Friday Finds: bluewhitewear

Meet bluewhitejewelrywear, a shop with an oriental touch! It is run by an American (born & raised in upstate NY) expat who has lived in Bangkok, Thailand for 9 years who has recently moved to Santiago, Chile.

Come sit down and get to know her with me!

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
One thing is that I have lived on four continents, and visited six continents.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
My friend was visiting and brought me a bracelet she had made. That is when I began thinking that I could make jewelry too. A few days later we were walking around the market and found a strand of the blue and white porcelain beads. I fell in love with them and planned to create endless pieces of jewelry with them. I still love them, but often get sidetracked but other beautiful stones and ideas. I later discovered Etsy and that is when I decided to make jewelry to sell. I joined a jewelry making forum and someone suggested selling on Etsy - so I joined.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My days are not very exciting - I usually do any jewelry work on the weekends so usually my husband brings me coffee in bed, I get up, check emails, and read the news online. When I am making jewelry, I gather my ideas and make a mess in my little jewelry room trying to find the beads and supplies I need. Often I download a movie or tv show on my laptop to entertain me while I work. I try to create several pieces so that I can photograph them all at one time.

Most people have something or someone they look to for inspiration - what or who is yours?
Most of my ideas come from my travels. I often find different beads and stones that will inspire me. The Buddha pieces came from my trip to Tibet and I bought strands of jade when I went to Myanmar (Burma). When I am totally uninspired, I look at fashion magazines, bead magazines, and fashion sites online.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
For being a good person, a good wife and mother, and a good friend.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I hope to go to Antarctica someday - even if it is only for a few hours. It has always fascinated me; and of course, I love penguins! If I do get there, I'll be able to say I have been on all seven continents. :)

You can also find them on their blog and on Twitter.

Friday Finds: TiLTcreations

Meet Theresa from TiLTcreations, a handmade handbag and home accessory shop in Ferndale, Michigan. She sports handbags, hand embroidered hoopla, monsters & pillows in her sweet shop.

Theresa is a stay at home mom to 2 boys, ages 16 and 6. She sews and creates to keep sane, making her family quite happy in the process too.

Sit down with me and get to know Theresa better...

Introduction
I create whenever possible...with whatever I have around. Fabric, paint, pencils, embroidery thread, maybe even clay sometimes. Does everything work? Um, no. But is it fun? Oh yes! And now that I found a part-time job in a fabric store...I am sneaking in some clothing for myself :)

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I spent one year on my PhD in Immunology...just a tad different than sewing :P

How did you get your start on Etsy?
My family kept "encouraging" me to sell my bags, so I did some research and Etsy's name kept popping up. I checked it out as a buyer to see what I thought. I liked it and opened shop.

How did you choose your shop name?
It is actually just my initials with a vowel added to make an word. Plus, my best friend thought it suited me well...a bit Tilted :P

What does a typical day look like for you?
Too long and not long enough. I have a teenager and a 1st grader, so most of my time is in spurts. I also work part time at a fabric store, which is more like a candy store to me. So I wake up - check my email - drink my coffee - shower up and take the kiddo to school or summer camp - go home and sew or go home to get ready for work - pick up kid - eat dinner - clean up around the house - hit the computer - go to bed. Gee - what a party life I lead.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
My boys...in a good way lol :P

Do you have any family traditions that you hope are carried through to future generations?
We don't have lots, but dinners out to celebrate birthdays and other milestones are something I want to keep up. We never went out for dinner until I was a teen, also it was a big treat. And the dinners with my family & my parents now are even more special.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
Anywhere, as long as I am alone and can sleep until whenever I want, not have to clean a thing or cook a meal, and be able to ride my bike as long & far as I want.

You can also find Theresa in her other shop, on her blogs (http://tiltcreations.blogspot.com, http://tilttreasures.blogspot.com, and http://tiltcreationstoo.blogspot.com), Flickr, and Twitter.

Friday Finds: RedemptionArt

I'd like to introduce you to Connie Haskell from redemptionart featuring vintage, handmade, and upcycled art from Volcano, Hawaii.

Come learn more about Connie with me...

Introduction
In my shop you will find things from all over the globe that have somehow made their way to my beautiful island home. I am the queen of redeem! I find complete satisfaction re-cycling, up-cycling and redeeming! Those who know me know my mantra: "it can't be that hard to wash out a can and remove its label!" Little did I know that one day I would be "redeeming" my professional life and that it would be the economy that would dictate this redemption.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I have 4 tatoos...hidden well!

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I just took the leap almost a year ago pretty much on my own, after being an etsy shopper for about 6 months.

How did you choose your shop name?
My name RedemptionArt is a statement of my spiritual and physical lifestyle. .I am a believer that everything and everyone can be redeemed.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Prayer, feed animals, make coffee, do basic housekeeping, check emails, facebook, twitter, hive, list new products, re-list products, work on art projects and so much more....especially play with my grandkids.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
I love Christmas! Because it celebrates redemption! Because everyone gets together, a chance to spend time with my adult neices and nephews.

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
divorce?

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I genuinely love people, especially the chance to encourage someone.

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
My birthstone is a garnet and I wouldn't trade it! Love the dark red color.

You can also find Connie on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, and her handmade shop.

cksilver is at Bellaphia Boutique in Chelan 5-8pm tonight!

We are showing off beautiful cksilver jewelry at Bellaphia Boutique in Chelan tonight and would love to have you join us!

You'll have the chance to get a sneak preview of lots of beautiful new items that are not listed online yet. Come see the new sophisticated sterling silver and cubic zirconia dangle circle earrings, amazing tanzanite and ruby hoop earrings, gorgeous fuschia crazy lace agate and garnet necklace, bracelet, and earring set, and more! We'll also have old favorites like the incredibly popular Psalm 23 bracelet, the midnight remembrance set, a variety of wire-wrapped items, and many, many birthstone pieces.

The show is from 5-8pm tonight. Hope you can make it!

Meet Agnes from BeaderBubbe in Brooklyn, New York. She is a mother of five, grandma of six, and loves crafts.

I had a chance to ask her a few questions about herself. This is what she had to say:

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
It is probably that if I didn’t become a secretary, mom, and wife, I would have liked to pursue a career as a writer. I love reading and writing novels, and a mystery would be on my list of something I would have like to do had I not gone in a different direction with my life. I have no regrets, but it is back there in my mind.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I always loved doing crafts. Being a stay at home mom I would conjure up ways of keeping five children busy with things to make. It wasn’t until they were all grown that I decided to start making things for myself. I loved to crochet and knot and did a little sewing. I also love jewelry, and when I started making bracelets, and necklaces for myself I got compliments and people asking where I got them from - thereby starting my selling spree. I also made gifts to give before deciding to sell my jewelry. Etsy just made it easier to get my jewelry out there.

How did you choose your shop name?
That’s easy... I love to bead “Beader” and I am a “Bubbe” which is the Yiddish word for grandma, of which I am to 6 beautiful boys and one more on the way.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Well, since I am still working (two years away from retirement) I get up every morning to go to work – but working in a school affords me the perk of having summers off. After work I come home, watch grandchildren, make dinner and somehow spend an hour or two either in my craft room or on the computer. I am hoping to retire and have more time in my craft room.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
I absolutely love the summer - even the hot weather. I hate the cold and snow. I think the summer affords me the opportunity to get out more, and if it's too hot there is always air conditioning.

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I feel it is the fact that I am “easy going”. I always believe the glass is half full and getting upset over something you can't do anything about is wasteful. I like to enjoy every day to its fullest because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
Since I am “easy going”, I don’t feel I ever had to make a hard decision. You see, I believe everything happens for a reason, and the decisions you make in life are made for a reason. If I had to pick something, it might be going back to work. You see, I was a stay at home mom of five children and loved it, but as they grew and went on to college... well, one pay check wasn’t enough... But then again, I returned as a school secretary 4 blocks from home and I was available for my children when they weren’t in school. So this worked out for the best.

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
I was born in February – the only good thing about the winter - because I love my birthstone which is amethyst. I have a lovely amethyst ring, surrounded by small diamond chips which I absolutely adore.

You can also find Agnes on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Wednesday What's New: Beautiful Moonstone

I'd like to introduce you to a beautiful matching set of moonstone, fancy jasper, and sterling silver earrings and necklace.

They remind me of the moonlight playing gracefully over a mountain forest. You will feel graceful and elegant wearing these earrings either for everyday wear or for a special occasion. All silver on the earrings and necklace is sterling silver.

Moonlight Sonata Moonstone and Green Fancy Jasper Earrings

Moonlight Sonata Moonstone and Green Fancy Jasper Necklace

To find more beautiful items, please go my shop: cksilver.etsy.com.