Summertime shopping - Cool ideas!

Summer is officiallly here: flowers, patios, great food, friends and....that's right-shopping! If you're like me, I spend my money on things that make me happy. And there is a whole lotta happy over at http://www.etsy.com/, where you can find a mind boggling assortment of handmade products -everything from food products, clothing, and jewelry to furniture and objects d'art.

(Ok, I'll admit it...I have been known to spend hours at a time perusing amazing sellers). Etsy is a kind of cyber warehouse for wonderful artists to sell their creations, using a standardized and user-friendly format. A great example of this is my Etsy shop to the right of this blog post-clicking on any of the items shown there will take you right to my etsy shop where you can purchase the items you like; or, by scrolling a little further down this page, you can see examples of other etsy sellers that are some of my favorites, and clicking on those images will take you to their shop. Fun huh?

One of the other fun features is what is known as an etsy treasury: members choose 12 of their fav items (from their fav sellers) and compile them onto one page-to kind of showcase other peoples work. It is a great compliment to be chosen for a treasury, and it makes you feel great, like people really appreciate your pieces.

I have been lucky enough to have been chosen for another treasury, by seller http://moyou.etsy.com/, click on her link to check out her amazing shop, check out her treasury below, and say hi to my "woolly mice"!

Hope Collection Part 2

I've had a couple of days off and was able to complete (and photograph) a bit more of the Hope Collection (see earlier post for more information about this ). These pieces are for sale in my Etsy shop, but I'll be donating some to the Cancer Foundation's Relay For Life. Here is a sneak preview of one more piece...I love the orange glass flower in the middle, and I think that this may be my favorite piece! And I couldn't help but include a pic of the little gift boxes that they come in-the boxes are so cute!

Stay tuned for more photos!

The Hope Collection

Many of our lives, or the lives of those we love, have been touched by illness. In particular, cancer has sounded its deafening roar throughout my own immediate and extended family.

My latest Etsy collection honours those friends and family who have lost their courageous battles, as well as celebrates the survivors among us. Each piece literally tells the story of the joyous life we live, the precious love we are surrounded with, the faith that keeps us going, and our hopes for a cure.

My mom will be participating in the Cancer Foundation's "Relay For Life" fundraiser on June 6, and every member of her team will be receiving one of 5 styles of a pendant to commemorate the event.

Please join me in wishing them success in their fundraiser, and in their cause to find a cure!

Lily Collection #2 in the Series

Sorry I haven't written in so long! It seems that there is so much to do in the spring, and less hours to do it. (Why is that?)

I have a number of interesting pieces on the go right now, and have just added this one to my shop. Here is a small taste of "Lily's" story part 2:

Allison had been Lily’s closest friend for years. She was the opposite of herself in many ways, yet they always seemed to get along, despite differing viewpoints. Or maybe that was why they got on so well. She handed Ally the box she had brought with her. “Open it, I couldn’t wait until your birthday to give it to you-I was so excited!” Ally peeled apart the layers of wrapping and gasped "Lily! This is gorgeous-it looks like a Chinese antique! Where in the world did you get it?""Oh, I unearthed it one day...it has the symbol for prosperity on it, and the shiny droplets at the bottom represent prosperity raining down on the wearer...it seemed so perfect for you right now with all of the changes in your life, I had to get it for you!"

During these refreshing, sunny days of spring, may showers of prosperity rain down on you and yours!

Thefind.com

Many thanks to shopping network TheFind.com for featuring my designs on their shopping site! It is quite a compliment, as TheFind.com has received press from Good Morning America, The San Fransisco Chronicle, USA Today, The New York Times, and ABC News, among others.