Two new members for the VET!

Please welcome our two newest team members: ButtonFarmer and The Gypsy Vegan! Don't forget, the Vegan Etsy Team offers handmade all-vegan wares, made by vegans - for vegans and for everyone. So stop by their shops, say hello, and don't forget to make them your favorites!

Veg*ism and Empathy: a scientific connection?

During the last week of May, an interesting article entitled The Brain Functional Networks Associated to Human and Animal Suffering Differ among Omnivores, Vegetarians and Vegans was published by a group of European researchers.

Say wha?

The article discussed an experiment wherein them there scientists tried to find out if vegetarians and vegans demonstrated empathy in a significantly different way, in brain function terms, in situations that are not food related. Different than who? Than, well, everyone else - those who consume animal products without considering the ramifications. (The veg*ns in the readership are exclaiming answers right now, but just keep your pants on. The findings are quite interesting, I promise!)

Lucky for those of us who don't make a hobby of reading peer reviewed scientific journal articles, Psychology Today published a chipper little blog post discussing the original article and its findings.

So... read, learn, enjoy!

Halloween Treats from Vegan Etsy!

Halloween is fast approaching, and the best place to find delicious vegan treats is the Vegan Etsy Team!  From candy, to baked goods, to bags to stash it all, we've got you covered!

Vegan Mallocreme Candy from Panda With Cookie:

Halloween Cupcakes from Sweet Fritsy:

Orange Cream Chocolates from Sweet V Confections:

And to keep your goodies all to yourself, try stashing them in the Trick or Treat bag from my shop, Vegancraftastic!

-kala (Vegancraftastic)

Starrlight Jewelery teams up with CypherLOX for a Halloween Giveaway!

This giveaway may rock your world. Whether you're polishing up your nightly wardrobe, or just looking for the right pieces for this year's costume, the time is NOW.

The VET's very own Starrlight Jewelry has teamed up with the radical CypherLox for a Halloween Giveaway - and with three fabulous tiers of prizes, no less! There are numerous ways to enter, including fanning on Facebook, submitting customer appreciation photos, and of course placing orders! So don't forget, purchases with Starr's shops benefit Starrlight Cat Sanctuary. Get the full contest details here - and good luck!

More New Members!

We've got two more new members to introduce to you this week: Chirp Cards and JF Illustrations. So much color in these shops - I love it! Stop by to check out the whimsical designs and animal themes - I know you'll be hooked! (And of course, don't forget to make them your "favorite" shops!)

Night Owls card
by Chirp Cards

Go Vegan Rooster
by JF Illustrations

Happy October!

Happy October, did September fly by for you as well? To celebrate a new month, here are some very Autumnal picks from the Vegan Etsy Team!

It's Pumpkin Time by 3 AM Art Productions:

Pumpkin Earrings from Starrlight Jewelry:

Raven Tee from Sick on Sin:

Halloween Mischief Notebook from my shop, Vegancraftastic:

-Kala (vegancraftastic)

Perfect for fall: Vegan Carrot Cake!

Check out this awesome recipe for vegan carrot cake, AND a delicious vegan cream cheese frosting to boot, from VET member Rachel of Soapwalla. Perfect for Thanksgiving dessert? Mmm... yes!

Illustrations from My Zoetrope

Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups shredded carrot
• 2 cups flour (i generally use spelt)
• 1 cup raw vegan sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• pinch salt
• 1/2 cup coconut milk or other nondairy milk (I generally squeeze in the juice of 1/2 a lemon in to make it a little brighter tasting)
• 3/4 cup sunflower, grapeseed or other light oil
• a big handful raisins
• a handful slivered almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9 x 13 pan. Mix all dry ingredients thoroughly. Fold in carrots, making sure to coat carrots with flour mixture. Add oil and mix. Add milk and mix. Fold in raisins, almonds, and pour into cake pan. Even out the top (will be pretty thick), then cook 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting (recipe below).

Cream Cheese frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 tub Tofutti cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) earth balance, softened
• 3/4 to 1 cup organic powdered sugar, to taste
• zest of 1/2 lemon
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Whip cream cheese and earth balance until light and fully mixed. Add powdered sugar and mix. Taste, and add more sugar if necessary. Whip in lemon juice and zest, then place in fridge until you are ready to frost. Just before frosting, re-whip, then try not to eat the entire bowl before you get to the cake!

When the cake is fully frosted, I recommend placing in the freezer until you are ready to serve.

Feed Your Skin.

Rachel Winard, Soapwalla Chef

First new members for Fall!

We are happy to welcome two new members to the Vegan Etsy Team this week: Cornflower Blue Studio and Viva la Vegan! You're going to want to check these shops out, because I have a feeling they'll be two of your new favorites. ;) As it happens, both of these members happen to have awesome websites, so make sure to check these out too: the Cornflower Blue Studio blog and VivaLaVegan.net!

Coin Collection Embroidery from Cornflower Blue Studio

Upcycled Recipe Card Set from Viva la Vegan