Bought these gorgeous handmade earrings for $5!

I rarely buy things on Etsy. Not because I don't want to. Far from it! Mostly because there are just so many things I'd like to buy, I can never narrow it down to actually making a purchase.

So last week, when I was taking a look through the beFreedesigns shop, I had no intention of actually buying anything. Again, not because I didn't want to. I had hearted a number of items in the shop before and was coming back to pick some out for a blog feature. But, lo and behold, one of the sets that I had hearted had been put on sale... on sale for only $5! I couldn't resist!


The earrings arrived yesterday, and I just love them! I actually bought them with my sister-in-law in mind, because she has these beautiful bright blue eyes, and I do not. But when I saw them I just had to try them on, and you can't give away earrings once they've been worn, right? Like, it's some kind of rule, right?


These earrings are actually much prettier in person... for some reason neither my photos or the shop listing photos really do them justice. I especially love the way they swing; and that the inside stone swings completely independently from the outer hoop, which also swings nicely from the hook. So all in all, very swingy! This was an unbelievable deal and one that I am very happy with.

Here are a few more of my very favorite items from the beFreedesign shop. Be sure and check out the actual shop; there are lots more beauties, at excellent prices too!

Essence of Seas Earrings... just $15!


A Night in Bombay Earrings... only $10, and free shipping too!

Thanks for reading!

Felt Sew Good

When I stumbled across this lovely shop a few weeks ago, I probably spent 20 or 30 minutes Skyping links back and forth with my sister (we do this a lot) saying things like "oh, look at this one" and "ooh, I want this, too" and "and this one" and "Christmas is only 3 months away..." I admit that I tend to be partial to felt (you may notice this in my past and future posts) but even in the world of felted goodness, these beautiful items stand out!


Now that the time has come to write this blog post, I'm finding it difficult to choose which items to include. I love so many of them! So I've chosen just a few of my favorites from this shop, just because I don't want this post to go on forever (I really could go on practically forever, but I won't. I do have a few other things to do today). If you like what you see here then I really encourage you to check out the Felt Sew Good shop and take a little browse around.


Cheryl, the artist behind Felt Sew Good, uses mostly upcylced wool sweaters for her craft, so her products are not only beautiful, but are eco-friendly as well. Wool sweaters are felted, then cut apart and sewn into soft, durable accents for yourself and your home.


I just love the look of quality to her products, the patterns and color combinations that she chooses, and the soft, luxuriously comforting texture.


I can just imagine my little nephew with this stegosaurus! I think they would be instant best friends.


This bunny is actually made from upcycled cashmere sweaters. Cashmere! I can only imagine the soft, bunny-like silkiness.


And here are a few more bags that I just had to include.




You'll also find felt brooches and pillows in Cheryl's shop, along with lots more beautiful bags and toys. All of the above photos link directly to her corresponding shop pages, for quick-click convenience. Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

For the Love of Etsy

I spend a lot of time on Etsy. A LOT. Like so many people who have discovered this delightful handmade marketplace, I would definitely be classified as an Etsy addict.

I check my shop (Donido Designs) at least a dozen times a day (and that's being conservative) to see if I've made a sale. And it's not even about the money; I'm just as thrilled to sell a little crocheted cell phone case as I am to sell a big, beautiful baby blanket (well, almost as thrilled). I also check compulsively to see how many new views and hearts I've gotten on my items. From what I hear, this is normal for most Etsy shop owners. As a side note, here's a very funny music video on YouTube about Etsy addiction: Etsy Addicts Anonymous

I also spend a huge amount of time browsing through other shops and hearting anything that catches my fancy. I tell myself I might buy these things someday, once my own sales start picking up and I have some "free" money in my Paypal account. But in reality, I'll probably spend most of that money on new yarns for my own crafting endeavors, despite the fact that I have an excess of yarn overflowing through almost every part of my house already.

So, I've decided to try doing something useful with some of my hearts. Rather than simply hearting these items, I'm going to share some of very, very favorites. So, without further ado, today's favorite Etsy find:

Zootla Pocket Pally
The first time I came across this little cutie I had to immediately Skype my sister with the simple phrase "I think I'm in love" and a link to this adorable yellow Zootla Pocket Pally.

Cheerful, fun, unique, and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, these joyful little guys just bring a smile to my face.

From the top of the head to the tip of it's feet it is 4" tall, plus the wild, crazy hair, which to me is the very best part. These are made with cuddly polar fleece, and come in many colors, and each has it's own unique adornments. All this for a mere $11.50! To me, that's a pretty good deal!

You can find this Zootla Pocket Pally, along with it's many cute and colorful friends and relations, at http://Zootla.Etsy.com. I have to say this yellow one is my favorite, but I like the purple (below) almost as much.
Thanks for reading my feeble attempt at blogging! I'm really new at this, but promise to get better as time goes on, so be sure and check back soon! I'll be blogging about my current projects, marketing ideas, things I've learned, things I'm trying, and a lot of stuff in between. And, of course, my favorite Etsy finds! I can't afford to buy everything I love, but at least I can blog about them!