Theme Thursday: Keeping Warm

Although my region is experiencing a below average amount of snowfall so far this season, our cold temperatures are not letting us forget that it is winter! Cold weather is not unusual in Upstate New York, but it can be a struggle to stay warm during these brutal months. Fortunately, if you experience the chill of winter, there are some great seasonal handmade items on Etsy that can help keep you warm.


RainyDayArt offers this hand knit Classic Grey Hat with Pink Stripes. It fits most adult heads and is machine washable in the gentle cycle.



This hand knit Black Opal Traveler Shawl, made by FoxyGknit, is currently on sale. It is a versatile piece that can be worn to the office or to a soccer game, and it is perfect for traveling. It is soft and tailored and the colors will match with many things already in your wardrobe.



If you like nature-inspired handmade items, check out these Cattail Hand Warmers by RagamuffinDesign. They are made with 100% wool and lanolin oils to help keep them water repellent.



Northwoods stitch pattern was used to make the unique textured pattern in MagdaleneKnits' Cafe au Lait Crocheted Scarf. It's narrow design makes it practical for wearing outside in the cold or as a fashion accessory.

Enchanting Entchen

Entchen: German for Duck...

There's your German lesson for the day!

I had the pleasure of talking with Entchen this week in between her travels throughout the United States. Entchen and her husband are currently in California, but they are Switzerland natives, from a small town named Brig. They have been touring the United States and Canada for a while now.

She sells mostly crocheted items, such as this adorable cheese fondue set seen in the picture link to the left. It is her favorite item in her shop right now, and I think it's also mine! Her crocheted items can be found in her Etsy shop Entchen's Giftshop. Her items include teabag holders, hand warmers, decorations, ornaments, purses, can cozies, album covers, lotion holders, and much more! She also has a new Etsy store called Entchen's Graphics, which is dedicated to selling graphic banners, which come with a FREE avatar! She only sells her graphics once so that you are guaranteed a unique design (eh-hem, nudge, nudge, to all the Etsy Sellers)

Here is part of the Q & A session I had with Entchen:

How did you come up with the shop name Entchen?
Entchen means duck in German and I love duckies very much! I asked my husband for a name for my shop and that's what came out... :-)

Where do you get your inspiration for your items that you sell?
I get inspired by what I see while I'm traveling or by something I see on TV or on the Internet. Sometimes there's just an idea that comes to my mind and I try to create it.

What is your favorite material to work with?
Yarn is my favorite material.

What is your favorite item that you've made, whether you've sold it on Etsy, or if it was a gift, or something for yourself?
My favorite item is a black sweater I made for my husband.

Tell me about your family.
I'm happily married for almost 4 years. I grew up with my brother and my sister, which are both younger then I am.

What do you do when you are not crafting?
At the moment, my husband and I are traveling across the States, but before that I worked in Information Technology. I also like reading, watching movies, snowboarding and cooking.

How did you learn how to crochet?
I learned it from my mother, when I was a child. Later we had to crochet at school too.





Where Entchen Hangs Out:
Entchen's Gift Shop
Entchen's Graphics
Entchen's Blog

Please check out this great Etsy seller!