{ST} Many Failures ---> Success!

I gotta tell ya...I have tried..and continue to fail at many things. It's a tough reality and at times manages to get the best of me..
It's easy to use those failures against myself, and think I'm not worth much because look...I'm not accomplishing much. But it's that kind of self-talk that does nothing positive for me or my life. So because I've declared WAR (read my war decree HERE), I'm making a conscious effort to keep these and other self-defeating talk at bay. Because you never know what is happening behind the scenes on your behalf...in your favor. Keep your head up...as I do the same!

Crunch Time | Jewelry I Design Then Create

Cork, Silk, Crystal = Love This One!

Those Amethyst Nuggets are over 1" big!

It's hard to stop creating, and imagining when it's part of what makes you YOU. I cannot tell you how many times I have told myself... "ok self...you've bought too many whodads and widgets, beads and findings...you never DO anything with them..except stare at them to make you feel happy" Well I'm finally ready to admit I'm ok with that...but I also need to start releasing some of my creations because maybe they'll make someone else happy too. Here are a few pieces that have brought me many a-happy dances in the past. Let's see if they'll do that for someone else...tell me what pieces you create make you happy?

Love how these Turquoise coins look with the crystal and silk

DIY | Tennis Bracelets!

DIY is big...and for good reason. How cool is it to take something that is sometimes more expensive, break it down and re-do for inexpensively and do it yourself? It's Awesome, here's my first DIY tutorial on making your own tennis bracelet. Enjoy..and please share your comment love below, it makes a difference :)

Handmade Bracelets

It's quite often that I get the DIY crafting bug...more times than I'm comfortable admitting actually but let's not get technical shall we? I'm really diggin the look of mixed material bracelets right now and I'm trying to perfect the art of combining luxury with everyday items. Here are 3 of my first attempts to create mixed material bracelets..and while they look kinda cool...they're are NOT comfortable for everyday wear...back to the creatin' board :)
Do you dabble in DIY too? Share your blog or pictures!

Sometimes all you need is....

As I enjoy my medical down time, I'm reminded when I take some time in the morning to enjoy every circumstance, every situation, every single moment that you are allowed to enjoy every single day. I find it's toughest when I'm having a day that doesn't seem to be going my way. Or when a series of days doesn't seem to be going my way. Sometimes when I miss the mark from reading...a trip to the oceanfront does it...
Because sometimes all it takes is a sunrise to know...without a shadow of a doubt...that He. Hears. Me

Another Great Mother's Day Gift Idea

Betcha didn't know there were soo many talented and amazing creative crafters here in Virginia didja?
Well Ms. Lauri Murphy's, designs are simply beautiful and are sure to please any lady.

Lauri Murphy
$25

{ST: Gorgeous Jewelry}Teardrop Earrings

Teardrop Art Deco Earrings
$16.50

I can't help it. I find things that are beautiful and it seems almost not fair if I don't share it. If you're a lover of the colorful, the beautiful and the inspiring you've found another friend in me! I'm zealing over these Teardrop Earrings by Vintage and Glam a Hampton Roads Artist.

Yes I Love Elaine!

Love Elaine
$40

I first found Christen Barber of Love Elaine a few weeks back and immediately fell in love with her gorgeous handmade apron designs. Oh how I would love to wear one of her lovelies and churn out some yummy baked treats, and then get every bit of housework done before 4pm....and...then I wake up.
But at least I can still grab a Love Elaine apron...

{ST} Medical Style...Again

First it was my gestational diabetes diagnosis...and now this ugly medical shoe I'm wearing. What is a girl to do? Left with an ugly necessity...turn it into Glam Fabulousness of course! Just wanted to share what I've done to my medical shoe...feels so good looking down and not seeing a dreadfully awful black atrocity. Yay for Glam!

Great Mother's Day Gift #5

Rainbow Cake Earrings
$28

This Artist from Inedible Jewelry is Ahmazing. Her work looks good enough to eat...although I wouldn't suggest it...but wearing her goodies never goes to your hips...and well that's always wonderful! Enjoy.

3 Reasons Why Buying from Artists & Creators Rocks

I find it fascinating to go over quick facts on why we should consider buying more from artists and creators. So I thought you may want to know why this movement is so very important. Not only to your community where ever you call home, but throughout the country. Buying from small independents is a fabulous way to keep them going and sustain the local economy.

Here are some facts:

1) Throughout the United States, only about 33.6% of the revenue from national chains is reinvested into the community, which is very low compared to the 64.8% return from local businesses. (2009)

cause supporting creativity rocks!

2)  A study in Austin, Texas found that $100 spent at a local bookstore produced $45 worth of local economic activity, and $100 at the chain store Borders brought back only $13.


3) If the people of an average American city were to shift 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million per year to the community’s economy

Great Mother's Day Gift's #4

Is the Mother in your life more artistic liking? Gotcha covered, this gorgeous Mother and Baby pendant by Tom Heath is perfect!

Mother and Baby
$20

Great Mother's Day Gift Ideas #3

Another gorgeous dose of what happens when you know where to find the awesome handmade goodness VA has to offer...really? You cannot find treasures like this in Walmart fellas!

Yoonique Designs
$15

Mother's Day Gift Idea #2

Twisting Nature
$70

Isn't it fabulous when you actually have a great selection of Mother's Day Gift ideas that the Mother in your life is sure to swoon over??? Not mass produced trinkets..but handcrafted goodness that actually directly supports the artists who created it...Lovely Indeed!

They Will Say Yes...Luxury Wedding Invites

Sara Coates Designs
$6.17 each

Give your wedding invites an extra pop of luxury with these gorgeous invites from Sara Coates Designs. 

Hobby To Professional a Series of Tips

There may come a time in your crafting journey that you want to take things up a notch and maybe consider selling your work for the time you put into it. Careful creative crafter....this could ruin the passion for what you love..but it does not have to.

I'll share a series of tips to guide you and double check to see if you're 'there' yet. Shall we?

1) Getting in to Local Shops - To go for...or not
--> A great way to get exposure for your goods. Here's a great way to get into the door. Give them a call early on a Thursday morning. Introduce yourself and politely ask who you could talk to about becoming a vendor for their shop. Usually they'll happily give you a name, or if you're in luck they may be there in the shop.

 * if they agree to see your work, understand that they may want to try you out through a consignment agreement. Make sure it's fair for you and them. 40/60 is not uncommon split for you and the retail shop.

* if they buy outright, be sure to price each piece so that you're paid fairly and so they can realize a profit too. I like to break down the price into 3's. For instance if you price your handbags at : $60, $20 should cover your time, labor, materials and overhead, while you sell to them for $40 so they can realize a profit of $20 if they sell your handbag at $60.

* make sure your goods will be seen in a clean open spot...no sense of sticking them way in the dark corner where they'll never be seen.

* make sure to follow up in a couple of weeks to see how things are going..or to restock(woo hoo sales baby)

This route can be perfect if you get a great fit with a good retailer. They could possibly keep you busy and help you grow your client list.

Handmade Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Steer clear of the cookie cutter mass produced mess...and give the Mother in your life something she'll cherish and actually like...Give her Handmade this year!

Sew It Girl
$40

Whenever I find a goodie that I love, I have to share so you can love it too or pass them along to someone who might. In the 757 Made! magazine there will be a feature that I share the things that I've <3'd. Just another way to promote and share all the talent to be loved here in VA.

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to stop by Kitsch in Ghent and found a couple of great goodies. I grabbed a belt buckle which I share in another post and a fabulous bag from Itsy's Designs. So unassuming looking, but not only can this baby hold my 17" laptop, it can hold 2 pairs of little dudes shoes  (don't ask how I know this :) and all my other stuff I seem to need in any given day.

Normally I would do all I can to point you to where you too can find them but I can't seem to find a website for her :( So if you know Itsy please tell her to share where we can buy her goodies...Of course you can buy her stuff at Kitsch too :) Enjoy!