Featured Artist, Chris Courtney of Studio Seven

Friday, March 27, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Let me start off by telling you something about Chris Courtney. Besides being a beautiful person, inside and out, she is a talented artist, painter, sculptor, jewelry designer/teacher and mother of 5 wonderful children with another one the way in July. That in itself makes her amazing and in my opinion, Wonder Woman! Her husband and children are her most ardent supporters, always there for her with a positive word.

Chris’s eclectic style is evident in her work with metal, glass, gems and of course, my polymer clay beads. She has been designing jewelry for many years, always learning, discovering new techniques and methods. Lately, working with flames has captured her attention, which is unmistakable in her superb hot glass beads.

Her inspiration comes from the individual components themselves, the pieces she works with. In her words, she can “see” the finished piece in her mind before she even begins. Everything is inspirational in her “I Love Life” world from wire designs to old buildings, seeing the beauty in everything around her. If asked if she had a personal favorite amongst her many masterpieces, she would say “Swept” would win out (see left.)

I not only think highly of Chris as a person but also admire her as a designer and the work she does with my polymer clay beads. To quote her directly, “CreativeSpiritToo has the most beautiful creations in her shop. I love the colors she uses and the shapes she creates. Her pieces are a blast off the creating starting line for me. I look at the pieces and see it finished in my mind. Once I see it, I have to have the pieces!” I am honored to have her as a loyal purveyor of my artistic works and as a friend.

Visit Chris Courtney at the following Etsy shops:
Finished Jewelry ~ StudioSeven.etsy.com
Lamp Work Glass ~ RodsNFlames.etsy.com
Jewelry Supplies ~ CCSynopticVisions.etsy.com




•-:¦:-•:*''* MARCH $30 SHOPPING SPREE DRAWING WINNER ANNOUNCED! •-:¦:-•:*''*

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 6:22 PM
A huge thank you to all the entrants in this month's drawing.

Entrants

#1 BubblesBaublesBags.etsy.com
#2 BubblesBaublesBags.etsy.com
#3 equivoque.etsy.com
#4 equivoque .etsy.com
#5 jackbenimble
#6 jackbenimble
#7 jackbenimble
#8 jackbenimble
#9 QuirkySuZ
#10 QuirkySuZ
#11 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#12 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#13 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#14 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#15 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#16 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#17 LisaCrystalCreations.etsy.com
#18 gallagj.etsy.com
#19 gallagj.etsy.com
#20 gallagj.etsy.com
#21 gallagj.etsy.com
#22 Krisybird.etsy.com
#23 Wimsy.etsy.com
#24 sharonkaydesigns.etsy.com
#24 sharonkaydesigns.etsy.com

WINNER!

Congratulations #24 SharonKayDesigns.etsy.com

Random number generated Mar 25 2009 at 19:33:21 by www.psychicscience.org.
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.


SharonKayDesigns.etsy.com receives a $30 store credit in my shop, CreativeSpiritToo.etsy.com
and choice of a finished piece custom made,
or 10 custom made beads in her choice of colors and designs.


WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Shamrock Challenge and Prize Drawing

Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 3:29 PM


Congratulations WINNERS!
Random numbers generated Mar 25 2009 at 7:4:4 by www.psychicscience.org.
Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.
Click Photos to Enlarge
#3 indulgentcreations.etsy.com Prize Package #1



#4 PrimitiveJunkie.etsy.com Prize Package #2
Congratulations! Thank you for participating.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, will kick off the


1st Annual Search for the Shamrock Challenge
and Prize Package Drawing.

Click on images to enlarge.






The prize packages are comprised of items donated by participating shops from the
✻¸.·´The Dedicated Beaders & Jewelry Makers BNR✻¸.·´.

Challenge Rules

The challenge rules are simple.
Please read to the bottom as there are details for Additional entry opportunities there.



1) Search the following shops for the shamrock photo. Each shop has one (1) shamrock listing. It can be found in "any" photo in "any" listing.

AllThatGlass.etsy.com
CreativeSpirit.etsy.com
CreativeSpiritToo.etsy.com
DesignGal.etsy.com
DsignsByMelissa.etsy.com
Gallagj.Etsy.Com
GlassDezignz.etsy.com
PeculiarParchment.etsy.com
PimpMyPaperDesigns.etsy.com
Raevyn77.etsy.com
RhisBitsAndBeads.etsy.com
SimplyRaevyn.etsy.com
SlidingAlong.etsy.com
Yndigo1.etsy.com

2) Jot down the listing ID number when you find each photo with the shamrocks.. Remember, it can be in any photo in any listing. The listing ID number is found at the end of the url in your broswer. Tip: open the listings!

3) Once you find a shamrock in every shop, submit your entry HERE. Please note that e-mail addresses will be used only to contact the winners and will not be shared or used for any other purpose.

INCREASE YOUR ODDS
Make a purchase from any of the participating shops above and get ADDITIONAL ENTRIES. Each item purchased = one entry.

Challenge Entries will be accepted beginning March 17th through midnight EST on Tuesday, March 24th. Two lucky challenge winners will chosen by random number generator and announced here on March 25th.





Have fun and good luck!

March Madness Progressive Sale and Shopping Spree!

Monday, March 9, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Some say I have gone a little crazy, and maybe I have.
Winter has been dragging on so long, spring fever has been wearing on me, making me dizzy... it's time for a sale at CreativeSpiritToo!




•-:¦:-•:*''* MARCH MADNESS PROGRESSIVE SALE and $30 SHOPPING SPREE DRAWING with BONUS•-:¦:-•:*''*

•-:¦:-•Purchase 2 items - 20% off
•-:¦:-•Purchase 4 items - 20% off plus FREE SHIPPING
•-:¦:-•Purchase 6 items - 25% off plus FREE SHIPPING
"and" a coupon for 10% off your next purchase
•-:¦:-•Purchase 8 items - 30% off plus FREE SHIPPING
"and" a coupon for 15% off your next purchase
•-:¦:-•Purchase 10 items - 35% off plus FREE SHIPPING
"and" a coupon for 20% off your next purchase

Sale ends midnight PT, Monday, March 16th.

•-:¦:-•:*''* MARCH $30 SHOPPING SPREE DRAWING! •-:¦:-•:*''*
Every item purchased equals "one" entry in the March drawing. Two items = two entries, 4 items = 4 entries, etc. Prize is a $30 Shopping Spree in CreativeSpiritToo AND your choice of a finished piece custom made just for you, or 10 custom made beads in your choice of colors and design.

Get a FREE ENTRY by visiting CreativeSpiritToo.etsy.com. Come back and post a comment here stating your favorite item. Get and ADDITIONAL FREE ENTRY if you comment with your favorite item from my hand painted glassware shop, CreativeSpirit.etsy.com! Link to this post, mention it in your blog or shop and get an ADDITIONAL FREE ENTRY! Freebies are great, aren't they?

I will use a random number generator to draw the winner on March 24th. Winner will be announced here and in my shop announcement.

Have fun shopping and SAVING!

Interview with Jewelry Designer - Melissa Pinick

Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 8:31 AM
A month or so ago, Melissa Pinick wandered into my shop and purchased a pair of beads made with one of my favorite blends of clay, a mokume gane blend of rich, pearlized blues, greens and gold leaf.

Mokume Gane, which translates to "wood-eye metal", is an ancient Japenese metalworking technique mimiced by polymer clay artists. In this case, gold leaf is carefully placed between multiple layers of super thin custom blended tinted translucent clay creating the illusion of depth. Melissa was kind enough to share the masterpiece she created with my beads which prompted this interview.

CreativeSpiritToo: Start off by telling us a little bit about yourself.
DsignsByMelissa: Anything that allows me to be creative is my passion. I went back to school for Interior Design, thinking that was the answer. I’ve been working as a custom decorator since August, and it is in no way as fulfilling as designing jewelry. I would love to someday design jewelry full time. I love being able to take separate pieces andcreate something wonderful.

CreativeSpiritToo: How long have you been designing jewelry?
DsignsByMelissa: I have been designing jewelry since December 2007. It was something that happened by accident. My boyfriend and I bought his daughter a jewelry kit for Christmas, but I think I enjoyed it more than her. It sparked my creative process and a passion was born!

CreativeSpiritToo: What inspires your creations?
DsignsByMelissa: Searching for great beads inspires me. I love to search Etsy destash. That is where I find some of my best beads. I am the type of person that will stare at things for a long time while my mind is creating things. My environment is very influential as well. Once I get an idea in my head, I will sit there and just look around my area until I find something that will work. Everything is a puzzle and it just takes some time to turn the pieces around and around until a masterpiece is created.

CreativeSpiritToo: How would you best describe your artistic style?
DsignsByMelissa: I am very eclectic. It honestly depends on my mood that day as to what kind of jewelry I will create. Some days I feel very traditional, while others I might feel vintage or modern. Sometimes I have no idea what I am going to create until it is done. I will just pick up beads and then add some more, until I feel I am done. Unfortunately, this lead to a very messy work area.

CreativeSpiritToo: What is your favorite piece you have created so far?
DsignsByMelissa: I have to narrow it down to just one? How about 2? My “In the Garden Earrings” are a perfect example of having no idea what I was going to create when I started. I just knew I wanted to make something with the pink flower beads. I just started adding other pieces, and I just love how simple, yet stunning these turned out!

My proudest creation is something that is not currently in my shop. I use to have it listed, but have removed it because I just have no idea how to price it. It is my Butterfly Necklace. The butterfly itself started out as 2 individual earrings. I removed the posts and altered the design to look like wings.














Each "wing" was soldered together on the backside. I then created the antennas & tail of the
butterfly from tinned copper wire. The "body" of the butterfly is strictly solder that has been formed to look like a body. The solder from the body also connects the front together. I added a hook to the back to attach a chain. From that hook hangs a 3" chain, which is constructed of tinned copper rings. I formed, cut, & soldered each ring together to create the funky chain. The same construction method was used for the chain that goes around the neck.

CreativeSpiritToo: Who is your biggest supporter?
DsignsByMelissa: My biggest supporters are the women I use to work with. Jewelry is something that is much more impressive in person and they were the ones that saw it most of the time.

CreativeSpiritToo: Do you have any other artistic talents or outlets you'd like to share?
DsignsByMelissa: I make floral arrangements as well. I’ve created arrangements for a friend’s wedding & many other friends & family members. I would love to be able to do floral arranging along with jewelry design in the future.

CreativeSpiritToo: Tell us about your creative process with my beads?
DsignsByMelissa: My creative process is very easy with CreativeSpirit's beads. They offer great inspiration within themselves. All I do is look for additional beads that will compliment the great colors in her beads. I’ve got some pillow beads on their way to me that will most likely end up in a necklace. They have a very fun, yet a modern feel to it. That is the direction I’m planning on going with them, at least until they speak to me while working with them.



You can find Melissa's work online at the following sites:
Etsy : www.dsignsbymelissa.etsy.com ~ Check out Melissa's Special in her Etsy shop
♥ SNS ♥ Saturday Night Special ♥ SNS ♥ ...
All earrings are 40%. Discount will either be refunded through Paypal, or you can convo her first and she will change the listing price. Sale ends Sunday (3/10) at 10am ET.
ArtFire : www.DesignsByMelissa.artfire.com
Blog : www.dsignsbymelissa.blogspot.com
Destash: www.melp1979.etsy.com

PCAGOE - The Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy

Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 8:21 PM

Last month, I was honored to have been accepted into thePCAGOE, Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy, an Etsy street team, whose members are an eclectic mix of artists creating with the same medium, polymer clay, using a variety of techniques to create everything from jewelry to furniture to fishing lures. This group of artists bring their own artistic energies together to create beautiful works of art available for purchase in their Etsy Shops.

The PCAGOE hosts a themed challenge every month. Anyone can participate by creating an original entry to fit the theme, and people are then invited to go to the website and vote for their favorite entry. Voting takes place between nooon on the 1st of each month through midnight on the 7th. All voters are entered into a random drawing for prizes. Winners also receive prizes. For more information about our monthly challenge, go to the website, or contact divadea through Etsy convo.

The photo above (Sheer Pink Focal Bead) is my entry in this month's theme challenge, "canework" and is available for purchase in my Etsy shop, CreativeSpiritToo. Please vote for your favorite and get in on the drawing. The prizes for your participation are FABULOUS!