Funky Finds Spring Fling

I will be there, will you?

I got it...

I got my Yudu printer today . I would be jumping for joy except they did not come with the accessory kit shown on the box. The store will be calling me when they come in so I can pick mine up. That means no playing with my new toy today :( I did however pick up some extra supplies for 40% off. It was crazy, I was called at 10am and told that they had come in, but there were only 4 available, by the time I got to the store- 10:10am- there were only 2 left and the supplies were almost picked clean. Give me a week or so and I will have a review up. Happy Friday :)

Waiting Patiently...

Or trying to at least. Last Thursday my Joann's weekly sales flier came in the mail. I sat down only to jump out of my seat and scream "AWESOME!" A few months ago the education coordinator had told me that they would be getting some screen printing kits in, but she wasn't sure what they were, (I teach screenprinting at Joanns). I was happy that they would possibly carry more of the supplies I use, but I didn't think to much of it after that. That was until I opened my flier to see the Yudu screenprinting kit. Its a self contained unit, you use it from start to finish to make your screens and print your shirts. It is so awesome, and even better it is on SALE. First thing Friday morning I ran over to the store to get mine. Sadly they weren't in stock yet. I've been waiting checking emails to hear that they are in. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Hopefully they will be in soon. I teach classes all week so I will be in and out of the store hoping that mine will be there soon. I will post a review once I work with it.

Check me out :)

Lori of The Dirty Lowdown blogged about me today :) Very cool, thanks for the nice words Lori. Check out her blog full of Etsy love The Dirty Lowdown.

Valentines Day

Today is Valentines day and if you haven't gotten your love a gift, it may not be too late. Surprise them with a belated gift from one of these wonderful shops.

SweetMelodies has a variety of beautiful vintage inspired jewelry. Here is a little about Melissa the designer behind SweetMelodies:

How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting since I was old enough to hold a crayon in my hand! My mother was an oil and china painter, and she sewed many of my clothes when I was little. She was a constant inspiration for creativity. When I was very young, she also taught me to sew, and my friends all thought I had the best dressed Barbies in the neighborhood. My grandmother inspired me, too. She always had the COOLEST craft supplies that my sister and I could create with anytime we visited her! (Remember those pieces of lime, yellow, bright orange, etc. fake fur you could make into fun critters with a little glue and some googly eyes??? ...I know I am dating myself, but oh, what fun it was to let our imaginations take us anywhere they wished!)

What inspires your art?
The thing that most inspires my art now is the sheer joy of creating it. Making things with my very own hands is such a wonderful escape for me. ...I LOVE the rose bushes in my yard. Flowers and all things timeless and vintage are also inspirations for me.

What are your favorite methods / materials to use in your artwork?
I love to create jewelry! I enjoy repurposing long lost treasures into fun, new jewelry. I cannot get my hands on enough glass flowers and beads, and I am shameless about collecting vintage jewelry and "things" that could someday be turned into new goodies to wear! I also have a fun time creating collages. Old ephemera and photos seem to be nearly as addictive for me as collecting wonderful old "junk," ...ummm, treasures, that is!

What sets you apart from other artist?
The look of my creations tend to be on the "soft" side. They are usually more sweet and dainty, and they always have a vintage appeal about them. I am creative minded, but also business minded. Superior customer service is very important to me. I try to never lose sight of the fact that without my customers (no matter how large or small a sale), I would have no business, and I really enjoy giving my customers the special attention they deserve. It is fun to juggle my online Etsy shops, SweetMelodies.etsy.com and CreativeElements.etsy.com , with being a stay at home mommy and wife. I work at home during the day, keeping regular "shop hours," and enjoy my babies as soon as I pick them up from school in the afternoons. I love the flexibility I have to be able to set my own schedule. I feel blessed to be able to do the things I love most and still contribute to my family's income a little, too.

shop/ site link:
Please visit me at: www.SweetMelodies.etsy.com .


How about some jewelry from JDS Gems. Here is a little about Sharron and Dennis.

How long have you been crafting:
I would say a looonng time, although I'm not telling exactly how long. When I was about 8, I remember my mom introducing me to embroidery. As a 20-something I discovered counted cross stitch and loved that even tho I didn't consider myself super creative I could produce wonderfully beautiful pieces just by following directions (I was good at that--LOL). My hubby and I are now empty nesters and discovered the wonderful world of rocks about a year ago.

What inspires you: Hubby and I design our pieces together. He is actually the more creative one (see above), and once you get to know us you can figure out his vs hers. I find that the rocks are inspiring in themselves. Mother nature does a pretty awesome job and there's nothing like looking at all the colors in the stones and "listening" to them as you put a piece together.

Favorite materials: Rocks of course-LOL!! Seriously, we use lots of stones in our designs and wanted to share the love and keep them affordable. To that end, we normally don't use lots of sterling silver, but should a customer want it, we can supply it.

What sets us apart: A couple of things. First, I try very hard to find really unusual stones that you don't often see other designers/makers use. Second, we don't ever consider any of our pieces a finished product until our buyers are happy with them. We do a lot of craft shows and spend just as much time resizing, creating and re-creating pieces as we do selling completed ones. Oh, and I almost forgot!! We use magnetic clasps. We've shopped around to find really strong ones and they're great, especially on bracelets. I get dressed all by myself--LOL!! We do also carry traditional ones and can substitute them out.


Or buy your love a beautiful scarf from KnitzAndFeltz. Here is a little about KnitzAndFeltz:

How long have you been crafting?
I have been knitting longer than many of you readers have been around! I put it down for many, many years (although I never forgot about it) and took up crafts that were age appropriate for my kids – coloring, painting, creating holiday items, stamping, scrapbooking – you get the picture! Then one day I realized my girls were all grown up with their own lives to live, no more sports, no more school activities, no more crafting time on a regular basis just us girls. And, I picked up my old friends again... my knitting needles!

What inspires your art?
Life. Where I live the winters are cold and long. I believe that just because you need to be bundled up it doesn't mean you can't look good and feel great! Same with my bags. Whether it is used for every day or for a special occasion, why not carry something that is functional AND fun? Thus my motto for my shop - Warm...Comfy...Trendy...Fun...

What are your favorite methods/materials to use in your artwork?
Various yarns & fibers. For my winter scarves & hats I mainly use wool and wool blends. For my bags I use 100% wool with some "fun" fibers mixed in for texture and adventure. I'm working on a spring scarf collection which will be lighter weight using a luscious bamboo yarn. I'm also toying with the idea of adding a spa collection... but now I'm getting ahead of myself!

What sets you apart from other artists?
As a fiber artist it is pretty hard to set myself completely apart from other artists. My passion for knitting perhaps? My pride in my work? Basically, I LOVE TO KNIT! I love the feel of the yarn in my hands. I love using pattern, texture & design to make unique items that feel good and look great. I love watching my ideas become an item that is beautiful, useful, comfy, trendy… FUN!

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Whenever I see leather work it reminds me of my husband (he designs leather furniture). I love this necklace by BlissfullyUnique is so beautiful, simple in design yet it makes such a big statement. BlissfullyUnique has a great variety of OOAK leather jewelry pieces that are sure to make people ask where you got that beautiful piece of jewelry.

Here is a little about BlissfullyUnique:

How long have you been crafting?
Ive been doing this for a year and a half now but have been a crafter ever since I was little, sewing with my grandma.

What inspires your art?
A big inspiration to me is vintage. I love vintage and like to add a little touch of it to some of my pieces, along with nature. Enjoy finding beautiful pieces from nature and turning them into jewelery. This makes it a one of a kind pieces. Other people art inspires me also. There is tons of wonderful artists out there.

What is your favorite method/ material?
My methods of my items are mostly hand designed and cut. I don't know if its my favorite as it would be nice and quicker to die cut or laser but that is the method I use. I sketch up the designs and them make cut out to trace with. I luv working with pieces from nature, leather and vintage fabrics. I like to recycle and that would be the reason for the items I like to work with.

What sets you apart from other artist?
I like to add a little touch of something I luv that is different from others. One thing Ive started doing is making some of my pieces reversible, known as "2 in one" so that the items are like having two different types of necklaces for the price of one. For example one side will be a solid while the other is a mixture of colors.

BlissfullyUnique

Joy!!!

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If your like me, you photo graph EVERYTHING. My poor boys permanently have a flash in their eyes. I have tons of pictures, but I'm awful about putting the photos into a scrapbook. PaperPrincess has the perfect solution for people like me, premade mini scrapbooks. All I have to do is stick in my pictures and they are ready to be shown to the world. PaperPrincess even has boy themed books that aren't your typical sports themes.

Here is a little about PaperPrincess:

How long have you been crafting?
I've been scrapbooking for about 5-6 years now. I've tried my hand at several other crafts, such as cross stitching and embroidering, but nothing felt right till I came across scrapbooking. It just fit!

What inspires your art?
I'm inspired by EVERYTHING, everywhere. It's hard to narrow it down. Bright, vibrant colors, whimsical patterned paper, supplies, current trends even people inspire me. The creativity in other crafters motivates me to see how unique I can be.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
I couldnt live without patterned paper and bazzill cardstock. I also love adding a personal touch with my doodling. It makes every piece I create truely one of a kind.

What sets you apart from other artist?
I like to make layouts that POP. When you see it I want you to say wow, and wonder where I even started. My layouts tell a story and that story is only completed by adding your picture(s).

shop/ site link:
www.paperprincess34.etsy.com
www.paperprincess34.blogspot.com (I didnt know if you needed or wanted my blog)

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I'm in the mood for love... you would be too with these little votive candle holders lite up all over your home. DirtRoadSouth has a variety of mosaic artwork that make a great addition to anyones decor.

Here is a little about DirtRoadSouth:

How long have you been crafting?
I've been crafting for as long as I can remember. It was always considered a bit odd, because I was the only one in my family with any interest in the arts or crafting. Now I do my best to spark an interest in my own kids and give them the inspiration and materials to foster the interests that they do have.

What inspires your art?
I draw inspiration from many things, but a lot of it has to do with the colors of the materials I'm working with and the way sunlight hits them and changes them. I love shiny, pretty things and many times I'm inspired by little more than the way sunlight reflects off of any given object.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
I love working with glass... stained glass, vitreous glass, and I even use a lot of reclaimed glass in my work. Sometimes I paint the back of clear glass for a different effect or color combination. I always tumble my glass to remove most of the rough edges for safer handling. I love to create when I have plenty of time and limited interuptions so I can get completely lost in the work. Sometimes with 3 kids it can be difficult, but that just makes me all the more appreciative of the times when it does happen!

What sets you apart from other artist?
I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and pride myself on my unique designs and high quality craftsmanship. I also love what I do, and I think it shows in my work.

shop/ site link:
http:www.dirtroadsouth.etsy.com
and my blog is http://thedirtylowdown.blogspot.com/


What is Valentines Day without sweets? I love this yummy cupcake necklace by ZYGOMATICS.

Here is a little about ZYGOMATICS:
How long have you been crafting?
I've been crafting for 5 years but i have always been a crafty person. When i was a child, i used to teach younger children how to have fun crafting by making plushies out of socks...

What inspires your art?
Mostly japanese fashion such as Sweet lolita style.


What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
I love polymer clay and felt most. It's so versatile, i can make whatever i want with those materials. I also collect kawaii (=cute in japanese) fabrics which i am afraid to use because they are too cute. I learn everything by myself and experiment a lot with different materials.

What sets you apart from other artist?
I try to make things that nobody makes like customized earmuffs. My aim is to sell things people can't find anywhere else.

my shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5205046

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Who needs cupid, when your little girl can be a fairy. MyBohoBabyStore makes the cutest peasent dresses with soft decorative wings on the back. Perfect for dress up or even everyday wear. Makes me wish I had a little girl to dress up.

Here is a little about MyBohoBabyStore:
How long have you been crafting?
I started crafting when I was very little! My mom had an old book that had many crafts in it like taking shoe boxes and making dollhouses. Doll furniture with old egg containers. I started to sew when i was fed up with making paper clothing for my barbies. And that started me in making clothes for myself.


What inspires your art?
KIDS! I love seeing what my daughter is interested in. When she was little she loved fairies and dragons. We went everywhere in our costumes and when the wings wouldnt fit in the car, that gave me the idea of WINGEDKIDS!

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
SEWING MACHINES! I love to sew. I do everything from wool... cotton, hemp. I really got into using my embroidery machine with the dragon shirts. Its fun to explore the different colors you can use for the designs.

What sets you apart from other artist?
My ideas. I have yet to see any store like my WingedKids. It makes me feel excited to have come up with something unique since there are so many stores that do the same things.

shop/ site link
Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6184445
Main Store: www.wingedkids.com




I love to sew, when I find a project that I'd like to make I look for unique fabrics. Haanhh makes beautiful hand painted fabric for home decorating and sewing. Just browsing through Haanhh's shop I was imagining all the beautiful things I could make for my home, pillows, curtains, and even a dress for myself.

Here is a little about Haanhh:

How long have you been crafting?
2 years

What inspires your art?
natural environment

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
batik and silk fabric.

What sets you apart from other artist?
The spirit of dreaming,apart from beauty,luxury and aesthetic value,I'm passionate of creating something for feelings,thoughts and love.

shop/ site link:
http://haannh.etsy.com

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My husband and I have a large collection of beanies and caps, mainly because I used to design headwear for a big company. We find ourselves fighting over beanies sometime, so what could be more perfect a gift than this set from Design By Nihan

Here is a little about Design By Nihan:
How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting since I was old enough to pick a crayon.My favorite childhood toys were boxes, yarns, pieces of cloth and all kinds of paints… I should add that I’m thankful for the support of my family. When I converted my jeans into bags or painted my canvas shoes, they never said a word! The appreciation and approval for all of that hard work is the basis of my motivation to improve myself in this field.Then I decided to share my talent with all hand-made lovers.


What inspires your art?
I’m inspired by almost everything, even a simple button. I can suddenly decide to knit a sweater suitable for that button.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
My favorite material is cashmere, but the most important thing is to be able to discover the perfect match of the yarn and the pattern.About my methode, I can say that I design authentic knitwear by improvising with needles, sometimes not even knowing what the result would be.then I take some little reminder notes and some primitive drawings. That's all.


What sets you apart from other artist?
I knit to relax and to express myself. I never liked pattern books or reproducing brand sweaters.“Design by Nihan’s” success on Etsy is a combination of my talent, marketing and business knowledge and my personality too. I try to bring customer preferences and original patterns together. All “Design by Nihan” customers have an opportunity to choose the color and material, since all of the products are always knitted according to the customers' measurements. Each item is totally unique to its owner.


shop/ site link:
www.designbynihan.etsy.com Cesign by Nihan is in Facebook now!!!! come & join us there...



Valentines is such a whimsical day. So many people in love it's beautiful. So is this print from Kavali8. Kavali8 offers a great variety of artwork prints that you can add to your own collection.

Here is a little about Kavali8:
How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting since I was a little girl, all the woman in my family do some type of craft. It really is amazing!

What inspires your art?
I am inspired by challenges and things around me my family, and however I may be feeling that day. This picture I have chosen was actually a challenge, someone on etsy was requesting this and I usually don't paint that type of art, well I told her I would give it a try so I went to painting than took photos and made a greeting card out of it, she loved it! And bought it. It took about an hour for me to paint and I had it shipped to her about the next day. It was a lot of fun, and in the end a great picture.

What is your favorite medium/method?
I love to do canvas painting with acrylics and also draw with black marker.

What sets you apart from other artist?
I feel my art is very different in my style, that fact I was self taught, and my art is unique in it's own way. I like to create art with different items as well and my paintings are always different. I would love to make more money to support my family, but since that's not the case at the moment, it's more so for the joy and relaxation. I Love what I do.

http://www.kavali8.etsy.com

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I love to decorate for the holidays, all holidays if possible. Usually I stick with window decals because my son likes to help put them up, but when I saw this wreath I threw out the stickers (sorry baby.) SouthernGirlFlorals (a Texas girl like myself), offers a variety of beautiful wreaths and floral arrangements. Forget a bouquet of flowers get your Valentine a wreath, it's so much more beautiful and will last longer.

Here is a little about SouthernGirlFlorals :
How long have you been crafting?
I have been selling my wreaths and arrangements for a little over a year now, but I have been making them for friends and family for about six years.

What inspires your art?
I am inspired by color! I may see a color pairing in a fashion magazine or even in the silk flowers themselves and create a wreath based on those colors.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
Lately I have really enjoyed using wispy flowers; stems that seem to burst out all around the wreath. I think it gives the wreaths another dimension.

What sets you apart from other artist?
I like to try out different techniques with ribbon or different color combinations within the wreath.

shop/ site link:
www.SouthernGirlFlorals.etsy.com



I love the name of these earrings "Perfect Match". La Cravate Du Chien makes some of the cutest accessories I've ever seen, I love the Blue Bird belt.

Here is a little about La Cravate Du Chien:
How long have you been crafting?
about 5 years

What inspires your art?
Almost everything. Every material i see i try to imagine how it can be transformed to art.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork?
Fimo clay and stones

What sets you apart from other artist?
I can't really say. I can't say i'm the best, there are so many artist out there and even if sometimes we do something simillar every one has their own style. So i guess i have my own style too.

shop/ site link:
http://lacravatteduchien.etsy.com

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Spell it out L O V E, I love this necklace. So cute, it reminds me of junior high when my friends and I would make all kinds of jewelry with words, be it our names, our crush or just sayings we liked. Linda B's Jewelry Designs has a great variety of jewelry to choose from. All hand beaded and beautifully priced.

Here's a little about Linda B's Jewelry Designs:

How long have you been crafting? Since grammar school, pony beads, clay, painting sweatshirts, making candles

What inspires your art? the colors, textures, shapes and characteristics of the gemstones

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork? bold oddly shaped beads mixed together, jasper, black onyx and sterling silver

What sets you apart from other artist? The colors and designs I use are all OOAK. Each piece is unique.

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Don't know what to get your little boy for Valentines. I know I have a hard time finding gifts for my boys, they aren't very fond of those pink teddy bears at the grocery store but what boy is. This little pillow is perfect, for my boys at least. This cute little jumping frog would be adorable on their beds. I know they would love it! MyFamilyTies has a variety of handmade items, you'll surely find something for everyone on you Valentines list.

Here is a little more about My Family Ties:

How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting for the last 15+ years.

What inspires your art?
I am inspired in large part by what I like and would buy myself.

What sets you apart from other crafters?
What sets my shop apart from many others is that mine is a family endeavor. There are four participating crafters in MyFamilyTies. Each of us brings our own craft and flavor to the shop. We get a chance to do what we enjoy and to talk to one another about our project ideas frequently.

The Hoppy Valentines pillow, http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20271584 is my mother's creation. I do not think that Valentine gifts necessarily need to be red or pink or jewelry, flowers, or candy-though I like all of these things!

A Valentine should be a gift to enjoy, a gift which comes from a good place. Our shop can be found at www.myfamilyties.etsy.com.

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Remember men, a girl can never have too much jewelry. Especially handmade pieces, like this bracelet from BeJeweledByCandi.

Here's a little about BeJeweledByCandi:

How long have you been crafting? I have been creating jewelry for about 3 years

What inspires your art? I try and keep up with the latest trends, but mostly I sit at the bead table and play around with different arrangements until something jumps at me.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork? I absolutely love lampwork beads. I am in awe whenever I come across a new lampwork artist, I would love to learn how to create them myself someday.

What sets you apart from other artist? I think what sets me apart is that every one of my designs is a one of a kind. I never duplicate a design, keeping them all unique. I love knowing that when someone purchasing something from me they will be the only one wearing it.

Here is the link to shop www.BeJeweledByCandi.etsy.com

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Looking for something whimsical to wear to you Valentines date? Then you must check out IfABird . IfABird has a variety of whimsical crowns and hair accessories.

Here is a little about IfABird :

How long have you been crafting?
I’ve been crafting all my life but am just now trying to sell my creations.

What inspires your art?
I am inspired by nature and the art of others- especially literary art.

What is your favorite method/material?
I love twisting wire and a painting with watercolors. I like real things. Real gemstones, real wood, real bread and anything that smells of the forest after rain.

What sets you apart from other crafters?
I am still trying to find my niche but I love experimenting with different sorts of creating. I am willing to take some risks and poke my fingers with wire, and to get ink all over my carpet.

Take a look at www.ifabird.etsy.com for more beautiful pieces.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20553943

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20552907

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20551899

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19373448

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14808193

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Does your Valentine appreciate unique pieces of art? Then Sharpbeads is the place to get your loved one their Valentines gift. Sharpbeads offers beautifully crafted Native American inspired jewelry and much more.

Here's a little more about Sharpbeads :

How long have you been crafting:
I have been crafting and sewing all my life and started working with beads about 13 years ago.

What inspires your art:
I love the colors that beads come in. From traditional Native American to the most popular colors of the season.I love to experiment with color and style.

What is your favorite method/material?
My favorite stitches are the brick stitch, that i taught myself as well as loom and bead embroidery.

What sets you apart from other artist?
I try to make jewelery that will set the buyer apart. My beaded bags were started when I became a mother-in-law.

Don't forget to visit Sharpbeads for unique jewelry and accessories.

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Red the color of passion and love. I'm not planning on wearing a red dress Valentines Day but I do plan on accessorizing my little black dress with bright red pops of jewelry like this lovely bracelet designed by FirehouseJewelry.etsy.com . I love all the jewelry that is created by this artist, but what I love more is the story behind this artist.

Here's a little about Firehouse Jewelry:

How long have you been crafting? - 4 years

What inspires your art? - Pretty much anything, I spend lots of time sitting in my workshop playing with clay until an idea hits me. I once designed a piece based on my best friend's shirt.

What are your favorite methods/ materials to use in your artwork? - Polymer Clay all the way. Plus a some wire and faux sea glass

What sets you apart from other artist? - I am a teenager, and I make all of my own beads and am mostly self-taught.

Lets help pay for this ambitious teenagers next trip by purchasing some jewelry from FirehouseJewelry.

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With Valentines Day nearing it's time to buy your love something special, and what could be more special than a handmade rose that will last forever! RDGDesigns.etsy.com has a beautiful selection of borosilicate glass roses that come in White, Red,Yellow, Clear and Pink. So whether it be a red rose for the love of your life, or a yellow rose for that special friend you know they will never forget this Valentines Day. RDGDesigns.etsy.com also has a great variety of vases and other handmade glass items.

Here's a little about Jane, the designer behind RDGDesigns.etsy.com:

What is your favorite Valentines gift?
Here is one of my most Valentine item. It is a red rose made of glass. I make these on the torch using borosilicate glass and a lot of heat!!!

How long have you been crafting?
I have been working with glass for the last 12 years.

What inspires your art?
The nature of life inspires my art in that I like the way light and glass interact. It produces all different ranges and impressions, as does life.

What is your favorite medium/ method?
I use only glass, although I do use gold and silver at times, but just to fume the glass.

What sets you apart from other crafters/artist?
I think just the medium itself sets me apart from other artist, but other than that probably not much.

Make sure to stop by RDGDesigns.etsy.com for more beautiful glass work.

Breathing Easy

Friday night I ran across the great news on Etsy, the CSPIA is giving us 1 year before they start to enforce the new law. That means we have a year to convince them that handmade companies need different regulations than large corporations. I thought I'd share the Etsy article for those who have yet to read it. After reading it, I was able to breath a little easier knowing that I will not be going out of business.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/breaking-news-the-cpsia-mandatory-testing-certification-prop-3347/

Story by matt, Vanessa
Published on January 30, 2009 in Craftivism

We are so excited to announce that the Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that they are proposing a 1 year suspension of the burden of lead testing and certification while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement! All of your hard work is paying off (for the time being at least!). You wouldn't have to pay to do the certification and testing, though you are still liable if your products are found to have lead. We are so pleased that artisans and vintage sellers got their voices heard. Your hard work is not over; we must continue to play a role in advocating for small business people throughout the coming year.

"The action taken today provides breathing space to get in place some of the rules needed for implementation, but it should not be viewed as a full solution to the many problems that have been raised." —U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission

You'll find the press release below:

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

*

Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:
o

The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;
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The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;
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The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and
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The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.
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Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.
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Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and
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Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our Web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.