Showing posts with label supplies. Show all posts

In the Etsy forums, I see a lot of conflicting views about whether or not to share information about techniques and supply sources when it comes to each of our crafts. Some say sharing this information is bad for business and to guard such trade secrets. Others say share the wealth, it's about community and helping each other out. I've seen some heated discussions about this and a lot of people feel strongly about it, either way.

I say, mind your own business. If you want to share, then share. If you want to hoard, then hoard. Me, I'm a sharer. Nothing I know is a huge secret that can't be discovered in the same way I have. Here is a list of some of my favorite supply sources. When it comes to supplies, I'm usually looking for paper goods or jewelry supplies. So, that's what my list consists of.

Ribbons and Bows Oh My - great selection of ribbon (gross grain, velvet, satin, novelty, etc.) good prices and easy to navigate, accepts PayPal.

Two Peas in a Bucket - one of my favorite paper sources. Tons of scrapbooking supplies. Carries many company's products, easy to navigate, great site tools, fair prices, accepts PayPal.

Paper Source - lovely site. Unique paper in large sheets, bookbinding supplies, cool catalog, fun to browse.

Paper Mojo - another great selection of unique papers. Easy to navigate, pretty to look at.

A Cherry On Top - another scrapbook shop, large selection, carries many company's, good prices, fair shipping, and they have a fun game where you collect cherries whenever you see one on certain products when browsing.

Accessories Susan - my new favorite jewelry supply source. Awesome prices on findings, gems, settings, etc. No sterling silver, but lots of brass, copper, and plated metals. I try to buy jewelry supplies at wholesale, but found this place to be priced even better. Great find. PayPal friendly. Free shipping.

The Beading Path - Love this place. I have a wholesale account with them, but they sell retail also. If you can get a wholesale account, you can buy at 50% off with no minimum and they offer free shipping. Great variety of glass, vintage, swarovski, and much more. A must visit. I love this place. PayPal friendly.

Rings and Things - I have only browsed this site so far. But, I hear many great things about this shop. Easy to navigate, large selection, and good prices.

Fusion Beads - Everything you need in one place. Good prices, free shipping, no minimum, easy to navigate. No PayPal here, though.

Black Star Beads - Etsy shop with great vintage beads and great prices.

Black Sheep Beads - Etsy shop with vintage beads, findings, and great prices.

e & e bungalow - Etsy shop with beautiful wood beads.

Stone Soup Supplies - Etsy shop with awesome handmade findings.

The Beading Tree - my favorite Etsy shop for shipping and packaging supplies.

Gaussboys Super Magnets - the lowest prices for rare earth magnets that I've been able to find. Quick shipping. PayPal friendly.

***added 04.26.08
Stampfranciso - after browsing this site I got excited about going to their shop, assuming it was local. Apparently they aren't actually in San Francisco. Washington, actually. But they aren't open to the public there either. The online shop is awesome. I love their selection of stamps, they have soooo many. Tons of cool, unique stamps to choose from. PayPal friendly too. I highly recommend this place.

I'll add more as I discover or remember them. Please share your favorite sources, if you are willing....

Oooh how I love Basic Grey. Every one of the paper lines that they have put out is worth buying. They are so unique and unlike any other. I just learned that they have introduced some new lovelies for winter 2008. There are oodles of new papers, so I'll share my favorites from each line.

Archaic:

Cupcake:

Sultry:

Boxer:

There are so many to see and enjoy from each line. I didn't even mention their "two scoops" and "sugared" lines, either, that are equally as yummy. I can hardly wait to get my hands on all of them.
enjoy.

Boss man, Rob, (Rokali) announced in a Storque article that Etsy received 27 million dollars in funding from 2 of their existing investors and from a new investor, Jim Breyer. Mr. Breyer will hold a place on the board of directors. Rob explains how this money is needed to allow Etsy to keep up with it's increasing growth, and also exactly how some of the funds will be used, in the article.

2 days following this news, Rob had another announcement that generated a lot of buzz, mostly happy buzzing, regarding a separation of handmade goods from supplies and vintage. The plan is to exclude supplies and vintage from the default search, with the ability to opt them into a search, from the drop down menu. Read more about this change here, and the discussions from the community here.

I am happy for these changes, personally. It's great to see Etsy making this distinction, allowing handmade items to be brought to the front, rather than buried amongst the supplies and vintage items for sale. I am all for both of these non-handmade items having a place on Etsy. I am just glad to see some solution for separating them from the handmade goods that people expect to see from a place that boasts, "You're place to buy and sell things Handmade."

Whatever, is all I can say. I don't do scrapbooks. I do, however loooove the products, especially the paper. So, I can definitely appreciate the supplies some scrappers accumulate . I also tend to drool over meticulously organized studios , craft rooms, or any room for that matter, as mine is certainly not. So, I stumbled across these "scrap rooms" of some 2 peas members, a bit ago, and my jaw actually fell to the floor. These ladies have scrap rooms that put most of my favorite shops to shame, let alone any studio space I've ever seen. And these are just ladies who scrap as a hobby. They don't use these spaces for working, or making any kind of living. Like I said, WHATEVER.

Room 1 - filled with more supplies than any one person could possibly even consider using in 10 life times. And this is just a section of what she's got.




Room 2 - my favorite of them all. Almost as many supplies as the room above. But, the organization in this room just blows me away. She designed this room just for scrapping. Picking out the shelving units and everything else for every little supply, down to a drawer for each letter of the alphabet with chipboards, just chipboards. See the "K" drawer? And that cabinet full of paper, color coordinated, of course.




Room 3 - i love how colorful this room is. How can you not be inspired in a space like this?



I checked and all of these ladies are married. So they must have a magic spell they put their husbands under, that makes this all possible. Not to mention, a few extra bucks to support their habits. Another member of 2 peas mentioned how she was bookmarking one of these photos to show her husband any time he complained that she had too much stuff. Seriously, this is all a bit over the top, excessive, and even a bit absurd. But, I want one too. waaaaaahhh.

see more detailed photos of these rooms and others here.

Until I received my order in the mail, I assumed Stamp Francisco was actually in San Francisco. Apparently not! Not that it matters, much. Except that I had planned on visiting since I live in the Bay Area. It comes to find out that they are located in Washington and don't have a brick and mortar shop, anyhow. None of this matters, though because I was plenty pleased with what I discovered from their online shop. I am always on the lookout for good rubber stamps. I like to find new and original ones, as do most people, I am sure. This shop has just that. I spend ages browsing their stamp selection and ended up buying 4. And I will definitely be going back for more. They offer such a selection of great stamps, which most were new to me. You can buy mounted or unmounted in most of their stamps. The savings is considerable if you opt for the unmounted. It was tough deciding which to buy, but here is what I ended up with:










my favorite is the last one, the warning label. If your are into stamps, especially original ones, give Stamp Francisco a try, you'll like it.

So, I've been wanting a binding machine. I was looking through ebay auctions for a used one or something, as they were kind of expensive, for a good one anyway. I came across the Zutter. It's a pint sized little 3 pound binder that is adorable. However, I didn't want to fall for adorable and end up with something that binded maybe a journal or two and then take a shit on me. So, I looked into it. I searched for just one person that had something negative to say about their Zutter. But, all I found was nothing but rave reviews. So, I got one. It hasn't arrived yet, but I have a ton of projects in mind, all ready to go for when it does get here. Take a look at how cute it is. Read a little about it and you'll be hooked too.

If you haven't heard of Hambly Screen Prints, then take a moment to pay them a visit. Their products are geared towards scrapbooking. But, then again most of my favorite paper/supply sources are and I am definitely not a scrapbooker. You don't have to be a scrapper to appreciate their super products. Though the company has been in business for 35 years, they have a very fresh and hip line of papers, overlays, rub-ons, stickers, and other great stuff. I purchased a set of their awesome chandelier rub-ons a while back, and have yet to use them. They are one of those things that I love so much that I'm afraid to use them. ( I know that is silly). But, I think today, I have come up with a great idea, which if I follow through with, I'll post here. So, look at some of the delicious designs they offer below, and then go pay them a visit. You'll be glad you did.


This first one is an overlay they offer. But this design is available in rub-ons, 12x12 paper, and other screen printed products they offer. Isn't it great?


I just love this disco ball paper.


Their rub-ons are great quality, and they have some great designs.

Another favorite paper company of mine is American Crafts.
Not only are their patterns perfectly scrumptious, their paper is quality, thick, and two-sided. I love, love, love, their new lines. Check put some of my latest buys:


don't forget each of these papers is backed by a lovely coordinating solid.


and don't forget about their fabulous mini rub-on packs, which I couldn't resist:

So, I've been wanting to try my hand at bookbinding. It's one of those projects that I always see, and admire, wishing I knew how to make one too. So, I figure it out. A hand binded book is such a cool thing to have, and it's something I know I can get great use from, myself. And the best part is I get to choose a gorgeous paper to put on the cover of every one of them. Which gives me another reason to go paper shopping. I've found a few online tutorials that explain it pretty well, but I think it's one of those things that is much easier to do than to explain. I wish I knew someone that could sit with me and walk me through it. The coptic stitch, I believe it's called, is the first I'm trying. I like the look of this method, with the exposed binding, and I like that the book can be opened all the way and lie flat. I found a shop online that sells a lot of the supplies I need, and ordered some yesterday. Being it's a holiday today, I'm guessing I won't see the FedEx man until Wednesday at the earliest. In the meantime, I'll look for more instructions with pictures, to add to the ones I have. I'm thinking that between them all, I'll be binding in no time. Now get a move on Mr FedEx man.
If any of my 5 readers happens to know anything about bookbinding, please feel free to share any bits of widsom with this newbie. Thanks a bunch.