Tag Archives: Etsy

May4

Accessories for the Reader

Posted on May 4, 2019 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

Many followers of ARHtistic License are voracious readers, so you can count on me to support your obsession. Here are a few things the people on Etsy make to help you flaunt your identity. Click on the highlighted name under each picture for shopping info.

So, apparently, someone discovered you can draw eyeglasses around the two o’s in book, and now everybody’s doing it. Book Nerd Shirt

Book Nerd on a Book shirt

Heart book nerd

You need something to carry your books around in. Book nerd tote

Who does this key belong to? Oh, I know. Book nerd key chain

Maybe your mom needs this. Mother’s Day coming, you know. Just saying. Wife mom book nerd mug

So many ways to say book nerd. Book junkie shirt

Bibliovert shirt

I hear you, brother. Overrated shirt

Have you ever noticed how sleepy the people who work in your favorite bookstore are? Past my bedtime shirt

Duh. Can you have too many diamonds? Or too much ice cream? Impossible. No such thing shirt

This describes most of my friends. Introverted shirt

For Taylor Swift fans. And book fans. Readers gonna read shirt

I have to use bookmarks. I generally have 5 books going at any one time. Bookmark shirt

Kids shirts, because you can’t start reading too early. Child’s book worm shirt

Book nerd quilt pattern. I need this. Quilt pattern

Reader mug

Beautiful but inexpensive gifts for readers: Watercolor book marks

Wooden quote bookmarks

Book nerd stickers for your planner.

I think my favorite is the Book Nerd t-shirt with the heart on the book. What’s yours? Or do you have something at your house that you like even better? Share in the comments.

Apr9

H is for Hanna Hutchinson

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Those of you who know my unicorn obsession can just imagine my reaction when author Joanna Meyer posted this picture on Facebook: Unicorn mug

That’s right. Despite how beautiful her books look on the shelf, I immediately fixated on the mug. Joanna kindly steered me to her friend, writer Hanna Hutchinson (aka Hanna C. Howard), who is also an awesome artist, and sells her hand-painted mugs on her Etsy shop, Ophelia’s Gypsy Caravan.

She’s incredibly cute, too. Here she is showing us how she works:

There are no more of the unicorn mug above in her shop, but she does take custom orders, so I guess I could request one. . .

She also has other unicorn designs, as well as some equally lovely other products.

unicorn 1

unicorn 2

various

Most of the mugs also have a literary quote, though it might not be visible in the photograph.

trees 1

heart

Ginny

Dahl

butterfly 1

Dr Who

Tolkien

And there are also a couple of t-shirts. I especially like this one:

t-shirt

To see more items, or to find pricing info, visit Ophelia’s Gypsy Caravan.

AtoZ2019tenthAnn

Mar23

The Llama is the New Unicorn?

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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That’s what the good people at Etsy would have you believe. But I’m not buying it. (Well, maybe I’ll buy it.)

See? Llamas wish they could be as cool as unicorns. Llamacorn.

You can have your llama with or without drama.

Drama llama ding dong. No drama llama.

I’ll admit it–I admire a man who is so secure in his masculinity that he will actually wear a llama shirt.

Man’s llama shirt.

Some llamas are pretty.

Pretty llama on left. No prob llama.

And some are just silly.

Ask me about my llama.

Okay, this is my favorite one. Every girl needs her squad.

Llama squad.

Even little kids need llama shirts. This one is for a child too young to be able to complain about the corny pun.

Como se llama.

And it’s not just the unicorns who are ticked off about the whole llama craze.

Alpacalypse.

Click on the link below each picture if you’d like ordering information. I do not receive any remuneration for providing you with fashion options. (You’re welcome.) But if you enjoyed this article, make my day by clicking the “Like” button and sharing on your social media. Thanks!

Nov24

Yarn Bowls

Posted on November 24, 2018 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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When I crochet, I generally have a plastic grocery bag full of yarn balls on the floor between my feet and I pull the yarn up from the bag.

A couple of years ago at an art fair, I saw a ceramic bowl with a swirly cut on the side and I just knew it was for yarn. I was tempted to buy it, but it felt like a splurge. A few months later I saw one in a yarn store. I still haven’t broken down and bought one, though I’m getting closer to taking the plunge.

So what’s a yarn bowl and how do you use it?

There are lots of yarn bowl manufacturers, and you can shop for them at your local yarn shop. (Yes! Let’s support those small businesses!) For the purpose of this article, I browsed on Etsy. Here are some I fell in love with (and a couple I didn’t).

Lots of yarn bowls are ceramic (you can click on the bowl’s description for a purchasing link–I do NOT make any money from these and make no claims about them):

Some beautiful wooden yarn bowls:

Wooden

Bamboo with lid

Rosewood

Animal themed yarn bowls:

Dachshund

Llama (or is it alpaca?)

And mythical beasts:

I usually love unicorns, but . . .

Unicorn? I’ll skip this one.

And one final disgusting one:

Silly booger.

I love all but the last two. My favorites are all the wooden ones and the octopus.

Now it’s your turn: Which one do you like best? Have you knitted or crocheted with a yarn bowl? How do you like them? Share in the comments below.

Oct13

The Art of the Pencil Case

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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The other day I looked at some old emails from Etsy and here’s what caught my eye:

Isn’t that a gorgeous leather pencil case? Who wouldn’t love receiving it as a gift?

So I did a search for pencil cases on Etsy and found many unique ones, unlike the cases I saw in local stores during back-to-school sales. Here are some that caught my eye, many of them handmade (click the highlighted words below each picture to see the product information):

Animals, like these llamas and otters, are a popular theme.

Corgis!

Sloths!

Flamingos.

And sea life, especially sharks. Sharks, style 1.

Sharks, style 2.

I think this is a carp.

And, of course, if there are any unicorns, I will find them. Unicorn, whole.

Unicorn, from eyelashes up.

Also from the mythical realm, mermaid.

And a final animal. Is that–

Yes, it is–made from a dead (taxidermy) rat.

With an attached pencil sharpener, strategically located. You’re welcome.

Okay, let’s erase that image with a little bling:

Sequins.

For the science nerds.

Fruits.

Lovely tribal look.

Wow! I could put all my colored pencils in this roll-up instead of an old mayonnaise jar.

Marble.

Hogwarts houses. (If you don’t know what that means, read the Harry Potter series already, you muggle.)

Glow-in-the-dark human bones.

Lovely classic Liberty of London fabric.

Roses.

Monet waterlilies. This comes in different sizes.

Wooden.

Laser-cut lidded cases.

Okay, your turn. Share in the comments below: which are your favorites? I’m partial to the llamas, sloths, carp, Hogwarts, and science ones.

I ordered the Hogwarts one. Couldn’t resist.

Dec2

Ornamental

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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If you want to experience the Christmas spirit, just browse through the Christmas ornaments on Etsy. It will remind you of holidays past, and of your loved ones near and far. Some of these would make excellent gifts, for yourself or the others on your list.

Just so you know, I like to share pretty things I find online. Long ago I made the decision not to monetize my blog. I do not have “affiliates.” Nobody pays me to advertise their stuff on my blog. I just like to acknowledge people who create beauty. I also make no guarantees. That said, click on the highlighted descriptions to link to purchasing information.

Laser-cut wood

Die-cut wooden snowflakes.

Woven paper stars.

Scissors.

Hand-turned wood.

Of course, you knew I’d find unicorns.

This crocheted-bead necklace came up in my search for ornaments. Much too precious to put on the tree, but I had to share it. (Santa, take note–this is on my list, and I’ve been very good.)

Jeweled butterfly.

Crocheted Christmas lights.

Okay, these are just silly, but if you need a gag gift for your bearded colleague…

A map showing any city special to you.

For your gymnast.

For your favorite Aussie, for someone who’s been to Australia, or who just likes kangaroos.

Reindeer.

For your favorite ballerina when she lands the quintessential Christmas role. Or for anyone who loves the Nutcracker.

To commemorate your favorite cat or dog; many breeds available.

Your home, custom-made.

Sep26

Tea Time

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Andrea R Huelsenbeck

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Today we’re exploring Etsy for tea towels. What’s a tea towel? you ask. Tea towel is a fancy name for dish towel. A true tea towel is fancier than an average dish towel. I’ll bet you didn’t even know they’re an art form, but they are.

I hate terrycloth dish towels. I’ve never found one that adequately dries, no matter how hard I rub. I prefer woven 100% cotton towels. And any color except white. White towels permanently stain after 15 minutes of use.

Back in the 1980s, you could buy a calendar that was printed on a dish towel. It usually had a picture at the top, maybe food related, or animals, or a landscape, and a pretty border all around. You hung it in your kitchen on a dowel, and when the year was over, you used it to dry dishes. I haven’t seen a calendar towel in ages.

The most obvious theme for a tea towel is something good to eat. (Click on the towel’s tag for more information. Click on small images to enlarge and reveal the tag.)

Stockpot

Fruits

Watermelon

Stock pot. Fruits. Watermelon.

Animals are favorite towel designs.

Flamingos, et al.

Bats

Sheep

Sea dog

Birds

Flamingos, et al. Bats. Sheep. Sea dog. Birds.

The giraffe family can be customized for your own family:

Florals are always nice:

Wildflowers

Flower power

Cherry blossoms

Embroidered

Wildflowers. Flower power. Cherry blossoms. Embroidered.

Vibrant colors are good for the heart.

Pinks

Seafoam

Pinks. Seafoam.

Souvenir towels from special places.

Bridges of Pittsburgh

Washington state

I spent a year and a half at Duquesne University, so the bridges of Pittsburgh towel has special meaning for me. But maybe you have family in Washington State.

Isn’t this dragon striking?

I honestly love all of these towels, but I especially love the watermelons, the cherry blossoms, the pinks, and the dragon. My favorite tea towels that I already own are vibrant plaids.

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