cksilver - handmade sterling silver jewelry

Swagbucks Birthday Bash - Your Chance to Win $1000!

2012-02-16T16:00:00.000-08:00

Put on your party hat and get ready to celebrate! In a little over a week, Swagbucks will be celebrating its 4th birthday, and in honor of this momentous occasion they are giving out 4 $1000 prizes and other great rewards!

Here's what you want to do:
1. Signup for Swagbucks if you haven't already. And right now you can enter the code BIRTHDAYBASH12 and receive 110 bonus Swagbucks! You definitely want to get this bonus!
2. RSVP and join one of the teams for the Swagbucks Birthday Bash.
3. Begin using Swagbucks as your search engine in the interim. This is one of the easiest ways to earn Swagbucks - I've already earned over $200 in Amazon gift cards and $35 in free PayPal cash, and much of it has been from searching!
4. Come back for the birthday bash on February 27th and join in the fun all day long.

That's it!

If you haven't checked out Swagbucks, you really should! Did I mention how much you can earn? I love being able to fund many of our Christmas and birthday presents and still be able to get some special things for me sometimes too!

So what are you waiting for? Join now, get your bonus and begin searching, and join the birthday bash too for a chance to win the larger prizes!

I would love to hear your favorite part about Swagbucks! Leave your thoughts below in the comments.

Friday Finds: Special Edition

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

More fun items to share with you!

Loving these brown coasters with a hint of blue from GMaEllenCrochetGifts. What a great way to keep the water rings off your table!

And this alphabet lace pendant from beaderbubbe. What a fun gift for your sweetie this Valentine's Day.

If you're an Etsy artisian looking for a great group of people to help you grow and support your work, check out the BESTeam.

Friday Finds; January 13

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

This feature I want to share with you some things that make me smile.

First, this cool Coffee Bean Apron from stitchprincess. I love the color brown, and what a great design. Perfect for cooking a morning brunch with your neighbors.

Next, this awesome Sunflower Soap from sandyvern. Makes me smile when I see it, it's so bright and cheery.

Last, this "Thanks" card from emptyontheinside says it all. We have lost the art of writing thank you cards in our society, and what better way to show someone you appreciate them!

If you're an Etsy artisian looking for a great group of people to help you grow and support your work, check out the BESTeam.

Friday Finds; December 23

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that Christmas is almost Christmas here! I'm thankful that we can celebrate Jesus' birth at this time of year, and I'm thankful for what He's done in my life.

Today I want to share some beautiful gold inspired creations from talented Besteam artists on Etsy. First, I would like to show you this really lovely angel tree topper or table centerpiece by angelsneverlastings. It is made with amazing artistry, and I would love to have an angel like this.

Next is this lovely gold carved ring from riorita. It is really beautiful, and can be ordered in different types of gold.

This gear and feather gold headband from poisongarden is adorable. How my daughter loves feathers, and they are so popular right now!

Last, enjoy these beautiful flower hair clips from msformaldehyde. Perfect for any occasion!

If you're an Etsy artisian looking for a great group of people to help you grow and support your work, check out the BESTeam.

Friday Finds: December 9

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

I am finding that I am constantly inspired by the colors of nature, and I want to share more lovely browns with you today!

First, this gorgeous mahogany brown leather journal from theorangewindmill. Who doesn't need an amazingly beautiful leather journal. Perfect for those long winter days by the fire, or to record your summer adventures!

Next, these beautiful vintage woven grass baskets from redemptionart. What a fun way to carry things to and from the gazebo in the summertime or to your dinner table year round.

Now I'm loving this fun sage green polka dot headband from chickyds. My daughter would think this was adorable too!

Last, this sweet bridal shower gift pouch from kcdragonfly. What a fun thing to put another gift in or keep for beautiful things of your own.

If you're an Etsy artisian looking for a great group of people to help you grow and support your work, check out the BESTeam.

Friday Finds: December 2

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today I want to share with you some sweet, delicate pinks. I love the color pink, and find it so feminine and alluring.

For example, take this Magnolia Photo from StitchPrincess. What an amazing picture!

This Butterfly Quilt Coverlet from OurHomeToYours is really sweet. My daughter would love to have something like this on her bed!

I'm loving this yummy Strawberry Shortcake Soap from sandyvern. Sounds like it would smell so amazing!

What a fun Candy Canes Greeting Card from EmptyOnTheInside to send out this season.

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

Friday Finds: November 25

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday and day after Thanksgiving! Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday, and that it was full of things and people you appreciate.

Today I bring you the Luxurious Pale Gold Charmeuse Square from joyflower. It is so beautiful and versatile.

Next, this Cube Picture Holder from creativitybugs. A great way to display your favorite pictures!

Last, this Beige Bracelet from beaderbubbe.

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

Thursday Thankfulness: Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for many things.

I am thankful for my God and how He loves me no matter what I do, and is constantly rescuing me and wooing me back to Him.

I am thankful for my family and the joy that they are to me. My husband is truly a gift - a hard-worker with a big heart. And my children who love and accept foster children willingly into our home even when it completely turns their life upside down.

I am thankful for friends and extended family, some of whom we get to share the holiday with.

I am thankful for where we live and our community. Such a beautiful area with amazing creation all around us.

What are you thankful for today?

Friday Finds: November 18

2011-11-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite colors is pink. I have always loved it - even when I thought I only loved lavendar! Pink is such a feminine color, and so fun to wear.

I'm loving these fun things this week:

Pink Lap Blanket
by GmaEllen

Baby Booties
by KnitfulDezigns

Pink and White Scarf
by OurHometoYours

Alphabet Wine Glass Charms
by AbsolutelyKismet

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

Wednesday What's New: The Colors of Fall

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

My son's last soccer game was on Saturday, and it was a whopping 28 degrees outside. Brrrr. After losing every game of the season, they had an amazing grand finale and won big. But more than winning, I wanted to make sure he had fun and did his best. He is happy with his season and loved his coach and felt like he learned a lot.

These earrings are new pieces I made recently, and I am so excited to share them with you. They reflect the beautiful colors of fall and the rich browns and oranges of the season.

I hope you enjoy. What are your favorite colors?

Brown Snowflake Jasper Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

Orange Carnelian Sherbet Sterling Silver Earrings

Monday Musings: Missional Living

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

This past week or two has been big for me. I am finding that God is stirring in my heart, and I want to learn more about who He is, and to seek Him with all my heart.

God is teaching me about areas of my sinfulness - pride being one of them - and my need for Him as my Savior every day and not just once. I can't find healing in meaningless activities, but only in Him. I have a lot of work to do, and am prayerfully asking for His help.

What new things have you been learning?

Friday Finds: November 11

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day! I am thankful for the troops and what they do to protect our country and keep us safe every day!

I am also reminded that Christmas is coming soon. Only about 1 1/2 months left! Wow! Time to get working on Christmas presents and Christmas cards. To help you in your shopping, here are some fun finds for you:

Christmas Wreath
by angelsneverlastings

Ribbon Choker
by PoisonGarden

Red Earrings
by jaynemarie

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

Friday Finds: October 28

2011-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love the outdoors, and these warm, yummy looking items remind me of the beautiful fall colors that are all around us at this time of year.

First, this amazing looking rustic soap sampler set from mossycreeksoaps. Looks like a fun gift or present for yourself!

Love this yellow citrine ring from riorita. So dreamy!

These vintage brass earrings from headpinwear are cute.

And to top it all off is this pom pom headband from knitfuldezigns.

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

Wednesday Sneak Peak: Love that Jasper

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have been having a blast with jasper lately. It is such a beautiful stone and is so varied in appearance and colors. There is lots of room for creativity and pairing with many other colors of stones and pearls. It was so much fun to make these new necklace, bracelet, and earring sets this week, and I wanted to give you a sneak preview of them!

My new creations are taken locally to Bellaphia Boutique in Chelan and also placed in my shop CKSILVER on Etsy. As always you can let me know if you want to snag something before it is available in either of those venues!

Fancy Jasper and Pearl Necklace, Bracelet, and Earrings
by CKSILVER

Smoky Quartz and Black Onyx Necklace (with Jasper Pendant),
Bracelet, and Earrings with Jasper Pendant
by CKSILVER

Monday Musings: Fostering Hope

2011-10-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our family has been on a foster care journey for over two years, and it is incredibly rewarding and challenging at the same time. The end of last week and this weekend we had a couple of extra boys who were "all boy". We played with trucks, trains, cars, kicked the soccer ball, played chase, read truck books, and so much more.

How fun to be able to keep these boys together and give them a fun weekend with our family. We were able to share life together, I told them many bedtime stories, and hopefully we were able to foster a new kind of hope in these kids. My kids had a great time, and I love that they're learning to live beyond themselves and grow in new ways.

Today we get to learn more about the Love and Logic approach at my kids school. I'm looking forward to gaining new tools that we can use as we parent a variety of different children that come through our home.

How about you? What is your best piece of parenting advice?

Friday Finds: October 21

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today we have a couple of extra kiddos in the house, and I am reminded of the wonder of looking at the world through their eyes. Here are some kid items that I think are fun!

First, this gorgeous pink bow from ChickyDs. My daughter would soooo love to have something like this. She loves being very girly, and this would be perfect for anyone with a girly girl.

Next this beautiful vintage glass angel from redemptionart is sure to be treasured for a long time to come by young and old alike. I had something like this when I was a kid and kept it until at least college or beyond.

What girl wouldn't love this pink heart glass pendant from beaderbubbe. So fun and can be placed on any necklace. The perfect addition to a beautiful dress!

And to top it all off is this beautiful chained hearts bracelet from bluewhitejewelrywear.

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

CKSILVER feature!

2011-10-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a really sweet feature of CKSILVER on the Boosting Etsy Shops Team blog.

This midnight remembrance necklace is just one of the fun things that was featured!

Come check it out and leave your comments!

Friday Finds: October 14

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air, and I am reminded that the days are getting shorter. Orange and brown and other fall colors seem to be everywhere. So, I thought I would bring you a fun selection of things you can find for fall.

This cute card from creativitybugs caught my eye. I love the beautiful jeweled flowers and the sweet butterfly coming to visit. What a fun card to give to a loved one this holiday season!

This 70s custom made mink jacket from ourhometoyours looks so comfortable and warm. As I look at the fall colors out my window, this jacket seems like the perfect thing to keep warm on a cold day.

Need a card to make someone smile? This grinning pumpkin card from EmptyOnTheInside is sure to fit the bill!

Last is my favorite. TheOrangeWindmill has gorgeous handmade leather journals. Perfect to remember every moment of your kids accomplishments in soccer, thoughts and memories from the day, or things to do the following day. And since my favorite color is brown, I decided this one would be perfect!

These amazing shops are all part of the besteam on Etsy.

Friday Finds: September 30

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite colors is brown. I love all the beautiful fall shades in brown, from the lighter creams and tans to the deep rich chocolate browns. With that said, here are a few of my favorite browns that I have found this week:

Vanilla Soap
by sandyvern

Flower Necklace
by JayneMarie

Family Tree Vinyl Wall Decal
by offthewallexpression

Enjoy!

Friday Finds: September 23

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

The weather is starting to turn to fall, and I am reminded of the fun things that this season brings. My son starts soccer next week, the leaves will soon be turning, and the weather will be colder.

With this in mind, this week I bring you a bit of fall goodness with these greens and browns. Enjoy!

Dead Sea Mud with Aloe Vera Gel
from ancientoils

Bean Jar - Green
from kcdragonfly

A Touch of Elegance Bracelet
from lasfloresdelsur

Friday Finds: Upcycle Recycle Reuse

2011-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet the owner of UpcycleRecycleReuse, an Etsy shop located in Colchester, Vermont. It is a place where old products are given more value not less. The goal of this shop is to prevent wasting potentially useful materials by making use of existing ones.

Continue reading to learn more:

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I wanted to build my on web store but could never find the time. Then I found an Etsy shop I liked via goggle and set up a buyers account. I was hesitant to set up a sellers account but I kept hearing good things about Etsy via word of mouth and figured I'd give it a go. After my first sale it became addictive.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I am crazy busy with my day job leaving a little time in the evenings and weekends to create and promote.

How did you get started with upcycling/recycling?
I have always looked to reuse things. The value of reusing and upcycling was instilled in my at a young age by my grandmothers. Upcycling may be a new thing but the phrase "waste not, want not" is an old adage that still rings true.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I would love for a change to visit Greece. My family originally came from Greece and I still have relatives there.

You can also find her on her blog.

Friday Finds: Jaynemarie

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Jaynemarie Crawford from JewelryByJaynemarie in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.

She started making clothing and accessories when her daughters were small and decided to continue with designing and making jewelry.

Her specialty is designing for bridal parties, using pearls, crystals and gems to match many different color schemes, and makes her earrings and necklaces with silver, gold, gemstones, pearls and crystals.

Here are some of her beautiful creations:

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

Friday Finds: BabaMoon

2011-09-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Naomi Morgan from BabaMoon in Birmingham, England. She is a mom of two beautiful children as well as the owner of two stores on Etsy and a handmade blog.

Introduction
Babamoon.etsy.com is a big focus for me at the moment which is totally inspired by my kids whom have brought out the girly girl in me! I think it shows in all of my cute designs as I tend to focus on flowers, pet animals, amigurumi and all things bright and colorful as my muse for design ideas. I am generally a crafter and artist by nature but do take my creative side into the realm of digital photography of which you can see more in my store moonangelnay.etsy.com.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
It's funny you should ask, as I had been thinking about this regarding my blog only the other day. The fact that I go on and on about my job, my kids, my photography, and on and on and on, yet I have never mentioned much about my love for music! Particularly local music to me, classical music, world music, folk and any music that has me in fits of laughter. I actually play some instruments too. My best instrument that I learnt in my childhood is (ahem) the recorder... lol. But I am self taught on the guitar and bass guitar, and can give the didgeridoo a good old toot too. I was even in a band once!

How did you get your start on Etsy?
You know I can't even remember how I found Etsy, I only remember starting with a shop that pretty much contained all of my crafty talents, paintings, leather accessories, baby items, jewelry, macrame stuff... sheesh. If I knew then what I know now LOL. It didn't work, I believe, as it had no consistency. So it then became my photograpy store. And after a long while, my daughter was born and my second shop Babamoon came along soon after.

How did you choose your shop name?
For some crazy reason I thought I would be able to link my photography store and Babamoon together, mostly because I want to eventually go into portraiture, but I have since had to adjust those plans somewhat.

I am known as Moonangelnay in my other shop, so I literally thought... "Babies... Moonangelnay... Babamoon!" It certainly wasn't a stroke of genius lol! Not with the post-birth mom brain I had at the time anyway!

What does a typical day look like for you?
Well, it's very different every day! But that is mostly because I am a full time mum to my kids too. So I pretty much work during the night when they are both asleep as it's the longest run of exclusive time I can dedicate to the store. I do work in the day too though, particularly during busy weeks. Also when my fiance is home off work I get full days of exclusive hat time to enjoy! But there is no typical day I'm afraid.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
I love the autumn. It's mostly because of the colors, and zipping down the road with giant piles of leaves blowing everywhere. It must be my inner child or something, I just think it's so much fun!

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
It may sound odd, but it's a very recent occurence and it was to see my doctor about possibly having Endometriosis.

My mom and I had a very hard time in my childhood trying to get doctors to acknowledge the problem back when it really needed to be looked in to as I suffered a lot and it started very young from when I was 9, but I used to get turned away regularly with ignorant comments like "oh she's just trying to get a few days off school"... It taught me that doctors couldn't be trusted, and it took a LOT for me to even drag myself to who I had considered the nicest doctor I've ever had. But it's something that is finally getting looked at after all these years, which I'm sure my fiance is grateful for... I do feel sorry for him at those times of the month, poor fella LOL! ;-)

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I don't know really, I like to laugh a lot and try to be quite light hearted since I do look at my life and feel quite amused a lot of the time LOL. Possibly that!

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
Ohhh mine is Opal and I LOVE it. The fact that you get such a beautiful spectrum of colors in the stone totally suits my fetish for bright colors! :)

You can also find Naomi on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Stumbleupon.

Friday Finds: bluewhitewear

2011-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-08-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Friday Finds; CreativityBugs

2011-07-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet The Creativity Bugs, two sisters (Sandy and Sue) from Wauconda, Illinois, who have a passion for crafting. What started out as making gifts for family and friends, is now turning into a business venture for them.

Their Etsy store had its grand opening January 2011, and shop items include paper crafts & gifts, handmade cards, paper craft kits and supplies, holiday gifts, doll clothing and accessories, plus a whole lot more.

Sit down with me and get to know them more...

How did you get your start on Etsy?
Sandy and sister Sue found that they were making more crafts than they could possibly keep or give as gifts, so they decided to try to sell their items at arts & craft fairs along with Etsy.

How did you choose your shop name?
Sue’s nickname around work was suzybee as she was always buzzing around making stuff happen. When she started her blog she decided to call it “Creativity Bug” as an acknowledgement to her crafty side and her nickname. When trying to think of an Etsy shop, these two sisters like the idea of calling it “the Creativity Bugs”.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Sandy is a mom to an 8 year old girl, so when she is not working as an analyst, she is taking her daughter to dance lessons, cheerleading practice, football games, and other kid events. With all that going on, she tries to squeeze in a few hours of crafting each week.
Sue is currently a freelance writer, so her days are spent researching, interviewing, and writing. She tries to leave the weekends for crafting and checking out crafting events.

From whom did you learn to craft?
The crafty gene comes from our mom. She started us off with making weaved potholders and craft projects before we started kindergarten. Slowly she introduced us to cross-stitch, needlepoint, and crocheting before finally showing us how to use her prized sewing machine. Of course, all this lead to other crafts such as stamping, papercrafting, and scrapbooking.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
Sandy wants to be remembered for being a loving and caring mom and wife. Something she attributes from watching her parents as she grew up. Sue wants to be remembered for being a loving, caring, and charitable Christian.

Do you have any family traditions that you hope are carried through to future generations?
When we were aged 5 & 7, our mom taught us how to make a bunny cake using two round cake pans, cake mix, frosting, and jelly beans. She continued this tradition with her granddaughter at age 4 and every year all of us girls make the cake together for Easter.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
Sandy and Sue both agree that they are exactly where they want to be and that is wherever their family is.

Concluding thoughts
Our company motto is "lovingly creating items for others to love & cherish". We guarantee quality workmanship as nothing leaves our "shop" unless it has been crafted with 100% craftmanship mixed in with creativity and a pinch of kindness & love".

You can also find Sandy and Sue on their blog and on Facebook.

Wednesday What's New: Psalm 23

2011-07-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

This unique, gorgeous bracelet is made from various gemstones that depict the entire chapter of Psalm 23 phrase by phrase. Its many colors go with almost any outfit and it is meaningful to wear yourself or give as a gift.

Beads and silver tag may vary slightly from the picture depending on bracelet length and availability. I made the fine silver tag myself that reads "Ps. 23."

Can't wait to hear what you think. And this week only I am offering a special Christmas in July sale for 10% OFF this gorgeous bracelet as well as other jewelry in my shop - just use coupon code CIY2011.

Friday Finds: MossyCreekSoaps

2011-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Michelle Rhoades from mossycreeksoaps, a certified soapmaker with the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild in Warner Robins, Georgia. She and her husband make natural herbal handcrafted soaps from scratch with olive and sunflower oils enriched with shea butter that are deliciously scented with essential oils of lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, and spearmint.

Sit down and grab a cup of tea as we get to know them better...

Tell us more about you.
My husband and I started soap making together when a direct selling company that I really loved when out of the direct selling business. Instead of starting all over with another company with a new product and I started making my own. Which means I have complete control over what goes into my soap. I love to cook and I thought well... soap making cannot be that much different? Right? It's true.. there is something so amazing creating, designing and formulating soap.

What's so special about homemade soap?
Well the answer is short... It's plainly better for you with out all the fillers of commerical soap. My soap is made with Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Lye and water. Basically thats it! You can add fragrance, you can also add color..but it's in the simplicity of the recipe that keeps most people coming back for more. I do believe most people do not know that their favorite beauty bar is not really soap? It's a detergent.. similar to the one you wash your dishes and clothes with. Allthough it may be mild and filled with lotion...it's not SOAP. Soap must be made with Lye in order to be called soap.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I used to be an airline flight attendant.

How did you choose your shop name?
I also own a Soapmaking Studio in town where I teach soapmaking. My business name came from a local creek that runs through my county.

What does a typical day look like for you?
There are no typical days for me..I could be running around town delivering wholesale orders, shipping out orders or making soap in the studio. Or I could be teaching a class, working on the internet, or doing nothing & enjoying my family.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
I absolutely love spring because after a long winter I get excited about watching everything in the garden come back to life.

What do you consider your best personality trait?
My ability to teach others through compassion and understanding. I am a very passionate person concerning something I whole heartily believe in. For me it's total immersion which gives me the ability to teach others.

You can also find mossycreeksoaps on their website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Creating the Hive.

Friday Finds: Beautiful Parasols and Cute Bags

2011-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hope you are having a wonderful week. Today I am featuring handmade accessories, parasols, gift bags, and glass bottles from kcdragonfly. Her beautiful parasols would make great wedding gifts!

Her purpose and passion in life is to bring you quality, hand-crafted designs that romance the soul and inspire your individuality to take flight. She desires for you to find inspiration in her offerings.

She says that images of dragonflies, the moon and water tell an ancient story inherent in our love for all creation. How dragonflies never rest and are always darting about their environment as if in an eternal search for something. She believes she is making the same search.

One of my favorite items of hers is this beautiful wedding parasol. This parasol has a compact design that would be lovely for wedding photos, close quarters and crowds at conventions.

I also like this sweet cat purse/bag. It holds lots of things, including cell phones smaller than a full-sized 'droid, your bluetooth, iphones, ipod, zune mp3 player, i.d., driver's license, money. It can be also become a gift bag for that special someone who loves cats.

You can also find kcdragonfly on her blog.

Friday Finds: YouAreMySunshine

2011-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Nina from youaremysunshine in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She specializes in handmade fabric flower brooches, fabric flower hair pins, rings, earrings, bracelets and statement necklaces in a rainbow of colors to bring sunshine to your day.

This beautiful woman was born and raised in the city of Marikina, MetroManila, Philippines in a very entrepreneurial family. She began studies to be a vet in college, but was always interested in interior design, the arts, creating. One of my favorite comments from her blog is this: "I always thought and still think that I could live in a cardboard box and it would be the most inviting and cozy cardboard box ever!"

Sit back and enjoy my interview with Nina:

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I started my shop in October of 2007, taking my first pictures, experimenting with photography. The results were terrible! I learned a lot along the years.

How did you choose your shop name?
When my sons were little, I would sing them to sleep with the nursery rhyme "You Are My Sunshine." Now that they are older, cuddles consist of discussions about anything and everything important to growing boys. Yet, as sleep overcomes them and their eyelashes finally fall onto their soft, smooth cheeks, their lips relax into innocent worry-less smiles and their ninja warrior/transformer gyrations settle into peaceful, lyrical sighs, I look at each one and still think, “yes, my love, you are my sunshine.”

What does a typical day look like for you?
I work a full time job so I do all my creating, listing, etc. on the weekends.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I love to sing, I love to eat.

Most people have something or someone they look to for inspiration - what or who is yours?
My inspiration is nature. I love color and the way nature always surprises me with its wonders.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
I would like to be remembered for what my children think about me when I am gone.

Do you have any family traditions that you hope are carried through to future generations?
I tell my kids I love them everyday. I vocalize what I feel and they in turn have responded in kind. I tell my mom I love you also which I never did consistently when I was growing up. I hope my kids will never be shy about saying those words to anyone who matters to them.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I would love to be back in Paris for one day. San Francisco would be a close second.

You can also find Nina in her vintage Etsy shop, her blog, and on Twitter.

Friday Finds: plumbeadacious

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet LeAllyson Meyer of Plum Beadacious in Severance, Colorado.

She has a beautiful shop on Etsy, and I had a chance to catch up with her and ask her a few questions. I think you'll enjoy getting to know her.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
My parents won the family showcase on the old TV show, The Price is Right, in 1957. We were poor and at that time you entered the contest with post cards by mail and guessed the price of the showcase. My parents won a new "Hillman Minx" convertible car, diamond watches, perfume, and a leather photo album. My parents wanted to go to New York to pick up the prizes. So the family (4 of us) got on a Grayhound bus in St. Louis, MO and traveled to New York. We did a bit of sight seeing, took the new car to Niagara Falls and across into Canada, and came back down through Chicago. I remember purple money in Quebec and people speaking French. I remember riding in the car with the top down, making lunch meat sandwiches, sitting on the grass for a picnic, and wading in Lake Huron. This was a wonderful experience for me. I was seven and my brother was three.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I discovered Etsy on the internet back in 2006. I had been making handcrafted jewelry for a little over a year. I opened a shop under my name, LeAllyson. In February 2008 I felt the need to come up with something more creative and to open a new shop.

How did you choose your shop name?
I was trying to think of something with the word "bead" in it that had not been used for a domain name. Not an easy thing to do. I just started writing down lots of ideas. Somewhere along the line, I thought of a saying that I thought I heard years ago on TV. No one but me can seem to remember this, but I thought Gomer Pyle would say on Andy Griffith, "Well, that's just plum bodacious!" I have no idea why this popped into my head. It's not like I was watching reruns of Andy Griffith. Anyhow, I thought, why not use "Plum Beadacious". I did a little research and found that plum can mean "extremely desirable" and bodacious can mean "remarkable". So I thought changing the word to beadacious was a fun thing to do.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical week day for me starts about 6 am. I get up and get ready for my day job. Before I leave I take a few minutes and sign on to my Etsy and Artfire shops to see if I sold anything. Then I go to work. Even if I sold something, I attend to it once I get home. After supper, I sit down at the computer and renew items, and then post something new if I can. I try to work on making an item or blogging also. I spend most evenings working on my little jewelry business. I do most of my photos on the weekend in my bedroom by the east window. I get good light there.

You can also find plumbeadacious on her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Artfire.

Friday Finds: Fighting Social Injustice to Make a Better World

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Kate from OnBehalfOf located in Saint Louis, Missouri. She has such a big heart for other people that are hurting and suffering, and helping others to see the world that is beyond themselves.

Since our world system has enabled a small percent of us to live richly, lacking nothing, while the majority of beautiful people lack even the basic necessities in life, she regrets and is sorry that she is part of the priveleged minority and does what she help to change this injustice for other people.

Her heart and the aim of her life is to do what she can in fighting this injustice, and helping those in this society to see that. She says "Now that I have seen, I am responsible. I believe in possibility. I believe in God's providence. He knows my heart because He made it that way. And He's done so much already. I'm a small girl, but I am pretty determined that not everything about me will be small."

Ninety percent of the proceeds from each item in her shop go to provide clean water in developing countries, free modern day slaves, care for orphans, or provide medical help to those with HIV. Kate says, "I do, however believe in using beauty to fight back against the ugliness in our world, and fighting back against forces of injustice with acts of selfless love. Please wear or display my art on behalf of hope, and on behalf of the people who will receive it through the proceeds of this shop."

Programs your purchases from her shop go to support:

I had a chance to ask Kate a few more questions about her and her shop, and here are her answers:

How did you choose your shop name?
I chose the name On Behalf Of because the proceeds that I make work on behalf of those in need around the world.

What does a typical day look like for you?
During the school year, I wake up at five in the morning, go to work at an elementary school from 6-9, then go to college from 9-2, then back to work from 3-6. It always feels like I'm running from start to finish!

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
Definitely summer. I'm originally from LA, so I need to be in the sun as much as possible. In Missouri, this doesn't happen very much...

You can also find Kate on one of her two blogs: artonbehalfof.blogspot.com and ktgresh.blogspot.com.

Friday Finds: Handmade accessories from msformaldehyde

2011-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring msformaldehyde of sunny San Diego. She makes handmade accessories you can't find anywhere else. She loves everything tiki, polynesian, hawaii, and tiki oasis, and does wedding flowers for all types of weddings.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I wear my heart on my sleeve

How did you get your start on Etsy?
Making own my stuff and decided to sell it.

How did you choose your shop name?
I am a unemployed science girl.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Making new creations and post office hopefully.

Most people have something or someone they look to for inspiration - what or who is yours?
I come up with ideas, I love art and go to museums. I love fashion and it inspires me daily.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
Raising a great son. He is the light of my life and is a brain tumor/cancer survivor. We have been through a lot the past 2 years. I love him so.

You can also find msformaldehyde on Facebook, Twitter, her own website, and her blog.

Friday Finds: Our Home to Yours

2011-06-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring ourhometoyours, a cute crafty shop run by mother and daughter team Debbi and Amanda. They started the shop as a means of keeping in touch, and the shop is based in Stony Point, NC.

Debbi (mom) is a "professional" mother. She has bio kids, foster kids, and a newly adopted kid. Art is her stress reliever and favorite hobby. Her mother was an exceptional artist and she hopes to be half as good as her mom was. Debbi is thrilled and proud to be doing this with her own artist daughter.

Amanda (daughter) is a working mom of a toddler and life is never dull. She has her Masters in Graphic Design and is currently looking for a job in that area. Fine Art is her background and she hopes to be able to offer her drawings for sale along with her crafts. Amanda designs all the banners and avatars for their shop, and she hopes to have her own graphic design business someday.

Sit down with a cup of coffee, and join me in getting to know this fabulous mother-daughter team better.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
We both love old black and white movies and musicals, and our favorite movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I think Mandy mentioned it first (?) maybe? but I do remember it was while she was in Kansas and as a SAHM she started to crochet again. She mentioned the site, and I started it, to keep us connected.

How did you choose your shop name?
I just thought of it, don't know why, but we liked the sound of it, homey and family oriented.

What does a typical day look like for you?
For both of us it is crazy and hectic. Mandy now works at Wal-mart, so I keep her son Owen when both Mandy and her husband Brandon are working. He's 2 and a real trip, lol. I am a SAHM with a retired husband, and a 10 year old daughter that I homeschool. So we don't have typical days, :) Oh, and we are both therapeutic foster parents. I have 2 foster children at home with me, and they will soon have 1.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
My favorite season is summer...I love heat and to travel. I think Mandy's is fall, with the colors. We both love Christmas.

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
There are too many to chose from, for both of us. But we both have a strong faith in God and in His leading in our lives, so we don't spend much time regretting the past.

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I'm very outgoing - I'm one that never met a stranger. But that also makes me gullible and flighty sometimes. Mandy is very grounded and seems serious at first, but she has a great sense of humor, very subtle but very funny.

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
Mine is opal, and mandy was born in November.

You can also find their in their other Etsy shop, on their blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Creating the Hive.

If you are an Etsy seller that likes to blog, come check out the BESTeam for fun, support, and promotions!

Friday Finds: Knitful Dezigns

2011-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Veronica Boegel of Etsy shop mamitabella93 which she calls Knitful Dezigns.

She loves art, and her knitful dezigns are basic everyday items designed to make life a bit more enjoyable. Sit down and relax, and have fun reading more about her.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
One thing most people don't know about me is that i dream of owning a bakery in Italy someday. Im a certified cake decorator with a license and all, but I dont have time for it like I used to :( jeje

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I started on shopping first, I loved the "Handmade" Concept and it drew me to sell my dezigns online, I was hesitant to selling online but so far so good :)

How did you choose your shop name?
Ooo tough one, I'd have to say it just popped into my head one day. I wanted something simple but also unique. I'm sure most people wonder why I spell Dezigns with a z... It's my dash of vavoom if you know what i mean jejeje :)

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day is always different for me, especially after just having moved to another state my routine is sort of whacky, but i like to fit in some knitting time when im extremely stressed or extremely bored jeje! Im only 17 so im also still in school, not technically though because im homeschooled :)

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
WINTER :) I love the crisp, cold feeling on my face... It never ceases to bring a smile to my face. I dont really know why though.... Maybe because i was born in the winter? jaja

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
The hardest decision I have ever had to make (so far) is picking whether or not to get a GED or to keep working towards a High school diploma... You see I am working on finishing up a Pilots license, and it takes alot of time and work. Its like a College course full of difficult classes, courses, and seminars. I truly love flying and I even considered just getting a GED so i could just keep working towards my PL. With a lot of thought and prayer I decided a HSD would be better. Even though I might finish later than most my age I know I'll finish :)

What do you consider your best personality trait?
Mmmm, the one that gets me into most trouble... Truthfulness, I like to let people know what I think. Sometimes though I should keep it to myself and I don't, but most times its the funnest thing about me. I guess it could also be called "outgoing-ness"

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
My birthstone is Blue Topaz :) I love it, but if i could honestly choose it would be turquoise! DEFINITELY!

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

Friday Finds: ElizabethMD

2011-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Elizabeth Duquette from ElizabethMD in Sarnia Ontario. She has an eclectic personality and a lot of various interests, and creates fun and funky jewelry.

She enjoys art, history and fashion, and loves historically inspired costuming and reenactment garb. Elizabeth loves to shop, daydream, write, create, research and explore, and loves Japanese things as well. She has a big heart for animals and nature and tries to do her part in helping to preserve its beauty.

Come sit down and enjoy the answers she gave to my questions:

How did you get your start on Etsy?
Well, first I started on Artfire, with no clue what I was doing in the way of business. I got started on twitter and met a friend there that recommended I try Etsy that it would be a better experince for me. So I took a look and decided to try it out! That was about 2 years ago now!

How did you choose your shop name?
My shop name was pretty easy I just named it after myself. So when I finally have the option of expanding in other areas it's easier for customers and potential customers to remember all of my shops.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My "typical day" is actually at night. I sleep during the day and choose to work at night for the quiet ambience. Usually I wake up do my "morning" chores, check my email over a nice glass of milk or hot cup of tea. I pull up my daily to do folder start working through those tabs, then once that is done I check the mail for any supplies I have ordered that might have come in that day. Any orders I have received I set up to package. Then once the business side is done, I get to create. My favourite part of my day.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I own my own jewelry shop and every artist that sells their work knows how much effort and the amount of hours you have to put in. What people don't know is that I suffer from severe depression and anxiety/panic attacks. I work very hard to be able to go out and meet people to make potential conections.

Most people have something or someone they look to for inspiration - what or who is yours?
I look to nature alot for inspiration, as well as vintage 40's and 50's fashions. I also listen to my boyfriend's ideas. He's one of those rare finds that actually gets womens fashion.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for my perseverence and determination in my work. Starting from absolutely nothing, and working my way up.

Do you have any family traditions that you hope are carried through to future generations?
We don't have any traditions, but I hope that starting our own family we will be able to create traditions that will stem to many generations.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I would LOVE to be in Japan, specifically so I could help JEARS (Japans Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support) get food and services to animals who need it, after such a horrible disaster.

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

80 Swagbucks sigup bonus and lots of bonuses and codes this week

2011-05-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Want to earn rewards for If you have ever considered signing up for Swagbucks, this is the week to do it! They are offering an extra 50 bonus swagbucks in addition to the regular 30 swagbucks for signing up when you enter the code MEMORIALDAY when prompted. That's 80 FREE swagbucks right from the start!

What is Swagbucks? First, it is a search engine that you register for (free) and then earn swagbucks as you search or even shop online. Most people that use it for all their searching can earn probably 50-75 swagbucks per week. That’s a $5 gift card you can earn every 5 weeks for searching you already do! Plus you can earn more swagbucks for other activities like participating in the daily polls, surveys, games, special offers, and more.

This week they have two special promotions going on that you won't want to miss. First, the "Score Four and Twenty” Swag Bucks promotion – if you snag all four special Limited Edition collector’s bills by the end of Thursday, you’ll get a bonus 20 Swag Bucks! Second, on Thursday only, be part of the BIG Swag Code Extravaganza where you can earn up to 40 Swag Bucks worth of codes throughout the day.

What do you do with all these swag bucks? You can redeem them for many prizes, including Amazon and Starbucks gift cards, plus much, much more.

So what are you waiting for? Join now and start earning!

Friday Finds: AncientOils

2011-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Lilly DelValle from AncientOils located in Cincinnati.

All her products are handmade with pure therapeutic grade essential oils, all natural botanicals and from the purest sea salts available. Also referred to as aromatherapy, essential oils are often referred to as "Mankind's First Medicine".

How did you get your start on Etsy?
My daughter introduced me to Etsy.

How did you choose your shop name?
Ancient Oils seemed fitting considering essential oils has been about since antiquity.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day starts with a cup of coffee as I check emails. Then shower and change before hitting workshop.

This is my ideal schedule when I don't have any client appointment, classes or workshops:
Monday: update website, photos, printing, blogs etc. (anything electronic)
Tuesday: blending oils, and mixing products
Wednesday: volunteer work then back to web journals, social networking and blending
Thursday: blending oils, and mixing products
Friday: anything that needs to be done

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

A Mother's Day Legacy: I Believe in You

2011-05-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

What was your home like growing up? How often did you hear affirming words from your family and friends? How often do you say them now?

I started to think about the legacy of my family this week - both what I experienced as a child and what I am doing for my children. My parents were very loving and gracious, and continually showed us kids that they believed in us and cared about us. I hope I am doing the same for my kids.

What kinds of legacy are you leaving for your kids?

Friday Finds: headpinwear

2011-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Cathy Tuggle, from headpinwear in Benicia, California.

I was able to ask her a few questions about herself. Come sit down and enjoy reading and learning more about Cathy.

How did you choose your shop name?
It was really hard to come up with a name for my shop, and even now I am still not happy with it. After thinking about a shop name for a few days, mine seemed to be similar to one shop or another. And as much as I like my personal name, I really didn't want to use that.

I came up with the name HeadpinWear because, "Headpin" is one of the many components that you can use to make earrings, and "Wear", well because you wear them! Well most time, as for me, I just look at all of those I made :)

Some people becasue of my name think I make stuff to wear on your head, like tiara's, bows, and headbands. I actually think it throws people off, but really I make earrings and other jewelry!
And anyways, I don't think I would be good at making things for other to wear on their heads! Believe me, there are plenty of people on Etsy that make gorgeous pieces to wear in your hair, and so I will leave that up to them :)

What does a typical day look like for you?
I tend to wake up early, very early 3:45am in fact! I find that I like spending that time alone, the house is quiet, and outside noises can be heard. I love to hear the birds chirping, the woodpecker, the fog horn on very foggy days, and the train.

The first place I go to on the internet is facebook. I respond to "likes", "fan" more pages, and occasionally throw in a comment or two, no not really, many comments! I actually have about 5 windows open! I also enjoy listening to KLOVE, a Christian music station.

Once I catch up with my computer stuff, I pick up the house, do laundry, hang it out to dry on sunny days, and wash dishes if any. Sometime in between all of this I wake up my son and my husband, and take him to work. We live less then 2 miles from work, and we both are employed by the same company.

During the late morning (because 9 and 10 am is late for me) and early afternoon, I run errands and look at bead sites for ideas, and view my sales.

About 5 I start cooking dinner. I usually BBQ during this time of year through November. After dinner, I clean up, go on the computer again, and read the Bible with my husband. At about 7pm, I bead, and I bead until when ever I feel like it if I don't have to work the next day. I can turn around and look at the clock and it's 11pm or later! During this time, I also spend time with my son, maybe watch a movie, and clean up again. I don't like clutter, although my beading table is almost too cluttered to think right now.

I try and go to bed at 10pm - ideally that's a good time for me and enough hours to sleep - but rarely do I ever do that. Even if the next day is work I find myself still beading or on facebook at 11pm, which is so bad for me because I tend to get cranky when I am tired and nobody here likes me cranky! Lately, since I have been laid off, I have been sleeping in until 5 or 6 am. On those days, I feel like my morning is gone and I am running behind!

When I work, it totally throws a big stick in my spokes. I still do everything I missed while I was at work :)

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
My favorite season is fall. I love the colors of the leaves on and off the trees. The bright bold colors of red orange, and gold, really just make me smile. And it's more appropriate to wear the colors which I like the most on me, though I still wear "fall" colors year round. I think it even reflects in my shop, what I create, the colors that I like the most are "fall" colors. Although, I have been trying to "go outside the box", I think it may show a bit what colors I tend to like the most. So, if anyone is looking for "fall" fashion jewelry in spring and planning ahead, they may find a piece they like in my shop!

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
My birthstone is Ruby. I love my birthstone and would not want to replace it with another gem.
To me, the Ruby is so bright and outstanding, its a very noticeable stone.

Other birthstones of my immediate family are Opal, Amethyst and Sapphire. I am very fond of these gemstones also.

You can also find Cathy on Facebook and her blog as well.

Friday Finds: Cool vinyl wall art

2011-04-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love the beautiful vinyl wall art from Tina Ray in North East Indiana at OffTheWallExpression. She has so many fun designs, and it is an easy, fun, and affordable way to decorate any space!

Tina and Mick are a husband and wife design team specializing in high quality vinyl graphics. They do their own designs, order production, and local installation. Their vinyl is the highest quality and they pride themselves in great customer service.

Tina recommends using vinyl decals to DECORATE, CELEBRATE, make a STATEMENT, MOTIVATE, INSPIRE, make you LAUGH, and get ORGANIZED. Vinyl can be applied to any smooth surface such as walls, dance floors, windows, wood, glass, refrigerators, plastic, bathtubs, picture frames, and many more. Use your imagination!

Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and sit down and read the great answers Tina gave me about herself.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
Honestly I can't think of one thing because I am an open book! I have plenty of quirks, but everyone knows about them!

How did you get your start on Etsy?
We were planning to start our own website when I saw a craft show on television that mentioned Etsy. I checked it out and within two weeks we opened our shop!

How did you choose your shop name?
We wanted the word 'Wall' in our business name, because it really fits what we do. 'Off the Wall' is a little quirky like us, but also catchy!

What does a typical day look like for you?
The only thing typical about my day is that it is never typical! The one constant thing about the day is we all get up at 6:00 am and I make breakfast for the kids! After Mick and the kids leave for the day, I answer emails, convos and print orders. I try to post on the blog, FB, and twitter if I have the time. If I have errands or appointments I generally do those in the morning. I try to exercise too.

In the afternoon I cut, weed, mask and pack vinyl orders. The amount of time this takes varies greatly depending on how many orders we have. I check convos/orders and do some marketing several times throughout the day if possible (also laundry!). By late afternoon I am frequently headed to an afterschool activity for the kids or I'm making supper if we are lucky enough to be home for the evening. When we are home Mick or I check convos/orders again and finish processing any orders I didn't get finished earlier. We frequently don't call it a day until 11:00! I occasionally take a nap, because I am always sleep deprived!

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
My favorite season of the year is any one NOT winter! I love the newness of Spring and the bright green colors! I feel like I wake up from hibernation. I am one of those people who loves the heat of summer! I like to mow, work in the yard, swim in the pool, and grill out! Fall means volleyball and soccer season at our house! My favorite outfit is a sweatshirt and shorts! I am happy through Christmas, then I go into a 'funk' until mid march!

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
My hardest decision was to close/sell a business I had several years ago. I sold soy candles/lotions and I loved it. Basically a good friend started making candles behind my back. I found out when we both showed up at our church bazaar selling the same thing! Same scents, same jars, same bottles. I was shocked and devastated. I sold the biz, lost some friends and left the church over the situation. She no longer sells candles, nor does the gal I sold the biz to. I will not react so rashly the next time! Live and Learn!

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I have learned to see all sides! "There is always two sides to every coin"! "No matter how thin you spread the pancake, it always has two sides!" I hope I never get called for jury duty!

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
I had to chuckle at this one! I have a November birthday, so my birthstone is topaz. I hated it as a kid! The only piece of jewelry I own with my birthstone is my high school class ring!

You can also find Tina and Mick on Facebook and their blog.

Friday Finds: Polymer Clay

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Come away with me on a whimsical journey to FlutteringFlowers.

She began playing with clay when her grandmother took her to a craft store and purchased these small squares of extremely hard clay called FIMO. They went home and her grandmother taught her how to make a basic candycane.

Over time the clays got better, softer. One day her husband surprised her with all kinds of clay, tools, cutters, molds, glitter, etc. She was thrilled, but soon realized that it had been so long that she had a hard time making things like she used to.

Now she is having fun playing with clay again and making beautiful creations.

You can also find FlutteringFlowers on Twitter and her blog.

Friday Finds: All About Cats

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Linda from allaboutcats, where you can find handmade items for cats (and for humans who love them). She loves cats and shares her home in South Burlington, Vermont, with three cats that she rescued. These cats now live the life of luxury and are very spoiled. Her kids are grown, so her cats and her keep each other company. Thank goodness for lint rollers!

I asked Linda a few questions about herself, and here are her answers:

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
My first shop on Etsy was called Lost Hollow Creations. I sold denim purses. When I closed that shop, I opened my All About Cats Shop.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I heard about Etsy through a Yahoo! craft group I was in. A member had listed an item on Etsy, and when I checked it out, I decided to give it a try.

How did you choose your shop name?
Choosing my shop name was easy. Everything I planned to sell was either for cats or for humans who loved them. It was "all about cats."

What does a typical day look like for you?
I am woken up in the morning by my eldest cat, Jerry. Once he makes sure I'm not going to go back to sleep, I get up. That is when my other two cats, Brady and Maggie, need their "first thing in the morning" attention. Next I feed the fish and the aquatic frogs. After drinking a fresh cup of coffee, I usually head to the craft room to make things for my shop. Sometime during the day, I do a little bit of housework. At 4:00, Brady goes into the kitchen crying to let me know it time for his meds and treats. Around 5:00, I eat supper, and then the rest of the evening I watch the news and some shows or a movie.

From whom did you learn to sew?
My mother. She used to make braided rugs, curtains and clothes.

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
Summer is my favorite time of the year because I love camping, swimming, hiking and gardening. Oh... and lawn sales!

What do you consider your best personality trait?
I am frugal which is a good thing because I live on a limited income.

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
My birth stone is Aquamarine. I've never wished that I had a different one.

You also find Linda on her All About Cats Blog and in her other shop called This And That In Vermont where she sells handmade items, supplies and vintage.

Tuesday Inspirations: Black

2011-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am starting a new feature where I will bring you beautiful pairings of jewelry and clothing or accessories. Hope you enjoy!

Love this pairing of the new cksilver Midnight Remembrance Necklace with this beautiful black dress and shoes from JCPenney.

Midnight Remembrance Silver, Onyx, and Jasper Necklace from cksilver

Black Dress

Black Shoes

Friday Finds: Adorable Baby Clothes

2011-04-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet the woman behind Gramme's House, a beautiful shop with custom monogram handcrafted apparel and gifts from pecanieregirl located in Opelousas, LA.

She is a mother and grandmother, lives in a small community in south La. called Livonia, La., and works as an inpatient hospice nurse. After learning to sew from her older sister years ago, she sewed quite a bit when her children were younger and has recently started sewing and machine embroidery again... and has found she is hopelessly hooked. I can see why - her designs are so beautiful!

Besides spending time with her famiy, she loves making boutique style dresses, baby items and even have my hand in digital and paper scrapbooking.

I had a chance to catch up with her and ask a few questions. Here are some fun things you will enjoy.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I am a pretty open book. I use to say that was one thing I would like to change about myself (Wearing my feelings on my sleeve) but I have come to believe that is who I am and at 51, I probably would change. So there is not too much that my family and friends don't know about me.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I first discovered Etsy after my first grandchild was born and my daughters would look for cute little things on the internet and discovered Etsy through internet searches. Searches would lead me to making items similiar to our "finds". I later joined Etsy as a buyer, but through convincing by my family, I began selling on Etsy with a couple items.

How did you choose your shop name?
When I decided to start selling on Etsy, I needed a shop name. By then, my oldest granddaughter was beginning to talk and loved to come to Gramme's House. Trying to decide on a name, that title seemed to be the only option for the name of my shop.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I still work as a hospice nurse 1-2 days a week. When I am not working and in my shop, the day starts with beginning to work on orders and starting the process of embroidering. Right now, as I am in the process of opening my shop, my day also involves working on processes to get that rolling. Setting up phone lines, credit card acceptence, pricing items for my shop, etc. I am very lucky in the fact that my grown children are involved (as much as they can be with their own lives and responsibilities) and have been very helpful in getting my shop ready for opening.

From whom did you learn to sew?
I learned how to sew from my older sister. She passed away about 1 1/2 years ago and I miss her dearly. I know that she would be very proud of me and that if she were still alive, would be a huge part of my shop and probably even be a partner with me.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
I love my children and grandchildren. I hope that they remember me as a Mom that has always been there for them, even though I was not always perfect and made crazy mistakes. As I open my shop, also named Gramme's House, that I can be remembered in the neighborhood as someone that they could always go to for gifts and I was always had a welcoming smile.

Do you have any family traditions that you hope are carried through to future generations?
None of my girls can sew. I hope that before my time is up, that I can teach my girls how to sew and embroider. I write down some of my processes so that when I am gone they can read this and hopefully even if I am not around, they can make some of the same things I made.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I quit my fulltime job last July, which involved alot of traveling from one end of the US to the other. There are a few places I would like to visit in the US, but I am ok with not going to for right now. :-)

Visit her also on her blog and on Facebook.

Monday Musings: Parenting Lessons I Have Learned from my Children

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Fancy Jasper Inspirational Necklace from cksilver

Over the years, I have learned a lot of things about kids. We have been parents now for over 9 years, and foster parents for about 7 months, and we've learned a lot through the process.

Here are some of my favorite lessons:

Choose your battles wisely. Often there are battles that are not really worth fighting. Learn to figure out which ones are important and which ones you can let go. My daughter went to school last week with three pigtails sticking straight out from her head, two different colors of socks, and two left shoes.

Be consistent. Once you draw a line in the sand with your boundaries, stick to them to the very end. Your kids need to know what to expect from you, and shouldn't be confused about which rules you will enforce or how you will react in a given situation.

React calmly. When one of the kids does something that is against the rules, calmly learn more about the situation and matter-of-factly state the consequences. Don't allow anger to take over, but remain calm and be the bigger person as the parent.

What are your favorite lessons in parenting?

Friday Finds: MysticWynd

2011-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I would like you to meet my friend Karen from mysticwynd. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has 3 kids, 3 stepkids, 7 grandkids, and she loves to do all those crafts she learned as a child.

Karen hopes to igniting that special spark of uniqueness that lies within us all in her designs. Some things are elegant, some are fun, some are outlandish, some are colorful, some are calming.

I had a chance to ask Karen a few things about herself, and here is what she said:

Describe yourself in three words.
Capable, reflective, and accommodating.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
If I mention it here, then everyone will know! Okay, in 2006, I married a Klingon on the bridge of the Enterprise with a Starfleet Officer officiating.

Are there any important lessons you've learned the hard way since you started selling your work?
I would have to say I've learned how involved marketing can be...and how it tends to take more time than anything if it's going to be effective.

What one aspect of your business do you wish you knew more about?
I'd love to learn more about metalworking and someday I want to take classes in lampworking!

What's your favorite outdoor activity?
I love going on nature hikes in the mountains, or skipping stones by a lake.

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make?
Having to make the decision not to resuscitate a loved one who was dying - that's not a position I would not want to put anyone else in. (If you don't have a living will, write one - because even if you think you've "discussed it," unless it's in writing, it's subject to interpretation and a lot of emotion...Make sure your wishes are clear!)

Be sure to visit Karen in her Etsy shops (mysticwynd, MWElegance, and TheCraftersCabinet), on her blog, Twitter, Facebook, on Handmade Spark, and Creating The Hive.

Friday Finds: Nature-Inspired Photography

2011-03-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

Meet the very talented Naomi from moonangelnay, a passionate artist of all sorts, including digital art, photography, blogging, crocheting, and much more. She is located in Birmingham, West Midlands, in the United Kingdom.

Naomi finds inspiration in the human form, philosophy, nature, free will and color, with an abstract outlook on nature, heart and soul, romance, flowers, animals, vintage, dreams, and vibrant colors.

A fine art artist at heart, she has an ever changing abstract style which has also drifted into her digital art work. Naomi's contrasting duality in her work, highlighting her interests in both light and dark and the veil in between through form, color, mantra and poetry, are fascinating. She is also very interested in the affinity she perceives an object to have with its environment.

Naomi shared a few thoughts with me this week on her and her shop. I think you'll enjoy hearing a little more about her.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
Believe it or not moonangelnay was a store for art, knitted items and leather accessories in the beginning, which eventually became exclusively art and photography, then just altered photography within it's first year. I am a multitasker by nature I suppose and even have another more successful shop of mine going known as Babamoon Baby!

How did you choose your shop name?
Moonangelnay is a name inspired by a bit of a spiritual journey i embarked on in my teens and it has followed me down the line ever since! Babamoon is something I initially wanted to combine with my Moonangelnay name but it has since become it's own little empire lol! I am hoping to merge the photography into Babamoon in a separate project form Etsy, doing portraiture for children.

What does a typical day look like for you?
This is difficult as I have 2 kids and it changes every day! I typically try to start my day checking emails and orders, writing my blog if I am able to and then working on new images for moonangelnay or mostly fulfilling hat orders for babamoon. I tend to work more in the evening when my kids are in bed and can be up pretty late a lot of the time! In my free time I love to be out in my garden taking pictures for new altered art projects as my inspiration derives from the natural world, or chasing my wiggly little daughter around to get new hat images if she allows me to lol!

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I think it would be somewhere in the mountains where I can take myself on a slope and ski to my hearts content!

You can find Naomi in her two Etsy shops (moonangelnay and babamoon), Facebook, Twitter, and her own Blog.

Friday Finds: Beautiful Hair Pieces

2011-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today I bring you beautiful hair clips/pins and brooches from Marisa Kraiselburd at Etsy shop floresdelsur located in Montevideo, Uruguay.

I love the unique textures her of each of her felt, fabric, and ribbon options, and I picture my girls so loving each of her creations. They are so lovely to wear in your hair or as an embellishment on a jacket. And with free shipping from Uruguay, what's not to love?

I had a chance to catch up with Marissa this last week and ask her a few questions. So grab a cup of tea or coffee, and read on about our conversation below.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
I read of Etsy somewhere on the internet in 2007 and I fell immediately in love with it, but it took me some time to get the courage to open my own shop.

How did you choose your shop name?
We were going to be some friends selling in that shop, so I thought of "Las Flores" (the flowers) as a nice name for us as a group... we, all beautiful women, like flowers :)...
I lived in Patagonia when I thought of that name, that´s why I chose "del Sur" (from the south)
Las Flores del Sur means, complete, Flowers from the South.
Now I live in Montevideo, Uruguay... and it is still south... america! So the name still works for me ;)

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
Hm, difficult question! I can think of Venice -where I have already been- and it is so beautiful and unique that I would love to go back sometime soon.

You can also find her in her three Etsy shops (floresdelsur, lasfloresdelsur, and CraftsAndPixels), Facebook, Twitter, and her own Blog.

Wednesday What's New: Happy March

2011-03-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

Happy March, and welcome back! I have had a long hiatus from this blog with the new year, a death of a childhood friend, adventures in foster care, work on my marketing business, and just plain life. But alas, I am happy to say that I'm back and you should anticipate seeing regular posts from me again.

Some of the things I plan to discuss this month include: March's birthstone, more musings on foster care/adoption, and some fun treasures from my shop and other people's Etsy shops.

I am excited to leave you with a picture of one of my favorite pieces of jewelry, a Psalm 23 bracelet I created with the help of my kids, which incorporates many different kinds of gemstones - including March's aquamarine stone. I would love to hear what you think!

What are you most excited about this week?

Tuesday Treasures: FromShirlee

2010-12-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

Meet Linda and her two girls, makers of cute little items on FromShirlee. My favorites are the cute little animals.

Like this Fish Daddy and Daughter:

And this adorable Turtle Family:

What other animals can you find?

Tuesday Treasures: Beautiful Photography

2010-12-21T08:29:00.000-08:00

I love flowers, and love the beautiful flower photography from October54Gallery. Anne is married with two children, and feels that art has always been a part of her life. She has lived all over the United States and spent eight years in Costa Rica.

Like this beautiful Holiday Amaryllis. Wow!

And this beautiful Magnolia photograph:

I wonder where she found these flowers?

Tuesday Treasures: zippered purses from inkstrand

2010-12-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

Meet inkstrand, featuring beautiful purses and other accessories inspired by Victorian aesthetics, science fiction and a bit of fantasy.

These zippered purses are really fun. First, the Craft Revolution Zippered Pouch:

Next the Red Skeleton Key Zippered Pouch:

And finally the Steampunk Blue Clockwork Blue Zippered Pouch:

Monday Musings: Priorities

2010-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

What are your priorities? How do you select your priorities?

You've probably all heard time management techniques that talk about mentally thinking about (or writing out) your activities that fall into these four quadrants.

The things that are:

urgent and important
urgent but not important
important but not urgent
not important and not urgent

The items that fall under the "important but not urgent" category are often overlooked in the "busyness" of work and life. These things might include business, strategic, and marketing planning. Yet it is often the "urgent but not important" things that really drain your time, since they have to be done "right now" even though they don't have much long-term benefit.

But how do you determine what's important? We have found that creating a family mission statement is really helpful in determining priorities. It becomes the filter for how we consider which things we should pursue doing in life, and which things we need to let go of.

Now it's your turn. How do you find a balance between the urgent and important? What things do you want to prioritize spending more time on? What is your family mission statement?

Tuesday Treasures: hair bands and clips from ardentreverie

2010-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

The hair bands and hair clips from ardentreverie are amazing! It is a shop with two sisters working like crazy in their tiny room to create unique handmade items. So beautiful! You'll know what I mean when you see these amazing creations.

First is Emilie's Garden Flower Clip, a darling flower made out of chic fabric accented with a mixture of feathers and placed on a 1 3/4" clip topped with a pearl charm.

Then this Bella Moss Feather Clip, which incorporates a mixture of feathers embellished with a beautiful bronze flower.

And last, this simple, yet beautiful Midnight Symphony Feather Headband. It features a mix of feathers topped with pearls and a silver ornament, placed onto a light and comfortable headband wrapped in ribbon:

Monday Musings: A Few of my Favorite Things

2010-12-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

These are a few of my favorite things... That song keeps running through my head today as I sit down to do my work. And it makes me think. What are my favorite things?

Well, right now its snowy, and that's what's on my mind, so here's my snow list:

Snow on light feathery trees
Big huge snowflakes falling so hard that you feel like you're in a snow globe
Sledding down our hill at lightning speed
Warm boots and gloves
Watching my husband and son's excitement about snowmobiling
Warm heaters and blankets inside as we warm up from playing in the snow

What are your favorite things when it's snowy? What would you add?

Wednesday What's New: Gorgeous Necklaces in time for Christmas

2010-12-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you'll all agree that the holidays are a busy time. Our family has just returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving trip, and we are so grateful to have such wonderful friends to visit! For those that want to see a fun video she put together of one of the elements from our visit, click here.

Here are a couple of brand-new, never-before-listed-necklaces that I think you will enjoy. They are both a part of matching sets with earrings and/or a bracelet.

The first is this Pink Cascading Waterfall Gemstone Necklace. See the matching earrings and bracelet too:

And second one is called Autumn Winds Sterling Silver Necklace. See the matching earrings too:

Hope you enjoy! As always, please let me know what kinds of colors, stones, and designs you would like to see.

Tuesday Treasures: from a physical therapist turned jewelry maker

2010-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun things from Etsy shop yourdailyjewels. She is a physical therapist, and treats children with disabilities. She has discovered that making jewelry is a journey of learning, exploring and discovering.

Here is a really pretty "Fools Gold" Pyrite ring that she has in her shop:

Friday Finds: Citrine Gemstones

2010-11-26T08:49:00.000-08:00

November Sunshine Citrine Earrings

Citrine is November's birthstone, and is a gorgeous pale yellow color. It is also the accepted gem for the 13th and 17th wedding anniversary.

Most citrine comes from Brazil, but it can also be found in the Ural Mountains of Russia, Dauphine, France, Madagascar, Spain, Uruguay, Scotland, and in the United States (California, Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, and Nevada).

November Sunshine Citrine Bracelet

Citrine is a variety of quartz whose color ranges from a pale yellow to brown. Citrine crystals can form together with amethyst or smoky quartz to form a bi-colored quartz called ametrine.

These are the last few days to get your beautiful cksilver citrine items at 20% OFF! All citrine items from cksilver are on sale through Tuesday, and then they return to regular prices. So don't miss your opportunity to find some great deals!

Rays of Sunshine Earrings

Tuesday Treasures: vintage treasures from wayfaringmagnolia

2010-11-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today I found Amanda and her Etsy shop wayfaringmagnolia. It is a sweet shop with lots of vintage clothing and other items.

She loves art, music, fashion and life, and currently works as a professional musician/gypsy wherever people want to hear her sing.

Here are some of her fun collections! This hot pink blazer is perfect for the person that wants to make a bold, yet feminine statement. A gorgeous shade, and with a lovely black trim, it is sure to be loved for a long time.

This wool skirt is a treasure, with its classic brown and neutral colors. And how fun that she found it in some items from her grandmother!

And last, this Grandma's Vintage Memory Book looks so sweet, and what a fun way to keep track of your family history.

So go check out her shop, list your favorite items here, and say that cksilver sent you!

Monday Musings: What are you thankful for today?

2010-11-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

I love to ponder this question every November as we approach Thanksgiving.

When I was growing up, for the month of November we used to each have to say one thing we were thankful for at dinner time. The catch was that we couldn't repeat anything that had previously been said. We would write down our list and read it over on Thanksgiving, and celebrate all the things God had done for us the past year.

Now it's your turn. What are YOU thankful for? How can you show your appreciation? And how can you reach out to those less fortunate than you?

Tuesday Treasures: soaps from sanyvern

2010-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am featuring the lovely shop of sandyvern. Sandy is a self taught crafter, and is very talented in many different areas.

One of the things that caught my eye, however, is her soaps. She has been making soaps for about 3 years, and also makes cold process soaps and “melt and pour” soaps. Here are some of my favorites:

The first is this Decorative Flip Flop Soap:

Next this Lavender, Oatmeal, and Honey soap that my mother-in-law would just LOVE!

And of course these Fall Leaves Soaps are adorable too:

Sandy also loves her pets: a dog, a Border Collie X Australian shepherd cross, a kitten, 3 bearded dragons and 2 parrotlets.

To find out more about her, you can check out her blog:
http://theadventuresofsandyvern.blogspot.com

Monday Musings: A Foster Care Success Story

2010-11-15T12:48:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, our family had the privilege of having a sweet little foster girl in our home. She came from one parent, and had only one diaper and no extra clothes, and we quickly realized she had no boundaries in the home where she had been living in. She was wild and full of energy, and kept us on our toes, but each day we had her as she became used to our rules and boundaries, she became much easier to work with. We realized ever so strongly this calling that God has given us to help rescue these orphans in our society.

We soon found out that she would be going to live with her other parent. She was in the foster care system for just over 72 hours, and we had the opportunity to meet this amazing family where she was going. It was such an incredible experience, and we felt so honored to be a small part of her life.

Now it's your turn! What are the incredible experiences in your life? How have you been able to give back when you have been blessed.

Tuesday Treasures: invitations and announcements from myabrucedesigns

2010-11-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

This week I am featuring the gorgeous invitations and announcements from myabrucedesigns.

Retro Space Party Invitation from myabrucedesigns

She has been designing customized photo invitations and announcements for her kids for years, and is now offering this service for others as well through Etsy.

First, you select one of her invitations or announcements. This retro invitation is my favorite.

Then you send her your photo(s) and the information you want included. Colors and fonts can often be changed if you have a preference.

Once you approve the proof she sends you, you can purchase and download the file to print as many as you need!

Girl Baby Shower Invitation

She has so many adorable designs, I can't resist showing you just one more. I think this baby shower invitation is so cute! So sweet for a little girl!

If you don't find what you're looking for, you can send her your custom order request. Corresponding thank you cards, stationery and decorations can be provided separately.

You can also find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mya-Bruce-Designs/113429518702303

So what are you waiting for? Go check out her shop, and tell her that cksilver sent you!

Tuesday Treasures: Danizabeth and her lovely retro and nostalgic photographs

2010-11-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am so enjoying the beautiful photographs from Danizabeth. She focuses on all things retro and nostalgic, and turns what she sees in old junkyards into prized photographs for your walls at home!

So if you love old trucks and guitars, this Red Truck Series is for you!

And if you're a sucker for beautiful green fields with a windmill and a barn in the background, you'll love this Mount Ayr print.

Enjoy, and maybe you'll find a really fun Christmas present for someone on your list!

Monday Musings: What to do with your left-over Halloween Candy

2010-11-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

The big dilemma for moms everywhere is what to do with all their left-over Halloween candy. Well, thanks to Real Simple, here are some fun ideas you can try! In Real Simple's 10 Recipe Ideas for Halloween Candy, there are 10 tasty ideas for how to use up that pesky candy into fun desserts and treats the whole family will enjoy!

For example, try making this Twix Cheesecake Pie. Mmm, Twix bars are certainly one of my favorites!

Or this SweeTarts Milk Shake:

What are your favorite ways to get rid of your Halloween candy?

Thursday Thoughts: What are your next recipes to try out?

2010-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have found recently that I don't do well with dairy. So I have been on the lookout for good dairy-free recipes. Whether or not you have challenges with dairy, you may want to check out some of these very tasty-looking recipes.

This Chicken, Avocado, and Orange Salad makes my mouth water just looking at it. The combination of avocado and orange is so fascinating! I know it will be one our family will try soon.

This Fresh-Herb Salmon With Jasmine Rice recipe looks really incredible too! Mmmm.... Parsley, chives, dill, ginger. It looks so incredible! And how fun to see these gorgeous pictures. Makes me want to go out and try this one right now!

And the last recipe I'll tempt you with is this for Pulled Pork Fajitas. How I love Mexican food, and I'm really into avocado and cilantro for flavor right now since I've been working to eliminate dairy.

So there you have it, three really incredible-looking dairy-free recipes. What are you favorite recipes? Share them in the comments for us all to see!

Tuesday Treasures: world cup bling

2010-10-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

This week I am featuring a sweet shop, buysomelove, that has a cute world cup line of products.

First, who doesn't love the Tour de France?

And for those than want to choose their own country, here you go!

What a fun find!

Friday Finds: Sale on October (Opal) and November (Citrine) Birthstones

2010-10-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Great news for you! I am starting a new routine, where each month that month's birthstone and the following month's birthstone will be on sale.

So right now, at cksilver, you can view these fun items in the SALE section!

Tuesday Treasures: fun wearable accessories

2010-10-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some really fun hair accessories from littlepeachfuzz, who likes to knit and upcycle old things into new.

Here are some fun highlights for Halloween and the amazing freshness of fall. First, her felt autumn pinwheel hairclip is adorable:

And similarly, this beautiful felt hairband is fun and festive as well:

Friday Finds: Fall Colors

2010-10-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

I love the fall, and all the beautiful colors it represents. Join me on this journey of the many colors of fall. There are so many items available in autumn and Christmas colors, as well as birthstones for every month. Come see the latest of what you can find at cksilver for yourself or your Christmas list! Click on any picture to learn more about that item.

First a nice bracelet, earring, and necklace set called Southwest Autumn which incorporates turquoise, garnet, brown snowflake jasper, and sterling silver:

Next, some lovely autumn red earrings:

And last, some lovely green earrings:

Tuesday Treasures: my sister site

2010-10-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Today I have found my sister site on Etsy. Meet Allison from blueforestjewellery in the UK. Her aim is to string semi-precious beads in stunning colour combinations to make statement pieces.

Check out these lovely earrings:

And this matching necklace:

How fun to find such an interesting shop! In my next blog post I want to show you some fun new fall colors and items. Stay tuned! You won't want to miss it!

Monday Musings: Caring for Those Around Us

2010-10-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

We had a chance to go to Seattle this weekend, and although it was a whirlwind trip we had a chance to have some really great conversations with several different sets of people.

In one conversation, we talked a lot about what it looked like to be Jesus to people. In one situation, when the wife told her neighbor she could watch the neighbor's child with some pretty special needs every day, the neighbor responded saying "I don't know much about church, but I know that I love your God."

Wow! What an amazing statement! How often do you get to hear that from people around you? Are you reaching out to the widows and orphans, and caring for them through relationship over the long term?

Let me tell you, I had no desire to step out of our comfort zone and do this even two years ago, but God is bringing us on an incredible journey and helping us to understand more about people's needs around us, and how we can reach out to them over the long term in relationship.

We have been able to do this in small ways so far through our foster care respite weekends. I'm looking forward to what He's bring to us next.

How about you? In what ways to you care for those around you? How are you giving them hope?

Tuesday Treasures: fingerless gloves from uniquedesignsbymsp

2010-10-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

I love to go find new handmade items from other online shops, and the fingerless gloves at UniqueDesignsbyMsP have really caught my eye. She works with fabric, fibers, beads, and just about anything else textural, colorful or sparkly.

Fall in love with the colors in her fingerless gloves. First, my favorite are these A Taste of Berry fingerless gloves:

These Clear Blue Sky ones are really pretty as well!

So go stop by her shop, and say that cksilver sent you!

Monday Musings: Kids in Need

2010-10-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

We had another foster child for a short-term respite stay this weekend, and I am reminded of how precious children are to Jesus. He calls us to care for the fatherless, and these foster kids are in need of loving families to come alongside them with helpful boundaries.

I am in awe that we get to be part of serving kids in this way. What are you doing to help others that goes beyond yourself or your family?

Friday Finds: RaeoLight

2010-10-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

I am loving the amazing photography from raeolight on Etsy!

Like this old truck:

Or this house that looks like a million stories could have flowed through its walls:

And these amazing Gerber flowers:

So what are you waiting for? Come check out these beautiful prints and snag one for yourself! And make sure you say that cksilver sent you!

Wednesday What's New: Wine Charms

2010-09-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

We have this problem when we have big family gatherings at my in-laws house. People can never remember where they left their wine glass and which one is theirs.

But now we have a solution! I made these multi-colored wine charms!

You take your charm and put it on your glass.

And now you know which one is yours. In fact they were so much fun to make, that I now have 5 sets available!

What kind of creative solution have you found lately? I'd love to hear about it!

Tuesday Treasures: omnipresents

2010-09-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring a fairly new shop on Etsy called omnipresents, specializing in handcrafted jewelry and accessories.

My favorite thing from her shop is this pendant. Very creative and beautiful wire-wrapping:

Each item is nicely packaged and individually wrapped in a small white gift box with a ribbon tied around it. She also attached a small charm shaped like a hand that reads “handmade" to the ribbon. Perfect for gift giving to yourself or someone else.

So please go visit her shop, and say that cksilver sent you!

Tuesday Treasures: Beading Supplies from Beadery Destash

2010-09-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to visit the Beadery Destash today, and see their beautiful selection of beads and jewelry supplies.

First, I saw this beautiful blue lapis lazuli cabochon:

I am also loving these display busts for necklaces and earrings:

And last, I got so excited when I found these earring posts, I had to buy them they are so cute! Maybe some day you will see them in a new pair of earrings!

Thursday Thoughts: Vintage Stamp Pendants

2010-09-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring a fascinating artist, LotusMira, a maker of soldered vintage stamp pendants, soldered floating frames, and much more. The symbolism in her shop name is very thoughtful. Mira (pronounced "meera"), from the Sanskrit root meaning "prosperous," (one can hope!) is her middle name and her Indian/Bengali grandmother's first name.

The first soldered stamp pendant that caught my eye is this beautiful vintage Malaysian butterfly stamp:

I also really love this World Series Ghana stamp too, with this vivid map:

But how fun would it be to get this beautiful Periwinkle Beach floating frame for Christmas?

So go ahead, check out this talented Etsian, and tell her cksilver sent you!

Wednesday What's New: Loving on Kids in Need

2010-09-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

Our family is on a journey this year in learning more about the joys and challenges of foster parenting. We had our first child this weekend, and it was a great experience to learn more about the process and for our family to experience it first hand for the first time.

This child was so sweet and innocent, and kept saying how much he missed his mom. Our kids were amazing and really stepped up to the plate to be helpful and loving, and said how much they appreciated doing foster care and being able to show God's love to this sweet little guy. And they were so sad when it was time for him to go. Our daughter kept asking me to call and find out when he could come play again.

Please join us through your prayers for us as we continue on this incredible journey that God has given us. To reach out to lost and hurting kids, and to be a family for them as long as they need it.

Tuesday Treasures: Flowery Brooch

2010-08-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

I love brown and neutral colors, and found this beautiful brown flowery patterned brooch from Elle's Beads today:

It looks like it will go with almost any kind of outfit!

Thursday Thoughts: Polymer Clay Fun

2010-08-26T19:23:00.000-07:00

I find polymer clay interesting, and this shop has created some fascinating items:

These poinsettia earrings are my favorite, and very creative too!

Thursday Treasures: Turquoise Angels

2010-08-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Well, what can I say other than that it has been a busy summer! Hard to believe school starts again soon.

I can't get enough of Turquoise Angels. It is so cute and girly, and I know my daughter would love anything from this shop!

They have amazing tutus for photo shoots, birthdays, dance performances, and much more! Like this one:

And also amazing hair accessories like this:

So come join me in her beautiful shop to find something for the little girl in your life.

Wednesday What's New: Birthstones (part 1, January-June)

2010-07-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

What is your birthstone? At cksilver, you will now find that all birthstones available - either in the genuine gemstone itself or in swarovski crystal - either for you or for a loved one. Want to see some of the options?

Here are the birthstones for the first six months of the year: garnet, amethyst, aquamarine, diamond/clear, emerald, and pearl.

January (Garnet): Pearl and Garnet Sterling Silver Earrings

February (Amethyst): Amethyst Dream Sterling Silver Earrings

March (Aquamarine): Clear Ocean Aquamarine Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings

April (Diamond/Clear): Spring Rain Sterling Silver Earrings

May (Emerald): Emerald Sky Pearl and Sterling Silver Earrings

June (Pearl): Pearl Jewelry of the Month Club

Stay tuned information on birthstones for the remainder of the year!

Tuesday Treasures: LeoandJunie

2010-07-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

This week I was taking a peek around at a few shops and stopped at the lovely LeoandJunie. Their jewelry is flirty and fun, with a modern vintage feel. Everything is nature themed with many birds and flowers as well.

Flirty Leaf and Flower earrings:

Lemon and Lime Chrysanthemum Hair Pins

Please check her shop out, and say cksilver sent you!

Monday Musings: Soul Longings

2010-07-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

What are the deepest longings in your soul? What are the things that you most desire?

If I really spent some time thinking about it, I would have to say it is to love and be loved by the creator of the universe Himself.

How amazing it is that He desires to be with me and desires to be in relationship with me. And how amazing that He gives me a window into that so that I can do the same for others.

What are your deepest desires?

Friday Finds: Engineer Meets Artsy Craftsy

2010-07-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

Today's Friday's Finds features the lovely designs of LoveElycia, former engineer and now Etsy shop owner and craft lover.

Check out this adorable incognito moustache headband:

That comes with this Moxie print:

She loves spying on people, and her story is shown here. Please check her shop out, and say cksilver sent you!

Friday Finds: Contemporary Vintage Jewelry from MariaBellaJewelry

2010-06-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

I was recently introduced to MariaBellaJewelry, and am amazed at her beautiful contemporary vintage look. A great shop, and worth looking into!

Take for example this heron pendant:

Or this Soul of the Rose Locket:

Please check her shop out, and say cksilver sent you!

Monday Musings: Fathers and Legacies

2010-06-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to have a wonderful dad, and an amazing husband. My dad was a great picture of who my heavenly Father is, and his love has always been unconditional. My husband is caring and a wonderful partner for life and a great dad for my kids.

What is your father or husband like? What is the legacy are they leaving for those that come behind them?

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a tribute to all of you fathers out there! Happy Father's Day, Dad!

For the dad who is a fisherman, a fun father's day card from SweetandSassyCards:

A fun print that says "Dad", from sweetb:

A perfect way to end the day, from tilesmile:

IndieSpotting Feature

2010-06-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to Erika and the folks at IndieSpotting! Come see the new cksilver feature on by clicking here or on the "featured on IndieSpotting" graphic below!

As a thank you, I am offering everyone who reads this post 20% OFF their purchase at cksilver through next Saturday June 26. Enjoy!

Friday Finds: Beautiful Little Girl Goodies

2010-06-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

I came across this beautiful shop turquoiseangels, a mother/daughter team, and am in LOVE with their work!

Like these patriotic bloomers!

Or this sweet flower girl tutu dress that my daughter would look SO adorable in!

Need an adorable flower hair clip to go along with it?

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter, too! Stop by and say hello, and say that cksilver sent you!

Tuesday Treasures: SwingStationStudio

2010-06-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

I found these beautiful browns and greens from Heather at SwingStationStudio this week and was fascinated:

These lovely purse are perfect for stashing your cell phone, keys, cash, camera, a little sketchpad, ipod, snacks or even doggie treats!

This one has a tropical print outside, with a brown and white dot fabric inside.

And this one has green waves print on the outside, with a dark brown solid fabric inside. It has a keyring on the bright lime green zipper, too! How cute!

Heather can be found here: blog, shop, Facebook, and Twitter.

Monday Musings: Be A Friend

2010-06-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

"In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." -Mother Teresa
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -Mother Teresa

Have you thought about how your actions affect others? How many kind words have you spoken today? Yesterday? What about your actions?

We have been called to love one another, and people will see our love in action. How well do you know your next door neighbor or the one down the street? Or the family that sits off to the side on your kid's t-ball team? Or the elderly lady at church?

What kind of friend will you choose to be today?

Friday Finds: Music Lovers Edition

2010-06-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

For all you piano music lovers out there, here are some great keyboard-related items that you'll love!

First, the definition of music - what a lovely pendant from PreciousPastimes:

You'll LOVE this gorgeous print from redladyarts:

A lively silk keyboard tie from the very talented julieriis:

And even a dog collar for your favorite canine from InuInspirations:

Please give these shops some love, and say that cksilver sent you!