The Design Tree Blog Holds $10,000 Haiku Contest

Newly-launched blog The Design Tree celebrates its coming-into-being with a Haiku Contest. Readers are invited to capture a quiet moment of inspiration in their best Haiku; the public then votes for their favorites. There are over $10,000 in prizes to be won, including Greentea Design’s exquisite hand-crafted furniture including a dining table, TV stand and coffee table. The Design Tree will also be giving away 12 $200 Greentea Design gift certificates to the Top 12 finalists as well as rewards for the contest’s voters. Contest closes Friday December 3, 2010.

The Design Tree is a newly launched blog that focuses on the exciting and unexpected intersection of design, travel, food, and lifestyle from an east-meets-west perspective. An evolution of Greentea Design, a Toronto-based furniture boutique’s brick and mortar, The Design Tree’s talented contributors stationed across the globe strive to inspire readers with thoughtful commentary and visual sustenance, while also encouraging readers to make this blog their own.

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Madeitmyself.com, Hand-made Crafts Marketplace

Whether they sell beaded earrings, painted flowerpots or homemade soaps, Web sites that offer an alternative to chain stores are popping up and growing in popularity.

One of them, Madeitmyself.com, is similar in concept to eBay: Shoppers buy items from sellers who post them on the site and ship directly to the buyer. Many of the new sites - including Etsy, Silkfair and Hyena Cart - focus on handmade goods, art or specialty items.

Creators of the sites and retail experts say the companies are growing in number, popularity and sales because customers are increasingly looking for unique items they can’t find in chain stores. The rise of the Internet has made it easier for shoppers to find and buy those items.

Madeitmyself.com launched in November. It has 5,500 sellers signed up with 2,200 listing products on the site.

Full story.