Monday Moodboard

StarBags

Vaisto

JuliaFelt

Manonknits

These beautiful designs are made by European Street Team on Etsy.com

If you´d like to see more "Monday Moodboards", go HERE!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Deal!

From 27th November to 30th November, I´ll be offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING in my Etsy shop: www.leelabijou.etsy.com

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend! :)

The Artist Behind The Shop: Karen

This week, I´d like to introduce you to the lovely Karen from The Beaded Pillow.

When did you start crafting?

I started making jewelry about 3 years ago.

What was your motivation?

We couldn’t find the “perfect” necklace to match a dress my mom bought, so we bought the supplies needed to make a necklace and things just took off from there.

Which one of your designs makes you feel prouder of yourself?

I crafted a parrot pillow for my daughter; it was very ornate and seemed to take forever. I must have used a thousand beads on that pillow!

What kind of things inspires you?

Beautiful flowers/gardens and birds….the lake and its surroundings.

Do you have any favorite book, movie, comic, etc?

I love books by Lorna Landvick (a MN author) and by Mary Logue, Dick Francis, Maeve Binchey, Rosamund Pilcher, J.D. Robb, Stephen King; I’m very eclectic in my reading materials.

Which one and why is it your favorite?

I cannot choose a favorite; books are like your children.
If you could choose any fictional character (from books, movies, comics, etc), which one would you like to be?

Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz.

Why?

She had a wonderful opportunity to explore and she took it.

Do you have any mania or obsession?

Hmm, beading pillows, perhaps
Is there a place you’ve visited that left a big impression in you?

Dachau in Germany.

If so, why?

It was a concentration camp during WWII. I could almost feel what happened there. It was very emotional. I was humbled.

Would you like to share any advice with your fellow artists?

I am not qualified to give anyone advice, unless they are one of my kids.

Where can people find you?

I have a blog: www.thebeadedpillow.blogspot.com
I am also on Twitter at www.twitter/thebeadedpillow.com and on etsy at www.thebeadedpillow.etsy.com
Anything else you’d like to share?

Buy one of my pillows. Seriously. Thank you.

_________________

Thank you very much Karen! Don´t forget to visit her lovely shop!

Cooking...

Do you remember this post HERE?
I got a really nice surprise on my mail box. Petronella (a.k.a. www.kraplap.etsy.com) sent me a very nice pumpkin and a recipe.

well, I cooked it and took some pictures of the process. It was delicious!

So here you have, a mosaic with the pictures I took (click to see it larger).

Thank you dear Petronella, it was very yummy! :)

The Future Generations {Photo Mosaic}

1. Join Baby Kylee's World Tour - See Below, 2. lil baby girl, 3. Madness, 4. looking at my baby looking at me, 5. baby violet, 6. big eyes, great light

Come and join the mosaic game on Mitsy´s blog HERE!

My Secret Santa Gift!

Few days ago I received this lovely package from Turkey. It was my Secret Santa gift!

And who was the wonderful person who sent me these pretty goodies? It was Mine from Queenece! (www.queenece.etsy.com)

Here you can see a lot of pictures of the pretty hairband and bracelet (the bracelet was made by her sister, Pinar - www.toosis.etsy.com )

Aren´t they wonderful?

Thank you so much for everything, dear Mine!!!

The Artist Behind The Shop: Crochet Addict

This week, Crochet Addict is featured on this section of my blog. Let´s know her a bit more:

When did you start crafting? What was your motivation?

I have always been interested in arts, I tried drawing and painting, but was only able to make things recognizable not anything exceptional. Then I tried photography and was a little better at that, but couldn\'t keep buying the equipment ( I loved the darkroom the most ). Finally about 4 yrs. ago my mom sat down and taught me the basics of crocheting, I fell in love with the rythm and being able to see the project take shape as I went. I started to search for books and patterns on the internet and learned as many different stitches as i could ( I still hunt for new stitches all the time) and just kept on going - I'm absolutely addicted!

Which one of your designs makes you feel prouder of yourself?

I would have to say I was most pleased with my doilys. It is such a challenge to get the sizing so that they will look just right, so when I finally work through all that, I feel that I have really accomplished something and have "Worked as unto the Lord".


What kind of things inspire you?

I am continually inspired by Creation itself. God is The Artist, I am blessed to be able to take what He has created, and the creative ability He has given me,and display His work in a new expression of beauty.

Is there a place you´ve visited that left a big impression in you? If so, why?

I went to England in the summer of '89 and was so impressed with the architecture of the old churches and the beautiful castle. If I were given the opportunity to choose which era I was born in it would have been the Middle Ages. (If all I was looking at was style!) I love the detail and hard work that went into each part of the buildings.

Would you like to share any advice with your fellow artists?

If there is anything I would say to my fellow artists, it would be to remember that all we do should be to glorify God.

Where can people find you? (blog, twitter, flickr, facebook...)

I have a facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crochet-Addict-homemades-by-Janice/108998321015?ref=ts which I use not only to promote my artfire page ( www.CrochetAddict.artfire.com) - but also to show other peoples work that impresses me.

____________________________________
Thank you very much!

Snow...{Photo Mosaic}

1. Jumping in the snow, 2. Snow Sheds, 3. Tulips In The Snow, 4. Paris under the snow

Snow... something we rarely see in the Canaries, maybe two days every year and only at certain places of the Islands.

Come and join the mosaic game on Mitsy´s blog HERE!

The Artist Behind The Shop: Rebecca D. Dillon

This week I´d like to introduce you to the lovely Rebecca from Soapdeli. Let´s know a bit more about her:

When did you start crafting? What was your motivation?

I've really been crafting all my life. I was artistic and an avid reader all through childhood and fine arts major in college. I attended college locally at Roanoke College where I studied a bit of everything including photography, screen printing, graphic design, pottery, 3-D design, drawing, painting, art history, poetry and even writing.

Because I have always had sensitive skin - that only got worth with age - I found great relief through the use of homemade soaps. One thing of course eventually led to another and after much book reading, internet research and experimentation, Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen was born.

I started my business in 2001 while I was still working outside of the home. I didn't really take it that seriously when I first started up. Like a lot of folks giving a first time business a go it was more of a hobby than anything else. Around 2005 I was diagnosed with agoraphobia. It was so bad that I was at the point I was having panic attacks over and over, practically non-stop, everywhere including my home. The only places I was panic free were in my office and my bedroom. Finding the appropriate medication to treat the panic took a few tries so at that point I made the decision to stay at home for a while and left my job. I was lucky that my husband had reached a point in his career that I was able to do this. Within a year though I was bored out of my ever-loving mind and striking up conversations with random strangers in Target. Then one-day hubby and I just happened to be walking downtown through the local city market, and I made a spur of the moment decision that day that I was going to sell downtown. The next day I called and got things set up, and the day after that I was officially a vendor. I worked through the panic attacks and didn't sell on Saturdays for several months until I was able to work up to the point that the market was a comfort zone for me. Once I established my local business, I moved on to focus on my online business in January of 2008.

Which one of your designs makes you feel prouder of yourself?

Right now I'm particularly pleased with my line of local Roanoke inspired soaps as they're based on the area I was born and raised. These soaps currently include Virginia Honeysuckle, Mill Mountain Soap, Big Lick Salt Bar, Southern Sweet Tea, and Star City Seduction. Additional local and regional soaps are in the works.

What kind of things inspire you?

I love scents so really a great smell is all the inspiration I need to want to grab the stick blender and concoct a new batch of soap.

Do you have any favorite book, movie, comic, etc? Which one and why is it your favorite?

I'm a big fan of paranormal fiction. Some of my favorite authors include: Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, Kelly Armstrong, Karrie Vaughn, Jim Butcher, Richelle Mead, Keri Arthur, MaryJanice Davidson, Jeaniene Frost, Jacqueline Carey, Patricia Briggs, L.A. Banks and so many others

If you could choose any fictional character (from books, movies, comics, etc), which one would you like to be? Why?

Probably Anita Blake the Vampire Hunter from Kim Harrison's earlier books in the series. (Later on it becomes very porn like.) She kicks some serious ass and all the men want her. ;)

Do you have any mania or obsession?

I'm a shop-a-holic. I must have something for everything and my tastes are diverse.

Would you like to share any advice with your fellow artists?

1.Do it legal. It's worth the effort for the deductions and to show income if you decide to branch out and need to get a loan.

2.Give 100%. You can't expect to get 100% if you aren't giving it. You only get a return on the time you're willing to invest.

3. You must spend money to make money. That's just how it goes.

4. Marketing and word of mouth are golden. Nothing sells a product better than a referral from someone who has used your product. Remember that. (If you're new to selling online I wrote a little article to help you get started marketing. http://www.byhand.me/component/option,com_content/catid,35/id,8162/task,view/)

Where can people find you? (blog, twitter, flickr, facebook...)

Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen http://www.soapdelicatessen.com
Soap Deli News Blog http://www.soapdelinews.com
Shop ByHand http://www.shopbyhandblog.com
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/soapdeli
Facebook Friend http://www.facebook.com/soapdeligirl
Facebook Fan http://www.facebook.com/soapdeli
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/soapdeli
Artfire http://soapdeli.artfire.com

On a more personal note, I have struggled with severe depression all of my life. Several years back I was diagnosed with agoraphobia, and last a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with bipolar. So I'm sort of a mess all the way around some days. Getting things done can be a constant struggle for me because of the bipolar and agoraphobia but I push through because I'm stubborn - and very much the typical Gemini - and do what I can when I can. I also hate that there is a negative stigma attached to mental illness so I talk about it freely because it's really not something that people should feel ashamed of. Everyone has issues of some kind. Some just have a harder go than others. In the end though if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it.

Thanks so much!

_______________________

Thank you very much Rebecca! It´s been a pleasure!

Don´t forget to visit her wonderful shop!

Strange Wedding Cakes - Part II

Few weeks ago, I posted very uncommon designs for wedding cakes. You can see them HERE.

Today I´d like to show you the second part of these amazing cakes I found all over internet. Here they are:


Awww, cute...

I love this one, you could write a whole action movie script just looking at this cake!

This one is simply amazing!

This cake is stunning, really nice design.

Same for this one, which is my personal favorite from all these cakes.

Which one is your favorite?

Thanks for reading! :)

These ones were found HERE and HERE.

For Coffee Lovers {Photo Mosaic}

1. I love coffee, especially Monday morning..., 2. coffee art, 3. Coffee Addict, 4. The Color of Crema Coffee, 5. Coffee and cinnamon, 6. Coffee has two virtues: it is wet and warm., 7. Morning Coffee, 8. Love Coffee, 9. It's Coffee Time copy, 10. caramel hot coffee, 11. World's Biggest Coffee Morning 268/365 250909, 12. Coffee for all.., 13. Coffee Loves Me Too

I´m really a coffee addict. If I don´t have a yummy, warm coffee for breakfast, I can´t work properly... So here´s my mosaic today, dedicated to those who share this addiction too!

Come and join the mosaic game on Mitsy´s blog HERE!

Felting... {Monday Moodboard}

JaneBoFelt
karlita
viltalakim
jezek

These beautiful designs are made by European Street Team on Etsy.com

If you´d like to see more "Monday Moodboards", go HERE!

A Surprise In My Mail Box!

Do you know who made this beautiful brooch I´m wearing on this picture? Yes! The wonderful and amazing Petronella from Kraplap and P8accessories !




Yesterday, when I arrived home, I found out this big package from Germany. I was completely surprised and even my cat was curious about it, hehe (he was sniffing the box, I think he was thinking "oh, here´s something yummy!"...).

Well, my cat was right! As here you can see the content was this gorgeous squash!

And here´s the beautiful brooch she also sent me! Can´t wait to try the recipe she included, I´ll be blogging about the results, hehe.



And here I am, showing very proud my new brooch and yummy squash!
Thank you so much dear P8! It was a really big surprise! :)


You can find Petronella´s shops here:
www.kraplap.etsy.com
www.P8Accessories.etsy.com