SilverCrow Reflections

SilverCrow's Website is Back in Business

2011-12-25T09:50:00.002-05:00

Yesterday (24 December 2011), Network Solutions deleted our domain name (SilverCrowCreations.com) in error. After over seven hours of discussion, they originally told us that we would not have service again until sometime next week! We found this quite distressing as this was their fault.

Their system allowed them to delete the name electronically but did not allow them to reinstate it without human intervention. While we love technology that requires humans, we were quite distraught at the prospect of losing that many days of business because our sole means of making money is through SilverCrowCreations.com!

This all started early in the morning. Around 10:00 pm EST, Network Solutions found a gracious human technology expert who fixed everything for us on the holiday. We do appreciate Don's efforts and applaud his work and his demeanor.

We hope that the company will learn from the error and be able to address such issues in the future without such intervention on our part.

SilverCrow is a very small company - just Pete & Annie and a few friends that help us out. Many of you already know that Pete is in the hospital recovering from his liver transplant (he is improving daily, by the way). So, we are grateful to have a business that allows us the flexibility to work during all kinds of hours.

With just the two of us and our friends, we are usually able to address all of our customers needs in what we hope is a timely manner. We appreciate all of our customers supporting this small family-owned and operated business through the years - since 1997!

Our telephone number is published on every page of our website and here it is, just in case you cannot find it: 724-379-4850. And you can always reach us on Facebook.

We do not support technology, but we have had many birthday and anniversary "emergencies" and hope to be able to take care of those special days for everyone.

While Pete is recovering, we're a touch slower than usual, but our great friends and neighbors, Alan, Michelle, Trish, Dave, Valerie and Tanner have been helping us stay on track!

We're thankful to Network Solutions for the help - especially to Don.

Network Solutions Deleted our Domain Name in Error - Can't Reach Our Website

2011-12-24T10:56:00.000-05:00

Network solutions deleted our domain name in error. So, you cannot reach our website at this time. They indicate that they cannot fix this until next week. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail us at silvercrowcreations@yahoo.com

We're sorry for the inconvenience.

Continuity

2011-09-25T22:04:00.002-04:00

There was a church festival today. I love festivals - especially small local ones. When I was young, our church, Saint Charles, which no longer exists, had a yearly bazaar. How I loved that word - bazaar. I loved working at the bazaar and I loved playing the games, eating the food, meeting friends and more.

I don't like parties much anymore, so festivals have replaced them. I had a wonderful hot sausage sandwich and my favorite funnel cake dessert. Because it was nearing the end of the 2-day event, they marked down the baked goods. I bought some pizzelles and wanted to pay the original price and bargained to $4.00 per bag (right in the middle).

I looked at the flea market table (how could I resist?) I'm a fool for vintage linens - especially hand-embroidered ones and lace-edged ones. I even like the ones with machine lace that has been added by hand. As soon as I approached another woman let me know that I was not to look at the linens because she was there first.

Those of you who know me well, know that I am very polite, so I said I'd be back when she was finished. Well this took a long, long time for her. She had an armful of gorgeous pieces that grandmothers and great-grandmothers had made. They were freshly laundered and pressed by hand. Some were very old Belgian lace and worth quite a bit.

It saddens me how inexpensively embroidered tablecloths, pillowcases, dresser scarves and doilies are sold. Someone put so much love and time into them that they should be treasured. But, sometimes there is no one left to treasure these things. So, selling them is a good thing. Someone who can feel the stitches and know the person who sewed them just might come along and buy a few. I particularly love the ones that have broken threads and worn patches and even a stain or two, so those are the ones I chose. Imagine the stories behind the threads and blemishes!

I bought the bunch above. When I asked the price, I was told that it was a donation for the church, what ever I thought - 6 pieces for $6.00. I thought this was not enough to pay, but the woman behind the counter thought it generous.

My turn was last and I guess I'm glad that it was. I would have wanted all of the other pieces that were bought just before I was able to look, but they were all sold for only $4.00. The woman behind the counter was gracious about the purchase before mine.

I am delighted with the stitches from other families that were shared with me today. And, I am fortunate to care about the pieces and the hard work that people put into these pieces so long ago. And it is good to know that there are people who put hard work into keeping their communities strong with these festival.

It's not about the bargain or any transaction. It is about the continuity and connection. That's why I love festivals. And, that's why we'll continue to go to as many as we can.

Winners of the Circus ATC Challenge Announced!

2011-09-16T14:31:00.000-04:00

1st Prize: Sarah Myers: Dagger Throw - $30 gift certificate

2nd Prize: Jennifer Young: South American Circus - $20 gift certificate

3rd Prize: Sherry Scott: Circus Knife Throwing Act - $10 gift certificate

Runner Up: Kristin Hubick: Bearded Lady - $5 gift certificate

Runner Up: Anne Squire: Showbiz - $5 gift certificate

Random Drawing: #24 Nicole Marie: Carnivale -$25 gift certificate

Thanks everyone for entering!

Look at All the Entries - Every One & All the Comments

Right now our Facebook Gallery has all of the entries. You don't need to sign into Facebook - you don't even need a Facebook account to see the entries or read the comments people have made. They are all so wonderful it was hard to choose the finalists and we're sure it was hard for all the voters!

SilverCrow's Circus ATC Challenge has Closed Voting Begins Soon!

2011-09-07T11:35:00.000-04:00

What Everyone Made
Create up to 3 ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). ATCs are little works of art about the same size as modern baseball cards or poker playing cards, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches (63mm x 89mm).

Theme
Circus, carnivals, clowns, masquerade - any interpretation you can conjure from that!

What They Used At least one SilverCrow Creations product - old or new - from Etsy or our website. No purchase necessary - just as long as we sell the product - you don't even have to buy it from us.

Entry Gift
Everyone who enters received a free specially created mini ephemera/collage pack in the real mail - yep! Each ephemera package was mailed as soon as we received the entries. We still need an address from one of the entrants. Some people are awaiting their other 1 or 2 packs because we had to figure out how many to make. So, don't worry, they will be on their way.

If we can't find you, we'll let you know via our blog, Omar's Features on SilverCrowCreations.com and on Facebook.

Prizes
There will be 4 prizes. First prize: $30.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate. Second Prize: $20.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate. Third prize: $10.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate. Random Prize: $25.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate.

Voting
The random prize will be awarded to one of the entries via random number generator. We will pick our top five favorites and then, at the end of the contest, we'll ask you to vote for your favorites later today or tomorrow - as soon as I figure out how to do it. Right now our Facebook Gallery has all of the entries. You don't need to sign into Facebook - you don't even need a Facebook account to see the entries.

SilverCrow's ATC Challenge - Imaginations, Please Go Wild!

2011-07-17T12:11:00.002-04:00

Deadline Extended - for MANY Reasons!
Monday, September 5, 2011. So you have lots of time to find SilverCrow stuff! Right after that, we'll start the

Sample ATC from Sherry Scott!

What to Make
Create up to 3 ATCs (Artist Trading Cards). ATCs are little works of art about the same size as modern baseball cards or poker playing cards, 2-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches (63mm x 89mm).

Theme
Circus, carnivals, clowns, masquerade - any interpretation you can conjure from that!

3 Samples from Nicole Marie

What to Use Use at least one SilverCrow Creations product - old or new - from Etsy or our website. No purchase necessary - just as long as we sell the product - you don't even have to buy it from us.

How to Enter
Post a picture on SilverCrow's Facebook page or email us - omar(at)silvercrowcreations(dot)com - or post a link to your picture in a comment on this blog. Just be sure to tell us where the picture is so we can find it. Maximum 3 entries. And, be sure to let us know which of our products you used in your project. Please send no more than 2 photos for each entry and make sure they are either .jpg, .tif, or .gif.

Deadline
Monday, September 5, 2011. So you have lots of time to find SilverCrow stuff! Right after that, we'll start the voting.

Sample from Anne Squire

Entry Gift
Everyone who enters will receive a free specially created mini ephemera/collage pack in the real mail - yep! Each ephemera package will be mailed to you as soon as you enter. If you enter 3 times, you'll get 3 packs! Wow! Of course, we'll need your real physical address to mail the entry gift, so please make sure we have your address. If you're already a SilverCrow customer, then we have it. If not, send us a private Facebook Message or an email. We prefer to do it that way to protect your privacy.

If we can't find you, we'll let you know via our blog, Omar's Features on SilverCrowCreations.com and on Facebook.

Sample Background from Mitchell Schuller

Prizes
There will be 4 prizes. First prize: $30.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate. Second Prize: $20.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate. Third prize: $10.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate. Random Prize: $25.00 SilverCrow Gift Certificate.

3 Samples from Nicole Marie

Voting
The random prize will be awarded to one of the entries via random number generator. We will pick our top five favorites and then, at the end of the contest, we'll ask you to vote for your favorites by posting on our blog or our Facebook page. Right now our Facebook Gallery has samples from some of our wonderful customers! As we get entries, we'll move the samples to another gallery and put the entries in this gallery. Don't worry, if you're not the Facebook type, you can still look at the Gallery without joining Facebook.

Sample from Sherry Scott

Fine Print

By entering the contest, you allow us to post your photographs and your name or pseudonym online and in print.

Quotes

2011-07-10T22:38:00.000-04:00

All of the wonderfully illustrated quotes are from http://www.cherrybam.com.

Even More fun Websites - Art, Toys & More

2011-07-09T10:40:00.001-04:00

Serendipity finds these for us and we're delighted. We find them when looking up information - either for work or simple curiosity and it's fun to share them. We hope you have fun with them, too! The poem in the generator is one I created. Share yours with us - it should be fun!

Create a Kaleidoscope

Gothic Poem Generator

Create an Ugly Dance - Use your
Own Picture (or Not!)

Be not forgetful...Part Two

2011-07-08T10:56:00.000-04:00

Pete and I reluctantly started using Facebook & Twitter thinking that we would grow our business, SilverCrow Creations. And it has helped us. Our goal with SilverCrow has always been to remain small but to act large.

We do our own programming, accounting and everything else business-y by the rules - even in these challenging times. Sometimes we're behind, but we always manage to catch up. That's the large.

When you come to SilverCrow or to our Etsy Shoppe, we want you to feel as though you walked into a small boutique. We try to remember all of our customers and what our individual customers like and dislike. We smile when we see someone return after several years. We have one customer (who is a regular blog reader) who has been so kind - for at least 3 years, we made a mistake in almost every one of her orders! Never a complainer, she was always kind in telling us about our error! Of course, we fixed them. But that's no excuse for us! We try hard not to make mistakes, but it happens! We've finally stopped the cycle (we hope).

At one time, we tried to figure out what would sell. That was a big mistake! Now, we find what tickles us - vintage and new - and then, if we get stuck with it - at least we like it! We're just being ourselves - and so are our customers! We love the personal contact.

The social media sites have really helped us become more personal! Thinking them to be a "necessary evil," we started slowly. We don't do anything fancy - we'd have to figure out how to do that - we're too small to hire bloggers, techies and such - we're all of those and more.

But what we really didn't expect surprised us more than ever! We've met the loveliest people- new personal friends - angels who have entered our lives before we even knew it! Some were already our customers; some will never be our customers. Some are over 90, many are teenagers, and every age in between.

We've had some rough times over the last few years and we have a few more bridges to cross. We can't tell you how much easier it has been for us with the personal encouragements, the continued patronage and the sharing amongst each other - some of our customers have met through us and have made the world a small and cozy place, if only for a moment.

We've met other people who feel like relatives (I was adopted, so maybe they are family) - but we'll accept a cyber family, too!

We just wanted to say thanks and we look forward the new angels we'll meet along the way.

Be not forgetful... Part One

2011-07-07T12:35:00.000-04:00

Several years ago, Pete was out of town and suffered a gallbladder attack and had to have it removed. We were still living in Pittsburgh and I was shocked when a hospital in eastern Pennsylvania called me to tell me to get out there right away. After making arrangements for our dear cat, Omar, to have someone give him his insulin shots, I jumped in the car and drove that night to the eastern part of the state. I didn't have a GPS. But I found the hospital after a lot of phone calls to the police and the hospital.

His surgery went well, but his recovery was a bit tough and he had to continue his business in the eastern part of the state. I had no idea where to stay and asked that I be able to sleep in the chair in his room. It was quite complicated to make this arrangement, due to hospital regulations. Back here in the western part of the state, our hospitals are a bit different.

Once he was released, he went back to what he was doing and I was about to return home. Always fancying myself independent, I told him to go ahead, I'd be fine. Then I realized that I had no idea where my car was. It was eleven o'clock at night. And, I had no idea if the area was dangerous at night, and I really didn't want to be wandering around in enclosed parking lots and garages looking for my car. I had my ticket and asked several security guards for some guidance. My guidance consisted of a few shrugs and some finger pointing. As you can guess, I was still lost.

I saw two young women walking together and talking on their way to the hospital entrance. One was a very artfully-dressed African American woman and seemed to be a visitor. The other was a Caucasian woman who appeared to be a medical professional, as she was dressed in a white uniform. I asked them for directions, showing them my ticket. Both knew exactly where it was.

The uniformed woman said she would have walked me there, but she was late for work; that I could accompany her inside and she'd find someone to help me. The visitor put her arm around my shoulders and told the other woman to look at us closely. If it were to be announced on the news that one of us disappeared, she would then know who had caused the incident. We all laughed. I went with her.

I thought the two women knew each other, but they did not.

The visitor walked me to her car, which appeared to be like a traveling temple of sorts, full of fascinating milagros and spirit dolls, incense and lots of blankets, bottles and other odd things. She then decided to smoke some marijuana and offered me some, which I politely declined. I now assumed that I'd never see Pittsburgh, or my loved ones again.

She drove me to my parking lot, reached over and hugged me, insisted on giving me $20 for my parking, and said, "your life will be fine, don't worry." She waited until I opened my car and honked the horn. She waved, returned to the driver's seat and drove off - away from the hospital. I have no idea of her name.

I was much more reckless in my youth, but anyone who knows me now would be shocked at the prospect of my getting into a stranger's car.

Why was she there in the first place? I suppose it was for me.

I have always believed in Guardian Angels, ever since my first grade nun told me that if I was good enough, my Guardian Angel would come down from heaven and do my homework in golden ink. I was never good enough, I guess, until I left eastern Pennsylvania that night.

This wonderful movie, Grand Canyon, is all about the same types of encounters. I watch it whenever I can. Danny Glover, Mary McDonnell, Kevin Kline and Steve Martin are exceptional. Maybe you'll like it, too.

Independence Day - Freeing my Fears

2011-07-04T00:01:00.001-04:00

I have always fancied myself an independent thinker. I've registered as an independent voter. I lived on my own in my own apartment (not even a roommate) for almost 20 years. I majored in philosophy. I didn't follow the crowd.

My independent life was glorious in many ways; lonely in others. I treasured my parents. I never moved farther away than 25 miles from my home. I have never been willing to leave such treasures as those I love for the excitement of a truly independent life.

Every year as our Independence Day approaches, I remind myself not to call it the Fourth of July. I remind myself to acknowledge that I've been fortunate to live in a country that allowed me to create the type of independent life that I wanted.

This was not always my way of celebrating "the fourth." Cookouts and fireworks and patriotic music and toasts and parades - that's how I celebrated.

Now, every year, I remember a single, very brief encounter I had one Independence Day in the 1970s.

Of course, I had forgotten my potluck contribution for the party I was about to attend, so off I went to a convenience store to spend too much money on something that I would have to alter wildly - so that it would appear creatively planned.

I was the only customer for a few minutes and in walked two very tall young men.They made me nervous because they were staring at me. I pictured the front page of the evening paper announcing a massacre in the little store - I with my American flag t-shirt, lying on the floor.

One of the fellows approached me. And, I'm sure I was quite rude. He held out his hand. I was so nervous that I couldn't speak (very rare for me, indeed). After a moment I realized he wanted to shake my hand. So, afraid not to comply, I gave him my hand uneasily.

He shook my hand so hard it hurt. I was instantly relieved that I'm left-handed. Still afraid, I said nothing.

And then, he said to me in an thick, unrecognizable accent [I remember this almost verbatim], "hello, miss, congratulations on your Independence Day. How lucky you are to live in a country where you don't have to be afraid to live your life!"

I thanked him in return. He introduced me to his friend. I have forgotten both their names. I have never forgotten them. I have never forgotten that the Fourth of July is really Independence Day, and so is every other day.

And every year I cry for those who can't live their lives without fear. And every year I thank that young man. And every year I try to remember that I am fortunate, even during tough times like these.

Michael Vick - Please Just Do the Right Thing

2011-07-03T13:20:00.002-04:00

When our grandson, Bobby was around 9, Michael Vick was his hero. We bought all kinds of endorsed products for him. Mr. Vick appeared to be a prime candidate for a little boy's hero.

There is no need for me to explain what changed all of that.

I am appalled that his sentence was so short for such a heinous act. I am appalled at his lack of honor. I am appalled by those fans that think this is all ok.

But I am amazed at the sponsors offering him millions of dollars for endorsements. Maybe I don't understand the concepts of business. But, I cannot imagine that this makes any business sense - forget about the ethical sense.

I am an a-political person. But I am a vicious advocate of those who cannot protect themselves against arrogance and self-righteousness and disregard of life: animals, babies, the elderly and people who cannot care for themselves (either temporarily or permanently).

I have no reason to forgive Mr. Vick's acts. And, yes, I know that he has fulfilled his punishment as set by law. But, no, I don't think he is truly sorry for anything but getting caught. Please don't tell me I don't know him and that he is repentant. I'll believe that when he donates every penny of the endorsement deals to animal shelters - particularly to the ones who have spent thousands rehabilitating the dogs he harmed.

I've read on many websites that some people are as appalled as I am and that others say, "not all dog owners are upset about this." So, how do I answer this? Few people care what I have to say. But I care that I say it.

First, we don't own dogs. We are lucky to have dogs in our lives and to be able to be their caretakers as they are ours. Secondly, there is a difference between dog owners and dog lovers. Alas, we do not own each other or any other living being in this world.

As an athletic (or any other celebrity), it is the duty of the ethical human to behave in a manner that sets forth a positive model for those who may not be as talented, fortunate or intelligent. Therefore, in promoting any sort of violence such as Mr. Vick has done, he was suggesting that this is a good path for his admirers.

All he has done to change this persona has been to make public statements before and after his term in prison.

Now it is time for him to set forth a new self-righteousness - to use the new found support that he has gotten from his employers, fans and endorsement sponsors to become the man he should be. Give that money away, Michael and teach us all - including me - a lesson.

SilverCrow's 3rd Challenge Winners Announced! - The Secret Life of Pets (or any other Animals)!

2011-06-14T14:54:00.003-04:00

Wow! We are excited that we had such clever and thoughtful entries in SilverCrow's very SilverCrow's very third Challenge - Secret Lives of Pets! It was great fun to see how folks interpreted Secret. Imagination is such a glorious state!

Yet again, we had a very hard time picking winners. (We're going to try to figure out how to let everyone vote without making it too complicated - for the next challenge. - If anyone has any ideas, please let us know!)

You can find all the entries on Facebook or on SilverCrow's Website. All of the pictures and descriptions (by the artists themselves) are on our website link - as well as pictures of the prizes!

Click on any of the pictures to see all of the entries, prizes and more.

Now, drumroll, please....here are the winners:

First Prize, $30 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate - Bethany Royston, for her Après Mardi Gras Corneille

Second Prize, $20 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate - Sherry Scott for her In my Dreams I am my Real Self

Third Prize, $10 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate - Miff Trevor for her Magnolia (Super Model)

SilverCrow's 3rd Challenge Deadline Extended - The Secret Life of Pets (or Any Animals)!

2011-06-07T19:58:00.000-04:00

SilverCrow's 3rd Challenge - The Secret Life of Pets (or Any Other Animals)
We don't care how you interpret it! We just want you to enter. We saw so many interpretations on our last challenges that we just couldn't wait for this one!

See all the Entries on Facebook - Even if you Don't use Facebook or on SilverCrow's Website.
Here's the Facebook link: The Secret Life of Pets Challenge #3 Photo Album. Here's the SilverCrow Link: The Secret Life of Pets & Animals Challenge.

All the Details are Everywhere (except here)
You can find everything you need to know here: SilverCrow's 3rd Challenge Info.

New Deadline
~~Saturday, June 4, 2011~~. Extended to Monday, June 13, 2011 - Folks asked for a couple of more weekends!

Entry Gift
We finally finished the collage sheet that everyone who enters receives! Here's a little look.

Prizes
First Prize: $30 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate.
Second Prize: $20 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate.
Third Prize: $10 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate.

Dolly, Flossie & BoBo Duke
Les Chiens à Paris

Some Fun Links

2011-05-31T22:25:00.001-04:00

Here are some fun sites that I've posted on Facebook, but I thought that some other folks (who aren't so fond of the social media sites) might enjoy them, too! Please let me know what you think!

Jackson Pollock.org - Interactive - Click & Move

Guidelines for Cats

Man in the Dark - Interactive (Be Sure to Click & Move)

The Best Celebrity Website Ever - Even if you don't like Jeff Bridges

Be sure to check out Jeff Bridges Stuff

Blocked

2011-05-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

So often people comment on being blocked, hitting a dead end, suffering from writer's block, things not coming together, false starts, ....

I don't buy it! That so-called blockage is necessary for you to get to the next step. It's a gift from your mind that helps you organize your thoughts, focus your creative energy and complete - or start - a project. The intricacies of our brains are so far beyond my understanding, that I've learned to accept the seemingly random thoughts as what needs to be.

Some time ago, I worked in the corporate offices of a Fortune 50 corporation, wore a suit, carried a brief case and answered the phone with my name, as required. I was lucky enough to have many creative jobs not normally associated with such organizations. Most of my colleagues would have described me as fast, thorough and accurate. But, that was rarely true.

I can't tell you how many times I spent a whole day - in the middle of a project - just rearranging my desktop, sharpening pencils that I didn't use, searching for paperwork I didn't need. I'd panic at the end of the day, thinking that I wasted so much time. Would I be found out?

Well, what I found out was that this was my mind's preparation time. Somewhere in the inner recesses of that complexity of synapses found in so many brain cells, I'd finished my project completely - in my mind.

The next day - or maybe just minutes later - I'd sit down and pound out the work - quickly, thoroughly and accurately.

I came to know myself - I wasn't procrastinating, or hitting a brick wall, or blocked. Rather I was working the entire time. Only one of my bosses understood that.

Now that we have our own company, I find myself organizing a bit differently, moving my stapler, finding a new pen, bothering Pete. And, then I sit down and write a blog just like this one.

So, please, embrace your blocks, understand that your mind is filling in the holes or peeking through the cracks, getting ready for that burst of creativity that is just a moment, or maybe an hour, or a day away.

Memories, Treasures, Trash & Merchandise

2011-05-23T14:52:00.003-04:00

I made this tray in the early 1980s for my Mom. She kept it on her dresser. I decided to sell it in SilverCrow's Etsy Shoppe.

I like to be as thorough in the descriptions of what we sell - whether it be a 25¢ trinket or a $1,000 diamond ring - or anything in between. So, I started to measure it and Pete calculated the shipping charge. And, all of a sudden, this nice tray changed from my Mom's treasured keepsake into merchandise. But, that's really OK. Really.

I'm not trying to convince myself. It really is OK. We've moved and combined households so many times, that it almost feels like a hobby (almost). And during those times, we've acquired things and we've sold, donated and given away other things. Oh, yes, and we've occasionally actually discarded things. (I just can't bring my self to say, "thrown away.") This makes way for the treasure trashers to discover things before the garbage truck makes a clean sweep. I just love it when things disappear and become part of someone else's life.

I've been a treasure trasher most of my life. I've found antique windows, beds, chairs and more. With a little work they become full of life again. In fact, Pete's stool was commandeered back in the 1990s in Squirrel Hill late one evening. But, I digress...

When I created this needlework for my Mom, it was originally meant to be for the wall. But, there was really nowhere to hang it. So a friend of mine made the tray. My Mom loved the pattern because, at the time, I lived in the Allegheny West section of Pittsburgh (part of the North Side/North Shore) - in a Victorian townhouse that had been renovated into apartments. It was a great apartment and my Mom loved it as much as I did. My Dad always just wanted me to move back home, but he was supportive.

This tray has great karma associated with it. I'd love for someone to treasure it as my Mom had.

I would love to keep it, but we're running out of room. And, rather than keep things I made for my Mom, I'm keeping the things she made for me.

If you'd like to know more about the tray, you can find it in our Etsy Shoppe.

SilverCrow's 3rd Challenge: The Secret Life of Pets (or Any Animals)!

2011-05-10T17:33:00.002-04:00

Gypsy's Secret Life
(Not a Real Entry)

Vintage Chenille Snail with Genuine Shell

What to Make
You can make anything: jewelry, cards, books, altered art, shrines, journals, journal pages, scrapbook pages, furniture, or anything else! While we welcome photos of your favorite pets or animals exposed in their secret lives, they can't be entered in the challenge unless the photos are actually a part of your project or if the project includes the pet.

Bad Habits Postcard

Categories
There are no categories this time.

What to Use
Use at least one SilverCrow Creations product - old or new - from Etsy or our website. No purchase necessary - just as long as we sell the product - you don't even have to buy it from us.

Hand-Carved Dog Figurine

How to Enter
Post a picture on SilverCrow's Facebook page or email us. Just be sure to tell us where the picture is so we can find it. Please send pictures as either JPG, TIF or BMP files. Maximum 3 entries. Please make sure that you tell us a little bit about the animal entering and the dimensions of your creation. It's hard to tell size from a photograph! And, be sure to let us know which of our products you used in your project.

Deadline
~~Saturday, June 4, 2011~~. Extended to Monday, June 13, 2011 - Folks asked for a couple of more weekends!

Saint Francis of Assisi
Protector of Animals

Entry Gift


Secret Life Of Pets & Animals Collage Sheet

Everyone who enters will receive a free digital collage sheet featuring pet and animal secrets. Of course, we'll need your email address and of course the download will be large enough for you to use. If you're already a customer, we probably have your email address. If not, please email it to us. If we can't find you, we'll let you know via our blog, Omar's Features on SilverCrowCreations.com and on Facebook.

White Love Rat with Red Hearts & Pink Tail

Prizes
First Prize: $30 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate.
Second Prize: $20 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate.
Third Prize: $10 SilverCrow Creations Gift Certificate.

Fine Print
By entering the contest, you allow us to post your photographs and your name or pseudonym online and in print.

Dolly, Flossie & BoBo Duke
Les Chiens à Paris

Cinco de Mayo Party Give-Away Winner Announced!

2011-05-05T12:15:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to winner, Merle Stengel, of Montana! YAY! Your party is on it's way to you!

Look for a new challenge and another give-away coming soon!

Cinco de Mayo Party Give-Away

2011-05-03T15:39:00.001-04:00

Hey, now, wouldn't you love to get this neat Cinco de Mayo Party in a Box give away from SilverCrow Creations? It includes a full box of cascarones, a vintage tin noisemaker, some bamboo finger cuffs, 2 fiesta crow pin-back buttons, a skeleton pin-back button, Frida Kahlo sticky notes, Mexican Folk Art temporary tattoos, a multi-color arcade garland and a bunch of other stuff that we keep adding. So far, the package is worth over $45.00!

The give-away ends on May 5, 2011 at noon. All you have to do is follow our blog, follow us on Twitter or LIKE us on Facebook. If you already do, please comment here on our blog, or on Twitter, or on Facebook. Be sure to let us know that you are doing one of these by commenting, or we might miss you!

We'll list the winners in an Excel spreadsheet in alphabetical order by first name and then we'll use a random number generator to pick the winner.

We'll need your address if we don't already have it. We'll let you know. The package will be mailed on Wednesday via Priority Mail (to the USA) or via First Class International Mail (to anywhere else). So, when the winner is announced, we'll need that address! If we don't have it, we'll need a fast response, or, we'll get another random number! Good Luck!

SilverCrow's Second Challenge Winners Announced: Magical Creatures

2011-04-20T22:18:00.002-04:00

Wow! We are excited that we had so many clever and beautiful entries in SilverCrow's very second Challenge - Magical Creatures! It was great fun to see how folks interpreted Magical and Creatures.

Yet again, we had a very hard time picking winners.

In fact, we even had a bit of an argument (aka, discussion) regarding one of the winning entries. It was supposed to be in Altered Art, but several of our voters thought it was a card, so the others gave in and we moved it to the Paper category.

You can find all the entries on Facebook or on SilverCrow's Website. All of the pictures and descriptions (by the artists themselves) are on our website link - as well as pictures of the prizes!

Click on any of the pictures to see all of the entries, prizes and more.

Now, drumroll, please....here are the winners:

JEWELRY


First Prize: Bethany Royston Fairy Catcher Bracelet


Second Prize: Nancy Jo Leachman Cameo Fairy Necklace

ALTERED ART


First Prize: Anne Davis (Dead) Fairy Tree with Angel


Second Prize: Theresa Smythe Sailor Duck

PAPER

This was our toughest category because several of our voters (we had a bunch this time) thought that our second place winning entry was a card, not a slide mailer. Eventually, in the spirit of cooperation, we all decided it could be a card.


First Prize: Cate Amador Angel Cat Card

Second Prize: Shirley Galbraith
Fairy Slide

Click on any of the pictures for more details about all of the entries. There are so many wonderful ideas and details. Everyone of us was delighted.

We sent our new Digital Magical Creatures Collage Sheet to everyone who entered - that way everyone's a winner.

Please let us know what you think of everything. And give us some ideas for the next challenge, please!

SilverCrow's Second Challenge - Magical Creatures!

2011-04-04T12:28:00.008-04:00

Extended through 19 April 2011 (all time zones)
A computer glitch knocked us out yesterday - and it was all my fault - we sort of fixed it, and all is well, but we're not back to normal yet. So, we're still accepting entries! Yay!

See all the Entries on Facebook - Even if you Don't use Facebook
Here's the link: Magical Creatures Challenge Photo Album.

What to Make
Anything involving a magical creature. It could be a faerie (fairy), elf, mermaid, gnome, pixie or even a character conjured by your imagination.

Categories
* Jewelry - earrings, necklace, bracelet, ring, brooch, pin, hair-band, fascinator, ...
* Paper - giftwrap, postcard, greeting or note card, playing card, ATC, ...
* Altered Art - matchbox, book, journal, shrine, repurposed assemblage, collage, ...

What to Use
Use at least one SilverCrow Creations product - old or new - from Etsy or our website. No purchase necessary - just as long as we sell the product - you don't even have to buy it from us.

How to Enter
Post a picture on SilverCrow's Facebook page or email us. Just be sure to tell us where the picture is so we can find it. Maximum 2 entries per category. Please make sure that you tell us which challenge you're entering and the dimensions of your creation. It's hard to tell size from a photograph! And, be sure to let us know which of our products you used in your project.

Deadline
Monday, April 18, 2011.

Entry Gift
Everyone who enters will receive a free digital collage sheet with magical images via email. Of course, we'll need your email address and of course the download will be large enough for you to use. If you're already a customer, we probably have your email address. If not, please email it to us. If we can't find you, we'll let you know via our blog, Omar's Features on SilverCrowCreations.com and on Facebook.

Magical Digital Collage Sheet

Prizes
First Prize in each category is the a special Magical Gift Bag - lavishly filled with SilverCrow Magic! (a $50 or more value). It's packed with sparkly silver krausbouillion, fairy soap, some pixies, vintage amanita mushrooms, our Mischief Fairy pendant, Victorian scraps, Dresden angel wings, Fairy Soap, spun glass wings and more!

First Prize
SilverCrow's Magical Gift Bag

Second prize in each category is our gorgeous Hardwood Mounted Shy Mermaid (I2146) Rubber Stamp (a $10.50 value).

Second Prize
Hardwood Mounted Shy Mermaid Rubber Stamp

Fine Print
By entering the contest, you allow us to post your photographs and your name or pseudonym online and in print.

SilverCrow Shrine Challenge Winners Announced - Finally

2011-03-23T20:24:00.001-04:00

We are absolutely delighted that we had so many wonderful entries in SilverCrow's very first Challenge - Shrines!

We had such a hard time picking the winners, that we had to have three rounds of voting.

Each of us got three votes per category (large & small). We added up all the votes and whichever had the most, won. But, we had to do several rounds, becuase we all liked different ones. Ballots were secret, so no one influenced anyone else (we hope!) - and all votes were equal. Pete & Annie, of course, were among the judges, as were Valerie (our cousin) and Tanner (our pseudo-son), both of whom help out around here - you've seen lots of their handiwork for sale on our website!

You can find all the entries on Facebook or on SilverCrow's Website. All of the pictures and descriptions (by the artists themselves) are on our website link - as well as pictures of the prizes!

Click on any of the pictures to see all of the entries, prizes and more.

Now, drumroll, please....here are the winners:

People made the small shrines out of everything from shells to tins to matchboxes and more.


First Prize - Small Shrine Anne Squire - In Honor of Japan Prize: SilverCrow's Brand New Shrine Kit


Second Prize Small Shrine Sherry Scott - Requerdo de la Casa de Dana Prize: SilverCrow's Jumbo Ephemera

Larger shrines were in the form of a real guitar, a voodoo queen, cigar boxes,...


First Prize Large Shrine Jessie Thomas - Crow Evolution Prize: SilverCrow's Brand New Shrine Kit


Second Prize Large Shrine Cate Amador - El Amor es Eterno Prize: SilverCrow's Jumbo Ephemera

We really didn't expect to offer a special prize, but we got so many comments on Facebook, Twitter & through email (and even from our family & friends who usually don't participate) about the next shrine, that we thought it deserved a special mention - and a special prize.


Special Prize - Unplanned Bethany Royston - "Ode to Charlie" Prize: SilverCrow's Serenity Necklace

Click on any of the pictures for more details about all of the shrines entered. There are so many wonderful ideas and details. Everyone of us was delighted. And, no kidding, there were votes for each and every shrine in both categories - that's why we had three rounds!

We sent our new Digital Shrine Collage Sheet to everyone who entered - that way everyone's a winner.

Please let us know what you think of everything. And give us some ideas for the next challenge, please!

SilverCrow Shrine Challenge - Going Strong

2011-03-16T10:48:00.001-04:00

We're so delighted that we've gotten a bunch of entries for SilverCrow's Shrine Challenge. We'll post all the pictures here at the end of the challenge. In the meantime, you can see them in our Facebook Gallery - don't worry, you don't have to join Facebook to see them!

Everyone who enters, wins - our new Shrine Digital Collage Sheet - a $3.50 value!

We've been having fun with our sample products making some quick and easy shrines here at SilverCrow's atelier.

Tanner, a young man who helps us out occasionally made this shrine to (or against) cigarettes. We adore the little vintage ashtray charm and the cigarette he made. We couldn't get a great picture of it, but he used red paint and black glass glitter to make the burning end - with smoke behind it.

Here's an earlier one he made with one of our Teensy Shrine Kits from Coffee Break Design.

And here's a little one that Valerie made with another of Coffee Break's Teensy Shrine Kits and our Little People.

So, there's still time to enter. You can find all the info here - including prizes and deadlines!