Focus Feature and Giveaway: SandTCreations

Happy Thursday and welcome to another focus feature and giveaway! First, let me announce the winner of the UniqueDesignsByMsP giveaway. Using a random number generator from Random.org, the winner is… (drumroll please…) #5, Jasmine1485!!! Congrats and I’ll put you in touch with Paula to collect your prize!

Let me introduce you to a creative duo from Indiana. These beading gals bring amazing talent to their Etsy shop, http://www.sandtcreations.etsy.com/! You'll find a wide range of color and jewelry types in this shop, with reasonable prices too! You could even start your Christmas shopping, or simply enter to win this great bracelet to wear year round!

Here’s what S and T had to say:

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

I think that changes each time we list new items, but right now it's Cherries Jubilee: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50666338/cherries-jubilee-in-free-shipping

How did you get into your line of crafting?

We were invited to a "beading party" and a small bracelet and earrings cost us over $40. Yes we did use nice stones, but it seemed alot. Saundra said to herself that she could do what they did to make our pieces and bought a small set of tools, beads and findings. She began teaching herself, and then, while I was recovering from surgery, she gave me my birthday present early: a set of beading tools, findings and some basic beads! We beaded together 2 or 3 times while I was off work and then it grew and grew as we learned about stones and components, found sources and, eventually, set up a business.

Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?

Yes, right now these 3: AWETeam (Art Walk on Etsy) that promotes the First Friday Art Walk every month, BESTeam (Boosting Etsy Shops Team) and INCrowdteam (Indiana team)

If you had one super power what would it be?

To read minds. I'm the most lousy office politician you have ever seen and would love to be able to tell if what they said was really what they meant.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Ice cream

What's your favorite thing about summer?

I HATE cold, so summer is always better. And I love long summer days of sunlight.

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

I have 3: Beadin Babe, Recycled, and Youniquely, Inc.

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

Oh my. One of our dogs, my air mattress, and a journal

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

Well, unfortunately, if I'm trying to work on something new: wire-wrapping or silversmithing, once I mess up a time or two, I quit for a long time, so I never get that practice time in so I could do well. But if I'm frustrated with a design, I put it aside and find I can go back in a day or two and finish it up. It's as if, just thinking about it works through whatever problem I was stuck on.

What advice would you give to new Etsy sellers?

List plenty of items, people can't stay and shop if you only have 3 things to look at. And promote your store and work outside Etsy, draw in customers from facebook, twitter, myspace, a blog, videos, podcasts, stumbleupon, flickr, your own customer email list and whatever else you can think of. Have that website on every printed material you have, not just your business card.

Blog, twitter, facebook links:

Blog: http://sandtcreations.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://companies.to/sandtcreations

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Teri_B

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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 sandtcreations’ 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 sandtcreations’ Blog. (1 entry)

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

Make a purchase from sandtcreations’ 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 25 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Winner will be contacted Thursday morning when the next giveaway is posted and prize details will be arranged with sandtcreations. Thanks for your interest and entries!

Focus Feature and Giveaway: UniqueDesignsByMsP

Welcome to another Focus Feature and Giveaway Thursday! First, let’s congratulate our winner of the Julessabjewelry giveaway. Using random.org, the giveaway winner is #11, dhesh! Congrats and I’ll put you in touch to collect your prize!

Welcome to another Focus Feature and Giveaway Thursday! This week will be dedicated to Paula at www.UniqueDesignsbyMsP.etsy.com. Paula has some great jewelry to show off and a couple pairs of fingerless gloves that I’m in love with! Be sure to enter the giveaway to win these unique earrings!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51505419/reservered-clevercrafter-giveaway-my

Here’s what Paula had to say:

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

I am a rather fickle "Mom". My favorite is usually whatever I am working on at the time. Why? When I am working on a piece, no matter what that piece is, it has my full attention. As the piece comes to life, I think about how I would feel wearing it. If I wouldn't love wearing it, I scrap it and start over. Once it is completed and listed, the piece is forgotten until it is sold.

How did you get into your line of crafting?

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed fabric and fiber; the texture, the color, the drape, and of course the fashion. I remember raiding my Mom's fabric stash for bits of and pieces to make clothes for Barbie; learning how to use a needle and thread to fashion the tiny pieces into fashionable dresses, skirts, tops, and pants. Then I discovered crocheting and that I could create "Barbie Fashions" with yarn. I absolutely love the cozy feeling of hats, scarves and gloves, not to mention sweaters (but I am too impatient to make a lot of them). Then, as a child of the sixties, I fell in love with beading when the Mom of a friend opened her very own bead shop. Adding the sparkle and shine to the color and texture I already loved made jewelry making a natural evolution for me.

Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?

I belong to 2 groups on Etsy; BESTeam and Sac-Etsy. Both groups are very supportive and great choices for me. BESTeam has connected me with numerous Etsy vendors from all over the United States and some from Canada and Europe. This group has also taught me some great marketing techniques. Sac-Etsy is a local group for me, being a Northern California Girl. The members are great in supporting the local artisans; helping with Etsy and also other local outlets for their creations.

If you had one super power what would it be?

I have to choose just one? :) I don't know if this is considered a super power, but for me it would be endless energy. I have so many things that I want to do and not enough energy to get them all done.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Again with the choices! :) Let's see, would it be the chocolate bar hiding in the silverware drawer, the lovely fragrance that I sprits on daily that makes me feel sexy, or the time I give myself to read the fantasy novels (at least that's what they are labeled). I believe in extreme self-care, so I indulge on a regularly scheduled basis.

What’s your favorite thing about summer?

I am one of those people who is not crazy about the summer season. The best part about the summer months, for me, is the longer daylight hours.

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

Sooo many choices! If you visit my facebook page, you'll find that I have over a hundred "favorites". I try to share the love when looking for gifts and those little luxuries, and I pounce a lot just to experience new artisans. For instance, my hostess for this feature, CleverCrafter, has some wonderful pieces. She uses simple items in an unexpected way to create unique one of a kind jewelry pieces.

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

There are days that this would be a dream come true. Stranded on a deserted island, I would want a pen and paper so that I could write that epic novel I have been telling myself I would write some day; and the third item, hmmmm, maybe my blackberry so that when my novel is complete I would be able to call someone to come pick it up.

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

I have learned that creativity can't be rushed. It can be encouraged, but it takes the time it takes to come into full bloom. Trying to rush it causes more frustration and steals the joy from the project.

What advice would you give to new Etsy sellers?

Love what you are doing. Do some research. Join at least one great support group. Be patient, this is not a "get rich and famous quick" forum.

Blog, twitter, facebook links:

http://www.uniquedesignsbymsp.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/myuniquedesigns

http://www.facebook.com/paulasdesgins (yes, there is a typo here, but I am stuck with it)

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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 Paula’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 Paula’s Blog. (1 entry)

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

Make a purchase from Paula’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 18 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Winner will be contacted Thursday morning and prize details will be arranged with Paula. GOOD LUCK!!

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!!

BESTeam weekly feature: Waterwaif

For those of you that are familiar with my blog, I'm sure you remember the focus feature and giveaway that I did not too long ago on Waterwaif. She had more entries for the giveaway than any other giveaway I've done! And for good reason: She was giving away her gorgeous jewelry creations!

Now I'd like to introduce her to you as a part of the BESTeam. And I've got good news... She's been busy bringing you new pieces to drool over!!






The green in these earrings is one of my favorite colors, so deep and vivid!


I'll be going up north next weekend for a 2 mile open water swim, so I've had beach on the brain. These earrings are perfect to wear by the sea! (or lake I suppose!)


Be sure to visit Waterwaif's shop on Etsy at www.waterwaif.etsy.com and read her blog for more features on Etsy artists and new creations at http://waterwaif.blogspot.com.

I'm so BLUE...

This week’s Top 10 brings back a color feature – BLUE! I’ve searched the shops of my fellow Etsy sellers and found these great items in my favorite color. Check out their other items and show them some Etsy love!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another year older, not sure about wiser!

What a great weekend!


Thank you to everyone that sent me kind birthday wishes! Yesterday I turned 27 and it was a great day! My boyfriend got me a beautiful necklace and ring with my birthstone, aquamarine. Can't wait to get the ring sized to wear everyday! Went out to dinner at Red Lobster and had tasty popcorn shrimp, YUM! Then off to the bowling alley with a dozen of our friends. And this morning, back to work... BLURGH!


Got to spend time with some good girlfriends on Saturday too, painting pottery of course! This time I started a flower pot and traced a butterfly on it. The butterfly will be done in pinks and the background is a light blue. Can't wait to see the end result! Eventually I'd like to have a set of pots with butterflies in different colors. I have about 9 plants between my office and home!

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Speaking of butterflies...


Tomorrow's Top 10 will feature 10 different Etsy artists and their gorgeous stained glass pieces with BUTTERFLIES! I love the colors that come with butterfly art and I can't wait to show you the beautiful craftsmanship that I stumbled upon on Etsy. Hope you stop in and comment!

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LAST CHANCE TO WIN!


Tomorrow ends the Button Bracelet giveaway on Blueroo's Blog! Be sure to stop in and get as many entries as possible for your chance to win!



http://bleuroo.blogspot.com/2010/03/giveaway-tuesday-clever-crafter.html

Just Another Manic Monday.....

Good Morning!


I woke up this morning to fresh snow... and not the good kind! Driving to work was a little crazy, but I managed to make it safe. The bad part? Nothing was plowed and my boots were in my office. Dress shoes + 5 inches of snow = cold feet!


Today I want to show you up close some of the Button Bracelets that qualify for the sale I'm running in my shop. Everything green is 20% off through March 17! Get your green before it's gone!

Grinchy Green is one of my favorites right now. Can you guess how it got its name?? Perfect match I would say!

I've been having so much fun with these solid color bracelets because I have found so many fun shapes and textures to use in them to make them unique.

This bracelet is also going to be replicated for a giveaway on a fellow Etsy artist's blog soon. Check back for details!



Emerald Isle is such a vibrant shade of emerald green. I have used the color with other colors for some pieces, like Mardi Gras Magic II, but I just thought that this color needed to be solitary too!










Green Apple is a thicker version of the button bracelets. The number of buttons on the chain is the same, but the larger sizes fills this bracelet out and really catches the eye.

I've used the shades of light green again that really compliment each other well, and the buttons are all different sizes.

Check out the rest of my Etsy shop for more great green items that are all on sale for St. Patty's Day! Nobody likes to be pinched for not wearing green, so be sure to order yours today!