Thursday, August 20, 2009

Winner - Jacaranda Designs August Sweet and Simple Pearl Earrings Giveaway

Yay! We have a winner of the Sweet and Simple Pearl earrings. I used random.org to generate a number and the lucky winner is....

Joanne J

Well done Joanne!

Stay posted for another giveaway in the Fall.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Feature Artist of The Week

Today I'm featuring a talented Etsy artist, Melinda, from LazuliBlueCreations. She makes some very eye-catching, feminine and sexy clothes. I especially love the camisoles! I also like the fact that Melinda recycles cool fabrics that she finds at thrift stores.

Melinda ships internationally and even offers free shipping on some items. So stay a while, read on and take a look at LazuliBlueCreations!

FREE SHIPPING - Purple Vintage Camisole Slip Top

Give us a little background about yourself.

I started making clothes out of recycled fabrics when I discovered thrift shops as a teenager. I found them quite addictive and ended up filling half my mum's garage with fabrics, crochet,lace etc. I have been selling my wares at craft markets on and off for the last 15 years and opened a clothes shop with a friend at one stage.


What do you create?
I love to create feminine clothes that are flattering to the female body. I like halter style dresses, fabrics with flowers, and the colours are very important to me. These days I use both recycled and new fabrics. I also love using vintage crochet and trimmings and hand-dying them for vintage pieces.

What type of materials do you like working with?
I use both woven and stretch materials, recycled and new, and upcycled vintage slips using crochet and trimmings.

Cafe Au Lait Hand-dyed Vintage Slip Skirt
Is this a full time or part time venture?
I am fairly new to the Etsy world and have a stall at a craft market twice a month so it is still part time for me, but I would love love love to do this full time one day. I love working from home in my own little bubble. I also teach English to Koreans online.

Pastel Hand-dyed tank tops

How to you manage your time?
I make a lot of lists! I usually have one day where I do all the cutting, then I make a pile to sew, but I keep the piles small so that it doesn't become a chore and I can enjoy it. And I only sew when in the mood. I have another day to hand-dye vintage pieces.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?
I would have to say my cafe au-lait vintage slip skirt. Hand-dying is always a surprise, you can never know exactly how well all the different materials and trimmings are going to take to the dye but I love the way this one turned out.
I have also recently started to make children's reversible dresses and love the process of making these with their cute retro-inspired printed fabrics.

FREE SHIPPING - 70's Flower Power Vintage Halter Dress
And just for fun...

Favorite color
I love anything that is the colour turquoise

Favorite food
Oh there are soo many- chocolate. I am a bit of a chocoholic. Also sushi, anything with seafood, pasta, pizza, ooh and soy lattes.

FREE SHIPPING - Gothic Black Vintage Camisole Top
Favorite music
When I'm at home I like listening to chill out music, especially ethnic music. When I go out I like seeing reggae and hip hop bands and dancing to funk music.

Favorite book
I just read a book recently that took me 2 days because I couldn't put it down. It's called Eat, Pray, Love. It's soooooooo good, I'm telling everybody about it.

Clearing Stock - 50% Off

I'm in the mood for cleaning up the house and getting rid of things that I never use and don't know why I hold on to. We don't live in a huge house so I desperately need to make some space. Yes, my office is such a mess I can feel my creative juices just drying up!

So I thought I'd apply the same "cleaning" to my Etsy shop. I'm gradually reducing many items by 50% in an attempt to move some stock and make some room for new creations! So stop by and have a look...there's some great deals!

SALE SALE SALE SALE

SALE - Northern Lights BraceletSALE - Blue Jade Hope NecklaceSALE - Flower Garden Earrings - Mauve

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Friday, August 14, 2009

Some Treasures From My Garden

I've been so slack updating my blog lately but in the summertime there's just so many fun things to do outside!

Here's some of the lovely plants growing in my garden right now.

Rose of Sharon - I have had quite a bit of success propagating these. I love them!



Sweet Peas - my grandmother always grew these in her garden so I do mainly for sentimental reasons!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Jacaranda Designs August Sweet and Simple Pearl Earrings Giveaway

This month's giveaway from my Etsy shop is a pair of Sweet and Simple Pearl Earrings. These are a lovely classic earring style. Perfect for the woman who loves simple, chic earrings. They're very versatile so you'll wear them often!

Sweet and Simple Earrings

Sweet and Simple Earrings

If you'd like to enter the giveaway, it's really simple!

- take a look at Jacaranda Designs and tell me which necklace you'd pair these earrings up with
- for another entry, follow this blog
- for another entry, post this giveaway on your blog (don't forget to come back here and let me know!)
- vote for me in Mom Entrepreneur of the Year Award for another entry (I could really do with your support!)
- buy anything in my shop and you'll get another entry

So have fun, spread the word and don't forget to leave me a way of contacting you!

Contest ends August 20th.