Gotta Love the Twitter Team - They're the Best!

I'm the Etsy Twitter Shop of the Week! So many great folks with so many great handmade items - check out the list of participants on the blog, and you can search tags on Etsy with the term "etsytwitter team", too.

The Team can be checked out on Twitter, too, with a search on the tag #etsytwitter - lots of promotions and sales to be found!

Artisan Jewelry Holiday Extravaganza

Hey! I'm on YouTube!



Many thanks to Etsy artisan MonaJewels of Bellaire, Texas, who pulled together a wonderful collection of jewelry artisans to celebrate the season. She chose two pieces of mine to include.

Mona host's an on-line radio talk show for independent jewelry designers at nowlive.com called THE JEWELRY CONNECTION -broadcasting every Sunday afternoon at 12:00PM PST, 2:00PM CST, 3:00PM EST. Starting on the 23rd of November, she'll be hosting a holiday jewelry show, exhibiting each designer's work individually and promoting the videos in her broadcast room. There will be Christmas music playing in the broadcast room starting on the 23rd that will continue throughout the holidays to promote all of the artists. On the 23rd she'll be offering a drawing for door prizes so it will be a "Holiday Event" and a celebration of artisans and their Christmas Muse!

Ooooh, Shiny!

I have a confession for all of you out there that appreciate my work.....there are more out there like me, maybe even, dare I say it? even more talented than me but with the same aesthetic and motivations as me. And by that I mean pretty shiny rocks woven together with beautiful, artful wire, with a focused eye on color, texture, and wonderful geometry.

And I've found one to share with you - Etsy artist Yazmin Wickham of A Pretty Rock . Yazmin creates one of a kind or limited edition pieces of jewelry, which she brings to life with carefully selected gemstones, mineral stones and freshwater pearls. Her collection is meant to lend affordable, quality elegance to all. And boy-oh-boy does she deliver!





These Fresh Cut Earrings - OMG - how do I keep these out of my head so I don't accidentally re-create them?! They are so beautiful, with the greens and blues that I love, and the wire-wrapping that I find so fun to do. And she has done such a wonderful job of photography on her pieces - I am so envious!










And just to prove how in sync our design sensibilities are, here is a bracelet of amazonite Yazmin has created that would be a lovely match to my Caged Blossoms Necklace below - a coordinated set from two different shops - who knew?










There is no reason why every woman shouldn't have A Pretty Rock in their life (or three or five I say)! Drop by her shop to see for yourself, and take some time at her blog for more. Oh, and did I mention that A Pretty Rock offers gift certificates, too? Hint hint hint, all you gift-givers out there!

Seeds of Glory

I am always amazed by the talents of those jewelry artists who choose as their medium seed beads. If one were to look at just a single seed bead, it would seem so humble. Tiny and cute, perhaps, but very underwhelming. How can this tiny blip of a thing be a part of any substantial beauty? But oh my, in the hands of a master weaver, these tiny bits of glass and color are transformed into swoops and collages of wonderful texture and form. As much as I stretch in my artistic pursuits with gemstones and silver to achieve texture and celebration of color, I stand in awe of the weavers.



One such master is Ann Burke of My Fair Lady on Etsy. A member of Etsy's street team Etsy Beadweavers, she is a crafter of works extraordinaire in seed beads and gemstones. You name a weave, a technique applicable to the palette of seed beads, Ann Burke can give you a beautiful expression. She also loves gemstones, and uses them with a talented eye to balance and rhythm.


So many pretties to see, you must take a trip to visit Ann at her shop in Etsy, and find the time to find out more about her on her blog, where she delves into her art and writes features on other Etsy artists. Her jewelry is truly inspired.

It's a Beadiful Day!

There are oodles of jewelry artisans on Etsy, providing limitless opportunities for personal adornment. Most often (like me) they create standard jewelry items of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, yadayadayada.... how mundane! Whilst perusing the artisan creations of C Serpent Designs and all the beautiful jewelry to be found there, I was drawn instead to her wonderful and whimsical "whole lot more". She uses her eye for color and fabulous beadery to create pieces to add the delight of beads to items in your life besides your ears, necks, and wrists. Like phone charms, barrettes, brooches, bookmarks, letter openers....the list goes on.


Susan, the artist behind C Serpent, was nicknamed "Sea Serpent" by her husband following a scuba trip, and has been making jewelry for friends and family as well as selling in a gallery in La Jolla, CA, for four years. She is inspired by all the gorgeous lampwork glass beads she has found on Etsy and other sites, and also works in semi-precious gemstones.

Her enjoyment and excitement in the creative process shows in the beauty and balance of her work, and I just love the way she expands that creativity beyond jewelry. Which isn't to say you should neglect checking out her jewelry! Visit it all at C Serpent Designs, and find out more about Susan and her work in her blog, and have a beadiful day!

Oh, Robert Redford!!!!!

Judy Richards, the Etsy artist behind Cats Paw Artifacts resides in Portland, Oregon where it rains this time of year. According to Judy, a well kept secret is that it doesn't rain all year around. Ahhhh, but what I want to know is what she means by "all"!

Judy makes lampwork beads and designs jewelry - unique and hopefully artful jewelry. She is always striving for new ideas, new shapes in glass. Judy's work is inspired by nature (flowers, birds) as depicted in glass. She loves abstract lampwork most of all with layers of glass and complexity. She is always striving to that goal.

She has done the work of reasonably exact glass beads - but yearns to break out of that toward something more complex and deep in an artistic sense. She also has a sense of humor and doesn't take herself too seriously - she is the owner of 2 cats, hence the cat beads. Judy likes to laugh and make others smile with her work.

Judy's dream buyer is the Sundance catalog. (Calling Robert, Oh, calling Robert!!)

Probably the best things she has made are jewelry with her own lampwork beads and semi precious stones that have sold that push the envelope of what we think of as jewelry and adornment.

Judy is a member of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers, a seller on ebay for 5 years - over 500-100% positive feedback, a member of the Portland Bead Society, the ORBS (Oregon Regional Beadmakers Society) and the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers). Check out all the lovelies from her shop, Cats Paw Artifacts, and her writings on her blog.

More Black Friday Goodies

The incredible artists of the Art Jewelry Collective have compiled the best of the best in their Holiday Gift Guide. I'm so honored to have my Dewdrop earrings selected as the lead item for the Earrings collection. Go AJC!

Untie a Ribbon on Some Signature Pieces

There are so many wonderful handcrafted items on Etsy, it should be so very easy to shop handmade this Holiday Season. At Signature Sterling, the gift opportunities abound! One of my favorites from Sue's shop leads this post, with fabulous beads and colors inspired by "Hairspray."


Sue enjoys designing, creating, and just plain playing with a variety of beads - but mainly sterling silver, semiprecious, lampwork, Czech glass, and Swarovski crystals/pearls. When she's not beading, she loves being a soccer mom. When you stop by Signature Sterling be sure to check out her links to some other terrific, creative "Etsians" - especially the TBO, the Bead Hive, JET, EtsyMom, and etsyBead groups. Need help finding these talented artists? Go to the Etsy home site and search for TBO, BHV, JETT, EtsyMom, and etsyBead in tags,titles. You'll get a great list to choose from!

And yes, Sue is a Buckeye fan - check out her blog for proof positive on that point. But she supports fans of all types - for a great gift idea for that super-fan in your life, check out her "Colors" line for custom items tailored to school colors and activities.

Sweet Kitties

I have a kindred spirit at Etsy: at this very moment, as I attempt to type these words, I have the sweetest, but most obnoxious kitty kneading me and telling me how much she would love some loving, but I've got this blog to write! My kindred spirit is the artist behind Sweet Irie - named for her kitten, Irie. The kitten's name means "supreme joy": quite fitting because she is the light of the life and the inspiration for the jewelry in Sweet Irie's shop, as the cat also likes to help her in her work just like my Stella is trying to help me right now! Although we both have to admit, neither cat is much help! At one time her kitty loved to play with the jewelry and balls of hemp that Sweet Irie once used in her craft; stringing it all over the house. Needless to say, she now has had her own stash of 'toys' provided to lie around. Just as well, as Sweet Irie has since moved on from making hemp jewelry and now creates the beautiful handmade beaded designs you see here and throughout her store.

Sweet Irie is an art student going to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. When not doing school work, she spends time with her family, many animals, church, and making jewelry. Once she graduates, Disney better watch out, 'cuz here comes Sweet Irie! Click on any image in the montage above, visit Sweet Irie's shop, where she is having a great sale by the way, or check out her blog. Now, Stella - let me get some work done!

Down to Earth

Maybe it's the season, maybe the lack of rain leaving all the grasses tinder-box brown, maybe even my mood....but I found myself drawn to the lovely earth-shades of jewelry in the shops that belong to Etsy artist formerly-known-as-Berry Patch Designs, now becoming Silver Shadow (a change prompted by a name conflict with another e-seller on that OTHER e-site). She also maintains an "alternate reality" shop at Undercurrent. A member of Etsy's EarthPath Artisans Street Team, Berry Patch/Silver Shadow loves life but not drama, animals, people-watching, and keeping an individualistic approach. Here is how she describes her approach to design: "I love to combine the varying colors and textures of the natural world. There are so many feelings and places to love about our world!"


Her materials remind her of those places and feelings: turquoise, jasper and agate in their infinite varieties, other semiprecious gems, like amazonite's soft greens, garnet's rich wine colors, bronzite's gold-flecked chocolate depths. High quality man-made glass and metal beads join in the visual symphony; they have their own brightness and feelings to contribute to her designs.

What does she love most designing jewelry? Hearing and seeing that people enjoy wearing her jewelry. I bet she hears that a lot.


Her "mad ramblings" about jewelry design can be found at her Strains Asylum, and her designs at Berry Patch Designs, Silver Shadow, and Undercurrent.

Ready, Get "Set", Go!

Pulling together a "look" can be as simple as classic clothes with an added pop of accessory adornments. Coordinated sets of jewelry are the specialty of Etsy shop Adornments by BJ, a jewelry artist with an exceptional eye for beautiful stones and well-balanced compositions (just check out the lead picture - what gorgeous larimar!). Her passion for her art is evident in all her creations, to amazing and striking results. She has designs to fit all budgets and styles, from casual to elegant, from bold to demure, and you'll never have to worry about what earrings to wear with the stunning necklace you've chosen - BJ has made the set for you!


I'm especially in love with this gold/purple combo of amethyst and yellow jasper - yum yum!









So, ready, set, go grab an eyeful at Adornments by BJ, and check out her blog, too! I'm sure you'll find a load of goodies.

Dundas Down Under

Etsy glass artist, Anne Dundas from Sydney, Australia discovered beading in 2004, and the discovery sparked her imagination and began a passion in her life. From beading she moved into the wonderfully colorful and magical world of lampworking, and now makes luminous glass creations to make you drool. As you may remember from my features on Ginger Black and Studio Marcy, I have nothing but awe and admiration for those who wield the torch on molten glass. How DO they DO that?!?!

When not creating lampwork beads or crafting jewelry ("jewellery" Down Under), she is the caregiver for her mother who has MS and designs business cards for other jewelry artists. She professes the view that beading and the beading community she has found since beginning her journey in 2004 to have truly enriched her life. I feel fortunate that I, too, have been introduced to Anne Dundas Handcrafted Jewellery and Lampwork Beads, and all the wonderful pretties that can found therein. Check out her shop for yourself, and take some time to visit her blog where she shares her creative process.

Do you believe in magic?

In a young girl's heart.......Okay, now that I've got you singing - haha - let me tell you about an Etsy artist for whom the rocks sing and make a magic all their own.

Beth Alexander of Cryztalvisions is lucky to be blessed by winning the genetic lottery of coming from a long line of artistic souls. Beth's influences include her father who was an artist and art teacher, and her great grandmother who had a fantastic eye for detail and could paint tiny pictures small enough to fit on a thimble. Luckily her great grandmother left a legacy of oil paintings for Beth to treasure always.


As you know, I am a self-confessed pretty rock addict, and Beth, too has been fascinated by crystals and stones for as long as she can remember. A jewelry artist for over 20 years, she is still excited by the process, learning new techniques, and pushing the boundaries of her creativity. She has been drawn along the way to studying and practicing various energy healing arts, like Reiki, chakra balancing, Earth based energy medicine, shamanic practices, and Angel Therapy. She has found combining her love of minerals, her artistic eye and skill in jewelry fabrication and design, along with her heightened sensitivity to energies creates a powerful synergy. I find her jewelry creations in silver, like this Tree of Life piece in fine silver, especially wonderful.

She finds that she loves to immerse herself in the creative process, and is fascinated when some pieces seem to magically design themselves. I know just how that feels. Some of my most favorite creations seemed to create themselves, too - it must be those pretty rocks!



It is Beth's hope that you will find a very special piece her creations that speaks to your heart. So be sure to drop by her Etsy shop, her website or her blog to find out more about these magical pieces of beauty in stone and precious metals. You can find out, too, what's up with that "Z" in "Cryztalvisions"!

May Good Fortune find you today!

A Treasure Trove from Philly

Phyllis Mufson from Philadelphia, PA, is the creative force behind the Etsy shop Personal Treasures. With a distinguished career in design, first as an award-winning textile artist, she is the founder of the San Francisco School and Gallery of Textile Arts, winner of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, and former director of Career Services at Moore College of Art and Design. Now a career consultant and personal coach, Phyllis helps her clients create reality from their dreams.


To appease her creative side (as if creating reality from dreams is not creative enough!), she now expresses herself through jewelry design, with an eye to rich gemstones showcased in silver and gold. Her designs are one-of-a-kind or limited addition, and her commitment is to beautiful, well-constructed, comfortable jewelry pieces. She has two online shops, one more upscale (Personal Treasures) and one more simple and casual (Mufi Jewels).



She uses her blog to showcase her creative expressions, and has also been actively participating in the 90-day blog challenge with wonderfully written posts on fellow Etsy artists (see here for the one she wrote on me - thanks, Phyllis!). If you want to know more about her Catalyst for Personal and Professional Growth, you can visit her site for her practice as a career coach for creative people. Anywhere you look, you'll find a trove of Treasures.