Thursday, August 5, 2010

Focus Feature and Giveaway: JulessaBJewelry

Welcome to another Focus Feature and Giveaway Thursday! First, let’s congratulate our winner of the Keiglass pendant giveaway! Using random.org, the giveaway winner is #2, Lyudmila! Congrats and I’ll put you in touch to collect your prize!

Today I bring you a new giveaway from Julessa of
www.julessabjewelry.etsy.com! This shop is full of handmade and uniquely designed jewelry and tutorials to make your own! Julessa will be giving away this amazing set from her shop:


I’m wishing that I could enter to win!


Here’s what Julessa had to say:

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

My absolute favorite thing in my shop is my latest addition, the Sterling Silver Fringe Bracelet. I've been toying with this idea for awhile and now that it's a reality, I'm planning a whole new line basted on this particular "fringe" idea.

How did you get into your line of crafting?

I started crafting when I was very young. My mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were all quilters, painters and artists of some sort so I began at a very young age. Although, I didn't get into jewelry until 2004 to get my mind off my studies in college. I started out beading and when I got impatient with it, I began a few silver-smith classes and instantly found my passion. I love the torch and the silver and making something three dimensional out of wire, sheet and gemstones.

Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?

Yes, I belong to the Boosting Etsy Shops Team of wonderful artisans and I've met some great friends along the way with Etsy.


If you had one super power what would it be?

I would say super strength, although all the wire bending is making my forearms look like Popeye the Sailor {smile}.


What’s your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure?? Ahhh, great question! I'd have to say my morning pot o'coffee. Yes, I said POT of coffee. I love the smell, the taste and the warmth, especially in the winter.

What’s your favorite thing about summer?

My favorite thing about the summer is opening the pool and watching my labs go nuts! Really, my one baby, Bailey, she only gets 30-minutes at a time because she sprains her tail if I let her go too long. She weezes, pants and is thoroughly tired after 30-minutes, but if I don't stop her I have to hear her whine each time she sits, lays down or gets excited and tries to wag her sprained tail. If the vet hadn't clued me in, I would never have known dogs could sprain their tails.


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

I have a brand new favorite jewelry shop it's stickmanjewelry and I just adore these designs. I have a ton of other favorites, but right now Virginia and Edward's shop is just so cute and cuddly, I couldn't go without mentioning it!




If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you take with you?
My hubby, because he makes me laugh, all the sterling silver wire in the world and my torch with unlimited oxygen and propane!


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

Well, I'm not one to sketch a design or really try to work out on "practice" materials and it has had its share of ups and downs because of that... I'm learning that an idea in my head doesn't necessarily constitute a great design. So, now I'm making a better effort to work things out on paper first then try to build it with materials - I still haven't quite decided on the "practice" materials thing, but I'm sure it will come to that someday when my designs get a little more advanced.

What advice would you give to new Etsy sellers?

My advice to new Etsy shop openers? Well, first find your passion. Make sure you shop reflects who you are as an artisan and don't browse too much at other artists of your type because it can make you a little disheartened at times. I learned that the hard way and found when I just design the things I like and what I think my clients will like, I'm much happier as an artist and a business owner.




Blog, twitter, facebook links:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jujubeejewelry

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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 Nina’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 Julessa’s Blog. (1 entry)

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

Make a purchase from Julessa’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, August 11 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Winner will be contacted Thursday morning and prize details will be arranged with Julessa. GOOD LUCK!!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

BESTeam feature: VieForColor

Happy Tuesday!

First off, here's your friendly reminder that there is a giveaway going on... Be sure to check out the prize and enter to win!

http://cleverscorner.blogspot.com/2010/07/focus-feature-and-giveaway-keiglass.html

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I've also been working on improving my shop and have been playing around with new, and hopefully better, photos. Here's 3 new listings from last night:


Pretty in Pink

Peachy Keen

Candy Apple

Come visit the shop at www.clevercrafter.etsy.com and find your favorite button bracelet! These bracelets are made with high quality materials and are tested for strength so you can rest assured your bracelet will not break!
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And now onto our BESTeam feature!
This week brings you a relatively new shop, open on Etsy since May! www.VieForColor.etsy.com has a great collection of hand painted clothes as well as handbags and originals on canvas.

Nobody will show up at your next party wearing the same dress as you if you have this one!

Loving that gold shimmer!

These bright colors are great for a summer evening out!

Looking to accessorize? Check out the handbags too!
Be sure to check out VieForColor on her blog as well at http://vfcshop.wordpress.com/ for features and new painted pieces!!