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!

A Pat on the Back!

The EtsyBloggers have an interesting question for this biweekly blog carnival. They ask the following:

What was your most successful sales event or product, and why do you think it was?

Hands down, my most successful sales event was my Earth Day sale from earlier this year. I offered free shipping on all eco-friendly items - washcloths, make-up remover pads, dishcloths and upcycled jewelry.



During that period, I sold several sets of white make-up remover pads. I'm not sure why white was so popular, but I really should get my butt to the store and get more white cotton yarn!!



I think the sale was popular for two reasons:
1) My washcloths/make-up pads/dishcloths are very reasonably priced, and in some cases, by offering free shipping, I cut the total price almost in half.



2) Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to eliminate waste, save money and keep their families healthy. My washcloths and make-up remover pads are machine washable and last a very, very long time (I am tempted to say that they will last forever, but I can't be 100% sure of that) and the dishcloths replace stinky sponges that can hold mold and bacteria. All of them are pretty and give the sense of luxury while still being good for the environment and helping to save money.

I was surprised at how well the sale went, up until that point, I had little success with sales. Will this be an annual event?? You'll have to keep reading my blog to find out! ;-)

Hemp Dish Scrubber

As you all know, I recently stumbled upon a yarn shop with some different and fun yarns called Darn Good Yarn. I made a great scarf from their recycled silk yarn and I also played with their hemp yarn.

I pictured the hemp yarn as a dish scrubber before I even got it, I just assumed it would be sturdy enough to really scrub out that stuck on gunk. And, I was right! I was surprised by how thin it was, so I had to go all the way down to an E hook, which for me, is pretty small. Here's a picture of the finished product:


I've been thinking of making coasters with this yarn as well and bordering each one with a different color of equally thin yarn - perhaps sock weight or even embroidery floss.

As I mentioned before, I also have the white recycled banana silk yarn waiting to be used as well. I just visited the website and now they have it in some really cool colors! This yarn is really chunky, so I can't wait to play with it, I think it will make a fabulous scarf.

PS - as a follow-up to the previous post on the recycled silk yarn, I talked to the Darn Good Yarn folks about the softness factor and found out this: "let the silk settle and break in... it gets really soft..." See? I was just too impatient!

Earth Day Sale - Just FIVE Days Left!

Earth day is coming fast! There are just five more days until my fabulous Earth Day sale comes to an end. Purchase any washcloth, dishcloth, make-up remover set or upcycled/repurposed jewelry item from my shop before midnight on April 22 and automatically get free shipping!



You'll also get free shipping on any custom washcloth, dishcloth or make-up removers that are ordered and paid for before Earth Day comes to an end.




Go Green!
~Melissa~

Earth Day Sale!

Earth Day is April 22 - all dish cloths, wash cloths and eco friendly items will ship for FREE from now until April 22. Show your love for Mother Earth by reducing your waste and showing off how cool recycling can really be!

Washcloths, Dishcloths, Make-up Remover Pads:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=28859§ion_id=5165195



Don't see a color that matches your style? Shoot me an email or an Etsy conversation, custom orders placed before April 22 also ship for free.


Upcycled T-shirt bowl:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13851874



Upcycled Plastic Pendant:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22313597



Go Green!
~Melissa~

Extra Large Facial Pads!

A new item is available now in my Etsy shop - extra large facial pads/make-up removers. These guys are about an inch bigger than my regular pads and just as soft. This set is made with cheery yellow and white yarn.



As an added bonus, they are even big enough to use as dish cloths. So, with this set of three, you can keep one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom and have a spare to use until laundry day!

What? You said yellow isn't really your color? Have no fear! I'll make you a custom set! Simply send me a convo and let me know your color preferences and I'll make you a set that will compliment your home.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

One World One Heart Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED - WINNERS WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.



I discovered the One World One Heart Giveaway thanks to a fellow EtsyNJ member and decided it would be fun to participate. Its a way for bloggers around the world to connect and to possibly win some cool stuff along the way.

I am offering a sampler pack of my reuseable cotton crocheted cloths - it will include one washcloth, one dishcloth and two make-up removal pads. These are a great way to reduce the use of paper towels, sponges and cotton balls - saving you money and eliminating waste. Depending on the number of entries, I may give away two or three sampler sets.

The images below are not the actual items you'll receive (because I haven't made them yet) but they are fairly close to what you will get.


All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post and give me some way to contact you if you win (either your blog address, your email address, your website, Etsy shop, something). The winner (or winners) will be announced on Thursday, February 12 and will be contacted directly.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the other participants here - One Worls One Heart 2009 .

Another Successful Trade on Etsy!!

As if you didn't already have enough reasons to love Etsy, here is one more - TRADING. I've had successful trades in the past with ScrapTrendz (I traded a pair of earrings for some cute botte cap pendants for my little cousin) and PurpleLicious (I traded some earrings and bracelets for some key fobs for Christmas gifts).

My most recent trade happened on a whim. Every Monday through Thursday I start the daily promotion thread on Etsy for the EtsyNJ team. Purseonality Bags posted a link to her gorgeous Hi Ho Cherry O Purse and I instantly fell in love with it. But, like many people, right now, funds are tight and I can't justify spending money on a new purse. So, I contacted her to see if she'd be interested in trading. I was totally prepared for a polite no, since two of the last two people I contacted said no and I also turned down a couple of trade offers myself. She said yes!! Woo-hoo! So, I got this purse:


For these washcloths, facial scrubbies and kitchen items:

And of course, she couldn't resist this adorable ladybug bracelet:


Purseonality Bags snatched up my entire inventory of crocheted washcloths and cleaning cloths, but have no fear, I am busy creating more and will have them listed as soon as my son allows me to take some photos after dinner. You see, he always tries to get in the shot... I'm not trying to sell him! Feel free to convo me if you are looking for something specific and I'll do my best to get it made for you!

So, if you are a seller and interested in trading, I would put a note in your profile or in your shop policies, since I tend to look there before I contact a seller to if they are interested. Also check out the Etsy Trade-a-holic Team’s blog for a list of trade friendly shops. Here are the guidelines they offer for a successful trade:
♥Don't be offended if someone isn't able to trade with you, it's okay - someone WILL need your stuff
♥Try to heart sellers & items as you go, show some love!
♥Shop
♥Have fun & see you in the stores
♥Remember to leave prompt feedback as a buyer & a seller!

If you would like to initiate a trade, be polite and offer an out, I usually say "Hi! I simply love your ________. I was wondering if you would be interested in trading for something from my shop. If not, I understand. Thanks for looking!" And remember, always be polite to someone who asks you for a trade. Even if you say no, they may still buy from you, but not of course, if you are rude to them.

If you are interested in trading with me, please keep in mind that I typically don't trade for anything that I can make myself, such as beaded jewelry or crocheted/knit items. I am not into scrapbooking and I don't know many people who would appreciate the crafts(wo)manship of handmade cards and I am not much into vintage items even though I do occasionally sell a few. I am interested in toys or clothes for my one year old boy, sturdy toys or treats for my 2 year old black lab/basset hound mix, crochet patterns, bath & body (not candles though), purses or totes, handspun worsted or bulky weight yarns, hair accessories for grown-ups, men's clothing, jewelry supplies and candy or baked goods (yum!).

Happy Trading!
~Melissa~