Today's featured artist is EastBenchBears

I'm feeling a bit down today. My most bestest (if that is even a word) friend was suppose to come visit this weekend but for completely understandable reasons she is unable to....so sad!!! Thankfully, I have something to cheer me up and make me smile. Please look at these bears...so incredibly too cute:


How much do I want to just squeeze one of these bears right now!!! The owner of this shop is Anita and she makes her bears out of mohair (yummy). Each bear can take between 8-12 hours to complete....and as she has said "it is a labor of love!"

How would you describe your shop? My shop is a bear adoption agency! My bears are lovable, huggable, cuddly works of art, and I have been making them for two years now. I am loving every single minute of it!


Where does your inspiration come from? I am inspired by most everything, but especially my dreams, and my two poodles. In fact, some of my more recent bears are beginning to resemble my dogs a bit too much!

What is your favorite piece? and why? Hmmm...my favorite piece so far is Pease. I am thrilled with how he turned out. It was a real challenge to try and create a bear that really looked like a baby, but I am quite pleased with the result!

What is the best advice you have received? The best advice I ever recieved is from another bear artist: you cannot please everyone, just try your best to please yourself! This directly relates to my bear art- I make what I enjoy making, and hope that my bears can bring a smile to other people's faces as well!


Thank you so much Anita for participating on my blog! Your shop is fabulous and I urge everybody to visit it at http://www.EastBenchBears.etsy.com

Busy, Busy, Busy

So, after my disastrous show I decided that I had to throw myself into promoting my Etsy shop! I've been promoting in the forums, I joined a new Street Team called JET (Jewelry on Etsy Team) and I'm investigating B&M shops in my surrounding area to display my pieces. Plus, I am in the process of photographing about a million pieces to list on Etsy. These are my latest creations:

I've discovered a site call StyleHive....many of you may already know about it! It is a place for people to discover products, stores that sell them and the people that offer them. It can be a bit confusing and it took me a while to get the swing of things..but I think I got it now! If you find something, let's say on Etsy (my favorite place), you can bookmark it on StyleHive . Once you bookmark it - this allows others to view it and if they also like it then they can "hive' it. As an artist, you can bookmark your own piece. I thought this was great for promoting...and it's free - you can't beat that! So far, a few of my pieces have been "hived" a couple or more times. Oh, and you can "follow" people...so if you like what I've "hived" then you can follow me. http://www.stylehive.com/theeclecticstudio/grid - I worn you..it is addicting!

Let me give a shout out to my new Street Team JET! Such a talented community of jewelry makers!! You can visit our blog at http://www.jewelryonetsyteam.blogspot.com/.

Also, my EtsyGreetings Street Team is promoting Graduation/Father's Day cards at http://cicadastudio.net/GradDad/graddad.htm. Again, such a talented group of people I am with in this Street Team.

off to list some more product!!

Today's featured artist is ButterflyMoon!

I need to sit and relax....breathe deeply.....breathe deeply......


Okay, it's not working. So, I guess I just need to learn how to macrame hemp because according to Jen, of Hemp Butterfly, it is very relaxing! And as I look through her shop I can understand why.....what a cool way to create such beautiful pieces. She has necklaces, chokers, earrings, bracelets, key chains, and even photography!

How would you describe your shop? Definately a work in progress. It still doesn't look like what I want it to look and it is missing a lot of items. But I am so very proud. I want it to have a feel that people will stop by and relax and find exactly what they are looking for. I want them to feel at home and calm and yes.. Irie.

How long have you been crafting? I have been crafting for over 12 years. Strictly beadwork and hempwork. My best friend Leann from Oregon taught me how to macrame and I took off from there. It is a form of meditation, unusualness and creativity all in one for me. I stopped for a few years, babies came and I found I had no time to be creative. Decided to jump back on that horse and get rid of all these images and creations in my mind. I want to be able to give a piece of myself to each and every person who stops by. Maybe I will inspire someone!

Where does your inspiration come from? Many, many places. I do a lot of bead window shopping, if I see one I like an image and idea will pop into my head. I spend a lot of money on beads! I get a lot of inspiration from nature, the ocean, animals and my kids. There is no easy way to answer this question I get ideas even in dreams...

What is your favorite piece? and why? I don't think I have a favorite piece. I love all the work I have done, they are like my children. But if I had to pick one today it would have to be my Chinese Butterfly and my Biddy Buddah Necklaces. I have been in love with butterflies ever since I was a little girl and this necklace well to me it is just striking. The Biddy Buddah, I love his serene, peaceful, calm face. I see this necklace and I feel so at peace. I hope they go to good homes.

How do you spend your time when you're not crafting? Oh boy! When I am not crafting I am thinking of crafting. I also work at a Title Company in Fort Lauderdale (Archer Land Title) as a closer, admin. assistant, notary and receptionist... I am a very, very busy girl. I love both my jobs, it lets me wear different hats and I learn so much and meet so many beautiful people everyday.

What is the best advice you have received? and from whom? This is another tough one. I have received such beautiful advice from everyone. But I think I have to give kudos to my wonderful partner in crime, boyfriend, husband, friend, my everything.. Mario.. He was the one who said are you happy with what you are doing? if not find something you like and go for it. I told him I wanted to start making jewelry and macrame again and he got in the car and took me to a bead store! He gives me unconditional support everyday, he takes my pictures, he is doing my website.. you could call him my number one fan as I am his also.

Final comments? Etsy has been a blessing in my life. I haven't sold much but I have made so many beautiful souls in here! Thanks to whoever came up with this great website that allows me to put my works and show them to the world.

Thank you so much Jen for participating on my blog! It was so much fun reading your interview (Mario definately sounds like a good egg! Oh, and I go bead window shopping all the time too!)!

Everybody must stop by her Etsy shop to take a peek at the wonderful macarame jewelry (and gorgeous photos) she has created! http://www.butterflymoon.etsy.com

The Show From Hell

So, as you know, I've been spending many days preparing for my Mother's Day weekend show. Well, it was last weekend....and.....to put it frankly.....it sucked. I mean..it really, really sucked!


I should have known it was going to be bad...all the signs were there! I realized the Thursday night before the first day of the show that we were suppose to set up and I realized this about 15 mins before going to the airport to pick up my mom..who, by the way, was flying in to help me with this HUGE show. Then, her plane was about 45 mins late. We get to the craft show site and the flippin canopy sides don't fit....my husband tried for over an hour to get all four sides zippered. It ended up he only got 3 out of the 4 done.


Friday was the first day and I sold $55 for the entire day. Sat, the 2nd day, around 4 pm we had a huge rain storm and when I tried to pull the table under the canopy - it collapsed WITH ALL MY KNITTING ON IT! So, since I had only sold one $2 card for the ENTIRE DAY I decided this was just not going to fly. We packed up and left. So disappointing. I was fit to be tied! I had such a pretty booth too.....here are some pics....




















Nice, right? I was so happy with how it turned out.

So, that was my fabulous weekend. The only good to come out of it was that I got to spend time with my mom for the entire weekend!

Today's featured artist is NVSoap

"Go Green with NV Soap! NV Handmade Soap...Better for your skin...Better for your environment!"

I'm 39 years old and I have problem skin....I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who does. Break outs are going to be the death of me one day.....I'm 39 for heaven sake! BUT...there is a solution and an affordable one at that.

I'm so pleased to introduce NV Soap (like envy). Her soap is made with NO Artificial Coloring, NO Artificial Fragrance, NO Animal Fats, No Artificial Preservatives and No Chemical Additives!! Beautiful!

How would you describe your shop? It's easy shopping ~ I produce and sale only one "perfect" soap!

How long have you been crafting? I've been an artist (painter) for many years, but a soapmaker for only one.

Where does your inspiration come from? The inspiration behind NV Soap came from the fact that I had really bad skin. I had acne that I had tried to treat through doctors and over the counter medications but nothing worked! After learning to make handmade soap and doing some research, I developed a cure for my own condition.

What is the best advice you have received? Follow your heart...

Final comments? Thank you for taking time to read this. Learn more about NV at www.nvsoap.etsy.com

Thank you for letting me feature you...I will definately be shopping in your shop very soon!

Please visit NVSoap's Etsy shop to learn more about the products she offers and all of the wonderful ingredients she uses.