Treasury Thursdays

Wonderful Wednesdays

Whats more wonderful and inspiring then nature!  Check out these wonderful finds from the Etsian Artists Team....

Albino Pink Handblown Boro Glass Frog Sculpture OOAK

Absolutely adorable this little guy is!!!!! What a wonderful find this was to stumble across for today's post.  This is a one of a kind piece that you won't find anywhere else in the world.  You have to check out this listing by  NaturalFlipside and while you are there be sure to check out the entire shop for beautiful quality pieces that are as beautiful as they are unique!

 Sunny Day- Art print-FREE SHIPPING

A gorgeous print from a gorgeous original painting by NinoArtPrints you can find the details of the print on the listings page and you can find more beautiful works of art in her shop.  Her pieces remind me of being out in the country on my parents farm,  peaceful, quiet and where the air just seems a little fresher.   

Butterfly 1 - Fine Art Print 8x12

I have always had a passion for butterflies, they are some of the worlds most gorgeous creatures!  This photo by SlongPhotography captures this butterflies beauty wonderfully.  In her shop you will find more beautiful photos of nature and animals.

8 ounce Georgia Peach - Soy

I'm sure these candles smell as good as they look.  TheHomArtStore on Etsy has lots of yummy nature inspired scents  like Sweet Pea, cucumber melon, Spring Rain, Fresh Ocean, Tropical Tuberose, Lemon Poundcake and the list goes on so be sure to stop by their little shop and check them all out.

Dragonfly Print of Original Watercolor Painting

This is a beautiful print of an original watercolor painting by BlackFridayStudios Such gorgeous detail makes this dragonfly appear so life like I feel like I could stick out my hand and it would hop right in.  In her shop you will find pages of nature inspired artworks that are all wonderfully done.

Art Photo Note Cards, set of four, Spring Flower Series

These art note cards are absolutely stunning!  TableTopJewels on Etsy is full of wonderful photography inspired by nature amongst other things. Be sure to swing by for a large selection of wonderful photography and  crochet items as well.

  Charming LadyBugs -- Set 1

I found these charming little lady bug earrings in Gayl's Goodies on Etsy.  She has many wonderful jewelery pieces inspired by nature.  In her shop you will find jewelery that she's made and jewelery made by her 'son' John.  This is a touching and inspiring story found in Gayl's shop about where John's pieces come from.....

Our “son” John, at the age of 4, survived the Rwandan genocide with a bullet in his leg. He witnessed the massacre of his village and murder of his entire family. Now an adult living in Uganda, he attends a middle school to get the education so long denied him.  I was so shocked to hold the jewelry John gave me and learn from him that he made the beads from paper and varnish. John uses whatever is available: paper, seeds, seed beads, shells, barrel beads, and stretchy cord for his bracelets.  Your purchase helps with his expenses.  

Hero Doll Myrica - Organic Cotton/Alpaca Felt - Green/Pink - Blue Spruce Tree Seed

These wonderful little Hero dolls from GrowingHero are not only completely adorable but they are also doing good for nature.  Each unique doll is made from 100% Organic Cotton and comes with 1 tree seed to plant.  How can you not love these wonderful little heroes that are improving our world one tree at a time!

SALE 20% off 'The Moth and the Moon' elegant glass pendant 1 ins x 1 ins on silver plated chain

This absolutely wonderful collage is made piece by piece by ArtableWear.  This moth is absolutely stunning and as the listing points out magical too!  Check out her shop for this and other wonderful finds.

Tuesday Treasury Challenge

The Etsian Artists Team Tuesday Treasury Challenge is open to EVERYONE and not just team members so feel free to join us! This weeks theme is 'FILM,' and remember that it can mean anything to you. This Challenge will run for 24 hours, your treasury must be created within that time frame and NOT before. Come back on Sunday to vote for your favourite one. The Winner of the Challenge will have their shop featured and showcased right here on the Team Blog as well as have their shop items included in every treasury for the next Team Challenge.

Here are the rules for the Challenge:

1) Spread the love... Do NOT include an item from your own shop & only one item per shop please

2) Must include 7 Etsian Artists Team Members 

3) Must include 1 item from the week before winners shop HippieChicJewelz
4) Must include 6 New or Undiscovered shops (New shops = open for 2 months or less / Undiscovered shops = 20 sales or less)
5) The last 2 are up to YOU J
6) Include the Team Tag EAWT

7) Include ‘Etsian Artists Team Challenge’ somewhere in your treasury title.

9) Include that you are participating in the Etsian Artists Team weekly treasury challenge somewhere in your treasury description with a link to our Team Blog http://www.etsianartists.blogspot.com/
10) Post your treasury's URL here to enter in this weeks challenge!

Your Treasury created for the challenge MUST be created within the 24 hour day of the challenge which is every Tuesday, it can NOT be created before hand or it will be disqualified!!! Good Luck & Have Fun!!! J

Congratulations!!!

HippieChicJewelz was this weeks Treasury Challenge Winner for the theme CHARM!  There were so many beautiful entries into the challenge this week and I want to thank all who participated.   I had an opportunity to speak with Jewelz of HippieChicJewelz about her craft, shop, inspirations and aspirations and have put together a wonderful interview for your reading pleasure.  Grab your beverage of choice, sit back, relax and learn a little bit about a fellow Etsian.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop?
I am a self-taught polymer clay, glass lamp work and jewelry designer. I am a bit eccentric, happy go lucky, flower child whose artwork reflects everything from the beauty of nature to “all things should have bling”!
I like to be different, to stand out and catch peoples eye, my artwork is a sheer reflection of that personality trait! I strive to create jewelry that is as unique and beautiful as the person it is made for. 
A hippie at heart, I have always been a bit eccentric and never one to follow the crowd. 
A self-taught jewelry design artist, I have been creating beads and jewelry from polymer clay, glass and silver for over fifteen years.
I am a deeply tormented soul whose only form of genuine self-expression is through my art. My art comes from within, but it is the result of a variety of life experiences and outside influences. The beautiful and colorful people I meet, the sights and sounds of nature, the emotions that swirl around me, all of these things are sifted through my being, to be reborn later through the jewelry artwork I create. 
My whimsical style is light hearted and portrays my sense of humor in simple things. My style I would describe as fun and colorful with a hint of eclectic flair. I create hand sculpted, one of a kind pieces of wearable art.

What inspired you to open your shop?
Initially, opening up an online Etsy Shop never really crossed my mind. I am an artist at heart, and for me, commercializing it didn’t really seem like a reality, I kept thinking “What if.” It stayed that way for a long time until I started receiving multiple requests for custom designed jewelry orders from friends and friends of friends. My orders for custom creations accumulated and my family and friends strongly encouraged me to start my own jewelry business. I took a leap of faith.

Besides designing & creating things, what do you do? 
I have taken up photography, so whenever I have a spare moment I head outdoors and see what kind of photos I can snap. Besides that I love to write, I have a personal blog and I write articles for the Self Taught Artists Treasury Team on Etsy. 

Where, who or what does your influence come from?
Most of my creations are influenced by music and everyday surroundings. I may hear a song that makes my heart smile or see a sunset that has extraordinary colors that I want to capture and off to my work station I head to create a work of art.

What inspires you to be creative?
My inspiration for “creating” can be found anywhere and everywhere! Wherever it comes from, I just love that feeling I get when something grabs my attention, I start thinking about all the possibilities of creating something fabulous and the rush that gives is the absolute best! More often than not, it’s the littlest thing that can get my creative juices flowing.

How do you get out of a creative rut?
Sometimes, the smallest change in my environment can inspire me. I have discovered interesting things when I change my path or walk somewhere I normally do not go. A change of scenery is all I need to spark an idea.

When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?
Ever since I can remember I wanted to be an artist, for me it was never an option to do anything else. I am always amazed how many people say they want to or wish they could do something creative. I believe that everyone is creative to a degree; just some choose to leave that creativity on the back burner. That’s why I am always thankful for being in such a creative industry.

Can you describe your creative process for us?
Oddly enough my creative process starts with materials, polymer clay, glass and silver. When I purchase my supplies I usually have no idea what I am going to make. I am specifically drawn to colors, I can look at an array of colored clay and glass, my mind starts clicking. I just buy whatever catches my eye. It’s like solving a puzzle, but starts from being inspired. As for the process of generating ideas, I get ideas when I least expect them and in the strangest places.

What is your most cherished handmade possession?
That is a hard question to answer, I have more than one! I would have to say it is a magenta knitted poncho that my sister made me; it is so beautiful and soft. The fact that she put so much love and time into making something so beautiful for me makes it more valuable than diamonds!

Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?
I want to see my shop as a successful means to support my family. I would love to be on the front page of Etsy, and be a recognized shop name there. 


Where would you like to be in ten years?
In ten years I would like to be teaching glass lampworking, polymer clay and jewelry design classes, I have even started writing how-to articles in which I am compiling for a future book. 

What is your best advice to newbie Etesian’s just opening their shops? 
It takes a lot of hard work and determination. If you want sales you have to spend a lot of time networking. The best place to advertise is on the internet, If you don’t promote your artwork avidly, who will? Get a FaceBook, Myspace, Twitter, Stumbleupon and blog account if you haven’t already. These are the best FREE advertising tools you can use! I also suggest joining a treasury team on Etsy and creating at least two treasuries a week. If you want to get your shop items noticed, there is no better way. You have to devote a great deal of time and energy if you are serious about making your shop a success. It is also important to have a supportive group of friends who can work together. STATTEAM on Etsy has been a blessing to my life and business, this team is amazing in that they will go above and beyond to help and promote each other. It is more like a close-knit family than a group of team members. 

Where else other then Etsy can you be found on the net?
You can find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Hippie-Chic-Jewelz/308582126553
My photography on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Hippie-Chic-Photography/158719687528659
STATTEAM on FaceBook:www.facebook.com/pages/Statteam/155398704519800
My Hippie Chic Jewelz Blog: hippiechicjewelz.wordpress.com/


Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?
I have a wonderful coupon code for 25% off! Use coupon code: HCJFAN