It’s the middle of winter and summers bounty seems far away. All the wonderful fruits and vegetables that make the market stands come alive with color are dreams in our memories at this time of year. This doesn’t mean that there is no life left at the market. In fact there are lots of goodies still to be had. If you are lucky enough to have a winter farmers market, you should visit and see what they have for winter fair. If you don’t have one perhaps you are just the person to start one.

Here are some of the things I saw on my last trip to market.

Wonderful breads, jams and wheat grass.

Lovely wines (valentines day is around the corner).

Pickles, preserves and spreads. Should go nicely with the bread and wine.

Eggs, meat and cheese to make a savory dinner.

And a little something to pamper that dry winter skin.

These are just a few things that I picked up while at the farmers market. There are root vegetables still to be had. There are plenty of preserves. The picture at the top of the article is from a small fermenting operation.

What are some of the things you find at your winter market? Do you have a sustainable local food system for the winter months?

Happy eating!

It is part of our human nature, as social creatures  craving acceptance, to wonder what others think of us.  As business owners too, we often wonder whether our customers are interested in our products, drawn in by our photography,  and engaged in our stories.  It can be hard to ask what others think of us, once we’ve moved beyond the approval-seeking surveys of the schoolyard. However, the truth is that  if you want to improve your products, get to know your customers, and grow your business, there’s only one way to do it – by asking lots of questions.

Stay with me here… You might hate surveys – I, for one, certainly do.  I can’t stand survey pop-ups, I never answer phone surveys, and I run away from clip-board-toting mall employees.  And I really, really don’t like Amazon and Ebay sending me emails reminding me that I need to leave feedback for recent purchases.  But I do use surveys regularly, and successfully, in my own business.  The key difference here is CHOICE.  Today I want to share some ideas to help you effectively, and unobtrusively, elicit feedback from your customers in a way that will have them begging for questions to answer.

First, let’s take a look at the benefits of surveying your customers.

Authentic Feedback.  Surveys give you detailed, specific, and honest feedback on the criteria that are important to you, in a way that feedback systems cannot.

More Page Hits.  Not that page hits directly translate into sales, but brick and mortar sellers know that there is a direct correlation between the length of time a customer spends in the store and how much they ultimately spend.  The longer they stay, the more they see.  Don’t over-do this one though, as no one likes to feel stuck in a store they are ready to leave.

Credibility.  A professional-looking survey shows your customers that you are interested in learning about their preferences, hearing their concerns, and improving your products.  Having a reputation for innovation goes a long way to build your customer confidence and brand loyalty.

Educate Indirectly.  Because you create the questions, you can suggestively educate your customers about what criteria are key in making your product stand out against the competition.  For example, instead of “What kind of lotion do you like?”, try “Which is the most appealing feature of this lotion – it is packaged in glass, it does not contain paraben preservatives, or it is scented with essential oils?”

Now let’s look at some reasons why your customer might want to take a survey.

They want to help you.  As Etsy sellers, we work very hard to be real people with our customers.  They buy our stories as much as they buy our wares.  Asking for their help allows them a chance to participate in our stories.  If you offer your customers freebies or samples, it is a great idea to include a survey code to solicit feedback.  I include a business card with all of my samples, and if I send something I am currently running a survey for, I will put a sticker on the back of the business card that says, “Please enjoy this complimentary sample of my new ___.  If you are interested in giving your feedback about this item, please take this survey at _____ and earn a discount on a future purchase.”  It is a great way to combine the benefits of sending samples (getting your product into the customer’s hand) with choice (your customer can opt to either enjoy your product harassment-free, or earn a coupon for completing a survey).  It’s a win-win!

They love to answer questions about themselves.  Facebook polls are a great way to take a super-quick pulse from your fan base, and if you ask them about themselves, they can’t help but answer.  Ask one quick question every other week or so,  and you’ll get lots of feedback trickling in, without overwhelming your customers.  Myra, of HerbanLuxe uses a quick facebook poll to take a quick read of her fans.  When she asked, “Which color of mascara would you like to see?” she received an overwhelming number of votes for brown, black and blue, and not so much for green.  This helps her know which of her ideas are hot, and which to drop.

There’s something in it for them.  This is important – as Karen, of EcoKaren.etsy.com pointed out, unless there’s a crisp dollar bill in the envelope, surveys are just not really all that appealing.  I like to offer a coupon at the end of the survey, as a thank you for taking the time to help me out.  If you use Survey Monkey (there are other free survey makers out there too), you can put the coupon code in the last page of your survey, so they only see it when the survey is complete.  You can also offer a drawing for freebies from among completed surveys.  Another idea, offer one discount for doing the survey (say 15%), and another percentage (say 20%) for posting a favorable review on a personal blog or facebook page.

What if you don’t have an established fan base?  How can you get your surveys into prospective buyers’ hands?

If your items are easily packaged into sample sizes, send your survey with real samples of product.  Either post on your own blog, or borrow space on an established blog, advertising your need for product testers.  You pay for the postage to send out the samples, and receive a wealth of feedback in return.  Yes, it is a monetary investment, but if you carefully design your survey, you will not find a cheaper way to collect valuable market data.

Give an incentive for those who do take your survey, and who share the survey with their friends.  If one of your survey lines asks for the email of the person who referred them to your site, you can give a reward for those customers who bring you, say 5 new respondents.

There are many articles out there on the ‘nets about using surveys to build  your business, such as the blog of Josh Gordon, author of the book Selling 2.0: Motivating Customers in the new Economy.  Easy (and free) survey tools I have used include Survey Monkey and Zoomerang, and also Facebook.  All are fairly straight-forward and easy to use.  If you need some ideas to get you started on your own survey, you can have a look at one of mine here.

Do you have any experience using surveys, or do you have a new survey to link in the comments below?

Wonderful Day Art Print by littlemoaandfriends

Yes, I know it is only the beginning of February.  It’s cold.  The days are short and I’m stuck inside.  But now is the best time to start planning your garden.  I love this time of year because that’s when I start receiving all the seed and gardening catalogs and my dreams begin to come alive!

There are so many beautiful pictures in these catalogs.  I feel like a little girl looking at the Sears-Roebuck Christmas Wish Book – I want one of everything! However, if I want my flowers and vegetables to look like the pictures in the catalogs, I need to understand how to interpret the catalog’s descriptions. Not all flowers and vegetables are suited to all climates, and seed catalogs will give you the information you need for success.

Catalog descriptions usually include specific information, such as plant height (how tall a plant will grow) and plant spread (how much space a plant will take in the garden; flower size, fruit size; the number of days to germination; number of days to maturity.  These numbers are estimates, though, because every garden has a unique microclimate.

Make sure you know your planting zone, which is how you can find out which plants will grow successfully in your climate.  You can find it here if you live in the United States. Also consider the spot you will be planting your flowers and vegetables. Vegetable gardens need a bare minimum of 6 hours of continuous full sun.  Less than that and your plants will be spindly and production will be low.  Trust me, I know from bitter experience that you can’t fool Mother Nature on this one!

 Organically Grown Dill Seed by gabriellesgarden

If you are planting a flower garden, there are all different plants for different light levels.  Terms you will see are full shade, partial shade, partial sun and full sun.  Again, a plant that thrives in full shade will burn up in full sun and a flower that needs full sun will be weak and spindly and produce few flowers.

Some seeds are treated with fungicides to help them grow in cool, wet soil.  However, seeds are available untreated.  If a catalog doesn’t say that they offer untreated seeds then chances are the seeds are treated.  A quick Google search for “untreated seeds” yielded lots of sources.

There are many  great sources for organically grown seeds.  Two of my personal favorites are Seed Savors Exchange and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  Both of these companies are passionate about preserving heirloom varieties.   What are your favorite sources for organic seeds?

One last thought – Seed companies want you to be dazzled by their brilliant products. And I am!  Don’t be afraid to try new varieties. Just remember that if you live in North Dakota, varieties designed to grow well in Florida will be smaller.  Have fun planning and dreaming!

We’re getting new counter tops in our kitchen sometime in the next couple of weeks. It took us forever to choose the right granite for our project because of course we wanted the counter tops to match the rest of the kitchen.  We found what we were looking for in terms of complimenting our existing cupboards and flooring but the paint color will have to be changed.

Knowing that we’ll be painting soon (one of my least favorite things to do) has caused me to do a lot of research about environmentally friendly practices for house painting.  Here are some of the best tips that I found:

• First, choose low VOC or low VOC paints. Many paint manufacturers now have colors with no or low Volatile Organic Compounds that are better for the environment and your health!
• If you have more than 1/2 gallon of paint left, try mixing it with other colors for a new project.  (Obviously, you’ll want to mix colors that when mixed will produce a color you like and want to use.)
• If you have just a little bit of paint left over from several cans (not enough for a new project) you can pour all of the contents of each color into one can and recycle what you have.
• Let your paint dry completely in the can before disposing of it. That will keep the soil and landfill cleaner.
• If you have to strip old paint use an eco-friendly paint stripper. Heat guns can also be used but come with their own hazards like accidentally setting one’s house on fire!
• Consider eco-friendly paint additives. New to me: There is an additive that will create a micro-vacuum and reflect heat back into the house and cool back into the house when using air-conditioning.
• Use old sheets and tarps to protect surfaces and furniture instead of plastic that will be thrown away. Sheets and tarps can be saved and reused for another job.
• NEVER pour paint or paint thinner down the drain. It can potentially be hazardous to your health! Recycle when possible or use for the next project.

Are you considering a home improvement project?  What are your plans for making it eco-friendly?

This week’s Tuesday Treasury winner is DoucesLaines for her treasury Eco-Friendly White Fairy Tale.  This post and selection of the winner this week are curtesy of last week’s winner – Lorna from Knits for Life.  Here is Lorna’s post:

This week’s Tuesday Treasury winner is DoucesLaines for her lovely Eco-Friendly White Fairy Tale. Her picks are the kinds of products women looking for eco alternatives are interested in. The treasury didn’t just impress me, but got over 150 views for our team’s shops. I love to see our team grow internationally, and this treasury is curated by a French EcoEtsy member.

DoucesLaines’ shop is full of organic hand knit accessories made from her home in a Natural Regional Park in the Jura Mountains. Her blog is also super cute and helpful, so I encourage you to click through to her profile and follow her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Thanks to our two runners up who also made our team’s shops shine

Valentine Gift Guide for My Guy by BeJeweledNH and

Love Your Mother by Lorigami.

When I think of upcycling I think about reusing or repurposing items otherwise destined for the dump. Rarely does the concept of high art cross my mind. In a quest for salvaging and recreating everyday objects into conceptual artforms, artist Josh Blackwell transforms the average plastic bag into what he calls “Plastic Baskets.” These stunning handmade forms will inspire you to look beyond conventional recycling.

The New Year is getting off to a great start and we are excited to add nine new bloggers to the EcoEtsy team!  Starting this week, we will be adjusting the weekly schedule and the new bloggers will start posting.  Below is an introduction of what you can expect on the blog this year and a bit of background on each of the team members that will be bringing great content your way.

Monday – Eco Inspirations

Posts on Mondays this calendar year will focus on new ideas or different ways of looking at an old problem that reduce our impact on the environment.  Stories should be uplifting and inspire us to imagine how small ideas can make a difference. Here are the wonderful bloggers you will hear from in the Monday segments:

Lydia of Pierogi Picnic – Pierogi Picnic is a line of handmade clothing and accessories designed and created by me, Lydia Krupinski. My delectable, one-of-a-kind creations are crafted from vintage and second-hand fabrics, creating a truly unique line of scrumptious wares. Beyondsewing and blogging, I spend my days cooking yummy vegetarian dishes, refining my urban homestead, and singing with Polish choir Odnowa. During the day you can also find me coordinating volunteers and foster homes for Chicago’s oldest and most respected animal welfare organization – The Anti-Cruelty Society. And when I’m not doing one or all of the above – I can be caught relaxing on my front porch with my hub, artist David Paul Downs, and our three mischievous pets Peanut, Butter and Tomato. Follow me and all my escapades onFacebook or Twitter.

Juanita of Juani1- Before my kids came along, I imagined being fully absorbed in just my art work.  Well, that quickly changed the minute I looked into the faces of my babies and fell in love.  Once I found my new rhythm, I did start creating again.  Being a mom really changed my perspective on things and my art evolved into recycled art. Repurposing ”trash” into art, is a fun challenge for me and I try to inspire people to think about the amount of trash we produce and how we can reduce it.

Tuesday – Treasuries

The Tuesday Treasuries are off to a great start this year with a new format.  The winner of the week selects the winner the following week.  That process will continue throughout the year.  If you haven’t made a team treasury lately, join in the fun!

Wednesday – Green Living

Wednesday posts will include news, tips and tutorials related to living greener.  Topics could range from recycling, to energy saving, to decorating, personal care, and more.  Here is the team that will be bringing you this great content:

Lori  of Lorigami - I’m an anime-haired Craft Ninja and DIY Enabler living with my husband, a couple other artists, and a baker’s dozen of cats in a little spot of the city we call Wanderland. We’re rebuilding a neglected pair of houses from the ground up, and trying to make them as self-sufficient as possible. This same creative drive governs my crafty business, where I find beautiful ways to re-use things other people overlooked. As for the rest of my life, my alter ego took off with the Circus and spends her time dancing on boxes, creating fanciful costumes, playing with fire, and flying on the aerial hoop.

Linda of fashiongreentbags- I’ve been on Etsy since November of 2007. I have a great husband and 2 terrific children; a daughter age 24 and a son age 21. I started my shop as a hobby and a way to earn some money to donate to our local food bank. I’m currently in graduate school working on a second master’s degree and I hope to prepare myself to work in the area of bully prevention. As a retired teacher, bullying is something I’ve always campaigned against and worked to stop but I believe there is more work to be done. You can find me at fashiongreentbags and facebook.

Sonya of Kanelstrand - I live close to nature. So close that my friends like to say that I don’t need to buy a Christmas tree because pines already grow in my living room. With pines come bird songs, the sound of the waves when the sea is unruly and the visits from deers. This is my little Norwegian paradise. I like to keep my hands busy and my mind engaged and that is why I am either creating or writing. My blog Kanelstrand has become the meeting point of a vibrant green community of eco-conscious artists and crafters from around the world. I write about green and simple living and share my Scandinavian travels and photographs. i am a proponent of simple living, a minimalist and a photographer. My membership in Team EcoEtsy is the best thing that has happened to me on Etsy. It has helped me keep my focus and has connected me to an amazing community of innovative eco-minded pioneers who keep on inspiring me. You can connect with me on my blog, google plus, twitter or facebook.

Thursday & Saturday – Food and Gardening

Thursday posts will include news, tips and tutorials related to sustainable food practices, composting, gardening and eating green. We had an overwhelming response to this new category on the blog.  So, you will see posts from the team below every Thursday AND the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Erin of antiquetochic - I am gluten free out of need and like to write new recipes for those with special diets who can’t have all the yummy treats you see in the grocery stores. I have two cats, a guinea pig, and I foster kittens year round from a barn near my house. I am an every-weekend flea market shopper and I love to take vintage beads and give them a new life in my jewelry. I make jewlery as a therapy to a headache disorder I’ve had since 2008. I try to recycle every vintage and destash bead I can so they don’t end up in landfills. I even have a second shop where I sell my overflow supplies called antiquetochicsupply and you can find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Beth Revels (Food & Gardening)- Beth is the folksy, radical, down to earth gal behind the creations of Unraveled Revelry. When not sewing or writing, you can often find her in the kitchen or garden, or reading a stack of how-to books. Self sufficiency and sustainability are two of her biggest passions. Lets make the world a greener place to live and add some flavor while we are at it!

Mary Ellen – Mary Ellen Coumerilh (Mary Zoom) has dual passions – gardening and sewing.  She is an urban transplant who lives with her husband and cocker spaniel mix, Bosco, in a tiny town in rural Western Kansas.  She is renovating the 1910 cottage next door to where she lives – this is her dream studio!  Mary Ellen is inspired by the Pioneer Women who settled the Great Plaines.  To these women, the land was their livelihood.  They cared for the land and they lived and breathed reuse of resources, and both are loads of fun!

Casey  of Sesameseeddesigns - I’m a lover of the environment and have a special fondness making beautiful things from reclaimed natural fibers. I live in Portland, OR with my husband, 2 young daughters, cats, dog, rabbit, chickens and way too many felted sweaters and balls of yarn. I have an M.S. in Ecology and work as an environmental educator part time. I am lucky to be the director of a nature-based summer camp in a gorgeous state park and get to nurture children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for nature. I even bring a bit of the natural world into my Sesame Seed Designs creations. I strive for my family to be as green, well-balanced and self-sustaining as possible and am looking forward to sharing some of what I’ve learned with EcoEtsy’s readers!

Bee - The Wooden Bee was started with love for the environment. Working in the home construction industry we saw a large amount of environmental waste! One day, we decided to do something about it.  Beautiful cherry, maple & other species of reclaimed wood soon found their way into our workshop. The Wooden Bee is operated by a husband and wife team. We are true Floridians, with a love for all things natural. When our children were born we started exploring sustainable food options, and started making more environmentally friendly choices.  Together we are raising a young family, enjoying the environment, and creating eco-friendly home decor and upcycled craft supplies.  Follow the wood at www.thewoodenbee.com, or have fun in the garden with us atwww.FLgardening.wordpress.com

Kathy of DustbinCards – Kathy lives in a 40 year old, renovated trailer house in the Idaho panhandle.  She has been married since the early Reagan years to a marvelous man who believes that a clean pair of Levis are dress pants and who can fix anything.  She is the mother of 6 children; 5 of whom are in their 20s, and a 10 year old daughter who sometimes begins conversations with random comments such as, “If you’d had me when you were supposed to…”  A home educating parent for 19 years, a self taught collage artist, a passionate gardener and an exuberant upcycler, Kathy also shares her life with Hank the chocolate lab and Charlie, the marmalade cat.

Friday – Business Tips

Business and Marketing tips will continue on Fridays this year.  In addition, once a month the popular Thoughts on Shops reviews will return to the blog.  Myra, Tiffany, and Lori will focus on Business Tips and Cat will be doing the Thoughts on Shops.

Myra Roldan of HerbanLuxe - Much more than mascara and lipstick. I grew up in a household with a grandfather that was way ahead of his time when it comes to conservation and living a green life. At 12, I began my first business and started learning the basics of computer programming.  Today, I’m a hyper-educated, techno-geek, Etsy shop owning, mom of three girls. I have a love for color and unconventionality and a belief that everyone has the ability to do whatever they set their heart to.   You can follow Herbanluxe on Twitter and on facebook.

Tiffany of PicnicBasketCrafts – I am the proud mother of two beautiful little boys and wife to a loving husband. I have a B.A. in Environmental, Populational and Organismic Biology, with a minor in Biochemistry, and 12 years of experience as a biology and chemistry teacher. I moonlight as an inventor, crafter,entrepreneur and, most recently, freelance writer.  I love to share my love for earth and humankind in as many ways as I can find!

Lori Sullivan of DrinksToDesign – Lori is a Marketing Strategist by day and a Jewelry Designer by night…and sometimes the other way around!   She has spent the last 15 years of her “day job” gaining experience in market research, branding, and marketing strategy.  Posting for business tips allows Lori to share some of what she has learned with the team.  Some may recognize her by her original Etsy shop, OneShadeGreener.  She lives in metro-Detroit with her husband, two great kids just heading into their teens, and a fun-loving dog.  If you enjoy a glass of wine or a bottle of beer, you may want to check out her Drinks to Design blog.

Cat of Uncorked - I am the designer/maker at Olive Bites Studio at the Jersey shore; home of the sustainable cork jewelry line Uncorked and the recycled, magnetic locket Polarity. I use repurposed, recycled and sustainable materials in new, unique and beautiful ways. I try to deliver an uncommon view of something we have all seen before and hopefully get people thinking about new ways of seeing and using the things in their own lives! Before the launch of my business (and a couple other ventures) I was a bank manager – but, I was a very crafty (in a good way) bank manager. I have one hubby, one daughter and one pup named Olive, who doesn’t bite anymore.

Saturday – Design (two weeks)

As mentioned above, two of the Saturdays a month will focus on Food and Gardening.  The 2nd and 4th Saturdays will focus on design and highlight posts from the two team members below:

Dawanna of Peaces of Indigo – I am a work-at-home mom to three boys, which I love. Hand crafting and designing jewelry makes me happy.  Each one of my pieces is made using the best quality materials. All precious metals are purchased through recycled sources. I find inspiration in the texture, color and history of my materials. My European and Cherokee heritage adds an eclectic flavor to my designs. My heritage is an inspiration in trying to make the world a better place. I am passionate about helping to ensure that every human being on our planet has access to clean drinking water, so I donate a portion of my sales to Blood:Water Mission.

Jenn of Writesy – Writer. I love when they all ride off into the sunset but also most people make me question why humans keep procreating. Beer, coffee and Boston Bruins enthusiast. I like more than that but I probably hate equally as much. My blog, Random Lunacy, will tell you all about it. The blog contains the musings of a tragically misunderstood smoker who will one day marry a rock star. Or a movie star. Or, more likely, become a NY Times best selling author who writes a book about a girl who marries a rock star but is in love with a movie star.  I work from home and I enjoy the flexibility of doing so without children. Additionally, I’m pursuing a degree in English. I curse a lot and I’m addicted to Facebook.

Sunday – EcoEtsy News, Member Spotlights, and Eco Crafts/Tutorials

Sundays will be a fun mix of things this year.  The first Sunday of the month, Karen will be doing an EcoEtsy News post highlighting all the team news and activities going on.  The remainder of the month, Linda and Myra will be doing a mix of Member Spotlights and Eco Crafts / Tutorials.  Here’s a bit more about the Sunday team:

Karen Lee of ecokaren – I have been an active member of EcoEtsy since I opened my first shop in 2008. The team has been truly inspirational and supportive of my green journey. So, in March 2010, when the team needed a new leader, I took on the task, with the help of the entire team behind me. It has been an amazing experience to lead a team of such passionate group of Etsy sellers who takes preserving the environment as a priority when managing their businesses. And as a retired Chiropractor, who taught patients the unequivocal correlation between the environment and health, I can appreciate the team’s passion. I share the same knowledge with my loyal readers on my blog, ecokaren, while creating eco-goodies for my shop, ecokaren.  When I’m not leading the team, I am a mom to two greenagers, a wife to an accidental recycler, and a master chef to my locavores. You can e-mail me or find me onfacebook and follow me on twitter.

Linda Everett  of LindaEve - Linda is a sewing fanatic and would sew all day and night if she didn’t have eat, sleep and earn a living. By day she works at a university research lab as a web designer, technical editor, organizer of stuff, and general lackey (this keeps food on the table and pays the mortgage) and evenings and weekends she sews, blogs, and spends time with her husband Mark, daughter Athena, four cats, and extended family (this keeps her sane). Linda’s background is in graphic design and advertising – she graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She has dabbled in photography, poetry, and other creative outlets, but sewing has always been her passion and something to “come home to”.  Her Etsy shop (lindaeve.etsy.com) features mostly one-of-a-kind bags, totes, accessories, and other handmade goodies, mostly made from repurposed and remnant materials.

Myra Rolen (bio in business tips above) will also be posting Member Spotlights on Sundays.

We hope you enjoy the new format and welcome the new blogging team by reading the posts and engaging in the conversation via the comments.  We always love to hear what you think!!

Have you ever mistakenly tossed a wool sweater in the wash and wept over its transformation into something that might fit a 6-year-old child? I have. More than once.

I recently came across a great remedy for the shrunken sweater blues - a wonderfully informative crafting video by Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood of craftsanity.com.  Jennifer presents super-simple instructions for making a cute hat out of a shrunken “felted” wool sweater.  I was crazy to try this out but did not happen to have any “accidents” on hand, so I visited my local thrift shop on their 50%-off-everything day and came home with a bounty of wool sweaters for a song.

Here’s Minou checking out my first two tries, both of which used Jennifer’s technique. These wool hats are warm and cozy, but I have a problem wearing wool against my skin for any length of time – I cannot wear a wool sweater without something cotton beneath it. So I thought, why not recycle an old cotton tee shirt along with my shrunken sweater?

Which brings us to the following tutorial for making a cotton tee shirt-lined shrunken sweater wool hat (what a mouthful!) – you get to re-purpose two things rather than just one. Double green and double fun!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• a shrunken “felted” sweater (see note about felting toward the end of this post)
• a discarded tee shirt in a coordinating color
• marking chalk, pins, scissors, a sewing machine (or needle and thread and a bit of patience);
• buttons and/or fabric scraps for embellishment.

Instructions:

Lay the sweater out flat, inside out, and mark a 10-inch square with chalk from one seamed edge towards the center. This is for a pretty average adult head size, but you can adjust it to fit by measuring the circumference of your head, subtracting 2 inches, and dividing by 2. Since you’re including a seamed edge in your cut, you already have one seam sewn, so that will save you a bit of time.

And cut… Don’t fret about the sweater fraying – felted wool simply doesn’t fray. Cut the same size piece from your tee shirt. Result: two doubled rectangles, each with one completed seam.

Pin up the un-seamed side of each and stitch it up leaving a narrow seam allowance (about 1/4 inch). In the lining seam, leave an opening of about 2 inches towards the center.

After seaming, lay your wool piece out flat and chalk-mark two side-by-side triangles at the top edge.  These should each be half the width of the piece (5 inches in this case) and about 2-1/2 inches high. Flip it over and make the same marks on the other side. Repeat with the cotton lining piece.

The next step is easier if you have a volunteer to model the hat for you, or you can also use a wig form like I did. Using the chalk marks as guides, pinch the top of the hat into 4 “petals” and stitch along the chalk lines. It’s easier if you have a head to model it on, so you can adjust the stitching line to a nicer fit, but it’s not all that critical.  Follow the same step with the cotton lining.

Trim close to each seam  - leave about 1/4 inch. Do the same with the cotton lining.

Turn the lining right side out, leave the hat right side in, and nest the lining into the hat. Pin the bottom edges together (matching side seams) and stitch completely around. Don’t use too small of a stitch length  because a slightly larger stitch will lay neater with stretchy fabrics. You can opt for a zigzag stitch to maintain stretch, but I didn’t find that to be necessary.

Now that the hat and lining are stitched together, un-nest the lining and turn the entire construction right side out through the 2-inch opening you left in the lining seam.

Once turned, you can close the opening with a blind stitch by hand, or by machine stitching very close to the turned-under edge.  I used the machine method and it came out nice and neat. Don’t worry too much – it’s on the inside and won’t be visible, but neater is always better.

Nest the lining back into the hat and turn up the bottom for a cuff.  That’s it – you have just created an original, cozy, warm, itch-free wool hat! And not only is this hat itch-free, the additional layer of cotton fabric, although very lightweight, provides added warmth and insulation.

A note about felting: it’s fundamentally easy – just launder the wool sweater in hot water, or agitate it in a sink of hot water, then dry it in the clothes dryer if you can (although air drying will also work). But there is a pitfall to avoid which I learned from my own mistake and felt duty-bound to share – don’t wash multiple wool sweaters of different colors in the same wash load. If you look closely at my hat pictured above, you can see bits of gray fibers embedded in the purple wool. Oops! I spent some time picking out the most obvious bits, but this step can be easily avoided with a little forethought.

You might like to add a little embellishment – you can cut appliques from sweater or tee shirt scraps (as seen at left), or just sew some colorful buttons around the cuff. Use your imagination and you’ll create something completely unique and totally green to warm your noodle!

Happy crafting and stay warm!

It’s that special time of year once again - Tax Season.  I have spent most of the weekend and week getting my paperwork in order, but thanks to technology this task seems to be getting easier and easier every year.  I can’t give you any great tax advice, but I can give you some helpful tips to ensure you are organized, ready and able to maximize your tax deduction. Here we go:

Keeping Receipts Organized

I am by no means a paper person.  If you hand me a piece of paper you might as well equate it to tossing it in the trash because I’m 99.9% likely to either lose it or forget where I put it.  If you are like me than you should consider:

• investing in a nifty personal scanner (however, if you have a smartphone then you already have a personal scanner), and
• opening a Dropbox.com account (it’s free)

An alternative to using Dropbox is Shoeboxed.com.  For a fee Shoeboxed.com will help you electronically organize your receipts; so if you are one who has boxes filled with receipts you may consider this service.

I prefer free, so here is how I use these my iPhone and Dropbox to keep my receipts organized:

First, I created a new folder in my Dropbox and I named it after my Etsy shop – “HerbanLuxe“.  Then, in the HerbanLuxe folder, I created a subfolder for the year “2011″ (and now one for 2012).  In each subfolder I created subfolders as follows:

• Office expenses ( for office furniture, equipment, tablets, laptops)
• Supplies (for pens, paper, printer ink)
• Materials (for things I use to create my products)
• Advertising (for blog ads, magazine ads, giveaways stuff)
• Shipping (for postage purchases)
• Travel & Entertainment (for mileage logs, gas receipts, toll and parking receipts)
• Events (for registration receipts)

Dropbox Setup

Every time I have a receipt, I take a picture of it and upload it to the appropriate sub-folder (tip: use a name convention such as Vendor-Day-Month, so you are able to find receipts for specific purchases). I also save electronic receipts I receive via email in the same manner.  I’ve downloaded the Dropbox.com app to my iPhone so I can just automatically save the receipt photos without having to connect to a computer. Gotta love technology!

This means that I’ll never lose another piece of paper again and if my laptop decides to crash, my receipts are still safe in the cloud.  Granted, I have conditioned myself to snap that picture before the receipt ends up in the bottomless abyss I call a purse or scrunched up in one of my many pockets.

Bookkeeping

Getting a handle on your receipts and keeping them organized electronically is only part of the battle.  A major player in the tax preparation game is Bookkeeping. I am not big on using outside sources to handle my bookkeeping because I’m a bit of a control freak – I like to see where, when and how much income I’m generating and how much of that income is leaving my hands.  This is where Bookkeeping software becomes your friend.

There are lots of options out there, one of the most popular is Quicken.  However, it’s way too complex for my taste so let me introduce you to my BFF, Outright, a FREE bookkeeping software.  Outright is not only free, it’s super easy to use. What makes Outright awesome is it’s ability to connect and pull your financial from your Etsy, PayPal, and other accounts you configure.

Outright Product Overview from Outright, Inc on Vimeo.

Once you have granted Outright access to your accounts, it will sync and update itself with the financial data it retrieves from your accounts and it will try to categorize your income and expenses.  You can then go in and re-categorize items on the fly.  You can also add transactions which may not be included in your electronic records, such as cash transactions.

After all your data is updated you can create snapshots of your activity for a certain month, quarter or year; making it an awesome tool for tax time. If you pay for a Shoeboxed.com account, you can integrate it with your Outright account.

I’ve connected Outright to my Etsy shops, Paypal and the bank account I have setup for business use only.  Every time I log on to Outright my data is updated and I can keep track of all my expenses and income. At tax time I can create a report that can be used to complete my income tax return.

 Sorting Through Records

Once you have your receipts organized electronically and have configured Outright or your preferred bookkeeping software, it’s time to do some housecleaning.  The information your bookkeeping software provides is only as good as the information it gets.  What does this mean?  It means that some effort is still required on your part.  I know, I know…bummer, right?

I suggest checking your bookkeeping records on a monthly basis just to make sure that it is connecting to your accounts and the information is being classified correctly.  For instance,  I’ve connected my Outright to a bank account I use for business, but there are times when I accidentally sneak in a personal purchase.  Outright will not know which expenses and income are personal in nature, so you have to tell it by classifying any non-business expenses as “personal expense” and any non-business income as “personal income”.  Any income and expenses classified as personal will not be counted in your business reports ensuring you have a more accurate picture of your business activities.

Keeping good, accurate records is extremely important.  If you were ever audited by the IRS, they would now ask you for electronic backup of your receipts and your bookkeeping software. So it’s time to toss the shoebox and move into the new century. You don’t need an MBA to get the job done, you just need the resources.

(p.s. You can use all these tips for organizing your personal receipts and bills as well)

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For more helpful resources and information check out the following: 

The IRS has a video portal that offers useful information covering various small business topics, you can access the videos by visiting http://www.irsvideos.gov/SmallBusinessTaxpayer.

You can also access the IRS Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop by visiting http://www.irsvideos.gov/virtualworkshop/

Being on a special diet doesn’t mean you have to cut out some old favorites. I’m using dairy free and gluten free items to make a creamy rice side dish almost like a risotto or a white macaroni and cheese. You can add whatever you like to it like meats or veggies since it’s a nice hearty base.

Ingredients

• 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 cup dry white rice
• salt
• black pepper
• garlic powder
• other favorite seasonings

Preparation

Fill medium saucepan with 2 cups of coconut milk and put on medium-high heat until you see small bubbles, but no boiling. Pour in 1 cup of dry white rice and cover for 20 minutes on low. DO NOT TAKE OFF THE COVER. You need to let the steam cook the rice until it has absorbed all of the liquid. A way to check if all of the liquid has been absorbed is to tilt the saucepan to the side and see if there’s any loose liquid in there. I know it’s tempting to open the cover but wait until the liquid is gone to open and fluff the cooked rice. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste or add in your own favorite spices and enjoy a thick creamy rice side with your dinner.

You can even add in peas or corn and make a mac and cheese like side dish (I always had my mac and cheese with peas, yum!) What was one of your favorite items you can no longer eat, I’m taking suggestions for new recipes!

I’m always wondering why people don’t bring reusable bags to the store.  For me, reducing the use of plastic is very important and I see it as the “right” thing to do.  I do realize that not everyone sees the world through those same green glasses and that has gotten me thinking….

The other day I had some errands to run – Target and grocery shopping at Kroger. It was late afternoon and both stores were busy. While I know that Michigan is behind other parts of the country in bringing your own bags to the store, I was amazed that I was the ONLY one that I saw in both stores with my own bag. This got me thinking – why??!!!

I came up with two primary reasons – expense to invest in the reusable bags and the convenience of having to remember to bring the bags. Here are my thoughts on those barriers.

First, the expense. I searched a number of websites and found a large price range for bags – better quality / innovative design, higher price. I have several of the higher price / higher quality bags and I do really like them. For the long haul, I would recommend investing in bags that are a bit more expensive.  Check out some of the awesome finds from the EcoEtsy team here!

However, for those on a tight budget, the less expensive counterparts can work just fine for regular grocery shopping. I’ve found less expensive bags priced at about $1.50 each. If you need 10 bags for your shopping, that is an up front investment of $15.00. Now, here in Michigan, Target refunds $0.05/bag and Kroger refunds $0.10/bag. So, here’s the math….if you use 10 bags per week at Kroger and 3 bags per month at Target, in one year you will get back $53.80. Even in the year where you make the investment  of buying the bags you will MAKE $38.80. The stores will pay you for the use of your bags! To me, this is a no brainer.

OK, on to the “less convenient” issue. I’ve been bringing my bags to the store for nearly three years now and, while it took a month or two for me to readjust my habits, I can say it is rare for me to forget them. You just need to establish a routine that works for you. One easy strategy is to make sure you always put the bags back in your trunk after you unload the groceries. That way, you don’t accidentally forget them at home. Remembering to take them into the store is a bit tougher, but after a few times you get used to that as well.

In addition to making sense for both the environment and my finances, I like the added benefits that the bags hold more than paper/plastic bags and they can be slung over my shoulder. This allows me to make less trips to the car when I’m unloading.

So, if you don’t already take your own bags, give it a try…it’s not that hard!

The unique reusable bag shown in this post is from the EcoEtsy shop of FashionGreenTBags.

This week’s Tuesday Treasury winner is Lorna from Knits for Life for her treasury The Artist and His Winter Model.  This post and selection of the winner this week are curtesy of last week’s winner – Bee from The Wooden Bee.  Here is Bee’s post:

With such a unique theme, and with such alluring listings to fulfill its title, I couldn’t help but keep coming back to this attractive collection. Lorna, from Knits for Life, did an excellent job piecing together this collection.  The sustainable listings tell a story, and the colors create the perfect mood for a winter photo shoot.

Knits for Life, specializes in custom fits, planet-loving fibers, and knitting and crochet patterns.  I love their Upcycled Headphones Hat & Scarf.

What a clever way to keep your headphones, hat, and scarf together. Not only is it made to order, and made from 20% recycled plastic bottles, but Knits for Life donates a tree to the rainforest with every purchase!  What an amazing touch to a well thought out winter accessory!

Have a look at some other outstanding treasuries submitted this week.

Rustic Reflections by BeJeweledNH  The earthy tones in this rustic treasury made me want to take a walk in the woods!  Warm and natural this treasury shows off a nice collection of natural, handmade items.

Afternoon Delight (eco friendly gifts for a lover’s tryst) by SoulRole.  This treasury has a fantastic feel… Nancy from SoulRole put together the perfect blend of nature and romance!

In 1935 Franklin D. Roosevelt developed the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to help drive jobs for unemployed Americans, resulting in over 900 silk screened posters to be made and distributed across the United States. Inspiring? I think so! The Library of Congress writes, “The posters were designed to publicize exhibits, community activities, theatrical productions, and health and educational programs in seventeen states.” Many of the posters have messages we can relate to in our own quests for eco-friendly living, like the one pictured above. You can view the entire collection of posters here.

Who says Valentine’s Day is only about shades of pink and red with lace and frills and glitter?  EcoEtsy sellers are focused on Green this upcoming holiday!  Love for the planet is displayed through soft earth tones and recycled / repurposed / reused / upcycled items.  These shops bring new meaning to whimsy, sweetheart, sexy, and showing you care.

This sweet heart wall hanging was made with love by Christine over at RusticCarvings.  Her one of a kind piece of art, made from reclaimed cedar wood, won’t just show you care on February 14 but the recipient can enjoy it on their wall all through the year!  The perfect gift for anyone on your list!

This pair of metal earrings from 2TrickPony would make just about any girl swoon.  They are fully forged by hand with love and some good jeweler’s tools.  The best part?  Rachel creates her wonderful designs in an off-grid solar powered studio.  Warm enough to melt any Greenie’s heart!

Let’s not forget the men in our lives this Valentine’s Day!  They may not be into hearts and cuteness but they are all into looking and feeling good.  This crazy cool kit of shaving and grooming goodies from HerbanLifestyle is for the dudes in our lives.  Everything your fella will need to bring his mug a little sexy back this holiday.  What makes the products cool is that Mary’s items are free of all things artificial and synthetic, and they are preservative free as well.

The gorgeous set at the top of this post is brought to us from undertheroot.  Jennifer takes the design of comfort meets romance, sexy and sophisticated, and brings us a whimsical bralette and tap pant set created by hand and utilizing organic cotton fabric in the construction.  Proving once again that Green <i>is</i> sexy!

Interested in finding even more amazing Valentine’s Day gifts in hundreds of colors and styles?  It’s super simple!

Just go to Etsy

Then in the dropdown menu choose ‘Handmade’

Type the tag ‘teamecoetsy’

And you’re done!  (Or you can just click here.)

Whether for him or her on February, 14, look for gifts that pamper the senses while still showing mindfulness of planetary impact.  You, and the earth, will be so glad you did. 

Who are you shopping for this upcoming Valentine’s Day?