Recommitment

No one told me trying to run a global empire was so much work!

I kid...I kid. I, by no means believe I am running a global empire. I'm just trying keep up with everything that needs to be kept up with when working in a social medium! Facebook, Twitter, Blogging....there is so much to do!

I am resolving myself to get back into blogging more often. I miss just posting pictures of my jewelry and telling the story behind it. Unfortunately, it may have to wait a bit longer....I had to take my iMac to the Apple Store for the second time in as many weeks! I know. You're saying to yourself, "But Macs are supposed to be problem free!" Well, evidently mine isn't...but I have had it for over two years, so I'm not really complaining. I had the hard drive replaced (at no cost! I cannot underscore the utter importance of buying an extended warranty when it comes to computers. Regardless if they are PCs or Macs) a couple of weeks ago. Then on Saturday, it wouldn't start up. Nothing. Nada. Zip. So, I brought it in yesterday and now the good folks at Apple have my computer.

In the mean time, I will try to take pictures of my lovelies, so I'll have something to blog about when I get my iMac back.

HAF Team Spreading the Love

This week we have a wide variety of featured artists from jewelry to infant clothing to fiber and felt! Please check out these great artists!

Monday 8.24 Virginia Nin - Handmade Art from Puerto Rico



Tuesday 8.25 Unkamengifts



Wednesday 8.26 The Pirate Chest by SisterJewelry



Thursday 8.27 Rose of Sharon Jewelry - AFF Jewelry



Friday 8.28 Artsy Crafty



Saturday 8.29 Artistic Will - Sparkling Glitter Artwork



Sunday 8.30 Fiber Felter by Raven333

HAF Team Spreading the Love

I'm a little late getting this blog post out...so without further adieu....this week's contestants!

Monday 8.17 Mylingy's Purr-fect Candles



Tuesday 8.18 YukoDesigns



Wednesday 8.19 VictorianFantasy



Thursday 8.20 MakintheBestofIt



Friday 8.21 Christine's Jewelry Box



Saturday 8.22 Shabby Rose Boutique



Sunday 8.23 Suzie's Armoire

Una Tia Especial - The Remix

Check out this video I made courtesy of Animoto to highlight some of my favorite pieces!

I'm featured in the Etsy Top 10!

If you're familiar with Etsy, then you're probably familiar with Tim Adam's Etsy Top 10. Every week, he selects ten items from ten Etsy stores to showcase! Artists clamor for a spot in the top 10....

Well, last week it was my turn!!!!!!!!!!



Tim selected my Volcano Swarovski Rivoli Ring!

If you want to vote to be considered for a spot in the Etsy Top 10, go to Tim's Blog and pick your favorite from last week's Top 10. (No pressure to choose my ring....Hee Hee) and post it in the comment section. He usually also requires a cross comment in an Etsy thread, but that doesn't seem to be the case this week.

The next Etsy Top 10 will be posted August 18th. Enter your shop today!

HAF Team Spreading the Love

Ta Da! Here are this week's featured stores! Check them out today!

Monday, 8.10 - Crazy but Cute by Andrea Majot



Tuesday, 8.11 - Crafty Pants Carol



Wednesday, 8.12 - Bitsy Creations



Thursday, 8.13 - White Raven Arts



Friday, 8.14 - Foret...Emporium of the Unique




Saturday, 8.15 - Seedlings Bits



Sunday, 8.16 - A Touch of Glass

HAF Team Spreading the Love

I'm part of the Handmade Artists Forum's ETSY Street Team and we've taken to selecting one shop every day to promote promote promote!

For fear that real life would get in the way, I've decided to blog the love weekly!

Without further adieu, here are the HAF Etsy Street Team stores for the week of 8/3/2009:

Monday 8.3 - Eclectic Collective Handmade Designs by Roboresa


Tuesday 8.4 - WildWomanCreations


Wednesday 8.5 - Cutie Patootie Beads


Thursday 8.6 - Simply Sugar Designs


Friday 8.7 - Nature's Decor


Saturday 8.8 - All Thangs Old But New 2 U


Sunday 8.9 - Memories in Mosaics

Especial de Domingo - Two for the Price of One

Today's Sunday Special is twice the fun! I wasn't able to blog last Sunday as I spent a glorious weekend at Lake Erie and finished up the trip with a fabulous excursion to Cedar Point! Oh, how I love roller coasters! Here's a view of Cedar Point from the marina's golf course...



Now, on to the business at hand!

Today, I'm highlighting Meagan at Meagan's Designs on Etsy! Meagan's store is full of hand-knit lovelies! Her crafts are practical and cute!

Check out this deep purple coffee mug cozie...

And this gorgeous chartreuse neck warmer...

Don't forget to visit Meagan's Etsy Shop:



And her blog!

The second Etsian I'm highlighting is NunofaKind on Etsy! I'm finding through my Etsy Secrets membership that there are so many talented artists out there! Nun is no different! Her creations are meant to show the bonds of sisterhood, both familial and friendship! What better way to say that someone is your sister! She has nuns for every occasion and occupation!

Check out the Dental Hygienist Nun. Which reminds me...I need to change dentists!



There's even the Wedding Planner Nun!



Make sure you visit her shop today!



And don't forget her blog!

One Lovely Blog Award

Lori Dean Dyment of DeanDymentStudios gave my blog its first "One Lovely Blog Award"! I am truly touched. I gladly accept this honor and will happily fulfill the duties that have been bestowed upon me. ☺

Lori is a multi-faceted artist! Her Etsy shop is full of all sorts of goodies, from original prints to oil paintings to glass pendants! Make sure you check out her shop as well as her Blog!

Want to play along?  Here are the rules:

*Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

*Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

*Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

And without further delay, here are the fabulous blogs I hope you'll check out!

1. T and Little S Designs
2. Side Lines by Made by Swirly Girl
3. Shazzebeth Creations
4. Bijoux Boutique
5. Cindy's Art and Soul
6. Canadian Rockies Art
7. Blooming in Japan by Mee a Bee
8. Mandibeads
9. Julie Magers Soulen Photography
10. While Tangerine Dreams
11. Linda B's Jewelry Designs
12. By Jen
13. Blah. Blah. Ramblings from a Design Studio <-- Love this title! 

14. Creative with Clay
15. jbEbert - pearls, gems,...and a little bling

Especial de Domingo - Jen Kiaba Photography on Etsy

Time for another addition of the Una Tia Especial Sunday Special!

Today I've chosen to spotlight Jen Kiaba. Jen is a wonderfully talented photographer and a very nice person to boot! ;-) I discovered her work through Etsy Secrets and I discovered her personality through Twitter and Facebook. She is always supportive and offers really great photography tutorials. Her tutorial on Picassa is a must see!

Her photos are unique and interesting. They make you want to look deeper. Take "Under My Toes" for instance. If you enlarge the image, there are subtle pink flowers on the ground.



I love how she uses different hues to really capture the essence of the photo:



Jen's work is outstanding! Visit her blog here!

And make sure to check out her awesome Etsy store!:

Featured in Mosaic Monday

Thanks to Maria for featuring me in her Etsy Secrets Mosaic Monday! She featured my Zebra Pride Car Charm!



You can check out her blog here!

Especial de Domingo - The House of Mouse

This week I've decided to profile Anna Greaves of The House of Mouse on Etsy. Anna is a fellow Etsy Secrets member and but for ES, I don't know that I would have ever found her adorable shop.

Her art is mice! Don't you just love it?!? Her creativity flows in abundance with her creations. I saw the Barack Obamouse and I was sold. I placed the order immediately! I can't wait to receive it and show it to all my friends. I've already got the space picked out in my office to showcase this masterpiece!




Wonder Woman Mouse!




And because I am a Harry Potter fanatic -



Visit her Etsy store today!



Check out Anna's blog - Life, Craftiness and Everything Else! and her bundle of cuteness here!

Colors

Before I started making jewelry, I didn't fully understand the entire spectrum of color. Growing up, we were taught the colors of the rainbow - ROY G BIV - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. Well now, thanks to Swarovski, there's Siam, Fire Opal, Citrine, Erinite, Sapphire, Tanzanite, Amethyst, among many others.

I've gone through phases of favorite Swarovski crystal colors.

My first obsession was Fire Opal and Siam.




Then I moved to Crystal Copper.




Now I'm hooked Padparadscha. And I don't even know how to say it.




What's your favorite color?

Especial de Domingo - Mad Maggie Designs

The first Etsian I have chosen to feature is Leslie Gidden over at Mad Maggie Designs. She's been extremely supportive and friendly at EtsySecrets and I just love her designs!

Her Etsy store is fun and hip! Take a look at these candy filled earrings!



Another example of her out of the box creativity are her listings for Map pieces as a pendant!



It's been so fun exploring all the different artists out there. Leslie is extremely talented.

And her Blog!

*All pictures property of Leslie Gidden

New Feature!

I've recently joined a discussion group with many fascinating fellow Etsy sellers. It's so cool to see just how many creative people are out there and the numerous ways to be creative. We're all committed to seeing everyone succeed and the support we're giving each other is amazing.

In an effort to promote world wide creativity, I'm going to feature a fellow Etsian every Sunday, in what is going to be called...wait for it...

Especial de Domingo 

(Sunday Special)

I thought I'd play on my own shop name. Clever, huh? :)