Sunday, June 15, 2008

Pretty Things Big Give: The Sea Within

Update: PAULA is the very lucky winner of The Sea Within's give-a-way of not one, but two cute little bags...a tissue holder and small zippered bag. Thanks so much to all who entered. Be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!


Nadine of The Sea Within grew up in the Canadian Prairies with a desire to create, learning to sew when she was young.
Unfortunately, she didn't really do much with her craft until she moved to the California Bay Area and re-discovered some much needed inspiration in the beautiful fabrics at a local store. Now, she also finds inspiration for her lovely bags in some of the most simple yet unexpected places, such as a party dress, cake, postcards, sharp pencils, flea market finds and the inscriptions found in old books.

What inspires you?
I'm not sure what inspires me. Since I can remember, I could never find things I'd like in the shops and would modify
them myself (usually with the help of my mom). I think a lot of my ideas come from not being able to find things I like. I also love anything with animals and nature on it. Also all the great fabrics I find really inspire me to create.

What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
My most memorable moment...hmmm... Probably when I sold 100 items on Etsy. I think I felt validated and that I may be a sorta good at this. I remember when I first started on Etsy all I wanted to do was sell 10 items, so hitting one hundred was huge for me. I used to look at the shops that had 100 items and thought that was so incredible.

Any advice for fellow artists...
I would advise people to do what they love. Don't worry
about wondering if it will sell or if it's the right style. I just make things I like and that I want to make. Keep it fun. Once it isn't fun anymore, it's not worth it.

Shoppe: http://TheSeaWithin.etsy.com
Flickr:
http://flickr.com/photos/theseawithin


(¯`'•.¸(¯`'•.¸(¯`'•.¸ * ◦ *¸.•'´¯)¸.•'´¯)¸.•'´¯)

This Give-a-way has ended...

Nadine of The Sea Within has a very generous give-a-way for you...not 1, but 2 precious little treats! You can keep your travel tissues in the super cute tissue holder and your makeup in the small zippered bag, both made in her popular "Bears and Trees" print fabric with coordinating teal coloured fabric lining.






How to enter:
Look at the pretty little things in The Sea Within and comment here on the prettiest things you see! AND, if you tell us WHY you'd love to have your favourite, you'll be entered twice to win this little great give-a-way!



49 comments:

DiceGRRL said...

I love audrina purse no.1, i would have to fight my mom over it LOL i just love the material!

DiceGRRL said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
L. Carol Christopher said...

I love this artist's work!

wzgirl said...

It is very difficult to choose, but my favorite in The Sea Within's shop is the Orchid Purse #2 - it is simple beautiful and reminds me of the understated, primary nature of Marimekko's work.

Hope that qualifies me for 2 votes! Love the Sea Within's work and always have. xoxoxoxo

RedBessBonney said...

Do I have to choose just one??? Impossible! I want most of her shop! :D

windycindy said...

Hello, I love her "Botany Purse!"
Gardening and learning about plants and trees is a hobby of mine. The botanical prints are wonderful. I also really like the look of the
"Blue Tree" Coasters. Great site!
Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

californiacraftersofetsy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amanda K Lockrow said...

love so many things in here wonderful shop. But right now I am loving her coaster's. Especially the blue tree ones. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12223526

bbb said...

I surely love pink bird! gorgeous..gorgeous..gorgeous!!! love the color...

Bunny B said...

There are sooo many adorable bags!!! I love them!! But my fave has got to be The Rachel Carson Purse No. 1 because of the adorable deer print and the funky green color! Nice vintage look. I love it!!

Thank you for the chance!

bunnybox9 at gmail . com

Patrizia said...

I love the polka dot purse on the second page of her shop! It's so cute and I love polka dots so it is perfect!

Two Peas In a Pod said...

I love The Rachel Carson Purse No. 6. The colors are fab. It would go with anything!

Unknown said...

I love, love the David Suzuki purse No. 2. I don't think I have seen that one of hers before (new?). In any case, I love the color (red is my absolute favorite) and this red is excellent.

Oh Mandie said...

Ohhh I've had this shop in my etsy favs FOREVER now!

I'm a total purse whore and this shop seriously fuels my need to have cute bags to carry!

I'm in love with the Apple Corduroy Purse and the The Botany Purse

Anonymous said...

The Matryoshka Doll Coasters are my fave. I love these dolls and have always had a thing for them.
Great find and feature! Thanks, Raven.

Petra
quietstorm4951@yahoo.com

bethany said...

Love the botany purse!! I'd love to wear it instead of a diaper bag all the time!!

Katie L. said...

My fav is definantly Onishi Purse No. 3, I want it because that fabric rocks! Beautiful bag :)
babylyons.etsy.com

Catherine said...

Wow, it's tough to pick just one...so many great fabrics, so I'm picking two. :)

I love Onishi Purse No. 3 because I'm drawn to the fabric and the way the big flowers jump off the bag. It isn't in "my colors," so it would be a great bag to own to flesh out my closet.

I'm also really loving Ch-Ch-Cheetah Purse No. 2. I love how the cheetah is so unexpected surrounded by all the bright, fun colors and there's just so much happening there...like a little story on my purse.

Ivy & Mae said...

seawithin does such wonderful work! Cute fabric on the giveaway piece!

Paula said...

I really like the Brown and Green Damask Purse. Brown and green, two of the most wonderful colors together....

desnomiep@inac.gc.ca

Unknown said...

I have to go with the David Suzuki purse! Not only do I love the print, but I love David Suzuki and would love telling *everyone* that's the name of my purse! And I love that this Canadian expat is showing her Canuck roots! Yay! :)

Anonymous said...

I adore the "david suzuki purse number 2"!

I love orange, it is a color that speaks to me of fun and a frolicking summer day!

You're work is impeccable, keep it up!

Portable Green

Anonymous said...

The "Botany Purse" would be my favorite puse out of your shop. The reason is simple... the surface illustrations on the fabric remind me of when i was doing botanical illustration a few years ago.

And this is a link for the purse:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11583124

Very nice indeed.

Cheers!

Bunny B said...

The David Suzuki Purse is brilliant too!

bunnybox9 at gmail . com

Jennifer said...

the botany purse is by far my favorite because i love that color of blue and the pattern of the bag.

jenny
kisses4jaya@yahoo.com

Suzy ~ lorenzstudio said...

I just love the Onishi Purse No. 3 because the fabric is so strong and bold and the contrasting colors are just beautiul!

frugallm said...

I love them all because I'm a bagaholic and I'm crazy for vintage fabrics!!! It was so hard to choose a favorite but it came down to The Rachel Carson Purse No. 6 because pink is another of my obsessions!

Michele said...

SO difficult to choose just one!! Of the purses, my favorite is the Botany Purse.

The reason I picked that purse as my favorite is because I love the simplicity of it. The color with drawings just draws me in. I don't know how else to explain that.

I also love the bird coasters!
The reason I love the bird coaster is because I'm REALLY into bird decor lately, and PINK is my favorite color!!

Another great site!! Thanks for introducting me to her site!!

Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the Rachel Carson purse, because I love vintage- looking prints!

maumauisginger at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love this artist! I would pick Pink Apples Tissue Holder, it is just so me. :)

applez_55@yahoo.com

Joanna said...

That ch ch cheetah purse is amazing! By far my favorite print!

Carolyn said...

I love the robot tote, because when I go to the library with the kids, we all have totes and my son's is a green Whole Foods. I think he'd like something with a lot of Boy-Style!

judybrittle said...

the bee tote for sure because i would bee toting that bag all over town.

kaylee8 said...

I love the botany purse because it helps me to remember to focus on the enviroment and the importance of protecting it for the future!

Anonymous said...

I'm completely torn between the David Suzuki purse and the Rachel purse no. 3! I love the asian inspired feeling and the dreamlike quality. I also like the abstract feeling of each. Those are completely my style.

doot65[at]comcast[dot]net

Unknown said...

i love love LOVE the rachel carson purse, hands down!

i love it because the colors are so bright and the pattern is so vivid! i love pink :) and the bag looks like it had plenty of room for me!

be sure to check out The Pink Potpourri for weekly giveaways every friday!
http://allieparkersthoughts.blogspot.com

Lemonade said...

I really like the Apple Corduroy purse. The colors are great for the fall season, as well as the corduroy material. It would be a great start for fall shopping!!

Anonymous said...

All the different fabrics and colors are just beautiful!1 I love The Bee Tote,,save the bees ,this is perfect!! Count me in to win

Jean F said...

The Bee Tote, because I keep bees.
Bees are amazing creatures. I've had the hives for nearly a year, and only been stung twice (both times due to my own stupidity)

Phill said...

I love the Animal Medley Tote - I have a total thing for tote bags, and that one is really neat. Awesome fabric. But I really like the Sushi Coasters too!

Tempest52 said...

My favourite is the Rachel Carson Purse No. 3. The colours go with everything of course, but also the fabric is so beautiful and unique.

Samantha P said...

i really love the The David Suzuki Purse, mainly cuz i really love purple. I'd wear this purse everywhere so i could get compliments! and i'm totally a purse whore, hahaha!

Unknown said...

the The David Suzuki Purse is really cute! i want it so i can show it off to all my friends, they always have cute purses and they'd be really jealous of it!

bubbles60 said...

The Apple Corduroy purse is so amazing to me. It was NEAT!
I also liked the Pink Apples Tissue Holder, it is very pretty and so decorative. Guess you noticed I love apple stuff.

Sharon said...

The Botany Purse for sure...LOVE THIS!
(thanks)

klp1965 said...

i love the Apple Corduroy Purse

KristenH said...

Wow I love so many different things. I love The Bee Tote and Robot Tote No. 3 the most because of the size of each bag and how you could carry bags around in each of them. I also really like the Perfume Bottle Tissue Holder, the Musical Cats Tissue Holder, the Musical Notes Tissue Holder, and the Ch-Ch-Cheetah Purse No. 2. This is a great giveaway and I really hope I win. Thanks.

windycindy said...

All of her handmade items are great! I really like her "Apple Corduroy
Purse." The colors of the fabric are my favorites. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Raven said...

WINNERS UPDATE:

PAULA is the very lucky winner of The Sea Within's give-a-way of not one, but two cute little bags...a tissue holder and small zippered bag.

Thanks so much to all who entered. Be sure to enter this week's give-a-way too!

xxx
Raven