Spread the Love November 2 – November 8

Last Updated on Thursday, 5 November 2009 01:32 Written by InvyStudios Monday, 2 November 2009 06:15

Time to Spread the Love for the first week of November. We are getting into the Christmas shopping season, lets help this weeks HAFTeam members get their names out to the masses to make this the best shopping season for everyone.

Monday, November 2 http://mailleetc.etsy.com/

Greetings, and welcome to Maille Etc, where you’ll find kits, tools, jump rings, and, when available, ready-to-wear jewelry.
We’re Green! All of our sterling silver jump rings are made from 100% reclaimed silver – no mined sources here! We feel good about that, and so will you and your customers.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31739892

Everything you’ll need to create this stunning chainmaille bracelet is included in this kit, including a jump ring tool and a very handy triangle scoop! Weave this bracelet for yourself or for your friends – they’ll love you, and, be warned, they’ll demand more of your talents!

Tuesday, November 3 http://colettesboutique.etsy.com/

Beautiful selection of handcrafted sterling silver and semi precious stone jewelry. This shop also has a selection jewelry tutorials for learning to make your own.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30906932

Sleeping Beauty turquoise, sterling silver, and Swarovski crystal handcrafted chandelier earrings.

Wednesday, November 4 http://eiriel.etsy.com/

Welcome!
          Eclectic jewellery includes chainmaille, pearl and unique jewellery that make fantastic gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries or for yourself after a hard week! I love custom orders, so please feel free to convo me if you have any special requests.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27725340

Something for the boys! Aluminum and rubber chainmaille bracelet. Suitably rugged for wearing during ‘manly’ activities such as hiking, chopping down trees, manning BBQs or just being your own blokish self, these will compliment any man’s wrist!

Thursday, November 5 http://shapedbyhand.etsy.com/

Our jewelry is made with a love for creativity and a desire to provide each person who purchases one of our pieces with a one of a kind work of art. Most of our jewelry is made using various wiring materials such as sterling silver, copper gold filled, gold plated, and color craft wire. Wire is one of the best mediums to work with because it is so malleable and lends itself to endless possibilities. Wire working allows for us to create truly unique pieces.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27349625

Iridescent Swarovski Crystal cube beads in shades of blues and greens.

Friday, November 6 http://yaffaknit.etsy.com/

W E L C O M E ! Scarves, slippers, socks, gloves and hand warmers, hats and bags – it is all for you! COZY, SOFT AND WARM WELCOME to Yaffa’s Neat Knitting Shop!

I am a creataholic for as long as I remember myself.
Always hungry for challenge of making, learning, designing something new using paint, fabric,yarn, wood, metal,beads and crystals,ceramic…you name it!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20399740

Deliciously loving gift for your beloved to keep the hands as well as the heart warm and tender.
The gloves are made with world famous 100% pure Merino wool from New Zealand and decorated with tiny pearls.

Saturday, November 7 http://pennyfarrow.etsy.com/

Handmade leather accessories. Beautifully crafted handbags, small cases/coin purses, journal covers, and bible covers.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28901058

This matte black leather purse is another of my black on black series, it features a gorgeous variety of texture and line and compliments the black clutch and the moon-flower shoulder bag. It is stitched with fine caramel brown linen thread,which provides a subtle highlight, and is fully lined in black pigskin

Sunday, November 8 http://torajewelry.etsy.com/

Carefully and lovingly handcrafted colorful chainemaille jewelry.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27419886

Lovely double spiral weave front clasp necklace with Swarovski Crystal heart.

Lots of great items in this weeks team shops! I hope you have an easier time than I did choosing one as your favorite to Spread the Love. Don’t forget to post your favorites on the Etsy thread at http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6334537

Featured Artist – Bev’s Jewelry

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 August 2009 08:13 Written by Manic Butterfly Saturday, 29 August 2009 06:00

Thinking back, I realize that making jewelry has always been with me, even if vicariously, through my mother and dad. I was very young during the shortage of nice jewelry in WWII, and my mother made jewelry from seashells. I still have a few of those pieces. They were very unique and she sold most of them to make money to buy a new vacuum cleaner. A total of $89 – a lot of money back then!

After I left home, both my parents started to make jewelry from pearls. Some of the patterns they used were the beginning of today’s more complicated beading patterns. I still have some of those pieces.

I started making jewelry in 1999. One style led to another and each was just as interesting and fun to make as the next, however Chainmaille is my favorite. I specialize in sterling silver Chainmaille, and lately I’ve been making fiber and beaded pieces using the Japanese braiding technique of Kumihimo, along with other interesting forms of handcrafted jewelry. I try to use the best materials in my jewelry pieces, such as the Argentium sterling silver used in my Chainmaille jewelry, Swarovski crystals, along with other materials such as Bali silver, sterling silver, gold filled, lampwork and many other ‘finds’.

Find my jewelry at Bev’s Jewelry.
My jewelry is also at 1000markets.
Read my blog here.

Featured Artist – Sharpwear

Last Updated on Thursday, 23 July 2009 04:46 Written by Manic Butterfly Saturday, 25 July 2009 12:00

My Mother kept her jewelry in the top drawer of a high dresser. I’m not sure if she did this out of convenience or to to keep her valuables away from little scroungers like me but regardless, her efforts were in vain. I still remember the many times I dragged her vanity stool over to climb up and pull open her wondrous stash of treasure. I would spend hours gazing at her pieces, even the broken ones, especially the broken ones. I remember feeling a kind of sadness for the stray pearls, clasps and out-of-fashion goodies that Mom refused to throw away. Somewhere along the line she allowed me to keep many of those magic bits and baubles. Thus began my life-long habit of never being without a box of beads and findings.

When I was a teen, I begged my Uncle for his scrap leather so I could cut it into circles, squares and triangles, draw on them with India ink and pierce them with ear wires. In my twenties, I developed a fascination for disposable plastic. I melted lighting gels and gaily colored bar straws into 80′s punk adornment. When I became a mother, I tucked the bead box away, only breaking it out for fashioning Christmas gifts and the occasional bout of meditative therapy. Last Christmas, I ordered a few spools of wrapping wire to stretch my jewelry-making supplies from the previous Christmas. While I had intended to use the wire in a functional manner, form took over. Every member of my extended family received a handmade, wire-wrapped gift. Keychains, necklaces, earrings and wire puzzles for the kids.

Not long after that the economy took a downturn. Eventually that downturn caught up with me and I lost half the income from my day job. While I’m still not sure how I got there, a Google image search turned up a photo of a Cilice. I thought it was beautiful, dangerous but beautiful. From the moment I saw it, I knew I had to make one. After forming the basic barbed links I decided that this ancient  form of corporal mortification-wear deserved a place on the stage of 21st century culture. No more plain links with thong ties. No more hiding under clothes. No more shame. I would take Cilices, bejewel them and sell them to the adventurous masses. I realize that Cilices aren’t for everyone but I am positive they are for very special someones.

Initially, I made Cilice necklaces but after trial and error I realized that the best form for my new venture was in Cilice bracelets. I call them CILICELETS. Let me be perfectly clear. My Ciliclets do not hurt. The barbs are filed down and frankly, the pieces are so airy one can barely feel the slight tug of each link. At the moment, I am making my Cilicelets from oxidized, 20 gauge steel. I’m waiting on a fresh supply of silver, gold and other colored wires to come in the mail. I plan to work my way up to true silver and filled-gold wire, buying from my profits as I make sales. I built an online store for the necklaces but have opened an Etsy store for the Cilicelets. I use both Twitter and Blogger to help market my wares.

One of the first places I found when looking for online communities is the Handmade Artists Forum. Despite my offbeat designs, I’ve found the HAF members to be friendly, generous and sincerely interested in furthering the livelihoods of the everyone. I truly appreciate this chance to tell my story and will always be grateful to the wonderful people of the Handmade Artists Forum.

Love,
~sharpwear~

Check out my creations at Sharp-wear.com
Also find my work on Etsy.
Follow me on Twitter.