Featured Artist: Lazy Cat

Today's feature is on the Etsy shop of Lazy Cat. This shop is actually the work of three talented artists-Allison, Stasia, and Kelly. They too got their mad skills from their grandmothers and now try to make their creations more modern to apply to today's fashions.

They enjoy using the skills from their grandmothers to create wonderfully hip and modern pieces. They crochet in both yarn and wire, creating artisan bead crochet jewelry, scarves, hats, etc. They are constantly looking for ways to expand crochet. Check out this first piece. My favorite necklace to make is my "Chelsea" necklace in my shop and on my website because it's combining my two favorite things-beads and crochet. I LOVE this necklace and how the aqua beads look on the copper wire. Very beautiful. They have several different looks in their shop to choose from.

St. Lucia Necklace
$50

Now, aside from great jewelry, they have all sorts of beautiful scarves, hats, and baby stuff. Look at this next item. What could a tropical paradise have to do with a winter scarf? Plenty -- when you artistically combine the vibrant colors of an active volcano with a unique twisting pattern, reminiscent of the flow of molten lava into the sea. The Kona measures 52 by 4 inches, and is hand crocheted from nylon and acrylic blend yarn. Even on the coldest of winter days, take yourself on a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii with this elegant design.

Kona Scarf
$40

So go check out all they have to offer. You'll be glad you did. Don't forget to check out their blog for updates and artist features as well.

New products added to Website

Black and White Lampwork Necklace
(click here to visit site to purchase)

Black and White lampwork earrings
(click here to visit site or purchase)

Smoke and Sapphire Necklace and Earrings
Necklace $30
Earrings $12
(click here to visit site or purchase)

I've been working on the website lately to add all sorts of new items. You can find most of them on my Etsy shop as well. I've listed a few of the new items above. I've added a ton of earrings and some bracelets $10 or under that would be great stocking stuffers. It's not too late to order.

The smoke and sapphire necklace had hammered links connected by handmade wire links of smokey quartz crystals, and features light sapphire colored crystals wired into some of the links for a bit of color. The matching earrings are also available.

I have free shipping now through Christmas. Thanks for checking out the new itms

Featured Artist: Alternate Bliss

Alternate Bliss features a variety of mixed media art to hang on the wall or to wear. Right now she is focusing on making fine silver jewelry, Watercolors, and Art Charms featuring her artwork images. Currently she has two Etsy Shops. One for her art, and one for her charms.

In her Alternate Bliss shop (alternatebliss.etsy.com), you'll find her jewelry and art.

99 Red Balloon Earrings
$20

I've said over and over again that I am a child of the '80's, so how could I pass up featuring a darling pair of earrings called "99 Red Balloons". (aka 99 Luftballoons). This fine silver necklace and earring set was inspired by a combination of things:

The first is 1980’s protest song 99 red Balloons by Nena.
The second is the movie, “Le Ballon Rouge,” a short film directed by French film-maker Albert Lamorisse in 1956. This film follows the adventures of a young boy who finds a large, red balloon throughout the streets of Paris. In their wanderings around Paris, the young boy and the balloon encounter a gang of bullies, but tragedy is replaced by a magically happy ending.

This necklace and earring set feature features a hand sculpted cityscape with three city buildings and a red balloon made from sterling wire and red coral beads. I carved, sculpted, filed, sanded, and darkened this piece by hand.

Her second shop, Popblossom.etsy.com contains handmade charms that are a combination of graphic design, plastic, and resin.

Black and White Paris Ferris Wheel Pop
Blossom Charm Pendant
$4.00

This charm features a black and white image of a Ferris Wheel taken from a copywright free image and altered digitally. It is a combination of one of her graphic designs on plastic and sealed in a hard clear resin.

This is Charm 7 in Pop Blossoms Series 1 Charms.
Only 50 charms with this exact design will be produced.

Stop on by her shops for some Christmas shopping, and be sure to check out her blog as well.
(http://alternatebliss.blogspot.com)

Second Monday Treasure Hunt

Our First Monday Sale with Etsy Texas Crafters went so well that we are going to be doing other Monday promotions/sales now. This coming Monday (Dec 10) we will be having a Treasure Hunt. Hopefully, each month, the treasure hunt will have a different theme. This month, the theme is "Stocking Stuffers".

Here's the deal:

• Our December Treasure Hunt will begin at 12:01am on Dec 10Th & end at 12:00 midnight on that same day (Central time -- that would be 1:01am Monday to 1:00am Tuesday, Etsy time).
• To play, search participating ETC member shops to find a minimum of 10 items with the designated image in the items' photos (Percival, the Elf--shown above).
• When you've found 10 or more items, convo your list of the URL addresses (links) for those items to http://ArtSpot.etsy.com
• If there is more than 1 correct entry, by the midnight deadline, all correct entries will be placed in a stocking & one winner will be drawn. If there are no complete correct entries, the person with the most correct entries will be designated that month's winner. Winner will be notified/announced no later than midnight on Tuesday Dec 11Th.
• To view this month's participating shops, please see our team website at http://www.etsytx.org
• ETC members are not eligible to win.
• Tip: The more items you find and submit, the better your prize selection will be. The winner will get too *choose* 1 item from their submitted list as their prize!
• Disclaimer: In the event that the winner’s 1st choice of prizes sells during the contest, winner would have to choose another prize from their submitted list.

Featured Artist: Knuckletoes/Revinylized

Green Plaid Skirt
$20

Meet Katie, the artist behind Knuckle Toes! She tries to make her clothing and purses out of recycled materials. Anything from tablecloths, to pillowcases, to reused LP record covers. This not only gives her items a vintage feel, but it helps the environment, and what more do you need?

She enjoys spending her weekends and evenings at the local pub with her friends and family. She is also in business with her partner in crime, where they sell handmade clothing, jewelry, and purses (made from recycled material) at local folk festivals in the summertime.

The green plaid skirt pictured above is made from old tablecloths. It is a lime green with a yellow and orange plaid design on it.

Her side project is her second Etsy shop, revinylized.etsy.com
This shop has been devoted to all of her messing with vinyl. From sketchbooks, to CD books, to purses and bowls, old unusable LP's can be made into anything, and how cool is it to recycle?

Strawberry Shortcake Record Tote
$30

This cute purse was made from the cover of an old LP! Strawberry Shortcake came back with a smash, and this purse totally celebrates that. The LP cover has been coated on both sides with a waterproof plastic, and has been sewn into a totebag with a solid black material for the outside and strap, with a fun, bright pink and white flower patten for the liner and the underside of the strap. The strap is short enough to wear over one arm, like a tote, but long enough to put over one shoulder and under the opposite arm like a messenger bag.

Be sure to check out Katie's blog as well as her shops for info on her work as well as other artists (http://revinylized.blogspot.com)

Featured Artist: Simply Said by Sarah

Pink Holiday Gift Set
Lots to choose from

Sarah Orton is a graphic design student in North Carolina. Her flair for design stems from a lifelong interest in crafts and her pieces demonstrate a fun spin on a contemporary sense of style. Encouraged by the requests she’d begun to receive from fellow employees and friends, Sarah decided to combine her creativity with her business sense, and Simply Said by Sarah was born. Each piece is handcrafted and unique, and is sure to add a tasteful touch of originality to your home!

Chocolate flowers Cup Cuddler
$6.50

Proceeds from the sales from this shop will be donated towards NEDA

"NEDA is dedicated to expanding public understanding and prevention of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy and research"

Millions of women, men, girls and boys suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders are illnesses with a biological basis. They are very serious, life-threatening illnesses and currently there is no cure. Help is available and recovery is possible for these sufferers. Every donation counts.

So go check out what Sarah has to offer, and be sure to check out her blog as well for info on her items and other artists. (http://simplysaidbysarah.blogspot.com)

Featured Artist: IndigoLuna

One Lizard Two Lizard Art Quilt
$150

Meet Rachel Kitterman. She is a self-proclaimed art addict. Her primary passion is fabric and she has been making art quilts and dolls for over a decade now. She also loves paper, altered art, mixed-media, knitting, crocheting, jewelry, artist books, photography...pretty much, if it will hold still, she'll make art out of it.

In her shop, you will find an ecclectic sampling of all the creative things she loves to make.

She also wears many other hats (maybe even the one shown below--I would). Among other things, she is a sign language interpreter, an energy worker, a minister, a blogger, a wife and mother to two "wild and amazing little girls". All of these roles shape and change and inform her art.

2 Stripe Fuzzy Wuzzy Crochet Hat
$28

Rachel also loves to write, so go check out her blog-- http://indigoluna.typepad.com

Proud member of EarthPath Artisans Street Team E.A.S.T. Search for "east" to see other amazing goodies made by this talented team.

Featured Artist: EarthCharms

Maiden No More-Carnelian and
tourmalated quartz choker
$24

EarthCharms offers jewelry and other accessories made with natural stones, adding a strong emphasis on the metaphysical properties of each stone. Wonderful for personal use or gifts, the items you buy here are intended to bring luck, health, and prosperity into your life!

Look at the beautiful necklace pictured above. This is an example of what you'll find in her shop. I love how she lists what the materials are and what they mean. For example, for the carnelian necklace:

-Carnelian - Find success.
Key words: Vitalization, capability.
Hardness: 7
Zodiac Signs: Taurus, Cancer, Leo
Numerology: 5 and 6
Chakras: Navel, solar plexus, heart

-Quartz - Amplify positive power.
Key words: Power, amplification, enhancement, luck.
Hardness: 7
Zodiac Signs: All
Numerology: 4
Chakras: All

-Tourmaline
Key words: Inspiration, balance
Hardness: 7 - 7.5
Zodiac: Libra
Numerology: 2
Chakra: All
Black Tourmaline/Schorl: Capricorn, 3, 4, dispel negativity

I always say I love beads and jewelry beyond just being "sparkly" because of their history and meaning, and she does a wonderful job of proving that.

I also love these earrings. They are made from shell and citrine. If you want to read about the properties of this item or these stones, you can visit her Etsy shop and read her listing!



Other places to find earthcharms:
blog: http://www.earth-charms.blogspot.com
site: http://www.stones.salyx.net

communities:
http://www.myspace.com/salyx/
http://etsylove.ning.com/profile/earthcharms
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80954354@N00/
http://picasaweb.google.com/salyxwoodbine/

First Monday Sale!!

Be sure to go check out my Etsy shop, as well as other fellow Etsy Texas Crafters to stock up on stocking stuffers (say that 5 times fast). For my shop, you'll get 15% off, or if you visit my homepage (www.sparklystrandz.com), you'll get 15% off there by using coupon code PROMO15 when checking out.