Sororities and Fraternities

Being a UK seller on an American site like Etsy is a steep learning curve sometimes, so when I was commissioned to knit meerkats in Kappa Kappa Gamma sweaters I needed help!



Knitting the sweaters wasn't as difficult as trying to understand what a sorority or fraternity actually *is*, but my Etteam friends came to the rescue.

I started off by knowing only what I'd seen at the movies. One friend summed it up like this: "If you are on a sports team and in a fraternity you drink a lot and pick on the nerdy less fortunate fraternity guys. You only date the cheerleaders who are in the sororities who eventually end up leaving you for the nerdy guy you used to pick on."

There's more to it than that though.

Sororoties and Fraternities are organizations that students are asked to join when in college. The frat or sorority have a house where all the gals or guys live, and your fellow members are your sorority sisters and the connections generally last for life.



First there is what is called "rush" week. If you are interested in being in a sorority or frat you go around and meet all the people at all the "houses" during rush week to find out what they are all about, where their focus is. Many frats and sororities are also very charitable and/or service minded. Besides their academic focuses, they usually have a charity that they do a lot of work with, or pledge a certain amount of service to the local community. After rush week, you "pledge" to which sorority you want to be involved with, and they put you through a trial period to see if you fit in. If you are accepted there is an initiation ceremony, and you are in.



Another correspondent shared her feelings:

"My sorority is my home. It's my family. I met my best friends there, and I can only hope that they will be my bridesmaids some day. We all care so much about each other, that's sisterhood. We have sisterhood events, like going to the movies and social events where we pair up with a fraternity. All in all it keeps college fun. It's so easy to miss out on life with the pressures of school and work. My sorority is my little slice of heaven, it's exactly what I need it to be."

I still can't *really* understand what it must be like, but I think it must be a little like being in a supportive Etsy team like Etteam is for me. Want to join us? Come and meet us here on our chat thread or check out our Yahoo group

(and of course if you want a meerkat in a college sweater, you know where to come!)

This is ... HiGirls

Changeable neckwire
It's been a while since I've found a willing blog victim - if you'd like to be featured here, get in touch!

HiGirls is a new friend from Etsy ETTEAM who makes handbags and works in polymer clay.

Wine bottle stopper

Favourite place?

Our family's summer cottage in Maine. More specifically, on the front porch, gazing at the view with a g&t in my hand.

Favourite way to spend your time?

I love being inspired to create, getting an idea and hurling myself into creating! When inspired, I'll work until someone interrupts me, or I am driven to seek out food for survival!


Evening bag-handmade leafy balloon

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

Would have to be one of these bangles:



Why?

I'm realizing that maybe I have a thing for leaves....hmmmm...

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

Oh my gosh, how could I answer that? There are so many fabulous shops and creative people I have met here...I love so many of my teammates shops from etteam and PCAGOE
(Nifty adds: HiGirls is too modest to tell us, but she's just won an award at PCAGOE)
jkollmann and MyMothersGarden are just two of many!

Planter by MyMothersGarden

Why?

I love their creativity, their amazing use of color and form.

What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Join any group you can or just participate once in a while in the forums and you will pick up so much useful information. I have learned so much from the extended online community here at etsy and so enjoyed making friends with folks all over the world.

Thanks HiGirls - you're right, we can (and do) learn so much from each other.

find HiGirls on facebook and in her HiGirls Etsy shop

ETTEAM in Etsy email!

Click here to read!
So good to see the great selling tips from our ETTEAM blog getting a wider readership - thanks Etsy!

Giveaway now open!

It's time to enter!



To win this amazing haul of prizes, head over to our ETTEAM blog and follow instructions - good luck!

World Tour Giveaway News #2

Yesterday I brought you up to date with poor lost Treasure, and of Alchemy's trip to take her place at MyMothersGarden. She had a wonderful time helping out at a Garden Festival, where (amazingly!) one of the customers had already heard of the World Tour! Alchemy was given a lovely little trinket dish with bee motif to bring home for the giveaway. She also developed a passion for munching nasturtiums - potential new owner, take note please!



From Florida Alchemy moved on to North Carolina, to visit Bazketmakr. Here she learnt how to make this exquisite tiny horsehair basket. It works perfectly as a meerkat necklace (as you will see from the blog link) but could also be used by the prize winner as a cell phone charm.


Onwards again, to TeresasPrimTreasures where she made lots of new friends in snowy Virginia and gained a lovely sleeping bag (which I suspect would make a great cosy for a small appliance)


From Virginia to Michigan, were Alchemy visited with LeapingGazelle and discovered Detroit Coney dogs! (It's all about the stomach with meerkats!) Four gorgeous ArtCards were added to her stash of souvenirs - aren't they lovely?


The next leg of the tour took Alchemy out into the countryside, to a farm in Minnesota with GloriousHats. Alchemy had a host of adventures here including yet another treat for her stomach: home made maple syrup!



Alchemy is modeling her souvenir from GloriousHats, a sweet floral mini-fascinator. If you're not lucky enough to win the giveaway, this is a new line in GloriousHats' shop, modeled by another little meerkat who is now earning her keep as a milliner's model!

More prizes tomorrow, and details of how to enter!

World Tour Meerkat Giveaway News!

Wow! Alchemy brought such a lovely haul home with her from her tour that I am going show you the prizes over several blog posts, and remind you of the adventures along the way. Of course, Alchemy didn't start the tour until after poor Treasure went missing, so it's only fair to start with Treasure's part of the story. Sadly all her souvenirs got lost too, of course, but her hosts have kindly supplied some replacements, as you will see.



For a super-duper interactive version of Alchemy's map, made by the lovely Tracy of Tyarkoni CLICK HERE

Niftyknits Meerkat Treasure left Kent, UK back in November 2009 with a press send-off and video coverage! see VIDEO interview

Her first host was CuteDesigns, where she partied with the plushies and picked up a travelling companion, a cute amigurumi acorn. The prize package will include details of where to buy your own little amigurumi friend.



Now Treasure began her overseas adventure, and soon arrived in Israel where Arosha brought out the masculine side of this little meerkat, sunbathing on the beach and helping with metalsmithing. Arosha has replaced the lost brooch with a 10% discount voucher for either Arosha or Sleeks.



Treasure liked Israel, so stayed a while longer. Her next visit was with Inbaliya where she celebrated Shabat and had acupuncture to help her travel sickness (yes, really. The meerkat had acupuncture. Follow the link to see the photos) Inbal made a little sleeping bag for Treasure, but has replaced it for the giveaway with a 10% discount voucher.



Next Treasure went to visit SpringColors in Jerusalem for a Happy Hanukah! Treasure took away a fabulous beaded pendant which has been replaced in our giveaway by a $30 voucher for Springcolors.



After leaving Israel Treasure headed North to Estonia to visit 5erg.



After leaving Estonia, disaster struck! Treasure was on her way next to Turkey, to stay with Meltem who had plans for many adventures. Sadly, we had to declare a Meerkat Emergency, because Treasure didn't arrive.

The meerkats looked everywhere...



and after a while, decided that it was best for Alchemy to bravely take the place of Treasure. Alchemy set off for the USA, to MyMothersGarden, and we all expected Treasure to turn up in Turkey one day and continue with the tour. Sadly, poor Treasure is *still* lost, so please keep an eye out if you're over that way.

5erg has also sent replacement gifts: a felted lady and a pair of earrings.



Meltem very kindly sent a prize even though she'd been missed out of the tour: a beautiful sterling silver high heeled shoe necklace and *5* 10% discount cards.



As you can see, this did cause a little confusion. Alchemy's mum (pictured) thought the necklace was a homecoming gift from Alchemy to her! We've explained to her that the souvenirs you've seen so far are just a FEW of the prizes for our giveaway that Alchemy will take with her to her new home.

There are many more prizes to show you, and many more reminders of the adventure before we get to the giveaway itself...so I'll see you tomorrow, I hope!

Local paper says Goodbye to Etta

Many thanks to Etteam for their support, and to Sandie of ZaftigDelights and KnitzyBlonde for the photo of Etta on her surfboard, taken from her blog post about Etta's Christmas in California.

My next blog post will hopefully catch us up to date with Alchemy's advetures, poor Alchemy has been a little neglected by me!

Meerkat World Tour Giveaway!

Finally, little Etta has arrived home from her epic adventure and we are ready for the GIVEAWAY!



Although Etta was very pleased to see her Mum again, after her adventures she's eager to set off travelling again, this time to a new permanent home!

One lucky winner, to be decided by random.org, will win not just Etta but every single one of her souvenirs, pictured and listed below!


Etta is peeping out from her Travel bag from KnitzyBlonde and modelling a pair of human earrings from ZaftigDelights


Etta loves a bedtime story, so here is a vintage Peter Rabbit book and apron from ByTheWayside


Etta will bring her surfboard and bikini from ZaftigDelights for when you visit the beach.


You always need greeting cards, so Etta will bring you these cards from LamaWorks


Etta helped make this beaded pincushion from ValentineFiberArts


Doesn't Etta look stunning in her Tutu from GocksFrocks?


Etta painted this adorable Watercolour, which comes with an easel from Mozo


Etta is wearing beautiful disc beads from LindenAvenueDesigns, but you could use them in *human* jewellery.
This lovely Toad bead from Beadstylin’ seems to be whispering secrets!


Etta is hiding behind 3 fabulous ACEOs (miniprints) from Lori411



Although Etta seemed to think these might be edible, they are in fact beautifully textured stoneware charms from Midnightcoiler


Doesn't Etta look quite the Texan in her Rhinestone cowboy hat from Lindesigns?



Etta models a sweet little Fabric brooch from CrazyDaisiesDesigns



With her Silver heart and Ya’ll and Hook ’em Horns signs from LindenLeafStudio Etta disguises herself as a Texan!

All these gorgeous souvenirs...and of course Etta herself (from NiftyKnits) can be yours! Enter our international giveaway which starts tomorrow, on Etteam's blog

World Tour Meerkat Update!

The latest Etteam member to host a world tour meerkat is Lauren of LeapingGazelle.

Alchemy arrived in Michigan on a cold, rainy afternoon, but she didn’t seem tired and we were excited to show her around.
So we braved the pouring rain, took in a concert downtown and hit some highlights.



Of course a trip to the Motor City wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Ford Piquette plant where the first Model T rolled off the line in Detroit over 100 years ago. Then we headed to Hitsville USA, the first home of Motown Records where The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and so many others recorded their hits. We couldn’t take pictures inside but it was amazing to see the original Studio A looking just as it did in the 1960’s.



Everyone was hungry so we stopped for a Detroit famous Coney dog, loaded with chili and onions. Not for the faint of stomach but they’ve been serving them up hot for 90 years!



Back at home Alchemy was intrigued by my camera. I wanted to show her how to take a picture, but she was more interested in what was inside that big barrel!



Finally the sun came out! Outside, we discovered spring had arrived too. So Alchemy wanted to celebrate. Thanks for a great time little meerkat!

Niftyknits adds: Thank you Lauren for telling us about your adventure! Aren't the photos great? To see more of Lauren's work please stop by her store LeapingGazelle and of course keep up with the meerkats on their facebook page.

Etta Meerkat's tour in Texas

hosted, photographed and written by Linden Leaf Studio / Lindesigns

Etta has arrived! I met the lovely MaryAnn of Linden Avenue Designs for an Etta drop off!

As soon as we arrived home, Etta demanded a pair of cowboy boots. We couldn’t find any small enough for her, so she settled for a photo and playing with a pair of my husband’s boots. She couldn’t believe how large and pointy they were. She had fun climbing around in them and then sliding down the front like a penguin!



Etta helped me tend to my garden – watering the carrots, spinach and admiring the small orange tree.



Yes, we eat more than just meat here in Texas! :-)



Being from the UK we figured Etta knew her beer ;) so we introduced her to the famous Shiner Bock beer, made right here in Central Texas. She said it was “OK” – hmm, she’s tough!



However, after a few Shiner Bocks and some Barbeque, she settled down and spent the evening regaling us with her traveling stories.

The next day was workshop day! Etta has a new love! – Silver, Silver, Silver!!



She couldn’t quit draping herself in it. I showed her how to fuse silver together and she helped me make headpins. And no, we didn’t set Etta or anything else on fire!



She helped me make one of her gifts – a little hammered heart. We also put red rhinestones on a brass cowboy hat for her. She’s a true Texan now!



Our plans had been to take Etta for a drive in our 1965 classic convertible in the Hill Country, but unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. We had rain and a cold front which does not make for fun “topless” (no not that kind) driving! So we showed her the car – she’d never seen such a large “boat” before!



We have a smaller version in our home and decided to teach her to drive and let her drive around the house. Luckily we didn’t have to worry about which side of the road to drive on!



Well, she’s used to taking public transportation all over the UK so she wasn’t the best driver – she was a bit crazy and wild – Although she did have a gleam in her eye while cruising down the staircase, so I think she has a bit of the race car driver in her! Go, Speed Racer, Go!

Weekend - I spent the weekend teaching her how to speak Texan and making the Hook ‘em Horns sign. She didn’t care much for some of the twangs and drawls and thinks we just need to learn proper “English”.



However, she did learn to say “Ya’ll” properly and now puts it at the end of every sentence. Sorry to the next person who has to listen to that! :-)



I think I corrupted Etta enough, she drank, set things on fire, ate barbeque and cookies and learned to drive!



Time for Etta to head up north to Illinois to see Laura of Lamaworks! Etta helped pack her box and I gave her a final snack – a famous Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie! I think I’m missing some, so if you see a few crumbs in her traveling box, I’m pretty sure those are Etta’s! I had a great time with Etta, she’s quite entertaining and I hope she had fun in Texas with me and MaryAnn!

Niftyknits says: WOW - looks like Etta has had fun! If, like Etta, you are besotted by silver, check out Linden Leaf Studio / Lindesigns ...and of course, keep track of the meerkats on their facebook page.