Join us on a Hippie Picnic!

What's better in the summer than escaping for a few hours with some good food, good friends, and great fun?? Here are some awesome Hippie goodies to bring along on a picnic! Pop a squat and take a look, and watch out for frisbees! 

Fiona of TheHappyMushroom

Pretty Mushroom Pendant

" I would wear this necklace, because it is jolly, and you should always be jolly on a picnic!"

 

 

 

 

Kathy from Uneek Southpaw

Crochet Sunflower Childrens Backpack

" I would bring this backpack for the children to carry their toys in to keep them busy while the adults relax"

 

 

 

 

Paula from Oak Needle 

 

Indoor Snowballs and Snowman

"I would bring these because snowballs are fun, and not just for winter "

 

 

 

 

Lisa from ArtisticFunk

Slipper Socks, Mukaluks, Mukluks

"I would LOVE to go on a hippie picnic...and what would I take? my PERFECT accessory would be my Hippie Mukluk 100% Cotton Slipper Socks With Funky Pink Tutu Trim!!! they'd be great on the grass and so comfy and they'd LIVEN the joint UP! (I'd also bring my funky green bracelet b/c I just would NOT be able to resist!!) FUN! where shall we meet!!!??"

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! What a great bunch of goodies to take a long with us! What's your favorite thing to take on a picnic? I always love a good book! ... and of course potato salad!! I hope you're all having a wonderful summer and get to go on a hippie picnic of your very own really soon. We have to enjoy that sunshine while we can! See ya next week :) 

 

X's and O's,

Lulu of DivineLuluCreations 

 

 

 

 

Hippie Peaceniks: A few of our favorite things

Good morning!! I hope everyone has woken up this morning ready to take on the world! Thank you for starting your day off with the Hippie Peaceniks Etsy Team. Once a week, I ask the Facebook Group a few questions and include their answers in this blog. I think that knowing the person behind the product is one of my favorite reasons to keep shopping on Etsy. When you make things with your hands or find special items to pass on and give a new life, I think a part of you goes with the item. Every single piece has a story and life of it's own and as a creator it's really exciting to imagine the new owner wearing your product and living their life in it, adding to it's story. Inspiration comes from every where, here's a few examples of just that. Check out the shops and items below, you won't be disappointed! 

"What's your favorite item in your shop? Why is it your favorite? How did  you come to own it or how were you inspired to create it? What sets your shop and items apart from the competition?"

Deni from Cutterstone

Huge Amber and Sterling Artisan Drop Tongue Pendant Vintage Estate

" I am not a huge amber fan, but this piece is so large and artistic, and I do love the colors. This is a vintage piece we picked up in one of our buying sprees. As for our shop, I'm sure there are many out there that can rival us, but hubby has a lot of jewelry knowledge which definitely helps in choosing and making new pieces. He can also repair or upcycle imperfect pieces. We may be a little behind the times though....LOL."

 

 

 

Fiona from TheHappyMushroom 

 

 

Sugar skull long necklace

"Today this is my favorite item in my shop. It is a sugar skull, Day of the Dead festival themed necklace in bright, fun colors. I usually create my own bright, colorful beads but the assorted glass and stone beads on here come from various sources. They just jumped out at me as they were all so colorful and jolly and said 'turn me into something fabulous!'. I love sugar skulls and so I embellished dome stone skull beads I had so they had glittery, flowery eyes. I combined them with some very fancy glass lampwork beads which had a wonderful festival feel to them with their colors, stripes and patterns. It is a lovely long, bold statement necklace, really unique and unusual. Almost everything in my shop is a one of a kind creation and I like to make each piece really special. I focus on design and quality construction and put a big dollop of love into everything I make."

 

 

 

 

Jennifer of JClaireP

Vintage Owl Stickpin

"This is a favorite of mine. It is a 1970's Sterling Silver, Turquoise and stone owl stick pin and I was lucky enough to come across it at a yard sale. This particular yard sale was AMAZING because the owner was an AVID owl collector in the 1970's and the items she had to offer were just fabulous! I was so so excited when I found this sale! These are the type of items I enjoy hunting for and that is why I think my vintage items are unique. I really look for rare or unique items and I so enjoy the stories behind them. Every item, piece, linen...anything... has a story behind it. These items will get passed from person to person to enjoy and that is why vintage is a bit of a passion of mine. You never know what the next story will be!"

Holly from TakeTwoBabyQuilts

Chevron Baby Quilt Blue Green

"This quilt is my favorite so far because I love the bright colors and patterns."

This week I decided to answer my own question, so you can check that out on my personal blog HERE, if you like. I hope everyone has an amazing start to their week and it just keeps getting better! Until next week, smile and pass it on! A smile is like a happy seed, if you keep watering it - Joy WILL grow!

X's and O's

Lulu of DivineLuluCreations 

 

 

  

Member Monday; Group Discussion - Summer Fun

Long time no text Hippie Family! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the "summer" weather! It's been SO rainy here, so I'm not enjoying my fun in the sun just yet - but I know it's coming and I can't wait! Yesterday I posed the questions:




What are your summer plans? Do you focus on making anything in particular for summer? What's your favorite summer activity?

Lisa from ArtisticFunk 

 

My summer plans involve a lot of bbq's, hot tubbing, learning tennis and actually going OUT on the kayak I bought last year and to spend lots of family time with my Dad and little sister and try to help guide my nephew (my other sister's child). I AM focusing on making more Jewelry and my new line of Art On Tank Tops for summer which I plan to continue on Henleys in fall and winter. My favorite summer activity is sitting at night on the back deck under my mosquito neck tent with a laptop and doing the HippieP bnR with Luci's Idle Hands and Jean Braden and chatting with them and the rest of you hippies!(I CANNOT help it! I'm a DWEEB!) Can't wait to hear from everyone else!

Fiona from TheHappyMushroom

I just plan to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Last summer was such a washout that I really missed out on my grand adventures. I don't have any special products planned for the summer, but I will be making more of the usual in extra bright and cheerful sunny colors. I have been focusing for a while on surfer jewelry and that is a great summer product, going well. These men seem to love their bracelets, mens jewelry is turning into one of my best sellers! My favorite summer activity is wild camping. I live in a place with such beautiful countryside that myself, my wonderful man and my big old dog just like to get out there and enjoy it. We set up camp in the woods somewhere and cook delicious things around the campfire, swim on the beach and hike for miles.

Jennifer from JClaireP

Hmmm...Let's see, my Summer plans are trying to keep my daughter busy and entertained! LOL! I think that is the most challenging part of Summer Break. However, I do find time to work on Christmas items of all things! Right now I am working on a Christmas scarf and I am so close to being done! As far as my favorite Summer activity, I would definitely have to say cooking with the wonderful fruits and veggies that Summer brings. There is nothing like tomatoes from the garden and going to the Farmer's Market's and finding the best, freshest produce available..to me, that makes a perfect Summer. 

Sounds like those girls have some fun projects and summer fun coming their way! What are your summer plans? Do you find time to make anything special during summer? Comment below and let us know! If you'd like to join in the fun and the sharing over at the Hippie Peaceniks, you can find out more information about the Etsy team HERE. Make sure you follow along on this blog for more fun get-to-know information on some of our talented artists and shop owners, and some great tips from Luci!

Until next time, smile and pass it on! You never know who just may need it today and what a difference it could make to them! 

X's and O's,
Lulu of DivineLuluCreations

Member Monday Group Discussion: Beginning on Etsy and Advice for newcomers

Last week's group discussion topic was so much fun, that we thought we'd do it again yesterday! This week's topic was "When did you first start creating? Why did you decide to open up shop on Etsy? What's your advice for a new shop owner?" Here are what two of our awesome teamies had to say over on the Hippie Peaceniks team!

Sarah from StarJewels

Green briolette necklace

"I first started creating as a child, I was in art clases when in preschool. Then I got into ceramics which I did for 16 years. I started designing and selling jewelry in high school, making earrings and other jewelry by soldering straight pins and safety pins in various designs. I got into beading later, and have been doing it for about 20 years now. I decided to open a shop on etsy because I had to scale back my "regular" advertising and marketing work, which involved long hours and tight deadlines, due to taking care of my young daughter full time, and jewelry was something I loved that I could do during naps etc. I have sold in boutiques but did not like that they take 50% or more of the sales price, and schlepping around to boutiques was not manageable with a baby. I had sold successfully on ebay before but found it was better for supplies and simple trendy items than for intricate handmade jewelry. Etsy was a good fit for my work and life. My advice for a new shop owner would be "don't give up". Sales are few and far between at first and it takes time to learn SEO, and get your photography great, develop your branding, and build a large enough inventory of listings to get decent visibility and sales on the site (my sales got regular at 100 listings). Try to keep improving and evolving, create a shop policies page, and keep adding listings. If you create lots of things people want to buy, and can get your SEO and pics where they need to be, the sales will come, as long as your pricing and shipping is within range for your category."

Deni from Cutterstone

 

Reticulated Sterling Silver Pendant

"When hubby and I got married 3 years ago, I encouraged him to do his own thing and we'd open our Etsy store. I create some, don't consider myself very creative, but I know what I like when I do create. I'm just a much better "busy work" person, numbers are my thing! Hubby is amazingly creative, to look at him you'd think he was just some old hippie dude, but he can do flowers better than me! My advice to a new shop owner is: be prepared to network, network, network...you will be amazed at how your shop will do!"

 

Thanks so much for stopping by the Hippie Blog! I hope you enjoyed learning more about a couple of our members beginnings, and maybe picked up a reminder or a tip for yourself! Stop by next week for another closer look on some of our awesome hippie shops and their owners. Until then, smile and pass it on :) 

XO,

Lulu of DivineLuluCreations 

 

Member Monday: What drives you to create?

Yesterday over at the Hippie Peaceniks facebook group, we decided to try something a little different for our Member Monday! We wanted you to meet more of our members, so we posed the question "What drives you to create? How do you find inspiration or motivation?" and boy did we get some great answers! I hope you get to enjoy a little taste of behind the minds of some of my favorite Etsy shop owners and artists. They truly are such an inspiring and wonderful bunch! 

 

 

 

 Sarah from StarJewels   

 

 

"Both my parents are/were artists so I think creativity is in my blood. I always have a need to create and do something artistic. Lately it has been jewelry but I also did ceramics for 16 years. I just love making jewelry and seem to have no shortage of inspiration and motivation. I am inspired by styles, by stones and beads and other materials, by techniques, and by nature...things like flowers, and the ocean. Selling on Etsy encourages me to make more because there is an outlet for it all and some profit, so that is motivation."

Jayne from TwiggyandOpal 

                                                                                                                                          "Color is my driving force! I love to experiment with color, which leads to unique and artistic designs. To me, bolder is better! My motivation is my daughter! She has been a huge influence in my designs. From critics, ideas to support!"

Robin from TheHangingPenguin and PraytorProject

"Colors affect me on such a deep emotional level..as well as music also does. Sometimes texture begins the process however...I cannot keep my hands off of anything with interesting texture...we almost got thrown out of a museum once because I loved on-(just touched...lol) this wonderful piece of glass which had multiple textured worked into it! I feel so incomplete as a human if I cannot create whether it is jewelry, mosaics, or music...it has to happen...most of it just gets in my head and HAS to GET OUT. (It's scary in there sometimes;)"

  

Margalita from MosaicMargalita 

"I'm effected by colors and materials in my Mosaic works, Many times I have no idea what I'm going to do. and I just follow colors and textures, and materials and they "lead" me...till it feels right. I guess it's more intuition than knowledge that I follow." 

Terri from TerriJeansAdornments 

" I love to create. I have to be doing something creative. I too am effected by colors, textures and shapes. My love for animals, and nature is my inspiration in most all my designs. I like to be different and try new techniques in my designs. Although currently my focus is making jewelry and hair accessories, I use to sew a lot and work with ceramics and painting. There are so many areas I would love to try like felting and creating jewelry with clay, but for now I am so full of ideas when it comes to jewelry it feels like my head will explode. Getting these ideas made, and seeing the finished outcome inspires me to do more, especially when these pieces are purchased. It is such an amazing feeling knowing others love and want what I have made, especially since I know my creations are not necessarily trendy and are a bit different."

Lisa from ArtisticFunk 

" I am driven to create by sight. When I see bold color, patterns, textures, anything in a newspaper ad, magazine print ad, hospital hallway benches or artwork, a documentary about historic tribes showing their clothing and colors, the costumes on the show ‘Once Upon A Time’ and the landscape across my canal interspersed between the branches of the tree in my backyard that is yet to bud, or the shadows the tree casts on the ground, I am suddenly SEIZED by the need to create something. Generally that takes me to my studio where I look among all the pieces of materials, beads, leather, hemp cord, yarn strings, buttons, that I begin to drape together in an attempt to CAPTURE and re-create the FEEL from the combination of colors and juxtaposition of lines that just inspired me. I also take to computer where I search for that new thing I MUST add to my materials repertoire that seems to be taking me in a direction of color and design that is still finding it’s way towards it’s ultimate goal of “THE LOOK” “THE FEEL” “THE CLOTHING ITEM” “THE JEWELRY PIECE” “THE ARTWORK ON that piece of glass, or bottle, or tank top, or bag or canvas” and find where it goes and what and where and how it all fits together to form that final creative vision. And, then, when it comes together JUST right, there’s this BIG aaaaah!
But that aaaaah may take an hour or a week or a month or a year to get to! I LOVE my creative journey! It actually is helping me to find myself, who I am, a thing I never knew because I was SO busy surviving life that there never seemed to be time to ask the question who am I? what can I bring to the table? What do I want? How can I help others? What will I leave behind that will show I was here?" 

Fiona from TheHappyMushroom 

"I am inspired by pattern, as the greatest part of my craft is making the patterned millefiori 'canes' to slice and apply and turn into my beads, pendants and little fairy houses. The patterns can be found in nature or on fabric prints or almost anywhere. I sometimes wonder where inspiration comes from. Sometimes it is like I am being bombarded by a thousand tiny ideas. Recently I have been making 'canes' inspired by patterns found in Native American beadwork." 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope everyone starts their week out feeling inspired and motivated by these gals, I know I did! Stop by next Monday for another look inside the minds of the Hippie Peaceniks family. 

Smile, and pass it on! 

Lulu from DivineLuluCreations