In Which O'Kitten Visited Etsy Labs

Finally, I can tell you about my visit to Etsy Labs way back on June 29. I was really lazy and didn't take my camera; fortunately, M-C of beeczarcardsandgifts was better prepared and has kindly given me permission to share some of her photos with you.

Aside from M-C, who I'd only met online, I didn't know anyone who was planning to attend the CREST Trunk Show, featuring artists from the DC/Baltimore area. But I quickly met some of them, as well as a few of the lovely Labs staff (sporting fabulous white lab coats), and was warmly welcomed with open arms.

First, I'll take you on a little tour, then I'll tell you what I bought (despite my resolve not to spend much money...the goodies were far too much to resist).

The entrance to the Labs. Welcoming, isn't it? And already looks like fun.

Me and the inimitable beeczarcardsandgifts

Sending greetings into cyberspace (and projected onto the back wall)

Magic box by which cyberspace is able to see Etsy Labs talking into cyberspace talking to Etsy Labs talking to cyberspace

I couldn't make up my mind when I encountered the plethora of Ninja Fetus, fried egg, bunny, and other paraphernalia at Fort Cloudy's table. (I just placed an order with her today--bunny AND Ninja Fetus.)

This is uglykitty's delectable display. I bought the cute skully pillow you can just see at far left. If you enlarge the image, you'll see the source of her shop's name in the frame at center--a cat named Quasi. Way, way too adorable for words. (If you want to help a really good cat cause, click her link and you'll see what I'm talking about. And she makes really cool stuff, too.)

Me, FortCloudy, and Beeczarcardsandgifts

This is me with my very first ever painting, which I gave to the Labs. (Apologies to Robert Indiana, wherever you are.) I hung it in the bathroom, right over the throne. It seemed like a nice place for it, and their large, white bathroom was surprisingly bare, aside from an old claw-footed tub full of plants.

I also bought some lovely bath salts and bath tea from Mishutka Design Studio--beautiful, all-natural stuff in lovely Victorian wrappings that I gave to Linda and Cathy for putting me up later that night (and subsequently treating me to lobster).

Finally, as I was about to leave the Labs, I spied one last table that I'd missed, and the jewelry designer was packing up. Turns out she had stitch markers that she hadn't even put on display, and she gave me a 2-for-1 deal.

So...that was my excursion. It was quite a night out--great people, great art, great fun--and from there I went on to NJ to eat nice, big diner food (eggs benedict, thanks for asking) with my dear friends Linda and Cathy.