Congratulations Valentine Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to my

Valentine Blog Giveaway Winner...

Amanda!

She will receive the lovely vintage glass heart ring.

For more affordable and beautiful vintage button rings, visit my Etsy shop

http://www.afternoongarden.etsy.com/.

Hello to all of my new followers and wonderful friends who have been a follower of my blog for some time. Stop by my blog often for more chances to win a giveaway from my shop and other wonderful Etsy shops!

Where The Grass is Greener

 Visit Renee's lovely Etsy Shops http://www.etsy.com/shop/WheretheGrassisGreen and http://www.etsy.com/shop/Countrytagsale where you are sure to find charming one-of-a-kind gifts.

Find vintage items that were altered or embellished to create an elegant country cottage chic look.

By Renee Houston Zemanski

I am a writer and an artist (I’ve waited a long time to add that artist title, but I feel that I have finally earned it). I am passionate about creating one-of-a-kind art, antiquing, writing, photography and my family. My little Etsy shop, “Where the Grass is Greener,” is where I sell my art. I take ordinary objects, purchased at antique stores, flea markets and tag sales to create unique works of art for people’s homes. I also have an Etsy vintage shop called “Country Tag Sale.” That’s where I sell the vintage findings that I can’t bear to take apart and repurpose.

I love the thrill of the hunt for old things that can be recycled or upcycled. Basically, I see potential in other people's junk. The best part of finding vintage items is researching the history behind each item; I learn something every day and I love to share those stories when I can.

I began my business refurbishing and hand-painting furniture when I had a large studio to work in and store things. I recently lost my studio space, so now I’m concentrating on much smaller works of art (much easier to ship, too). While I have an office for writing, the back of my (very long) closet/laundry room serves as my little art studio – this tends to spread out to the rest of the house, though. The absolute best part of working on my own is the flexibility it allows me so I can spend time with my kids when they need me.

I’ve always been creative (or at least that’s what my friends and family tell me). My dad is very handy and my mom and sister are both artistic – my sis has a jewelry shop on Etsy, staciejewelry.

I have two Etsy stores, a blog and a website for my furniture (furniture that I am trying to sell so I can park my car this winter). Stop by my blog and say “hello.”

Blog at: http://wherethegrassisgreener-rz.blogspot.com/

Website: http://web.me.com/rzemanski/Where_The_Grass_is_Greener/Welcome.html


Etsy shops:
Where The Grass is Greener: http://www.etsy.com/shop/wherethegrassisgreen
Country Tag Sale: http://www.etsy.com/shop/countrytagsale

My Teeny Tiny Apartment

Please be sure to drop by Jacqueline's lovely jewelry shop on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/JacquelineJewelry where you are sure to find handmade and original pieces.

by JacquelineJewelry

I am excited to be selling my jewelry on Etsy. I live in New York, NY and work in my teeny tiny apartment on a folding tv table and sitting on my bed. I have jewelry materials all over my apartment, but have made everything ship shape by making my storage and projects part of my decor.

I work in sterling silver, gemstones, Czech glass, as well as copper and fabric. All of my work is one-of-a-kind, but I do take commissions as long as I am given the creative freedom to add my personality to each piece.



My designs are based on my observations of the inter-relationships of materials and color. I have explored many different concepts over the years, from the ideas of impermanence and transience to the concept of the preciousness and sacredness of the everyday. Still, I want to create pieces that are accessible to a wide audience, and hope the forms and materials I use will appeal to people on many different levels. Treating each piece as an individual work of wearable art, I create timeless jewelry meant for day into evening wear.

I have had careers in production pottery, graphic design and industrial design with a sidetrack into computer programming early on. Ever since I can remember, art and craft in some shape or form has been my passion. I am a graduate of The College of Ceramics at SUNY with a BFA in sculpture and art history, an MFA in Arizona State University in environmental design, and an MID in industrial design from Pratt Institute.

 A perpetual student, I am self-taught in jewelry. I have also written two books. Graphic Illustration in Black and White and Polymer Clay; Creating Functional and Decorative Objects.

Blog at http://jacquelinegikow.blogspot.com/

http://www.evrydaydrms.com/
http://jacquelinejewelry.net/
http://www.jacquelinejewelry.etsy.com/
http://twitter.com/jacquelinejewel
http://www.facebook.com/jacquelinejewel

Spreading the Paper Love

Sarah "loves working with different types of media and textures, and seeing where my hands take me! No two pieces that I make are exactly alike, and all are originals!"

Be sure to visit her wonderful Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/danae777 where you are sure to find something special!

By paperlove

My name is Sarah and I make unique jewelry using everything from felt to metal charms and whatever else I can come up with! I have been creating for as long as I can remember and I started my Etsy shop back in 2006. The reason my shop is called paperlove is because when I started out, I was more into making note cards and journals, but I have shifted more-so to jewelry making! I hope to eventually find the time to also add more of my journals to my shop, but who knows!

I am currently an art student in Chicago and I hope to eventually become an art teacher so that I may share my love of working with my hands to make beautiful things with others! My studio space is a little corner in my apartment where I have totes upon totes of materials and supplies, and a bookcase that seems to be exploding with felt and other miscellaneous items! It’s a bit cramped, but cozy, and gives me at least a little space to pursue my passion!

The majority of my items are necklaces and earrings utilizing the softness of felt mixed with the smooth metal charms and other jewels I find. I love to mix different textures and to show different aspects of nature in each of my pieces, whether it be in leaves, feathers, animals or flowers! I am always coming up with new ideas for new pieces!

I truly hope that this passionate hobby of mine turns into something much more! I want to be doing this until I am old and gray and to share my love for creating with everyone! When I am not busy working on new pieces or toiling away in my studio, I also go to school full time working on my art degree, working at my job (still have to keep that day job), I write for a indie-trend website called iamthetrend.com, and I take care of my three cats and boyfriend. It’s a lot of work, but in the end everything is well worth it!

I also write for a blog called www.iamthetrend.com
I write for the WARES section of the website. If you would like me to feature your shop or a product, send me a message and let me know!

Thanks to thereddoor for spreading the paperlove!