Retro Palette: Avocado Green

There are few hues that are as unforgivably retro as avocado green. You've probably seen people on HGTV wrinkle their noses at avacado green fixtures in "outdated" kitchens. But can I tell you my terrible secret? I LOVE everything avocado green, including the kitchen sink.

Vintage Globe Swag Lamps from That70sShoppe

Hang these fabulous lamps behind your favorite reading chair for a dash of swanky 1960's style.

Vintage Coffee Set from agoodvintage

A little slice of avocado with your coffee or tea? Yes, please! The modern lines and earthy hue of this set will perfectly complement a more contemporary kitchen design scheme.

Vintage Green Fire King Kimberley Coffee Mugs from lisabretrostyle2

Or if you're the unapologetically retro type, you might opt for these zany 1970's mugs.

1970's Avocado Green Tapestry Weekender Bag from Coldfish

Still not convinced? How about this darling weekender tote? I think we can all agree that it's totally amazing, right? Case closed!

No but seriously, how do you feel about avocado? Awesome, or just awesomely bad?

Social Media Marketing for Beginners: Part I

Keep Calm and Tweet On Print by KeepCalmShop

Because everyone has to start somewhere, and I realize there are still people out there who find Twitter confusing, I'm going to give you a brief run-down of all the popular social media tools that your Etsy shop could benefit from. Are they effective? Are they fun? You'll find out...

Facebook: I'm assuming everyone at this point probably has a facebook profile. If not...(wow, where to begin?) facebook originated as a profile-based site like myspace - where college students connected with their classmates (and people at other colleges) through mutual interests, class schedules, and good old fashioned friend requests. Then after a time it was opened to high school students. Now it's open to everyone and everything - and that includes your business. Sure, you can share your item photos on your personal profile - your friends would love to see them. But would they love to buy them? Make facebook page for your shop that's independent from your personal profile. This provides a hub for fans and satisfied customers to declare their adoration for your handmade or vintage goods, without feeling weird about knowing everything else that goes on in your personal life. You can have folders of shop photos for people to browse, share new listings and exclusive coupon codes...the works.

$$$ Generating Potential: HIGH Fun potential: HIGH

Twitter: Twitter confuses people for one simple reason - all those @'s. Everything's @ this and @ that...when you look at someone's twitter page, nothing makes sense. Well, that's because twitter is one giant conversation. You can send all your followers blasts about your shop updates, facebook status style, or you can engage with your tweeps directly. Do you know where Twitter makes the most sense? From the inside. Once you've become a tweep, it'll all make infinitely more sense. People follow you, retweet your tweets to their followers, or chat back at you about your goods/life/etc. Here's a big bonus - because of the way Twitter is set up, people will find and follow you on Twitter a lot quicker than they will on your facebook page and possibly even your Etsy shop.

$$$ Generating Potential: VERY HIGH Fun Potential: EXTREME

In my next post, I'll be discussing Stumbleupon, Pinterest, and other secondary social media marketing tools. Questions? Requests? Leave 'em in the comments!

New Feature: Display Regular Prices

Over the past several months users have requested that customers be able to see the regular price along with the sale price on individual item listings in Etsy shops. We've heard you! It's taken us awhile to figure out how to make it happen, but we're happy to now bring you a new regular pricing option for sales events.

With this option selected, Etsy On Sale will now add the regular price to the top of the each listing's main photo (and remove it of course when the sale is over).

Now customers can easily see what a great discount you are offering!

All new sales scheduled starting today will have the regular pricing option selected by default. However, you can always unselect this option if you do not want the regular price shown on the item's page.

Find out more about this new feature and how it works on the help page.

Let us know what you think!

The Etsy On Sale Team

Five Totally Valid Reasons To Join An Etsy Team!

ACEO Original - CatDog Teamwork by pinkiipromise

1. You could use a few pointers. If the Etsy marketplace isn't treating you as well as you'd like, teams are a great way to pick up helpful tips, selling strategies, and meet a few new friends! On the flipside...

2. You've already done everything else you can do. One person can only market themselves so much! If you're tweeting, you're blogging, you're facebooking - you've done everything you can think to do, and you've hit a wall - it's time to join a team.

3. You're just plain curious. Don't know if teams are for you? Try it out. There are hundreds of teams and varying levels of commitment. Browse the forums, mix n' mingle, put up your feet and stay a while. Teams not for you? Just click "leave this team" and quietly make your exit.

4. You'd like to increase your sales. Who wouldn't?! Teams are all about giving one another a boost. Be it an emotional boost or a fiscal one. Use treasuries, social media shout-outs, and blogging to give your teamies some exposure, and they'll very likely do the same for you.

5. You want to feel like you're a part of something. That seems like THE MOST obvious one, but it's probably the best reason ever. Etsy selling can be a solitary business - but there's no reason it has to be! Checking in with teammates throughout the day will help keep you motivated and inspired! Many full-time sellers miss the social aspects of an office workplace, but that's where your "teamies" can come in handy!

We wanna hear about your team experiences! Which Etsy teams would you recommend to team newbies?

Prepare to Pounce!

Have you experienced Etsy's Pounce feature? It's yet another fun way to discover new Etsy products and sellers. There are two ways to use it - you can browze through "Fresh Shops" or "Just Sold". "Fresh Shops" will introduce you to brand spanking new Etsy members who are still patiently waiting for their very first sale!

Fresh Shops

Clockwise from top left: Bridal Bolero by SijaFelt, Crocheted Fingerless Gloves by Gunta7, A Little Acorn with Satin Ribbon by acornisborn, Doll Katie by studio10359

Just Sold

Pettiskirt Bubble Romper by DreamSpunKids, Vintage Metal Buttons from oritdotan, Grey Floral Dishtowel by lisaruppdesign, Bake More Cake Letterpress Print by PRINTforLOVEofWOOD

What are some of your fave new Etsy finds from this week? Feel free to share in the comments!

Shelterness

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Perhaps I'm slow to discovering this website, but I just found this awesome design/DIY decorating site called Shelterness.  It has all kinds of DIY tutorials on creative home decor projects.  Additionally, it has an awesome collection of inspiring design photos.  I really wanna try out a few.  Here are a couple that caught my eye:

What a cool way to decorate your wall with a chic mirror made with PVC pipes

A really colorful, spruced-up wall clock

And their collection featuring a variety of ways to use chalkboard walls in the home has got me itchin' to grab some chalk and go crazy!  Check out all 45 ideas.

Lemme know what's been inspiring you this week!  Have a lovely rest of the day!  -Mitsu

Etsy Ingenuity: Katie The Pig

Meet one of Etsy's most adorable creative brains - Katie the Pig! Etsy seller Erin Hause of TheEclecticSlide makes super cute jewelry - but occasionally, she turns the reigns over to her little pet pig. For the extremely reasonable price of $5.99, Katie the Pig will create a lovely pair of earrings for you by sorting little bags of beads into her bowl. Whatever catches Katie's eye is what you get! Erin does the leg work of course, but all the creative cred goes to Katie - she does carefully curate the materials, after all! I think the pig has fabulous taste! To read more about Katie and Erin, click here!

Giving Vintage A Second Life

I'm a HUGE fan of vintage - my home is outfitted with a rotating selection of vintage wares, many of which are for sale in my Etsy shop - but I'm particularly impressed by sellers who have the crafting/technical finesse required to take something old and reinvent it in an unexpected way. For example...

Summer Sunlight Butterfly Gold Pattern Pyrex Pendant Lights by BootsnGus

Sure, these mixing bowls would look perfectly lovely sitting on your kitchen shelf - but why stop there? Using them as fun light fixtures is a truly ingenious idea!

Shipping Crate Side Table - Blue Label Ketchup by modernarks

The sweet graphics on this nifty vintage shipping crate are just too cool. Why just leave such an awesome piece sitting around on the floor? Using it as a side table creates an instant point of visual interest in any room. Not to mention it makes a fabulous conversation piece!

USB Typewriter Computer Keyboard - Mini Underwood 3 by usbtypewriter

Make your workday a little more bearable - mix it up with the romantic notion that you're an old timey reporter, pecking a way at your antique manual typewriter, trying to break another earth shattering news story. Only this rather magical typewriter requires no ribbon, and no paper! How deliciously novel.

Are you a fan of upcycling? We wanna hear about your most ambitious DIY projects! Tell us about 'em in the comments!

Summer Music Festival Necessities

Summer music festival season is upon us! Maybe you've already made the trek to Bonnaroo or Coachella, or maybe you're revving up for Pitchfork Music Festival or Lollapalooza? Whether it's just a premium line-up of local bands in your city park, or 3 day slew of your all-time favorite bands, we've got everything you need to make your festival experience fab!

Vintage Denim Romper from CometSalvage

First and foremost, you have to pack light and pick garments that will keep you cool and comfortable throughout the day. A playsuit or romper is a fab option for a music festival, whether it's in the big city or just a muddy field.

Roll-up Picnic Blanket by thingsbySLO

This adorable picnic blanket is uber-toteable - and provides a cozy spot for you and a few friends to chillax on the green.

Vintage Spider Web Shape Sunglasses from whatthefunk

A pair of eclectic sunglasses helps you stand out from the crowd!

Barbie Vintage Thermos from MyraMelinda

Watter bottles are blah, and not awesome for the earth. Pack a sweet vintage thermos and refill it throughout the day. Be sure to stay hydrated, and wear plenty of sunscreen!

Quick Release Camera Strap by PhatStraps

Use a funky embroidered camera strap to keep your DSLR close-at-hand! You never know what festival-going celebs you might bump into!

Pet Pride: Pay Homage To Your Pets Through Art

People on Etsy love their pets - in fact, they may be a bit obsessed. Maybe you've noticed? We can't blame them though. If you adore your pet, here are just a few ways to pay homage to your furry bffs.

Pet Portrait by dogdream

A commissioned pet portrait makes a fabulous gift for any occasion - housewarming parties, birthdays, you name it!

Eighteen Cats Print by 3crows

If your pal's pet love extends to an all encompassing obsession with all cats everywhere, they'd probably enjoy this kitty-riffic print!

Pug Paper Dolls by AfricanGrey

Add a playful pit of paper whimsy to any shelf with these super cute pug paper dolls! Now how soon can I get little paper doll pug outfits?

Bird Art by matouenpeluche

And let's not forget our domesticated bird friends! A flock of small, simple bird prints will look fabulous on any wall!

Have you commissioned a pet portrait? How do you pay tribute to your favorite pet?

New Finds!

Good morning, everyone!  Christmas in July sales are all over our site this morning, so I had to share with you some of the great finds I came upon.

designedbyjane

Simply adorable felt brooches with freeform embroidery details from designedbyjane.  I just love the bright bursts of color and the patterns.  These would definitely add a wow factor to a basic cardigan or jacket.

globaltexture

This vintage Japanese kokeshi doll from globaltexture is so cool.  Love the brushstrokes and simplicity of color used in creating this doll.

willowonthewater

Love these colorful stitch markers for knitting projects from willowonthewater.

emmagemshop

And these lockets on sale from emmagemshop are a perfect accessory for your casual summer wardrobe!

These are just a few of the many awesome sales going on right now on Etsy On Sale!  And, if you're an Etsy seller wondering, "What the heck is Christmas in July all about?", hop on over to this article from Etsy for more details! Happy Christmas in July, y'all!

Betsy Ross: Crafty Bad-Ass American Babe

Clockwise from top left: Primitive Pledge of Allegiance Cats by rabbithollowprims, Americana Scrapbooking and Craft Buttons from FransButtonCorner, Fine Art American Flag Photograph by AmeliaKayPhotography, Betsy Ross Colonial Outfit by MattiOnline

So whether Betsy Ross actually fashioned the first American flag or not is debatable - but if you read up on the intrepid Ms. Ross, she's a pretty inspiring American gal. Raised in a strict Quaker household, she was apprenticed to a local upholsterer at 21, and shortly thereafter, eloped with one of her coworkers. Saucy! She was twice widowed during the Revolutionary War, but continued operating her own upholstery business while also mending uniforms, and contributing to the war effort in any way she could. She was pals with George Washington and the fam (they attended the same Episcopalian congregation), which is partially why she gets credit for stitching up those first 13 stars and stripes (in addition to her mad sewing skills). Her first daughter died prematurely, but she went on to have 6 children in total with her 2nd and 3rd husbands (she was widowed not once, not twice, but thrice) and lived to the ripe old age of 84. Betsy Ross was an extreme patriot, an independent businesswoman, a legendary artisan, and by all historical accounts, pretty easy on the eyes as well. Way to go, Betsy! We salute you.