Weekly Win It-Off The Wall-Winner!!!

Congratulations to our winner in the Weekly Win It give away from Off The Wall:

Dianne!!!!

She is the lucky winner of a beautiful hand painted frame from the fabulous gals over at Off The Wall!!

There were 14 entries in the Off The Wall contest!

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and thanks again to Jaime and Melissa for participating in this weeks give away!! You guys are the best!

Weekly Win It!!

Yay!! The Weekly Win It feature is back and what a way to start off!! This week's featured artist is none other than Off the Wall!!! This fabulous duo is made up of partners Jaime and Melissa, two talented and upbeat ladies who specialize in faux finishes for architectural elements, home accessories and pretty much everything in between. I first came across these two via their blog and quickly discovered their wonderful portfolio of work. Some of my favorite items are their frames featuring wonderful Bible passages and quotes. How great are these for framing your loved ones and remembering God's goodness every time you look at their picture?? I also really love their beautifully finished shutter and garage doors as well as kitchen cabinetry.

I've really gotten to know Melissa over the past few months through blogging and email, and I know that both of these ladies are quite talented and special, so I was super-excited when they offered to participate in the Weekly Win It!! I can't wait to introduce you to these wonderful gals (or help you to get to know them better) so sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Off the Wall!

Tell us a little bit about your studio and how the two of you came to be partners? We teamed up in 2004, not realizing the connection we would share. But we knew instantly that God had something strange and uncharted planned for us. I (Jaime) already had an established and busy career in the faux finish industry and was living out her calling, while Melissa was earning a degree in Fashion Merchandising. After graduation, Melissa began work as a human resources assistant… not so much her dream job. Knowing there was something more; Melissa quit her job to pursue her love for something more creative. That’s when a friend told her to call me. Melissa began working for me hourly as I trained her in the skills of the faux world. Beyond working incredibly well together, an immediate friendship was born and we became business partners soon after.

Our studio is in Olive Branch, Mississippi. We welcome clients to come by to customize their orders and shop our existing collection, provided they can appreciate the very fine aroma of paint thinner, the sound of saws and sanders singing, and two boys trying to torture each other in the background (that would be the Roberts boys of course!).

Where do you get the inspiration to create your beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces for the home? We have so many different inspirations, but a love for anything old that we can transform into something that people actually love to buy and place in their homes is motivation to keep trying to come up with some new ideas. We love vintage architecture and salvaged pieces. We can’t miss a thrift store or side of the road where a discarded treasure can be found. We love the romance and the idea that a home is a reflection of who you are and where you want to be. You shouldn’t want to be any place else.



What is your most favorite project you’ve done for someone’s home and why? Our favorite project on the faux finish side of our business so far, has been an old world plaster finish with revealed brick in a beautiful East Memphis home. Our client commissioned us to manipulate plasters in a room that was once her porch. She trusted us to give her the feel of a European villa. The room felt lost in time, at least a couple hundred years old and it was a complete success.

From our product line, I don’t think we can pick just one. When we come up with a favorite, it will probably be time to quit. I hope we never have a favorite… that means we are still breathing!

Do you two have any painting or faux finishes in your own homes? You know the old saying, “ the cobbler’s children has no shoes.” We find with our faux finishes and with our products that we are the last to get them. As soon as we finish something new, someone comes along and ends up buying it. But we will have to change that soon, there are so many pieces that we both want.



What is the largest project you and Jamie have ever taken on and how long did it take you to finish it? I think kitchen jobs are the longest, especially when we come up with something cool in a finish, and the client keeps adding and adding. We have several clients that will never be finished, because they are constantly coming up with ways to keep us in their home. At least they don’t want to get rid of us.

Tell us a little bit about your creative process? How do you figure out what you are going to do when presented with a project? Ultimately, we go with what first comes to mind, and figure out a way to make it work. Instincts are your best indicator that a project will be successful. When you see a project for the first time you know instinctively what should be there and it is just a matter of trying to make it work. We rarely stick with a rigid way of doing things. Usually when we plan, that is when we end up tossing the project plan and starting over. It is when we embrace the unexpected that we come up with the coolest outcome.



Wow!! Thank you so much girls for taking time out of your BUSY lives to share a little more about yourselves and your work...you are both fabulous!!

So now the moment you've all been waiting for...this week's fabulous give away is this lovely Zebra Stripe Table Top Frame (ummm...this would fit in perfectly in my home-too bad I'm not allowed to enter!). This fun and funky frame can be yours...just leave a comment on this post and tell us what your favorite product is from the Off The Wall store.


Please check here for contest rules and regulations!

Thanks again ladies...you're the best for doing this give away and the best bloggin' buddies a girl could ask for!!

Weekly Win It!

So, as you may have noticed, I haven't done my Weekly Win It post in about a month. Mostly due to having to frantically prepare for my show...somewhat due to the fact that I have yet to send out questions to the people who are waiting to participate as the featured seller!! Yikes!!! I apologize for slacking off and promise that the feature will be back next week and will continue after that (until I get too busy to think again!!). Make sure you come back and visit as next week's artist is a great one...you're not gonna want to miss it :)

Weekly Win It-JAC Jewerly-Winner!!!!

Congratulations to our winner in the JAC Jewelry Weekly Win It:

CINDY!!!!

She is the lucky winner of the beautiful pair of Biwa Stick Pearl Earrings from JAC Jewelry!!

There were six entries in the JAC Jewelry contest.

Thanks again to Janna for taking the time to do a wonderful interview and share a little more about her fabulous pieces as well as offer up a special prize for JLC Studio readers. Don't forget to check out her Etsy shop!! You're the best Janna!!

Weekly Win It - jaC Jewelry!!!

Today's Weekly Win It artist is another fabulous jewelry maker (and also a JLC Studio sponsor)! I'm so excited to introduce you to Janna from jaC Jewelry!

Janna makes one-of-a-kind, absolutely beautiful pieces featuring a number of different materials. She specializes in making custom pieces and really enjoys creating jewelry on request for any occasion! I absolutely love her pieces and am very impressed with the delicate quality I see in everything she has to offer!! My favorites are the items she makes using gorgeous and unique pearls (that's why I'm super-excited for today's give-away!!). Let's take a look at how Janna got into making jewelry and learn a little bit more about her shop and her inspirations!

Your jewelry pieces are absolutely gorgeous, how long have you been creating your fabulous pieces? In 2004, while on vacation visiting family, I went to a bead store with my aunt, and walked out of there with a big bag of beads… I came home and made my first piece from those beads immediately.

I made a few more pieces after that, but did not get absolutely addicted to jewelry-making until a year and a half ago, during my (now) husband’s first deployment overseas. Now, I’m hooked and don’t plan on stopping any time soon!

Where did you learn your craft? Have you ever taken any classes or had any training? I have not taken any classes – I started with a strand of beads, beading wire and a clasp, and just went from there, much the same way I learned how to crochet. Back in college, I was in Barnes and Noble once, and saw a beautiful afghan on a cover of a crocheting book. So, I said to myself: “Oh, that looks neat – I am going to make one!” I bought that book and figured out how to crochet an afghan. It would have been much easier to start with a scarf, but I made my first scarf after I made six or seven blankets. Unlike crocheting books, I have yet to own a book on jewelry-making. I learn the best by doing, so I am constantly experimenting with different techniques and continuing to hone my jewelry-making skills!


What are your favorite materials to work with? Favorite type of jewelry to create? I make my creations with gems and semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, sterling silver, and gold-plated and brass findings. Freshwater pearls are my most favorite (especially keshi and biwa stick pearls). I have pearls in every single shape, color and type that you can possibly imagine! However, I use all types of stones to be fair to the other beads. :)

Also, I absolutely LOVE Bali sterling silver beads (especially frame beads) and toggle clasps!

I don’t really have a favorite type of jewelry – I love making all of it! I started with necklaces, moved on to bracelets, and then finally earrings. I like to wear everything equally; maybe that’s why I like making it all!

You create customized bridal jewelry for the entire bridal party…when did you start offering this service and how did you get into it? After designing and making wedding favors, place cards and thank you cards for my own wedding, I thought it would be a great idea to offer customized bridal accessories to match a wedding theme. With encouragement and sage advice from my wonderful husband, I created a website and started selling both “regular” jewelry and my wedding creations! One of my objectives is to create versatile designs that people are able to wear with multiple outfits, styles and occasions. Specifically with bridal designs, my goal is to create versatile pieces that the bridal party will be able to wear long after the wedding, and this aspect appeals to the brides, as well as bridesmaids. My latest bridal order will be traveling to Canada for the wedding!


Do you sell your jewelry at places other than Etsy? Yes, in addition to Etsy, I sell my jewelry on my personal website (jacscreations.com) and home parties. I also take the jewelry to offices around the winter holidays. Several months ago, the owner of the beauty salon I go to generously offered me to have a show there, and that was great! I also do custom orders on request. Whenever I work on jewelry designs, I always imagine them a part of an outfit, so I thought it would be great to make pieces on request for people who want them to match certain outfits or colors. As it turns out, sometimes it works the opposite way - one of my friends is a huge fan of jaC jewelry; she buys necklaces from me first, and then buys outfits to match them!

Where do you get inspiration for your beautiful designs? Most of the time, I buy the beads and findings that I think are gorgeous, without any idea for a design in mind. Combining several colors is as far as I will go when coming up with ideas for designs. Then, I put them together and discover that the most unexpected combinations look the best together!


This is fabulous!! I'm always interested in finding out a little more about a fellow jewelry maker! I'm very impressed with Janna's wonderful jewelry (and totally wish I could enter this weeks give-away!). What is the give-away, you ask? It's this beautiful pair of pearl and crystal earrings!!!! They're absolutely stunning!

This weightless pair of earrings is so fantastically summery! They are made with white Biwa stick pearls (my favorite!), sterling silver components and Swarovski crystal bicones in clear, two shades of yellow and two shades of blue. They measure 2.25" from top to bottom (1.75" without the ear wires).

In order to enter to win these fabulous earrings, leave a comment on this post!!! Check here for contest rules and regulations.

Janna is also offering free domestic shipping for 10 days, beginning today, to any buyer that mentions JLC Studio! Just drop a note in the notes to seller section that you saw her creations here to take advantage of this offer!!

Thanks soooo much Janna for participating in the give-away as well as being a terrific sponsor! You're the best and so sweet too!

Weekly Win It-Rik Rak-WINNER!!!!

Congratulations to the winner in the Rik Rak give-away!!!! The lucky reader is:

MATILDA SUE!!!!!!!

Yay! I'll be sending you an email to let you know you're the lucky winner!

There were 20 entries (less two for Rik Rak and myself!)

Be sure to check out this week's give-away!!

Weekly Win It-Rik Rak!!!

This week I'm sooooo excited to welcome the Weekly Win It Etsian for a few reasons! First, she was the Etsy featured seller yesterday (what timing!). Second, she makes sustainable items using repurposed fabrics (perfect for Earthday Week!) and third, I am the lucky owner of one of her fabulous pieces so I can speak from first-hand knowledge when I tell you how terrific her items are. Please help me welcome Kristal from Rik Rak!


I absolutely love Kristal's colorful and graphic designs and her sewn pieces are beautiful...the stitching is perfect and so neat and tailored (trust me!). I love the creativity she seems to have in spades and it seems that her son has taken after her as well! Kristal uses repurposed fabrics to create new, one-of-a-kind wallets, clutches, bibs, blankets, cards, the list goes on and on...Let's get to know Kristal a little bit better, shall we?

How did you learn your craft and how long have you been sewing? My wonderful grandmother was a master quilter & craftsperson, so I was always surrounded by her beautiful work when visiting her as a child & young adult. I'd count her careful construction of materials as the seed for my own work. When she passed away several years ago, the fabric I inherited from her collection became the first materials I used for my early rikrak projects, and really helped me to push my sewing - which I had been doing on and off for the past few years - into a wonderful new realm.

Where do you do your crafting? How much fabric do you have “collected”? Oh, my poor husband! Our home is seemingly lined with shelves stuffed abundantly full of vintage fabrics and crafting gear. I work from home, when my son's away at school, and I also spend many evenings a week with my sewing machine at the dining room table, designing and creating while my wonderful husband reads books aloud for us both to enjoy!


You have such a great eye for fun and bright colors as well as composition and design in your shop as a whole…tell us about your background? Thanks so much! As I mentioned, my grandmother's traditional work was really my initial inspiration, sort of a blueprint for how a quilter - or craft maker - works. So, I suppose my designs come out of a respect for an old-fashioned sensibility, but mix in my love of simple lines and bright flashes of colour that I’ve long loved in Scandinavian and Japanese design in particular. I just love being able to showcase the amazing, historical fabrics that I’ve come across in fun & functional wares for everyday use! Seems to me that a tiny, well-place detail will always mean more in a design than a complex pattern. And I think beautiful vintage fabrics lend themselves so well to that!

My artistic background was fostered from a young age by my fabulous & amazing parents. They taught me a wonderful appreciation for handicraft (they cherished antiques & the stories behind handicrafts) and making things ourselves. I’m so thankful that they gave me the room to experiement with my own creativity and space to think & problem solve creatively.

You use a lot of vintage fabrics in your designs, what do you like best about vintage fabric and how do you find these fabulous patterns? (I’m not asking for sources…just how you came to be interested in using them and how you search them out!) By being steeped in old crafting traditions, I came to really respect the wonderful age-old ideal of repurposing, re-using, and re-inventing materials born once upon a time out of economic need, but now used as more of a kind of ethical statement, I suppose, on the value of respecting where we've come from, and where our materials have come from. This sense of history and nostalgia is important for me in my work, and it allows me to apply older materials and historical methods to new designs and new aesthetic approaches. I am lucky to have friends and family who keep an eye out for great vintage fabrics, maybe their aunt’s apron, or a nostalgic bedsheet – and send them my way! Thanks, nicies! Sometimes folks that I create custom works for will actually have special, nostalgic fabric that they’d like me to incorporate into a project for them. I just adore doing that!


I absolutely LOVE the photographic cards featuring photos taken by your already talented 3 year old! He takes better photos than most adults! Tell us a little about them... Thanks so much, JLC! He just loves taking photos! From a very young age, he seemed particularly interested in using the camera and being careful with it. My husband and I are both keen photographers, so the fact that we always have a camera on us seemed to encourage his avid love of it! Since he is so little, his wonderful, unique angles, and the objects he was interested in recording were of great fascination to me. I just love seeing his fun ideas and what appeals to his own artistic eye! And since digital is so prevalent – he can take 100s of photos with such minimal cost, so he can experiment and play with the camera for hours! I think it’s safe to say that his fun angles & look on life have inspired me in my own creative photography!

What is your favorite item to make and what is your best selling item? I really love making a wonderful range of quilted items. I think doing a broad range of projects is that part I love most! I’d have to say that my best selling items seem to be seasonally dependant. I’m lucky to also sell to over 40 brick and mortar stores now, and in general, I’d say my quilted vintage bibs, my quilted vintage wallets and my custom-designed baby playmats are my most popular items. And for the Holidays, certainly my rikrak felt stockings are my best sellers. It’s an exciting mystery for me what might come next!


I love it!! I absolutely love her fabulous pieces and highly recommend anything that she offers in her shop! Kristal has graciously offered one of her Sustainable Quilty Wallets in an array of fabric choices for one lucky JLC Studio reader to win!


I own one of these and, let me tell ya, they're absolutely gorgeous and the perfect size to hold business cards or that extra change floating around in the bottom of your bag!! The winner will get to choose their fabric from the group of available fabrics in her listing. As always, shipping will be free to winners in North America, international winners will have to pay a small fee...Please check here for contest rules and regulations!

Thank you so much Kristal for your fabulous interview and great give-away prize!! You have been soo nice to get to know!!

Weekly Win It-Awkward-WINNER!!!

Congratulations to the winner in this week's Weekly Win It give-away from our featured shop Awkward!!

JAE

Jae will be receiving a beautiful hand-knit wrist cuff in her choice of color!!

FYI-I entered in the number of entries (less one for Melissa, last week's winner and a double-for some reason) into the Random.Org integer generator.

Thanks again to the lovely Bran from Awkward! Thank you so much for your generous gift and taking the time to tell us more about your shop and your beautiful items!!

Weekly Win It-Awkward!!

Today's fabulous Weekly Win It Etsian is Bran from Awkward! Bran makes amazing knit pieces that I only wish I could create! They are absolutely ethereal and beautiful!

I haven't the patience for anything involving needles, be it embroidery, crochet, needlepoint or knitting. I'm not sure what it is but my mother has tried to foster that interest in me to no avail. Fortunately, there are plenty of artists out there who can work some magic with a needle and Bran happens to be one of them. Her delicate scarves are my favorite and I am in awe at the beautiful hand spun yarn that she offers in her shop (makes me wish I could knit!). Let's meet this great artist and learn a little more about her and her craft!

Where did you learn how to knit? How long have you been creating your beautiful pieces? I taught myself to knit in 2001 or 2002, because I wanted to make my baby sister a Harry Potter scarf. The bad bit about learning from a book was that I learned to do it almost completely backwards, and somehow, for months, I could only knit in the round, with double-pointed needles (that’s the technique used to make things like hats without any seams), because otherwise I would twist every stitch.

After I took up spinning, I had a much wider assortment of wools and silks and exotic fibers to work with, which inspired me to create more elaborate pieces. I’ve never been comfortable knitting from patterns (something I’ve only learned to do recently), but I’m very enchanted with learning new techniques and then using those techniques to create something on a whim, or by memory.

You sell yarn in your shop…do you make this yourself, and, if so, tell us a little bit about the process? All the yarn up in my shop currently is handspun, and made by me. For the most part, I spin from commercial top and roving, which is prepared fiber—washed, sometimes dyed, and combed. Sometimes I make my own blends with handcards, which is intensely time consuming. And even when the wool is commercially blended, it still requires further preparation by hand before it’s ready to spin.

I often make plied yarns, which means that in order to make a 100-yard skein of handspun, I have to spin 200 yards of singles and then put them together—the same 100 yards passes through my hands two or three times before it’s done!

As a final step, I gently soak the yarn in a wash to relax the fibers and set the twist, which leaves the finished yarn fluffy and ready to knit with.



I have to ask, what was the inspiration for your shop name? When I was first learning to spin, I was extremely concerned with the quality of the yarn I made, and very interested in getting yarn that would knit and wear well. I noticed that other spinners who felt that the handspun yarn in knitting shops wasn’t up to their standards would describe it as “young” or “awkward,” and was completely mortified at the possibility of drawing that sort of criticism—so I coped by spending two years refining my skills before offering my own work, and then adopting “awkward” as my business name, so that someone could remark “This is an awkward design” without being disparaging at all, and in fact responding to it positively. Apparently I was hoping to create as much confusion as possible.

What made you decide to start selling your items on Etsy? After refining my craft to the point where I felt comfortable with it, I became smitten with the idea of mitten-funded travel. Etsy seemed like a good place to develop a microbusiness without neglecting the professional aspects of running one—or compromising the nonsense and idealism that motivates it.

As I’ve gone on with Etsy (I’ve only been there for a couple of months) I’ve become really fond of it, and of the community there, and the excitement of all the different shops working together to show each other off—things like treasuries and independent ideas such as your weekly contest.



How long does it take to finish one of your pieces?
Anywhere from about an hour to ages and ages. The scarves I make can take several hours to knit—the handspun ones can take more than 10-12 hours to spin and knit, because I design the yarn that goes into them.

What is your favorite thing to make and why? I like making open lacelike scarves, because they’re such a purely tactile process. Handspun yarn behaves differently from commercial yarn, often having more bounce and energy than comparable millspun yarn, and I like sneaking in any opportunity I can to spin for my own designs just so I have the excuse to knit with fine wools and tussah silk. Aside from scarves, my favorite thing in the whole wide world to knit right now is anything made with ridiculously tiny needles and little stitches.



Wow! So talented!! I just absolutely love the lace like quality of her scarves!!

Okay, Bran has graciously offered one of her beautiful hand knit Single Button Wristcuffs and the winner gets to choose the color!! So cool...these would look fabulous with a funky jacket or even with a short sleeved shirt! I love it!!!



Shipping on your prize will be included if the winner is in the U.S. There will be a small fee if the winner is international. Please check here for contest rules and regulations!!

Bran is also offering $5.00 off handspun yarn (excluding samplers) and scarves to all the JLC Studio readers. Just mention this blog contest in your message-to-seller space!! Don't forget to check out Bran's Etsy shop, Awkward, maybe you'll see something for Mother's Day!! Thank you so much Bran for your lovely interview and offer for this week's give-away!!

Weekly Win It-Rio Oso Designs-WINNER!!!

Sorry! I'm a little bit late with my post for the Weekly Win It winner for the free banner from Rio Oso Designs!!! Busy, busy!! But the lucky winner is:

ELASTIC WAIST BAND LADY!!!!!!!

Congratulations EWBL (I'm gonna call you that!). You will be receiving a totally custom made banner from Angie's shop! I will contact you via email so you can collect your prize...



FYI-I entered in the number of entries (less one for Melissa, last week's winner) into the Random.Org integer generator.

Don't forget to enter this weeks give-away!! Thanks!

Weekly Win It-Rio Oso Designs!

I know I always say I'm super excited about the Weekly Win It featured artist but, I always am!!!! This week is no different, please welcome Angela of Rio Oso Designs! Okay...listen up Etsy artists and business owners, because this shop is a great place to get affordable, custom designed business cards and shop banners!


Angela provides her design services for businesses or individuals looking to add some professional, creative graphics to their website or marketing package. Her fantastic designs include shop and blog banners, business cards, promotional postcards and pretty much anything you need to creatively market your business. She has a great eye for creating well-balanced, creative layouts and seems to be full of endless design ideas. This busy mom also runs another etsy shop called Ambrosia Delights featuring jewelry and clothing items. In her "spare" time, Angie authors three popular blogs, Rio Oso Designs, Ambrosia Delights and The Downtown Boutique. Whew! I'm getting tired just typing all of this...let's find out how this talented artist keeps track of her busy life!

Your banner designs are absolutely amazing! Where did you learn how to create these and how long have you been doing this? Thank you so much! I didn’t even realize I had the capability to do something like this, until I started playing around with my photo editing software…Microsoft Picture It. I’m not a graphic artist…I only put graphic images together that I have purchased the commercial licensing for. I have been doing this since May of 2007.

What made you decide to start selling your design services on Etsy? I figured that I had discovered a niche. With all the shops on Etsy, I figured there would be a need and a desire for my style of banners.


What was the inspiration for your shop name? My husband’s mom calls him “Bear”, and they are Hispanic, so that’s where “Oso” came from. Then, we love to go fishing together as a family, so that’s where “Rio” (or river) came from. It’s kind of who we are.

On top of a great shop, you have another shop “Ambrosia Delights” and at least two very popular blogs…how do you find the time to do it all? I have NO idea!!!! I think my husband is a saint for putting up with it! He actually encourages me strongly in all that I do. But I do tend to neglect some housework, etc. I really need to figure out how to balance better!


Do you sell your items at places other than Etsy? Believe it or not, I sell most of my jewelry to my husband’s family! They love it! I also sell it to friends, and my husband takes it to his work and sells it there…he works with a lot of women. I also sell the burp cloths and greeting cards to friends.

Where do you get inspiration for your banner designs? I pray a LOT! Seriously. I know that God is the one who has blessed me with my creativity, so all the credit must go to Him. Other than that, I just love putting things together and seeing what works. I love pinks and sage greens and polka dots, in case you couldn’t tell. I love the feminine, vintage, swirly looks. I try to work with what’s popular right now, and go from there. A lot of the inspiration comes from my customers themselves.



Amazing! I absolutely love her designs and am so impressed by her humble and gracious attitude!

Okay...now to find out what Angie is offering up from her fabulous shop!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter for a chance to win your very own custom banner for an Etsy shop, blog or website!!!!!



You heard correctly...this fabulous give-away will be for one custom banner that you get to collaborate on with Angie!! Please visit Rio Oso Designs to check out Angie's custom banner listing for an explanation of what is included in the design. Please check here for contest rules and regulations! Thank you so much, Angie, for taking time out of your busy life to chat with us and participate in this weeks' give-away. Your designs are fabulous (and you are too!)!!!!!

Weekly Win It-Pretty Sweet Designs-WINNER!!

And the winner is:

MELISSA LEWIS OF OFF THE WALL!!!!

Congratulations Melissa!! I will be sending you an email with details about claiming your wonderful earrings from Pretty Sweet Designs!


FYI-I entered in the number of entries (less two for one anonymous entry and one entry by Pretty Sweet herself!) into the Random.Org integer generator at precisely 9:00 p.m.

Thanks to everyone who entered (a record breaking 48 entries!!!!) and don't forget to enter this weeks give-away!

Weekly Win It-Pretty Sweet Designs-CLOSED!!

I'm really excited to introduce this weeks Weekly Win It featured artist, Pretty Sweet Designs. Help me to welcome Judith, a fabulous jewelry designer who makes gorgeous beaded jewelry including necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
As a fellow jewelry designer, I'm really impressed by her color combinations and the way she utilizes delicate chain and sparkling beaded charms to create her designs. Judith has a great Etsy shop and is usually running some sort of promotion or deal (way to work it girl!). I'm so excited that she has agreed to answer some questions about her inspirations and let us have a peek into how she creates her one-of-a-kind pieces. Let's get started, shall we!?

How did you get started making jewelry? I have always loved arts and crafts since I was little. I love making and doing things with my hands --- cooking, drawing, painting, cross stitch, embroidery, sewing, etc. I have even tried refurbishing furniture! I can’t knit though. But I love assembling things. My favorite shops are craft stores, hardware stores (yeah it’s odd), and fabric shops.
I have been making jewelry since I was a kid. I used to make those beaded plastic bracelets when I was little. But I really got into it right after college when I started working. I would see pieces at the mall and I knew I could make my own if I just put my mind into it. And that I could make my own designs. I just started making jewelry and gave it away to my coworkers and friends. Then people started asking me to make some pieces for their friends and family. I came across Etsy last year and gave it a shot and started selling my work online.

Do you have any training or have you taken any classes? How did you learn your craft? I’ve never taken any classes or training on jewelry making. All I know about jewelry making is mostly from looking at different types of jewelry and figuring out how to do them. I guess you can say I learn from trial and error. But I have also learned a little from reading. I still consider myself a beginner and there are still a lot to learn.

Pink Charm Necklace

How do you come up with your jewelry designs? Where do you get your inspiration? I get my inspiration from everything around me. It depends on my mood what I come up with. Sometimes when I’m in the middle of doing something, a design will just pop up in my head. Then, I have to look at my beads and supplies and figure out how to make it. Sometimes it takes me 5 minutes to do a piece, sometimes it takes hours!

Where do you do your work? I have a little cluttered corner in our living room where I do my work.

Charm Bracelet (Caramel)

What is your favorite item of jewelry to make? I love making earrings! It’s something I always wear all the time, so I like making them and having lots of variety. Even my shop has lots of earrings listed in it.

Do you wear your own designs, and, have you ever liked something you created so much that you’ve hesitated selling it? I have a few pieces that I really like a lot that are not listed in my shop. I always wear my designs especially when I’m going out or going to a party so I can express and show off my work. I heard once from a chef to not dare serve what you don’t dare taste or eat. So you always have to taste what you’ve cooked first before serving it to other people. I guess the same rule applies with your work whatever type of artist you are. Why sell it to other people if you don’t wear it or like it?

Trio Cube Earrings

Great advice Judith (I love the philosophy you got from that chef-so true!!) It's wonderful to find out a little bit more about a terrific self-taught jewelry designer!

So...here's what Judith is offering one lucky JLC Studio reader in this week's give-away: Yellow Marble Earrings

These are sooo pretty (I wish I was eligible!!!). Just leave a comment on this post to enter for a chance to win this awesome pair of Yellow Marble Earrings! Please check here for contest rules and regulations. (If the winner is in the U.S., there will be free shipping. International winners will have to pay a small shipping fee (per shop profile).)

Pretty Sweet Designs is also offering a special promo for JLC Studio readers...if you place an order between now and April 13th, she will take care of shipping for you (on orders totalling more than $15.00)!! Just mention this blog post in the special notes to seller to take advantage of this offer. Visit the Pretty Sweet Designs Etsy shop to get your shop on, and don't forget to take a look at Judith's wonderful blog as well! Thanks again Judith, you're "Pretty Sweet" (ha ha, couldn't help myself!)!!

Weekly Win It-Kristen's Cosmetics-WINNER

And the winner is:

MISSKNITS!!!!

Congratulations Missknits!! I will be sending you an email with details about claiming your wonderful prize from Kristen's Cosmetics!


FYI-I entered in the number of entries into the Random.Org integer generator at precisely 9:00 p.m.

Thanks to everyone who entered and don't forget to enter this weeks give-away!

Weekly Win It-Kristen's Cosmetics

Don't forget, today is the last day in the Kristen's Cosmetics Weekly Win It give-away. Leave a comment on this post to enter! The contest ends at 9:00 p.m. CST today (Tuesday, April 1st). Be sure to check back tomorrow to find out who the winner is and have a look at the new Weekly Win It featured artist! Oooh, who will it be??

Weekly Win It! Kristen's Cosmetics...

This weeks Weekly Win It Etsy artist is Kristen's Cosmetics. Kristen's shop is filled with fabulous personal care products which include lip balms, luxurious bath products and wonderful fragrances including perfumes and body mists (just to name a few!).


I had the opportunity to interview Kristen about her products and find out where she got the idea to start a cosmetics company. Believe me, this is one smart and talented lady (this stuff probably involves like math and chemistry or something!). I don't even want to guess how she does it so let's let her explain:

Your products are great! What was your inspiration, where did you get the idea to start this business? Thank you! I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was a little girl and have always loved lip balms since a young age, as well! After doing much research and tapping into my savings, I was able to start my business last year. I’ve been having a blast, ever since!

Cotton Candy Silky Shea Soap

Where did you learn how to make these products? Where do you produce them? I used to be a Biological Sciences major before I transferred to Business Marketing/Management so it comes natural to mix lots of things together to make my products! Some products are made from high-quality bases and additional oils, butters, etc. are added for a more customized product. Others, such as my Bubble Bath Bars, Bath Bombs, Bath Salts, Lip Balms, etc are made from scratch. I make everything in really small batches to ensure product freshness and to give my customers the option of customizing their product’s scent! I have done a lot of research for recipes, tested lots of ingredients and played around with ingredients (a lot!) until I develop products that I like. I’m currently working on a high-shine lip gloss tint that is made with really moisturizing organic oils and a really soft lip balm/gloss that you can squeeze out of a tube…it’s a lot of fun!

Until I have the resources to upgrade to a more efficient facility, I am currently producing my products at home, in the kitchen. Great precautions are taken for product quality/safety. Safety measures include latex-free gloves, disposable masks and pipettes, shrink wrapping of final lip products, etc. All of my final products are tested/used by myself, friends and family and are NEVER tested on animals!

How do you come up with the many different scents you carry? I use high quality fragrance and essential oils/essential oil blends to scent my products. I love creating new scents by mixing different notes together! I only carry fragrances that I would personally want to use. Something that everyone should know is that all my fragrances are phthalate free. Phthalates are chemicals commonly used in cosmetics that can cause great irritations and headaches to certain individuals. I can be very sensitive to scents and know that there are others out there who are just like me!

Wisteria Lane-Bath and Shower Meringue

Have you ever created a scent that you absolutely hated? If so, what was it? I once combined several essential oils that I thought would blend fantastically together; I was all excited because I thought I was on to something. Oh, how I was wrong! One sniff and I was completely disgusted. I’ll never forget the look on my mother’s face when I asked her to smell it…totally priceless. She wanted to be supportive, but it was impossible! I was trying to create a scent form my Lavender Rosemary Foot Scrub and it took a while to develop one that I like. I really enjoy the fragrance of the scrub now, but the original one was just plain awful!

Do you use your own products? What is your favorite product? Scent? Of course; that has to be the best part about my business! I always say that if something doesn’t sell or if heaven forbid, sales came to a complete halt tomorrow…it wouldn’t be the end of the world; I’d just have a lifetime’s supply of bath and beauty products! I use every single item that I create and haven’t bought any comparable products since I started making my own. I have tons of my products in different scents floating around the house/car and in my purse at all times!

Choosing a favorite scent and product is a near-impossible task for me. I think I’ll go with my lip balm as being my favorite product, because I’m constantly using it! Lip balm was really the inspiration for me to start my own cosmetics company; I wanted a lip balm that came in a cute tin/labeling and most importantly, worked wonders on my lips! As for scents, it is near impossible for me to choose just one. The scent that I’ve been wearing quite frequently (one of my roll-on perfumes) is “Sweet Sophistication” which is an unbelievable blend that starts with green apple as the main scent and also includes notes of jasmine, lily and peaches!

Sweet Sophistication Roll on Perfume

Do you create your own packaging? Yes and I really enjoy it! Sometimes I get carried away when packaging up items to be shipped, but I just really love tying little bows and coordinating package colors, etc. I really enjoy graphic design and I design and print all my own labels onto high quality vinyl waterproof labels that are extremely durable. It takes a lot of extra time to make my own labels, but at this point it is the best route to go. I can customize everything and change my designs anytime I feel like it!

What is your best selling item? Sales seem to go in trends! When I first started off on Etsy, Bath Salts were the biggest sellers. For a while Lip Balms seemed to be the most popular, and now it seems like everything is selling in even quantities!

Wow, thank you Kristen for letting us get a peek into your world and how you create your line of bath and beauty products!! Now for the moment you've all been waiting for, Kristen is offering one lucky JLC Studio reader a set of Banana Bunches Flip Lip Balm and a 4 oz container of Whipped Body Mousse (winner to choose the scent on the body mousse from scents list).

If the winner is in the U.S. , there will be free shipping. International winners will have to pay a small shipping fee (per shop profile). Kristen is also offering the winner (either U.S. or international) free shipping on any additional items purchased from her shop (to be shipped along with the prize).

Leave a comment on this post to Win It! For more info on the contest rules, please click here!