Belladio

My featured seller today is Belladio:
http://belladio.etsy.com
http://belladio.blogspot.com

What she has to say about herself:I am a Stay at home mom with 3 boys living in Indianapolis. Six years ago I began playing around with beading during a play date with friends. I started out just making jewelry for myself and then giving them as gifts. As more people took interest in my work I started taking it more seriously. A few years into crafting, buying beads and stringing them no longer thrilled me, so I decided to go to the next step and make my own beads. Thus began my work with polymer clay. Polymer Clay opened up different avenues for me as I was able to sell my designs in the antiques/tea room where I worked. I am never content for long and felt the need to branch out even more and added wirework to my designs. In between all of these ventures, a friend turned me on to Cafepress. I started to design t-shirts from drawings that I had done. Looking around, I wanted to express my faith to any generation so I made designs that had scriptures in them, but could be worn by anyone. Thank you so much for stopping by and looking through my shop.

cserpent

My featured etsy seller today is cserpent:


http://cserpent.etsy.com
http://cserpentDesigns.blogspot.com

What she has to say about herself:



Hi my name is Susan and I'm the creator of cserpentDesigns! My husband nicknamed me Sea Serpent during our scuba diving days (picture a tall person in a purple and black drysuit with a pink flotation vest coming out of the water with big black fins on her feet ... yep sea serpent fits!). He even got me a sea serpent stamp to use for my "signature" on my hand made cards.

I got started in jewelry making when one of my soccer teammates got me to go to a wirewrapping class with her. I made my first bracelet in that class (and as I look at it now I want to take it apart and redo it to look a lot nicer!). I then saw a beaded watch band in a magazine and figured I could expand on that idea and make myself a cool beaded watch band in PURPLE! (my favorite color). I started the watch band using gold plated findings, finished it up at another wire wrapping class and got interest from many of my friends and family in having jewelry made for them. I still was just dabbling and got really mad when the gold plated findings started to tarnish in a very short amount of time. From that I learned my lesson about making things that last - don't make them with gold or silver plated parts if you want them to last a long time and remain beautiful!

That 2nd wire wrapping class really drove my interest in making jewelry with beads. I took more classes in basic jewelry making (stringing, knotting, ...) and have been making jewelry for family and friends and other customers for 4 years now. My jewelry designs are also for sale at a gallery in La Jolla, CA - Gili Anna - so I'm starting to expand my sales base.

I have a great time buying the parts needed to make my jewelry. I REALLY like the gorgeous artisan lampwork beads that are available through etsy as well as other online sites. My "inventory" is quite large so I really have to get designing more so I can share these beautiful beads with others. Sometimes I'll find one interesting bead or gemstone and that will be the kick start for a piece of jewelry. I really enjoy the creation process and get excited when I finish a piece and can share it with folks I know and with Etsy I can now share my creations with a much larger family.

Meet my sometime codesigner!
----------------------------
My mom enjoys buying beads as well, a little too well if you ask me. Since she won't stop buying them I told her she'll have to start making jewelry for sale with some of the many beads she's purchased (and which I "store"). She has made many jewelry pieces for herself, family and friends but she buys way more beads than she has used in these designs. So my bead bins overfloweth and mom has to help clear them out by making designs to sell.

Be sure to check out all her goodies in her etsy shop!!

Lucky Girl Trading

Etsy Buy Handmade LUCKYGIRLTRADING

My featured seller today is Lucky Girl Trading :
http://luckygirltrading.etsy.com
http://luckygirltrading.blogspot.com/

About the artist:
In the spring of 2001 I was overwhelmed by sadness and huge piles of clutter. My marriage was in the midst of a very ugly ending, and he had left tons of his stuff behind. I suddenly realized that I was a very lucky girl to be rid of him, and Lucky Girl Trading Company was born. I began listing his stuff for sale on eBay, clearing away both the clutter and the sadness. A few years later I met my lucky guy--who was selling a bit of jewelry--and married him in a hot air balloon ceremony in 2006. We've worked together to build Lucky Girl Trading into a fun and fulfilling enterprise. I've also discovered working with glass--one of my all-time favorite creative outlets. I've also discovered two ancient arts: Kumihimo and Temari. Both are centuries-old crafts, and both give me a zen-like tranquility while working.

I truly am a Lucky Girl! Every day I gather pretty, sparkly things and send them to people. I imagine a person opening their mail and taking out their new pendant or chain or pouch. It's perfect--they have a huge smile on their face--and so do I. I'd love for that person to be you!

Gilbea

My featured seller today is Gilbea:
http://www.gilbea.etsy.com
http://gilbea.blogspot.com/
http://www.gilbea.com










About the artist:

I used to be a watercolors painter, but a few years ago I discovered silk painting, and now I'm hooked to it!!!

For a few years I have been seriously working on silk fabrics, making all kind of different stuff, from silk paintings that hang from the walls to silk scarves or brooches and t-shirts.

Right now I'm experimenting with new things for this next season: Spring/Summer 2008. Silk bags, shirts, headbands, and a big etcetera. Come back again in a few months to see my new creations!

For more information visit my website:
www.gilbea.com

Front page again!!!

Our street team made it to the front page again this evening!
What a thrill, both for our team and to be honoured to be there personally!!
That's my Sea Foam
piece up there at the top left corner.

Once again it was our wonderful Sand Fibers
who currated the treasury!!
Thank you!
Her

Chartreuse with Grey Log Cabin Braid Peyote Cuff (2171)

would have fit into this treasury perfectly!

Katrin Lerman Jewelry

My featured seller today is Katrin Lerman Jewelry:

http://KatrinLermanJewelry.etsy.com
http://katrinlermanjewelry.blogspot.com/

What she has to say about herself:

I come from a family of makers and have been doing jewelry since I was a little girl (if making friendship bracelets is considered jewelry ; ) Originally from Germany, I settled in Massachusetts, US almost ten years ago. I can’t believe it has been such a long time already! Nonetheless, I draw inspiration from my German childhood as well as from the time spent here and from every little moment I can remember happening in between. Sometimes, photographs of finished jewelry pop into my mind and I have to quickly run to jot them down before they are gone. Other times, I have an idea in mind and it takes a lot of drawings until I have figured out how to best do what I was thinking about. Of course, those sketches are not written in stone and I often change a design while I am making the piece to arrive at the best end result possible.

I graduated from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston with a Degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Interior Design is all about color, form, and texture – and that’s what I’m integrating in my jewelry designs.

Now that I have a beautiful baby girl, I try to spend every free minute (and those of you who have a baby know that there are few) creating jewelry. Naturally, I have lots more time thinking than creating and so my sketch book is filling up with ideas for years to come. I can’t wait to get working on all those ideas and designs!!!


Be sure to go and look at the rest of her shop!

Witty Workshop

Etsy Buy Handmade wittyworkshop

My featured seller today is Witty Workshop:
http://wittyworkshop.etsy.com
http://pot-aux-roses.blogspot.com

What she has to say about herself:
My name is Valérie Parizeault and I am a Canadian Illustrator & designer from Montreal. I am also the owner of Rose Flash, Playfully spirited Jewelry (www.roseflash.ca), a graphic designer AND an art teacher. I live a very busy life! C'est la vie!

Inspired by whimsical moments, children’s universes, friendship and mignonneries, I am truly living my dream life as an artist with my husband-cherie by my side and my black cat Tokyo (nicknamed minou) on my keyboard. Also, I am:

- A Treehugger, a chocolate passionate, a coffee conoisseur (I've work several years as a Prima barista), a French Canadian, a daydreamer, a wannabe yoga wiz (not there yet!), a good cook...

I love: Feist & Coral Egan (singers), reading really late, antiques of all sorts(I collect them), all things graphic design-related, especially typo, shoes, graphic patterns, blogging and taking pictures.

I dislike: the word hate, electronic cords, talking on the phone, the smell of celeri, waiting in line, beer, over talkers and drama queens.

Please e-mail me if you have special request or questions, I'm always open to new ideas and I just love collaborations of all sorts. Je parle aussi Français (c'est ma première langue) :)
my blog: pot-aux-roses.blogspot.com
my business-tip blog: bitethebusiness.blogspot.com
my «real» freelance graphic design job: www.design.roseflash.ca
my jewelry line: www.roseflash.ca

=================== Featured in ===================
Domino Magazine:
http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/objects/accessories/art/etsy_girls

Decor 8:
http://decor8.blogspot.com/2007/08/witty-workshop.html

Bloesem:
http://bloesem.blogs.com/bloesem/2007/08/prints.html

La Mode D'indie
http://msmignonette.blogspot.com/2007/08/pretty-pretty-witty-workshop.html

Cuteable:
http://cuteable.com/cuteable-finds-91/964

Apartment therapy Nursery:
http://nursery.apartmenttherapy.com/nursery/artwork/the-best-friend-series-036047


If you have a question or would like to say hello or Bonjour, please e-mail me to wittyworkshop(at)gmail.com. I really enjoy hearing from my customers and knowing how my art is touching your world. Kinda motivates me to create more :) !

Be sure to stop by and see her variety of prints, origionals, ACEOs and even a bit of buttons and jewellery!

Scorpienna

My featured seller for todays 90 in 90 challenge is Scorpienna:
http://scorpienna.etsy.com
http://scorpienna.livejournal.com

About the artist:
I'm an engineering student in Missouri. I like to use tools, to make things, and to play with beautiful colors. I also love to procrastinate my studies, and I've found that making jewelry is a great way to relieve stress while putting off my homework just a little while longer!

If you would like something in my shop in a different color or length, please contact me. I can also split up sets on request. Check out my sold items for more things that I can make for a custom order.

All earrings are pristine (never been worn).

If you are disappointed by an item you buy, let me know and we'll work something out. I want my customers to be satisfied.

I have a cute little spoiled parrot (green cheek conure) so I'm particularly interested in parrot artwork and crafts as well as bird toys. If you have anything cute and parrot-y, let me know!


If you love ear rings, you will love her shop!

But, don't take my word for it :).

DAM Designs

Today my featured etsy seller is DAM designs:
http://www.damdesigns.etsy.com
http://www.damdesigns.blogspot.com


About the artist:
I put a lot of time and heart into my work, and I hope you will enjoy them.

I have grown up living on art. I have always been a crafty person and my mom always tells this story from back when I was 3 -- I used to get up in the morning and watch the art programs that used to play on T.V. One day I was watching and I brought to my sleeping mom a basket I made all by myself. She said it was cut, there was glue, and it was woven together...and I was only 3. She always tells me that she wishes she had kept it. Well the passion for art and crafty things has been with me my entire life, and I finally decided that it was time to sell my art. I put a lot of time and heart into the pieces of art I create, and I love doing it.

Alter Ego- http://www.tagsandbuttons.etsy.com








She has such an amazing and unique shop!
It's full of such a variety of things! I have only included a few, be sure to go and see for yourself!

I made the front page!!!

I woke up this morning to a convo with a note and a screen shot!! My "Passion" is in the top right hand corner :) Thank you SandFibers for including me!

QuirkynBerkeley

Etsy Buy Handmade QuirkynBerkeley

QuirkynBerkeley is my featured etsian today:

http://QuirkynBerkeley.etsy.com
http://quirkynberkeley.blogspot.com

What she has to say about herself:
Love paper. Love color. Love Berkeley. Love Etsy.
Beyond that, my style is eclectic and I love to experiment. I get completely absorbed in engineering my varied creations for hours. Each one is a new and unique production, made of treasures from my collection of paper and ephemera, transfigured into a single piece held together by a little glue, a lot of ideas, practice and work, and most of all, a great amount of joy. Some of my custom work can be viewed at http://www.picturetrail.com/photos/quirkynberkeley. Everything is made in a smoke free environment.

Visit my other shop, http://quirkynberkeleytoo.etsy.com for DESTASHING and OUTLET.

My work is designed to be something that one person gives to another. I'm lucky to have a craft that has a personal role in people's lives, and that can so easily become a part of the story of people's lives together. Gifts are imbued with all sorts of symbolic significance in every culture, and I'm always interested in the stories that people tell me about how they've used my cards -- who it was for, why they picked that particular card, why it touches them in some special way. Giving a handmade card is an act of intimacy since it is touched by very few hands-- the hands of the maker, the sender, the recipient. Being its creator allows me a role in a beautiful ritual.

It feels good to be the recipient of hand-written correspondence: no matter what the occasion -- there's a strong emotional connection during the moments of anticipation, and when it is held and read; the mystery of what's inside the envelope, wondering what prompted someone to stop everything else in their life and focus for a few minutes on writing this note. Your full attention for a few minutes is a very special kind of gift to another person, in a hand-written note that moment becomes frozen in time.

A handwritten note and its words can be touched by both sender and receiver and is always intimate; a handcrafted card is one that is created with these things in mind, and it is very likely the only one of its kind. Its maker sculpts the card from paper and other elements into a montage that is simultaneously an act of self-expression awaiting an act of overlaying it with new meaning in the giving from sender to receiver and used for one, specific moment in time.

Anything Goes

Voting has begun on Etsy Bead Weavers June Challenge. The theme is "Anything goes" and we got to do what we felt was our best work.
Please come and vote for your favourite!
http://Etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com

Smearing

To follow up on my blog for yesterday:

Have you ever found it ironic that what others accuse you of is actually what they are guilty of?
It's pure irony.

Let's get something clear: I have a life. A busy full life. A husband, job, family.
I don't need to "get off" on forum drama as I have been accused of.
And to be threatened over what was false is even worse. You really are that invested in online life that it comes to threatening others to make yourself feel better?

This has reminded me quite well of why I hate gossip so much: facts get skewed, changed and repeated as fact over and over again.
People don't know what they are talking about, but they say they do and others believe them.
And, when this is done to someone else attempting to start a little business, it's not just catty, it's ugly and underhanded.

I thanked admin because they were aware of how I was being followed around and flamed and said that it would not be tolerated. PERIOD.
No one was having special meetings. Nothing underhanded was occurring. That people were smearing admins name over assumptions says a lot about them.

And one more thing-it was being repeated that I was harassing someone through convos...I've never sent or received convos from this person.
OOPS.

When someone lies about you

I have to almost feel sorry for those who have treated me in such an ugly way.
Why?
Well, first of all, to actually have time to spend agonizing over a forum and those who post there for one thing. Forums are nice, but not what life is about.
Then, to think that you have to create lies and spread them to make yourself look better...it's just sad no matter how you look at it.
If you can't handle someone having a different opinion of you, then perhaps you should not participate in forums. We are not robots. The fact that we are different and have different thought patterns and ideas is a beautiful and good thing.

I have to almost laugh at the whole thing.
Man, it takes absolutely no guts to post anonymously on a anonymous blog. You can spew filth and ugliness and no one will ever know that it is you.
Telling one side of a story so filled with lies in an attempt to make another seller look bad.
Really, when you treat others in such a way, who really looks bad?

Do they really think that those who read such things were born yesterday?
They can't see the truth of what's going on, what has happened in the past?
Also, do they realize what libel is? Evidently not.

Thanks to all who stood up for me. To those who encouraged me not to bow to their level. You are the best.
Oh, and thank you Rob White for being such a great Admin who truly cares about the community and for knowing what is really happening. I appreciate all that you do and the time you take to invest in even me.

Dream On

Dream On's incredible paintings (and prints from paintings) are featured in my blog today!
About the artist:
I believe I was most likely born with a paintbrush in my hands. Later on I earned an art degree at Colorado State University. Additionally, I have taken workshops and classes and studied with a number of local and national artists. I belong to several art groups in Florida and one in Colorado. I have won numerous awards in juried and non-juried art shows. I am married and currently live on the West Coast of Florida.

I value the presence of a recognizable subject in my paintings. I love it when the center of interest appears in the midst of background objects that aren’t so well-defined. I want watercolor to look like watercolor, and I want all of my paintings to have a painterly look, not to be a photographic copy. Therefore I am an impressionist, because I don’t want to over-control the media.

I love to paint using a variety of techniques. Having taken an experimental art class for the last 4-5 years, I am likely to paint anything, and I'm always "playing."

OTHER WEB PRESENCES:

I am now doing a painting a day (when my schedule allows) which I am posting on my blog and available for sale here in my shop. Check out the descriptions of techniques used on my blog!

http://DreamsAboutArt.blogspot.com
www.mary-hamilton.com

FUNDRAISING. . .
I will be sharing a percentage of the proceeds from patriotic items with the The Fisher House™ Foundation. It's a small thing I can do to support caring for our nation's military families. Shipping is free on these items.

CONDITIONS IN MY STUDIO. . .
All of my items are produced in a smoke-free, allergy-friendly no-pets atmosphere.

ABOUT PRINTS . .
My prints are all from my original paintings. Each one is signed and dated.

This is how my prints are created: First, I take a photo of the original painting with a Nikon D-50. Second, I load the image into my computer. Third, I open up the image in Photoshop and check it for true color against the original, correcting as necessary. Fourth, I send the corrected image to my "graphics guy" who works for a large reprographics firm. He then prints the large prints on a DesignJet 5500 on Color Presentation Bond, or the smaller ones on a large commercial Laserjet onto Hammermill 100 lb. color cover. Finally, I check the prints for color, and if they are not acceptable he corrects them for me on his computer and re-prints. Everything is on acid-free paper, printed with archival inks.

This is how the buyer can get a long-lasting print/reproduction which looks great for a minimal investment. I am quite willing to have giclee prints and canvas prints, and prints on photographic paper - well, any size and kind that's feasible - made for anyone who is willing to pay the additional cost. Just convo me. I'll do my best to make you happy.

Signature Sterling

today I am featuring Sue of Signature Sterling:

http://signaturesterling.etsy.com
http://signature-sterling.blogspot.com
About Signature Sterling:
Welcome to SignatureSterling where you will find personally designed and handcrafted jewelry ~ especially sterling silver with semiprecious stones, lampwork beads, Swarovski crystals/pearls, Czech glass, charms, and "signature" items ~ CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME! Specialty collections include Buckeye Nation, Hairspray, Show Your Colors, and Little Black Dress. Beautiful...unique...signature...YOU!

I am active with other terrific, creative “Etsians” – the TBO (Tranquil Beading Oasis), the Bead Hive, EtsyMom, and EtsyBEAD. Need help finding these talented artists? Go to the Etsy home site and search for TBO, BHV, EtsyMom, and EtsyBEAD in tags, titles. You'll get a great list to choose from!