EKTT Weekly Treasury Challenge 25: Tour de France or True Fangs, Twihard

The winner of our latest weekly treasury challenge, Leyton Smiles on Etsy, wants to work up a sporty sweat!  While your pulse is racing, let's toss in some Vampires to keep the blood flowing.

Tour de France

Focus Items:  Sports!  Tour de France trends including biking, the French countryside, and France.  Summer sports.  Wimbledon.  Sports clothing, vintage sports gear, collectible sports items.

OR 

True Fangs, Twihard

Focus Items:  Vampires!  HBO's True Blood and Twilight's Breaking Dawn inspire steampunk and fang filled curations.  Halloween Preview - Middle of July shoppers begin searching for harvest and halloween decor, favors, and costumes.  

Dirt Bike Onesie by Max and Magnolia on Etsy

1.  Submit as many treasuries fitting these themes in as many variations as you wish through Saturday, July 9, Noon EST.  

NOTE:  You MUST be a member of the EKTT to participate in Weekly Treasury Challenges! 

2.  Required Challenge Tags: 

etsykidschallenge25

etsykids tteam

(Copy and paste the challenge tags to ensure your treasury will be included in judging!)   Please also use applicable key words to tag--listed under Focus Items (above) and taken from Etsy's July Merchandising Report.  

Please do not use EKTT tags unless you are a member of the EtsyKids Treasury Team.  All EtsyKids are welcome to join.  See information on joining the EKTT:  Guidelines

3.  Treasuries must include 4 active and verified EtsyKids Team members. Please take this opportunity to feature either your partner or our July Featured EKTT Member, Tanja D'lyn on Etsy, or both in a challenge submission.    

*Please see the EKTT Check List to curate according to guidelines. 

4.  The winning treasury will be chosen by MOST VIEWS on Etsy.        

5.  All EKTT Curators are eligible to enter and win including current and past weekly challenge winners.

6.  Please do not include any treasury team tags other than the EtsyKids Treasury Team tag and related challenge tags on EKTT challenge treasuries.  Any challenge submission containing treasury team tags other than "etsykids tteam" will automatically be disqualified from winning.  Thank you for your support, EKTT Curators!

Prizes

Your winning treasury, links to your Etsy shop, and a shop listing you choose will be featured in an EKTT blog post announcing you as our Weekly Treasury Challenge Winner. Your Etsy shop and winning blog entry will be permanently displayed on the EKTT Winners page.  Your Etsy shop will be featured in a Craftcult Slideshow Mini on the top of our blog sidebar.  You will have the honor of choosing the next Weekly Treasury Challenge theme based on a focused idea from the current  Etsy Merchandising Report.

Double Dip Sundays with Little Sprout Baby and Pink Stripe on Etsy

It's Sunday and everyone deserves two scoops of sweet, tasty treasures!

'Independence' by LittleSproutBaby

U to the S to the A

MissVioletLace $56.00	ikabags $79.00	thelittlereddo... $15.00	YourlittleCupc... $10.00
bisongirl $25.00	LetThemEatPie $7.50	thebitsybeau $12.00	mayaepler1 $75.00
BumbleFuzz $17.00	sandydyasphoto... $30.00	remixedbyjacki $15.00	theartofobserv... $6.00
bigpawsaints $14.50	Art2Carry $19.00	HummingbirdMin... $36.95	ElegantSeashor... $8.99

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

'Having a Whale of a Time at the Beach!!' by PinkStripe

Enjoy these fabulous etsy finds!

AddieKatBoutiq... $65.00	rabbitsmile $16.00	ikabags $59.00	SimplyChacha $20.00
tanjadlyn $15.00	ChirpAndBloom $34.00	applenamos $7.00	owlsay $5.00
BlackCottageHa... $10.00	hamamhouse $32.00	gnomesweeeetgn... $32.99	antiquorama $12.00
SSCphotography $25.00	simplyyoujewel... $45.00	pacifyme $5.75	WhalesForever $4.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

"Berry Sundae Blast" Weekly Treasury Challenge 24: Leyton Smiles

Congratulations to Lisa of Leyton Smiles on Etsy on her win of the Berry Sundae Blast  treasury challenge!  Lisa's treasury, "Yummy Deliciousness" was lucky number 15 out of 21 entries.  Leyton Smiles' treasury was selected as the winner by Random.org.






Thank you, EtsyKids Treasury Team, for the festive and sweet treasuries curated for 4th of July and Berry Sundae Blast themes! EKTT, be sure to maintain these treasuries since these are themes that Etsy Admin will be focusing on for Etsy's home page throughout July. For all of you EKTT fans, please click HERE to see the rest of our challenge treasuries curated for your shopping and viewing pleasure. 


Lisa of Leyton Smiles on Etsy specializes in handmade loveys, fanciful burp cloths, blankets, bibs, onesies and bodysuits for your baby.  Wrap your baby in a delightful bunting onesie by Lisa or pick up a one-of-a-kind baby shower present from Leyton Smiles on Etsy!  (Click on the picture below to see more photos or to purchase.)

Ruffle Bottom Bunting Bodysuit by Leyton Smiles on Etsy

EKTT Curators, our next Weekly Treasury Challenge theme chosen by Leyton Smiles on Etsy will be posted on Monday, July 4th. Congrats again, Lisa, on your Weekly Treasury Challenge win! 

P. S.  If you haven't voted for the EtsyKids Team in Handmadeology's Handmade Top 10 Team Challenge why not do so now?  VOTE EtsyKids!

Tanja D'Lyn on Etsy: July 2011 Featured EKTT Member

Tanja D'lyn's Design Studio

July's Featured EKTT Member is a curator who has been with the EtsyKids Treasury Team since we began in September 2010, Tanja of Tanja D'lyn on Etsy (also known as inspiring design studio tm).  We thank you, Tanja D'lyn, for curating many gorgeous treasuries to promote EtsyKids Team members.  It is the pleasure of the EtsyKids Treasury Team to curate treasuries honoring you throughout July!


Tanja of Tanja D'lyn on Etsy creates "fresh and savvy" designs for every aspect of your child's life--from bath to play, Tanja D'lyn's "dreamy soft children's bath robes, hooded towels, baby blankets, bibs, burps and specialty gifts" will make any day a luxurious spa vacation.  Indulge in the decadent opulence of Tanja D'lyn on Etsy or come feel the sumptuous quality for yourself at Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival on July 16 and 17 in Gig Harbor, WA where Tanja has you covered with "terries for tots!  From infant to big kid hooded towels and robes, make waves with these fun, colorful terries and let them get wet!"

Personalization Sold Separately - Child Robe (size 6 mos. to 7 kids) by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  What is your favorite part of the creative process? 

Tanja D'lyn:  The dreaming and designing of the fabrics and patterns. For inspiration I like to go to a new beach port town, visit an open air soiree, art museum or garden. Just seeing something new, arty and fresh keeps me infused with ideas!


EKTT:  What is your least favorite part of the creative process?  
Tanja D'lyn:  Not having the time to do it all in a day! I am still learning the balance of family life, blogs, teams, Magazine Editing and Writing (www.mhcmag.com/), sewing, listing and creating the new items for next season.

Nautical Whales Baby Bib (Personalization Sold Separately) by Tanja D'lyn

EKTT:  What was the journey that brought you to opening Tanja D'lyn on Etsy?
Tanja D'lyn:  Learned to sew when I was 3.  Drawing paper dolls on a sweet summer day was my favorite childhood pastime. Discovered that I did not want to be a doctor in my junior year in college (SDSU) and finished my degree in Fashion Design (FCC of San Diego) in my early twenties. After designing several children’s lines for other designers, I found success with Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear Wear Ltd. as a wholesale designer and owner for about 15 years. (We were in about 1000 boutique stores nationally.) After three children and a not-so-fun divorce, I took a couple years off to direct children’s theatre and teach sewing to children. I found the simple life a joy! Watching a Martha Stewart Living show, I spotted etsy.com and in 2008 I created a few test items and started tanjadlyn.etsy.com. It was not until late 2010 I decided to “go all out” and focus on my site. After being featured on the front page of an Etsy Finds newsletter for kids (www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-the-gift-of-free-shipping-6202/ ) I began to test out “tag words” and created a business plan for my shop, which included listing often, joining a team, building up stock for about 50 plus items and writing for a children's Etsy magazine (www.mhcmag.com/p/mhc-team.html). What I love the most is that I found a place where people are just like me!  Being an artist and doing what you are passionate about is very rewarding! 

Love Birds Baby Burp Cloths by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  What is your best advice for sellers of children’s items on Etsy?
Tanja D'lyn:  Join a team specific to children. Participate in treasuries, circles, and read all Etsy news feeds.  You will learn everything you need to know to be in business for yourself! Peek at the most recent Etsy Finds newsletter daily (look for tags that reflect the items you sell), tag your items you list that day with any of those.  (Hint:  newsletter goes to everyone and they all will look at those highlighted listings.) List daily in your area of expertise (check to see if your tags are all working and your photos look good).

Mermaid Children's Hooded Towel by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  Apart from your Etsy shop and being an EKTT Curator, what are your favorite things to do?
Tanja D'lyn:  I love to sew, teach Middle School Theatre and sewing to children ages 8 to 16 years old.  Teach art to grades K through 6 in an afterschool program on Thursday nights! As a family we bike, play tennis, and beach it! 

Nautical (Personalization Available) Beach Baby Hooded Towel by Tanja D'lyn

EKTT:  Any favorite curating suggestions to offer EKTT teammates?  
Tanja D'lyn:  Read the merchandising report published on The Etsy Blog, participate in the EtsyKids Treasury Team Challenges. Add photos that look great, only pick items you would purchase. (Add items to your favorites and choose from those for your treasuries.)


EKTT:  What is the one handmade possession or craft tool you could not live without?
Tanja D'lyn:  A sewing machine. I cannot live without it! I sew every day for business or fun! It’s a passion thing! : )

Orange and Raspberry Pink Damask Bib by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  Please share one really weird compulsion, habit, or fixation of yours--we know you've got one!
Tanja D'lyn:  I collect paper dolls, vintage and new. I own every issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion just for the paper dolls.

***

Thank you, Tanja D'lyn, for granting us this interview and a peek into your own private world of paper dolls and fun fabrics!  I truly believe your playful designs are inspired by your inner child and all the children who grace your world today!

Stalk Tanja D'lyn online and at her upcoming show in Gig Harbor, WA:

Etsy Shop:  Tanja D'lyn  

Blog:  Savvy Baby Goodies

Art Festival:  Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival Facebook Page

When?  July 16 - 17

Where?  Gig Harbor, WA        

Vote for EtsyKids Team in Handmadeology's Handmade Top 10 Team Challenge!

Who has the best Etsy Team in the land?  EtsyKids Team!  Please show your love and support for EtsyKids Team and vote for our team on Handmadeology's Handmade Top 10 as many times as you wish over the next 6 days!    



EtsyKids Team members can add 2 listings from your shop and have all your friends, family and fans vote for YOU!  Find out how to participate in this discussion on Ning:  Handmade Top 10 Etsy Team Challenge