Cyber Monday is here!

The entire Freshie & Zero website is on sale for Cyber Monday! Don't miss out on these sweet deals!

15% off all orders

code LOVE15

20% off orders over $50

code ANDA20

25% off orders over $100

code HAMMER25

Also, get a free polishing cloth on orders over $100 while supplies last!

Happy shopping!

Nashville-Made Gift Inspiration for Mother's Day

Just in case you're still on the hunt for the perfect gift for Mother's Day, I put together a little gift guide featuring some of the best Etsy shops from my hometown of Nashville! Mother's Day is less than two weeks away, so make Mom smile with one of these handmade items:

1. desert triangle pocket notebook set from Caroline Creates
2. succulent art photograph print from The Gingham Owl
3. gold arrows jewelry dish from With Love Louise
4. sweet and simple things print from Little Things Studio
5. shift minimal hoops from Freshie & Zero
6. screen printed strawberry tea towels from Pine Street Makery
7. sapphire crystal soap from Rock Hound Soap
8. artisan infused sea salt trio from Sugar + Spice Truck
9. handmade journal from Linen Laid + Felt

While I'm away...

... you can still order from my in-stock-shop on etsy! Since I have such a hard time slowing down, I will be listing items that are made and ready to go as time permits in my etsy shop. Maybe it will help you indecisive ones make a decision since there's only a limited amount of choices? Check it out!

Anika Easter

I found Anika Easter's shop while stumbling through etsy. I am loving this painting:


It's a 30" x 30" and it's already framed! It's so hard to find big, quality artwork on etsy that isn't thousands of dollars, and this is definitely a winner in that department. I think it would look very nice in my dining room... I have an art addition, in case you didn't know. Everyone who visits my house is always taken aback by how much art and screen printed posters I have, and not just tacked up but framed. That's what happens when you major in art and then work in a gallery/frame shop for the next 9 years!

Anyway, back to Ms. Anika - she has many other lovely things in her etsy shop, or you can see her website here. She also has a line of frames made from reclaimed wood and designs clothing! Here's another of my favorites and you must read the description! It's subtly interactive!

Magic Bean Buyer's Brides & Grooms

the whole wedding party!, originally uploaded by magicbeanbuyer.

I love this girl's etsy store - I am the proud owner of only one of her creations, but if you ever need a little gift idea, her little sculptures are adorable!

Visit Magic Bean Buyer's Etsy shop!

Birds make me happy

Can you guess what this is? It's a necklace! It is so pretty - I wouldn't even want to wear it - I would want to frame it because it looks like a work of art! This is just one bird necklace from Belokrinitski's shop - it features different shades of green, blue, turquoise and fuchsia felt, is hand cut and machine embroidered. She says "Each bird is absolutely unique because i cut and assemble the parts and color individually for each bird." It's made by hand in Israel and shipping is even free! Go see her selection of bird necklaces here.

Found via Misosouper.

You are so loved!

Please give this print to anyone who you may think may not be feeling this way right now...
This is from Jess Gonacha's etsy shop. After what my family has been through, a sentiment as simple as this is like receiving a big hug, and who doesn't need a big hug? This print also reminds me so much of all the love and support my family received through this tragedy. Thanks to everyone for sending me sympathy cards - I'm going to keep them forever and pull them out whenever I'm feeling not so loved!

Zero and dog stuff

I got Zero all kinds of doggie things yesterday and spent about $100. Pets are expensive! I got him a new rope/tennis ball toy that he's in love with and new food that he actually eats. He was not a fan of the all-natural food I got him last week so it's nice to see that he was just picky and not depressed. We left him alone in the house for the first time last night, and after three hours we came home and he was ecstatic to see us! He also did not have any accidents or destroy anything in the house. Fantastic!

It's funny how soon Greg, Zero, and I all acclamated to each other. Having a dog thrown into your life is kind of crazy but Zero seems very happy - he loves Greg and whines whenever he leaves. I missed Zero when we were at the craft show last week, too. He's definitely going to love our new house - bigger and with a back yard - what more could he want? He might miss walking around our current condominiums and "leaving his mark" every ten feet or so, though....

Anyway, here are some cute doggie items I have hearted on Etsy:

I already bought this adorable dog tie for Halloween - I actually marked it as a favorite before Zero became my dog again... He'll probably destroy it within minutes but how cute will he look before that happens?!

this is a great dog tag by Cristina Ashley Design - very simple and modern

but I kind of like this one for his rock 'n roll side by Punk Rock Paper Scissor

I like all of the pet beds in this shop, but this one is my favorite by Apartment C

On a side note, it is finally raining. It hasn't rained in two weeks in Nashville and it's about time. Now I won't have to get my car washed - it was absolutely filthy from last week's dust bowl show, which turned out to be my most successful show ever! Awesome!

Kristin Pavelka Pottery SALE!

Kristin Pavelka has long been a favorite shop of mine on etsy and the lucky girl is building her very own home studio! Sooo she is having a sale in order to clear out her storage space so that she has less stuff to move - lucky us!!! Check out her beautiful and imaginative pottery:

a butter dish for a half a stick of butter - it looks just like a house from who-ville!

i'm not really one to get excited about teapots but this one looks straight out of Alice in Wonderland

i love this whimsical salad plate

she has several different salad plate styles - what a perfect time to get a lovely
mis-matched set at the sale price so every one of your guests feels special!

Sorry ladies, the set above is mine all mine. I can't wait 'til it arrives!!!

So what are you waiting for!? Go help a sister out and get some of her work at a great price during her moving sale! Sale ends August 31 and most sale listings will be removed permanently.

front page of etsy!

Yay! The Large Eclipse Necklace made it to the front page of Etsy on Sunday. Woo hoo! Here is the direct link to the actual treasury, before it expires. Thanks for FormFireGlassWorks for creating such a beautiful treasury!

Art Find: Photography by Erin Tyner

Wow - I am so impressed with this photographer. Her name is Erin Tyner and she has a blog and an etsy shop where you can purchase her prints. Apparently she has only just begun this miniature series and I can't wait to see how it progresses! I really want the swimmer series to frame and hang in my house, but alas, I'm on an art strike since I am currently procuring a painting by Butler Steltemeier and have used up my art budget for the spring. I only hope that she is still offering these prints in the summer, closer to my birthday... (hint hint)

Anyway, I have an extensive background in photography myself (before the digital age so I'm certainly no pro with a digital camera) so I'm not usually drawn to photography unless it's totally unique or sets a stage of something I could never imagine doing (much like one of my favorites Cindy Sherman). These photographs are certainly examples of that. She uses miniature train model figures that are approximately one inch tall, then sets a little stage for them and the end result is a dreamlike yet familiar scene. I think I'm not the only one who has found her new series - she has sold about 95 prints on etsy since the beginning of February (that's only 5 weeks folks)! WOW! Watch out for this one - she's sure to be an etsy superstar!

Spring forward!

In honor of the time change today, I've found some really fun clocks - one of my favorite house hold accessories!
1. This handmade clock is constructed with a computer hard drive! Made by Pixelthis on etsy.
2. Red Mixed numbers clock by Karlsson makes a bold, graphic statement.
3. This orange Riki Desk Clock from the MoMa Store was originally released in 1970.
4. Adorable Cuckoo Clock Onesie by Pepperhem on etsy.
5. Alarm Capsule Flipclock by Kikkerland (a company I used to work for indirectly) available from Uncommon Gifts.
6. Retro Sterling Silver Alarm Clock Charm Necklace by Charm Star (my charm jewelry line) available on etsy.
7. Wall hanging Cuckoo Clock with every little Scandinavian detail you could want in lime by Decoylab on etsy.

i snagged another etsy treasury...

Total luck on this one - the lists were at 333 when I just happened to visit the treasury, and I only had to wait a couple of minutes for the box to appear!! Ah, it's really the little things in life, isn't it?

Anyway, you could visit it, click, purchase or just leave a comment! The theme is "teal, turquoise, and black" after a bakery Beth Howard and I visited yesterday (it was painted in those colors). Yay!

UPDATE!!! It made the front page and at least 6 items sold from it! Rock on!!!!!!!

treasury features galore

My "side project" Charm Star has had quite a run on etsy this week! It's been in four different treasuries, and two made it to the front page! Check it out:

boom box charm

jellyfish charm

bicycle charms

tiny sewing machine charms

Another thing that is so cool about Charm Star is that it really speaks to people overseas - I have sold so many items to people in Europe, and recently Australia. It's so exciting to fill out a customs form and know that your little product is going on quite a journey to another part of the earth.

Freshie & Zero didn't do too bad last week, either. My eclipse necklace was featured in etsy finds - an email that goes out to anyone on etsy's email list. I don't know how many people that is, nor do I know how many hits it generated since etsy's hit counter reset to zero by accident over the weekend, but it was still a super cool surprise - and THEN it was on the front page!

All this to say - what a bright shiny silver lining to my cloud on Thursday! My car was broken into for the third time in the past few years and I had to pay to fix my window (again). Grrrrr. These crooks better stop messing with me, or I'm going to have to get a gun permit and show them who's boss! (do I sound tough???)

I snagged a Treasury!

It's a miracle!!! I actually got up way too early this morning (too much fun yesterday = not enough sleepiness) and saw treasury #333 was about to expire. As my heart began to race, I took the time to figure out how the treasury actually worked, and lo and behold, the magic box appeared and I got one!!! I feel like I've been on a fishing expedition and have finally caught the big one! Okay okay, enough with the dramatics. Here is the treasury. Please go visit before it expires in 48 hours!

the perfect Valentine Card

This is what you give when you truly, truly love someone. In fact, I gave one of these cards to my husband last year when he was still just my fiance. Little did I know how much "cuteness" abounds when you're married (or around someone 24/7)!


Go to The Beautiful Project's shop on etsy and get one for your sweetheart! I also find this one adorable, also from their shop:

introducing feather goods!

Uh, oh... Another side project! Can I possibly manage another etsy store? Why not!? Did you know I started out making jewelry by using vintage jewelry and remaking earrings and brooches into fun necklaces? I am getting back to my roots of re-purposing vintage findings and have created a new shop - Feather Goods. I actually already own the domain name for another purpose yet to be determined... Here is my newest selection of one of a kind items made from vintage materials:

Contest! Valentine Gift Ideas

In honor of my website makeover (which I am still finding mistakes on, so bear with me) and Valentine's Day (I adore seeing all the pink & red products on display everywhere!), I am having a CONTEST! What might you win? First up for grabs is this Blissen 2008 Hidden Habitats Calendar illustrated by west coast artists Jill Bliss and Saelee Oh. I loved this calendar so much that I bought one for myself and one to give away!


Together they have collaborated on 13 fabulous months of nature's magical, undiscovered places in all their whimsical, illustrated glory. Each 2008 calendar (valued at $16), which measures 9.5" x 11" open, is printed in full color with vegetable-based inks on 100 percent recycled paper and processed chlorine-free.

In addition to that, you'll also win a limited edition sterling silver heart necklace from Freshie & Zero, not EVEN available for sale on my website! If you live in Nashville, though, you may find a few at Queen Bee in Edgehill Village.


How do I win, you say?

All you have to do is post a comment on this blog about something handmade that you think would make a great Valentine's gift for you, your best friend, or your significant other. Please enter the link of where to buy it, too, so you can share the love! Don't forget to include some way of getting in touch with you in your comment (preferably an email address)! The last day to enter is January 31st, so don't delay! Easy, right? I'll start...

I would love to give (or receive) this adorable, fabulous, understated, beautiful bird bowl by Whitney Smith pottery for any upcoming occasion. I can't see how anyone who might open this up as a gift up wouldn't be delighted! Go and get it here. In fact, her pottery is so fabulous, I'm adding her to my links page right now!



1.22.08 update
Wow! Thanks for the amazing response, everyone! It's so great to find new items made by other indie designers, and there really are some great suggestions! I decided to post up some of my favorite reader submitted gifts that I've received so far...

I love the Mr. Poncho ipod holder submitted by Karen and it is the perfect gift for any one who owns an ipod (re: everyone). In fact, I may have to get one for myself...

This print by yumiyumi on etsy submitted by Edie is also very pretty and would make a great Valentine's gift for a friend or sister:

This necklace by amieking, submitted by Holly, is very edgy and pretty at the same time:

I liked all of JLC Studio's picks (I even gave my husband a set of custom typewriter key cuff links for our wedding day!), but I like this tongue-in-cheek tie by toybreaker the most:


Another of my favorites has to be these super cheeky red heart sequined pasties by FondaPetting Designs submitted by Ginger Girl. They have a lot of other fun little items in their etsy shop, all perfect for Valentine's Day!

new stuff in my Charm Star shop

I spent ALL DAY yesterday styling, photographing, and editing pictures of my Charm Star charms and I'm feeling a bit like a couch potato even though I was technically doing work. Sitting at home in your PJ's all day can do that to you, though. It was worth it, though, because I already sold the deer and the telephone booth and relisted them! Check out the awesome new stuff!

working on an ad for Venus Zine

So, my last Freshie & Zero ad in Venus Zine generated zero sales (but maybe they just forgot to use the coupon?) but I have decided to give the magazine another go. One, because it's cheap, and two because the necklace I promoted in the last issue has barely sold at all, which is so sad because I thought it was SO fabulous. Oh well, it was a pain to make anyway.

However, this time I have decided to promote Charm Star, my side venture, instead. Here are two different ads I'm working on. I think they're fun and silly, which is what Charm Star is all about. What do you think? (click on 'em to see them more clearly)



Of course, there's a downside to promoting an etsy shop. I can't track my hits! I wish etsy had a little stat counter code installed on your shop home page, just so I could see how many hits I get and where they come from. Speaking of, have you gone to etsytools yet?