Behind the door of Room 3

TotusMel's Wunderkammer

2010-12-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

Not only is she a lovely and creative woman....her keen eye and discerning taste has made her Wunderkammer blog one of my favorites.

TotusMel's Wunderkammer

How tickled pink do you think I must be to be featured in it? A most marvelous way to come back to society.

I have made several more beaded ornament covers and will take pictures and post soon.

It seems like it's been forever......

2010-12-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

After many months, I have finally returned from my Walkabout. A little disheveled....yet anxious to get back to life. I might have stayed away longer, but I was starting to get reports that not only was the TiffyTemp2000 failing to watch the shop, she was starting to destroy it.

Well, let me make some coffee and freshen up a bit. Though I would like nothing more than to meet you for cocktails and catch up with the real world, I must dismiss the TiffyTemp2000 and straighten up a bit. I just wanted to let you know I was back....I missed you all....and start chilling the Vodka.

Suquamish Farmer's Market HARVEST FAIR

2010-09-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Oh the best laid plans.....I am so many months behind in my blogging, catching up seems impossible. To that extent, I'll just jump right in.

Today is the last day of the Suquamish Farmer's Market, which I've been vending at almost every Wednesday since mid-July. Though small in size, the people involved and the goods available are marvelous. Hoping to see you there today.

Suquamish Farmer's Market

Fall Harvest Fair!

September 22, Wednesday 3:00 to 7 p.m.

Come on out for the beautiful sunny fall afternoon! Free pumpkins for kids at the pumpkin decorating tent and every 20 minutes we’ll do a raffle draw for a gift of your choosing from one of this week’s vendors. This week’s lineup:

Farmers
Hand Sown Homegrown: Sara & Jared Hankins will have lettuce, squashes, cherry and big tomatoes, garlic, artichokes, carrots, beets, beans, and more: http://www.buylocalfoodinkitsap.org/HH_2010_CSA.pdf

Some Like It Hott: Charlie Bodony grows pepper varieties in his 600 foot greenhouse, smokes them over an alder fire, and grinds them to powder seasoning. http://www.aldersmoked.com/

Gregory Farm: Paul Gregory both grows produce west of Bangor as well is imports Yakima fruit. This week he’ll have Yakima’s Johnson Orchards peaches, nectarines, pluots, and honeycrisp, gala, and gravenstein apples. Yakima’s Jim Blonde will supply blueberries, and Paul will bring his large, sweet onions, green beans, and leeks.

Larry Hile: Larry will have Chanterelle mushrooms, purple potatoes, beets, red cabbage, zucchini, and Swiss Chard.

Finn Hill Farm: Andrea Wigglesworth, will have both summer and winter squash varieties, onions, pie pumpkins, beans, zuchinni, tomatoes, and scallions: http://www.buylocalfoodinkitsap.org/farmers-and-farms/finn-hill-farm

Weaving, Sewing, Carving, Knitting, and Soap Makers
WashSoaps: Mary Coupland makes natural glycerince soaps with organic essential oils: http://www.washsoaps.com/

Halfshell Arts: Ellen Peterson paints watercolors, makes picture collages, and more!

Leon Jones: Makes peeled branch walking canes with woven string top parts.

A Stitch Above: Bobby Weiler and family, makes earrings, badgeholders, eyeglassholders, various beaded items, dreamcatchers, pillow and blanket sets, decorative pillows, catnip bags and other sewn items.

Made In Manette: Carolee Valentine, makes soap and knits baby hats, dish towels, pot holders, and sews apron and clothespin bags.

Steve Old Coyote: Carves masks, flutes, and emblems of Northwest coast traditions, Southwest peoples traditions, and the Plains.

Ready to Go Food
New Vendor!: Li’l Lumpia Shack: Melanie Ives-Griggs will be making delicious, crispy beef rolls

Stonehouse Breads and New York Style Bagels: The Stones will have their bagel kinds of plain Sourdough, whole wheat, sunflower, carmelized onion, garlic, poppyseed, sesame seed, everything, salt, and cinnamon raisin: http://www.stonehousebreads.com/

Viking Ice Cream: Thormod and Asta will make the ice cream flavors of Arctic Vanilla, Lemon Meringue, Raspberry Cream, Blackberry of Mordor and Sea Monster (Lemon, Lime and Orange combined).

Jones Family Farm: Serving barbecue ribs and chicken, pulled pork, using ingredients from grocery stores, local farmers, and their own garden produce.

Chebon Tiger: Oklahoma Style Fry Bread and Indian Tacos

Salmon
Crimson Cove Smoked Salmon & Cheese: Jody & Mark DeSalvo: The DeSalvos use alder and apple to smoke their sockeye salmon and cheeses. They smoke their signature Alder Smoked Blue , Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Gouda, Swiss, and Goat (Jack, Cheddar) http://www.crimsoncove.com/

Jewelry
Mels Bells Jewelry: Melanie Delker creates hand-beaded jewelry, glassware accessories, and prayer beads including custom rosaries: http://www.melsbellsjewelry.etsy.com/

Room3Designs: Tiffany Westlund works with beads in jewelry and numerous accessories: http://www.room3designs.etsy.com/ and http://www.room3designs.blogspot.com/

Winner of the Eva Necklace Giveaway

2010-07-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who entered my Giveaway to celebrate the Etsy Dark Side team. The winner chosen by random.org was Kitrona. There are still more giveaways and other Dark Side goodness going on throughout the month - you can find out more on the Etsy Dark Team blog.

Giveaway to Celebrate the Etsy Dark Side!

2010-07-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Etsy Dark Team has reached 1000 fans! In celebration, I'm running this fun Giveaway to thank Dark Side fans for their support!

You will win this lovely Room 3 Designs ORIGINAL

- The Eva Necklace -

The perfect little black necklace - made with Toho Japanese seed beads and Glass Fire Polished Czech beads.

Ends July 21, 2010

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Requirements to enter:

*
Have a blog that I can contact you through by clicking the username in your reply post(s) ~or~ leave me an email with each entry.

*
Visit Room3designs, come back here, and leave a comment about your favorite item. (=entry #1)

For extra entries in this giveaway, you can do one or more of the following. A separate comment for each is not required but leave an "Enter" key space or two between each action/link so I can be sure to count them!:

*
+2 entries each (for a total of six max) - Write about this giveaway on your blog, Myspace or LiveJournal. Include the URL to each post in your comment for it to count.
*
+1 entry (1 per day & a comment for each) - Twitter the following message: RT @Room3designs Visit room3designs.blogspot.com to enter their 1k+ EDT Fans giveaway!
*
+1 entry - Be or become a follower on Twitter of @Room3designs
*
+1 entry - Be or become a follower on Twitter of @EtsysDarkSide
*
+1 entry - Be or become a fan of the Room3design's Facebook page
*
+1 entry - Be or become a fan of the Etsy Dark Team's Facebook page
*
+1 entry - Be or become a Follower of this blog

Much luck! ♥ ~ Lady Miss Tiff (Room3designs) and the EtsyDarkTeam

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Please note:

*
Due to Facebook's current ToU, Facebook posts can NOT be used as an entry for giveaways. However, become a fan/liking a page and "sharing" links to blog posts, such as this one, is okay *nudgenudgewinkwink*
*
If the blog linked to your username is private then we can not contact you, so leave an email. If you do not leave an email... you guessed it, we can not contact you. If we can not contact you, your entry can not be counted, can it? Nope.
*
Do not mush all you entries into one continuous sentence. Leave an "Enter" key space or two between each entry/action!
*
Any comments or links not relevant to this giveaway will be deleted. Please do not make our lives difficult. Don't make me send an angry horde of incendiary-poo-flinging flying monkeys at you.
*
All entries are put into a list and then randomized and numbered with the help of random.org. Then, a random number is chosen, also via random.org, and we have our name out of the e-hat, so to speak!
*
Did you read all of this? You're awesome. +1 entry if you write "monkey" at the end of your comment.

Come over here, I want to introduce you to the Etsy Beadweavers team.

2010-01-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

So, unless you're familiar with Etsy, I've seen your eyes glaze over when I mention my teams. I was going to take this opportunity to give a brief explanation what the teams are, what they do, etc... but I just changed my mind. Or maybe it's because I don't know how to describe in words the awesomeness of the teams that I'm on.

Instead, I'm going to introduce them to you over the next couple of posts, starting right now with the Etsy Beadweavers. A collective of incredibly talented artists that can whips some beads into submission like you can't even imagine. I am so honored to be a part of this team because, though I am confident of my skills, I have yet to produce pieces that are on the level as many of my teammates. Throw genuine kindness, the open sharing of knowledge & techniques and the sincere pursuit and appreciation of beadweaving as an art on top of all the talent and you have the Etsy Beadweavers.

Here's a great compilation video that Good Quill Hunting put together.

Good Quill Hunting is also sponsoring the Haute Couture Beading Contest....which has had my panties all in a bunch for the last couple of weeks.

And I'll wrap this up with a fellow EBW team member, Cielo Design, who is one of my absolute favorite bead artists.

Kicking Grumpies to the Curb

2010-01-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

So, my darling friends, as many of you might have noticed, from about Thanksgiving on I was feeling a lot like this

and like this

and I couldn't quite shake it. Usually I'm pretty optimistic, but I was seriously in the downs. I finally figured it out...I was having a bad case of the sads - mostly due to missing people. My mom usually worked on Thanksgiving, so from a young age I always had Thanksgiving dinner at my house for friends & family. Many of you have been there in the past. Not having this for the last couple of years has left me with a void that I couldn't quite put my finger on until now. Not living in the city, I don't get to socialize as much, so I miss my friends. I miss my brother, Josh (RIP), something awful. I miss my friends that have passed on much, along with my father. And I also miss my son, Sol. As he is 16 now and spends the majority of time with his friends. All this missing left me a very grumpy Tiffy.

Then, after a couple days of spending too much time in my bed (never thought I'd say that), I jumped up, grabbed the scissors, rushed to the bathroom & chopped my bangs. You all know the look...the Tiffy just cut her bangs look - a little too short & not quite straight. I then threw on my favorite big black boots. All of a sudden I felt like this

Though this is probably more accurate

Anyway, the whole point is...I feel better and a lot of it is due to my friends and family. For that reason, I want to tell you all that I appreciate you sticking by me, I love you and I hope we all have a fucking fantastic year!!!!!

Noms Sweet Noms

2009-12-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

So…I moved into my place last May and I still haven't fully unpacked or decorated. For a couple months I ~~chalked it up to~~ deluded myself that it was due to being busy, but the truth of the matter is that I’m just tired of moving.

“Why bother – you’re just going to have to take it down, pack it all up and haul it somewhere else”

Well, after a couple of months it was not only embarrassing, it was uncomfortable. Even more so when company came over.

“I’ll tell why – because this is home now and I want to be comfortable. So you better get busy with those boxes Bitch”

So now I’m almost done – just have to hang artwork/pictures and get some kind seating for the living room.

“They call it a couch Dumbass”

“Okay…that’s about enough with the interjections. I’ll never get this finished if you all don’t shut the hell up.”

Where was I? Oh yeah, since the living room isn’t full of boxes anymore, I jumped at the chance when my dear friend, Lorri, offered to come over and cook me dinner. Lorri is one of the best cooks I’ve ever known and I’ll take a meal cooked by her over eating out in a restaurant anytime. She has also taught me an awful lot through the years – from tips and tricks to killer meals on a serious budget.

Last Tuesday she took the ferry over and I picked her (and shopping bags) up after work. While we chatted and drank wine, she deftly prepared this delicious dinner:

Bread and Balsamic Vinegar/Olive Oil for dipping

Salad - Mixed Greens with Pear, caramelized Pecans and Roquefort Cheese with Basalmic Dressing.

Easy as pie and one of the best salads I've ever had. Here's how you do the
Carmelized Pecans: This is the tricky part. You place the pecans in a hot pan on high heat and you have to stay with it, constantly turning them around. Once you start to smell the pecans (you are going to love this smell), then you add the 1/4 cup sugar. Constantly stirring once again. Watch the sugar turn to a liquid state and toss the pecans all around in the syrupy goodness, until they are all coated. Then remove them from the hot pan and let them cool. Keep them at room temp and then add them in at the very end, just right before tossing.

Main Dish - Spaghetti with Spicy Garlic Shrimp in an Arrabiata Sauce

Here's the recipe:
Ingredients

6 ounces fresh linguine
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup prechopped onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation
Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and keep warm.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle shrimp with salt; add shrimp to pan. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until shrimp are done. Transfer shrimp to a bowl. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in pan. Add onion, minced garlic, basil, and crushed red pepper to pan; sauté 1 minute. Add tomato paste and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes or just until sauce begins to thicken. Return shrimp to pan; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Add parsley to the pan, stirring well to combine. Serve over pasta.

Dessert - the best damn Chocolate Eclairs in town from Beard Papa's.
I cannot describe how good these eclairs are - you must try and get one yourself. Check the page for locations near you....OMG! I'm still in heaven thinking about them.

After a marvelous dinner (with a couple of bottles of wine), Lorri was safely on her way back to Seattle on the ferry. I returned home to do a little clean up and while doing the dishes I realized that for the first time my house felt like home. I guess it really needed a good dinner and friends to truly complete the housebreaking.

Breaking my Giveaway Cherry - Updated

2009-11-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

And the winner was I'm So Pretty, I Fart Fairy Dust! I want to thank all who entered for the great comment and the Most Marvelous Mrs. B for hosting this on her site Confesstions of a Pagan Soccer Mom.

I give away a lot of my work (after a couple of cocktails my profit margin plummets). But this is my first REAL giveaway. Better yet, the lovely Mrs. B is generously hosting a Giveaway of my Abigail necklace on her blog Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom.
Here's your chance to win one of my best selling necklaces that is flattering on all necklines - perfect for you or a great gift.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom is one of my favorite blogs and full of great stuff...so after you enter make sure to go exploring.

Deliciously Dark Drinkware - Tiffany bugs festishghost and skeletaldropkick for you

2009-11-12T11:46:00.000-08:00

With the onslaught of the gift giving season, I thought I would start sharing some of my favorite artists/shops with you. The cracked and chipped coffee cup from which I drink is not the reason I decided to start with fetishghost and skeletaldropkick. I have admired (and desired) the work of each for quite some time - that they both do ceramics is just a coincidence.

When I was brand new on Etsy, I was lured into fetishghost’s shop by this bracelet.

This inanimate object reached through the screen and wrapped itself around my wrist. I felt like crying. It didn't matter that I would never own it or wear it; I loved it so much it felt like it was mine.

When I was finally able to tear myself away, I found not only more intriguing and beautiful silver jewelry, but exquisite ceramics also. “BoneOrchard Teaware & Gothic Sterling Noir” is right! When I later joined the Etsy Steam Team, I was thrilled to find fetishghost was a teammate.

I caught fetishghost peeking out of his silversmithing and ceramics studio long enough to answer three questions for me:

Do you listen to music while you create? If so, what were the last three things you listened to?

This one is easy… Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie…not necessarily in that order.

If you could time travel to three other times in history, what would they be?

This one is a bit harder. I'm rather content with the time I live in, although I was a bit shocked, myself, when I realized that. I'd like to go back to the 1940's to hang out with a few favorite artists and musicians... people like Wassily Kandinsky, Sohji Hamada, and Louis Armstrong. I don't really have any itching to go back any further in time than that; things seem to get pretty hairy the further back you go.

What are three things you would like still like to accomplish in life?

Now that my kids are old enough, I'd love to get back to traveling the world. I've always wanted to spend a year in Morocco.
I would like to help establish a successful community art center, (who wouldn't).
Maybe go back to art school for another spell...

I fully suggest a good browse through fetishghost’s shop…make sure to read his profile.

When you’re finished there, head on over to Skeletaldropkick’s shop for dark ceramics with a heavier feel. I wish I was drinking a Coffee Nudge out of this cup right now!

I was so enchanted with skeletaldropkick that I practically begged her to join the Etsy Dark Side team….and I am happy to say the she did. I also got her to answer the same three questions for me:

Do you listen to music while you create? If so, what were the last three things you listened to?

I have my iPod on whenever I throw, but the rest of the work is kinda when I can make time for it, so I don’t get to listen to much for that. The last 2 things I listened to were: “TV on the Radio”, “You Say Party, We Say Die” and Radio Lab (podcast from NPR)

If you could time travel to three other times in history, what would they be?
Likely to where California is before the Europeans arrived. I would love to see the area I live in the way it was before massive amounts of humans trashed it.
To the ancient Mayan or Aztec eras.
Can I go into the future? I really want a flying car….

Name three things you would like to accomplish yet in life.
Ride in a dirigible. Might be even more fun than saying, “dirigible.”
Travel - New Zealand, Australia, Europe, Ireland, etc…
hmmm… solve the human population problem in a peaceable and ethical way. No big deal, really.

Well Cris, if I see you hitchhiking while I’m cruising in my dirigible, I’ll pick you up & we’ll go off adventuring... Until then, I’m off to make a Coffee Nudge in my old and cracked mug. Yes, dear friends, that was a hint.

Coffee Nudge
1/4 oz dark crème de cacao
3/4 oz coffee liqueur “I stopped drinking, but only when I sleep” - George Best
1/2 oz brandy
6 - 8 oz hot coffee
1 1/2 oz whipped cream

Sunday the 18th - Mourning Market, more Friends & Music

2009-10-26T11:46:00.001-07:00

Gah - roused myself from my bed with only a couple of hours sleep under my belt. Today is Mourning Market - and we were encouraged to dress up. I couldn't bring my self to do it - too much fun last night. Quickly showered & dressed & hopped the boat to Seattle. Got to Motor just in time to set up. Mourning Market was a BLAST. Lots of fantastic vendors, lots of people. So nice to see many, many old friends & make some new ones. Met a few of my Etsy Dark Side teammates *hi ladies - hi Kurt* which was awesome. Here's just a few pictures.

I also got to pick up Ed the Head, my wonderful new friend, who I won in a Giveaway from Grimvisions. I love him!

One of my oldest & dearest friends, Michelle, came down to see me & we decided to carry on the festive spirit into the evening. I had started having some cocktails early (hair of the dog you know), so after I packed up my booth and we ditched the drunken Seahawks fans from Alaska, we popped up to El Corazon to say hi to our old friend Dre, who was in town to play a show.

Caught him outside, chatted a bit, took the pics above & then decided that though we love him very much, we weren't going to pay $20 to get in to see him. Parted ways & then off to Linda's for a couple more drinkies.

I had been told that the bass player for the .357 String Band was absolutely not to be missed, and since I had missed them play the night before, we headed over to The Bit in Ballard (where I had a brief stint as a barteneder). A couple of cocktails later & they took the stage. I was not misled - these guys are awesome and yes, the bass player just moved up to the top of my list. As most of you already know - I got a thing for bass - stand up, electric, whatever..my soul craves it. These guys are touring right now - so if they come to your town GO CHECK THEM OUT.

By the time they were done I was too. Time to get my butt back home & crawl into bed. It was a non-stop weekend that was worth it's weight in gold.

Saturday the 17th - Zombies, Cocktails & Corsets

2009-10-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Writing this a week late - as it took me that long to recover from last weekend. Too many cigarettes, not quite enough cocktails. First off, headed out to vend at Zombies 4 Ransom. Shared a booth with the wonderful Platipuses, who makes awesome plus size clothing. The show was great, good costumes, raised some money for AIDS and the Hard Money Saints played. I did an interview on Outlaw Radio Network that was broadcasting live from the event. Here's a few pics from the event:

Got out of there around 11:30 pm, and since I was all corseted up, I thought I'd pop on down to Winterland to see my friend Gina (aka Lottie Jynann Tonnyx). Not only was it her birthday and I had a lovely gift for her, but I was hoping to catch some of the bands that were playing that night - Joe Buck, .357 String Band and James Hunnicutt. I missed all the bands except Joe Buck - who is always a delight to see live, but I did get to hang out with the lovely Gina and my good friends from Smitty's Tattoo. I can never remember why I decided to become such a recluse this past year - I love friends & music...mix with alcohol & boobies & life doesn't get much better.

A Slow Start for a Busy Weekend

2009-10-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

Well, woke up this morning to no power...turns out the whole town was out & about 1/2 of the next town. But it came back on in about 3 hours - so it just threw me a little behind. I'm still making last minute things for Zombie 4 Ransom tonight.

I'll be sharing a vending spot with Platipuses, who makes killer plus size clothing. I'm excited!

The event is a late one - from 7pm till 1am - so I will be staggering home to catch some ZZZZZs, then arising early to take the ferry to Seattle to vend at Mourning Market.

There's going to be SO many fantastic vendors there, as well as music and performers. You can learn more about many of them (including myself) on the Mourning Market blog. I am especially looking forward to meeting some of my Esty Dark Side team members...and having some cocktails, of course. Added bonus? Gothic Charm School will be there & filming!

Besides having two FANTASTIC events at which I'm vending...I'm also participating in Etsy's Weekend Deals. 15% off your entire order in my etsy shop.

Phew....well, I'm off to pack up the car & attend to those last minute details. Hope you all enjoy your weekend!

This coming Weekend Deals from the Etsy Dark Side

2009-10-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

This coming weekend (16th-18th October), Etsy’s Dark Side Street Team is participating in Etsy’s Halloween Weekend Deals, and offering fantastic discounts off everything in store- up to 25% off!! To take advantage of these great deals, browse the shops linked below for details of the discounts available in each participating store, then use the discount code “WEEKEND DEALS” in the message to seller box during checkout. Further information is available in each store. Welcome to Etys’s Dark Side, and happy shopping!

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Morphologica	SWStitchery	CustomZombie

NewAgeDolls	Creeplings	AgonysDecay

SyntheticSeduction	Room3Designs	Somnambulant

MrsEvils	PunkRawk	MonstrousIndustry

SharonHBell	BellaLili	WingsOfSin

GoodMourningGlory	BratBoutique	LaughingVixenLounge

GypsyEye		VoodooRabbit

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

2009-10-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

Come join the Etsy Dark Side in the 1st Annual EtsyDarkTeam Halloween Scavenger Hunt. One item, from our hundreds of dollars worth of prizes, will go randomly to each of the first 13 people who complete the Hunt!

When: Saturday, October 3rd @ 10am EST (7am PST, 9am CST)

Where: Start here at Room3Designs.Etsy.com

How to Play: Look through the listings for this image:

You'll find the the link to the next shop to hunt through when you find the image! Compile a list of all the links to the items you find with the above image hidden in it, in order, starting with Room3Designs.

When you reach the end convo your complete list of links to Room3Designs, or email her at: tiffwestlund[at]hotmail[dot]com.

Good luck & have a spooky good time!

Mrs. B's 31 Days of October Extravaganza

2009-10-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Mrs. B is having a blow-out month of festive goodness with give-aways, contests, crafts and recipes. Come join in the merriment!

It's an Etsy Dark Side Weekend

2009-09-29T15:33:00.001-07:00

Come join the Esty Dark Side in the 1st Annual EDT Halloween Scavenger Hunt. Hundreds of dollars worth of prizes for the first 13 people who complete the Hunt. It will start at 10am EST (which is 7am here in the Pacific NW)on Saturday the 3rd. You can start right here.

You'll also want to mark your calendars for this coming weekend (2nd-4th October), Etsy’s Dark Side Street Team is participating in Etsy’s Halloween Weekend Deals, and offering fantastic discounts off everything in store- up to 25% off!!
To take advantage of these great deals, browse the shops linked below for details of the discounts available in each participating store, then use the discount code “WEEKEND DEALS” in the message to seller box during checkout. Further information is available in each store. Welcome to Etys’s Dark Side, and happy shopping!

♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦

Morphologica	SWStitchery	CustomZombie

NewAgeDolls	Creeplings	AgonysDecay

SyntheticSeductions	Room3Designs	Somnambulant

MrsEvils	Pun kRawk	MonstrousIndustry

SharonHBell	IllustratedInk	WingsOfSin

GoodMourningGlory	BratBoutique	LaughingVixenLounge

	GypsyEye

My First Front Page of Etsy

2009-09-23T19:03:00.001-07:00

I know, I know....tis just a wee little thing - but I got excited. The Etsy Dark Side team made the front page and my Black Rain Necklace was included. I am thrilled.

Gary The Glass Guy

2009-09-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so last Saturday was the 2nd Annual Taste of Lynwood on beautiful Bainbridge (get off your cell phone!) Island. We've had a pretty good run of hot & sunny weather up here in the NW, so I was pleasantly suprised to see the day a little drizzly & gray, though I knew it wouldn't bode well for sales. Predictably, though the event was fun - great music and mellow atmosphere - sales weren't so good. I did have a lot of time to chit chat with my friend Marcy and meet lots of dogs (I love goggies).

One particulary wonderful dog was Lucy. While chatting with Lucy's owner, Gary, it came about that he makes glass beads. As he only lived about a block away, he trotted home to grab some examples to show me. I was so impressed that I let him put out some of his gorgeous wine stoppers for sale on my table.

In return, he gave me a string of beads that he made.

It turns out that he also makes Cremorial beads/marbles. Cremorial beads are made with the ashes of a loved one or pet. I had never heard of this before and I think it makes perfect sense. What a beautiful way to remember someone.

If you are interested in having some beautiful glass beads made or some Cremorial beads, you can contact Gary by emailing him at gmcintyre25@yahoo.com .

Tunes, Food & Fabulousness

2009-09-18T17:28:00.001-07:00

Come join me this weekend at Taste of Lynwood Block Party on Bainbridge Island. I'll be vending, there'll be lots of good food and Soul Provider is playing some Funk music. It's from 12pm - 7:30pm and there's a free shuttle from the ferry. So you got no excuses bitches...

New Video & Great Giveaway by Catherinette Rings

2009-09-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Daniel Proulx, the King of Steampunk Rings, introduces the fantastic story behind his creations in his newly released video below. He is celebrating with a FANTASTIC giveaway...you can enter at Steampunk Rings. Meanwhile, enjoy the video.

Day 14 - Kitty Necklace

2009-09-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here is last night's piece - a pink and black beadwoven collar. I can see it now with a black dress with a little pink sweater. From gothic to rockabilly, this one fits the bill. A sweeter version of the Gothic Princess necklace, this is the Kitty Necklace.

Day 13 - The Strength Bracelet - Metallic Navy Iris Beadwoven Cuff

2009-09-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

I've been dragging a bit since not feeling well last week and the show last Saturday. It actually took me 2 days to do this bracelet. I made it with size 8 Metallic Navy Iris Toho seed beads. I wove it in the peyote stitch with Fireline. Closes with a silver sliding tube clasp. It is listed in my etsy shop here.

Day 12 - Black Beadwoven Cuff & Opulent Art Show Wrap-Up

2009-09-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

After a week of only 3-4 hours of sleep a night, when I got home from the Opulent Art Show last evening I crashed hard. And have barely wandered far from my bed today. Ahhh....the power of naps. I did finally take a couple pics of the bracelet I finished on Saturday, so I thought I better post them, along with a few pics from the show on Saturday.

This bracelet is one that I wanted to make for a couple of weeks. I was getting ready to start it when I was paired up with Bellalili for the Etsy Dark Team swap. She wanted an all matte black bracelet, so I completed that one first. Not wanting to make two almost identical bracelets back to back, I waited a couple of days and then did this one on Friday night & finished it up on Saturday. It is Glossy Jet Black Toho seeds beads with a stripe of Matte Black Toho seed beads down the middle. I used the peyote stitch, wove it with fireline and finished it off with a silver sliding tube clasp (my fav).

On Friday I received my piece from Bellalili and it is gorgeous. It's a black filigree butterfly which frames a lovely silver bat and has a black Swarovski drop wrapped in a silver filigree hanging from it. When I first took it out of the beautiful black box I thought it might be too delicate for me, but then I tried it on and I LOVE IT. I wore it on Saturday and received many compliments on it.

Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day and perfect for an outdoor show. I was in the farmhouse this year, so I only wandered outside to see the other vendors, get wine and sneak smokes. Sales weren't as good as last year...but that's been the story all summer. It was still a wonderful time, as I really enjoy the other artists and it's laid back, customers are very friendly, it's in a great setting, music and, of course, wine. Here's a picure of my booth and one from the porch looking down onto the outdoor tent.

I only really got pictures of the other vendors who were in the farmhouse with me. Here's Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond's booth. Besides being a Super Hero, she makes the most gorgeouse printed silk items. She prints and/or paints all her fabrics and then sews everything herself. She also always looks stunning - as a Super Hero should.

This is Pam Sanders and her booth. She makes great art out of polymer clay. My favorite piece was a braclet that looks just like a fossil. She teaches classes at Joann's Fabrics in Silverdale.

More great art by Nicole & Azriel of Out On A Whim.

And here are the other two booths that were inside with me - xsbaggage and West Coast Sea Glass.

Now I must go make some spiders for a custom order that needs to go in the mail tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Day 11 - Skull Flower Hair Clips and Pins

2009-09-11T23:06:00.000-07:00

Taking a quick break in packing for tomorrow's event to show you what I did last evening. I beaded the purple one and another red one and then mounted the pink ones and the red ones on hair clips and then the purple and blue ones onto pin backs. I don't sell these in my Etsy shop, because they are the design of one of my Etsy Dark Side team members, fivefootfury, and she sells them in her shop. I think it would be highly unethical to sell these in the same marketplace as the designer, especially a team member.

They are pretty damn awesome, and they look great in your hair or worn as a brooch. I've even made a couple into magnets. If you are interested in buying one online, click fivefootfury's link above. If you're in my immediate neighborhood, you can get one from me.

Now I must finish the little bit on packing I have left and hopefully finish a necklace I'm working on. Night all.