tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46871868326668092072024-02-07T06:50:59.607-05:00Little StudioJewelry by Meghann LynchMeghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.comBlogger563125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-65418693585322741132014-01-19T10:21:00.002-05:002014-01-19T10:21:48.463-05:00Opening, Opening, Open!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I said I would keep you updated on my beautiful Orchid... Over the last few weeks I would wake up to find it a little further along, the stem starting another bud, or each bud getting a little closer to opening...<br />
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I woke up a few days ago to find this little one has decided to come out of her little shell...<br />
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And this morning she has opened to show us her beauty. A little light in the darkness, life in the death of winter. Hope when it seems there is none. Thank you, Little Orchid. You brighten my days :)<br />
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Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-16242379416206529802014-01-15T09:08:00.001-05:002014-01-15T09:08:47.578-05:00A Little Bit of Colour in Winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have an orchid plant that was gifted to me for Christmas in 2012 and I haven't managed to kill it yet. I love it. When it flowers, it is such a pretty, happy sight. Especially in winter, when everything is cold, white and dead.<br />
It is that little bit of colour in the winter.<br />
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That little bit of life in death.<br />
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That monumental struggle to break free.<br />
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That monumental struggle to just be.<br />
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Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-46859309788218705042014-01-13T09:17:00.001-05:002014-01-13T09:17:38.384-05:00New Jewellery!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/174964136/czech-glass-chakra-hemp-mala-bracelet?ref=shop_home_feat_1"><img alt=" Hemp Mala Bracelet" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywlCvvyKeOE/UtPxz0-1dOI/AAAAAAAAEGo/Nwjw_nGp_KQ/s320/410+hemp+glass+chakra+mala+bracelet+front+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/174964136/czech-glass-chakra-hemp-mala-bracelet?ref=shop_home_feat_1">Hemp Mala Bracelet</a></div>
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I've been very busy with my friend and business partner Mel making lots of goodies for you, which is why I haven't been around much. I am going to try to blog three times a week from now on though, so you all know I am still alive and such, what with the incredibly odd weather we've been having this winter ;)<br />
Thankfully, it is warmer right now, and we've actually been able to clear some of the deadly ice off of our deck, front walkway and driveway! Yay!<br />
All of this gorgeous eye candy you're seeing today is currently available in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleStudioJewels?ref=si_shop">Etsy shop</a>, though they are selling quite well, so you'll have to hurry if you see something you like...<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175123139/czech-glass-chakra-silver-plate-mala?ref=listing-shop-header-4"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MyDFGQQ3kVQ/UtPyPUlmo4I/AAAAAAAAEHI/5ZK2m6IxvDo/s320/412+glass+chakra+mala+bracelet+front+sp+hand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175123139/czech-glass-chakra-silver-plate-mala?ref=listing-shop-header-4">Memory Wire Chakra Mala Bracelet</a></div>
We now have Chakra Mala bracelets, as well as traditional Mala bracelets, for your fancy. Some with glass, as the ones above...<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175283269/multi-gemstone-chakra-silver-plate-mala?ref=listing-shop-header-2"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O-PdbbIrY7Y/UtPx5aeX1rI/AAAAAAAAEG4/3IwbHYtv608/s320/413+Gemstone+memory+mala+bracelet+front+gp+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175283269/multi-gemstone-chakra-silver-plate-mala?ref=listing-shop-header-2">Gemstone Mala Chakra Bracelet</a></div>
...And some with gemstones, like these ones. We also have more of the painstakingly knotted ones...<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175209572/turquoise-jade-and-lampwork-glass-mala?ref=listing-shop-header-3"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8_f4IFdeog/UtPx4aP292I/AAAAAAAAEGw/JbkoxxqERM0/s320/416+turquoise+jade+glass+mala+bracelet+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175209572/turquoise-jade-and-lampwork-glass-mala?ref=listing-shop-header-3">Turquoise, Jade and Lampwork Glass Mala Bracelet</a></div>
...And some with gemstones and hand crafted lamp work glass beads, like these...<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175003413/tourmalinated-quartz-and-lampwork-glass?ref=related-3"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ubYy60n60p4/UtPx8KxXYrI/AAAAAAAAEHA/XWBSBmQS_28/s320/417+tourmalinated+quartz+mala+bracelet+bead+hand+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/175003413/tourmalinated-quartz-and-lampwork-glass?ref=related-3">Tourmalinated Quartz and Lamp Work Glass Bead Mala Bracelet</a></div>
This last one is one of my all-time favorites... get it while you can! Many of the jewelry pieces that have lamp work glass beads are one-of-a-kind, as I can't get these exact same focal beads again, so you'll need to strike while the iron is hot, these pieces are going fast! If you're in the Kemptville area and taking yoga classes from Mel Savoie, she will usually have these pieces with her for you to see in person (and if you purchase in person, you usually get a discount, as it saves us on postage!).<br />
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Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-7256282641004382312014-01-01T09:28:00.003-05:002014-01-01T09:28:51.604-05:00Happy New Year!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5wySW0qytmA31u8SQcOqmdigc4v3b1xBcG2G0x2zbGItde7t6h195MPPQlcf-O3q-wH8KJg1DCjsjmzIQzk78OPXRWzXw2wbjg65jOQE9DlmA9Bg3i1v_s-ewG4E5LFFaqvhBbJ2R9c/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5wySW0qytmA31u8SQcOqmdigc4v3b1xBcG2G0x2zbGItde7t6h195MPPQlcf-O3q-wH8KJg1DCjsjmzIQzk78OPXRWzXw2wbjg65jOQE9DlmA9Bg3i1v_s-ewG4E5LFFaqvhBbJ2R9c/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Wishing you a year of health, wealth, happiness... and lots of awkward naps :)<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-59135870501230868262013-12-31T07:48:00.000-05:002013-12-31T07:48:00.702-05:00Funniest Video You'll See All Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This video was so funny I had to share, though be warned if there are young ears around there is some swearing. I love it, not only for the fact that the bunny seems to refuse to let them pass, but also for the most incredible Scottish accents in varying levels of incredulity, shock and frustration. "Och look at 'im, he's gettin' his speed up, och, no!" LOL.<br />
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Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-4352179796150404962013-12-30T09:20:00.000-05:002013-12-30T09:20:25.853-05:00Spam, Viruses and Other Christmas Miracles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKeN7lURhSuIWmkBQCkTYFT_3qHYJ5AF8lBNYBkLUQz03npuO17nrRXGZNuOM_qK5-sknhqzHh9A8XoRLe_OR210FFaXc6_gK4hH2W0wY59H4i-rBy-xNz6dPStTYY_1Sx6jWzeUbOgFG/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKeN7lURhSuIWmkBQCkTYFT_3qHYJ5AF8lBNYBkLUQz03npuO17nrRXGZNuOM_qK5-sknhqzHh9A8XoRLe_OR210FFaXc6_gK4hH2W0wY59H4i-rBy-xNz6dPStTYY_1Sx6jWzeUbOgFG/s320/IMG_1414.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's That? I Won a Prize in a Contest I Didn't Enter? Well Sure! Here's My Personal Banking Info!</td></tr>
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Hey everyone, I hope you had a great Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Non-denominational family time. We did have some nice family time, in between having to deal with some pretty serious spam attacks on some of our IT clients before and after Christmas (my husband and I have a small IT consulting company that supports small businesses in and out of our province). It really served to remind us that no matter how many times we tell people how to stay safe from the "bad guys" on the internet, many people forget. So, in the spirit of giving and friendship, may I just take a few moments to help you all please?<br />
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Spam, Malware and Viruses (no, they are not the same thing), are EVERYWHERE and make a huge number of people ridiculous sums of money, so it's only going to get worse as they realize we are wising up and they come up with more and more clever ways to try and trick us. While there is no way to protect yourself 100% from having sensitive data stolen from you (unless you lock yourself in a cave and go completely off the grid, communicating with no one), there are some things you can do to minimize the risk of loss and damage when there is loss;<br />
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1. Install anti-virus AND anti-malware software on your computer. We use a combination of Microsoft Security Essentials (Score! It's free! Right here: <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download">http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download</a>)<br />
and MalWare Bytes AntiMalware (about $30 for a LIFETIME, so pretty damn good. Available here: <a href="http://www.malwarebytes.org/lp/lp4/?gclid=CJDUg56H2LsCFYg-MgodYiQA_Q">http://www.malwarebytes.org/lp/lp4/?gclid=CJDUg56H2LsCFYg-MgodYiQA_Q</a> ). On certain systems (Microsoft XP) you will have to tell the programs to ignore each other or you may get some "false positives", ie. one program will say the other is a virus when it's not. Here's a link to a SAFE site that helps you do that (but again, only with XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 are fine) <a href="http://www.computercourage.com/antivirus/make-malwarebytes-and-microsoft-security-essentials-play-well-together-in-windows-xp/">http://www.computercourage.com/antivirus/make-malwarebytes-and-microsoft-security-essentials-play-well-together-in-windows-xp/</a><br />
These combo programs are great at catching just about everything that the baddies throw at you, as each program will have its own forte at finding whatever it is trying to find. Malware is different from Spam, which is different from a Virus, so you need overlapping protection, preferably as inexpensively as possible, as the bad guys are always coming up with new ways to try to trick us, which brings me to my next point...<br />
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2. Set up schedules for the programs to <u><b>automatically update</b></u> and <u><b>scan</b></u> <b>EVERY DAY</b>. I would recommend having the programs update at different times from each other and definitely scan at different times from each other, again, to keep them from picking each other up, but also to give your system a resource break. If you are running too many things at once, it tends to bog down your system and can really slow it down. When the updates and scans are running, I would also recommend NOT using your computer. Again, this frees up resources so your computer runs faster, and keeps the "false positive" identifications to a minimum. Just let the screen saver take over and watch those little graphics play across your blackened screen. Groovy.<br />
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3. If the programs (your own or the ones I recommended) DO show that you have a virus, or malware infection, make sure to quarantine them immediately after the scan is finished. This puts them in a safe "box" in your system so that no one can accidentally open them and cause havoc. Usually you'll see a button after the scan (or a pop-up window) that will say "Remove Items" or "Quarantine". This is important. Don't just do the scans and then ignore whatever results come back. You are an integral part of your computer's security, again, bringing me to the next point (funny how that works, huh?)...<br />
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4. Prevent malware and viruses from ever getting on to your computer in the first place. I know, I know, it is just about impossible to keep this from happening, but there are a few things you can do to be safe. DO NOT open emails from people you don't know or weren't expecting an email from. Got an email from some Ugandan dude saying you won a lottery you never entered? You didn't win, he wants your bank account number to clean you out (incidentally, you'll never get that money back. Yes, it was fraudulently obtained, but they'll never catch the guy and the banks don't look to kindly on people who give out personal banking info. You've been warned). Got a weird email from a company you can't remember ordering from, saying your order was delayed but just click this link and it'll all be good? Chances are they are trying to hijack your computer to send out spam messages to the entire planet. This is also bad as you can get your IP address flagged and blocked by every friendly internet provider on the planet. Yes, it's happened to our clients, and NO it is not fun to undo. Not only do you lose internet connectivity until the problem is addressed, if it happens too many times, your IP address (the thing you use to connect to the internet) could be PERMANENTLY blocked. Yup, you'll lose internet forever. Like, for real, yo.<br />
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5. Don't open emailed files or click on links from friends unless you were expecting them to send you a file or link. Even if it is something innocent-sounding like, "Hey, check out our latest photos! Click here", or, "Our new diet plan for New Year's", often that is a virus waiting to strike. That link is not going to take you to see drunken photos of your friends making asses of themselves in public places (pity, bargaining power is always nice), but usually taking you to a site that will automatically download a virus. Often now they are getting so smart that it will also disable your antivirus so you don't even know that there is a problem until your computer starts acting like your drunken Aunt Sally at a family BBQ. If you think it might be legitimate, email your friend asking them if they meant to send you the email. Often, their email has been hacked and they won't even know it. Unless they tell you that they sent you the file or link, DON'T CLICK ON IT. Simple as that. Also, for your work, if you receive an email that is not expected or not related to your work, IGNORE IT. If you have to open it, try opening it first on a BlackBerry or iPhone. That often will show you what is up. But even then, I wouldn't recommend it. You wouldn't want your phone to get hacked, now would you???<br />
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6. This also applies to those phone call scams, where you'll get someone obviously very foreign who supposedly has a first name like "John", calling and telling you that "your Windows computer has a virus, ok?" and that they want you to pay with a credit card to have them fix it. Not only is this dangerous in terms of credit card fraud, they will usually also ask you to go to a specific IP address (something like XXX.XXX.XXX.X but with numbers), which will then hijack your system and get all of your personal info from your computer, and maybe use your computer in Denial of Service attack - where thousands of computers are linked together to create a sort of super computer (not like the movie War Games, and not nearly as cool), that then attacks other computers. Kind of like leapfrog from hell.<br />
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7. Please, please, please always put a password on your network. Especially if you use a wireless router. If you don't, anyone can come near your house, download a bunch of porn using your connection, or hijack your connection to do some serious bad stuff. The worst part, aside from getting a huge bill from your internet provider after going over your monthly limit for downloading every "Big Butts" porno ever made? If they downloaded something illegal (like child porn- no jokes here because that is serious stuff) or used your connection to hack into someone else (also no jokes because that is also seriously illegal), YOU will be held at least partially responsible because you did not do your due diligence in preventing it from happening in the first place. Make your password a good one - a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, with numbers, and if your router will let you, symbols too, something like G3tY0ur0wnW!f! is good. but don't use that because everyone will think it's cool and try to use it. Use your own squishy brain and come up with something good. If you have to write it down, HIDE it, for the love of god. Don't just leave it anywhere. Again, this brings me to the next point...<br />
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8. Create unique passwords for everything, and keep them secret. I would also recommend changing passwords every so often. Depending on what it is, every month or so should be good. The more secure (like bank accounts), the more often you should be changing them. Don't use Sex or 1234 or P4ssw0rd, everybody knows those, and no, you are not being cute or funny or unique. Finally,<br />
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9. Know that no-one is 100% safe. Just like having your house broken into, if someone really wants something, they are going to get it. If someone really wants to mess with your computer, they will. The best offense is a good defense, as they say, so make sure you regularly back up all of your files (external drives are CHEAP and easy to copy files to) on a regular basis to prevent catastrophic loss of data or your childrens' baby photos, and be smart. Don't go to porn sites or sketchy sites on work computers or computers that hold data that you want to keep. Porn sites in particular have TONS of viruses just waiting to take over your computer (ironic, I know, you'd think porn is safer sex, but it's not, at least not for your computer and files). If you have to go to those sites, get a clean computer for cheap and don't do anything but surf porn on that one computer, leaving your other computers virtually uncontaminated. Just a thought ;)<br />
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So, my young, innocent mouse-clickers, I hope you've learned something today and remember, "Stay Alert, and Stay Safe". Thank you Bert and Gert, LOL.<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-53418786287470747492013-12-15T19:11:00.000-05:002013-12-15T19:11:16.368-05:00We Are Back From the Great Beyond<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been a dog's age dear readers, I know, and I do most sincerely apologize. The last eighteen months have been amazing, hectic, scary, stressful, blissful, terrible and every emotion that could possibly be described. Many of you, who have been with me from the beginning, will know of my health struggles for the last 8 years or so. Newcomers may not, but suffice it to say I have been to the brink of death and back, and am now, thankfully, almost fully recovered! I have opened my own low allergy, vegan bakery in my house, expanded to a brick and mortar store in nearby Kemptville, lost the lease on the kitchen in Kemptville, and gone back to my home to bake. I have worked countless hours from home, more in the store, and many at the farmers' market in Merrickville. I have started exercising again and love it. I still have not fit into the clothes I wore before I got sick, when I was super skinny, but I've had people tell me I looked like a skeleton then, so maybe that's not such a bad thing ;) The point is, I'm healthy and starting to miss my online friends more than ever.<br />
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I had put down my jewellery in all of the commotion, but, I have to say, I missed it terribly. I know that since the economic crash of 2008 my jewellery may not be a viable source of income anymore, but I still love it. No matter now stressful my day, at the end of it, making a piece of jewellery is matched in its relaxing amazingness (yes, I made that up) only by baking something sinful. Sometimes money is not the reason for doing something, it is the doing something that is the reason (whoa, I sounded a little Yoda-like there, but I kinda like it).<br />
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After procrastinating, as I'm wont to do when I'm nervous of the unknown, I've started making jewellery again. I'm also slowly listing jewellery again, you can see it here: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleStudioJewels">https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleStudioJewels</a><br />
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Only this time, dear readers, it isn't just me making the goodies you will be feasting your eyes upon. I now have another person on board to help out and I have to say I am so very, very excited...<br />
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Melanie Savoie, certified yoga teacher, friend and generally amazing woman, is collaborating on a new line of Mala jewellery, which we have brilliantly and oh-so-originally decided to name OhMala. It is a line of jewellery that is not just beautiful, but functional. It will help with meditation, and for those that believe in the healing powers of crystals, they might just help you with healing too. We list all of the properties in the listings to help you out. Prices vary, so there should be something for just about every budget. We have a few pieces listed, but we are making many more and hope to have more listed soon. Check them out here: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleStudioJewels?section_id=14682563">https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LittleStudioJewels?section_id=14682563</a><br />
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I hope to have more than just jewellery photos and sales posts for you though (how boring, really! No one wants to be sold to all the time!)... I am hoping to put together a whole host of awesome posts that will delight and inspire, ooh and awe you. That's the hope, anyway. Time will tell if I can deliver, but I will try. Promise!<br />
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Thanks for reading this all the way to the bottom, I do hope we'll be seeing more of each other! Oh, and Arwen the Wonder Dog says Hi and Woof. She has been waiting to get back on the blog for ages, so I will try to indulge her also ;)<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-36216753310878316352012-06-01T06:00:00.000-04:002012-06-01T06:00:14.085-04:00Friday Features: ArtisticWill Studios<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2136182949"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.262362019.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/79334063/glitter-rose-paperweight" target="_blank">Glitter Rose Paperweight by ArtisticWill</a></td></tr>
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Welcome to the latest edition of Friday Features. This week we meet Haruka of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill" target="_blank">ArtisticWill Studios</a> on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. Read on to discover more of this beautiful art!</div>
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My name is Haruka and I run ArtisticWill Studios on Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill">http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill</a> . <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I create<span style="line-height: 16px;"> Sparkling Glitter Art and keepsakes. Hand painted with multiple layer of sparkling glitter in a stained glass style.</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Years ago, I started painting with glitter when my mother had Alzheimer’s, being a full time caregiver I needed an outlet to relieve my stress. Now, I paint in her memory and to share her love of things that sparkle.</span> I also create</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="line-height: 16px;"> Illustrations, scrapbook and photography.</span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ArtisticWill Studios was first my husband’s company where he sold photography. I took over the name to keep it in the family, and “studios” represents our family of artists. My daughter is into anime/ manga, my son builds and creates with online buildings programs, my husband photographs, and I paint with glitter.</span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2136182955"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.257752011.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77978037/stained-glass-pansys-pendant" target="_blank">Stained Glass Pansys Pendant by ArtisticWill</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Best selling piece: Stained glass style Iris pendant, I’ve sold several pieces.</span></span> See it here: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77449922/stained-glass-irises-pendant">http://www.etsy.com/listing/77449922/stained-glass-irises-pendant</a></blockquote>
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I sell my work on <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Etsy, Zazzle and a local art gallery. </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://artisticwill.etsy.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">artisticwill.etsy.com</a> </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.zazzle.com/artisticwillstudios*" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.zazzle.com/artisticwillstudios</a></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"> I blog about my glitter art, events I’ve been involved with and supporting talented handmade artist and crafters, occasionally placing the spotlight on those deserving.</span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://artisticwillstudios.blogspot.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">artisticwillstudios.blogspot.com/</a> </span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2136182962"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.123497489.jpg" width="283" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/22373759/glitter-decorative-gold-cross" target="_blank">Glitter Decorative Gold Cross by ArtisticWill</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I also have Facebook pages: Facebook: </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.facebook.com/ArtisticWillStudios.Art" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/ArtisticWillStudios.Art</a><br style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span style="line-height: 16px;">Facebook Zazzle page: </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/ArtisticWill-Studios/115132341899570" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/pages/ArtisticWill-Studios/115132341899570</a> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m a member of The IndiExhibit, a global group of talented artists enhancing our brand with Hollywood celebrities for large award shows as Emmy’s, American Music award, Golden Globe, MTV, etc.. and charities. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Several Hollywood stars own my glitter art and seen by big wigs in Hollywood. I’ve participated in charities by donating for raffles and fundraiser for their cause. We are constantly look for new talent to enhance their brands. I donate a percentage to Alzheimer association and other charities.</span> </span></span></blockquote>
Amazing! Please be sure to visit Haruka's shop and see more beautiful art! <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill">http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticWill</a><br />
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Would you like to be featured? Visit this post for more info (and Yes! It's FREE!) <a href="http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.ca/2012/02/friday-features-i-want-you.html">http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.ca/2012/02/friday-features-i-want-you.html</a><br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-23180030306442599302012-05-25T06:00:00.000-04:002012-05-25T06:00:13.646-04:00Friday Features: Milusha Design<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_193741295"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.264977325.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80085177/childrens-animal-alphabet-nursery-art" target="_blank">Children's Animal Nursery Art by MilushaDesign</a></td></tr>
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Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Features, where today we meet wonderful artist Milusha, of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milushadesign" target="_blank">Milusha Design</a> on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. Read on to discover more of this wonderful artists works and a great discount coupon code that you can use in her shop!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My name is Milusha and my shops name is MilushaDesign. </span></span><a href="http://www.milushadesign.etsy.com/" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank">www.milushadesign.etsy.com</a>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">I am a graphic designer and illustrator and a mother of a wonderful 2.5 year old. I realized that I had a new desire to illustrate fun, bright and colourful art prints for children's nurseries using my obsession of patterns, specifically wallpaper patterns. Also, I illustrate and design unique prints for adults and their homes which are available in my shop. There are a million other creative ideas I have brewing…</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Being brought up in a very artistic family, it seemed only natural that I'd fall into that profession/career. Both my maternal grandparents were "commercial artists" (designers) and my grandfather had a very successful design agency. I drew from the time I was 2 and it was more than just doing arts and crafts with my mother. It was something I truly enjoyed doing and my parents and teachers realized that it was a natural talent and encouraged me along the way. I went to school to be a designer and have been creating for 10 years now! It's great to finally be a part of the Etsy family.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My sister is a pretty awesome crocheter and knitter and has taught me a bit. I do occasionally sit down and knit or crochet, albeit not very well. I greatly admire all those who can; but I am a very energetic "I want it done now" person and cannot seem to sit still to complete a knitting/crocheting project! I do draw (on paper) a lot.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_193741309"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.313757741.jpg" width="247" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93484152/giclee-wall-art-blue-mountain-print-8x10" target="_blank">Giclee Blue Mountain Print by MilushaDesign</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I have a very unique name, I decided to brand my shop after me. I realized that people would recognize it and most likely remember the name if they saw it again. It works very well.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My bestselling item is in the "Ode to India" series and is the Ganesh Limited Edition art print. I started out as selling children's art with a few adult pieces and they seem to be doing really well. I will continue exploring this.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sell my work locally at a Children's Boutique in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as well as on Etsy.</span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_193741315"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.263022658.jpg" width="255" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93484152/giclee-wall-art-blue-mountain-print-8x10" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Owl ABC Children's Wall Print by MilushaDesign</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I don't necessarily blog, however, I do a few posts weekly on my tumblr account. For those interested: </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.milushadesign.tumblr.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.milushadesign.tumblr.com</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">Here's my facebook fan page </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.facebook.com/MilushaDesign" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/MilushaDesign</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">If you really dig my work and would like to support me…</span> </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My work is my passion. I take great love, care and thought into each piece that I create from scratch. I do it because I love it and I hope that people can see that. My pieces are uniquely me and I'd love to see more and more people support me and my work. My goal is to leave a mark and become a successful designer and entrepreneur. I'd also like to say thank you to all those wonderful people that do and will support me! There is nothing like encouragement!</span> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Also I'd like to offer the readers 15% off ALL ITEMS in </span></span></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milushadesign">http://www.etsy.com/shop/milushadesign</a> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">. Use the coupon code COMPLIMENTS15 at checkout.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span>
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What a great story, and fabulous art! Be sure to visit Milusha's shop on Etsy to see more delightful and affordable art for every room in your home, and make sure to use that great coupon as well:
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/milushadesign">http://www.etsy.com/shop/milushadesign</a> </div>
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Would you like to be featured? Leave a comment below with a way to contact you and I'll send you the details!</div>
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See you soon!<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-46943815478452400872012-05-18T06:00:00.000-04:002012-05-18T06:00:11.360-04:00Friday Feature: Butternut Baby™<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_214371122"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vS8p5r3Jvi4/T0hFciZn5FI/AAAAAAAADzA/ZuT5nYDu-hQ/s320/BabyWrap-in-Car+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://butternutbaby.com/buy.html">Sleep 'n Cuddle Wrap in a Carseat by Butternut Baby</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hello and thank you for joining us in the latest Friday Feature, where a new artist is showcased each week. Today is mommy-duo extraordinaire of Butternut Baby™. Read on for more adorable photos of their beautiful item!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">We are
Genevieve and Mireille and we are the owners and designers behind Butternut
Baby™. We are both moms of baby boys and actually met in prenatal class. We
never imagined we’d be crafting and selling baby items together! Our shop can
be found at </span><span lang="EN-US"><span class="InternetLink"><a href="http://www.butternutbaby.com/">www.butternutbaby.com</a></span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span lang="EN-US"><span class="InternetLink"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We created the Sleep ‘n Cuddle Wrap, a unique and versatile baby blanket
that will keep your little ones cozy and warm during the day, at night and on
the go! </span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">The Sleep ‘n Cuddle Wrap’s revolutionary design replaces both a sleep sack that can be confining for older, active babies and blankets that seem to constantly come off in the middle of the night leaving our little ones chilly. The wrap is great for keeping your baby warm during the day while playing or relaxing because it is designed to allow babies to crawl, walk, or stand. Also, it fits perfectly in car seats, strollers and shopping carts to keep your little ones warm while on the go.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We make the Sleep ‘n Cuddle Wrap in a variety of colours to reflect the diverse and fun personalities of babies. They are intended for babies 12+ months.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is the classic story of a mom (or, in our case, two moms!) that could
not find what she was looking for on the market. We brainstormed ideas together
and eventually developed the pattern for the Sleep ‘n Cuddle Wrap by cutting
and folding the Thursday morning flyers into various shapes. Genevieve still
has the cutouts! </span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span class="InternetLink"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_214371129"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1gAjiSO1FX8/T0hFd3wJfqI/AAAAAAAADzI/7kDDSb_hat0/s320/Simon+Stroller.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/butternutbabydesigns?ref=si_shop">Sleep 'n Cuddle Wrap in a Stroller by Butternut Baby</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Our focus
right now is on our Sleep ‘n Cuddle Wrap but we have plenty of other ideas we’d
like to explore in the future. Stay tuned!</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">Finding a unique
and meaningful name for our shop must have been one of the most difficult
decisions we had to make in the very beginning. So many great ones were already
taken!</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The name
Butternut Baby™ was inspired by Genevieve's childhood country home, which boasts
a squash patch in the front yard. After spending days going through hundreds of
names, Genevieve glanced over to one of the recently picked butternut squashes
and the name came to her. She often thought that the butternut squashes lying
in the patch looked like swaddled babies cozy amongst the leaves. The fresh and
fun name had both of us excited and so Butternut Baby™ was born.</span></span></blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_214371137"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu3b07PQQxEF1n_gWUFO1vnCaBhjTER-CnWD_xzC7993xf3VzmE6CgsybWswE0ZorfD8W0UVuHdZKxfVpXA6kkwsYgtJYFAmghYeHffukkE1JQAB9KajK2QX0WOCD816GKwbHmHi1TZE/s320/Three+Kids+on+Couch+B+(800x300).jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://butternutbaby.com/buy.html">Sleep 'n Cuddle Wrap on Babies by Butternut Baby</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">We currently
sell our work through our website (</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.butternutbaby.com/"><span class="InternetLink">www.butternutbaby.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US">), our Etsy
shop (</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/butternutbabydesigns"><span class="InternetLink">www.etsy.com/shop/butternutbabydesigns</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US">), </span><span lang="EN-US">Baby Bean
(</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.babybean.ca/sleepytime/sleep-sacks/butternut-baby.htm"><span class="InternetLink">www.babybean.ca/sleepytime/sleep-sacks/butternut-baby.htm</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US">) and the
Valley Plaza Pharmasave in Greater Sudbury. We are also planning on attending
Ottawa valley events, such as the Spring 2012 Handmade Harvest Craft Show (</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.handmadeharvest.com/"><span class="InternetLink">www.handmadeharvest.com</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US">).</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #616161; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">You can
connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. We will keep you posted on what is
new, contests & giveaways and any other information you might find
interesting.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/butternutbaby"><span class="InternetLink">http://www.facebook.com/butternutbaby</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">@ButternutBabyCo </span></blockquote>
What a fantastic invention! Please visit their shops for more colors and cuteness! <a href="http://www.butternutbaby.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">www.butternutbaby.com</a><br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-67094935737614070612012-05-11T06:00:00.000-04:002012-05-11T06:00:02.245-04:00Friday Features: Ball Creative Designs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span id="goog_1042752434"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1042752438"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/white%20disc%20pearls2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1042752438">White Pearl Necklace by Ball Creative Designs</a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to this week's installment of Friday Features, where this week we meet multi-talented artist Betty of Ball Creative Designs. Read on to see more of her beautiful work...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hi, I'm Betty of Ball Creative Designs, </span><a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank" title="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com
CTRL + Click to follow link">www.ballcreativedesigns.com</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I create a little bit of everything it seems, though if I had to define myself I would call myself a fiber crafter above all else. Really though, I'm a Jane of all trades it seems. I've been known to do some painting (badly), and I design jewelry and stitch markers, which, let's face it, are really jewelry for your knitting.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got started because from a young age I seemed to attract everyone's grandma and they ALL wanted to teach me something. I learned to crochet when I was in 4th grade, so I think I was 9 at the time. Then I had a history teacher teach me how to spin in 7th grade (Thanks so much Mrs Smith!!), and another teacher introduced me to knitting when I was 16. I picked up needlepointing in there somewhere from an uncle and beadwork from my mum. Crafting has always been a way for me to relax and unwind, which is even more important now then it ever has been. I joke that I should get a perscription from the doctor for the yarn I buy, since knitting and crochet has proven to be the best pain relief I've found yet.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">I also weave, tat (it's a form of lace making), have been known to play with chainmaille, pottery and polymer clays, and I'm an amazing chef.</span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1042752447"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/jet%20drops6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1042752447">Jet Drop Stitch Markers by Ball Creative Designs</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">Is there a story behind my shop name? Not really. For a while I sold on etsy under 2 separate stores, Sheeps of Egyptian Cotton and iMaille and finally I just decided to combine them under one roof, so to speak.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">My favorite piece would be my brecciated jasper necklace (</span><a href="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/braciated%20jasper3.jpg" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank" title="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/braciated%20jasper3.jpg
CTRL + Click to follow link">http://ballcreativedesigns.<wbr></wbr>com/braciated%20jasper3.jpg</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">) because of the colors of the stone (see her jewelry page for purchasing here: </span><a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/jewelry%20main%20page.html">http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/jewelry%20main%20page.html</a>)<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">. That's one of the pieces I've promised if it's not swept up by someone in a certain amount of time will become mine for good. Is it wrong to make deals with yourself like that? Best selling thing in my shop would be the Isis and Nile lines of yarn. These are yarns exclusive to my shop and I've converted more than one person who has sworn off of cotton yarns forever. Isis is soft, and squishy, and perfect for heirloom or baby items. Nile is shiny and strong and makes your knitting and crochet stitches pop.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">I sell my work online for now, both on etsy (</span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BallCreativeDesigns" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank" title="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BallCreativeDesigns
CTRL + Click to follow link">http://www.etsy.com/shop/<wbr></wbr>BallCreativeDesigns</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">) and on the site I designed (</span><a href="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://ballcreativedesigns.<wbr></wbr>com/index.html</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">). I'm hoping to start selling in the farmer's market this summer, and of course the craft shows in the fall.</span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1042752457"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/aqua3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1042752457">2 Ply Fingering Yarn by Ball Creative Design</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I blog for the shop at </span><a href="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/blog" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank" title="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/blog
CTRL + Click to follow link">http://ballcreativedesigns.<wbr></wbr>com/blog</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">. Also, </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I'm on plurk all the time as fiber_yoda and on facebook </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BallCreativeDesigns" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank" title="http://www.facebook.com/BallCreativeDesigns
CTRL + Click to follow link">http://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>BallCreativeDesigns</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">I never saw myself doing this when I was growing up. From an early age I knew I wanted to be a chef, and I went to school to do just that. But life interrupted and then moved on. I got sick and working in a kitchen wasn't gonna happen for me anymore. For a while my crafts are what kept me from just giving up totally. Now I wouldn't have it any other way, I love being able to do something that's been a part of my life almost as long as I can remember. I donate a portion of all sales to MS research, since I know just how horrible it can be to live with and a portion of all sales also goes to my "corruption" fund. I have a 9 year old niece who has been helping me with spinning and stitch marker making for the last 3 years, and she decided she wants her own wheel. Now she gets paid for her help, and it all goes into her spinning wheel fund. I'm considering going back to college myself, and getting the credentials to do art therapy with people who are recovering from an illness or injury. I've been known to give lessons in knitting and crochet to people in craft stores, and have given many a spontaneous demonstration as well. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); text-align: -webkit-auto;">What a great woman with overwhelming talent! Please see her shops for more gorgeous and drool-worthy items here: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BallCreativeDesigns">http://www.etsy.com/shop/BallCreativeDesigns</a> and here: <a href="http://ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html">http://ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html</a></span><br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-90821229805363092942012-05-04T06:00:00.000-04:002012-05-04T06:00:01.972-04:00Friday Feature: Maxies Knitwear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container tr_bq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_597979392"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.216466005.jpg" width="250" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/56717931/luxurious-soft-pink-scarf" target="_blank">Luxurious Soft Pink Scarf by MaxiesKnitwear</a></td></tr>
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Welcome to another edition of Friday Features, where a new artist from the wonderful world of the internet is featured. This week takes us to New Zealand, where we meet Julie. Read on to discover more about this fantastic fiber artist from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hi, my name is Julie and my shop’s name is Maxies Knitwear </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/maxiesknitwear" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/<wbr></wbr>maxiesknitwear</a> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I mainly create knitted accessories for women. Such things as scarves, cowls, fingerless gloves, hats, headbands. I also enjoy knitting coffee cozies and little matching bags … they look so cute together and make wonderful gifts if you fill the bags with yummy chocolates or other goodies! I plan at a later stage to start selling cute childrens knit accessories as well.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">My mum taught me how to knit when I was really little and she's a fantastic knitter. I was truly inspired while growing up; watching her create the most gorgeous jumpers and accessories for my brothers, myself and whoever she wanted to bless.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">In terms of doing other crafts...I have attempted at times to create greeting cards … lol unfortunately not very successfully! </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_597979386"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.305121053.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91145371/blue-fingerless-gloves-mittens-with" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Blue Fingerless Gloves with Buttons by MaxiesKnitwear</span></a></td></tr>
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<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is there a story behind my shop name?
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Yes … it’s named after my beautiful cat Max! Max is a tortoiseshell, and she has the most gorgeous colourful coat. I love yarn that is colourful, soft and beautiful and the name just seemed to fit.</span> </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">With only 10 sales so far, there doesn’t seem to be an item that stands out as a best-seller. At present these fingerless mittens are really popular</span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91145371/blue-fingerless-gloves-mittens-with" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/listing/91145371/<wbr></wbr>blue-fingerless-gloves-<wbr></wbr>mittens-with</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span> (seen above)</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">At present my artwork is sold on Etsy, Zibbet and via my Facebook page. Late last year I attended a couple of local markets and plan to attend some over the next few months.</span> </span></blockquote>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_597979380"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.240603090.jpg" width="281" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73269700/knit-drawstring-bag-with-buttons" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Knit Drawstring Bag with Buttons by MaxiesKnitwear</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Do I blog?
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Yes I do! My blog address is </span><a href="http://www.maxiesknitwear.blogspot.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.maxiesknitwear.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and I mainly share about what’s happening with Maxies Knitwear or introduce other amazing artists I find (there are some really talented artists out there)</span> </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are the other social networks I'm on:
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Twitter: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/maxiesknitwear" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.twitter.com/maxiesknitwear</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Facebook: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/maxiesknitwear" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>maxiesknitwear</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Blog: </span><a href="http://www.maxiesknitwear.blogspot.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.maxiesknitwear.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Tumblr: </span><a href="http://www.tumblr.com/blog/maxiesknitwear" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.tumblr.com/blog/<wbr></wbr>maxiesknitwear</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Google+: </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/110704225387323282927/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">plus.google.com/u/0/b/<wbr></wbr>110704225387323282927/</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span> </span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> I have one charity that I support – my husband and I are passionate about helping Orphans in need in Asia, so 25% of all our profits go to help the most adorable special needs children. You can read the full story in the ‘About me ’ section of my blog. </span> </span></blockquote>
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What a great shop, and for a great cause too! Please visit Julie's shop, MaxiesKnitwear to see more beautiful hand crafted items:
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Maxiesknitwear">http://www.etsy.com/shop/Maxiesknitwear</a> </div>
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...Would you like to be featured too? Leave a comment below with your website address and I'll either email or convo you :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-76273915028133071012012-04-28T02:00:00.000-04:002012-04-28T02:00:04.163-04:00Saturday Squee: Cutest. Koala. EVER!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT8hBo2VSvLn-i8rYrZpWg7pRUrZJS5iw-x2EIY6GV8k41lyo9uDX6vx3QlsygNkVASsRqEZz-uJ7ybu0GO4jmoXdfxLJoWjE9YvTqv93mbaUQN5chAxX9ZpdqF1wzBGzl2o41QFzOBsk/s1600/squee+from+Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT8hBo2VSvLn-i8rYrZpWg7pRUrZJS5iw-x2EIY6GV8k41lyo9uDX6vx3QlsygNkVASsRqEZz-uJ7ybu0GO4jmoXdfxLJoWjE9YvTqv93mbaUQN5chAxX9ZpdqF1wzBGzl2o41QFzOBsk/s1600/squee+from+Facebook.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koala from Facebook</td></tr>
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Because a koala that fits in your hands is cute. Period.<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-64083172700741785772012-04-27T06:00:00.000-04:002012-04-27T06:00:03.295-04:00Friday Features: Fattidame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_597979355"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.284855296.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/85707787/martino-the-camel-bookend-fiber-art-ooak" target="_blank">Martino the Camel Bookend by Fattidame</a></td></tr>
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Hello and welcome to today's Friday Feature, which is going to take you all the way over to beautiful Italy to meet Paola. Read on to discover more about her and her delightful creations...<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">My name is Paola and my shop's name is Fattidame</span>
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fattidame">http://www.etsy.com/shop/fattidame</a>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I create soft art…my puppies are really soft and funny ( I hope)!</span> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I got started when <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I thought it would be nice to see on the wall a portrait of my cat, so I decided to make it with fabric, and then I decided to go on with my soft art !</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In doing other crafts...
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Some years ago I did découpage, furniture restauration, bijoux (jewelry)…I love everything I can do with my hands.</span> </span></blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_597979350"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.230235854.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67987770/nina-the-snail-fabric-brooch-ooak-soft" target="_blank">Nina the Snail Soft Brooch by Fattidame</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">When I decided to start my adventure with Etsy, I had to choose a shop name! So I chose “Fattidame” that in italian means “Made by me”. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I think it’s a simple name, that remind to Italy ;)</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I sell more brooches than wall art…and I hope that more and more people know and like my soft puppies ;) See my brooches here: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fattidame?section_id=7793649">http://www.etsy.com/shop/fattidame?section_id=7793649</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I only sell my work on </span><a href="http://etsy.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">Etsy.com</a>.<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> A few years ago I took part with Filippo (my love!) in some craft markets, but now I prefer to sell my items on my etsy shop.</span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_597979340"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.230169112.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69672990/diego-the-scotty-dog-headband-ooak-soft" target="_blank">Diego the Scotty Dog Headband by Fattidame</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Oh yes I blog….;) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I’ve just opened my new blog site: </span><a href="http://www.fattidameworld.blogspot.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.fattidameworld.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com</a>and <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I’m on Facebook:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002322407249" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/profile.php?<wbr></wbr>id=100002322407249</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I usually take care of animals in my daily life…but opening my blog I descover a really interesting website: </span><a href="http://www.doveconviene.it/co2neutral/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.doveconviene.it/<wbr></wbr>co2neutral/</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I posted this iniziative on my blog and I invited everyone to partecipate! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It’s really important to do something for our planet!!</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you so much Paola, your shop is beautiful :)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Please make sure to visit her shop and see more of her wonderful work: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/fattidame">http://www.etsy.com/shop/fattidame</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">...Do you want to be featured? Leave a comment below with your website address so that I can get a hold of you via email or conversation.</span><br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-55494136062796345692012-04-26T11:25:00.000-04:002012-04-26T11:25:00.776-04:00Nap Attack and Why I've Been on the DL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRLky8bKC4QYpqtyAWZ0ZHlN4LTV-xosMBoLUXCE-O44EJBZmhUn4vChbR3H8vz1bphoxPyACx978o93fO_v_NowtujouH3DjCNo_5ZfLEir97iahG2_9rgExBWOM9S8-2rl3FGcRjmVX/s1600/nap+attack+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRLky8bKC4QYpqtyAWZ0ZHlN4LTV-xosMBoLUXCE-O44EJBZmhUn4vChbR3H8vz1bphoxPyACx978o93fO_v_NowtujouH3DjCNo_5ZfLEir97iahG2_9rgExBWOM9S8-2rl3FGcRjmVX/s320/nap+attack+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Recently, I was attacked by the nap monster. Really, I should get an exterminator in here, 'cause it happens just about every day ;)<br />
When I awoke, I was greeted by this image, above. Arwen loves taking naps. If you say, "Want to go lie down?" Or, "Want to have a nap?" No matter where she is, she'll stop whatever she's doing (even if she is already napping in the living room), and run to the bedroom. If she feels she isn't being followed, she will stop at the bedroom door and look back, just to make sure you're not lying to her, and actually are going to follow her to bed. Then she'll jump up (usually into my hubby's space), lay down (usually with her head on my hubby's pillow), let out a huge sigh and fall straight asleep. Scratches are optional, but greatly appreciated. By the time I wake up, she's graduated from curled-up sleep positions to full-on stretched out as far as she can positions, with the occasional on-the-back position, as evidenced above.<br />
Just thought I'd share that with you :)<br />
As for why I've been quiet lately... well, I've been switching medications for my thyroid and adrenal issues, as well as going off of some other meds, as I've been having some interesting-in-a-scary-way medical issues. I won't bore you with the details here, but it is stressing my body, which is in turn stressing my mind and making me less than productive as my mind and body struggle to come to some middle of the ground agreement on how the whole shebang should get along and work together (why can't we all just be friends and get along???).<br />
So that's my story. I'm sorry I've been on the DL for a while, I'm going to try and at least post some photos of Arwen in between posting the artist features every Friday, so that, even if the photo-only posts don't have much content, at least there will be cute-funny photos for you to look at and start your day with :)<br />
Have a great Thursday, see you tomorrow for another fabulous artist feature!<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-40091071853761792442012-04-20T06:00:00.000-04:002012-04-20T06:00:01.139-04:00Friday Feature: Lucilight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_632510180"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h4htE2JHQeQ/TzvEN9q6VtI/AAAAAAAADxc/q67a7ULtGbE/s320/print+2.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92518380/print-the-lord-will-protect-you-proverbs" target="_blank">"The Lord Will Protect You" Print by Lucilight</a></td></tr>
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Today's Friday Feature is on great, multi-talented artist <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucilight" target="_blank">Lucilight</a> on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>, who makes beautiful jewelry as well as inspiring prints. Read on to learn more about this fabulous artist from the Netherlands...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My name is Lucinde, shopname Lucilight, URL: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucilight" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/lucilight</a>. <span style="line-height: 16px;">I make prints with a biblical message and jewelry.</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm a Graphic Designer by profession, that's where my interest for the printed media comes from. I've always been a very creative child. I liked to draw, write and make cards. Combining these two (graphic design and creativity) resulted in making prints and other creative things for my Etsy shop.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="line-height: 16px;">I make cards (by hand and digital) and I customize T-shirts (maybe this becomes a part of my shop)</span></span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_632510201"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26CWaMUHEMvfkEWu_akdFFtQj0PeocOpsG-SJNFQIpIGu7df96vNzVJ_B8mamxBvyznXaKkno991otBDIJFq4x80ULVMlqPOLdl494xPPKu0IRhe3G5_IrMZ-YJTkzZ9Jdkvv-ZoX09V1/s320/jewelry.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92038769/dark-grey-pearl-necklace-with-matching" target="_blank">Dark Grey Pearl Bracelet and Necklace Set by Lucilight</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My name is Lucinde. When I was brainstorming for a name for my shop my father came up with the name 'Lucilight'. We already knew my own name means 'bringer of light' what is a beautiful meaning. So he said; why don't use this in your shop name? And it fits really well for my shop. I want to shine a little light with the messages from the Bible, so that's the story behind my shop name.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My Favorite or bestselling items? They would be <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89097397/psalm-1215-shade-from-the-sun-print?ref=v1_other_2" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/listing/89097397/psalm-1215-shade-from-the-sun-print?ref=v1...</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">and </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81357478/alpha-and-omega-print?ref=v1_other_1" style="background-color: white; color: #0192b5; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/listing/81357478/alpha-and-omega-print?ref=v1_other_1</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">These are the prints that get a lot of admirers and get pinned on pinterest.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sell in a local bookstore and online. I used to have a (dutch) webshop on my own site, it's temporarily offline but will be back soon. I hope to make it available in English soon. </span></span>
</blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_632510192"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fZtyOFSoYWw/TzvESu965yI/AAAAAAAADxs/_x4UzfU2rDc/s320/print.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91404105/print-do-all-things-through-christ" target="_blank">"Do All Things Through Christ" Print by Licilight</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I don't blog yet, but I'm working hard to get a blog online. It will become a part of</span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.lucinde.nl/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.lucinde.nl</a><span style="line-height: 16px;">, my Dutch website. When I'll get a blog it will be available in English and Dutch.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm just starting so I don't make profit yet. But I'm thinking about promoting charities in the future.</span></span></blockquote>
Thank you Lucinde! Please make sure you visit her shop to see more of her beautiful work: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucilight">http://www.etsy.com/shop/lucilight</a><br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /><br />
P.S. Would you like to be featured for FREE on this blog? Visit this post and leave a comment: <a href="http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/friday-features-i-want-you.html">http://meglittlestudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/friday-features-i-want-you.html</a><br />
or contact me through my Etsy shop for details.</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-49350975960741207422012-04-13T06:00:00.000-04:002012-04-13T06:00:07.828-04:00Friday Feature: Kelly Bermudez<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2144259608"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtivFvDJu2VHP6GK4Nb8QBcgp15gT75-EAe4zYqGtALHSFt6o8b3r3goTJMj12MB1ePs8lKMg0mmFRzVK-ohfO63mBdaIK3TbDIuzrlaT45ywqKLm9XXX7VaDIzFRjZanOfOmr_YyqyoR/s320/owl.jpg" width="244" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86424989/heart-of-wisdom?ref=pr_shopRemember" target="_blank">Heart of Wisdom by Kelly Bermudez</a></td></tr>
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Today's Friday Feature is about a wonderful Christian painter on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>, the very talented <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellybermudez" target="_blank">Kelly Bermudez</a>. Read more to discover her beautiful shop and a giveaway!<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">My name is <span style="line-height: 16px;">Kelly Bermudez - Gentle Whispers Visual Devotions </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellybermudez" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/kellybermudez</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">I use acrylic, watercolor and mixed media. I love watercolor though. My hope is to bring joy and inspiration to others through my paintings.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Before I painted, I was actually a Police Officer for about 8 years. I was Military Police for 6 and a Deputy Sheriff for 2 and then one day the Lord called me to do art. I had never picked up a paint brush until about a year ago when God asked me to paint for Him. It was a leap of faith for me that is for sure! It has been a really exciting journey so far!</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">Occasionally, I also enjoy scrapbooking and writing children's short stories.</span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2144259614"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fOgMg1k746ijqcq33WcSJBs9BclBFUC3ppdIC-yf1rAmzyD21GhGmK4lzRCiC-K4UP3LqbOfhuao-JgY7-bBIVhi7m6_c4D029OARzzNINpDMEZWn5sHcl5k1nKLkNCfvQt1rwSvpOmN/s320/dancer.jpg" width="230" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/87714383/a-dance-for-my-king" target="_blank">A Dance for My King by Kelly Bermudez</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">“Gentle Whispers”....taken from 1 Kings 19:12...that we hear God in the still small voice...In the midst of all the noise in the world, God speaks to us in a Gentle whisper. “Visual Devotions” because, I want my artwork to be that Gentle Whisper that people hear God through. I generally have a verse that each of my paintings are inspired from. I am just starting out, but my prayer is that my art will be used to bring healing and hope to lives. Some people are more visual learners and a picture can touch the heart in a profound way. I am currently working on, "Gentle Whispers," a painting series of a very special Love Song. …it tells of God’s great love for His people. I can't wait to share it with you!</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I really like “<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86424989/heart-of-wisdom" target="_blank">Heart of Wisdom</a>.” I have sold more of this print actually through Facebook contacts.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I sell on Etsy and sometimes I have people contact me through Facebook.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2144259620"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzrrE9msFOY4yy3Ckc4UKzw70swA95Jinc_L-gADQeUbzExddhOEJM7vFY8FB0t8pXvRu0nLDeWYcCHjlMmJ9FVkw69zb4tubvTZ8QSAdo0C-GImK0sWvbW6UdlndVAiSiuYeqNvxiWLh/s320/lamb.jpg" width="237" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89274645/spring-lamb" target="_blank">Spring Lamb by Kelly Bermudez</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My blog is <a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://kellybermudez.blogspot.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">kellybermudez.blogspot.com/</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">I am currently using this blog for my Illustration Friday entries.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I am also on </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">Facebook: </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Bermudez-Paintings/169726423093919" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Bermudez-Paintings/169726423093919</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;"> and Twitter: </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://twitter.com/#!/kellybermudez10" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">twitter.com/#!/kellybermudez10</a></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I recently painted four paintings to be auctioned off for the Sudan Canvas Project. "The Sudan Canvas Project was founded to raise awareness of the atrocities towards women in Sudan. Through the power of art, this project strives to give victims of genocide hope through trade education." - Cynthia Davis, Founder </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://thesudancanvasproject.org/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">thesudancanvasproject.org/</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">I have also donated numerous paintings for Church fundraisers.</span> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> What an amazing story, please visit her shop for more beautiful paintings here: </span></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellybermudez">http://www.etsy.com/shop/kellybermudez</a><br />
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ALSO! Kelly has graciously offered to give away a FREE print of her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/86424989/heart-of-wisdom?ref=pr_shopRemember" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Heart of Wisdom </a>print to a random participant. All you have to do is leave a comment below by April 19 at midnight EST. I'll randomly draw the winner. PLEASE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A WAY TO CONTACT YOU! Best of luck, I wish I could enter :)<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-87720291170842377942012-04-06T06:00:00.000-04:002012-04-06T06:00:16.922-04:00Friday Features: Deronda Designs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1003181198"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzDGnnG3vXZOkIStqN4kbQr22gzmrHLQNjA9G2uChUJNhcuj4gVnVgMErkJX3czvO5XHaiwwxpYi2X-FF2Kv_H-zhiNA-41UNuQPpvhj6p-VQjK4vYEPzqMy5WDberuf-4N5hBmiV0QlE/s320/blue.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/71905449" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Shades of Blue Handmade Lampwork Beads by DerondaDesigns</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today's Friday Feature post is about an amazing lampwork glass bead artist, DerondaDesigns. Read on to find out more about her incredible beads...</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">My name is Deronda and because it's not a common name, we decided ti would be perfect for my glass. My etsy shop is </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/derondadesigns" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/<wbr></wbr>derondadesigns</a></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/derondadesigns" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank"></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I play with glass and metal. The beads are the big part of what I do, but the etched copper is something that comes and goes as the mood hits.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">How did I get started? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Curiousity....my mom gave us the love of creativity and the encouragement to play with all kinds of stuff.</span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1003181204"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UoBH1BF4vNQ/TzK5vFASM1I/AAAAAAAADwM/WQi1j8S176s/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/71905448" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Pretty Pink Flowers Handmade Lampwork Beads by DerondaDesigns</span></a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Do I have any other arts/crafts? <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Oh wow, have you been sneaking into my closets? The curiosity has led me into all kinds of things from woodwork, to sewing, to painting, to scrapbooking, to ceramics and on and on it goes. But glass is still my first love.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">A story of my shop name? </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Nope, it's just my name...nothing exciting there?</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Every set of beads I make is different so it's hard to pick a favorite anything. A lot of what you might see in the shop depends on my moods. The glass has always been a way for me to express things that I can't say outloud.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Right now I am selling on Etsy and Artfire and I have finished jewelry pieces and other things that have nothing to do with glass or jewelry at our little store here in my hometown.</span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1003181212"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glr3jHl1zE8/TzK5vjhb6iI/AAAAAAAADwU/A_BH5oi5j5Q/s320/lentils.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/71905450" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Ivory and Amethyst Lentil Lampwork Beads by DerondaDesigns</span></a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sometimes I blog a lot, and then I get busy and forget...now that you have reminded me, i will probably blog soon. It's</span><a href="http://derondadesigns.blogspot.com/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">derondadesigns.blogspot.com/</a></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I do the FB thing: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/deronda.designs">http://www.facebook.com/deronda.designs</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> and you know that I am an addicted Plurker: </span><a href="http://www.plurk.com/Deronda">http://www.plurk.com/Deronda</a></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Her beads are incredible...I happen to have purchased the above beads, but you can find many more in her shop here: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DerondaDesigns" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/DerondaDesigns</a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have a great day!</span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-77329940099142291652012-04-05T10:41:00.002-04:002012-04-05T10:41:52.459-04:00Thursday Treat: Ball Creative Designs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_526875067"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V01OTz6bzuN06VAQFLi_fdjeGckoz91GB8eM2Ma_qbHPnoVsc0nVO8skJ_z8uFIPCYdm2Xj-yk8qMFYQm-ylT8gVv-t7huyza4R9hiqY5up0mfVR_VCXVCs6UUORpdA0E21gBY1rk5Et/s320/greek+red+watch1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/jewelry%20main%20page.html" target="_blank">Greek Watch in Red by Ball Creative Designs</a></td></tr>
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Hey everyone, I hope your week is going well. I wanted to point out a little thing that's been on the blog for a while...I accept ads on the blog for $1 per month, and my newest advertiser is Ball Creative Designs (<a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html">http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html</a>). She's an amazing multi-media artist, who spins and dyes yarns, makes fabulous stitch markers, and creates beautiful jewelry.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_526875076"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFCWUil5WBEwbRxdc1dK3lNZlnL8bv_DtpQWzPpNQ4myaQ_TT0URr8rwtWOnCDpGQ6PyDj-dj4kgjpRXcy4lsoPnj3lbsV5dLDG0DS3Vm1cT4wtSJ79HcOBm58V0KZ0DVAlRDRqv9cWil/s320/aubergine1.jpg" width="301" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/yarn%20main%20page.html" target="_blank">Aubergine Sheep's Clothing Yarn</a></td></tr>
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Her yarns are a mix - some are cotton, some sheep's wool, some alpaca, with some silk and other neat fibers as well. Everything looks beautiful, and from what I've heard around the interwebs, they are great quality too...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_526875082"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd_y7HJDdsZPx8M3bi6ekM7ehtAmXh2uNbMCCojg3tHd9GtNstY3vQ8q1vY4_zlt2lNMy3NckFRgRyRv_-mPJzT6moT_Lj0oVSUBV0Z_ooXp1fWHLYahb-HbISQXyNNghgvxSVBku4S5Z/s320/silver+flower1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/stitch%20markers.html" target="_blank">I Have These Stitch Markers and LOVE Them!!</a></td></tr>
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Her stitch markers are also awesome. I have the ones above and just adore them. I have to finish a few crochet projects before beginning the knitting project that requires these, but I have them on my living room table just the same (no joke, my husband is starting to think I'm nuts).<br />
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Please do visit Ball Creative Designs at her website, you won't be disappointed! <a href="http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html">http://www.ballcreativedesigns.com/index.html</a><br />
<br />
Are you interested in being an advertiser for only $1USD per month? You get a 150x150px image of your choice and a free mini feature. Leave a comment below with a way to contact you if you are interested.<br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-8875254603967686102012-04-04T09:29:00.001-04:002012-04-04T09:29:20.461-04:00Arwednesdays with Arwen: Loving Animals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfF_xkxQwOTvrU62Mi9oVdV_-ya4i0unAUX5KkIE1_TtvuRrSLT8_YngsgTB3zlxdC4CbAA5G8in_gpNyGf33Vb-X7E4lJqCBSY4XtNvRvfkTW474IPSx2nb0_zNoomR3aElo63V9Dcse/s1600/Arwen+is+loved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJfF_xkxQwOTvrU62Mi9oVdV_-ya4i0unAUX5KkIE1_TtvuRrSLT8_YngsgTB3zlxdC4CbAA5G8in_gpNyGf33Vb-X7E4lJqCBSY4XtNvRvfkTW474IPSx2nb0_zNoomR3aElo63V9Dcse/s320/Arwen+is+loved.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hello, it's me again, Arwen the Wonder dog. I wanted to get serious for a moment, if I may today...<br />
I am loved.<br />
I am very loved.<br />
How do I know? Well, my mommy tells me at least 10 times every day.<br />
I get my beautiful fur brushed every day, with lots of petting and mommy telling me how pretty I am. When that is done, I get my pearly white teeth brushed.<br />
I have lots of toys, from tennis balls to squeaky stuffies, Nylabones and Kongs to keep me occupied, stimulated and happy.<br />
I get to go for walks almost every day (unless it is very cold, icy or very wet), and I get to play in my yard every day, chasing birdies and squirrels and barking at imaginary beasts. When I come back inside, there is always fresh water, healthy food, and sometimes even treats if I've been good (or just looked really cute).<br />
But, mommy tells me not all animals are loved.<br />
Mommy tells me that there are many animals all over the world that are not fed properly, are not cared for, brushed, walked or even talked to nicely. Many animals are beaten, starved, left alone tied outside, or even forced to fight other dogs until one of them dies.<br />
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<a href="http://animalrescuechase.com/baby-shower/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="174" src="http://animalrescuechase.com/img/baby-shower/baby-shower-700x381.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
But, mommy tells me that there are great people who rescue these sad animals so that they have a chance at a happy life. One place is called Harmony Fund (<a href="http://animalrescuechase.com/">animalrescuechase.com</a>), and they are having what is called the World's Biggest Baby Shower for Animals (<a href="http://animalrescuechase.com/baby-shower/">http://animalrescuechase.com/baby-shower/</a>), where people can donate money online to help them rescue lots of animals and make them happy like me. Take the little guy in the photo above. He lives in Puerto Rico. One day, his owners got in a fight in their apartment. To get him out of the way, one of the owners shoved him in a hole in the wall in the back of a closet, where he fell to the bottom of the building and was left for two weeks in a wall, and was ignored by the residents who heard his cries for help. Finally a nice lady heard what was happening and rescued him, moments from dying and covered in sores. Now he is healthy and living the good life, thanks to these amazing people working with Harmony Fund.<br />
Mommy thinks this is very good, and I do too. If you are able, please try to donate to them to give all sorts of animals (doggies, horses, cats, monkeys and more) the chance to have a happy life. At the very least, please try to spread the word about all the great things that they do so that others can help them too.<br />
Please help these animals have a chance to have a happy home.<br />
A chance to be loved.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" />and Arwen the Wonder Dog</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-19514139864063848682012-04-02T10:31:00.000-04:002012-04-02T10:31:01.618-04:00Victoria Beckham's Got Classic Style<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlVEBcxO6MEOu2FzY5xnYZglKt_K6vl3Y_dGxb7ptv1jSCBJsxVqGFxU9yu1-Uk-CxfVKLebwM_dG3CseqmZ8WJCrTcv2IDiuW3htiQaRUjsUgrRJkAZ_pvU11iel1z-s3bsskApqgA2L/s1600/classic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlVEBcxO6MEOu2FzY5xnYZglKt_K6vl3Y_dGxb7ptv1jSCBJsxVqGFxU9yu1-Uk-CxfVKLebwM_dG3CseqmZ8WJCrTcv2IDiuW3htiQaRUjsUgrRJkAZ_pvU11iel1z-s3bsskApqgA2L/s320/classic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria Beckham's Classic Style (center image from <a href="http://peoplemagazine.com/">PeopleMagazine.com</a>)</td></tr>
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Love her or hate her, Victoria Beckham's style is (of late anyway), a beautiful classic, great for the office or a well-dressed date. While many can't afford her beautiful fashion line, there are ways to get a similar look - and for a fraction of the price.<br />
<br />
This week I did decide to show more expensive pieces, but as they are classics, these are pieces that will get literally years of wear. They will still be in style for another few decades, and with proper care, many of these pieces should last you that long too. Classic sheath dresses in slick grey, cardigans in bright, sophisticated blue, nude patent heels and sexy-simple jewelry will never fail to excite, while looking so polished and feminine, everyone will be asking you for style advice. Let's see the winners, shall we?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmGXmqhxwFzgRofxaJxHdtp0AAkwlutOtwrhYkO7rtPPySKsILfpTfKhMJBGQCjaE_Up1obGIISbcsqxZDGIyjSRIfoPu7U0ADvZ0zS4xSBay7ZoyzviYvTWw6HL-HlrziAkPMu0XEw_0/s1600/bananarepublic+tweed+lena+dress+160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmGXmqhxwFzgRofxaJxHdtp0AAkwlutOtwrhYkO7rtPPySKsILfpTfKhMJBGQCjaE_Up1obGIISbcsqxZDGIyjSRIfoPu7U0ADvZ0zS4xSBay7ZoyzviYvTWw6HL-HlrziAkPMu0XEw_0/s320/bananarepublic+tweed+lena+dress+160.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lena Tweed Dress from <a href="http://bananarepulic.com/">BananaRepulic.com</a></td></tr>
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First, the dress. The dress Victoria is wearing is her own, in a light plaid pattern. I chose this simple, slate grey Tweed Lena dress from Banana Republic (<a href="http://bananarepublic.com/">bananarepublic.com</a>), as it has a square neckline that will complement just about every figure. I also like that it is sleeveless so that you can wear it year-round with different weights of sweaters and get maximum use out of this dress. It sits just above your knee and has subtle pleats at the waist line, which will accentuate your waist and fit better around your hips when moving or sitting. For the perfect fit, take it to a tailor. There is nothing worse than gaps or folds where there shouldn't be. Pair this with nude sandal foot tights for the ultimate professional, polished look. About $160 for the dress.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBqT8dYpekMUSqccxU1MimlH5TXAE5hrvRvauGGqWU4LnMeCp0xGfjhmRPRvXtiIIXYwTgfFlB3u72k-o9PcgbUT5cJKQ4otOc8VLkHA8xlpLY9Q-8JjmTAV4NUMpm5hX6JFLmn-bZLNQ/s1600/jewellery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBqT8dYpekMUSqccxU1MimlH5TXAE5hrvRvauGGqWU4LnMeCp0xGfjhmRPRvXtiIIXYwTgfFlB3u72k-o9PcgbUT5cJKQ4otOc8VLkHA8xlpLY9Q-8JjmTAV4NUMpm5hX6JFLmn-bZLNQ/s320/jewellery.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Left: Marie Antoinette Raspberry Ice Bracelet, Earrings, Necklace from <a href="http://littlestudiojewels.etsy.com/">Littlestudiojewels.etsy.com</a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
To decorate your person, without overwhelming your super-chic look, this great set of jewelry will go far. Each piece is sold separately, but if purchased together you get a great discount. The Marie Antoinette Raspberry Ice Necklace, Bracelet and Earrings from Little Studio (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleStudioJewels">http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleStudioJewels</a>) will give you that little bit of pink, and a little bit of luminescence. Pretty, simple, stylish. About $45 for necklace, $30 for bracelet and $20 for earrings, buy 2 of the set, or all three of the set and get $5-$10 off!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFif7xDVbfntCSxh7Hi9VJPcFX9NIKq_55h3M4XwspqixCKNw0u7P-o1s2L1e3A46ekIeEadvgfUdsr8zHXZ4UBTE7bw-gk9KCP5GN6w_aR8PKfdRSPR24_cyXNYQYAcFMWBKOTAjPncOA/s1600/jcrew+featherweightcashmerecardigan+byzantineblue+206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFif7xDVbfntCSxh7Hi9VJPcFX9NIKq_55h3M4XwspqixCKNw0u7P-o1s2L1e3A46ekIeEadvgfUdsr8zHXZ4UBTE7bw-gk9KCP5GN6w_aR8PKfdRSPR24_cyXNYQYAcFMWBKOTAjPncOA/s320/jcrew+featherweightcashmerecardigan+byzantineblue+206.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Featherweight Cashmere cardigan from <a href="http://jcrew.com/">Jcrew.com</a></td></tr>
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To keep the goosebumps at bay, pop on a great cardigan, like this gorgeous Featherweight Cashmere Cardigan in Byzantine Blue from JCrew (<a href="http://jcrew.com/">jcrew.com</a>). It is slightly fitted and has long sleeves, so that you can keep your arms warm with the sleeves down, or go for effortless chic with them pulled up to your elbows, like Victoria. Cashmere is great as it is lightweight, it will keep you warm on those over-air-conditioned days at the office, yet will be cool enough for most light summer days. The ultimate style-upper? Define your tiny waist (or create the illusion of one) by belting a skinny black belt around your waist outside your cardigan, a la Beckham. It screams feminine, without being too girly or too revealing. A splurge at $200, but it will last decades with proper care, and when have you ever seen a classic, fitted cardigan on a "not in style anymore" list??<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWekI_tQu3R8UC_wx5nqUAUbzdFj-gPxgyhdiyNC_36bU7w_ebxdZ71Pmry1c6MAqWptfwnE-Ik-inLVpN731ilJ6_12nGTuTWoyf5qRJhaWTkJzLnbm9S5ioKi0Av7Q5vXNH9GcgM2uKk/s1600/CalvinKleinSandie+piperlime+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWekI_tQu3R8UC_wx5nqUAUbzdFj-gPxgyhdiyNC_36bU7w_ebxdZ71Pmry1c6MAqWptfwnE-Ik-inLVpN731ilJ6_12nGTuTWoyf5qRJhaWTkJzLnbm9S5ioKi0Av7Q5vXNH9GcgM2uKk/s320/CalvinKleinSandie+piperlime+113.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calvin Klein Sandie Pump from <a href="http://piperlime.com/">Piperlime.com</a></td></tr>
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Nude pumps are a must. Every woman should have at least 2 pairs - peep toe for summer and round/almond toe for winter. These Calvin Klein Sandie peep-toe heels from Piper Lime (<a href="http://piperlime.com/">piperlime.com</a>) give you a little extra height, but will save your feet with the subtle platform. They are high, yes, but professional at the same time, and not above being totally sexy for that last minute, after work date *wink, wink*. About $110, these are an investment in your wardrobe that will get so much wear, you might just want to buy 2 pairs.<br />
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What do you think? Is this your style? What would you wear?<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-3276137628295395092012-03-29T06:00:00.000-04:002012-03-29T18:25:36.417-04:00Friday Feature: Colt Pixy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146046036"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMc5_g-UIlaiKOQ-z8Cwn47ZUzd8wfDTEHYZDXSWCRAZg0tHBq0xDkkG1M4dpMAWFmPkAgnEctZJ-7R0UprkM5AULRCBRkB424UbfdLqdW3VpLUuzcVGeHAVxgAk8GuUtEx9WFAvFHbmL/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/81527734/filigree-egg-with-flowers-figurine" target="_blank">Filigree Egg with Flowers by ColtPixy</a></td></tr>
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Today's Friday Feature is about an amazing polymer clay artist Angelina of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/coltpixy" target="_blank">ColtPixy</a> on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. Read on to discover more of her outstanding creations...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">My name is Angelina Star but people who know me call me Star. Online I am ColtPixy and my shop is at</span><a href="http://coltpixy.etsy.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://ColtPixy.etsy.com</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sculptures and miniatures are my main focus but I do also create other things.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">"How did I get started doing my art?" </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">That is like asking, "how did you start breathing". I have been creating since I was big enough to hold a pencil. My mom said I was born to create art.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I do quite a few other arts, actually. Until an injury forced me to stop working it full time I was a stained glass and mosaic artist. My work was sold in four stores in two states and I taught stained glass mosaics in both Tennessee and Alabama. I still have a fully stocked glass studio even though I work mainly with polymer clays now. </span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146046042"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz6R5vrOFKQd8zY2tIT7yMKfmTtz3lIzPc0q381KDn3cFIM4-C9f_FldLnRo0tJLy4nfawogS3ep3oEt24VDuIOTnyrMEw68cSUOsQp_xmvbxv23cSzdZOd6wiezQ3cvkEriUiik6XbCO/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92056401/lovestruck-snail-sculpture-figurine" target="_blank">Love Struck Snail Figurine by ColtPixy</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I have collected fairies for many years. A colt-pixy is a mischevious fairy. I took out the - and ColtPixy was born.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">At the moment my favorite pieces are snail sculptures. Each has it's own character and personality. See them here: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColtPixy?section_id=10365423">http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColtPixy?section_id=10365423</a></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I currently only sell on Etsy <a href="http://coltpixy.etsy.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://ColtPixy.etsy.com</a></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146046051"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2jYEHtQc7_2Z5nQU_6xWN1mZmVIZK6VdQdPSVfgqVMpAwDrkxQ93VCmf8UkTZXkgaufyj8G76Bz1Bkf2PE2200qcHS1ZWeumsqVQZsn9nI2J6S1aAN5g8gsDG9VEOHmqr3s8j1QFQjTw/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89662664/handmade-mosaic-keepsake-jewelry-box" target="_blank">Handmade Mosaic Keepsake Jewelry Box by ColtPixy</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://coltpixy.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://ColtPixy.com</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> is my blog. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I'm on several social networks here: </span><a href="http://coltpixy.deviantart.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://coltpixy.deviantart.com</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/coltpixy" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>coltpixy</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ColtPixy" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/ColtPixy</a><a href="http://gplus.to/ColtPixy" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #1155cc; text-align: -webkit-auto;" target="_blank">http://gplus.to/ColtPixy</a></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I also support several different charities but only locally and in person (not online).</span> </span></blockquote>
<div>
Thank you Star! Please go to her shop and see more of her absolutely enchanting snails and other pieces here:
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColtPixy">http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColtPixy</a><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>
</div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-69096663446680895202012-03-23T06:00:00.000-04:002012-03-23T06:00:12.374-04:00Friday Feature: Nicole Portlock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146046002"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinom72y5nqEaieS5zWMcJJqm3fhUV-UexYadzdDr79YeE3szjigrDxEamzwumGKk2gIONAE-AVbVLCxH4TXIDqPIRSzm6yNy79CaucHkzjH24bHrL-BJ2oL8ARMYznoQUY9NPKmrri-TYK/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77865090/smoke-fired-wheel-thrown-porcelain?ref=v1_other_1" target="_blank">Smoke Fired, Wheel Thrown Porcelain Vessel by NicolePortlock</a></td></tr>
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This week's Friday Feature comes all the way from Ireland, with Nicole Portlock's beautiful porcelain work. Read on to find out how she makes these beautiful creations...<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Hi my name is Nicole and my shop name is nicoleportlock</span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicoleportlock?ref=si_shop" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/nicoleportlock?ref=si_shop</a></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I make handmade vessels using a potter’s wheel, and porcelain clay. I use a process called ‘Smoke Firing’ to decorate the surface of my pieces. This process is one of the most basic and elemental ways to create marks on the ceramic surface. My vessels surface is totally unglazed. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I feel that smoke firing is a good counterpoint to my control freak tendencies whilst creating on the potter’s wheel. Porcelain is just fabulous to use on the potter’s wheel, but it does take skill and patience. For me there is no other clay like it, because with a blunt tool you can then burnish (polish) the surface much more than any other type of clay. I burnish or polish my porcelain so that the finish surface has a satin feel and shine, which also makes the piece tactile. </span> </span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146046009"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhNNoKoeXFRQjf_xVIARRTiFaRu3CnW-qBrxB_YBZptXaX_p_-ehPtwRFtw8z2IRGPKPAyh9uPy6pYhLPhyiACETd-K30H4NVhyphenhyphenCnc94HAQUYPA7vjffA44a0Uaq1BW6uQIJdC7JVfhkE/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77892756/one-of-a-kind-smoke-fired-porcelain?ref=v1_other_1" target="_blank">One of a Kind Smoke Fired Porcelain Vessel by NicolePortlock</a></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I absolutely love smoke firing! I think that smoke firing speaks to the kid in me as well as to my pyromaniac needs (most potters are closet fire-nuts we just have a legitimate outlet). Fire is my paint brush and smoke is my ink, but this suggests that I have control over where the marks will be made, and I don’t. I can use recycled metal wires and various combustible materials to try and influence the smoke marks, but ultimately is it up to the weather and atmospheric pressures that day as to how fast my smoke kiln burns, what direction the flame takes and what marks are left.</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My love for clay begins when I went to a pottery evening class at a local school whilst still working and living in England. I was looking for a hobby and something to do with my hands. I had always loved handmade things, but the main drive was because I didn’t have any outlet for my creativity during the day. I was inspired by the teacher on this night class, but also by the clay process. At this stage I had no formal art training, so I was fortunate enough to be able to go part-time as the company I was working for was reducing head count. This allowed me to follow an access to higher education course two days a week at the local college. Although on this course you try every imaginable creative process, my love for clay had not changed. Amazingly just as I was finishing my access course, the company I was working for made me redundant, which was brilliant! I don’t think I would have had the confidence to take on a full time degree and move to another country if the lure of a regular pay slip had been there. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146046017"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArqqxG1l1wW4_FEPADbjel4o-6Y57GPDjKBsajFP0IMHdOmrrexlrkOrAaJU6YPlrJsR5tA0_aGZ87FSPboc7Ltx0yAj04YCK89on3zXawa8o6rAknrr1oMSaq-2BgYKbBEoKT5jW31_p/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77892799/unique-smoke-fired-porcelain-vessel-made" target="_blank">Unique Smoke Fired Porcelain Vessel by NicolePortlock</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I don’t do any other craft, but I do make some of my own decorating tools out of recycled materials. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My shop name is my maiden name, and I’m often asked why I haven’t changed it to my married name. There isn’t any feminist agenda, only the fact that my partner and I had bought that domain name and set up my website before we decided to get married. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My favourite pieces out of my shop are the black ball topped vessels, but I have found that the more archaeological looking pieces are selling at the moment. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I only sell through Etsy currently, as I only have a few pieces left in this range. I am working on a new range and I plan to have a few pieces in some of the local galleries as well. But Etsy will be my main point of sale as I like the customer interaction. </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I don’t blog at all, mainly as I try and spend as much time as I can in the studio, and I prefer to keep interested people updated using Twitter </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">@NicolePortlock</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> and Facebook. </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">Facebook/nicoleportlockceramics</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Isn't her work amazing? Please visit her shop for more beautiful ceramic pieces: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicoleportlock">http://www.etsy.com/shop/nicoleportlock</a></span><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-84168107871741610892012-03-20T10:26:00.000-04:002012-03-20T10:26:05.264-04:00Tuesday's Treasures: With Jewelry, Often You Get What You Pay For<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQbLuS6gbJblHuun2zmQ1euT6mNGaA7BXpx_49GA5aiEkY9pORYnytWhHk3UfA_-xXY_-57QTEnL2ejAkhJ9heD3JV1uKDYQ8ckzk1nGr6lfz_HCLovNqInV4lODE5NfG_nZWZ3wExLCt/s1600/dancing+ladies2+may212011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQbLuS6gbJblHuun2zmQ1euT6mNGaA7BXpx_49GA5aiEkY9pORYnytWhHk3UfA_-xXY_-57QTEnL2ejAkhJ9heD3JV1uKDYQ8ckzk1nGr6lfz_HCLovNqInV4lODE5NfG_nZWZ3wExLCt/s320/dancing+ladies2+may212011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In an article from <a href="http://dailymail.co.uk/">DailyMail.co.uk</a> more inexpensive jewelry has been found on store shelves containing high levels of lead, mercury and cadmium. These items are marketed at children/teens/young adults and are sold in stores such as H&M, Claire's and Forever21, just to name a few (here's the link to the article: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2117157/Claires-Forever-21-H-M-costume-jewellery-contains-high-levels-dangerous-chemicals.html">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2117157/Claires-Forever-21-H-M-costume-jewellery-contains-high-levels-dangerous-chemicals.html</a> ). While I would never recommend anyone wearing jewelry with these metals, growing children/teens are at particular risk of problems from these metals as they are still growing, their bodies absorbing many more toxins than adults normally would.<br />
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In this case, you really do get what you pay for. Cheap jewelry is going to be made with toxic metals, inferior connections, and little or no quality control. The prices of silver, gold, copper and platinum are at near record highs, and many large corporations are willing to sacrifice your health to make profits. The article notes that even items labelled as "Lead Free" still often had lead, and, in some cases, were ENTIRELY made of lead. Disgusting!<br />
<br />
Here's just a snippet of what these metals can do, taken from the article on<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2117157/Claires-Forever-21-H-M-costume-jewellery-contains-high-levels-dangerous-chemicals.html" target="_blank"> DailyMail</a>:<br />
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<div class="cleared art-ins femail" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 50px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<h3 class="wocc" style="background-color: #c562a5; color: white; font-size: 1.6em; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />PROMINENT HARMFUL CHEMICALS AND THEIR EFFECTS </span></h3>
<div class="ins cleared xolcc bdrcc" style="background-color: #f7e7ff; border-bottom-color: rgb(197, 98, 165); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(197, 98, 165); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(197, 98, 165); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(197, 98, 165); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;">
<div style="font-weight: bold; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">LEAD</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The impact of even the smallest traces of lead on brain development in children includes irreversible learning and developmental problems leading to to lower IQ scores, delayed learning and shorter attention spans</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The EPA has listed lead as a probable human carcinogen</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CADMIUM</span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Cadmium is classified as a known human carcinogen, associated with lung and prostate cancer</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Cadmium exposure is associated in animal studies with developmental effects, including possible decreases in birth weight, delayed sensory-motor development, hormonal effects, and altered behavior </span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Exposure to cadmium can result in bone loss and increased blood pressure</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Acute toxicity from ingestion of high levels of cadmium can result in abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and death</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Acute toxicity from inhalation of high levels of cadmium can result in symptoms similar to metal fume fever and severe gastroenteritis from high levels of cadmium ingestion </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: bold; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">CHROMIUM</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Laboratory studies indicate that Cr (VI) may cause birth defects, and reproductive problems particularly in males</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Higher levels of exposure have caused asthma attacks and nasal irritation in people</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: bold; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">MERCURY</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">All forms of mercury can affect the kidneys</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Organic, inorganic, and metallic mercury are toxic to the nervous system, each affecting different regions of the brain</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Young children are more sensitive to mercury and may be exposed to mercury via the mother’s body to the fetus or through breast milk </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-weight: bold; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">ARSENIC</span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Inorganic arsenic is a known human carcinogen</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">There is strong evidence that it is linked to lung, skin, and bladder cancer</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Inorganic arsenic may also cause skin irritation, skin color changes, blood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and hormone disruption </span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Preliminary data suggest that inorganic arsenic may interfere with normal fetal development and cause deficits in brain development and intelligence</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Preliminary studies have correlated type 2 diabetes with low-level arsenic consumption, implying that drinking low levels of arsenic may lead to type 2 diabetes</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">THIS is exactly why I started making my own jewelry, so many years ago: I was getting rashes, my skin was turning green where the cheap jewelry touched me, and I knew, deep down, that something wasn't right with jewelry that could look so pretty, but be so inexpensive, lose their finishes quickly, and break so easily.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1947363711"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtwKGbDzYOdFNbC8AX-IMuBH3RMENYvbdul0_3zsAtK4QS2RpwU-78ZpuSPdw86FODIx0JIWklHf5KpSBAlPheh94uCoKmpr7JxyhCZ32NL1AiSNhiyIlyPAsfkSI_3X9k4k87Jch4pFV/s320/Camelia+Bracelet+front.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92997358/camellia-gold-and-vegan-pearl-bracelet" target="_blank">Camelia Bracelet, Now Available in My Shop on Etsy</a></td></tr>
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While I use Swarovski crystal pearls and crystals, that do contain some lead (it IS leaded crystal, after all!), I am happy to use other alternatives when asked. I also recommend that children do not wear jewelry unattended, as they tend to put things in their mouths, which can lead to them being exposed to unsafe metals. I also recommend that parents talk to their children and teens about the dangers of chemicals leaching into their bodies from cheap jewelry, especially when put in their mouths. I shudder at the recollections of my childhood and teenage years, when I would put jewelry in my mouth. I wish I'd known then what damage I could have been doing!<br />
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For use in my handcrafted jewelry, I only purchase gemstones that are non-irradiated and try to give the exact gemstone name when I list a piece for sale. I only buy from reputable gemstone sellers, and I am happy to tell people where the gemstones came from, when I get that information myself.<br />
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When I use metals, I mainly use sterling silver, bare copper, and 14karat gold filled wire (I will be doing an article on what gold-filled is, versus gold plated, stay tuned for that). I occasionally use red brass, but I ALWAYS state what is in my pieces, so that if you have metal sensitivities, you will know which pieces to stay away from. I am always happy to make pieces in another metal to suit your tastes and allergies, all you have to do is ask. I get my materials from honest suppliers who also state what is in the materials I purchase, and I am happy to always answer questions regarding my pieces to the best of my knowledge and ability.<br />
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My pieces cost more, yes, but they are made with much higher quality materials than the cheap pieces you can get in almost every store out there. My pieces are high quality, and I take pride in making them as strong and as durable as possible, so that when you invest in one of my pieces, you can buy with confidence, knowing that it will last a lifetime with proper care and use.<br />
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What do you think of this article on Daily Mail? Are you surprised that cheap jewelry has toxic ingredients?<br />
<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4687186832666809207.post-9695868405564135092012-03-16T06:00:00.000-04:002012-03-16T06:00:04.376-04:00Friday Feature: Banana Orange Apple<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146045956"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BajH3MAFj3pUfG8fW2oTaZDQpI4okQpcn6vdX1iL0c7KyclCKhPwokIwm27o33Kn0xxeVjojLhrCHXSNuJ6MWarME8fihtpBdbYtygYE1FIHoIroJpgZuN9c6oc8EkgTuvCo514w8IZC/s320/blue+dress.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92113295/girls-patchwork-dress-patchwork-twirly" target="_blank">Blue Patchwork Twirly Sunfrock by BananaOrangeApple</a></td></tr>
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This week's Friday Feature is Hannah of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple" target="_blank">BananaOrangeApple</a> on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. She's from Canberra, Australia and makes the most playful, cute clothing you could ever imagine. Read on for more...</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">My name is Hannah and my shop is called BananaOrangeApple. It is </span></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">I sew sweet little dresses from recycled fabrics. I love taking something no-one else wants - an old pillowcase or some dressmaking scraps - and making something new that will bring joy.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Mum taught me to sew many years ago, and gave me a sewing machine for my wedding present. I kinda went into overdrive ten years ago when my daughter was born.</span></span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a high school teacher I sew as a way to relax after a busy day at school. But the things I love to sew don't fit on my darling daughter anymore, so I opened the shop to share them with the world.</span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146045964"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEaahLRYAiAu38xn0YAvFRN3VEoTqlhGEhGGOzwbSOPprC6znwOYftcXoyHtc4eK_fd5HgmDXiJWxbwVYXrpZuLK5jYI55izxlRi5nRvsxN3whxRrOfC7F2_9RGlCJwvM8IwQmQRftiBO/s320/patchwork.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89948290/upcycled-patchwork-twirly-dress-size-6-8" target="_blank">Pastel Patchwork Twirly Dress by BananaOrangeApple</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I love to do patchwork, and sold a beautiful patchwork quilt I named "Sawpit Creek" (you can see it here </span></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/63829122" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/transaction/63829122</a><span style="line-height: 16px;">). I am an "old school" quilter in that I like to reuse material rather than cutting up brand new stuff. I think of it as a way to make old fabric last a bit longer. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I was also hopelessly addicted to cross stitch for years. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They're not bestselling just yet, but I love the two patchwork twirly dresses I have made. So many different fabrics, each with its own story, and they look sooooo pretty. All 100% repurposed fabrics.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/92113295/girls-patchwork-dress-patchwork-twirly" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/listing/92113295/girls-patchwork-dress-patchwork-twirly</a></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/89948290/upcycled-patchwork-twirly-dress-size-6-8" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/listing/89948290/upcycled-patchwork-twirly-dress-size-6-8</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1146045972"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig85-f7mr9fAmnuNPh0MNp-jQ5kEX9ZSx0vF_pmC2nJa6jnPsQt13A13m4KSJreM0FJaz21SlpioBD499aLmZdWonx4bJf3e2NEI6q3jw_UjdHJNQEbZV7hY_lzI3anBiE0WLU27C9Wqv0/s320/hannah.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple" target="_blank">Say Hello to Hannah from BananaOrangeApple</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Currently, <span style="line-height: 16px;">My only shop is on Etsy:</span><span style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple</a></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">I try to blog. My blog is </span></span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="http://bananaquilts.blogspot.com.au/" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">bananaquilts.blogspot.com.au/</a> Also, y<span style="line-height: 16px;">ou can find me on facebook: </span><a class="external-link-overlay-trigger overlay-trigger" href="https://www.facebook.com/bananaorangeapple1" rel="#external-link-overlay" style="color: #0192b5; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/bananaorangeapple1</a> <span style="line-height: 16px;">and twitter too @banoranapple</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Most of my fabrics come from the charity shops round here, so my products do support their good works. </span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">What a great story of a great woman and a great shop. Thank you Hannah! Please visit her shop for more adorable fabric goods here: </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple">http://www.etsy.com/shop/bananaorangeapple</a> They'd make great gifts for any occasion.</span></span><br />
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<img src="http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/meglittlestudio/blog/signature.png" style="border: 0px none;" /></div>Meghannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14733200185181822610noreply@blogger.com4