New Treasury featuring Moi!

Thank you, Sister2Sister, for featuring one of my necklaces in your beautiful Treasury!

This necklace measures 22" in length and features a polymer clay pendant which measures 1 1/2" tall by 1" wide and 1/4" thick in delicious shades of cream, light and dark blue green turquoise and chocolate. I enhanced the pendant with "orphan" turquoise rondelles I purchased as part of a destash bag at Etsy. Also featured are white turquoise, green Kingman turquoise, both of which have a gorgeous brown matrix; cream colored faceted Czech glass beads finished with a coffee brown mottled picasso finish; silver plated drum beads and dreamy coffee marbled jasper barrel beads.

TeamSC Artist of the Week - BeadifulWorld

I am so happy to feature Debbie Bruce of www.beadifulworld.etsy.com in this week's TeamSC artist profile. Debbie is from my neck of the woods in SC and we are practically neighbors!

Where in South Carolina do you live, and were you born here? If not, how long have you been in SC? I've lived in Aiken since 1977, but born and raised in the northwest corner of Indiana, just spittin' distance from Chicago.



What do you like best about living in South Carolina? I love everything about South Carolina. When I moved to Aiken in 1977 it was such a nice change from "the big city", life was much slower-paced. But that could have also been due to the fact that I didn't have children yet. Life seems to pick up speed after kids! I also love the climate here and don't care if I ever see snow again. I especially love Aiken. It has the charm of a small town but offers so much more. It's a beautiful city and I'll never leave.

How long have you been involved in your craft, and how did you get started? For years I have suffered from chronic low back pain due to sitting behind a desk all day long. Doctors told me I needed to stop sitting, to stand up more. When I would come home from work, I couldn't sit down to relax. I needed to find something to occupy my evenings that I could do standing up at my kitchen counter. I've always have an obsession about jewelry, so making my own jewelry just seemed the natural thing to do. Of course I started off just making jewelry for myself, but beads have a way of taking over the house, and pretty soon you realize you need to start selling some of the jewelry to help pay for all these beads! So, in 2002 I began making jewelry to sell to others.

Do you work from your home, or do you have a brick and mortar store? I work out of my home. When our daughter moved out of the house, she left behind an empty "hot pink" bedroom, which became my studio. When you need to feel creative and energized, spend some time in a hot pink room! My main outlet for selling my jewelry is an adorable gallery in town, Aiken Center for the Arts. Over the years, Aiken has become quite a tourist town, especially with people looking for a place to retire, so the downtown shopping district is thriving and the gallery is right there in its midst.

Who or what inspires you? I absolutely adore lampwork beads, and often they are the inspiration for many pieces.

Do you have a method for remembering ideas you want to implement, such as a notebook or tape recorder, etc.? I use a journal to jot down design ideas, plus I clip out pictures out of magazines, catalogs, etc. and keep them in a binder.

What do you do when you hit a brick wall creatively and nothing is working? Take a break from it for a little while. Everyone needs some time away so they don't get burnt out.

What is the most rewarding, interesting, or even weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked to make? I have a very dear friend who loves jewelry (probably as much as I do). She has bought alot of jewelry from various places over several years, and finds that time has taken their toll and many of the pieces have deteriorated. Recently she brought me a necklace that she's had for several years, and she knew that she would never wear it now - styles have changed, her tastes have changed, etc. The necklace was made up of low quality blue glass beads mixed with white and blue ceramic patterned beads (kind of like the pattern on blue willow china). She never wears just navy blue, but she wears alot of earthy colors, so I mixed the blue/white beads with browns (tan-colored Mother of Pearl, Pietersite to pick up some of the blue hues, and a Maple Jasper pendant). Now she absolutely loves it and wears it all the time. Seeing the look on her face to see what I did with her old necklace was very special.

What are some of your goals for your craft, and where do you hope it will take you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, I'll still be having to work at my "real" job which pays the bills since my husband is retired and we still need a regular income. I would like to retire in 6-10 years, and would love for my jewelry business to provide enough income to live comfortably. However, with the economy and price of silver, that probably won't happen!


What are your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your free time, assuming you have any? According to my family, all my free time is spent on my jewelry business, whether it's making jewelry, organizing for a craft show, or working on my internet store. I love doing craft shows, so whenever there is a local one, I'm probably there.

Favorite color? Turquoise

Favorite food? Pizza - Atlanta Bread Company has an amazing Margherita pizza (tomato, basil and oregano) that is out of this world!

Favorite song or musical artist? Josh Groban - he has an amazing voice!

Favorite book or author? I don't have time to read at home, but occasionally I spend a few minutes during my lunch break at work to read. I just finished a wonderful book by Victoria Hislop called "The Island". It's set in Greece during a time when leprosy was rampant.

Favorite movie, actor or actress? Stereotypical chick flick - "An Affair to Remember" with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I cry every time I watch it!

And most importantly, Clemson or Carolina? Neither (sorry, I didn't go to college here, remember).

Thanks, Debbie! Be sure to visit Debbie's shop at Etsy to see more of her beautiful jewelry designs!

Favorite Finds

It amazes me how polymer clay can be used in such different applications. These creations are the work of the artist at www.folkartfromtheheart.etsy.com, who designed and sculpted these whimsical characters from polymer clay. Yes, I said FROM POLYMER CLAY! Can you believe it? Aren't they fantastic? Look at the expressive faces and the gorgeous detail on these pieces. I can almost see them visiting Peter Rabbit in Mr. MacGregor's garden.

A Bad Scare

When the majority of my time to create is limited to every other Saturday, it is not a good day when I only manage to turn out two necklaces. I had a good reason for the lack of production this weekend, though.

I had a very bad scare Friday night. I spilled a pot of almost boiling water on myself. I got red "flash" burns on my chest, stomach, legs and feet. I applied burn cream, took two aspirin and went to bed. I just knew I would be covered in blisters and headed for the emergency room when I woke up, but amazingly, when I got up Saturday morning, I did not have a mark on me anywhere. I'm sure it's due to all my Momma's fervent praying and the fact that God looks out for fools and children. It was a stupid thing to do, so word to the wise: NEVER try to nudge a hot pot full of anything to another space when you have another hot pot in your hands at the same time!

With Saturday shot to Hell, I spent yesterday going through my idea box for inspiration. I have a stash of special beads I've made and can't bear to sell, and every once in awhile, I make a necklace for myself. I had been holding onto this copper and turquoise ball pendant, the only ball pendant I've ever done, for several months. I realized I had the perfect companion gemstones, some turquoise howlite and dyed bone beads in the matching shade of turquoise.

I think the final design turned out pretty well, and it made me feel better about the other thing, too. And, every time I wear it, I'll be reminded of how life can change forever in a heartbeat.

Polymer Clay For A Cause

One of our PCAGOE members, Angela of www.elementaldragons.etsy.com, has opened an Etsy shop to raise money for children's charities, to honor the memory of her deceased daughter.

The URL is www.polymerclayforacause.etsy.com. The shop is new and items are still being added, so please bookmark it and check back often for new listings. PCAGOE's members are a diverse group of artists who use polymer clay in an amazing variety of ways, so you never know what you'll find.

Please support Angela's efforts and help honor the memory of her daughter, and celebrate the healthy lives of your children and loved ones, by purchasing items from the store.

Look What I Found!

I spend a ridiculous amount of time cruising Etsy for more stuff, and look what I came across today. Isn't this sweet? It was made by Lilin of www.artbylilin.etsy.com. I love the way she incorporates pearls and beads into her pieces. I haven't tried baking gems into the clay yet, but this inspires me to try.

A New TeamSC Treasury! Carolina vs. Clemson

Paws and Claws designs from TeamSC members! Isn't this great? My Clemson Tiger Power Crystal Pearl and Swarovski Crystal Necklace Set is included.

Clemson vs. Carolina is THE best college football rivalry in the NCAA, and if you have any doubt which team I pull for, my blood runneth ORANGE, baby! GO TIGERS!

Etsy Treasury Chock Full O' TeamSC Shops

Sunny, Summer Yellows are the common thread. The shops featured are our newest TeamSC members. Way to go, y'all! We've got some really talented folks in South Carolina, don't we?

Art Bead Scene July Challenge

I joined the Art Bead Scene Flickr group this morning, and entered my Under The Sea Necklace in the July Art Bead Challenge, the theme of which is Summer Vacation. I wanted the polymer clay pendant to resemble abalone, or something fishy and shimmery if I couldn't do that. I marbled Premo transluscent clay blended with pearl metallic clay as a base with an overlay of translucent clay tinted with alcohol inks.

Heather Powers of www.humblebeads.com is one of the reasons I joined PCAGOE. I have admired her work with polymer clay since I first started to study polymer clay techniques. Her beads are amazing. Although she is no longer with PCAGOE, I visit her website and the Art Bead Scene blog at www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com, which is one of my favorite blogs. It is well done, informative, and the art beads featured make my mouth water.

Please check out the ABS July challenge at www.artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2008/07/july-monthly-challenge-summer-vacation.html

Me, Me, Me!

I may get a bit big-headed today. I'm the featured artist on two different blogs this week, one at www.pcagoe.com and on the blog of my fellow PCAGOE member, Stormy of Stormy Designs, at www.stormydesigns.blogspot.com. Thanks so much to Linda at PCAGOE and Stormy for letting me run my mouth about myself, my favorite topic!

I've been working today, too. I made this polymer clay pendant a couple of weeks ago, but haven't been satisfied with any stones I matched it with until I found these gorgeous Imperial Turquoise ovals. The chocolate/coppery brown striations in the turquoise match the polymer clay pendant perfectly. I added white magnesite turquoise and aqua howlite turquoise to finish it and made matching earrings.





I call this necklace Siringitu, which is what the Maasai call the Serengeti. It means "the place where the land moves on forever." The colors in the polymer clay pendant are several shades of light olive to sage green and metallic copper. It was made from the edges of conditioned polymer clay, what clayers cut off to square up the clay after running it through a pasta machine. I layered the edges like stairs and this was the result. I love it, one of the more interesting effects I've experimented with lately. The gemstones are apple jasper pillow cut rectangles, rainbow jasper chips and African yellow Turquoise puffed squares. They are meant to represent the Serengeti's climate, vegetation and wildlife, one of the oldest ecological sytems in the world.

TeamSC Artist of the Week - Jsbutrfli

This week's TeamSC artist is Becky of www.jsbutrfli.etsy.com. Becky makes beautiful, custom invitations specifically tailored to your occasion or announcement, either on cardstock or in digital format.

Where in South Carolina do you live, and were you born here? If not, how long have you been in SC?

I live in Irmo right outside of Columbia. I was born and raised here. I moved to Newberry for a couple of years when my husband and I married, but we moved back here to Irmo to raise our family.

What do you like best about living in South Carolina?


SC is a really wonderful place to live. Being in Irmo, it's really close to the mountians and the beach, which I both love. I love the small town feel in a bigger city and the people are truly amazing. The weather is great pretty much year round. Although, I must admit, the summers can be pretty hot!

How long have you been involved in your craft, and how did you get started?

I've been involved in card making for about a year now. I got started with that when I was planning my daughter's first birthday and decided to make her cards myself. I loved the process so much that I decided to start doing it as a hobby. After that, it just kind of went from there. I've been doing some type of artsy stuff all my life though. I've played music (flute/piccolo). I love to scrapbook. I've done several projects for my daughter's room. I just love being creative.

Do you work from your home, or do you have a brick and mortar store?

I work from my home. I sell on Etsy, Ebay and take local orders. Would I like to have an actual store one day? I'm not sure. I'd love to at least have my items for sale in a gift shop or something one day though. That would be very rewarding.

Who or what inspires you?

I get inspiration from everywhere! You'll be amazed at what you see if you pay attention! My husband is very supportive and that goes a long way in my inspiration too.

Do you have a method for remembering ideas you want to implement, such as a notebook or tape recorder, etc.?

No, I don't. But, it's funny you say that because I was just thinking about this the other day. I see so much that I want to remember and I never do when it comes time to create. I really need to start! Drawing the idea would not be an option b/c I cannont draw! Not with pencil and paper at least! LOL! Every now and then I do find things and I'll take pics of them though or if I'm looking through a magazine I'll save the page.

What do you do when you hit a brick wall creatively and nothing is working?

I just take a break. Then I try to go through websites like Party City or Birthday Express to see what themes are out there. I try to make sure I have things to compliment those themes. Once I look at those, then my brain gets flowing again. Normally. Sometimes I'll look on websites too for inspiration.

What is the most rewarding, interesting, or even weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked to make?

I'd say everything that I've done for customers is rewarding for me. I love being apart of their special day! I've never had any weird requests or anything. Maybe one day. LOL!

What are some of your goals for your craft, and where do you hope it will take you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?


I just hope that God will bless me enough to let me keep doing this. I would love for my business to grow. I'd love to see my items sold in stores within the next 5 years. That would be a huge accomplishment for me. Mainly, I just want to be able to keep making people happy and providing them with something that helps their special day be a little bit better!

What are your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your free time, assuming you have any?

Well, I'm a SAHM so I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter, which I love. I get to see her grow and learn new things. If I'm not busy designing new stuff or helping a customer, then I'm probably cleaning my house or playing with my daughter. I have to admit, I'm a tv junkie too so I normally catch up on some shows during the day. My weekends are reserved to spend with my husband and daughter together since he works a lot during the week. I love to travel, although we don't do that very much.

Now for the fun stuff!

What is your favorite color? That's a tough one. I have so many! I love pink, purple and red.

Favorite food? Again, lots of favorites there! I'd have to say pizza, feta cheese, or pasta.

Favorite song or musical artist? Right now I'm loving Trace Adkin's song, You're Gonna Miss This. It's so touching. I also love Leona Lewis' new song. I like a lot of different music so it's hard to pin down just one favorite. My all time favorite group though I'd have to say are the Goo Goo Dolls.

Favorite book or author? My favorite author is Emily Giffin. I just love her books! I'm reading Love the One You're With right now and it's so good! I also like authors like Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark and anything that's considered chic-lit or suspense.

Favorite movie, actor or actress?Favorite current movie would be Sex and the City. I'm just really in love with the whole fashion thing. Although, I have no fashion or style myself! I also love Empire Records and Breakfast at Tiffany's. I don't really have a favorite actor or actress. I'm pretty fond of Katherine Hiegl, Julia Stiles, Patrick Dempsey and Vin Diesel though.

And the MOST important question: Clemson or Carolina? I have to say growing up as a little girl I was raised Clemson. We went to all the games and I even dreamed about being in the band. My grandad was a huge fan! But, here lately I've been a Carolina girl at heart. Although, I still pull for both, Carolina wins out now when they play each other.

To see more of Becky's work, visit her shop at Etsy, and you can also find her at www.pinkinkcreations.com and www.pinkinkcreations.blogspot.com!

I'm So Proud! One Of My Babies Is Featured In A Treasury!

My White Tiger Necklace and matching earrings, the third photo in the first row, is featured in a current Etsy treasury at ! I don't know who JumpinJackGlass is, but thank you so much for featuring one of my necklace designs in your treasury!

The necklace features a polymer clay pendant in shimmery silver, black, and pearl white. I enhanced it with gorgeous snowflake obsidian rounds, faceted black onyx rounds and black agate barrels. If you would like to see a closeup or more views of White Tiger, here is the URL to the shop listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13326442.

Thanks, Jack, whoever you are!

PCAGOE Alphabet Mosaic For Children

Members of the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy are creating two alphabet mosaics for a children's hospital or hospitals in the U.S. The mosaics will be made up of 2"x2" tiles made from polymer clay, with each letter of the alphabet depicted on top.

The first mosaic will be the colors of the rainbow arranged in a spectral pattern. The second is a free for all, design what you like mosaic, and I was lucky enough to be chosen to do the "L" for the free-for-all. Since most of the other as yet completed tiles seemed to be feminine, I decided to do mine for the little fellas.

I can't wait to see both mosaics in their intirety. I'll post photos as soon as I can!

Favorite Artists

Marcia Palmer is one of several polymer clay artisans whose work I admire tremendously. Her use of color is masterful, and her combinations of color and texture amaze me and inspire me to create.

I would love to follow her around for a day and soak up some of her creative energy and watch her go through the creative process.

You can see more of Marcia's beautiful work at her etsy store at www.marciapalmer.etsy.com

Make It Before You Buy It

My Momma is one of those people who just knows how to do things. She is a talented artist in many mediums. She sings, plays musical instruments, paints, designs jewelry, makes dolls, sews, does wood crafts and much more. Momma taught my brother, sister and me to "make it before you buy it". Making things was a necessity for a long time after my father left the family. We didn't have money to buy store bought things and had to "make do" with homemade. She taught us to use our imaginations and to be creative. As a result, I create and design jewelry, and I also tat, crochet, knit, cross-stitch, quilt, and sew. I have been a free-lance floral designer for 25 years, and I dry and preserve my own garden flowers which I use to make potpourri and small wreaths and topiaries.

There were times when I was younger that I didn't appreciate homemade. When I was a teenager and every other girl in my class had the latest this or that, it was hard to swallow having to wear re-worked hand-me-downs to school. When I was a senior in high school, I was nominated for the homecoming court, and I told my mother I would not wear a homemade outfit. I had seen a lemon yellow cordouroy, wide-legged bell-bottomed pantsuit that I wanted. It was $40, which might as well have been $4000 back then. $40 was our grocery budget for a month!

I begged and begged until Momma bought that pantsuit. As soon as I put it on, I hated it. I now know that lemon yellow is the only color I cannot wear. It makes me look like I'm deathly ill. I refused to wear it to homecoming, but she made me because she could not return it to the store. I wore it until it fell apart. Momma got her $40 out of it, and then some. It was recycled into stuffing for pillows and dolls and dust rags.

When I was in my 20s and out on my own, I suddenly realized how lucky I was to know how to do things for myself. I decorated my first house almost entirely from things I made and my family made for me. Now of course, handmade is all the rage, and I'm happy for it.

There are other crafts I want to attempt, too. I'm dying to learn how to needle felt and make stained glass windows. I also want to learn more lacemaking techniques...and improve on my polymer clay techniques...and make some shelves for my workroom...and a double wedding ring quilt...

TeamSC Artist of the Week - Marymarsh

Thanks to Marymarsh of www.marymarsh.etsy.com for agreeing to be our TeamSC artist of the week for next week. Marymarsh (yes, that's her name!) makes the most delightful little girls' ponytail holders and hair clips. She joined Etsy in February of 2007, and in less than a year and a half later, she has more than 2100 sales to her credit. She says that being creative is one of the simple joys in her life, and she takes great pride in everything she does. Marymarsh believes you get out of life what you put into it, and that the effort you put into something can make all the difference. Amen, sister!

Where in South Carolina do you live, and were you born here? If not, how long have you been in SC?

I live in Charleston, SC. I was born in Charlotte, NC and grew up there. I moved to Charleston in 1994 after graduating from UNC Chapel Hill.

What do you like best about living in South Carolina?

What I like best about living in South Carolina are the friendly people here. I also love living so close to the beach!


How long have you been involved in your craft, and how did you get started?

I have been making hair accessories since February of 2007. I actually started making them for myself at first, however, I was starting to have quite a “collection” of excess fabrics. So, why not make more to sell, and Etsy was the perfect place to do so!

Do you work from your home, or do you have a brick and mortar store?

I do all my work from my home. Everything is handmade solely by me.

Who or what inspires you?

I have always loved making crafts. Being creative is one of the simple joys in life for me. It’s the “creating something from nothing” that I enjoy. Starting my own business was something I’ve always wanted to do. I’d have to say that my inspiration came from my father who also owns his own business. I’ve seen the dedication and hard work it takes, but I am always willing to accept and take on any challenges. So far, it’s been a dream come true!



Do you have a method for remembering ideas you want to implement, such as a notebook or tape recorder, etc.?

I don’t have any specific method for remembering ideas I want to implement. My ideas seem to stay fresh in my mind until I actually put them into something tangible. It seems that the “wheels” are always turning in my head thinking of what new product I can create next.

What do you do when you hit a brick wall creatively and nothing is working?

Luckily for me so far, this has not happened. There are always new fabrics and new designs. It seems that there is always something new that I can make.

What is the most rewarding, interesting, or even weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked to make?

One of the most interesting custom orders I was asked to make recently was for the nicest lady in Italy. She wanted a gift for her literary teacher who was teaching about Dante’s The Divine Comedy Trilogy: The Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. She wanted a bookmark set with each bookmark representing a volume of the Trilogy. It was challenging to find fabrics to represent each of the three volumes, but very rewarding in the end, especially knowing that my customer was very pleased with the outcome.

What are some of your goals for your craft, and where do you hope it will take you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Some goals for my business include adding new products to my shop over the next several months. I also plan to expand by selling my products in some local shops in the Charleston area. I do hope to gain more publicity as well. I have already been featured in Lowcounty Living Magazine in the May/June 2008 issue. In 5 years, I see myself running a very successful company.

What are your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your free time, assuming you have any?

My hobbies include going on walks with my husband and our dog, spending time at the beach, shopping, going to lunch with friends, and reading.

Now for the fun stuff!

Favorite color? Black
Favorite food? Spaghetti
Favorite song or musical artist? John Mayer
Favorite book or author? Mary Higgins Clark
Favorite movie, actor or actress? Big Daddy
And most importantly, Clemson or Carolina?
Carolina! But also the blue Carolina too! ~ I’m a UNC alumni!

Favorite Finds

With the price of gas as high as it is, I do most of my shopping on the internet these days. I was feeling deprived today and decided to cruise Etsy for some eye clcandy, and look what I found!

I have eclectic tastes. I think it's the Gemini in me. On the one hand, I'm all classic romance, Laura Ashley prints and pink cabbage roses and such. The other side of me likes bold, iconoclastic images and the strikingly unique, especially when it comes to my jewelry. I think I found three Etsy artisans who are definitely kindred spirits in the eclectic department.

This angel wing piece was handmade by Ilysa at www.ilysaart.etsy.com. It intrigues me because most people would have done this in white or off-white, but bronzy brown? Ilysa's other pieces also exhibit quite an eye for color. What a gift! I'm trying to figure out I could use this in a jewelry design.

I am very jealous of my friend Sally Sotelo of www.silvergate.etsy.com. Not only does Sally create beautiful things out of polymer clay, now she's ventured into precious metal clay. This pendant is PMC! I am going to have to talk her out of it somehow. Sally, it's calling my name! I see another tutorial in my future.


This stunning piece is by JKollmann of www.jkollmann.etsy.com. I am Irish from my McCreary and Fortune ancestors, and I love anything with a celtic flair. This bracelet is beautiful. I love the way the artist combines contrasting patterns in a harmonious design, very appealing to the eye.

Unhappy Accidents, or What To Do With Butt-Ugly Beads

I just can't bear to throw away a polymer clay bead or pendant I've made, even if it is butt ugly. I mean, define butt ugly. I ain't now nor have I ever be a Size 2 Barbie doll. My hips arrive in a room before I do, and although in some cultures my ample figure is highly admired and sought after, in others I would probably be considered butt ugly. Thank Gawd my Momma didn't throw me away, nor can I chunk those less than perfect beads and pendants others might be tempted to throw away. They have a special place in my heart, and in my workshop. Some of them I re-use as the base for new beads and pendants, some make excellent noise maker toys to drive the cats insane. The rest I give to Momma, because just like any Mother, she keeps EVERYTHING her children and grandchildren have EVER made! She can't even throw away a photo, even if she's got a hundred copies. I love taking a zip-loc bag of butt uglies to her. You'd think I'd handed her a million bucks, the way her face lights up. She always akes something funky and unique from them.

Team SC Artist of the Week - CurlyFrySC

I'm putting up the TeamSC featured artist a day early this week because of the holiday tomorrow.

This week's featured artist is Taylor, a/k/a Curlyfrysc, who lor makes funky jewelry for the young and young at heart: Playful, unique and always fun. See more of Taylor's designs at www.curlyfrysc.etsy.com


Where in South Carolina do you live, and were you born here? If not, how long have you been in SC?

I was born in Spartanburg, SC and moved to the coast with my family (Mom, Dad, older sister) to a small town called Beaufort when I was 8 years old. That was 20 years ago. I lived in a small town in NC for a short time with my mom until I missed my friends so much that I asked to move back to Beaufort to live with my dad.

What do you like best about living in South Carolina?

Most of my family is in SC so it's hard to leave them behind. Besides, living near the ocean and having only two seasons and seeing Marines everyday...what is there NOT to like about this state?! :)

How long have you been involved in your craft, and how did you get started?

I found Etsy by accident. I saw a website in a magazine that I read and went to the link and that site actually had a link to Etsy. I stayed up into the wee hours just browsing the site. Then I signed up and started buying handmade items and saw all the jewelry on the site and said to myself, "I can do that!" so I bought a few supplies (off of Etsy!) and got to work. I opened shop one month after signing up with Etsy. I like making fun jewelry items. Things that catch peoples eye. I know that it's not for everyone but it's fun for me and I feel that's what matters most.


Do you work from your home, or do you have a brick and mortar store?

Ha! I wish I had my own boutique! This has been something I've wanted for a long time and my ideas for it grow from the lives I come in contact with. Until I win the lottery, I create my items from my floor by creating a semi-circle of my components in front of me. I pick some items and see how they'll work together and go from there.

Who or what inspires you?

I get ideas from magazines and other sellers on Etsy. I try not to copy anyone's style but when I see something that I haven't thought of, I try to implement it in my own way. I never create when I'm not in the mood. I feel if I push myself then the piece won't be from the heart. When the mood DOES hit me, I can put out half a dozen items in one sitting.

Do you have a method for remembering ideas you want to implement, such as a notebook or tape recorder, etc.?

I become my most creative when I'm in a place where there's no paper around...the shower; lying in bed. I've just now put a notepad on my nightstand, though! I can kick myself for saying, "I don't need to write it down, I'll remember it in the morning!"

What do you do when you hit a brick wall creatively and nothing is working?

I take a break when my creativity runs dry. No one is expecting me to make items day and night and I realize this isn't a job so I don't feel too guilty when I don't make something for a week or two. Life comes first.

What is the most rewarding, interesting, or even weirdest thing you’ve ever been asked to make?

This question doesn't apply to me. Everything I make is one-of-a-kind and since I can run out of supplies so quickly, custom items aren't really on my to-do list.

What are some of your goals for your craft, and where do you hope it will take you? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Appealing to the masses is one goal I have, but then that would mean trying to compete with the well-established sellers out there. I'm not looking for a big pay-off, I just want to do what I like and have fun doing it. I'm focused right now on getting better photographs of my items to make them more appealing. I'm always trying to make my packaging stand out because everyone knows that beautiful wrapping can make even the worst gift look good.

What are your hobbies, or how do you like to spend your free time, assuming you have any?

I love nature photography and would love to spend more time on that. I spend my Tuesday's with my husband over at my parents house and we have dinner and play a board game. That's something I really look forward to each week. I'm lucky to have them so close by. I also write poetry when I'm feeling the mood. I'm always trying to find new ways to decorate my home, too.

Now for the fun stuff!

Favorite color? Yellow and pink
Favorite food? Italian. I love pasta and Chicken Marsala is my favorite! Chinese is my other weakness.
Favorite song or musical artist? Pearl Jam
Favorite book or author? I love the Nero Wolfe Mysteries by Rex Stout. I mostly read horror novels, though. Bentley Little is my favorite.
Favorite movie, actor or actress? Michael Douglas!
And most importantly, Clemson or Carolina? Clemson, of course!

I'd like to add that I have a cute little kitty cat (10 years old!) named Peanut Butter. He's my baby!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY AT ETSY!

Many Etsy Sellers are participating in the Christmas in July promotional at www.etsy.com, including me, so I thought I'd get into the spirit and decorate this place a little! I pulled out a photo of last year's kitchen Christmas tree. What, you don't have a kitchen Christmas tree? Most sane people don't, but I do. In fact, I decorate trees for every room in the house.


This one was filled with my collection of vintage children's kitchen toys and vintage enamelware utensils, handmade fabric wreaths, cotton bolls in the husk, which Baby the BA cat would steal and hide under the sofa in the den; handmade cinnamon and applesauce ornaments (which smell absolutely wonderful), handmade grapevine wreaths from the vine in the back yard, and dried yarrow from my garden.


You'll find some great deals on Christmas themed items and gift items at Etsy, so why not start your shopping early this year? Wouldn't it be nice to have it all done before Christmas Eve for a change? And the best part is, your gift will be handmade, a one-of-a-kind, extra special gift that will let your loved one know you went the extra mile for them.

Search Christmas in July at etsy to start shopping!

PCAGOE July Challenge PLEASE VOTE

Here are the entries in the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy July Challenge, the theme of which is Personal Hero. Please vote for your favorite at www.pcagoe.com, and you could win some fabulous polymer clay prizes!

Yours truly's entry is #5! Thanks so much!

Lynda