On Fire Handmade Artisan of the Week

Here it is!  This week's featured artisan is Debbie LaRue Vintage Tags for Days:

This weeks Featured Artisan is Debbie LaRue - Vintage Tags for Days! Gorgeous tags in a vintage

style to give a unique look to your gifts! You can find Vintage Tags for Days on:

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

Debbie also has a shop called Flower and Bud Jewelry on Etsy too!

Check out her Etsy pages!

 

Back again with more featured On Fire Artisan of Week!

 

This week's Featured Artisan is Sarah - Finding Charm! Sarah has

beautiful creations in a wide variety of styles and colors! You can

find Finding Charm on:

 

Artfire

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

Here we go again! Another featured artisan from On Fire for Handmade!

This week's featured artisan is Barbara Rosenzweig - Watercolors by Barbara. Beautiful creations to add to your home! You can find Watercolors by Barbara on:

http://www.watercolorsbybarbara.com/

http://www.etsy.com/shop/barbararosenzweig

http://barbararosenzweig.blogspot.com/

http://barbararosenzweig.wordpress.com/

http://www.twitter.com/barbarasart

http://www.facebook.com/WatercolorsByBarbara?v=wall&ref=pdem

Brand new Featured Artisan!

We are on fire for handmade!  Here is this week's featured artisan:

 

 

This week's Featured Artisan is Andrea Zimmerman Rogers - Blue Highways. Gorgeous Handbound books and journals. A work of art to keep your thoughts, pics and more! You can find Blue Highways on:

 

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

 

On Fire for Handmade Featured Artisan of the Week:

Here it is, the moment you've all been  waiting for.  This week's featured artisan is:

 

 

This weeks Featured Artisan is Debbi La Rue - Flower & Bud Handcrafted Jewelry!

You can find Flower & Bud on:

 

Etsy

 

Facebook

 

Twitter

 

Go now and check out her beautiful jewelry creations!

Vaudeville Gypsy: This week's featured artisan

I am proud to present this week's On Fire for Handmade's featured artisan:

 

 

This Weeks Featured Artisan is Vaudeville Gypsy. Truly Unique Creations

to tickle your fancy! You can find Vaudeville Gypsy on:

 

Etsy

 

Artfire

 

Facebook

 

Blog

Get ready for a new Artisan of the week!

On Fire for Handmade's newest featured artisan of the week is:

 

 

This week's Featured Artisan is Suftan - Il Mare Atelier! Absolutely gorgeous

creations in her shop. Perfect addition to any wardrobe and great gifts too!

You can find Il Mare Atelier on:

 

http://www.ilmare-atelier.blogspot.com

http://www.ilmare.artfire.com

http://www.ilmareatelier.etsy.com

It's Time Once Again! On Fire for Handmade Featured Artisan is:

 

This weeks featured artisan is Rebecca - Rebecca's Whims! Whimsically beautiful creations in her shop! Perfect gifts for all ages! You can find Rebecca's Whims on:

 

Etsy

 

Facebook

 

Blog

Yet another Featured Artisan from On Fire for Handmade!

Check it out!  Very cute stuff to be found here.

This weeks featured artisan is Phillippa Pinka - Court & Sparks.

Darling Creations that make perfect gifts! You can find Court & Sparks on:

Etsy

Folksy

Dewanda

Blog

Grab the code for your blog here:

Featured Artisan of the Week!

 

This weeks Featured Artisan is Georgia Groves- Georgiamarbles! Beautiful creations!

You can Find Georgiamarbles on :

 

Etsy

 

Facebook

 

Blog

 

You can Grab the code for your blog Here:

Check out this week's Featured Artisan On Fire for Handmade!

This weeks' Featured Artisan is Seb - Knit and Crochet Touches by Seb!

Beautiful and Delicate fashions for you! A Must have for every ladies closet!

You can find SebSurer on:

Etsy

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://www.onfireforhandmade.com

Newest Featured Artisan from On Fire for Handmade!

 

This weeks featured artisan is Mary - Euphoric Charms!

You can find Mary at:

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

On Fire for Handmade's featured artisan of the week

 

This weeks featured artisan is Vivian - Bowquet! Darling bows for your Darlings!

You can find Bowquet on:

 

Etsy

 

Facebook

 

Blog

 

On Fire for Handmade

Share the Love--On Fire for Handmade featured Artisan of the Week

This weeks featured artisan is Ruth - RSS Designs in Fiber! Beautiful Creations! You can find RSS Designs in Fiber on: Artfire Etsy Blog Facebook

New Week? New Featured Artisan!

It's time for a new features artisan of the week for On Fire For Handmade:

This weeks featured artisan is Kim - Va Beach Quilter. Kim has a wonderful selection of goodies in her shop. Quilts, table runners, coasters.. the list goes on and on... You can find Va Beach Quilter on:

Etsy

Artfire

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Featured Artisan of the week:

This week's featured artisan:

 

 

This weeks featured aritsan is Shelly - Handmade Creations by Shelly! Wonderful creations made by a wonderful lady!

You can find Shelly on:

 

Etsy

Artfire

Shelly's Knitting

Twitter

Facdebook

Blog

 

You can grab the code for your blog here:

https://docs.google.com/document/pub?d=1kAnDZ4JoTymW34AwVspuhoMFif6mzjoSsukJ7aJ8ZEo

Featured Artisan of the Week

This weeks Featured Artisan is Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight! Alluryn has wonderful creations in her shop! A Must have for every jewelry box!! You can find Creations by Moonlight on: Etsy Website Twitter Facebook You can grab the code for your blog here: http://www.box.net/shared/flrg7uret9

Some truly lovely things to be found here!  Please have a look.

Ready! Set! Road Trip!

Yep. It's that time of year again.  Summer is sneaking up on us and that can only mean one thing: It's time for a road trip.

Traditionally, I take a bus or a train for my road trip every summer.  This year will be a little different. I'll actually be on the road.  It's my first time driving long distance by myself so it's an adventure of some magnitude for me.  But the destination is familiar and I've taken the route before with family and friends.  I'm confident I can make it on my own.

I'm headed out to Colorado for a little Rocky Mountain high fix.  I have family there in the mountains and I try to get out there at least once a year to visit and get away from the real world for a week.  It's always good to see Mom, too.

I've been there many times before to visit family and to attend one of my favorite dance festivals of all time:  Elevation.  It's held in early spring in Golden Colorado and it is so much fun. 

The last time I was there (2007), I got to meet Rachel Brice and actually danced with her for a while backstage before our performance.  That is something I will not soon forget. I'm hoping to attend the festival again next year although probably not as a performer.

So that's my story.  I'll be out and about and hopefully there will be photographic evidence.  See you when I get back!

Featured Artisan of the Week

Here it is!

 

 

This weeks featured artisan is Doug from Moonsong Ranch! Wonderful creations for you!! You can find Moonsong Ranch on:

 

Etsy

Website

Artfire

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

On Fire for Handmade's featured artisan of the week

This week, the featured artisan hits closer to home.  It is my other studio:

This weeks Featured Artisan is Lori - Curiositiy's Piqued. Lori creates

 baby items, purses, bags, household items and Christmas ornaments that I crochet, sew and craft by hand. She also has another shop called Tadasana Tribal. You can find Curiositiy's Piqued on:

Artfire

Blog

Facebook

http://www.tadasanatribal.artfire.com

http://www.facebook.com/tadasanatribal

http://tadasanatribal.blogspot.com/

This week's featured Artisan!

 

This Weeks Featured Artisan is Angel Pearls! Beautiful, colorful crocheted Flowers for applique, feminine classic joyful Jewelry as Vintage inspired and Angelic earrings and brooches, Crochet flower brooches and more! You can find Angel Pearls at:

 

 

http://angelpearls.etsy.com

 

http://angelpearls.blogspot.com/

 

http://angelpearlscollection.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/AngelPearls-Collection/103617943024148

 

 

Grab the code here for your blog: http://www.box.net/shared/q9h3hg1bff

Warrior Weekend--Be there or be bored.

This weekend marks the second Warrior Weekend belly dance workshop festival.  The workshop will be held in Lees Summit, MO at the Heart of America Dance Center on Saturday May 7.  If last year's weekend is any indication, this year's weekend will be well worth the trip.  This workshop is hosted by Troupe Duende of Kansas City, MO.  www.troupeduende.com

With classes ranging from Make-Up 101 taught by Bellatrix Ali and Zills taught by Siham Ali to classes about mehndi, hooping, musicality, adding drama to your dance and others, there is likely to be something for everyone.  The Warrior Weekend Showcase in the evening will present a variety of dance styles with performances by presenters and participants alike. 

At the writing of this blog, several class spots are still available. If you find yourself with a free weekend, you should consider heading over to Lees Summit.  I know they'd love have you.

You can register for classes here:  warriorweekend2011.eventbrite.com

This week's featured Artisan!

Please allow me to introduce this week's On Fire for Handmade's Featured Artisan:

 

This weeks Featured Artisan is Ruth - RSS Designs in Fiber. Ruth has beautiful creations to decorate your home! Stop by RSS Designs in Fiber and see for yourself! You can find Ruth on:

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RSSDesignsInFiber

 

http://rssdesignsinfiber.blogspot.com/

 

http://www.artfire.com/users/rssdesignsinfiber

 

http://www.facebook.com/ruth.sandra.sperling?sk=info#!/ruth.sandra.sperling

Tax Time

It's finally spring here in the heartland.  I can tell because I have started getting invitations to Renn Faires and other bellydancing venues.  I enjoy going to watch my friends dance and I often bring my drum along so I can take part.  I've become a fairly good novice drummer.

Another way to tell that spring is here is by the number of orders I get.  Usually starting in late February, they start coming in.  Dancers all over are filling up their summer schedules and putting together new costumes for the season.  For new costumes, they need new pieces to add to their wardrobes.

I think it also helps that it's tax time and, I don't know about you, but when I get whatever refund I have coming, I tend to spend it on those things I don't normally buy during the year.  I remember the first year I started dancing.  I used my tax refund to buy the most exquisite antique textile hipscarf.   I took it home and added my own touches of cowrie shells and some brass bells for extra jingle.

Here's a picture showing my scarf in action.  I love that hipscarf and even though I'm not actively performing, I don't think I'll ever part with it.  I wear it to almost every performance.  It's become a part of me.  Just like the dancing.

This week's featured Artisan!

Please allow me to introduce Vaudville Gypsy.  Vintage creations available online everywhere!

This weeks Featured Artisan is Vaudeville Gypsy. Vaudeville Gypsy creates jewellery, costume & accessories with Vintage glamour and style. You can find Vaudeville Gypsy on:
http://www.artfire.com/users/VaudevilleGypsy
http://www.folksy.com/shops/VaudevilleGypsy
http://www.etsy.com/people/VaudevilleGypsy
 http://vaudevillegypsy.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/VaudevilleGypsy

Please join us in celebrating this amazing talent!

Sharing the Love--Featured Artisan of the week

 I belong to a group on facebook called On Fire for Handmade.  In this group, we work together to make collections for the participating artisans from Artfire and treasuries for those of us who are on Etsy.  It's a lot of fun to see what the others are up to and it gets the word out about all the great things happening in the handmade world.  I wrote about the woman who started and runs this whole thing on my other blog Curiosity's Piqued.   My thanks to Anne for her hard work making this happen.

This weeks Featured Artisan is Edi's Little Treasures. True Treasures indeed.. Edi has wonderful creations! A Must have for every Jewelry Box!! You can find Edi at:

Etsy - http://edislittletreasures.etsy.com/
Artfire - http://edislittletreasures.artfire.com/
Bonanzle - http://www.bonanza.com/booths/Edi
...Twitter - http://twitter.com/edistreasures
Blog - http://mareditreasures.blogspot.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Edis-Treasures/155848996229?ref=mf

Please go check out Edi's stuff in one of her many venues!

 

Hair Goodies

Lately I've had this urge to create some new hair sticks. I haven't made hair sticks in a long time. For me, there are three basic types of hair sticks:

1. The structural hair stick.

These are the kind you see women with really long hair wearing. This style requires a bit of skill and some serious artistry to pull off. There are several nice youtube videos on the subject. Usually, they are of simple construction with perhaps a bit of carving or a painted design on the ends. I rather like the way this girl does it:

2. The decorative hair stick.

These are usually worn as an accent to an up do. These will usually be constructed of a thinner material like metal or plastic or bone with a larger, more intricate design on the end.

3. The Tribal hair stick.

No holds barred, all-out decorated hair sticks! Worn as an accent for the Tribal dancer hairstyles loved by dancers all over the world. Some are simple with a few cowries or beads dangling from the end. Others are more elaborate with longer falls comprised of macrame or braided fibers.

I tend toward the latter creating hair sticks with unique designs and Tribal flair. I use coins, shells, beads, yarn, fabric, more shells, etc. Anything that will thread onto the strands or sew securely to the falls is fair game.

I have made many different colors and styles over the years and I usually make them in pairs. Lately, I'm starting to think of unique, individual hair sticks more often. When I make them, I really enjoy making the first one. But then I really trudge through the second one trying to make it 'match.'

I think I'll stop worrying about that so much and just enjoy making the hair sticks.

Happy New Year!

It's that time of year again. Time to reassess our lives and determine the new directions we want to take in the coming year.

I sat down last night and did that very thing.

For the last few months, I've been on a hiatus from dance. For many reasons, getting together with my dance friends has not been feasible for me. I miss them and I miss dancing.

But that hasn't stopped me from creating more things for dancers to wear. After all, half the fun of dancing is the costumes. Face it, ladies. It's the clothes. I can't seem to stop making them. It's an obssession.

For personal reasons, I've decided to make some changes in my Etsy shop. That shop will be exclusively for custom items. You will still be able to get the new choli you've been wanting or the skirt you'd like to have. You'll just have to tell me what you want. Talk to me and let me know.








My one-of-a-kind creations will now be showcased in my Artfire studio. There you will find the accessories that I love to make. You can also get the custom stuff there, if you are so inclined.

I am pleased with the Artfire process. You don't need an account to buy something so there is one less site with your financial information saved. I've also expanded my payment options to include Amazon Payments and Google Checkout for those of you who prefer not to use PayPal.

The new year is a time for change and planning for the future. Let us begin.