HAPPY NEW YEAR

I have so many things to catch up on here - but today is not for catching up - it's for preparing for a journey -

2009 has been an interesting year, I've met some great people, opened my shop on ArtFire, reopened my shop on Etsy, and been involved with Handmade Artists Forum, TST and joined various venues - I can't keep up with all of them!  It's been a busy year - I hope to take a little time in the near future to get more organized, get my time more organized, and be even more creative.

For now I want to wish everyone a joyful, wonderful and prosperous 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Etsy HAF Team Member Deb Thuman

There is a wonderful group of people on Handmade Artists Forum that is a great place for artisans to share their work, thoughts, ideas, a few recipes here and there, and there is also a Etsy HAF Team and an ArtFire Quild - but I have to tell ya - this etsy team is an active group of people!!  Deb Thuman is not only an Etsy haf team member, she is also a New Mexican and some of her work reflects the SW style. 

 I love this Blue and Silver cuff looks like some great beading work, and those colors are simply beautiful.

This lovely cuff is titled Southwestern Storm - yep I'd say it gets it! 

and these are just so cool - Fun, Comfortable Boxers - aren't those awesome!!!

What a wonderful talented group of people we have on HAF, Etsy, and ArtFire, if you haven't checked these venues out - do so, you won't be disapointed!  and you get to go shopping in your pj's or whatever attire you desire - or non at all!! Many of the artisans will gladly do custom orders, just ask, even if they don't mention it -I'm not sure I have anything in my profile on either site about doing custom orders, but I will & I know many of the artisans do!  Think of those boxers in your fav color combination!!!!   Love it!

Have a splendid day! and Thanks for visiting my blog and these wonderful artisans shops.

ArtFire Crazy Train Rider Nature Whispers

This is fun - Etsy and Artfire on the same page!!!  maybe they can live together peacefully!

Today's ArtFire Crazy Train rider is Nature Whispers who makes some awesome creations, jewelry, tables, lamps, little nic nacs from cactus skeletons - cool stuff. 

Check out these cool Lamps from Juniper Wood

or this awesome Handcrafted Rustic Table  

This Cactus Home Decor nic nac is one of my favs - with the bunny of course - but there are other animals you can choose from.









Nature Whispers also has a nice selection of stones and pendants, and the name of this shop is perfect!  Do check it out for some very unique and wonderful creations. 
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!

Etsy HAF TEAM

There are some people that are on line so much I often wonder how they get any creating done - but then I forget, I'm sort of slow - I work slowly, I type slowly, and just process things slowly - I've always been kind of that way - but ever since the fibro hit me so hard about 10 years ago, I'm even slower - so, it's 9pm friday night and I have to wonder just how many people will read this, but here goes:

I reopened my etsy shop a few weeks ago and also joined the Etsy HAF team - that's Handmade Artist's Forum - and there are a number of them that do a great job of promoting the rest of us.  So, along with my ArtFire Crazy Train promotions, I'll also be doing Etsy HAF team member promotions. 

Beadlady 5 Designs comes up with some pretty combinations such as this Vintage Ruby Cabachon and Antique Brass Pin


And lots of other awesome jewelry combinations/

Stanislava has an eclectic collection of boxes, hearts, and these adorable little fairy angel ornaments that she creates.

Zur Designs has some very pretty anklets, bracelets, rings - one of the coold things about handmade - you get such a nice variety of creations.   This Black Webbed Jasper Wire Wrapped Ring is so pretty.

Red Fox Jewelry also creates some unique jewelry - but I keep being drawn to this sweet Christmas Tree Wire Sculpture zipper pull or purse charm

And that brings us to HaffinaAgain who has some pretty awesome earrings like these Flourite Dangle earrings







Now, aren't you wishing you had gone shopping online instead of at that big box store down the street? and you could have been shopping in your pj's!! 
Well, it's not too late yet - and there are birthdays, anniversaries and other events coming up right, so bookmark some of these talented artisans and when you need a nice gift for someone special,or yourself,  relax, hang out in your pj's and go shopping at Etsy or Artfire.   I know you won't be disappointed.

Handmade Artists Forum is a great place for artisans to hang out, share their creations, get feedback, give feedback and share the joys in life.

Merry Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!

ArtFire Crazy Train Rider Frugal Kitty

You just gotta love a name like that - Frugal Kitty!  And I have to say, this studio has some pretty cool necklaces and bracelets.  This Oceans Delight Necklace is one of my favs.

This Pink Ice Necklace would look lovely with that little black dress for the holidays don't you think?

I really like this little Elephant Bracelet - that's just cool!

And Frugal Kitty does have some great prices for her handmade jewelry, so if  you are looking for a nice but not expensive piece of jewelry, this is a great shop to go visit. 
Give the gift of handmade this year - help support these wonderful creative people - much better than buying mass produced items that 1000's of other people are going to have the same of!
I just love that little elephant! 


What!! You're still here?? go check out Frugal Kitty!!!

Crazy Train Rider Bohemian Rose

Happy Cyber Monday everyone.

It's sort of gray and cloudy here in our usual sunny Albuquerque,  and chilly.   Makes it even better for a Cyber Monday - just stay in and go shopping on line!!
Anyway - todays ArtFire Crazy Train rider is Bohemian Rose who makes soaps, lip balms, scrubs, and cuticle balms (what a great idea for these cold winter months)

I just like the sound of this one: Ginger Milk Soap

with a blend of fresh ginger, nutmeg and coriander -- oh wait that sounds almost good enough to eat!!

She also has the awesome sounding Facial Scrubbing Mask

you can use it as a scrub or a mask!! Double Duty in one product!!!

Another great looking item for these cold winter months is this Vanilla Mint Lip Balm, which is vegan, and it looks like most of the soaps may also be vegan.  (I'm guesing on this one, so don't absolutely take my word for it ok) There are other flavors too if you don't like Vanilla Mint.




And through today only, she's giving a free gift with each purchase!  One of the really awesome things about handmade soap, is often the ingredients are geared towards a certain effect, either in an aromatherapy type, or for special skin conditions, but the one thing that usually holds true for handmade soap, they are usually less drying than most soaps you can get in the stores.  And they are usually really pretty.  I highly recommend you check out Bohemian Rose and happy Cyber Monday shopping.

Crazy Train Rider Rainwolf Studios

I should probably not write anything about this artisan and just let the pictures speak for themselves!  This artisan has some really fantastic photos - and at some great prices.  If you are looking for some art to hang on your wall, this would be a good place to go.     One thing I would like to say tho - please don't copy these from my web page - besides you won't get very great copies anyway as they are reduced and at a reduced dpi.  DO go check out Rainwolf Studio tho!!!

If you happen to need a nice warm hat, Rainwolf Studios has those too!  A very nice selection of knitted hats!  I just wish I could wear mohair!!! Doesn't this look so soft and warm!

Be sure to look for the coupon on the lower right side of the studio!!!!!

ArtFire Crazy Train Rider Dichroic Dazzle

It's a busy time of year - and I was just thinking this morning that another great reason to buy handmade - most people sell online and you don't have to wade through 1000's of people at the mall and stores!  And many artisans are having sales this time of year such as Dichroic Dazzle of ArtFire.   And, talk about variety, this lady has variety!  Such as this awesome Viteous Enamel Sgraffito Leaf Pendant and earrings,

cufflinks,

hair accessories, and much more.   AND, she's having a sale - you need a coupon code so be sure to get that its on the bottom right of her front page of her shop. 

So, if you really want to wade through 1000's of people go for it - it you want to buy the same thing 1000's of other people are - go for it - BUT, if  you want something unique, something that 1000's of other's aren't going to have, and you can get it mailed right to you, then visit this artisan's studio and if you don't find something there, go visit the rest of ArtFire - lots of Artisans are having sales, and even if they aren't, many have such great deals anyway it's well worth the "trip"!

Have a wondeful Thanksgiving and a great day today!

ArtFire Crazy Train Rider Jewelry by Desiree

At some point, I may try to catch up.  But until then I'm going to try really hard to keep up with the current ArtFire Crazy train riders. I've just been having a really hard time getting back into the swing of things after coming back from Colorado when my daughter was sick with the flu - not such a big deal usually- except they think it was the swine flu and she's pregnant. 
Without further ado, I give to you today's ArtFire Crazy Train rider Jewelry by Desiree, who has quite a variety of jewelry,  such as these Purple round resin earrings.

and if earrings aren't your style, she also has wine charms - and these may actually be very appropriate for this time of year.

she also has a sale section!!!! and included in her sale section is this sweet bracelet.

So, if you are looking for a unique and reasonably priced gift this time of year - go check out Jewelry by Desiree on ArtFire.

By cutting out the middle "men" people who sell on line can often sell their creations at some great prices.  When you don't have to pay half a dozen people before it gets to the consumer, you can pass the savings on to the consumer.   There are a number of people who also sell wholesale and so they will usually mark their items up a little bit more, but then there are those of us who don't sell wholesale and you can get some great deals.  Another great reason to support Handmade! You get great items at great prices.

BACK ON THE ARTFIRE CRAZY TRAIN

So, I finally got caught up and get a semi schedule going and of course you know something is going to happen to derail all that!
My daughter who is about 25 weeks pregnant apparently came down with the swine flu.  She has also asthma - not bad asthma - but she does have it.  So, she ended up in the hospital.  And I ended up taking a trip to Colorado Springs to take care of my grandson.  She got out of the hospital the day I arrived, but, it's a good thing I went so I could hang out with my adorable grandson and she could rest.  She is doing better, but still tires pretty easily - so ladies if you are pregnant, please get the swine flu vaccine - what you end up on is much worse than the vaccine!  She was planning on getting her and her son vaccinated as soon as she could - but seems like the flu came 1st!   I'm just glad she is still around and baby seems to be doing ok through it all.

So, once again I'm playing catch up!
Where did I leave off?  Well, starting with LilBritKnits who makes some of the cutest handknit baby booties such as these Cowboy Booties

in blue and white yarn.  Aren't they just adorable!   Well, of course I'm into baby  booties right now! lo

And if you aren't into or need baby booties, she has some wonderful dish clothes, tea pot cozies, cup cozies and some other scrumptous knitted items.

Somewhat misleading is CatInALife who makes some truly awesome jewelry - from beaded jewelry to these amazing Egyptian Swirl bracelets.  And proves that if you have a great product, you can sell jewelry on ArtFire!  She is also very active in the forums.  Since Oct is Breast Cancer awareness month, I'm featuring this awesome Pink Egyptian Swirl Bracelet

and this very pretty Lampwork Pink Flowers Black Glass necklace and earrings set.

For the month of Oct,. she will be donating part of her proceeds to a domestic shelter. 

Nice variety today  We all need soap right?  So, why not pamper yourself with some awesome handmade soap by Cora's Blissfully Natural Products LLC

also known as Dragonfly.  I didn't read all of her descriptions, but the ones I did read have goats milk in the soap - what a luxurious way to pamper your skin.  One of my favorite scents is lemon so I chose her Lemon Cove soap

now, that would be a treat!

Or her Goddess By Baby Phat Goats Milk Soap - she has a nice variety of scents and even some body oils.  A very good thing for the cold winter months - milk is very soothing to the skin, and most of the handmade soaps aren't as drying as many on the market today.   Pamper yourself, and buy one or two for a friend too!  They make great items to keep on hand for gifts. I've also used many soaps in my drawers to add a nice scent until I'm ready to use the soap.

Hopefully, I'll get back on track here and do these blogs on a more regular basis again - at least until sometime in January when my granddaughter is expected to arrive.

Remember to get those flu vaccines - especially if you are pregant!!!!!

ROYAL DESIGNS ARTFIRE CRAZY TRAIN RIDER

It feels good to be caught up with the Crazy Train - hopefully I will be able to stay caught up!  It's been a crazy couple of days, I'll spare you all  the details - I'm ok - it has more to do with my daughter and her family, they will be ok, but yesterday was a bit scarey.  After a trip to labor and delivery, and getting checked out all is well - but it was good she went in and got checked.  They even called her up a little while after she got home to see how she was doing and scheduled a follow up appt for Monday am.  cool. Makes me feel a little better knowing they are keeping a good eye on her and the baby.

And now to today's ArtFire CrazyTrain Rider Royal Designs Handmade Unique Jewelry (yes, another jewelry artisan!)  See, I'm telling you, if you are looking for jewelry - don't bother going to the mall or one of the big box stores, go to ArtFire - you don't have to play in traffic, you can go shopping while sipping some tea, coffee, or whatever your favorite beverage is, put your feet up and peruse all the wonderful jewelry to be found there.  For instance this lovely Turquoise and Swarovski Necklace - wow that just pops on the black background, think of how lovely it would look along with that little black dress! 

How about this Blue Lace Lady Necklacemade with blue lace agate and Swarovski crystals.   Pretty pretty necklaces in this studio.

And this Just ForFun Necklace with these gorgeous Czech beads that are called Montana - no they aren't black - I thought they were at first, but look a little closer, and you will see they are a dark greyish blue - a lovely color, with a sterling silver hook.   Royal Designs has some lovely necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and well what do you think of when you see the word royal?  Expect something very elegant - and that is what you will you find in this studio.   

Do something good for yourself today, whether its' just taking a relaxing hot bubble bath, while having some nice hot tea,   relaxing by a fire, or putting your feet up and go shopping while sitting in your pj's and slippers!  

Thanks for checking it out and have a scrumptous day!

NEW ARTFIRE CRAZY TRAIN RIDERS

I am happy to announce, I'm now caught up - I'll see if I can stay caught up!
As a category, there is more jewelry on ArtFire than anything else - talk about competition!  A lot of the artisans are women, and women love jewelry right, so it seems like a natural item for so many in the handmade world to make jewelry.  Tough competition though.
It is very interesting seeing how different people use the same materials as other people and yet create something very unique with it.  Rose of Sharon has some very unique jewelry creations.  You can tell she loves playing around with metals, and actually bending it into a piece of art.  Here's a pendant that would be excellent for someone who is a musician or even a music lover

A Treble Cleff made with  sterling silver, and if you don't want silver, she has one in copper, or how about these Hammered Copper Earrings.  I really encourage you to check out the wonderful creations by this artisan, she has some very unique pieces. 

Magnets, magnets are one of the handiest things to have.  How many of us use magnets to hang our kids pictures on the frig.  or little notes, or whatever so why do it with just a plain ol' magnet when you can use something like these wonderful and humorous magnets by Picard Creative.  Almost everyone knows those Ruby Red Shoes and the phrase "there's no place like home" and she makes them with recycled tin can lids and quality pictures.   She has a huge variety, and the sayings she puts on them are just fantastic, they have such humor, and will bring a smile to your face.

I love this one! Yeah Kitty will have revenge, I'd want revenge too if I was a cat dressed up like that!!  Picard Creative has great prices and if you buy 3, you get one free!  Humorous, fun magnets, they will make you, your friends, and family laugh. 

Try and find that in a store! 

Just the picture alone is funny, but then you add the phrase, and it's even better.   Picard Creative uses mostly vintage type pictures and the sayings she has to go along with them are so fitting, you just have to see them.


As always, I encourage to you check out some of these unique handmade creations, they make excellent gifts for birthdays, Christmas, or just because.   
Thanks for visiting, and have a tremendously joyful day.

ARTFIRE CRAZYTRAIN RIDERS WONDERFUL CREATIONS

The hardest part of all this is well, 2 things actually, resisting the temptation to buy some of the items I find, and thinking up titles for each blog!

I am so close to being caught up!!

Starting out today's lineup is Maggie McMane Designs with her wonderful jewelry creations.  LOTS of earrings - if you can't find a pair of earrings in this studio that you don't absolutely love, I'll be very surprised.  And Pendants/necklaces - lots of fun jewelry - from some very simple but prettty designs to more dressy.  One of her featured items right now is this adorable Snowman Necklace

Nice creative use of those bead caps and beads I think. This is  a necklace that both big girls and litle girls would enjoy wearing.   And, it would go with just about anything you are wearing, from blue jeans to something a little more dressy.  Wouldn't this be fun to wear to a Christmas party?

Earrings, can you have too many pairs of earrings? A friend has about 200 pairs of earrings - more than anyone else I know. However, if you love earrings and having a large variety, this is the shop to visit.

These little Green Flower Dangle Earrings look like they would be fun to wear, I love dangly earrings.  This is one of the coolest features of buying handmade, even with all the jewelry sellers on ArtFire - there is such a huge variety of how people put their jewelry together.

Once again 2 out the 3 riders today make and sell jewelry.   Sweet Whimsy (love studio name too) has a nice variety of mostly glass tile pendants.  She has just added another pendant out of a different medium,

 but - can you guess? Her Palm Pendant is a OOAK creation, so nobody else will be wearing one exactly like this one!   Love the iridescent effect on this don't you?

Yesterday, I featured an original aceo of a flamingo - found another flamingo today!  Only this time, it's on a pendant - not by the same artist as yesterday.  Glass tiles are fun to play with and I'm always amazed at the variety of designs people put on these. This is Sweet Whimsy's Flirty Flamingo pendant.  What a great variety in this studio and on ArtFire in the jewelry world.  

Are  you wondering if the there are other creations besides jewelry on ArtFire?  Yes , there is.

A humongous variety of items, many of them ooak unique creations, and Harmon Art has some wonderful unique creations such as this Dark Red and Black Cannonball Gourd, not something you are going to find in your big box stores or the mall.  Besides, who wants to play in traffic around Christmas?  Easy Christmas shopping, sit in your chair in the comfort of your home and go shopping in your pj's!  Harmon Art has a wonderful variety of gourds and other creations, but I admit I'm fascinated with their gourds such as this Dark Red & Black Doodle Kettle Gourd, Handpainted, looks like they had fun painting this one! Just a sneak preview - check it out to see all the wonderful doodles on this unusual gourd. 

What's your favorite pick for today???

I'm off to work on my blog about my ornaments and other creations which you can find here http://lisianblue.com/ I just bought my own domain, there isn't much there yet, but I would love to have you come visit.

Thanks for visiting and have a super day!

AWSOME ARTFIRE CRAZY TRAIN

Life is like a bowl full of cherries!  Bright and beautiful, juicy and sweet and well a few pits along the way.  I'm loving this new blog editor.

And here are a few things I'm loving by a few of the Crazy Train riders.

Jewelry is big business on ArtFire - lots of competition there.  Today 2 out of the 3 riders make jewelry. The totally awesome thing about this though is that everyone makes something different!  It's not like walking into one store at the mall or the big box stores and then another finding pretty much the same thing in each store.  Jewelry Works by Kim has some very pretty jewelry such as this pair of carved wood Tiki and Turquoise earrings  those are really cool.  Can't say I've seen anything else quite like those anywhere else, and they have sterling silver leverback earwires.

And another wonderful pair of earrings, perfact for fall (as are the tiki ones) are Kim's Autummn Equinox earrings.  Something about browns and golds,  silver and similar colors for fall.  The little feathery leaves are pewter.  Not only does she have some pretty cool jewelry, she also has some really great prices.

And so as not to confuse the jewelry  shops, we have Cherilynn Fine Art with her original and reproduction works of art.  Although, personally I love working with oils, I truly admire watercolor artists.   There isn't much room for mistakes with watercolors.  Oils, if you don't like it, just paint over it, can't really do that with watercolors. I worked with a man once who just loved flamingos - everytime I see one, I think of him - and this wonderful original ACEO of one is delightful. Not into flamingos?  How about this very colorful Gorilla - check out those eyes.  Those are something else!

He looks like he is looking right into someone's soul.

And strolling into another jewerly shop, Trinkets and Treasures , with a great variety and different than Kim's (see that is one of the awesome things about buying handmade!!) This Green Sea Glass pendant is so cool, love the colors and the way she put this together. There's a couple of little sea shells along with the white and green pieces of sea glass - such a unique piece of jewelry.

This one, I don't know, I think I'd have a hard time selling if I made it. (I'd want to keep it) Alaskan Ivory pendant - with two pieces of ivory from two different trips to Alaska!  How cool is that!

See, two different shops, very different pieces of jewelry.  And I'm willing to bet you won't find many pendants like the ivory one or that sea glass one either!

If you are looking for a unique piece of jewelry for yourself or a loved one - check out these shops, and if jewerly isn't your thing, you can alway  get an orginal piece of art.   No pits.

Support artists, buy handmade! and have a lovely day.