T.Rusk4u

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-20T20:03:00.002-05:00

She's Just a Knitting Fool!

2011-12-06T17:05:00.000-05:00

Our final (I think) featured artist from our HAF forum blog ring is the fabulous Gina! Gina is a happily married Mom of 2 who lives in sunny North Dakota! She really is a knitting fool-she can make ANYTHING! Don't believe me? Just wait until you see the pictures! But before we do that, let me share with you that she has a terrific shop (didn't see that coming did you?), a couple of really fun blogs, here and here . She is also on Facebook and a very active member of HAF! She always there with a kind word, some advice, tips and just friendship. We are all lucky to call her friend!

Supurbly knitted soft toys for baby is Gina's specialty I think. She has a multitude of different styles, colors of these adorable little dolls. Being that I will be a Grandma in a few months, I'm sure I will come shopping for one of these cuties!

This lovely blanket has a great chevron pattern and is a nice soft peach color. Perfect for snuggling either alone or with your baby. A great bonding experience for parent and child!

I adore bright colors and these socks are right up my alley! Those colors are so fun and combined with that cable design they make a mighty fine pair of socks!

So, was I right? She can make anything. One visit to her shop and you will see for yourself! Happy shopping! :)

Our Fearless Leader: Tammy Sultemeier

2011-11-30T17:36:00.000-05:00

This week I am happy to share with you a post about one very talented and kindhearted lady named Tammy . As you may recall, Tammy resides in Fredericksburg,Texas with her family. Tammy LOVES to ride motorcycles almost as much as she loves to make jewelry! In fact she has a though provoking post on her blog called "The Biker", which everyone should read and really think about. She also has features about many different artists as well as updates on her own creations! There is also a sprinkling of stories about places they've gone to, or some event of the day. It's really worth the visit, I promise!Besides all that, she is the leader of our blog ring. Anyway, on to the jewelry! Tammy has several online shops where she sells her beautiful creations. I have concentrated on necklaces this time. Keep in mind this is only a tiny portion of what she has.

Ready to see more by this talented lady? Then you must stop by any one of these shops:
Etsy
Artfire
Zibbet
HandmadeArtistShop
Besides doing all this jewelry stuff, Tammy is an active member of the Handmade Artists Forum and Facebook . So, when you have a minute, (like NOW) stop by and pay Tammy a visit. You'll be glad you did!

Rock and roll!

2011-11-23T09:44:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's time to rock and roll with this featured artist! John of Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC is one of those people who has had other careers before arriving at the current one. John was educated in Geology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. He went on to teach for 10 years when he decided to switch to prehospital medicine. After a long career, he retired from emergency medical services and is now pursuing his love of rocks, minerals and gems as the lapidary and jewelry artist. He has been educated in Gemology and Jewelry Design and Repair at: International Gem Society, Gemological Institute of America and Penn Foster Career School.
John's wife Debora also works designing and creating beautiful jewelry pieces. Her design aesthetic comes from a previous career as a custom swag and wreath designer for home decor. So, now it's time to take a look at a sample of what this husband and wife team create!

I love the simplicity of design in these earrings. They are hand cut from a single piece of brass! No welding at all.

John has some incredible wire wrapping skills and they are shown at their best in this gorgeous pendant. It has a large, faceted Lemon Quartz stone wrapped in sterling silver wire.

This lovely ring is 10K gold and features both peridot and topaz stones. It's beautiful and there are so many more in the shop.

I hope that you will take a few minutes and visit their shop. It is a well stocked store filled with unique pieces and has price points for every budget! A gift from this shop will make someone very happy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T16:34:00.000-05:00

I'm sending my best wishes for a wonderful day! Please remember those who are less fortunate than yourself. It could be your neighbor. Make a donation to your favorite charity. Small or big, it all adds up!

A Handmade Venue to Cheer about!

2011-11-14T13:23:00.000-05:00

All of us who sell our handmade items online know that there are many places to try and sell our creations to the general public. There are the really big ones that are well known and small ones cropping up everyday. Having been around the online selling scene for several years now, I have seen and been a part of many. Some are still around, many are not. I did have the good fortune to find the Handmade Artists Forum a few years ago. I believe that the link was in a thread in the forum of one of the large online selling venues. What attracted me was that it's a place that us handmade people can join for free. I've made some great friends there, gotten advice when I needed it, and shared my creative endeavours. Out of that forum grew the Handmade Artists' Shop. This venue is for handmade only and that alone makes it very special. It is a rule that is strictly adhered too. In the grand scheme of things, it is still quite small, BUT is growing everyday with the addition of new sellers and constant improvements to the site. The owners use all social media available to promote the site and it's sellers. It is not unusual for a newly listed item to accrue several hundred views within a few hours of being up. It is true. I've had it happen myself. If you are reading this and considering maybe giving it a try, you'll need to go here for more information.
It's straightforward approach is refreshing. Sellers are kept in the loop about changes and improvements. There are actual real people to help you if you need it. I could go on and on, but I think I'll just leave it at this. Follow the links and check it out for yourself.

Artist Spotlight: CrochetHooked

2011-11-07T15:36:00.000-05:00

This week I get to feature a new member of the Handmade Artist family. Her name is Cari and she is CrochetHooked! Cari is from California, and has been a crocheter since she was a kid. You name it, she's probably made it. Using her knowledge of the craft, she designed and branded "Braidlets" which are crocheted wire with Swarovski crystals or small beads. Having tried making similar styles,(knitted and cocheted) it's not as easy as you might think. It really makes me appreciate more the craftsmanship and love she puts into each piece she creates. SO, how about a looksie?

The bright color of this braidlet caught my eye right away. It's called Sunny and with good reason I think!

Cari has a popular line of Zodiac braidlets. I happen to be a Gemini, so naturally I chose that one to share with you.

This last one is called Victoria. I really love the color combination that gives it a very rich look.

Cari has so much to see in her shops! Wedding pieces, holiday pieces, earrings to coordinate with the braidlets, etc.

If you would like to learn more about this artist, visit her blog, HAFshop, or Etsy shop. It will be a worthwhile trip I assure you!

Featured Artist Spotlight: Reef Botanicals

2011-11-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

Reef Botanicals has been featured here before. This business is owned and operated by Larissa and Eric who also happen to be married. Being crafty types their entire lives, it's not surprising that it's continued into their adult lives. Reef Botanicals has an amazing array of all handcrafted soaps, bath products, shampoo bars, facial products, and even some candles. Their products are made using the highest quality ingredients, essential oils for fragrance, and only natural coloring from those ingredients. So how about a look?

We all know how tired and worn out our feet get from everyday activities. Treat those hard working tootsies to a nice scrub with this Peppermint Pumice bar. It will remove dead skin cells making your feet smooth and the peppermint will refresh and rejuvenate those puppies!

This is called "Mock Turtle Bar Shampoo". Yes, bar shampoo! It will leave your hair shiny, smooth, and smelling great!

This Serenity fizzy bath bomb might just be the ticket after a long, hard day. Fill your tub, get in and drop this in! You will be surrounded by soothing scents and some gentle fizzing in the water. Kinda makes you want to try it right now, doesn't it?

Larissa's "real job" is being a lawyer. She also does the soap thing, enjoys theater, and is also a face and body painter. Look at this adorable face! She literally did thousands of faces just like it recently at a school function. You can read more about it at "Adventures of a Facepainter"

This is one of her "grown up faces" she's done. She's done others that are a bit more "adult" in nature. To see those you'll need to visit her New Jersey Body Art blog.

So, to sum things up, Ms. Larissa is one very busy woman! Those of us who know her from the Handmade Artists Forum know that already and I'm sure you figured that out just reading this post. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Share The Love: Sandi Levy I Knit Quilt Sew

2011-10-30T14:15:00.000-04:00

This week I have the pleasure of featuring a friend from the Handmade Artists Forum! Sandi is a wonderful artist! I am especially fond of her dolls! You can find Sandi and her creations in the following places:

Handmade Artists Shop

Share the Love Feature: Jewelry by NaLa

2011-10-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

This week our featured artist is Jewelry by Nala She is one very talented lady and a good friend! You can find her treasures at:

Please stop by and pay her a visit! You won't be disappointed!

HAF Featured Artist: Kayz Kreationz

2011-10-23T15:48:00.001-04:00

A new week has begun so it's time to post a new featured artist. This week it's Kay of Kayz Kreationz.
Kay is from Texas. Her and her husband decided to sell their business that they had for 30 years and do something new. They have a ranch (30 acres) and run a wildlife management business. Kay states that she hopes to be able to do more with her new found love of glass working. I say glass working because it is not just fused glass, or stained glass, or mosaics, but all of that! It's funny how you start out with one thing and it leads to another and another! Anyway, her work as you will see is delightful, useful and sometimes humorous!

This gorgeous fused glass piece is featured on her website. She is willing to do custom orders and has done many for all kinds of occassions.

This very unique windchime is listed in her Etsy shop. They are real bottles that have been basically melted flat to become this great conversation piece. It even has a piece of wood from their property as the top rail. How's that for a recycling project? Just don't try it in your home oven!

A little more traditional is this mosaic bird feeder featuring a birdhouse in a tree. It's pretty, practical and a thoughtful gift for the bird lover of your list!

Last but not least, for those of us would be gardeners, the perfect garden marker! I told you she had a sense of humor! Personally, I USED to have a pretty green thumb, but not so much anymore. I just may have to get some of these to brighten up my "garden". :)

Kay is also a member of the Handmade Artists Forum, and has a fun blog filled with all sorts of stuff from interviews, features, and things that she is involved with. Take it from me, grab a nice beverage, sit back, and enjoy a little down time with Kay!

Featured Artist: Colettes Boutique

2011-10-16T13:27:00.000-04:00

This week I have the pleasure to share with you someone I find to be truly inspiring. Her name is Colette and she is a fairly new member of the Handmade Artist family. She is a wife and a mom and currently resides in Morgantown West Virginia. Colette started her career in jewelry making a few years ago when she was out of work. Since then her skill and knowledge have grown to the point where she had some work featured in the September 2011 issue of "Art Jewelry Magazine". And as anyone who makes jewelry and follows such things, this is a BIG DEAL!
The things that Colette does with wire is amazing as you will see in a minute. I always love seeing her new creations and just browsing her shop . I find her style and sense of design very inspiring. She makes me want to do better with my own pieces. Okay, I'll move on to the good stuff. This is but a fraction of what she has in her shop, so you really must stop by there to see more.

This beautiful pair of earrings is called "Embrace" and personally I think the beauty is in the simplicity.

This necklace is called "Kita" and is a classic combination of turquoise and copper. The form is stunning, the wrapping is very neat and it has terrific appeal.

This "Midori" bracelet is gorgeous! I love green anyway, and this bracelet allows the color to really compliment the silver.

So, are you convinced that her jewelry is inspired, well crafted and beautiful? Like I said, you should visit her Etsy shop, or her Facebook page to see more.

A Very Special feature

2011-10-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

Jan and I became fast friends through the Handmade Artists Forum. I never actually met her, but felt like I had known her for a long time. We had often talked about how difficult it could be to sell jewelry online among other things. When I opened my store (Hollyhocks, LLC) last year, I offered to take some of her wood jewelry to try and sell. I had people looking for it and could not find a local artist who made it.That thrilled Janelle! After her first sale, she even called me at the store because she was so excited! We had a nice chat for about 20 minutes. Tragically not too long after that conversation I got the bad news that she had passed away. Everyday when I see her jewelry in my store and in this online shop, I am reminded of what a kind and generous person she was. I am going to share with you some pieces that are favorites of mine and are still available for purchase.

This first piece is a Birdseye Maple bangle. The wood is just beautiful and so smooth!

This Donut pendant is made from Cocobolo wood. It's a rich and very striking wood. She has quite a few of these in various wood types.

This cute heart pendant is made from Purpleheart wood. It's simple design is timeless.

All the pieces she made were hand shaped, sanded, and buffed to bring out the luster of each type of wood. Thank you for reading this post and for visiting "Memories of Jewelry by Janelle" that was set up in her memory. She would have been tickled to bits! All proceeds from the sale of her jewelry go to her estate.

I'm on a roll and creating again!

2011-10-11T19:53:00.000-04:00

After a bit of a hiatus from jewelry making, I am finally back at it again! I found this tutorial on making this herringbone bead quite a while ago and I've finally made it. I think I was a bit intimidated by it, but it turned out to be much easier than I had anticipated. And it's really fun and looks so good! I made a second one using Sesame Jasper beads and copper wire and brought it to my store.

I adore these Buddha beads and thought they would make a great pair of statement earrings. They are simple, but the bead is pretty big (30mm) and I thought too much embellishment wouldn't be good. These first 2 items I have already listed in my Handmade Artists' Shop. The rest I will be adding shortly.

Angels always seem to be popular especially around the holidays. Rather than buying a kit and putting that together, I used what I had on hand. The wings were the only thing I had to purchase. I like that these look different and I'm hoping that others will see the appeal too.

These pearls are from an old broken necklace. They are a lovely light taupe color and I thought the antiqued copper findings were just perfect for them.

That's all I have for now, but I'm on a roll! Watch for new listings either here or on my facebook page!

Share The Love: Bloggers Unite

2011-10-11T15:31:00.000-04:00

This week's featured artist is Barbara and her wonderful paintings! A gorgeous addition to any home! She can be found at:

Website

On Fire For Handmade : ArmoredHearts

2011-10-04T09:21:00.000-04:00

This weeks featured artist is Frann from ArmoredHearts! She can be found at:

Featured Artist: Share the Love: Blue Highways

2011-09-25T14:10:00.000-04:00

This week we are featuring Andrea , aka Blue Highways! Maker of beautiful hand bound books, journals, and sketchbooks for all your treasured writings, art, etc! She can be found here:

She is also a fellow HAF member!

Featured Artist:Share the Love-bloggers Unite: Flower and Bud Jewelry

2011-09-20T14:00:00.000-04:00

This week we're featuring Debbie La Rue of Flower and Bud Handcrafted Jewelry!

She can be found here:

Twitter

Enjoy!!

Because "MALL" is a four letter word

2011-09-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

With all the news and craziness over outlet malls, I wanted to share with you this article I read recently. It gives you the "skinny" on what they truly are all about. It arms us all with information we should know before we hand over our hard earned money for so called "name brand products." Be an informed consumer!
What-outlet-malls-don't-want-you-to-know
Don't get me wrong though. I am not opposed to malls, or designer anything. I just happen to have a problem with people not getting what they think they are getting. Having some fancy label and well known name does NOT make it better.

Featured Artist, Share the Love-Bloggers Unite Moss and Mist Jewelry

2011-09-12T16:34:00.000-04:00

This week we're featuring Moss and Mist Jewelry! Beautiful creations made with love! To see more, please visit: