ESMARTS Strikes Again!

As I may have mentioned, I am a member of an Etsy Street Team, “Esmarts.” We are an eclectic group of artists and craftspeople who have come together from all over the world to offer each other support and guidance in this crazy mixed up world of internet marketing.

In addition to each individual Etsy store, we proudly bring you the Esmarts shop. Featuring items from many of our members, you will find wonderful variety here.

I recommend you bookmark the Esmarts shop. You will be amazed at the handmade glories awaiting you. New items are added regularly. And for even more Esmarts check out the team blog.

Jannadu - Jannadu - U - U

Jannadu, your neon lights will shine
For you, Jannadu




Jann Alexander, the Jann behind the Jannadu, is a fellow Esmarts team member. I’m quite fond of Jann’s Etsy shop for the obvious reason. It has a cool name. No, that’s not the only reason. When you go to Jann’s storefront, what’s the first thing you notice? Go ahead, I’ll wait here.

The colours! Jann features an incredible array of bold, bright, vibrant colours. It’s like pulling up the blinds to a dazzling sunny morning.

Jann says her designs are for the Rubenesque woman (large and lovely.) I semi-agree. I think it’s for the larger woman OR the larger personality. Her pieces shout out confidence. Don’t really feel it inside? Doesn’t matter anymore when you wear a Jannadu work of art.

Find Jann on Etsy, Artfire, and at her blog entitled, Art & Artists/Me & My Friends. Very well titled indeed, as Jann truly is an artist.

Perfectly Twisted

I'm fascinated by wire wrapping. Just a little piece of wire, bent here, twisted there, and you've turned a simple stone into a framed masterpiece.

So far I have not delved into the art and craft of wire work. But I'm going to share with you someone who has, and with great success.

Susan of Perfectly Twisted Jewelry has been designing jewelry for three years and selling for two. It was her love of unusual stones that drove Susan to her art. And in Susan's skilled hands there is no doubt that this is art.



Susan is generous with her gift as well, selling tutorials as well as finished designs in her Etsy store. And next month she begins teaching at her local bead store.

Please check out fellow Esmarts member Susan's work at her Etsy store and her blog, you will be amazed and inspired.

S & T CREATIONS - PARTNERS IN SUBLIME

Bold. Vibrant. Eye-catching. Dynamic. All words that describe, but do not do justice to, the creations of S&T. S=Saundra Brown-Gordon, the flamboyant, outgoing and organized member of the team. T=Teri Baskett, an artist at the jeweler's bench and the keyboard. Their tastes are very much in sync, both preferring larger pieces (though Saundra tends to favour a little more bling.)



A visit to S&T Creations will dazzle the eye with gemstones, glass and crystal. But don't be fooled, they have something delicious for every budget, including custom orders in a wide price range.




For those of you in the area, their jewelry can be found at Gift Expressions, LaFollette Station, Floyds Knobs, Indiana. Don't despair out-of-towners - you're in luck too. S&T Creations can be found online at www.sandtcreations.com, S&T Creations Etsy Store,and the S&T blog. Teri can also be followed on Twitter as Teri_B.



So follow me now to the up-to-date, always style focused S&T Creations. See you there!! (I think I might have to have that darling hat pin, what do you think?)

It's Like A Necklace...Only Warmer

Roz is a crafter from way back. She's always had some project going, be it knitting or crochet. So why not put some of those cozy, delicious scarves on our Etsy site and let others enjoy the fruits of her labour. This Chenille scarf is soft and scrumptious and washable too! And what an eyecatching colour, scarlet, ruby red, blood red, call it what you will, it's gorgeous!

Check it out at ChezChani, and you can be snuggling up to this baby in a week. At only $19 with $1. shipping, treat yourself!

Craft Show Dec. 7 & New Listing

Pictured is one my latest works, now available in our Etsy Shop. It's a bracelet inspired by the Leather Pride Flag. I'd never heard of this flag, but someone looking at my gay rainbow bracelet suggested it. We found pictures of it online and I had to give it a go. I think it came out very true to the actual flag. I'm not going to go into details about what the flag represents (partly because I'm not sure I'm clear on it.) I will say that while it's not for everybody, it sure is for somebody.

We are only doing one show this holiday season. It's this Sunday, Dec. 7 9AM-3PM at Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin...Las Vegas NV (Town Center, 1 block north of Desert Inn. 10700 Havenwood Lane.) Given that our only show is at a Synagogue it's just as well I never got to my Christmas specific designs. Next year I'll have to plan earlier for that. I have no excuses for my lack of preparation, I'm pretty sure this season comes around the same time every year.

Hope all you Americans had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I was fortunate in that it fell on my day off and nobody cooks a turkey like my mommy!!

Roz Is On Fire !!

Roz has been busy as a bee making some really special cabochons/pendants. The first one is now on Etsy and there will be more to follow.

Over at the Esmarts shop on Etsy, is the Chezchani Charlotte's Web Bracelet. At the Esmarts shop, you will have the opportunity to choose from a wonderfully diverse selection from many of the members. Treat yourself to a visit, and remember, all proceeds will be going to a good cause.

IF

First day of my weekend, stranded on the island of seed beads. I look out, I see nothing. How long can I go on?

My only form of sustenance, my beads and the Julie Ann Smith design, Scrappy Hearts. I can do this odd Odd Count. I can I can. No, I can’t. I won’t! Too much stress..must...rest...
I give up. Not worth the stress, an even count with a row of brick stitch looks just the same so why put myself through this?

Out damn seed beads. Have to start again. Okay, going fine now going fine going...not so fine. How did those amythest beads get mixed into the green beads? Out again. Well as long as I’m undoing I must be honest with myself. These colour combinations are yucky. I have to question my colour combining abilities. Perhaps Scrappy Hearts and I should take opposite spots on this island, live our days out alone. I’ve already given up on Odd Count, can I give up on Scrappy Hearts too and still be able to R E S P E C T myself? I will try one more time. You will not beat me Scrappy! (Sure is a lot of punctuation on this island.)

Fewer colours. Perhaps that is the secret to salvation. If Scrappy makes it out of this alive I will post a picture. IF.

(Pictured above, Spooky Kitties Bracelet. Design by Julie Ann Smith.)

Las Vegas Bead Society (LVBS)

"The Las Vegas Bead Society was established to promote, support and encourage interest, education and involvement in beads and beadwork. We encourage members to share their knowledge and welcome new members to join."

This is from the Las Vegas Bead Society's webpage. I have been a member since February and have found it to be a wonderful group of people.

Maybe it's a beading thing, but in general beaders are a wonderful group of people. I have found this to be true on my beading email lists, my Etsy team (Esmarts) and with the LVBS. Even if I ever got over my beading obsession, I don't think I could leave the craft because I'd miss the supportive, generous, friendly people it attracts.

Now we've started the LVBS Yahoo Group, for members and non-members of the Las Vegas Bead Society. If you are a beader in the Las Vegas area, please join us at Yahoo.

We're on Another Channel Today

Our irregularly unscheduled, sort of-weekly blog post may be seen at Esmarts Team Blog. You don't want to miss it! (Do you? I sure hope not.)

I'm going there now, follow me ...