Our December Winner is Announced!

Congratulations to Taylor (TaylorMade) of Oklahoma. She was selected in a random drawing on December 31 and is the winner of the December giveaway from Toni Johnson of VernonAve. Congratulations Taylor! We hope you love the "Fun in Blue" wristlet!

Special thanks to Toni for sponsoring the December giveaway.

And Happy New Year to all our followers and Etsy team members! Hope that 2011 is great for you!

Our December Fun in Blue Giveaway!

We are excited to announce our Teambluegrass giveaway for this month! It's a very stylish wristlet/clutch created by Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave.

Fun In Blue. This wristlet/clutch has graphic whimsical flowers in aqua, grass green, cobalt and cornflower blue and a cotton lining in cornflower blue polka dots, This wristlet has hand embroidered edging in turquoise, and a large fabric covered button for emphasis. Soft but durable and large enough for all your goodies, small wallet, cosmetics, ipod and small enough to throw in a large tote or handbag.

Dimensions:
Width x Height: 9” x 5”
Strap: 6"
Exterior: 100% cotton
Interior: 100% cotton cornflower blue polka dots
Magnetic Snap
Metal grommet

Take Care:
Spot clean with a mild detergent.

Value $32

 
Here are the ways to enter!
1. Visit the Vernon Ave etsy shop and leave a comment here about any of the items in Toni's shop. Or tell us something you would like to see Toni create.

2. Follow the Bluegrass etsy team blog if you are not already a follower. Let us know you are following by commenting below. (one chance to win)

3. Subscribe to the Bluegrass etsy emails from this blog if you are not already a subscriber. Let us know you have subscribed in a comment below. (one chance to win)

4. Post about this contest on your own blog and leave us the link below for your blog. (one chance to win)

5. Tweet about this contest from your twitter account and leave us your twitter name. (one chance to win)

6. Make a purchase from Vernon Ave for 3 chances to win. List the transaction ID in three separate comments below.

This contest will end at midnight on Friday, December 31. Good luck to all!

Bluegrass Etsy at Craft Fair in Shelbyville

Several Bluegrass Etsy team members recently set up at the Celebrating Life Through Art Craft Fair in Shelbyville, KY. Although it was hot, team members promoted their work, enjoyed the live music and enjoyed spending the day with other team members.

Metalsmithing artist Carolyn Mallin of Fanciful Expressions.



Handcrafted clutch purses & accessories from Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave.

Creative Eye Studio booth featuring jewelry and greeting cards.


Incredible beadweaving creations by Joey and Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading.

Team members, show us your craft fair pictures! We'd like to see what everyone is doing this summer! Send them to Kim for a future blog post. Or leave a comment if you would like to be in an upcoming post.

Feature Friday: Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave

Today we feature the talented Toni Johnson of Vernon Avenue. If you love handbags (and what woman doesn't?) you need to check out her work. Toni was recently featured in the Autumn issue of Haute Handbags!

How did you first hear about etsy?

I found it on the internet about 3 years ago.

Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!

I have been making things and being creative for as long as I can remember. I love art classes as a child and grew into it naturally. My Mom gave me the freedom to be creative and paint murals on the wall, have a purple mohawk and "redesign" my clothes too. So, it has been ingrained into my everyday life. Maybe the purple mohawk was not the best idea but it was an outlet. I love to paint, draw, bake, sew and pretty much anything I can get my hands on.


How did you get started as a designer?

See above! ha! I started in high school making my own purses and changing my clothes to my liking. Then I moved on to design school.

What inspires you to create?

Travelling and seeing new places inspires me. Also, the history of handbags. I like to go back and look at the different cultures and learn about all different types of bags.

How long have you been a member of Bluegrass etsy and how did you hear about the team?

I have been a member about 9 months. I learned about them by reading stories about the street teams on The Storque.


Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?

Make what you love and the rest will come. Try not to make things "just" for money.

Anything else you would like to add?

I think etsy is a wonderful thing and it has given so many artists and people a community to thrive on on it's own terms.

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To see more of Toni's colorful and unique handbags, visit her Vernon Ave etsy shop! They make great gifts!

And check out Toni's fun posts at her HandmadeMoonshine blog.

Share Our Success: Vernon Ave in Haute Handbags

A big round of applause goes out to our very own Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave who was featured in the Autumn 2009 issue of Haute Handbags!! The magazine just hit the newstands this week. Be sure to check out a copy and congratulate Toni on her success! Two of her lovely clutch purses are shown in the article.



To see more about it, check out the latest Haute Handbags issue published by Stampington.

To see more of Toni's purses, check out her Vernon Ave etsy shop.

Our May Team Giveaway!

Congratulations to our April contest winner - Maria R from Drop of Sunshine, picked via random number generator! Our April giveaway was a handstitched coffee cozy of your choice created by Sara Andrus the Savvy Stitcher. For more of Sara's creations, check out her etsy shop. Thank you Sara for participating in our giveaway promotion! And congrats to Drop of Sunshine!

We are excited to announce our giveaway for the month of May! This lovely clutch is hand crafted by Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave. I have seen Toni's work in person and she has great attention to quality and details.


I'm Like a Bird
Take me in flight or just to the market. This mini pouch, makeup bag or wallet is so filled with charm. Cotton inside and out with hand embroidered edging, and a handmade adornment with embroidery, ribbon, felted wool, shells, and beading for extra personality. The closure is a magnetic snap.

Dimensions are 8" l x 5" h.

This giveaway is valued at $25.00.


How Do I Enter?
In order to enter this drawing, please visit the Vernon Ave store, then come back to this blog and post your comment. Tell us what you like about Toni's shop or tell us your favorite item. If you post this giveaway on your blog, let us know that too, for an additional chance to win. Good luck to all!

Vernon Ave. Makes the News!

Our very own Vernon Ave., who makes the most fantastic handbags was in the news this week! We are very proud!



Feel free to stop by Vernon Ave. and get a fabulous bag of your own!