Congrats Hamna!

Congrats Hamna!

Each month, Kelsi, who makes Environmentally Friendly Jewelry & More,
runs our monthly team challenge.

Hamna and her beautiful costumes won the August Monthly Challenge!!

HOORAY!!!!

Hamna makes clothing and costumes for adults and children

Do you Love to Crochet?

I am a knitter and have just learned some basic crochet stitches. I know I am always looking for new and exciting patterns for my knitted items. Sandy of Sandy's Cape Cod Originals is one very talented lady. Not only does she crochet the most darling items , but she designs patterns as well. Her shop features some very unique and adorable crochet patterns, like the ones you see here. She also sells items that she has crocheted, should you decide the that your crocheting skills are lacking. Be sure to visit Sandy's shops and stock up on wonderful patterns for your children or grandchildren.
Put a smile on the face of a friend or family member when you present them with a lovely handmade crocheted gift.

Sugar N' Spice

Sugar and Spice and everything nice, that is what little girls are made of... Pay a visit to Olivia Reyes delightful etsy shop to find the most delightful little girls' dresses and bows. These darling dresses would be perfect for a special occasion like a wedding. The bodice of the dresses is made with silk duponi and lined with bridal taffeta. The floral designs of the skirt bottom are soft and feminine. So take a look and treat that special little girl with one of Olivia's beautiful dresses or bows. Shipping is free.

New Earring Designs for Spring and Summer!

Here are some of my latest earring designs. They are all one-of-a-kind pieces made with genuine A to AAA+ quality gemstones. All of the findings are made with 14k gold filled wire and gold vermeil (18K gold layered over sterling silver) and some have matching necklaces. Any of these earrings would make a lovely gift for Mom or birthdays, graduations, etc. I can also do a custom design if you prefer. You can find these items and others on my website.

An Interesting Proposal

I was recently commissioned to make a necklace for a customer who lost a loved one and would like to carry the ashes around her neck in a sealed vessel. She informed me that she had seen the above necklace on flickr.com and would like to hang the urn type pendant on the handmade necklace instead of the spiral that is usually the focal piece of this design. I didn't think this would be possible since I do not not solder, but apparently she has someone who will seal the ends of the tube that I will hang from the necklace. I came up with the above piece to hold the ashes and hope that this is what my customer had in mind. We all need a little challenge to get the creative juices flowing. To be continued...

Before and After -part 2

This is part 2 of my post about working with liver of sulphur- the ugly part. My first post demonstrated how my finished bracelet would look without antiquing it in liver of sulphur. This photo show the very same piece after a quick dip in the smelly sulphur solution. Kind of scary I think. It almost looks like the entire piece has been destroyed. Stay tuned for part 3 when I will unveil my now antiqued bracelet.

Before and After

I have previously blogged about the amazing results you can get with a piece of jewelry using liver of sulphur. I thought it would be interesting to show my latest piece of jewelry before during and after antiquing the piece with liver of sulphur. For all of you out there who are a bit anxious about working with liver of sulphur, it can literally transform your artisan jewelry. Although this particular bracelet is lovely as is, it becomes even more beautiful after treating it to a bath of liver of sulphur and then giving it a whirl in the tumbler. I would love to hear what you think! Step 2 or the ugly part of this process will be posted in the next few days.

A Home for Your Feathered Friends

I found the perfect items for the bird lovers on your holiday list. The etsy shop of http://birdhouseaccents.etsy.com/ carries the most charming birdhouses I have seen. These handmade homes come in many different styles, shapes and colors. The two birdhouses shown here caught my eye because of all the little detail work and great colors. The camper would make a great conversation piece and look adorable in your yard or on your deck. Any bird would be proud to call one of these dellightful creations home! Take a look at all my HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE suggestions and get your shopping done early.

Stackable Rings

If you are a jewelry "nut" like I am, chances are you might wear lots of rings. My rings never come off my fingers and that is one of the reasons stackable rings work well for me. I can enhance my lovely petite rings with another one of a similar material or with a design that will make the ring next to it stand out like a frame on a picture. In my quest to add wonderful selections to my HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE, I discovered the newly opened shop of http://cosmosmoon.etsy.com/. She has been doing metalsmithing for over 2o years and has some outstanding pieces in her shop. Her stackable rings would make a lovely gift for that special lady in your life. The bracelet featured here is one of an award winning series of incredible one- of -a- kind pieces. I had to include it in this post!

Getting Married in the Morning Cake Toppers

I haven't been adding as many items as I would like to my handmade HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE because I have been looking for unique and interesting choices . My choices for today ,vary in price according to the amount of detail the artist puts into her creations. When I stumbled upon these amazing cake toppers, I wished I had a wedding coming up in our family. What an amazing gift for a bride and groom or someone celebrating a special anniversary or event! The artist fashions her little polymer clay caricatures after the photo that you provide to her. The results are whimsical and delightful, as you can see here. She also carries Christmas ornaments, jewelry displays, market totes and other unique items in her shop.

http://speckimage.etsy.com/. She is truly a talented artisan.

3 Pairs of Lovely Little Earrings that Won't Break the Bank

With the holidays rapidly approaching we are all thinking about gifts for people that will stay within our budgets. I chose three pairs of earrings from my etsy shop that will put a smile on your lady's face and will keep you smiling too. All are made with genuine stones and quality findings. I used carnelian, quartz, moonstone, pearls, prehnite,copper, gold vermeil, and sterling silver to make these one-of-a-kind unique earrings. These items will be sent in a lovely pouch or little gift box, if you prefer. Please visit my shop to purchase these earrings or other one-of-kind jewelry designs.http://elektrajewelry.etsy.com/

Handmade Jewelry Findings

Do you have a jewelry designer on your shopping list? One of the most thoughtful gifts I received in recent years was a gift certificate to my one of my favorite bead stores. The shop of http://rockissupplies.etsy.com/ carries handmade jewelry findings that will complement many types of jewelry designs. This etsy shop has many different styles of ear wires and some very pretty clasps. I am sure the artisan on your list would love these wonderful handmade supplies.

Ginger Peach, Pomegranate,Chocolate Orange, Margarita

No, these are not the names of my favorite drinks. They are yummy sounding lip balms by http://barefootbathandbody.etsy.com/ These and other incredibly wonderful sounding soaps and soy candles all found in this etsy shop would make an excellent gift item this holiday season. All the soaps are made with high quality products which contain no animal fats. alcohol, sulfates, or harsh detergents. they are very mild and excellent for sensitive skin. Only the freshest and best ingredients are used in these handmade items.

Tooth Fairy Pillows

Are you looking for a handmade gift for your little one or perhaps a grandchild ? These very special handmade tooth fairy pillows are so adorable. The designer offers many choices for boys and girls. The are filled with non allergenic material. Here are a few of my choices. Visit the shop and see for yourself. http://www.kennaandcompany.flyingcart.com/index.php?p=home

Substitute Teachers

I am currently a substitute teacher and let me tell you this is not an easy thing to do. Having taught my own classroom for many years and then becoming a teaching assistant, I have had over 25 years experience in the classroom. Although I have taught almost every grade level from kindergarten through grade 8, nothing is quite like subbing. As soon as the kids see you walk into the room, their mischievous eyes light up with glee. They all have the same goal . What can we do to make this woman's life miserable? Of course , I let them know right away that they are messing with the wrong lady, but at times it can be quite a challenge.

Today while browsing through this delightful etsy shop, http://urbanbasement.etsy.com/ I found the perfect journal , entitled Substitute Teacher and laughed out loud when I looked at the teacher's face. I can relate! This shop has some wonderful prints, postcards and journals which would make wonderful gift items. If you know a substitute teacher, make her day and buy this wonderful handmade journal. I am sure she/he will love it.

Just Peachy!

I just had the pleasure of visiting the charming etsy shop of http://peachypendants.etsy.com/. If you need a little brightness in your day visit this shop and see the bright and colorful pendants offered by Jennifer. Here is her profile.

"Hello and thanks for visiting!My name is Jennifer. I have been creating jewelry for the past four years. I just love these Scrabble Tile Pendants! So many options and so versatile to wear! I also love to do custom orders, so please don't be shy - just ask!If you live in the Boston, MA area, I love to do jewelry parties! You can have a Traditional Party where I bring the pendants for your guests to purchase. Or you can host a Pendant Making Party where I bring all the supplies and your guests can create their own charming pendants. Great for a child's birthday party, a Girl Scout's craft, or a Women's get-together. Convo me for more info.Thanks for stopping by!"

Here are a few of my favorites!

For the Love of Dolls

I was crazy for dolls as a child! My dolls got married ,had babies, and traveled the world on many excitng adventures. The etsy shop of http://feltlikestitchin.etsy.com/ has some adorable felt stitched dolls looking for a great home. This is what the owner tells us about herself.

"I live in Yorkshire, England and I've been a stitcher for as long as I can remember. I invent my DiDi Dolls as I go along, making each one truly unique!If I put my mind to it I can make pretty much anything out of felt, so if there's something you would like me to make just ask!Some of my DiDi Dolls are appearing at the Crammed Organisms World's Largest Plush Show in St Louis this June - if you're in that area why not check it out:)

My DiDi Dolls are also available at the following stores:

Cup Cakes A Go Go -

2079 Siesta Drive,

Sarasota, Florida

Kismet Gallery -

71 4th Street, Troy, NY 12180

Unique Freaque -

121 N. Kenilworth, Oak Park, Illinois 60301

Texas Art Spot -

N.Beaton St. Corsicana, Texas

The Crafty Fox -

Commercial Street, Rothwell, West Yorkshire

Jolie Handmade

Becca BoosTrendy

ShoppesGifts by Jayne"

There are dolls for every occasion and personality featured in this wonderful shop. Need a gift for a food critic or a grandma? You'll find it in this wonderful shop. Here are two of my favorites!

A Work in Progress

I have been working on new wire projects with a vengence since my Wild Wire Woman's Retreat and I am proud to present my lastest new necklace which is still unfinished. Stay tuned for the next installment. I will be asking for feedback and would love to have your input.

Great Instruction is the Key

I have been talking quite a bit on this blog about the wonderful Wild Wire Woman's retreat where I studied under master teacher Sharilyn Miller at her home in Idywilld,Ca. Even though some of the techniques we learned were challenging and frustrating, my persistence has certainly paid off. Practice really does make a big difference and having Sharilyn's DVDS has helped tremendously.

Although I still enjoy working with genuine gemstones to make some feminine and delicate jewelry pieces, wire working has been so much fun and I find that I love wearing the bold, chunky pieces as much as the delicate ones. Working with wire is a very satisfying experience and I particularly love antiquing my pieces in liver of sulpher. Check my blog to see my current metal pieces.