Necklace Giveaway from EclecticOrchid

I found EclecticOrchid on Etsy some time back and I've been loving Marcy's work ever since! She creates unique jewelry that is beautiful and fun to wear. It always feels like Christmas when my purchases arrive- the jewelry is wrapped in a beautiful box with the sweetest notes included. Here are some photos of the items I've bought from Marcy in the past:

Caged No More

My Bottled Emotions

Love Letter

Beyond this Cage

For this giveaway, I asked Marcy if she could tell us a little about herself. Here's what she had to say:

1) Please tell me a little about yourself. I am originally from a small town south of New Orleans. I moved to the Charlotte area a little over 3 years ago with my husband, daughter, and son (okay, he’s actually a dog but he doesn’t know it). In my former life (prior to motherhood, that is) I was a rehabilitation counselor working as a group home supervisor/case manager to developmentally and physically disabled women. Now I am a full time stay at home mom and die hard craftster!I love to play with my daughter, read (although I never have time), listen to music, spend time with my family, craft, decorate, and of course make jewelry!

2) Please tell me about how you got started making jewelry. I have always dabbled in the arts since I was young, taking painting classes and experimenting with photography. A few years ago my mom wanted to take a jewelry class and thought my sister and I would enjoy it as well. I learned basic techniques that day but never had the time to really enjoy it. After my daughter was born, I was going through some boxes and came across my old jewelry supplies. I originally started making jewelry again to break the monotony of being home all the time, but slowly realized how passionate I was about it. I really feel like it is my way of releasing my inner artist and my true creative outlet!

3) What inspires you most? EVERYTHING! Really, I am always inspired whether it be the new growth on the trees or the rusty falling down building near my daughter's school. I see creative potential in anything around me: my family, nature, movies, music, art, words, colors, love, life, etc.

The Giveaway:
For this giveaway, Marcy has generously offered one of my readers a beautiful black and white vintage locket necklace that she calls Black Tie Affair. She designed it especially for this contest- everyone is sure to love it!!
To Enter:
Visit EclecticOrchid and tell me your favorite item. There are so many beautiful things to choose from, picking just one might be a challenge! (REQUIRED)

Bonus Entries: (Please leave individual comments for each entry so that it will be counted!)
1) Purchase an item from EclecticOrchid (5 extra entries)
2) Follow my blog.
3) Follow Marcy's blog.
4) Blog about this giveaway and give me the link.
5) Follow me on Twitter and give the giveaway a Tweet.

The contest will end on April 13th at 11:59 pm CST and the winner will be contacted by noon the following day. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner! You will have 48 hours to respond before a second winner is chosen.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy Marcy's work as much as I do!

Clair de Lune

"Moonlight"

Your soul is like a landscape fantasy,
Where masks and Bergamasks, in charming wise,
Strum lutes and dance, just a bit sad to be
Hidden beneath their fanciful disguise.

Singing in minor mode of life's largesse
And all-victorious love, they yet seem quite
Reluctant to believe their happiness,
And their song mingles with the pale moonlight,

The calm, pale moonlight, whose sad beauty, beaming,
Sets the birds softly dreaming in the trees,
And makes the marbled fountains, gushing, streaming--
Slender jet-fountains--sob their ecstasies.

Composition of Clair de Lune by Debussy

Claude Debussy, a French composer, wrote Clair de Lune in 1890. It was influenced by the poem by the same title as seen above, which was written by Paul Vermier. It is part of a 4 part series entitled Suite Bergamasque which is lovely, as well.

Clair de Lune is one of my favorite compositions- I could (and do) listen to it for hours without end. It was the inspiration for this bracelet. :)

Winner of BusinessMinded Giveaway

Congratulations to Wilmoth Farms Rachel & Her Farmer, entry number 35, for winning the BusinessMinded giveaway!

I have contacted the winner and she will have 48 hours to respond before I choose another winner.

Thanks for entering! I'll be posting more giveaways soon! ♥

A Note on Contest Entries....

Hey eveyone! Just as a note on contest entries, you get one entry per comment so it's best to leave multiple comments if you are entering multiple ways! I guess I didn't make that 100% clear for the Marketing Guide Giveaway, so I'll count the items up for this one ONLY but please remember to leave individual comments next time for maximum entries!! :)

The BusinessMinded giveaway winner will be contacted tomorrow by 12pm CST and will be given 48 hours to respond indicating their desired guide before a second winner is choosen.

I will give Jordan at BusinessMinded your email once you contact me and she'll email you your prize!

♥

Marketing Guide Giveaway Ends Tonight!

Hey everyone! Just a reminder that the BusinessMinded marketing guide giveaway ends tonight! Visit the link below for last minute entries (DO NOT enter here if you want your entry to be counted). Good luck to all!!

http://bisoubisoubeads.blogspot.com/2009/03/business-minded-marketing-guide.html

High Time for a New "Favorites"

Whenever I do a new "favorite items" blog, I never know what I'm going to search for until I find it. Today, the blog title "high time...." made me think of "high tide" so that's what I'm looking for! ;) I searched on Etsy, Artfire, and 1000Markets with the key phrase "high tide" and these are some of my favorites that I found.

I decided to go high-tech and put photos and links, this time.

High Tide Earrings by thebijoubabe.

High Tide Painting by ArtwithLiz

Green Grass and High Tides by chilirose

Sea Scape by JanZart

Business Minded Marketing Guide Giveaway

Business Minded on Etsy has some of the most wonderful marketing guides that I've found anywhere on the 'net! I stumbled across the owner, Jordan, on Twitter and I was instantly drawn to her guides. She has several different versions available including the Etsy Seller Success Kit which is my favorite. I've purchased all of her guides and they are simply packed with great information to help build your Etsy business. While her guides are written with Etsy sellers in mind, the information you'll learn can easily be applied to all aspects of online selling, no matter where you're items are listed.

I asked the owner of Business Minded, Jordan, to tell me a little about herself to let you all get to know her a bit better.

Please tell me about yourself. I live in Southern California with my husband, our 2 year old son, and our cat Ruby. I have been passionate about supporting small businesses for as long as I can remember. Both my parents and my grandparents owned their own businesses, and I know firsthand about the struggles that these small companies face. I feel that supporting my friends and neighbors in their own business endeavors helps me feel connected to my own community and is the most patriotic thing that I can do for my country.

Please tell me about your business. I am a work at home mom who opened up an online toy store in June of 2008. In my original business plan, I relied heavily on friends and family spreading the news of my business and helping to get it off the ground. I was shocked and disappointed to find that although they had good intentions, their email chains didn’t get far and sales were very weak. I quickly learned that it was going to take much more than word-of-mouth to get my sales where I had anticipated. So I had to get creative—and fast! I immersed myself in Internet and library research. I went to workshops and chatted up strangers. In the end I came up with a simple and effective method of marketing and publicizing my store that has brought me tens of thousands of shoppers looking for exactly what I am selling.

Can you share any general secrets to having a great shop? Branding is a huge key to making your shop look professional. Try to take all of your pictures against the same background if you can. Make it either plain white, or a "signature color" that you use over and over again. This is an easy trick for a seller who doesn't feel that they are a goood photographer; it will give the sense that the photos were taken professionally.

The Giveaway

Business Minded would like to offer one of my readers a marketing guide of his or her choice to one lucky winner. There are multiple guides to choose from so there is sure to be something for everyone!

To Enter:

*REQUIRED* Visit Business Minded and choose your favorite guide- comment back here to tell me which one you would like to receive if you win (you can always change your mind).

Bonus Entries:

1. Subscribe to my blog.

2. Follow my blog.

3. Blog about the giveaway and send me the link.

4. Follow me on Twitter and give the giveaway a tweet (I check!).

5. Grab my button and put it on your blog (I check!!).

6. Visit my Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item.

Open to all.

The giveaway will end on March 23, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner will be selected by random.org, notified by email, and will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is selected. Please remember to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win. Good luck!

Free Shipping in March!

Free shipping for all US and Canadian orders through the month of March to celebrate my one year anniversary with Etsy! I have several other 10% off sales going on too (they still apply!).

Shop now!

♥

Bouquet Brooches

I've recently learned to make wire wrapped brooches and I'm so excited with the way that this one turned out! Check it out and let me know what you think!

Pearl Bouquet- Wire Wrapped Beaded Brooch

♥

Check out RainbowSwirlz on Etsy!

I had a lovely surprise when I checked my email this morning: I won Simply Stacie's RainbowSwirlz tote bag giveaway! I chose this super-cute bird bag.

Check out Simply Stacie for other great giveaways and visit RainbowSwirlz Etsy shop for other cute screenprint items.

♥

Today is a GREAT day!

I'm just bubbling over with happiness today so I HAD to share it with someone!

First of all, it's sunny and warm. My mood is directly related to the weather most of the time. Secondly, I got TWO orders today already! One of them is to France! Woohoo! Third, my Legal Studies test was easy peasy and I got out early so I had time to relax before Literature. Fourth, the order from BlueMud that I have been so anxiously awating came today. Plus the mail came way earlier than usual. According to the tracking, it was it Seatle yesterday and arrived in Birmingham before noon today. Thank goodness for Priority Mail! Fifth, and best of all, no more classes today and NOTHING to do besides bead, bead, bead!!

Don't you love great days?! Hope everyone else's day is going just as wonderfully as mine!

Check out my bracelet that has sold TWICE today! ♥

By the Sea

I've been wanting to do a "treasury" of ocean theme items but I can't get a spot in it on Etsy. You know how much I love to make my own on here, though!

Treasure of the Red Sea
Sea Horse and Star Fish
Nantucket Shoreline
Beachside

Gotta run. More to come!

A bit obsessed...

...with briolettes. :)

Crystal Briolette Necklace
Water Lotus Earrings
Shimmering Golden Shade
Cocoa
Champaign Swirl

I'm going to design some briolette earrings this week when my order arrives so I'll share them then, too.

♥

New designs!

I'm quite proud of my newest additions to my Etsy inventory. I have 5 new items listed today, including the adorable Grape Cluster Earrings and the beautiful Enchanted Evening Wire Wrapped Necklace. My creativity flourished this weekend. :)

Check them out and let me know what you think!