Weekly Challenge

Hello lovelies!

It's time to announce our Weekly Challenge winner!
This week's theme was "mysterious."

Our winner is Rebecca
from Knee Deep Originals
with her "It's Only the Wind" painting.

Congratulations Rebecca!

A huge thank you to our only other
participant this week:
Suz of Simply Suzula

You can check out Suz's fabulous entry
on our Weekly Challenge page.

Rebecca's choice
for this week's theme:
"cinnamon and spice"

To participate in the fun:
1) Start creating!
2) List the item in your Etsy shop.
3) Contact me with a link to your entry by next Monday (October 25th) 12 midnight EST.

**I just want to remind all of our teammates
who sell vintage or supplies that you can enter too!**

I also want to make sure that everyone knows you don't have to create something brand spanking new for the Weekly Challenge. If there's something in your shop that fits the theme, enter it!

I will post all of the lovely entries on our Weekly Challenge page as they come in. The new winner will be posted here next Wednesday. The winner then gets to choose the following week's theme, and of course, it's winner!

Happy creating!
xo, Jen

Breast Cancer Awareness

In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. That is about 1 in 8, or 12-13% of the female population in our country that will develop breast cancer over the course of the current year.

Shocking isn't it?

Everyday, we sit next to other women at work, walk by them in a store, smile at them across an intersection at a red light. Who knows, they may be that 1 woman in your group of 8. Maybe that 1 is you.

Even though it sounds like it should be only a woman's issue, Breast Cancer is not exclusive to one gender, men are not flying safely under the BC radar. About 1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2010. That is less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer, but hey, it's still a number.

Now, enough with all of the data, the important thing to think about is how NOT to become one of those numbers, and if you do, what can you do about it.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and as you can see, the numbers speak for themselves. Far to many of us are affected, whether it's a mother, a sister, an aunt. It could be your teacher, your boss, your neighbor. Whoever it is, they are not alone, and neither are you.

Prevention and awareness are the keys to getting the upper hand in this battle. We can't control what our opponent will do, but we can control how we let it affect us.

Ladies, it's simple, get your yearly mammograms! Do your self-breast exams, it only takes a couple of minutes and no one knows your body like you! Protect yourself, empower yourself, it's not hard, it's really that simple. Educate yourself on your risk factors. Yes, it's true, if you have a family history, it does increase your risk, but 70-80% of women diagnosed have had no family history of the disease. The most significant risk factors are being a woman and growing older. Really narrows it down doesn't it?

That means we all have an obligation to our husbands, our children, to ourselves to take control and advocate for yourself. We have the tools, we just have to know how to use them.

1. Schedule regular check ups for clinical exams and talk to your doctor about your particular risk factors and what you can do about them. That's why we sit in those waiting rooms for hours reading super old magazines and drinking bad coffee, so we can get those pearls of wisdom from someone who knows them!

2. Do self breast exams every month so you know if there are any changes,no matter how small those changes seem. You know yourself better than anyone! It's all in your hands... so to speak. For instructions please visit:

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/breast-self-exam

3. If you are over 40, a yearly mammogram is one appointment you can't afford to push off. If you're due, make the appointment today! Have a friend who also is due? Make it a day and go together, grab a mani-pedi after and brainstorm about how you can help.

If you have been diagnosed, talk to others that have been through it. Use their courage and strength to build onto your own. If you're having a rough day, reach out to others who have been there for support.

That is what our team is all about. We want to spread awareness and support like gravy on potatoes, jelly on toast, white on rice.... However you want to put it, that is why we are here. Keep your eye on the prize and get out there and raise some awareness. There is no time like the present, but the best present you can give is hope.

If you want to help, but don't know how... Ask one of our blog contributors or check out these organizations:

The American Society- www.cancer.org

National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) - www.nabco.org

National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC - www.natlbcc.org

National Cancer Institute (NCI) – www.cancer.gov

Susan G. Komen Foundation- www.komen.org

Being a hospice nurse, I have a different perspective than most when it comes to awareness. Everyday I hear the stories, see the lives of those who fight the courageous fight against breast cancer. Some may think that once these women have made their way to me the fight is over and lost, but in many ways it's only just begun. These women bring the truth and importance to the awareness movement-they are the ones that bring it to life. By sharing their stories with others, they are building a legacy. One that, as a team, we can carry for them.

EasyBaby RoughMagicHolidays RawArtLetterPress

Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge!

Announcing

The Winners to the

Breast Cancer Awareness Treasury Challenge...

SimplySuzula

And



KneeDeepOriginals

Congratulations to both of you!
Everyone did an amazing job,
thank you to all who participated.
You are why our team is so amazing!!

Member Interview

Hello and Happy Birthday, Rose of Waterrose!

Please tell us about yourself.  

I grew up in Ohio and at this time of the year I become so homesick...I now live in Arizona. What a dichotomy of environments! I love Arizona too. It is much more relaxed and casual. 

Arizona

But we have our sights set on moving to the Oregon coast at some date in the future. I have two kids that are grown and out on their own, one in Dallas --the scientist and one in Portland --the writer.

How did you come to pursue your art? 

Most of my life I have thought of myself as a quilter. I have shelves of fabric that would attest to that statement. However, about three years ago we were traveling south on the Pacific Coast Highway and what did my eyes spy? A quilt shop. We made a quick turn and went in. I wandered around and came across a bundle of the most beautiful over dyed wool by Marcus Brothers. It was on sale. That bundle sat on my work table for a few months. I didn't know what to do with it. 

Felted wool

I was working on an embroidered quilt square and my thoughts wandered back to the wool and I had an ah ha moment. How could I combine the two? Most people still thought of hand embroidery as a vintage art and I wanted to bring it into the future and make it more usable. I have a ton of hand embroidered pillow cases, so I wanted something that was wearable and that's when I thought about bracelets. I created my first "cuff" and the rest is history.

Wrist cuff Jacobean pomegranate flowers

What inspires you to create a new work? 

Almost everything! I keep a notebook so I can write down ideas because they come pouring in so often. I have pages of ideas that I thought I would have done by now, but I only have so much time and when the muse speaks sometimes I have to act now.

What is a typical day like for you? 

I'm usually up at 6:30. First on the agenda is feeding and playing with the doggies. Then a very light breakfast. We have our own family business so I begin there at my desk. Reading emails, working on accounting, looking over the schedule. Then making customer calls. Once I have most of that work done I can delve into my creative side.

Embroidered felt rings

Around noon, if I'm not still trapped on the computer....you know how those tentacles reach out and won't let you go....I know you do! I get all of my tools and materials out. Open my notebook and see what I want to make next. Sometimes it's very spur of the moment and other times I yield to the time of the year and upcoming holidays. Or, maybe consider what the trends are forecast to be a year from now.

My work table

The studio

I try to grab a bite to eat at some point in the afternoon. And, if it's summer I might jump in the pool for a bit of exercise. I love to swim! Afterwards I'll find a movie or something interesting to watch, or some music and sit down in my favorite place and begin stitching.

Wrist cuff sheet music

Then dinner time comes around, D is home and we prepare dinner and discuss many things.

Back to the computer making treasuries, tweeting, writing a blog post ...while watching some of my favorite shows. Around 10 pm I'm ready to wind everything down and spend an hour reading....while D watches Letterman.

What is your favorite leisure time activity?

There are three things I love to do that work well together. I love off-roading, hunting for treasures and photography. The off-roading takes me to some amazing places to take pictures and odd little towns with treasures. There are moments that I have to remind D that I don't like roller coasters and that he's a little to close to the edge of the road...on my side!

Off-roading

Off-roading in Utah

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?

Well, a little over a year ago the Lovely Peach Tree asked me if I was interested in joining Etsy Project Embrace. I had no clue what it was. We were getting ready to leave on a 10 day off-roading adventure, so I told her I would get back to her. Once back home and settled back in I took a look and knew immediately that I would love this team. I have had several loved ones take on the fight against cancer, in its many different forms, and decided that it felt right to put some of my energy into this team. And, I'm so glad that I did!  

Of your own creations, what is your favorite?

Wow that is a difficult question. One of my favorites is a paper quilt that I made a few years ago. For years I had this idea in my head and saved up beautiful advertisements from magazines to create this quilt. Finally one day I couldn't wait any longer and I started cutting paper. D came home and asked what I was doing. After I told him he laughed saying, you have oodles of fabric and you have to cut up paper to make a quilt....we can't even snuggle in that! I just smiled.

The paper quilt

What is your favorite personal possession? 

I can't pin that one down. But all of them reside in my memories. I would say that my memories are my most cherished possession. Everything that is cherished comes with a special memory or story and without those memories they wouldn't be as cherished. So memories.  

Is there something special you collect?

I have a very nice collection of Godey's Ladies Home Journals from the 1860s. I love looking at them and reading some of the stories. One of them has one of the first stories that Edgar Allan Poe wrote and submitted to the editor. I don't know if it was every published in a single book or book of short stories. But, it is a very cool read. There is a project that I've been working on for many years and relates back to that time period...reading those books puts me in that frame of mind for creating.

Victorian boot free hand embroidery art

Do you have a blog?  Yes: http://waterrosez.blogspot.com

What would you like to achieve in the next ten years or so?

The project that I spoke about earlier. I would like to see it to fruition with hopes of it being wildly successful. But I can't really tell you what it is....

Glass Blowing. I've watched with awe and envy master glass blowers and have such a desire to create glass pieces.

aeiou brooch

Finds 'n' Fancies

blush 'n' black

British Birds Eggs Antique Art Print from slinkymalinkicat, The Woman Warrior Tunic by SHIHAR

Purple Swirl Hat Pin from 5gardenias, Cream and Spice Necklace by GlitzGlitter

Hanni Shawl by birribe, Cedar Hope Chest from warehouse516

Whisper Four Photo Print by thegardenshed, Copper Garden Earrings by adornbyamysingley

I know I mention the weather a lot when I present these groupings to you, but I can't help it. The weather plays a huge role in determining my creative moods. Surely y'all can relate. Can you tell by looking at these items that it's hot around here? Again. We're having a full-blown Indian Summer in my part of America and while I'm not thrilled, I'm dealing. And I'm doling out orange-tinged pinks and oxidized coppers for you to enjoy. Hot or cold.

Be cool. Be warm. Be happy, friends! --katie :D

Weekly Challenge

Hello lovelies!

It's time to announce our Weekly Challenge winner!
This week's theme was "the power of pink."

Our winner is Ames
from Adorn by Amy Singley with her
EtsyProjectEmbrace Breast Cancer Survivor - Awareness Bracelet.

Kristin had an especially difficult time choosing the winner this week since, as she said, "they are all so 'deserving' of winner-hood, and they ALL come straight from the creators' hearts."

But since she could only choose one, she had to go with Ames. "The design, the colors, the motivation and the whole story behind it, are quintessential Project Embrace and I just think it's Phenomenal, and so is Ames!!" said Kristin.

Congratulations Ames!

In case you missed the story of this bracelet over on the Challenge blog, this bracelet is a very meaningful one for Ames. The description in her listing explains: "Okay, so this is the piece that started it all. 8 years ago, as I battled this terrible disease, I found beading. During chemo, my body just didn't work but my mind did. Beading was my outlet and I made this bracelet to honor my sisters surviving this disease and those who want to show their awareness and support to the cause." This is the bracelet that led Ames to Etsy and to Laura and ultimately to the team.

A huge thank you to our other
oh-so talented participants this week:
Colette from Colette's Boutique
Stevie J from Designs by Stevie J
Mollie from Rough Magic Holidays
Lana from Simple Joys Paperie
Gwen from Dancing in the Rains
Pearl from Beading Gem
Erica from Mazzy Jewelry Designs
Anne-Marie from Lime in the Sky Designs

You can check out their fabulous entries
on our Weekly Challenge page.

Ames' choice
for this week's theme:
"mysterious"

To participate in the fun:
1) Start creating!
2) List the item in your Etsy shop.
3) Contact me with a link to your entry by next Monday (October 18th) 12 midnight EST.

**I just want to remind all of our teammates
who sell vintage or supplies that you can enter too!**

I also want to make sure that everyone knows you don't have to create something brand spanking new for the Weekly Challenge. If there's something in your shop that fits the theme, enter it!

I will post all of the lovely entries on our Weekly Challenge page as they come in. The new winner will be posted here next Wednesday. The winner then gets to choose the following week's theme, and of course, it's winner!

Happy creating!
xo, Jen

Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge!

October,
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We challenged our team to make the most beautiful, empowering treasuries,
and I think we have out done ourselves...

The 2 treasuries with the most votes will win a HUGE prize...
A shop ad on our blog for an ENTIRE MONTH!

Thank you to everyone who made such amazing treasuries for such an important cause, getting the word out is a goal for our team and you did an outstanding job,
and thank you to Stevie -DBSJ, for judging this one with me!

After some intense deliberation...
Here are our 10 amazing finalists!

The Goddess in Every Woman

The Fighter Wears Pink

Someone told Miranda...

Pink equals hope

Out of the Darkness Hope Grows

Hope is Pretty in Pink...Celebrating Survival~

Guys get it too.

Gardening is in My Genes

A Touch of the Autumn Blues

~HOPE~

Thank You to Everyone who Participated.

Keep Spreading the word,

Prevention and Education are Key!

Which Best Embodies Breast Cancer Awareness??
	The Goddess in Every Woman
	The Fighter Wears Pink
	Someone told Miranda...
	Pink equals Hope
	Out of the Darkness Hope Grows
	Hope is Pretty in Pink...Celebrating Survival
	Guys get it too.
	Gardening is in my Genes
	A Touch of Autumn Blues
	Hope
pollcode.com free polls