Win a $20 Gift Certificate for my Shops to Celebrate!

What am I celebrating? My 100th post, that is!

I am kicking off a contest to give away a $20 gift certificate for any one item in my Etsy shop, Artfire shop, or 1000Markets shop (as I do keep different things in each shop) up to $20....or apply it to something over $20! The contest runs from Friday, June 26 until Friday, July 3.

To enter:
Leave a comment telling me which piece is your favorite from any one of my shops. That's it! Be sure to leave your email or Etsy name so I can contact you at the end of the contest.

To Earn Extra Entries:
1) Follow this blog
2) Subscribe to my RSS feed
3) Follow me on Twitter
4) Re-tweet the post
5) Tweet your own tweet.
Please make a separate comment for each thing done and be sure to include the URL of your own tweet in the comment. Of course, if you already follow, let me know for an entry.

There, you have 6 ways to enter! Winner will be chosen by random.com (each comment gets a number). Results will be posted Saturday, July 4!

Good luck, have fun and have a great weekend!

(Disclaimer****International entries are welcome, however, shipping charges apply. By the way, I am in the US.)

Thursday Featured Artisan...WillOaksStudio!

I am so excited to present this interview for you. Why, it's none other than my blogger-friend, Karen, from WillOaks Studio on Etsy! First a little background about her. Armed with a background in professional art training as well as inherited creative genes, Karen has found her original love of hand made artisan papers evolved to creating wearable art. Soon to come in the future will be her own metal fabrication pieces and elements. Not only is her work constantly experiencing an evolution, but Karen considers it a personal evolution also. She will recognize the need to master a new technique or medium to incorporate into her work so that she has many options as her ideas for pieces keep evolving. While she is working in her studio to create these pieces, she listens to a variety of things from news programs to music to the ever-cherished silence.

Simple (but not ordinary) White Pearl Necklace

Now, we all hit creative road-blocks at one point or another. When I asked Karen how she deals with this, she told me that she accepts that it is a normal thing and that having several different things going at the same time tends to help. She will gather whatever information her conscious mind requires, then lets her subconscious mind take over to work the problem out. Karen told me a story about an old art professor that would not let his students get away with the 'I have a creative road-block'. His response? "If you call yourself an artist, you get into that studio every day, even if all you do is sweep the floor" In my opinion, very good advice! As Karen puts it, "The discipline of working can help dispel road blocks." Well, Karen, I couldn't have said it better myself!

Aqua Blossoms with Moonstones Earrings

As far as keeping ideas organized, Karen does what many of us do I am coming to find: scraps of paper, notes taped everywhere, the cherished sketchbook. I truly think it is amazing that artists can come up with some of the most wonderful pieces being as disorganized with ideas as artists can be! And we're not even talking about the studio here! Typically, Karen will show her pieces in a gallery or museum shows, but recently she has been showing them online and finds it a wonderful surprise. She has been working hard to create her online presence and learning all about selling online, keeping these tasks as creative as her work. Well, it is obviously working! In her professional artisan life, Karen has received awards for her paper making and plans to keep setting goals along those same lines in her new medium. She admits that the hardest thing for her is to find clientele for her new medium, however. If you think about it, wearable art is really different than paper making, so it may be difficult to transition those clients to a new medium. Karen also offers that her most productive marketing technique is the photographs of her pieces.

Rose and Olive Blossom Grand Floral Bracelet

To conclude the interview, I asked Karen if she had any advice for artisans just beginning their business. This is what she had to say:
..."as an artist and a teacher, the very foundation of this "art business" is an excellent product that is somehow special, inspired or different -- so my advice is focus on your creations first, second and third...and when they are good enough, then work to get them seen."

Thank you again, Karen, for allowing me to interview you. To see more of Karen's work, click on the pictures above to visit her Etsy shop. You can also visit her Artfire Shop and stop by Karen's blog to see what is going on behind the scenes.

Please comment if you liked this interview, retweet if you wish, and stay tuned next Thursday for another Featured Artisan!

Wordless Wednesday...

100th Post and Treasuries!

First I want to celebrate my 100th posting yesterday. Didn't realize it until I came to do a post today! I have grown very fond of this blog, as well as all my blogger friends I have made in maintaining it!

Incidentally, I am in a couple treasuries and on FoundHandmade! If you click the images below, it will take you to the treasury page to comment!

First Treasury:

Retro for Real treasury curated by FiberFancy
Piece chosen: Grape Vintage Stacked Button Bracelet


Next Treasury:

...the edge of a petal... treasury curated by Monarchdancer
Piece chosen: Mustard Seed Vintage Button Brooch

And, as an added treat, one of my pieces is/was featured on FoundHandmade! What an honor to be in two treasuries AND FoundHandmade! Sure made my day! Thank you to everyone who chose my pieces!

Crosses To Wear - FoundHandmade Blog
Piece Chosen: Delphia Antique Cross Button Pendant

How Do YOU Drop?

Okay, all you card droppers! In everything we do from day to day involves some type of a habit. For me, this includes dropping habits. I'm weird, I have a very specific way that I drop. The use of the EntreCard toolbar aids me in this, so if you don't have one, you really should get one!

First thing in the morning after my coffee, I open 20 tabs of EC blogs from my Inbox. While it is loading, I do 10-15 minutes of housework. When I return to the computer, I read the blogs, make any comments I'm compelled to make and drop my cards - takes me about 10 minutes as many blogs haven't changed their post, so why read it again? Then I load 20 more from my Inbox, leave to do some housework, come back and read, comment and drop. This continues until my Inbox is tackled.

Then I select the next set of 20 from my Favorites list. I again leave to do housework for 10-15 minutes then come back to read, comment and drop. This continues until my favorites are done (and believe me, I have a lot of favorites!)

When the favorites list is done, and here is where I rotate depending upon the day, I will choose either the Art category, the Fashion category, the History category or the All category. Also depending on the day, I will filter them as either Most Popular or Random. For example, after I dropped on my Inbox and Favorites this morning, I then selected the Fashion category and filtered it by Random. I continue on this way until my 300 cards are dropped.

What do I get out of it? I get my 300 cards dropped, I get to read some cool blogs, and I get my housework done all at the same time. This process usually takes me about 2 hours, but you figure I have to do my housework anyway (I can't stand a messy house), and since I get up early, I usually done dropping by 9am - still plenty of time to get up in the studio to do work.

I do need to say that sometimes I do take a day off or a couple days off, especially if I have an appointment that day and my whole schedule will be thrown off.

So, now you know my habits...what are your Entrecard dropping habits?

Weekend Sale...

This weekend only... Ocean Blue vintage button charm bracelet. Glass beads in ocean colors were hand wired to form the bracelet, sprinkled with hand wired blue/green dyed pearl buttons along the length of the handmade chain.

The clasp has been hand-forged into a scroll toggle. The bracelet is a large, measuring 8 1/2".
This can be adjusted if need be for a smaller wrist.

This bracelet is listed for $26, but is on sale for $20 this weekend only. This is such a steal! It certainly took more that $20 worth of supplies and time to create this beautiful piece! Your shipping is free if your purchase totals $20 or more! Click on the pictures for more details!

Thursday Featured Artisan

Today, I am bringing to you this wonderful artisan from Malaysia, Han, also known on Etsy as Haannh. I have been without cable Internet all day, so this post is going up a little late, my apologies! Han makes some of the most beautiful hand painted batik silk fabrics I have ever seen; such wonderful designs with a vintage flair are sure to make fabulous artisan designed clothing. She also creates home interior products and paper products using her beautiful fabrics.

Navy Blue Silk Batik Fabric

Han is fascinated with colors, loves playing with them and appreciates all the colors around her in our world. This is so evident in her beautiful hand painted batik fabrics she creates. She wishes she could offer more jewelry amongst her wares, however, but time does not allow her to really branch in that area more than she already has.

Beaded Wall Art Batik and Sequins

Han stores her ideas in a sketchbook and tends to deal with her creative blocks in a sleepy kind of way, by snoozing! While creating, she usually listens to nature or music sounds. Han has stated that she prefers to sell her art on Etsy as there is so many friendly people. Well, Han, we love to have you here!

In The Sky Handmade Moon Kite Card Series

Han's fabrics are award winning, earning a home furnishing award. She has learned to push aside any obstacles to her business while acting on her beliefs and focusing on her target.

Offer a Price Roses Wrist Corsage

I asked Han to offer a bit of advice to new business owners and this is what she had to say:
"Put consistency and passion for your creative visionaries and commit to it."

I couldn't have said it better myself! Thank you, Han, for the great interview!

May Challenge Results...

First, I want to thank the participants for taking the time to create such wonderful pieces for our Victoriana Guild of Artfire's May Challenge. Next, I want to thank everyone for voting!

The winner, having 47% of the votes, is YoursTruli! She will receive one month of free advertising on this blog! In a close second was CobWebPalace for her gorgeous art deco necklace.

Don't forget to keep working on your June Challenge to win some free advertising to your Artfire shop! To become a member, click the button in the menu above and request to join! It's that easy!

Congratulations, YoursTruli! Great work, everyone. It was a tough vote.

Weekend Sale!

Daisy French Country Vintage Button Necklace

Now on Sale in my 1000 Markets shop!

Regularly priced at $54, this gorgeous piece is on sale for $45, with free shipping (domestic) to boot! This necklace features a vintage ceramic button as the centerpiece. The button was not harmed in the creation of this piece and is attached to the necklace by hand-wrought wire work. Two smaller vintage West German glass blue buttons accent a little further up the piece. The chain is hand-created and wrought in Copper with French glass beads sprinkled throughout completing the charm of the french countryside during the World War II era. The clasp is a hand-wrought hook in Copper.

More photos of the piece are available by clicking the image. The necklace is Princess length (18"). Sale ends Sunday, June 14! There is only one and this is a one of a kind piece, so hurry before it is gone!

Thursday Feature: Nanjo Dogz

Today's featured artisan is Nancy from Nanjo Dogz. Nancy has always had a love for dogs, so it comes as no surprised that she would discover that polymer clay is her favorite medium for sculpting the little dears!

Chinese Crested and Butterfly

While Nancy is an accomplished polymer clay artist, she would like to get into detail bead work with seed beads as well as wire wrapping. Given her wonderful animal beads, Nancy could come up with some fabulous jewelry using these techniques! As far as her craft goes, Nancy has noticed a marked evolution to her sculptures. She states that they have come a long way since she first began which she attests to practice, time and experience to perfect her work. Etsy is her favorite selling venue as she values the community and how appreciated the handmade artisan is there. One look at her sales numbers will show how the community values her, too!

Siberian Husky Pendant

Nancy tells me that while she lacks organization in her ideas, they tend to keep re-appearing for her. She will jot an idea down on a scrap of paper, but the lose the paper only to re-jot it on a scrap of paper to lose again, and so on. The bottom line is that Nancy really doesn't need the ideas on paper as she seems to retain them so well in her head. Some people just have that gift for mental filing. As for me, I always forget where the file went in my head! As for creative blocks, Nancy just waits them out. She has a hard time focusing on anything when that roadblock appears and feels working through the roadblock is more productive than trying to end it. In my opinion, I think Nancy may be right. How many times have you tried hard to end a roadblock when all along if you had just waited it out, it may have ended sooner? How many long-term roadblocks are we responsible for feeding? Hmmm....thanks for the food for thought, Nancy!

Puggle Bead

To keep the creative Jeanie going, Nancy listens to loud, classic rock and roll music while creating, finding that it motivates her in more than just her craft. She feels that she cannot create without it. Kinda makes you wonder what she was listening to when she creates the 'punk dogs' and 'punk kids' line! I don't know what it is, but keep it up, Nancy! Her punk lines are my favorites! There is nothing cooler than a punk Great Dane! Or better yet, a KISS Pug! (Wanna see it? Visit her shop! It's worth the visit!). Nancy is not bound to dogs, however. She sculpts 'punk kids' and various other animals. Nancy truly has some unique items that are definitely worth a look.

Sally the Seal Bead

Nancy greatest accomplishment is finding much reward in the fact that people love her creations. Nothing thrills her more than making someone happy with one of her little gems. As far as her biggest obstacle to her business, she decided on craft shows and consignments. She shy's away from both venues for various reasons. Nancy feels that craft shows are too expensive to do (which they are...on a bad weekend, you don't usually bring home an income...feeling that one with you, Nancy!) and has tried selling consignments, but that also left a bad taste in her mouth. Since Nancy prefers selling online, her first priority is online marketing, but she really isn't sure which method works the most. She tends to believe that it is a combination of all the techniques she uses.

I asked Nancy if she had any advise to give to new artisan business owners. Her response?
"I would tell them to first love what you do, keep at it even when things seem dismal, don't take 'no sales' as something personal. It's incredibly hard to be seen on the Internet and it just takes time and a lot of commitment; be able to do the homework and be patient. If you love it enough, things will eventually happen"

So, swing by Nancy's shop...you have got to see her Punk Dogs!

Feature Thursday

Today, I am featuring Jamie from Jamie Rae Designs.

Jamie came to create quality, artisan pieces sort of by accident. At one time, she wanted a leaf pendant and just couldn't find a pendant that she really liked or could afford, so decided to make one for herself. This was the beginning of a new interest for Jamie and she quickly became among the throngs of us bitten by the bead bug. She has been creating pieces ever since. This may someday lead to another interest of hers: clothing design. Jamie has always adored needle felted animals and would one day like to include a full clothing line with her jewelry. Being talented on a sewing machine, she presently can sew clothing only with patterns. She plans to one day learn how to design her own patterns to sew with.
Jamie currently studies business management in college, selling her creations to help her along and studies the art of classic ballet. Jamie's life is busy, there is no mistaking that! So, how do artisans like Jamie do it? Well, I talked with Jamie and this is what she had to say.
Having a busy schedule, Jamie finds her inspiration in new pieces simply by visiting her local favorite jewelry store, Light Years Jewelry. After viewing many of the pieces there for sale, her creative mind starts ticking and before she knows it, creative ideas of her own start coming to her. She jots some ideas down on a scrap of paper or simply holds them for reserve in her head to work out the designs later. She feels she hasn't really seen her work evolve much at this point as she is so new to Etsy, however, she has noticed that the quality of her pieces have been consistently improving as she looks for new and better ways to create. currently, Jamie sells exclusively online and to friends and family, but she is exploring the world of consignment to sell in tourist areas of her town.
On a business angle, she sees her biggest obstacle in advertising and marketing. Due to time constraints in her schedule, it appears she finds difficulty devoting the amount of time she would like to in marketing. She relies heavily on the Etsy forums, Facebook and Twitter and finds that these are her most productive forms of marketing. She also relists when she can and tries to leave links everywhere. As for creating, she does most of her studio work in the evening with the television on in the background. Hmmm, maybe we should be looking at her pieces to see if we can see snippets of The Office or The Closure in them! She photographs only outside as she feels the natural light gives a rich look to her pieces. Jamie attributes her most memorable moment in her business as her first sale: a custom order. She was so excited to get the order, let alone a custom order!

I asked Jamie what advice she could offer to a new business owner and this is what she had to say:
"I would want them to be prepared to face many challenges and be ready to devote at least triple the amount of time and even money that they originally intended to invest. I really just started my small business to help pay for my college education and wasn't expecting the jewelry market to be so flooded, so i am just waiting on the day that I can look at my books and see I am making a profit. You really can't expect to just put yourself out on the web and the customers [to] come pouring in and then BAM, you are making a profit! I wish it was so, I really do!"

May Top Droppers!

It's that time of the month again. A time to honor my Top 10 Droppers! Don't forget that the top dropper gets free advertising on my blog for the month!

Hello Kitty Gifts
A Rose By Name
Computer Aid
The Ad Master
First Time
Silver Sachet
Beaded Tail
Prove Me Wrong
Random Detoxification
Isker's Blog

I over did it on Saturday, I just can't sit and do nothing. Therefore, I set my recovery back a few days. I've got a bad case of ants-in-my-pants all the time. I forced myself to rest and do nothing yesterday so I feel much better today, but not where I should. I promised myself two more days off to try to catch up on recovery, then I will start working myself back up to full swing.