The Muse has been revealed!

It's time to "Reveal the Muse"! Scarlet Larson over at The Beader's Muse has selected a winner and revealed the stunning "Muse" of Use the Muse III.



This beautiful butterfly was the only piece of the kit that had to be used in the piece. There are so many artistic people out there. I was blown away by the winners! Congrats to everyone for participating!

Here is my entry - Carenlian Copper Bliss



You can see all the entries by clicking here and here.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Una Tia Especial!

Holiday Catalog has arrived!

Visit Una Tia Especial more information!

***Update - December 20, 2009- The following items have been sold:

ZigZag Bracelet
Amethyst Floral Lampwork Bracelet
Terra Cotta Chandelier Earrings
Multi Color Cat's Eye Necklace
Turquoise Blue Sea Multi-Strand Necklace
Jupiter Swirls Set


Remember to check out my Etsy store for more items!

Use the Muse!

One of my fellow HAF Etsy Street Team artists participated in a beading contest called "Use the Muse". Scarlett over at The Beader's Muse, together with Artbeads.com, developed this contest. The key is to "Use the Muse". One item is chosen to be the Muse and it must be used in the finished piece. Each kit contains the Muse as well as other accent beads. Additional beads can be added and you don't have to use the kits beads. The only requirement is that you "Use the Muse" and not reveal it until it's time.

I started working on my piece a few days ago. I'm getting excited at what the finished product will look like. In the mean time, here's my workspace while I "Use the Muse". The Muse is NOT visible per contest instructions.



Check back later when it's revealed!

Mix it Up!

Usually my designs are very linear and patterned. Imagine my surprise when I grabbed a hodgepodge of Swarovski crystals and pearls and strung them together. What beautiful bracelets!

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

To Oxidize or Not To Oxidize???

I've been working with sterling silver for some time now but I only recently learned how to oxidize silver. What a transformation! It really adds depth to the pieces.

Here are a few examples....

Before:



After:



Before:



After:



Before:



After:



What's your preference?

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

Ring Crazy!

Rings are my new obsession!

They are so versatile and relatively easy to make. The beauty of them is that they can be made with sterling silver or artistic wire and you really can't tell the difference!

Here are three affordable rings I made in less than an hour!

Swarovski Crystal Copper Cosmic Ring


Swarovski Meridan Blue Rivoli Ring


Swarovski Volcano Rivoli Ring

Happy Fourth of July!

Who can say it better than Sam the Eagle....

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