V.I.P. - Bash Volunteers

Thank you a million times over to the following Etsy Dallasites who have signed up to volunteer and help with the Spring Bash decorations. Think: origami birds and bright colorful Maypoles...

Mandi of Scribble Scrabble - Our fearless Deco Squad Leader
Larry of Kessler Craftsman
Jenna of Wrap Couture
Patricia of Karma Crochet
Maggie of artfull Expression
Susie of Sanctum Design Studio
Liz of Lizardo Art
Caroline of Pink Lemonade Bags
Jill of Rimrock View Studio
Deb of Anklebiter
Katie of Two Hills Designs
Mia of Miamaria Design

And thank you to the volunteers doing check-in and planning the day of the Bash (and also setting up their own booths as well!):

Pam of Pamela Michelle
Randi of Designing Diva
Dylan of Dowdy Studio
Stephanie of Tefi Designs
Alicia of La Alicia
Carrie of One-Up Designs
Brenda of B.Liscious

posted by Stephanie of Tefi Designs

Member Spotlight: Color Box Design

For the past couple of years, Rhonda has been honing the craft of letterpress printing. She works on an antique Vandercook 4 letterpress from the 1950s.



She was recently a part of the Art of Circus: A Letterpress Slideshow at Studio 204 in Arlington which is currently highlighted on the Felt and Wire blog.

She designed and printed a wonderful collection of circus-style letters and uber cool animals including; a monkey, a lion, and an elephant. She is third from the left with fellow letterpress artists at the show – clearly, a fun time was had by all!

With a graphic design background, Rhonda designs everything from logos and posters to baby announcements and greeting cards -- she does her own illustration and printing. Click on the images below to read more about her work and to visit her etsy shop.






Her work can be found locally at Paper & Chocolate in the same shopping center as the Inwood theater as well as The Soda Gallery in the Bishop Arts District.

Rhonda joined Etsy Dallas this year and will be a vendor at the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash on May 16 -- stop by and see her work in person!

Posted by Alicia/LaAlicia

Eco•Ideas: Bead for Life

It's always feels good to purchase something beautiful that can help someone else in the process. This is part of what makes Bead for Life such a great idea. It's a program that connects U.S. consumers with a group of women beaders in Uganda who are working at escaping poverty. Check out their site and be sure to read the "meet the beaders" section of the site to get to know those multifaceted hard working beaders.

Before the Bead for Life program, many of the beaders were unemployed or worked for very low wages in rock quarries -- living on less than a dollar a day. This program provides a way for them to make a living and afford things we take for granted like a home and uniforms to send their children to school in. These women undergo training to learn how to make paper beads as well as how to run a small business. Bead for Life is a Fair Trade Federation member working toward equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and creating opportunities to alleviate poverty.

Check out this how-to-roll-paper-beads tutorial on their site - learn to recycle magazines and out of date calendars into beads.

posted by: Alicia of Alicia Colina-Ashby