Weekly Challenge

Hello lovelies!

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

Our winner is Stevie J from Designs By Stevie J
with her Keep My Balance Necklace.

Kristin chose Stevie's design because she loved how the seemingly unbalanced clusters at the top of the necklace lead to the oh-so balanced rose quartz in the center.

Congratulations Stevie!

A big, huge, squeezy hug thank you to our only other entrant this week:
Jill from Moonlight Beadworks


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

Stevie's choice for this week's theme:
"luminosity"

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 (September 13th) 12 midnight EST.

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

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

IMAGINE Treasury Challenge!

Time to vote

for our third Treasury Challenge:

Imagine...

All of our the treasuries included

the theme imagine and they did a beautiful job!

Our 3 winners will receive a prize from one of our awesome shops:

RoughMagicCreations

WildWomanJewelry

MazzyJewelryDesigns

Our Lovely Judges:

Kandes- TrickyFox

Ginny- GinnyHuber

Rebecca- KneeDeepOriginals

Had a tough job, but here they are...

Our 9 finalists in no particular order...

Drum roll Please....

...imagine what Autumn looks like...

.....use your imagination....

Imagine The Waters Edge

IMAGINE a Cure

Imagine a day of leisure

Imagine Love That Moves The Sun

Imagine Green Love for Lorraine...Under the Umbrella of Project Embrace

Imagine...whatever you wish!

Imagine Three Clean Men

Thank you so much to everyone

who made such amazing treasuries for this challenge,

to the awesome judges,

and to those giving prizes!!

Alright Team EPEer's, it's time to vote for your favorite!!!

Which Treasury made you IMAGINE??
	...imagine what Autumn looks like...
	.....use your imagination....
	Imagine The Waters Edge
	IMAGINE a Cure
	Imagine a day of leisure
	Imagine Love That Moves The Sun
	Imagine Green Love for Lorraine...Under the Umbrella of Project Embrace
	Imagine...whatever you wish!
	Imagine Three Clean Men
pollcode.com free polls

Member Interview

Hi there! Please tell us about yourself.

My name is Erica, I live in Belvidere, Illinois (the 's' is silent...). It's about an hour or so west of Chicago, depending on traffic. My shop is MazzyJewelryDesigns and as if you couldn't deduce, I make jewelry. I love gemstones and wire-wrapping, but I'm always up for learning and trying a new craft. I am enrolled in a PMC class coming up here so don't be surprised if you see some new creations!!

My shop name is really a combination of my kid's names. Maddox is my spirited 5 year old son and Zoey is my little 2 year old diva daughter - she loves jewelry, by the way, can't keep her out of my studio. Lots of tangled wire to deal with...

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?

I learned about EPE just by browsing the shops. Some of my favorite shops were members and I wondered what it was about. I started my shop soon after caring for my best friend's father who fought a courageous fight. After I discovered the philosophy of EPE, I knew I had to be a part of it! I'm a hospice nurse and so this mission really hits home for me because I see the effects of cancer every day. Not just on my patients, but their families as well.

Of your creations, which are your favorites? 

Out of all of my pieces, it's hard to pick a favorite. Sometimes I think I was served too big of a slice of humble pie. I'm pretty critical of myself most of the time, but I do love my Metamorphosis necklace and Zoey's Garden earrings. They both make me think of my kids.

Metamorphosis necklace

Zoey's Garden earrings

What is your favorite posession?

My favorite possession is probably my iPod. I know, not very interesting, but I can't go anywhere without my music. I am in love with the genius feature on iTunes. It finds new and interesting music for me and I don't have to do any work!!!

I don't have a blog or a website, yet. The funny thing is my husband is a website developer, you would think I have an in on a sweet website, but I'm still waiting...

What do you collect? 

The only thing that I collect really is vinyl records. I have tons of them and the collection just keeps growing and growing. Mostly classics, lots of Beatles, Stones, Clapton, Blondie, the list goes on and on. I could bore you for days and days... I love the nostalgia of the crackles and pops whenever you listen to a record. Think about it, you know what I'm talking about.

Where would you like to be, and what would you like to be doing, 10 years from now?

In 10 years I would love to be doing exactly what I'm doing. Just creating for creating's sake. I want to learn different ways to grow in my craft, but not put too much pressure on myself. We'll see...

The pictures are my husband Tyler and me, then my two little rug rats and last, the newest member of our household, Reggie. She's a girl, but my son insisted on naming her Reggie, so she's really Regina and she's spoiled sweet!

Finds 'n' Fancies

fiesta wares

Embroidered brooch by maggiemakes, Cupcakes print by Sandra Juto
Balloon-sleeved Cardigan from nemres, Bow studs by luckyduct

Zebra brooch by Sophie Digard

Boho Woven bracelet from SoVaL, Still life photo by Johnny Miller
Fiesta by Jackierueda, Birds on a String by blueshedcrafts

For your visual enjoyment: shades of autumn swirled with the fading colors of summer--like tropical fruit salad served up in a hollowed-out acorn squash.

Happy day to you all! --katie :D

Weekly Challenge

Hello lovelies

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

Our winner is Kristin from loveartstudios
with her Taos Pueblo Elder photo.

Congratulations Kristin!

A big thank you to
Ngan from eNVe Designs
Joe from Prospero's Bookshelf
Jean from 3squares
who also participated last week.

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

Kristin's choice for this week's theme:
"balance"

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 (September 6th) 12 midnight EST.

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

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

Member Interview

Hi there, Elizabeth of Foret! 

Please tell us a bit about yourself. 

Foret, my core shop name and brand, is derived from part of my surname and was the name of a signature line of apparel which I came up with in the early 90’s. It actually has a little tent (a circumflex accent mark) over the E which shows that there used to be an S there - the word in French for ‘forest.’ I had done this to make a break from my other design business which is officially called “Santa Fe Jewelry and Design.” Now, that business which I had founded in 1984 is on hold while Foret is sallying forth into the world. This is all in the spirit of making my business more portable, personal, and less defined by location…although I have lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico for 30 years. 

I have been self-employed all my life with parallel careers in the arts and healing. My work has ranged into photography and the entertainment industry to spiritual counseling and hands on healing. I have to narrow things down for the purpose of commerce, so I have chosen jewelry/fashion and aspects of my healing work. The array of items I offer across the three Etsy shops is my attempt to express this twofold focus: jewelry, crystals, astrology, healing amulets, unique supplies, fashion accessories, and a bit of this and that in the vintage/pack rat department. You know…fun with a spiritual back beat!

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?
At first, I noticed treasuries and then I went to the team thread and learned. I felt an instant connection and so I applied. This team stands out to me as something very special in the world of Etsy. It is a bright star of love and support for the sake of those very qualities, and so I am happy and honored to be part of this gentle community.

Of your current creations, which are your favorites?

Psychedelic Cloud Pendant Necklace

At Foret, which I recently revamped from top to bottom to make it all about free worldwide shipping and everything $100 and less (still have a bunch of higher end and have to figure out where to place them), I have to say that my favorite is my Psychedelic Cloud Pendant Necklace and the earrings which complement it.

Although I have been making jewelry for decades, I have been putting off smashing on metal until recently. I love it. I won a bench block and hammer and have been pounding on things whenever I can.

Multi Color Gems, Pearls Earrings

At DivineDesignByForet, all of my ELEMENTALZ are my favorites. These are where healing and art come together for me, and I love them as if they were my children. I especially enjoy making one specifically for someone with a healing intent. When I get to do that, all of my skills and talents are brought in and I can step out of the way while Spirit guides the process. 

Staurolite Baltic Amber Ammonite and Garnet ELEMENTALZ Pendant

At ForetTwo, any of the hawk’s eye (naturally blue and colorful tiger eye) is beloved to me right now.

12mm Round Hawks Eye Blue Tiger Eye Beads

 I love these too…. Never seen anything quite like these beads.

7mm Round Faceted Mulit Color Ruby Beads

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it?

Oooo! What an interesting question. Although I have in my possession many beautiful and interesting objects…from ethnographic wonders which I have collected over the years to rocks to items from family, I am not attached to any particular thing. I imagine suddenly losing everything, and I know I would be in shock for a little while but I would be able to move forward. I am not about things, I suppose. Ironic, eh? My business is all about creating things out of materials. Hence, one of my mottos: there is always more.

What do you collect?
People and ideas…and probably a bit of dust if I sit still too long.

Where would you like to be and what do you hope to be doing ten years from now?

Ten years from now, if I am still on this planet, I want to be living in Siracusa in Sicily, writing all the time, looking at the sun rise over the Mediterranean, and Skyping with my son who will be a famous actor by then.

Healing Amulet Pendant - Sacred Marriage ELEMENTALZ

Finds 'n' Fancies

mighty fine oak

(ripped out of Anthropologie's clothing home page--such a clever artistic detail!)

Autumn Leaf by DovieMoon, Spun Gold outfit from Anthropologie
The Calling by corid, Acorn Cap Necklace tutorial by A Foothill Home Companion


original watercolor paintings by gollybard

Ivory Sash clutch by eclu, Murmur Summer intaglio print by carlikirstin
Purled Onyx outfit from Anthropologie, Oak Leaf finger wrap by BrillianceFound

Oh, how I long for Fall! This is about the time of year my impatience for it sets in. The stores are filling their racks with cool weather clothing in warm autumnal tones, but it's still hitting the mid-nineties around here. They tease! I want to eat soup and chili and wash it down with hot chocolate, but my cravings are forced to wait. The anticipation makes that first crisp morning all the more welcome so I'll summon my patience and harvest some Fall eye-candy as I wait.

What are y'all anticipating with the arrival of cool weather? --katie :D