Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Winner of the Jacaranda Designs Green Tea Pearl Bloom Necklace

Hi everyone,

I used random.org to select of a winner of the Green Tea Pearl Bloom Necklace and it is..


Green Tea Pearl Bloom Brass Necklace


jenifer

Congratulations!

Thanks also to everyone who entered and who were kind enough to post about my giveaway on their blogs.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Featured Artist - LillyEveDesigns

This week's featured artist is Eniko of LillyEveDesigns. She's a very talented artist who has been on Etsy since last December. Eniko likes to incorporate aspects of nature into her designs. Read on for more information about the inspiration behind LillyEveDesigns and visit her lovely shop.

Dangly Earrings

Give us a little background about yourself.

My name is Eniko, and I live in New hampshire with my husband of whom I've been officially married for one year beginning of June 09.! I am currently in college finishing up my B.A. degree in photography and have 2 yrs left to complete. I love nature and go hiking whenever my husband and I get a chance to.

What do yo
u create?
I create jewelry which is inspired by nature and my love of antiques, so I blend those two together to create elegant and fun pieces. I also sell my photography on Etsy, most of which are nature shots and abstract works of art.

Mystical bird necklace

What type of materials do you like working with?
I like working with brass, stones,glass beads, and vintage / vintage inspired items.

Is this a full time or part time venture?
As of right now this is a part time venture.

How to you manage your time?
I try to first get all the house chores complete, then I have the rest of the day to create my jewelry!

What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?
hmm.... As of right now, it is probably my dancing leaves earrings. I just love how the leaves have movement around the turquoise beads.

Dancing leaves

What are your goals for 2009?
My main goal is to create a whole new line of jewelry in the next couple of months! Which will include more nature/garden themes to them, branches,birds,leaves, antique style charms etc...

Modern blue flowers

And just for fun...
Favorite color
green, powder blue.
Favorite food
mexican, indian,thai, spicy foods.
Favorite music
big band music, pop rock, celtic.
Favorite movie
hmmm... so many to choose from! Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, You've Got Mail.

Thank you Etsy!

Well what a busy weekend. I was very fortunate this past few days to have my jewelry featured in Etsy's Finds - Nice Day For a White Wedding and also in Etsy's Weekend Deals.

I sold quite a few items and have been packaging all weekend so off to the post office this morning.

These were the two pieces that were featured.



Thanks Etsy!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Pincushion Day

I've seen some lovely pincushions on Etsy lately. Here's a few of my faves.

From PinPinn a lovely citrus lime pincushion
Citrus Lime Pincushion




From ArtNestShop a practical ring pincushion
Pincushion Ring

The Pink choco berry mousse wrist band pin cushion from Berryvalley
Pink choco berry mousse wrist band pin cushion


From TheDailyPincushion, the Red Rodeo Pincushion
Red Rodeo Pincushion

Monday, June 22, 2009

Recent Additions to My Etsy Shop

I've been really busy the last couple of weeks, trying to look after the boys (who've finished school for the summer!), making jewelry, photographing, weeding my garden....the list goes on.

Today I'm just posting a few designs I added to my website last week. I haven't even had time to research another seller to feature right now but hopefully later this week I shall.

It's gorgeous weather here, finally! Long hot days perfect for swimming (thanks to our kind neighbor who let's us use his pool).

Don't forget to enter my giveaway on my blog and visit I Heart Handmade show (click the button to the right of this)

Green Hydrangea Necklace
Black Blossom Brass Jeweled NecklaceTurquoise Blossom Brass Jeweled NecklaceGeometric EarringsSilver Squiggle Pearl NecklaceSilver Balls of Yarn EarringsSilver Ball of Yarn Necklace
Silver Pearl Droplet Necklace

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Jacaranda Designs June Giveaway - Green Tea Pearl Bloom Necklace!

This month's giveaway from my Etsy shop is a Green Tea Pearl Bloom Necklace. It's been one of my most popular sellers. It's a lovely, delicate necklace made from antique brass plated metal connector and chain and a pea green freshwater pearl.

Green Tea Pearl Bloom Brass Necklace


In order to enter the giveaway you need to visit Jacaranda Designs and tell me which piece of pearl jewelry is your favorite (seeing as June is pearl month!).

here's how you can earn extra entries in this fabulous giveaway:

- 1 extra entry for commenting on my shop in the I Heart Handmade summer show. There's some great deals for my shop and others!

- 1 extra entry for blogging about this giveaway

- 1 extra entry for becoming a fan of my facebook page

- 5 extra entries for featuring any of my items on your blog

- 5 extra entries for buying any item from Jacaranda Designs

To go ahead, have fun and maybe you'll be the lucky winner.

As usual, I'll be using random.org to select the winner.

Giveaway ends June 30th at 5pm.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Walk Through a Garden of Delights!

Today's blog is dedicated to my parents' breathtakingly gorgeous garden. They both work hard most of the year round cultivating these stunning plants. Last year their garden was featured in a local magazine and you'll see why. The garden boasts an incredible variety of plants and shrubs but some of the loveliest, in my opinion, are the irises.

So take a glimpse at just a few of the plants that are currently blooming. Enjoy!

Handmade Market Show Starts on Friday

I'm participating in the Handmade Market Summer Show . It runs from Friday June 19th to July 11th. There's a large variety of sellers, many from Etsy, offering great deals and discounts. Also, there are giveaways everyday from all these talented artists.

Drop by on Friday and enjoy browsing and hopefully shopping!

handmade market badge - 125x125

Monday, June 15, 2009

New Organic and Engraved Additions to Jacaranda Designs!

I've been designing a lot of new pieces lately but have so far only posted a few of them. They are fun, simple designs but effective (I think). I've paired the organic silver plated branches with luminous mother-of-pearl beads...one in silver and another in sage green.

The earrings are also silver plate but engraved with floral patterns, adding a little whimsy.

Hope you like them!

Simple Silver Green Tea Pearl Branch Necklace
Simple Silver Pearl Branch Necklace
Floral Engraved Silver Circle EarringsTogether Forever Floral Engraved Heart Earrings

Peony Power

My peony is flowering. It looks stunning in our front garden. Today I shall cut a few and put them in a vase in our kitchen.Here's a poem about this gorgeous flower that I thought you might enjoy.



PEONY

Carman, Bliss, (1861 - 1929)
Arnoldus Villanova
Six hundred years ago
Said Peonies have magic,
And I believe it so.

There stands his learned dictum
Which any boy may read,
But he who learns the secret
Will be made wise indeed.

Astrologer and doctor
In the science of his day,
Have we so far outstripped him?
What more is there to say?
His medieval Latin
Records the truth for us,
Which I translate--virtutem
Habet occultam--thus:


She hath a deep-hid virtue
No other flower hath.
When summer comes rejoicing
A-down my garden path,
In opulence of color,
In robe of satin sheen,
She casts o'er all the hours
Her sorcery serene.

A subtile, heartening fragrance
Comes piercing the warm hush,
And from the greening woodland
I hear the first wild thrush.
They move my heart to pity
For all the vanished years,
With ecstasy of longing
And tenderness of tears.

By many names we call her,--
Pale exquisite Aurore,
Luxuriant Gismonda
Or sunny Couronne d'Or.
What matter,--Grandiflora,
A queen in some proud book,
Or sweet familiar Piny
With her old-fashioned look?

The crowding Apple blossoms
Above the orchard wall;
The Moonflower in August
When eerie nights befall;
Chrysanthemum in autumn,
Whose pageantries appear
With mystery and silence
To deck the dying year;

And many a mystic flower
Of the wildwood I have known,
But Pionia Arnoldi
Hath a transport all her own.
For Peony, my Peony,
Hath strength to make me whole,--
She gives her heart of beauty
For the healing of my soul.

Arnoldus Villanova,
Though earth is growing old,
As long as life has longing
Your guess at truth will hold.
Still works the hidden power
After a thousand springs,--
The medicine for heartache
That lurks in lovely things.

Poem is in the public domain..

Friday, June 12, 2009

Food, Yes, Edible, No - ETSY YART SALE Finds

I came across some great finds from Etsy shops participating in the YART SALE. All involve food but are not edible. Anyway, just for fun here they are. Go take a peek at their shops!


From Morganstreet a delicious bundt cake
Vanilla Orange Mini Bundt Cake Soap - YART SALE......Huge Reduction


From kukishop, for those that like their breakfast waffles with ice cream!
YART SALE FREE SHIPPING Waffle Necklace


Fresh cherries on your cupcakes from LAwood
YART SALE Amigurumi cake cell phone charm


A little sushi from Tatsuko
YART SALE free shipping - CALIFORNIA ROLL SUSHI charm


And finally, a mouthwatering piece of chocolate jewelry from AmandaYuDesign
Extraordinary Beauty - Everlasting Chocolate Brosch with exquisite handmade gift box

Thursday, June 11, 2009

More Shots of My Peony!

As I said in an earlier post, I'm taking pics of my Sarah Bernhardt peony as the buds develop and open.

Here's a few from yesterday.

Oh, and don't forget I'm taking part in Etsy Yart sale. Free shipping on all orders over $25, excluding shipping!