Etsybloggers Carnival ~ Valentine Gift Ideas!

Valentine's Day is approaching...looking for some inspiration? Check out this week's Etsybloggers' Carnival, hosted by Nahia Creations. The theme is "Valentine Gift Ideas" and the contributors (including me! :-) ) have shared some great ideas - from the simple to the, well, one can dream, right? After all, we're just all looking for inspiration! Have fun!

Featured Artist ~ MyCatLuLu

My Cat Lulu, a wonderful stationery shop, offers beautiful “thank you's, announcements, any thing you would like on paper with a touch of flavor.” The talented Becca, who has a BA in Art, is trained in Photoshop, Indesign, gocco, her medium format camera, and both black and white, color darkrooms.

Becca welcomes custom requests, so feel free to contact her with your special stationery needs.

You can find MyCatLuLu at:

Etsy: mycatlulu.etsy.com
Blog: mycatlulu.blogspot.com

Indoor Soccer Season is ON!

Soccer time again - we don't let a little winter weather slow us down! Just move indoors! Have to stock up on gauze pads and neosporin for the "turf" burns though - you can see the "wounds" on our goalie who is having way too much fun!! :-) Lots more pics at flickr, but here are my faves for the week...

If Wishes Were Horses....Or, A Fantasy Valentine Treasury of Gifts!

The old English nursery rhyme goes "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride"...Last night, I was contemplating the current Etsyblogger's Carnival theme, "Valentine's Day Gift Ideas," and I reflected anew on our "Buy Handmade" pledge, wondered what Etsy might hold "if wishes were horses" (and money was no object, of course!) for Valentine gifting, and had great fun in creating a fantasy Valentine treasury for myself ~ which, naturally, I'm more than happy to share with you! Enjoy!

Featured Artist ~ Cigar Box Beads

Marilyn of Cigar Box Beads became a non-stop beadweaver when she purchased 3 vintage cigarboxes full of beads at a flea market---about 20 years ago. And yes, she’s still using those beads along with a 'few' more! What a wonderful beginning to this beautiful shop!

A retired Home Economics teacher, Marilyn explains that beadweaving is her “joy” along with other hand crafts – knitting, crocheting, sewing – and not to be forgotten, being with her twin granddaughters with whom she enjoys sharing her love for crafting.

In addition to enjoying the beautiful pieces you will find at Cigar Box Beads, stop by Marilyn’s newest shop, Such and Sort (from a family’s friend favorite phrase for “etcetera”) where you can find “a bit of everything- from vintage buttons to found items to collectibles to hand crafted artwork.”

You can find cigarboxbeads and suchandsort at:

Etsy: cigarboxbeads.etsy.com
Etsy: suchandsort.etsy.com
Blog: cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ On a Thousand Hills

Once again, today’s shop, On a Thousand Hills, gives us another chance to see the wonderful art of beadweaving. Cheryl, of On a Thousand Hills, remembers crafting most of her life and loves playing with her beads (don’t we all!) to see what she can create. She is clearly inspired by her faith and explains that God’s creation a favorite theme for her work.

See some more of Cheryl’s beautiful work at On a Thousand Hills.

You can find On a Thousand Hills at:

Etsy: onathousandhills.etsy.com
Blog: onathousandhills.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Ann Burke

Ann Burke, of myfairladyvt4, loves to create bead-woven jewelry, and you will quickly see how talented and gifted she is at doing so! What beautiful pieces she has created!
Ann says that seed bead weaving by hand and gemstones are her favorite.

Stop by myfairladyvt4 and start finding your favorites today!

You can find myfairladyvt4 at:

Etsy: myfairladyvt4.etsy.com

Blog: myfairladyvt4.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Allyon67

“To change one’s life: Start Immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions.”

~ William James

This quote is one which artist Pamela E. Miller of allyon67 strives to live by, and clearly her art reflects this. As she explains, “sometimes I am very flamboyant and always colorful, sometimes confidant and peaceful, other times angry or chaotic. I think all of my emotions; passions come out in my works. Sometimes I layer it on thick (paint and words) and other times I flirt with the canvas with light feathery strokes. My art reflects my beliefs in love, warmth, generosity, loyalty, and honesty. I am inspired by science, fantasy, martial arts, architecture, and nature (especially water).”

With her formal education from the Maryland Institute of Art, Howard Community College, and Capital College, Pamela’s work has been featured in galleries in the Maryland area and has won numerous awards.

In addition to original paintings, ACEOs, and prints, Pamela also designs and creates beautiful OOAK jewelry.

Pamela believes that creating art is a way of sharing your soul with others ~ stop by allyon67 soon and see what she has to share with you!

You can find allyon67 at:

Etsy: allyon67.etsy.com
Blog: pmillerabstractart.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Shannon Saylor Designs

Shannon of Shannon Saylor Designs philosophically reflects ~ “As a person that has already been round the circle and going back around it again. I have seen many things come back and many things go out only to relive themselves another day. It's all about the circle of life.”

You can see the richness and beauty of Shannon’s work as she creates OOAK pieces and invites custom requests. Shannon especially loves to work with glass beads and wire and attributes her crafting ability to her “genes” as it runs in the family! Truly a “circle of life…”

You can find Shannon Saylor at:

Etsy: ShannonSaylor.etsy.com
Blog: shannonsaylor-etsyshop.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Regal Beads

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again ~ beadweaving absolutely AMAZES me! The intricate designs created by these artists with such tiny, colorful beads are incredible. Such are the works waiting for you at Regal Beads, a talented beadweaver of more than five years who admits to loving the feel of the beads in her hands, “the challenge of a new pattern, and the joy of a completed piece!”

A lifetime lover of crafts, this artist now shares a once hobby with all of us! You will see in her lovely designs seeds of the small variety – size 11’s and perhaps venturing smaller – with beautiful accents of fire-polished crystals.

Stop in and be amazed at Regal Beads!

You can find Regal Beads at:

Etsy: RegalBeads.etsy.com
Blog: regalbeads.blogspot.com

EtsyBloggers TREASURE HUNT ~ MIDNIGHT Tonight!

Hey, hey, hey ~ less than one more day until the Etsybloggers FIRST monthly TREASURE HUNT!!! Are you ready to play?

HOW TO PLAY:
1. See this thread at Etsy ~ "EtsyBloggers Treasure Hunt" for complete details and list of participating shops.

2. Each shop will have our team logo as one of their item's images in their shop:

The participating shops will have the team logo listed within one of their shop items. The team logo won't be the 1st image for the item, it will be the 5th OR the last image for that item, so you'll need to click on each item to see all the pictures in at least 10 different participating shops to find the logos. Go from shop to shop until you find 10 of the team logos, write down the shop name and also all of the item names which contained the logos. While you're doing this, decide which ONE of those items you would like as your prize. THEN convo StormyDesigns immediately with your finds AND which ONE of those items you would like to choose as YOUR PRIZE!!

3. The EtsyBloggers Treasure Hunt BEGINS at 12:00 AM EST Saturday Jan. 19 and ENDS at 12 AM EST Sunday Jan. 20 OR UNTIL ALL prizes have been found, whichever comes first, so be sure to start playing as soon as you can after the hunt begins. It will be announced in the "EtsyBloggers Treasure Hunt" thread when the Treasure Hunt has ended so check the thread for updates.

4. Limit one prize per person.
You must be an Etsy member to win, buyers and sellers are welcome! Members of the Etsybloggers Street Team are not eligible to win. You must be an official member of the team to offer a prize in the treasure hunt. Prize availability depends on how many participating shops there are, i.e. if there are X amount of shops listed below, there will be that many prizes! Once a prize has been won the shop owner will remove the logo from that item UNLESS they so choose to offer another prize.

5. You must convo StormyDesigns with all the info needed and you must have the verification number that StormyDesigns gives in order to claim your prize. To claim your prize just purchase the prize you are claiming without paying and leave it in your shopping cart. The shop owner will be notified of your win and your verification number shortly after you are so they will be expecting your order. You must enter that verification number or convo it to the shop owner so they can verify it with the number that they were given by StormyDesigns. The numbers must match so make sure you get them right.

Featured Artist - Purple Snowpeas

On a cold wintry morning, it’s hard to decide what might be the best part of Purple Snowpeas’ shop ~ the colorfully warm knitted hats, scarves, and wrist warmers or the wonderful photographs and note cards, some with stunning scenic escapes and others with OOAK views and details, calling for reflection. And if it’s a bit of reflection you’re needing, Purple Snowpeas has lovely handbound books, perfect for journaling or sketching.

Kathryn Short, of Purple Snowpeas, is a photographer and all-around artist. While her formal study was at the Maryland Institute College of Art where she was a photography major, she also enjoys bookmaking and knitting. Kathryn now shares these talents by teaching art and photography at the high school level.Facing a cold morning where you are? Make another cup of tea or refill that coffee cup and make a stop at Purple Snowpeas!

You can find Purple Snowpeas at:

Etsy: PurpleSnowpeas.etsy.com

Blog: purple-snowpeas-shop.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Deabus Amor

Dea, of Deabus Amor, is a “self-taught dabbler” who has “fallen in love with crafting.” A photographer, digital painter, and jewelry designer, Dea’s “ultimate goal is to have a piece of jewelry that you wear or a piece of art you hang on your wall simply because it makes you smile everyday.”

Creating OOAK pieces, she truly lives out Deabus Amor (roughly translated, Goddess of Love) sharing love and good-will through each item she creates.

You can find Deabus Amor at:

Etsy: Deabusamor.etsy.com

Blog: omgcow.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Cserpent Designs

Today I’m so pleased to share the wonderful shop of one of my “first” Etsy friends, Susan, of Cserpent Designs. You will be wowed by the stunning artisan jewelry which Susan creates.

Susan first entered jewelry making through wirewrapping classes and then moved on to basic jewelry making and design with beads, resulting in four years of creating beautiful pieces for family, friends, and a growing customer base. Susan’s jewelry is also available at Art in 18K, a gallery in La Jolla, CA.

You will quickly see that Susan really enjoys finding gorgeous artisan lampwork beads for her designs. She explains that sometimes that “one interesting bead or gemstone…will be the kick start for a piece of jewelry.”

Stop by Cserpent Designs today ~ it’s sure to be a new favorite that you’ll be checking frequently!You can find Cserpent at:

Etsy: cserpent.etsy.com

Blog: cserpentDesigns.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Witty Workshop

Ready for some amazing, whimsically wonderful prints, art and “paper lovelies”? Stop by Wittyworkshop for a special treat!

Canadian artist Valérie Parizeault is multi-talented ~ illustrator, designer, owner of Rose Flash (playfully spirited jewelry), graphic designer AND an art teacher!

Valérie explains that her inspiration comes from “whimsical moments, children’s universes, friendship” as she lives out her dream life as an artist.

Enter Valérie’s delightful world at wittyworkshop!

You can find wittyworkshop at:

Etsy: wittyworkshop.etsy.com

Blog: pot-aux-roses.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley (and a Valentine Story!)

Well, I have to confess to getting sidetracked by today’s Featured Artist, Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley, and actually doing some shopping of my own before I finished this entry ~ more on my purchases later!

“Love paper. Love color.” Then you’ll love Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley, too! This writer, former newspaper graphic designer, first started making papercrafts by hand -- no computer -- for friends several years ago, who encouraged her to sell them, too. Beginning with marketing holiday cards to the florist down the street, this gifted artist has sold over 800 unique designs since then, almost all of her cards being OOAK.

Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley describes her style as eclectic and says she loves to experiment, getting “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.”

You are sure to find a OOAK handcrafted card or papercraft waiting for you when you visit Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley. What did I find today? The perfect Valentine that I just had to have for “hubby.” You see, for all our almost 26 years of marriage now, we have had a tradition of signing every card to each other (birthdays, Valentines, special occasion, etc.) with the word “Always” and over the years, we’ve come especially to look for cards that have the word “always” incorporated in the message. Just a romantic sentiment, a lovely tradition? Actually, a very funny story is behind this long-lived “promise” that we exchange with each card. You see, when we took “hubby’s” wedding ring to be engraved before our wedding all those years ago, we asked the jeweler to engrave it with the the word “Always” on the inside of the band. The jeweler went into the back, and we waited patiently until he returned and handed over the ring for us to inspect. Imagine our rather stunned, embarrassed surprise when we read, “All ways” beautifully engraved on “hubby’s” soon-to-be wedding band. Not exactly what we meant…eh-hem….enough said…..The jeweler took back the ring and soon returned with our “Always” as requested.

Needless to say, I found the most wonderful “Always” Valentine card today at Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley! But, you say, “hubby” will know now that you’ve written about it! No worries – he never reads this!

You can find Quirky ‘n ‘Berkeley at:

Etsy: QuirkynBerkeley.etsy.com

Blog: quirkynberkeley.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ George McKim

A visit to GeorgeMcKim’s shop/studio delivers a beautiful showing of fine art paintings, collage, lino prints, and note cards.

This talented artist studied art in college, receiving a Masters Degree in Painting and Drawing. Now a graphic artist by day, George continues his art in his “spare time,” and his work has been shown in galleries and museums in the Carolina region where he resides.

George explains that his shop “features paintings and collages that are mostly abstract, which I have been doing for the past two years and I also have some realism in the form of Linoleum Cut Prints.” Having watched my children grow sunflowers out at my parents “farm” over the years, I must say, I am especially fond of his sunflower works ~ striking!

Whether you are looking for a complete painting, a small print, or a simple, yet beautiful set of note cards, George McKim’s is a stop you should make.

You can find George McKim at:

Etsy: GeorgeMcKim.etsy.com

Website: www.george-mckim.com

Blog: georgemckim.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ DreamON

Ever found yourself drifting off in a daydream, only all too quickly to be brought back to what might be waiting for you in reality? Well, no worries, DreamON is a wonderful shop where daydreaming is “adored” and the collection of watercolors and acrylics will encourage you to escape at least for a just a bit!

Mary, the talented artist behind DreamON, explains that she is “wired with (the)…Art Chip” as she has been an artist since the time she could hold a crayon and now cherishes any time working with a variety of media ~ watercolor, acrylics, mixed-media, collage…

While her college degree is in art and additional formal study has included workshops and classes from nationally and regionally-known artists, Mary believes that important lessons came from lesser known yet “wonderful artists who now paint in the sky, local artists who teach the basics, as well as the artists I paint with.”Mary explains that because she does not want to “over-control” the media in her technique, she is an impressionist. Her watercolors look like watercolor, and her paintings have a “painterly look,” rather than appearing to be photographic.

Ready for a new daydream? Well, DreamON is the place for you! I highly recommend following the advice of first getting that cup of coffee (or tea) and settling in for a leisurely visit.

You can find DreamON at:

Etsy: DreamON.etsy.com

Blog: DreamsAboutArt.blogspot.com

Featured Artist ~ Kalicat

What will you find when browsing the ‘shelves’ of Kalicat? “Jewelry to fit your desires…designer jewelry to be stunning, chic and elegant.” Stunning, chic, and elegant, indeed! Catherine, of Kalicat, does not disappoint in this promise with her beautiful designs.

Born in Paris, now living in London, Catherine has trained in jewelry at Central St Martins and Hatton Gardens in London. A gifted artist and mother of two, she says, “I keep sane by painting and illustrating Fashion, jewelry-making and dreaming about all the things I will create in the near future".

Give in to your desires ~ visit Kalicat today. You’ll be glad you did!

You can find Kalicat at:

Etsy: Kalicat.etsy.com
Blog: honeyandsweets.blogspot.com