Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Melissa's Jewelry and Gems

It's Tuesday, which means it's time to support on of my On Fire for Handmade Teammates in a Blog Blast - and this week, I'd love to introduce you to the lovely work of Melissa Ruede. I'd love it if you would take a few minutes to visit her shop and browse through her collection of jewelry, art, home decor items, and accessories!

Featured Artisan on

Share the Love

Blogger's Unite

The Featured Artisan this week for Share the Love... Blogger's Unite is Melissa Ruede - Melissas Jewelry and Gems!
Melissa is married, a mother of two children, ages 7 and 3. She is also a part time nurse, as well as being an avid gemstone collector, and jewelry maker.  She has some Beautiful Creations in her Shop.
Stop by Melissa's Shops to see all of her Beautiful Creations!






You can Find Melissas Jewelry and Gems on:








Grab the Code for your Blog HERE.
You can also learn more about the On Fire for Handmade Group by visiting their website here!

Monday, October 15, 2012

This Magic Moment...

This magic moment is brought to you by the creative spirit of the universe through the talents of some fantastic artists and artisans on Etsy.

The world of magic and mystery is a world shrouded in the gossamer veil of the unknown.  It's a place of the mind and spirit, unfettered by the trappings of the "normal" world of everyday consciousness.  It's a world of ancient knowledge, mystical practices, and the unexplainable... a world where illusion is reality, and the impossible is the probable.  It calls upon an ages old energy, reminding us of all that was, that is still, and will ever be.

It appeals to that tiny little part of us, that innocent and accepting child in all of us, that remembers what we were before we became ourselves... and it is, well... magical!

The World Beyond print 8 x 10 by TwigStudioArt

Wizard Figurine Sculpture in Blown Glass with Amethyst Crystal by ProchaskaGallery

Ancient Magick Potion Bottle Vessel with Metal Stand . Amber by WhiteMagickAlchemy


Dragonfly Fairy Door by ClayByKim

Santas Magic Key For Our Home With No Chimney Sign by AppalachianPrimitive


Harry Potter Style Bocote Wooden Magic Wand by MagicalAlley

Etched Copper Cuff - Alchemical Symbols by JamieSpinello

Kundalini Energy Amulet by EarthAmulets

Mardi Gras Mask by PalmStreetStudio

Enter - Doorway to Nowhere Photo Print by EyePoetryPhotography

Hope your day is filled with enough magic and mystery to make it memorable!  Blessings ~


Sunday, October 14, 2012

All Felt Up

Wet felting, needle felting, Nuno felting, machine felting, mixed media felting... if you're not familiar with the terms, you might more easily recognize the results because all of these techniques turn familiar fiber into fabulous works of art.

I love the effect that felting produces and I think these beautiful items will easily illustrate why - Enjoy!

Needle Felted Dachshund Pet Sculpture by YanArt

Needle Felted Angels Playing Violin, Lute by ClaudiaMari

Nesting Bowls - Felted Wool - Shades of Blue by PapaverVert

Orchid Color Wool Felted Coasters with Queen Anne's Lace by SusieToos

Mermaid Nuno Felt Scarf by FolkOwl

Mixed fiber journal quilt : Wetland Frenzy by KarineWeiss

Felted Soap H2O ( White Tea and Ginger ) by SoFino

Felted Gnome and Mushrooms by MarysMakings

Mixed Media Felted Vest by DreamWeavingDesigns

Fantasy Art Felted Bag by filcant

Waldorf Inspired Needle Felted Fairy Tale/ Wool Picture: The Fairy with Baby by MagicWool

Felted Wool Clogs by WoolenClogs

Needle Felted Meerkat by darialvovsky

Ahh... if only money were no object for me - I'd own one of each! How about you? Did you have a favorite? Please share!

Have a blessed Sunday...

Saturday, October 13, 2012

They Sell Seashells...


As I sit here, looking around my office/studio with its coastal theme, there's no doubt that the ocean has a special appeal to me.  I've always been fascinated by water and the many types of marine life it holds. In fact, at one point, I considered a career as an oceanographer, inspired by the voyages of the Calypso and the work of Jacques Cousteau as he led expeditions to explore the depths of our planet's oceans.  I didn't actually get to see the ocean until I was well into my 30s, and a walk along a beach, picking up shells and exploring tidal pools is still one of my favorite ways to spend a day. 

Seashells are one of life's little pleasures, and as my grandchildren can attest to, I have a lot of them.  Okay, maybe not quite as many as I once had, thanks to said grandchildren sharing my love of them and almost always leaving with a new piece from my collection to call their own. I love seashells... what can I say?  These little bits of calcium (with just the smallest amount of protein thrown in) are beautiful reminders of the artistry of natural life, once having formed the exoskeleton of animals who have perfected a way of creating and enlarging a shelter for themselves through a relatively simple process.  Human architects and engineers should be so talented!

The beauty of these shells is not lost on artistic minds... and their use of shells to inspire, adorn and decorate continues to produce beautiful, imaginative, and even functional pieces of art... I invite you to explore these seashell finds!

Seashell Wreath in Pink and White from JustShellin

Watercolor Seashell Note Cards Set of 8 by SusanWindsor

Seashell Table Lamp by EastVillageArtisans

White Spiny Oyster Seashell Frame

Sterling Silver Gilded Seashell Necklace - Siren's Song from MysticWynd

Seashell Pillow by CoastalSeasons

The Mermaid's Dream Seashell Box by SuziesSeashellWorld

Seashell Soap Collection by EsscentsSoap

Starfish and Seashell Bouquet/Boutonierre Set by SLYCreations

Lovely, aren't they?  I hope you liked them and that you'll take a moment to visit these shops to see all of the wonderful things you can find! I'll be back tomorrow with some felted fashion accessories, so be sure to stop back by. Until then... have a blessed day!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Cooling Off Period

I've been hearing about "first frosts" from a lot of my family and friends over the past week... Brrr... I guess it IS that time of year for most of us though (although, it's pretty rare to get a hard frost here in the Valley of the Sun).  Cooler weather means it's time to start anticipating colder weather though - those days when you want to stay warm wrapped up in comfortable (and beautiful!) - accessories like hand knit or crocheted hats, scarves, shawls, earwarmers, legwarmers, mittens, and gloves.

Luckily for you, I know a LOT of knitters and crocheters who would love to have you as a customer!  Today, I'm sharing the work of some of my friends and teammates whose lovely work is perfect for keeping you warm on those frosty days - and perfect for upcoming holiday gift giving.  Without further ado, enjoy these fabulous accessory finds!


OakliesFashions is a great shop filled with a beautiful assortment of hand knit and crocheted fashion accessories and jewelry.  I love this "Winter Skies" Ruffled Scarf, but there are so many other great finds there, it was really hard narrowing it down!







I've known Anne Quinn of HatsByAnne1942 for a few years now thanks to Etsy.  A retired teacher, Anne considers herself an "Artist with Yarn".  Self taught in the art of crochet, she develops her own patterns and as you can see in this lovely orange hat and scarf set, she's still a very good teacher, even if she is her only pupil now!

You can tell that Christy over at PoppyandPurl likes to have fun with her hand knit hat designs.  While she offers a great selection of "regular" accessories, you'll also find some adorable fruit and veggie hats available in both adult and children sizes.
Don't like to wear hats, but hate having your ears get cold?  Worn by skiers for years, wide headbands like this Crocheted Sage Headband from MariesCrochetCorner are a great alternative. You'll also find a wide assortment of other crocheted accessories for everyone from newborns to grandparents and everyone in between.
Sometimes even when you're indoors and out of the cold, it's still a bit chilly - especially in those office environments that can be quite drafty. A stylish shawl is the perfect way to hold in some body heat! I came across this Olive Green, Blue, and White Shawl from Yarn Pumpkin - love the colors and the breathability of the weave. Prefer a different color or weave - you'll find a great selection of options at this shop!
I still love to wear mittens in winter weather, so when I ran across this lovely pair of Hand Knit Mittens in Aubergine from designbcb, I knew I wanted to include them in today's post. I think mittens are comfortable and cozy, and yeah, I just like the way they bring out the little kid in me!

How cute are these Santa Inspired Red Fingerless Gloves from SibelDesign?  So perfect for keeping your hands and wrists warm and your fingers free to do finer movements, these adorable gloves would be perfect to wear anywhere, and you'd be showing your fun-loving holiday spirit as well!
Legwarmers continue to be a fashionable accessory since they were introduced as a way for dancers and aerobics enthusiasts to keep their legs warm and prevent muscle cramps back in the 80s. These stylish red legwarmers by NATgirona combine knitting with crochet trim for a beautifully warm design.
Have a favorite team, business name, club, or nickname?  Now you can have it displayed proudly in a Custom Beanie by fibremom.  Wouldn't it be cool to have matching caps for that next family ski trip or that backwoods hike of your nature photography club? Of course you'll find a great variety of other accessories available there too!

Keep your look neat and tidy with a fabulous neckwarmer like this Hand Knit Cranberry Red Chunky Neckwarmer from FoxyGKnits. Stylish, comfortable and easy to put on, these are ideal when you want the warmth of a scarf without the length.






Of course this is just a small sampling of the wonderful variety of handknit and crocheted accessories you can find on Etsy, Artfire, or any of the other handmade marketplaces.  Buying handmade is a wonderful way to support small businesses and we all know how important that is these days!

Happy Shopping - and Blessings!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Creative Costumes

Halloween costumes are getting more amazing every year.  When I was little, we had those tacky costumes with the thin hard plastic masks and the one piece how-do-I-get-into-this-without-ripping it jumpsuits.  The other option was typically some burnt cork smudged on your face to give the effects of being a hobo or a football player.  I usually opted for some old clothes or fabric scraps out of the storage trunks in the basement - and while they never fit right, they were perfect for creating everything from a pilgrim to a nun to a Japanese geisha girl.

Today's kids (and adults) have a bazillion more options, and I'm happy to share some of my favorite costume finds from Etsy here with you today.  Even if you haven't decided on what to dress up your little munchkins (or yourself) as for trick-or-treat night yet, there are still shops that are accepting orders and shipping adorable costumes. Maybe you'll find the perfect costume today! Enjoy!


Robin Hood, The Huntsman from Snow White, Link from Zelda - whatever you decide, this costume from arainydayplay will work perfectly!


One of my favorites for sheer cuteness appeal, dress up your toddler this sack of potatoes costume from TatersPlace.  Chances are good, it'll be an instant hit and definitely the only one in the neighborhood!

Sushi costumes continue to be one of the latest crazes in Halloween attire.  Your baby or toddler will look good enough to eat in this Baby Sushi Costume from TheWishingElephant.


TheCostumeCafe is still serving up some adorable Halloween costumes for infants and toddlers too.  I think this Strawberry costume is not only enchanting, but it's made to fit comfortably over clothes so your little one will be cute and warm on that often nippy Halloween evening.


Your young guy or girl can be a little geeky, a little scary, and a whole lot of unique in one of the costume capes from pipandbean.  My favorite is this Deep Sea Angler Fish costume!



This too-cute "Cornucopia" Scarecrow Halloween Costume by fwcreations4all is just one version of a time honored favorite that is still available and perfect for a country themed Halloween party or event!


Tutu dress costumes continue to be popular and the AGNUS The Witch Halloween Costume Tutu Dress Set from taddletellshop includes a dress, hat and broom so you won't have to hunt them down separately.


I haven't forgotten the adults!  This Bat Girl Corseted Halloween Costume from TheBohemianGoddess is fabulous - and today, for one day only (10/11/2012), it's on sale!

Calling all Dr Who fans!  Pay homage to your favorite doctor's favorite way to travel through time and space with this fantastic Doctor Who TARDIS Dress from repurposefulPUNK.


Can't forget about our furbabies, of course.  How about dressing up your cat or pooch in this fun-tastic Terracotta Terrier Chia Pet Dog Halloween Costume from LupitasChicBoutique? Love it!







Whatever you dress up as, or dress your little ones up as, be sure to have a safe, happy Halloween!  Happy Shopping - and blessings...

Related Posts with Thumbnails