Heavenly Creations Pgh

I Love Craftopolis!

2011-04-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

I get all of the Etsy newsletters, and last week they sent one with info about tagging. I think that tagging my items is probably one of the hardest aspects of the listing process. You need to make sure that the tags you've chosen are the ones that people will use to find your items. But if everyone is using the same tags on their items, your item may be so far down in the search that they'll still never find it!

That's where Craftopolis comes in. I'm a sucker for numbers and Craftopolis has all of the information I need in one nifty spot. They tell me how many people have stopped by my shop, how many page view I've gotten, how many shop & item hearts, how much money I've made, and which tags were used in searches that resulted in someone seeing one of my items! Gotta love it! :)

I used to use Google Analytics, but I got frustrated because I couldn't always figure out how to find out what I wanted to know. Craftopolis is SO much easier because all the information is just laid out for you. And I simply adore the tag report feature. It's awesome to be able to see which words are effective so that I can maximize my views via Etsy searches. I'm such a geek :)

Be blessed! :)

Rhino Snorting Drano

2011-04-25T10:24:00.000-04:00

I am a novice at making chainmaille, but I really enjoy it, and I love the fanciful names for some of the weaves, like Rhino Snorting Drano :) But I recently had the opportunity to go to a show and I saw the wonderful creations of Majabella by Georgia Siegfried.

All of Georgia's work is done in Argentium Silver, and her rings are hand crafted by her husband, Chuck. It was awesome to have an opportunity to speak with them about their art and the creative process. It's amazing that you can take something so simple, like a jumpring, and create something so beautiful!

Check out all of her beautiful pieces on her website: www.majabella.net. What an inspiration! :)

Be blessed! :)

What color is your personality?

2011-04-12T15:20:00.017-04:00

One of the few blogs that I always read is While the Cat's Away. Earlier this week, she posted a link to a personality test based on the colors you prefer, and I can't say I was at all surprised by my results:

You are 59% introvert and 41% extrovert.

You are a creative person, with always new ideas, and you know how to apply them.
You are creative, you know how to see beauty, you are intuitive and your inspiration comes from the inside.
You are strong-willed and active, your actions are determined by your own will, by the goals you set for yourself, and by your need to act and move ahead.
You are a manager and a leader, and you know how to organize groups of people and how to give them your energy.
You are intellectual and intelligent, you wonder and you inquire before taking any action and setting your values.

I've always thought personality tests are fascinating, but one based on color is particularly so, especially considering my recent creative outlets. I've always known that I'm an introvert, which is why I'm much more comfortable in my basement creating. But, it's pretty cool to know that perhaps I've found something that makes my brain, soul AND personality happy. Validation is a wonderful thing!

Be blessed :)

Time for Vacation?

2011-04-12T09:44:00.002-04:00

Well, our house is on the market, and we have a meeting with our realtor today to ramp up our efforts to get out house sold. That means that the Heavenly Denim side of things is going on vacation for a while, which makes me kinda sad. I just haven't been able to figure out how to work neatly. My work area is constantly covered with thread and pieces of denim, so once I finish the last journal cover that's in progress, that'll be it for a while. Hopefully, our house will sell quickly and I'll be able to set up my work are in the new house!

I don't know why, but I've always existed in a state of chaos. It made it interesting for my sister to share a room with me when we were growing up. My roommates in college were always amazed that I could emerge looking so put together leaving such destruction behind! As I've gotten older, I've managed to confine my chaos to my "area", but for now, that's on hold. Perhaps I could convince my sister to come and instruct me on confined creativity! :)

Stolen Thoughts

2011-04-08T10:12:00.002-04:00

I make jewelry. But so do about 50% of all the sellers on Etsy. It's amazing how different it can be using basically the same materials, but I do look at other people's work for inspiration. And with jewelry, you could absolutely replicate someone else's work. That takes all of the fun out of designing something, but it could totally be done. I also make quilted stuff. And again, I look at other people's stuff for inspiration. With fabric, though, I think it's a little harder to make an exact copy, but, again, it could be done if you really wanted to.

But where is the line between copying and inspiring? There's a wealth of stuff out there. If I see something that I like, sometimes it makes me think about how I could do it too. But if we make the same thing, but in different ways, am I copying you or were you merely my inspiration?

One of my favorite fabric artists (who also happens to be my sister *smile*) is The Quilted House. She and I have some similar items and I've told her that she's one of my greatest inspirations. But when I started making notebook/journal covers, did I copy her design? I'd like to think that I didn't. Hers are made from one piece of fabric & mine are totally pieced & embroidered. Hers have a fabric tab & mine have a magnetic snap closure. But in the big scheme of things they're both the same thing. Although hers have totally nifty inside pockets that I'd love to do, but I can't wrap my brain around the curves. :)

With jewelry it's a little different. There's really a limited number of things that you can make -- earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I make a lot of earrings because that's what I like and personally wear more of. You'd think that there's not a lot of different ways you can make a pearl earring, for example. But if you do a search on Etsy for classic pearl earring, you'd be amazed at how many different earrings you'll find that are all basically the same thing.

Is it even possible to have an original thought in the crafting world? Most of us take things that already exist and assemble it into something different. I really admire the people who take raw ingredients and create something totally new. I'd love to be able to do fused glass or silver art clay or lampwork. (If I can convince my husband to buy me a kiln for my next birthday then we'll be in business *smile*). But until then, I'll keep my eyes open for my next source of inspiration :)

Be blessed! :)

Each one teach one...

2011-04-06T08:45:00.011-04:00

One of the greatest things about having a wonderful husband who made my birthday totally fabulous, is that I was able to recover 14,000+ photos that had been held hostage on my external hard drive. :)

Before Christmas I had been asked by a friend to help her Girl Scout troop complete the jewelry making badge. I was so thrilled that she decided to ask her favorite jewelry designer to come and teach the girls how to make *real* jewelry! When she sent me the badge requirements, I saw that one portion included "molding", so I decided to bring in my polymer clay equipment, and we could make our own beads.

We had SO much fun! Each girl had a kit that would make a name bracelet and a pair of earrings. I was really amazed by the talent of the girls. It was awesome to watch them select their colors and see what the final product was. It took us 2 meetings to complete, since the beads need to bake for 1/2 an hour and then cool before they could be handled safely, but once they were finished, the girls were able to embellish their pieces with an assortment of crystals and other beads to make their own, totally handcrafted pieces of jewelry!

Be blessed :)

Technical Difficulties

2011-04-04T11:00:00.002-04:00

I had a wonderful birthday, and as a result ended up taking a week off from my blog!

My husband was tired of hearing me complain about how slow my old Mac was, so for my birthday he got me a new Mac mini! I was totally thrilled! But in setting it up, I realized that I would be unable to transfer all of my information from my old Mac to the new one until I found a specific cable. So until that arrived in the mail, I was in limbo.

One good thing, though, is that I recovered 14,000+ photos that I'd transferred from my old Mac to an external hard-drive that my computer promptly decided to cease communications with. But when I hooked the external hard-drive up to my new Mac, all the photos were there and downloaded effortlessly to their new home. But they're not organized the same way they were on the old system. So I've got all the pics, but I can't find them :) There's definitely a learning curve here.

I got the cable on Friday, and my computers took almost 2 hours talking with one another transferring all the information from the old system to the new. So I have all of my bookmarks and password, all my documents and photos on my new, faster, system. I even took the time to move my desk and rearrange all of the cables so that it's not a hot mess.

While I was in limbo, though, I took the opportunity to continue with my creative brainstorm to design my new journal covers! I think they turned out really awesome! They're embroidered and quilted in my trademark crazy quilt, but they're beautiful and functional! It was actually kind of nice to be *forced* away from the computer for a week so that I had time to work :)

Be blessed :)

Spring is Springing!

2011-03-28T11:15:00.000-04:00

Even though Phil was way off the mark, at least here in Pittsburgh, I'm still thinking ahead to spring and summer. With my kids, that means trips to the park, our campsite, and basically just being outdoors as much as possible. That got me thinking about a new bag to carry all the stuff we need for a day outside -- sunscreen, juice boxes, snacks. When they were babies, I'd upgraded from a regular diaper bag to a diaper backpack that allowed me to be completely hands-free. And that's what led me to my newest design -- The Rucksack.

Now, when I think of rucksacks, I think of the German army marching through the countryside. Needless to say, mine is a little more feminine, but every bit as rugged and ready for anything my kids can dish out. Made from upcycled denim, but prettied up a bit with beautiful embroidery, I think this is a great little bag to get me from sun up to sun down and all the points in between without missing a beat.

Like my other bags, I made it a cross-body design so you can be completely hands free, but it's got a solid bottom and sides, so it'll stand up on it's own when you need to dig through it to find whatever you need. And the front outside pocket is a great place to put stuff like your keys and cell phone for easy finding.

The strap is long enough to do whatever you need it to do. This one was a gift-to-self for my birthday, and I've been carrying it for the past week or so to put it through it's paces. I've carried it both on my back & over one shoulder & it's great. It's easy to get into, & I'm always suprised by how much I can get into it! It's great for running to the gym, because I can fit my Kindle, my iPod, snacks for my daughter and myself, my water bottle, and anything else I might need for that day's workout. And if I've got my big gym bag as well, the straps don't interfere since one's on my shoulder and the other's on my back.

I think it's fabulous, but I'd love to hear what you think. Drop me a note and let me know!

Be blessed! :)

And the winner is...

2011-03-25T09:09:00.000-04:00

Roni, #24 as chosen by Random.org!

Thanks for entering! Enjoy your bracelet, Roni :)

Be blessed! :)

Final Day!

2011-03-24T10:27:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day that you can enter my fabulous birthday giveaway. The comments will be closing tonight at 11:59pm EST and I will announce the winner tomorrow.

Good luck!

Finding my Audience

2011-03-23T10:17:00.001-04:00

I recently purchased a set of e-books that are supposed to help me make my Etsy shop fabulous. But I'm having a problem with one step -- marketing myself.

You can tell me all you want that all I need to do is send my stuff to every blogger and magazine editor I can find, and someone will feature me, and I'll become instantly famous. I just can't wrap my mind around it. Until now.

Recently I met a woman who is also an Etsy seller that did exactly that. It's one thing to read about some random, faceless person doing it. But it's something else entirely to actually sit across the table from someone who's done it. And had success doing it.

So am I going to start randomly sending my stuff everywhere? Probably not. But I am researching some popular blogs to see what kinds of submissions they accept and what kind of response they have. Just because they have 2000 followers doesn't mean they have 2000 readers. I follow roughly 100 blogs, and I really only read like 5. I plan to change that, because I'm missing out on some fabulous opportunities by not reading some of these blogs. But I also need to make sure I'm not just reading other Etsians blogs. They're not my target audience. So I'm looking for mom bloggers and teacher bloggers and dad bloggers and anyone I can think of that DOESN'T make jewelry, but would have a need to buy jewelry either for themselves or as a gift. I need to get out of my own little world and see who's out there. You never know who might be a potential customer. :)

Be blessed.

Happy Birthday to Me, part 2 :)

2011-03-21T10:03:00.000-04:00

So every year for my birthday I get myself a gift, and the last few years it's been something from a fellow Etsian.

Last year, I treated myself to fabulous beads from my favorite lampwork artist, Anne. I simply adore her beads, and her prices are awesome! If you love lampwork like I do, check out her shop, Maudies, on Etsy!

This year, I discovered a wonderful artist on The Quilted House blog who uses found objects to make functional art. I was so excited to work with her to create my beautiful birthday clock! She had some that I liked in her Etsy shop, REaction Gifts, but none were exactly what I wanted. So we worked together to create something fabulous! I was so excited to get it in the mail, a whole week before my birthday! Happy Birthday to me, indeed! :)

Be blessed :)

ps... Don't forget about my birthday giveaway! There's only 4 days left to enter! :)

Craft vs Art

2011-03-18T09:54:00.000-04:00

I was asked to be part of a research study recently and the focus group session really made me think about what I do. Now I'm beginning to question my craft and ask myself "Is what I do art?"

Just because it's handmade doesn't make something art. But what does? I think my jewelry is beautiful, and I love the organic energy of my embroidered bags. But I didn't start making them as an artistic outlet, per se. I enjoy the artistic qualities of my work, but when I think of art, I don't think of my stuff. I know that I probably can't afford to create "art". What I would consider art is usually created almost entirely from scratch, and hence, the price reflects that investment of time and creativity. But is my work any less artistic simply because I buy my beads and findings? With my denim things, I use something that already exists in one form and re-create it into another, which I think is closer to being pure art, but the functionality of the piece brings it down for that artistic pedistal and forces it into the human realm.

We also discussed the various selling formats for our artistic endeavors, and, again, there's a disparity between those of us who make hand-crafted items and true "art". I can have a pair of earrings listed on Etsy & in a retail location because I can make them again. But a work of art is one of a kind and cannot be reproduced exactly. My bags in this instance are much closer to "art" because each one is created individually and no two will ever be exactly alike. But I still don't think they're art.

But does my work need to be art to be of value? I don't think so. But that just means that I need to find the right venue to showcase my work. I'm not in a position to create a million of each piece so that I can sell them wholesale, and I wouldn't want to even if I could. There is a difference between hand-crafted and home-made. Home-made makes me think of those terrible crocheted vests everyone wore in the 70's. Hand-crafted elevates the process to a near-art form, but still allows for the functionality of the work.

I guess, in my mind, the difference between art and craft is the functionality. Art is beautiful just for the sake of beauty while I would like my things to be loved and used. If I had unlimited resources would I rather be creating works of art? I'm not sure. I do know that I'd make a whole heck of a lot more money selling my things at the Guggenheim than on Etsy :)

Be blessed

Pants Purses for Everyone!

2011-03-16T08:50:00.002-04:00

My children love my bags. They call them "Pants Purses" since Mommy makes them out of their old jeans. I have several that I carry myself, one that I carry pretty much everyday, and two larger ones that I take to the gym or if we're going on vacation. They have been asking me forever to make them each their own Pants Purse. So I took some time off from making things for my shop to make my children happy.

What do you think? Am I a good Mommy, or what? I've got a couple of things to tweak before I list them in my shop. Customizable stuff is so awesome! I've also got a couple of other designs that I want to perfect. I'll be listing them all in my denim shop, Heavenly Denim. :)

And don't forget about the giveaway! You've only got 8 days left to enter! :)

Be blessed!

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

2011-03-14T09:22:00.004-04:00

Well, I'm coming up to the 10th anniversary of my 29th birthday soon, and I thought that a nice way to celebrate would be to have a giveaway! And since this is my 10th anniversary, I thought I'd give you 10 days to enter to win this fabulous 14K gold freshwater pearl & crystal bracelet!

How do I enter, you may ask? Easy! And there are lots of ways to increase your chances, too!

1. Become a follower of my blog, and leave me a comment telling me you do so (or that you already do!)
2. Go to my Etsy shop and heart my shop and then come back here and tell me what your favorite item is (go ahead and heart it, too!)
3. Tweet, blog or Facebook about my giveaway. And then come back and tell me about it (noticing a pattern?)

Extra credit:
4. Follow my personal blog. Not much about jewelry there, but some pretty funny stories about my kids & how I feel about the mess the government's gotten us into. :)
5. Make a purchase from my Etsy shop. And if you do, there's a handy dandy coupon code for free shipping! Of course, if you use the coupon code, you need to be a follower of my blog(s). Use the code FOLLOWFREE from 3/14 - 3/24 (domestic shipping in the US only).

Now, don't forget to leave me a comment to let me know everything you've done so that I can tabulate all of the entries into the giveaway. Unfortunately, Facebook comments don't count. Sorry! :) You don't need to make a purchase to be entered into the giveaway, but if you do, imagine what a happy birthday I'll have! :)

So good luck! I'll post the winner on my birthday, 3/25. :)

Be blessed!

Breaking Bread & Hammering Metal

2011-03-07T09:09:00.000-05:00

What do those two have in common? They're both great ways to relieve stress!

I've been baking bread for my family for many years now. In the past, though, I'd always done it in my bread machine. About a year ago, I found a new recipe that required that I do it the *old fashioned* way. And I discovered how relaxing kneading bread can be. If something isn't going well or I'm frustrated by a project, or one of my children (or husband!), kneading bread is a great way to avoid excessive conflict.

But if I don't have time to make bread, I've also found that hammering metal can be equally effective. I've gotten into making chain maille lately, and I really like being able to create my own clasps. And the beating of my hammer against the wire, turning it into a piece of functional art, is a great way to release aggression in a positive way!

It's so nice to turn a negative emotion into a beautiful work of art, be it bread or jewelry!

Be blessed!

My new schtick

2010-11-26T09:46:00.003-05:00

My husband calls me flighty, and I'll admit, I'm a little ditzy and absent-minded, but I also enjoy allowing my creative flights of fancy free rein. Lately those flights of fancy have taken me in the direction of fabric, and more precisely, upcycled denim.

Over the summer I saw a bag my sister had made, and my attempt to re-create it let me to use some old jeans that I couldn't bear to part with, but were no longer functional. They were a gift and had sentimental value, so I didn't want to throw them away. I was thrilled to come up with the idea to repurpose them into a fabulous bag. I had so much fun making that one, that I just couldn't stop! Unfortunately, my Kenmore sewing machine just wasn't up to the task. It really didn't like sewing through more than 2 layers of denim. We were having some serious problems. Around that time, I heard about a sewing machine shop closing, so I went in to talk to the sales people about my options. When I found the BabyLock Sofia 2, it was love at first site! The capability to incorporate embroidery into my designs opened the floodgates of creativity. I had so many ideas running through my head it was unbelievable! :)

Of course, finding time to sew, with my kids, husband, opera & my job as a hairdresser, was pretty difficult. Especially trying to learn something new and incorporate it into an already pretty fluid process. Unlike my sister, I'm not big on patterns. Each one of my wallets and bags is created on the fly. I basically sit at my design table and put together an elaborate jigsaw puzzle of denim.

So being able to finish my first embroidered denim bag was awesome! There's so many pre-loaded embroidery designs on my new machine that I haven't even needed to go online to find anything new. I was so thrilled to be able to create something beautiful out of something worn out and useless. And it's so much fun to play with color!

Originally, this first bag was destined for my etsy shop. I even had a name for it: Eternal Springtime in Shades of Purple. But, I love it so much I think I have to keep it! Purple is my favorite color, and I really love how the embroidery turned out. And my first attempt at using hardware in my bags turned out really nicely as well. I love the adjustable strap! And it was amazing being able to take pictures in my basement in the middle of the night with my new photo setup! So many new techniques all coming together at once :)

I've got another bag that I've been working on that I'm planning on calling Celestial Beauty. It's suns, moons and shooting stars in golden tones. Really fabulous. I really want to keep that one, too! :)

Where has the time gone?

2010-11-08T11:24:00.003-05:00

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted! So much has happened since July.

I think the summer is busy in any crafter's life -- with so many shows andopportunities, it's hard to find time to stay connected online. Why would I want to spend time on my computer when I could be outside enjoying life? :)

I had a really busy summer. I was able to do two really great craft shows. As a hairdresser in my other life, taking a weekend off to do a show is a big deal. I tend to be really choosy about the shows I do. So I was very lucky to find two really good ones over the summer.

The first was at a retirement community for very active, vibrant seniors. It was wonderful to bring our handcrafted wares to them and get to talk to some really wonderful people. The second was part of the annual celebration for a beautiful park here in Pittsburgh on Mt. Washington. The park is on top of Mt. Washington with a fabulous view of the city. It was so inspiring to be there all day just soaking up the beauty of the day and getting to meet some really great people, including a couple of other Etsy sellers. Both experiences were really fabulous!

And, of course, with the holidays coming up, I've got a couple of shows scheduled. I did a really great house party a couple of weeks ago, in advance of the holiday craziness, and I'll be part of the Light-Up Night festivities in Hampton Township, north of Pittsburgh. I'm really looking forward to that!

In all of my spare time, though, I've started a new project: upcycled denim accessories. They're SO much fun to do. I've started repurposing old jeans and giving them new life as denim bags and wallets. It's the perfect way to meld my love of quilting and sewing with my love of recycling.

So between my full-time job as a mom, and all of my various part-time jobs, I've managed to find some time to feed my creative spirit. I think that's something we can all use.

Be blessed!

Fabulosity -- Jabecca Designs

2010-07-25T23:39:00.007-04:00

I recently opened a second shop on Etsy -- The Diva's Destash -- for all of my extra stuff. So far it's just fabric, but I've got a ton of lace that's ready to get added soon. But looking through Etsy for stuff to replenish my stash has lead me to a treasure trove of destash, and that led me to Jabecca's Designs this week.
I was looking for beads, because you can never have too many beads, right? :) I got a great deal on beads from Rebecca's stash, and discovered a fabulous jewelry designer.She does a lot of stuff with hemp macrame, which is such an underused art. It really adds an earthiness to her designs. And I love the combinations she uses -- colors that I wouldn't think to use together just flow seamlessly in her work. Everything just feels natural and organic.
Take a look! I think you'll love discovering for yourself a new artist with a fresh eye for design.

Be blessed!

Fabulosity -- Judy's Designs

2010-07-18T22:49:00.007-04:00

I have met some truly wonderful people through Etsy and Twitter. I had no idea how much work goes into promoting yourself when I first started my Etsy shop! Luckily, I found a group of like-minded artisans called World Wide Etsy Sellers, and through them, I met Judy, of Judy's Designs.
As a jewelry designer, I love looking at other people's work. It gives me ideas and inspiration for my own jewelry designs. And I love to look at Judy's designs. They're really fresh and original, and they inspire me to think outside the box. She does wonderful things with color and natural elements, and I love the look of her jewelry. It feels really authentic. It's bold without being excessive or over-the-top. And the colors just pop! :)
Take a look and see for yourself. I think you'll like what you see!

Be blessed!

Fabulosity -- Daydreem Designs

2010-07-11T21:36:00.008-04:00

I'm back! I had to take a little mental health vacation after my show. I don't know how people do lots of shows. I find them exhausting! All the preparation, in addition to the rest of my life, is a lot to do. My kids still wanted to eat. I still had to do laundry and what little housework I do. :) And on top of that I had to create a ton of new jewelry! But luckily, I did well at the show, so all the extra work was worth it. I'll have some photos of everything a little later.

My Etsy shop has been doing well, also. I've been making a lot of trips to the post office. I recently mailed my first package to Australia! That was really exciting. :)

My most recent trip to the post office led me to meet Aimee of Daydreem Designs. I was at a stop sign behind her and saw her Etsy shop address on her back window -- what a great idea! I wrote it down so I could check it out when I got home, not realizing that we'd be in line together at the post office! It's always so awesome to meet local Etsians!

Of course, we exchanged cards and I checked out her shop when I got home. She and her fiance, Michael, are the genius behind Daydreem Designs. Michael creates beautiful engraved glass and carved wood. Exquisite goblets and shot glasses, votive candle holders and decorative glass bowls. Such beautiful work! And what a nifty gift idea for any holiday. I simply adore the halloween stuff. :) And what better way to warm up on a cold winter day than with a mug of hot cocoa in a mug engraved with snowflakes? :) Now I know where to shop for my next wedding gift, father's day, anniversary...

Be blessed! :)

Something new

2010-06-13T18:25:00.005-04:00

I was at work yesterday at the salon and one of my clients had on a fabulous necklace -- and I just had to try my hand at the style!

It's really different for me -- kinda new and trendy. What do you think?

I don't think I'm going to list it in my shop just yet. I think I'll save it for the craft show I'm doing at Longwood at Oakmont Retirement Community on June 28th. It's something that I can definitly make again, and I plan to in silver with blue beads I think, but they'll all be different. It's definitely a one of a kind sort of piece.

I love the color on this one, though. It's all carnelian and carnelian agate with czech fire polished glass crystals and copper on handcrafted copper chain. It was lots of fun, though, figuring out what I wanted to do and getting the balance right.

Let me know what you think! I always appreciate and welcome comments

Be blessed!

Fabulosity -- Wudl's Woodshop

2010-06-07T00:18:00.007-04:00

I don't do a lot of craft shows. In my other life, I'm a hairdresser and a church musician, so my weekends are pretty full. But I have done a couple. Unfortunately, my displays are currently in use in the two stores that carry my jewelry. So when I was presented with an opportunity to do a show during the week at a retirement community, I jumped at the chance! But where was I going to get quality craft show displays on really short notice without bugging my husband endlessly? A quick search of Etsy helped me discover Wudl's Woodshop.

John Wudl, of Wudl's Woodshop, is absolutely wonderful. A search of his site found something that was almost exactly what I'd been looking for all over the internet. So I convo'd him. The next day, not only did he have a quote for me, but he'd built my earring displays and had pictures taken already! If that's not fabulosity, I don't know what is! :)

Woodworking is an art, and the items available in Wudl's Woodshop exemplify that art. I was impressed by how many crafters on Etsy purchased custom designs from John, and I was really impressed with the speed of design and creation of my request. It was less than 36 hours between my initial convo and the listing of my completed custom design! I can't wait to get them to see how wonderful they are. If the feedback John's gotten is any indication, I'll be back for more!

I was also impressed with the variety of items available. If you need a craft display, he can design it! Everything from spool holders to candle holders. If it can be made from wood, John can probably build it! :)

Fabulosity -- Maudies

2010-05-31T20:24:00.006-04:00

I love beads. Something about them speaks to me. And I love lampwork beads. Each bead is just a little bit different. You can find some really nifty ones in stores, but they're nothing compared to the true individuality of hand crafted beads like the ones Ann creates for her Etsy shop, Maudies.

I literally stumbled upon Maudies a couple of months ago and was delighted to find that her beads were not only beautiful, but affordable! As much as I love lampwork beads, I can rarely afford to indulge my passion. Not so with Maudies! And just because her prices are low doesn't mean that her quality or workmanship is lacking. Everything that I've ordered from her has been wonderful! And she's a dream to work with on custom creations. I love everything I've gotten from her, and can't wait to get my next order in the mail! :)

Be blessed!

Fabulosity -- Buy Her Beads

2010-05-24T21:59:00.006-04:00

I don't know a jewelry designer who doesn't have a love of beads. I think we all have some level of compulsion to buy them, even if we don't have a need for them or any clue what we'll be using them for. I, myself, have a lot of beads that just haven't "spoken" to me yet, to let me know what to do with them. That's where George of Buy Her Beads comes in. His wife is a jewelry designer who has a ton of beads. George purges her collection so she has room for more! That sounds like something I need my husband to do!

I love looking at George's site because there are so many beautiful beads. There are also wire-wrapped items created by his wife that she then changed her mind on. Lucky for us! It seems like everyday there's something new to tempt me. He's got everything from tiny beads to huge slabs and nuggets in every color imaginable! Even just writing this blog post, I found a ton more that I really need to have! His wife has great taste in beads -- take a look and see for yourself.

Be blessed!

Fabulosity -- The Quilted House

2010-05-16T23:24:00.009-04:00

When I started this blog feature, I thought about all the fabulous Etsy sellers I've met in the year I've been selling online, and the first person that came to mind is my sister, Michelle, of The Quilted House. But I wanted to wait until she finished my custom big sis tote, created entirely from fat quarters from my personal stash. She promised she'd have it done before I went into the hospital to have my thyroid surgery, and when she makes a promise, she delivers!

But beyond the relationship we have as sisters, she is a truly talented quilter, and her work is phenomenal. The detail that she puts into her quilts is unparalleled. I feel truly blessed to have her work hanging on the walls of my home.

She is also an inspiration to me. She challenges me and encourages me with my own Etsy shop. We have challenged each other, along with a couple of friends, to try to list an item every day. That really helps to keep us focused on our businesses and keep our shops fresh and vibrant.

In her shop, she specializes in quirky, quilted items that you would never think of, like picture frames and greeting cards, as well as what you would expect, like hot pads and placemats. But even with these items, the workmanship is exquisite! Every detail is thought of ahead of time, and nothing is too small or trivial to be concerned with. I know that when I order something from Michelle, either from her shop or something custom, that when I receive it, I will be thrilled beyond words!

Fabulosity -- TJB Designs

2010-05-10T10:14:00.000-04:00

Now, I don't really sew, or knit, but I do crochet in the winter when I have time. I make a lot of hats and scarves and afghans. And I'm always losing count when I'm doing something that requires concentration. And that's why I need something from Tommye of TJB Designs on Etsy!

I "met" Tommye on Twitter, and immediately fell in love with her products. As a jewelry designer, I can appreciate her love of beads. But what's so fabulous about her is that she uses them in a completely unique way -- creating beaded scissor fobs; knitting, crocheting and cross stitch accessories; and beaded bookmarks. And I totally need more bookmarks, because I'm always dog-earring the page of my books, and I totally need scissor fobs because I can never find my scissors! But most of all, her things are just pretty to look at. Wouldn't you rather mark your place in your book with a beautiful bookmark instead of a scrap of paper?

Check out these beautiful items and you'll be sure to find something to make your life a little more beautiful!

Facebook Fan Page

2010-05-10T09:15:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally had a few free moments to start my Facebook Fan Page! It's a lot of work, because it takes forever to upload pictures to Facebook. But I'm very pleased with what I have so far. I'd love it for you to take a look and become a fan!

Stay blessed!
Kym

Fabulosity -- Glass River Jewelry

2010-05-03T10:37:00.002-04:00

I absolutely adore lampwork beads. They are all one of a kind, even if they're part of a set, because they are completely handmade. Etsy has quite a few lampwork artists, but I adore the work done with lampwork beads by Vicki, of Glass River Jewelry.

I asked her once if she creates any of the beads she uses herself, and she told me that she doesn't, but she finds them in a variety of places, including Etsy. But what she does with these beautiful handcrafted beads is truly remarkable! I love to browse her shop just to get inspiration for my own jewelry designs. Even though I haven't yet created anything with lampwork beads, outside of seasonal designs, their beauty calls to me. Looking at the amazing creations by Glass River Jewelry will open your mind and heart to the beauty and versatility of lampwork beads.

Stop by and check out all the beautiful jewelry created by Vicki -- you won't be disappointed!

ANNIVERSARY SALE

2010-05-02T22:56:00.007-04:00

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since I opened my Etsy shop! To celebrate, I'm having a month-long sale on everything in my shop, including the Clearance area. I'm offering a 15% discount on your ENTIRE PURCHASE, now through May 31, 2010! So stop by and shop now. And don't forget, all clearance merchan dise ships for FREE!

Fabulosity -- Braggin Rights Bath

2010-04-26T08:00:00.002-04:00

I have discovered that there are some many wonderfully talented artisans on Etsy, and they need to be recognized as such. So I've decided to share with you some of my favorites!

First up is Tracy, of Braggin' Rights Bath. I met Tracy though my sister and boy am I glad I did! She creates wonderful bath and body products that are to die for! So, for my birthday I treated myself to 3 fabulous soaps, Orange 'n Cream, Aloha Sugar Scrub, and Rose n' Passionfruit. The thing that is so wonderful about Tracy's soaps is that they are created using only the highest quality ingredients, including shea butter, goats milk and real fruit essence. She even uses grated orange peel and crushed almonds for their exfoliating benefits!

But my true joy didn't begin until I received these soaps -- ordered for myself as a birthday gift. They are truly luxurious in not only their lather and exfoliation, but also their moisturizing. And the scent is truly heavenly! My next purchase is definitely going to be her whipped body butters and a jar of fluffy fruity happiness -- foaming body parfait. Could you get more decadent? I also want some of her cupcake bath bombs, not that I ever have time to take a bath.

If you're ever in the market to treat yourself, you can't go wrong with Braggin' Bath -- she doesn't disappoint!

Playing with fire

2010-03-14T23:59:00.000-04:00

Well, I've been very busy these past couple of months. I've started selling my jewelry at another retail location here in Pittsburgh: Crafted Treasures, which is in Monroeville at 4366 Old William Penn Hwy. The first weekend of every month there's an open house during which everything is 10% off! Of course, the first weekend of April is Easter, so maybe not. :) But I've been doing very well there. I've been there since the beginning of February and I'm very pleased with what's been going on there. So if you're local, please stop by! :)

I've also been very busy on Etsy. I've been challenged by The Quilted House, Coco's Greenhouse, Just Ice Jewelry, and Braggin' Rights Bath to list an item a day. It's been a great way to force myself to be constantly productive, to keep my shop new and interesting, and make some great new friends! I've also joined my local team, Steel Town Etsy, which is fabulous, and the World Wide Etsy Sellers, which is a fabulously supportive group of people who tweet like fiends! :) I've been working very hard to get more visibility, which is hard since there's so many jewelry makers out there! :)

But my newest line of jewelry has forced me to learn a new skill: soldering. I've fallen in love with chains and instead of buying chain by the spool, I've been making my own with jumprings, which really gives me a lot of versatility. But in order to make them secure, I've got to solder them closed. I'm just wondering how long it will take me to realize that the jumprings are metal and they get hot as well as the soldering iron and the solder itself. I don't know how I'm typing with as many burns I have on my fingertips! :)

But I really am in love with the new stuff I've been doing. It really has a different energy than some of my other jewelry designs. It's lighter and more playful, which is really cool. And i've gotten a lot of really positive feedback from people about it, too. :)

New Year, New Ventures!

2010-02-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a busy year already for Heavenly Creations. I've been working really hard getting new jewelry made to sell at Crafted Treasures in Monroeville, PA. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, stop by! They're located at 4366 Old William Penn Hwy, so stop by and see all the wonderful, artisen crafted works! It's like a perpetual craft show, without the set up and tear down! My spot is right between the front doors, so you can't miss it! I am so blessed to have a handy husband who built beautiful displays for me. Thank you, Christopher! :)

Plus, this Saturday, Feb. 6, is the Valentine's Day Open House! From 10am til 6pm there will be 10% off all regular prices!

Be blessed!

Fun with Polymer Clay

2009-11-27T23:41:00.000-05:00

Well, lately I've been trying my hand at something new -- polymer clay. My first several batches burned rather quickly, but once I got my hands on an oven thermometer, I was all right. Polymer clay is a lot of fun! I love being able to make my own beads and pendants and create my own colors and designs.

Originally I wanted to make keychains using French beaded flowers, which were beautiful, but very time consuming and delicate, so they didn't ship well or handle well for daily use. But polymer clay, when baked, is much hardier, much more versatile, and much quicker to create with.

So I started making what I call key keepers -- beautiful polymer clay pendants on beaded leather cords that fasten around the handle of your bag or purse so that you always know where your keys are. Brilliant, right? :) I'm always losing my keys -- in my purse, in the house, in the car -- anywhere it's possible to lose your keys, I've done it. But of course since I've been making them, I've been selling them so fast that I don't have one yet! I guess I chose the perfect time to fall in love with polymer clay because at $10, they make perfect Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers! :) Even though they're only available in my shop in the star shape, I'm having so much fun creating different shapes and color combinations, they'll be around long after the holidays! :)

Be blessed!

Christmas Open House coming soon!

2009-11-10T11:54:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited for the Christmas Open House, sponsored by Audrey's Country Crafts! There are 13 shops participating, including Heavenly Creations, and we're all having great promos. There's also a giveaway from each of the 13 shops, so you have 13 chances to win! All the details will be available on Audrey's blog starting November 15th!

My giveaway is this beautiful red jasper and pearl bracelet perfect for the holidays or anytime! The perfect adornment to accompany your classic pearls with a dash of holiday flair. Sparkling crystal and sterling silver embellish the classic beauty of pearls with a hint of color.

And check my shop often because I'm working feverishly to get my shop ready for the open house and holiday shopping. I've got some great stuff coming! Also, if you're in the Pittsburgh area, check out Blossoms of Verona on Allegheny River Blvd for my sterling silver and 14K gold jewelry available there. It's truly exquisite

Be blessed!

Grand Re-Opening!

2009-11-09T15:12:00.000-05:00

I'm am so excited for the Grand Re-Opening of Blossoms of Verona! I delivered my first batch of sterling silver jewelry last week, and I'm working feverishly to get my gold jewelry done so I can deliver it by Thursday. The Grand Re-Opening is on Saturday, November 14th all day, and they've got prizes planned for every hour, so if you're in the Pittsburgh area, stop by and check it out! They're at 733 Allegheny River Blvd, in Verona, PA.

I've also got an online open house coming up, from November 15th through the 30th. Check out the other Etsy shops that're participating at Audrey's Country Crafts. Or you can click on the Christmas Open House button on the right side of my blog! I'll be giving away a beautiful flower key chain with every purchase of $15 or more, and each shop is donating an item for a big give away! Check back for more info, because you don't want to miss this!

Be blessed!

I haven't forgotten my shop! :)

2009-10-20T21:13:00.000-04:00

I've been really busy getting ready to deliver my inventory to Blossoms of Verona, but I haven't forgotten my etsy shop! I just posted two new necklaces, which I absolutely adore. They're both really long--over 50 inches--and can be worn single, doubled or tripled! I personally like them tripled, because I like to have all the color and interest by my face, but I love the flexibility in these two.

You'd think my design area was outside with all the fall colors in the Golden Glass, Jasper and Red Agate necklace. It's probably one of my favorites. I love fall colors all year round, so this would work for me summer, winter, fall or spring!

The Slate Agate, Amazonite and Pearl necklace is just divine. I love the combination of the smoky black and midnite blue in the slate agate combined with the coolness of the amazonite and the sophistication of the freshwater pearls. Perfect for anytime!

Be blessed!

My Camera

2009-10-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Over the summer, we were out on our boat on the Allegheny River and my camera fell in. Luckily I have a husband who loves me (and can swim), so he jumped in to get it for me. Talk about going above and beyond the call of duty! I took the camera home and dried it out and miraculously it works! The only catch is that it only likes to take good pictures outside in natural light. That was awesome when I first discovered how to take good pics over the summer. We were at our campsite or out in the back yard all summer. Now that it's really cold (it snowed this morning and they're forecasting a snow/rain mixture all weekend), it's much more a labor of love. The things we do for our art *smile*

But I'm really excited about my new designs. I can't wait until I take them to Blossoms of Verona! I love working with sterling silver. It really adds a new dimension to my work. But I'm still doing things with silver and gold plated findings as well, mainly for my etsy shop.

I found a miniature dress form at a rummage sale at my church recently, and she's perfect for displaying the beautiful necklaces I've been making. I just wish I had more than one!

Be blessed!

A new direction...

2009-10-14T16:31:00.000-04:00

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged here. My etsy shop is doing well, and I've been doing some custom orders, which is always fun. But my biggest news is the upcoming placement of my jewelry at Blossoms of Verona!

I was selling my jewelry at a flea market in Penn Hills when I was approached by Cathy, who owns Blossoms of Verona. She loved my jewelry and wanted to have it in her shop. They've just moved to a larger location and I'm very excited about being there! Their new location has a really great energy and I've got lots of great ideas on the new designs I want to showcase there!

I started out with all sterling silver. I personally love silver. It's pretty much all I wear. And I love the delicacy of it. But I also love combining it with big nuggets to contrast the delicacy with raw elementality. I'm also trying some new techniques that I've seen other people do that I really like. It's fun to play with color and figure out what works. I also plan to do some 14k gold and some bridal designs. They are, after all a flower shop *smile*. When I think of flowers, I think of weddings, funerals and Sunday services. I'm wondering if I could market myself as a "one-stop shop" -- I could design your wedding jewelry, do your hair for you and the wedding party, and then sing the service :)

I've long been of the opinion that you need to see my jewelry to really appreciate it. Even with my improved photography skills my photos aren't true representations of my designs. So I'm glad that I have an opportunity to really showcase my work in an arena where they'll be appreciated and enjoyed.

Their grand re-opening is in November, but my jewelry will be there starting October 25th. Even though they've just moved into the new space they're open for business doing weddings and church altar decorations and just general flower sales. I'm really excited about this opportunity and I'll keep you updated about it as time goes on.

Be blessed!

fianlly...more jewelry smile

2009-05-29T14:42:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been a busy little beaver this past week, making jewelry in preparation for the Car Cruise at the Donut Shack, 13041 Frankstown Rd. , here in Penn Hills on Sunday, 5/31. If you're in the area, stop by *smile*. I'll be there from noon until around 5 or so. The weather's supposed to be great, so we should have a great turnout.

I'm excited to say that I made my first sale at my Etsy shop (HeavenlyCreationsPgh.etsy.com). Someone snapped up these fabulous chandelier earrings. Now I need to design a necklace and maybe a bracelet to complete the set. *smile*

I love chandelier earrings. I love the way they clink together and sway as you move. And I love the challenge of making them exciting without being excessive. The possibilities are endless *smile*

I"ve also been doing a lot more sets, with either bracelet and earrings, or bracelet, earrings and necklace.

And in the case of this fabulous olive jade set, there's 3 different earrings to choose from. I'm working on a bracelet to go with them as well, but the beads aren't speaking to me right now *smile*.

If you see something you like, you can email me at HeavenlyCreationsPgh@yahoo.com. There's always more, but some of them just look better in real life than in pictures.

Enjoy! And I hope to see some of you at the Car Cruise on Sunday!

Heavenly Creations Pgh

2009-05-20T22:46:00.000-04:00

...it all started with headbands. Seriously. I have a big head, and I was tired of having heachaches, so I started making beaded headbands that are adjustable so they'd fit my head and I fell in love with beads. So I decided to try to sell my creations so that I can support my habit *smile*. I set myself up on Etsy (HeavenlyCreationsPgh.etsy.com), but I'll post things here as well. Here I'll be able to post everything I've created and if you see something you like, let me know *smile*

These are some of my favorite earrings. I love the color combination of green & blue.

i also love this olive green by itself. I found this fabulous jade at Fire Mountain Gems, and just couldn't resist. It's so soft and buttery to feel, but has a really nice solid feel to it. A little heavy for earrings with the larger pieces, but I just couldn't resist. The beads speak to me *smile*.

That's it for now. I've got more to come, so keep checking back *smile*. And let me know what you think. I appreciate your comments *smile*.

Heavenly Creations Pgh

I Love Craftopolis!

Rhino Snorting Drano

What color is your personality?

Time for Vacation?

Stolen Thoughts

Each one teach one...

Technical Difficulties

Spring is Springing!

And the winner is...

Final Day!

Finding my Audience

Happy Birthday to Me, part 2 :)

Craft vs Art

Pants Purses for Everyone!

Happy Birthday to Me! :)

Breaking Bread & Hammering Metal

My new schtick

Where has the time gone?

Fabulosity -- Jabecca Designs

Fabulosity -- Judy's Designs

Fabulosity -- Daydreem Designs

Something new

Fabulosity -- Wudl's Woodshop

Fabulosity -- Maudies

Fabulosity -- Buy Her Beads

Fabulosity -- The Quilted House

Fabulosity -- TJB Designs

Facebook Fan Page

Fabulosity -- Glass River Jewelry

ANNIVERSARY SALE

Fabulosity -- Braggin Rights Bath

Playing with fire

New Year, New Ventures!

Fun with Polymer Clay

Christmas Open House coming soon!

Grand Re-Opening!

I haven't forgotten my shop! :)

My Camera

A new direction...

fianlly...more jewelry *smile*

Heavenly Creations Pgh

fianlly...more jewelry smile