Inventory Clearance Sale!

Elements by Dawn is having its first sale of 2008! The End of the Year Inventory Clearance Sale starts today.

My entire Etsy shop is Buy Two, Get One FREE! In fact, if you Buy Four, you'll get Two FREE! Regular shipping rates do apply, however, if you'd prefer USPS First Class ($3.00 for the first item, subsequent items are shipped at a discount), just ask. Additionally, all items will be GIFT BOXED and ready for gift giving!

Now is the perfect time to buy gifts for the holiday season....which is FAST approaching! :) Visit today for the best selection!

Happy Shopping!!

ETSY Front Page Treasury!

As luck would have it, I missed seeing the Front Page action. But CONGRATS to the sellers who made my Treasury Front Page worthy! Without your beautiful photographs and exquisite handcrafted items....well, you get the idea. :)

However, I must say I have been very fortunate to have had a small handful of Treasuries make the coveted Front Page over the past two years. I always get a little giddy when I see my Treasury or one of my jewelry pieces gracing the Front Page. It never gets old! :)

So, here is the list of sellers (starting top left):

f2images

JennyBlasenPottery

JudyB

MeganAuman

EmilyFrances

SandFibers

Zygopsyche

Xenotees

LingGlass

Shauno

ModRocks

Kimonomomo

WIST Upcycled Swap

First...a little background:
WIST is "...a group of organized Etsy members who network, share skills, and promote their shops and Etsy together. A Team forms around a shared location, crafting medium, or another interest." Team WIST is comprised of Etsy members who live in Wisconsin and craft in a number of mediums.

In mid-June an Upcycled Swap was planned for our members. Each participating member was paired with a partner and was tasked with making a 'gift' for his/her partner out of recycled or repurposed materials.

My Swap partner was Stefanie of ArtsyMomma. She created for me the most wonderful tote! It was created from an old tablecloth, a pair of corduroy pants and bed sheets! Too cool. I L-O-V-E the soft butter yellow and the pop flowers!

Just a quick shout-out to MineFull for coordinating the Swap....thank you! It was a wonderful event and I can't wait to do another one soon. :)

A new technique and a new material...

Though I love working with metal, I also love the idea of working with much more fragile materials too, like paper.

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After a little trial and error, I made a Star Pendant. I am quite happy with the results.

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If you are curious, it is created from 8 tiny 1" squares of scrapbooking paper and sealed with a medium-gloss finish. A fine silver bail was embedded in the Star.

Yellow Challenge - Number Two (officially)

Here is the finished bracelet:

Yellow Challenge - Number One and a Half

I must be on a bracelet kick this week! I don't usually make too many bracelets, so this week's color challenge is a double challenge for me!

1. I rarely use yellow in my creations


2. I only create a small number of bracelets a year

Note I also labeled today's entry as "number one and a half" because the bracelet is not finished. I still need to create a few more links and make a clasp. However, I wanted to show it in its unfinished state.

Currently the bracelet measures 6 1/2" (16.5cm) but due to the chunkiness (is that a word?) of the vintage Czech glass beads, it will need to have about two more bead sections added to fit an average sized wrist. I'm also using copper wire. Another rarity for me! Go figure! :)

Yellow Challenge - Number One

YELLOW!

14kt. Goldfill flexible bangle-style bracelet with large faceted citrine and crystal quartz gemstones. Yummy!

Color Challenge - YELLOW

Just a reminder that this week I will be posting items created using the color YELLOW as a focal color! I have already created a wonderfully sparkly bracelet with sunny yellow citrine coupled with 14kt. goldfill. I'm also digging in my box of cool vintage beads to see what I might find.

I rarely use yellow in my designs, so this is a wonderful challenge for me. It has made me venture a little out of my comfort zone.

Keep posted! Oh, and be sure to comment on your favorite(s)!

Visit the other Color Challenge participants too:
fedeDesigns
HotFudge
Sparkly Treasures
Glady andCloudy
RachelsAprons
TreasureField
DaisychainDesigns
AlwaysAmy
yarnPlay
BeadingInTheDark

The Color Challenge is on its Way!

OK, I'll be working on some YELLOW projects this week and have them ready to post early next week. Remember to 'vote' or leave comments!

Visit all the participants too!
fedeDesigns
HotFudge
Sparkly Treasures
Glady and Cloudy
RachelsAprons
TreasureField
DaisychainDesigns
AlwaysAmy
yarnPlay
BeadingInTheDark

Color Challenge!!

Fiona of fede designs proposed a weekly color challenge on her blog and in the Etsy forums. The Challenge goes something like this:

"So I've got this idea. To make my sewing world even more fun & challenging over the next 6 weeks (alright...honestly...maybe it's also an attempt to minimise my terrible procrastination) I'm going to do this.........
This week (starting Mon 9/6) I will be only sewing in BLUE. All creations will be posted (the good, the bad & the ugly) for your perusal and comment, and the winning designs will hit my Etsy store. Each subsequent week will have a colour assigned in this order.
BLUE YELLOW BROWN RED GREEN PINK
As much as I have a soft spot for black, I have excluded it from this challenge."

Knowing what a s-l-o-w designer and perfectionist I am, I decided to accept the challenge with this exception...I will participate every other week. This way I am positive I will have more than one submission for each color thus allowing readers to vote! I will create using the colors yellow, red and pink.

Handmade CARDS

Oh my goodness!! Anyone who knows me knows what a paper, card, and sticker fanatic I am! Well, much to my surprise, while searching through the Treasuries on Etsy, I stumbled upon a Treasury list comprised of members of the Etsy Greetings Street Team. The Street Team was holding a simple contest on their blog and was seeking some basic feedback on greeting cards. I participated and WON a prize package that comprised of over 20 of the most exquisitely made greeting cards.....ever! (can you see me jumping for joy!?)

I wish you could feel the quality of the paper and see first hand the care and precision of each fold, cut and crease of each card.

Here are some of the wonderful cardmakers that made this prize possible:

BBesigns
Juniper Berry Design
NY Papercrafter
Miscelena Handmade Papercrafts
Mon Ami Greetings
The Dragon's Wares
Cardware by J. Henz
Haley's Handmades
Waisze Designs
Althena12
Moxie Photo Design
SJ Designs
Jennifer Rose Designs

Artist Feature - BELLA DIO

Bella Dio means "beautiful God" in Italian. Robin, an Indianapolis, IN based jewelry designer, creates wonderful designs in polymer clay and beads.

The piece, featured above, is titled, "Let Romance Fill the Air" and is comprised of a sculpted polymer clay rose supported by a hand formed silvertone wire heart. It is available in Robin's Etsy shop for $25 USD and would make a lovely Mother's Day gift!

Artist Feature - THUMBELINA CREATIONS

Hailing from Alberta Canada, Jonquil Thiessen is a stay-at-home mom of three boys who loves to be creative in many different ways. She loves to sing, knit, crochet, draw, scrapbook, write music, and make jewelry.

Simplistic, yet enduring, the Teardrop Earrings featured above, can be purchased in Jonquil's Etsy shop for $8 USD. The earrings are shown in orange, but are available in other colors as well. Just drop her a note and she'll make a custom pair just for you!

In addition, she is a member of EtsyBEAD, ETSYMOM, and ETSYAlberta! To learn more about Jonquil, visit her blog today.

Artist Feature - MARY HAMILTON

An award winning artist, Mary Hamilton is the artistic force behind DreamOn. Mary is heavily influenced by her travels and the many cultures she has experienced.

Mary describes her work as impressionistic in nature because she "love(s) it when the center of interest appears in the midst of background objects that aren’t so well-defined. I want watercolor to look like watercolor, and I want my paintings to have a painterly look, not a photographic copy."

One of my favorite pieces in her Etsy shop is entitled, "Rare Bird" and features a white Egret investigating the sand dunes. This original watermedia painting is available for $39 USD.

In addition, Mary is a member of Studio 1212 Gallery, Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island, Creative Artists’ Guild, the Beach Art Center and Glenwood Springs Art Guild.

To learn more about Mary and her art, go to http://www.mary-hamilton.com/ or http://www.dreamsaboutart.blogspot.com/

Artist Feature - CIGAR BOX BEADS

Hailing from Seal Beach, California, Marilyn is the creative force behind Cigar Box Beads. Beadweaving has been her passion for over 20 years and it all began with a simple purchase of a cigar box full of beads at a flea market. Additionally, Marilyn enjoys crochet, knit, sew and decoupage.

The piece featured above, is a hand-woven Amulet Bag which is comprised of hundreds of tiny seedbeads, red jasper gemstone chips, and a wooden fetish lizard. It is available in Marilyn's Etsy shop for $80 USD.

Marilyn is a proud member of the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team and the California Craft Club of Etsy (CCCOE).

SPECTACULAR FINDS OF 2007

As the year comes to a close, I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to some wonderful products, artists and crafters over the year. I will share them with you!

1. Natures Corridor is a Wisconsin artist who creates warm and wonderful watercolor and acrylic paintings. I absolutely love the colors she uses, the hint of whimsy in her watercolors, and the movement she creates in the trees and landscapes are mesmerizing!


2. Natalya Sots is a ceramics artist from Schaumburg, Illinois. She makes teapots, cups, plates, bowls and bells too! Her creations are fun and pack a colorful punch! My favorite piece is the Mad Hatter Teapot.


3. sjDESIGNS is an exquisite greeting card crafter from Omaha, Nebraska. I have been purchasing cards from Stephanie (sjDESIGNS) for over a year, and every card is perfection. If you are looking for unique and very well-made greeting cards, look no further!


4. Block Party Press is no ordinary polymer clay artist! Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, she creates all of her designs by first making a hand-carved stamp, then using the stamp in the clay. Thus all of her designs are uniquely hers! Additionally, she uses a special distressing technique on her items too, which further creates a unique yet distinguished look.


5. Soapylove is the creator of bright, cheerful, and perfectly scented glycerin soaps and soapsicles. They make great gifts, especially for kids and the kid-at-heart! Debbie (Soapylove) hails from San Diego, California, and her soaps can be found around the globe and on Etsy.


6. KimonoMomo is obsessed with vintage Japanese textiles. Carol is the creative genius behind Kimono Momo where she reconstructs vintage kimono and obi into one-of-a-kind works of art, namely scarves and handbags. Each piece is uniquely beautiful...and if you are looking for vintage fabrics, Carol also has some available in her Etsy shop!
7. Precious Meshes is a wire and jewelry artist. Emily Conroy crochets fine gauge wire to create masterful works of art! Some of my favorite pieces are her Anemone Hoop Earrings. Emily is also co-owner of VIX Emporium in West Philadelphia, which features independent artists and crafters from around the world.
8. Purusha creates "All Natural Handmade Soaps" and is based out of New York City. I have been an avid handmade soap user for over three years for two main reasons: Handmade natural soaps are better for the environment (no nasty chemicals being washed down the drain) and handmade natural soaps have done wonders for my skin.
   

Of course, these are in no particular order and I'm almost certain I have neglected a few talented artists and crafters...but the best thing about a blog...I can edit and update the list! :) So watch for additional 2007 Spectacular Finds over the next week or so.

Again, I would like to wish everyone a warm and joyful New Year! Oh, and be on the lookout for a special sales announcement in your mailbox (hint-hint)!

Artist Feature - REGAL BEADS

Kim has been crafting for as long as she can remember, though for the past five years beadweaving has been her main focus. Kim revels in the challenge of weaving a new pattern and the satisfaction felt by completing a piece of woven art.

The necklace featured above is titled, "Sunny Skies" and is available in her Etsy shop for $80 USD. The piece measures about 19" in length and was created using thousands of tiny seed beads. Each piece takes several hours to weave!

If you are looking for a custom piece of wearable art or are looking for a particular color, just contact Kim through her Etsy shop! She enjoys custom orders. Kim is a member of the Etsy Beadweaver Street Team.

Artist Feature - GEORGE MCKIM

Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, George studied art in college and has a Masters Degree in Painting and Drawing. His artwork has been shown in galleries and museums in the Mid-Atlantic region. George's day job is working as a pre-press graphic artist for a printing company and he makes art in his "spare time."

Featured above is an original collage painting is based on the image of a flower. It is titled, "Springtime Explosion." The painting is available in George's Etsy shop for $75 USD.

Other works include: Sunflowers, 5isms, and other abstract artwork.

Non-handmade Confession

Prompted by this article in the Etsy Storque: "Confess, Cheaters", I too must confess my mass-produced buying sins....

While I'm not overly crafty, (I don't sew, paint, draw, or do well with a glue gun) I can cook. So to fill the Handmade Pledge order, I made POUNDS and POUNDS of Spiced Pecans! They were a big hit. Woohoo, I was off to a great start! But then the realization that some items I just couldn't make and I didn't know how to fill their Holiday Wish without buying something mass-produced. Grandma wanted a certain perfume and my husband wanted a certain band's CD. So, there you have it...I bought perfume and TWO CDs. Oh, and I received an awesome set of non-handmade knives (so I can cook!).

I will try to do better next year and throughout the year during other gift-giving holidays and birthdays too.

Artist Feature - DARJEELING PAPER, LTD.

Situated in Largo, Florida, Michael Gresh is the co-founder of DemiGod Studio and started Darjeeling Paper, Ltd. as a way for him to hone his skills and try out new techniques, all while presenting his works to the world.

A sample of Michael's work can be seen above in this four-pack of blank-inside notecards which feature four distinct patterns and come in four vibrant colors. The cards are approximately 4" x 5 1/2" and are packaged together in a resealable cellophane pouch, along with four blank white envelopes. The set is available in his Etsy shop for $6.00 USD.

Feed your inner paper addict! Or maybe that's just me ;)