Meet: Pink Velvet Bird!

Finally and fabulously, we have for you Friday's new Vegan Etsy Team member, on this glorious eve of the New Year. And who is it? None other than Pink Velvet Bird! You'll love this shop for all things ribbon, trim, and bright color. And you'll also love their eponymous blog, which is highly entertaining. Stop by both places and say hello! And make the shop your favorite - you wouldn't want to forget it, now would you?

Sew-on Rose Trim
at Pink Velvet Bird

Polka-dot Grosgrain Ribbon
at Pink Velvet Bird

Meet: The Peaceful Baker!

I've got three words for you: More! Vegan! Cupcakes! Meet Thursday's new Vegan Etsy Team member, The Peaceful Baker! (Only appropriate for Vegan Cupcake Thursday, you know.) You probably already know that I get pretty excited whenever a new sweetsmaker joins the team, and this shop is no exception. I can't wait to try Amanda's goodies (and I know they'll be fresh since she bakes and ships on the same day an order is made). I'm sure you can't either, so shop away, and don't forget to add her to your faves!

Vanilla Cupcakes with Raspberry Frosting
from The Peaceful Baker

Banana Bread Muffins
from The Peaceful Baker

Meet: Pansy Maiden!

Wednesday's new member will be a thrill for all of us who covet bags (so, um, all of us?): meet new Vegan Etsy Team member Laura of Pansy Maiden! From the horse's mouth: "Our mission is to create attractive, sustainable, cruelty-free bags in a socially responsible manner." Mission success! These bags are gorgeous, and of course all vegan! So get your shop on, and click that heart. :D

Pansy Maiden "Weekender" bag in black/ivory with mandarin trim

Pansy Maiden bowed shoulder bag in champagne "microsuede"

Meet: Ottoline's Oddities!

If you love vintage odds and ends and animal rights, then boy do we have the shop for you! Meet Tuesday's new member: Ottoline's Oddities! Ottoline is working hard to bring you the finest bits and bobbles of (vegan) ephemera around. Even better, 10% of monthly proceeds goes to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary! So have fun perusing, and don't forget to click that heart!

Sushi Rings
from Ottoline's Oddities

Vintage Novel Advertisements
from Ottoline's Oddities

Meet: The Crafty Bandit!

Today we are happy to introduce to you Monday's new member: The Crafty Bandit! The adorable antics of this shop will have you in stitches - really fine stitches too, by the look of this craftspersonship. Stop by and don't forget to make this shop your new fave!

Cupcake Bunny Toddler Shirt
from The Crafty Bandit

Raccoon Bandit Relief Print
from The Crafty Bandit

New Member Bonanza!!!

In the past week, we have been lucky enough to induct five, count them FIVE, new Vegan Etsy Team members! This week we'll be introducing them to you, one on each day. Each shop is fun, unique, and of course completely VEGAN. Excited? We are! So stay tuned...

Happy Christmas, Festivus, and everything else everyone!!

VET Giveaway on VegWeb.com!!

Do you dream of winning a Vegan Etsy Team grab bag? Well now's your chance! This week's VegWeb Weekly Giveaway boasts a prize of just that - a prize pack jammed full of VET goodies. For a chance to win, you must enter by Midnight on Tuesday 12/21, so hurry!!

Yet another gorgeous treasury by Neva!

A new artist on the Vegan Etsy Team!

Meet Colby Krolak, the newest member of the team! She is a wildlife artist with a beautiful mission statement:

I am a Wildlife & Animal Artist. Whether it is the cheerful story of a frolicsome chipmunk or the legacy of a vanishing species, I intend to illustrate each creature’s personality, beauty and worth. I believe there is always something to learn from the wild and always room to grow as an artist. With my art, I hope to convey my love and respect for wildlife and encourage humans of all ages to appreciate and learn from the natural world around them.

Colby's designs are available for purchase as individual works of art, and are also printed on t-shirts to wear with pride!

African Lovebirds Digital Painting by Colby Krolak

"Jareth" Barn Owl Scratchboard by Colby Krolak

Unique Gifts From the Vegan Etsy Team!

If you're looking for unique, one of a kind gifts for everyone on your list, look no further than the Vegan Etsy Team!  Here are just a few of my favorite unique and wonderful gifts that our team has to offer:

Personalized Embroidered Note from Cornflower Blue Studio:

Lava Rock Jewelry Set from Daisy Wares:

Woodland Owl Painted Ornament from My Zoetrope:

And from my shop, Vegancraftastic, a Jolly Elf Pin Set:

-kala (Vegancraftastic)

And the winner is...

Vegan Soap Kitchen!! Congratulations on winning the November Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway!! You will soon receive your prize package of goodies from various VET members!

Thanks once again to everyone for your wonderful entries. It was great to see the wide range of reasons that inspire people to become and stay vegan - there are so many of them!

We'll have another giveaway soon, and of course we post frequently with many other interesting features and team happenings, so check back often!

Gifts Under $10!

If you're looking for beautiful handmade gifts that are also budget friendly, look no further than the Vegan Etsy Team!  A quick search on Etsy for items from our team $9.50 and under yields 1,117 results!  Here are just a few of my favorites:

Gothic Purple Rose Ring from Starrlight Jewelry:

Utopia All-Over Lotion from Twig and Leaf Botanicals:

Lavender Sweet Orange Soap from Daisy Wares:

Woodland Deer Pin Set from my shop, Vegancraftastic:

-kala (vegancraftastic)

GVEG, V Spot Holiday Market, and holyohmygosh it's December!

Well everyone, we can't believe it either, but it's DECEMBER! That means that Hanukkah begins tonight, and Christmas is just around the corner. It also means that as of this morning, the November Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway is officially closed! Thanks so much for all of your wonderful entries! We will be selecting a winner at random and making the announcement this Saturday, so good luck to you all!!

It ALSO means that the Holiday Market at V Spot featuring wares from Vegan Etsy Team sellers opens in just TWO DAYS!! We are so excited about this project; it's really going to be something special. So if you're in the NYC area you really must stop by! Check out the event on Facebook, or if you're not all facebook-ey here's the flier on the V Spot website. Hope to see you there!

Goodbye VeganMoFo! We'll miss you... until next year!

Farewell, VeganMoFo 2010. It's been a wonderful month of amazing blog posts from a crazy large number of amazing vegan bloggers. We're proud to say that a fair number of those bloggers are our teamies! We're also proud to say that we've posted every day - though, admittedly, not usually about food. Ah, well, such is the life of a vegan - it's not just about the food!

And so we bid VeganMoFo adieu. Thanks for everything, VeganMoFo! Get back home safe! And don't forget to write!! :D

Vegan Etsy Holiday Market at the V Spot Vegan Cafe!

As promised, here are some more details on the VET holiday market in Brooklyn, which will feature a number of VET artisans! We're very excited to be hosted by V Spot, an excellent vegan restaurant in the shopping district of Park Slope. If you're in the NYC area, we hope you can stop by and join us this Friday evening for the launch party! And if not, we're sure you'll enjoy perusing the wares any time during the holiday season - and sitting down for a bite and a nice sip of something as well! One tip: the breakfast empanadas during brunch are TO DIE FOR!! :D

Vegan Baadusha Recipe

Baadusha is a deep fried South India dessert which is made on special occasions like festivals. We've been making these babies for Diwali in the recent years. One of the quickest desserts to make! The only 'work' involved is the deep frying and even that can be easy with a partner.



2 C maida/all purpose flour (I do intend to try these out with whole wheat flour at some point though)
1/2 C cold coconut oil + more for deep frying
2 C sugar
2 C water + more for the dough
A generous pinch of baking soda
Tiny pinch of salt
Chopped nuts - pista, almond, cashew

Fry the chopped nuts in a bit of coconut oil until lightly brown, strain and keep aside.

Pour this strained oil plus the remainder of the 1/2 C oil into the flour along with the salt and rub everything together until crumbs form.

Sprinkle the soda on top, add a little bit of water and knead into a soft dough.

Cover with a moist cloth and keep aside for about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare a slightly thick sugar syrup with the sugar and water by boiling them together.

While the syrup is still warm, heat the oil for deep frying.

Shape the dough into little balls, flatten them and press your thumb (or index or whichever finger you like) down in the middle to form a crater in each one.

In batches, deep fry them in the hot oil on a medium flame until golden brown and transfer them directly into the warm sugar syrup.

Let them soak for about 10 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer them onto a plate and place the nuts in the craters.

After they cool slightly, the sugar syrup will harden a bit and form a layer on top.

At this point the Baadushas are ready to munch on. :)

Hanukkah, here we come!

Hanukkah falls quite early this year, beginning at sundown on December 1st. Hanukkah is the celebration of light, or more specifically the triumph of light over darkness. As (a terribly simplified version of) the history goes: after reclaiming Jerusalem and the holy temple from the Greeks, a single day's portion of oil miraculously burned for the Maccabees for eight days during the temple's rededication. This is why a menorah is kept burning for eight days during the modern celebration.

Although the holiday generally falls close to Christmas, and traditions have now come to include gift-giving, it is clearly a very different celebration. Unique from most Christian celebrations, many important days in the Jewish calendar acknowledge the triumphs and tribulations endured by the Jewish people throughout their history.

Well, I'm all for lighting candles, but what I enjoy even more are potato latkes and dark chocolate gelt! Like the celebrations in cultures found throughout the world, part of the Hanukkah celebration involves eating special (and delicious) foods. Especially those that are fried! This is another way to commemorate the oil that lasted eight days. Does anyone have favorite vegan Hanukkah recipes or treats they'd like to share with us? (Also, who can tell us how to play spin the dreidel??) The comments section awaits you!

Just a few days left...

to enter our current Great Vegan Etsy Giveaway! Get those last-minute entries in folks!

Exciting Announcement: Vegan Etsy Holiday Marketat V Spot, Brooklyn!

Hello world! This morning we are excited to tell you that the Vegan Etsy Team sellers have been invited to participate in a Holiday Market at the V Spot vegan restaurant in Brooklyn, NYC! The official launch party of the Market will be held on the evening of December 3rd. More details will be released as they become available; for now, just get ready to head to Brooklyn and get your shop on!

Turn Black Friday into Green Friday with the Vegan Etsy Team!

Here in the states, this Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. Why? Maybe because businesses expect to get enough sales to put them "in the black". Or maybe because for those who work in retail, it's the most nightmarish day of the year! Any way about it, it's expected to be a day of shopping frenzy! Christmas is coming! Buy those presents!!! (And since you're out, why not slip in a few goodies for yourself?) But, where is all that money going?

Here at the VET, we think it's important to think not just about what you "support" when you're talking amongst your friends and associates, but what you literally support when you pull out those bills or lay down that card. If you'll be shopping you today, we encourage you to give as much of that support as possible to small businesses run by real people - and especially vegan ones! And to also think of all the animals who need our help - not only at this time of year, but all year round.

As you probably already know, one of the best ways to find small vegan businesses is to shop with the Vegan Etsy Team! Our team is made up of individual sellers - real live people! - all of whom are vegan, running all-vegan shops. The majority of us give a portion of our profits to animal causes, and sometimes that portion is 100%! So you can feel good about shopping with us on many levels. Not to mention that our shops represent an incredible variety of wares!

To find us, just go to Etsy.com and search our team tag, "veganetsy team". If you'd like to narrow it down, just add another parameter:

• veganetsy team cookies
• veganetsy team chocolate
• veganetsy team jewelry
• veganetsy team red
• veganetsy team scarf
• veganetsy team bath

And so on, and on, and on...Whatever it is you're searching for, we've probably got it!

And so, happy Green Friday, and happy shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving! (Happy Save A Turkey Day!!)

You simply must check out these two beautiful treasuries from Neva, both in the spirit of the holiday! I hope you are all having a wonderful and compassionate Thanksgiving - please fee free to share pics with us here or on Twitter! :D

Vegan Craft Samples for the Holidays!

The Vegan Craft Samples holiday bag is here! The bags have just been unveiled, and they're going fast, so you probably want to order yours today! What's in the bag? Any number of vegan samples from crafters and artisans all over the world. Of course many team members contribute to the bags, as well as a large number of other vendors. The only way to really know what it's all about is to get one of your very own and discover it for yourself!

Bags are available in small ($15), regular ($25), and large ($25) sizes. You can also purchase a "subscription" for 2011 and receive every bag that comes out throughout year.

Importantly - and as always - 100% of profits from the sale of the bags will go directly to support animals in need. Funds from this round of holiday bags are going to Joey's Feline Friends!

To find out more, stop by the Vegan Craft Samples website or facebook page!

Caramel Appel Pie from Apryl Knight!

Just in time for Thanksgiving! Check out this amazing recipe from VET member Apryl:

April's Caramel Apple Pie
(With acknowledgment to "Katia and Granny's Perfect Apple Pie", "Brandi's Famous Caramel Apple Pie!", and all of the VegWeb recipes for vegan pie crusts.)

Ingredients for pie crust
* 2 3/4 cups whole grain pastry flour
* 3/4 cup Earth Balance or oil (or a combination of the two?) (one small stick of Earth Balance plus 4 tablespoons)
* 1 teaspoon sucanat
* 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 8-9 tablespoons cold soy milk

Ingredients for pie filling
* 3-4 apples, unpeeled and cored, then sliced or chopped
* 2 Tablespoons Earth Balance
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon cardamom

Ingredients for caramel sauce
* 1 cup of brown sugar
* 1/2 cup Earth Balance
* 1/3 cup MimicCreme
* 2 1/2 - 3 tablespoons flour


***Directions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.


***Preparing Pie Crusts
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Combine Earth Balance/oil and soy milk with flour (food processor, hand mixer, or fork) until crumbly. Add vanilla extract. Divide dough in half. Place one half in between two sheets of waxed paper or aluminum foil and roll with a rolling pin until it fits the pie pan.

Bake bottom pie crust halfway (10 minutes or so). While it is baking, roll out the other half of the dough and slice into strips for a lattice top. Set aside.


*** Preparing the Filling
Chop or slice the apples. Saute the apples in Earth Balance for about 5 minutes. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. Cook for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.


***Preparing Caramel Sauce
Put Earth Balance into a saucepan on medium high heat until melted, add sugar and flour, stir to mix, and bring to a boil. Wisk constantly to incorporate. Once the Earth Balance has melted and mixture is smooth, take the pan off the heat. Slowly add the MimiCreme to the pan and continue to whisk to incorporate. Whisk until caramel sauce is smooth. Let cool in the pan for a few minutes.


***Putting It All Together
Remove pie crust from oven. Fill with apple mixture and pour caramel sauce over the top. Make a lattice from the top crust strips on pie.

Bake for 15 minutes uncovered, then cover with foil and continue to cook at 350 degrees F for another 35-45 minutes.

Unfortunately, I've misplaced the pictures I took of this pie the last time I made it, but as soon as I find them, I'll post them here

Recipe by Apryl Knight of Knightime Creations

Are you following us on twitter yet?

If by some chance you've missed it, the Vegan Etsy Team is on twitter!! We've got a very active stream with lots of vegan and AR news, and of course lots of updates about member shops and activities. So what are you waiting for? Follow us today!

Holiday treasury happytimes from Vegancraftastic!

Neva began a wee bit of treasury fever among the teamies, and now Kala of Vegancraftastic has created this super fun holiday treasury of team wares! Click the pic and enjoy!

Vegan Book Signing Double Header Tonight!!

If you happen to be in the NYC area tonight, you simply must head to Champs Family Bakery 'round about 7pm. Why? Because there you will find Melisser Elliott, signing copies of the newly released Vegan Girl's Guide to Life, side by side with Kelly Peloza, author of the Vegan Cookie Connoisseur. You can't even believe how many amazing vegans are gonna be packed into this bakery... not to mention, Champs makes donuts! So seriously, NYCers, don't miss it. ;)

Guess what! We got treasuries!!

Our wonderful teamie Neva has been a busy bee making gorgeous, animal themed treasuries! Neva runs her shop, full of beautiful handmade jewelry and original art, to generate funds to care for feral neighborhood cats in need. And just check out these gorgeous team member treasuries she has created!! (Click on the treasury images to be magically transported to the fully interactive treasuries themselves! BY MAGIC I TELL YOU.)

THANKSGIVING IS IN ONE WEEK!! But...

that's just what we're doing here in the states. And while it's fun and exciting and involves lots of GREAT food, we're not that many people when you think about global percentages.

So.

What else is going on around the world? Are there any other interesting celebrations or traditions that you'd like to share with us? (That involve awesome food, maybe?) The comments section awaits!

VEGAN GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE!!

Yepper, you asked for it, and here it is. This recipe comes from my dear friend Liz Cherry, a killer vegan cook and all around fantastic lady. I had her green bean casserole for the first time last year at Thanksgiving, and I've taken a solemn vow to never go another year without it. (Incidentally, it is also omni tested, omni approved!) This is an amazingly good dish that'll bring you right back to your mama's table - just sans animal. Let's dive in, shall we?

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups UNSWEETENED nondairy milk (unflavored soy milk works well; I also find original unsweetened Almond Breeze almond milk to be good for cooking)
  
• 1 cube veggie bouillon (if you don't have one you like, try Rapunzel)
  
• 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 3/4 cup chopped mushrooms (button or baby bella work best)
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sage
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 2 or 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 or 3 tablespoons cold water
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can French cut green beans
• 1-1/2 (24-ounce) canisters vegan French fried onions (French's is the classic - it's got a surprisingly minimal ingredient list!)
  

Directions:

**Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350* Fahrenheit, chop all of your vegetables, and have your spices and other ingredients at the ready.

1. In a saucepan, heat the nondairy milk and veggie bouillon; stir until the bouillon cube disintegrates. Just heat the milk; do not allow to come to a boil.

2. In a skillet, heat the oil. Add the onions, mushrooms, and carrots; saute until the onions are translucent. Add the herbs and spices (basil, garlic, marjoram, oregano, pepper, sage, salt, and thyme - and whatever other hearty herbs make you happy).

3. Make a thickener by combining cornstarch and cold water; mix well. Pour into the nondairy milk-bouillon mixture. Stir well, because this will coagulate pretty quickly.

4. Quickly add the can of green beans, the sautéed veggies, and about half of the French fried onions; stir well. Pour that mixture into a casserole dish or pan and top with remaining French fried onions.

5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the French fried onions begin to brown. Remove. Eat. Enjoy.

Makes: 4 to 6 servings, Preparation time: 10 minutes, Cooking time: 20 minutes. Feel free to double, but you may need to add a little baking time.

If the recipe looks familiar, it may be because Liz actually posted it on VegWeb a few years back. It has garnered a four star rating there, along with a ton of appreciative comments!

Happy Vegan Thanksgiving Baking, and Happy VeganMoFo Day 17!! :D

This is *not* Liz's green bean casserole. But it could be YOURS!!

Regarding the quest for vegan green bean casserole...

As you may know, I'm trying to wrangle my husband's top secret vegan green bean casserole recipe from his head. So far I have ascertained that it includes silken: tofu, herbs and spices (you know, whatever seems right), sauteed sliced mushrooms, *french cut* green beans, and of course the french fried onions on top.

How long do you bake it? "Until it's done."

How much of _____? "Until it looks right."

Um, yeah, OK. Cooks like a devil, that one, but not so much for the imparting. But I'm gonna keep on trying!

What about you? Have a #1 amazing Thanksgiving recipe that everyone covets?

Srsly tho, I just can't wait for x-mas!

Like many folks around the States, I don't celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. But I sure do celebrate the heck out of it! For some of course it holds deep religious affiliations, and I respect that, as should we all. But it has come to be celebrated as a time of giving, and that's something we can all be a part of, regardless of belief or faith.

I find that it's also a time when adults can stop being so serious, and indulge instead in alittle much needed childlike wonder and enjoyment of the world. Go ahead - stick out your tongue and catch a snowflake. Be dazzled by the bows and ribbons and lights. It's Christmas! Let your heart be light.

It's ALSO a time of unadulterated TREATS! I for one tend to find myself baking up a storm. Recent additions to the lineup that are quickly becoming holiday tradition include almond pignoli and Mexican hot chocolate snickerdoodle cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, and rocky road fudge - a creature of my own fevered imagination. And there are more treats to be found from our dear Vegan Etsy Team than you can shake a stick at - not to mention all of the other holiday adorableness!

I can't wait to decorate my 5 foot plastic tree (hey, give me a break - I live in an apartment in NYC) with the amazing sparkly animal ornaments made for me last year by fantastic team member Pinkkis - you gotta see it to believe it. And you will! You best believe that the minute the plates are cleared from thanksgiving dinner I'll be starting the decorating, and I'll be posting pictures! :D


Happy VeganMoFo Day 15 everyone!