Smiles and Sunshine!

January 30, 2008

Talent Database

Filed under: Etsy — smilesandsunshine @ 8:13 pm
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The database is free to join and only takes a minute to create your own listing.
Check out my listing!
-Smilesandsunshine

TalentDatabase.com is a web-based talent network where you can promote your ability, stay informed of the latest industry news, and exchange ideas with the world of talent.

I just created a free listing on http://www.TalentDatabase.com, the industry’s source for talent and creativity. Take a look at my page!  If you create a listing too, we can network with each other to increase our exposure on the web.

You can also acknowledge my talents with a quick testimonial that will keep my listing at the top of the searches.  I would really appreciate that.

The database features daily industry news and serves as hub for 20 channels of talent, and is so much more than a simple networking site.

The database is free to join and only takes a minute to create your own listing.
Check out my listing!
-Smilesandsunshine

TalentDatabase.com is a web-based talent network where you can promote your ability, stay informed of the latest industry news, and exchange ideas with the world of talent.

My Visit With Jewelry By Day

Filed under: Etsy, Friends, Making Jewelry, Networking, Oregon, pendleton — smilesandsunshine @ 8:03 pm
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Believe it or not, I used Etsy Local to search for artisians in my area.  One talented lady convo’d me back and asked if I wanted to visit her studio.

Of course I did!  Working out of my home makes me want to visit a real jewelry studio, and there was one right off of Main St.  I went up to visit her and saw her lovely space.  Her name is Jewelry By Day, and she runs a successful jewelry business right here in Pendleton, Oregon.  She is also beginning to sell her wares online.  Her website is http://www.jewelrybyday.com and her Etsy shop is http://jewelrybyday.etsy.com.

Here are some of her pretty necklaces! 

          

We had fun connecting and learning from eachother.

January 29, 2008

Mammadoo’s Matryoshka

Filed under: Embroidery, Networking, sewing, swap-bot — smilesandsunshine @ 8:34 pm
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Mammadoo’s Matryoshka

Originally uploaded by mammadoo’s art

I participated in a Swap-Bot Matryoshka Doll Swap. These are the dolls that were made for me. They arrived today. Aren’t they cute!
It is really fun to make something for a complete stranger and have them make something for you. And so far my presents have been inspiring.

For example, I received some bookmarks and beads from Polska (Poland). I received them while I was reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I was inspired to continue reading and to learn more about World War II.

Then, I received these dolls. They make me want to stitch flowers in different ways and to try a loop stitch to bind felt softies.

So, because of my experiences, I would recommend Swap-Bot. Check it out!

January 28, 2008

Snow Day!

Filed under: Etsy — smilesandsunshine @ 11:27 am

Oh, snow!
Glorious snow!
That cools the skin
White feathers blow

It warms the heart..
And cheers the day
When school is out
And kids can play!

January 27, 2008

Blue Between, Artist of Amazing Lampwork Beads

Filed under: Etsy, Featured Etsy Sellers, Making Jewelry — smilesandsunshine @ 9:50 am
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This week I chose to interview an artist called Bluebetween at Etsy.  She also has a website of her own at http://www.bluebetween.com.  I myself was inspired by her tree charms.  I love trees.  Enjoy our little conversation…

        

First of all, what inspires you?
Mmmn, what doesn’t? Nature is probably my biggest influence – trees, birds, flowers, ocean life. I’m fascinated with unusual color combinations and textures. I love art in any form, collage art, altered art, folk art, abstract… and when I’m feeling uninspired, I will often look through magazines such as Somerset Studio – with all the collage art – you know, with wings and crowns and amazing texture and color. Sometimes I’ll thumb through my huge art history book as well. Or Flickr’s “most interesting” photos… or… Quilting Art Magazine is always wonderful. I have a “little” magazine problem actually. I love looking through magazines.

And when did you begin creating lampwork beads?
I started making jewelry (this time around, I really started when I was a kid) after my son was born. I was having a hard time finding free time (he was the kind of baby you couldn’t put down, super high-needs) and I really needed some time off, so I made a deal with my husband that I was going to get out of the house one night a week and do something, anything, to get a break. What I really wanted to do was crawl in bed and read a book or even better, sleep… but I found myself at Michael’s Craft store wandering the isles. Just wandering… and I ended up in the bead isle. I got a magazine about making beaded jewelry and some pretty purple beads and some elastic string and decided to make myself a bracelet. And then I had enough left over I made another and another and found it very relaxing. I didn’t want to stop and started making gifts for everyone I knew… and eventually enough people said I needed to start selling my pieces. As time went on I got pickier and pickier about my materials – stringing wires AND beads. I discovered handcrafted lampwork art beads and fell in love… so much so that I wanted to try to make them myself. I signed up for a lampworking class at the community college and then bought all my equipment second hand and built a studio in the garage. So the short answer is: about 4 or 5 years ago, but I haven’t been making beads that long – it has always been hard to find free time to melt glass, and then when we moved I lost my studio and had to start all over again. My new studio was finished this summer and I’ve been catching up for lost time ever since.

How do you like doing business on Etsy? Do you sell your work anywhere else?
I think Etsy is great. I love how easy it is to set up shop, how well it integrates with PayPal, how nice it feels to be involved in something so grass-roots and artist oriented. I have also been selling my jewelry on my own website: http://www.bluebetween.com for several years and I just recently started selling my beads on the auction sites, eBay and JustBeads.

Is this your full time job?
It is, now that my son is in school. It’s more than full-time actually, the business side of things takes up way too much of my time, I wish there was more time for melting glass and creating.

What is your favorite piece that you have for sale right now? And why?
I love this bead: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9032952 – I actually gasped when I first saw it after it came out of the kiln. I love the colors and how the blue frits blended with the green base, and how the tree and hearts pop. I almost didn’t list it… but I can’t keep all my favorites. So there it is, for sale. I hope it goes to a good home.

And finally, do you have anything else you want to tell us? A blog address of your own?
I’ve been blogging for years: http://bluebetween.blogspot.com/ – lots of my photographs are there (I’m doing a 365 days of colour photo thing this year, so something new every day), home decorating, crafts, kiddo pictures, garden, dogs, cat… lots of beads… you know… my life!

About the name The Blue Between

The name The Blue Between was inspired by a childrens’ poem by Kristine O’Connell George:

“Everyone watches clouds,
naming creatures they’ve seen.
I see the sky differently,
I see the blue between—”

To me, Seeing The Blue Between represents the artist’s eye, daring to live life in your own unique way.

January 26, 2008

Scarf Crocheted Using Recycled Cotton Yarn

Filed under: Crochet, Etsy — smilesandsunshine @ 8:55 pm
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I bought some wonderful yarn 1/2 price from an Etsy seller, soulfulhues, and now I am crocheting a wonderful scarf.
One day, when I was getting feedback on my first Etsy scarf, someone mentioned that they loved it, but they only purchase natural fibers. That makes, sense, I thought. So I set myself on the lookout for inexpensive natural fiber yarn on Etsy.This is the yarn I bought from soulfulhues on Etsy

What I found was this 100% cotton, recycled yarn. Soulfulhues takes a sweater (I assume they use a sweater) and pulls the yarn apart. Then she dies it new colors and rolls it up into a new ball of yarn.

Since the yarn was on sale, I decided to give it a try. I can’t put it down, it is so nice. The yarn doesn’t catch on my dry skin like acrylic yarn does. The only down side is that the strands are not rolled tight like new yarn. But, soulfulhues has a new machine that will do that for her, so I am looking forward to her new yarn listings.

I was pretty impatient waiting for my yarn to arrive. I almost bought a skein of acrylic yarn at a store to tide me by. I’ve always used acrylic yarn and have thought nothing of it. When I mentioned this in a convo to soulfulhues, she wrote back saying, “Holy moley, don’t buy acrylic! It’ll be there soon, I promise :)

Update 4/3/08: I made the scarf, but after I washed it, I didn’t like it’s shape. So it is just hanging around. I don’t have any room to really dry it flat at my house. Anyway, if anyone is interested in trading for it, I would be open to that idea.

Embroidered Rose Pillowcase

Filed under: Embroidery, swap-bot — smilesandsunshine @ 2:37 pm
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Embroidered Rose Pillowcase

Originally uploaded by shaunaaltman

I finally finished this pillowcase. I will be sending it to the UK for a handmade gift swap on http://www.swap-bot.com.

I started the pillowcase excited about the verigated thread. I like it, but I think I like solid colors better than this specific thread. The dark part is almost black.

I would also like to learn the best trim to use on this kind of pillowcases, as I seem to enjoy making them a lot.

January 21, 2008

My E-Interview with Made by Railyuh

Railyuh’s work took my breath away when I came across it while I was chatting away on the forums.  The photos I love most were the pictures of the Oregon coast.  While, I live in Oregon, I am now several hours away from the lovely ocean, much further than I used to be in Eugene.  It was interesting to read about Railyah and her craft.  I hope you enjoy our interview.   Railyuh’s Etsy Shop is http://railyah.etsy.com.Photo taken at Cape Arago State Park.

Smiles:  How long have you been interested in photography?

Railyuh:  I have been interested in photography for about ten years now. I started out taking photos for my high school yearbook with my dad’s SLR and my love for it grew from there. 

Smiles:  What is the hardest part for you?

The hardest part for me is finding time. I’m the mother of a very active two year old and sometimes I just don’t get to have time to myself for my creative pursuits. I also have a variety of other crafting hobbies and so it is hard to balance all of them.

Smiles:  What is the most rewarding part?

Railyuh:  It is rewarding for me to hear and see that other people enjoy my images or the things I create. I love knowing that something I’ve done has given someone else a taste of beauty or enjoyment.

Smiles:  Do you feel like you have been successful using Etsy as a selling tool?

RailyuhI just opened my shop at the beginning of this year so at this point I haven’t been successful in a financial sense, but I have great hope that it will come in the near future.

Smiles:  What is the one item that you would really like to place in someone’s home? And why?

RailyuhIt’s really hard to choose! I have two types of images that I really love, landscapes and my black and white photography. My personal favorite is the caterpillar from my playground series (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8893534), but some of my landscapes are really special to me too. I love it when someone finds something about one of my images that is personal for them, so ultimately I would really like people to choose my photo not just because it’s nice to look at but because it means something to them. I can’t really choose that for someone else, so I just hope that I have enough images out there for people to find something for them.The caterpillar-like climbing object has always been a personal favorite of mine.

Railyah’s Bio
While I like to experiment with a variety of crafts, photography has always been one of my first artistic loves (the other is writing). I especially enjoy landscape photography and I think the beauty I see in the natural world inspires me to fill my home with natural handmade items. I also love viewing ordinary objects from different angles and perspectives in my black and white photography. I hope sharing my images will bring a little beauty into the lives of each person that views them.Some people have asked where the name “railyuh” comes from so I thought I’d share. My first name is Aurelia (pronounced uh-rail-yuh), but I grew up going by my middle name because Aurelia was hard to spell and pronounce. By the time I was in high school a shortened version, “railyuh,” became my nickname with a few close friends. It soon became my online screen name, hence my shop with items “made by Railyuh”!Feel free to visit my blog to learn more about me and to see sneak previews and updates for my shop. I’ll also be featuring some of my favorite etsy shops, artists, and items there: http://etsyfind.blogspot.com.

Featuring Other Etsy Sellers

Filed under: Etsy, Marketing, Networking, Websites — smilesandsunshine @ 8:46 am
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As I’ve been reading other people’s blogs, I’ve noticed a certain trend to feature another Etsy’s seller in your blog.  This really makes sense as I find new Etsy sellers all of the time who have great things to buy and just to look at sometimes.  Since I can’t honor their art by purchasing everything I  LOVE LOVE LOVE, I can promote them here on my blog.

January 19, 2008

10 Beads You Don’t Need — My First Swap-Bot Swap

Filed under: Making Jewelry, Marketing, Networking, Supplies, Websites, swap-bot — smilesandsunshine @ 10:31 pm
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10 Beads You Don’t Need

Swap-bot URL: http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/10956
Swap Coordinator: smilesandsunshine (contact)
Swap categories: Jewelry
Number of people in swap: 3
Last day to signup/drop: January 30, 2008
Date items must be sent by: February 14, 2008
Number of swap partners: 1
Description:
Swap 10 glass beads with 1 person.

This is my first time hosting a swap.

Don’t swap seed beads.

Hearts will be awarded if you do something extra that matches your partner’s profile.

Everyone is allowed to particiate. I will use my judgement if a swapper has recent negative feedback or no-sends.


I swap with Swap-bot!

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