A Belated Congrats to JarosDesigns!

Wow, I have been swamped with back to school! My apologies to the wonderful JarosDesigns for the belated front page congratulations. This treasury is gorgeous. Congrats!

a little challenge and a giveaway...

Hey everyone!  It's your blog administrator here.  I just completed my 100th treasury in 100 days, and I'm celebrating by having a treasury challenge and giveaway on my Treasured Year blog.

It's going to be open for 25 more days, and all you have to do to enter is make a treasury using one of my previous treasury titles as the theme.  Follow the blog, comment with a link... and you're in.  The prize will be determined by how many people enter.  (This challenge is not connected to Curation Nation, but feel free to use 8 or more Curation Nation members and count it as one of your team t's!)

Saturday Challenge; Chiaroscuro, a study in contrast.

This week has been full of contrast for me. Highs and Lows. I feel like the quiet times in life make everything seem more vivid. Contrast can be light and dark or even something that brings more clarity. Aka Cinders made a treasury full of red and black and white and I loved it. I love drama and high contrast.


SATURDAY CHALLENGE: Chiaroscuro

Are you ready for the challenge?

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
9. Tag the treasury "chiaroscuro".

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
The voting is usually narrowed down to a few treasuries that fall in the guidelines and then anyone can vote for a winner!

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Winner: 3 Squares challenge

3Squares picked a fabulous winner for her treasury challenge. And I scheduled the post but somehow never posted it. I loved this challenge and we got on the front page a few times as a team.
thanks so much for your patience 3squares!
So here is the winner:

You Are So Beautiful To Me, Can't You See Cnation Treasury Challenge from TheWildPlum

Congrats to Zwzzy!

A great back to school themed team treasury by Zwzzy went to the front page last night. Congrats all!

Getting to Know Virtue Bath and Beauty

Hi there, team! It's time to get to know Jess, from Virtue Bath and Beauty.  Jess is the winner of the Green treasury challenge, and the creator of some amazing looking skin care and make up products!

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Angie: Who inspired you to be an etsian?
Jess: I have a friend who is an amazing photographer and she got a lot of her props off of etsy. She bragged so much about the amazing artists there that I just had to check it out and immediately fell in love. The small town that I live in doesn't have very much "art" culture so etsy fulfilled that part of me longing to meet and connect with other artists.

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Angie: What is your favorite thing about etsy?
Jess: Well it changes quite often but at this moment I am enthralled by the vintage aspect of etsy. I love things that have a story to them and I love to imagine who owned that item previously. If you ever want to see some great vintage items just look in my favorites, I have a huge collection of things I love.

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Angie: What is your favorite thing in your shop?
Jess: I love all of my bubble bars, especially the peppermint one. It is the prettiest blue when it dissolves in the water and makes these giant cloud-like bubbles. It reminds me of the sky in may. Plus, it smells like heaven.

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What is one thing you would like everyone to know about you?
I would love everyone to know how much I appreciate their support. I was sort of "undiscovered" talent before curation nation came along and I owe a lot of my success to all of you. You are all so talented and i'm honored to be counted as your team member and friend.
xoxo Jess

Thank you for the interview, Jess!

a reminder about promotion....

Just wanted to put up a little reminder about how to promote your treasuries.  (This was addressed in the email, but just in case you missed it.... it will be here!)

Team treasuries must have at least 8 team members to count as team treasuries.  If you have 7 team members, that's awesome... but it doesn't count as a team treasury.  This means:  please do not promote it on the facebook group page, by using the #cnation tag on twitter, or tagging the treasury as "curation nation".  If you think that using those resources are vital to the success of your treasury, go ahead and fill it out with 8 team members.

Thanks everyone!

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Treasury Challenge: Wooden Nickels Jewelry

It was our fearless leader's birthday this week! Let's give her some gorgeous treasuries featuring her cool two-sided dictionary necklace for presents!

Wednesday Treasury Challenges feature an item and Saturday challenges feature a theme. Theses challenges help you get better at making treasuries. After we narrow it down, we open voting to everyone. The Prize? You get advertising on our little curation nation blog!

Wednesday Challenge Item: Two Sided Dictionary Definition Necklace: The Human Eye

Are you ready for the challenge?

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Include the Two Sided Dictionary Definition Necklace in the first three rows of the treasury.
3. Follow our blog (please).
4. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
5. Link back to this post.  This helps others find the challenge and enter.
6. Post a comment here with a link to your treasury.
7. Please make a treasury in Treasury East.
8. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
9. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".

If a friend refers you- please mention who in your entry- then they will also get the prize- advertising on our little blog! Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates. Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. And I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
I let the person who made the item pick the winner for these unique item challenges. Good luck all and Happy Birthday Yvonne!

Congratulations ThreadRare!!!

Congratulations to ThreadRare for her Dusk and Summer Treasury Challenge for the Last Days of Summer going to the front page!

another very special birthday!

Who knew that our team leaders were born so close to the same day?  Today Yvonne is celebrating her special day, as well!

Remember to embarrass her to pieces with birthday wishes... and if you need treasury inspiration, make one that is all about Yvonne!

Getting to Know ShelleAnne

Hey team! It's time for a challenge winner feature! ShelleAnne was the winner of the ZWZZY treasury challenge, and I thought we could all get to know a little more about Rachelle.

Angie: Who inspired you to be an Etsian?
Rachelle: Truly, a lady inspired me to be an Etsian who now doesn't even sell soap online any more. (Tragic!) But once I saw Etsy and bought from several sellers I was hooked! I needed a creative outlet and set up shop.

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Angie: What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
Rachelle: My favorite thing about Etsy are two things: Treasuries (I'm addicted to them!) and how Etsy has strengthened my relationship with my sister: claireandjanae - we went from barely talking to talking every day and I am overjoyed about that.

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Angie: What is your favorite thing in your shop?
Rachelle: My favorite thing about my shop is just about anything pink.

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Angie: What is one thing you would like everyone to know about you?
Rachelle: One thing I would like everyone to know about me is that I am looking forward to making big improvements on my shop in the future AND I'm writing a book. (Had to sneak in two things!)

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Thank you for your interview Shelleanne!

Treasury Challenge: Last Days of Summer

Solar Empire Necklace by Polestar

The boys of summer are packing it in, tourists are taking their last strolls through the streets, the autumn chill is just around the corner.  Today's "Saturday" challenge theme is "The Last Days of Summer".  Think chilly walks on the beach, perennials going to seed, golden sunsets arriving sooner and sooner.

SATURDAY CHALLENGE: LAST DAYS OF SUMMER

Are you ready for the challenge?

 The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Follow our blog (please).
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post.  This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make your treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation".
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE".
9. Tag the treasury "end of summer".

If a friend refers you- please mention who did in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
The voting is usually narrowed down to a few treasuries that fall in the guidelines and then anyone can vote for a winner!

You have until Saturday and good luck!

haters gonna hate?

.....and it happened.  Most of us knew it would.  An epic thread erupted in the forums, pointing fingers at us.  I got involved on page 1 and just wrapped up reading all the way to page 41.   well for f*cks sake, I'm going to be honest about it.

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Before we get anywhere into the debate, let me restate the basis of Curation Nation.  CN began with a group of people who simply love making treasuries.  I was not a founding member, but I was invited early on.  I remember getting so excited when the team became official with Etsy.  But why start ANOTHER treasury team (that's right, CN is not the first)?  Because one of the greatest thing about the Etsy community is the willingness and the means of its members to support and promote each other.  A group of people who enjoyed supporting, encouraging, and promoting each other anyway decided to make it official via their love for treasuries.

Straight from the CN Team Page on Etsy: [Curation Nation is] A treasury building team who is focused on helping each member build their business with promotion and support by being positive and encouraging while maintaining a good reputation with other Etsians.

To help promote Etsians on Etsy but also to help the members of the group personally. We’d like to have our team members use their strengths to help each other. For instance: One of the Team Leaders has been an office manager/firm administrator for 30 years. Accounting, taxes, how to run a small business, etc. These are things she can help other sellers with. Everyone has a strength in addition to being "crafty".

To build relationships with team members vs. having a long list of names of people who are on a team.

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That, simply stated, is the goal.  The goal is not to get on the Front Page.  It is to get others on the Front Page.  The goal is not to scratch someone else's back in hopes of getting yours scratched in return.  If I want my husband to scratch my back, I just ask.  I don't scratch his for an hour hoping he'll offer to scratch mine (we all know how that would work out).

On the topic of "the thread" which will not be linked to, simply referred to... a few points must be made.  CN does not intend to be a FP monopoly.  When we get more than one team FP a day, it's exciting... we rejoice and celebrate, have our fun, and move on with our lives.  We post them here on the blog in case team members missed it.  It is not to brag or boast, simply to record.  However, monopoly does happen.  In "the thread" dancesippydance (non-member) said, "I get what you are saying about the monopoly... that's just business."  To think that the FP will be curated by a different curator every single time and that repetition of featured shops should never occur is to have no grasp of the way that business works.  Commerce is not fair, by any means. 


view the fp as a magazine cover. a magazine cover is meant to grab your attention and make you want to view the contents.  I don't imagine there are a lot of magazine editors in meetings saying "yea, put her on the cover and she'll sell bazillions of copies...but that's not really fair to the other starlets" (dancesippydance)

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Etsy chooses the FP's.  We just make treasuries.  Lots of them.  Because we love to.  (I guess I also love sentence fragments?)  It is a simple fact that the more treasuries you make, the more FP's will be chosen from your work.  That is just the way that probability works.  Let me state, again, that CN team members are only required to create 3 treasuries a month with 50% or more team members.  So claims of stuffing ballots or putting our own eggs in our own baskets are quite empty.

Is CN "gaming the system"?  It is possible to be interpreted that way.  But it is not intentional.  The more lottery tickets you buy, the more chance you have of winning the lottery.  But all it takes is the right ticket.  CN members seem to have the right tickets (.....for now. Etsy's favor comes and goes).  We are incredibly grateful for this and try to pay respect to the other fantastic treasury makers of Etsy.

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In the end, there is more to life and success on Etsy than being on the FP.  Some shops get lots of sales and hearts from their features, but others do not.  This much is true:  dwelling on repetition or lack of FP appearances will not get you sales.  It will not make you successful, and it probably won't help you sleep at night.  There are better ways to occupy your time.  Go create something new and beautiful for no other reason than to create.  Read a book.  Fly a kite.  Eat a cupcake.  Be inspired.  Create an Etsy team.  Make treasuries until your eyes get dry.

CN members are incredibly supportive of each other and are united by a love for creating and for Etsy.  To all team members, haters gonna hate.  Keep it respectful in the forums.  If incorrect information is being presented as fact, do your best to provide the correct information.  If you are a non-member who has problems with the team, please contact one of the team leaders (links provided on the right) rather than take it to the forums and get another strike towards muting yourself.

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It was suggested in "the thread" that CN members make up a blog post (and present it to the Storque) about how to make a FP treasury.  I think this is a fabulous idea.  I would love it if all team members would message me and tell me what they love about treasury making and what they think makes a treasury FP worthy. 

Thanks again to the team.  You are awesome, and I do not have enough words to express my gratitude for your support both on Etsy and in my personal life.

Winner: The Perfect Pair

congratulations Creashines! Your Treasury was selected by a secret process as the best Pair treasury. Now you can say you have the best pair.

Want to know the secret? Just ask in a comment! Or if you know you can give it a guess...

Congratulations Raceytay!!!

This team is on a roll! Congrats to Raceytay for a front page treasury last night!

Congratulations repurposefulpunk!

Congrats on an early morning front page repurposefulpunk!

a very special birthday

One of our dedicated team leaders, Eileen, is having a birthday today!  Be sure to embarrass her to pieces with birthday wishes!

You could even make her a special birthday treasury, if you want.  Keep up the good work, team!

Treasury Challenge: VintageEyeFashion

I love the Vintage Avocado Green American Tourister Suitcase from VintageEyeFashion. What a lovely photo! It is our Wednesday Item for this week of beautiful treasuries.

Are you ready for the Challenge?

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Include the Vintage Avocado Green American Tourister Suitcase in the first three rows of the treasury.
   
3. Follow our blog (please)
   
4. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
5. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
   
6. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
7. Please make a treasury in Treasury East.
8. Tag the treasury "curation nation"
9. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE"

If a friend refers you- please mention who in your entry- then they will also get the prize- advertising on our little blog! Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates. Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
I let the person who made the item pick the winner for these unique item challenges. Good Luck All!

Winner: Garden22Designs

Itsastitch picked her favorite treasury of all the ones with her item- and Here it is. I love it. Congratulations Garden22Designs- you win!

We Have A Tie

We have a Tie between the Green Challenges from MyLittleGirlsCloset and VirtueBathandBeauty.
They are all so beautiful!
It's nice to know I'm not the one one who can't decide....

Winner: ShawnaCameron

The winner of the Outdoor Summer Challenge is Shawna Cameron- congratulations on getting the most votes on your beautiful treasury.

Winner: YellowFrenzy

Congratulations YellowFrenzy- you won the Virtuebathandbeauty treasury challenge!

Congratulations factorygirlashli!!!

Congrats to factorygirlashli for this lovely team front page this morning!

Getting to Know Plucking Pendants

Hey there, team! Tonight, I'm going to be featuring Ashley, from Plucking Pendants.  If you haven't checked out her shop, you should.  She makes the most amazing jewelry out of recycled guitar strings!!  I've been eye-balling her items ever since I joined ETSY.  She's also a treasury wiz!  She won the GlitzGlitter treasury challenge back in July, but due to her being on vacation, then me being focused elsewhere, she's just now getting her feature.

So, let's get to know Ashley.

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Angie: Who inspired you to be an Etsian?

Ashley: It was my Mom! She was the one who introduced me to Etsy and has always been a huge inspiration for me. Being a crafty goddess herself Mom is always looking out for ways to help me further my business and creativity!

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Angie: What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

Ashley: Besides having a amazing place to sell my goodies and meeting lots of lovely people when it comes down to it I love to shop and Etsy really is my favorite place to spend my money, it makes shopping for gifts so much fun too!

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Angie: What is your favorite thing in your shop?

Ashley: I love the resin coated guitar string rings, especially the large ones! They are so sparkly and unique. I have some earrings very similar coming out soon too!

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Angie: What is one thing you would like everyone to know about you?

Ashley:I went to school from 3rd to 8th grade at a house on a small farm where we had barn chores during recess and we had a one room classroom that was heated by a wood stove. My first independent project there I did there was on jewelry making, looking back now I see that my passion was ignited and my path was set with that project thanks to my mentor and the adorable Fimo jewelry I made for it!

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Wow! That's so amazing.  You do great work, Ashley!

Congratulations Zwzzy!

Zwzzy has the team on the front page right now! Go team!!!

Congrats to slubird!

What a lovely front page by slubird this morning! Congratulations all!

Congrats to factorygirlashli and JarosDesigns!!!

Not one, but TWO of our itsastich necklace treasury challenges were featured on the front page today!

First off was factorygirlashli with this sweet take:

Shortly after, a lovely collection from JarosDesigns took the front page:

I love this team! Congrats to everybody featured and keep up the all of the amazing Curation!

Treasury Challenge: Food

Blueberry High Key from RaceyTay

I asked on Twitter and @vintageeye suggested Food as a great treasury challenge idea. Check out her beautiful shop!
Treasury Challenge: The challenge is to use an item or theme to make a treasury. Wednesday Challenges feature an item and Saturday challenges feature a theme. The challenge helps you get better at making treasuries. After we narrow it down we open voting to everyone. The Prize? You get advertising on our little curation nation blog!

SATURDAYS CHALLENGE: FOOD
I am always hungry. isn't everyone?

Are you ready for the Challenge?

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
   
2. Follow our blog (please)
   
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
   
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make a treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation"
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE"
9. TAG THE ITEM "Food"

If a friend refers you- please mention who in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
The voting is usually narrowed down to a few treasuries that fall in the guidelines and then anyone can vote for a winner!

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Treasury Challenge; Itsastitch

Treasury Challenge: The challenge is to use an item or theme to make a treasury. Wednesday Challenges feature an item and Saturday challenges feature a theme. The challenge helps you get better at making treasuries. After we narrow it down we open voting to everyone. The Prize? You get advertising on our little curation nation blog!

WEDNESDAYS CHALLENGE ITEM
Hexagon Necklace in Vintage Fabric and Shiny Silver

BySaraLynn tweeted me the link to this fantastic necklace for a treasury challenge. I love all her fabric necklaces and I haven't made a treasury with this item so I am ready to try it.

Are you ready for the Challenge?

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
2. Include the Hexagon Necklace with Vintage fabric anywhere in the treasury.
   
3. Follow our blog (please)
   
4. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
5. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
   
6. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
7. Please make a treasury in Treasury East.
8. Tag the treasury "curation nation"
9. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE"

If a friend refers you- please mention who in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.

You have until next wednesday and good luck!
Voting for winners will be up later today

Congrats EverydayDiamonds!

Great job on this team front page EverydayDiamonds!

Congratulations to MyLolaFashion!

Congratulations to MyLolaFashion for a beautiful team front page!

Congratulations to magnesina!

Congratulations to magnesina for a gorgeous front page from the 3squares treasury challenge!

Congrats to BeadFrenz!

Yea to BeadFrenz and all featured from the 3squares necklace challenge on a lovely front page!

Treasury Challenge: French Garden

-fleur-de-lis-necklace- from Polestar

Treasury Challenge: The challenge is to use an item or theme to make a treasury. Wednesday Challenges feature an item and Saturday challenges feature a theme. The challenge helps you get better at making treasuries. After we narrow it down we open voting to everyone. The Prize? You get advertising on our little curation nation blog!

SATURDAYS CHALLENGE: French Garden
I have been thinking about gardening a lot. and I like french country. The two together would be my french garden.

Are you ready for the Challenge?

The Rules:

1. Use at least 8 Curation Nation members. The list is on the right of this blog so you can click over and have a look around. They can be in any slot on the treasury.
   
2. Follow our blog (please)
   
3. Put "Treasury Challenge" somewhere in the title of your treasury.
4. Link back to this post. This helps other people find the challenge and enter.
   
5. Post a comment here with the link to your treasury.
6. Please make a treasury in Treasury East.
7. Tag the treasury "curation nation"
8. Tag the treasury "CNCHALLENGE"
9. TAG THE ITEM "French Garden"

If a friend refers you- please mention who in your entry- then they will also get the prize. Curation Nation Members- try to include your teammates? Not a team member? You can still win. I hope everyone I know enters. Several times. and I hope that the treasuries make the front page. Just a tip: Don't include yourself. You won't win. Follow the guidelines Etsy sets out for making treasuries.
The voting is usually narrowed down to a few treasuries that fall in the guidelines and then anyone can vote for a winner!

You have until Saturday and good luck!

Remember the 3Squares treasury challenge is still open- you can enter as many times as you like!
also enter my treasury challenge for a 10 dollar amazon gift card until the end of the day today (and please forgive me for mentioning my own blog)