Queer Etsy Team Challenge: PRIDE

June is LGBT Pride month and it seemed only fitting that the theme for this month be

So I asked our talented team members to, "Show Us What You GOT!"  And boooyyyy, did they step up!  Check these goodies out...


Felted Soap-Pride Rosemary Mint Bear Paw and Queer X-men Notebook- Metallic Block Print Pride
from OneTrueMango


So Gay Rainbow Pride Stamped Pendant and Rainbow Pride Cross Necklace
from LaughingFoxShop


Embroidered Pride sweatshirt - Love is Love and Embroidered T-Shirt - Straight but not narrow
from Mspillane


Rainbow Moms Lesbian Parents Printable, Personalized Baby Shower Invitation
and Two Moms Having a Baby Boy - Personalized, Printable Little Man Baby Shower Invitation
from EventsYouCanPrint


(Click through to see this work of art in its entirity!  We can only show a teaser here... ~_^ )
OOAK Lesbian Erotic Poetry Upcycled Vintage Paper Collage Art Adult Mature Audiences
from underwoodestates


LGBTQ lesbian gay trans rainbow pride wristband cuff - butch pride bracelet
and bisexual pansexual GENDERQUEER pride friendship bracelet
from ExistentialElla


Rainbow Lollipop Earrings and Rainbow Swirl Barrette by Maddie
from PansiesForThought


Rainbow Arm Warmers and Rainbow Hat With Bill
from AGiftOfSerenity


Rainbow Chainmaille Bracelet and Gay Pride Dangle Earrings
from aDORYble


Rainbow of Heart Crayons and Heart Crayons
from LeRayLynnCrafts


LGBT Rainbow Dangle Earrings
from JRollendzShop


Have A Gay Day: Feminist Sticker Set (Rainbow)
from FabulouslyFeminist


Chainmaille bracelet - Double Rainbow Byzantine mini-cuff chain mail bracelet, LGBT double chain design
and Chainmaille bracelet - Double wrap Rainbow Pride Byzantine chain bracelet
from ChainedUpGirl


Half Persian Chainmaille Necklace and Mobius Knot Bracelet, ADJUSTABLE
from Gibbtall


Male "heart" Male or Female "heart" Female in vinyl
from ASignofDesign


Rainbow Twist Polymer Clay Ring
from FaerieGardenFancies


LGBT PRIDE Shadowbox Celebrating The Colors & Meaning Of The Gay Pride Flag
from steamshady

And here's a treasury including some of the lovelies above.  Click through and spread the love!

FABruary Challenge

Welcome back to another awesome challenge by the Queer Etsy Street Team! This month I asked my fellow teammates to help me show everyone how FAB the world would be if our love had the same rights as hetero-love does by creating something that says FABULOUS QUEER LOVE! Here's what we came up with:


My Pink Valentine Pink Opal on Copper Pendant and Earrings Set
from Livingatnight

Red Swarovski Heart Earrings and Czech Glass copper handmade necklace for your Valentine
from Livingatnight

Liberty Rainbow Op Art Challis Clip-on Bow Tie
from whippersnapped

Male "heart" Male or Female "heart" Female in vinyl
from ASignofDesign

Pink Czech Glass Hearts gold bracelet Vintage beads Handmade 14k GF swirls and gold vermeil S clasp
from Livingatnight

Pride Felted Soap- Rosemary Mint Scent- Leather Heart Flag
from OneTrueMango

Japanese Vintage Valentine Kitten Clip-on Bow Tie
from whippersnapped

Rainbow Twist Polymer Clay Ring
from FaerieGardenFancies

January Challenge: NEW!

New year, new challenge, therefore the theme for this month was NEW!  Check out these awesome new listings from the Queer Team...


Rabbit Needlefelted Bunny
from VeeStitches


Twitter Button Decal
from aSignofSuccess


Large Scale SALE % signage vinyl letters
from aSignofSuccess


Felted Soap- Rosemary Mint Green Blue Stone
from OneTrueMango


Felted Soap- Pink Cherry Blossom
from OneTrueMango


Eowyn Blue Quartz Art Nouveau Necklace
from Livingatnight


Carved Turquoise Sterling Silver Bracelet
from Livingatnight


Japanese Linen Bird Clip-on Bow Tie
from whippersnapped


Valentine's Day Red and Pink Heart Dangles with Vintage Book Page Beads
from CheeryBirdStudio


Lampwork glass three peas missing a pod pea green happy bead set
from CrowbirdieBeads


Lucy, Daughter of the Devil Inspired 3D Resin Jewelry Pendant Featuring Handmade Flying Heart Component
from steamshady


Dollhouse Inspired 3D Steampunk Sci Fi Resin Pendant Featuring The Very Sexy Echo
from steamshady

Holiday Challenge: Count Your Blessings

The holidays are an über busy time for us entrepreneurs, so this challenge will cover November AND December.  And at this time when the media seems to hype us all up about what we want, when we really need to be thinking about what we already have, the theme of this challenge is COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.  I think everyone did a great job interpreting the theme...

Our first two items come from Jen at FallCode.  She says, "With the fingers free, you can count your blessings much easier. :)"


Womens Wrist Warmers Fingerless Mittens - Vegan Friendly - Really Red (Made To Order)


Womens Wrist Warmers Fingerless Mittens - Vegan Friendly - Electric Neon Blue (Made To Order)

Our next comes from Dennis at PridefulThings who explains, "My entry to the Count Your Blessings relates to the most recent "Spirit Day". I was thinking about how grateful I am to have had the support from friends and family as I embraced who I am as a human being. I wanted to create something that would offer support to those who have been bullied for their LGBTQ identity and for those who want to show their support of those who have been bullied. Spirit Day's name and color scheme are drawn from the purple stripe of the iconic gay-pride Rainbow Flag where purple represent "spirit"."


A Celebration of Spirit - Paracord Bracelet
He adds that you can get free shipping during November with the coupon code: FREELOVE.


The next item is from OneTrueMango who shares, "Every year my family and family friends get together for Beachikah (aka Hannukah at the Beach when the Rates are Low For The Off Season). It is the most peaceful and happy time of the year. I am grateful for this time with loved ones, and that there are still places of natural beauty to enjoy."


Starfish apothecary jar aquarium felted

Giani from Galleria di Giani made me cry when he posted this: "The biggest blessing any of us ever gets is time.  Time to live, time to love, time to share, time to exist.  So what better ways to signify that concept than with a timepiece.  This is the first of my wristwatch/bracelet sets."


Wristwatch and Bracelet Set - White Crystal Pearls and Clear Crystals

Lisa from ellepaisley says, "As I am a steampunk artist, naturally the theme resonates with me as time. I love that in steampunk culture time can stand still and move backwards and forwards as it pleases."


Steampunk mermaid earrings


Steampunk bracelet
She adds, "I will be having a surprise sale during black friday through cyber monday for fans and followers! (EllePaisley on fb) <3" Mariana from Livingatnight explained her entry: "Our blessings as the light of day in Winter Solstice. Even if we can't see the light, we feel it, and as much as we need the gift of darkness we also clamor for daylight. In these totally messed up times I wish for an end to bombing and destruction. We need more heart, not bombs <3."
Count Your Blessings Blue Apatite and Moonstone Vermeil Necklace Free Shipping

And our last (but not least!) two beautiful pieces from Vee at vee41dmb, who says, "I am thankful for all those I love and whom love me."


Mixed Metal Cherish Necklace


Swarovski Heart Red Crimson Siam Earrings CIJ
She also wants to let you know that until Monday you can get HALF OFF EVERYTHING in BOTH her shops! (VeryVee & VeeStitches) with the COUPON CODE: SHOPNOW


Best wishes to all our readers for a very happy Thanksgiving and a warm & prosperous holiday season.  ♥♥♥

LGBT History Month: Society for Human Rights

Image Source
The Society for Human Rights was the first gay rights organization in the United States.  It was established in 1924 in Chicago by Henry Gerber who was inspired to create it by German Doctor Magnus Hirschfeld's work with the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee.

Its goals as outlined on their application for charter as a non-profit organization in Illinois, were:

[T]o promote and protect the interests of people who by reasons of mental and physical abnormalities are abused and hindered in the legal pursuit of happiness which is guaranteed them by the Declaration of Independence and to combat the public prejudices against them by dissemination of factors according to modern science among intellectuals of mature age. The Society stands only for law and order; it is in harmony with any and all general laws insofar as they protect the rights of others, and does in no manner recommend any acts in violation of present laws nor advocate any manner inimical to the public welfare. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Human_Rights)

The Society's newsletter, Friendship and Freedom, was the first LGBT publication in the US although few members wanted it mailed to them as they were considered obscene materials and illegal to mail until 1958 when the Supreme Court ruled that homosexual content did not automatically imply obscene materials.  Only two issues were ever produced.

A few months after being chartered, the group dismantled when several members were arrested.  Despite its small numbers and short existence, the Society for Human Rights was the precursor to today's LGBT Rights Movement.

~••••••▼••••••~
Also this month:

~ October is also National Bullying Prevention Month.

~ October 10th was Unity Day; wear orange to show your support and remind others about the importance of bullying prevention.

~ October 11th was National Coming Out Day when we celebrate coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or as an ally. See the Human Rights Campaign website for resources on coming out.

~ October 19th is Spirit Day; wear purple on this day to support LGBT youth & stand up against bullying.