Friday, July 2, 2010

Focus Feature and Giveaway!

Just like any other Thursday, it’s time to start the day with a huge CONGRATS to the winner of the waterwaif giveaway! So without further adieu, CONGRATS to entry #41, Very Married! I’ll put you in touch with waterwaif for your gift certificate!

Welcome to Blue Forest Jewellery! This Etsy shop features bold and colorful jewelry made from the greatest glass beads and other stones! The giveaway from this shop will be these great earrings you see below (open worldwide) so start searching for the perfect outfit to wear them with!



Here’s what Alison from Blue Forest Jewellery had to say:

What’s your favorite item from your shop and what makes it your favorite?

It's hard to pick one when you love all the colours, but I do favour this 'Picasso' bead necklace because it's so different and it has almost every colour of the rainbow in it

http://www.etsy.com/listing/39275682/handmade-red-picasso-glass-bead-necklace



How did you get into your line of crafting?

I've done lots and lots of types of craft throughout my life including dressmaking, tapestry, lacemaking, cardmaking and so on. For a while I was a primary school teacher and did loads of art and craft in the day as well. But just at the moment, it's mostly jewellery that I'm focussed on - I'm such a magpie!

Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?

Yes! The BESTeam and the Lonely Jewelers on Etsy



If you had one super power what would it be?

I'd like to be able to make more hours in the day - mostly for crafting, but also for being with the OH and the pooch. Family time is so precious, isn't it?

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate definately. It goes straight to my hips, but I can't resist it. I'm learning to live with my hips and enjoy the chocolate now after years of battling with both of them!

If you could be any animal what would it be and why?

I would be my chocolate labrador because he has the best life we can give him - walks, food, sleeps, play, meeting other dogs and people - and he loves every experience that comes his way. And he lives in the moment, not worrying about the past or the future - which is a lesson we could all learn from.



Do you have a personal favorite Etsy shop that you would like to share with readers?

The mix of art and jewellery in this shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/dollydaydream456

is really beautiful. I love art and the Frida Kahlo influence here and the folksy style are my kind of thing. And of course, like Blue Forest Jewellery, the shop is all about colour!

There are about another 200 shops on Etsy I also love...



If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you take with you?

Husband, dog and pliers ;-) But if I'm not allowed people and pets, I'd choose my kindle (stocked up with lots of novels), a big tapestry projects and my pliers!



From my own personal crafting I’ve been through frustrating moments with new projects. What have you learned from your own crafting frustrations?

If something's not working, move on from it. That's what I love about making jewellery because you don't have to get bored and frustrated with a piece that is giving you difficulties, and there's no one hassling you to get it finished, so you can just try something else. It's great to have somewhere where you can try out new things and there's no risk!

What advice would you give to new Etsy sellers?

Enjoy your crafting, work on your shop but don't get obsessed with it, and don't expect too much too soon. 'Keep calm and carry on' is my favourite motto.



Blog, twitter, facebook links:

http://blueforestjewellery.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/blueforestjewel
http://www.folksy.com/shops/BlueForestJewellery
http://www.dreamaid.com/store/BlueForest



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Anyone can post and accumulate up to 15 entries for the giveaway! Please be sure to include your email address so that you can be contacted if you win, and don’t forget to post each entry as a separate comment!

There is only one MANDATORY ENTRY, necessary to collect your email address for contact if you win:

Visit BlueForestJewellery’s Etsy shop and post your favorite item here. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES!!!

Follow Clever’s Corner Blog and post to let me know you follow. (1 entry)

Tell me your guilty pleasure. (1 entry)

Follow BlueForestJewellery’s Blog, where there are many great giveaways available! (1 entry)

Tweet about this giveaway and post the link here. (1 entry)

Make a purchase from BlueForestJewellery’s Etsy shop and post the transaction here. (5 entries)

Make a purchase from The Clever Crafter’s Etsy shop and post the transaction here. (5 entries)

The giveaway will end on Wednesday, July 7 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Winner will be contacted Thursday morning and prize details will be arranged with Alison at BlueForestJewellery. GOOD LUCK!!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Brought to you by BESTeam!

WHEW!! What a week!! I usually run my BESTeam features on Mondays, but this week I have spent so much time moving that I couldn't even get to the internet until today!

That being said, I'm pleased to introduce you to CROCHETIZE! This fun Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/crochetize) is brought to you all the way from Europe and showcases the most intricate and beautiful crocheted lace gloves! Styles range from fingerless to fingertips and come in an assortment of colors. Think wedding:



Or opera:


Or even just for fun!


Not only does this talented chick crochet great gloves, but be sure to check out the accessories too! I love long necklaces that I can double up or wear as a single strand.



You can check out the blog as well at http://crochetize.blogspot.com. Be sure to swing by crochetize, and maybe leave a note that we want to see more!!