Sisters

Last week I had the pleasure of working on a few projects for two little girls. Rachel drew a couple adorable pictures of herself and her little sister Hannah, which I incorporated into one "Sisters" picture. ("sisters" is in Rachel's own handwriting)

Rachel and Hannah's mom also sent me a couple pictures they each did for me to turn into pendants. The results are below. I hope the girls enjoy wearing their own artwork!

Speaking of sisters, don't miss the hilarious post on my sister's blog:

Therapy Thursday on maybeads

Actually, all of her posts are quite entertaining, and her beads are the best, so check them out!

Personal Pendant

I recently had a giveaway on my blog for a free personal pendant with any purchase from my shop. For a personal pendant, I take your child's artwork and make it into a glass pendant. One of the winners was Anna, and I love what she decided to do. She bought a pendant as her purchase, and then she also got one free. She submitted her daughter's very first drawing. It might seem like a simple little black scribble, but when it's the first attempt at drawing, it's worth preserving. Since I was told her daughter wears a lot of pink and green, those are the colors I chose to use. Anna also wanted a pendant to send to Grandpa, something he could use on a keychain. His is the blue and green one. On the back of each pendant is a sticker that reads "inspired by the original artwork of...." with the child's name. 

So, not only can Anna's daughter wear her necklace with pride, it also makes a great gift. And with Valentine's Day right around the corner, I think it's the perfect personal gift made with lots of love. 

Talk To Me Tuesday!

Here’s an interview with Lee from Color Me Conscious. In her bio, she says: I have always wanted a business that would make a difference—and even though it won't change the whole world—if we work together, Color Me Conscious just may brighten a tiny corner of it...

Please read the interview to see just how she is making a difference, and how you can help. I think it’s such a wonderful thing to do.

Lee is also giving back to YOU by including a giveaway with this interview. How cool is that? She has generously donated this beautiful Arm Candy Sapphire Swarovski Crystal Bracelet (pictured above). Just comment on the interview, and name one other item from her shop that you also like...The winner will be randomly chosen next Monday, Jan. 25.

Chocolate Covered Cherries Flower Brooch

What’s behind the name Color Me Conscious (you can explain the whole concept here)?

CMC is where I sell my OOAK (one-of-a-kind) handcrafted jewelry—and a portion of the sale price from each piece goes directly to charity! Every other month I debut a new collection centered around a new theme color. (January/February’s collection is RED.) The color of the month corresponds to the awareness color of a specific cause and charity—it’s that simple. (The RED collection supports heart disease awareness and prevention, and The American Heart Association.) The "conscious" in Color Me Conscious, is short for "socially conscious." Every other month…a brand new cause, a new feature color, another unique opportunity for buyers to make a difference AND “color” someone happy!

What got you started in your business?

I've been making jewelry for family and friends for many years—I mean since I was a teenager! After hearing, "You should try to sell some of your work.” and “You make really cool stuff" again and again, I decided to take the plunge and launched CMC in November of 2009.

The Corsage Cuff—Otherhood LLC. Limited Edition Bracelet

What did you do before this?

What I did (and still do, lol) is teach. I've been teaching a middle school French in South Jersey for the last 6 years. 

What inspires your designs?

Color, color, and more COLOR. I love anything vintage, and the idea of using something old to make something new, gives me goosebumps everytime.

Falling Leaves Big Button Band II

What are 3 words that describe your work?

Eclectic, feminine, unique 

Do you have a favorite piece from your shop?

It changes all the time. As of today, I’m in love with my “Elderberry Wine On A Cloudy Day” Bracelet. It’s a “Corsage Cuff”, (my copyrighted design), and can be made in any color palate in a custom order. The color combination in this one is just delicious.

Paprika Pearl Double Strand Choker

What’s your most productive time of day?

Night. It seems like all the really really good ideas start rolling in around 10:00pm…Which is a little tough since I have to be up by 5:30 the next morning to go to work.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

Big and booming hopefully. I'd love to "quit my day job"—that's what I'm working on. Hey, it could happen, no???

The Corsage Cuff (Elderberry Wine On A Cloudy Day Bracelet II)

9. What’s one thing you can’t live without?

My family most definitely. (Close second: A scarf of some sort. I have tons from all over the world, and I wear one almost everyday ---even in the summer! lol)

10. Anything else you would like us all to know?

Only a thank you for supporting CMC...you are the reason I'm here --- and it sure is a fun place to be. ;-)

Sweet Talk Necklace

colormeconscious.etsy.com 

e-mail address: colormeconscious@gmail.com

Lee also tweets about all sorts of things like sales, giveaways and new collections too! Follow her at: http://twitter.com/colormejewelry

to stay in the know!

And the Winner Is...

Linda K.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for Raspberrykidz for the small business grant.  As I've said before, I don't think I have the best chance, but I thought I'd give it a shot.  And it was so nice to have so many etsians and blog followers vote for me. 

Thank you!

Talk To Me Tuesday!

Below is my interview with Amy whose shop, On Bended Needle, features beautiful handmade jewelry, inspired by Florida's Gulf Coast. I just love the ways she photographed her pieces. I hope you enjoy the interview....and the jewelry!

Be sure to check out the first and last ones below:  perfect for Valentine's Day!

Rorschach Necklace—Heart Shaped Pendant—Polymer Clay

Rorschach Necklace—Fantasy Highway—Polymer Clay

How did you come up with the name On Bended Needle?

When you beadweave, the tension you put on your beading needle tends to give it a permanent bend. Hence, the name "On Bended Needle". Just a cute play on words!

What got you started in your business?

I've created jewelry for years, as gifts for family and friends. They we're all telling me that I should start selling it, but as a typical artist, and not a business woman, I really didn't know how I would do that. Just by chance one day, I came across Etsy, looked around the site and liked what I saw, so here I am!

What did you do before this?

Oh, I still have my "day job", lol! My dream would be for this to take off and just create, but that's not my reality right now. I manage a boarding kennel for dogs and cats, which is great because I've always loved animals, but it's really hard physically and I'm not a spring chicken anymore! (I'm a grandma!)

Gazing Pool—Beadwoven Labradorite Pendant Necklace

Beadwoven Caged Seashell in Reds

What inspires your designs?

Mostly nature, especially when I vacation at the gulf coast in FL., but I'm also inspired by whatever beads or polymer clay that I'm working with at the time. You'll sometimes hear jewelry artists say, "The beads speak to me", and they really do! You start working with them sometimes with only a rough idea of what will come out in the end, and end up with something totally different from what you expected when you started! But that's okay, it keeps your work original!

What are 3 words that describe your work?

Unique, eclectic, complicated.

What are 3 words that describe you?

Shy, loving, complex

Do you have a favorite piece from your shop?

LOL! They're all my "babies", created by me! How does one pick one over the other? I suppose my favorite ones are the ones that incorporate beadweaving, as that is my medium of choice, even though I also love polymer clay. But, I don't have a "favorite one". I just want them all to be adopted by people who love them too!

What's your most productive time of day?

I'm a night owl for the most part, but the most productive time of day varies. Whenever the inspiration strikes!

Bee My Honey, Valentine Necklace

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

I would like for this to be something that will at the very least be a supplement to Social Security, lol! At the most? To be creative for the rest of my life and live off of my creations! To do what you truly love to do in life as a living would be awesome!

What’s one thing you can’t live without?

Can't pick just one, it has to be two....my family, and the ability to be creative.

We Don't Have a Winner...

...we have 4 winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered the Talk About a Resolution Giveaway. I really enjoyed reading about all of your resolutions, and I wish you the best of luck with them!

A few minutes ago, my kids helped me pick the winners randomly out of a big cup.

I decided to have 4 winners because....well because I could.

So, congratulations to:

Sherry

Erica

Anna

and

RBailey

You each will receive a free personal pendant with your purchase of anything from Raspberrykidz in 2010!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/raspberrykidz

If you didn't win this time, you can always enter my 

other giveaway

thank you!

Help vote for Raspberrykidz GIVEAWAY

I just applied for a business grant. Please vote for Raspberrykidz at the link below.

http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/

Just type in "Raspberrykidz" and "Chicago" under Step 1.

If you vote, just leave a comment below and be entered into a giveaway to win $20 off a purchase in my shop. Please include an e-mail where I can reach you if you win...

Winner to be chosen Jan. 17

Thanks!

rachel

Talk to Me Tuesday!

This week I talked to Erika from iDew Designs. 

Her lovely etsy shop is filled with beautiful pieces, many of them eco-friendly. Check it out, and read below to learn a little more about her and her jewelry.

twisted sister pearl bracelet

How did you come up with the name iDew Designs?

What got you started in your business?

I began making jewelry when I needed a pearl necklace for my own wedding, but I could not find the quality and workmanship that I wanted at a reasonable price. I decided to try to make it on my own, and when I realized how beautiful the result was and how much I enjoyed making jewelry, iDew Designs was born. The name came originally based on the obvious play on "I do" that is used in many wedding ceremonies (or at least some variation of that phrase). I changed "do" to "dew" since a pearl resembles a dew drop of water. In addition, I am an environmentalist. I study the ocean—specifically marine mammals and ocean conservation. Water is fundamental for life, so I liked the reference to water in the title of my shop since it reflects who I am.

What did you do before this?

I started iDewDesigns while finishing up graduate school. I am a marine scientist, but I love that making art and jewelry helps me balance out the science side of me and makes me a more well-rounded and balanced person.

pink pearl nugget necklace

pink princess pearl necklace

What makes your pieces eco-friendly?

I seek out as many eco-friendly supplies as I can for my jewelry—using beads from sustainable resources such as tagua nuts, coconut, and other sources from nature. I also like to work with linen and other natural fibers that are dyed with vegetable dyes and can make my customers feel good about their purchases and their impact on the earth.

What inspired your designs?

I am usually inspired by nature and its beauty. I love weddings, and the simplicity of what the day means. I like to create pieces that compliment the wearer's natural beauty.

a bit of berry—eco-friendly necklace

 summer days—eco-friendly necklace

You also do custom pieces. Whats the most unique request you’ve gotten?

I had a customer who wanted to integrate dragonflies and butterflies into her wedding so I made her a pair of custom earrings that incorporated this theme, and she loved the result!

Do you have a favorite piece from your shop?

Each piece is a unique, one of a kind creation. I do not really have a favorite. It just depends on the day for me.

What’s your most productive time of day?

I usually only get to work on my designs at night, and sometimes on the weekend. Luckily, my productivity comes at various times throughout the day!

Where do you see your business in 5 years?

I hope to continue to make jewelry. I am also starting to get more involved in pottery so I hope to add some of my pieces to my store. I am also having fun with knitting so we'll see where that takes me. There may be some scarves and baby blankets in my future!

What’s one thing you can’t live without?

The sun! I am waiting for the longer days to slowly return!

olives—tagua nut beads

zen blue lagoon eco-friendly earrings