Shopping Relief

I was very honored to be part of the amazing DUST team when a fabulous store was opened to raise funds for the devastating floods recently in QLD, Australia. Naturally I jumped at the chance to donate a couple of items, and I can gladly say they both sold and are off to new homes :) Thank you to the lovely buyers for supporting such a great cause! I also bought a gorgeous fox screenprint donated by magicjelly and it is sooo beautiful, I love it.

The store has so far raised over $5000 with a mindblowing 400+ sales, all donated items, and 100% of proceeds going directly to charity!

Here is a pic of the Bottle Top Necklace and Owl Earrings I donated;

And here is the gorgeous fox print I bought;

Generously donated by magicjelly.etsy.com

There are still a HEAP of fabulous items, goto http://www.etsy.com/shop/AusDisasterRelief to do some shopping, whilst also supporting a worthy cause!! And if you need any inspiration, here are a few of the goodies up for grabs! (click on the image to go to the listing, or to go to the donator's shop click on their name)

Generously donated by rosieok.etsy.com

Generously donated by paperbyforgetmenot.etsy.com

Generously donated by milkwooddesign.etsy.com

Generously donated by shinyrabbit.etsy.com

Generously donated by wingbysea.etsy.com

Generously donated by littlemoandfriends.etsy.com

Theres never been a better time to buy handmade goods, because you also get to support a charity!

DIY Business Cards

I've had a few people I've met recently, who, when I've mentioned I make jewellery - ask if I have a business card, and unfortunately I haven't! D'oh! So realising I'm missing out on easy potential extra marketing, and not wanting to spend heaps of money geting some printed, I decided to DIY some. Using illustrator and publisher I made a fairly simple design based on my banner/logo with all the important info, and printed out a handful on photo paper. Being on photo paper they are not as thick as cardstock but they aren't too bad. I'll pop a few in my purse so I will never miss out again! I'll also send one out with each order too....

Also, some new things in store.. firstly here are some earrings....in purple and pink

and here is a new cameo brooch...

Spring has Sprung

Finally my new range of spring items is getting there.... it's been hard putting together a new range and looking after my 4 month old at the same time! However the last few days I made some progress. I look forward to popping them up on etsy in the coming weeks. Here is a sneak preview of some of the items... They're all handmade out of polymer clay and will eventually be available in a myriad of colors :)

Oh yeh and you've probably noticed the change in my blog (its a pretty big change!). I opted for a new layout and color scheme and designed the pretty pink background. Knowing me though, I'll probably get sick of it again in a little while!

I hate vacuuming, but I love DUSTing - Part 3

In my third installment of featuring one of the lovely members of the DUST team (down under street team), I was lucky enough to interview the gorgeous Jess, of Full Spiral Designs who makes stunningly beautiful eco-friendly jewellery that I just adore, and I'm sure you will to. Jess uses recycled metals and natural stones in creating unique wire wrapped and forest inspired spirally designs. Jewellery for (R)evolution!

What is Full Spiral Designs?

Imagine finding jewels in the forest, and you've got the earthy elegance of Full Spiral Designs. The pieces are designed to bring the magic of the forest into everyday urban life.

What is the story behind Full Spiral Designs? How did it all start?

Full Spiral Designs started with an overwhelmed postgraduate student who needed a creative outlet! This picture of a gemstone and wire creation just popped into my head one day, so I went to Spotlight and bought some cheap craft wire and plastic beads, did some googling and got started. I still have the first wonky wrapped link that I made all those years ago, to remind me of how far I've come.

I am mostly self-taught; I learned a lot from reading books and following tutorials (Eni Oken is a big hero of mine and I have tried most of her tutorials) but at some point I let most of that go and decided to follow my own style instincts. Now I try to keep learning and improving my technique, but I try not to look at other peoples' jewellery too much and rather draw my inspiration from nature and other art forms.

If you could describe your style in one word, what would it be?

Organic

You use a lot of different gemstones in your designs, what is your favourite?

Right now my favourite gemstone is Turquoise, but ask me again in 5 minutes and that might change! I adore the various shades of aqua and green in turquoise and the natural inclusions. I love how it's earthy and sophisticated at the same time. I love how it looks brilliant with any metal.

I am also loving Rutilated Quartz now...I love those little zig-zaggy black inclusions against a white background. I also love any kind of jade, amazonite, peridot and green tourmaline. I guess overall my preference is for earthy and cool colours, but I do love a pop of bright purple amethyst or orange carnelian here and there.

Where does your inspiration come from?

First and foremost, my inspiration comes from nature. That's why I like to work mostly with natural materials - a kind of partnership in creation between me and the greater creative powers. But living in a technologically advanced society, I can't help but be influenced by the 1 and 0 aliens! So I do feel that there's a sense of contemporary confusion about my pieces, a bit of dichotomy between the natural and the manmade, the organic and the technological. It's all connected, of course!

As a creative business person and blogger, I'm deeply inspired by the myriad other creatives out there who are following their dreams in fantastic yet practical ways. I try to read as much as I can to learn from all my mentors. I think the most important factor is a strong vision and belief in what I seek to attain - and patience as I work to manifest it!

Do you have any new designs you’d like to share?

Why funny you should ask! I'll be launching my newest line very soon - a collection of upper arm bands, anklets and bangles for summer - which I'm very excited about! I've leaked a few photos around the blogosphere so I'm happy to share a sneak peak with your readers.

And what a gorgeous sneak peak it is! I absolutely love these arm bands, I can definetely see Jess's forest inspiration, they are so elvish and would definetley not look out of place on the arm of a forest pixie :)
You can find more about Jess and her gorgeous pieces on her webpage, at her etsy store, facebook page and her blog. You can also follow her on twitter.

I hate vacuuming, but I love DUSTing ~ #2

Ok so the second installment of "I hate Vacumming but I love DUSTing", where I pick a few of my fellow DUST (Down Under Street Team) members and feature their items and etsy store, has taken a little longer than I would have liked, but better late than never or so they say!!

Don't forget you can see a whole list of members of the DUST team and their etsy stores at http://www.dustteam.com/

This time around I'm featuring some stunning creations from Maddabling, JulieBlanchette, lafemmejewels and Wiccked ....

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| MADDABLING |

Samara from Maddabling (Maddo)'s shop catchphrase is 'made with love' and her items certainly reflect that. With eclectic jewellery, paper goods, collages just to name a few - her diversity in arts and craft is seemingly endless. Here are some examples...

Clockwise from Left:

♥ The sweetest red heart card "il mio cuore e il vostro" , meaning "my heart and yours" in italian for someone special in your life ...
♥ Industrial but dainty, this necklace appropriately entitled "Green Steel" is a real steal!...
♥ Earthy "Things of Glass and Wood" necklace....
♥ A beautiful and delicate pin brooch named "papilons dans le jardin" which translates from French to 'Butterflies in the Garden'... aww :)

 

You can also see more about Maddabling at her blog and on facebook.

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| JULIE BLANCHETTE |

A visit in this store is like peering into a page of Beatrix Potter's 'Peter Rabbit' or Enid Blyton's 'Faraway Tree'. The gorgeous creations certainly transport you back to your childhood and are so very delicate and sweet you can't help but be enchanted. Take a look at what I mean....

Clockwise from Left:

♥ Super sweet and irresistably cute Needle Felted Art Child with Teddy

♥ I love these Delightful Wool Felt Eco Friendly Bunnies they are just so cute and whimsical :)

♥ Darling Mother and Child needle felted ornaments, both holding a heart, the perfect gift for a mother

♥ Or if you're into DIY, how about this kit for a pocket gnome? All you need to create your own little felted friend!

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| LA FEMME JEWELS |

All ladies love jewellery right? Then La Femme Jewels, with "Exquisite Accessories for every woman" is sure to have something for everyone indeed!

Clockwise from Left:

♥ I adore the rustic elegance of this Sterling Silver and Copper Twisted Tube Necklace...

♥ Delightfully dainty aquamarine quartz earrings will dazzle any ears and illuminate any outfit...

♥ The classic pearl, in a modern style, these Girls Best Friend Pearl Hoop earrings are sure to become any jewellery lover's new BFF.

♥ Modern and futuristic, this Copper Enamel Square Pendant on Steel Neckwire is a stand-out-from-the-crowd piece.

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| WICCKED |

And last, but by no means least, comes an array of jewellery, multimedia arts, and quilting by the very talented Melanie J Cook. Is there anything this girl can't do? Difficult to only select 4, here are some examples showing her diverse range...

Clockwise from Left:

♥ Oozing with rustic and organic qualities, this gorgeous silver and peridot CZ pendant is not only etheral but an example of wicckeds' trademark silver designs....

♥ Vivid and tantalising for the eyes, this original watercolor painting entitled "Abundance" is filled with color, and abstract imagination...

♥ Clarity is definetely something to be beheld in this stunning "Clarity of Lemon" topaz and silver necklace. Breathtakingly beautiful with a delicate yellow hue set against harsh metallic silver....

♥ A handstiched drawstring bag made of pink gingham cotton with hints of lime green from 'Quest for a Cure', Wiccked will donate $1 from the sale of this bag to Breast Cancer research. Like we need any more of an incentive to shop in her store!

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I have very much enjoyed sharing these exquisite etsy stores with you and featuring some wonderful local Aussie DUST talent and I hope you've enjoyed reading. Please make sure you visit their stores....support local handmade.

-Bri

Treasury East Addiction

 I am so loving Etsy's new Treasury East where you don't have to wait til a spot becomes available and can therefore collate etsy pretties til the cows come home! You can do multiple treasuries too and there is no expiry! Love it!

Here's a couple I prepared earlier... hehe

Baby Bonanza by Petaliferous (featuring ALL Aussie DUSTers):
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4be269cee56c8eefed4ffd1a/baby-bonanza?sort=hotness&order=desc

and The Retro Kitchen by Petaliferous
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4bdfbdd487808eef6f53beea/the-retro-kitchen?sort=hotness&order=desc

A Botanists' Delight

I just listed some brand new 'Poison Ivy' earrings which are a little different to my normal stuff, and I managed to score a treasury slot so I thought I'd include them and make it a botany theme. Please make sure you check it out to give it heaps of views... http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=127373

Another day, another treasury....

Since posting a few treasuries, I've been in four more treasuries this week, that's 6 all up just since the weekend. Something is definetely in the air with treasuries lately!! Thank you to Gaby from hopelesslydevoted,  Emma from noogal, Kavitha from poetry jewelry and Rhonda from glimmeringgems for inclusion in these four new gorgeous collations....

All Treasured Out

You can tell when DUSTers are sitting around waiting for the treasury list to expire and for a spot to open up when in a matter of minutes I was featured in two gorgeous color-themed DUST treasuries!

Firstly a pink treasury "Passionate about Pink" which I put together... make sure you check it out here  http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=126564 and support all the lovely Aussie sellers I've included.

Secondly a purple themed treasury entitled "Purple Parrots" by lafemmejewels ...check it out here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=126555 Thank you for the inclusion!!