Thursday, August 30, 2007

And the winner is...

Go to PCAGOE.com to see the winner of the monthly challenge, plus 2nd and 3rd place (a 3-way tie!) and honorable mention.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Vote and be entered in a prize drawing!



It's time once again for the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy monthly challenge! Go to pcagoe.com to vote for your favorite and be entered in a drawing. Two voters will be randomly chosen and each will win a cool prize pack of handmade clay items valued at over $100!

You can vote once between noon on August 26th and midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on August 28th. The winners will be announced on August 29th.

We have an amazing variety of entries, all depicting an Ocean Theme.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Featured Artist - Mama Monkey


My featured artist today is Mama Monkey on Etsy. Mama Monkey is the place to find the most sweet and sassy, fun and functional handcrafted original apparel and accessories for babies, children and moms. Here you will find everything from funny baby onesies and maternity shirts with a sense of humor to soft minky baby blankets with irresistible cuteness.



Mama Monkey is a SAHM to two sons, 7 and 1 1/2. She has a degree in apparel design and previously worked as a designer in children's clothes for a major department store. She says, "Shopping for baby gear made me really see the need for hip, up to date baby gear that is functional and fashionable, so I am trying to fill that void."



At left is an adorable onesie, a take-off on the iPod craze. She prints all shirts and onesies in her home studio, located in Kent, WA. Custom orders for words to be printed are welcome at no extra charge, and all designs are available in sizes newborn to 4T.

Check out her shop for more cute tees for all ages, blankets, children's dresses, maternity wear, bibs, quilts and more!

Below is one of her cuddly blankets - doesn't it make you long for a nap?

Sunday, August 19, 2007

New critters and faces



I've been making lots of new stuff! New this week in my etsy shop is this sweet Shih Tzu (1" square), the first of several doggies I'll be making for the upcoming holiday season. If you'd like a different breed or color, custom requests are always welcome!



More new creations are these cat pendants (1" square) -- a calico and a grey tabby.




...a little owl pendant (1 1/4" wide)...and contemporary face pendants (about 1 1/2" tall) in new colors. My husband says these look like Picasso's art! LOL







This little cat pendant is on its way to a new home in Michigan...









and this "A" cat initial pendant is an international traveler - she went off to Holland yesterday! She'll be called an "aanbiddelijk kattekop" (adorable cat) in Dutch. Meow!



Thursday, August 16, 2007

Hat Ladies - Postscript

I wrote the other day about two hat lady pins I made for Darlene in Texas.

She received her package on Tuesday and loved them so much she CALLED me to tell me so! She said they came at the perfect time because she just got out of the hospital (she was having a problem with her blood sugar and blood pressure) and they really cheered her up! It was so nice to hear her voice. :)

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Fuchsia In All Its Glory



Click on poster to enlarge.


Bead Jewelry Shop Girl is this week's host for the Etsy Bloggers Street Team carnival posts.

This week's theme is Carnival of Colors and I've chosen fuchsia, a color I love. I found these listings on Etsy and used the Etsy Poster Sketch Tool to make a grouping. They look positively scrumptious together, don't you think?

Wow! Look what Brenda made with my cat beads


I posted last week about an etsy seller buying some of my little cat beads. Look at the beautiful set she made - matching necklace, bracelet and earrings with cat's eye beads, sterling silver beads, and cute glass kitty cat paw beads. Wow!

[Hey Brenda, I'd like them back now, just as pictured. hehe]


Brenda's etsy shop is called "Beads By Brenda" (user ID OklahomaMama). She's a new seller on etsy but has been selling online for several years.

Betcha can't guess what she does for a living! I found this on her etsy profile:

"During the day, I'm a medical instrument tech (EEG/EKG) at a local hospital. Basically, I wire up brains & hearts and check the rhythms MUWAHAHAHAHA! It's not as glamorous as it sounds, but it pays the bills. I think that's another reason I love making jewelry so much... in the hard science world of medicine you don't have much opportunity for a creative outlet. Beading relaxes me and the challenge of finding the right materials & coming up with new ideas is stimulating...perfect combo!"



Check out her etsy shop for the results of her beading. There's a wide variety of gorgeous and fun pieces, including Signature Designs, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, magnetic jewelry, watchbands, keychains, lanyard (ID) holders and eyeglass holders...and of course **cough** a wonderful cat set.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Hat Ladies


Here are some new brooches I made this week for Darlene, my friend I met on eons.com. She asked me to make her two custom hat ladies (they are about 2" tall). She wanted an Americana one so I made this one in red, white and blue with little stars.





And she asked for one with a black hat and her initials in gold. She mentioned that she collects things with bees, so I added a little bee as a surprise. bzzzzz! :) They are going out in the mail today to Texas.

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Love Me Love My Pup



After seeing my "Love Me Love My Cat" pendant, my online friend Carol of silverbeadsandclay.etsy.com asked me to make a pin (brooch) for a friend's birthday gift.

She sent me these pictures of her friend and her pet Rottweiler named "Buster."
Here's what I made (about 2" wide). Carol loves it. I'll report back when the birthday girl receives it.

Monday, August 06, 2007

What I just couldn't live without - handmade by Shoozles



A Pretty Rock is this week's host for the Etsy Bloggers Street Team carnival posts on the goodies they have gotten from other Etsy sellers.

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Shoozles aka Michelle is someone I met online through Flickr.com. When I was writing up the post on her as my Featured Artist, I just had to buy one of her pieces.

I must admit it was a difficult decision because there are so many in her shop I love, but this is the one I chose. It's called "Playful."

That's a great name for this dichroic glass pendant! It's very playful with all the different colors and different types of glass. The separate pieces of glass are fused together like a little puzzle. She got a great shot of it, but dichroic glass is always much prettier and amazing in person because the colors shift and sparkle in the light.

Each piece is one of a kind so you won't find another like mine but do hop on over to her shop and look around.



She has pendants, keychains, earrings and more like these in mouth-watering colors.




Hmm, I just may have to go shopping there again. I'm sure you'll find one (or more) you can't live without too!

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Itty Bitty Kitty Beads


I made these yesterday for a custom order and am tickled with how they turned out! An Esty seller is going to make a necklace, bracelet and earrings with them. The larger ones are about 1" wide and the smaller ones are about 5/8" wide - they are the tiniest beads I've ever made! I'll post her finished products later!

Friday, August 03, 2007

Featured Artist - Sew Sassy Creations


I hang out on the etsy forums a lot and "met" this seller there this week. Her name is Sandy and she lives in Casa Grande, Arizona. Her etsy shop is Sew Sassy Creations with all kinds of handsewn and embroidered items. As you can see in these photos, her attention to detail is absolutely incredible.


Here is my favorite item in her shop! This would be perfect in my craft room LOL.


She says, "I have been painting, sewing and crafting since I was about 10 years old...that gives me about 42 years of experience! LOL

"I discovered machine embroidery a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. Most of the designs I embroider are quite complicated with about 50 different colors and thread changes. I incorporate these designs into clothing and home decor items.

"I am a certified master desert gardener and offer lavender and flowers from my garden in the form of sachets. I also make garden flower paper to incorporate into wall hangings, etc."

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In her shop are many treasures, like this potpourri of lavender from her garden, in a handsewn pouch and a handpainted pot...



...these pretty towels...



...this adorable purse...



...this magnificent wall hanging with tropical birds...



...these elaborate reversible placemats and matching napkins...



...and there's even a "do it yourself" project! Two panels, one embellished with a beautiful sunflower print and two matching embroidered sunflowers plus coordinating green and black and polka dot ribbons. Surged and ready to sew together and stuff or use your imagination. May be sewn as a jacket back, wall hanging, quilt square or pillow.



She makes beautiful wreaths, like this one, for decorating your home for any season or occasion. She is now taking orders for handmade Thanksgiving and Christmas wreaths, pillows or stockings. She will even personalize it with the name of your choice!


Visit her etsy shop to place your custom order and see many more pretty things.

Check out her blog for the latest news!