Fix-My-Back Sale

Went to the chiropractor today, to fix my stiff and tingly shoulder. Ian is one heavy baby to lug around and something tells me humans were not meant to sit at a computer for 9 hours straight. She had me in traction then cracked me to kingdom come. Oh dear chiropractor, I love you.

Scotland Is for Me ring $9.50, Gumballs necklace $28, Peapod necklace with 2 peas $22.50, Matryoska necklace $10

What I don't love is how my HMO refuses to acknowledge your magic hands. This means I will be broke getting the ol' back fixed up. SO! I'm having a Fix-My-Back Sale. From now until the end of the year, get a 10% refund when you purchase something in my shop and mention the word "chiropractor" in the Message to Seller portion at check-out. Or mention "chiropractor" to me in person at Cliff Fest on November 15th or the Jingle Bash on November 21st, and get 10% off your purchase in person!

Juicy Fruit necklace $28, BINGO bobbies pair $, Brooch $15, That Smile necklace $28

I've got all sorts of goodies in my shop, and even more in person so get all your holiday shopping done NOW and save 10% with Tefi! My back will thank you.

Country Living Magazine Loves Tefi

I've been sitting on this big news all week long, waiting for the excitement to wear off long enough to write about it. So here we go.........HOLY COW I'M IN COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE. A few months back they contacted me about my Scotland Is for Me plaid ring. They were doing a spread on plaid things and the editor liked my ring. From the looks of the magazine in general, they do a lot of showcasing of indie, Etsy-shop items. I like this. I like this a lot and wish more national media would do this. Needless to say, I filled out a subscription card to Country Living, and so should you! My ring is featured on page 117 in the November issue of Country Living, on the hand of a beautiful redhead. You can also see it online here (scroll to slide 13), but the photograph in the magazine is full-spread, thus a lot larger. Get your very own Tefi plaid ring today! I have a lot in stock and they come in four colorways: green (pictured), red, navy, and white. Buy one in my Etsy shop before they are sold out! Photo Credit: John Kernick Model: Sarah Richardson for Ford Models

Tefi Loves: Nuts II

Clockwise from top left: Acorn gift tags by BuncoBettys, Acorn necklace by Crave, Aw, Nuts necklace by Tefi, Acorn rubber stamp by Corrabelle, Oh Nuts gift tags by SunshineandRavioli, Bustin' a Nut vinyl sticker by vinylville, Beginning VI watercolor painting by GollyBard, Golden Peanut pocket knife necklace by contrary, Acorns stationery by TheBeehivePress. Clockwise from top left: Nut-Busting Squirrel magnet by CrowBiz, Porcelain mixed nuts by kgrandey, Nutter earrings by urbanlegend, Nuts for Acorns necklace by secretjewellz, Coconut Pom-Poms by PomLove, Timothy Peanut plushie by MadeByMarta

Meet Me at Cliff Fest

I live in the coolest part of Dallas, a small arts community called Oak Cliff. I love the Cliff, and where I live there is an eclectic mix of classes and races, artists and foodies, and big dreamers. Meet me at the first annual Cliff Fest on Sunday, November 15. I'll be sharing a tent with Larry, a.k.a. the Kessler Craftsman, and we will be unveiling a collaboration of his fused glass and my fabric crafts. He'll be making special fused glass buttons that I will then use to create one-of-a-kind fabric brooches, much like the ones pictured below. The weekend after Cliff Fest, come on by the 2nd Annual Jingle Bash, which I am lead organizing with my pal Pamela Michelle and the rest of the awesome Etsy Dallas leadership team. The first 50 shoppers get a FREE goody bag chock full of handmade goodies. See you soon!

CityCraft Opens in Dallas

So excited! Been waiting for weeks for CityCraft to open. From their web site: The first of its kind in Dallas, CityCraft is a modern fabric boutique and sewing lounge featuring sought-after fabrics and sewing patterns by Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Heather Bailey, Anna Maria Horner, Joel Dewberry, and Alexander Henry among others, in addition to sewing classes for all skill levels. If Ian allows, we're headed that way after work. He may even wave Hello to all the pretty, pretty fabric.

I've Been Stalked!

Whoo-hoo! I woke up this morning to the glorious honor of being stalked, and I'm not talking in a "boil your bunny" kind of way. The always-entertaining blog Etsy Stalker picked my This Little Piggy fabric necklace (only $10!), and even gave a shout out to my gal Cut Out & Collect (a.k.a. my fabric scrap dealer). Holla! The best part about the write-up is Etsy Stalker's appreciation for my product description: "He cried wee-wee-wee all the way home. Man, what a wuss." The blog post also features some other great pig-tastic handmade items. I am in good company! My favorite is A Cagey Bee's A Tiny Pig original painting. Wish it were in my budget b/c this guy needs to be in my studio. Etsy Stalker's reason for posting this amazing group of piggies is because her little one is sick at home with the swine flu. Bless her heart! Here's wishing her a speedy recovery.

Tefi Loves: These People Here

So what if it's raining, Dallas? Shopping in the rain can be fun. It can be exciting. It can be so very Seattle (where it rains a whole dang bunch). Don't let this rainy season stop you from heading to the Urban Street Bazaar in my little hamlet of Oak Cliff. Local artists and crafters will be selling their lovingly handmade items this Saturday and Sunday in the Bishop Arts neighborhood of the Cliff. And when you're done at the Bazaar, head over to Tyler Street for a fun block party featuring local designers Tara to the T and House of Dang! It's on Saturday from 6pm-11pm. Don't miss it! To give you a little preview of the Bazaar, here are some of my friends who will be there: Dowdy Studio silk-screened men's tees Three Yellow Starfish children and baby's clothing Pamela Michelle art jewelry and prints Miamaria Design aprons, bags and other fabric goodies Wrap Couture stylish gift wrap Maggie May I domino pendant jewelry Cut Out and Collect bags, purses, clutches made with unique designer fabric Texas Tarts vinyl record jewelry Karmacrochet knit and crochet accessories MandiBeads beaded pens and handbound journals One-Up Designs vinyl wall art Kessler Craftsman glass and metal jewelry LolaFalk Designs bags and clutches Superchica ceramic jewelry And of course Tara to the T, who will be at the Tyler Street Block Party!

Tefi Loves: Fair Day!

Me, Jen, and big mound of tater swirls

Yesterday I went to the State Fair with Ian, Jason, my parents and BFF Jen. It has been Jen's and my tradition to go each year, ever since we taught together way back in the day. This year we invited the rest of our family in on the fun times (with us, my family = her family). I ate: cotton candy, a pupusa, Greek salad, tater swirls, funnel cake, a candy apple, Fletcher's corny dog and some beer. Hard to believe I'm still a size 6.

Ian and Jason taking in the sights and sounds

To celebrate, I made a treasury on Etsy, highlighting some great handmade State Fair-themed items. Here are a couple of my selections:

Autumnal Sweets ACEO $10.50 by Loxly Hollow

All the Fun of the Fair photograph $25 by Laura Evans

These are really big balls, people.

I am so in love with this new piece. When I bought the beads at a recent bead market, I intended to keep them for myself because a) they are simply gorgeous, and b) they cost a whole lot. But after making the piece, called Big Country, I decided to photograph and list it in my Etsy shop and share with you guys. I used my new dressform, which I am currently in love with, and a sweet delicate shrug from Anthropologie. Hurry up and buy it before I decide to keep it for myself after all!

Revisting an Old Favorite

About five years ago I designed my signature piece, the Juicy Fruit, seen here with an beautiful mint green cardi from Anthropologie. It was my first sale on Etsy back in 2006, and I have sold nearly 50 since then. Everyone from my mom, to my coworkers and friends, to strangers at my craft shows love this necklace. Shoppers have bought the Juicy Fruit both for themselves and for loved ones. Some even splurge for the necklace-earrings-bracelet combo. In five years, the design has undergone some changes to fit the large number of customers who love it, but the price has not changed. At $28 + free gift box, the Juicy Fruit is a steal! This morning, while Ian napped (oh, thank goodness), I took some fresh photographs of my Juicy Fruit necklace using my swanky new dress form. This piece is designed to be adjustable from a choker length to approximately 18 inches long. As you can see, it goes with any outfit - from a colorful cardigan to a simple off-white top. Get a Juicy Fruit or two today and stock up on gifts for the upcoming holidays! Each one comes wrapped in a gift box, ready to give.

Ian makes me laugh.

The best thing I've ever made is this little guy right here. (It was a collaborative effort, mind you.)

Ian and the Abuela

Happy times, new teeth