April Showers Make Bats Come Out of Their Towers Giveaway!

While everyone is still going gaga over bunnies I'm all about the bats! Now if someone would just send me a box full of choco-bats... mmm. But that's neither here nor there. The APRIL GIVEAWAY is...

♦ one custom Batling. Which is a brand spanking new design! You'll get to choose the colors and whether you want it to be a pin, snap clip or ornament.

♦ PLUS the debut Rock album from The Redding Shift

♦ and more dark & delicious samples from the EtsyDarkTeam!

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To enter this giveaway simply visit SWStitchery.Etsy.com and pick your favorite item. Then leave a comment on this post letting me know what your favorite item is and why! Be sure to leave me a way to contact you if you are not a Blogspot user (your Etsy shop, Myspace, email, whatever you like). This contest is open to team mates, friends and all.

Contest ends April 30th, 2009 at 11:59pm CT.

Want more entries (up to 4 ttl/person)? I will happily award additional entries if you additionally do one or more of the following:

1. Tweet about this contest on Twitter.com - comment here with a link to your tweet (Twitter.com/SWStitchery if you'd like to follow me there).
2. Blog about this contest on your blog - comment here with a link to your blog post.
3. Promote this giveaway in a Myspace Blog or Facebook Notes post. Again, be sure to post a link to it so I can check it out!

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The winner will be chosen with the help of Random.org and should be contacted with 48 hours of contest end with the exception of Acts of God(s) or bribe induced choco-comas.

♥An extra special thanks to AgonysDecay, HandmadeHorrors, SacredOak, Bellalili & TheTinyTragedies!♥

EtsyDarkTeam - for the Men!

We do have men on the EtsyDarkTeam, even if they are out numbered about 20 to 1, lucky devils! And the women on the team know how to dress their men right. Here are some of my favorites. Oh and I'm not saying wear this all at once! It's just some lovely choices for our handsome men.

♥

First we need to hose 'em down and scrub 'em up with My Goodness, It's Guineshhhh. 

This soap is made by one of our elusive men of the team, DarkSideSoap. Not only will our guys be happy it's made with "Guinneshhhh" but we'll be happy because our men won't stink after a hard day of work (or playing video games).

Next, we can give that plain black tee & jeans that little extra dark spark with the Rib Cage necklace from KatzKlawz.

Or maybe you need to dress things up a bit to woo ye a wench maiden? Pair a Pirate style coat from Black Water Apparel with a Tie Tack from Insectus.

 

And, how about this hypnotic Bird's Eye View ring from 19Moons for any day of the week.

 

♥

That's all for now, more later!

xx ~Static

A Baker's Dozen of Batlings!

Thirteen bats later and I've finished the first batch of Batlings:

I've had a lot of requests for Mini Scrap Bats. Well these little cuties are inspired by my full sized Scrap Bats but are only about the size of a large crab apple and completely hand stitched!

♦ just over 2.5" Tall
♦ 4" Wide at the wings

Pin the Batlings to your bag or lapel to keep you company and give you a smile whenever you need one. The Batlings are very playful and absolutely adorable. Some have 2 teeth in already and others only have 1, they are only babes after all. The Blue & White sweetie (at the front of the pic) got his bottom teeth before his top so his got a bit of an underbite. He doesn't mind, just don't laugh or might get nipped! Besides it's just not polite and we like the Batlings to have some manners.

A quick note about the Yellow and Green Batlings on the left, they are brothers. As brother they have a sibling rivalry going... one loves old school Batman where the other loves the Joker. *Sigh* When those 2 start tiffing hide the breakables! What can you do, right? Batlings will be Batlings.

All work is lovingly done by hand so each Batling has slightly different expressions which lends to their uniqueness.

All are listed but 2, that have already been spoken for, and are here.

And you can even order a custom Batling here! I don't bite much and I love creating so don't be afraid to ask for custom items♥

Etsy Dark Side Finds: Alice in Wonderland & the White Rabbit

Welcome to the Etsy Dark Side. We are the roaming fox fires in the darkness, the sparkling mist in the ever shifting shadows, faerie rings flow in our wake. Come join us!

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Alice thought she had it bad in Wonderland? Let's see how "fair" she'd think things are in out version! Here's a sneak peek, but be sure to check out the entire Exhibition for more great items!

Row 1: IAmSnizzle, MaliciazIntent, TheTinyTragedies, ChenilleMacabre
Row 2: RachelTrouble, MrsEvils, GypsyEye, KatherinaAndreeva
Row 3: MarysTreacle, CarpeNoctem, CryptStitch, KitCameo
Row 4: RusticGoth

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Not signed up with Etsy yet? For shame!

Signing up is free and easy. Just click here & begin enjoying all the hand made, unique wonders Etsy has to offer.

Don't forget to search the keyword "EtsyDarkTeam".

The Etsy Dark Team now has a public forum where you can stay on top of the latest items & deals from EDT members, or peruse the Member Directory, view the latest additions to the monthly Exhibitions (items are added throughout the month) and more. Come play on dark side.

xx ~Static

Review: SWStitchery.Etsy.com by FreakyLittleThings

The amazing FreakyLittleThings was so kind as to write a review of the Red Fox Ornament she purchased from me!

http://freakylittledolls.blogspot.com/2009/04/foxy.html

I'm a big fangirl of FreakyLittleThings so this is a major compliment to me. Be sure to check out the rest of her blog to see her beautiful work!

xx ~Static

EtsyDarkTeam Graphics Contest

I won first in the Business Card category! And, I placed 3rd in the Flyer category. Thanks to everyone who voted, especially to those who voted for me *blush*.

What I won:

Bath Gift set- 1 4oz bar of Soap (of their choice), 2 Bath salt packets (scent of their choice), 2 sea salt Packets (scent of their choice), Bath Tea Blend of their choice, and 1 Votive candle scent of their choice. All from SacredOak!

&

a 125x125 banner spot on the Team Blogspot.

 

What scents to choose? Rain, Night Queen... Cappuccino? :D

A 4 letter word starting with F

FREE shipping in the US!
Yes that's right, I have dropped the shipping costs on US purchases. Even on the sale items, so there's a few more dollars you could save right now!

♦New items are coming so keep checking back or request a custom♦



xx ~Static

Featured!: SWStitchery.Etsy.com on BuyZombie... Again!

Turn your back for one second and the zombies will sneak up on you! I think this is the only time it's a good thing. I'm featured on BuyZombie again!

Check it out here and watch you fingers:

http://www.buyzombie.com/2009/04/17/everything-else/freshly-dead-zombie-pin-with-body-bag/

Thanks, Stu!

Room3 & the March Giveaway

Don't you just love coincidences? Okay sometimes. Maybe. But this was the good kind, promise. Room3Designs was the winner of my giveaway last month and this is what she had to say about her goodies!:

http://room3designs.blogspot.com/2009/04/reasons-i-should-check-my-mail-more.html

 

If I can get my stuff together over here I'll be having another giveaway soon so keep reading ;)

Featured!: SWStitchery.Etsy.com on BuyZombie

This very cool website, BuyZombie, has turned it's bloodshot, filmy eyes on the EtsyDarkTeam and I have been exposed!

Check it out here:

http://www.buyzombie.com/2009/04/14/everything-else/zombie-clutch-tote-bag/

More Eyeball Coasters! - Zombie Eyes A'Rollin'

Keep an eye *gigglesnort* on your beverages during those wild dinner parties and graveyard bashes with this PAIR of hand cut & hand stitched felt Eyeball Coasters! The three layers of felt are stiffened to be slightly rigid but still soft enough to keep your tables clean and unscratched.

♦ 4"W approx
CUSTOM colors are possible! Convo me, let's talk!

Etsy Dark Team wants YOU to Vote!

The EtsyDarkTeam is having two design contests and we'd love for you to help us choose.

Choose a matching set or mix it up, we don't care, just vote! Follow the links to vote for your favorite Business Card and Flyer:

Business Cards Poll
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/p2109398-favorite_card
Flyers Poll
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/p2109408-favorite_flayer

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Polls close Thursday, April 16th.

Thanks to all who vote and good luck to all entries: SugarCain, NatashaBlue, MountainScreamer, SWStitchery ("Branches" is by yours truly)!

Diva Capelet in Black Velvet

Every diva needs a capelet to ward off the cool night airs!

 
This half circle capelet is Black 100% Cotton Velvet and reverses to beautiful 2 inch Black & textured White stripe soft Polyester (definitely not the itchy stuff!). It closes with 2 beautiful Art Deco style buttons.

 

♦ Length at center front is 12" plus a 3" stand up collar

One size fits many!

Let me just say, I don't know how many of these I'll be making since my Cotton Velvet supply is pretty limited and getting what I call "velvet lung" sucks! I'll live ;).

For My Sister, The Diva

The best gifts are from the heart. And handmade!

First, my sis loves sunflowers so I whipped up this hair clip. It's made of 5 layers of hand stitched Felt, 6" at it's widest and attached to a 4" wide hair clip.

 

Then I made her something every Diva needs, a capelet/stole!

 

Super soft, textured faux fur in pale Pink (because she's my polar opposite) with a quilted-look Gunmetal/Silver lining and Art Deco buttons. And, it can be reversed.

She just received the package this afternoon and in a it-was-meant-to-be-perfect-timing sort of way she needed something Pink for an event tonight!

 

Happy (belated) birthday, Sis!

♥ "Big" Sis

 

Special Note: Thank you, BellaLili for the Minky (faux fur)! I'm breaking out in hives from the color but the lushness of it fixes all ;)

Altered Starr's... Pants to a Skirt

I did a pants to skirt alteration for StarrlightJewelry and let me tell you it was daunting! The very-popular-but-shall-stay-nameless company that made the pants must have designers/pattern makers that come up with these things while their heads are in the clouds (or in darker more unpleasant places). They were raver type pants with lots of buckles, pockets and zip-off lower legs:

The waist needed to come in at least 4" but the fullness came in handy to make a nice flared skirt. Because of the, hmm, interesting cut and sewing of these pants I wound up having to take off the waist band, unstitch half of the cargo pockets (to get at the side seams), belt loops, waist band side buckles, the inner leg seam and hem. Oh and I removed and tossed the drawstring. Yes, there was a drawstring, that only pulled in the front of the pants, which is not flattering on any of our species.

I then opened up and flattened out the front and back pieces (you can Google "jeans to skirt" and find lots of instruction if interested), took in and re-curved the side seam hip, adjusted back darts...

After a lot of time, and much patience on Starr's part, we finally have this:

 

A lovely A-line flared skirt that will fit, tada! No drawstrings allowed. Another odd element from the original pants design made the back longer than the front. I decided to leave it that way because it works for the skirt, looks good on and, well, round booties tend to pull up the back of a skirt anyway ;)

Never Trust A Cat With Extra Eyeballs

How funny is hearing someone yell, "The little bastard stole an Eyeball and he's trying to eat it! Ugh, help me get him would you?"

Well my hubby wasn't too thrilled with be woken up from a couch crash for such escapades but the darling that he is he did help me get the Eyeball back.

Ok see, I have a large cookie tin filled with embroidery thread. I had it open since I was working on some hand stitched Coasters with already cut felt along with some smaller completed eyeballs for tissue covers, etc sitting on top for easy transport (I often wander from my sewing room to the livingroom). I left it unattended for 2 minutes to grab my cell phone and walk back into our livingroom to see our boy cat with one of the small completed Eyeballs hanging from his mouth by the thread ocular cord! Which amazes me since it was inside a partially closed plastic zip bag. He somehow managed to pull out just one little Eyeball and then proceeded to try and eat it - felt, embroidery thread and all. I had to chase him through the apartment and lift the bed while the hubbers dragged him out to get it back. What mischief if this cat had thumbs!!

This all brings me to what I was working on before being rudely interrupted by one naughty kitty, Eyeball Coasters! Vampire Eyeball Coaster to be more precise.

This is the end dun-dun-dun...

Haha gotcha! It's only the end of the March Giveaway, silly!! So in a small attempt at being "green" (okay fine, lazy but my laziness just happens to be "green") I did not write names on paper and put them in a hat. Instead I had my husband go to random.org and use their Random Number Generator. I already had everyone plugged into a Notepad list. I numbered the names. And the number is...

 

Are you screaming "Get on it with it already!"?

 

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised, 8 being my number. The number 8 is said to be "the path of the warrior". And apparently only 11% of the population have this life path. Interesting...

 

"Shut up, who's number 8???"

 

Okay, okay jeez. The Giveaway winner is *drum roll*...

-:¦:-·:*'""*:·.-:¦:-·*Lady Miss Tiff*·-:¦:-·:*'''''*:·-:¦:-

Congrats!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered & contributed goodies. You made my first giveaway great! And, I definitely plan on having more giveaways soon so keep reading!

♥ ~Static