OhCanadaTeam Gift Guide: Spring Thaw Sale

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.  ~Robert Flatt

Special Edition: Gift Guide and Easter Sale

What does Easter bring? Besides having a religious meaning to some, Easter is the rebirth of long days and new life. A chance to start anew. You may celebrate the religious aspect or simply enjoy the Easter bunny and its chocolate eggs. Well, the Oh Canada Team is celebrating Easter with a sale. The featured shops are offering various discounts during the week of April 10-16, 2011. Be sure to read their shop announcements at the top of the shop homepage.

Beautiful fine art photography from Edmonton, Canada. You'll be amazed at the unique selection of prints you'll find at Larry Jang Photography.

Wonderfully hand crafted soaps, inhalers, and other bath and body products that will delight your senses. Find these yummy skin treats at Alchemy Lifestyle.

Handmade elegant jewelry you can wear anywhere. Find these pearl earrings and other timeless jewelry pieces at Noor Jewels.

Hand out your Easter treats in these modern, quality food grade reusable bags. Lots of designs to choose from. Head on over to The Silver Bobbin and pick out your favorite.

Shops Participating in the Oh Canada Team Spring Thaw Sale

JanJat 10% everything with coupon code SPRING the entire week of the sale
Junquete is offering a varying percentage off each day of the sale week. Check shop announcement for details.
Clonehardware free shipping to the US and Canada for the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRINGTHAW
TheBackyardBear 10% everything for the entire week of the sale with coupon code SpringBearSale
TreasuresbyTeala has a sale section
Joanniel is offering 10% for the week of the sale with coupon code SAVINGS10
Vitrine 10% off everything for the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRING
HilarysHats 10% off everything for the entire week of the sale
Chrisssmith22/The Art of Zen Crochet 15% off everything for the entire week of the sale with coupon code HEMP4SPRING
Boomerville 10% off everything with coupon code SPRING for the week of the sale
TheOldBarnDoor 10% off everything with coupon code SPRING for the week of the sale
DarkRide 10% off everything for the week of the sale with coupon code SPRING
ArtThatMoves buy 3 sets of greeting cards and get 3 cards (of the shop owner's choosing) free
RecycledandResewn is offering 10% off for the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRINGTHAW10
ElisasDezignz 15% off the week of the sale with coupon code SPRINGTHAW2011
RJCharms By 3, get the 4th free the entire week of the sale
Yermit is offering 10% the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRING
Tarapparel is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRINGTHAWSALE
TheSilverBobbin 15% for the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRINGTHAW
JensDreamDecor is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRING2011
AlchemyLifestyle is offering 15% off the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRINGTHAW15
LittleBearsMom is offering 10% off the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRING2011
JansonPottery is offering 10% off the entire week of the sale with coupon code SPRING2011
NoorJewels is offering 15% off with coupon code APR2011
Taibossigai is offering 10% off the week of the sale with coupon code SPRING2011
ljangphotography is offering 30% off with coupon code SPRING
BENTwoodwork is offering 10% off everything that week
LeanneDesigns is offering 15% off for the week with coupon code SPRINGTHAW2011
HappyBead is offering 20% off everything in the shop
humblehome is offering 15% off with coupon code SPRING
Saturations is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRING2011
Ahkriti is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRING2011
Frogprincessdesigns is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRING
JewelsByJasmin is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRING
j2studios is offering 10% off with coupon code SPRING
HeidiTheArtist has a special sale section in her shop
StuffbySteph77 is offering free shipping for the week with coupon code SpringThaw
OceanPearlJewellery is offering 15% off for the week of the sale with coupon code SPRING2011

***Please note, coupon codes will only be active from April 10-16, 2011, unless otherwise noted in a shop's announcement***


Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team

Friday Finds: Caramel Fudge Ceramic Ring

I love the richness of this ceramic bead.  It's aptly named - Caramel Fudge.  Wrapped with gold filled wire, it will make delicious finger candy for your hand!  This ring has been created by Vitrine.  She offers several rings made with gorgeous ceramic beads.  As well, Vitrine offers the buyer a selection of earrings, bracelets, necklaces and glazed paper pendants.

Oh Canada Team Spring Thaw Sale
The votes are in, and the week of April 10-16 is when we'll be having our team Spring Thaw Sale! If you want to participate, come leave your information here in this special discussion thread.

Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team and Vitrine.

March OCT Challenge Finalists!

It’s time to vote for your favorite collection in our latest treasury challenge!


Congratulations to the 4 finalists Buttonboxdesigns, WestCoastGlass, Yermit and TheSilverBobbin!


Have a look at each of these treasuries, then choose your favorite in the poll at the right. The winner will choose an item from their shop for our next treasury challenge!







Voting is open until April 9th at 12am EST. The winner will be announced on April 11th. Thanks for playing, and good luck to our finalists! Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team

Friday Finds: Handmade Rag Doll

Isn't she a cutey?  When I was a little girl, I would have loved to have a doll like this one!  I love her little jean skirt and jacket.  This little rag doll can be found at La Chiffonniere.  In this shop you will find other dolls and plushes - all made with re-cycled materials.  Also, the shop offers doll clothes, cloth bags for Mom and for holding childrens' pencil crayons, and colourful, cloth wigs for children.  I also noted that there are some vintage childrens items for the collectors out there.

Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team and La Chiffonniere.

Friday Finds: Beach Stone Ring

This unusal and unique ring is from LittleBearsMom.  The stone is one of many that Molly has collected during her walks along beaches - this particular one comes from Lake Michigan, and is sandstone.  In her shop you will find a large selection of rings, from her collection of beach stones, to gorgeous dyed paua shell, genuine stone cabochons and glass crystals. Her rings have been sold to customers throughout the world.  As well as rings, there is an offering of beautiful earrings, bracelets and necklaces, made with gem stones,  glass and shells.   

Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team and LittleBearsMom.

Shop Spotlight: Stayawake

At first I was going to introduce this shop as a children's shop, but who says grown-ups can't play with finger puppets too. Whether you're a child or a child at heart you'll definitely enjoy browsing the original and magical world of Stayawake. Find a finger puppet for you or your child and just let your imagination run wild.


Oh Canada: Of all the things that you sell, which item or style is your favorite?

Lindy: I have a large range of puppet styles available in my shop - my favourite to sew would have to be my mermaids! I've changed the style of them a little over the past year. But I love the embroidery on the tail, and the fun colours. Other than that, I love making custom puppets - puppets from my own customers imaginations and designs! That always gets my creative juices flowing, and creating something new always gives me a rush!

Oh Canada: Where did you learn your skills?

Lindy: I'm self-taught, I guess! I've never had any formal training in sewing, in fact I almost failed home-economics in high school because sewing machines and I did not get along! I'm much more comfortable with small handwork. I've always loved embroidery and making small things with my hands! In the early stages, a library book taught me a few new stitches and that was all I needed.

Oh Canada: Everyone has different motivations for making their unique wares. What drives you to create?

Lindy: I am a stay at home mom to two preschoolers, and at the end of the day I feel empty if I haven't created something. The creation drive in me is very high, you could say! I'm always making things with my kids, but sometimes when they're playing or watching a movie I can sit beside them and sew up puppets. It allows me to feel a sense of accomplishment and still be with my kids all the time. The money I make supplements our income so I can buy wonderful handmade items for my family, and to buy art supplies and program materials for a summer camp I volunteer at.

Oh Canada: If you could learn to use any new technique or material, what would it be?

Lindy: I love learning new art techniques - right now I've been playing with batik, stained glass, and collage techniques. I do love fabric though, so I hope someday I can reconcile my differences with my sewing machine and finish the quilt I started years ago!

Oh Canada: Any plans to incorporate a new product into your shop this year?

Lindy: I am always adding new puppet designs! Many come at the request of my customers, and some are ideas of mine or my children. I have thoguht about adding mobile pieces, key chains, magnets or ornaments to my shop but I am kept busy enough with puppet sales at the moment.

Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?

Lindy: I love meeting new people! I love developing new friendships with customers and fellow sellers -amazing people I never would have met otherwise! I love the Etsy forums and teams too. Selling on Etsy gives me the freedom to buy beautiful handmade things that wouldn't normally fit in our family budget too!

Oh Canada: Do you have a number one tip for new sellers?

Lindy: Treat your customers well - like they're gold! And make sure you are doing what you LOVE to do (or that selling here will enable you do what you love to do!) or you won't stick with it very long.

Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing to buy on Etsy?

Lindy: Everything? LOL. I buy all my supplies on Etsy, when possible, and everything else, if I can find it on Etsy I buy from Etsy! Clothing, soap, gifts, jewellery, toys, art supplies. Everything. :) I am constantly amazed and inspired by the talent here!

Oh Canada: What is the number one best item in your shop right now?

Lindy: Biggest sellers are my woodland animals. They were the first to go into my shop two years ago, and haven't stopped selling well since!

You can see more of Lindy's handmade finger puppets in her shop. You can also keep up with Stayawake on Facebook.





Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team