Featured EtsyBlogger: Pruitt Handcrafts!

Wow, Linda is a crafty grandmother of 24.  She has three separate etsy shops and does some amazing work as well as, supports the etysybloggers street team.  Congrats for being December's Featured Etsyblogger.

Pruitt Designs, Pruitthandcrafts, and Pruitt Supply are the 3 shops that she maintains on etsy.  Here are a sampling of a few of my favorite things from Linda's shops:



Congrats and keep up the amazing work!

Support Local and USA Artisans!

I had a great experience at the Phoenixville Farmers' Market last Saturday and I will be there again this Saturday selling my jewelry. It was refreshing to see so many people brave the cold weather to support the local community.  There were farmers selling produce; Amish selling baked and canned goods; butchers selling bison, fresh poultry, and pork; a fisherwoman who was selling salmon she actually caught with her husband in Alaska; and various artisans selling items they create with their own hands.

This holiday season, I encourage you all to support your local communities and artisans.  You can find so many unique gifts for those people on  your lists.  Additionally, you should feel good about helping out people in our country and supporting their hard work.  You may pay a little more, but it's worth it to know you are doing a good deed.  Don't forget to get the fixins' for your holiday meals from local growers, as well.

Here are a few ideas of places to go if you are in Eastern PA area:

*Give the gift of health:  get a massage gift certificate for a one-of-a-kind location- EXHALE RETREAT.
*Give the gift of a priceless memory: portraits by Priceless Moments by Melia.
*Give the gift of serenity and balance: give a yoga class package from High Street Yoga and Wellness.
*Shop for unique gifts for everyone on your lists- Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts and Kaliedoscope Angels.

Holiday Glamour

My dear friend is having her 20th high school reunion and she wanted to get the perfect outfit so she feels good about herself.  After having 3 kids and staying home for the past several months on maternity leave, the standard mommy attire just didn't cut it and didn't make her feel good about herself.  I helped her put together a smokin' hot outfit complete with sparkly tank, shrug with some feathers around the collar, tight black pants and tall leather boots.  She really looks fantastic.  The only thing missing was her jewelry.  I told her I would create something that would compliment the outfit perfectly.
Here is what I came up with for her.  This is not the exact set but something very similar.  It is perfect for the holidays coming up (Christmas parties, New Years, Hanukkah).  I also think it would be great if you are having a black and white wedding.  It would be really pretty to add that touch of glam to the bridesmaids dresses.  Another great thing about these pieces is that I could create the same thing using a different colors scheme to make any outfit look fantastic!

I would love to hear your thought on these pieces.

Blog Carnival: Inspiration

Inspiration???? Hmmmm, that's a tricky one. I am inspired by so many different things depending on my mood. If I'm feeling Zen, I like to create jewelry with affirmations like "meditate, love, and om" on them.

            Dyed Jade and faceted glass with sterling silver clasp.

Silver plated Om charm and love inspiration.

If I am longing for the ocean or the beach, I like to create pieces using hues of green and blue with some sea glass thrown in. Or I like to use dolphins, sea stars, or sand dollars.

Turquoise nugget focal bead with turquoise colored glass rondelles and

twisted green sea glass.  Silver plated toggle.

My favorite season is Autumn and during this time I am inspired by the changing colors and I like to use hues of orange, red, yellow and copper...oooohhhh, I love copper.

Glass and carnelian with copper toggle and beads.

Really no matter what, I can be inspired by just about anything in my surroundings. I like natural looking stones and ceramics and sometimes I like to add a touch of silk ribbon.

I guess as an artist, I can find inspiration and beauty in everything. One day I could look at something and not be inspired, but the next day, I can come up with something beautiful by looking at the same thing.

"What you see depends on what you are looking for."

EtsyBloggers Featured Blogger: Devine Designs Jewelry

Every month the Etsybloggers Street Team picks a different member to highlight their talents.  November's featured artisan is Devine Designs Jewelry.


Devine Design Jewelry owner says that she is  mostly a self-taught wire and cold forge metal jewelry artist.  She tries  to take metal to the extreme; by bending and twisting to create unique designs. She uses lots of wire to make twists, coils, and spirals that she adds to her work. She strives to form designs that have not been done before, original works of art jewelry. 
She only uses high quality components in her jewelry such as: sterling silver, high grade Thai silver, pure copper, gemstones and artisan made glass beads.
Here is a sampling of her unique creations:

Happy Harvest Time

Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  This year, my family is the lucky host of the holiday.  My husband's family and my dear friend's family will be sitting down to feast and give thanks with us.  I feel so blessed to have such wonderful people to share my Thanksgiving with.  Along with the usual turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole I like to come up with a festive table setting.  We use paper plates and I like to come up with a fun centerpiece.  This year I am putting these fun pilgrim hats in the center of each table along with some votive candles.  The votives will have dried beans and candles inside and then wrapped with raphia ribbon.  The pilgrim hats were so easy to make.  I painted a terra cotta pot black and then hot glued on some white ribbon and a silver jewelry link.  Then I added some flowers of my choice.  I'm sure you could make these interesting centerpieces too.

I also have some fall inspired jewelry that I would like to wear, but that's another post.
I hope I've got you coming up with some fun ways to spruce up your Thanksgiving table too!

Happy Crafting!

Some New Baubles

New Jewelry November - free slideshow maker

I did a small craft show on Friday night and for the size of the show and the amount of people and the competition I had, I did very well.  I got so much positive feedback on my items and my set up.  I really do feel that I have SOMETHING for everyone.  I have pieces for the young and old, at all price points.  I am very proud of the quality of my pieces.  I use sterling silver and silver plated materials and I use wire guardians to prevent wear and tear at the clasps.  The pieces I create will last for many special occasions and beyond!

Thanks for taking a look!