New places to buy Alisun's Custom Crafted Jewelry

Trade!

2011-04-04T18:14:00.001-07:00

The Trading Post Guild on ArtFire is having a trade event on April 9th from midnight to midnight. One needn't be a guild member to trade. Watch the ArtFire forums for the Link on the night of April 8th. Last event was Eastern time. Not sure what this one will be, but I'll be there!

Hippie Bling!

2011-03-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Can you say Hippie Bling without laughing? Hehehe! Neither can I, but here it is!

Post a comment on my blog telling me what you think of when someone says, "hippie," and I will choose the new owner of these earrings through a random number pick. If you are old enough to have lived through those years, you have very strong feelings. Please post them either way. NO BASHING of individual posters, please. That has never happened here and I hope it doesn't, but I have never brought up such a potentially controversial subject in this blog before.

Because I don't want to exclude the guys, you have an option for a gift certificate to my studio for the price of the earrings (sales not included) as a prize rather than the earrings. Even if you are female and want a different item from my studio, you may also select the gift certificate.

So let's do some reminiscing or some history research (Man, the Chicago Democratic Convention was over 42 years ago!) and have some fun!

Winner will be announced on Friday, April 1. What a better way to celebrate April Fool's Day? But the contest is no joke. The prize will be awarded.

New promotional video

2011-03-10T20:00:00.000-08:00

Matt Nix from etsy did this for me. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUgzx7BFhBQ

about alisuns

2011-03-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

flyer

2011-02-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

Want to try ArtFire?

2011-01-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

Become an ArtFire Pro with this link and get your 3rd month free!

Weddings! So fun!

2011-01-14T15:32:00.001-08:00

For the Wedding of the Year

Curated By: Alisuns

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Photography

Wedding Fair

2011-01-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

I'm told that people are beginning to plan their June weddings. Seems to me it should have begun long before, but during the weeks of January 16 and 23, ArtFire will be supporting an artisan-organized Wedding Fair.

Should you wish to see our custom and hand made wedding items, type "wedding fair" or "bridal fair" in your search box.

AndreaDesigns

2010-04-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Since this talented artist not only features a fellow artisan *every* day but also informs us about the Crazy Train rider of the day, I almost resurrected my crazy train blog to brag about her, but really: this is about her, not just her generous and unstinting work so I put it here. I'll compromize by putting a link over there, if I can remember the password :0

Every single one of the items in AndreaDesigns Studio is elegant, gorgeous, trendy, and eccentric: not the easiest thing to do! Her work is stunning, and this is currently my favorite even though I really do not like pink:

I was featured on her blog at the beginning of April and delayed featuring her work because she was moving house: I seem to have fallen asleep and not noticed that her studio was no longer on vacation.

I know I make jewelry, but I once clothed my children and helped support them with knitting and crochet work. Andrea's type of work is not easy to do, and even less easy to make attractive, but Andrea makes it LOOK easy. Note that in this desciption she almost forgets the cotton lace edging...oh, yeah, there's this too.

Andrea works with natural materials as much as possible, and has hand knitted or crocheted many items, although she does own a knitting machine. She is currently in something called the "Master Knitter's Program" which I first heard about when someone bragged about certification on an item that was gifted to my daughter (not Andrea's, it was too traditional for that :)

Ready for another gorgeous item?

This one combines alpaca wool with acrylic. Beautiful!

Thank you, Andrea, for all your support and inspiration.

New Web Site!

2009-11-18T13:55:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited! VaL finished my new web site and has agreed to maintain it for a flat rate. She does great work! I specifically asked her to make it compatible with my ArtFire studios and she did a wonderful job!

Go see it here: www.alisuns.com

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Art Thief!

2009-11-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

I guess there is one in every community, but this is someone (again) stealing physical art. This time at an art show. The following is copied from another artisan's blog. Please read and be alert.

Jenny Paterson from “Quilted in Clay” posted this to the PCC delphi message board and asked that we pass it on.

“2 weeks ago while packing up after a show, my case with ALL my finished “Quilted in Clay” beads was stolen out of my trailer. Along with all my findings, crystals and beads I use as accents to make necklaces.

I am estimating that I had upwards of 4500 clay beads in various sizes inside that case! I make beads in in 4 different sizes and shapes, in EACH of the 33 designs I currently have listed on my web site. Plus a number that I don’t have on the website.

These shapes are 3/4″ mobius beads, 5/8″ square, 1/2″ square and 3/8″ square. All finished and drilled.

It was suggested to me to keep an eye on eBay and Etsy for these. Which I plan on doing, but these are huge shops and I can’t monitor them alone, so I am asking for help.

If you all would not mind taking a look at the current designs on my website:

http://www.quiltedinclay.com/products/jewelry/quilted_jewelry1.htm

And if you happen to see something that might be my beads, please let me know.

I am devastated! We are talking hours and hours of work just GONE! Some of these designs, I don’t have any cane left, so I can’t even make any more beads, unless I remake the cane. I am having to call customers and tell them I can’t sell them the items they ordered, and ask them to choose something I have on hand, or give them a refund.

Thank you
Jenny P”

Holiday

2009-07-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are spending the holiday with his mother and his brother's family and hope that you are having as good a time as we are! Happy 4th, and see you soon.

Ali

Jewelry is Dangerous!

2009-06-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

My fellow crafters, I must admit weakness. I fell almost completely apart under the weight of my daily promotion duties when I added one more chore - columnist for HMN News. Because my chosen department is not one in which I am expert, to say the least, extensive research is needed for each of my columns. That, a chance for an exclusive jewelry show,and remodeling my studio (which has major problems since the change to fusion squared off pix, and was in the process of being reorganized already) and daily guild blogs (which I haven't managed for a couple months at least) and Crazy Train blogs on every other day and Forum responses and Sneakers Tuesday did me in. All this should be manageable, some of you may say, since I'm not working, but I have the job search and actually enjoying my hobby as well. I'm still learning most of these thngs, so they are time intensive. I simply couldn't do it. And it depressed me that I couldn't. I don't want to give up any of these things, but I just must cut back.

I'll blog once or twice a week on each blog. I will continue my research for HMN and my columns, especially now that the output requirements have been changed. I will spend a minimal time in the forums and almost no time on Plurk or Twitter or other venues until I establish a routine that is comfortable. I hope you will forgive my inattentiveness in the past and until then.

Thank you very much to those of you who sought me out on various venues to find out how I was doing. It was appreciated.

I'll see you sometime next week!

Ali

West Coast Crafters #11

2009-06-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday! I should be going to the flea market to scout the place, but since I went to bed 5 hours behind schedule yesterday, I'm going to try to play catch-up today. AND make an easier schedule to follow!

My latest HandMade News column is about recycling cell phones and giving aid to Third World medicine at the same time. Read it here.

Tuesday's Artfire Sneakers unsub was JennyKarlssonDesign. I bought a beautiful linen lavender sachet.

Don't forget to visit my Crazy Train blog, featuring three crazy train participants:
Ninja Jenn at http://www.ninjajenn.artfire.com http://www.ninjajenn.blogspot.com
Grahtoestudio at http://www.grahtoestudio.artfire.com
Kraftouch Treasures at http://www.kraftouchtreasures.artfire.com http://www.kraftouchtreasures.blogspot.com
The Crazy Train now has a .ning site so you can keep up on the latest stop.

The third guild to which I belong is the ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply guild. There is currently a giveaway going on at our .ning site. Also, the guild member of the week is StudioontheHill, which has some amazing items.

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster. My next post will be a roster update, then I will begin featuring the enormous AJDJSS guild. Today's West Coast Crafters are: Thisisit journals and jewelry: This studio has been discontinued. TwilightsFancy necklaces and purses Tztudio precious metal clay jewelry

TwilightsFancy has beautiful items. Here is her studio in her own words: "Being that I am Lady Twilight and creating necklaces and purses are what I fancy, I present Twilight's Fancy. Creativity is my whimsy. What's your fancy?

"I post something new almost every day, so come on back and see what I've added or subscribe to my rss feed. Or, if you're looking for something in particular, contact me. I'd love to hear from you.

"All of my necklaces and purses are handmade by yours truly. I never make the same one twice, so check all my listings here (and at http://rinaslayter.etsy.com) or contact me if you see one you like, but want to buy one a little different. If the supplies are still available, your wish will be granted."

About herself, "My friends say I'm unique, very creative and a little strange and I agree with their assessment.

"I've always enjoyed making jewelry. In junior high, I used to make something like 30 pairs of earrings each week. Basically, the same 30 every week...from the same beads, but arranged differently. I made the best of what I had and was constantly changing even though the materials stayed the same.

"I also enjoy sewing. Why purses? I. Don't. Know. I honestly don't, but it seems to go back to those early days when I worked from a certain pool of materials, but yet each creation is different. I never make the same one twice. I work with what I have in my sewing room. Old, new, remnants, full bolts. I've amassed so much over the years.

"When I'm not in my craft room, I write romance novels, work on television shows and movies as a specialty costumer or even as an extra, maintain websites and work on my classic cars. For more information on who I am, see my website at http://RinaSlayter.com"

Because I never watch television (ok, almost never, and usually prerecorded to get rid of commercials) I didn't understand what "Twilight inspired" meant. Now I see!

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TZStudio is currently not a verified ArtFire member, and therefore no longer a member of our guild, but I thought to highlight this unusual studio in the hope that we can encourage verification and guild membership again.

Since the artist gives no bio or introduction, I will copy the pictured item descriptions for you.

"Need the perfect gift?
"Why not a ring made from a grandmother's silver pattern!
"I will make a mould from one of the pieces, and return it to you with your ring.

"This ring was made from my grandmother's silver pattern.

"It is made of fine silver (.999), hand crafted by me using Precious Metal Clay. Textured with a floral pattern. The texture continues all the way around the ring.

"Precious Metal Clay is a clay-like medium used to make jewelry, beads and small sculpture. It consists of very small particles of silver mixed with an organic binder and water. Precious Metal Clay can be shaped just like any soft clay, by hand or using molds. After drying, it is fired in a kiln. The binder burns away, leaving .999 pure silver. The piece is then antiqued, or oxidized, to bring out the texture.

"Please specify ring size upon checkout."

"PEACE AND LOVE!

"This leaf textured peace and love heart pendant has been hand crafted by me, using Precious Metal clay, or PMC. Precious Metal Clay is a clay-like medium used to make jewelry, beads and small sculpture. It consists of very small particles of silver mixed with an organic binder and water. Precious metal clay can be shaped just like any soft clay, by hand or using molds. After drying, it is fired in a kiln. The binder burns away, leaving .999 pure silver. The pendant is then antiqued, or oxidized, to bring out the texture.

"Pendant measures 1 1/8".
"Hangs on a black rubber cord, with a sterling silver clasp.

"Don't forget to check out the matching earrings!"

Whew! That was a lot of stuff for just a few days! I hope you found time to visit our guild members' studios. Don't forget to come back here and leave a comment for our artists. Each month a pair of earrings or bracelet is given away to a random commenter. Have fun today!

West Coast Crafters #10

2009-05-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Weekend! Hurray! My husband and I plan to do a little window shopping and maybe see a movie today. For two over-39 (hubby is 40) people, we sure see a lot of Pixar movies! We love them.

I'm not a gardener (my husband has a degree in horticulture so he gets those chores) but my latest HandMade News column is about killing weeds without pesticides. Read it here.

Don't forget to visit the Crazy Train, featuring TheBroomCloset. Paula has a wide variety of destashes in this shop. One less now, because I bought them! Paula is also the creator of the Crazy Train. (Bows to the Crazy Train Master.) She and the original secretary then abdigated all responsiblity to LaDeDaCreations, who is doing a wonderful job of keeping us in line.

Today's West Coast Crafters are:
Thechainmaillelady Chain maille jewelry Theskinyourein Handmade bath and body products

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

Thechainmaillelady says, "I make gorgeous chainmaille jewelry! I have been weaving teeny tiny jump rings for over 4 years.

"My passion is working with sterling silver however, knowing that not everyone can afford sterling silver I have also created chainmaille using other mediums. I believe everyone should own at least one piece of chainmaille!"

I bought a version of this for my daughter-in-law:

"I would love to hear from you about my designs and quality so I can keep up to date."

"Listen To Me Every Tuesday 7PM EST On BlockHead Radio. Just Click On The Banner"

There is a BlockHead Radio widget on the right.

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Theskinyourein says, "I am a wife, mom, grandma and step-mom and I love my job! I've been making bath and body products for the past six years and I'm blessed to have this profession as my full time job. This business was born out of my own battle with eczema and severely dry skin. After a few years of formulating and testing, I can say that my eczema is now under control and I am my best advertising tool.

"I love what I do and I hope you will too!"

Don't forget to visit their studios and leave messages for them as comments on this blog. Each month a random commenter receives a free pair of earrings or sterling plated bracelet (their choice).

West Coast Crafters #9

2009-05-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Number 9...number 9....number 9... Ok, sorry. I'm a long-time Beatles fan.

Happy Sneakers Tuesday, folks! My husband and I had a great holiday with his mother, brother and wife and girls, and family friends. We were out of town, and it was great to see the clear sky stars and gorgeous lake in the mountain valley. We saw brother-in-law's family cabin, which is new and ready for rental over the summer. I'm glad it wasn't rented while we were there so we could play with the babies!...um, I mean, see Mom-in-law, Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law, and friends. I hope your holiday wasn't spent in grief but in celebration of the freedom the sacrifices of our military have bought.

Don't forget to visit the Crazy Train, featuring Angelas_Adornments. Angela has played with the new studio options that ArtFire has provided us and I think you will agree they are awesome!

Today's West Coast Crafters are:
QuirkynBerkeley Greeting cards
Sewstitchedup embroidery designs on fabric squares, (SewStitchedUp appears to be on vacation, so we will visit with her later)
TantalizingStitches Craft supply

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

As a San Francisco Bay Area resident, I'm a little amused that anyone in Berkeley need identify oneself as quirky but I can tell you that if you browse this studio you will find many fun and simply beautiful items. Quirky does greeting cards, and the teeny tiny envelopes are clearly quirky, but cute, and the great day card pictured is clearly beautiful, so you need not be eccentric to visit this studio.

The artisan says, "Love paper. Love color. Love Berkeley.

"Beyond that, my style is eclectic and I love to experiment. I get completely absorbed in engineering my varied creations for hours. Each one is a new and unique production, made of treasures from my collection of paper and ephemera, transfigured into a single piece held together by a little glue, a lot of ideas, practice and work, and most of all, a great amount of joy. Everything is made in a smoke free environment."

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TantalizingStitches is a neighbor: we live in the same town.

The artisan's bio reads, "I opened up my supply shop after my craft room became overwhelmed with supplies! So now, you too, can enjoy my excess craft room supplies. (All items are new and have never been used!)

"I am a avid supporter of animals and for that reason I send 5% of all sales to PAWS-Saipan, an animal welfare organization on Saipan, an island in the Northern Mariana Islands of Micronesia, where I lived for two years. I started selling my craft when I lived there so it was only fit to dedicate part of my store to those wonderful animals."

Two great artisans who are practically neighbors!

Don't forget to visit their studios and leave messages for them as comments on this blog. Each month a random commenter receives a free pair of earrings or sterling plated bracelet (their choice).

I'm also going to go out on a limb and offer the pick of any AlisunsToo item or Alisuns item under $25 and under to the first person to reply to this blog with the basic grammatical error (excluding punctuation) in my latest HandMade News column in the Green Wise section. Here is a link.

Enjoy your Sneakers' Tuesday and be sure to visit the .ning site or the ArtFire Forum to discover the identity of this week's unsub!

West Coast Crafters #8

2009-05-16T08:18:00.001-07:00

Happy Saturday, folks! We have a Spare the Air day here because temps are expected to hit triple digits. I think I'll stay in :)

Don't forget to visit the Crazy Train, featuring Creative Haven

Today's West Coast Crafters are:

MzzThang unique and one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry
Papierlune Unique, upcycled, mixed media fun

Here is MzzThang in her own words: My designs and inspiration comes from many things - Listening to a really good song, stories my kids tell me, a drive along the coast, the smile on someones face, etc.

I host several fund raising events to benefit the Lupus Foundation of America -- from bowling and darts tournaments to the proceeds from the sales of every 50th piece of jewelry that I create. Please check my jewelry listings for the word "DONATION" in the heading. 100% of the proceeds from the sales of these pieces will be donated to the Lupus Foundation of America (www.lupus.org)

You can also view additional jewelry in our online store by visiting:

Fo-Shizzle Design Studios"

About her studio:"From whimsical to elegant and chic, the Fo-Shizzle Design Studios has it all. We offer unique and one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry, using quality materials and excellent craftsmanship.

Don't see quite what you're looking for? Simply call or e-mail us. We'll be happy to custom design a piece tailored to your liking."

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From Papierlune: "Welcome to Papier Lune!! Unique, upcycled, mixed media fun is what it is all about here. Kick off your shoes and come on in."

"My name is Sarah and I am mixed media artist that resides and creates up here on beautiful Whidbey Island, Washington. "

This is an upcycled olive oil tin light.

Stop back here and drop a comment for them and you will be entered into my random May Giveaway: a set of earrings or custom-length bracelet.

Have fun today!

West Coast Crafters #7

2009-05-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

Life happens. I missed everyone while I was busy with it.
Happy Thursday, everyone! This week's unsub was jennuinecandles.
Don't forget to visit the Crazy Train, featuring http://www.artfire.com/users/MichiganMud today.

Today's West Coast Crafters are:

Marysrosegarden rosary bracelets
Morumoto Guinea pig plushies from original design

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

Marysrosegarden does beautiful rosaries, rosary bracelets, key chains, and car rosaries. She does custom work, so ask her for what you've always wanted in a rosary.

Her studio intro is:"Specializing in handmade sterling silver and semi-precious gemstone wire-wrapped rosaries and rosary bracelets. Car rosaries and key chains are also available in silver plate and Czech fire-polished beads.

Custom orders are always welcome!"

Her bio reads, "My son gave me my first rosary bracelet. He purchased a little pewter bracelet, using his lawn mowing earnings. I was delighted with his gift and wore the bracelet until it fell apart. I found wearing a symbol and reminder of my faith very comforting. I needed to replace my original bracelet and wanted a bracelet that was more like a piece of jewelry. I was also looking for something more strongly made to withstand daily use. I found many beautiful bracelets, but the cost was out of my price range. That's when I decided to make my own. I have gotten so much pleasure from making and wearing these rosary bracelets, that I decided to share them with others. My goal is to spread the power of the Rosary by making a quality bracelet, using the best materials and selling for an affordable price."

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Morumoto is a fun studio selling plushies. The intro reads, "I love small animals. I know there are many of you out there who do too. My goal is to create life-like plush representations of our favorite critters. I only use faux fur, never real. I also make custom plushies, you can visit my gallery here to see all of my work: http://morumoto.deviantart.com/gallery/?5236385#Custom-Guinea-Pig-Plushies"

And the bio is, "Hi everyone! I'm Morumoto (Japanese for "guinea pig", in case anyone was curious). I've been drawing ever since I could remember and learned to sew at a young age. Creativity is something I cherish, and I just don't feel right if I'm not working on some sort of artistic or crafty endeavor.

Although I picked up the needle and thread when I was young, making plushies is something I began doing somewhat recently. It began with my fondness for guinea pigs; simply put, I've only ever found so few cavy items such as figurines and plushies that I decided to make some of my own. I craft my plush critters carefully by hand, creating a life-like portrayal that captures the feel as well as the appearance of my subjects. My crafting endeavors have already turned towards other rodents, such as mice, rats, hamsters, and and I won't be satisfied until I have made a plushie of most if not all rodents. I'm constantly searching for more materials and ideas."

Amazing little guys aren't they? I hope you enjoyed your stroll through our West Coast Crafters' studios today. Be sure to visit them and see what else they have to offer you.

Stop back here and drop a comment for them and you will be entered into my random May Giveaway: a set of earrings or custom-length bracelet.

Have fun today!

West Coast Crafters #6

2009-05-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Sneaker Tuesday, everyone! Today's unsub is Pelecypods2
Don't forget to visit the Crazy Train, featuring JewelrybyJanzia today.

Today's West Coast Crafters are:

LaBellaVive jewelry, scarflets
LampworkbyAmy Lampwork glass pendants and bookmarks

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

One of these studios is new to me, so let's go explore LaBellaVive first:

The studio intro is, "~FREE Shipping!!~

Thank you so much for stopping by my Artfire Shop!
I'm posting new items and will post more - please check back often.
~~~
LaBellaVive is handmade - mostly jewelry.

There is beauty everywhere and all my pieces are about trying to capture some that.

I hope you find something of interest and Thank You so much for your support!

As revenues begin to pick up I will be donating a portion of the profits to an Auto-Immune (research) foundation."

The bio states, "I've been making and designing jewelry for about 10 years now. I've just started putting my newest pieces up for sale and look forward to this new venture.

I see beauty everywhere and hope to capture this inspriation in the pieces I make. ~ A great feature here on ArtFire is the allowance to tell the story behind the art work.
Each and every set is unique with its own personality and style. What will it say for you?

Thank you for your interest!"

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LampworkbyAmy says: " am a lampwork artist from Victoria, BC. I make glass beads and other glass creations out of art glass (mostly Italian), on a special table top torch. I do all of my work by hand. Each bead is kiln-annealed in a digitally controlled kiln straight out of the torch (I don't batch anneal), carefully cleaned, and inspected for flaws.

"I take my photos in a light-box with a digital camera. I don't have a professional photo set-up, but I do my best to make the colours look accurate, and to show the beads as well as I possibly can.

"I am a self-representing artist. This means that my beads are always hand-made by me.

Why buy from a self-representing artist? Here is a blurb from the SRA Website:

'We are a group of glass artists who are dedicated to the art of lampworking, an ancient art form that flourished in Italy in the 1300s and then spread throughout Europe, the Americas and the rest of the world.

'We work at home in our own studios, making beads, marbles or other glass objects one at a time. Patiently and carefully we strive for perfection in every object that we make. We are from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Israel, Germany... all over the world!'

Beadmaking is a treasured hobby in my life. It is a source of relaxation as well as artistic expression. "

I hope you enjoy strolling through their shops today. Stop back here and drop a comment for them and you will be entered into my random May Giveaway: a set of earrings or custom-length bracelet.

Have fun today!

2009-05-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

Good Sunday, everyone! Don't forget to visit the Crazy Train, featuring JanelsonArts today.

I want to say Happy Birthday to all the May babies. How lucky you are to be born with Emeralds as your birthstone (my 3d favorite stone, edged out by sapphires because it's so soft).

Today's West Coast Crafters are:

GreenMeanies photos, felt and other jewelry and housewares
KelliCraftStudio Greeting cards and jewelry

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

Katie says of the studio, ".......................................................................
Hi! I'm Katie, and this is my humble little ArtFire studio.
.......................................................................
I've always loved making things, and over the years I've learned a little bit about a LOT of art forms.
The variety of items in my shop is sure evidence of that!
Thanks SO much for stopping by. ENJOY!!!
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Don't forget... I'll cover the shipping on just about every item here!
......................................................................"

And of herself, "Hello! I'm Katie. I'm a 20-something California girl enjoying this little life I've created for myself.

"I’m a life-long crafter born from a long line of other life-long crafters.

I’m a firm believer that there are no mistakes in art… or in life for that matter! Everything happens for a reason, you just have to be willing to find it, and make the most of it.

My all-time favorite color is green. I love to drink Diet Pepsi from the can through a straw. I also love Kyle, Mixie, and Dottie.

I’m the friendliest Meanie you’ll ever meet! Drop me a line if you have any questions about my shop, have an idea for a custom item, or just want to say hi!
................................................. "

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Kelli says, "Welcome to my little corner of the crafting world!

"My name is Kelli. When you care to give the very best, why not give a handcrafted paper gem to send that special message or a lovely, handcrafted piece of original design jewelry. All of my items are made with quality materials. I have created jewelry that can be spotted on women of all walks of life: secretary of a NYC CFO, teachers, stay at home mothers, librarians, directors of education, grandmothers, and college students.

Free envelopes are included with all cards.
Free gift packaging are included with all jewelry.

Thank you for looking at my shop!"

About herself, Kelli says, "Kelli Craft Studio began as a hobby. For over 30 years, I have been crafting items for family and friends. I began with crocheted clothes, dolls, and blankets. Later, I extended my interests to rubber stamping and paper crafts. Finally, I began to create jewelry through beading and wire work. During these 30 years, these crafting interests have merged to create unique items.

"After 30 years, I have decided to open my craft studio to the handmade market. Kelli Craft Studio is where art meets quality. Every item is made with care and attention to detail and uniqueness. Jewelry is made to order so there should never be a problem with sizing. Cards are made with quality card stock and embellishments. "

I hope you enjoy strolling through their shops today. Stop back here and drop a comment for them and you will be entered into my random May Giveaway: a set of earrings or custom-length bracelet.

Have fun today!

West Coast Crafters #5

2009-05-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

LaDeDaCreations is on the Crazy Train today. If you want a fun stroll through a studio, hers is the one! Not for the timid, by any means.

Congratulations to MeaCulpaBodyandBath who won my Blog Giveaway for April. Not too late, I have another for May! Just visit the blogged shops this month and leave a comment for the artisan on my blog regarding their work. Artisans like to hear what you liked best, so that's a good place to start.

ArtFire Sneakers had a lot of fun ambushing DontKnowPub. What was even better, Linda of the duo walked in as we were mid-ambush!

Today's West Coast Crafters are GemKitty75 and Goldenrod. Let's take a peek at their studios:

GemKitty is someone I know from the forums. She has gorgeous jewelry.

About her studio she says, "Unique, non-mass produced jewelry that is as special as you are! My personal touch and craftsmanship are combined with all of the beauty that Mother Earth provides us with. I use only quality beading wire and findings to ensure that the piece will last for years. Whenever possible, I support products produced in the USA (TierraCast findings, Soft Flex beading wire). Please browse and enjoy the scenery!! Thank you for viewing and/or selecting my jewelry pieces."

Of herself, "My love of gemstones began a few years ago. I started collecting, learning and growing to love the absolute beauty mother earth creates. About 2 years ago I ventured into making my own jewelry. The name GemKitty actually came from one of my cats, Munchie. Munchie loves the beads as much as I do and you can often find him nosing around my beading supplies and pulling at the beads. Mother of 1, Grandmother of 2 my family are my heart and soul. I love being able to share the pieces I make with my friends and family. Please browse my shop and send me comments even if you do not purchase. I love to hear what people think!!"

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Goldenrod is a new studio to me. Let's go see:

Of the studio, Goldenrod says, "Whether it's fancy or funky, we strive to create beautiful high quality pieces that you will be proud to wear.
Try something out; you'll be glad you did! "

Of Goldenrod, "My mother and I have been making and selling jewelry together for several years now. It is just another way that she has been passing her creativity and love for fashion down to me."

So let's explore the studios of our guild members by visiting their shop and letting them know what's best about it.

Remember to note here what you found the most extraordinary so that you might win the earrings or bracelet (gentlemen, I have one for you as well....no earrings though. I haven't bought stud findings yet.).

I hope you enjoy today. Have fun!

West Coast Crafters #4

2009-04-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

Remember to take a ride on the Crazy Train: Today features BijouxDesigns and some beautiful items. Tell me which is your favorite on my blog and you may win a Swarovski Crystal earring pair or silver plated bracelet. The ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild is hosting a Spring Cleaning treasure hunt which began on the the 17th.

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

The next two studios on our roster are: Dragonsglass and EmilyGraceSuitcase.

Dragonsglass doesn't tell us much about herself or her studio. She does reveal that she is a stay at home mom of several fur babies.

Here are two items from her studio:

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EmilyGraceSuitcase says, "This summer, some friends of mine will be riding their bikes across the US (from Florida to California) to raise awareness about what's going on in the Congo through an organization called Falling Whistles. During the month of April, 50% of all online sales will be donated toward making this trip a reality. Check out their blog at http://www.fallingwhistlesbiketour.com/
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Three experiments in more responsible production:

UNCHAINED- Jewelry made from fairtrade and ethically traded beads.

SALVAGE- Quirky jewelry and accessories made from recycled plastic grocery bags.

ATTIC- Jewelry and accessories reinvented mostly from vintage or broken jewelry.

WEBSITE: www.emilygracesuitcase.com"

"I am an artist and designer living in San Diego, California. While my first love is traveling and interacting with people around the world, I've always enjoyed creating new things. This is a way for me to combine those two interests, and fund my part-time job lifestyle so that I can continue to volunteer in my community. Please visit my website at emilygracesuitcase.com to find more information about my jewelry."

So let's explore the studios of our guild members of the guild by visiting their shop and letting them know what's best about it.

Remember to note here what you found the most extraordinary so that you might win the earrings or bracelet (gentlemen, I have one for you as well....no earrings though. I haven't bought stud findings yet.).

I hope you enjoy today. Have fun!

West Coast Crafters Spotlights #3

2009-04-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

Firstly, please let me apologize for not posting for 3 days. I had planned to take Friday off, and post on Saturday. For some reason I completed the post and navigated away from it before I saved it and in disgust, I went away to do housework, as it seemed less stressful :)

Remember to take a ride on the Crazy Train: Today features 3zArt and some beautiful items. Tell me which is your favorite on my blog and you may win a Swarovski Crystal earring pair or silver plated bracelet. The ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild is hosting a Spring Cleaning treasure hunt which began on the the 17th.

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

The next two studios on our roster are:

Bearchick and Craftnique. Bearchick says, "Bear Chick is taking a vacation with The Husband and The Mom. The shop will be back up on Sunday, April 26. Please visit then and see what treasures Bear Chick has to offer," so we'll visit her studio later in the month.

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Craftnique says of the studio, "Hello and welcome to my studio. Here you will find a little of this n that.
I like to think of it as a small gift shop where you will find a variety of handmade items.

Thank you for stopping by.

I will ship International just contact me for shipping information

http://www.facebook.com/pages/craftnique/67095135775?created
www.craftnique.etsy.com
www.craftnique.blogspot.com "

"I have a variety of creative hobbies,
decorative/tole painting, polymer clay, jewelery, paper, sewing, woodwork andnature, recycling to name a few!!.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a very creative family. We were always learning something new.
Creating is my therapy
I have a supportive husband, children and grandchildren that help out when I need them.
What a fun way to spend the day..

Please convo me if you have any questions
also at www.craftnique.etsy.com and www.craftnique.blogspot.com."

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Next in the roster is Crafty_Business. Of her studio she says, "Hi and welcome to Crafty Business -- where it's all about the sparkle. Okay, it's about color and beauty and originality too. I absolutely love sparkling crystal, so I feature genuine Swarovski crystal products. Grab some beads to create your own special design or check out our hand crafted pieces. But be sure to come back and visit often because I'll be adding to the inventory and changing things up as often as I can."

Inspired by many years of watching and helping my mother create a wide variety of crafts, I've always been fascinated by the beauty, fire and elegance of Swarovski crystals. When I began to bead more often, I found myself repeatedly being drawn back to the sparkling charm of crystals. So, in this my "second career", I offer quality, hand-crafted jewelry, as well as crystal and semi-precious beads for other artisans and designers.

My first love is the ocean but I find beauty just about everywhere I look!"

So let's explore the studios of our guild members of the guild by visiting their shop and letting them know what's best about it.

Remember to note here what you found the most extraordinary so that you might win the earrings or bracelet (gentlemen, I have one for you as well....no earrings though. I haven't bought stud findings yet.).

I hope you enjoy today. Have fun!

West Coast Crafters Spotlights #2

2009-04-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Remember to take a ride on the Crazy Train: Today features 3zArt and some beautiful items. Tell me which is your favorite on my blog and you may win a Swarovski Crystal earring pair or silver plated bracelet. Only a few days left to decipher the cryptogram in the Easter Egg Hunt. And remember that the ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild will have a treasure hunt beginning on the 17th.

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

The next few of us in the alphabet are Alisuns (that's me!), AwakenJewelry Under Construction, and Beadwife.

Here is a recent blog about me that I did for the Crazy Train.

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Welcome to Awaken Jewelry, and thank you for stopping by.

AwakenJewelry is currently under construction. Here is what the owner says, "Our studio is currently in development; please check back soon!

If you would like to be notified of when the shop will open in addition to other sales, promotimes, and offers that Awaken Jewelry will offer in the future, please send us your full name, birthday (month and day only), and e-mail address via Artfire.

One more thing; please check out our referral program located at the bottom of our policies. We are sure you will like the incentive.

God Bless You."

About herself, "Hi, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to visit my studio. My name is Leah and I am the artist behind Awaken Jewelry. This is my passion and my calling; to make jewelry to glorify God. I am Christian woman of 21 years old. I have two young children and a supportive husband. I have always been a creative person, even when I was a child, arts and crafts activities would be an everyday joy. Your jewelry is created in my smoke-free animal-free studio; and a portion of your purchase will be donated to our Charity.

Please take the time to visit my Artist Blog and Flickr because I love talking and sharing about myself! You will find my everyday joys and triumphs on my Blog and my absolute favorite pictures on Flickr. You will also find a wide variety of studio and work-related pictures that I hope you will enjoy.

http://awakenjewelry.wordpress.com
http://flickr.com/photos/awakenjewelry"

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Beadwife says, "I'm Kalera Stratton, a Portland, Oregon lampwork glass beadmaker. All the artisan lampwork beads you will see here are lovingly handmade in my studio, with painstaking attention to detail. My beads are annealed as I make them, going straight from torch to a digitally-controlled kiln. With lampworking experience since 1992 and a constant thirst to improve my skills, it is my goal to bring you beads that will delight your senses, enhance your designs, and last for generations to come."

Of herself, "I got my start making beads in early 1992, at the tender age of 21. My friend Jen had just learned how to make beads, and gave me a beadmaking demonstration in the kitchen of her apartment. I was addicted! Fortunately, my birthday was approaching; with the help of a gift certificate from my mom, I was able to purchase my very own Hot Head and an assortment of glass rods.

Keeping in mind that I had never taken a class, had never heard of the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers), and the soon-to-be-published seminal works of James Kervin and Cindy Jenkins were still but a twinkle in the eyes of their authors, it will be no surprise to you that my first few years making beads were spent fumbling in the dark. I didn't even know what the technique I was using was called! In 1995, some research on the Internet turned up information on "Lampwinding", and I at least had a name for what I was doing. I had been selling simple pendants and earrings made from my beads on a limited basis to friends and coworkers; I now got brave and approached a local gallery chain. My work was immediately accepted, and I started selling a few items a week consistently.

In 1996 I was able to special-order Jim Kervin's book "More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Glass Beadmaking", and shortly after that, Cindy Jenkins' "Making Glass Beads". The quality of my beads improved dramatically! I also got my hands on a glass fusing kiln and, with the help of a year-long stint with a major art glass manufacturer, was able to enrich and expand my education about glass.

Fast forward to the present day. Instead of the small starter torch I had, I now work on a powerful Bethlehem Barracuda, and instead of cooling my beads in a can of vermiculite, I anneal in a digitally-controlled Fusebox 10 kiln! What a world of difference! Although I have STILL never taken a class, (and boy, I can think of several I'd like to take; there are some brilliant teachers out there!) association with other glass artists has opened my world to techniques beyond what I could have dreamed. A decade of more-or-less dabbling proved to be a solid foundation for my new thrust as a serious lampworker, and, a few months after the birth of my newest baby daughter, I left my retail career to earn my living with artisan glass - which brings me to the present.

Me and my kids live in our much-loved 1909 bungalow in Portland Oregon, along with a mellow Sheperd named Nikko, a Chug named Leda, a freewheeling cat named Sol Rosenburg, two parakeets, assorted foster-kittens, and a turtle named Wayne. My studio is set up in the newly-renovated garage... it's all mine! I finally have room to spread out and set up all my doohickeys and gadgets.

I am grateful for all the people and circumstances that led me to this point, because this is exactly where I want to be, and I am happy!

You can see more at my website at http://www.beadwife.com.

Thank you so much for visiting! "

So let's explore the studios of our guild members of the guild by visiting their shop and letting them know what's best about it.

Remember to note here what you found the most extraordinary so that you might win the earrings or bracelet (gentlemen, I have one for you as well....no earrings though. I haven't bought stud findings yet.).

I hope you enjoy today. Have fun!

West Coast Crafters Spotlights

2009-04-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Remember to take a ride on the Crazy Train: Today features AccessoriesbyGottJoy and some beautiful items. Tell me which is your favorite on my blog and you may win a Swarovski Crystal earring pair or silver plated bracelet. Only a few days left to decipher the cryptogram in the Easter Egg Hunt. And remember that the ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild will have a treasure hunt beginning on the 17th.

Here is a link to our West Coast Crafters guild roster.

The first two of us in the alphabet are 1337Art and 99Lollipop.

Of the studio, 1337Art says, "Thank you so much for your visit! Please keep checking back as we will be adding a lot of new items.

Would you like to be signed up for our email mailing list for specials, discounts, and more? Please feel free to contact us or check out our blog for details:

http://elite-art.blogspot.com"

Of the artist, "The name "1337" is a modern play on the word "elite." The name 1337 Art is meant to demonstrate that a piece of jewelry is not just a piece of jewelry; it's a work of art. I love to create, to feel inspired, and to share my joys with you."

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Of the studio, 99Lollipop says, "Welcome to 99 Lollipop, a place where the time-honored traditions of hand knitting, embroidering and crafting are juxtaposed with a contemporary flair. While modern yarns and materials are incorporated into 99 Lollipop's unique items, we strive to respect and honor the beautiful vintage styles that never go out of fashion.

All of our work, unless otherwise noted, are the unique, one-of-a-kind creations of 99 Lollipop. Each piece is hand made and lovingly-crafted using only the highest quality materials. If you can't find what you're looking for in our catalog, don't worry! At 99 Lollipop we can turn your creative vision into a high-quality custom creation. We can also monogram or embellish any existing item to your specifications. Simply contact us for more information.
For more iems please visit our website at www.99lollipop.com"

Of the artisan, "Hello. My name is Rachel of 99Lollipop and by day I am a psychotherapist working part time with the homeless of Los Angeles and part time in private practice.

By night and every other spare minute I knit, knit, knit!!! I have dreamt for years of putting my unique, one of a kind items into the public marketplace and have finally made the leap.

My work is made with attention to detail, individual styling and love.

I enjoy doing custom made work and can embroider and or embellish just about anything. I specialize in beautiful handbags and hats, but also make scarfs, shawls, actually anything!

In addition I teach knitting and crocheting to individuals and groups. I am reasonabally priced and very patient (so don't hesitate to contact me if you are in the Los Angeles area and desire to learn this incredibly satisfying and rewarding skill).

***For further and more extensive examples of our work, please visit us at www.99lollipop.com"

So let's explore the studios of our guild members of the guild by visiting their shop and letting them know what's best about it.

Remember to note here what you found the most extraordinary so that you might win the earrings or bracelet (gentlemen, I have one for you as well....no earrings though. I haven't bought stud findings yet.).

I hope you enjoy today. Have fun!

Thank you!

2009-04-12T06:50:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was surely the wildest train ride I've had in awhile. I was surprised at the depth of everyone's commitment to promoting me and at the results: In all the time I've been on Google Analytics I've never reached 50 unique visitors in a day. Yesterday's unique visitors (which probably excludes anyone who researched to promote me) was 68. If you are anything like me, you did your research first thing Saturday morning, so I know I owe a big thanks to everyone who took time from their Holiday Weekend to my advantage. I posted statistics here.

Some of the promoting I witnessed (I have no doubt I missed a lot of it) came from:

PiratePixieCrew
HaffinaCreations
MNHPhotography
Catinalife
Shedesignsjewelry
ArtisanGoodsbyGayle
Amy Designs
Moonstone
BijouxDesignsForYou
PicardCreative
LibertyDoll
JewelrybySandy
JewelrybyJoy
SweetwaterDesigns
AKimberlyDesign
LaDeDaCreations
JanelsonArts
MyDoggieAndMe
TrinketsAndTreasures
JennuineCandles
CelseaLynnDesigns
ColtPixy
LilBritKnits
ItsAJewelryThing
SupplyCloset
AHolidayGift
KraftyLady
ElecticOddities
CreativeCritters
BrokenHallelujia
DanglesbyDiane
Crystals-by-Jess
LicaLee

Many of you I met for the first time yesterday. Thank you!

Posting today:

Dragonfly

Coltpixy

Suzbax

JennuineCandles

WooleyCreek

MeaCulpaBodyandBath

Jewelry by Joy

KickinsKreations

TheJewelryShop

SilverRiverJewelry

Crazy Train Participants

2009-04-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

I completely missed, until this minute, a tragedy in the life of someone I care very much about that took place. Please read about it in her own words, as it may be a cautionary tale.

I want to thank all of the people who are promoting my studio on the Crazy Train. Most of you I consider my dear friends already, and I truly look forward to getting to know all of you. Each picture is clickable.

From PiratePixieCrew:

From HaffinaCreations:

From MNHPhotography:

From Catinalife:

From SheDesignsJewelry:

From ArtisanGoodsbyGayle:

From AmyDesigns:

From Moonstone:

From BijouxDesignsForYou:

From PicardCreative:

From LibertyDoll:

From JewelrybySandy:

From JewelrybyJoy:

From SweetwaterDesigns:

From AKimberlyDesign:

From LaDeDaCreations:

From JanelsonArts:

From MyDoggieAndMe:

From WooleyCreek:

From TrinketsandTreasures

From JennuineCandles:

From ChelseaLynnDesigns:

From ColtPixy:

And from LilBritKnits:

From ItsAJewelryThing:

From SupplyCloset:

From AHolidayGift:

From KraftyLady:

Eclectic Oddities

CreativeCritters

BrokenHallelujia:

DanglesbyDiane

Crystals-by-jess

LicaLee:

More to come!

All Aboard! Train Leaves PicardCreative Today!

2009-04-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Did you sleep well after chuckling through PicardCreative's studio? Thank you to all who visited and to those who bought magnets.

Remember to come back to discover another little town on the Crazy Train line. I know this artist well, and I hope you like her.

Updated Artful Seniors on Fire Roster

2009-04-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Acadienne	Crocheted items and gift baskets
AdornmentsbyBJ	Artisan Jewelry to fit your style
Alisuns	Swarovski , gemstone, and glass jewelry
AnnMadeStuff	Bags, accessories, and children's items
ArtbyJoan	puzzle greeting cards, Acrylic canvas paintings
ATouchofGlass	Stained glass art
ByDorothyLouise	Ceramic and vintage jewelry and collectables
CastinClay	Polymer clay art
Casual Cottage	an eclectic collection of fabric items and painted porcelain
Cherry Tree	Ceramic sculptures
Crazywomanglass	lampwork
CurlyCurvyWire	Handmade rings and adornments
DLCreations-AL	gemstone and crystal jewelry
EclecticOddities	She has some of everything here: jewelry, upcycled and new, fabric art and garments, note cards… ah, go visit her studio! Hehe
Eliswoodgifts	No two items in this studio serve the same purpose. Come see!
EllaBellaMe	Vintage look jewelry, vintage patterns, baby items
Franciebagsetc	OOAK bags from fancy to casual
ImagineArt	Vintage and art supplies
Kizington Place	Upcycled dominoes and strung jewelry
Krschurr	custom athletic wear
Ktdesigns	OOAK jewelry
LindaLewis	an eclectic collection of items from paper to fabric and needlework
MaggiesMarket	Jewelry supply, craft supply, jewelry for you and your electronics and your wine
My Sassy Glass	fused glass
Nossubgallery	Bead woven jewelery and 8strand braids
OldCroneBeadWorks	Vintage and Vintage style jewelry
Pepper	crocheted and knit items
Piscesmagick	Family (and pet) jewelry
SassyClayCreations	Shop was empty at time of posting
SecondHandRose	Vintage and sewn accessories and clothing
SimplyUniqueJewelry	Her name says it all
SpiritDance	All things spiritual and beads
Storybookquilts	Her name says it all: and she personalizes
TheChicadeesNest	this n that OOAK cards
tiedyejudy	If it's fabric, she dyes it!
VelmaGeorge	Crystal, gemstone, foil glass and more kinds of jewelry
VintageIntent	Very eclectic shop. You'll have to stop in to get a feel for it.
VintageNotionsLady	Her name says it all
UniqueEmbroideries	Baby items and embroidered patches and notions
Wooley Creek	Tribal and Ethnic jewelry
Zzazz	fabric housewares, and crocheted items

ArtFire Seniors on Fire Addendum 3

2009-04-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Remember you only have 6 days left to find all the letters and unscramble the cryptogram for the Easter Egg Hunt. And on the 17th you will be busy trying to find all the hidden treasures in the ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild's treasure hunt and giveaway. CCTexan is moving and wants to reduce inventory before she does. Everything in her shop is BOGO. She will refund within a few hours, except on Sunday, when she will be away from her computer longer than usual.

Don't forget to go see the little town of PicardCreative on the CrazyTrain. Go ahead. You need a laugh today. We'll wait.

Now that you are chuckling, the last two members of the Artful Seniors on Fire Guild as of the seventh of April are AnnMadeStuff and SecondHandRose. As usual, we'll let the artisans tell their story.

Of AnnMadeStuff, Ann says, "I love to sew and machine embroider. I do some bead work as well.

Items are made in a smoke free, animal friendly environment."

Of herself, "I am happily married and have 3 grown sons. I have lived in France, Switzerland, Maine, Florida and have come back to my birth state of Virginia, after being away for almost 40 years.

I was recently interviewed for the local newspaper because of my crafting!"

Anne is in the process of stocking her studio. She has plans to sell accessories and children's things. She has one apron listed so far but most of her product is bags of all kinds.

As an aging Trekker, I'm dying to ask her if the other side of this bag says, "Shoot to Kill."

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SecondHandRose is a seamstress who enjoys upscaling and vintage jewelry. You can find a variety of things in her brand-new studio. She joined ArtFire on March 29 and has some categories not filled as yet. I can't wait to see what goes in them.

Of her studio she says, "Welcome to Second Hand Rose! We offer the finest in altered, upcycled and vintage clothing and accessories. Here you will find hats, purses, jewelry, skirts, jackets and much more. Please stop in regularly as we will be adding more lovely items daily."

Of herself she says, "In high school I made my own clothes, and altered gowns for prom. Once I was married, I decided to make the baby layettes and bibs, then dresses for the daughters and dress pants for the boys. I also make my hubby western shirts and square dance dresses for me. Then later on I needed to make a lot of my own clothes once again since we had a large number of children to outfit! So this shop is a new venture in that I'll be altering ready made clothing, shoes, jewelry and other accessories and not starting from a pattern. I look forward to providing you with lovely altered items to wear and give."

So let's welcome our two newest members of the guild by visiting their shop and letting them know what's best about it.

I hope you enjoy today. Have fun!

ArtFire Seniors on Fire Addendum 2

2009-04-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

Before we step into the ASF Guild, some reminders for you:

The ArtFire Easter Egg Hunt is still going on until the 17th, The Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild has a treasure hunt and sale starting on the 17th, and don't forget to take a ride on the Crazy Train to meet more new artisans. AmyDesigns is donating 100 percent of her sales today. "In honor of Dean's 21^st birthday on Tuesday, April 7, I will donate 100% of my sales to the National Association for Down Syndrome. This organization offers wonderful support to parents and their kids, and we were so glad we found them when Dean was born."

Today's new members to the ArtFul Seniors on Fire Guild are UniqueEmbroideries and LindaLewis. SassyClayCreations' studio is still under construction.

UniqueEmbroideries "specialize(s) in machine Applique and embroidered quilt blocks, appliqued iron-on patches,handmade baby items and much more." I saw baby hats and burp cloths, to name two things sold other than quilt blocks.

Of the artisan, "Thank you for coming by! I hope you will enjoy your shopping!!

I have been selling on-line, since 2001. I started with Ebay,but with all the changes there, I left, and now I sell on different venues.

I am excited about this site and hope it continues to grow!

I started sewing when I was very young. Have tried just about all the arts and crafts there are, at one time or another, crocheting, ceramics, sewing, quilting, etc. Now I mainly sew quilt blocks, iron-on patches, misc. items."

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SassyClayCreations is still under construction.

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LindaLewis says, "Celebrating life by adding handmade items to make each day better! Handmade, hand-painted, unique - AHHH!" Walking into her studio is like walking into a Hallmark Store. I didn't see wrapping paper, but I might have missed it! She does cards, mosaics, stitching, ornaments, plaques, and more!

Of herself, Linda says, "Former teacher, secretary, medical transcriptionist, reading clinic owner, I started trying to create when my friend died of breast cancer in 2000. She challenged me to do whatever I could to do what I wanted with my life. In 2000, I started my website, Creative Artworks! http://www.creativeartworks.cc with only my own work, then expanded it the following year to include the work of others. My life is so rich, full, and rewarding now. I've met wonderful people on the Internet. :0) "

The decorations on the note paper are not stamps. They are hand paintings!

I hope you enjoyed this visit with our new guild members and will visit their shops to see what else they have in store for you. Have fun today!

And don't forget to take a ride on the Crazy Train

ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild Treasure Hunt

2009-04-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

The "Spring Cleaning & Treasure Hunt" event will begin on April 17th and run through May 1st. All studio members will have a special "Spring Cleaning" Section in their studio showcasing wonderful items on sale or some fabulous specials.

Prizes: There will be 3 jars--one for each category 10,15, and 20 discovered studios. Three names will be picked at random from each jar--the 3 winners of the 10 studio category will receive a lovely handcrafted pair of earrings, the 3 winners of the 15 studio category will receive a beautiful handcrafted bracelet, and the 3 winners of the 20 studio category will receive a fabulous handcrafted necklace.

Have you found the letters in the Easter Egg Hunt? There are some hints on the blogspot now.

And have you taken a ride on the Crazy Train? Some new artisans are waiting for you to discover them!

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday!

New Artful Seniors on Fire Members

2009-04-04T08:21:00.001-07:00

These are the new members since I posted the roster:

03/29/2009 - AnnMadeStuff
03/27/2009 - LindaLewis
03/19/2009 - SassyClayCreations
03/19/2009 - UniqueEmbroideries
03/19/2009 - curlycurvywire
03/17/2009 - AdornmentsbyBJ

We'll visit them here in order of joining the Guild:

AdornmentsbyBJ is a new Guild member, but not new to the hand made world. Her slogan is "Artisan Jewelry to fit your style" and she has crystal, gemstone, and natural products components in her jewelry and yes, a wide range of style.

Here is an item for the bride:

Of the studio she says, "Unique Artisan Jewelry Sets to Reflect Your Originality, Style and Personality. All one of a kind, quality handcrafted necklace and earrings sets."

And here is a silky necklace:

Of herself she says, "I am a wife, mother of three daughters and grandmother to three granddaughters and three grandsons. Besides designing and creating artisan jewelry, I enjoy playing the piano, gardening, and playing frisbee with my Jack Russell, Eddie.

Creativity in jewelry involves passion for the art. When an artist puts passion into their creativity, it often leads to striking results! Come browse and see for yourself!

My shop contains a diverse collection of handcrafted, unique, quality jewelry sets (necklaces and earrings) to adorn even those with the most discriminating tastes. Consider visiting my shop and browsing through the photos and descriptions of my creative style. I will custom make a design and create a one-of-a-kind piece for you.

My collection contains jewelry, all quality made with the finest of materials, to fit any budget, style, or special occasion whether it be casual or formal or somewhere in-between. Adornments to reflect your persona.

Materials of choice include semi-precious Gemstones, Pearls, Swarovski crystals, Wood, Shells, Sterling Silver, and a recent addition: silk or braided cord for Chinese knotting. I also love discovering vintage jewelry to use in my creations.

Memberships include S.R.A.J.D. (Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer #0517), I often post photos of my jewelry on Tribe.net, MySpace.com, Flickr.com, as well as Indiepublic and many other sites as well."

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I've seen CurlyCurvyWire in the forums and I want every single thing in his shop! I don't often wear anything but my engagement and wedding rings (the engagement ring is an amethyst that goes on my right hand), but I would definitely love to wear these!

Of his shop he says, "Thanks for stopping by my shop, I am very grateful. Your interest in my products is very much appreciated. Curly Curvy Wire creations are individually crafted in my home studio (smoke and pet free) with special attention to quality of construction and visual beauty.

See something you like, but it's not your size? Please contact me! With a few exceptions, most rings can be made to order in your size. Enjoy your time here browsing!

My Blog is: http://ireffacs.blogspot.com/"

This ring is enamel coated to fend off any allergy or green stain:

And of himself, "The use of rings for adornment may be traced as far back as history itself takes us. Besides the actual beauty of a ring, it often was a sign of authority. Rings are also commonly associated with love, marriage and friendship simply because of the symbolism attached to the never-ending circle.

This ancient custom of wearing wire wrapped rings is once again in vogue today, and Curly Curvy Wire is a source for a variety of classic as well as uniquely designed pieces. Rings are for wearing, giving, cherishing and enjoying, and it seems one can never have too many.

As a genuine southpaw (left-handed) I fall into the 10 or 12 percent of the population that are afflicted with this trait. I say afflicted because it goes without saying that most if not all the instruments and gadgets we operate with our fingers and hands, are developed with the premise they will be used in the right hand. However, I’ve heard it said that lefties tend to be more artistic, than perhaps their counterparts. Truth or myth, I’m not sure, but it does seem that most all my hobbies are slanted toward the artsy crafty type of things.

It seems I’ve always been interested in pursuing hobbies where my eye for the artistic could show through; painting, drawing, sign engraving, photography - and crafting rings is no different.

There is a lot of satisfaction in creating something of beauty from a length of straight wire, and ring making affords me ample opportunities for creative design. As you can tell by the items in my shop, I especially like working with copper. Copper was known to prehistoric people and was probably the first metal from which useful articles were made. Copper objects have been found among the remains of many ancient civilizations, including those of Egypt, Asia Minor, China, southeastern Europe, Cyprus (from which the word copper is derived), and Crete. Copper has long been used in the fabrication of many jewelry items, not just rings.

As a senior, and retired, I seek to remain active both physically and mentally. Quality ring design and fabrication is both stimulating and very rewarding.

A long time ago an old friend of mine once told me; 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever...' Certainly, that is still a true statement even today."

Two very talented additions to our guild. It seems as we get older, we DO get better!

I hope you enjoyed this visit with our new guild members and will visit their shops to see what else they have in store for you. Have fun today!

And don't forget to take a ride on the Crazy Train!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #13

2009-04-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hurray! What a great Friday! Today the ArtFire Crazy Train pulled out of the station! If you are confused by that statement, go here to find out about it.

It's the third day of the Easter Egg Hunt, so there are only 14 more days to get that cryptogram completely right and submit it.

And we have the last two studios of the original roster posted for the Artful Seniors on Fire, but don't think we've run out of things to show you. There have been a few new members since I posted the roster. We'll spotlight them, too, then post a new roster with them in the alphabet :)

Today we'll visit WooleyCreek and zzazz.

WooleyCreek is familiar to me from the forums. She's trying to act like a curmudgeon and failing dismally. Any profit from her art is earmarked for her dream cabin. Her family is helping her build it themselves to save money.

She does ethnic and American Indian jewelry. Her website as a lot of mexican jewelry, and her ArtFire shop has a plethora of woven seed beads. She complains she can't see ... I wonder why! All of her items are beautiful.

Aren't these earrings gorgeous?

Of her studio she says, "Welcome to my shop! I love Tribal and Ethinic Jewelry of every kind. As you can see, I specialize in Native American beadwork and crafts. I am new to Artfire so I hope you will enjoy my shop.

We Will ship anywhere! Just contact us."

And something both ethnic and traditional:

Of herself she says, "I have been beading since 1990. We also do other NA crafts. My husband and I set up at Powwows and Flea Markets to sell my crafts and Vintage Native American Jewelry. We also sell on Ebay. under the name of Wooleycreek.

I am disabled and spend most of my time doing things I can sit at the table to work on. Beadwork helps pass the time when I can't walk!"

I know I have my eye on a few things in her studio, so don't buy those ones!

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I've seen zzazz a time or two in the forums, too, but I'm less familiar with her work. I do remember seeing her signature pillow covers, though. And this patriotic afghan is beautiful!

To celebrate her new studio, "SPECIAL PROMOTION: FIRST THREE PURCHASES RECEIVE FREE CROCHET DISHCLOTH"

I've been washing with crocheted items for decades. I prefer them over the scrubbies.

Of herself, she says, "I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. I enjoy sewing for the home and crocheting for the family and home. Everything I create I do as if the item were for my own family. Hope you enjoy my items. "

I do, I want to get some of her place mats after I get the bead stuff relocated and can use my dining table again!

I enjoyed this walk through these two talented artisan's studios, and I hope you will go to their studios and see what else they have for you.

Have fun today!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #12 and Guild Roster Links

2009-04-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you are enjoying Spring weather! Colder here today than yesterday, but that's the Bay area!

Have you found the letters in the Easter Egg Hunt?

Watch this space for an ArtFire Jewelry Designers and Jewelry Suppliers Guild treasure hunt this month.

Since the March roster is hidden behind a weird link. I'll post the links to my guild rosters here. Eventually I'll repost them in alphabetical order with all the new members included.

Artful Seniors on Fire

West Coast Crafters

ArtFire Jewelry Designers and Jewelry Suppliers Guild

Today's Artful Seniors on Fire will take us on a walk through time: VintageIntent and VintageNotionsLady.

VintageIntent has an eclectic collection of vintage items.

Of her studio, Pat says, "WEBSITE: www.patzee.info

Welcome to my new studio. Here at my vintage inspired shop you'll find my handcrafted projects, embellishments, alterables for your own projects, recycled supplies, and vintage treasures that I've collected over the years. Anything vintage related just might show up, as well as my recycled altered art. So check in often to see what's new (or should I say OLD!).

I've been designing and selling my greeting cards and other art forms under the name of
CardsByPatzee.etsy.com
for quite some time. I also sell unique recycled craft supplies at
ThriftStoreSupplies.etsy.com.
Be sure to check out my positive feedback. I pride myself on customer service, and usually ship daily while keeping my shipping rates to the bare minimum. If you have any questions about any of my listings, please contact me and I'll get back to you promptly.

Hop on over to my blogs to find out more about me:
CardsByPatzee.blogspot.com
VintageIntent.blogspot.com"

As you cans see, she's a busy lady!

Of herself, she says, "My name is Pat Labella (aka Patzee) and I love everything vintage. I have a passion for crafting vintage cards, ACEO's, collage, and altered art. I scour thrift stores and garage sales searching for recyclable treasures that I can use in my art. But it doesn't stop there. I also search for all types of vintage items that I use and enjoy everyday. My home is filled with retro treasures I just couldn't pass by."

Her love of vintage is certainly benefitting us!

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VintageNotionsLady has just that in her store. She also has many patterns and oddments from the past. As in VintageIntent, you won't appreciate the variety until you visit the store.

I want someone to make me this shirt! I'll go on a diet so I can fit into it!

Of her store, she says,"I ship internationally. Please contact me for rates.
I love vintage and antiques. You will find a mix of both in my shop. I also make jewelry. If you are looking for something specific please contact me. I would love to hear from you.
Please check out my etsy shops:
http://www.vintagenotionslady.etsy.com for more great vintage
http://www.designbylevert.etsy.com for handmade and vintage jewelry
http://www.sisterandsister.etsy.com for handmade greeting cards
Please check out my feedback on etsy."

Of herself she says, "....My home is smoke free. I have a Pomeranian who keeps me on my toes and laughing. I love hearing from people. Please contact me for any questions or suggestions or if you think I have described merchandise inaccurately. I have two shops on etsy. http://designbylevert.etsy.com and http://vintagenotionslady.etsy.com

Please check out my feedback on these two shops. "

Don't forget to hunt and scour the shops for the Easter Egg cryptogram and watch this space for the AJDJSS treasure hunt.

I hope you enjoy your Thursday and remember it's only one more day til the weekend!

ArtFire Easter Egg Hunt Under Way!

2009-04-01T08:45:00.000-07:00

Naturally, I oversleep here on the west coast while everyone else is already hunting through the clues to the ArtFire Easter Egg Hunt!

That's not a real problem, I see, because a lot of the clues are easy -- but some are hard. I've already left one for later to ruminate upon.

Since the answer is time stamped, I think we'd better get going so I stopped to remind you to go to the Easter egg hunt blog and fill in the answer sheet and have fun doing it!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #11

2009-03-31T12:01:00.000-07:00

First and foremost let me wish my oldest most beautiful daughter a happy birthday. I know she has some tiresome chores today, but she should get home early and enjoy her evening!

Tomorrow is the big day for the start of the Easter Egg Hunt! No April Fool's joke! It's going to be fun.

On April Fool's Day there will be a great giveaway starting on ArtFire: The Easter Egg Hunt! Fifty studio artisans have hidden Easter eggs in their stores. Find them, unscramble the resulting cryptogram, and be the first to email the hostess with the correct answer and you can win a $50 gift certificate for ArtFire spending! There are gift certificates for the second and third correct answers, too!

The two Artful Seniors on Fire Guild members that I will spotlight today are tiedyejudy and VelmaGeorge.

TieDyeJudy says of her shop, "3/15/09 - I have finished moving my inventory to my shop here from my website... yaaaay! But if you want to check out any of my links, my art quilts, or my blogs, my website is still at www.tiedyejudy.com.
3/9/09 - Attention shoppers! Want to be notifed when new items are added or sales events? Contact me! Put 'add me to the list' in the subject line! I promise not to share your e-mail info, or spam you!
3/6/09 - Check out my new blog, hippiewear.blogspot.com for articles about my work, guest articles by other crafters, you name it!

I have been an artist/crafter most of my life, and love making colorful, affordable tie-dye clothing! I hope you spend some time browsing, and if you see something you like but need it in another size or style, be sure to send me a message, I am happy to do custom orders! Check out my patterns at http://www.tiedyejudy.com/patterns.htm to see what I have done in the past"

Of herself, she says, "I have been creating things since I was a small girl. It's in my blood, I am not happy unless I am creating. I started selling my work about 20 years ago, first to friends, then at craft fairs, on-line... you name it! I have joined Art Fire because it is a store front for handmade, hand-crafted items... just like being at a craft fair, only global! I love it!"

Strolling through her studio is fun. Just like a stroll through time.

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VelmaGeorge says of her studio, "I really love creating jewelry using crystal, seed beads, semi-precious stones, silver, gold and recycled vintage components.
Contact me at velmageorge@msn.com if you have questions about my items."

Of herself she says, "I'm a mother of two who likes to create jewelry, write and ponder the meaning of all things.

I make jewelry to stay focused and because I just love the beads... the array of colors and textures seems endless.

Things seem to come together when I carefully listen to the beads... "

She must really love doing her beads because I simply don't understand how she can sell her art for so little. I'll have to follow her around and find her suppliers!

I enjoyed browsing these two guild members' shops, and I hope you will too. Enjoy your day!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #10

2009-03-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

On April Fool's Day there will be a great giveaway starting on ArtFire: The Easter Egg Hunt! Fifty studio artisans have hidden Easter eggs in their stores. Find them, unscramble the resulting cryptogram, and be the first to email the hostess with the correct answer and you can win a $50 gift certificate for ArtFire spending! There are gift certificates for the second and third correct answers, too!

The two Artful Seniors on Fire Guild Members that I will spotlight today are StorybookQuilts and TheChickadeesNest.

StorybookQuilts has a great studio name because it says almost everything about the studio. Of her studio, the artisan says, "

My goal is for each and every Storybook Quilt to create comfort, foster love and encourage the development of a child's imagination.

IMAGINE being cuddled up under a quilt with your child or grandchild, reading a story. The events in the story play out in the fabrics in the quilt's squares. Together, you seek out the fabrics as the story is read.

After a reading or two, that wonderful feeling of being held and read to becomes part of the quilt -- always there for your child or grandchild, now and for years to come.

Both quilt and story are personalized, using your own wording.

To see the new themes we have in development, VISIT US at www.storybookquilts.biz. "

And of herself, "I grew up in the country where storytelling and quilt making were valued arts. I have been doing both all my life. Combining these two passions has delighted the grandparents, parents and little ones who now own Storybook Quilts. I much enjoy designing and producing both the quilts and the stories.

I am developing new themes constantly. A car and a rabbit are now on the design boards. You can track their progress on the Design Board page on www.storybookquilts.biz"

I have one grandchild that is VERY attached to a quilt that was made for him by his mother's coworker. I sure wish I'd known about storybook quilts when I had both the means and the new grandbaby!

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TheChickadeesNest cannot be summarized easily. It seems she has a little bit of everything in her studio.

In her words, "Welcome to The Chickadees' Nest. We will have a little of this and a little of that in our studio, just like a bird takes a little of this and a little of that to the nest. It all adds up to one wonderful and comfortable place to be. So come on in and take a look around!

This shop is a tribute to my grandchildren, my chickadees. I have further acknowledged my love for family in the category titles. These are real people to me and the titles are unique to each of them.

I have another online shop at Etsy. Please check it out, too. The URL is http://www.nanalee.etsy.com"

And of herself, "I am a *ahem* senior, though I don't really feel like one. I am no longer able to work outside of my home, or inside sometimes!! I have a chronic illness but I am able to do my artsy crafty stuff and sell online and I love it! It gives me contact with other people and it also gives me goals and that is important when one has chronic illness and pain. So, here I am at Art Fire and hoping for a great experience here. I have a large family and came from a large family so I do spend as much time with family as possible. I have 13 grandchildren who are absolutely beautiful and wonderful, just like their parents!! One more on the way..."

Margo, as you know, is the Guild Master of the Artful Seniors on Fire, and she designed the great tag I have at the top right of my blog.

I had fun tripping through these two studios and I hope you go to their sites and see what else they have in store for you.

Remember to have fun on this Monday!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #9

2009-03-29T08:12:00.001-07:00

Happy Sunday! Looks like it will cool off here again tonight. I'll miss the springlike weather.

On April Fool's Day there will be a great giveaway starting on ArtFire: The Easter Egg Hunt! Fifty studio artisans have hidden Easter eggs in their stores. Find them, unscramble the resulting cryptogram, and be the first to email the hostess with the correct answer and you can win a $50 gift certificate for ArtFire spending! There are gift certificates for the second and third correct answers, too! Read about hit here.

The two Artful Seniors on Fire Guild Members that I will spotlight today are SimplyUniqueJewelry and SpiritDance.

SimplyUniqueJewelry does one of a kind jewelry.

Of the studio, the artisan says, "Welcome to Simply Unique Jewelry.

I strive to make all of my jewelry one-of-a-kind creations. My first love is off-loom needle and thread work, but I also create many unique strung items. I look for the best materials possible and always am on the look-out for unique stones and glass. I love to highlight lampwork glass, and feature many USA artists work in my jewelry. I will credit the creating artists in my descriptions, when I know who created the glasswork. I strive to make my pieces as versatile as possible and consequently you will find that many have multiple ways of wearing them.

Please also see more of my jewelry at Simply Unique Jewelry! on Etsy.com"

Of herself, she says, "It started on a windy night.....No that's not what you want to know....I am an artsy-fartsy old lady that loves all things artistic....That's pretty much true, except for the old part....well maybe the old part too! Actually, I am a retired Military spouse, who has had the privilege of traveling around the world and the USA with my retired Army husband of 40 years. Whew!....that does make me old! Oh well, I'm still young at heart! We have lived in Georgia, Germany, North Carolina, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Northern Virginia, commonly known as the "DC area". While in Germany, we had the opportunity to travel to Holland, Austria, Italy, Spain, France, and England, as well as all over Germany.

I wouldn't trade any of it. I grew up in a little town, where I knew there just had to be more to the world than my little space. Little did I know what was to come! In all of these different locations, I experimented with different Arts and Crafts techniques. My own personal drive always made me strive for the higher artistic ends, rather than the craft ends. I have experienced Oil painting, Acrylic painting, macrame, custom sewing, Quilling, Decorative painting, and now Designer jewelry making.

After spending 17 years in the DC area, my husband and I decided we were ready for a change and moved to Florida to be closer to our oldest daughter and our grandchildren. About a year later our other daughter followed us. My grandchildren and my family are my greatest joys and passions. My art activities come in a close second.

I love working with color to create strong contrasts and beautiful, unique items. I am inspired by nature, sunsets, beautiful skies, the beads and stones themselves, but mainly color. I love the way one color plays off of and influences another. Sometimes it is the shine, or the texture that attracts me, but always the colors hold me. I also have a desire to create much more than I can possibly use myself, hence I will be offering finished articles for sale to you lucky folks! I strive to be as accurate as possible in my descriptions. I don't want you to have any nasty surprises. If you are not pleased with your purchases, I will refund your money upon return of the original items, in original condition, within 10 days of your receipt of the merchandise. As my items are going to be one of a kind items, I can not offer an exchange."

She definitely does beautiful work!

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SpiritDance does jewels for spiritual meditation.

Of her studio she says, "I AM OFFER SELECTED ITEMS AT REDUCED PRICES AND NEW ITEMS AT LOW PRICES AS PART OF THE ARTFIRE STIMULUS PACKAGE...from now until March 30th"

(Ed. Note: Eeek! hurry in there! ArtFire Stimulus package was conceived by an ArtFire artist to promote Artfire and showcase its artists. Stimulus package artisans have discounted some items to a most affordable level so that people can get a sample of the artist's work without causing another bank bailout...)

"Welcome to... my ideas done in beads..Meditation beads of all kinds to let your spirit dance

All spirit beads are ooak
I started making Spirit beads as gifts for friends and family..
The designs were done with the person in mind, their hobbies and connections..such as my sister loves dragonflies, brother lives on his sailboat..
so I found dragonfly beads and charms for her and sea charms and shell beads for him..

When designing my spirit beads I choose stones and charms to fit the pendant...

10 beads in the main circle is an easy count for meditation...also the odd bead, which I call the spirit bead, from native American tradition

beads come in either a silk or velvet draw string bag..jewelery in a gift box...

also at www.spiritdance.etsy.com
and for rosaries and knits at www.stringnstone.etsy.com

Thank you for stopping by..Margaret"

And of herself, "I am 60 plus ..have been sewing and knitting for 50 years and crafting for 40..I started beading sometime ago...

This year I was looking for a gift for brother's 50th, decided to do a St. Andrew's rosary..we are a bit Scottish...it was beautiful and I was hooked on stringing beads.

My first love is stones so I started doing research and putting together spirit beads..

I use Melody, Judy Hall, Diane Stein and Robert Simmons for stone meanings...any of their books will give you insight into the crystal world

there you have my story..Thanks for taking the time to read it, Margaret "

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #9

2009-03-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday everyone! I hope that you are relaxing and having fun!

The two Artful Seniors on Fire Guild Members that I will spotlight today are Pepper, a knit and crochet artist, and PiscesMagick, a human and pet adornment studio.

Of her studio, Pepper says, "Beautiful hand knit and hand crocheted hats, scarves, and many baby clothes. Using only the finest fibers and yarns."

Of herself, Pepper says, "I am a 'Nana' who loves to knit and crochet, although knitting is my first love. My favorite things to knit are the baby items. The little hats and sweaters and booties are so precious. I have a cat (Misty), and she watches every stitch I take. She never bothers my yarn or my knitting, she just sits and watches me, her head going back and forth as my hands do.

I have two grand daughters who are all grown up, and they have a tendency to 'steal' anything I make that is laying around. I have one great grandson, and he is so special to knit for. I love living in the northeast (except for the snow), and being near my hometown of Bolton Landing and close to my beautiful family. I lived in California for many years, and it is good to be home."

I knit, and I crochet, and I will be visiting this store for my grandbaby things.

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PiscesMagick is described, "Piscesmagick Jewelry is a small, one-person studio specializing in hand-crafted jewelry in various media for the entire family including your favorite dog or cat. "

This is named "Puppy's First Necklace."

PiscesMagick artisan says, "Istarted doing jewelry when I picked up a book on sale at the bookstore. I wasn't sure if it was something I'd like or not but I was soon totally hooked. You can view my web site at http://piscesmagick.tripod.com/

I also work at a regular job doing Night Audit at a Wyndham resort in north County San Diego."

This one is for the humans:

I hope you enjoyed visiting these two Artful Seniors today, and you will go to their studios to see what else they offer. Have fun today!

Taking a day off from everything but processing photos

2009-03-27T11:15:00.000-07:00

So here is a rapid cart to browse:

!-- Begin: ArtFire Rapid Cart (v1.0) for Alisuns -->

Alisuns

Buy Handmade

2009-03-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

Thursday already! I am so far behind my schedule for the week! I slept through sunrise this morning (the best time to take pictures in my apartment) but there's no sun peeking through the grey sky anyway... Today's Artful Seniors on Fire spotlights will be on NossubGallery and OldCroneBeadworks. I remember meeting NossubGallery in the forum on ArtFire and was charmed to be reminded of braiding techniques learned 50 years ago in summer camp....

Of her studio, she says, "Welcome to the Nossub Gallery!

We are currently, and hopefully will always continue to be, a work-in-progress. So please come back often to see how we develop.

Please visit my blog at www.nossubgalleyr.blogspot.com"

And of herself, "" ....no bio! I guess we'll be better off visiting her blog, anyway. I happen to know there is or was a tutorial about 8-strand braiding there...beware in visiting her studio...I want to buy everything in it!

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OldCroneBeadWorks' slogan is "Jewelry Even a Witch Could Love." I love it! She has some pagan themed jewelry, and some simply delightful jewelry! I'm partial to rubies, but this design would attract me even if I weren't:

Of the studio, "Elegant and Fun Jewelry With An Affordable Price Tag

Simple Pleasures for US $9.99

OR

Little Treasures for under US $20.00

Here you will find a little something for everyone.

Also you can find fine handmade Ritual Jewerly for the Pagan, Wiccan , Celtic and Druid
Alternative Religious Path.

All my items are handmade by me.

I do take special requests. Please email me with any questions.

Look for new arrivals to my store daily.

Hope to see you here soon."

Of herself, "I'm a retired great grandmother living with my husband
of 36 years in sunny Fl.
I have been making jewerly as well as handmade soaps and bath products and also dolls for over 25 years.
I owned my own store here in FL where I sold my handmade items and jewerly but just retired a few years ago.
I managed a store on ebay for quite a few years
and just opened this shop here on Art Fire.
I hope you take a few minutes to view my shop.
If you have any questions or comments please email I am always happy to hear from my customers.
Thank you,
dianne"

That lucite polkadot bracelet is just adorable!

I hope that you enjoyed meeting these two Artful Seniors, and will take a minute to visit their studios. Enjoy your day!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #8

2009-03-25T07:07:00.001-07:00

Good Wednesday morning to you! today we feature KTDesigns and MySassyGlass.

KTDesigns does one of a kind (OOAK) jewelry, as you can see by the pictures of it.

The artisan says, "Welcome to KT Designs at Art Fire. I make and sell handmade Jewelry. Mostly OOAK, some repurposed. "

Of herself she says, "I just recently retired from retail after...a VERY long time. Now I spend my days with my newest grandchild, Caitlin ( Caity to me). We like to watch Elmo and Abby Cadabby. And then she goes home and I get to play with my beads or paint. Other then that, the only other thing I do is read and listen to music on my IPod. I have 3 Kids and 9 grandkids scattered all over the west coast. And a husband!

I really enjoy making jewelry. I want to start working with silver and fire my own designs. I love art and creating. My Mom is a great artist and great Mom. We learned from her. She was always drawing and painting when she wasn't working. She worked hard at work and harder at home because there were 8 of us little angels."

Wow, I have a son-in-law whose family encouraged artistry. It blossomed in the entire family and I can see how Caity's grandmom must have been encouraged.

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And now on to MaggiesMarket. Ah, a search for this studio was unproductive. Maggie must have moved on.

Let's go on to MySassyGlass. The studio is described, "Studio of an Award Winning Glass Artist.
Check out the press release for "Art in the Garden" at http://www.mysassyglass.com/. What ever your personality type ... bold, sassy, modern, classic, sporty, edgy, daring, elegant, trendy, or unique. We have a pendant just for you."

Of herself, the artisan says, "Hi, my name is Susan and I am a fused glass artist. A few years ago, I was downsized out of my fourth job and decided that I should use my own skills to make my way in this BIG world. So, I went back to school and graduated with a degree in Web Development and a Small Business Certificate. With the completion of my schooling came the creation of my company which I named Sassy Glass LLC. "

Of herself, she says, "I originally thought I would be creating stained glass pieces, but once I experimented with fused glass I was hooked. And now I create original fused glass wearable artwork. I decided that since they are all one-of-a-kind pieces of art that they should be named and signed. And so each pendant has been given a named and "Sassy" is engraved on the back of each pendant. (So far I have named over twenty-seven hundred pendants.)

My daughter has since joined me and we love experimenting with glass to see if we can get the effect that we are trying to achieve. It is fantastic when we succeed in getting the look that we were going for but, we must admit that sometimes mistakes and surprises are so much better. It's like Christmas morning every time we open up the kiln.

Working with glass and heat is a magical combination. Layering glass adds depth and combining colors can create endless combinations. Then you can add Dichroic Glass that has magical properties all of its own. You see, Dichroic Glass will reflect one color while it transmits another color. Because of this characteristic, the dichroic glass will actually look like its changing color right before your very eyes. It is truly amazing to see.

We have lovingly created and sold pendants, slides, earrings, drop vases, slumped wine bottles, sun catchers/wind chimes and table art. Although we sell the majority of our artwork at Art and Craft shows in Wisconsin, we have also had our art on different websites for the past four years.

Patrons have asked and I must agree that it is very hard to sell some of the pieces that we create. They almost become a part of you. But, what we enjoy more is for someone that has already purchased a piece from us come back to buy gifts for themselves or others.

Happy Shopping! "

One should never say never, but I really don't imagine myself with all that heat and intensity. My hat is off to you!

I hope that you have enjoyed the spotlights for today. Be sure to visit their shops to see what else they have for you!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #7

2009-03-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

First, let me apologize for neglecting you yesterday. I was ill, and barely keeping up with email.

I'm MUCH better now!

This day's Artful Seniors on Fire Guild spotlight will be on KizingtonPlace and Krrschurr.

KizingtonPlace does upcycling, scarf making, and jewelry on ribbons, lanyards, and strung beads and gemstones.

Kiz says, "Hi There,
Thanks for stopping by. Dominos have been a source of creative ideas for me. Love the color and the ink's freedom of flow on the tiles. Hope you find something made especially for you, if not do enjoy your visit and please come again.
Kiz@Kizington"

And, "Kizington Place is where my ideas come to life in one form or another. However, not always as I see them in my mind.
After working in the 9-5 world for many years, I now create designs with inks on tiles. When not working with inks, I have a hook in my hand or maybe two needles. There are so many types of yarn available today, and the colors and textures are unlimited. So fun.
Oh, yes I also love being behind the camera lens. So much to learn and try.
Life is good!"

OK Kiz, any time you want to come to my house and photograph jewelry, you are welcome! Hehehe!

Krrschurr does custom athletic clothing: Nope, not in CA, in OH! Krschurr says, " I sew athletic wear for fun and function. To that end, the best fabric available is used, and all seams are finished.
Customize your shorts or leggings. I have many fabrics on-hand that you can choose from. You can view them on my flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flamingoks/
Look in the set labeled 'Fabrics Available'

Visit my blog, too, at http://www.flamingoks.blogspot.com
Verified sellers receive a 10% discount."

And, "My Motto: Life is short, Sew get on with it.....

I started sewing biking shorts for my daughters and their friends/teammates to wear under their basketball and soccer jerseys. The girls liked the bicycle shorts curved back because they don't slip down during active wear. The color combinations have been a fun part of their purchases, too."

This is a shoe bag for sports. Cool idea!

I hope you have enjoyed discovering these two Artful Seniors. Jump over to their shops and see what else they have for you!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #7

2009-03-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday!

Today we will feature to more ArtFul Seniors on Fire: Franciebagsetc. and ImagineArt.

Franciebagsetc says of her studio, "Welcome to Franciebagsetc. Your destination for quality, one of a kind, hand crocheted handbags, day, evening, casual or dressy, felted, upcycled sweater purses. Each to complement a special outfit. Handcrafted, affordable, gifts and accessories for women, children, and 'tweens. Visit often. New designs are added often. Add a Franciebag to your handbag stash! Visit Franciebags.com for more unique handbags and gifts. All handcrafted with particular attention to meticulous workmanship. Thank you for your interest."

She does more than handbags. This cloche, for exmple:

Franciebagsetc. says of herself, "Franciebags was named for my dear Mother, Frances, who taught me to crochet. After spending many years as a Dressmaker/Fitter, in several of Pittsburgh, PA's finest women specialty shops, I am now interested in having you choose one or more of my creations to add to your accessories or gift list. I love what I am doing and hope my handbags and accessories reflect that passion. You can also check out more of my handbags, etc. at Franciebags.com."

And, of course, a bag:

ImagineArt says of herself, "We specialize in vintage ephemera, along with interesting and eclectic supplies for mixed media, collage, altered art, card making and scrapbooking.

We travel the world, seeking out interesting treasures to bring to you. We hope you'll find our studio full of fascinating things to use in your artwork."

Of herself, she says, "Mixed media artist who loves rubber stamps, vintage ephemera, and eclectic art supplies."

Enjoy your Sunday!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #6

2009-03-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Today I get to meet Madelyn! I'm so excited! Mominlaw is coming into town so we'll grab takeout and pick her up from the airport and deliver her to Madelyn's Mom and Dad, so we have an excuse to intrude. I'm excited!

On to our daily spotlight: Today we have eliswoodgifts and EllaBellaMe.

Eliswoodgifts says, "I am a retired master carpenter who now builds unique handcrafted wood items in my small home shop. I have been designing and building items like this for years, and make each item by myself, one at a time, with care."

I wish I could justify buying this:

but it would make the rest of my living room look too shabby!

And this is so great! If I could unbury my note pads, I might get one!

Although Eliswoodgifts has no avatar or banner, the descriptions of products sounds professional and practiced. Don't let the lack of either keep you from this studio, which has been with ArtFire since last December.

EllaBellaMe says, "I am a big time lover of chenille and the vintage look. I use chenille in alot of the baby items I make and am constantly searching for cute vintage looking fabric.

I will also be listing some jewelry and adding other items as well. I MUST clean out the things I have been hoarding and I hope somebody actually uses them someday!"

She has a variety of things in her studio: Jewelry, sewing patterns, and baby things. I love these matching burp pads and bibs, but wonder how many moms can sleep well enough to keep them in the same place :)

Of herself, "I have been crafting ever since I was a child being inspired by both my grandmothers, Eleanor and Isabell. That is where the studio's name comes from....and me!

I do many different crafts and hope to display them all at one time or another so check back often. "

I hope you enjoyed this venture into two studios from the east coast. I did. Stop by their studios to browse!

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #5

2009-03-20T09:23:00.001-07:00

DLCreations-AL describes her studio, "My studio is located in a booth in an antique store. I also sell my jewelry there. A large part of my income is from repairing the vintage pieces my customers bring to me. My satisfaction is in their renewed enjoyment of their jewelry. More than that, however, is what each piece teaches me; pattern, color, style, workmanship, design, all influence and teach me. So when I pick up a selection of beads, gemstones, etc. I can listen to them suggest the best way to show their beauty."

and herself, "
I come from an artistic family. However, I am a late bloomer and only found my artistic medium after retirement. I am fast approaching 70 years. I began beading 7 years ago and am self taught, continuing to explore new techniques, and to aquire new skills.
In August 2007 I rented a 10X15 foot booth in an antique store and set up my display case and work table. It is both my shop and my studio 3 days a week."

EcclecticOddities describes her studio: "clectic Oddities is a collection of handmade items, created by a retired art teacher with too much time on her hands, and an overactive drive to keep busy!

Each item is one of a kind, and in some cases the style may be the same, but the materials vary, so that each piece is an original.

I love doing custom work, so feel free to request an item that you may not see in the Studio.

You will find fiber/wearable arts, jewelry, paper goods, odd bits/pieces and misc. clothing articles.

I am currently adding a couple of items a day, so check back now and then for new listings. Most will be new items, not found in my Etsy shop.

I also have 3 shops on Etsy :
NoDuplicates.etsy.com
FabricAnnex.etsy.com
EtceteraEmporium.etsy.com"

and herself, "
Retired high school art and theatre teacher.
A crafter, quilter, designer and seamstress for over 40 years.

Love all things 4 footed and furry, as well as our feathered friends. Live with 4 cats and feed all the neighborhood strays.

Have a variety of interests, thus the eclectic nature of my shop and handmade items."

I hope you have enjoyed seeing two of their items, and that you will visit their stores on ArtFire.com to see more.

Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #4

2009-03-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Today's spotlights from the Artful Seniors on Fire Guild are CherryTree and CrazyWomanGlass.

CherryTree says about herself: "I love working with clay and the greatest moment and the greatest disappointment is when the kiln is opened after the final glaze firing. It can be wonderful or a disaster!
Pieces that have hours spent on them can crack or the glaze doesn't work and its very sad, but when it comes out well, it's great!
I'm inspired by many things- Nature, beauty, stories and rhymes. I find a lot of inspiration on my daily walk in the woods with our Labrador Molly.
My daughter Jo is also very artistic and has a site on Artfire. She makes lovely cards and knits beautifully. (something I have never been able to do!)
Her site is knitting_pixie"

As a JT Tunstall fan, I couldn't resist putting up her black horse freehand sculpture.

And ArtFire artists love cats...

CrazyWomanGlass says, "Crazy Woman Glass is finally on Art Fire! We are a husband and wife team of self representating artists into glass. We make beads, pendants, marbles, jewelry, and fused and stained glass items.

We've just completed a new studio. We have three torches set up and are able to teach beginning, intermediate and specialty lampwork classes. You can see photos of the new studio at www.crazywomanglass.com or visit www.crazywomanglass.etsy.com

Thanks for looking!"

Her bio states, "There is something very magical for me in the transformation of sheets of glass into objects that transmits light and color as is the melting of glass rods in the flame and creating beads of all colors and shapes.

For over 12 years I have been working with glass in various forms, including stained glass, fusing and jewelry. Creating flamework beads for the last 8 years was a natural transition into another aspect of working with glass.

A Glass Torch Technologies torch that combines oxygen and propane is used to melt the glass to form the beads or off-mandrel work. These can be embellished with handmade twisties, stringers, latticino, silver, gold, copper foil, dichoric glass, or millefiore. The glass is then fully annealed in a kiln for durability.

Each bead is a one-of-a-kind piece of art that will last for many years. These beads are made into either unique finished wearable pieces, sold as sets, or individual beads."

I know I thoroughly enjoyed discovering these two ArtFire Artisans, and I hope you will visit their shop and enjoy them just as much.

ArtfulSeniors on Fire Spotlight #3

2009-03-18T12:43:00.001-07:00

Got pictures of Madelyn today. Hope the sweater I ordered her is in the mail when it gets here!

Today's Artful Seniors are CastinClay and CasualCottage.

Castinclay, Marie, describes her ArtFire site: "I love to create! My medium is polymer clay. I design jewelry and create mixed media wall hangings. I hope you enjoy my creations. If you have any special requests or would like colors different than what I am offering, let me know. I will be happy to make it for you if it is possible."

and herself: "I am a self taught artist. Painting was my first love then I found polymer clay. Now I do both. I have always been creative and spend many hours in my craft room. I hope my creations make you happy."

here are two listings, one of which is a painting:

Casual cottage describes her studio:
"I have been selling on the internet since 2002. I love the cottage style and strive for that in everything that I create. Painting, especially porcelain painting, and sewing are two of my passions."

and herself:
"I am a mother of one and grandmother of 8. I work part-time (3 days a week) and devote the remainder of my time to my family and business.

You can find me on Twitter under the name CasualCottage and also visit me on my blog:

Here are two of her items:

These are called fabric yo-yos, and used for many different things. Since I am fabric craft dumb, I'll quote her here too:
"Fabric yoyos are perfect for "sew" many crafting projects. Use them for quilting or applique projects or add them to purses, totes or any project that could use a little pizzaz!"

She also paints:

I hope you will visit these guild members' studios. Have fun today!

2009-03-18T05:11:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, welcome to the world to little Madelyn, who was born yesterday to my brotherinlaw and sisterinlaw. I can't wait to meet you!

And now to Artful Seniors on Fire Spotlight #2:

ATouchofGlass This artist describes her studio, "Hi. I mostly make stained glass designs for commissioned work although I make a few pieces for sale. If you have a pattern you like, one you've seen or would like one similar to one of my finished designs, I will be happy to make it for you.
Thanks for looking, Carol"

bydorothylouise: the artist describes her studio: "Many many moons ago I started out making inexpensive jewelery, at first aimed at little girls to fill out my table at the Farmers Markets and Craft Sales where I took my ceramics...... You know... just to have some affordable pieces to cover costs. The first grown-up jewelery had ceramic feature pieces: then because the lustre of pearls enhanced the lustre finishes on the ceramics, I added faux pearls. So I then had extra pearls to which I added shells and Mother of Pearl beads and pieces.. ......see................. the snow-ball effect. Meanwhile I had developed an interest in gemstones and their meanings and ancient attributes.

I had mostly put aside jewelery-making to concentrate on the flower-growing and herb- gathering, but age and injury caught up and I am no longer able to gambol on the hills and through the woods.

Sietse, perhaps to ease flak he was getting because of my frustration, encouraged me to get back into it. After all I do not have to be able to walk to make jewelery...... Now as well as the gemstones I have developed a love for Swarovski crystals and lampwork glass beads........

Sietse decided to try his hand at carving horn, so many of my pieces are really a joint effort as he cuts and polishes the antler pieces and polishes the teeth, fang and claw used in our specialty Totem Jewelery.

We hope you enjoy our creations."

This is one of her vintage offerings:

And this is one of her ceramic offerings:

I hope you enjoy visiting these studios.

ArtfulSeniors on Fire Spotlight #1

2009-03-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

First, Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Okay, folks, this should amuse us until sometime in the fall: I'll take those three guild rosters in the order posted and highlight one or two (depending on whether or not I have other news) of each of the artists in each of the guilds. I wanted to start with Artful Seniors On Fire because they have a wide variety of artists. Next will come West Coast Crafters, then last will come ArtFire Jewelry Designers and Jewelry Supply.

Acadienne

Crocheted items and gift baskets

Acadienne's artist describes her store: Here you will find hand knitted, crocheted, and, coming soon, embroidered items for you, your home, and your children. Baskets found in thrift stores have been repurposed and filled with spa cloths, dish cloths, and baby items for the spring or any season, and all sizes and prices are represented. All items can be ordered in custom colors, just ask! All items are made in smoke-free environments, including my workplace of 86 to 97-year olds with no contagious diseases, just dementia. Have one well-groomed dog who does not come to work with me.

She started selling because she saw an article in the newspaper, and because friends and acquaintances asked her to sell them things.

I didn't see any green for St. Pat's, but I love this towel set:

and this shawl:

I'm next: Alisuns: Swarovski , gemstone, and glass jewelry

I started selling jewelry because I was working in a pharmacy with an unhealthy atmosphere: the negativity and futility of the job was making me ill and I knew I'd have to leave. Since coming to the San Francisco Bay Area I've had trouble staying employed for the first time in my life. My age had begun to overshadow my experience, and most SFBay companies need office help with a broader range of skills. I thought this might be a way to supplement my income: How come no one told me how much it would cost? Hehehe!

Just in case there isn't something green in the rapid cart, here's one of my green items:

And for the other christian religions, here's something orange:

Next, we have ArtbyJoan: puzzle greeting cards, Acrylic canvas paintings. Joan began selling her art because she thought it might be fun! What a great way to start a business!

Joan introduces her studio: ArtByJoan's products are all hand painted and signed by me. I paint on many surfaces that are truly one-of-a-kind paintings, one stroke at a time.

I love painting roses, and am painting roses on mini canvases that are great surprises to be given on Mother's Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays, and special occasions.

Roses are a great way to tell someone you love them, thank them, proud of them, job promotion, get well painting, or any occasion!.

My prices are very economical, because I want to paint and spread happiness as well as teach art. My affordable prices give everyone a chance to own a unique painting.

Field of Poppies, an 8x10 original on canvas.

and

An original art signed pin, priced at only $3!

All the pictures should be clickable. I hope you enjoy the rest of your St. Patty's day.

AJDJSS roster is broken and I can't fix it!

2009-03-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

It's down below a buncha table cells I cannot get rid of. Please scroll in the original post :(

03/21/2009 - Mirricat
03/19/2009 - lineanove
03/18/2009 - nyxenchantments
03/16/2009 - JanelsonArts

1337art	jewelry, collage, and more
Alisuns	Swarovski and gemstone sterling and gold fill jewelry
almondtree	jewelry and jewelry supply, wire wrapping
amyleejewelry	OOAK jewelry
appleblossomfl	unique, handmade everyday jewelry and fun accessories at an affordable price
Aridanfashions	crystal, glass, beadweave jewelry
arielsdad	Jewelry and Jewelry supply
BacisCreations	jewelry
beadallabouti...	Jewelry supply
Beadlady5	Unique handcrafted necklaces, bracelet,s earrings, & more
beadsupplies	Supply
BelleLunaDesigns	This store was empty at the time of this posting
Berrybeads	jewelry
bijouxdesigns...	A little something for everyone!
BLuOrbDesigns	jewelry
brandybrookdesigns	Why wear ordinary when you can wear original?
BrassMonkeyOr...	Adornment for body and soul
bwdesigns	jewelry and jewelry supply
bydorothylouise	vintage and OOAK jewelry
ByHisStripes	Jewelry Supply
CalysJewelryC...	Jewelry
CarolJeansCre...	Jewelry and jewelry supply
catinalife	Gemstone jewelry by Joy
cctexan3	handcrafted lampwork and gemstone jewelry
CMandMJewelry	one of a kind jewelry for all tastes and styles
creativehaven	jewelry
CreativeSpark	handmade jewelry, artwork and household trinkets.
Cthings	Jewelry and custom jewelry
debideaux	glass jewelry supply and silver glass / swarovski jewelry
DebsDazzles	jewelry
DesignsByLynnea	Jewelry & more
Designswithattitude	Fused Glass jewelry
DLCreations-AL	jewelry and jewelry repair
dwhitecreations	handmade jewelry that has a definite ethnic flare
ErkNJrkCreations	jewelry and pendants
FaceofContentmentDesign	PMC and Art Clay classes, hand-crafted silver jewelry, and original polymer clay accesories
gardenofglass	jewelry and craft supply
gemkitty75	Jewelry with USA produced components
gemsbyjerri	Jewelry and jewelry supply
GlitterCrow	This store was empty at the time of this posting
goddessjoy	Handmade Adornment for the Everyday Goddess
HalfMoonBeads	OOAK jewelry and lampwork beads
Iadorbeads	jewelry that sings to your soul
ImagineThat	Handmade artisan beads and premium stones
JessicaSharra...	Wearable ceramic art
JewelrybyDesi...	Jewelry
jinx1764	Feathered and beaded accessories
JonaraBluMaui	Fresh and Funky beaded jewelry with an island twist! Specializing in beach wedding jewelry.
JSmaz	Chain maille, woven bead, and gemstone jewelry
JStoneCreatio...	Jewelry and candles
justthebest4u...	Jewelry, especially wire wrapped
Katsara	jewelry, including fiber jewelry, and other fiber arts
kcrystina	jewelry, mostly gemstone
LaBellaLuna	jewelry
LaDeDaCreatio...	funky polymer clay jewelry and supplies and more
LHJewelryDesign	Gemstone and crystal jewelry
libertydoll	jewelry and jewelry supply, lots more
libragear	hand made chain jewelry
LissaHarlin	This store was empty at the time of this posting
LoriRobbins	lampwork and lampwork jewelry
luxbeads	jewelry supply, gemstones
mamadivine	Extraordinary jewelry for the extraordinary woman
maryajewelry	Metalsmithed jewelry
mirthreverenc...	OOAK jewelry and lots else
Moonstone	jewelry and craft supply and Jewelry
mountaindreamers	sterling and semiprecious stones for everyday wear
MySassyGlass	glass jewelry and supply
MysticCreations	Jewelry and Jewelry supply
MyWiredImagination	Wire wrapped jewelry and tutorials
NatureWhispers	jewelry supply, furniture, paintings
NCTeddyBearLady	Jewelry, teddy bears, and more
outofthepinksky	Jewelry
patricia2558	Jeweled magic
phoenixllewelyn	Jewelry
pixestreasurechest	unique jewelry inspired by Nature
popnicute	OOAK jewelry, tutorials, and more
Roseange	jewelry, collage, and more
Rougeriverbeads	beading supplies
RoyalDesigns	Semi-precious gemstones, pearls, Swarovski and Czech crystals, lampwork, sterling silver and gold vermeil.
SanikiCreations	OOAK jewelry
schoolofcharms	Timeless and Eclectic Jewelry
ShinesBySherry	Jewelry and jewelry supply
ShinyAdornments	handmade beaded and wire wrapped jewelry
southfielddesigns	jewelry, bead weaving
StudioCDesign...	Trendy casual, vintage classic or contemporary elegance paired with beautiful hues of bold color
STudioOnTheHill	handmade high quality jewelry and supplies
SurpriseSupplies	Beautiful beads to inspire your creations
SusanCalvert	Necklaces and card art
suzbax	Jewelry to keep
TheQueensRoyalCoach	QUEENLY CHARMS, BEADS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, KEYCHAINS, ALTERED ART JEWELRY
timothyadamdesigns	metalsmithed everything
trinketsnwhatnots	Handcrafted Jewelry and Quilts that Suits Your Style of Living. One of a Kind Items!
VanBeads	Lampwork glass beads, fused glass, and beadwork
ViragoCreations	jewelry supply
WhimOriginals	metal jewelry and supply
whimsybymari	Lampwork and gemstone jewelry
WillowWalkerD...	beautiful, colorful and unique dichroic fused glass and wire wrapped jewelry
ZuZusPetalsCreations	Jewelry

ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild

2009-03-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

First, congratulations to CDZUIBA, the lucky Risky Beads giveaway winner!

Okay, I ran through the AJDJSS roster (the guild was once called ArtFire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Studios, and the tag is in too many places to edit so we use the mysterious extra S) and copied your slogan or listed a few words to describe the contents of your studios. Please feel free to comment below with an edit of your store description and I will do that for you.

1337art	jewelry, collage, and more
Alisuns	Swarovski and gemstone sterling and gold fill jewelry
almondtree	jewelry and jewelry supply, wire wrapping
amyleejewelry	OOAK jewelry
appleblossomfl	unique, handmade everyday jewelry and fun accessories at an affordable price
Aridanfashions	crystal, glass, beadweave jewelry
arielsdad	Jewelry and Jewelry supply
BacisCreations	jewelry
beadallabouti...	Jewelry supply
Beadlady5	Unique handcrafted necklaces, bracelet,s earrings, & more
beadsupplies	Supply
BelleLunaDesigns	This store was empty at the time of this posting
Berrybeads	jewelry
bijouxdesigns...	A little something for everyone!
BLuOrbDesigns	jewelry
brandybrookdesigns	Why wear ordinary when you can wear original?
BrassMonkeyOr...	Adornment for body and soul
bwdesigns	jewelry and jewelry supply
bydorothylouise	vintage and OOAK jewelry
ByHisStripes	Jewelry Supply
CalysJewelryC...	Jewelry
CarolJeansCre...	Jewelry and jewelry supply
catinalife	Gemstone jewelry by Joy
cctexan3	handcrafted lampwork and gemstone jewelry
CMandMJewelry	one of a kind jewelry for all tastes and styles
creativehaven	jewelry
CreativeSpark	handmade jewelry, artwork and household trinkets.
Cthings	Jewelry and custom jewelry
debideaux	glass jewelry supply and silver glass / swarovski jewelry
DebsDazzles	jewelry
DesignsByLynnea	Jewelry & more
Designswithattitude	Fused Glass jewelry
DLCreations-AL	jewelry and jewelry repair
dwhitecreations	handmade jewelry that has a definite ethnic flare
ErkNJrkCreations	jewelry and pendants
FaceofContentmentDesign	PMC and Art Clay classes, hand-crafted silver jewelry, and original polymer clay accesories
gardenofglass	jewelry and craft supply
gemkitty75	Jewelry with USA produced components
gemsbyjerri	Jewelry and jewelry supply
GlitterCrow	This store was empty at the time of this posting
goddessjoy	Handmade Adornment for the Everyday Goddess
HalfMoonBeads	OOAK jewelry and lampwork beads
Iadorbeads	jewelry that sings to your soul
ImagineThat	Handmade artisan beads and premium stones
JessicaSharra...	Wearable ceramic art
JewelrybyDesi...	Jewelry
jinx1764	Feathered and beaded accessories
JonaraBluMaui	Fresh and Funky beaded jewelry with an island twist! Specializing in beach wedding jewelry.
JSmaz	Chain maille, woven bead, and gemstone jewelry
JStoneCreatio...	Jewelry and candles
justthebest4u...	Jewelry, especially wire wrapped
Katsara	jewelry, including fiber jewelry, and other fiber arts
kcrystina	jewelry, mostly gemstone
LaBellaLuna	jewelry
LaDeDaCreatio...	funky polymer clay jewelry and supplies and more
LHJewelryDesign	Gemstone and crystal jewelry
libertydoll	jewelry and jewelry supply, lots more
libragear	hand made chain jewelry
LissaHarlin	This store was empty at the time of this posting
LoriRobbins	lampwork and lampwork jewelry
luxbeads	jewelry supply, gemstones
mamadivine	Extraordinary jewelry for the extraordinary woman
maryajewelry	Metalsmithed jewelry
mirthreverenc...	OOAK jewelry and lots else
Moonstone	jewelry and craft supply and Jewelry
mountaindreamers	sterling and semiprecious stones for everyday wear
MySassyGlass	glass jewelry and supply
MysticCreations	Jewelry and Jewelry supply
MyWiredImagination	Wire wrapped jewelry and tutorials
NatureWhispers	jewelry supply, furniture, paintings
NCTeddyBearLady	Jewelry, teddy bears, and more
outofthepinksky	Jewelry
patricia2558	Jeweled magic
phoenixllewelyn	Jewelry
pixestreasurechest	unique jewelry inspired by Nature
popnicute	OOAK jewelry, tutorials, and more
Roseange	jewelry, collage, and more
Rougeriverbeads	beading supplies
RoyalDesigns	Semi-precious gemstones, pearls, Swarovski and Czech crystals, lampwork, sterling silver and gold vermeil.
SanikiCreations	OOAK jewelry
schoolofcharms	Timeless and Eclectic Jewelry
ShinesBySherry	Jewelry and jewelry supply
ShinyAdornments	handmade beaded and wire wrapped jewelry
southfielddesigns	jewelry, bead weaving
StudioCDesign...	Trendy casual, vintage classic or contemporary elegance paired with beautiful hues of bold color
STudioOnTheHill	handmade high quality jewelry and supplies
SurpriseSupplies	Beautiful beads to inspire your creations
SusanCalvert	Necklaces and card art
suzbax	Jewelry to keep
TheQueensRoyalCoach	QUEENLY CHARMS, BEADS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, KEYCHAINS, ALTERED ART JEWELRY
timothyadamdesigns	metalsmithed everything
trinketsnwhatnots	Handcrafted Jewelry and Quilts that Suits Your Style of Living. One of a Kind Items!
VanBeads	Lampwork glass beads, fused glass, and beadwork
ViragoCreations	jewelry supply
WhimOriginals	metal jewelry and supply
whimsybymari	Lampwork and gemstone jewelry
WillowWalkerD...	beautiful, colorful and unique dichroic fused glass and wire wrapped jewelry
ZuZusPetalsCreations	Jewelry

Please don't discount those studios with one-word descriptions. Either it meant they did so many different styles that it couldn't be summed up in a phrase that made sense, or their specialty is one particular style.