Weekly Giveaway - Featuring ScaryWhiteGirl

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Please check back each Monday for a new giveaway!

And of course the rest of the week to see

what's new, what's on sale, and what I'm up to!

Black with Dark Red, Blue, and White Crocheted Coffee Cozy

It's that time of week again - Giveaway Time! This week's artist is Scary White Girl - aka - Dawn. I met Dawn through the Big Damn Crafters team - a group of like-minded geeks who all love the show Firefly! (To find items from the team search "team bdc" on etsy) Dawn has some fun geekery in her shop, and she's just plain a fun person to be around. Here's her interview:

1. Where can we find your work and what do you create?

My shop is http://scarywhitegirl.etsy.com, and I make crocheted items. A lot of my items are geeky and/or morbid, like my Firefly and Doctor Who themed items, Decapitated Dollies, and eyeball cat toys, but I also have some more "normal" things as well, like arm warmers, coffee cozies, and ice cream cozies.

2. What's your favorite part about being an independent artist? 

I like having at least a portion of my day where I'm my own boss. I still work full time, and craft on the side, but it's nice to be able to be the one who decides what projects take priority when for a little while.

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

All over the place! I've drawn inspiration from people I've met at craft shows, things I've seen on TV or in movies, and interesting color combinations in stained glass. I don't think I can go anywhere without looking at things through a lens of "can I crochet this?"

4. What advice would you give to other artists?

Make what you love. If you don't love what you're making, stop making it, and figure out what you do want to make. You'll enjoy the process so much more once you can focus on what you want to be doing, rather than what you think you should be doing. And the enjoyment you take from your work will show through and become a selling point.

Onto the Giveaway!

Ice Blue and Ocean Hues Organic Cotton Crocheted Cozy

You Could Win a Coffee Cozy like the one's featured int his post!

Here's what Dawn has to say about them:

Dress up your coffee shop coffee with this fashionable and environmentally friendly crocheted coffee cozy, made from organic cotton! Even when the cardboard coffee sleeves are made from recycled cardboard, they still end up back in the trash (or the recycling bin). Instead, use this washable coffee cozy to keep your hand protected from the hot coffee cup! (Winner may choose the color/stripe pattern for their cozy from available cozies at http://scarywhitegirl.etsy.com.) Value $12.

So how can you win?

1. Comment on this entry
2. Share your favorite item from her shop (scroll up for link)
3. Plurk or twitter about it and leave a comment with link.
4. Blog about it and leave a comment with link
5. Purchase an item from her shop (for 5 entries) (link above)

Important: All entries must be submitted by comments on this blog post.

I'm keeping track of the entries, so telling Dawn about them won't help :P

Interested in doing an artist feature/giveaway on this blog? Just let me know!

And there is still a sale going in my shop! 15% off at Rose Works Jewelry :)

Friday's Featured Artist - Yarrow1

I've been hanging out with some new gals (Bittersweets Daily Challenge) lately - and they are delightful! I met them because of a team mate of mine on Team

Big Damn Crafters and so I decided to feature her! I'd like you all to meet Karen...

1. What type of art work do you do?

I have done and am doing a lot of things in art. I have a piece in bronze. I just did a mural on a winery. I have done them both on inside walls and outside on homes. In addition I am always involved working with pen and ink, acrylics, watercolors and other media doing cards and ACEOs and paintings. I paint tiles, t-shirts and quilting blocks. There have been a lot of wine bottles painted with enamel and donated to charity. I have even had those bottles stolen; that gives me a troubled sense of "arriving" in the art world. lol

2. How did you get started doing art work?

I was influenced by sitting on my uncle's knee and watching him draw. My learning crochet; when I was 7 and had Rhuematic Fever, was taught by a kindly neighbor. My sculpting was at the same time, given clay be a home teacher. I have never stopped since then, but gotten "off track" by jobs.

3. Do you do any other crafts?

I occasionally do ceramics, soaps, lotions, and salts because of jobs I learned them in.

4. Is there a story behind your shop name?

The name is a healing herb. I am a healer using massage, energy and herbs for healing my animals.

5. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?

The gourd using my horses mane and wood burning. My horse was 33 years of age.

bird gourd Native American

6. Where do you sell your work?

I sell my work at the winery, Vista Del Rey. The owners are very supportive of artists.

I'm also on etsy as Yarrow1.

7. Do you blog?

No.

8. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?

http://twitter.com/yarrow1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29162281@N08/

9. Do you watch or listen to anything while you

work? If so, what?

Public radio, it gives me both news and music of all kinds. I also listen to books gotten from the library.

10. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*

I hate housework!

I do too! It soooo gets in the way of creating! LOL

Tuesday's Tips #5

Can you guess what today's tips are about? That's right - joining teams and guilds! I chose banners from two of my favorite teams to start out this post today. The Etsy Bloggers and the The Stalkers. I'm on several other teams (more on that later) but these two hold special places in my heart! The bloggers because they are the team I have been a part of the longest, they have some awesome people, and they feel like family :) I'm still pretty new to the Stalkers over on Artfire, but I love the mission of promoting others, without telling them what we're doing! 

Ok, enough about me, WHY am I bringing up teams and guilds? Because I think that they are a very important part of the selling experience. 

If you remember last weeks tips I talked about making connections through your blog. Well, another important place to make connections is in the communities that you sell in. Forums can be great tools as well, but I think that teams and guilds provide the core of the support you need.

Simply put, most teams exist for a purpose. It might be to promote a particular type of art or craft, it might be a unified passion, it might even be a common location, but whatever it is you are likely to be surrounded by a community of people who have similar interests. If you have a question or need support, these are the best people to turn to! I've learned a lot from my various team mates and I consider it to have been invaluable experience. 

I also know that MANY of my sales have been either direct sales too or trades with team mates. Now how great is that?

Before I say anything more I should say that I don't know as much about other selling venues. I'm on etsy and artfire - but look around whatever other sites your on and see if they have teams or guilds or something similar! 

So how do you find the team/guild that's right for you?

1. Location based is always a great way to start. It's the best way to find out about local events and resources.

2. Does your shop specialize in something? Like jewelry, paintings, cards, or knitting? Well there's probably a team all about YOUR medium! Which can be great for personal growth in your artwork :)

3. Do you have a passion like blogging, being a Mom, or living green? That's right, there's teams for that too.

Things to look at when choosing teams to join:

1. What are their requirements? Do you meet them?

2. What do they require of active members? Is it going to put to much on your plate?

3. Is it an active team? Or is it just kinda sitting there doing nothing? A team that's really active might be too much for you if your schedule is full, but on the flip side there's really not much point in joining a team that's completely stagnated.

Now since I'm talking about teams and guilds I want to give a shout out to my teams and guilds! Before I do...just be aware that I'm a stay at home disabled woman ... therefore I have more time on my hands than most of you!

On Etsy:

 ~ The Etsy Bloggers - because we love to blog and we love each other! Search "etsybloggers team" to find our stuff :)

~ Team Big Damn Crafters - geeks who love the show Firefly and love to create new items inspired by the show! Search "teambdc" to find our stuff :)

~ The Etsy Bead Weavers - because we love to work with tiny little beads to create beautiful creations :) Search "ebwc" to see our monthly challenge item and follow our blog to vote in the challenge each month! Search "ebw" to see the rest of the teams incredible work :)

On Artfire: Still getting to know these guys - but having fun!

~ The Stalkers - Not as scary as it sounds! Each week our fearless leader picks a different shop - and we all go out to promote it! I love doing this :) 

~ Pacific Northwest - There's that local connection I was talking about!

~ Blogfire - Um, did I mention that I love to blog? I missed the last carnival and I was sooo sad :(

~ Artfire Beadweavers Guild - Haven't really had a chance to get to know these guys yet, but I love to weave beads so there I am!

So what teams are YOU on? 

Pictures Galore!!!

I've just been ITCHING to take pictures of my jewelry over these last couple of weeks - but to no avail. First it was simply a matter of being in the middle of moving, then I was getting ready for the bazaar and I decided pictures were a lower priority, and then I've been sick. You put it all together - and I'm utterly amazed at how much new inventory I've amassed in my bins - and how little of it is on-line! Well, today, the stars finally aligned and I've been able to take pictures! Woohoo!

I prioritized and started by taking pictures of my Team BDC piece that I've been tormenting you all about, a couple of new Christmas pieces, and another bracelet that just happened to be sitting close at hand ;). That's probably all I'll get listed tonight because I want to try to get as many photo's taken as possible, and then I'll list like crazy over the next couple of days! I'm giving myself a break for a few minutes by typing up this post :P

And now to unveil my Team BDC piece! I'll include the description from the listing here so you know what my thoughts were in creating it :)

November's Challenge for Team Big Damn Crafters (in honor of the show
Firefly and the movie Serenity) was the episode "Our Dear Mrs.
Reynolds." In this episode we first meet Saffron, who has several
different names, and I decided to make my piece for her! Now this
Firebird Necklace isn't something you ever see in the series, but I
think it's true to the spirit of her character. Saffron has training as
a companion, which is like a very, very high class hooker. One of the
other characters in the show is a companion (Inara) and she often wears
very ornate jewelry. So this is a piece I picture Saffron wearing if
she was working as a companion, and I think it's very appropriate to
both her name and the colors she wears!

Now you don't have to be a fan of Firefly to love this necklace - I
debuted it at bazaar and received TONS of comments on it! Do you have a
fancy occasion to dress up for? Then this is perfect for you! This
necklace is made from hundreds of tiny seed beads, is my own design,
and is adjustable to fit a variety of neck sizes. It also comes with a
matching pair of earrings in Swarovski crystal. While the pictures
don't do it justice, the beads do actually go from a brilliant yellow,
to orange, to red, and back out again! If you love this look, but it
doesn't match the colors you have, I'd love to make this piece in more
colors! So send me a message and I'd love to customize one for you :)

This necklace ranges between 15 and 17 inches and the earrings hang 2 1/4 inches long.

Would you like to be the proud owner of this lovely piece? Click on the button below to buy it now! Only $40 with $2 shipping and handling to anywhere in the world!

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And don't forget tonight running through tomorrow I have a 20% off sale in my shop! PLUS, from now on, every 5th order will receive a prize! So when I hit 50, and 55, and 60, and on it goes forever! So shop now!

Time Management and Relaxation

Slinky Red Necklace

As I've been talking a lot about time management there's one thing I've said several times and, I realized today I wasn't listening to myself! That is, it's important to find time to relax.  If you let yourself get to stressed out, then you will lose your creative edge.  Besides, it's just plain not healthy in general!

I've had a really long couple of days, and I was really tired by the time my dear hubby and I got home today!  The good news is that we're pretty sure we've found an apartment :) Which is really exciting! We're going in tomorrow to do paper work :)

So as I sat down this afternoon I had a million projects that needed to be worked on, and I wasn't too motivated to start working on them, I was just too tired! So instead of catching up with my dear etsy bloggers team, instead of turning on my twitter deck and chatting, instead of writing, I simply turned on a Firefly episode and pulled out a weaving project.

Wait! I'm sure you see the inconsistency in this.  Yes, I know, I'm a work-a-holic. I've been told that many times. You don't need to remind me!

The plain and simple truth is that I find bead weaving really relaxing.  Well, as long as everything is going well with the project and I don't get too many thread tangles that is :P That's one of the reasons I fell in love with it in the first place.  I have many health problems and beading allows me to spend hours sitting still, relaxing, and letting go of my stress.

My usual problem, though, is that I usually work on my projects while sitting at the computer.  Which means I'm constantly getting interrupted because I get distracted by e-mail notifications, the forums, and twitter! As you can imagine that can be highly unproductive.  I'm working on this because I think it's a bad habit.  So I'm doing a lot more of ignoring e-mail and twitter for a period of time to work on a project.  Usually, though, it's been work for 15-20 mins, check everything, work again :P  I get a LOT more done that way, but it's not that relaxing.

Today I left a note for my etsy blogger friends so they'd know why I was gone, put up a quick comment on twitter, and simply bead wove and watched Firefly! I even had my laptop pushed far enough away that I wouldn't be very tempted to try and type!

It was sooooo relaxing! And I'm loving my project :) It's a combination of two goals I have for myself.  I spoke in an earlier post about my goal to try and complete one bead weaving project a week.  The necklace at the top of this post was my successful completion of that goal this last week :D

I've also had an idea for doing a line of bracelets that will fall under the "Geekery" section of Etsy! I have a LOT of ideas for this line, which is why I'm simply heading it under Geekery and not by the different shows ect.  The very first piece in this line is the bracelet I designed with the God Send symbol from the hit TV show Heroes.

I've also been working a series of other designs, but I needed to buy more seed beads before I could start. Today I finally got the last piece I needed to start on my first bracelet based off of a vidoe game! I should have it ready to show by next week.  No pictures tonight, I'm just too tired! I will tell you it's going to feature the character Link, from the Legenda of Zelda series.  It's an early version of Link, and my geeky brother helped me make sure that I had the details right.  I may be a geek - but he's and uber-geek and way better at the precise details than I am! Plus it's fun to involve him :) He's my geek consultant! 

I also have ideas for bracelets based off of Mario, Spiderman, Batman, Star Trek, Star Wars, and eventually, moving into the realm of dragons and faeiries :D That will take time though! Especially because these take a LOT more work to design and I'll probably alternate week by week doing a geek design with doing "pretty" or something else design that takes a little bit less planning!

Oh yes, and I'm also working on my first project for Team Big Damn Crafters, my team dedicated to the memory of the show Firefly (that I'm watching at the moment), and those will also end up listed under Geekery. :) And anything else that ends up being appropriate...

Can anyone say crafting ADHD? LOL

I'm also planning on learning an entirely new technique for me this week :P

For all those who've signed up for the newletter, I was planning on sending it out tonight, but I forgot my notes over at my parents house.  So I should be sending it out tomorrow.  Not signed up yet? There's a widget at the top of the blog! Make sure you go through the confirmation process so I get the notification! If you'd rather not do that, simply e-mail me at jedimarri@gmail.com, and I'll add you to the list! Incedentily, that's the e-mail address these will be coming from :P

Ok, off to chat some more with my Geek Consultant and work on my Link bracelet :)