Sunday, March 29, 2009

Interview- Starrlight Jewelry

Today's interview is with Starr of Starrlight Jewelry and Starrlight Boutique.

How did you choose the name of your shop and how long have you been a member of Etsy?

My shop name is also my namesake! Starrlight Jewelry has been on Etsy since December of 2007. Prior to etsy I had a Web and Ebay stores.

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to start creating them?

I sell a lot of things in my shop: Stitching markers, Rings, Earrings, Necklace, Chokers, Bracelets, Anklets, Slave Bracelets, Beaded Sandals, Wine Glass Sets, Sun Catchers, Window Hangers, Fan Pulls, Pendants, Companion Collar Charms, Zipper Pulls, Cell Phone Charms, Napkin Rings, Curtain Ties, Beaded Bottles/Vases, Sand Vials, Bookmarks, Pins, Brooches and more.
Do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?

I do! I contribute to multiple animal sanctuaries every year. I also contribute to Big Cat Rescue, Hawaiian Humane Society, Kalamazoo County Humane Society, ASPCA, and more. Often times I do not send them money but I create items for them to sell at auctions, stores and web stores to raise money for the animals. I am also a feline foster mom and feral cat guardian.

What are some of your favorite things about etsy?

Besides VeganEtsy Team, I plead the 5th.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy, either online or in retail shops?

I have recently started listing duplicate items in an artfire account. As for retail shops, I am currently working on 3 different commissions, one in Or. one in Thailand and one right here in Hawaii ^.^

Have you been featured anywhere?

Etsy Front page, etsy gift guides, customer review blogs, and more.

Do you have any animal companions?

I have cats, both fosters and 3 of my own companions. I've taken care of bunnies, gerbils, turtles, chickens, and parrots in the past.

Do you have any websites besides your shop that you would like to tell us about?

You can find all my websites on the sidebar of my blog: http://starrlightjewelry.blogspot.com/
I also use my blog to do totally free give-away contests. Anyone with a blogspot & etsy account are welcome to join and play.

How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?

Ive been a veggie for a really, really long time. I went Vegan about 3 years ago. My eyes were opened by the plight of smaller things, like oysters & the FW pearl industry.

Do you have any favorite vegan things, like books, websites, stores, etc.?

Well, I love the VeganEtsy team. Its one of the greatest collections of Vegan goodies any person could hope to find. My fav vegan band is Faith And The Muse.

What are your favorite foods?

Granola, sea weed stew, peanut butter chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, French Vanilla Mocha Coffee, Mashed potatoes and strawberry banana smoothies.

Is there anything else you would like to add or share?

Some of the coolest people Ive ever met in my life are Vegans and number of those are a member of this team.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Thursday Night Temptation!

It's Thursday Night Temptation at Gothcupcake! Now through midnight, buy one item and get a second item for half off. But wait, there's more! You will also receive an exclusive never-before-seen promo badge with every order!

*(discount will be taken off of the item of equal or lesser value)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Two more giveaways!

Wow, are our members generous or what? There are two more giveaways to announce.

Art You Dream About is having a giveaway to celebrate their grand opening. You can win two lovely bookmarks! Details & pictures can be found here.

Also, Panda With Cookie is having their first ever wee monster giveaway. You can win a blue wee monster! Details can be found here.

Good luck, everyone!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Blog Giveaway!

Vegancraftastic is having a giveaway on her blog for a sticks & skulls knitting bag. The contest ends on March 28 and all you need to do is leave a comment here, letting her know what your favorite cookie is. Good luck!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

This week's interview is with Heather of Holistically Heather, For The Love of Vegan, Recycled Cycle and Vegan Samples.

How did you choose the name of your shop and how long have you been a member of Etsy?

I chose the name holisticallyheather because I though it had a nice ring to it, and I planned on selling all different organic and eco friendly items

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to start creating them?

I started my shop up to sell reusable menstrual pads, and I started making them because I wanted a way for them to be available for people who dont have the option to buy them in a co-op near by. I also hadnt seen many organic or fair trade pads out there, actually none hah, so I thought it would be a great new alternative. After a while I started branching off and selling bath and body, organic lavender sleepy pillows, wet bags for reusable pads/diapers, business card holders, cramp pillows, zines, and anything else my brain dreams up at the time.

Do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?

I donate to animal sanctuaries on a regualar basis and we also cook for Food Not Bombs at our house. Food not bombs is a vegan/vegetarian free meal for folks in a park in downtown utica, we use reclaimed and wasted food from the area to prepare healthy meals for those who would normally be eating meat soups and meat sandwiches at the local shelter. Food Not Bombs is all over the world, you can definitely find one in your area! Food Not Bombs is also usually the first relief group to show up after natural disasters and start handing out food and helping people.

What are some of your favorite things about etsy?

I love etsy!!! I love supporting super tiny independent crafters, its so much more fun than going to walmart and getting some sweatshop labor junk. The best thing, you can find anything you ever imagined, right on etsy. I have also made many sweet friends and met many people that are easy to learn from and have great tips.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy, either online or in retail shops?

I have thought about possibly starting up my own website, but for now I am on etsy...and happy. I did recently start an artfire account, but that is slow slow slow. http://www.holisticallyheather.artfire.com/

Have you been featured anywhere?

I have had interviews and features on various blogs, and a couple of customers even reviewed my items on their blogs! My other etsy shop, Vegan Samples, was recently featured on an etsy advertising website and blog!

Do you have any future plans for your shop?

Well, we are hoping to start a sanctuary in the semi-near future so I would love to open up a shop to help benefit the sanctuary. When and if all of that happens I plan to sell some seeds and seed kits from my garden, which I will do whether I open another shop or not. As far as for this shop, I just go with the flow and create whatever is on my mind at the time. Things are always changing and growing, so check back often :)

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?

This is a good question! I love spending my time outdoors, hiking, bicycling, gardening, collecting and eating wild edibles, nature walks. This summers goal is to learn 10 new wild edible plants, and eat a diet of 20-30% wild edibles. Last summer we only could manage about 10% of wild edibles, so we are hoping to keep learning more and more! I love to read, and I am always down to trade recommended reading lists with people! I really love sewing and creating new things, fixing up old clothing etc. and I find knitting to be very relaxing. Guerilla gardening is also something that is really fun, but thats definately a seasonal love of mine. This year we are hoping to spread the joy of veggies and flowers all over this run down abandoned city...all while riding our bikes! I guess that is me in a nutshell :)

Do you have any animal companions?

We have 2 silly little dog friends. Penney I have had since she was 5 weeks old, she was the runt of her litter and noone wanted her, possibly some sort of abuse in her past. She is super cute, I dont even know how to explain her cutesy quirks, and sassy tude! Then there is Carmel, our new addition to our family. Carmel has a lot of emotional problems and issues with abandonment, which if I had his past life I would too! So, we are making sure to give Carmel lots of smooches and reassurance! I also have a one eared kittie named Shane, that crawled through the window of an abandoned building I was squatting in. My grandfather fell in love with Shane and she has lived with my grandparents even since!

Do you have any websites besides your shop that you would like to tell us about?

Sure thing...it will be quite a list for various projects!
http://www.fortheloveofvegan.etsy.com/ vegan baked goods and novelty chocolates
http://www.myspace.com/holisticallyheather my myspace
my latest project: vegan sample bags
http://www.vegansamples.etsy.com/ vegan sample bags, great for promoting your shop
http://www.vegansamples.blogspot.com/ you can stop by and vote for which animal sanctuary will receive the first donation
http://www.vegancraftsamples.com/ our official website
http://www.myspace.com/vegansamples
I think those are all of my websites and advertisements hahah


How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?

When I was growing up, my sisters and I were all huge animal lovers, and my parents were too but not like us. My parents lied and lied to us every time we ate food, telling us that it wasnt real meat, that is was meat special made for animal lovers. When I was about 12, I smelled liars, and I called them out, and my dad was all mad and yelled at me for "ruining it" for my younger sisters. That was the last day I ever ate meat, and shortly after I read about dairy production and cut out dairy. It has been smooth sailing, especially since I learned how to actually cook. Veggie burger veganism is part of my past, but it wont be part of my future hahah

Do you have any favorite vegan things, like books, websites, stores, etc.?

Some vegan bands that I love: gather, 7 generations, contravene, propaghandi
some awesome websites
http://www.nocompromise.org/
http://www.myspace.com/alfsupport
http://www.animalliberationfront.com/

What are your favorite foods?

This is such a hard question to answer, I LOVE SNACKS!
I love vegan cupcakes, especially from The Cupcake Mint, I got some strawberry ones yesterday and they were amazing. I love portabella and cheeze pasta, cast iron pizzas, raw salads, raw spring rolls with raw teriyaki I could go on and on about food, so lets just say, if its vegan and not too greasy I probably love it!

Is there anything else you would like to add or share?

Indeed there is
I would like to share a video from one of my favorite vegan bands
Contravene. The song is called, in the name of convenience and it is about animals as profit.



Friday, March 20, 2009

Congratulations Renee!

Congratulations to Renee of Pink Bubble Designs for winning the Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway #2! The prize she won is a team prize pack, which is a variety of items from different member's shops.

Stay tuned for the Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway #3. It'll be starting soon!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Review- Uber Duper Creations

Uber Duper Creations is a shop that I've made several purchases from and I've been extremely happy with the entire experience each time. I can't recommend them enough!

Not only do they have terrific vegan dog treats that are Emma approved, but they also have gorgeous treat jars to put them in. As you can see in the above picture, Emma got her very own treat jar from them in November. It washes up easily and stores a lot of treats. We love it!

Their shop isn't just for dogs, though. We've bought several catnip toys from them for Crystal and Sophie. Crystal prefers blind strings to toys, but Sophie enjoys her toys quite a bit.

If you're looking to pamper a dog or cat in your life, check them out!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Interview- Late July

This week's interview is with Nicole of Late July Photography.

How did you choose the name of your shop and how long have you been a member of Etsy?

I chose the name of my shop, because Late July is when I tend to be my most creative, as well its when there is a peak in stray animals running at large. I joined and found etsy in May of 2008. I found Etsy through facebook.

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to start creating them?

I started taking photos since the pound didn't have a camera. I'd post the photos on petfinder, and the better the photos the more attention and potential for adoption the animals received. I decided to print the photos as they meant something to me, all the photos are mostly of homeless animals facing an uncertain fate. That struck something with me, and I decided to sell the prints in order to raise money for the special needs animals.
Do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?

Yes. I volunteer with LOYAL Rescue http://www.loyalrescue.com/ as fundraising coordinator and volunteer coordinator. I also volunteer at my local animal control helping take photos and getting special need animals adopted or into rescue.
What are some of your favorite things about etsy?
I love the unique items, and creative ideas. I get so inspired seeing so many talented people on here.
Do you sell your items outside of etsy, either online or in retail shops?
Currently no.
Have you been featured anywhere?
Nope.
Do you have any future plans for your shop?
Just take more photos and see what happens.
What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?
I am a music nut, nerd, snob. I play and teach guitar/song writing. I am a big movie geek, I love movies from the 20's to new movies. Animal rescue is my biggest hobby, helping stray animals is probably my favorite thing to do, honestly. I'm addicted.
Do you have any animal companions?
I have one dog, Charlie aka Chuckie. He's a Jack Russel Terrier / Shih Tzu mix. He has a mixed past, and is special needs. He introduced me to all the dogs in my area that were in need - i had no idea. He's saved many dogs lives via me :)
Do you have any websites besides your shop that you would like to tell us about?
I am very active in a dog rescue group LOYAL Rescue which are a provincial canine rescue in Ontario. http://www.loyalrescue.com/
How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?
I went veg around 6 years ago, very shortly after that I went vegan. I originally did it for health reasons, but then was introduced to the world of what animal cruelty was.
Do you have any favorite vegan things, like books, websites, stores, etc.?
I like Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, and I love the website/blog http://www.fatfreevegan.com/ and of course, Vegan etsy!
What are your favorite foods?
I love salads and mexican good. Basically a Mexican salad is one of my favorites!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Congratulations Agua Vino!

Congratulations to Agua Vino for winning the February team challenge! The theme was "That's Amore" and the challenge was to create an entry that promotes love between human beings and animals. Her entries were for her new "spread the love" donation program that she runs through her shop. She features special items that 50% of the profits go to animal sanctuaries.

Her specific entries for the challenge were her llama love and valentine piggy photo greeting cards. Both photos were taken at Pigs Peace Sanctuary and 50% of the profits from the sales of these cards will be going to them.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Cookie Brittle

This is a recipe that my mom gave me which I veganized. It's great with tea or coffee!

1 cup margarine (I use Earth Balance)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the margarine, vanilla and salt together. Beat in the sugar. Add the flour, chocolate chips and 3/4 cup nuts. Mix together well then press into a 15x10 jelly roll pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and press the remaining 1/4 cup of nuts into the top.
Cool completely, then break it into pieces.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

A Giveaway and a Sale!

Vegancraftastic is having a sale on selected items through March 12 to celebrate her birthday. Happy birthday!!

Also, Agua Vino is having a giveaway on her blog. The prize is A Lucky Irish Green Gift Package that is a collection of handmade goods and thrift store treasures. Details can be found here.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Interview- Bright

Today's interview is with Melissa of Bright.

How did you choose the name of your shop and how long have you been a member of Etsy?

I became intrigued with the word "bright" one day when I was shopping for paintbrushes. I'm very particular about my brushes; not only do I have to I have to avoid those made with "natural bristles" (read: from animals!), but I'm also quite picky about shape. Outside of the odd round or filbert, almost all of my brushes are bright - almost square. I saw the word that day and it just struck me - it has so many positive connotations. Plus, it sticks with my B theme.

I've been a member of Etsy since the spring of 2008; I had taken a sabbatical from my day job (as a legal assistant, believe it or not) and was throwing all of my energies into my creative pursuits. It was a short-lived but worthwhile phase.

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to start creating them?

I make a somewhat wide range of objects in my shop, and each has had a bit of a different evolution. Many of them spring from my desire to make something interesting and useful out of what was previously 'left for dead', as it were. I think people are now calling this upcycling. (I live in a hole - I just heard this word for the first time like last week.)

A good example is my envelopes: I take the pages from magazines that no one wants to read anymore and turn them into an extra-special package for your written correspondence. There are others: I use paper that would be thrown away from my utterly wasteful office (they refuse to institute a recycling program, and my efforts at starting one have been squashed) to make journals. I also like to rehabilitate old t-shirts and other clothing items with new stencil designs.

I have always made things, and at some point in my twenties I realized I'm not truly happy unless I'm actively engaged in some sort of creation.
Do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?

My fiance and I donate to Farm Sanctuary in upstate New York. I am also giving 25% of any proceeds from sales of my New Orleans-related items, including one zine and a series of paintings, to a group called the Common Ground Collective. I, along with many friends and family members, lost my home in Hurricane Katrina, and Common Ground is providing incredible support on a grassroots level to people in less affluent neighborhoods that are still trying to rebuild and prevent their homes and land from being claimed by the government.

Lately I've been donating craft items to various events: six envelope sample packs went to a meatout event with which Vegan Etsy team member ShopDeviant is involved, I'm donating a paperweight to the SASHA Farm Sanctuary silent auction, and I'll be sending a raffle prize (or prizes) to an upcoming Bowling for the Animals event - I just have to figure out what yet!

I have a strong desire to start volunteering with one of the groups that does food education work here in the city, such as Sustainable Table or Just Food. It's something I hope to pursue in the near future.

What are some of your favorite things about etsy?

I could talk for days about how great Etsy is, but I'll try to focus on the very best things. I love having a place to shop for goods where I know I'm supporting people rather than corporations. And the variety that can be found is astounding! I know that I can just search the "VeganEtsy Team" tag and find every kind of product under the sun, all vegan, and all made by vegans! It's made birthday shopping a lot easier and a lot more fun. I've also found a great community on Etsy, both within and apart from the Vegan Etsy Team.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy, either online or in retail shops?

Right now physical and electronic copies of my very short book / very long zine "The Plague Project" are for sale on Lulu.com, a self-publishing website; physical copies are available in my Etsy shop as well. The zine addresses challenges I've faced and things I've learned in dealing with a chronic illness since my late teen years. I am working on having a few items sold at shops in and around New York City. And I'm also excited to be a part of Vegan Craft Samples, a project of VeganEtsy's Holistically Heather.

Have you been featured anywhere?

I think that depends on the definition of "featured". :) I had a "one woman show" last summer, kicking off with a zine release event for "Anywhere I Lay My Head", which chronicles my experiences with Katrina, and extending into a two month long show of my paintings and photography of New Orleans in the months and years following the storm. It took place at Think Coffee at the corner of Bleecker and Bowery, a great little shop.

Do you have any future plans for your shop?

So, so, so many things to post... for that matter, so many things to make!

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?

Most of them are apparent in my Etsy shop - even the fact that I'm addicted to reading leaks through. I love to take long walks and visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden when my body and schedule will allow it. I'm also a chronic blogger, and write a decent number of short stories and nonfiction articles. Most recently I've taken up cross stitching - it's actually something I did when I was a child but not for long and not well. Now that I'm an adult who (theoretically) has patience, I want to learn for real! And, of course, I started a blog about it...

In truth I spend all of my "free time" doing one of five things: crafting, doing research on nutrition and the food industry, blogging or otherwise internetting, reading, and hanging out with my man. These frequently overlap!

Do you have any animal companions?

Not any longer, though I do maintain "Mom" status and full visitation rights with my cat Monkey who still lives with two good friends in New Orleans. Long story short, he's happier where he is than he would be with me, and it would be cruel to take him away from the people he's with now who love him. But I miss him terribly!

Do you have any websites besides your shop that you would like to tell us about?

There's my "combined" blog, called Ok, all together now! I have many blogs that I update, but I copy most posts to this one so that people don't have to work too hard to keep up. I also have a blog that revolves around the experiences of living my vegan life in New York City, called I like New York in green, how about you? Not all of the posts from this one make it to the combined blog. And, of course, there's the new one for my cross stitching! I'm calling it crosseyed.

How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?

Becoming vegan was really the inevitable culmination of a long and multifaceted discovery process. I, like so many others, had become interested in vegetarianism and animal rights in my early teen years. Unfortunately, I (also like so many others) at that time lacked the dedication and follow-through to stick with a vegetarian diet or to properly educate myself. But a seed had been planted in my head, and thankfully it never ceased to grow.

In my twenties, due to failing health and a medical system with a poor understanding of what I was going through, I began to research nutrition. It didn't take long for that to become a study of our current food industry. And after a few years of research, I sort of reached a point of no return. I could no longer be part of a system that would create and profit (greatly) from such tainted foods, and do so by torturing animals, abusing workers, destroying ecosystems... I've done a fair amount of writing on this subject.

I'm excited to say that March 17th will mark my third veganiversary. I'm planning to celebrate it by releasing a new vegan zine!

Do you have any favorite vegan things, like books, websites, stores, etc.?

My favorite writers on the food industry in general are Marion Nestle and Michael Pollan, although Pollan does get on my nerves a bit. I also think that "Diet for a Dead Planet" by Christopher Cook is an amazing piece of work; highly recommended for anyone who's interested in learning about the current state of our food supply. I could actually suggest books all day long. (I'll refrain, but if anyone's interested please feel free to contact me!)

As far as other things, outside of the Vegan Etsy team items I love Pangea Vegan Products. The website is a really great resource for people who don't live in big and/or vegan friendly cities but still want access to awesome vegan stuff - I imagine that if and when I leave New York I will rely on it heavily. And for those of us in New York, we have SuperVegan - the most awesomest website ever.

What are your favorite foods?

I love love love smoked tofu - hot or cold, in entrees, salads, sandwiches, whatever. Try this: sliced smoked tofu (bbq flavor is best) with slices of a good sweet crisp apple, on any good bread with any good mustard: best sandwich ever.

I'm a big fan of various "ethnic" cuisines: Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Thai mainly. Oh, and Ethiopian is awesome! There are also a couple of restaurants here in NYC that have various pate-like substances made of things like nuts and sunflower seeds - amazing. (New York City is sort of a candyland for vegans - if you're ever coming through town and want to know what's the best lunch spot, drop a line!)

And of course I can't fail to mention that I'm a complete ice cream whore. Among my favorites are Rice Dream's ice cream bar covered with chocolate and peanuts and their chocolate mint pie, and any of the Purely Decadent ice creams made with coconut milk. The truth is that I'm really quite the sweets addict. I love good dark chocolate, which is why I'm thrilled that we have several team members making chocolate and chocolate covered treats! I also get a real kick out of Japanese treats like mochi and daifuku.

Who am I kidding? I just love food!

Is there anything else you would like to add or share?

For any non-vegan readers who are interested in vegetarianism or veganism, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have - whether it's about how to achieve a proper balance with nutrition while eating a vegan diet, what daily life as a vegan is like, or what the best brands of ice cream are! Becoming vegan can seem like a huge step, but it's really not as difficult as some people (your mom?) can make it out to be.

And to my fellow vegan readers, I'm always up for a good chat about vegan nutrition, the food industry, sustainable agriculture - whatever! I'd love to hear from any of you. I'd also be interested in working with others who make zines - anyone want to start a new vegan zine project? Not just a cook zine - there are so many topics to be covered!

To sum up, I'm always happy to provide whatever support I can in helping anyone and everyone in moving toward a more healthy, ethical, and environmentally conscious diet.



Saturday, March 7, 2009

Welcome to new members!

zwani.com myspace graphic comments
Please give a warm welcome to this week's new member!

Dhara Holistics

Check out the wonderful goods they have in their shop and don't forget to heart them!

Friday, March 6, 2009

The Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway #2

The Great VeganEtsy Give Away #2

•Friends Not Food•

Requirements:
• Blog Spot Account With Contact Information.
please have an email or website for us to contact you through otherwise we will not be able to reach you when your name is drawn for the prize.

How To Play:
• go to http://www.etsy.com/ and search for items that are tagged with VEGANETSY TEAM that promote love for animals that are commonly seen as food. In a comment to this post, put which item you chose and why.

Example:
• I choose {link} because pigs are often thought of as disgusting and unworthy of compassion and friendship. It symbolizes
that these animals are intelligent and kind.

• Each person can only respond 1 time for 1 entry into the drawing. Blog followers get double entry.

Contest Ends:
• March 19th

Prize:
• Team Prize Pack
Team Prize Packs can contain Jewelry, buttons, totes, bath & body, store gift certificates, books, recipies and more!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Please help Zack!

Nicole of Late July Photography does rescue work in Ontaria, where pit bulls are, unfortunately, illegal. :( She has a rescue that will take Zack, a pit bull, that is out of the province, but she needs to raise $120 (Canadian dollars) to help get him out. The money will go to his vetting costs and neuter/shots/microchip.

Below is a way to give money towards helping Zack. Please help this wonderful guy out by giving what you can so that he can live!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Recipe- Vegan Mac & Cheese

The following recipe was submitted by KM Stitchery.

I combined 2 different vegan mac and cheese recipes to create my own! I made this for our vegan potluck on Thursday night and everyone LOVED it! They all want the recipe. I called it mac 'n cheese, but they all started calling it Mac 'n Choice!
INGREDIENTS

4 cups of elblow macaroni
1 1/2 cups soy milk
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups nutritional yeast flakes
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp dijon mustard
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 bunch of broccoli, chopped (optional)
1 medium onion, chopped (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1.Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rapid boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. When done, drain and set aside.

3. Steam the onion and broccoli.

4. Place all the remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until well combined.

5. Add the cooked pasta & steamed broccoli and onion to a casserole dish, pour the "cheese" mixture over the pasta and stir to coat the noodles. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sauce begins to thicken and brown slightly.

Makes 6-8 servings

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Vegan Samples!

Are you a vegan crafter that would like an easy way to promote your shop? If so, then check out Vegan Samples. It's a great way to reach new customers and show those who purchase the samplers how wonderful your crafts are.

The sampler bags will go on sale April 14. If you'd like to be a part of the bag, samples are due by March 31. Check out the etsy shop, too!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Interview With Choco-A-Go-Go

Today's interview is with Choco-A-Go-Go.

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to start creating them?

I make all sorts of vegan chocolates! I like to have the classics, but I really like exploring and pairing up "strange" flavor profiles. I stick to just pure chocolate by itself, which will never get boring. I love making it and experimenting with it. As long as there is a smile when you see and eat the my chocolate, that's all I strive for =)I started with my love of cooking and focused it to confections and then that streamlined to specifically chocolate.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy, either online or in retail shops?

I have a http://www.chocoagogo.com/ website, and also sell at the local college business offices and by word of mouth. Have even done a couple weddings!
Do you have any future plans for your shop?

I'm working towards having my own store front. And also eventually being 100% organic and free-trade, working one-on-one with the farmers.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?

Food, cooking, and eating is the love of my life, and I even have a food blog (theveganronin.blogspot.com)! My pantry is filled with crazy food to try. I love traveling, music & movies, Cleveland Cavaliers, letterboxing, surfing, video games, window shopping, Zen Buddhism, and Eastern cultures (I lived in Japan for 2+ years). I love making things with my hands too(food, art, gardening, building shelves...)! The list goes on!

Do you have any animal companions?

3 cats: Zeus (Ragdoll), Tilly (Turkish Van), Kashmir (all black). And 1 dog, Christine (German Shepherd/Greyhound mix). All of them are rescues.

How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?

I've been vegan since May 2001. I was vegetarian for 4 years prior and went to a sort-of DIY-Anarcho weekend retreat and knew I couldn't go on living the way I was, knowing how animals are treated. With such a love for animals, I knew this was a perfect fit for me.

What are your favorite foods?

I could eat avocado sushi everyday! My other absolute favorites are Japanese curry udon, Israeli couscous, and I've recently been obsessed with Singapore noodles. Mexican & Indian food, mac & cheeze, pierogi, and all desserts will always be my weak spots!

The Veganetsy team has been nothing short of amazing rallying people together, gaining support and even getting exposure in magazines! What other Etsy team is doing that!? It makes me so happy that vegans as strangers can come together and have that sense of comradery. Brings such hope to all of us! Thank you team leaders!