Snow in Seattle

We woke up to snow in Seattle, which was a surprise to me, even after seeing it in the forecast. Surely, I thought, that with mid-40s temperatures, we couldn't possibly have snow. I was clearly wrong.

But to make the best of it, I thought I'd show off a couple of Seattle photographers with some lovely photos of snow. Oddly enough, both photos were taken in central Washington, as snow in Seattle is not the norm.


This grouping of trees from Flanders Field Photography was taken in Chelan, Washington.


This rustic barn in central Washington was photographed by Human Interest.

Etsy Featured Shops: Scattergood and Hipi-Chiki

Scattergood and Hipi-Chiki are the Etsy shops of Stef Bennett. Stef began crafting five years ago, when she made embellished throw blankets and pillows. She has been selling her work at craft shows for about three years, and selling on Etsy for just less than a year. She says that she enjoys selling at craft shows because "Meeting people is my favorite part of doing the shows. Getting together with other artists folks is so compelling - it feeds the creative process. It is so fun to meet inspiring people and give them support with their endeavors."


Both of Stef's shop feature her collage work--Scattergood features collages of children with original sayings, while Hipi-Chiki focuses on "green" collages. Stef says "Moms love my prints. They always buy at least three to hang them all together. I sell my prints to teachers too - they buy them for their classroom as fun reminders to the children of a lesson, like be good to others. The kids like them too because they are cute and easy to read." She is happy to do custom work to match a collage or print to the colors and decor of a room. Stef donates some of the proceeds from her work to a scholarship fund to help others "scattergood."

Etsy Featured Shop: Sparkflight

Sparkflight is the Etsy shop of mother and son duo Ruth and Trevor Jensen of Minnesota. Both mother and son have a long history of creative endeavors--Ruth drew, painted, and carved wood from childhood, while Trevor "has been drawing since he could hold a pencil." Aside from his work on Etsy, Trevor has also recently illustrated a children's book. The pair began selling their work when they opened their Etsy shop in August of 2007. Sparkflight offers Ruth's wire sculptures and occasional jewelry, as well as Trevor's illustration work.


Ruth says that some of the best sellers at Sparkflight are her wire bird sculptures. Both Ruth and Trevor both enjoy doing custom work "because the personal interaction adds so much challenge and satisfaction to the process." To see more of their work, visit their MySpace page, click on "Pics" and then on "Sparkflight Wireworks."

Etsy Featured Shop: Wild Wicked Beads

Wild Wicked Beads is the Etsy shop of Halifax, Nova Scotia resident Linda L. Jones. Linda has been crafting "since I could drop a knit stitch or sew a crooked seam," and has been working with beads for decades. Though she has had a variety of crafty endeavors over the years, she finds that she always comes back to beadwork in the end. She teaches beadwork, has had items she has created on display at the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design, and works full time while "plotting my escape to full-time beading."

Linda's Etsy shop contains the fruits of her beadwork labors. Many of her items are wearable and functional, but her favorite piece, "Radiant," (pictured above) is simply beautiful. She sells mainly beaded jewelry of various types, but the look of her pieces is unique, and not what many people think of when they hear "beaded jewelry." Wild Wicked Beads is a wonderful shop to look for a one of a kind jewelry piece for a holiday gift, to wear to a holiday party, or just to oooh and ahhh over all of the gorgeous items that Linda has created!

Etsy Featured Shop: Om Shanti Handcrafts

Om Shanti Handcrafts is the Etsy shop of Kate Jones of Longmont, Colorado. Kate's interest in handcrafted items began with a gift of bath salts, combined with a propensity for buying beads, and, as she says "It's all kind of snowballed from there. Yes, snowball is a good word. So is avalanche." Kate has been creating bath and body products for about three years and jewelry for one year, and began selling these on Etsy and at shows in February of 2008.


Kate creates handcrafted, all-natural, herbal bath and body products alongside a variety of beaded jewelry offerings. One of her favorite pieces to make was the "Shindig" necklace for a monthly challenge of the Big Damn Crafters (pictured above). She has found that her soaps and lip balms both sell very well in her Etsy shop. She does custom jewelry work, and can create custom labels for her bath and body products--perfect for a personalized touch for special events. Om Shanti Handcrafts has plenty of great gift ideas for the holidays, including gift certificates for those who would prefer to select their own items!

In addition to Etsy, Kate can be found on the following sites:
Om Shanti Handcrafts on Dawanda
Om Shanti Handcrafts on Creative Cafe Salesrooms
Om Shanti Handcrafts blog