Winner of the Jacaranda Designs February Giveaway

Once again I used random.org to find a winner for the monthly giveaway.

It is ...... simplymerry

Congratulations!

Big thanks to everyone else you entered the giveaway and helped promote it too!

I shall be posting the March giveaway sometime this week. Stay posted.

Just Laugh

This morning I was listening to a comedy show on the radio and they were interviewing a woman who teaches laughing yoga. Sounds weird but surely it can't be a bad thing - never hurts to laugh. Some of you know I suffer from a chronic pain condition that I tried everything to overcome. The last couple of weeks the pain has been completely overwhelming - not much laughing going on here! Sometimes we just need a reminder to laugh, let go and naturally just relax those tense muscles. So here's some great reminders I found online. I'm going to be purchasing one of them - can you guess which?


From left to right, 1st row: One, Two, Three, Four
2nd row: One, Two, Three, Four

Snowy Day Etsy Faves

It's a snowy, windy, white day here today. I'm glad I don't have too much driving to do as it's quite slippery....way too many cars in ditches today. So my theme for today's Etsy faves is "Winter Fun". Go out and have some!

Featured Artist - Kathy Cherry Designs

Do you need a unique homemade card for a special occasion or are you like me and buy them when you see them and have an entire folder of cards to choose from when you need one? When you see the Kathy Cherry Designs cards, you'll want to buy a few!



Some background info about Kathy Cherry Designs
My love for designing paper products began in 2004 after making my own wedding invitations, programs, and place cards. Since then, I have created orders for friends and family as special gifts. At the end of 2009, I launched Kathy Cherry Designs after doing a fundraiser for a breast cancer organization where my product line was successful.

In my other world, I have more than 15 years of experience in the public sector for a range of non-profit organizations as well as leading several Chicago political campaigns. I earned my Master's degree in Public Services Management in 1999 from DePaul University in Chicago and also has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Anthropology from Indiana University.



I live in Southern California with my great husband, adorable son and loving dog. :)

I love to create something out of nothing and see a finished product.



What inspires you?
my son :)

Favorite item in my shop
The Celebrate Greeting Card (I love the paper used here!)


Goals are for 2010
To improve my marketing efforts and sales and also to try something new regularly with my creations - doesn't matter if they go out for sale, but to continue to play around

Anything else you'd like to share?
I also will create sets of cards for those interested offline and have done quite a few recently. In addition, I welcome any feedback, tips, suggestions or thoughts at any time. I can reached at kathy [!at] kathycherrydesigns.com.



Any specials deals customers should know about?
Free shipping right now.

Website
www.kathycherrydesigns.com
Facebook
www.facebook.com/kathycherrydesigns
Twitter
www.twitter.com/kcherrydesigns

Hair Elastics - Great Gift for Easter or Spring!

Hair elastics by Jacaranda Designs!

Winner of the Silver Plated Turquoise Button Ring from Lowusu

Thanks to everyone for entering this giveaway from Lowusu. We had a great response. Thanks also to Lily for providing the ring for the giveaway.

The winner was selected using random.org and it is ....

DAMLA!

Congrats!

Etsy Artist Feature - DesignsByRos

Today's featured artist is Ros from DesignsByRos. Ros is relatively new to Etsy, joining in the latter half of 2009. She specializes in Jewish Kippot, Magen Davids, and hammered sterling silver jewelry. Read on to learn more about this talented woman!



Some background...
I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but moved with my parents and brother to San Diego, California when I was six. I get my creative side from my mom, who has dabbled in everything from tole painting to primitive stitching before finally settling on quilting. Before I found Etsy I was a meeting planner for a pharmaceutical company and made a little jewelry on the side. When I found out I was pregnant with my first born, Soren, now six months old, I knew that I wanted to be a stay at home mom (just like my mom). So I quit my job and really focused on my craft. I currently live in Walnut Creek, CA (just outside of San Francisco) with my wonderful husband, son, and two adorable cats.



I love what I do because...
I love the look on people's faces when I give them a custom piece of art... priceless! I made a Kippah (Jewish head covering) for a customer's daughter and she was so excited that she gave me the biggest hug :) I couldn't stop smiling the rest of the day! It was exactly what she wanted and something that her daughter will hopefully cherish for a long time.



What inspires me..
I am so inspired by the runway shows in New York and the creativity of clothing designers. I watch the shows online and think, "Oh I have a great idea for a necklace that will look amazing with that outfit". Nature also plays a big part in my jewelry. I have a great view outside my son's window of trees and mountains... absolutely beautiful first thing in the morning!

Favorite item in my shop
I have two favorite items that are for sale in my shop: the Calm Waters and Dusk earrings. They are both so beautiful in completely different ways.





My goals for 2010
My brother is creating a website that I should be launching in March for a jewelry-making party business for kids (birthday, bat/ bar mitzvah, just for fun) and adults (leave the kids with a sitter and come make jewelry). It's a very exciting venture that I'm hoping will be a big success! Please check out my blog soon for more details.

My Spring collection is almost complete! It incorporates the season's color trend of peach and violet mixed with mostly bright gold. Many of the pieces are delicate and can be dressed up for evening or worn with jeans and a tank for a subtle burst of color.

Any specials deals customers should know about?
Friend me on Facebook, blogspot, or Twitter and receive 10% off of your next order (A refund will be given through Paypal).
Blog
http://designsbyros.blogspot.com/
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=507438732&ref=nf
Twitter
http://twitter.com/designsbyros

Featured Artist - Lowusu

Today I'm featuring the artist, Lily, from the etsy shop lowusu

Lily is also a fellow member of the team Busy Moms of Etsy. Lily creates gorgeous jewelry and I especially love her line of button rings. So read on and don't forget to enter the giveaway of a Silver Plated Turquoise Button Ring.



A little background about yourself
I knew from an early age that I wanted to have a career in the creative industry but I always thought it would be as a textile designer. I have a BA Hons in Printed Textiles and Surface Decoration and worked in the Fashion Industry until becoming a mother 3 years ago. 2 gorgeous boys later and I've turned my hobby of making jewellery into a fledgling business.




Why you love what you do
I've always loved wearing fashion jewellery and I love creating my own designs even more. I love the whole process of thinking up designs, sketching them down and then watching the designs come to life as I make them. I also love the feeling I get when I sell an item. The thought of someone else wearing a piece that I created makes me very happy and excited.



Favorite item in your shop
My favourites change daily but right now I'm loving my Silver plated round pendant with hanging glass bead because its simple, chic and very wearable.



What your goals are for 2010
My goals for this year are to expand my jewllery range, focus more on marketing/advertising and increase my sales on and offline.

I have my own group on facebook (Jewellery by Lowusu):

You can also follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/L_Owusu

GIVEAWAY DETAILS



- Name of item: Silver plated turquoise button ring
- Value: $11.50
- Eligible to win (US, CANADA, WORLDWIDE): Woldwide

To enter:
1 entry - visit lowusu and tell us what your favorite item is
1 entry - visit Jacaranda Designs and tell us your favorite item of jewelry
1 entry - follow this blog
1 entry - tweet about this giveaway
1 entry - blog about this giveaway

Don't forget to leave your email so you can be contacted should you win!

Contest ends Thursday February 18th 2nd at 5pm. Winner will be selected using random.org

Tuesday's Five Good Things

1. Driving into Toronto and having lunch with two very good friends
2. Getting back some positive medical results - Yay, the drugs are working! I'm on my way to becoming Superwoman :-)
3. Cuddling with the boys in bed before school today (don't tell their friends!)
4. Lemon sorbet
5. Flowers from Ian and it's not even Valentine's Day yet

From Artzink's shop on Etsy..........

Jacaranda Designs February Giveaway - Sweet Pea Green Pearl Earrings

February is here and with a new month comes a new jewelry giveaway from Jacaranda Designs!

This month the giveaway item is a pair Sweet Pea Green Pearl and Sterling Silver Earrings. Sweet as a little green pea, these sterling silver earrings boast a fresh green pearl topped with a little green lucite petal.

Wonderful for springtime just around the corner.

To enter....

Please leave a comment on this post telling us which piece of jewelry at Jacaranda Designs most reflects your personality.

You can enter once per day and you must include your first name -and- etsy username or email address with every entry. If you are worried about email spam, you can spell out the 'at' and 'dot' rather than using the standard email format.

Receive additional entries:
- if you follow or subscribe to my blog
- twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about the giveaway
- become a fan of Jacaranda's facebook page
- feature any of my items on your blog

- follow me on twitter
- purchase any item from Jacaranda Designs (5 additional entries!)

Just leave a comment/link letting me know!

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 Feb 28th at 5pm.

A Pinch and a Punch For the First Day of the Month!

Ever since I was a little kid, I've been in the habit of doing "a pinch and a punch for the first day of the month". My grandmother taught it to me when I was about four or five years old. It's an old British tradition that is supposed to bring luck. I've been saying it to my two boys since I can remember and now it's become quite the game to see who is the first to remember and get everyone else. Of course, it's just a gentle pinch and punch. This morning, I remembered before the boys woke up but thought I'd let them wake up fully before I pounced on them. Well, would you know it, my youngest came up behind me and got me.

Thinking about dates, I thought it would be fun to showcase some lovely Etsy calendar-inspired crafts from various talented artists.

Winner of Jacaranda Designs January Giveaway

Morning everyone! We have a winner of the January giveaway - pink blossom earrings.

It is .....

Caroline

Thanks everyone for entering. It was a wonderful response for this giveaway. Stay posted for the February giveaway which I'll post this week.