SmuTopia! Behind-the-Scenes of a Unique Handmade Jewelry Biz

Sneak Peek! New Photos of New Jewelry!

2011-09-27T15:07:00.007-04:00

I managed to take some photos on my lunchbreak today of items to list in my Etsy shop. Let me know what you think of these "rock-collector" rings :)

Smu is Back! Sneak Peek at New Work

2011-08-16T14:58:00.003-04:00

After a long break I am back at the jewelry bench and the computer! I was able to spend some time being creative this weekend while hubby and baby took a nap together :) I am quite pleased with the fruits of my creative labor and plan to list the matching set pictured above in my Etsy shop along with a newly-created copper and chyrosocolla ring.

Sky Blue Treasury Love!

2011-02-11T10:34:00.004-05:00

My latest seaglass pendant has been featured in this gorgeous "Sky Blue" treasury by the amazing Charlotte of BizzieLizzie on Etsy!
Be sure to check out the treasury for a closer look at some gorgeous blue items, as well as Charlotte's shop for artisan crafted bags, totes and accessories :)

Wish List Wednesday

2011-02-02T15:47:00.002-05:00

My husband and I are in the process of decorating the nursery for our baby-to-be, and this amazing Woodland Happy Tree Bookshelf would make an absolutely perfect addition to the nature-theme we are going for in the room. It's significantly out of my price range, but hey, that's what Wish List Wednesday is for ;)

Sneak Peek!

2011-01-31T10:53:00.005-05:00

I finally got a chance to take photos of some recent creations so I can post new listings in my Etsy shop! Here is a sneak peek for my blog readers at three of my favorites from this recent photo shoot before they hit Etsy. Above is a quartz cyrstal pendant made with a stone purchased at the Raleigh Gem & Mineral show. Next is one of my perennial favorites--a fossilized ammonite. This fossil pendant is on a antiqued copper bail and chain which coordinates wonderfully with the rich earthtones of the ammonite fossil.

Finally, an aqua-blue seaglass pendant with a double-bail on a silver plated chain. Let me know what you think of my new work!

Designer's Jewelry Box

2011-01-28T13:41:00.005-05:00

While I rarely set out to make jewelry for myself, occsionally I create pieces that I cannot bear to part with. I thought it would be fun to start sharing photos of my personal collection--let me know what you think! The photo above pictures a fossilized ammonite pendant made from my favorite of the specimens I purchased at the Raleigh Gem & Mineral show at the NC State fairgrounds.

Je Suis Bleu ETT - My Latest Treasury!

2011-01-27T14:11:00.003-05:00

It's been quite awhile since I created an Etsy treasury, so this was overdue :) Check out my latest curated collection of items from EtsyTwitter Team shops: Je Suis Bleu ETT

Deal of the Day is Back!

2011-01-12T14:48:00.004-05:00

Today's Deal of the Day, just $4 for these "Candy-Apple Red Dangles"!

With the holiday rush finally subsiding (and a baby on the way!) I find that my Etsy shop is suffering from a bit of neglect-->translation: no sales in quite awhile. It has always been my experience that the best way to boost traffic is to list new items. While I have lots of new jewelry ready to list, I need to take photos for those listings. Good photos are always the bottleneck for me in the listing process--hopefully I'll find the time this weekend for a photo shoot :)

To drive a little traffic in the meantime I'm re-introducing my favorite promotion: Deal of the Day! For the rest of January I'll be selecting one item daily as my "Deal of the Day" to mark down 50%. Be sure to check Etsy, Facebook or Twitter to see the daily offering!

Treasury Love from the EtsyTwitter Team!

2010-12-29T13:53:00.002-05:00

Hooray for Treasury Love! One of my charms has been included in this Etsy Twitter Team treasury by SewDanish!

Treasury Love from the NCTriangle Team!

2010-12-09T14:52:00.003-05:00

Check out this amazing collection of items: Gifts to Accessorize for a Night Out In Style or In Outlandish from members of the NCTriangle Etsy Team!

Smu's Friday Finds: Shopping Local

2010-11-12T11:00:00.007-05:00

Today's collection of "Friday Finds" are all from artists in my local area in and around Raleigh, North Carolina who are members of the NCTriangle Etsy Team. Be sure to click on the links below to check out the other amazing items in their shops!

flock of birds, LORiOLA lampwork necklaces by loriola

9mm bullet earrings by metamorph

Fruit Loops Soapsicle by karensoaps

NATURE Mini Card Set by whimsypics

Something New from Smu

2010-11-11T15:23:00.003-05:00

Here are a few photos of some new work I hope to list soon on Etsy. The blue cylindrical stones in the necklace are peruvian opal--the aqua hue combined with inclusions of creamy white remind me of a frothing sea :) The silver seahorse charm set on the wearer's right is accented with one of my own handmade lampwork beads of aqua dots on a black background.
This barette will be the first listing in my brand-new accessories section and is adorned with small seashells from a recent trip to the Outer Banks of NC.

Let me know what you think of my latest creations!

Treasury Love! Winter on the Beach

2010-11-10T10:15:00.002-05:00

I was very excited to see my seashell hoop earrings included in this gorgeous beach-themed treasury, titled "Winter on the Beach", curated by mistgrove. Hooray for treasury love!

Wish List Wednesday

2010-10-13T15:40:00.002-04:00

Today's Wish-List Wednesday selections are of two of my recent Etsy favorites with a ocean-theme :) The play set is just adorable (not often that I run across Narwhal toys!) and if you've visited my shop you'll know I'm a sucker for fossils of any kind :) What's on your wish list this Wednesday?

Narwhal and Seal Play Set - Waldorf Wooden Toy- Polar Pals

Surf-Tumbled Fossil Rocks- Drilled

Smu's Friday Finds: Fun with Feathers!

2010-10-08T14:38:00.002-04:00

I've always wanted to incorporate feathers into my jewelry but have yet to do so. Today's friday finds are a tribute to some fantastic feathery finds that have made it into my Etsy favs this week. Enjoy!

RARE Iridescent Hollywood Feather Shoes

Ivory Woods Flower and Feather Fascinator
Fushia and Black Feather Fascinator
FEATHERS AND LEATHERS. The Peacock Hippie Headband.

Wish List Wednesday

2010-10-06T11:10:00.005-04:00

There is no rhyme or reason to today's selection--they are simply things that caught my fancy :) I like to think this little collection says something interesting about my personality...

#1 -- I love Robots. I love beads. How could I not love this?
Robotica by beadygirlbeads

#2 -- Growing up in rural VT I had a great view of the stars--Orion is my favorite!
Reading the Stars hand embroidered by MiniatureRhino
#3 -- Because it's super cute and makes me laugh :)
Nuts Squirrel Tee by CausticThreads

Long Time No Blog

2010-09-30T09:18:00.002-04:00

Hello blog readers! It's been awhile since I've had time to write a new post, but there has been lots going on in the world of Smu :) Since I last blogged I've had two shows--one at the Raleigh fairgrounds (an indoor show, which is quite a luxury for me--see photo of my set-up above) and my mainstay show, the Designers Downtown Market. The DDM was especially fun (and profitable!) this go-round as it was my first show with my new vehicle (a Scion xB) which made packing, transporting, and loading/unloading my goods and displays SO much easier! If you live in the Raleigh area and want to visit me in person, the next DDM is scheduled for Saturday, November 20th. Hope to see you there!

Little Lampworks Sets

2010-08-06T11:12:00.003-04:00

My package from Arrow Springs arrived yesterday so I had some fun new glass colors and tools to try out at the torch last night :) A few of the things I wanted are on back-order and I am also waiting for a few things from Rio Grande, so the fun should keep on coming as the rest of my lampworking supplies arrive. After a night of lampwork and a morning of cleaning bead release from the holes in my newest beads I strung together a few little sets (see the photo above, which I took with my phone just before heading to work this morning). I used frit (crushed glass chunks/powder) for the first time last night--another first in my lampwork repetoire :) The frit I used was large-chunk "egyptian blue" on top of a "bullfrog" green base color resulting in the pair of large spotted beads on the far left of the picture above.

Agony of Anticipation

2010-08-05T15:47:00.002-04:00

Since my last post about lampworking shortly after I received my "starter kit" from Rio Grande and set up my studio, I have whiled away multiple hours behind the torch melting glass, twirling mandrels and pulling stringers. I have just about run out of glass from the assortment of rods included in the kit. There really is a good amount of glass left, but the rods are getting too short to hold in the flame without some sort of tool doing the grasping to prevent singed fingers. Clearly, it was time for me to reinvest some of my Etsy profits and order a few tools and more glass! I am now waiting for two orders to arrive with my lampworking tools and supplies--and the waiting is agonizing. I think I must be hooked ;)

Wish List Wednesday - Beach Beauty

2010-08-04T14:02:00.006-04:00

There are so many great things to look at on Etsy my favorites list has become a bit overwhelming :) It proved impossible to pick just one item for today's "Wish List Wednesday" post---I ended up with a collection of three beach-themed beauties that I would love to make my own. Be sure to follow the links below back to their creator's shops as these are from some of my perennial favs whose items pop up in my favs list again and again!

Sea Urchin Spine Earrings

Hollow Blown Shell Focal by Catalina Glass

upcycled aqua pelican pencil case

GIVEAWAY! Enter to Win These Beachy Earrings from Smutopia

2010-08-03T11:22:00.005-04:00

Enter by 8/16 to win these beachy earrings from SMUTOPIA!

To Enter do any (or all) of the following. Be sure to leave your contact information in your comment so I can contact you if you win!!!:
1. Visit smutopia on Etsy, then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.--one entry
2. Become a follower of this blog and post a comment here (or post a comment letting me know you are already a follower--one entry
3. Follow @smutopiajewelry on Twitter (then come back here and leave a comment here with your twitter name)--one entry
4. Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment here to let me know you've tweeted)--one entry
5. Become a fan of smutopia on Facebook (then come back and leave a comment here)--one entry
6. Post this giveaway on your Blog or Facebook page (leave a comment here with a link to your post/page)--two entries

7. Purchase something from smutopia on Etsy--THREE entries

Smu's Friday Finds: Spiral Galaxy

2010-07-30T10:56:00.003-04:00

Today's Smu's Friday Finds are a collection of items from my recent Etsy favs with the commom design element of spirals. Follow the links below back to the Etsy listings to see other work by these amazing artists!

AL DENTE.... Organic Focal... Handmade Lampwork Sea Beads...BeatleBaby Glassworks

JUST BREATHE hand stamped sterling spiral ring

Impressionist Abstract Spiral, Original Huge painting 48x24 by elseART

Baby Ferns Unfurling - blank photo greeting card

Wish-List Wednesday

2010-07-28T13:50:00.007-04:00

Just wanted to share a few of my recent Etsy favs--these are definately on my personal wish list!

Hand forged mini roses by FreakofMetal

Bird Sings for Tea by jmrpottery

Smu's Friday Finds: Fun with Fractals!

2010-07-23T15:23:00.014-04:00

If you've ever spent time looking at computer-generated fractal art, you've probably noticed the stiking similarities between the computer generated images and patterns found in the natural world. With nature as my primary and abiding inspiration, it's not a wonder that I've been drawn to fractal art since first discovering it in my college days. Since I have recently discovered some amazing Etsy fractal art (of both the natural and computer-generated variety) I have decided to use "Fractal Fun" as this week's theme for my Friday Finds collection. Enjoy!

Floral Manifestation 01 by VoidVisuals

fractal art necklace by ithinklife
Graphic fern ring by ardent1
Rain Forest - abstract fractal art print by DreamTree
Nautilus Pendant by Exaltation
Dark Shell Pocket / Purse Mirror by kellydietrich

Coral (Sea Fan Gorgonian) - Vintage Book Page Art Print by DreameryStudio
Midnight Garden digital art print by ArtisticallySpeaking

Treasury Love: Well That's Just Peachy!

2010-07-19T15:12:00.002-04:00

I've had a ton of treasury love lately, for which I am extremely grateful to all the curators who have chosen to feature my work. I have to say that this one--Well That's Just Peachy--is pretty high on my list of personal favs!

EtsyTwitter Team SOTW---It's SMU!

2010-07-14T20:22:00.003-04:00

I am incredibly excited to announce that this week's EtsyTwitter team Shop-0f-the-Week is (drumroll please....) SMUTOPIA! Go visit the team blog to read the full post and learn a bit more about me and my work :)

Smu's Friday Finds: Pomegranate Passion

2010-07-09T08:20:00.011-04:00

Today's edition of Smu's Friday Finds is all about color--specifically, Pomegranate red! The gorgeous items in today's collection are from some amazing Etsians: Mikiye, Ayca, CausticThreads, HeavenBakedSweets and PLBcrafter

Bridal Hair Flower Accessories Crimson Passion Mini's 2 Piece Set

Ruby Mine shrug
Pink and Green Vintage Sewing Machine tee

Pomegranate Syrup (Half Pint)

Happy Red Bird Amigurumi

Treasury Love!

2010-06-29T16:40:00.003-04:00

I'm honored to have had one of my "ShapeShifter" designs included in this gorgeous ocean-themed Etsy treasury. Check it out!

Far Across the Northern Sea

treasury currated by HoneyFromTheBee

Smu's Friday Finds - Summer Sun

2010-06-25T11:58:00.011-04:00

With the temp reaching 100 nearly every day this week here in North Carolina, "Summer Sun" seemed like an appropriate theme for my comeback edition of Friday Finds! Enjoy these "sunny" handmade items from some amazing Etsy shops: madcandy, HoneyFromTheBee, Jenni20 and beautifulbridget

Tangerine Slice Lucite Necklace from madcandy

Gulf Oil Spill Talisman Pendant with turtle, lampwork and amber - YinYang from HoneyFromTheBee

Folk Art Love Birds Travel Laundry Bag from Jenni20

Dipped in Fringe Fabric Summer Scarf in Yellow from beautifulbridget

Lunchtime Photo Shoot

2010-06-22T14:55:00.007-04:00

It was sunny (and very, VERY hot) at lunchtime today, so I ran home for an impromptu photo shoot :) I've been on a bit of a hiatus from my online activities lately and am ramping up to get things going again. Step #1 of the process is always photos, so I can create new listings and stock up my Etsy shop! (you would think that step #1 would be making jewelry, but I have lots on hand already--good photos are the bottleneck in the process for me...) Let me know what you think of this batch of photos :) I'd love your feedback!

EtsyTwitter Shop of the Week - NovaScotiaBeachGlass

2010-05-31T15:28:00.002-04:00

Etsy Shop: http://www.blogger.com/www.NovaScotiaBeachGlass.etsy.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/seajewelry
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/NovaScotiaBeachGlass
Blog: http://www.novascotiabeachseaglass.blogspot.com/

As a lover of seaglass I'm a huge fan of this week's EtsyTwitter Team Shop-of-the-Week NovaScotiaBeachGlass. This amazing shop includes some pieces in rare colors such as red and lilac, (My own seaglass collection includes mostly green and brown pieces with a few beautiful blues and frosty whites--I am definately envious of the glorious color variety in this shop!)

Not Enough Hours in the Day!

2010-05-13T06:22:00.010-04:00

There are definately not enough hours in the day for me to get everything done that I'd like to--and as a result I am now guilty of blog neglect! I'm back this morning (better late than never) with a SmuTopia status update and lots to talk about :)

The Designers' Downtown Market May show took place last Saturday--we had lovely weather (with just a few problematic gusts of wind) and a good turnout. SmuTopia had a great show, complete with my very first on-site credit card transactions! I signed up for ProPay, which allows you to enter the transactions online through a web form, and processed the transactions right there on my iPhone :)

I've also been spending as much time as I can find at the torch practicing my lampworking skills! I must say that lampworking is highly addictive and I can never find as much time to play with glass as I would like :) The deal I have with my hubby is that I must exercise and water my flowers before lighting up the torch--which has turned out to be great motivation for both running and watering!

The last thing I want to mention is a recent Etsy milestone--SmuTopia just passed 300 sales on Etsy!!!! Hooray! I'm thrilled with my Etsy success since joining in December 2007, and plan to work to continue improving my shop and my skills in the coming years. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in my success, especially my incredibly supportive hubby!

Treasury Love! Teal Passion

2010-05-04T07:35:00.002-04:00

Teal Passion

More treasury love for Smu! My Lovely Leaf necklace is included in this amazing treasury east collection by Monarchdancer!

Lampworking--My New Adventure

2010-04-30T07:15:00.006-04:00

After talking about it for what seems like years, I've finally gotten myself set up to start lampworking (making glass beads) at home! I purchased the HotHead Torch Kit from RioGrande several months ago and after a fantastic 1:1 lesson from Sheri Fiegelson (the mother of a co-worker who happens to be an extremely talented lampworker) I gained the confidence to set up in my garage and give it a try on my own.

Already, I am complely hooked! Melting glass is SO much fun, and although I'm still figuring things out I've already made a few beads that I have deemed worthy to be made into jewelry :)

All things considered I was rather surprised at how easy it was to set up my lampworking bench. In addition to the kit (which comes with the torch, an assortment of glass, mandrels, bead release, a few tools, safety glasses, etc.) I had to purchase a few cans of MAPP gas (available at hardware stores--I got mine at Lowes for about $7.50 per can) and I had to fire-proof my table. I used some mismatched ceramic floor tiles that I had purchased for photo backdrops (also from Lowes). I've read that you can also use cookie sheets--the main goal being to make sure your table/bench has a heat-resistant surface.

Of course, now that I'm hooked I could easily spend a TON of money on the hobby......right now I'm using the fiber blanket that came with the kit to cool my beads, but in the long run purchasing a kiln to anneal my beads will be a must (annealing is the process of slowly cooling the lampworked glass to reduce stress within the glass slowly for greater strength/durability and to reduce the likelihood of cracking). I've already purchased some additional mandrels from a fellow Etsian since the kit only came with 10 (and running out of mandrels when you're on a roll making beads is no fun!) I could go on about this new adventure forever, but need to stop and make dinner so I can get back to melting glass! Anyone who is interested in getting started lampworking feel free to contact me for a beginner's perspective :)

She Sells Sea Shells

2010-04-27T16:04:00.006-04:00

She Sells Sea Shells

The Etsy love just keeps coming! Check out this amazing beachy treasury that features one of my ShapeShifter convertable bracelet/necklace designs!

Feeling the Love!

2010-04-27T11:00:00.005-04:00

SmuTopia Jewelry is feeling the love! My work has been featured on some amazing blogs this week and I have to share my joy :) First up, my Starfish Bauble Pendant has top-row billing in this week's Top Handmade Creations (clickable button above) on the Creations with Heart blog.In addition to this wonderful feature, I've also been included in Sandists post about the recent run of EtsyTwitter Treasuries on the new Treasury EAST. A big THANK
YOU to both Julie and Sandi for including my work in their posts :) Update! I just found my Flowers For Your Finger Ring on IndieSpotting! WooHoo!

Smu's Friday Finds: Coffee Time!

2010-04-23T10:41:00.006-04:00

While pondering my caffeine additiction this morning I decided it was time for another coffee-themed Friday Finds post :) Enjoy these java-related finds from JoannasPhotography, whatnomints, naomievelyn and Boojiboo!

My Coffee with View - 5x7 Fine Art Print

Caffiene Molocule Espresso Felt Ornament

Coffee Burlap Banner

The CHLOE Vintage Inspired Coffee and Doughnuts Apron

Treasury EAST is Open!

2010-04-21T20:32:00.005-04:00

Recently Etsy has opened the new test envrionment "Treasury EAST", and I for one am a huge fan! Aside from the wider layout (4x4 vs the 4x3 of a Treasury Main) and ability to drag to rearrange the items (awesome!) my favorite attribute of Treasury EAST is that it's always open, and the lists never expire! No more treasury stalking necessary when you have a great theme and want to curate a collection! Here are my first two collections on Treasury East:

EtsyTwitter Homage to Nature

A Walk Through Prehistory

EtsyTwitter Shop-of-the-Week: Art by Betty Refour (shop name: brefour)

2010-04-20T14:27:00.002-04:00

Enigma - Art Supporting Autism Awareness

This amazing art is just one of the items for sale at Etsy shop brefour, this week's Etsytwitter Team SOTW! (SOTW = Shop of the Week ;) ). I am very drawn to the bold geometric patterns

and abstract flair of Betty's work--learn more about her on the EtsyTwitter team blog!

Smu's Friday Finds: Prehistoric Premise

2010-04-16T13:54:00.007-04:00

Inspired by my spectacular fossil finds at the recent Raleigh Gem and Mineral Festival (see previous post), this week's Friday Finds post has a "prehistoric" feel :) Being a bit of a science geek (not to mention a college biology major) these finds are near and dear to my heart :) Let me know what you think, and I'd love to see links to other great fossil finds!

Dinosaur Footprint Pendant and Chain

Afican Trilobite Necklace

Stone Age Knife Replica

Rock n Roll Organic - Geode Belt Buckle - Amonite Fossil

Real Fossil Megastrophia

RockHound's Paradise; Raleigh Gem & Mineral Show!

2010-04-13T13:52:00.006-04:00

I was away on business last week (for the day-job) and haven't had much time for my creative side or my usual crafty online activities, so I was absolutely thrilled when my hubby found the ad in our local paper for the Raleigh Gem & Mineral show at the Raleigh fairgrounds! I had a fantastic time at this show when I went a few years ago and found some unique jewelry supplies, most of which have been made into jewelry and sold.

I spent a ton of time picking out fossils and can't wait to get started making new jewelry with the fossilzed ammonites and sand dollars I came home with. My amazingly wonderful and patient hubby dropped me off at the show (all in one large room) and came back after exploring the entire flea market outside at the fairgrounds--I had just made it to the back corner on my way around the outside of the room (about 1/3 of the way around the outside, with three big interior rows and the remaining 2/3 of the outside still to go!!!). Sometimes I can't believe he puts up with me ;)

Smu's Friday Finds--Let's Hit the Beach!

2010-04-02T12:39:00.009-04:00

With tempatures in North Carolina reaching the 80's I'm definately ready for that first summer beach trip! Since I'm not there yet, I thought the next-best thing would be to dedicate this week's Friday Finds to some fanatasticly-beachy Etsy fare!

Starfish Kissing Ball/Pomander

Ocean Floor - Lampwork and Sterling Bracelet

Green Seahorse Textured Trinket Dish

Handmade Shell Necklace

Abstract Sun Rise Original Seascape Painting

Wrapping up the Thing-A-Day Challenge

2010-03-31T21:47:00.004-04:00

Here is the last collection of Thing-a-day creations as the challenge ends today with the closing out of the month of March. I managed to create daily minus two days (I took Saturday and Sunday of this week off as I had family visiting.) I really enjoyed the challenge and hope to continue this creative streak!

Monday's Creation, photographed on a gorgeous konch shell my Mom brought home from vacation :)

Tuesday's Creation
Today/Wednesday's Creation: flowers in planters on my front porch! While this project was very different from my normal jewelry-related Thing-a-day activities, I think it counts :) What do you think?

Thursday & Friday Thing-a-Day Creations

2010-03-27T00:37:00.003-04:00

Friday

Thursday
Just dropping in to post pics of my TAD (thing-a-day) creations for Thursday and Friday of this week. As you can see from the earrings I made on Thursday and from this week's "Smu's Friday Finds" post I've been stuck on the color yellow lately. I must be craving sunshine :)

Smu's YELLOW Friday Finds!

2010-03-26T11:18:00.003-04:00

Yellow is the color of the day! I've sold several yellow items this week and wanted to devote this week's "Friday Finds" to some "Sunny" Etsy items :) I found so many beautiful yellows I had to alter this week's format a bit to fit them all in. Match the pics in the grid above to the links below:

"Charming" TAD Creations

2010-03-24T21:01:00.002-04:00

I was short on time today to use for creative purposes, but I've managed to find a few minutes to keep up with my "Thing-a-Day" commitment and make something new--these adorable orphan bead charms! Now it's off to bed to rest up for another day :)

Thing-a-Day Creations for Monday & Tuesday

2010-03-23T21:04:00.004-04:00

Here are my Thing-a-Day creations for Monday (above) and Tuesday (below). One great thing that has come out of the Thing-a-Day challenge is the variety it has inspired in my crafting lately :) While I am still focused primarily on jewelry I have also reconnected with my love of yarn! I'm now considering selling my crocheted phone/gadget pouches in my brand-new "destash" etsy shop, CraftUtopia!

P.S. I'll be announcing the 'Grand Opening' of my new CraftUtopia shop as soon as I've had time to pump up the inventory :)

Treasury Time! Life Aquatic

2010-03-23T13:41:00.004-04:00

Life Aquatic

Thanks to lucky timing, I just happened to be perusing the Etsy treasuries when they fell below 333 and opened up for new collections. Let me know what you think of my "Life Aquatic" treasury full of sea-themed items from my Etsytwitter Teammates!

Weekend Creations for "Thing-a-Day"

2010-03-22T07:59:00.003-04:00

Want to see what Smu was up to this weekend? Here you go! After doing a bit of digging in my craft room I found the beautiful blue glass "flowers" used in this gorgeous pendant, my Sunday TAD (thing a day) creation.
On Saturday I broke out my crochet hook and finished another phone/gadget pouch adorned with two pink and white glass beads :)

Smu's Friday Finds: Coffee Time with the Etsytwitter Team!

2010-03-20T01:20:00.004-04:00

Coffee is one of my favorite things--I rarely go through a day without at least one cup :) In honor of my caffeine addiction I've selected a collection of Coffee-themed items from the shops of some very talented Etsytwitter team members (items from top to bottm are from AquarianBath, kimwhitecreations, soaprehab, and bbesigns.)

Kitchen Coffee Soap

Cable knit coffee cozy in chocolate brown

Cafe Latte Lip Rehab - vegan lip balm

Cream in my coffee notecard

Happy Friday TAD Creation

2010-03-19T23:36:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday blog readers! I've gone in a different direction with today's TAD (Thing-a-day) creation, crocheting this beautiful blue iPhone/gadget pouch. Once the crocheting was done I added a bead to each end of the drawstring and Voila! Finished :)

Thing a Day for Thursday

2010-03-18T20:23:00.003-04:00

Today's thing a day creation is a bracelet to match the "There's a Parrot on My Shoulder" necklace I made earlier this month. The full set (including earrings) will be on display at the Art of Fashion event in downtown Raleigh, NC on Monday night!

Thing a Day Creation for Wednesday

2010-03-17T20:59:00.003-04:00

Today's thing a day creation is green in honor of St. Patrick's day! Keeping this post VERY short as I need to head to bed ;)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Greens from the NCTriangle Team

2010-03-17T13:27:00.004-04:00

Since I never got around to posting Friday Finds last week, here is a bonus mid-week "Finds" post of green items from the NCTriangle Team!

four canary napkins - olive

Waterfall notecards - set of 4
Evergreen - AA peridot on oxidized sterling silver

iPhone or cell phone sleeve

Charm GIVEAWAY! Enter to Win:

2010-03-17T09:52:00.003-04:00

It's a Giveaway! Enter by 3/31/2010 per the instructions below to win this cute little zipper pull charm from SmuTopia Jewelry!

To Enter do any (or all) of the following:
1. Visit SmuTopia on Etsy, then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.--one entry
2. Become a follower of this blog and post a comment here (or post a comment letting me know you are already a follower--one entry
3. Follow SmuTopia on Twitter (then come back here and leave a comment here with your twitter name)--one entry
4. Tweet this giveaway (leave a comment here to let me know you've tweeted--you get TWO entries for tweeting!)--two entries
5. Become a fan of SmuTopia on Facebook (then come back and leave a comment here)--one entry
6. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (leave a comment here with a link to your post to get TWO entries)--two entries

Tuesday's Thing a Day Creation

2010-03-16T22:30:00.002-04:00

Today's thing-a-day creation is a brass chain bracelet with a polymer clay "goddess bead" in a lentil shap with rich texture on both sides. The bead was created by JKDJewelry.

Thing-a-Day Creation for Monday

2010-03-15T21:39:00.004-04:00

Today's Thing a Day creation is this sea-inspired necklace featurikng a slice of creamy pink seashell paired with antiqued brass chain and findings. The focal shell was purchased on my vacation to the Outer Banks of NC last summer :)

Smu's Busy Weekend

2010-03-14T11:15:00.006-04:00

This weekend has been packed with crafty fun for me! I had a very sucessful day at the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh--for those of you in the area who missed the show there are four more DDM shows this year with the next one scheduled for May 8th.

After packing up following the show, driving home and unloading my displays I still had the creative motivation to make a TAD (thing a day) creation for Saturday, the copper hoop pendant necklace pictured above. I've had the large blue and white howlite bead used as the design's focal point for some time, and suddenly realized that the rick brown pattern on the stone matched the lightly antiqued copper findings perfectly :)

Today's TAD (thing a day) creation is a new "Flowers for your Finger" bouquet ring featuring olive green czech glass flowers flecked with gold on a brass adjustable band. All things considered, it has been a busy but productive weekend for Smu :)

TAD (Thing a Day) Creation & Friday Craziness

2010-03-12T22:50:00.004-05:00

It's been a crazy Friday getting ready for tomorrow's show (my first of the year) but now that the car is packed I'm playing around with some new creations. The brass and mother of pearl necklace pictured here is today's TAD (thing a day) creation and will be on sale tomorrow at the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh.

TAD (Thing a Day) Log for Thursday

2010-03-11T21:11:00.002-05:00

Today's TAD (Thing a Day) creation was designed around the one large faceted citrine rondelle left over from the cutom order necklace I made earlier this week and will be one of the last items I'll make before my first craft show of the season, this Saturday's Designers' Downtown Market in Raleigh, NC. I will, of course, make at least one more item for tomorrow's TAD :)

TAD (Thing a Day) for Wednesday: The Cranberry Snitch

2010-03-10T14:31:00.004-05:00

Today's creation happened in on those "Ah-Ha!" moments where I glanced down at my materials and suddenly and the images in my head re-combined into an image of the finished product (this is the best way I can descibe those rare moments when I am struck by a bolt of inspiration). I was so happy with how it turned out (and the pics I snapped when the sun came out) that I've already completed listing it on Etsy, in what is assuredly a record turn-around for me from creation to listing :)

TAD (Thing a Day) for Tuesday - the Cranes are back!

2010-03-09T20:30:00.003-05:00

For today's TAD (Thing a Day) creation I decided it was high time to re-introduce oragami jewelry to the SmuTopia lineup :) These little cranes were made from japanese rice paper and measure just under 2 inches from wingtip to wingtip. This pair of coordinating cranes dangle gracefully from a dainty brass chain and brass earwires. As always, I'd love your feedback!

TAD (Thing a Day) for Monday 3/8 - Jellyfish?

2010-03-08T21:24:00.004-05:00

Today as part of the TAD (Thing a Day) challenge I've crafted a pair of brass and stone earrings that coordinate with Saturday's "There's a Parrot on my Shoulder" necklace. They remind me a little of jellyfish.....one of my software-developer-type co-workers suggested a similar pair of earrings also looks like the imperial interstellar probe from the original Star Wars movies :) What do you think?

TAD (Thing a Day) for Sunday--Finishing old projects!

2010-03-07T21:13:00.004-05:00

Today's TAD (Thing a Day) creation is a project that has been sitting half-finished on my ottoman for weeks (there are lots more half-finished creations hiding in my craft room) that I finally picked up to finish while watching spring training baseball today :) First--I don't have the crocheting stamina I used to (had to take a break part way through to rest my hand!). Second--WOOHOO, baseball is back!

Special thanks to my friend Holly for modeling :)

TAD (Thing a Day) Creation for Saturday!

2010-03-06T19:36:00.004-05:00

There's a parrot on my shoulder!

I've had the idea for this for quite some time (as well as the materials) and finally sat down to finalize the design late last night. Since I made the necklace after midnight I'm counting it as today's TAD (thing a day) creation :)

TAD (Thing-a-Day) Log for Friday 3/5/2010

2010-03-05T15:43:00.005-05:00

So today's TAD (Thing-a-Day) project was FAR more ambitious than yesterday's :) I've completed a custom order designed around a specific outfit for an online customer--we had previously agreed on the materials (mainly citrine stones, honey-colored czech glass, and obsidian with a gold shimmer/flash in combination with antiqued brass chain and findings) an d I have just sent pictures of the finished necklace to the customer for feedback. Hope she likes it!

Smu's Friday Finds from the NCTriangle Team!

2010-03-05T14:02:00.005-05:00

This week's Friday Finds are all from shops on the NCTriangle Etsy Team! It never ceases to amaze me how much talent there is in the Triangle area--I'm closing in on three years in the area and I have truly thrived here as an artist and a person :) This week's finds come from these amazing local (to me) shops: Jazzturtle from Mebane NC, shamsandcoverups from Raleigh NC, knotworkshop from Apex NC, polkadotelephant from Cary NC, and karenssoaps from Raleigh NC.

Santa Fe Skies Handspun Corespun Art Yarn

Big Bunny Pillow

Apple Cozy

Lily in Red and Aqua

Lavender Knitters Soap

Taking the "Thing a Day" Challenge

2010-03-04T13:15:00.009-05:00

Inpsired by my EtsyTwitter Teammate Amanda of GeekDetails, I've decided to take up the "Thing a Day" challenge and commit to creating something on a daily basis (and posting the results!) Today I've started small--I ran home on my lunchbreak and made this cute little zipper pull charm. Let me know what you think!

Smu's Friday Finds: Of the Ocean

2010-02-26T12:26:00.010-05:00

Hooray, my Friday Finds are actually getting posted on Friday this week! ;) I'm going back to my perennial favorite theme: the sea! Even though the summer seems a long way off, it's never to early to start dreaming of the beach!

Crustacean cocktail ring by pipertree

Lampwork Sea Star Focal from stephaniebeads

Coelacanth Purse by mousch

Sea Urchin Collection - Special Pink Flower Necklace by staroftheeast

Treasury Stalker! Birds of a Feather.....

2010-02-25T12:22:00.004-05:00

My Treasury! EtsyTwitter Team Flocks Together

It isn't often that I have the time to stalk the Etsy treasury and snag a spot when it falls below 333, but last night all of the stars aligned and I was able to create this collection of avian items from the Etsytwitter Team! Please visit, comment and click away!

1000 Etsy Hearts = Time for a SALE!!!

2010-02-23T12:14:00.003-05:00

SmuTopia has recently reached the milestone of 1000 shop hearts on Etsy and I thought to myself, what better way to show my appreciation for all that love than a sale!?! So, I've updated all of my items for FREE SHIPPING to all destinations :) The free shipping rate will remain in place through the end of February. Thanks for all the Etsy love!!!!!

Removing Obstables in the Creative Process

2010-02-22T11:44:00.005-05:00

For me the creative process is spontaneous (and often messy). Since moving in our first house in November I've found that I'm spending a lot less time making jewelry. There are many reasons for this, first and foremost being that we have a house to take care of now :) However, after realizing that my overwhelming urge is to be in the same room as my hubby (hence our choice of a house with an open floor plan downstairs) and accounting for the fact that my craft room is upstairs (where we spend very little waking time), I decided to remove one barrier to my creative process by setting up a small workstation in my dining room along the half-wall looking into the living room area.

Now my tools and supplies are within reach when the urge to make jewelry strikes :)I've already made a bunch of new charms and a fantastic new necklace I hope to have pics of soon.

PunkyJane - EtsyTwitter Team Shop of the Week

2010-02-18T13:37:00.002-05:00

If you look back through my old "Friday Finds" posts, you'll realize that I LOVE the work of this week's EtsyTwitter Team SOTW (shop of the week), PunkyJane! I find it very amusing that this post falls right on top of a post I started out with her "Rock Star" pendant :) Be sure to check out the full SOTW post on the EtsyTwitter team blog, and check out PunkyJane's sites: Etsy, Twitter, & Facebook

Starry-Eyed Surprise Saturday Finds

2010-02-13T22:56:00.010-05:00

Time has gotten away from me--it's Saturday night and I'm just posting my weekly Etsy finds! Enjoy these star-themed handmade finds and check out the other items these talented Etsians have to offer!

PunkyJane: ROCK STAR hand stamped sterling necklace

ChristinaColwell: Star Catcher 8 x 10 Print

earthfirestudios: The Phoenix - Large Atlas of the Stars Locket Necklace

palepink: You are my star handmade bicycle inner tube notebook

nonfictiontees: Celestial Constellation Tshirt Astrology Star Map

dizzlePOP: The SQUEEZE - Night Sky - fabric coffee cozy

forbiddenfruit: Black Moon and Stars Pomegranate Soap

Messy Jessie Invades a New Space

2010-02-11T09:46:00.003-05:00

Since moving into our new house in November, I have made very little progress in setting up my new craft room. What can I say, I've always been more motivated on the creative side of craft room activities--less so on the organizational side :)

With my first craft show of the 2010 season rapidly approaching (March 13th I'll be at the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh, NC) it is definately crunch time to set things up in my new space so I can follow my normal routine and do a trial set-up to make sure my displays are ready to go before show day.

At least at this point (almost) everything is unpacked, and my jewelry for sale is either happily stored in my favorite piece of craft room furniture (a lovely jewelry armoire my hubby got me as a gift) or the lovely necklace roll my Mom made me for Christmas (see previous post about this to see photos!) Thank goodness some of the organizing I did before the big move (see the labeled plastic shoeboxes on the shelf in the second photo) have helped me find things amidst the mess in the interim before I get everything else put away!

Smu's Friday Finds: Heart of Etsytwitter

2010-02-05T14:35:00.003-05:00

Today's heart-themed Friday Finds are all made by members of the amazingly talented Etsy Twitter Team! Be sure to click on the links to these items and check out the rest of the items for sale by this fantastic group!

Handmade Gift Tags - Hearts Aplenty by caelum

Solid milk chocolate heart lollipops by VintageConfections

In My Heart Valentine Art - Red Cross Haiti by brefour

Colored Heart Pendant Necklace by BellaTuJewelry

Crochet Valentine Heart Necklace Lariat by Jusshar

Treasury Love from NCTriangle

2010-02-01T13:53:00.003-05:00

Treasury Love!

Special Saturday Finds: Let it Snow!

2010-01-30T12:47:00.005-05:00

It's snowing here! Considering that I live in North Carolina, this is a rare occurance :) To commemorate the occasion I've picked a bonus round of Smu's Finds this week. Let it Snow!

Chicadee in Snow

Ceramic Tile Snowflakes

December 22nd Original Oil Painting

Winter Crystal Snowflake Pendant

January Signed Fine Art Photograph

Silk Scarf with Handpainted Snowflakes

Smu's Friday Finds: Don't Make Me Sick!

2010-01-29T10:57:00.004-05:00

Not feeling well? Know someone who is under-the-weather? Check out these "sick" handmade finds and get well soon!

Happy Pill Soap from LoveLeeSoaps

Get Well Card from caeulm

You may be sick but you look marvelous card from funknugget

Breathe Easy Balm from spirithorseherbals

Don't Get Me Sick Card from hawkdesigns

Smu's Friday Finds: Lotus

2010-01-22T07:41:00.010-05:00

Inspired by some beads I just purchased (check back for pics of those later) I've chosen lotus flower inspired items for today's friday finds. Be sure to click through to these fantastic Etsy shops to see what else these amazing artists have to offer!

Lotus Stackables from lizcowee

Lotus Flower Tealight Candle Holder from stephanieburciaga

Black Lotus Tshirt from purushapeople

Modern Wristlet from Upstyle

Silk Ribbon Charm Wrap from emintaos

Treasury Love from the NCTriangle Team!

2010-01-19T07:12:00.005-05:00

Would You Like to Swing on a Star

I was lucky to be included in the gorgeous star-themed treasury pictured above. It features artists of the NCTriangle team (my local Etsy street team)! Be sure to follow the link and click through to all of these amazing Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area shops!

BNR = Buy 'n Replace

2010-01-12T07:33:00.003-05:00

If you've never seen a "BNR" treasury on Etsy, it stands for "Buy 'n Replace". When you make a purchase from a featured shop, the curator will remove the shop you purchased from and replace it with your shop :) Since I'm always looking for supplies and like to support the Etsy community I often can't resist buying into one of these BNR treasuries :) I just purchased some fantastic and unique vintage beads from BumbershootSupplies through the BNR treasury pictured below.

Smu's Friday Finds: Denim from the EtsyTwitter Team!

2010-01-08T07:49:00.010-05:00

Denim Blue Porcelain Pair of Mugs from AquarianPotteryWorks

Pencil Roll - Makeup Brush Organizer - Denim Flowers from Bellflower Textiles

Imagine Stoneware Necklace Pendant from BeautifulBridget

The Extraordinary Lace Scarflette in Denim Blue from Yarncoture

Vintage Blues Cut Glass Checkerboard Cut Jewel Ring from FirebirdHouse
Hippie Denim Flax Neck Wrap from AquarianBath

Wish List Wednesday: Lady of the Woods

2010-01-06T13:28:00.002-05:00

This lovely lacy "Lady of the Woods" bag from HeyLadyHandbags on Etsy is the latest in my ongoing obsession with funky/unique handmade purses and bags. I've made a deal with myself that I can have it if it's still available whenever I make my next sale from SmuTopia :)

Handmade by Mom :)

2010-01-04T07:46:00.009-05:00

Like the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree :) My Mom is also a crafty lady, and used her talents to make me a fantastic handmade Christmas gift--a jewelry seller's necklace roll!

The heavy dark brown fabric is printed with a leafy teal pattern and features a brown ribbon to secure the necklaces at the clasp opposite a row of pockets to protect focal stones/beads and anchor the necklace in its space.

Once the necklaces are secure I can just roll up the holder and each necklace will be nestled against the fabric :)

Once rolled up completely and secure the two sets of attatched ties in a bow the entire roll can be tossed in my (rather large) for a quick getaway!

Thanks again Mom for such a great handmade gift! I love it!

Sneak Peek - New Work!

2009-12-31T08:17:00.005-05:00

At long last I have photos of new work to share! I'll be listing these items in SmuTopia's Etsy shop soon, but wanted to share a sneak peek of some of my favorite photos from this round :)

Holidays = Hiatus from my Virtual-Life

2009-12-27T16:42:00.003-05:00

I didn't really plan it, but I seem to have taken a hiatus from my virtual-life during this holiday season :) With all of the hustle and bustle of the season, a trip to Vermont for my family's celebration, and a new house to decorate (not to mention lots of unpacking and set-up still waiting) there was no shortage of other activities to keep me busy. My normal online activities took a back seat for most of December and not surprisingly, my Etsy sales have dropped off a bit. Such is life :) Hopefully my Etsy/blog/facebook/twitter neglect will be forgiven by my wonderful customers/readers/fans/followers as I get back into the swing of things for 2010!

During my break from online activities there have been lots of exciting Smutopia Jewelry-related developments that I am looking forward to sharing. First, I got my first torch for Christmas from my wonderful hubby! I'm not allowed to use it until I get safety gear, and I will need some additional tools and supplies before getting started melting things, but I'm extremely excited!!! Second, my fantastic Mom made me a gorgeous necklace-organizer that I'll be using to carry my wares to shows and shops :) I will have photos of each posted here very soon.

Smu's Friday Finds--Gifts for the Science-Lover!

2009-12-11T09:26:00.012-05:00

Do you have any science geeks on your holiday shopping list? If so, look below for some excellent handmade science-themed "geek-chic" gifts! As a college biology major currently working as an admin for a technology company I'm something of a closet science-geek myself (in fact, I'd be thrilled to receive any of these items as a gift, and had a ton of fun picking them out!) Enjoy!

Tree of Life Species Phylum Vintage Science Diagram Illustration Graphic T-shirt from isotope

Mini Vintage Chic Paper Starfinders from FunktapusDesigns

Sea Horse Necklace - Copper Electroformed from ShannonAmidon

Old School Microscope Science Geek T-Shirt from happyfamily

Wall Stencil Prehistoric Fern Fossils from CuttingEdgeStencils

The Christmas Ceolocanth Ornament from noadi

Wist List Wednesday!

2009-12-09T16:59:00.003-05:00

After learning about electroforming in a magazine this week I had to see what my fellow Etsians were creating with this amazing technique. I found some amazing items, including this electroformed seashell from a new favorite shop, ShannonAmidon.

Smu's Friday Finds........For Your Fingers!

2009-12-04T15:22:00.003-05:00

Today's Friday Finds are all for your fingers! These stunning rings are all from my personal favs with their design rooted in organic/natural elements :)

Custom Comet Tail Ring - Amethyst Crystal Specimen in Sterling Silver

Sea Treasure Collection - Shell and Pearl Rose Ring

Ode to Royalty - Organic Violet Amethyst Ring

Cyber-Monday! Awesome Sales on 11/30!

2009-11-30T10:32:00.017-05:00

The handmade community is in a Cyber-Monday Sale frenzy! There are a ton of great sales going on today in some of my favorite Etsy shops (including my own!) SmuTopia on Etsy is offering FREE International Shipping on everything in stock! I will be adding more shops/sales to this list all day--please post a comment if you are having a sale and I'll be happy to add you to the list!

Cyber-Monday Sales!

FREE SHIPPING:

SmuTopia (worldwide)

travels (worldwide)

majortommy (worldwide)

Discounts:

sparkleandmetal 25% Off

shoredebris 20% Off

thyme2dream 20% Off

ChicyCreations 15% Off beanies, 10% Off tutus

Sale Sections:

BargainBoutique Sale Section - 50% Off Selected Items

ChicyCreations $2 Sale Section

GeekDetails BOGO on Pinback Buttons

Stocking Stuffer Sale at SmuTopia on Etsy!

2009-11-24T09:43:00.003-05:00

Looking for stocking stuffers? Check out this special one-day sale in my Etsy shop! All beaded charms have been marked down to $1.50! These charms are great for zipper pulls, purses, or even as simple pendants and make great small gifts for the girl who has everything :)

Smu's Friday Finds: Stocking Stuffers!

2009-11-20T10:19:00.007-05:00

Everyone is looking for deals this Holiday season, and with great Etsy finds like these you can save money AND buy handmade!

Bird Bookmark French Dots by Misseskwittys --$6.50

Twitter Addict 1 inch button by thepinksamurai -- $1.00

Sugar Cookie Triple Scented Candle by Dave's Homemade -- $8.95

1oz. Chamomile Sage Body Oil by greenBubble -- $2.75

Smu's Friday Finds for Travel!

2009-11-13T15:46:00.008-05:00

I find myself sitting in the airport waiting for flights that will take me to New Hampshire for my annual Christmas shopping trip with my Mom and sisters. Seems like a perfect time to blog about some travel-themed Etsy finds! These items are from the following fantastic shops: BrightWall, happygolicky, madebymoe, and bowtago.

Vintage Luggage Set with Hand Painted Artwork

ESCAPE or EXPLORE, Personalized Custom Ring in RECYCLED Eco Friendly Fine Silver
Original Bowtago - Woodland Owls- Fabric Hair Bow Holder - Portable and Washable

Never lost Compass Necklace

Wish List Wednesday!

2009-11-11T13:42:00.004-05:00

UPCYCLED Caramel Brown VINTAGE Messenger with Deer with Antlers by TASTYSUITE

I love the caramel color of this vintage samsonite bag, but it's the deer silohuette that seals the deal :) It's a perfect blend of handmade and vintage and is just one of many amazing items from GetReadySetGO. And yes, I've been on a bit of a kick lately with deer-themed items :)

Big News: Happy Homeowners!!!

2009-11-09T10:33:00.004-05:00

As some of my regular readers may have noticed my blog has suffered a bit of neglect in the past week or so as my hubby and I have had a big purchase in the works: our first house! We closed Thursday of last week and are now the proud owners of this brand new "farmhouse-style" home :) Although the colors were selected before we signed the contract, I am very pleased that the light yellow "heritage cream" siding and black shutters are a perfect match with the colors of the century-old Vermont farmhouse where I spent my youth (and where my parents still live)!

We rented a truck on Saturday and have moved most of our belongings across town from the apartment to the new house, but still have a few more loads of random items to move (how did I get so much stuff?!?) and a TON of cleaning to do at the old place. While that won't be much fun, I am truly enjoying unpacking and putting things away in the new house :) I'm also ridiculously happy to have a mailbox--it's such a simple thing, but so nice after 8 years of apartment living!

I'll be posting more pictures and updates as we continue to settle in, and I have a chance to plan and set up my new studio!!! Stay tuned :)

Smu's Friday Finds: Oh Deer!

2009-10-30T07:43:00.003-04:00

Take a look at today's friday finds from MADART, regansbrain, DecorDesigns and luxedeluxe!

Original MADART Painting ABSTRACT Fine ART Modern - 2 Foot - DEER - PRIDE

Curry and Plaid Buckhead Pillow

3 Deer Heads Wall Decal FREE SHIPPING

Antique Antlers. Long Necklace - SALE

Wish List Wednesday!

2009-10-28T16:47:00.004-04:00

Robot Love Vinyl Laptop Messenger

I found this fantastic robot bag in one of my long-time-favorite Etsy shops, Sugarlust! I can just picture myself on the way to work with my laptop stowed in this "geek chic" tote :)

Smu's Friday Finds: Home Decor in Green!

2009-10-23T15:11:00.006-04:00

Our new house will be finished next week (Hooray!) and despite the fact that there are a million things to be done before we get to decorating, I couldn't resist adding some handmade home decor to my Etsy favs :) Round 1 of today's Home Decor Friday Finds--Green items from urbandesign, SimpleSweetDesign and LeenTheGraphicsQueen !

Dragon Tail - 8x8 Fine Art Print

Letter N Custom Moss Hanging Wreath Initial

Beautiful Wispy Wild Grasses Wall Decal

Wish List Wednesday!

2009-10-21T10:58:00.002-04:00

UFO Forest Digital Art Print

While looking through my list of Etsy favorites this morning I re-discovered this hilarious digital art print from SepiaLepus and felt compelled to share this wonderfully humorous critter-themed art :) Be sure to check out the other fantastic critter-themed art in her shop!