The Winner of the blog feature is RobynsNestBoutique

The votes have been counted that the winner is ... Buffalo Wings and Celery Soap, which SOLD!

Congratulations Robyn! I sent the interview questions and will feature her on my blog soon.

New topic: Sat. at 10 pm is the end of my Christmas in July sale section.

Get these red flower lampwork beaded earrings (bubblegum red earrings) before the price goes up!

Thanks for reading, blog readers.

EtsyTwitter Team Shop of the Week - Bella Bead Jewelry

Our Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week is bellabeadjewelry, where you can find handcrafted beads, findings, and jewelry made from them They are created by the proprietor, Linda Lawrence. Her art and the the Etsy shop in which she sells it, are only one of the creative sides to her life. During the day, Linda is an art teacher in a local elementary school and, as she puts it, she "plays with fire by night!"

Baby Head Button

Linda has been making glass beads and jewelry for several years. She finds it interesting and challenging because there is always something to learn and improve upon when working with glass beadmaking. Many things inspire Linda in her creations; in fact, anything that catches her eye could possibly spark an idea for a bead or jewelry design. Linda adds, "the students I teach are a huge influence on me. I adore children. They are not complicated and are so free and open generally". Linda has a very personal feel about her work and says "the love that I have for making my glass baubles comes through each piece. I want my customers to enjoy it as much as I did creating it!"

Lampwork Disk Earrings

Linda's main goals for her Etsy shop are to work smarter, try new things, and keep bellabeadjewelry stocked. "Its hard juggling it all but I believe good planning is key!" Tweeting must be hard for Linda to work into her busy schedule, but she uses Twitter to entice her followers into "popping over to my shop, blog or visit our shop of the week". Linda feels her greatest tools are her blog (to direct people to my etsy shop) and her newsletter.
bellabeadjewelry is offering a 15% discount for the week of July 26, 2010

~~~~~~~

Please visit bellabeadjewelry!

Shop: http://www.bellabeadjewelry.etsy.com/

Blog: http://www.bellabeadjewelrybylinda.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BellaBellaBeads

Christmas in July Sale from Linda B’s Jewelry

I’m excited to present a few items from my Christmas in July sale so you don’t miss out.

Red Round Beaded Silver Heart Earrings

Red Flower Dangle Earrings

Flower Post Earrings
 

Bumblebee Glass Heart Pendant Set

 

I also have some destash jewelry supplies for sale.

Bali sterling silver spacers

 

Wine Charms

25 Fridge Magnets

 

Thanks for looking, Dear Blog Readers.

Linda's Top 5 Etsy Shop Finds-Vote until Sun. at Noon for your Fave

Since I'm back online with 1 working computer, I'm resuming my Top 5 Etsy Shop Finds Blog posts of favorite items from Etsy shops. Hopefully, I be able to do them weekly.

Pleave vote for your favorite item by posting a comment, and the winner of the votes will get a blog feature interview here on my blog.

Lilacs from Above

Buffalo Wings and Celery Soap CUSTOM SCENTED
You Pick Your Flavors VEGAN SOAP

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49404003/adjustable-quartz-ring-copper

Soap Sampler 6 Pack

Pottery Bowls

Look in the Etsy forum threads next week in promotions to be considered. It's easy to be considered. Just follow the directions.

As always, thanks for stopping by, Dear Blog Readers.

Have a great weekend!

Jewelry Fame Sale - Thurs. 7/22 at 9pm Etsy (Eastern time)

I'm having a Fame Sale
I hope you can come to my Etsy Shop online sale, so it counts for my Fame Sale.


On Thurs. 7/22 at 9pm Etsy time, I'll be having a sale in this Etsy forum thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6578295  - Hope you can come and support me by purchasing or bumping up the thread.

If you see something you like, Convo me and I can reserve it for you for 24 hours. You can also ask if I can recreate sold items, usually they're one of a kind, but I can check.

Please post on your FaceBook and Retweet for me.
I always appreciate your stopping by, Dear Blog Readers.

Featured Etsy Seller Blog Interview - Laughing Fridge

We are Donna and John McLean, and live in beautiful Portland, OR with our 2 dogs and 3 cats. We started making silly magnets for our family as gifts and discovered how much we enjoyed it. We opened our shop on Etsy a little over a year ago and have been creating fun and funky magnets ever since!

Fridge Magnet

Our big old cat Indy is the inspiration for our fat cat magnets, and our dachshund Hannah inspired our wonderful wiener magnets, but I’d have to say our bizarre sense of humor is our biggest inspiration.

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?
For me (Donna) it was clothes for my paper dolls. I would design my own outfits, color them and cut them out. John can’t remember his first creation but he’s sure it was made out of wood!

Party Girl Kitty

Why should people buy handmade?
If you want quality products made from the heart, buy handmade! Support artists and crafters, not the big box stores that sell assembly line items.

Any tips or bits of wisdom on selling handmade creations?
Love what you do and it will show in your work. Promote your creations, participate in local craft fairs, hand out business cards, tell all your friends, but most of all be patient and don’t give up!

Tarzan and Cheetah

Online Information: Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaughingFridge

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laughing-Fridge-Art-Magnets/119234182547?ref=sgm

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaughingFridge

Our blog is Laughing Fridge Art Magnets http://laughingfridgemagnets.blogspot.com/

Apart from creating things, what do you do? Donna is an accountant part time and John is retired cabinet maker. We love to garden, do home remodeling projects, see an occasional movie, go to the beach, and just relax at home with our furry kids.

Fame Sale Thurs. 7/22 at 9pm Etsy or EDT

I hope you can come to my Etsy Shop online sale, so it counts for my Fame Sale.


On Thurs. 7/22 at 9pm Etsy time, I'll be having a sale in this Etsy forum thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6578295  - Hope you can come and support me by purchasing or bumping up the thread.

If you see something you like, Convo me and I can reserve it for you for 24 hours.

Please post on your FaceBook and Retweet.

I always appreciate your stopping by, Dear Blog Readers.

New Jewelry Designs

I took a wire wrapping class and have been getting outside my comfort box in creating new jewelry items. I hope you like them. These are a few new styles.

On Thurs. 7/22 at 9pm Etsy time, I'll be having a sale in this thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6578295 - Hope you can come and support me by purchasing or bumping up the thread.

Turquoise Wire Wrapped Pendant

Pink Dahlia Adjustable Ring

Light Green Cubed Wire Wrapped Earring Hoops

Copper Wire Wrapped Clear Round Pendant with Swirls

Please feel free to browse my shop and if you can order Thurs. around 9pm Etsy time, it would help me out immensely.

Thanks, Dear Blog Readers,

Linda B.

I'm in a New Treasury with Great People

42things contacted me to say she included my new Pink Dahlia Ring in her treasury.

Here is the Dainty and Sweet treasury

Please click and comment on all the listings.

Thanks for visiting, dear blog readers.
Linda B. 

CrochetGal Christmas in July EtsyTwitter Style

Valerie, the crochet talent and proprietor of crochetgal, also sells handcrafted soap dishes made in her family's woodshop. My favorite item is this:
Crocheted Lace Butterfly

Valerie is the sole designer and creator of crochetgal's crocheted offerings. She crochets each item with meticulous detail and is equally committed to customer service. She is inspired by "almost anything" she says, "from an interesting piece of material to a shape to a color". Valerie loves the flexibility and change possible with her craft as she explores various methods in detail. She says, "Right now I'm in my 'exploded lace' period with the crochet and have been there for about 3 years, but I see that direction changing within the next 2 years."

crochetgal is celebrating
Christmas in July with
20% off all shawls
20% off a wide range of yarns,
(some yarns are net 65% off reg retail price!)
~~~~~~~
Etsy shop - crochetgal.etsy.com
Confessions of a Yarnaholic Blog -crochetgals.blogspot.com
Twitter - twitter.com/crochetgal

Smutopia - EtsyTwitter Team Shop of the Week

I've been having computer problems and I'm so happy to be back and sharing the EtsyTwitter Team's shop of the week with you. Jessica Smutek of Smutopia (smoo-topia),  offers jewelry and accessories.

Blue cha-cha ring

 She uses primarily stone, glass and metal beads and components in her work.  There is such a variety of materials and techniques, she told me, that it is impossible for her to get bored! She says she “has always been inspired by the diversity of nature--so much so that when looking at my collection as a whole nearly every design falls into one of three categories: Sea, Earth, or Sky.” Her inspiration is very personal and so her art is very personal. As she puts it “Each piece I create is a reflection of the beauty I see in the world around me. I love the thought that my designs are bringing the beauty of nature to my customers’ as they are worn.” 

Check out this Convertible Bracelet/Necklace

Smutopia is offering a Shop of the Week
special from July 12-18:
a free zipper-pull charm with every purchase!
PLUS, through the end of July:
FREE Domestic AND International Shipping
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://smutopia.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/smutopiaJewelry
Facebook: http://facebook.com/smutopia
Blog: http://smutopia.blogspot.com

Items for Sale

I haven’t been online for a little while. Both my computers were down, 1 hard drive crash and my cat ate my laptop cord.

Been having huge Etsy, Twitter and FaceBook withdrawals, so I’m glad to be back.

Here are some listings from my shop. I’m also having a Christmas in July sale, and items have been marked down 10-40%.

 

This lovely Strawberry Quartz Pendant Set was $18 and now is $13.

 

New Green Jade Gemstone wire wrapped briolette earrings

 

This glass heart bumblebee necklace was $20 and is now almost 50% off.

 

Red Flower Dangle Earrings

Yellow 60s Retro Smiley Face Earrings

I hope you find some items you have to have. Feedback is welcome as always.

Thanks for reading, Dear Blog Readers.

Wednesday Blog Hop - Join Up

Wednesday Blog Hop

I'm Unplugged

Just wanted to let you know that my computer is down; the hard drive has an error message on it and it won't boot, so it's in the repair shop. And, my cat chewed the laptop cord, so it's not working either.

So, I only have limited access to the Internet for a while and am checking for Etsy orders and emails. I hope to use this time to create more jewelry and accessories and get better photos.

Sorry for the inconvenience, Dear Blog Readers. Please check back, I'm hoping it's temporary.

Francesca of Virtueknits - Blog Feature

You voted for the green knitted patchwork headband and here is my interview with Francesca.

Name: Francesca of Elk Grove, CA
Etsy teams: CCCOE team, CAST team, Sac Etsy team and Sactometro team

I am 28 years old and knitting is one of my many hobbies. I have a very creative personality, so I really enjoying creating lots of different things. I also love to write music, sing, and play guitar. I have a 5-year-old daughter who also has her mother's creative streak. She also loves to sing, dance and tell stories.

Cream Knit Beaded Purse

I am mostly inspired by colors and nature. When I see a color that I love, I just get a picture in my head and I go home and just have to create. After a good long run, I look around and see the sun and trees, and feel inspired. I feel like I am in touch with God's great creation.

Orange and brown flower headband

What is your favorite thing to do with your creativity? I would have to say that is making something unique. This could be displayed through a song I write, a rift I play or a purse I hand knit. I just love to express myself through what I do. In everything I create I put a piece of myself in it.

Cream Beaded Cuff

he first thing that I can remember making by hand was a paper pumpkin. I made it in the second grade for a class project. Even then, I knew that papercrafts were not my thing...I was unsuccessful in the project.

What are your favorite colors combinations? Wow, that's a hard question because it's always changing. Right now, I would have to say orange/brown and yellow/purple.

 What are your favorite materials? I love using beads, yarn, buttons, cloth fabric

Where can we find you online? http://www.facebook.com/virtueknits
http://www.virtueknits.etsy.com/

Why should people buy handmade? People should buy handmade because there is a unique quality to it. Something you buy at a retail store, doesn't have the love and attention to it that handmade items do. There is something really special about seeing who created what you are wearing.

Do you have any tips or bits of wisdom on selling handmade creations? I would say the thing is network, network, network. Wear your items as often as possible and always have a card on hand to pass out.

What else do you do? I am a tutor, student and a mother.

What have been the most valuable lessons you’ve learned from other artists? I would have to say it's perservance. No matter how difficult selling can be with the economy we all still continue. We don't give up, we don't let go of our great desire to create something new. Try to stay as positive as possible. There are many goals that I have for my life, and I truly believe that I can reach my goals if I just keep smiling, stay try to myself and never give up.

* Thanks so much for the opportunity... I really appreciate it.
Francesca

Etsy Blogger Team Shop of the Month - Missy of Sykin

Missy of Sykin has 2 shops on Etsy; one as a photographer and the other shop exclusively carries Twilight jewelry.

Oceanside Views

http://sykin.etsy.com/

Twilight Bracelet and earrings 

You can find Missy at:

http://sykin-at-etsy.blogspot.com/

http://www.twitter.com/SykinAtEtsy

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sykins-NW-Wonders/131696180191746  (help me get a shortened URL - become a fan!)

Please visit her shops.

Linda's Top 5 Etsy Finds Next Week

I couldn't post Linda's Top Etsy Finds blog post this week. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Please look for my Forum post in the Etsy threads on Tues. to submit your item.

Thank you Dear Blog Readers,
Linda B. 

Treasuries with My Items

I’m very excited to share these with you. Be sure to check out my Christmas in July sale section. Items are marked down!

Circles

Shop of the Day Thread – BNR

Christmas in July

Girly Gifts

Thanks to the Etsy sellers who included me. And, thanks Dear Blog Readers, for visiting.

What’s happening with you?

And the votes are in, the winner is …

Congratulations to Francesca of Virtue Knits who submitted this great

Green Knitted Patchwork Headband

I’m sending you the interview questions for your blog feature.

In honor of the 4th of July, take a moment to pray for the soldiers who are presently serving and those who have served.

Earrings

Deal of the Day

 

Red, White and Blue Earrings

I hope everyone enjoys their BBQs and celebrations.

Dear Blog Readers, thanks for stopping by