Saturday, February 28, 2009

Butterflies - Spring is Almost Here

I love this piece! It is called Mechanical Butterfly by wickedpen. Butterflies are so beautiful no matter how they are displayed. Although, I do prefer them live than put on a board.



This piece is called "Dark Brown and Orange Fairy-A Paper and Glass Pendant Necklace with Cord" and you can find it at geelizzie.



I would absolutely love to look up from my computer and see this wonderfully colorful butterfly graphic by WilsonGraphics on my wall.



Is it just me or does this butterfly have a passenger? This cute hair accessory is from LilaJo. It comes in red, green, peach, yellow, orange, and blue. It's called "evil butterfly".



This final piece is titled "Queen of the Butterfly Faeries" by paulasmits and happens to be one of my favorites.

Beautiful Underwater World by Amo Images


To see more photos like this amazing underwater world that we have, you have to visit Amo Images. This picture took my breath away.

Friday, February 27, 2009

My Album Cover


Chris Parry, whom I follow his blog, has given the most interesting instructions for making an album cover. This has the potential of being totally addicting. Here are the instructions:

Band Name - Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “random… Read More”
or click Random. The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

Album Title - Go to “Random quotations”
or click Random Quotations. The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

Album Cover - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click Flickr 7 Days. Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

Putting It All Together - Use photoshop or similar type photo software.

Let me know the link to your picture so I can check out what you come up with.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Tranquil Denim Wash - Semiprecious Bead Challeng Entry



Here is my entry for the semiprecious bead challenge via Beading Daily. I included Blue Quartz for Meditation, Mother of Pearl to Enhance Intuition, Pearls for Faith, and Very Dark Lapis to Enhance Awareness and Intellect. Wish me luck.

Techniques Used: Stringing, simple wire loops, wrapped loops, wire wrapped beads, and wire spirals.

This is what I said about the piece for my entry: "This piece is classy and unique. The colors of the gemstones complement each other. The antique silver findings give it that rustic denim look. What I like most about this piece is that a lot of people wear jeans and this is the perfect accent, worn casual or to dress up."

I am really excited, I hope I win.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Bubbly Bangles!


I have been really busy over the past few weeks with learning new techniques in beading and starting school. I did manage to finish all of the bangles that I made and posted them Craft Juice to see how they do with votes. Stop by and vote for my pieces and check out some of the other amazing items artists have created.

Ice is Nice!

The etsyBEAD (Bi-Weekly) Theme of the Week is "Ice is Nice", chosen by Leslie of The Creative Block.

Members of etsyBEAD select items in their shops (or create brand new ones!) that match the current theme and put them on sale, just for you. Each EBTW item will have the tags "ebtw" and "ice is nice", so you can search for these sale items easily.

So be on the lookout for these special "icy" items, all at special SALE prices for TWO WEEKS only!

This EBTW sale runs from Sunday 2/22 through Saturday 3/7. Check back often as the street team members may add new items throughout the week!

Friday, February 20, 2009

New Wrapped Bangle Bracelets

I've been working really hard the past few weeks on some amazing bangle braclets. You can find them in my shops and on my website.

I used the half hitch, half knot, and square not to secure the 100% Nylon Rattail Cord to each bracelet. Then I hand beaded with various types of glass beads and semi-precious stones.

 
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

This Song Says It All!

Wordless Wednesday - Mary's New Spot



Click here to participate in Wordless Wednesday.

Artisan Interviews





On my Wordpress blog I used to do interviews with those artisans that e-mailed and said "Hey, I want to be featured on your blog." So, if you sell on SilkFair, 1,000 Markets, or Etsy and would like to be featured on my blog; e-mail me and let me know.

Om Shanti Handcrafts

I’m not the best with keeping up with my blog and posting these interviews but I had a few minutes and decided that I would go ahead and get one in. Here is an interview from a fellow Coloradoan from Mile High Etsy Street Team. Kate is from Colorado, which is where I live and I really enjoyed reading her interview. I really enjoyed the quote from a friend on question #2 and she makes some really great points for question #9. I know you will enjoy her writing skills!

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’m a seeker, a writer, an herbalist and a maker. I’m owned by three cats and two rats. Moved here to Colorado a few years ago and am loving every minute of it! I started Om Shanti Handcrafts as a way to make things, perhaps make a little money, and hopefully escape my truly awful job.

2. Tell me a bit about your background and how long you have been an artist/crafter.

Oddly enough, I was always a science geek growing up — still am; I bring my rock hammer and lens along on hikes to look at the rocks.

Never thought of myself having any creativity and still feel a little weird about the idea that I do. I can do no better than to quote a

friend:

I was positive that I was not creative/could not make art for most of my life. Nobody ever told me that if I practiced, I’d get better.

Nobody ever told me that just because my art didn’t look like “fine art” that I saw in museums, it was okay. Nobody ever told me that everyone is creative and has their own unique vision to share with the world.

It never occurred to me to make things until fairly recently. Since then, though, it’s like a whole new world has exploded in my mind (and all over my apartment).

3. What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

I’m sure I made things when I was a kid — nearly everyone does — but the first thing I _remember_ making by hand was a piece of medieval-style clothing for a friend. We were camping at the time, so no sewing machine, and he needed some help getting it done — I found I had a talent with the needle and that I preferred making it by hand to using a machine. That was about it for a long while, though.

4. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

My jewelry ideas come from songs — mostly by Dar Williams or the Indigo Girls so far though there are a few outliers. One was inspired by a song in a Star Trek book, of all things (How Much for Just the Planet which I highly recommend). Sometimes it’s as obvious as a color mentioned in the lyrics, sometimes it’s a lot more subtle than that.

My herbals are different. Anything medicinal especially is more influenced by what herbs have what effect than by what smells nice together, though every once in a while I’ll have a ‘feel’ that a particular herb should go in. Usually when I do the research I find out that I was right and sometimes for a totally unanticipated reason.

I do make an attempt, in my bath salts and teas, to balance scents with what does what. In my Long Day Working salts, for example, every ingredient is beneficial for tired and strained muscles in one way or another, but they also just smell good together. My lip balms, on the other hand, leave the beneficial effects to the olive oil and beeswax and just unashamedly smell good.

5. What are your favorite materials?

In jewelry, lapis lazuli, hands down. I have to make an effort not to use it in every piece. It’s my absolute favorite stone. I also like the silver wire I make my clasps out of; I plan to start using it for more decorative things in my jewelry as well.

For the herbal stuff, lavender has got to be near the top. I thought I didn’t like lavender for years — I finally realized that it was the awful synthetic stuff I didn’t like, not the real thing. The real thing has a sharpness to it that the lavender fragrance oils just can’t match.

A recent favorite is spearmint. I asked a friend at work what kind of lip balm she’s always wanted and could never find; she replied that peppermint’s easy but why doesn’t anyone make spearmint? I stopped on the way home to pick up a bag from the local herb shop and spent the rest of the ride home with my nose practically in it, it smelled so good!

6. What is your favorite color? What colors are you drawn to?

Lapis blue, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. And jewel tones in general — those deep, rich colours.

7. If someone were looking to take up a craft, what advice would you give them?

Don’t hesitate, don’t second-guess yourself, just _do_ it, see how it comes out. And when your first try is awful, don’t despair. Try it again and again — if it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth the trouble, would it? And you _will_ get better. Just keep at it.

8. What is your area of interest in crafting? What do you specialize in?

Beaded jewelry, and herbal bath and body stuff.

9. What would be your top 5 tips for a beginner?

5) Do not bring credit cards to the bead show. Ask me how I know this.

4) Olive oil is slippery.

3) Cats and loose beads combine poorly. (It’s kinda funny, though.)

2) Follow the instructions on the bottle of lye. I don’t care how much you hate safety goggles, wear em.

1) It’s clichéd, but: Just Do It.

10. What would be your top 5 items of essential equipment?

5) A good glass measuring cup.

4) A wide variety of pliers.

3) Funnels. It’s hard to have enough.

2) You can use hardware organizers for beads too.

1) My brain.

11. Can you recommend a technique or ‘tips’ book ideal for a beginner?

I’m ashamed to say I don’t own a single jewelry book, not even one.

For herbal stuff, Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal is absolutely the best. It’s what got me started, and I still refer to it regularly.

12. Can you recommend any brands to look out for, when buying equipment or kit?

I get my beads in so many places it’s hard to give an answer there.

That said, if you can find a nearby bead show the variety and prices both will be much, much better than what you can get elsewhere.

Camden-Grey is a lovely source for essential oils and other supplies; I’ve done quite a bit of business with them. Majestic Mountain Sage has some fine things as well.

13. Do you sell your work, or is it purely for pleasure?

I sell it — if I didn’t, I could never wear all the jewelry nor use all the bath salts, and I think my mother is already getting sick of beaded jewelry for every gift-giving occasion. :)

I still get a lot of pleasure out of making it all, though. When I don’t, that’s time to stop.

14. What is your Etsy shop address and name? Where else can we find you?

Om Shanti Handcrafts at http://omshanti.etsy.com .

You can also find me at the Creative Cafe Showrooms at

http://www.creativecafesalesrooms.com/storecatalog.asp?userid=31 .

I also have a blog at http://omshantihandcrafts.wordpress.com .

I'm Also On 1,000 Markets

I'm on SilkFair

Visit Silkfair Today

If you want to sell on SilkFair, go to the following to sign up:

SilkFair Referral

Thursday, February 12, 2009

What is Original Anyways?

I ran across this image when I was using Stumble Upon. It says what I am always trying to say, which is "Nothing is Original". The author here explains it better than I can. Need I say more?

Best Songs Ever - Beatles (Hey Jude)

I am addicted to Stumble Upon and with just cause. Check out this video of the Beatles singing Hey Jude. I love this song and as such, it is ranked #2. This song relaxes me, I'm not sure why, but it does.

Links Updated For Those That Make Jewelry

For those of you that make jewelry or simply work on beading projects; I have updated my website links page with suppliers, magazines, promotional tools, etc. Just click on the image below and I swear this time it will take you to the working links page.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Craft Juice

I'm really excited about some of the macrame pieces that I have listed on Craft Juice. I could really use some votes. So, if you could, please visit and look for my pieces under tlsexton0913 and "VOTE FOR ME"! Thank you.

Macrame 101 - Video 2 (The Square Knot)

Here is video #2.



Again, you can also find this video on my website or Youtube.

Macrame 101 - Video 1 (The Half Knot)

I just wanted to let you know why I have not been around. I'm really excited to announce my first two tutorials. So far I've made two videos titled "Macrame 101). This first video is on my website and also on Youtube.

For you special blog viewers, I've also decided to share them here.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Is Macrame Really Back?

I love Macrame!! I used to do Macrame with my dad back in the late 70's. My dad and a friend of his made this HUGE book shelf using large hemp cord and finished wood shelves. I would sit and watch them work on it. I am trying to find a picture to post but I'm not having any luck.

Anyhoo, I've been back on the Macrame kick and am learning some new techniques. Well, they're not really new, I just never tried to attempt them before. I've created 3 new necklaces using the basic half knot and the square knot. I also created a bracelet, which I am still needing to add beads to, with the clove hitch. I'll post the picture when I get it finished.





Next, I am going to be learning Chinese knots. They are not only gorgeous, but I can use them on my smurses!!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Pink & White Custom Order Necklace

This necklace was originally made with a soft leather cord. A customer on Etsy sent me a message asking if I could make it with something other than the leather cord. So, I tried using 100% nylon ribbon cord, which wouldn't go through the beads. Then I thought "what about ribbon?".



I made the necklace with ribbon and thought it looked cheezy! So I took some white nylon ribbon cord and did some macrame. What a difference it made. I was very happy with how it turned out. It's pretty yet soft and feminine.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Redesigned Bracelets

When I first started creating jewelry 3 years ago, I made some stretchy bracelets with various types of glass beads. The other night I decided that I didn't like the stretchy part so I redesigned and created new bracelets using the glass beads from each bracelet and gold filled or silver plated material. I was very happy with how they turned out and have updated my website as well as my Etsy shop with new photos and pricing.



You can visit either my website or Etsy shop for several views of each one.

I am the Empress! (Of Course)


You are The Empress


Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.


The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.


The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.


What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

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