I'm glad today is over!

Today I had a prospective student and his family visit my class and I'm happy to say it went very well. Not that I would have changed anything, but it was stressful, worrying about how it would go. Now it is time to blog.

Today I am featuring Elements by Dawn. In her profile on etsy shre writes, "*<>*Element - refers to the shape, form, mass, line, texture, pattern, light, and color of a design. *<>*Dawn is particularly drawn to creating pattern and texture in her pieces. Through pattern and texture, her designs take on movement, visual and tactile interest. Through the use of color and form, she communicates emotion and energy. Dawn's pieces range from simplistic shapes and lines, evoking a sense of calm; to heavily textured with bold colors and lines, suggesting passion.Her obsession with circles, spheres, disks, and
symmetry is expressed throughout her designs.Dawn is constantly
learning new techniques, as well as perfecting traditional methods of metalworking and design. Additionally, she is a full-time student, wife, and mother of two boys. She enjoys listening to music of all types, especially industrial, techno, a little ska, and classical. Dawn is a self-diagnosed coffee and cheese addict." These earrings are awesome. I have tried that chainmaille pattern and was unable to do it. You can see examples of other chainmaille work when you visit her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=69819 She also has a blog at http://elementsbydawn.blogspot.com/

Bingo!

Today I helped with a Bingo fundraiser to help raise money for the playground at the school where I teach. I think everyone had a good time. I asked my sister to come and she won a game and a door prize as well. I even had time to take some pictures of my pieces, but I don't have enough good ones to list anything, but I'll have to wait until at least Tuesday to take more.

I still have time to do a feature today, so I am going to do entyqua.. She writes, "I am Becki I am a SAHM to one gorgeous little girl!About the creations I make both costume and genuine stone/metal jewelry as well as finish Jewelry boxes, card making and other paper crafts and coming soon I will be doing clothing as well! I have a lot of creative outlets." To read the rest of her bio you will have to visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5051364 YOu can also visit her blog http://beckisdesigns.blogspot.com/

Another snow day!!

And I am not happy about this day either. Oh well, I did get lots of school work done today so I do feel goo about that. Today's featured shop is sparklystrandz. In her bio she writes, "I've had a love for crafts, especially crochet for over 25 years ever since my grandmother taught me at age 5. It was probably the best thing she could have done for my parents because it would keep me busy for hours. During college, I developed a love for beads--not just because they're sparkly, but because beads have such a rich history to them from around the world, and can be made from almost anything imaginable. Also, as an occupational therapist, I am able to use a variety of crafts and activities in my therapy to make it more fun!I combined my love for crochet and beads and began making jewelry, baby onesies, hats, and all sorts of gift items about 10 years ago. "Sparkly Strandz" is an online store that you can visit and create your own jewelry by choosing the right color bead, wire, and length you want for that perfect piece!!" Check out one of her catnip toys, pictured above. To see what she has to offer, visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5059734 You can also visit her blog http://sparklystrandz.blogspot.com/

90 features in 90 days #36

More wintry weather is on the way so I am less than happy. Of course I am wondering if school will be in session tomorrow? I'm actually hoping for a 2 hour delay so we get the day in and it counts.
In spite of taking a day off here and there, I am making my way throught the list Today I am featuring allyon67. "Deep Blue" is my favorite piece from her shop. To see everything she has to offer, visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=57441 You can also visit her blog at http://pmillerabstractart.blogspot.com/

Back to School

Due to bad weather and scheduled vacation days we have been off a week and the day was wild. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but still had the energy to go to my first knitting class. I didn't do too badly.

Today I am featuring arosebyname. In her profile she writes, "I am a self-employed wife and mother of two teenage daughters. I enjoy beading and find that it is my therapy for stress!My daughters and I first tried beading many years ago. Over the years, the beads have gotten smaller and the designs more intricate. Although my girls no longer bead, they enjoy wearing the pieces that I have created. Etsy Street Teams are awesome and I have become a part of this fantastic group!Etsy BeadWeavers Street Team: http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ " I just love the bracelet I pictured, but you might prefer something else, so check out her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5049143 and her blog http://arosebyname.blogspot.com/.

Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

However, the weather is just lousy. I'd almost prefer snow. On to more pleasant things like th e 90 features in 90 days challenge. Today the lucky shop is littlebrownbird. Before I do her feature I must mention about a missing person notice posted on her blog. http://thelittlebrownbird.blogspot.com/ Please read it and if you know anything, please call 911. If nothing else, please pray for his safe return to his loved ones.

Excerpts from her profile include. "Hi! My name is Mary Ryan. I am an Interior Design Consultant by day and a Jewelry Artist every other waking moment. I have a variety of collections to complement any style and price point for young girls to women. I will happily accept orders for custom sizing or a change in clasp or ear post/wire on any of my pieces." I love her bracelets and can't decide which of the 2 bracelets I pictured is my favorite. Visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5106927 to see the rest of her profile and more of her work.

A little time off.

I took a few days off blogging. Yesterday I spent over an hour on the phone with my favorite ISP (NOT!) because of poor service. Now on to more fun things, like featuring another etsy shop. Today it is BerryBeads. She specializes in beaded lanyards. In her etsy profile she writes, "Hi! My name is Rosi and I have always loved crafts. It is especially nice when the things I make are practical as well as pretty. I have many different interests and making jewelry is a new passion to bring out my creative side." To see more of her designs visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=88241 You can also visit her blog http://www.blog.berrybeady.com/

Another snow day!!

I was even less happy than yesterday. Now we are adding days to the end of the school year. This does not make me happy.

Today I have chosen to feature Chalk Hill Studio. Her etsy username is Kala. In her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=45836 profile she writes, "My name is Karen, I'm mum to two beautiful children and a professional artist and illustrator from the UK. I love to create and have trouble deciding what to do so I usually end up trying to a bit of everything from painting to jewellery making and crochet, which is why I opened an esty shop. Here you will find my artwork, prints and cards,my crafts and jewellery can be found in my new shop opening soon http://upwiththelark.etsy.com/ My main website is www.chalkhillstudio.co.uk which is where I sell my stationery and gifts for those special moments in our lives! To see what goes on in my life visit my blog http://karenjinks.blogspot.com/ " Don't you just love the picture of the roses on the front of that notecard?

Snow Day!

However, I really did not want one. Now we will be in school Easter Monday, which makes me unhappy. I can't do anything about it so I'll grin and vear it.

Today I decided to feature Moore Taste. The bracelet at right is my favorite item from her shop. But, I like the chainmaille bracelet too since I have a fascination with chainmaille and seem unable to master any of the 3 chainmaille weaves I have attempted. To see all of her items and read her profile, where you will learn that she is in Australia and has 2 children, you'll need to visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=100235 You can also visit her blog http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=100235

It is still REALLY cold!

I'm tired of being cold every time I have to go outside. It was HOme Ec. today for my class and we made funnel cakes. Everyone really enjoyed them.

Today I will feature Bella Dio. She writes in her bio, "I am a SAHM and I started making jewelry years ago. My friend and I would get together and bead, while our little ones napped. Two years ago, I started playing with polymer clay and I really enjoy the opportunities this opened up to me. I slowly started adding in twisted, bent and curled wire to my designs." Visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5408087 to see items like my favorite that you see here. Check out her blog at http://belladio.blogspot.com/

It is REALLY cold and windy.

The temperature is in the teens and it sounds like we're living in a wind tunnel. Not my kind of weather. I went out twice, but now I'm home to stay for the evening. I'm going to feature cigarboxbeads today. In her profile she writes, "I'm a retired Home Ec teacher, loved what I did, love what I'm doing now. Beadweaving is my joy, along with knitting, crocheting, sewing AND being with our twin granddaughters. Not at the same time though, they love to 'help'! We do have 'crafting time' every day that I watch them, so I hope I'm instilling the love of creating in them.PS- I just opened another etsy shop---suchandsort-go there to read where THAT name came from!AND.....breaking news-- a new blog -- http://cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com I'm just getting started, so not much there right now--but I'm working on it!" Isn't this bracelet just fabulous? See all of her work at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5147055

Finally Friday! It was a very strange week. There wasn't a single day that followed my normal routine and was just exhausting, but it is now over and next week is a three day week!
Today I plan to feature luckygirltrading. Here is a photo of one of my favorites from her shop, but all of her work is fabulous. Her profile explains the name of her shop. She writes, "In the spring of 2001 I was overwhelmed by sadness and huge piles of clutter. My marriage was in the midst of a very ugly ending, and he had left tons of his stuff behind. I suddenly realized that I was a very lucky girl to be rid of him, and Lucky Girl Trading Company was born. I began listing his stuff for sale on eBay, clearing away both the clutter and the sadness. A few years later I met my lucky guy--who was selling a bit of jewelry--and married him in a hot air balloon ceremony in 2006. We've worked together to build Lucky Girl Trading into a fun and fulfilling enterprise. I've also discovered working with glass--one of my all-time favorite creative outlets. I've also discovered two ancient arts: Kumihimo and Temari. Both are centuries-old crafts, and both give me a zen-like tranquility while working. I truly am a Lucky Girl! Every day I gather pretty, sparkly things and send them to people. I imagine a person opening their mail and taking out their new pendant or chain or pouch. It's perfect--they have a huge smile on their face--and so do I. I'd love for that person to be you!"
Check out all of her items http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5252096 and her blog http://luckygirltrading.blogspot.com/

My conferences went well!!!

Can you tell I am very happy? One more tomorrow, then the finishing paperwork, read the less than fun part of my job. That is assuming the copier is fixed I will be abe to finish.

Today I am featuring morelle http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5531346. She has some fantastic bags in her shop. I think this is my favorite, but it is a difficult decision. You'll have to visit her shop to see for yourself. You can also visit her blog at http://www.morelle.nl/

Preparing for parent conferences

Tomorrow I have parent conferences. I feel pretty good about how they are going to go. I hope everything goes as well as I expect.

Today I am featuring RegalBeads. She writes, " have loved doing crafts for most of my life (in fact, my dad loves to tell an embarrassing childhood story on me about this passion ;))Both of my parents are quite creative, and passed this down to me!I started beading over five years ago and took to it like a fish to water. I love the feel of the beads in my hands, the challenge of a new pattern, and the joy of a completed piece!For years this has been one of my hobbies, with my personal collection growing quite large, and with many family members and friends also benefiting.I have now decided to share these treasures with the world." This bracelet would be perfect for your Valentine. Get a better look at it by visiting her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5306587. Check out her blog at http://regalbeads.blogspot.com/

Two items listed today!

Two sales this weekend! Can you tell I'm pretty happy. I hope the etsybead hunt is going well. I'll have to check with later on to see if anybody won.

Today I will feature stacirose.

She writes, "My name is Staci Rose, busy bee of Staci Rose Designs. I offer original, hand-made, and one of a kind: Original Oil Paintings, Handmade Jewelry, Decorated Picture Frames and Mirrors, Judaica, Bead Boxes, Mother's Earrings, and more great gift ideas! " She has a section for the guys, with pieces like this one.

Visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=63692 and her blog http://stacirose.blogspot.com/

Free until Monday morning

I'm going to finish this post, then off to the bead room for me! Today I will feature Thumbelina Creations. In her profile on etsy we can learn much about her. (We are both members of etsyBEAD.)Jonquil Thiessen is a stay-at-home mom of three boys who loves to be creative in many different ways. She loves to sing, knit, crochet, draw, scrapbook, write music, and make jewelry. She would feel lost if she wasn't able to be creative. She started young, singing in church and at weddings at three years old. Music and art have always been her passion. She took art classes and music lessons all through school and college. During college, she met her husband, Keith. They have been married for almost ten years. He also enjoys music and encourages her to further her interests. (Or maybe he justs puts up with it.) He does say sometimes that she has too many hobbies.Jonquil's favorite medium is ... well ... It's hard to pick a favorite. She likes jewelry, but is considering opening a knitting store as well. She has tried to pass on her passion to her boys, but as you may know, little boys do not have a long attention span. Some of the boys are off to school know, so she has a little more time to focus on her art.Her main priority is her family. Etsy has become a valuable method of continuing with her art and still being able to love and take care of her family.
My favorite piece in her shop is pictured above. Those old style soda bottle caps bring back memories for me. See the rest fo her creationas athttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5205870 and don't miss her blog at http://thumbelinacreations.spaces.live.com/

Finally Friday!

The downside is that I worked both jobs. Now I'm free until 8:00am tomorrow, so I can feature Ulixis Crafts. In her etsy profile she writes, "My name is Amanda, I'm 21 years old and I grew up in the middle of nowhere - Northern Ontario. I'm currently a fifth year Honours Biology and Pharmacology co-op student at McMaster University and I'm working in the Janssen lab on my thesis. I do real-time videomicroscopy of smooth muscle cell migration. I've been crafty my whole life, and enjoy making a variety of things. When I was younger, it was drawing, then wreathes, dolls and beading. Now, my focus has switched to notebooks and jewelry. I also enjoy cooking, reading, writing and problem solving." She is obviously a very busy lady. Visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5284374 and you will see items such as this set. Check her blog at http://ulixis.blogspot.com/.