Kellibeans Hat Giveaway!

If you haven't entered our Bluegrass Etsy contest for the month of February, you will want to enter now! This month's giveaway is our biggest yet - valued at $30. Team member Kellibeans is giving away a crocheted hat and an art card (of your choice) from her etsy and artfire shops. Be sure to visit our Kentucky Handmade blog for the details. The prize will be awarded on Feb 28. Remember, you can't win if you don't enter!

Bracelet from WhimsyBeading

I am the very proud owner of this shiny metallic multi-colored bracelet created just for me by my team members and friends Kelly & Joey Graves of Whimsy Beading. Each time I am around them, they are nonstop, constantly creating new things while at the same time socialing with those around them. They certainly know how to be productive and get more time out of their day!

I fell in love with this bracelet and had to have it! I picked out the button after seeing the beads in September and Joey was able to attach it and custom fit it to my wrist at our last team meeting.

Isn't it lovely and unique?

Check out their beadweaving jewelry creations at the WhimsyBeading etsy shop.

Bluegrass Etsy Fall Team Meet & Greet

Here are a few photos from the Bluegrass Etsy Fall Meet and Greet held on Saturday, September 26. I love these meetings as it is great to speak face to face with people you know online. It's always fun to see what others are making and do a little bartering. And these are great team building activities.


With the past two meetings we've had, we end with a promo swap. Basically you bring a small item that reflects your shop or your craft and swap with others. We also swap business cards and include those in promo bags with our orders. We know from experience that these promo bags work!


Time seems to fly by when we get together. We allotted five hours for the meeting and we still didn't have enough time to socialize and talk business as much as we wanted to!

Joey & Kelly Graves of Whimsy Beading are always so productive when we see them! Wait till you see the bracelet they stitched up for me. (coming soon!)

Team members: Paulena of Polly's Pavilion, Angela of Spool of Plenty and Libby of Maylees Garden (our fearless team leader)

New team members Sherry and LeighAnn from SewFriendzy meet existing team members Toni Johnson with Vernon Ave and Carolyn Campbell of Cowgirl Rosie.
Tina Mackin of SmackinArt and Paulena.

To see more pics of the team in action, visit our Kentucky Handmade team blog.

Happy Week - RAKS & Surprises!

I love surprises in the mail and I also love surprising my friends and family with handmade gifts. Creativity is such a wonderful gift we can share with others!

Last month I was collecting funds from our team members that are participating in a local craft fair in September. I received a check from Kelly Graves of WhimsyBeading. Included in the envelope with her check and business cards, was this lovely beaded wish bag. I about fell over from excitement! I was familiar with the wish bags from their etsy site but I had not seen one in person and certainly not one with a fleur de lis in my theme colors! I have shown this off to everyone as it's so unique.


I recently participated in a Pay it Forward type project on Facebook. We simply posted that we would make something during the year for the first five people that signed up. They in turn, would agree to do the same for others, to pay it forward. After doing this, Elayne with ChezChani surprised me with this lovely resin pendant of my logo! How cool is that?? I have it on a purple ribbon and wear it with pride. Elayne's logo is a sunflower and she created one for herself to wear at shows. What a great way to promote your brand!


Our etsy team leader, Libby Goldsmith of Maylees Garden knows I am a big lover of floral scents, especially lilac. She was able to get some lilac oil for me and turn it into a roll-on perfume oil. It's wonderful! Not only because I love the scent, but because she surprised me with it.


So use your creative talent to create a special something for a special someone. Or make little mini art items and leave them at public places for people to find. Stick them in library books, leave them at a bus stop, a nursing home, or in a hospital waiting room. You never know how your creative spirit might lift some one's mood and change their day!

Spread the word about Happy Week and keep the happy spirit alive! For other musings about Happy Week, visit CuriousGirl-Lisa. Her blog has a listing of everyone participating this week!

July Team Giveaway from Momosbows

Our giveaway for the steamy hot month of July is brought to us by Stephanie Key of Momosbows. And very appropriately, her giveaway is flip flops!

One pair of Polka Dot Princess Flip Flops (in pink or white) and a matching bow!


Description:
This style of Princess flip flops are available in pink or white. The sides are braided with pink, green, and white ribbon for that special look. Complete with green and pink polka dots and a tiara, this pair is a great gift for:

-Birthdays
-Flower girls
-Birthday favors
-A Pageant Contestant
-Or any day for that special girl

All of my bows are secured with elastic cord and the ends are heat sealed. There are no pokey wires to worry about here! The tiara is nestled between two bows to ensure that it sits up far enough away from little toes. These are new, quality made, Cariris flip-flops (no cheapos) that retail without the bows for $8-$15.
These are available in the following kids' sizes:
11/12
13
1/2
3/4
and Toddler sizes with a backstrap:
7/8
9/10

They are valued at: $18.00 with the matching bow valued at $7.00

How Do I Enter?

Go to our Ky Teambluegrass blog for the details. It's easy to enter and we'll draw a new winner on July 31.

Good luck!

Oh oh oh, the Sweetest Thing

I just received the cutest little burp cloth you ever saw!! No, it's not for me. Two of my friends are expecting babies this year!

This darling piece was created by Sara Andrus of the Savvy Stitcher. She is a talented Kentucky artist/crafter on our Bluegrass etsy team. Check out Sara's shop! She has other designs for boys too, and some cool fabric wraps for your coffee cup.


The expectant mom card was created by Shauna Rogers of Lemon Drop Studio. Shauna is from Oregon and I met her through twitter, proof that twitter can get you sales! Check out Shauna's shop for cute cards and tags.

Celebrating Life Through Art - Pics from the Show

Here are some photos from the 2nd annual Celebrating Life Through Art event held on June 6 at the Masonic Home in Shelbyville, KY. There were approximately 30 vendors, six of which were Bluegrass etsy team members. And we managed to recruit some new team members while we were there!

The sun was shining, there was a nice crowd, and Donna Williams, the show organizer is delightful to work with! In addition, there was live music, dancers, and wine tasting from Talon Winery. The very best part was getting to socialize with other Bluegrass etsy team members!

 

Special thanks to Jessica of the Pink Needle for teaching me how to use Picasa to make this cool collage! You should be able to click on the photos to see them on a larger scale.

To view art and crafts from the Kentucky Bluegrass etsy team, search for teambluegrass at etsy!

Etsy Yart Sale!!

Q. What is a Yart Sale?
A. An Artistic Slant to a traditional Yard Sale: Yard + Art = YART

I will be participating in the etsy wide Yart Sale sponsored by Team ESST.

Come visit my Creative Eye etsy shop for some very affordable jewelry.
Free shipping is being offered in my shop from June 10-14!

You can search throughout esty for other Yart Sale items while you're there. Just type in "Yart" in the search box.

Check it out! Just don't show up on my driveway at 5 am, okay?

I'm Like a Bird - Our May Team Giveaway

Perfect for spring and summer days! Check out this Bluegrass etsy team giveaway for the month of May, valued at $25.

I'm Like a Bird - take me in flight or just to the market. This mini pouch, makeup bag or wallet is so filled with charm. Cotton inside and out with hand embroidered edging, and a handmade adornment with embroidery, ribbon, felted wool, shells, and beading for extra personality. The closure is a magnetic snap.

Created by Toni Johnson of Vernon Ave. Check out her etsy shop for more colorful purses!

To enter the drawing, visit our BEST team blog for the details. Good luck!!

April Bluegrass Team Giveaway!

This month's Bluegrass team giveaway comes to us from Sara at The Savvy Stitcher.


Reduce. Reuse. Recycle!

Attention coffee lovers: Help save the planet by using this cute fabric coffee cozy every time you get your to-go coffee!

This fabric coffee cozy will keep your hands cool while drinking your favorite hot beverage.

Each cozy is approximately 3 inches (7.62 cm) wide and will fit most to-go coffee cups. The elastic band keeps it snug and secure around your coffee cup, while allowing it to be adjustable to fit different cup sizes. (Pictured on a 16 oz cup)

Fun, designer fabric is used outside, and I have lined the center with cotton batting for extra comfort and thickness! A fun and funky button is used on each of the adjustable cozies to keep them closed. The others simply slip on the bottom of the cup, but still fit most coffee cups.

Rolls up nicely to keep in your purse or car!

Fully washable. Lay flat to dry.

*See my shop for more choices of color and pattern!*


To enter the April drawing, please visit our Ky Bluegrass team blog!

March Team Giveaway - Bluegrass Etsy Team

Its time for another Bluegrass Etsy Team Giveaway!

This month's giveaway comes to us from Rachel Blanton of Wilmoth Farms. The value of this wonderful soap set is $29. Here's what you can win:

"Very Sexy" woman's soap (Victoria's Secret type)
"Masculine Musk" men's soap
"Oatmeal Milk & Honey" soap
"Soapy Clean" guest size soap
"Very Sexy" 2 ounce Body Butter
"Strawberry" Lip Balm 2 ounce
And thrown in for fun - a natural loofah sponge!

Rachel's ultra-nourishing soap combines Goat Milk and Honey in a base of wonderfully moisturizing saponified oils, unrefined Shea and Cocoa butters, that will nourish your skin from head to toe. Honey is a natural humectant, which draws moisture to the skin, and Goat Milk is a natural skin moisturizer and is great for sloughing away dead skin cells. With all natural ingredients, her soaps are hypoallergenic and mild enough for the softest, most sensitive skin.

All of the Wilmoth Farms soaps are handmade with 100% pure and natural goat milk soap, and lots of love!

Want to get entered in this contest? All you have to do is visit our BEST Kentucky Bluegrass etsy team blog for the details. We ask you to visit Rachel's shop and return back to the team blog post and leave a comment. The winner will be chosen at random from the comments left at the team blog.

Be sure to visit Wilmoth Farms etsy shop to see all this and more!!

New Pretties!

New earrings I've been working on!

Win These Swarovski Earrings!

Visit the Ky Bluegrass etsy team blog for our latest giveaway.

Each month an artist from Kentucky donates an item for the giveaway. This month I have offered these beautiful Swarovski crytal & sterling silver earrings, valued at $17. They are one of my most popular designs and are also available in my etsy shop.

Details about the giveaway are at our team blog, but it's really easy to enter. The deadline to enter is January 31 and the winner will be announced on February 1. Remember you can't win if you don't play! So visit our team blog and while you are there, check out our talented Kentucky artisans.

Enter our Bluegrass Team Ornament Contest!

I recently won a contest sponsored by our Bluegrass etsy team. Here is a picture of the necklace I received that is created by Corinne Sullivan of Daydream Art Studios. Just received it in the mail today. Thank you Corinne! I loved it and the packaging too. Your stamped muslin bag is a nice touch!

Our team is hosting ANOTHER contest if you would like to participate. It is an ornament contest and all you have to do is vote on your favorite, then leave a comment on the team blog for your chance to win! The prize is $20 in BEST bucks, redeemable at participating bluegrass etsy shops. Here is the link to our team blog. Good luck!

Two new etsy treasuries this week

Wow, these ladies do a great job of getting those coveted treasury spots. My blue earrings are featured in the first and my pink earrings are in the second treasury. Way to go Kentucky team!

B.E.S.T. Octoberfest Sale Video

Here is a video montage I created to advertise some participants in our team sale. It has a fun Halloween theme. What do you think of these Ky artists?

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Octoberfest Treasury

Here is another example of a treasury assembled today by the Bluegrass etsy team.

My glass pumpkin earrings are featured in the bottom row.

Go team!