Outdoor Living with Etsy Creations

Handpicked on Etsy

Summertime in the Pacific Northwest means super long days, entertaining in the garden, al fresco dining and mild evenings on the patio. Today I focused on Etsy creations that enhance outdoor summer life. Featured today are garden enchantments for all ages, functional weatherproof furniture from whimsical to elegant, and a couple of summery wraps for bare shoulders including one of my own cozy wraps that protect against post-sunset breezes. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $17.00 to $925.00
From top left to bottom right, today's featured artisans include: katsarayarns, HangLooseHangers, filofashion, johntunger, CatsMeowArt, calicoskiescrafts, MillionTabbies, AspenIronworks, deliafurniture, joejeach, BearPawPottery

Table Details: Etsy Accents for the Holiday Entertaining

Handpicked on Etsy

Details set the tone and define your style. Today I focused on table or buffet accents from Etsy artists that add rustic charm to flavor to your autumn holiday table. Arrange your flowers, rest your spoons or teabags, hold your votives or tealights, protect and beautify your table top, store your butter and serve your food with creations by talented Etsy artisans that provide function and visual delight. There's still time to get your handmade treasures delivered before Thanksgiving without driving to the mall, so click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings! Prices range from $12.00 to $358.00.

From top left to bottom right, today's Etsy artisans include: jeanne12, snugasabugrugcompany, lynswan, ApplewarePottery, downtoearthceramics, SlightlyTwistedWood, Misspottery, sparkafarian

Buffet Worthy Bowls on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy

Holiday entertaining and potluck collaborations require serving bowls, and these are few found on Etsy this morning that appeal to me not just for autumn festivities but for all seasons. Made of earthy substance, hand formed and artistically glazed clay bowls possess the organic, rustic quality that I associate with Thanksgiving. Today's selections reflect some of Etsy's wonderful artisanal talent, each bowl stating its case for ebullience, whimsy or elegance. All are display worthy as well as food-safe and functional. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $14.00 to $145.00.

From top left to bottom right, today's featured artists include: clearmountaincraft, KimberlyPottery, askpottery, utilemud, GlazedOver, brookhousepottery, madhatterceramics, georgiesmom

Casseroles: Festive Handcrafted Cookware on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy

Holiday season in America goes into full gear with Thanksgiving, our day for celebrating nature's bounty with family and close friends. My favorite style for the table and buffet is what I call "rustic-elegance," and I love an eclectic mix of serving pieces bringing in elements of warmth, comfort, autumnal motifs, harvest, and earthiness. Keeping these themes in mind, today I searched Etsy for handcrafted cookware that goes from oven to table, with the criterion that the pot comes with a lid. To my mind, these examples of hand-thrown pottery fit the Thanksgiving mood, and function perfectly to keep those comfort foods warm through the leisurely feast. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $38.00 to $120.00.

From top left to bottom right, today's featured artists include: johnnypotter, Hodakapottery, kaharrison2, OneClayBead, dkpottery, winkinglizardpottery, baumanstoneware, winkinglizardpottery

Rain Is Beautiful on Esty

Handpicked on Etsy

I love rain. Raised in the sunny southern California climate, as a child I adored the few weather days that punctuated the blandness, cleansed the air and brought lush green to the world for a few days thereafter. The soft kind of rain with a high cloud ceiling appeals to me the most, while the monsoon kind of rain going on right now in Seattle is not exactly what I want everyday. Northwest skies "raining elephants" motivated me this morning to see if any Etsy artists let rain inspire them. The 8 varied creations I found range from literal to abstract references to rain, each appealing to me for its quality of craftmanship and successful rendition of the theme. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $15.00 to $250.00.

From top left to bottom right, today's featured artists include: Egokitten, xovika, itesbeautiful, littlehendesigns, meilors, FloatingEarthCeramic, allaShark, juneshin

Red Ochre: Color Scheming on Etsy

Handpicked on Etsy
Ochre is a term for brown pigments derived from clays containing mineral oxides. Primitive mankind first used these earthy colors that modern day artists know as Yellow Ochre and Red Ochre. They range from yellow and golden browns, through the spectrum of rich honey browns and deep red-browns. Today I searched for the rich-honey version for this showcase of wonderful creations by Etsy artists.
I regard ochre as a most versatile and useful color for both wearable and home accessories: It adds sophistication and brings every color scheme back to earth. It is an especially timely color for the autumnal season, reminding us of nature's richness as we retreat indoors. Click on the pictures to go directly to these Etsy listings. Prices range from $6.50 to $175.00
From top left to bottom right, today's featured artisans include: makye77, cyrusthepotter, Sigmosaics,AwakenJournaling, ParadisePotpourri, maiziedesigns, livingferal, picapicadesign, vividcolors, geobubstudios