filigree...
"An intricate, delicate, or fanciful ornamentation."
(The Free Dictionary)

"Whoever loves and understands a garden will find contentment."
          --Chinese Proverb

A Little About Me

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The Filigree Garden.
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Monday, May 5, 2008

My Morning Surprise!

Monday morning, when I checked my email as usual, I received a pleasant surprise from Google Alerts. My online Etsy shop, The Filigree Garden, had been featured in the blog of KimberlyHanson, proprietor of The Wild Hare. Kimberly's post was lovely and very detailed. I am very grateful and flattered to have had my handmade wares presented in such a wonderful way. Many thanks to Kimberly! For a glimpse of what she wrote, you can visit her blog page for Monday, May 5.

Kimberly and I are both members of a very active and supportive "street team" at Etsy called BBEST, (Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team). BBEST is a great way for Etsy shop owners over age 40 to connect, network, promote their shops, collaborate on challenges, discuss interests, and make friends. This is diverse group of vibrant, creative and interesting people, and I am enjoying being a part of the BBEST community.

One very positive aspect of being involved with a team is the inspiration and encouragement offered when someone ventures into a new crafting realm or tries his or her hand at a new art form. Sharing our design innovations, as well as our frustrations, keeps us all motivated to move out of our creative comfort zones into new, more exciting possibilities. For example, Kimberly's shop, The Wild Hare, has always offered a very nice, assortment of handmade crafts including diecuts for scrapbooking, delightful cards and gift tags, lovely watercolor paintings, painted tile coasters, and delicate crocheted wraps. However, she recently shared her newest sewing adventure with us when she listed a series of fun and colorful pincushions, some in the shapes of "mini-muffins," and some that wrap around a finger for keeping pins close at hand. An interesting and eco-friendly feature of the "muffin" cushion is that a recycled, plastic water bottle cap is used to create its base; felt completes the design. Her new creations received a lively and positive response. It is always exciting to see what new projects teammates such as Kimberly bring to their Etsy shops.



The Wild Hare is a family affair. As Kimberly writes, "We are a family starting to do more of what we truly love - creating wonderful, practical, beautiful things with our hands and hearts. Parents, Children, Grandparents - everyone is getting in on the fun." To so many of us on the BBEST team, our Etsy "village" has become like an extended part of our own families. I think the aspect of community in our crafting lives is so important to stay connected to a higher level of creative flow. It provides a sounding board for our latest ideas, about which we may have doubts. It keeps us flowing out beyond our personal artistic boundaries, and yet it provides a life raft in case we feel like we have gotten into water that is too deep. We are kept afloat while we are tired; we are carried along with the tide of the community's energy until we are ready to swim again on our own. I am thankful for the support of my "Etsy Village" and for gracious team members like Kimberly.

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8 Comments:

Blogger ~*~Pearl~*~ said...

Liv this is an awesome blog post!!!!!

May 6, 2008 at 9:26 PM  
Blogger Zuda Gay Pease said...

Great post, Liv!! I am so enjoying your blogging!

May 6, 2008 at 9:32 PM  
Blogger Judy Nolan said...

We all need affirmations, and you're right--that's what our BBEST village, within a much larger Etsy community, provides. I like the photos you selected from Kimberly's shop, too.--JN Originals

May 6, 2008 at 9:49 PM  
Blogger The Filigree Garden said...

Thank you so much for your comments and support!

May 6, 2008 at 9:52 PM  
Blogger Pamela Baker said...

Liv - love your blog. Congrats on the writeup in WildHare's blog.
Nice write up also on the BBEST of us!
Pam

May 6, 2008 at 10:01 PM  
Blogger jstinson said...

Liv, you are not only an excellent artist, you are an excellent word smith as well! This is a wonderful blog!

May 6, 2008 at 11:06 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Liv, thank you so much for your lovely comments - and thank you for being such a fabulous part of the ETSY community, and BBEST! I too am grateful for the support of my team mates - and for the learning and encouragement that we share. One of the unexpected surprises in my life has been the delight I receive from this wonderful group of artists - and I so appreciate your participation and your creativity!

Love and hugs!

May 7, 2008 at 12:45 AM  
Blogger Jean Levert Hood said...

Wonderful post Liv!! I love Kim's little pincushions! Especially that she had chocolate for Chauncey.
Boomers are best!

May 8, 2008 at 10:38 AM  

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