Simply Shiny Life

I am participating in this year’s Etsy Yart Sale, from Wednesday June 10th through Sunday June 14th, 2009. Now extended until Midnight, Central Time, Monday, June 15th.

I’ve set up a SPECIAL YART category in my Etsy shop and all items in this category are substantially marked down. This is your chance to grab a great deal on a handmade jewelry item you’ve had your eye on for a while.

So what the heck is YART? It’s a term derived for an artistic spin on the traditional Yard Sale:

Art+ Yard Sale = Yart Sale.

Some items in my Special Sale section include:

Prices on all YART sale items are already marked down, so grab the deals while they last in my shop. I don’t run these types of specials very often.Happy YART shopping everyone.

Don’t miss a single post.
Want to get the latest Simply Shiny post by feed burner? Click here
Want to receive the latest Simply Shiny post via email? Click here
Want to be notified of the latest ShinyAdornments artisan handmade jewelry sales and special events only available to newsletter subscribers? Sign up for my newsletter.

TGIF everyone!

MYSTERIES OF LIFE

1. Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, “I think I’ll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out”?

2. Why do toasters always have a setting that burns toast to a horrible crisp which no decent human being would ever eat?

3. Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

4. If Jimmy cracks corn and noone cares, why is there a song about him?

5. Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

6. If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?

7. Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but don’t point to their crotch when they ask where the bathroom is?

8. Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

9. Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both dogs!

10. What do you call male ballerinas?

11. Can blind people see their dreams?

12. Why ARE Trix only for kids?

13. If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that Acme crap, why didn’t he just buy dinner?

14. Why is a person that handles your money called a ‘Broker?’

15. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

16. If a man is talking in the forest, and no woman is there to hear him, is he still wrong?

17. Why is it that when someone tells you that there are over a billion stars in the universe, you believe them, but if there is a ‘wet paint’ sign somewhere, you have to touch it to make sure?

18. If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

19. Is Disney World the only people trap operated by a mouse?

20. Why do the alphabet song and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ have the same tune?

Don’t miss a single post.

Shiny Spotlight Thursday
There are some really talented artists, designers and creators that sell their handmade items on Artfire and etsy. I thought it might be nice to highlight some of the things that caught my eye this week while browsing. It’s sad really, that my paycheck is not able to adequately keep up with my great finds.

Clicking on each image will link you to the seller of each item, if you decide you simply must purchase it.

If you haven’t opened an account on etsy to purchase handmade items, you really should. Also, if you haven’t checked out Artfire in a while, you need to browse the new shops and the new studio designs. Artfire doesn’t require you to open an account to purchase handmade goods. Easy peasy.

Fine Art: Hand painted on stretched canvas Tree Lights

 Handmade Ceramic Bowls: Set of three by DaoGreer Earthworks

Handmade Silk Scarf: Silk Wrap hand painted in cobalt and plum by Wild Ginger Silk

Handmade Blackberry Sage Olive Oil Soap by Boondock G

Look for Shiny Spotlight Thursday every week.

Don’t miss a single post.
Want to be notified of the latest ShinyAdornments artisan handmade jewelry sales and discounts only available to newsletter subscribers? Sign up for my newsletter.
Want to get the latest Simply Shiny post by feed burner? Click here
Want to receive the latest Simply Shiny post via email? Click here

I am participating in this year’s Etsy Yart Sale, from Wednesday June 10th through Sunday June 14th, 2009.

I’ve set up a SPECIAL YART category in my Etsy shop and all items in this category are substantially marked down. This is your chance to grab a great deal on a handmade jewelry item you’ve had your eye on for a while.

 So what the heck is YART? It’s a term derived for an artistic spin on the traditional Yard Sale:

Art+ Yard Sale = Yart Sale.

Prices on all YART sale items are already marked down, so grab the deals while they last in my shop. I don’t run these types of specials very often.Happy YART shopping everyone.

Don’t miss a single post.
Want to get the latest Simply Shiny post by feed burner? Click here
Want to receive the latest Simply Shiny post via email? Click here
Want to be notified of the latest ShinyAdornments artisan handmade jewelry sales and special events only available to newsletter subscribers? Sign up for my newsletter.

From time to time, I profile fellow artisans from Artfire and etsy. Today’s artisan profile belongs to Ginger  from MsBelle.  I adore Ginger… she’s just about the nicest person on the planet. And her jewelry is drool worthy. Her entire shop’s contents really need to live in my house. Really. (Ginger is offering a discount to Simply Shiny Readers… see the blurb near the end of the profile. )

Ginger says “my goal is to bring you affordable, high quality jewelry. I don’t believe it should cost an arm and a leg to own a beautiful piece of jewelry with nice quality stones that you can keep and wear for years. I try to use the highest quality stones, beads and findings I can in order to bring you good quality, affordable elegance. I love simple pieces that flow and move. And of course, I love shiny, sparkly, glittery things! I hope you enjoy my jewelry as much as I love making it.”

Etsy shop link: msbelle.etsy.com
Artfire shop link: msbelle.artfire.com
Name: Ginger Wagner
Blog: msbelle.blogspot.com
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/msbelle/
Location: Charlotte, NC

Where did you start and how did you learn to make the products you are creating today?
I began making wire wrapped jewelry just prior to Christmas of 2005 after seeing a necklace on my sister. It used wire wrapped briolettes on chain and I thought it was so pretty that I wanted to make one for myself. I searched online and found a tutorial on how to make wrapped loops. Then I discovered other tutorials and realized just how much there was to learn about wire wrapping and jewelry making in general for that matter. That Christmas I made earrings as gifts for my mom and three sisters. That’s how I began.

What are your favorite materials?
I love gemstones first and foremost. Pearls are right up there too. I use a lot of wire and chain as well and am just getting started in metal work, but it’s the gems for me.

What are your favorite pieces to create?
I love to create wire wrapped pieces. Wrapped briolettes are my favorite. There’s something about them that I just love. It’s very satisfying to wrap a beautiful briolette. It’s almost a zen thing.

What was your favorite custom project for buyer?
I was asked to make a necklace to go with a pair of earrings that had been given as a gift. The recipient wanted a necklace to match. It consisted of gorgeous high quality polished nuggets of citrine, amethyst and smoky quartz. It’s still one of my favorite pieces.

What’s been your biggest handmade/creative oops?
Gosh, I’ve had so many I don’t know if I could pick just one! My most frustrating so far was a pair of solid 18K gold earwires I was making. I had already them formed and hammered them, and was filing the ends smooth when I dropped one of them. In looking for it, I ran over it with the wheel of my chair and squashed it. Had to scrap it and start over. A few choice words were said that day!

What inspires you?
I’d have to say I’m inspired by the gemstones themselves. They give us endless color combinations, shapes and textures that are always inspiring. I find myself going to sleep thinking of gemstones and what I’m going to make with them. Many days I wake up the same way!

How do you describe your design style?
I make more simplistic, timeless pieces that are not overpowering or overdone. That’s my taste so that’s usually what I end up making. Sometimes people like nothing more than a pair of gorgeous gemstone earrings or a glittering solitaire necklace that catches the eye and embodies simple elegance. Sometimes that’s all you need.

What artists have influenced you, and how?
When I was first starting out and was looking at different wire artisans online, I came across “A Pretty Rock”, Sky Dreams, and also found Marie Wu. I was fascinated by their wire wrapping choice of gemstones. Always high quality, gorgeous pieces. They inspired me to learn to wrap briolettes and to always pick the nicest stones.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Create a high quality product that you can stand behind and be proud of, and treat your customers they way you would want to be treated. If you do both of those things, chances are your customers will return to you.

What do you wish someone would have told you when you first started selling online?
Invest in as good a camera as you can afford. Pictures really are worth a thousand words.

How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
Most of my time is spent with my 7 year old son. I also like photography and like to take pictures of everything from my son to ordinary, everyday objects as well as jewelry. We love visiting the NC mountains where I’m originally from. I can find a multitude of things to photograph there. Aside from that, I like to listen to music, bluegrass especially. Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Alison Krauss are some of my favorites.

Do you have a giveaway/discount/special you would like to offer readers?
I’d be delighted to offer your readers a 10% discount off their entire purchase by entering the code “SHINY10” in the message to seller upon checkout. I’d love to have them stop by!

Thanks Ginger!

I am participating in this year’s Etsy Yart Sale, from Wednesday June 10th through Sunday June 14th, 2009.

So what the heck is YART? It’s an artistic spin on the traditional Yard Sale:

Art+ Yard Sale = Yart Sale.

I’ve set up a SPECIAL YART category in my Etsy shop and all items in this category are substantially marked down. This is your chance to grab a great deal on a handmade jewelry item you’ve had your eye on for a while.

Prices on all YART sale items are already marked down, so grab the deals while they last. I don’t run these types of specials very often.

Happy YART shopping everyone.

Don’t miss a single post.
Want to get the latest Simply Shiny post by feed burner? Click here
Want to receive the latest Simply Shiny post via email? Click here
Want to be notified of the latest ShinyAdornments artisan handmade jewelry sales and special events only available to newsletter subscribers? Sign up for my newsletter.

I’m “destashing” even more of my jewelry making magazines in my Artfire supplies shop . There is an assortment of wire work and bead work magazines as well as a few how to handmade jewelry making books. (You can see some examples pictured below)

If you would like to stock up on some back issues pretty inexpensively, this may be your chance. I’ll combine shipping and refund any overages to you.

Don’t miss a single post.
Want to get the latest Simply Shiny post by feed burner? Click here
Want to receive the latest Simply Shiny post via email? Click here
Want to be notified of the latest ShinyAdornments artisan handmade jewelry sales and special events only available to newsletter subscribers? Sign up for my newsletter.

Over the last months, I’ve been profiling fellow artisans from Artfire. Today’s artisan profile belongs to Laura from LaDeDaCreations. She’s an incredibly creative and supportive member of the Artfire community. Laura says her studio “reflects the hippie inside of me! I love psychedelic themes and objects and that comes out in most of my creations. If you’re looking for funky and fun you will love LaDeDaCreations!”

Artfire studio: LaDeDaCreations
Name: Laura Ruiz
Where else can we find you and your work?
ladedacreations.com, ladedacreations.1000markets.com, lalabug71.etsy.com
Blog: ladedacreations.blogspot.com/
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/ladedacreations/
Location: Catoosa, Oklahoma

Where did you start and how did you learn to make the products you are creating today?
I started working with polymer clay about 13 years ago and learned mainly from books then. I stopped doing it for years and picked it up again 1 1/2 years ago and now find my info online.

What are your favorite materials?
Polymer clay, hemp, wire

What are your favorite pieces to create?
I enjoy making the hemp items and incense burners the most. The incense burners you can make any shape or style you want with the clay so there are no limits!

What was your favorite custom project for buyer?
I don’t know if this was my most favorite custom order but it was the most challenging! I had someone order 16 custom ornaments for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence http://www.flsisters.org/ I had to make each one look like the pics of the sisters that was emailed to me. I learned a lot from that project!

What’s been your biggest handmade/creative oops?
Last Nov. I went with my husband on a business trip and took all of my clay and art stuff including my little oven. One night i was baking some earrings and a ring and the hotel room started to look a little smokey! I unplugged the oven and opened the windows (even though it was 19 degrees outside) and my husband was freaking out that the smoke alarms were going to go off and the hotel would have to evacuate! LOL! It all turned out fine but my clay was a little charred!

What inspires you?
I think I’m mainly inspired by music. I listen to so many different kinds so each one has a different mood to it.

How do you describe your design style?
Groovy, fun, hippie, or just plain old strange!

What artists have influenced you, and how?
Last summer, when I was going through the most horrible time in my life, i was searching the internet for polymer clay designs and came across http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkiken/page8/ . Her work really spoke to me and her detail inspired me. She is also how I found Etsy. Several months later i contacted her through Etsy and let her know how her art had helped get me through the roughest time in my life. She wrote back and told me I had made her cry! It just goes to show, you never know how your art is going to affect someone or help bring healing to someones emotions!

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out? What do you wish someone would have told you when you first started selling online?
The best advice ever is do what you love and what comes natural to your hands. Don’t compromise just because something sells better than something else. You want to always love what you do with your art and not let it become a job. The only thing I wish is that I would’ve found ArtFire sooner. I kept seeing threads about it on Etsy but never looked until Jan. 20th 2009. As soon as I read about the site I snagged my $7 verified membership!

How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
Watching movies with my husband, playing with my kittens. or doing nails at our day spa Laura’s Garden Spa.

LaDeDaCreations is offering a buy one get one 1/2 off (equal or lesser value) in her Art Fire studio for Simply Shiny Readers through Friday, June 19th. She’s also offering the same deal for any items found at her other shops. COOL!!  Just let Laura know you saw her deal on the Simply Shiny blog when you contact her or purchase your item.

Thanks Laura!

Don’t miss a single post.

My friend Misty shared these gems with the plurk world,  and they are just too good to not repeat. Happy Friday everyone.

• One of life’s mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.
• My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.
• A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills… she has 14 kids but doesn’t really care.
• The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.
• The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don’t know what you are doing, someone else does.
• The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.
• Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.
• Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
• I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers.
• Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!
• Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like…’You know sometimes I forget to eat!’ …..Now I’ve forgotten my address, my mother’s maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!
• The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.
• I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That’s my idea of a perfect day!

Don’t miss a single post.

Shiny Spotlight Thursday
There are some really talented artists, designers and creators that sell their handmade items on Artfire and etsy. I thought it might be nice to highlight some of the things that caught my eye this week while browsing. It’s sad really, that my paycheck is not able to adequately keep up with my great finds.

Clicking on each image will link you to the seller of each item, if you decide you simply must purchase it.

Finally, if you haven’t opened an account on etsy to purchase handmade items, you really should. Also, if you haven’t checked out Artfire in a while, you need to browse the new shops and the new studio designs. Artfire doesn’t require you to open an account to purchase handmade goods. Easy peasy.

Handmade Retro Coasters from beSPAlicious

Handpainted Floral Spring Glass Pitcher

Handmade Bloodwood Ring with Ebony Edges

Handmade Mini Owl Cards – set of 6

Look for Shiny Spotlight Thursday every week.

Don’t miss a single post.