And the Winner Is…

The votes are in, and we have a wonderful Canadian handmade banner for our team blog! Congratulations to Tres Belle Knits, who’s Red and White Fingerless Mitts made the top spot.

The Oh Canada Team would like to thank everyone who voted in the Canadian Banner Contest, and all of our talented participants! Each entry will have a chance to be featured as part of our unique banner in 2010.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team

Tag Workshop: Mosaic Turquoise Earrings

The Oh Canada Team recently asked some members to help each other with tag ideas. We’re going to share their products and tags here every week, and examine the different suggestions from each seller. This experiment aims to give an outside perspective on valuable Etsy search terms for a variety of product styles. We hope you will find some new tag ideas as well!

Round Mosaic Turquoise Earrings
by Little Bear's Mom

This week’s Tag Workshop item is a pretty pair of earrings with round mosaic turquoise beads, by Little Bear’s Mom. The description reads: From each hammered copper earwire hangs a perfectly round bead of mosaic turquoise with its lovely tones of blue, green and brown. Very organic and earthy looking. Each earring measures 1 7/8 inches in length.

bstudio suggests these tags:

jewelry, earrings, turquoise, copper,
hammered, green, simple, casual, pierced,
blue, gemstone, southwestern, mottled, natural

Blue Jeans Jewelry recommends:

jewelry, earrings, copper, beaded, wire-wrapped,
turquoise, blue, brown, green, earthy, handmade,
classic, Quebec, everyday

Ocean Pearl Jewellery suggests:

jewelry, earrings, dangle, ohcanadateam,
turquoise, mosaic, round, copper, blue,
green, brown, olive, wire, earth tones

And the actual tags are:

jewelry, earrings, dangle, turquoise,
mosaic, blue, green, brown, copper, earthy,
organic, hhway, ohcanadateam

Each list contains some great search terms, including style descriptions that would help this listing turn up in customer searches. Although tags aren’t meant to describe what an item could be used for, using the some of the Five W’s creatively is a great way to get your designs found. What is it? Where is it from? Who uses it? What does it look like? How would you categorize it in your wardrobe or home?

For more tips and information about Etsy tagging, visit:
Guidelines and Tips for Tagging on Etsy
Increasing Your Item Views
Tagging for Maximum Exposure in Etsy Treasuries
Etsy DOs and DON’Ts

Stay tuned to Oh Canada for more great tagging examples every Tuesday!

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and Little Bear's Mom

Canada Helps the Gulf

Gulf Oil Spill
Photo Credit: Greenpeace USA Flickr Pool

April 20th, 2010 could mark the start of the worst environmental disaster the world has ever seen. The tragedy began when an offshore rig, drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded. Eleven workers were killed in the accident, which caused the oil well to rupture.

The resulting leak spews between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels of crude oil every day, or as much as 9500 cubic meters. The oil slick on the surface of the water has reached roughly 6,500 square km in width. It covers the shores of four US states, including beaches, wetlands and estuaries. The black sludge has killed hundreds of fish, seabirds and turtles, as well as dolphins and other precious marine creatures.

To get an idea of just how massive the oil spill has become, visit If It Was My Home to see a size comparison with your own location. The area of damage is enormous, and it continues to get larger and more deadly every day. Jay Holcomb, director of the International Bird Rescue Center, says “…it’s like a new spill every day.”

Size of the BP Oil Spill Compared to Ottawa, Ontario

The Deepwater Horizon disaster has halted all marine industries in the area, and put thousands of families out of work. This newest tragedy threatens an economy already sensitive due to hurricanes like Katrina and Rita.

So what can you do to help? Many charitable organizations are doing what they can to repair the environmental damage, and offer aid to impoverished families. A generous group of Etsy sellers has united to raise funds for Oxfam America and the National Wildlife Federation. At Help the Gulf Coast, you can find a stunning array of handmade wares, all donated for this important cause. 100% of the net profits from this shop are divided between these two charities. Help the Gulf Coast has already raised over $5000!

Many of our talented Oh Canada Team members have reached out by donating their time and materials. These exclusive designs are just a few examples of the products you will find at Help the Gulf Coast, with over 400 listings and counting. To learn more about how you can donate an item, or how even the smallest purchase can help, visit the Help the Gulf Coast blog.

Cobalt Blue Wire Wrapped Necklace
Donated by Blue Jeans Jewelry

Neighboats Sea Breeze Soap
Donated by soapstar

Mermaid Tail Beaded Bracelet
Donated by Ocean Pearl Jewellery

Ophelia Vintage Gemstone Earrings
Donated by Joanniel Creations

Other Oh Canada Team members that have donated include Little Bear's Mom and The Sage's Cupboard. We would all like to thank the amazing admins at Help the Gulf Coast, who donate so much of their time to this great fundraiser, as well as all of the Etsy sellers who have donated, and everyone who has made a purchase for these important charities. We can make a difference one handmade creation at a time!

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team

Friday Finds: Sea Slug Cuff

Sea Slug Cuff by Wabi Brook Studio

The ocean is an endless source for artistic inspiration. The colors, shapes and even the sounds of the sea are often found in the most beautiful designs.

This week’s Friday Finds treasure is a beautiful hand forged copper cuff with freshwater pearls. The iridescent colors of the fire painted copper and peacock pearls make this piece fit for a mermaid. To see more one of a kind art jewelry, visit Wabi Brook Studio.

Whatever your tastes, chances are the Oh Canada Team has something for you! Include the phrase "OhCanadaTeam" in your searches on Etsy.com to see what our talented artists are making.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and Wabi Brook Studio

Tag Workshop: Blue Flower Card

The Oh Canada Team recently asked some members to help each other with tag ideas. We’re going to share their products and tags here every week, and examine the different suggestions from each seller. We hope you will find some new tag ideas as well!

Blue Flower Silk Embroidery Card
by bstudio

This week’s Tag Workshop item is a beautiful silk embroidery greeting card by bstudio. The description reads: Pretty, variegated blue silk ribbon, shading from light to dark, is hand embroidered onto the white silk dupioni background to form this cluster of flowers on a stem of dark green embroidery floss. I have accented each flower center with a pale yellow French knot. The base of the stem has four leaves in green silk ribbon. This original design is mounted in a textured white photo frame card that is blank inside. Complete with a matching envelope.

Ocean Pearl Jewellery suggests these tags:

paper goods, greeting card, needlecraft, flowers,
lilac, blue, embroidery, hand stitched, blank interior,
ohcanadateam, unique design, floss, white, silk ribbon

Little Bear’s Mom recommends:

paper goods, cards, blank, silk, ribbon,
flower cluster, blue, teal, white, art
needlework, embroidery, unique, stationery,

Blue Jeans Jewelry suggests:

paper goods, card, floral, hand embroidered,
silk ribbon, blank, blue, paper, toronto, canada,
needlecraft, classic, elegant, all occasion

Each tag list features a variety of style and technique tags that shoppers might use to find such a unique design! When choosing tags for our listings, it’s always important to list the What’s and How’s that will help people locate exactly what they’re looking for. Remember that tags should only describe what an item is, but you can get creative when it comes to color, shape and size!

For more tips and information about Etsy tagging, visit:
Guidelines and Tips for Tagging on Etsy,
Tag-o-rama with Descriptive Keywords,
Tagging for Success,
and Etsy DOs and DON’Ts.

Stay tuned to Oh Canada for more great tagging examples!

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and bstudio

Canadian Banner Contest 2010

Some of our talented Oh Canada Team members have been hard at work, creating handmade treasures with distinctly Canadian themes. These creations will help decorate our team blog, and add a fresh look to greet our visitors. We want to say “We’re Handmade, and We’re Canadian!”

We have four beautiful entries to choose from. Each one will have a chance to become a part of our team banner for the remainder of 2010. But we need your help to choose who will go first!

Please have a look at each of the wonderful entries. Follow the links to learn more about each creation, and the artist’s inspiration, then vote for your favorite in the sidebar poll. Your vote will help us select which order to showcase these Canadian creations in! Each entry will spend 2 months in the top spot.

Oh Canada Fingerless Mitts
Crochet in Red and White
By Tres Belle Knits and Crochet



Northern Lights Bracelet
With Labradorite and Sterling Silver
By Little Bear’s Mom



Flowers of Canada
Pillow Cover in Silk Ribbon Embroidery
By bstudio



Ice Floe
Inukshuk Beadwork Bracelet
By The Sage’s Cupboard

The Canadian Banner Contest poll closes on June 28th. Thank you for helping us share the joy of local, handmade artistry!

Want to see more? Whatever your tastes, chances are the Oh Canada Team has something for you! Include the phrase "OhCanadaTeam" in your searches on Etsy.com to see what our talented artists are making.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team

Tag Workshop: Black Damask Earrings

The Oh Canada Team recently asked some members to help each other with tag ideas. We’re going to share their products and tags here every week, and examine the different suggestions from each seller. Perhaps you will find some new tag ideas as well!

Beaded Black Damask Earrings
by Ocean Pearl Jewellery

This week’s Tag Workshop item is a lovely pair of handmade earrings by Ocean Pearl Jewellery. The description reads: Stunning oval textured resin beads in black accented with gold are the focal point of these earrings. Dangling on gold-plated wire from them are shiny black tear-shaped beads. Earrings measure 2 1/4 inches from the bottom of the earring finding. If you are planning to wear black this coming season, you must have these! Will go perfectly with the LBD!

Little Bear’s Mom suggests these tags:

jewelry, earrings, dangle, gold,
black, damask, evening, dressy, midnight,
ebony, unique, beaded, long, wirewrapped

bstudio recommends:

jewelry, earrings, dangling, damask,
gold, black, beaded, pierced, filigree,
Moroccan, old world, textured, patterned, formal

Blue Jeans Jewelry suggests:

jewelry, earrings, wire-wrapped, beaded,
gold, black, damask, Canada, Ontario,
dangles, handmade, gorgeous, classic, formal

And the actual tags are:

jewelry, earrings, dangle, glass,
vintage resin, beaded, black, gold,
damask, ohcanadateam, textured, Ontario, wire, elegant

Each list contains some excellent examples of style and appearance tags, which are often the hardest to use. After we have described our item in terms of materials, technique, shape and color, these extra tags can really help a listing stand out.

For more tips and information about Etsy tagging, visit:
Guidelines and Tips for Tagging on Etsy,
Etsy Success Tips: Increasing Your Item Views,
Hitting the Sweet Spot with Etsy's Most Relevant Search,
and Etsy DOs and DON’Ts.

Stay tuned to Oh Canada for more great tagging examples!

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and Ocean Pearl Jewellery

Friday Finds: Olive Bamboo Tank Top

Deep olive bamboo and organic cotton top
Originally uploaded by annymay.

Have you ever experienced the incredible softness of bamboo fabric? It’s like wearing a cloud. Woven bamboo is fast becoming one of the most popular organic textiles. It is incredibly sustainable, requires no pesticides to grow, and processing it is very low-impact. Bamboo is also considered hypoallergenic and bacteria resistant.

This beautiful shoulder-wrap tank top is made with a lovely deep olive fabric, spun with bamboo and organic cotton. It’s a wonderful piece for any summer wardrobe. This tank can be dressed up or down for any occasion! To see more unique, eco-friendly designs, visit Anny May: Eco-designer.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and Anny May

Stone of the Month: Pearl

Creamrose Bracelet
by Little Bear's Mom

The official birthstone of June is the beautiful, classy oyster pearl. These natural baubles have been valued for centuries not only for their loveliness, but for their rarity as well. Before the creation of the cultured or farmed pearl, hundreds of oysters and clams would be killed and shucked to produce a single perfect gem. Pearls are not only used in jewelry, but also for embellishing clothing, accessories, and decorative home décor items.

The eleven other common birthstones are earthbound minerals, which makes the pearl very unique. These aquatic treasures are commonly associated with rare beauty or value, and make a wonderful metaphor for “one in a million” virtues. Their very nature is quite poetic.

Terra Necklace
by Joanniel Creations

It is a common misconception that pearls are formed when a grain of sand becomes trapped within the shell of a living mollusk. In fact, the most common cause of pearl production is a parasite or other microscopic impurity. In an attempt to neutralize any threat from the intruder, the mollusk will form a ‘pearl sac’ around the object. The secretion is made up of a calcium carbonate and conchiolin combination called nacre. This substance also makes up mother of pearl - the inner layer of a shell - which also makes many appearances in jewelry.

Cultured or man-made pearls are formed by introducing a small piece of mantle tissue from another mollusk as the catalyst. Salt water cultured pearls are usually made with the help of a small bead of polished shell, inserted into the gonad. The freshwater variety are generally created without the help of beads, and many pearls can grow at a time within the fleshy mantle of the mollusk. These pearls have a freer, more natural shape. The process can take anywhere from 1 to 7 years, depending on the variety of pearl. The majority of the world’s cultured pearls are created in China.

Magenta Biwa Pearl Necklace
by Splurge

The popularity and prominence of pearl jewelry can be credited with the naming of necklace lengths, used today to describe jewelry of all types. The terms choker, princess length and opera length were introduced to describe the sizes of common pearl necklace types. Today, the phrase “Not your grandmother’s pearls” is commonly heard in the handmade community. With the availability of cultured pearls in so many sizes, shapes and colors, designers have an endless source of inspiration from classic to aquatic.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team
Text by Mortira

Tag Workshop: Glass Bead and Wire Necklace

When it comes to listing a new item on Etsy, one of the most difficult tasks is often choosing search tags. Tagging an Etsy listing effectively will help it turn up in the right searches, so that customers who are looking for a product like ours will find it.

We know our creations backwards and forwards, which helps when writing a description, but can actually hinder our ability to choose the ‘right’ tags. It’s hard to know which descriptive words someone might use when searching, and those that will make our listings stand out among all the others.

One easy technique you can use to keep your tags fresh and relevant, is to ask your teammates for suggestions. The Oh Canada Team recently asked some members to help each other with tag ideas. We’re going to share their products and tags here every week, and examine the different suggestions from each seller. Perhaps you will find some new tag ideas as well!

Glass Bead and Wire Necklace by Blue Jeans Jewelry

Our first Tag Workshop will focus on a beautiful beaded necklace by Blue Jeans Jewelry. The description reads: This necklace has a very generous length of 40 inches, and looks great worn either long or as a double strand. The glass beads are a clear green to lavender with black streaks painted on the outside. The wire is a silver toned, 20 gauge gal. steel, and finished with a hook and eye clasp. Over-all, a very fun, durable, everyday piece.

Ocean Pearl Jewellery suggests these tags:

jewelry, necklace, ohcanadateam, silver,
green, lavender, purple, black,
transparent, silver, chain, ooak, glass beads, long

Little Bear’s Mom recommends:

jewelry, necklace, bead, wirework,
leaf green, lavender, silver, glass, long,
amethyst, lilac, fun, everyday, simple

bstudio suggests:

jewelry, necklace, glass, beaded,
"silver tone", wire, long, blue, green,
"double strand", casual, everyday, fun, serpentine

And the actual item tags - at the time of this post - are:

jewelry, free shipping, ohcanadateam,
alberta team, necklace, glass beads, wire,
long, silver, green, lavender, black

They’re very similar! Each list has it’s own unique gems that can help a necklace like this one turn up in customer searches. A good balance of color, material, technique and style keywords will cover all of the bases. For more tips and information about Etsy tagging, visit:

Guidelines and Tips for Tagging on Etsy,
Tag-o-rama with Descriptive Keywords,
Tagging Your Eco-friendly Items,
and Etsy DOs and DON’Ts.

Stay tuned to Oh Canada for more great tagging examples!

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and Blue Jeans Jewelry

Friday Finds: Summer Vacation R&R

It’s almost that time again! Very soon the air will fill with the laughter of children, giddy with the freedom of summer vacation. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be that young and carefree again? Still, summer is a great time of year no matter what your age. Whether your holiday is 2 months long, or just 2 days, you deserve to have a little fun, too!

This week, the Oh Canada Team shares some of it’s best summer relaxation must-haves. These handmade creations and vintage finds are sure to help you make the most of your free time this summer. These picks are great for both exotic getaways and staycations alike!

Around the Campfire, Off the Tailgate

Repurposed Jeans Cloche Hat
by Anny May

Really Red Mermaid Triangle Shawl
by Dollface DeVille

Vintage Martini Caddy Set
from Collectique

Hot Pink and Black Fingerless Mitts
by Tres Belle Knits and Crochet

Poolside, At the Beach, On a Cruise

Eggplant Cotton Jersey Wrap
by Woolbrain

Shell Beaded Bookmark
by Boomerville

Upcycled Cotton Jersey Headwrap
by The Art of Zen...Crochet

S.O.S. Nautical Chain Necklace
by The Sage's Cupboard

The Spa at Home, Girls Night In

Baywash All Natural Exfoliating Soap
by soapstar

Midnight Rain Dry Oil Spray
by Maple Creek Soapworks

Coconut Cream Fizz Perfume
by Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash Ltd.

Raspberry Vanilla Body Parfait
by Bubble Tub Soaps

On the Patio, In the Garden

Greenish Stoneware Mugs
by Dooryard Pottery

Teapot Print Craft Apron
by Whoa It's Me

Lime Green and White Pillow Cover
by bstudio

Light Yellow Hanging Planter
by Janson Pottery

Want to see more? Whatever your tastes, chances are the Oh Canada Team has something for your summertime needs! Include the phrase "OhCanadaTeam" in your searches on Etsy.com to see what our talented artists have to offer.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team

Refreshing Summer Picks

Summer is the time for growing things, for splashing in pools, and enjoying the warm yellow sun. Welcome summer!

How Does Your Garden Grow? by Little Bear's Mom



Cool Blue by Dalim features Oh Canada Team Members Annabelle's Art and Little Bear's Mom.

Congratulations to three of our members who were recently featured in the Storque's Etsy Finds:



Want to see more? Whatever your tastes, chances are the Oh Canada Team has something for your summer fun needs! Include the phrase "OhCanadaTeam" in your searches on Etsy.com to see what our talented artists are making. You can also visit any of the shops seen here by typing in their names in the search area of the Sellers Page.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team

Behind the Lens: Joanniel Creations

Taking the perfect Etsy photograph is a tall order. Even the most experienced sellers and photographers will tell you that there is always more to learn about getting just the right shot to showcase your product. What makes the Etsy community so wonderful is that sellers are always willing to share their experience and insight to help newcomers improve their skills. With Behind the Lens, we invite you to meet some of our talented Oh Canada Team members, and learn how they create great shop photos.

Joanniel Creations has been in business on Etsy since October of 2009. Joannie’s jewelry photos have a great look - well staged and full of sparkle. Here’s how she does it:

Oh Canada: What type of camera do you use?

Joannie: I use a 6 megapixel HP digital camera with 3X optical zoom. The Photosmart M537 to be more specific. I got it for about $100 without really knowing everything it can do. I love it. I can use it for my jewellery photos and for my own personal use. The macro setting is super easy to use and it has a pretty large LCD screen to view images on. It's simple but very good quality and I can crop on it and even change my photos to sepia or black & white. I don't use those features for my jewellery, but it makes great family photos. I can even add a border, rotate the photo, and crop in landscape or portrait format.

Oh Canada: How do you light your images?

Joannie: I only use natural light. They key for me is to never shoot my jewellery when it is in direct sunlight. I wait for the sun to change location a bit if that's the case. I get great photos between 10 am and 4 pm, and cloudy days can also produce very well lit photos. Although, I do have one item that I took with some sunlight on it. It is my flower necklace. It was cloudy and a tiny bit of sun was peaking from the clouds. It just seemed like the perfect moment to bring out the beauty of the flower pendant, so I took it and it turned out beautifully, but that was an exception. Every rule has one, right?

Oh Canada: Do you use a light box?

Joannie: I do not use a light box. I have not found it necessary at this time, but I would definitely consider it for the future. I just don't have lots of money to invest in this type of equipment at the moment.

Oh Canada: What materials do you like to use for backgrounds?

Joannie: I started out using very light color paper like cream card stock and items like sand dollars and white dishware. The problem is that when there is not enough light those photos come out very dark and have a gray tone. I have added a sheet of fancy white pearly paper, matte gray textured cardboard, and dark burgundy craft paper. That has made a big difference in my photos. I am always looking for new materials that I think would be great for my backgrounds like fabric, vintage books, frames, etc.

Oh Canada: Do you ever use models or props for staging your photos?

Joannie: I do not use models for my photos, but I do use sand dollars, dishware, and will be using more of these types of props in the future. I do not use models because I take my photos by the window and the lighting is not appropriate for the use of models. As for the other items I use to display my items, I do so because I feel that it enhances the experience of online shopping. Seeing my jewellery laid down flat in every photo would be uninteresting. I try to use whatever prop will show the best aspects of that piece. I also always try to show what an item will look like when it is worn. For example, I will hang my earrings from something to show what they will look like hanging from someone's ears.

Oh Canada: What’s your best tip for staging product shots?

Joannie: I think that being eye level with the object can really create incredible photos. These are the kinds of photos that will let the light be reflected in a way that cannot be captured when taken from above.

Oh Canada: What’s the minimum number of photos you take per item?

Joannie: I used to take as many as possible and sometimes that meant 10 and more. Now I take only 5 or 6. That's it! If I have to take more than that, I choose the best ones right off the camera and delete the rest, so that I will only have to upload 5 photos per item. It saves tons of time to do it this way.

Oh Canada: Do you edit your photos before using them?

Joannie: Yes. I always edit my photos. I use Xnview which is a free program that anyone can get online. I love it. I used to use the program that comes with Windows but my boyfriend deleted it by accident! So he found this one for me and it is even better.

Oh Canada: In your opinion, what makes a great “first photo” on Etsy?

Joannie: Well, I once asked another Etsy seller this question and she gave me a great answer, so I will quote her on this one. Her name is Jeannie from Bead Stylin'. You should take a look at her photos. They are fantastic!

"Make your first photo the "grab" shot. That's where you want to zoom in on the jewelry (use your macro setting). Cropping is important--you don't need the full picture in that first shot. Make sure your background doesn't take up more of the picture than needed. And the cropping is sort of a "strip tease", so that buyers will go, "Oooh, that's cool, what is that?". Make it so that they will be drawn in and want to click at the other pix. Also, make sure that your backgrounds aren't distracting. You want people to look at the jewelry--not the backgrounds."

Oh Canada: When making treasuries, what do you look for in a first photo?

Joannie: I look for clarity, similar background tones, great lighting, and a perfect marriage of colors between the item, prop, and background.

Oh Canada: Can you share one more Etsy photo tip?

Joannie: When editing your photos try not to add too much brightness. I know it seems like the right thing to do, but if you lower the brightness just a bit and increase the contrast a little, it can make a world of difference.

Since I use natural light I try to make sure the lighting is coming from behind the object, and place myself in such a way that creates as little shadow as possible. I position myself above the object, to the left, to the right, eye level, whatever it takes to get the perfect shot. Sometimes, that perfect photo just doesn't happen and it can be frustrating. Some colors don't photograph well, and sometimes it's just that the lighting isn't good enough. Sometimes I have to retake photos on another day where the lighting is better and that's okay. I try to use the best background for the specific color and texture of each item, rather than use the exact same background for every photo.

My photo studio is my window sill. It's not very impressive but it works and you should find a place that works for you. I have a large window in my kitchen that faces the East and have found this to be the best location for my photos. It has the best lighting throughout the day and the sun is not an issue past 10 am.

I am satisfied with my photos at the moment but am continuously trying to improve them. I don't think that I am an expert or that my photos are perfect, but this is where I'm at with my photography. I think you should always try to improve and find new ways to create the perfect shot.

Copyright 2010 Oh Canada Team and Joanniel Creations