All things clay

I have found polymer clay to be such a wonderful and relaxing medium. While I won't give up my fabric for anything, I still love clay.

It is such a diverse substance, coming in different colors and consistencies, that I can't help of come up with a million ideas for things I want to make from clay.

I feel very lucky to be part of the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild on Artfire. They are really a talented group and haven't hesitated to answer my questions and help me along in my own clay journey.

Here are some things that they have done:
(all pictures link to rapid cart so you can purchase)

Jewelry:


More Jewelry:


Polymer clay isn't just for jewelry! I have seen what could be classifed as "fine art" for sale on ArtFire, from some of my fellow guild members. Some of them do some really amazing sculputres, and one lady does the most astounding miniatures.







Thank you ladies for letting me make spotlights of your work! You have some really amazing things, I can't wait to see what else you do!

Kickinskreations - delicious candles

Kickinskreations has soome truly unreal candles. I don't know how she does it, but they look like REAL food. I leave her shop with a growling tummy, every time I visit.


Her ArtFire shop is usually my first stop.



That "cherry pie" is a candle. Looks like a real cherry pie to me! This makes me want pie, for breakfast.

She also makes soap. I would show you a picture of the soap I bought for my husband, but some might be offended. I will, however, show you her "Kiss my butt..." soap.




She has been crafting (although in my personal opinion this is more art) since January of 2008, and I once heard her say that her son is her biggest inspiration.

I have to wonder...did her son inspire her fantastic cola candle???



If he is anything like my kids, maybe it inspired her margarita candle!



Her favorite color is blue, and I love the vivid blue of the blueberry candle!



She has an impressive presence on the web, and these are all the places I've found her.

MyCraft.com
Facebook
Make sure to follow her on Twitter!
Indiepublic
ArtFire

Her candles would make a great conversation piece (and they smell really great!!) for your next gathering! Take a look!

I want to promote you!

Hi there! Looking for your first blog promotion? Your 17th? New to the whole online selling and need to get your name out there? Old hat?

Want free stuff?

You've come to the right place!!

I want to promote you. Yes, YOU.

What I want from you:

I want your shop banner (artfire, etsy, 1000markets, dawanda, etc). You can give me a link to the shop you want me to "steal" it from, or you can attach it.

I want 3 pics of your things. Your choice. Attach to the email please!

I also want to know (and this is the most important part, so PLEASE don't leave it out!)

1. Whacha make?
2. How long have you been crafting?
3. Favorite color to craft?
4. What inspires and motivates you?
5. Anything else you want to add?
   

We are curious folk here on the internet, so please tell us where we can see more of you! Give me your links to your shop(s), website, blog, twitter, plurk, facebook, myspace, and anywhere else you have an internet presence!

What I'm going to do with all this:

First of all, your banner will wind up on my website.

Your interview will wind up here, on the blog. The more you write, the more you will promote yourself!

Then, to top it off, I will put your name in TWO hats. One for the website, one for the blog. You get two chances to win a Coffee Coozie of your choice!

The drawing is 10 May...US Mother's Day, but ANYONE can participate in this!

If you win the coozie, and can't find the perfect one in my shop PLEASE email me so I can send you scans of the fabric I have cut but not sewed. I always have coozies cut to be sewed, but not all of it listed.

Free. Won't charge you for shipping or packaging. Free means FREE. You can keep it for yourself or give it as a gift. Please don't re-sell it, as it is copyrighted, and I'll get a little cranky. You wouldn't want to host a giveaway and have someone sell your widget to someone else, would you? Your consideration and respect is REALLY appreciated!

Now, on to the nuts and bolts.

Email me the information I'm asking for to karlee (at) uniquebykarlee (dot) com

I will email you when you are featured on the blog.

(To those of you already participating, I will be updating the website shortly!)

One more thing:

While there isn't anything really in it for you other than self promotion, I'd LOVE to host your tutorials here. Anything handmade, anything at all, even if you are my "competition", I want your tutorials. Type it out, let me know if you want me to fix grammar and spelling, and email it to me at the above address.

(There really isn't anything in it for me either, but this is about you, not me!)

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Suzanne Tate - Bead Artist

Suzanne has this to say about her beads:

I make handmade, lampworked glass beads, and jewelry from my beads. I have been making glass beads for about 6 years. I love working with molten glass and a flame – it’s quite addictive. I love trying to master new techniques and skills and I change styles frequently, trying new things. I am also involved with medieval re-creation, and I research and recreate period beads.

I'll let her art say the rest!

(As always, click the picture to visit the listing!)

This red necklace really is RICH (and I love it):


My mom's favorite color is orange, and I may just have to save up and get this for her:


These spring beads make me think of new grass:


Isn't her work just incredible?

I have a confession to make. I'm a lampwork junkie, and glass bead addict. I also have a secret obsession with cell phone charms. I feel the need to break my own "promotion rules" and post one extra picture, only because its a phone charm and its blue (my favorite color).



You can find Suzanne by clicking the following links (and I hope you do!)
Etsy Shop
ArtFire Studio
Her fabulous website
Look! Her blog!
Follow her on twitter!

DJStoreRoom in the spotlight!

WOW! This seller has a lot of neato things in her shop, just BEGGING you to buy them!

For starters, she has wristlets! Such a neat idea, and really cute fabrics.

Here is one:



I love all things glittery, and these pink, glittery pegs are crying to me. I can think of 1001 uses for them!



She is also an accomplished painter!



In her own words, here is a little bit about her:

1. Whacha make?
I handmade bags, purses, paint with acrylics, play with serviette art and write out my own sewing tutorials for busy beginner sewers.

2. How long have you been crafting?
Technically, I started cross-stitching when I was 8. Learnt to use the sewing machine when I was 13. Sewed my first piece of clothing for a real human being when I was 24. Been crafting with paper, scissors and paint since i was 3... Now that sounds like a very long time... Crafting is really a very old art and even my daughter is now crafting!! She loves the art and craft sessions, at home and in school too.

3. Favorite color to craft?
PINK!! Anytime.. Light pink, baby pink, bright pink dark pink.. Any pink!! Anytime!!

4. What inspires and motivates you?
Value Creating. Everytime I do something, I ask myself, "Is any value being created?" It can be monetary, social, networking, family, self or anything else.

If I can see the value, I will do it. If I cannot see the value of doing something, I try not to touch it. Like say, something mudane like washing the dishes. I would be creating and adding on to the value of a nice, clean and neat home for me, my family and everyone who visit. So, I will see that as a priority. For my crafting projects, if that particular project will turn out to be pretty and yet still practical, I would do it too. If the project creates beauty and functional value at the same time, then yeah, I would be totally inspired and motivated to finish it up.

5. Anything else you want to add?
Setting your priorities and goals in life is really important. I seek to set and achieve my daily goals. A tiny step a day brings you closer to your dreams each day. Remind yourself of your goals everyday and remain on track even if there are many distractions along the way. To be able to live is a blessing in itself already. Let us live each day fulfillingly and always be true. To yourself, to your loved ones, to others. It is the one and only way to live.

You can find djStoreRoom by clicking on the following links:
http://artfire.com/users/djstoreroom
http://djstoreroom.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/djstoreroom
http://djstoreroom.etsy.com

Keep warm! - byhand.me spotlight

It is still snowing outside, and we have about a foot of it on the ground. I'm not looking forward to taking my dog outside because its so cold!

Here is a spotlight of warm things that I think I need right now, but can't afford. =(

Raindrops on roses...

I decided to have a little fun with byhand.me today. I have made up a few spotlights of things I have found around ArtFire that I really like, and in most cases, really want.


Please take a few moments to click around in these spotlights, you may find something you can't live without!


(If I have used your product in my spotlight, please don't be offended at the free advertising!)