinky, grimy sponge? Want something that is durable and colorful? Check out my 100% cotton reusable dishcloths!



They measure 4.5 inches wide and 3 inches tall - about the size as your typical kitchen sponge.



These are machine washable and will last forever! Get that stinky sponge out of your kitchen and stop throwing money away.



Don't see a set that matches your kitchen? Convo me in Etsy and I'll make you a custom set!

Everybody loves a lady bug!

At some point in my life, I became aware of the fact that ladybugs were good luck. I'm not sure who told me or why, but from that point on, I decided that ladybugs weren't as creepy and gross and scary as other bugs. I suppose I convinced myself that they weren't "real bugs". At any rate, I made a super cute ladybug plush and he's been hanging around my shop for quite some time now (yes, I wrote "he" not all ladybugs are girls, you know!).



Larry isn't the only ladybug themed item that was created in the Garden State, there are many very awesome ladybug creations from the EtsyNJ street team. Take a look:

Little Ladybug...Boutique Hair Clippie by: TreasureBoxJewelry


Love Bug Birthday Invitations - Set of 10 by: BBDesigns


LadyBug LadyBug Tote by: beachchik


Ladybug Love Card by: AJKArtistry


Love those lucky ladybugs!
Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Item of the Week - March 29

Easter is less than a week away! That means that my Easter Bunny Sale is almost over!! All bunnies are marked down from $15.00 to $12.50 until midnight on Sunday, April 4.

Take a look at these three cute residents of the Made By Melissa Bunny Patch:


Have a Hoppy Easter! ;)
~Melissa~

Item of the Week - March 22, 2010

Easter time is coming soon! Get ready to fill those baskets with handmade goodies! All of my bunnies are marked down from $15.00 to $12.50. No codes to enter, prices are already marked down.

The newest addition to the bunny patch is Abbie. Abbie is red and black and inspired by the totally fabulous Abbie Scuito, forensic scientist from my favorite TV show - NCIS. Stop by Abbie's Etsy listing and say hello!!



Happy Shopping!!
~Melissa~

Featured EtsyBlogger - DizzyDragonflies

The featured EtsyBlogger for March is Vicky from DizzyDragonflies. I'll admit, I've never come across her shop before, but when I looked at it for the first time today, I was hooked. DizzyDragonflies isn't just a cool name, its a shop with hand dyed yarn! Yarn, I love yarn!! :)

Check out these great colors!!


Vicki also knits and crochets, which probably explains why she makes such great yarns! I really like this scarf she made:


When you are done drooling over Vicky's yarns, be sure to stop by her blog!!

Item of the Week - March 1, 2010

It is Monday once again and that means its time for a new featured item of the week. This week's item comes with a little story. My son really likes Blue's Clues, and I mean, he REALLY likes Blue's Clues, the kid even walks around with a notebook and a crayon and randomly screams "A CLUE!!! It's right there!!" and dramatically reveals his notebook from behind his back. Adorable, right? There are many times he's nearly given me a heart attack. Anyway, his favorite episode is Blue's Birthday (circa 1998), not to spoil it for you, but Steve buys Blue a turtle with a blue polka dot shell for her birthday. My little guy thinks that its just teh greatest thing EVER. I tried to find a picture of the little turtle, but after searching through 10 pages of Google images, this is the best I could do:


Combine all of that with the fact that I seem to have way too much blue yarn, I decided to make a turtle with a bright blue shell.



My little guy instantly fell in love with him, but I managed to get him back in order to put him up in the shop. I do sense myself making at least one more for him to keep!!

Get a free little fishy friend with the purchase of either the blue or green turtle between now and mightnight on Sunday, March 7, 2010 just by putting "Blue's Clues" in the notes to seller at checkout, also indicate if you'd like the fish to be a specific color, otherwise, I will select one for you.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Item of the Week - January 12, 2010

Well, here it is week two, and I am already behind on posting the item of the week! Forgive me, as I was a little distracted by my interview with Matt Pinfield from 101.9 WRXP. Anyway, the item of the week is this set of seven make-up remover pads.



Some info on the set:
This set of seven 100% cotton facial scrubbers/make-up remover pads measures just under 4 inches wide.

These are super soft and provide gentle exfoliation. They can be used with any type of soap or facial cleanser. Stop throwing money away on cotton balls! These guys are 100% machine washable and dryer safe.

And for the bonus - just put "seven days a week" in the notes to seller at checkout and I will refund you $1.00 via PayPal, that's 7 face scrubbers for just $4.50 plus shipping!

Make-up revmover pads can be made in any color and number, so please feel free to contact me via Etsy or via Facebook if you'd like a custom order. The same $1.00 discount will apply to all orders for 7 or more pads placed and paid for between now and midnight on Sunday, January 17.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Another New Treasury!

I've been mildly obsessed with the Etsy treasury lately. Thanks to Craftopolis Treasury Hunt, I can check and see when the treasuries will be opening up, and believe me, that makes it a lot easier than counting lists and guessing when the will expire!

It's been brutally cold in northern New Jersey lately, and from what I hear on the news, across most of the country! My fellow EtsyNJ folks have some great items to help you keep warm until springtime. Hence, this treasury!


Baby It's COLD Outside ends Friday January 1, 9 AM

Also, my treasury wests from the other day should still be active, if you haven't seen them yet, click here.

Last but not least, don't forget about my Ring in the New Year SALE! Great deals all through the shop, check out this blog post for the gory details!

Happy New Year!
~Melissa~

Ring in the New Year with a SALE!!

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! Was Santa generous? Did you get everything you asked for?

I'd like to ring in the new year with a SALE! From now until Midnight on January 1, 2010, get a FREE GIFT with every purchase from Made By Melissa. And, as an added bonus, get 10% off orders over $10 or more! And, just in case that isn't enough, FREE US SHIPPING on orders over $30 or more! Simply put Happy New Year in the notes to seller to receive your free gift and your discounts!



(10% off and free shipping given as refund via PayPal, or send a convo for a revised invoice or special listing)

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - EtsyBloggers Style

Woo-hoo! Christmas is just four days away! Santa and his elves are putting the finishing touches on the gifts and wrapping them up, the reindeer are getting ready to fly! The excitement is in the air. The EtsyBloggers have some awesome Santa Claus items to get you in the holiday spirit!

Retro Santa Claus Pom Pom Ornament by AForestFrolic


Candy Cane Elf Hat with Holly Berries and Bells by RagamuffinDesign


Santa Claus Goat Milk Handmade Soap by Sweet Sally Soaps


Santa Claus Is Coming To Town -- Sassy Vintage-Inspired Christmas Cards by macaroniandglue


Merry Christmas!
~Melissa~

The Most Viewed

One of the stats that is public on Etsy listings is views - how many times a listing has been looked at. What does it really mean? If you see an item with a high view count that could mean that it was featured in a treasury, perhaps on the Etsy main page, maybe it was blogged about on a high traffic blog or maybe it was simply relisted over and over again and never purchased.

This tshirt bowl by far has the highest views of any item in my shop. Yes, its been renewed a few times, but, in this case, I believe these tags have something to do with it: "t shirt, cotton, yarn, eco friendly, recycled, repurposed". It is a unique, one of a kind item that I had really hoped would get snapped up right away. Instead, its still hanging around and the longer it stays with me, the more I think about keeping it for myself.



I can think of tons of things that need to be stored in an awesome bowl made from a worn down, yet very clean, t-shirt. Keys, change, cell phones, make-up remover pads, jewelry, Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, etc, etc...

What item in your shop has the most views? Are you surprised by it?

~Melissa~