Gifts for Music Lovers!

I've been looking around Etsy for gifts for some of my music loving friends and family members. Musical images make great artwork, as well as unique jewelry and accessories.

Below are some of the fun things I found while searching for musical items!


Visit these Etsy shops for more great gifts this year!

Las Guitarras by ZuppaArtista

Owl Ipod Touch Case by EvelynX

Love Wood Cello Pendant by DanielKim

Set of 3 Songbird Series by AnimalHouseArt

Piano Music Pendant by PinkTopHat

Musical Mountains by KatieDidItGlass

Saxophone Original by Marnold

Beatles Wall Art by WallDecors

The Composer Print by MerrellArt

Go Orange For the Season!

In honor of you know which holiday, I decided to browse Etsy for orange things today. And I was delighted to find some beautiful things in this often underrated color!

This is the Gilbert Skirt from Renneslechateau on Etsy . It is such a sweet little skirt, made from soft pumpkin colored corduroy and I think it would be quite versatile.












Here is a Crocheted Scarflette from Beebun . It has a cute scalloped edge and can be worn several ways. I love the little flower detail!

















This is a Sweater Cowl Hoodie from CastCouture.
I love the color and the shape! It has inbuilt pockets in the paneled body and a cowl neck hood.
















For something unique for the season, don't miss this Strap Wrap Chameleon Shrug by Malam on Etsy . It has extra long, flared sleeves and can be worn in a variety of ways. It is made to order to fit your size.

Visit these Etsy shops for a splash of great color for your fall wardrobe!

To the Emerald City!

I attended a lovely wedding this past weekend. In place of the traditional Bridal March, the bride's entrance was accompanied by the playing of "Over The Rainbow." It was beautiful and it made me nostalgic for one of my favorite movies of all time. I found some wonderful things on Etsy while searching for "The Wizard of Oz"!



I love this limited edition art print by Robert David Bretz! It can be found in the Etsy shop, PaintAllNightStudios.

This primitive hand-painted sign from SawdustNStitches takes you back to a simpler time, and of course, to a place that is "over the rainbow"!

I always loved Glinda, The Good Witch, and imagined her as my very own godmother! This cross stitch pattern is available from Glenniz on Etsy.

These finger puppet characters from Weeknit are so cute, and would provide lots of storytelling fun!

I think it's time to schedule a family movie night and watch this wonderful classic again!

CottonColors Is a Lovely Etsy Find of the Day!

CottonColors is featured as the Lovely Etsy Find on the blog, Lovely At Your Side! There are some beautiful dresses featured today as well. Visit this blog for some handmade loveliness!

Bring on The Cool Days and Hot Colors!

The vivid colors of Fall!

Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week to identify the 10 most directional colors. These are the colors in the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Fall, 2009. I love deep, vivid hues and the diverse palette shown here. American Beauty is gorgeous, saturated and lively! I adore the rich, dark shade of blue that is Majolica Blue. For neutrals, I am most drawn to Iron and Honey Yellow. This is a really beautiful palette, although a little light on the greens for my taste.

I am looking forward to seeing how these colors will show up in both fashion and home decor this fall. It looks to be a colorful season ahead!

CottonColors in The Design File!

The Design File is a wonderful and informative blog, highlighting unique, contemporary interior design. CottonColors was a featured Etsy pick this week!

Faith and The Artist!

I've been reading "Walking on Water; Reflections on Art and Faith" by Madeleine L'Engle. It is described as a collection of the author's meditations on the nature of art and its relation to faith.

L'Engle feels that talking about her art and talking about her Christian faith are one and the same.

"It means attempting to share the meaning of my life, what gives it, for me, its tragedy and its glory. It is what makes me respond to the death of an apple tree, the birth of a puppy, northern lights shaking the sky, by writing stories."

This is a remarkable and thought-provoking book that is best read a little at a time and reflected upon before moving on. It is an inspirational look at the creative process and how the artist's spiritual self shines through his or her creations!

This is a book I will be reading again!

Tuesday Trends: Butterflies!

Every season seems to have its favorite creatures. This spring, butterflies are making a big splash of color everywhere! Here are some butterfly themed items from Etsy artisans!

Black Butterfly Scarf by http://www.modsilk.etsy.com/

Butterfly Pendant by http://www.naturalatheart.etsy.com/

Butterfly Jewel in the Poppies Shirt by http://www.ahpeele.etsy.com/

Jamie Floral Headpiece by http://www.ambergypsie.etsy.com/

Butterfly by http://www.walltherapy.etsy.com/



Visit these Etsy shops for this year's beautiful butterflies!

Color Me Happy!

It's well known that color affects our moods. It can have a strong influence on how we feel, both mentally and physically. If you're redecorating or simply freshening up your decor with some new accessories or a complete paint job, keep in mind how certain colors can affect you and your well-being!




If you're looking for peace and tranquility, blue may be the color you need in your home. The soothing shades of sky and water represent harmony, unity and security. It has been shown to slow the pulse rate and lower body temperature.


Green is named as a favorite color by many people. It represents nature,
health, renewal, youth and fertility. It's calming and is considered by
many to have a healing quality.











Yellow is a joyous color and represents happiness, optimism and
imagination. The color of sunshine, it can add a bright note of hope and
inspiration to your home!










Brown is warm and earthy. The color of wood, stone and earth, it is neutral and can be used with lots of other colors. Found so frequently in nature, brown represents stability and simplicity.









Red is an energetic color! It increases the heart rate and raises blood pressure. While it may not be a great choice for wall color, red accessories can add a pop of interesting color to a room! It creates a strong first impression, so don't shy away from red!









(If this red room looks familiar, you are probably a Real Housewives of NYC fan. It's the recent redo of Alex and Simon's living room!)

A Mother's Day Reminder!

Don't forget Mom this Sunday! Here are some of my favorites from Etsy artisans that I think any Mom would love!







Big Love Sea Glass Locket
http://www.seafinddesigns.etsy.com/







Home Is Where My Mom Is
http://www.mudhutt.etsy.com/









Love Clutch
http://www.ikestaedt.etsy.com/

Mermaid Mother Print

http://www.joojoo.etsy.com/

Tuesday Trends: Choosing Artwork to Brighten Your Home!

Spring is here and that always brings out the desire to liven up our living spaces! Adding artwork to your home is a great way to bring in color and pattern. Art sets a tone in a room and can be a focal point in your room's design. Choosing the right artwork and the best place to display it can really bump up the appeal of your living space!There are a few trends in art this spring that are worth noting. Bold colors and patterns create a striking visual and draw the eye.














This painting, Tree Rings, by Focuslineart on Etsy has a great balance of color and pattern.



















The trend toward green living conserving our resources has increased the popularity of art with a focus on nature. Here is a Filigree Tree print by Meartdesign on Etsy. I love the delicate branches and tiny birds on the peaceful green background!


















Here is a beautiful original that combines the nature theme with a bold color palette and geometric designs by Edenfolwell on Etsy. It is painted on wood and I think it has a wonderful earthy feel with a contemporary twist!

Choosing artwork is a very personal endeavor. You will want to select pieces that you will enjoy looking at for a long time. Take some time to browse these and other Etsy artists to bring some color and pattern into your décor.

CottonColors Featured on Maggies World Blog!

Maggie is a wonderful Etsy friend with a lovely blog where whe writes about her life and interests. She has included my shop, CottonColors, in her "Inspirations" feature series!
Visit her blog at www.maggiemagsart.blogspot.com

Today is Etsy Day!

April 24th is Etsy Day!

Have you ever visited Etsy? If not, you should check it out. Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade items of all kinds! It is a great place to shop and connect with artisans and crafters who love to create! If you love vintage, Etsy is the place to find lots of great retro and vintage treasures! Today is a great day to discover something beautiful and unique!

Buy Handmade!

Click Below to Visit Etsy

Ready For Take-Off!

I made my first sale on 1000Markets today! It turned out to be a buyer from right here in my local area although not someone I know.
1000Markets is a beautiful, handmade site that is quite new, but I am really looking forward to watching it grow and develop. I think it is going to take off soon! As a seller there, you can apply for membership to various markets within the site that are geared toward your types of products and buyers. This makes for small “communities” of sellers within the larger overall community. I think it is a brilliant concept for creating a supportive network of handmade artisans and crafters!


One of the markets I belong to is called “The Village” It is based on the idea of an actual village with shops, homes, etc. There is even a map of this virtual village that shows a lake and a shopping promenade!

It's such a fun concept and the community on the site is very positive and supportive! The site owners are accessible and professional. I love being in on the ground floor of a brand new handmade shopping site! 1000Markets is affiliated with Amazon and transactions are processed through Amazon Payments.

Stay tuned for future developments at 1000Markets. I think we will see great things happening there!

Etsy Has the Colors of Spring - Part 2!

The Pantone Color Report for Spring shows us some wonderful color combinations to add to our wardrobes!

Last week, I looked at the first half of the report and found some lovely items on Etsy in those vibrant hues.






This week, I am looking at the more sedate colors in the second half of the Pantone report.

I looked on Etsy to find examples of the sophisticated shades of green, lavender and slate gray. I hope you like them as much as I do and visit the Etsy artisan's shops shown here!




Dark Citron - Tiny Olivine Green Crystal Earrings http://www.shysiren.etsy.com/
Lavender - Eggplant and Lavender Wedding Garter http://www.peterenedesign.etsy.com/
Vibrant Green - Afrenzt Pinbacks Green http://www.inafrenzy.etsy.com/
Slate Gray - Montmartre Painter's Bubble Dress http://www.tortillagirl.etsy.com/
Rose Dust - Bauble Earrings http://www.leavesofglass.etsy.com/

Just Doing My Job, Ma'am!

A sweet Etsy seller named GladRaggz decided to feature one of my pillow covers today after we "met" in the Etsy forums! Visit her blog, http://www.carpetbaggercreations.blogspot.com/ !

Etsy Has the Colors of Spring!

The Pantone Color Report for Spring 2009 shows us a great collection of colors that will be popular this spring! I love the Palace Blue, Super Lemon and the Lucite Green!

All of these colors have a subdued, sophisticated feel, without being dull or drab!






I searched Etsy for some items to represent the colors from the Pantone report and I found some beautiful things and some new favorite artisans!

I concentrated on the first five colors this time. Next week, I will be looking for some interesting things in the colors of the second half of the report. Visit these Etsy shops for some new spring color!




Fuschia Red - Petticoat Skirt with Lace - http://www.malam.etsy.com/
Salmon Rose - Sorbet - http://www.farafield.etsy.com/
Palace Blue - Cotton Tank Top - http://www.cottonfields.etsy.com/
Lucite Green - Lifeguard Necklace - http://www.potatoface.etsy.com/
Super Lemon - One Shoulder Bikini - http://www.harajuku.etsy.com/

Lavender Love!

I made these little sachets for a friend's birthday. The French lavender in them smells so wonderful and I was really happy with how they turned out.

My friend has such a sweet, gentle spirit and I think these little birds are just her style!

It's Your Life; Do You Rent or Own?

I've learned that there are businesses that rent out accessories, and even more amazing, people who rent them! Designer handbags from Prada, Louis Vuitton or Gucci can be rented by the week. Are you kidding me?

I assume the renters are people who can't actually afford to purchase said bags.

I understand the allure of the NAME! When my daughters were in their early teens, it became apparent that certain clothing brands were essential to their well-being! Never mind that the items looked exactly like other less expensive versions. The extra cost was for the tiny sewn in tag with the NAME on it, even if the tag wasn't visible when wearing the clothing! Thank goodness, as they are maturing, they are getting some sense again and choosing their wardrobe based on what they love, color, style and fit, rather than the name.

I don't think I could stand myself if I became so enamored of a designer brand that I would pay to carry a handbag for a week! To each his own, of course, but it seems a little desperate to me.

I can't help but think there is a self-esteem issue in here somewhere.

I make bags, so maybe I'm biased. Also, I don't think I'm a good enough actress to walk around with a $10,000 handbag, pretending it is mine. I'd probably carry it in a big ziploc bag to keep from messing it up!

CottonColors Is Featured!

Artist Karen Fields has featured CottonColors as her Favorite Etsy Shop of the Day! Visit here to see the feature as well as Karen's bright, colorful artwork!