"No One Sold What I Wanted To Wear"

Enjoy Electric Penguin's story about how she got started creating her unique pieces of art and stop by and check out her Etsy shop!! http://www.electricpenguin.etsy.com/ .

"I started the way many people have – no one sold what I wanted to wear! I’ve always been the crafty type, as in I can paint/modify/improve that. Drives my family crazy!! So when the necklace I was looking for didn’t exist, I headed off to the craft store, bought the supplies and made it myself. One necklace led to two, then some simple earrings, stretchy bracelets, how-to websites, jewelry design books, etc., etc., etc. And here I am now, sharing my creations with the world!"

by Electric Penguin
I try to be totally unique, creative, and cool, and create pieces that I would wear. And I am NOT a sparkly kind of girl, so my creations are more earthy and natural. Inspiration strikes at the oddest times - walking through the mall, brushing my teeth, and especially boring work meetings. I always come out of them with many little drawings of ideas!

My workspace is my kitchen counter, with the overflow taking over the dining room table. Supplies are stored in the china cabinet. Plastic organizer boxes hold beads sorted by type and color. Findings are similarly separated. The storage system has gone through quite a few changes, but this is working best for me... at the moment. My organization suggestion is be flexible! Experiment with what suits your design needs best and don't be surprised when you have to change it to make that happen.

Stop by and check out Electric Penguin!! http://www.electricpenguin.etsy.com/

"Balance Myself by Creating"

Check out Lilzo's lovely etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilzo and her "Promotion Giveaway" - with a purchase of any two pairs of earrings from Lilzo, you'll get one felt item of your choice from the picture below!

Hi! My name is Jacqueline, but I go by Lilzo. I'm half Chinese and half white, and I live in California, although one day I'd like to live in either NYC or Shanghai, China.

If I'm not creating jewelry, I'm probably either studying, dancing, or training at the combat club. I have kind of a hectic schedule with everything I do, but I always make time to balance myself by creating, whether it's polymer clay, baking, or of course, jewelry. My designs aren't planned, but I keep a file of images that inspire me and that helps my ideas get flowing. A lot of my work is done late at night, when everything is quiet and I can relax.

I'm a friendly & outgoing person, and I run my shop as an efficient but lighthearted and inviting enterprise. Feel free to contact me anytime through Etsy's convo system, and I hope you enjoy my work. =)
x Lilzo x

"Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History "

Enjoy a visit to Golden Pond Studio http://www.etsy.com/shop/GoldenPondStudio

where you will find unique hancrafted jewelry just for you!

by Golden Pond Studio
I have always loved jewelry for as long I as I can remember. I have always wanted to be a volcanologist... well since 3rd grade... before that I wanted to be a marine biologist; needless to say I was a very odd child. I was always picking up rocks and toting them home. Instead of playing at the playground I would look in the gravel they had on it for hidden "treasures". Starting around Jr. year of high school I found a great little shop in the town where I worked at the time. It was a bead supply and jewelry shop. You can imagine what happened next.. yup thats right I found out that I can make great jewelry with my amazing little "treasures" that I had collected over the years. Ever since that day I have never been able to get enough of it.. I love all types of designs and all types of mediums. My personal favorite is of course stones and natural items but I am really starting to expand my wirework.

I got my business name because of the pond at my moms house. The neighbor boy saw that some feeder goldfish got thrown out to die and he tried to save them by putting them in our pond. Well save them he did. It just so happens feeder goldfish are a low oxygen carp and guess what kind of pond we have, thats right a low oxygen pond. My family is now the proud owers of hundreds of feeder goldfish is all colors and sizes.

I started my business by making jewelry for the people I worked with and it grew from there. What was once a way to make money on the side is now my full fledged business trying to make it out in the big wide world. I recently just started to sell on etsy after a lot of prodding for my wonderful and understanding man, Wes. He always believes in my talent and that I really do offer a great and unique quality of work that isn't often seen. (he even helps with designs sometimes)

I have been making jewelry now for aobut 4 years. I am always trying new techniqes. I love to learn whether its a new wire work skill or my love of useless trivia (for example.... the fastest flying bird in level flight is the Swift yet the fastest diving bird is the Perrigin Falcon :O)
Right now my favorite things to work with would be copper and pearls I just love the color combinations.

Im constantly asked, how do you make that , or where do you come up with that... and the answers really suprise most people. I draw my inspiration for new designs from literally everything. My dog .. tv shows, movies, sayings, pictures.. you name it...but a great fail safe for me is my dog Gudio. See photo .. he never lacks any excitement or energy... you can thank him for quite a few of my designs :O)

I hopefully will be in business still when I am 90 because I truly do love to design and make unique pieces for others to enjoy. I find my inspiration for many of my desings from everyday things... while on a walk or playing with my dog, or just hanging out with my family or my guy. The world is endless when it comes to new ideas to design into jewelry.

I'm not the one to ask for organization ideas... my beading space is where ever I am :O) But I know a fun one for packing bracelets for travel... is using a paint roller pad because its soft and helps protect them from moving around.Well that is enough about me I will leave you with my favorite quote " well behaved women seldom make history ". Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Hey, I’ve got cement . . . . I’ve got time. . . .I should try this!!!

Have a peek at Anne's handmade creations from her Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/EverLastingLeaves.

"These beautiful representations were created with the thought of enhancing your gardens and yards with ornamentation, either nestled amongst the plants for surprise and delight, for use as birdbaths, butterfly feeders or hanging on a fence, wall or shed alone or in groups for a unique decor."

by  EverLasting Leaves

My name is Anne and I make concrete leaves ;)It all started with a leftover bag of mortar and a boring afternoon, then visiting a friends garden I heard 'do you believe the size of those rhubarb?'. I had always wanted to try making concrete leaves and having just recently become unemployed, all of a sudden it hit me. . . ‘Hey, I’ve got cement . . . . I’ve got time. . . .I should try this!!!’

Actually the story is just a bit different, I bought the bag of mortar to fix the chimney and before I even got up on the roof I had made several leaves and had to go buy more mortar to do the chimney before I made more leaves. . . . . lots more leaves.

My buddies said they were all gorgeous and suggested I sell them, so I did.....but I really make concrete leaves more for the love of nature and preserving Mother Natures creations via my creations. I love the rustic, rough and hairy leaves with deep veins rather than the smoother leaves.

Each leaf is cast in cement and sand with feet leveled, wire loops imbedded for hanging and cured for 14 days to strengthen the concrete. A mix of acrylic hues are applied in layered washes to highlight the patterns of veining. A hot application of pure beeswax saturates into the surface of the leaf front and back to give the hues depth and tonality as well as protecting the colors and concrete. I was so glad to discover this sealant as I endeavor to avoid using chemical products.

The learning, development and improving of the process is what most intrigued me, being an engineer by nature. Finding that I had created beautiful works of art just floored me having wanted to be an artist as a kid. The creativity of melding artistry and engineering has been extremely satisfying to me in my 50th year of life, an affirmation of my accumulated skills and the satiation of desires long hidden coming to fruition.

When I am not making leaves I love to read and research, both online and in the library, as I am insatiably curious. I am an avid water gardener playing with both miniature lillys and filtration systems. I have 2 rescued dogs, 12yo Libby the Aussie and 3yo Rascal the Std. Poodle, and we love to run, walk and ski the trails I cut on my 15 acres of land. I love to try and fix almost anything mechanical having rebuilt my 30yo John Deere Lawn & Garden tractor and fixing just about everything that needs it around the house. I also love to sew, knit and make chocolate candy.....I am a renaissance woman and a tomboygirl foreever :)

A Passion For Fashion & Accessories

I loved hearing about the story behind the name of Valerie's lovely Etsy shop "My Little Bow"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlebow. She shares her story...

 Why mylittlebow?

"The name came naturally to me one day while I was sewing a bow tie for my fiancé (now husband), so as to acessorize his “costume” for our photoshoot and I thought, wouldn’t everybody need something like a bow, a piece of something that can spice up your wardrobe or clothes! So mylittlebow was born, offering you apparel to spruce up your closet and accessories to add some zest to your clothes!"

by My Little Bow

Hi Everyone!
I am Valerie from the small sunny island of Singapore! Always passionate about fashion and accessories, I started making things since I was a teen! I love colours, flowers, birds and nature, thus much of them are reflected in the accessories I make! Of course, they are all made with premium materials and handmade with love!

I started out making accessories for fun, but eventually, with the encouragement of family and friends, decided to offer them to the public! I also love fashion, thus my online store http://mylittlebow.com carries apparel as well. However, I have decided to place a small collection of accessories on Etsy, hoping that someone out in other parts of the world would also love my art!

I believe that the love for pretty things is found in every girl and I hope to share my passion and creation with the rest of the world!

Thanks for the opportunity to share thereddoor!!!
 
My Blog: http://mylittlebow.com/blog
My Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Singapore-Singapore/mylittlebow/198104227596
My Twitter: http://twitter.com/mylittlebow
My Mailing List: http://mylittlebow.com/mailing-list

I've Lost Much Time Dreaming

Jimena enjoys spending quality time dreaming about her creations (don't we all!) and making handmade pieces with love! Visit her whimsical Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/monstersncuties.

by Monsters and Cuties

Hi, my name is Jimena, and I'm from Mexico.

I love to create!!
All my pieces are hand made, They take love, time & effort.

Monsters & Cuties is about everything adorable, cute, unique, indie...

Recently I've introduce the geekery section on my etsy shop, there you can find some representative geek pieces, now I have android items like pillows and phone covers.

The results make me so happy.
I'm a geek too, love computers, gadgets and all it!
For my plushies I use polar fleece, I don't like felt very much.
For the wallets and other wearables I use cotton fabrics as much as possible.
All new materials. My creations are the result of hours dreaming, I like to imagine as much before I take the fabric, I've lost much time dreaming! (LOL)
Now I only sale through Etsy, and iIm trying to make Monsters & Cuties as my real Job.

Follow me on twitter as @monstersncuties

Please visit my new blog in http://monstersncuties.blogspot.com/
And pls pls!! don't forget to stop in my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/monstersncuties/

Find Beauty Everywhere

Enjoy a visit to Erin's Etsy shop Sunken Garden Beads http://www.etsy.com/shop/sunkengardenbeads where you will find her beautiful jewelry that is amazingly photographed. Erin loves photographing her pieces and explains that "photography is a passion of mine and I've grown to love photographing my jewelry almost as much as making it."

by Sunken Garden Beads
Hello, my name is Erin and I'm a slightly OCD 19-year-old who designs her own jewelry. Some other activities I love are reading scary novels, macro photography, playing video games with my fiance and learning Japanese. I'm taking jewelry design classes at my local community college so I can add new techniques and ideas to my shop often.

My jewelry is inspired by many things, from abstract art to poetry to aquatic plant life. I also like to play around with different combinations of gemstones and wire wrapping designs.

 I create my pieces either in my art studio at school or while sitting crosslegged on my bedroom floor with beads and tools strewn all around me. :)

I'm a detail-oriented person who finds beauty everywhere and in the strangest places. I love jewelry design because it allows me to transfer the secret surprises of nature around me into a permanent object that can be displayed and admired on the body.

Create Artsy Upcycled Home Décor

Jessica has some lovely one of a kind treaures to share in her eco-friendly Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecofriendlyfreckles. "Everyone treasures a gift that gives back to Mother Nature."

by EcoFriendly Freckles

Greetings! My name is Jessica Woody; I am a soon to be 22 year old twin to my dearest sister and best-friend Andrea. I live in Bixby, Oklahoma on a miniature horse ranch with my wonderful husband, Joe, and our three charming cats: Magnum (magnificent long haired golden boy), Buster (sassy and overweight- short haired golden boy), and Nozomi (elegant Persian Flame Point Siamese girl)…the miniature horses and our kitties all have such funny personalities and brighten everyday! I love nurturing nature and I have a profound passion for recycling and transforming steel and tin cans into little hand-painted, decoupage masterpieces!

I create my upcycled decoupage canisters by selecting and cutting desired magazine clippings, yogi tea tags, and fortune cookie messages and arranging them in a complementary pattern to produce a one-of-a-kind theme and story. My living room has the perfect ambiance for me to be comfortable and inspired to be creative. I have a desk here that Joe and I share which is where I open a window and paint glossy Mod Podge on my canisters; this is also where I do my online marketing and update my Etsy shop and blog. Also in the living room, I have a comfy blue chair where I sort through my magazine clippings box, glue on images, and paint the tiny white freckles. I love the look of the white freckles on a glossy black background it creates a very stunning appearance as well as a fun texture. These little white freckles are on every canister I create and they embody my signature look, which is how I came up with my Etsy shop name: “Eco-Friendly Freckles”.

I currently work at Akins Natural Foods Market and I love studying about natural health, herbology, and aromatherapy in my free time, as well as nurturing our organic heirloom garden. This year Joe and I would love to set up a table at one of our local Farmer’s Markets! Aside from being a creative crafter, I also enjoy yoga, cooking, camping, biking, picnicking, long walks and talks, going to art galleries, bed and breakfasts, thrift stores, yard sales, antique shops, and mom-and-pop restaurants.

My dream is to show the world that it is possible to create something beautiful and functional out of recycled materials. I have discovered how to create artsy upcycled home décor that can contain small treasures, candles, and even pens and pencils! I love to keep my personal favorite creations filled with little individually wrapped dark chocolates: my guilty pleasure! ;-)
 

Found Objects Made New

Enjoy a visit to the lovely Etsy shop Queen G Designs http://www.etsy.com/shop/queenginya

 where you are sure to find beautiful "found objects made new"!

by Queen G Designs

Even as a kid I always found putting things together far more interesting than buying them finished. The first necklace I ever made was from a melted piece of tail light from my brothers wrecked car, I was 4. Since them, my tastes have evolved somewhat, but my sensibilities have not. Most weekends you can find me haunting the thrift stores, antique malls and flea markets looking for unwanted, unloved and unshiney items to incorporate into something amazing.

 As corny as it sounds I try to let the item tell me what it wants to be; an escutcion becomes a bracelet or an antique button becomes a key chain. I also try to include real stones in my pieces. The use of real stones give my pieces a bit more gravity, more reality, more authenticity.

I also try never to force a project...too many times I see pieces that are just slapped together. I may never have a lot of things in my shop, but each piece is thought out. I have been known to completely tear a piece apart after I take the picture because it didn't say what I wanted to say. I also love each piece and would keep them all if I could.

I joined ETSY last year but didn't post anything till January. I knew I liked my jewelry, but would anyone else??? I bombarded my friends on Facebook for their opinions and posted pictures every time I added new pieces. I try to post new pieces every few days, to keep the line fresh. I am looking for new ways to promote my shop and am thinking of having home parties. I had a small group of friends over and they brought all their broken jewelry and grandma's buttons. Everyone walked out with a beautiful new piece and had a great time! Of course, the sangria didn't hurt!

I hope to have great success on ETSY, but even if I never make much money, I love doing what I am doing and hope you all love it too.