My very first pair of oxidized earrings

These earrings are flashy and bright. Features red briolette glass beads hand wire wrapped in sterling silver and oxidized. A fabulous addition to any wardrobe and a great look for any occasion.Sterling silver ear wires.

DETAILS:
measures from top to bottom 1 3/4" (4.4cm)

See more of my designs here:
www.sparklingtwi.etsy.com

Featured artist of the week

This month's featured artist is LeAnn of Mississippi, United States. I got a chance to interview her about her collection of upcycled pieces! Here is what she had to say...

What type of artwork do you do?
My passions are photography and writing, but I enjoy venturing out into new things. I love finding castoff items and turning them into something completely new and different. I use vintage and upcycled elements to create nearly all of my small home décor items.


How long have you been creating?
For as long as I can remember. I wrote my first book in the third grade, and have been crafting since crayons were put within my reach.

How much time do you spend working on your craft?
Physically – not nearly as much as I need to. Mentally – constantly. Like most, the daily grind is usually my excuse for putting things off. But, I've made a resolution to invest more time, and stop using excuses.

What inspires you to create?
It can be the tiniest thing. I might see a DIY post online, or see an item in a store that makes me think, "Oh I could do that, but I would change this, or add that here." I also get tremendous inspiration digging through junk shops. You'd be surprised at the things you find.

Do you have a designing process?
I let things tell me what they want to be. I've found that if I try to force it, I don't usually end up pleased with the final product. I once found a 1950's magazine table – the kind with the pockets on the sides – and painted it three times before giving up and sitting in the floor in front of it. After staring at it for quite some time, it began to look like a frog. So, I painted it a fourth time, made wood cutout eyes to hang from the center opening, and it became the cutest little frog table I've ever seen (if I do say so myself).

Where do you do your creating?
Everywhere – and I'm very messy about it. I work on several projects at once, so I end up with little piles scattered here and there. Strangely though, I find that I think better in a non-cluttered environment. When a project isn't going as smoothly as it should, I organize my space, and my focus becomes clearer.

Have you always been artsy?
Yes I have. As a child, nothing made me happier than receiving a craft kit at Christmas. When I was eight, I got into a lot of trouble for ripping up my aunt's favorite shirt to make a purse. It was the mid 1970's, so you can imagine how pretty the purse (and the shirt) was…I loved it!

Do you have another job?
I worked in Marketing and Graphic Design for about 20 years before my husband and I relocated. Rather than go through the tedious process of finding a new job in a new environment, I decided to look into other, more fulfilling, ways to earn a living.

Where do you sell your pieces?
For the past six years, I've operated booth spaces in local antique malls where I sell large scale painted furniture pieces. I just recently opened Lé Maison Belle at Etsy where I'm focusing mainly on small home décor pieces and photography.

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love it! I always knew that I liked writing and photography, but I was a little surprised to find out how much enjoyment I get from making the items like I sell on Etsy. There is something about working with your hands, building something from start to finish, that gives you an unequal sense of peacefulness.

Do you have a favorite piece in your shop?
Other than the photographs, I'd have to say the Dream Big sign. I sat down on the computer to design a Beach sign because they seemed to be popular, but I just couldn't get into it. I started playing around and came up with the Dream Big sign, which is more my style.

Do you have a blog or website setup?
No, but I'm working on it. I do have a twitter account: www.twitter.com/SouthernWriting

My favorite pieces of the week...

Black Knitted Cap - by ThreeBirdNest - $29.50

Holiday Ornament - by Quirky Quriosities - $4.00

Cocktail Ring - by maartjejewels - $98.00

Knit Bag - by hibbe - $105.00

Sparkling Cocktail Ring - CreaShines - $21.00

HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011

Participating in the HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011. Enjoy!
Click on the collection to take you to the Etsy treasury


To find out more please visit the links below . . .

http://blog.hgtv.com/design/2011/12/06/hgtv-etsy-deck-the-halls-together
http://blog.hgtv.com/design/tag/color-of-the-monthhttp://www.etsy.com

-A great selection on handcrafted jewelry and accessories-
www.sparklingtwi.etsy.com

Summer Time Fun

Newly listed in my ChellaBellaPaper's shop is a listing for 3 small randomly chosen deco-tapes, similar to the tapes shown in the photos. Can be used to decorate your packages, tags, picture frames, metal tins etc.... Let your creativity soar. www.chellabellapapers.etsy.com

Featured Artist Of The Month

This month's featured artist is Nona of Utah, United States. I got a chance to interview her about her collection of lovely jewelry! Here is what she had to say...

What type of artwork do you do?
Well, here’s the place for my standard introduction! When introducing myself to a group of people one time, I was asked to name my hobbies - tell them what I do. I promptly informed them that it would be quicker to tell them what I DON'T do! I love all things creative, even the ones I can't do - yet!

How long have you been creating?
I have been creating as long as I can remember. Seriously, one of my earliest memories is of my mother teaching me cross stitch on some over-sized pattern cards! I started making simple bracelets when I was about eight, and my grandma taught me to crochet when I was nine, and it’s just progressed from there!

How much time do you spend working on your craft?
When you consider that my crafting includes many more than you will ever see in my Etsy or Artfire shops, I usually spend several hours every day crafting. Well, that depends. Most days I look on cooking as a wonderful craft, but some days it’s just putting food on the table.

What inspires you to create?
Everything inspires me to create! I find a lot of creative thought comes from nature, my family, music, art and the like, but sometimes something as odd as a smell will cause a random thought cascade ending with some wonderful creation! Of course, there’s always the grand mother of invention – necessity! Because my younger son has an inseam of 36” and a waist of 29”, I have become very very good at making pants!

Do you have a designing process?
Hmmm. Not really. I just decide what I want as an end result and figure out how to get there. For my bead crochet, I usually envision a pattern, deconstruct it, write it down, string a test piece, work it up, decide if it looks good, and then make a completed jewelry piece from it. I have skipped all but the first and last steps more than once, though. It’s always a relief when it turns out!

Where do you do your creating?
Literally everywhere except the shower. I am always working on at least three different projects, and I always have at least one going that I can take with me anywhere I go. I am so used to waiting for the boys at karate, saxophone lesson, car pool pickup, soccer games, and on and on, that I began to carry small projects with me wherever I go. Now everyone always expects to see me whip out a ReCycladelic bracelet or bead crochet rope almost every time I sit down. They all know I don’t carry a purse – that’s my work bag!

Have you always been artsy?
I literally do not remember a time where I have not wanted to create. I was a total tomboy growing up, I mean I played tackle football with my brothers and their friends – my brothers are 5 and 8 years older than me! But still, I would come in from that and sit down at the sewing machine or pick up the crochet hooks or head for the kitchen. I have always loved to create and I always will.

Do you have another job?
Unfortunately, no. I have a degree in computer programming, but with my sons in school my husband and I decided it would be better for me to work part time. Unfortunately, I have had two separate jobs outsourced to India and with the economy, no one is hiring part time right now. I would love to go back to it in the near future, but that wouldn’t mean I wouldn’t still do everything else as well! One of the reasons I love programming is that it is actually very creative. A truly good program is as much art as it is science!

Where do you sell your pieces?
I actually sell most of my pieces as direct commission. I also have my etsy shop and my artfire shop, plus I commission in a couple of local stores and participate in some art fairs and farmer’s markets. Each one has its benefits and I enjoy them all.

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love what I do! If I don’t, why bother?

Do you have a favorite piece in your shop?
I would never put anything in my shop that I wouldn’t be delighted to wear or use myself, but the one that really stands out for me is the Black Diamonds bead crochet necklace. I truly consider it a stunningly beautiful piece of jewelry, and every time I wear mine I have at least one person stopping me to ask me about it.

Do you have a blog or website setup?
I do! I have a blog. It is fairly new and I don’t have a lot of posts yet, but it’s there. It’s not really a business blog, although there will be business stuff on there. So far I have posted about my garden, a short vacation and the U2 concert. I’m having fun with it – I hope my followers are too! If you’re interested you can find it at www.lanmomoriginals.blogspot.com

My Heartsy Deal

So excited for my heartsy deal today. ChellaBellaPapers is featured...

Click the link below to sign up. Lots and lots of great items at great discount prices: http://heartsy.me/users/26190/referral?c=plink

Summer is just around the corner =)

It's coming close to that time of year again.Summer is on it's warm and wonderful way. Preparing for the season I started off with this pretty summer inspired digital paper pack entitled "Soft Petals" You can check it out in my shop www.kissedbyapixel.com

Featured Artist Of The Month

This month's featured artist is Jacqueline of Spokane United States. I got a chance to interview her about her collection from lovely jewelry to throw cushions and supplies! Here is what she had to say...

What type of artwork do you do?
NedjmaBazaar makes jewelry and decor inspired by culture and nature, with a heavy African and Arabian influence.

My shop MesEtoiles makes edibles. mostly non perishables like teas and spice blends with a cooking lesson, which I call the MesEtoiles world chef series. This is where I adapt favorite restaurant fare from different cultures to recipes for weeknight meals anyone can make. I find this to be valuable for saving money and being adventurous in your repertoire. I also make spicy chocolate truffles... which are very popular.

How long have you been creating?
How long have I been alive? I have been drawing, painting, cooking, and beading as far back as I can remember. Although I have surely adapted and improved over the years.

How much time do you spend working on your craft?
Typically, anywhere for 20-30 hours a week. Then another 20-30 promoting and selling it.

What inspires you to create?
Well, there is a never ending whirlwind of thoughts that race through my head all the time. I think there is a little elf in my head that grabs thoughts as they race by and puts them together and hands them to me - No! Seriously, I am heavily inspired by nature, culture, and color. I love rich and dramatic color combination's.

Do you have a designing process?
Yes, but its more a non-process. its like reading tea leaves. The pieces fall where they fall and I try to make sense of them. Once I organized my bead bucket and subsequently had a creators block until they all fell off a shelf and ended up back in a bucket. I let the beads tell me what to do, rather than the other way around.

Where do you do your creating?
At home. Typically on my couch although I have been beading in the back yard all week while my son plays. I do a lot of creating in my head. I pretty much never stop creating. Oh, and my kitchen of course.

Have you always been artsy?
Since i came out of the womb. My mom is an artist and my dads family are musicians. It is in our blood and we are never happy doing anything else.

Do you have another job?
I did but now I do not. I am doing all I can to make creation my job, on Etsy and otherwise.

Where do you sell your pieces?
Currently I sell on Etsy as well as locally. I am coming up with ideas for other venues as well.

Do you enjoy what you do?
Immensely! I stopped creating when my son was born and became so depressed and lost. I feel like now that I am back to doing what I love, I have woken up from a deep sleep. I am very thrilled about it.

Do you have a favorite piece in your shop?
I have several. I have one simple pair of earrings that I had to make myself a clone of. I loved them so much: Tribal Earrings and for my more complex work it would have to be my
Earthy Beaded Necklace really though, its hard to choose.

Do you have a blog or website setup?
www.nedjmabazaar.com/blog
www.facebook.com/pages/Nedjma

My new favorite toy

Lately I've been diving into scrapbooking, card and tag making and and have fallen in love with various paper packs, embellishments, ink pads, stamps etc... Just found my new favorite scrapbooking toy. Purchased in online a few days ago from Etsy shop www.photomamaregina.etsy.com and just opened it today. I just know we are going to be the best of friends. Look how pretty those flowers are, going to be making hundred upon hundreds. Be still my excited heart =)

What is your favorite scrapbooking tool? I would love to get a cricut, maybe for my Birthday?!

Featured Artist Of The Month

This month's featured artist is Stephanie of Northern California Coast. I got a chance to interview her about her collection of lovely children's apparel and accessories! Here is what she had to say...

What type of artwork do you do?
Create children's clothing and accessories.

How long have you been creating?
Probably 8 years total . . . I was recently given a sewing machine, and decided less than a year ago to take up sewing after a very, very long hiatus!

I used to make most of my clothing as a teenager, because I was mortified whenever a classmate wore the same dress as me. Once my children were born, I found I was always having to work outside the home. Then there were the needles, pins and scissors that couldn't be left out where little toes and fingers could get hurt, so eventually the sewing machine went bye-bye!

How much time do you spend working on your craft?
Varies. Can go one or two weeks without creating, then can spend 20 hours the next two weeks!!! It has to be fun, or I don't do it!

What inspires you to create?
My grandchildren, they are very special little people. Colors and textures that I just want to reach out and touch , nostalgic things . . . like sock monkeys, ruffles, old buttons and bow-ties.

Do you have a designing process?
I love to collect patterns, fabrics, ribbon, and embellishments. In my mind I pull together design elements, but it's really fun when I sit down and arrange pieces to incorporate. Many times I go a different direction and making something else with the fabric or embellish with other pieces I have instead.

Where do you do your creating?
In my head, bouncing ideas back and forth at Starbucks with my BFF, then I get down and dirty cutting out patterns on my kitchen counter, and operating the sewing machine on the kitchen table, haha. My treat at the end is any hand sewing that needs to be done, while in bed watching television.

Have you always been artsy?
Never really thought of myself as "creative" or "artsy" for some reason. I always had a rebellious streak when it came to following sewing pattern suggested fabrics. Always wanting to "prove them wrong" and use something entirely different. That was during the 60s and 70s so experimentation is just what everyone did, just seemed normal, not artsy. My mother opened a bead shop several years ago, and she taught me to make a few pieces of jewelry. I have just begun collecting and moving beads around to see what strikes me, so I can make some beautiful pieces for moms and their little girls.

Do you have another job?
No, we don't have House Husband in our home! He works every day and I stay home, so you could say I'm retired.

Where do you sell your pieces?
www.etsy.rubybeantoes.com

Do you enjoy what you do?
I love what I do as long as I am enjoying the process, and not just rushing to a deadline. It is so rewarding when a piece is finished and I imagine a little one wearing it. Working at home on pieces affords me a day off when I want, then the next day, I can get back to it, rolling up my sleeves and gettin 'er done, ignoring the telephone and listening to my favorite old R&B tunes.

Do you have a favorite piece in your shop?
Probably the bow-ties, they are just so 40s-50s' style, and quite fun to make.

Sparkling Jewel Tone Collection

Come visit the store by clicking here: www.sparklingtwi.com
Lots of new items listed daily!!

Another New Shop...

Opened up a new shop this month www.chellabellapapers.etsy.com will be featuring lots of pretty items such as tags, magnets, stationary, pendants and so much more. Lots of new items to share with you all. Come take a peek :)

Pretty Pink Vintage Rose Scrabble Tile Pendant

Scalloped Punched Retro Paper Set 2x2 8 Tags

Pretty Vintage Floral Cards 8 Tags

Great Deals Everday

Click on photo to visit the website. I love it here and think you will too :)

My New Line of Headbands

I've got my new line of headbands ready to go in my shop. Many more colours coming soon...

Time to accessorize your pretty outfit with this modern yet chic eco-friendly rose headband.

*Eco-friendly charcoal gray felt material
*Bloom measures 3" (8cm)
*Satin covered headband with rubber tipped ends for comfort.

Click on photo to buy now :)