SPROUTS

The March challenge for the team was Sprouts where we assembled a moodboard of inspiration including a colour palette that we could all follow. Photos courtesy of peertje, Lala, and gareth.barlow.
We thought of green and spring and new wonderful life sprouting in the earth. As always, this exceptionally talented team was inspired to create amazing pieces! Here are just a few.

Daintycrochetbyaly always creates beautiful crocheted items, no matter what the season.

This challenge inspired CelesteCraft to create a whole new line of Sprouts hats.

Even from the southern hemisphere, AllThingsPretty was able to create this exquisite headpiece for the challenge.

The colors of this felted scarf by Amysfunkyfibers makes you feel the warm air.

Knittingguru created this lovely spring floral piece to wear, regardless of the weather.

Leave it up to Kristensteinfineart to bring spring to your home with her nature inspired paintings.

For your little sprout, Barbaralousboutique has created this absolutely adorable dress.

These earrings by capitolagirl just scream spring.

Nuvonova uses gorgeous spring colors in her journals.

Here's my new favorite t-shirt from Octopedalarts.

Love the Victorian style of these wrist warmers from Happiknits.

And I have to sneak in my own creation for the challenge, from ThirdFloor.

Well, maybe that is more than a few but this team created so many amazing things, I has to treat your eyes to more than a few! Search "fdlmarch" on Etsy to find more great Sprouts challenge items from this team. Search "fdlteam" to see all of the team's wonderful creations.

Till next time,

Beth

Third Floor Designs

March 2009 Team Happenings!

It's the end of the month and here is a round up of what has been happening within the Fashion, Design and Lifestyle team!
DAINTYCROCHETBYALY and some of her stunning fascinators were featured on Dramatis Personae blog! The one featured is crocheted lace in brown colors accented with feathers and red wooden beads which is available here.Mylittleaura is holding a SALE where everything is only $10! She has also launched her Spring Collection and now has her own dot-com: mylittleaura.com One of our newest members, Furiousdreams sold three original paintings - amazing!!Another one of our team painters and again, one of our newest members is aliherrmann who made the much sought after position on Etsy - The Front Page! ... and also sold a total of eight pieces of art this month!Norakaren has had a wonderful month with finally reaching her goal of over 70 sales and 800 hearts! She was also featured in the Teens Gift Guides and the St Patrick's Day Gift Guide.AllThingsPretty received a custom request to produce a wedding dress, which also happens to be her forte!Capitolagirl had fabulous news to share with all of us - her Silicon Gallies glass tile computer key pendant necklace was featured in ELLE Magazine's March 12, 2009 Trend Report showcasing Graphic Patterns. We were all incredibly excited for her!Kristensteinfineart is currently exhibiting artwork at Comcast Center, Philadelphia and a solo exhibit at Milkboy Cafe, Ardmore for month of March. She was also accepted into the Juried "Arts in The Park Festival" for June in Elkins Park, PA and featured on a few handmade/handcrafted websites/blogs as a March featured artist.
And finally, we had our first Trunk Show presentation, which was very successful, we can't wait for the next one!

Colors of Spring Fashion, Design and Lifestyle Trunk Show This Thursday!

EVENT: Colors of Spring through Fashion, Design and Lifestyle
A Trunk show by the FDL etsy team!
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2009
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST
Location: Etsy's Virtual Lab- Gallery room

Desciption:
Members of the Fashion, Design and Lifestyle team (fdlteam) will host an online Trunk Show "live" using one of Etsy's virtual lab rooms. The designers and artists will present a wide range of fashion, art and jewelry inspired by the beauty of Spring. Many of the artists will be on hand to chat with the viewing public about their design process. So please join us for an evening of colorful items and commentary. We hope to see you there!

For an advanced look at some of FDL's talented members, please visit our blog.

Or, search etsy for 'fdlteam' to view our current listings.

See you on the 26th of March at 7pm EST in the virtual labs.

-kristen

Paper Dolls (March Edition): The Reveal

FDL Paper Dolls: March Edition

(The Big Reveal!)

The suggestions for the Fifth Edition of the Paper Dolls are in...and here's our fifth virtual fashion outfit a la FDL's Paper Dolls.

It started out with our inspiration piece...

This sassy Boho Gypsy inspired piece designed by FDL Team member Debra (at the AllThingsPretty shop on Etsy).

Yellow Garden Bird Dress
from AllThingsPretty
~~~

And has been paired up with these great Etsy finds:

Princess Style Feather Headband
from Doomfox
~~~

The Details
from DAINTYCROCHETBYALY
~~~

Gold Rose Leather Cuff
from BarbaraLousBoutique
~~~

EcoAnkle Corset Cuffs
from greenbelts
~~~

About Paper Dolls
Paper Dolls is a new virtual fashion game being hosted by the FDL Street Team blog. In each edition of Paper Dolls, an FDL Team member picks a fashionable inspiration piece and writes a blog post seeking coordinating item suggestions by readers. Reader suggestions can be from ANY seller's shop on Etsy, and are left in the Comments area of the blog post along with links to matching items. Then, when the author has a completed outfit (based on the inspiration piece and the author's picks from the comments), the author writes a follow-up blog post to reveal whole outfit.

Come join the FDL Team again, the April Edition of Paper Dolls is coming soon!

The edition written by FDL Team Member Susan of the Capitola Girl shop.

After the Frost

Hello Fellow FDL Members!

As some of you know, I live in upstate New York, where the weather can change drastically in the blink of an eye. And today it did just that! I awoke to a cold, rainy drizzle and now it's clear blue skies and milder temperatures. A stroll around the back garden shows some signs of early spring....premature lily sprouts and some early garlic greens pushing through the wet sponge of earth. We've pushed the clocks ahead and have some early evening light. Soon the crickets will chirp and the buds will be forming on the trees. Yes, spring is my favorite season for sure. As an homage to the woes of winter and the early arrival of spring, I present to you 'After the Frost', an original watercolor and ink rendering.

Happy Birthday Barbie

Barbie Turns 50

Whether you love her or hate her, many girls at one point or another have probably played with her. I'm talking about Barbie, who is celebrating her first 50 years as an American fashion icon.

In more than 150 countries around the globe, approximately 1 billion Barbie Dolls have been sold since she was first introduced by the Mattel company on March 9, 1959.

With her trademark pink dress, high pony-tail and sassy pink corvette, the advent of Barbie's birth has the Fashion Design and Lifestyle team thinking PINK this weekend.

So, in the spirit of a pink open-toed salute to America's best-known doll...I hope you enjoy today's pink showcase:

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Featured in this Post
Pink from hollyillustration
Pink and Orange Spunk from amysfunkyfibers
Handmade Flower Felt Brooch from eikumpel
Pretty in Pink from thirdfloor
Endless Summer from BelleCheri
Boadicea Cowl from Happiknits
Pretty Pink Lacy Florals Top from AllThingsPretty
Enchanted Garden Pendant from kristensteinfineart
Camelia Gift/Presentation Pouches from nuvonova
Fabric Origami Ponytail Holders from asianexpressions
Sexy Flower Shrug from knittingguru
Roses for You Crochet Necklace from daintycrochetbyaly
Blush Brass Box Chain - Rhodonite Gemstone from EarthVisible

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To see more pink from the FDL Street Team, search fdlteam+pink on Etsy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written by FDL Team Member Susan from Capitola Girl Jewelry and the Capitola Girl blog.

It's March! Time to Play Paper Dolls

Welcome to the FDL Team's Paper Dolls Game ...Do You Play?

It's time for another round of Paper Dolls here on the FDL Team Blog. This month's game starts off with a sassy Boho Gypsy inspired piece designed by FDL Team member Debra (at the AllThingsPretty shop on Etsy). Her flirty and feminine vintage slip dress features hand-dyed elements in shades of yellow and retro orange, brown and yellow flower fabric edged in hand-dyed yellow lace.

Yellow Garden Bird Dress
from AllThingsPretty

Now... its your turn readers! Put your most fabulous fashionista hat on and help me create a memorable outfit fit for a Boho Hippie Diva in Spring!

Do You Want to Play? If so, here's how the Paper Dolls game works:

1. Check out this week's inspiration piece.

2. Browse ANY shop on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com) and hunt for haute, hippie couture coordinates to complete the boho look--boot/shoes, jewelry, accessories, bags, and any other items from ANY Etsy shop.

3. Once you've made a match, come back and leave a comment with a link to your coordinating items from Etsy.

4. (Optional) If you like this game and want to help the FDL Street Team pass the word on...add our Paper Dolls badge to your blog.

I will be selecting the items you list in the comments section and revealing a complete outfit in two weeks-- so be sure to come back to the FDL Team Blog on Monday, March 16 for the outfit reveal.

This edition written by FDL Street Team Member Susan of Capitola Girl Jewelry and the Capitola Girl blog.

Casablanca

Casablanca ... just the word conjures up wonderful images. Love stories, classic black and white movies, Humphrey Bogart and  Ingrid Bergman at their best, "Play it again, Sam", fabulous 40's fashions, exotic colors and smells.

Casablanca is the theme for our February team challenge.  Members of the FDL team can use anything related to the classic movie or Morocco or whatever they imagine for our theme this month.

Check back next week to see some of the items from our Casablanca challenge.  Search on the tag "fdlteam" to find other great items on Etsy from this fabulously creative international team!

Thanks,

Beth

Thirdfloor

Paper Dolls: Fifth Edition (The Big Reveal!)

FDL Paper Dolls: Fifth Edition
(The Big Reveal!)

The suggestions for the Fifth Edition of the Paper Dolls are in...and here's our fifth virtual fashion outfit a la FDL's Paper Dolls.

It started out with our inspiration piece...

A ravishing red custom-made Yukata kimono robe/swimsuit cover up created by FDL Team Member, Uyen, at the AsianExpressions shop on Etsy.

Yukata Kimono Robe/Swim Suit Cover Up
from Asianexpressions.etsy.com

And has been paired with:

Mirrored Bird Necklace
from ravishingjane.etsy.com
~~~

I'm a Hottie...Slip Dress
from sewsewsssuckurtoe.etsy.com
~~~

Roses are Red Earrings
from ForTheCrossJewelry.etsy.com
~~~

About Paper Dolls
Paper Dolls is a new virtual fashion game being hosted by the FDL Street Team blog. In each edition of Paper Dolls, an FDL Team member picks a fashionable inspiration piece and writes a blog post seeking coordinating item suggestions by readers. Reader suggestions can be from ANY seller's shop on Etsy, and are left in the Comments area of the blog post along with links to matching items. Then, when the author has a completed outfit (based on the inspiration piece and the author's picks from the comments), the author writes a follow-up blog post to reveal whole outfit.

Come join the FDL Team again, the Sixth Edition of Paper Dolls is coming soon!

The FDL Paper Dolls Game (Fifth Edition)

Welcome to Paper Dolls (Fifth Edition)

Do You Play?

WELCOME to February!

The count down to Valentine's Day has officially begun. It's the Fifth Edition of the FDL Street Team's Paper Dolls game and we're kicking off this romantic month by looking to the color red for virtual outfit inspiration.

This edition's inspiration piece is a gorgeous, custom-made Yukata kimono robe/swimsuit cover up created by FDL Team Member, Uyen, at the AsianExpressions shop on Etsy.

Yukata Kimono Robe/Swim Suit Cover Up
from Asianexpressions.etsy.com

Now... its your turn readers! Put your most fabulous fashionista hat on and help me create a memorable outfit fit for a diva on Valentine's Day! I'm looking for a cute chemise, fluffy slippers, sexy swimsuits, and other fine accessories to go with this swirly red kimono.

Do You Want to Play? If so, here's how the Paper Dolls game works:

1. Take a good long look at this week's inspiration piece.

2. Browse ANY shop on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com) and hunt for haute coordinates--I'm looking for suggestions for the whole ensemble--slippers, swimsuits, lingerie, jewelry, hair accessories (and any other item(s) that you think would complete the look inspired by this kimono!).

3. Once you've found your items, come back and leave a comment and be sure to leave a link to your recommendations by including the item URL from Etsy.

4. (Optional) If you like this game and want to help the FDL Street Team pass the word on...add our Paper Dolls badge to your blog!

I will be selecting items for the completed outfit next week-- so be sure to visit the FDL Team Blog then for the big reveal!

This edition written by FDL Street Team Member Susan of Capitola Girl Jewelry and the Capitola Girl blog.

Happy Birthday to nuvonova!!!

The team wishes a huge happy birthday to Clara, the talented artist behind nuvonova.  Make sure you check out her fabulous designs here.

Wishing you a wonderful day and the best of years!

January Team Happenings.

Well, now we are approaching the end of the first month of 2009, we would like to give a rundown of Team Happenings and what is still to come!

First up is Asianexpressions who offers a beautiful confection of kimonos and origami inspired accessories. She had some of her pieces on consignment at the Helena Holter Museum of Art for a Christmas sale, and recently shared the news that the museum wanted more for their Valentines show! Congratulations!

Happiknits is planning a revival of her 'Putting your best face forward' blog entries which stem from her love for cosmetics! She will be reviewing cosmetic/skin care products, and also giving application advice.

OctopedalArts are having a great start to the New Year, with new models and many new designs!

AllThingsPretty's Cornflower Blue Linen Dress hit the Etsy front page, was swiftly bought and then followed by a succession of another three sales!

Capitolagirl's "The Devil Wears Etsy - Bites of Brown" column was picked up by online publication Computer Shopper, which also featured an item from fellow FDL Team member, RebeccasArtCloset.

...and lastly, I, nuvonova, hit 100 sales after 8 months since starting my Etsy Shop and hit 500 hearts a few days ago!

Front Page Brings in The New Year

Congrats to Debra from All Things Pretty who curated her very first Treasury on Etsy and made it on the Front Page!!! Check out her beautiful shop, her items are wearable pieces of art. I love this color palette! Congrats to all the FDL members featured.