Saturday Designs

Wondering where to get a bunch of good quality, hassle free electronic prints?

Brittany Andy, founder of Saturday Designs, tells us more.

I am still in the process of adding new listings but there is a lot in my shop now to choose from.

I started Saturday Designs after my wedding when I saw how ridiculously expensive paper goods were. I kept seeing things and thinking, "I can just make that myself." Everything in our wedding was handmade and I saved a ton!

I began making prints for friends' bridal and baby showers as well as art for our new house. I am currently pregnant with our first child so I am now making tons of nursery decor. All of these items are available in my shop. 

Digital designs are the most cost-effective for my customers so that is what I offer. The majority of the prints in my shop are $3. All of the items in my shop are instant downloads, so as soon as a customer makes a purchase, they can download, print, and frame their art immediately. This is especially great for last minute shower gifts! 

I am constantly making and adding new items so check back often :-)

Then visit Saturday Designs, for low prices on a wide range of electronic prints!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SaturdayDesigns

Hobbit Door Necklace and Earrings

Thank you so much to Kenneth and Brooklyn Wood of REVIO for sending me a gorgeous Hobbit door necklace and earring set for review.

REVIO was launched on Etsy.com in February of 2013 by 15 year old, Brooklyn Wood with the help of her dad, Ken Wood. Brooklyn's first creation was the Hobbit Hole Necklace, Locket with Green Door and Bilbo's quote, "It's a dangerous business walking out your front door." It is also REVIO's main seller. (website:www.etsy.com/listing/124011242/hobbit-hole-necklace-locket-with-green).

Not only am I a big fan of the Lord Of The Rings and the Hobbit, but I also adore jewellery, so mixed together REVIO created the perfect accessory for people like myself. The set arrived in perfect condition, after being carefully packaged and shipped half way across the globe. Customer service was brilliant, and any questions were answered quickly, with any communication simple and minimalistic.

Brooklyn is a big-time LOTR/Hobbit fan of course. She enjoy's being able to make things that people really like. Not only have people bought the necklace for themselves, but have given it as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions.

The necklace is gorgeous, with the pendant being nifty and cute. It has a magnetic door which opens up to reveal the famous Bilbo Baggins quote, "It's a dangerous business waking outside your front door". It completes any outfit, but so far I've worn it with a black tank, navy leggings, and matching green DMs.

Brooklyn has added other creations to REVIO’s list as she thinks them up. She loves converting vintage necklaces to hair extensions and buttons to earrings. She also has a vintage section in the store where she features household items at least 20 years or older. The prices of the vintage items are below antique store prices. Also, on the shop is a CD of Irish Whistle music composed and performed by her father, Ken. The album won acclaim in instrumental music circles upon its debut in 2010.

The earrings are the sort that hang from the ear. I usually find these rather uncomfortable, but these earrings actually felt fine, with no irritation. Of course, they go perfectly with the necklace, with a golden-tinted curved pole. Like the necklace, it is intricate and detailed, without being so defined it becomes overcomplicated. 

Brooklyn and her dad have launched a handful of other stores onEtsy.com as well. For those who are fans of Pirates of the Caribbean and the hit show Merlin and the King Arthur era, they created RenBoots. They launched Express Steam Works for fans of Steampunk wear and gadgetry. Kommando Kilts is a store for lovers of quality Celtic wear. Brooklyn's mom makes the best cupcakes in the world, so Brooklyn launched a shop for her called KBAMCakes. Her first cupcakes are styled after Monster’s Inc. University characters. Their final shop was opened for a friend and is called Bob Holderby's Metal Art. They have shipped to customers all over the world. 

The set really is adorable and so nicely made, and I'm extremely glad I have been lucky enough to review them. Again, thank you to Brooklyn and Kenneth.

Brooklyn is a junior in High School. She just turned 16 and hopes to be financially independent by the time she is in college. She hopes to make enough money to travel to the UK, Scotland, Ireland, Africa and other countries. She loves missions work and uses part of the money she raises from REVIO to fund her trips.

Check out the REVIO Etsy; www.etsy.com/shop/REViO

How I Met Your Mother Poster

Thank you so much to John Elefante of Sixteen:9 for sending me a lush How I Met Your Mother poster for review!

"Absolutely gorgeous and very meaningful to me. I will come back for this type of product ALWAYS and recommend to others. FANTASTIC!!!"

This How I Met Your Mother poster is an original illustration professionally printed on 16" X 13" archival acid free paper. It is also printed with archival inks, which means that both the paper and the ink are of the highest quality.

The print is very creative, capturing the very energy of the television series. It is minimalistic and simple, yet looks great. 

"Great poster printed professionally on high quality paper for a very smooth silky finish. Love the campy 3D and can't wait to get it framed. Arrived safely packed without any damage from overseas transit."

I have to admit that I am a huge fan of the How I Met Your Mother series, so receiving this poster really was a great surprise. It hangs great from my wall, and easily attatches itself to blue tack and double sided tape. It looks great on any wall colour and design, automatically becoming the main piece in any room. It would also attatch to glass, plastic, wood, and many other materials well - even paint and plaster.

"I'm buying all my posters from here. Amazing quality, very cool prints and AA+ marvellous service. Buy everything before I get rich enough to do so."

The print is brilliant, yet I couldn't help notice that one of the five main characters, Barney, is not there, which was quite sad. However, I am assuming that this is an early shot of the series, as the mother hasn't been introduced yet either.

It gives off a shiny, glossy appearance, and looks great when any form of light is shining upon it - I would, however, try to keep it from direct sunlight as that would fade and damage the print. Mine is just in view of my lampshade, which means that due to the glossy paper it gives off a slight reflection, which actually looks great.

Use Coupon Code 16NINE to Receive 20% Off Your Order!

The print arrived safely and was carefully packed. The average review for Sixteen:9 is five stars, which just goes to show not just how great the prints that the business does are, but how great the customer service is also.

Again, thank you to John Elefante (who's second name means 'elephant' in Spanish which is my favourite animal) for sending me such a gorgeous print!

Check out Sixteen:9's Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sixteen9

Marvel Superheroes Skirt

Thank you so much to Angela of Forever Since for sending me one of her gorgeous Marvel skirts for review.

I absolutely love this skirt, as it blatantly portrays my love for comics and fictional characters. The fabric is stunning, including snippets from comics, and characters such as Thor, Spiderman, Wolverine and Hulk Junior.

The pattern on the skirt is bright and eye catching, the sort that would suit any other combination of clothes and make the perfect outfit. I tend to wear it with a black long sleeved cotton top, black wool socks and black creepers, maybe adding a Superman accessory here or there.

"Medical billing clerk by day....crafty chick by night.
Hello! My name is Angela and I am ForeverSince. Not too long ago, in a galaxy far away I was a young girl who liked to play barbies and sew them clothes. Now that I'm all grown up, (or so they say) I still like to sew. Sewing and creating things, to me, is calming (unless my sewing machine has an attitude that day!) To see something come together by my hands that other people love gives me great joy."

The material is soft and comfortable, yet I found that the waistband was slightly too tight for me, so some adjustments were made. The skirt is usually knee length, but after those adjustments it made it slightly shorter. 

This skirt is one of my favourites as its loud design will automatically become the main piece in any outfit. I have worn it to school once or twice, which kicked up quite a few compliments.

The skirt is machine-washable, although I imagine when creased it would become reasonably difficult to iron, yet not impossible.

I started my shop on a whim. I had recently started making things again with the encouragement from friends and family. I figured, hey-if they can, then I can too! When my husband lost his job that gave me the umph to really go ahead with it. Most of my items are pop culture related. This is what I love and it comes out in the items I make. Movies, TV shows, comics, superheroes...... I think if I like it, somebody else will too. While my shop is currently still my nighttime job, it is also my daytime dream. Until that day may come, I hope you love the items I have now and also the ones that will be!

Again, thank you to Angela for sending me such a lush skirt!

Check out Angela's Etsy; https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ForeverSince

Bronze Starburst Ear Cuff

Thank you to Marty Bobroskie and company at Marty Magic for sending me one of their lush ear cuffs, it was probably one of the best products I've ever receieved!

The jewelry and sculpture I design is created by the lost wax casting process. I personally sculpt each original in wax at my Santa Cruz studio. My designs are then cast into gold, sterling silver or bronze. Fantasy, fairy tales and the magic of nature significantly influence my work. I have a passion for what I do. I love the creative process, watching my pieces take form, and I take pleasure in interacting with customers both in person and online.

I began to wear this ear cuff out the second I received it, as it really was so beautiful. However, after a mere few days of me being it's owner, I had taken it off for a few hours when I must have left it somewhere at my school. It was never returned, and so I apologise that this post is written in past tense, because the ear cuff was truly stunning. Luckily, I managed to take three initial photos of the cuff before it was misplaced.

The ear cuff arrived in a simple open/ close purple box with a removable top lid, which had the Marty Magic logo printed in gold on the front. In the inside was a soft cotton-like fabric which the cuff sat on nicely. 

Each February, I attend the Tuscon Gem and Mineral show and hand pick the gem stones that will inspire my work for the upcoming season. Most recently, I've been creating 18K gold dragons and octopuses clutching intoxicating opals. I love to travel and my wax carving tools fit into a small brief case and I can set up a temporary work station wherever I travel. 

Copyright Marty Magic

This ear cuff had been antiqued slightly, so it gave off a gorgeous, rustic look. It was comfortable and easy to wear, and if it was needed for the cuff to be adjusted, all that was needed was to gently open or close it slightly. It was easy to wear with no need at all for any piercings as it simply just curls around the ear.

The cuff came with a booklet full with instructions on how to wear it, how to clean it, etc, and came with images showing how to put it on. It explained how the cuff will last a very long time, yet it will tarnish or patina over time.

The lost wax casting process involves creating a model in wax that is then suspended in a metal flask and investment is poured around it. (Investment is very much like plaster.) The solidified invested flask is then placed in a kiln and the wax model is slowly melted out until only the negative cavity, the exact shape of the original wax model remains. Molten metal is then centrifugally spun into this negative space, or in the case of larger bronze castings, gravity poured into the negative cavity. After the piece has been cast it must be freed from the plaster and finished. Sprus are cut and ground and various polishing media, patinas and oxidations are used to bring the piece to its final polished state. If gemstones are to be set they are mounted just prior to the final finish. 

It had a very intricate design, and each starburst was incredibly detailed. Like all of the Marty Magic products, it was available for purchase at a very reasonable price, and more replicas of this design are available on their Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/86759468/bronze-starburst-ear-cuff?ref=shop_home_active .

Customer service was brilliant, with quick and thorough communication. It arrived sooner than expected, and due to the care in which had been taken to protect it with a box filled with cotton, it arrived in perfect condition. 

The ear cuff was perfect in every way - it honestly was flawless, and I truly regret that it is no longer with me. 

20012 marks my 34th year in business. Over these many years my business has grown and taken new directions. At this point in my career my jewelry line is quite extensive. I have help with the casting which allows me more freedom to work on designs that I am passionate about. Over the many years I have shown at hundreds of art and craft festivals but now thanks to Etsy, I have a whole new venue and a vast circle of new Friends. Thank you all! 

Go over to the Marty Magic website at www.martymagic.com to find out more information about the business and their products.

Visit the Marty Magic Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/martymagic to browse the hundreds of their fabulous products.

Donellen's Vintage Treasures

Thank you to Dawn Mayo of Donellen's Vintage Treasures for sending me a few things from her Etsy, they're all great.

"I hadn't planned this, I lost my job as a Medical Business Office Manager, and had been outsourced so many times I can't count. It was time to stop looking for the same job again. It was time to take a deep breath and like so many other people before me say, Why Can't I...
Why Can't I do what makes me happy, I learned to knit and crochet as a little girl sitting on my Great Great Aunt Bess's lap she taught me many things before she passed away when I was 8 years old. She is the one who called me Donellen a misspelling of my name but something I cherished forever. A secret between us two. I also created a love of all things with lace and pearls. She showed me how to make do and bring life again to something old. I learned to sew from my mother I made all my school clothes and clothes for my dolls, I had 3 sisters so there was always a larger dress I could make into a skirt. My mother made draperies for a living and would bring home the scraps I was the only girl in school who had skirts made out of toile or a damask print. I made money by making clothes for my friends from the time I was 11. I got my working papers at 15 and have not stopped since. I love to go consignment stores and flea markets searching for treasures something my mom and I loved to do together before she also passed away."

I love the small blue elephant that Dawn sent me to review, especially as I've recently decided that elephants are my favourite animals.

The elephant has a very detailed, intricate design, and I am pretty sure that it has been crafted by hand. The design is gorgeous, with various types of flowers, dots, circles and waves covering the body. It has a vintage, classic design.

I couldn't help but notice that the elephant has holes where the 'trunks' should be, which is quite peculiar. 

"I finally decided to listen to my family, my mother in law who kept telling me I should put my talents to the test and my sister in law Deb who critic's my work and pushes me forward to be the best I can be.
I am doing it, I am making my dream come true , my store, my products, I can't wait to get up in the morning, I sleep all night and I dream about what to make next. I don't worry about when my next sale will come I worry about if I'll be able to find the vintage piece I'm looking for. I put my heart and soul in everything I make. I use my imagination to create my pieces, my love of literature, old movies, romance and the happy ending. I hope this is the feeling you will get from my creations."

The business card that came with the elephant was stunning.

It is embellished with a lovely design, and unexpectedly came with four ice flake shaped hair grips. They're very pretty, and go well with both the elephant and the business card itself.

"I love old vintage lace, doilies and porcelain, shabby chic decor, hats and frills anything that makes a house feel like a home. My creative room as I call it is shared with my husband and his computer and four wonderful cats. You will get to know one as Consultant Kitty if you follow my Facebook page she shares my work-space most of the time and loves to help?

I have joined teams, made new friends, learned how to tweet, and started my marketing career, I try to watch Etsy success classes every week ,and am learning as I go.
This will be a Journey that will fulfill my life, I am just beginning and have so much to look forward to, won't you join me."

Dawn Mayo also sent me a small red, white and green woolen bracelet.

I liked this mainly because of the colour choices, and how they are the three colours of the Welsh flag. I'm Welsh, so whether Dawn meant to make that connection between the colours and the origin or not, I'm still drawn to it. The bracelet is embedded with silver which also adds to the appeal.

Again, thank you to Dawn Mayo of Donellen's Vintage Treasures for sending me a few items from her Etsy.

To visit Donellen's Vintage Treasures Etsy page, go to; www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Donellensvintage

Asian Brocade

Thank you so much to Rebekah Gamble of Asian Brocade for sending me a collection of items from her Etsy. They're all so gorgeous!

"Hi, name's Bex, and I'm the one who started this madness.

AsianBrocade started unexpectedly when I tried to donate some books at a local library (for that story, see my profile here:https://www.etsy.com/people/AsianBrocade?ref=si_pr#). It started out as a small one person gig, me trying to do what's right. I thought I'd invest some money, a ton of time, and make it a hobby that paid some of it's own bills, and maybe in a year or two I'd see that investment covered and start seeing returns. I was so clueless."

The first item that I fell in love with was the ear cuff set that Rebekah sent.

The ear cuffs have a simple yet effective design, and are comfortable to wear. I'm lucky that these cuffs are silver, as silver usually goes well with pale colours, and I have very white skin. However, silver is known to suit Summery colours also.

I was attracted to this design because I tend to be drawn towards an organic theme in accessories, such as leaves and feathers. I also like the fact that you can wear ear cuffs without the need for any piercings.

"In reality, I wouldn't invest that much (my capital was $1,000), and I'd make that back in six months, and then some. I started learning how to do things- hand recycle products, make paper, make dyes from scraps being thrown out at local high schools, etc. My neighborhood's a little on the low-income side, so I'd always wanted to share free and low-cost events with the community, but people thought it was strange that some random person wanted to do that, and it was never well-received. I found that having a shop to back me up, something to pull it all together, really helped. Within a month of opening my shop, I found myself training interns and school children, having workshops, and sponsoring events for other locals that had skills they wanted to share with the community. I also found local boot-strap businesses who had similar goals as me to work with. Soon I had something of a team of artists, musicians, business owners and local leaders working hard to spread love throughout the community. As a result, we've all been able to do what we love better with more far-reaching results."

Rebekah also sent me a gem-like pendant on a necklace.

I have a lot of two-tone nailvarnishes, so I was chuffed to finally receive a piece of jewelry that would match. It has an appealing design, and again is silver, which is probably THE best colour for accessories, as it tends to suit near enough anything. I also went through a faze not that long ago when I had a slight obsession with cherries, so it was pretty coincidental to receive a necklace with a cherry charm.

"AsianBrocade's manifesto is something like "Focus on Love" though we've never actually written that out. Funny thing about love is that it's got a ripple effect. People snatch it up and grow it in their back yards, and when they get some fruit from the vine, they pass it out too. It's certainly been an adventure, one I feel deeply blessed to be a part of. Less than a year ago, when I started this insanity, I never expected to be involved with healers, artists, crazy African drumming events, library events, and all sorts of other brilliance. It's just kinda happened."

I also received a small bracelet from Asian Brocade.

This bracelet is made up from multiple colours, such as silver, gold, bronze and copper, and although the colours really shouldn't go together, in this bracelet surprisingly they do.

I like how the bracelet includes a space for an image, and although I have no idea as to how I'm going to find an inage that small, it seems relatively easily to replace the cardboard instructions with an image.

The bracelet is really artistic, and it came in a really nice box with a stamp of a rustic bird upon it. There is also a soft cotton-like fabric inside the box to cushion the bracelet itself.

"We stick to doing good, which means recycled and scrap materials, and avoiding all the gross stuff out there: animal cruelty, modern day slavery, China-sourced materials/products/services (we do NOT support countries that do not support basic human rights), toxic materials, etc. We screen everything closely, work hard, have a ton of fun, and share the good to everyone we meet. We look at all the levels of existence and life: Animals, People, the Earth, etc. and do our best to do only good on each level."

Last but not least, Rebekah also sent me a pair of cherry earrings.

These earrings are also silver, and are cherries! Just like I said about my cherry obsession previously, the same applies for these. They go well with the necklace that Rebekah sent me, and are simplistic in a way that still looks aesthetic. They are light and fit comfortably, without any pulling or tugging, like most dangly earrings.

"So what's AsianBrocade about? It's pretty simple, really- Being human, hard work, and a whole lotta love.
And not getting too serious. If there's no laughter, what's the point?"

Again, a massive THANK YOU to Rebekah of Asian brocade for sending me such glorious items. They really are lovely.

Check out the Asian Brocade Etsy; www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AsianBrocade 

Superman Necklace

Thank you so much to Evalda of Laser Cut Jewelry for sending me a gorgeous Superman necklace. It looks great, thank you!

"Thank you for visiting my shop!
Inspiring Jewelry Designed To Make You Smile, not available on etsy right now, You
can buy Best Friends Batman ,great mirror weddings cufflinks, pokemon, kingdom hearts and other geekery and elegant jewelry at www.lasercutjewelry.net" 

The necklace looks great, and the laser cutting is precise and looks exactly as it is meant to. I like how the red cutting has been adhered onto a mirror background, as it tends to reflect light and create shadows in the shape of the Superman symbol which is pretty cool!

"Here you will find jewelry designed in Lithuania. 
Nature,music, history, typography, street art, movies, books and architecture are a big inspiration in my work.
Everything in my shop is designed and made by me."

The necklace arrived in the allocated time given, and came complete in one piece.

Check out the Laser Cut Jewelry Etsy at: http://www.lasercutjewelry.net/product/red-superman-necklace/

And again, thank you to Evalda for sending me this Superman necklace all the way from Lithuania!