New Feature Store

Sunday night random number generator--selecting the new featured store

Here are your random numbers:44
Timestamp: 2010-11-29 00:17:08 UTC

And the winning store is: equale!!

From the shop announcement:

I'm =e (pronounced: equally). i'm an artist who believes equality is not only a right, but an essential for life. here you will find an array of art, from bottle-cap jewelry/keychains, etc... to original design screen-printed t-shirts, and prints of some of my designs, paintings and drawings!to get to know more about my shop as well as a little bit about me, be sure to check out all the info in the shop policies section. customer service is very important to me, so you can be sure to shop with confidence!thanks for stopping by, and please check back for updates and new, cool and unique items!=e[because not all art is created equally, but all people should be]

What a fantastic motto for life!!

And look at the art work! From bottle caps to T-shirts to mixed media computer art, equale has the taste of a modern generation. Thank you for hearting my store and in return, I am featuring you.

Now, blog followers, click on any picture and give equalle love also!

New Featured Shop from my Hearts

My idea to feature a shop by using the random number generator has made one store owner very happy. Here is this week's winner

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:41
Timestamp: 2010-11-22 00:45:16 UTC

And the winner is Pandyamy!!

Her shop announcement reads: Unique Handmade Jewelry for Her. A selection of rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces crafted with silver sterling, 14 kt gold filled, copper and vintaj wire.

Here I am too in Etsyland. I'm an Australian born who is living in Greece. A mum of two beautiful young boys and former EFL Teacher who gave it up to take care of my sons full time. While I love taking care and being there for my sons, it can be very overwhelming. Involving myself in creative work was the only outlet to keep me sane :) I first started out by crafting with casting powder and molds for decorative items. I later began jewelry making and it's been an amazing experience since, learning about it and creating many wonderful pieces of jewelry. It's something I will always enjoy and never give up on.

And that is right!! Look at the beautiful jewelry items she has--

Click on each picture to go to her store.

Come back and comment on your favorite item!

A new Idea

I want to feature etsy stores who heart me but I've had a problem with thinking of how to feature them. So I went to the random number generator and I have the random number

Here is your random number:18
Timestamp: 2010-11-15 01:01:59 UTC

Now I am off to find who I am promoting tonight!!

FlowersforRealJewelr is the winner!!

From her shop announcement:

Pressed Flowers in Resin are my passion, using as great a variety of flowers as possible. Victorian-style pendants and earrings are my specialty, but I design a variety of real flower jewelry.

Custom pendants made of flowers from weddings, funerals and other special occasions are one of my favorite things to make.

I'd love you to contact me about the flowers from your special event.

No dyes or coloring are used on the flowers in my jewelry.

All the colors in my pressed flower jewelry are Mother Nature's. All flowers will fade over time, no matter in what format they are presented.

Keeping the jewelry in a jewelry box or other dark, dry place will greatly delay the natural aging.

Now look at some of her creations!

Making Custom paper for my watercolorist/pastel friend

My friend, Karen, has pushed me into making custom paper for her. She is a watercolorist and pastel artist. Together, we are going to make some awesome paper for her to create waterolors and pastel work. Her website is karenchambers.com

I thought I would give you a few of our conversations to show how this works:

Karen--I'm building my papermaking contacts so that special orders like yours will be a main stay of my business.

The paper I made yesterday is 9 x 14. I really want you to try it and all the different ways you listed. It is 100% cotton, with calcium carbonate to maintain acid free and has a sizing in the pulp which helps prevent water absorbancy.

Let's get together one day this week and I can show you what I have made.
Pam

Karen came and picked up 8 sheets of paper.

Pam,
I have used two sheets of the paper for pen and ink drawings. I think the images would show up better if there was about half as much plant fiber inclusions. Also, the paper responds even to the moisture in the ink of my drawing pens. It doesn't bleed but it picks up and shreds as if it were wet. A little smoother surface might work better. Other than that it works really well for drawing. I'll try pastels next. Since there is no moisture involved, we shoud get different results. I still think a little less plant fiber is better as it is also distracting for the design. I am having fun, however. Karen

Karen
Great info! I will adjust the plant fibers and the sizing which prevents the ink bleeding. I know I can correct the bleeding. Pam

Pam,
It is not exactly bleeding. It just disintegrates if it get damp and sticks to the felt nib of my pen. Sometime soon, before I send these to the Atlanta gallery, I want to let you see what I have done with it as far as drawings. It works great for botanicals. Your paper gives it a personality it would not have with any storebought stuff. We may have a great partnership here! Karen

Check out Karen's website!! She's extremely talented and busy!!

Would you like custom made paper? Contact me at http://www.papermajik.etsy.com/

More posts to come showing how she used my paper!

Feast Day--An Accidental Happening

It all started out with a beef roast that I had thawed all day yesterday. I had planned on putting it the crock pot to cook all day. When I unwrapped the roast and found rib bones and t bones that wouldn't move, I enlisted the help and knowledge of my husband, who is an accomplished chef. We decided to cook it like a turkey in the oven. I had already chopped up garlic before this decision was made. We pasted the garlic on all sides of the roast, draped sliced onions on toothpicks and salt & peppered it. Then it was cooked with an aluminum foil tent for 3 1/2 hours. (While the oven was hot, I baked cookies for my son at college. ) Then for supper, I cooked acorn squash with butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, walnuts and cracker crumbs. I cooked brown rice.

Whew!! IT was a ton of work, but now we are set for meals during the week. I wish you could have stopped by for a plate!

Well, Here I am again at a late notice at updating my blog!

I am offereing some of my Christmas cards on early sale.

Check them out:
http://www.etsyonsale.com/shop/papermajik