New stuff and Barefoot Drums........

Hey, there!! This week has been crazy - filling orders, getting ready for a show with a new display, a new client and new work for my VA biz!! God is blessing me!

I've been playing around with resin and I'm wondering what you think. It didn't appear to be very popular at last night's show but it may have just been the audience. I don't have any individual piece photos yet but this will give you an idea:

So what are your thoughts?

You may have noticed my Talent Database member banner at the bottom of my blog. You really should check it out - great people, lots of talent and connections! Anyway, I just 'met' Ken from "Barefoot Drums of Houston", a non-profit ministry for abused children. He's doing incredible work and he's incredibly talented. He creates and sells miniatures - motorcycles, tanks, helicopters - and various other items to raise money. Go visit, say hello and pass the word. We really can make a difference!

1000 Markets.....Artist Collective

I really love 1000Markets! I had my first sale there a few days ago and the transaction was very smooth. I really can't wait until the site is out of testing and live! (yes - you can join and you can shop. Only thing missing during this testing phase - as far as I can tell - is promotion)

I've decided to help that promotion along by featuring a few items each week. A few posts prior, I mentioned that I had been accepted to a new market at 1000Markets online sale venue. In keeping with the market theme - and to showcase the variety and specialties of 1000Markets - I'm going to do these features by market (in no particular order)!

Beginning with the Artist Collective Market, they're self-described as:

"Artists Collective began as a cooperative advertising campaign about a year ago for a few artists and myself. The original site can be found at http://www.artists-collective.com. Much like what the principle of how 1000 Markets was founded- that the sum is greater than the individual parts. We decided to pool our resources to purchase advertising space collectively. We could afford a larger ad together than what each individual artist could afford. Now a year later, we are expanding to 1000 Markets."

They've separated the artwork into categories: acrylic; oil; pastels, drawings, charcoal, etc.; and watercolor with media. Here are a few of my favorites - one from each category - from the Artist Collective Market:















"Through the Prism" Acrylic work by Amy Giacomelli, Fine Art by Amy Giacomelli (I've featured her before but I really do love her work!!)












"Phalaenopisis Orchid II" - Oil work by Kevin Aita, Aita Studios












"Contemplation - Man" - Graphite drawing by Reenie Kennedy, Originals by Reenie











"Spring Fever" - Watercolor by Rachel Parker, Fine Art by Rachel Parker


This should give you some incentive to head over to 1000Markets and shop around!! See you there!

Artist Confessions - Sara of Soap Rehabilitation

We've got another Artist Confession - this time it's coming from a maker of all things bath & body. Welcome!



1. Your name: Sara

2. Shop name: Soap Rehabilitation

3. Anyplace else your products can be seen (online and IRL)? I have a blog, a Facebook Business Page, photos on Flickr, and an Artfire shop.

4. Tell us one thing - as it relates to your craft - that would be surprising. Soap making is both science and art, and it's really important to know some of the science behind it. It can also be temperamental, and sometimes subtle changes result in disasters!

5. What's your favorite item? What's your least favorite item? Why?

I am loving my new FreshTart exfoliating soap right now...the tiny apricot seeds feel so delightfully scrubby, and I love a little scrubby in my shower. Also, my Chocoholic Body Balm has been a staple lately, for extra moisturizing in this dry winter weather. My least fav would be some of the "oops" soaps...sometimes one of those disasters that never make it to my shop because they are just too ugly are technically usable and still make it to the shower... ;)

6. Tell us about the mistakes you've made that have turned out well. Sometimes my soap experimentations go awry and I get some ugly soap! On more than one occasion, what I thought was going to turn out ugly ended up pretty in its own way, even if it didn't turn out the way I had intended.

7. Who's work - in your genre - do you envy? There are so many fabulous soapers and bath & body formulators that I admire and have so much respect for, that make me positively drool over their lovely products. Copperlilly, Patti Flynn, and Product Body just to name a few.

Thanks for the opportunity to 'talk soap'!!

Thank you for sharing, Sara. Make sure you drop by Sara's blog and say you saw her here! Also be sure to check out her shop - she's got some great specials going on!
And Sara, don't forget to grab your button to let the world know that you 'confessed'!

New Market on 1000Markets..........

My work was accepted into a new Market at 1000Markets - the Jewelry Artisans Market! The members are wonderfully talented (as are all artisans at 1000Markets - it's a juried site. did I happen to mention that?) and every month (or so) JAM members will be challenged to create a 'themed' piece. The submissions will be posted on the JAM blog.

The first inspirational challenge is "Sunrise". I took the easy way out and submitted a piece already created. I'm finding that I'm not so great at thinking outside the box once I've already created a themed piece. What I mean is - since I've a series already entitled "Sunrise, Sunset", I couldn't get my mind to imagine anything else. I am very much looking forward to future challenges. I see this as a way to broaden my skills and my imagination.

Be sure to check out the JAM blog and the JAM Market! I am IN LOVE with 1000Markets!!

What's goin on.......with me!

I hate going so long between posts but I've been busy, busy, busy again! Fortunately, this time I've been busy at the bench and with promotions AND filling orders!! Yay!

So, let's see..........I'll be participating in a (very) small show in Woodbury - a school fundraiser - in a few weeks. I'm not expecting huge sales but it's a chance to get my name out there and test a new booth set up I have in mind in preparation for (trumpets!!).........my first juried show! Okay, that's provided I'm accepted but I was invited to apply by the event co-chair. It's the Gallery on the Green in Litchfield. Fingers crossed.......I've already applied for my tax ID and as soon as that arrives, I'll be sending in my photos!

What else..........oh! Gift certificates for my shop will be included in 150 Goodie Bags for a theater donor reception in New York! Hopefully that will draw some business and I'm supporting the arts at the same time!

I've been adding to my bench tools - thanks to my husband! Now I just need a real bench instead of the kitchen table!!

Last but not least.......I've been doing some work in copper sheet and copper wire. Here's a sneak peek:

My first spinner ring! I was inspired by Tammy over at Tammy's Treasure Chest.....such fun to make! Hopefully I'll get as good as her!

Artist Confessions - Melissa of AlwaysAdorable

Today we're talking to crafter Melissa of AlwaysAdorable - creator of art, dolls and tutus!! A very appropriate shop name, Melissa!

1. Your Name: Melissa


2. Shop Name: Always Adorable Boutique


3. Anyplace else your products can be seen? My blog and my new venture at Artfire.


4. Tell us one thing - as it relates to your craft - that would be surprising. Probably the most surprising thing that would be found about myself as a crafter would be that I have never been formally trained at any of my crafts. It all started with a box of crayons at the age of three. Since then I have devoured books and how-tos on the skills I wanted to learn whether it be painting, drawing, or sewing.



5. What's your favorite item? My most favorite item would have to be the Colorful Flower Letter Alphabet Print because it was the inspiration for starting my whole adventures in selling online. What's your least favorite item? Why? My least favorite item item is unfortunately the two-sided plush doll, Molly Marina. Boy was she a pill during the whole creation process. I had to redo her face twice!!!







6. Tell us about the mistakes you've made that have turned out well. Oh, there have been mistakes, but that is all part of learning a craft and becoming great at it! Usually every first item of a series whether it is a new doll, drawing, or painting is a test run. And I just rework it over and over until I love it. Nothing is so bad to me that it can't be saved.



7. Who's work - in your genre - do you envy? I envy with the utmost awe another painter from Etsy, Megan Aroon Duncanson, "MADART". Her paintings are mezmorizing and rich beyond belief.



Thank you so much for this opportunity to reach others and brighten their lives with a little bit of what I have to offer!





Thank you so much, Melissa! Don't forget to grab your button and readers, hop on over to her blog and let her know how adorable her work is!!

Kudos.........

I'm a bit behind in acknowledgements so I thought this would be a good time to catch up (since the best I can think of for "Thursday Thirteen" is a wish list of jewelry tools!!)

But let us begin with me! *grin* I've been featured in a blog interview over at Cinnamon & Honey!! Robin is immensly cool, she's talented - she makes handmade cards - and an awesome writer. So check out her blog! Okay, read my interview first and then check out the rest of her blog ;-)


I must thank a few etsians for featuring me in Treasuries: TwoSilverMoons, AccentYourself, MaisonMill, Floridacoqui, Beadsire, CrazedMagpieJewelry, DianneKargBaron, BurningRiverBeads, and envisionITcreative. I know I've missed a few people and this is going back a few months. The members of the StarvingArtististTeam are AWESOME at getting these treasuries - I wish I had the time!

Thank you, all!! Last but not least, Bonhomie Jewelry is featured in Splash Magazine's Valentine's Day Gift Guide! Yay, me! ;-)

Dream in Color............

February is Black History Month. Target and Scholastic.com have introduced Dream in Color - a campaign celebrating the diversity of different ethnic backgrounds. To join the cause, I've decided to donate 5% of all February sales from both shops to the NAACP.

My son has a very diverse background........Irish, German, Lithuanian, American Indian and African American. I'm going to teach him to celebrate and embrace them all!!