Thursday, October 30, 2008

Team Treasury & More VegNews Publicity

VegNews has a new website and has the bloggy awards featured here, which includes the Vegan Etsy blog! Please leave a comment thanking them for giving Vegan Etsy an award!

Michelle of My Zoetrope made us a SUPERMEGAAWESOME team treasury! Check it out here!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Review- For The Love Of Vegan

The following was written by Starr of Starrlight Jewelry.

If you are a member of the etsy forums, then you know that there is much conjecture and trepidation about buying food online. A large number of buyers and sellers alike speculate what is in the food that shouldn't be. I think that through their own fears and insecurities they attempt to sway others from making purchases they themselves would not.

Having a strong will and a mind of my own I am very rarely if ever swayed by the thoughts and feelings of these types of expressions. As to that I breached a gap so many are unwilling to and purchased some cookies for my family.

I looked about the Vegan Etsy team food sellers for a number of days, after the decision had been made to buy some cookies, deciding which ones to pick as there are a great number of treats to choose from. My eyes lingered over ForTheLOVEofVEGAN for a period of time and then found myself returning to her shop repeatedly, thus my decision was made.

I selected 2 types of cookies, Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Vegan Cookies Organic and
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Vegan Organic Cookies for my purchase. I was very pleased by the quality customer service when Heather, the shop keeper pm'd quite shortly after to ask me about any changes or customizations I may like for the cookies. I thanked her for the options, already eager to receive my prizes, and said to keep the order as is.

The cookies arrived 5 days later, via Priority mail, not a single one smashed up, broken or falling apart. She had done a marvelous job to ensure the wrath of the post office would not befall my treats.

The cookies themselves were fantastic. These delectable treats were large, soft and chewy! My little one, always excited to see new packages coming to the home, was standing beside me in the kitchen hooting a happy "cookies mommy! COOKIES!" in her excitement. I selected a Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie for myself and handed her one as well.
The sensation of that first bite was indescribable. Melt in your mouth seems to be such a flat and unimaginative statement compared to the total oral ecstasy of these cookies. The look on my daughters face can sum it up a bit though.
I've always been partial to oatmeal and peanut butter cookies, and in my 27 years of sampling I can honestly say that these are the best ones that I have ever had. If you are ever in the mood for a tasty tid-bit of pleasure I strongly suggest a snack sampling from TheLoveOfVegan, as I can assure you, you won't be disappointed.

Friday, October 24, 2008

World Go Vegan Days Team Promotion

Several members of our team will be having promotions in their shops from October 25-31 for World Go Vegan Days. If you're not vegan, we urge you to give it a try! Check out our links on the right hand sidebar for a lot of information on veganism and visit Go Vegan Now to get your free vegan starter kit.

The following members are participating in this event. Please see their shop announcements for information on their individual promotions.






































Gracie (Bonnie) Update & Please Vote!

Members! The poll for the October challenge is up, so please vote for your favorite entry. It will be up for one week.

For those of you that helped out Gracie (formerly Bonnie), there's great news! 90% of her coat has grown back and she is doing so well. You can see a video of her progress here. Now she just needs to find her forever home, so please get in contact with Nicole of Late July if you're interested in adopting her!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Publicity


Vegan Etsy has had quite a bit of publicity since it first formed in February 2008! If you know of anything that isn’t on this list, please send it to Melissa Bastian.

Vegan Etsy Blog Ring- our members blog about the team a lot!

The Storque

Cruelty Free Etsy

Etsy for Animals

Vegan Radio, Show #58

Veg News Magazine, July/August 2008 and November/December 2008 issues

Vegan Freak Radio, Show #97

Leafy Green

Slashfood

Serious Eats

Vegan Soapbox

Post Punk Kitchen

Preraphaelite Punk

Farm Sanctuary's Fall 2008 Newsletter

Ecorazzi

Jumbleberry Jam

Vegetarian Times- January 2009 issue

Vegetarian Women- they featured us on their front page, Holiday Bargains and blog.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Review- Uber Duper Creations

I’ve ordered from Uber Duper Creations several times now for all of my animal companions and myself, loving my experience each time. Whether it was Beastie Biscuits for Emma, catnip toys for Crystal and Sophie or lovely cards, I got fast shipping, friendly service and quality products each time. Everything was beautifully made and the biscuits & toys went over very well!

Any shop that caters to companion animals has a special place in my heart, but Uber Duper Creations pulls on my heart strings even more because they give a percentage of their sales to Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, (my favorite charity) and are located in Colorado, one of my very favorite places in the world. Plus, Pippi is just a wonderful person all around!

If you’re looking for something special for your companion animal, this is the place to check out. You will not be disappointed!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sales & Team Challenge

Brisil Bath & Body is having a sale until October 24. Buy one scrub, get one free! Visit her shop for lots of decadent scents to pamper yourself with! She is also having a 25% off sale on all companion animal bowls!

Also, Heather is having a 15% off sale in all three of her shops- Holistically Heather, For The Love Of Vegan and Recycled Cycle. She has a large variety of great stuff, including treats, organic scarves, jams, wallets, cloth pads and much more. Make sure to check it all out!

Members! Today is the last day to enter in the October Team Challenge. Don't miss out on the fun & chance to win a prize!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Did you know?

DID YOU KNOW...

863 animals die every second

pigs are smarter than dogs and three year old children

more than half of the water consumed in the U.S.is used to raise livestock

vegetarians and vegans live an average 6-10 years longer than a meat eater

In every package of chickens there's a little bit of poop

cattle ranching is the number one cause of amazonian deforestation

a meat eater's risk of developing heart disease is 50% higher than a vegetarian

they flavor McDonalds french fries with meat juice

vegans save an average of 100 animals a year

animals like cows are kept in dark, filthy rooms, then they are taken in a metal truck which usually makes the cows sick and then they are killed in the slaughter house consciously

birds and chickens are kept in small cages, they are also debeaked with a hot blade so they don't peck the other animals to death

male chickens are either gassed, or suffocated in a bag because they don't lay eggs when they grow up

when cows are done making milk they are killed

pig farmers cut off a pigs tail so the other pigs tail don't bite it off due to the fact of the small space

when chickens are done laying eggs they are also suffocated in plastic bags

Animals are fed drugs so they can grow bigger

eating one hamburger uses enough energy to drive a small car 20 miles and take 17 showers

cows are excellent mothers

sheep can recognize other sheep's faces and human faces as well

goats are very curious and playful, have individual personalities and capable of great affection and loyalty

goats intelligence is comparable to that of pigs and dogs

if you give an apple or a small ball to a group of turkeys they'll play with it

hens and their babies communicate even while the chick is still in the egg

cows must be pregnant in order to give milk, they are artificially inseminated and confined in one stall where they have to stand in their own urine and feces

fish grow underwater algae gardens

to get milk out of cows farmers use electrical machines and usually the cows bleed and pus comes out so that's usually what you're drinking

mad cow disease is in the united states

fishing hurts. imagine a hook is stuck through your lips and you are being pulled up rapidly.... Pain right?

baby cows are separated from their moms within 24 hours of birth

raising animals for food needs more than a third of fossil fuels and raw materials in the U.S.

Going vegan does more to stop Global Warming than switching to a hybrid car

the U.S has the highest upper limit of milk pus concentration in the world

Sunday, October 19, 2008

World go Vegan Days Promotional Event!

Several members of Vegan Etsy will be doing a promotional event from October 25 - 31 for World Go Vegan Days. Each member that is participating will have their own promotion in their shop, which can include sales, free shipping, buy one get one free, giving a percentage of sales to an animal charity, etc.. This Friday, I will be posting another announcement about the promotion along with a list of participating members, so stay tuned! If you are a member and would like to participate in this event, please visit this thread on the message board for details.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Team Shop Is Open & VegNews!

There are two very exciting things to announce today.

First of all, our Team Shop is now open for business! Sampler packs are available for purchase and will be listed until we sell out of items that were submitted for the packs. Hurry and get yours before they're gone! All profits from the sales of the packs will be used for promoting our team and veganism, based on what the majority of the team decides on. There is also the option of donating some or all of the profits to an animal charity.

Second, the issue of VegNews that is arriving to subscribers now (and will be on newstands November 1) has our ad in the gift guide on page 54. Look on page 22 to see a letter to the editor about Vegan Etsy from Michele of Cards & Jewelry by Michele, page 42 to see Sarah Kramer holding a mug from Vegan Dish and a lovely ad in the marketplace for Vegan Dish on page 100!

Thanks so much to all members who contributed to the ad and team sampler packs!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Vegan Soap Giveaway!

Want a chance to win some wonderful vegan soap that's made by one of our members, Dirty Loves Clean? Well, then, all you have to do is head over here for the instructions to enter to win. It's easy and definitely worth your time!

A little about Dirty Loves Clean-

Do you like your bath with a touch of sweetness? Rich organic brown sugar and creamy shea butter will tickle your sweet tooth. Resist the urge to eat it.

This soap contains 40% olive oil & a whopping 10% shea butter. Superfatted 5% for extra moisturizing qualities.You will receive a bar approx. 4 oz

Handmade in a little kitchen in Brooklyn-- Dirty Loves Clean bath and beauty products are made using natural ingredients, are free of things commonly found in store bought products like petrochemicals, parabens, and phthalates, and are 100% vegan, which means no animal testing or animal products! Dirty Loves Clean is an eco-friendly operation-- products are packaged in handmade labels made from recycled paper, biodegradable bags are used for packaging, and recyclable materials and locally-sourced ingredients are used whenever possible. If you can't stand not winning this great soap, or want to pick some up for gifts you can get some right now.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Team Treasury!

Ariel of Big A Little A got a beautiful treasury- click here! Please show it some love and help to bump up it's "hotness" by leaving a comment and clicking on all of the items. The hotter it gets, the more it'll get noticed! Thank you, Ariel!!


Monday, October 13, 2008

Food Not Bombs

The following was written by Heather of Holistically Heather, For The Love Of Vegan and Recycled Cycle. In addition to contacting Heather, you can also post in this thread.

Gift bags for local food not bombs are filling up nicely with vegan etsian items. Anyone else who would like to donate items to a good cause and promote their shop, please get ahold of me!

What is food not bombs?if you want more info check out http://www.foodnotbombs.net/
We share a vegan hot meal with local folks who need it. Food not bombs is a worldwide organization that is always one of the first to show up at a natural disaster. Our local chapter just started and we are still struggling to get on our feet. We rely solely on donation and reclamation of food.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

New Members & Team Treasuries!

I have two members to welcome to the team this week-

Held
Eat Your Greens

Please give them a warm welcome and don't forget to heart their shops!

I also got two team treasuries today that can be found
here and here. Please show them some love by leaving a comment and clicking on each featured item!


Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Team Store Opens in One Week!

One week from today, I'll be listing team sampler packs that will be available to purchase in our team shop. The sampler packs will consist of a variety of samples & promo items from several of our members shops, including jewelry, soap, coupons, zines, lip balms, keychains, magnets and more. We will have a vegan-themed one available, too, which will include items that say "vegan" on them.

The profits from the packs will go into a treasury for the team and will be used for whatever the team decides on- ads, promo items, vegan advocacy, etc.. So, by shopping at our team shop you'll be helping to support our team, which means we can promote veganism even more! Plus, you'll have some super cool stuff in return.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

These are a great treat for this time of year. For the frosting in the middle, I use the fluffy buttercream frosting from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. You can use a vegan cream cheese frosting, too. This is a recipe that I veganized & tweaked to make just right. It took several tries, but they finally turned out perfect! Oh, and that picture is not of pies that I actually made. I found a stock photo on one of the online recipe sites. The ones I make do not turn out that purrty....

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

2 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 cup canola oil

2 egg replacers (I use Ener-G brand)

2 cups pumpkin

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices in large mixing bowl. In a seperate bowl, cream together sugar, oil, egg replacers, pumpkin and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the center of the cookies springs back when lightly pressed. Cool thoroughly on wire racks or towels before spreading with filling.

Make the frosting of your choice and "sandwich" two cookies together.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

October Team Challenge

Members, the October Team Challenge is under way, so don't miss out! The theme of the challenge is "Vegan Halloween" and each member gets one submission, which can be a new or preexisting item. The deadline for submissions is October 21, at which time a poll will be posted to determine the winner. If you win, you get to choose a prize from these shops and grab bags.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Sales!!

There are three shops that are having sales-

Uncommon Threads is having a a 30% off "Can't wait till Halloween/Moving" sale from October 9 through October 19. Vegan Etsy members can combine this with their usual 20% off/free shipping & gift for orders over $50 (so that's 50% off/free shipping & gift for orders over $50!). She has some super cute, unique aprons available as well as pampering eye pillows. Either convo her first to have the price readjusted or pay right away and she will refund you through paypal.

Daisy Wares is having a "Happy Birthday Daisy Wares" sale today and tomorrow only. Everything in the store is 25% off! For the refund, convo her first to have a reserved listing with the adjusted price or pay right away and she will refund you. All of you vegans out there that like to wear message gear, make sure to check out her new vegan pendants! She has a lot of other beautiful jewelry as well as bath & body items.

Uber Duper Creations is having a 20% off sale for the entire month of October in honor of World Farm Animals Day with 10% of sales going to Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary. If you have companion animals, this is a great shop to check out!!

Don't miss out on these great deals!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Welcome to new members & team treasury!

There is one new member who I would like to welcome to the team this week-

Big A Little A

Please give them a warm welcome by checking out their shop and hearting them!

Also, I was able to snag this treasury today. Please show it some love by leaving a comment and clicking on the featured items!

Friday, October 3, 2008

New features & reminders

Starting this Sunday, we'll have a new feature on this blog. On the top of the right hand sidebar, we will have a "Member of the week". The member that is being featured will have their etsy mini there for one week and they will get to choose the next week's featured member, but there is one catch. The person they choose must be an active member, which means that they have to participate in the team in at least some small way that benefits the team and it's members. If you have a question about it, please see this thread.

We also have another post section, ISO Requests ("in search of"). If someone is looking for something in particular, all you need to do is send me a convo through my shop, and I'll post it here as well as on our message board under this thread. This is for non-members as well as members! When you convo me, please send me a small write up about what you're looking for, including details and how to contact you.

There are two deadlines coming up that I would like to remind all members about. I will be listing our team sampler packs in our shop around the 18th, so all promo items are due to be sent out to me on the 10th. If you need the address to send them to, convo me. For details on all of this and to ask questions, please visit this thread.

The second deadline is the 12th and that is for sending in recipes for the team cookbook that we are doing in collaboration with Cruelty Free Etsy and EtsyVeg. If you need details or help on this, then visit this thread.