Friday Finds - 26 Jun 09

More Friday finds here. If you’d like to take a closer look at each item, the links are below the photo group. Check out other gorgeous pieces in their shops too.


Clockwise from top left:
1. birdie tote - echino fabric by washwhendirty
2. Flower Power Blank Note Cards by madebyswirlygirl
3. Restful Dream original monotype by deandymentstudios
4. Happy Denim Purse by huggermugger
5. Baby Blue - Chalcedony & Pearl Beaded Watch by roseofsharonjewelry
6. Earth Blooms Mosaic Keepsake/Jewelry Box by tkdesigns

Handcrafted Creations Directory Sign-Up

A shout out to my readers that you can submit your website link to Handcrafted Creations for their blog consideration. They have an impressive directory with different catagories such as handmade jewelry, wedding jewelry and accessories. Check out the featured artisans and their unique crafts.

Victoria Joanne of Custom Wedding Garters makes custom garters in a rainbow of colors. You can select a design by theme, by color or by materials. I've never seen such a huge selection of designs, but then I got married way back, before the internet was born.

So head over to the two sites, take a look, sign up to be featured, and spread the word.

Blog Award - One Lovely Blog

Lori Dean Dyment of DeanDymentStudios bestowed the honor of the "One Lovely Blog Award" to my blog, and I am ecstatic because this is the second time I received this award in the past month.

Lori is a very talented painter and printmaker, living in beautiful British Columbia. Take a moment to check out her Etsy shop and her blog which is filled with great links.

Thanks Lori! Now it's my turn to pass it on...Here are the rules:
Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are my nominees!

AOS Leather
Kathryn Cole Jewelry
Timberwerks Studio
Lietdeco
A Bead A Day
Urban Junkies Artist Lounge
HJM Art
Holly Wilcox
Kim Mitchell
Lost Sentiments
Patricia Wood
Lime Green Modern
Blueberry Cream
Art on Paper
Healthy and Happy

Blog Award - Kreative Blogger

My friend Meltem has given me the Kreative Blogger award. I'm just thrilled and honored because she makes such wonderful silver jewelry. Check out her two shops, Meltemsem, Warmandsoft, and her blog.

Here are the rules of the award:
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. List seven things you love.
4. List seven blogs you love.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Here are the seven things I love (in no particular order):

-watching my son succeed and maturing

-jewelry making tools

-China

-Chinese martial arts

-hanging out with my friends

-warm summer nights

-traveling

Seven blogs I love and for you to visit:

- jenkiabaphotography

- madebyswirlygirl

- silkartfrombrazil

- bijouxboutique

- kelleylivinston

- juliemagerssoulen

- creativewithclay

Friday Finds - 19 Jun 09

So Father’s Day is just 2 days away. Here are some of my favorites that will make dads smile. Click on the links below and enjoy. Don’t forget to browse other items that these wonderful artists created.

Clockwise from top left:
1. Arnold - The Gym Rat Robot by reclaim2fame
2. Two Level table by timothyadamdesigns
3. Dark Chocolate Dream Caramel Apple by doubledippedsweets 4.Music in Rome by starrybluesky
5. Beach Chairs by lauratrevey
6. Diving Eagles by aosleather

Lucy in the Sky with Diamond

Scientists found the largest diamond in the universe. Lucy, named after the Beatles’ song, is 2,500 miles across and weighing 5 million trillion trillion carats (34 zeros after the one, or 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 carats). OK, that’s a lot of diamond rings. This rock chunk is virtually crystallized carbon, measuring about 4,000 km in diameter, is approximately 50 light years from Earth in the Constellation Centaurus.

For sake of comparison, the largest cut gem in the world is the Cullinan I found in South Africa. This finished stone is 546 carats was cut from a 3,100 carat rough, which was the largest diamond found on Earth. Lucy, if mind and cut into wearable sizes, would deflate the gems market, making diamonds a dime a dozen.

Technically, Lucy is BPM 37093 and is a crystallized white dwarf. The carbon interior of this white dwarf has solidified, resulting in this galaxy’s largest diamond.

Ten Things About Me

Following several team members' footsteps, here are a few tidbits about me:

1. Proud mom with a son who will be attending UC Berkeley (my own alma mater) this fall.

2. Never had any interest in jewelry until I started making them.

3. Couple of fortune-tellers told me that I lack 2 out of 5 elements (per Chinese astrology) - water and metal. That kind of explains my attraction to metal jewelry, huh!?

4. LEED AP - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Accredited Professional.

5. Avoided being cornered into becoming an interior designer, which happened to a lot of women architects.

6. Total martial arts fanatic - movies and books. Acquired 2 levels of black belt in Chinese kungfu before an accidental landing while doing a spinning jump kick. Competed in local and international tournaments, and would return to the training again in a heartbeat.

7. It is not a real vacation unless it is a tropical one.

8. Love being my own boss.

9. Need to join "Diet Coke Anonymous."

10. Get annoyed when people question me being Jewish.

Friday Finds - 12 Jun 09

It’s Friday again, and I get to bring to you some of my Etsy favorite items. Enjoy these beautiful images and items that these artists created. If you’d like to take a closer look at each item, the links are below the photo group. Check out other gorgeous pieces in their stores too.

Clockwise from top left:
1. Hidden Doorways in a Gothic Church by jenkiabaphotography
2. Golden Bliss by juliemagerssoulen
3. Pearl Moon Necklace by melissamemandesigns
4. Sassy Teapot with Attitude by creativewithclay
5. Southwestern 1, artisan lampwork beads by artfaerie
6. The Original Handbag pdf knitting pattern by bijouxboutique

Friday Finds - 05 Jun 09

This is the roll-out of Friday Finds here on my blog. Featured items are handmade by artists and artisans that I find on Etsy, Artfire, or other similar venues. For the initial showcase, I picked my favorites from a few of my EtsySecrets teammates' shops. EtsySecrets is a membership-only team created by Tim Adams of Timothy Adam Designs, Handmadeology, and Found Handmade. Tim is a self-taught metal artist and can always be found providing information on social networking and on how to succeed on Etsy.

Take a closer look and read the details on these item by clicking on the links below the photos. Be sure to check out other fantastic creations by these talented artists. Have a fabulous weekend!

Clockwise from top left:

1. Set of 4 Home Sweet Home Ceramic Coasters by tscrapper

2. Light Blue Atomic Dots Tote by apiarydesigns

3. Hoot Owl Scrabble Tile Pendant by jessejanes
4. Chewbacca Mouse by TheHouseOfMouse