Wear Something PurrfectlyDevine

Victorian Crystals Bracelet - $25.00
Sworovski crystals, glass pearls, and daisy spacers, and large memory wire (2 1/4" diameter instead of 2" diameter)

Purrfectlydevine is owned by a woman in York, PA who is a Special Education teacher by day and works in a grocery store deli part-time, and is a beader by night. Her co-workers encouraged her to start selling her work when they saw some of the things she’d made, and her friends and family have been supportive of her interest.

She also crochets, and is considering adding some of those items to her online store along with her jewelry, and there are currently a few other craft items available.

Victorian Inspired Necklace and Bracelet - $45.00
A set made with Rose-colored Swarovski crystal in 2 sizes, small green pearls, and larger mauve pearls. All metal is sterling silver. The necklace measures 18 1/4" (46.4 cm) long, and the drop is 1 1/4" (3.1 cm) long. The bracelet is 7 5/8" (19.4cm) long. Both pieces close with a spring ring clasp.

The next piece is clever! The design is very simple but clearly looks like 3-leaf clovers the way the glass beads are arranged on the chain.

Irish Necklace - $60.00
A Gold-plated chain with faceted emerald green Czech crystal glass beads

**************************************Be sure not to miss her weekly sale, FABULOUS FRIDAY FRENZY — Every Friday from 12:01am to 11:59pm Etsy time (Eastern US Standard time), take 15% off the selling price of any item in her shop that is not already reduced (such as EBTW items). Shipping will not be discounted 15%. Put FFF in notes to seller.
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To see what else she has check out her Etsy online store;
http://purrfectlydevine.etsy.com

If you’d like to keep up with this seller’s current activities, be sure to read her blog;
http://purrfectlydevine.blogspot.com/

Designs That Dazzle You Like A Live Wire!

Green Fortune – $129.00
Wire-wrapped earrings with Sterling silver, Peridot roundels, and faceted Lemon Smoky Quartz heart briolettes

Katrin Lerman of Katrin Lerman Jewelry is originally from Germany and currently lives in Framingham, Massachusetts where she designs and makes intricate jewelry in the Eni Oken style of wire-wrapping. Her pieces curl and curve majestically; larger gauge sterling wire frames with many feet of smaller gauge wire coiled around them, interspersed with gemstone beads to create the look of luxury. Some also incorporate tiny sterling beads to add texture to the overall design.

Katrin Lerman graduated from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston with a Degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design. She says that the same principles she learned there, color, form, and texture, are the ones she uses in her jewelry.

She keeps a sketchbook handy to jot down her design ideas and describes her process as two-pronged in that creative ideas either come into her mind as snapshots of finished jewelry, or in bits and pieces that are fleshed-out and revised over time.

The above chandelier style earrings are some of the artist’s best work, with the look of East Indian or Turkish silver.

In Fanciful the artist has an interesting use of the negative space with a central frame and two mirror-imaged curls of sterling wire, and three faceted Citrine surrounded by frames around the bottom, creating a scalloped edge.

Fanciful Necklace - $129.00
Sterling silver 17” chain with pendant of sterling and faceted round Citrine beads

This piece reminds me of a bumble bee with what looks like wings around a body of Chalcedony.

Lemon Drop - $79.00
Pendant 1 3/4” long and 1 ¼” wide with Silver Necklace and Faceted Perrot Chalcedony Briolette on a Sterling Silver 16” or 18” chain with hand created eye and hook claps complements the pendant.

Each of Katrin’s creations in one of a kind, and she will gladly accept custom orders.

To see more of what this artist has available go to;
http://KatrinLermanJewelry.etsy.com

See her blog here;
http://katrinlermanjewelry.blogspot.com/

Jewelry Keepsakes, and other Handmade Surprises

Super Sweet Pink Necklace - $12.50
Mixed media; a miniature jar filled with pink sparkle dust, bow, pink Czech crystal on a 17” antique raw brass chain.

Autumnleah is an eclectic Etsy shop containing unusual costume jewelry, scrapbooking, hand-sewn children’s clothing, and other handmade items. This sole proprietor lives in Dallas, Texas, and has a degree in graphic design. She’s a stay-at-home-mom, so running a small art-based business out of her home provides just the balance she needs to give her fulfillment while she is home with her child.

Some of her most interesting pieces are her necklaces which are made with a combination of materials and have a romantic and sentimental, almost Victorian flavor to them (see the pink one at top and the black rose below).

Black Rose Necklace - $9.50
24” base metal chain with black rose and silver bow, red leaves at the top.

This next piece was created using decoupage, drilled, and sprinkled with glitter, for a homespun somewhat antique look.

Hope - $7.50
The heart measures approx. 1.25" inches across and the ribbon is 18" long; Choice of either a light pink or a brown ribbon necklace with your purchase.

And last but not least; she offers a package of 4 online store banners (1 for each season). This is a very clever idea. I’ve seen lots of people offering store banners, but this covers all the bases.

Four Seasonal Store Banners -$10.00
One of a kind; they measure 760px by 100px each
(Above is a sample)

Autumnleah is currently running a big sale. Nothing is over $15.00. Prices are perfect for those on a budget.

To see more handcrafted creations go to;
http://autumnleah.etsy.com

To learn more about this seller and what she’s involved in read her blog;
http://autumnleahdesigns.blogspot.com

Art Prints; In The Eye Reflected Back

STEAM PUNK CAT- Original Fine Art Photomontage Print - $25.00
Printed on high quality Archival paper; total size is 8.5 x 11 which leaves a border for framing...the photo itself is approx size 10 X 8.


Citrus Tree Designs cards and prints is an Etsy store our of DelRay Beach, Florida that specializes in art cards and prints using photography, illustration, photomontage, digital alteration and special effects.

The artist creates very powerful and thought-provoking images such as the one shown at top called Steam Punk Cat with a backdrop of industrial buildings at night, its neon mechanically riveted eyes seeming to make a social commentary on life imitating art or art imitating life. Is it a real cat turned mechanical or a mechanical cat becoming flesh and bone? It could also be making a statement about artificial intelligence in the post-industrial age. Have our computers become our new pets? Does the hellish red glow hint at “progress” being the root of evil possibly? There’s a lot there to interpret, and after all that is the hallmark of great art.

This next photo print shows a calm inviting walkway to what looks like a representation of what heaven must be like. The path is weathered and somewhat rustic implying that life can be kind of rough on the way, but that what lies at the end is well worth the effort in striving.

Path to Serenity - Original Fine Art Photography Print - $20.00 Total size is 8.5 x 11 (leaves a border for framing). The photo itself is size 10.5 x 7,
printed on high quality Archival paper, with a luster finish

A very unusual digital Christmas card, this Harley Davidson in the snow makes a nice card to give that guy who loves to ride or work on bikes.

SPECIAL EDITION HOLIDAY MOTORCYCLE CARD - Original Image - $3.50
A 5x7 folded card that says “Happy New Year” on the inside and comes in a sealed cellophane envelope.

In Time To Move a delicate-looking house is perched precariously upon a hilltop. Although the fantasy landscape in this piece is dreamy and ethereal, the house also looks threatened by forces that might wash it away at any moment and take with it the inhabitants inside.

TIME TO MOVE - Original Photomontage Fine Art Print - $20.00
Total size is 11 x 8.5 which leaves a border for framing...the photo itself is approx size 10 x 7, on high quality archival paper.

If the eye is the window to the soul, then this print expresses that concept with a sky blue that seems to symbolize transparency and good intentions, almost childlike in its purity. A girl peaks from behind a lacy spray of flowers. What appears to be a red teardrop gemstone (maybe a Ruby or Oxblood coral briolette) drips from either her eye or the flower bundle just in front of her. Perhaps it’s her life force exposed to the elements like a drop of blood seen outside the body, or a tear giving way to something precious that she’s created through the fruits of her labor. The macro look of the face and the tiny reflection in the eye seems to give the viewer the feeling that she is only inches away from one’s face, conveying a reciprocal level of deep intimacy, an internal knowing that goes in both directions. I have seen this phenomenon in several artists’ work and the effect is hauntingly beautiful.

PERSONAL GROWTH - Fine Art Print - Original Digital Collage - $20.00

Total size is 8.5 x 11 which leaves a border for framing...the photo itself is size 10 x 7.5

If you are looking for something meaningful to hang on your wall or to send as a gift this shop is a very good place from which to make your selection.

To see more fascinating printed images go to;
http://CitrusTree.etsy.com

Read more about the artist and her activities on her blog;
http://citrustreedesigns.blogspot.com

Put Some Bling on that thing!

Rosi of berrybeads from Long Island, NY enjoys making items that are both functional and pretty. One of her specialties is her beaded badge-holders which she constructs from glass, base metal bead spacers, and sometimes gemstone beads strung on 26 pound capacity beading wire that is double-crimped to keep the item you purchase secure.

If you remember the ‘60s the style will look very familiar to you; seed beads interspersed with larger glass beads in a kind of boho look.

If you’ve got a cell phone or mp3 player then you don’t have to be rich to add some bling to that thing! Cute and fun stuff is waiting for you. Go and get some of these accessories, and take a few home for friends and family while you’re at it.

She also offers decorative zipper pulls;

Butterfly Bling Zipper Pull - $4.50
Measures 1.25 inches (about 5.5 cm) long including the clip and is fashioned from glass beads and silver base metal

cell phone charms;

Heart Charm Cell Phone Bling - $4.50
Decoration for a cell phone or mp3 player; Glass beads with silver color base metal spacers and a sterling silver heart charm. This piece measures 1 3/4 inches (4.2 cm) without the 2” cell phone leash.

as well as regular fashion jewelry, all priced at $25.00 and under;

Fishy Earrings - $8.00
Funky abstract fish earrings formed by hand using silver artistic wire; 3 inches (8cm) from the top of the ear wire, and hung with a stone bead.

Copper n' Stone Necklace - $25.00
19 inch long ID badge lanyard made with 18 mm stone beads and copper wire bent in the shape of swirled hearts.

To see more bling go to;
http://berrybeads.etsy.com

Read the artist’s blog here;

http://blog.berrybeady.com

Hand Printed Little Friends for Your Special Occasion!

Gocco Animal Card - $3.00
A 4.25" by 5.5" folded card, blank inside, with lake blue envelope included.

Becca, the artist behind mycatlulu is from Santa Cruz, California, she has a BA in art, and works days as a desktop publisher. Her printed item business was named after her cat that she loves dearly and is home to some unique and inventive prints that have the clean look of simplicity while conveying a professional and classy look.

She belongs to the following street teams;
California Crafters Club of Etsy

EFA- Etsy's For Animals
GoccoPaper
SF Bay Area

This next set of dove cards is extra special and allows 50% of the proceeds from your purchase to go to Amnesty International USA, an organization whose mission is to “undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of our work to promote all human rights"(Excerpt from Justgive.org.)

Gocco Peace Dove Set of 5 Note Cards - $10.00
A peace dove printed onto folded cards with peppermint background, measuring 4.5" by 5.5", blank inside, with matching meltic blue envelopes.

Save 20% on this next set of non-traditional Christmas cards showing the pretty silhouette of a sea horse in black with a bright red glitter dot at the snout to look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (only this time it's the sea life version).

Gocco Rudolph Seahorses- Set of Five - $8.00
4.25" by 5.5" folded note cards- high quality white card stock, blank inside with matching red envelopes. Since each card is hand printed, there can be slight differences in each card.

Her various animal cards can be ordered in any combination, and each is packaged in a cellophane sleeve, and mailed in a bubble mailer.

Becca welcomes custom orders, so if you have a wedding, family reunion, want to tell everyone of the birth of a new baby, or have another event you want personalized, keep her in mind and ask for a quote.

To see pictures and learn about her printing process be sure to look at her Flickr photo stream; http://www.flickr.com/photos/beccaphoto/2145339002/in/set-72157600158235106/

To watch her store for more lovely stationary and other printed items go to;
http://mycatlulu.etsy.com

Stay up on her activities by reading her blog;
http://mycatlulu.blogspot.com

Marilyn's Horn of Plenty!

Paterkillar Beaded Beads Necklace - $80.00
Eight beaded beads strung on a 32-inch leather string, each approximately 1 1/2 inches long. Interspaced between us are moonstone beads (13). This piece can be worn as a longer necklace, a choker, a bracelet. 2 blue and white, 2 turquoises and orange, 2 red and yellow and 2 purple and white- all on a black base.

Marilyn G of cigarboxbeads is a retired home Ec teacher from Seal Beach, California, with twins and a husband. Her retirement only makes it easier for her creative ideas to flow. She loves to knit, crochet, and do bead-weaving to create upscale elegant jewelry.

Her style of jewelry has abundance written all over it, from her caterpillar-like beaded necklace shown above, to multi-layered pieces such as this one called; Cottage Garden Bracelet.

Cottage Garden Bracelet - $85.00
Woven with a square stitch base and a vintage mauve-purple flower button, with loops on the other end of the bracelet, to accommodate a small wrist or a medium sized one. The bracelet measures 8 inches from one end to the other, with 2 loops of tiny gem chips, will fit a wrist of 6 1/2-8 inches.

To this elegantly netted piece below (this is an absolute steal for $85.00)! This is another piece you collectors should grab quickly. I have seen similar items made by other artists that are selling for about 2-3 times that price!

Chocolate Mocha Truffle Netted Choker - $85.00
15 inches long, except for the clasp. Choker is entirely netted into a cloth-like mesh.

To see more of Marilyn’s beautiful bead-woven jewelry, check out her Etsy store;
http://cigarboxbeads.etsy.com

To learn more about the artist and her current activities, make sure not to miss her blog;
http://cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com

The Story's In The Beads - You Just Have To Listen

Sleeping Gypsy Bead Tapestry Wall Hanging - $350.00
This wall-hanging was woven entirely out of beads, and hung on a natural stick to recreate the picture “Sleeping Gypsy” by Henri Rousseau. The whole piece measures 10 1/2" x 9 1/4" for the tapestry, plus another 1" for the fringe, embellished with bells on the side.

Onathousandhills is the brainchild of an artist named Cheryl whose medium is beads painstakingly placed to create pictures much as a mosaic of small tiles builds a larger scene. I never knew that anyone else had ever heard of Henri Rousseau, assuming maybe he was too obscure and that I just happened by chance upon his work one day. Perhaps there really are no accidents, and whatever (or whomever) you need to draw creativity from is predestined to come into your line of vision. From that day on I have always loved his style of jungle animals and thick foliage that seemed to create a “where’s Waldo” effect with all the little surprises hidden within the thick canopy of a tropical rainforest. (I went on to explore bead-weaving as one of the jewelry mediums I work in). As I said, perhaps there are no random occurrences, just a fulfillment of what needs to happen so that we can develop ourselves and learn from those influences our eyes fall upon.

It is very fitting that with this bead-weaving artist’s attention to detail that she too would be drawn to the work or Rousseau.

It is quite amazing though that she was able to create this masterpiece after only 5 years practice! I must say, that $350.00 is an absolute steal, so I really hope you art enthusiasts know how great an opportunity this is to own such a piece. This wonderful work of art (shown above) would make some collector blissfully happy, trust me; snap this up!

This piece is lovely also, utilizing peyote stitch for the bezel and tubular Ndebele stitch for the necklace strand. Ndebele was named for the region in Africa where the stitch is believed to have been invented;

Break Forth - porcelain butterfly cabochon necklace - $50.00
A necklace made with a porcelain cabochon, featuring a beautiful blue and yellow butterfly, the stitched bezel done in peyote stitch, using complementary colors, strand in tubular Ndebele (also known as herringbone stitch).

Doing bead-weaving myself, I know the kind of time and care that this next embroidered piece requires. This technique is truly an art-form and up until fairly recently has not received the kind of recognition it deserves. This bracelet is worth a lot more than she is charging for it, as its sheer artistry far surpasses that of the cost of the materials alone;

Shimmering Heart bead embroidered cuff bracelet - $25.00
This cuff is made with Delica brand seed beads and wood, with an ultra suede backing, to fit a small wrist, but the artist can lengthen the toggle if you wish it to fit a larger wrist. From the toggle to the end of the loop, it measures 6 5/8" but the wrist should be slightly smaller to get the right fit.

Cheryl is a proud member of Christian Artists Street Team;
http://castteam.multiply.com/

andEtsy Beadweavers;
http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

To take a look at more of her beautiful bead-woven art, go to;
http://onathousandhills.etsy.com

To learn more about the artist and what she is involved in on a day-to-day basis, read her blog;
http://onathousandhills.blogspot.com

Speaking With A Voice Both Soft and Strong

King of the Garden (ACEO) - $5.00
A print of a watercolor, pen and ink original measures 2 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches; the same size as baseball trading cards. The paper is acid free, lignin free, and 100% cotton.

Glory2727 is an art-based business run by a painter Gloria Wilson who resides in Holly Hill, Florida. Using watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, pen and ink, and a variety of other sealants and varnishes, she tailors her artwork to that which she is embellishing, be it a piece of watercolor paper, a glass, or a bar of soap.

This artist has an excellent command of her medium, blending and shading to achieve lifelike effects in her flowers and animals. Using a variety of styles such as impressionism, as in this painting, Bird of Paradise (note cards), a tropical and dramatic flower endemic to Florida, her work speaks loudly without being too deliberate, not to detract from the spntaneity of the moment. Created using gestured lines, and light versus dark on the same brush; reminiscent of techniques used in wood painting and Japanese brush painting, one can feel the warmth generated as well as the movement of each leaf and petal as it curves tenderly and shines in the sunlight, its parameters more defined by color gradient than by definitive boundaries.

Bird of Paradise Note card Set of 8 - $10.00
These cards measure 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 wide and fits into an invitational size envelope. The 8 cards and 8 envelopes are enclosed in a clear plastic box. All work done at home by the artist including the printing.

Others are rendered focusing more on fine details, accentuating line and crisp contrast to bring out the soft and dreamy watercolors inside.

This card set; called Two Butterflies shows exquisite depth and richness utilizing both lighting and darkness to give one a feeling of vibrancy.

Two Butterflies set of 8 - $12.00
These prints of original paintings are 5 1/4" x 4 1/4 ". The box comes with 8 cards (4 of each) butterfly image along with envelopes.

If you are more the type who buys things you can use, why not buy something with a little bit of art on it in the process. These are not like the dime-a-dozen commercially painted shakers you find in Rich's department store housewares department, but instead original and one-of-a-kind;

Pick a Pair - $8.00
Grapes painted with acrylics on a salt and pepper shaker

Salt and Peppers - $8.00
Gerber Daisies painted with acrylics on a salt and pepper shaker

If you would like to see more of what Gloria has available, go to her shop on Etsy;
http://Glory2727.etsy.com

and read her blog to learn more about the artist and her activities;
http://frommybrush.blogspot.com

Living With Intensity!

Baltimore Aquarium - $300
Original, One of a Kind, Watercolor/Mixed Media on Heavy Watercolor Paper Artwork Size 11x14 Presentation: Beautiful Gallery Frame (Black with White Double Mat)

Pamela Miller of allyon67 has a very soft, dreamy style in watercolor, mixed-media, pen, and acrylics. Her subjects include cityscapes, and other landscapes, animals, still-life, fantasy, and a few abstracts. Some of her works are symbolic of significant life events.

“My art reflects my beliefs in love, warmth, generosity, loyalty, and honesty. I’m inspired by science, fantasy, martial arts, architecture, and nature (especially water)”, says the artist in her own words. She admits to feeling emotion deeply and uses her medium to communicate her many moods from peaceful, to flamboyant, to stormy and angry. The core message that comes through is one of fondness; of all living things, of beauty even in the architecture, an intention of working for the greater good.

There is a gentle, loving quality to a lot of the animals and people depicted in her work such as these two horses below, one nuzzling the other for a kiss;

Gimme Some Sugar Baby - $125.00
Watercolor on Heavy Watercolor Paper Presentation: Double Mat Brings Size to 16x20


Hearts and Kitty (#2) - $49.99
Original, One of a Kind Watercolor Mixed Media on Heavy Watercolor Paper Artwork Size: 4 x 6 (SFA) Presented in a Silver Floating Frame


Rainbow Rover - $15.99
2.5x3.5 * Original Watercolor, Mixed Media on Watercolor Paper * * Signed by Artist, Pamela Miller * Protective Plastic Jacket**COA and Artist Bio Included

In the painting below, Shy, it appears the girl on the left is hiding behind her long hair and her more outgoing friend. Painted in black and white the artist’s utilization of line illustrates the wish to blend invisibly into the background. There is a little bit of a ghost-like feel to it, as though the girl is observing while trying not to be observed, herself.

Shy- $100
Watercolor on Heavy Watercolor Paper Artwork Size: 18x 24


Pamela has received formal art training and other education at the Maryland Institute of Art-Summer School,
Howard Community College-Liberal Arts,
and Capital College-Computer Engineering

Most of the artwork she creates comes with a certificate of authenticity.
This is one online shop you should definitely take a serious look at if you are seeking some powerful art for the walls of your home or office!

To see more of Pamela’s work, go to:
http://allyon67.etsy.com

Read up on the artist and her activities on her blog:
http://pmillerabstractart.blogspot.com