Etsy Love - Montana Photo Journal

As my eyes wander over these pieces, sometimes I swear I can feel the crisp air, and the peace of the great outdoors. Annie, owner of Montana Photo Journal has an eye for the majestic. Her photographs seem to transport me to the beautiful open spaces I've yet to experience for myself, and I'm in love with the vivid colors and accented textures in many of her photographs.
I'm pleased to welcome Annie to the blog today!

Meet Annie | Owner, Photographer
I grew up outside. I always remember loving to explore and discover things that no one else knew about. I grew up on my family's ranch in central Montana, in the Smith River valley. It is unnaturally beautiful, especially the sky. I love the sky, and as a habit learned early on, I've spent much of my life watching it to gauge the weather or just because there was something spectacular going on up there. I use the sky in my photography whenever possible, as I believe there's no better subject. I love the change of the seasons and all of the subtle little differences it creates in the atmosphere. The summer is rich and vibrant, and the winter, while harsh, is softer and quieter and that reflects in the photographs I take. I still love to "explore" and take many road trips across Montana and other western states, keeping an eye out for anything unusual or beautiful. I started my shop after accumulating years worth of photographs and having nothing and nowhere to display them. I enjoy every order and love to send my work off to those places very different from where I live, as it feels as though the world isn't so big. I like being able to connect with customers on a personal basis. I hope you enjoy my work!

~Annie

There are so many beautiful prints to choose from, I had a hard time narrowing down which I wanted to feature! Can you tell I'm a sucker for the artistry of storm clouds? Which is your favorite?

How would you like to own your favorite? You could win an 8x10 print of your choosing! The great big Etsy Love giveaway begins in one week, so look back at all the Etsy features to see the fantastic products that could grace your home, then get ready to enter!

Follow MT Photo Journal on Etsy, Facebook, or via the Montana Photo Journal Blog. Annie shares a little bit behind each photograph on her blog, which always makes it more interesting to me. Knowing the history, experiencing it vicariously not only through the photograph but the photographer adds a new depth of meaning.

Etsy Love - Frosting Home Decor

I'm very particular when it comes to drapes. All too often I've purchased a pair of drapes, tried them out in my home, and promptly returned them. I do this dance for the next month or two before "settling" for some drapes that 'sort of' work in the space. What if you could have custom made drapes made exactly as you imagine for about the same price you pay to buy drapes at your local department store? Well, I wish I had run across Frosting Home Decor on Etsy a long time ago!

Meet Christin | Owner, Seamstress 

Two years ago I decided to take a big chance and quit doing daycare to pursue my passion for sewing window treatments, and Home Décor accents! I always say if your Dreams and Goals don't scare you a little then they are probably not big enough! With that being said I am so excited I opened my shop 2 years ago! I am Stay at home Mother of 3 wild and wonderful Children ages, 4,3, and 1 and 4th and final little Girl on the Way Due in December ! . They are my 1st priority this is why my wait times are a little more then other shops on Etsy:) But when my husband isn't at work we switch roles and I sew 12-14 hours a day for 4-5 days. I work late into the night and before the sun comes up! I also recently brought my mother on full-time the woman to taught me most of everything I know about sewing! Thanks so much for your orders we feel truly blessed to have our products in home all over the world like Paris, Australia, Brazil, Canada and all over the USA! 

We were excited to be Featured by Belief.net as one of the ( TOP TEN SHOPS THAT WILL WOW. you on ETSY!) 
www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Galleries/The-Wonderful-World-of-Etsy.aspx

Thanks for stopping by my shop and taking the time to read my story ! Can't wait to bring some beautiful Home Décor to your home:)

~ Christin

Thanks for sharing on the blog today Christin! I'm glad you had the gumption to pursue your dreams, congratulations on your success!

I'm loving these print choices from Christin's shop. As a matter of fact, if I'm not careful my living room might explode with edgy designs! She offers a variety of colors and prints at Frosting Home Decro, but I'm always a sucker for blues and greys so I had to share!

You could win a pair of 85x25 Navy Moroccan drapes from Frosting Home Decor during our Great Big Etsy giveaway! Stay tuned...

Abandon cheap odd fitting drapes in favor of custom...Why not have the style, color, and fit for the price? Also be sure to favorite Frosting Home Decor on Etsy and follow via Facebook.

Etsy Love - MB Art Studios

 MB Art Studios produce edgy, modern designs on everyday ceramic products you use in your home. I love the uniquely textural quality of their work! From cheese trays, to planters, to made-to-order ceramic dishes, and clocks, you'll love these gorgeous handmade works of art!
I'm happy to welcome one of my favorite Etsy shops and it's artisans, Mary and Cory Burrows to the blog today.

Meet Mary & Cory | Owners

MB Art Studios is the work of me (Mary Burrows)...someone who really never expected to find myself on this path of being an artist and having a desire to create. for many years I was in a cubicle, living a life that was very uninspired. What woke me up was having a child who didn't fit into the average "box", he helped open up my eyes to a whole new world!

MB Art Studios is dedicated to bringing beauty into peoples’ lives. Each ceramic piece that I create is one-of-a-kind and hand built in my studio with earthenware or stoneware clay. My work is influenced by my love of simplicity and the beauty and power of the written word. My work is also greatly influenced by modern architecture. my grandfather's parents were from Sweden and I seem to gravitate towards modern, Scandinavian design. I love patterns, black and white, color, wood, textiles and imperfection.

My intention is to create pieces for the modern home that inspire. I hope you find something that moves you.

~ Mary

Made-to-order porcelain ornaments allow you to choose your favorite available design-quote combo. But my favorite is their deep blue swirled dishes...maybe it is my love of paint & art, but I envision these gorgeous dishes hung on my kitchen walls! *wink* Which are your favorites?
Be sure to follow MB Art Studios on Etsy and Facebook. 

Etsy Love - Christine Marie B

I love shops that appeal to my whimsey...that unexpectedly delightful item you can picture in your own home. It's what I love in this darling shop I follow on Etsy; Christine Marie B Custom Designed + Handmade shop. I have a little crush on Christine's beautiful custom stamps, although I'm awful at keeping in touch! Any chance owning stamps will make me want to write? *chuckle* 

 I'm thrilled to have Christine here on the blog today sharing her passion, be sure to give her some love on Etsy! Oh, and you have to scroll down to see what she's giving away in our Etsy Love giveaway in a few weeks, some lucky winner is going to be over-the-moon!

Meet Christine | Owner, Designer

I'm a graphic designer and ferocious DIYer, happily working from a little office in my home in Florida. Formerly an art director in an advertising agency, I left the cubicle to follow my military husband wherever the Air Force takes us. 

I've always wanted to open an Etsy shop, to have a place to share and sell my designed and DIYed creations. It started with a case I made for my iPhone that got the attention of my friends. They asked where they could get one like it and so my shop began. It's now expanded to include iPad & iPad Mini cases, address stamps, invitations, cards, stationary, and calendars.

I love to create custom, unique and one-of-a-kind things to add a little spice to ordinary things in life. The items offered in my shop will keep evolving and changing, so visit often to see what's new!

~Christine

One lucky winner in the Etsy Love giveaway at the end of the series will gain a custom stamp from Christine's shop! *drool* Your choice, of return address, wedding, or save the date!

Click here to visit Christine's shop on Etsy, and be sure to favorite her shop to see her latest and greatest! She also makes jewelry & scarves with her friend, a fellow military wife, at a shop called Niloulu. Thanks for stopping by Christine!

Etsy Love - Honeycomb Studio

This Etsy shop makes my heart go pitter patter. Nothing is quite like a beautiful ceramic, and all the gold designs especially have me head-over-heels! Honeycomb Studio produces a lovely variety of my favorite color combinations and designs.

Meet Courtney | Owner, Creative Director
Courtney Hamill discovered ceramics later than most. Attending a small school with a limited arts budget, Courtney headed off to college thinking that if you couldn't paint a still-life scene with oils, you weren't an artist. 

Pursuing a Political Science degree with single-minded determination (she was watching a lot of West Wing at the time), she found herself with nothing but electives to take during the last two years of her college career. She signed up for a fateful Intro to Ceramics on the Wheel class. Oh how she hated it! In the studio until 2am on weeknights trying to throw a 6 inch cylinder! Somehow, over the course of the semester, the hate and frustration melted away and were replaced by a life-long addiction to clay.

After graduation, the city girl moved to a farmhouse in the mountains of Virginia to apprentice with ceramicists Donna Polseno and Rick Hensley, before joining the life of the 9-5ers. 

In 2012, Courtney walked away from a successful career in non-profit fundraising to start Honeycomb Studio. She personally renovated the 200 sq ft detached garage in her backyard (who told this girl she knew anything about electrical wiring?!) and turned it into her dream pottery studio. She has never looked back.

During the Etsy Love big giveaway at the end of the series, one extremely lucky reader will win this stunning white and copper minimalist vase...you lucky. lucky. person.  You definitely want to follow the series each Thursday to see all the amazing items you can win, and keep an eye open for the giveaway in August! 

I'm trying really hard not to swoon here, but I'm honestly smitten. *chuckle* Aw you know me, I'm a real sucker for gold, copper, and ceramics!
Follow along with Honeycomb studios and keep up with all its beautiful creations here:
Etsy Shop | Website | Facebook | Instagram

Etsy Love - Rosyeco

I joke that I was Eco friendly well before it was popular, and I've been a long time fan of pure chemical free materials. Sufficed to say, I was pretty excited to run across this shop that used natural hemp cloth, then add some of my favorite mod designs, and I am sold! I'm glad to have Amanda from Rosyeco take a moment out of her busy day (as business owner and brand new mom!) to share on the blog today. Don't forget to take a peek below to see what lovely item you can win from Rosyeco during the Etsy Love big giveaway at the end of the series!

Meet Amanda | Owner I design, hand print (sometimes) and sew all products. I learned to sew at age 9 when I was sent to sewing camp for a week. The rest I’ve learned from YouTube, some helpful sewing blogs and books. I’ve recently fallen in love with designing prints and hand printing. I love both the outcome and the process itself. I’ve found joy and passion in designing and making handmade items. I’ve tested them at home first, sharpened up my rusty sewing skills, and opened up my Etsy shop in December 2013.This shop is my spare time fun/work/hobby.

I am also a registered nurse, new mom, wife and some would say a bit of an over-achiever. I am passionate about the environment and run my shop from an earth friendly perspective. I strive to be as chemical free and waste free as possible. I am always trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. I think of it as trying to achieve a modern balance. I want to help make less of an impact on our earth, but still surround myself with l beautiful things to enjoy life with. I am using hemp and organic cotton fabrics. I know that using earth friendly fabrics is my small contribution to our fight for our health and that of our planet. I’d like to spread the notion of this; Hemp is such a wonderful fabric. It can be grown organically in poor soil almost anywhere and is naturally pest, drought, and mildew resistant! It wears hard like linen, but the organic cotton blend gives it a softness. The fabric also gets softer with use.

Currently, I feel I am just beginning my journey with this handmade shop, finding my balance creatively, professionally and in home family life. My goal is simply to design and make: handmade, finely crafted, earth friendly soft goods for daily use and admiration.

~Amanda

Check out this lovely tea towel. Amanda graciously gifted me one, and I absolutely adore it! How would you like to be the owner of one as well? At the end of this Etsy Love Series I will be hosting one large giveaway, and you could be the owner of this gorgeous tea towel! Follow along every Thursday to see what beautiful products you can win come August.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today Amanda!
I love knowing the creative force behind the goods in my home, somehow it makes it just that much more incredible. Plus you know you're supporting a person brave and passionate enough to follow their dreams and make a difference.
Be sure to follow Rosyeco on Etsy and also via Facebook to see all the lovely creations as they come!