Friday Shop Props

Here it is Friday again! It seems like Friday is coming quicker and quicker these days. I suppose that's a great thing, so no need to complain.

In any case, here are my Friday Shop Props for this week from Etsy. My favorite shops of the week are as follows:

I have a thing for paper products. I'm not sure why, but something about paper just does something to me.....I have to have it so I can create with it, write on it and in the case of Peculiar Parchment (http://www.peculiarparchment.etsy.com/), I just have to have her mini note cards!!! They are so sweet....and come on, let's face it, when do you NOT need thank you notes???? Her note cards are great quality and her shop is so fabulous and well stocked and so inexpensive. How can you say 'no' to that? Check her out! Here are some things I like from her shop.

My next fave is Pink Lemonade Bags (http://www.pinklemonadebags.etsy.com/). I have a weakness for handbags that are THIS cute!!! These bags are so wonderful! They are fun, trendy, stylish and classy. You must check them out! They are constructed so well. What's not to love? Here are some of my faves fom her shop.

My third and final Shop Prop of the week goes to (drum roll please).....Lauren Rose (http://www.laurenrose.etsy.com/). This shop carries the things that make women drool over jewelry in the first place.....the BLING! Okay, so it's art glass, but it's cut into those shapes we all know with the light catching facets. The colors she features these gems in are surreal, but so very beautiful. Her service is great and her prices can't be beat. What a "gem" of a find! Take a look.

These are the amazing picks for this week. Check back next week to see which shops get my props.

Until next time.....

Thanks for reading!

Kristen

Friday Shop Props!!!!

Here I am again, posting my favorite Etsy shops for the week and giving props to those shops who offer something truly unique.

My first fave of the week is http://www.strungoutdesigns.etsy.com/. Strung Out Designs makes fabulous jewelry using medium gauge sterling silver wire. Her designs are so fluid and poetic.....but then again, I'm a HUGE fan of swirlies. I just love her pieces. They are so simple, graceful and delicate. Here are a few of my faves from her shop.....
My second fave of the week comes from http://www.thehouseofmouse.etsy.com/. The House Of Mouse has the most adorable little mice figurines. I guess I gravitate towards these cuties because I used to play with something similar as a little girl. The ones from my childhood were made with rabbit fur.....not very animal friendly, but still cute. The House Of Mouse creates these mice with felt and ribbon....a painstaking, detail oriented process with tons of love poured into each character created. Check out The House Of Mouse!
My third and final fave of the week is from http://www.kreativlink.etsy.com/. Kreativlink makes the most awesome handmade journals. Each one is unique with a personality all its own. She uses materials including leather, suede and fabrics that paints take well to. Her work is just beautiful especially since she is inspired by a time when books were full of wonder and secrets. I just love the old world charm her books possess. You must check them out!

Well that's all for now. Check back next week for more Etsy Faves. Maybe I'll give Shop Props to you....

Until next time....
Thanks for reading!
Kristen

New Treasures In My Shop

I posted six new bracelets in my Etsy shop yesterday. It feels so good to be creating pretty little things again. My favorite is this one.....

I'm hoping others feel as good about my jewelry as I do. I spend so much time getting the design just right so that the piece not only looks good, but will also fit the wearer perfectly.....this is especially important when I'm working with elastic cord. This bracelet and the other five I made incorporate elastic cord for ease of wearing, so I need to keep all potential customers in mind when I create these. Too small....and someone with a larger wrist won't buy it for fear it will cut off circulation. Too big.....and someone with a dainty wrist won't be able to keep it on. Finding the happy medium is tricky, but I believe that when making these, 7" around is perfect....not too big, not too small.....and they stretch, so that's PERFECT.

However, it does happen that I inadvertently create some of these types of bracelets that are only meant for a tiny wrist. Here are two from this bunch that are currently meant for smaller wrists, but could be sized up if needed.

I also did a remake of a bracelet I sold a while ago. This time I made it a bit bigger. It's a very simple, open design that goes with anything. I call it ELEGANT.

For more treasures, go to http://www.luxeluther.etsy.com/. That's all for now.

Until next time.....

Thanks for reading!

Kristen

Another Treasury! YAY!

I was featured in another treasury today on Etsy. I was amazed to see so many other artists have the same design style when it comes to these kind of bracelets. Perhaps that's a sign that I need to branch out and create something truly unique. Take a look.....

Nevertheless, I'm truly grateful to Sunyata for including me in her treasury. She too has wonderful things in her shop. Go for a visit.... www.sunyata.etsy.com. Here are a few things from her shop that caught my eye.

Well, that's all for now.

Until next time......

Thanks for reading!

Kristen

Giving Props To My Fave Etsy Shops

When I discovered Etsy, I was amazed by all the fabulous handmade treasures that were to be found there. I just want to take this moment to give props to the shops I go back to time and again for supplies, unique gifts or to just see what unique treasure has been created lately.

The first shop is Jenn Gee (http://www.jenngee.etsy.com/) and she makes the these awesome coffee corsets. Yeah, I know, "What's so great about coffee corsets?" Well, hers look like corsets. They are laced up with ribbon and have a cute button on top and a perfect little bow on the bottom. She makes them with all sorts of fabric and could probably make one custom for you if you had a particular fabric in mind. I've given these coffee corsets as gifts to friends and family and I of course have one too and LOVE it! Here are some pics of her corsets. They are so sweet! These are only 2 of her stock of 127! Take a look if you like what you see. The next shop I frequent is called Sliding Along (http://www.slidingalong.etsy.com/) and this is where I find many of my unique slides for making jewelry. I go back to this shop because her selection is so varied and STUNNING! The service is great too and she ships lightening FAST! Lots of sparkly stuff here that's fun to work with and her prices are very reasonable! Here are some of the nearly 260 items from her shop!
Another shop I will check in on from time to time simply for some great laughs is called Maybe You Should Die (http://www.maybeyoushoulddie.etsy.com/). The name says it all. It's an Etsy shop that puts a mean (yet very funny) twist on the everyday. Instead of bean bags, they have things called MEAN bags which they embroider obscenities onto. I had one made for my husband for Valentine's Day one year as a joke and had it say DUMBASS. It's pink fabric with brown embroidery floss. LOL! We still get a kick out of it. Their cards are hysterical. You must check them out! I can't post them though.....they are a little racy and tend to used profanity....and I don't want to offend anyone reading my blog, but if that kind of thing doesn't bother you, check out this shop.

For my gemstone bead fix, I tend to visit an Etsy shop called Stoned (http://www.stoned.ety.com/). She has a great assortment of gemstone beads both large and small with a great color palette to choose from as well. If you need something unique, here's where you can find it!

The final shop I will give props to today is Ling Glass (http://www.lingglass.etsy.com/). I have one of her pieces and it's beautiful! She crafts stunning stained glass jewelry. Her use of color is exquisite and her prices are incredibly reasonable considering the amount of work that must go into making one piece of jewelry. Here are some of my faves:
Well, that's it for this week. I'll give more props to more Etsy shops next Friday. Have a great weekend and happy browsing!

Until next time...

Thanks for reading!
Kristen

TREASURY FEATURE

Take a look, I was featured in an Etsy Treasury today! Yay!

It's so exciting when things like this happen! Nothing like some free advertising!!! Thank you RozPetalzStudio for spreading the good word!

My bracelets really are a perfect summer accessory. I make it a point to never leave home without wearing one. I wear them not only because I love them, but it's also free advertising.

As my thanks to RozpetalzStudio, here are some of my faves from her shop! Check her out at http://www.rozpetalzstudio.etsy.com/

Until next time.......

Thanks for reading!

Kristen

Woo Hoo! Had a sale!

Yeah, it was only for a $12 bracelet, but it's still a sale! Perhaps things are beginning to turn around for me. I sold a pair of my Lilly earrings last week. I'd better get busy making some new products if only to introduce something fresh into my Etsy shop. Here's what I sold and shipped off today:

Until next time.....

Thanks for reading!

Kristen

MAY Promotion

To celebrate the month of MAY, I am having a HUGE sale!!!

* All notecards are buy-one-get-one-FREE! Just listed new inventory!

* All jewlery, Buy-one-get-one 1/2 OFF!!!

* All bookmarks, Buy-on-get-one-FREE!!! More inventory coming!

* All orders come with a surprise gift!

*** Looking for a gift and can't decide? Why not a LUXE Bucks gift certificate?***


Here's a preview of a few of my new note cards:

I just love making Thank You Notes! There are so many ways to express your thanks whether it be fashionably, whimsically or in another language. I know these are very simple and I know I have the ability to make them so much more elaborate. Perhaps if I find the time, I will make some more that are far more fancy.

Until next time....

Thanks for reading!

Kristen