Handmade Artists Forum Etsy Street Team Sale!!

Last Updated on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 10:53 Written by zurdesigns Thursday, 25 February 2010 08:11

We have exciting news!! Selected members of our Handmade Artists Forum Etsy Street Team are coming together to have a sale!  Some will be offering Free Shipping, others will be taking a percentage off their items and all will be showing you their fabulous handmade designs just in time for spring!!  The sale starts Monday, March 1st and goes through Monday, March 15th!!

Take a look at what these wonderful handmade artisans are offering:

Ambient Girl Designs–specializes in custom cards, invitations, gift tags and much more! For the HAF Sale Ambient Girl Designs will offer FREE SHIPPING on all items in her shop! Stop by and see all the wonderful things this shop has to offer!

Dreambubbles–featuring unique jewelry designs using beads and chainmaille. In the artist’s own words: “Recently I started debuting my original one of a kind (OOAK) handmade spiders. They are presently stealing the show from my chainmaille and crystal/pearl jewelry creations.”  For the HAF Sale, Dreambubbles is offering 10% off all items in her shop and up to $5.00 in Free Shipping!! Have a look at these wonderful designs today!!

Jewelry by NaLa–unique, handmade jewelry featuring sterling silver, Czech glass, Crystallized Swarovski Elements, semiprecious stones, freshwater pearls and other fine jewelry materials.  For the HAF Sale Jewelry by Nala will be offering FREE US SHIPPING off selected items in her shop!! Stop by and visit  Nala’s beautiful shop today!!

Lisianblue–featuring wonderful stained glass objects, ornaments, and chimes! In the artist’s own words: “have been a fan of stained glass for many years and truly enjoy making stained glass items. There seems to be something about glass that just draws me to it – maybe it’s the shine, the way it captures the light and even the shadows.”  For the HAF Sale, Lisianblue will be offering 10% off all items in her shop!! Stop by for a visit, relax, put your feet up and browse!  You’ll be glad you did!

My Grandpa’s Pen–featuring handmade cards, albums, and supplies.  In the artist’s own words: “For as long as I can remember my Grandpa would give me a pen at Christmas. I think this helped inspire my love of all things crafty and artistic. As I create my works I find myself using, among other things, stamp sets from when I was a child, paper that I can’t stop collecting and of course, my Grandpa’s pen.”  For the HAF Sale, My Grandpa’s Pen is offering 20% off all items.  Refund will be through PayPal!! Stop by and browse through this delightful shop…and SAVE!!

Penny Farrow Designs–beautiful handmade leather and accessories designed by Penny herself.  In the artist’s own words: “My goal for the design and construction of my products is to be consistent and fresh and original. I take inspiration from every aspect of my life: a distillation of roads traveled, places visited and people who have inspired me.”  For the HAF Sale Penny Farrow Designs will be taking 10%–20% off selected items in her shop!! Take a look at these wonderful handbags, purses, journal covers, and more!!

Pleasant Peasantry–a husband and wife team who experiment with their designs and try to put a unique twist on ceramics and macrame. All  items are sold the way you see them. However, they LOVE taking requests! Convo them with your ideas!  For the HAF Sale Pleasant Peasantry will be taking 10% off all macrame items, and 20% off all ceramics! Be sure to stop by this wonderful shop!!

Rachel Elliott Glassworks–All the item listed here are handmade by Rachel in her studio in Scotland!  She uses a variety of different glass techniques to create unique designs and custom orders are always welcome.  For the HAF Sale, she is offering 28% off all her beads, to celebrate her 28th birthday on March 15th!!! Rachel Elliott Glassworks is a must see shop!!  Stop by today!

Speranza Jewelry–Lisa, the owner of Speranza Jewelry, is a firm believer that jewelry is both art and self-expression disguised as a fashion accessory.  The goal of Speranza is to create quality, affordable jewelry in gemstones and metal, utilizing the various techniques of stringing, metal fusing, and wire wrapping.  For the HAF Sale Speranza Jewelry will offer 10% off all items in her shop!! This wonderful shop needs to be on your list to visit today!

T. Rusk 4 U–featuring handcrafted jewelry for every woman! This shop has handcrafted and affordable jewelry made by T. Rusk…4 U! For the HAF Sale T.Rusk4U will be offering FREE SHIPPING and a gift with every purchase!! Stop by this lovely shop and take advantage of the savings!

Twas Brillig–a wonderland of unique hand-crafted jewelry, handmade bags and totes, original artwork and unusual gifts for you to cherish or share.  For the HAF Sale Twas Brillig will be offering 10% off all items in their shop!! Stop by soon…there’s always something new happening there!

Zur Designs–handcrafted jewelry made from high quality materials such as sterling silver, semi precious gemstones, swarovski crystals, and pearls.  Designs are inspired by life, love, and the beauty of the Berkshire Mountains that surround her.  For the HAF Team Sale, Zur Designs will be featuring 10% off all items in her shop! Take a peek at Zur Designs…you’ll be glad you did!

Click on the links to learn more about the Handmade Artists Forum (HAF) or the HAF Etsy Street Team! Have fun shopping at all these wonderful shops!!  Remember, the sale starts March 1st and goes through March 15th!!

Twas Brillig

Last Updated on Thursday, 4 February 2010 05:20 Written by Chainmaille By MBOI Thursday, 4 February 2010 05:20

Nancy was one of our charter members on the forum, at least it seams she was there forever (LOL), her support and help has been immeasurable. Nancy has a blog and facebook page as well as a shop with us one the Handmade Artists’ Shop. You can find her shop here to buy her lovely paintings!

Nancy also runs the forum facebook page, her service has been such a wonderful help to all of us.

Thanks Nancy,

Andrew & Kimberly

Handmade Artists’ Forum

Featured Artist – Beeboo Handcrafted Glass Beads & Jewelry

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 October 2009 01:13 Written by Manic Butterfly Thursday, 15 October 2009 06:00

I am an artist, a mom, and a breast cancer survivor. My husband James, 2 kids Phoebe & Sander, and I live in a wild-kingdom with 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 turtles, and too many chickens to count.

I have a BA in Illustration and am the staff artist at a MA Veterinary School. In 1998 I launched a jewelry business, Beeboo. My studio is constantly in a state of chaos (as is the rest of my house) but I love it!

My fabulous father Herb, passed away in 2005 after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). My mom was Dad’s primary caregiver. Throughout the 2 year battle both she and Dad continued to make the most of every day, taking it as it comes and relishing the time they had together. They are my inspiration. 

Visit my Etsy shop.
Visit my Etsy supply shop.
Check out Beeboo.com.
Read my blog.
Follow me on Twitter.

Featured Artist – Vestque

Last Updated on Sunday, 6 September 2009 12:50 Written by Manic Butterfly Monday, 7 September 2009 06:00

Although I have drawn or doodled all of my life I became a professional artist in January of 2008. It was then that one of my doodles were published in the art magazine Logos, and shown in Art Awake 2008. It is sad that it was not until then that I began to take myself seriously although my friends and family had considered my art a talent well before then.

Now though my eyes are open so I continue to create.

Vestque the person is quiet and contemplative. I enjoy observing rather than doing. Yet I usually find myself to be the center of attention, or at least thats how I feel. Nonetheless, I believe that Humility and Wisdom are the greatest assets any person can have. I strive every day to grow in both. Right now I am in a state of limbo between the completion of college and the start of Medical school. During this break I have decided that this was the perfect time to try and strive as an artist.

Most of my artworks are digital creations through Photoshop CS3 and hand drawn on an Adresso Tablet. Nonetheless, I am a doodler at heart so I have been known to pick up any pencils or pens I could get my hands on to get the job done.

Right now I am experimenting with incorporating pictures of textures and grains into hand drawn digital imagery. Though recently I’ve started expanding into painting. In the past I have explored the art style of anime and vectored work. I have found that I am a wandering spirit in the art world and just in general. I cannot stick with one thing or method for too long. I always want to try to experience more. This wander lust has definitely contributed to my growth as an artist since I have began, and I look forward to continuing this growth for the rest of my life.

Find my work on Artfire.
I’m also on deviantART.

Featured Artist – Moon Spirit Jewelry

Last Updated on Saturday, 15 August 2009 11:50 Written by Manic Butterfly Monday, 17 August 2009 12:00

Hey, Jessica here, the artist behind Moon Spirit Jewelry! When I found out I was being featured I just had to do the happy dance, and once that was done the hard part began. Writing about myself has always been hard for me. I can never think of what people could possibly want to know about me. But then I think, what would I want to know about another artist, and the obvious answer is why? Why do artists do what they do? Why do individual people decide to create and imagine? So that is what I will tell you, but I might be getting a little ahead of myself. First let me truly introduce myself.
    
A lot of people ask me how I chose Moon Spirit Jewelry or what it means, and it is actually quite simple. When the moon is at it’s fullest, a horse seems to be a spirit in the night. Running free through marshes, forests, and fields, this is my favorite image of a horse, so it became my name. Along with this business adventure, I am starting a new adventure in my life: college. I am getting ready (or already there depending on when this is published) to go to Colorado State University to start my studies in Equine Science.
   
Moon Spirit Jewelry came into existence during 7th grade. One of my best friends taught me how to make earrings, and a business plan was already forming in my mind. We started off as J.M. Creations, selling at a Chanukkah Boutique at my temple. Wanting to move forward, I taught myself how to create simple beaded necklaces. After figuring out the beaded necklace, I began to soar. Looking at beading magazines and experimenting with different techniques. I began to formulate my own style: elegant, yet fun. Slowly but surely, J.M. Creations morphed into Moon Spirit Jewelry.
   
Beading offers a relaxing hobby, I really got into it during the stress of high school. I could lose myself in new techniques or my stash of beads. My dad tells me I have more beads than a bead store, and I have come to the realization that he is probably right. But if you are a beader then you know how this happens. You start a new project and you just need a clasp. So you run to the local bead shop and return home with a large bag of seed beads, findings, large beads, small beads, pretty much all the beads in the store. The bead store is the only place I do the happy dance when I can leave without spending more than $50.
   
As an artist I sit and imagine who might wear the jewelry I create. Will it bring them luck? Will this piece show up on the Red Carpet (still crossing my fingers)? Is this one going down the aisle with a blushing bride? My biggest hope and the one that every artist hopes is that it brings happiness to whomever wears it. From one artist to another, good luck with all of your adventures.

Check out my Etsy shop.
Follow me on Twitter.
My fanpage on Facebook.