Beautiful Blue Treasury!

An Alberta Street Teammate of mine let me know last night that I'm in her new Treasury! :D

Thanks, Cindy!

Blurple!

Rings with Bling.

As soon as I was comfortable hammering pure sterling rings, I wanted to add more to some of my designs. I have SO many beads that I'm in love with, and I know that they'll make fabulous rings, but I needed to work out a few techniques for how exactly to attach them to a sterling base.

I'm really pleased with what I've come up with so far, and glancing around Etsy, I haven't seen any others like them. :)

(Click images to view items.)

Amethyst and Peridot.

Tiger's Eye.

Faceted Amethyst.

Hematite.

I have ordered MANY more fabulous stones which I hope will arrive soon so that I can make more of these rings. I'm really excited about the ideas that I have bubbling around in my head. :D

Branching out! Ring making- here I come. :)

I can't remember what made me think of it, but it recently occurred to me that if I got myself a steel ring mandrel, I could make hammered sterling rings. I already had on hand a few feet of 16 gauge sterling wire that I had purchased before I understood that 20 gauge was what I needed to make earrings like these Musical Notes. So I went online and found a good deal on a steel ring mandrel that came with a small nylon hammer. I was so happy when it arrived. :D

I started by making myself a ring. I needed to practice and learn anyway, and it's nice to have the very first of something when you're branching out into a new technique. :)

I made a second ring in the same style, which turned out really well, and I have that one listed in my shop now.

(Click images to view items.)

Perfect for everyday wear- I have mine on right now. :)

This little beauty has gotten a lot of attention.

And I love the sparkle in this one from the dimples of the hammer in the sterling.

This one was a challenge, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. :)

I'm having a lot of fun making rings, and am very happy to see that they're getting a good amount of views and even some hearts. :)

I have two more in the works, and hope to list them soon!

Etsy Finds - cindylouwho2

Cindy from cindylouwho2 is a member of my Alberta Street Team, and has been really helpful lately with a project that I've needed a bit of assistance on. :) So I thought I'd take a moment to share her beautiful jewelry creations with a wider audience!

We share a love of abalone, so this is one of my favourite pieces of hers.

(Click image to view item.)

These earrings are Cindy's bestseller. :)

And this bracelet is just plain gorgeous!

If you enjoyed this post, check out my other Etsy Finds by clicking the "etsy finds" tag just below this text. :)

Ocean Blue Treasury!

I woke up today to a convo letting me know that my Oceanic blue abalone zipper pull is in a Treasury! :) SerendipityByErin created this marvelous collection and was kind enough to include me. Check out her shop for beautiful handcrafted earrings.

Gorgeous Ocean Blues

Etsy Finds - seajewels2005

I just came across this lovely shop today and thought I'd share it with a wider audience. :)

Seajewels2005 sells unique and colourful jewelry and supplies. Here are a few of my favourites from her shop.

(Click images to view items.)

Want to see my other Etsy Finds? Just click the "etsy finds" tag below this post. :)

Featured Artist - 2monkees

This feature is a part of the Holiday Giveaway that I'm contributing to. Running the whole month of November, there are 30 incredible prizes to be won! It's easy to enter- just blog about one of the shops or items participating in the giveaway and then leave a comment (on the host blog) with a link to your blog post and your email address.

(Click images to view items.)
For this feature, I asked 2monkees a couple of questions. Here they are, along with her answers. :)

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am the mom of two active little boys. A lot of my life is spent hustling them around and keeping up with all we have going as a family. Our whole family likes being outside running around and most of our free time involves some kind of sport- running, soccer, hiking, biking or skiing. I started making jewelry a little over a year ago and have become fairly obsessed. I enjoy having a creative outlet for my time!

How did you first find Etsy?
I first found Etsy while trying to promote another business I was working with. I kept seeing references to "Etsy" on social networking sites but had no idea what it was. I was totally floored and hooked the first time I saw it!

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I first opened an account on Etsy about 18 months ago but it was not until the last six months or so that I became more involved with actually trying to have a shop.

What inspires you with your craft?
I find that I get inspiration from almost everywhere.... Sometimes it is something somebody says or something I see. Most frequently it comes when I am outside working out. Most of my jewelry has some sort of nature theme to it and my mind is often humming with new ideas as I am struggling through one of my slow jogs through the neighborhood.

What is your favourite item currently for sale in your shop?
I think my favorite item right now is this round Eyes Wide Shut Pendant. Last week, I thought I was finished making jewelry for the two shows I had for the weekend, than a catalog arrived that featured all these adorable bird pictures. I had to make this pendant. I love the detail of the eyes and the feathers.

What's the best advice you were ever given regarding selling on Etsy?
I think the best advice I was ever given about Etsy is to promote yourself outside of Etsy. Etsy has brought me many great things- wholesale orders, new community, etc but to be successful, you need to have sales outside of Etsy.

Do you have any upcoming shows, events or projects?
I am very busy with shows during the holidays and I will be keeping an updated calendar in my shop announcement.

If you enjoyed this Artist Feature, check out the ones I did on, lewesiaglass, jessijewels, CelticKnot, and hdawnparratt.

The Lovely Ms Linda!

I just got a convo from the lovely Ms Lindabutterfly letting me know that I'm in her gorgeous new Treasury! :)

She added my By The Seashore shell bracelet to this beautiful collection. Thanks, Linda!

Alberta Rocks!

I'm in a Treasury! This beautiful collection was put together by MyGrandpasPen (check out her shop for unique and creative handcrafted cards). She's clearly a talented Treasury creator, and I'm just thrilled to find my sister's Purple Thistle photograph included! :)

Alberta Street Team

Etsy Finds- LaurenAlexander

I adore owls! :) And searching through Etsy this fine evening I found a stunning set of prints that I thought should be shared with a wider audience. These glorious creations by LaurenAlexander would be a gorgeous addition to any room of the house!

(Click photos to view items.)

Check out this adorable ACEO....

And this fabulous little painting. :)

LaurenAlexander has an amazing selection of colourful pieces with 154 listings to choose from.

Check out my other great finds by clicking on the "etsy finds" tag below. :)

And the giveaway begins!

The holiday giveaway that I posted about yesterday has now officially begun! The giveaway runs for the month of November, and there are 30 fabulous prizes to be won. Visit SweetFigments.blogspot.com for details on how to enter! :)

Christmas Blog Giveaway!

I signed up to participate in a Christmas blog giveaway being run by TheTinyFig this holiday season. I donated a pair of earrings (center bottom, the green ones) which will go to one lucky contest participant. :) The giveaway opens tomorrow, so keep an eye out for more information on how to enter!

A little PICK me up!

I managed to snag a Treasury West the other day, and I was feeling a bit down at the time, so I decided to make it a Pick Me Up collection. Beautiful items to lift your mood. :) I found these pieces from the shops of friends, and it's one of my favourite Treasuries ever.

(See below for a diagram of links to these items.)

Bitty Bird * Watercolour * The Ocean.....

Tropical * Cloud Dance * Pink Rose

Ruffles Hat * Wave Rider * Coffee Mug

Glass Pendant * Poppies * Glamor Ring

Etsy Finds - Christmas and Holiday cards

That's right, the time has come to start thinking about who you're going to send holiday or Christmas cards to, and what kinds of beautiful cards you will choose! :) This is a great time to get your hands on some items from the talented card makers on Etsy. Here are a few of my picks.

From hdawnparratt - Deck The Halls Cat Card

(click photos to view items)

And Snowmen Sleigh Ride

From jessijewels- Merry Christmas

And Happy Holidays

From rubyclover - Christmas Cards, Set of 2


And Santa Christmas Cards, set of 2


Interested in my other Etsy Finds? Click on the "etsy finds" tag at the bottom of this post. :)

Etsy Finds - laurali

An Etsy friend of mine, jessijewels, pointed me towards laurili's shop today and her work is so amazing that I just had to show it off. :)

This gorgeous Siamese cat pendant made from polymer clay really caught my eye.

(click photos to view items)

She also has some truly gorgeous art prints.




And show-stopping ACEOs. :)





Take a minute to check out the rest of her shop! You won't be disappointed. :)

Etsy Finds - Handpainted Glass Sunflower Pendant

This hand painted glass sunflower pendant by LewesiaGlass is absolutely stunning! I love the colours and the way the light shines through it. This piece would also make a beautiful sun-catcher. :)

(click the image to view item)

Learn more about Lynn and her painting techniques in this feature I did on her - Featured Artist- LewesiaGlass.

My First Time Being Featured!

I've done features on fellow Etsy artists here on my blog, but have never had the honour of being featured anywhere before. I got a wonderful surprise this morning when a lady I made a pay-it-forward banner for sent me the link to the feature she did on me on her blog! :D I'm so excited! What a wonderful feeling. :D

Check it out: The Ordinary Housewife - featured artist- Genuine Article

Kelly has a fabulous little Etsy shop of her own, which she just started listing in this past weekend. :) She does wonderful work with silk and crochet.

(click the images to view the items)

Isn't this the most gorgeous shade of turquoise? :)

An adorable hat for the stylish toddler.

This charming scarf would be the perfect accent to any outfit.

And check out her work painting on silk!

Take a look at some of the features I've done on other Etsy artists- jessijewels, CelticKnot, hdawnparratt, and lewesiaglass.

I'm on the Front Page!!!

Whoohooo!!! I just got a convo from the curator of a Treasury West that I'm in telling me that the Treasury made the front page of Etsy.com!!! :D

This gorgeous collection was created by floralia. Check out her amazing art prints! :)

Hushhh......

Mine are the Moonshine earrings at the bottom center.

Featured Artist - lewesiaglass

I met Lynn from lewesiaglass in the Etsy forums- the Group Hug thread to be specific. She's such a warm, kind, and talented woman that I couldn't help but like her immediately. :)

Lynn lives in the UK, has raised three grown sons, loves to travel with her husband of 41 years, and finds glass painting to be a very relaxing hobby. She takes her beautiful creations to craft fairs where she has been quite successful, and also sells her amazing pieces on Etsy.

I just placed a custom order with her for my sister, and she's already been really wonderful to deal with. :)

I recently interviewed Lynn. Here are my questions and her answers. (Click on the photos to view the items.)

What first interested you in glass painting, and how long have you been doing it?

About 12 years ago I visited a craft fair,in our local area, and just by chance there was a glass painter there. I liked the look of it, and thought, I'll try that. That was it, I was hooked.

Can you describe the process of your pieces from start to finish?

Firstly I just look at a the shape of the glass, be it a vase, candle holder, bottle, photo frame, and imagine what would fit the shape. The next step is the cerne relief outline, which is applied and then left for 24 hours to set. The outline leaves a well to which I apply the paint. I mix the paint straight on the glass, so half the time I have no idea if I am marbling how the paint will turn out. Again, I leave it for another 24 hours. Lastly, I add the finishing touches- the staimens in flowers and the viens in the leaves, and at last it goes into the oven for 2 hours to harden off. The last thing I do is wash it, and that's when it sparkles. I get great pleasure to think I have painted this!

What inspires you with your painting?

Anything. I love just to paint. I see glass, I want to paint it.

Do you have a favourite colour or technique to work with?

I suppose green and blue are my favourite colours. Green leaves, tree grass. And blue, there are so many shades of blue. My favourite technique is marbling. I mix the colours straight onto the glass, so in effect, I really don't know how they will turn out. I like doing that.

Do you enjoy painting on any one item in particular?

All items of glass are my favourites, because you start with a clean clear object, and you add to it, hopefully with a beautiful design that someone other than you will love.

What is your favourite item currently for sale in your shop?

My favourite item for sale in my shop is, the square white
and yellow iris.

How much time would you say you spend each day on your craft?

Whatever spare time I have, some days the ideas keep coming and other days not, I'm like all craft workers, you have good and bad creative days.

How did you first discover Etsy?

My daughter-in-law, she told me about this terrific site she had found, and told me, no one does hand painted glass like you, they will love it, but then she's biased!

What is your favourite part of Etsy?

I love the craftsmanship of so many talented people here on Etsy, the time the love and the patience they put into their craft, also the friendliness of it, I have been blessed with meeting alot of good friends just by being on the forums. Etsians also offer so much help.

Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy?

I do the occasional craft fair, not many because there is only so much that I can paint, and if it ever became a job, where I knew I had to paint, my pleasure would be gone.

If you enjoyed this Artist Feature, check out the ones I did on jessijewels, CelticKnot, and hdawnparratt.