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Etsian Interview: Shadowcutter!

04 Sep

Today our Etsian interview is with Shadowcutter!

Her jewelry is art and reminds me of dragons, knights and a bygone era. However, I know that her chainmaille is much more comfortable than the chainmail of old! Take a look at her incredible selection of jewelry.

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Who are you and where do you live?
My name is Laura, I’m 26, I live in Fort Worth Texas.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
read, watch movies, and play computer games. also I watch youtube vlogs and I just discovered the awesomeness of ImprovEverywhere (http://www.youtube.com/user/ImprovEverywhere).

I am trying to learn about good blogging and SEO and stuff like that. and if I ever get a Rosetta Stone program I’ll get back to learning Latin. It’s on my Christmas wish list.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48586391/forest-key-earrings-green-and-gunmetal

Your jewelry is unique. How did you learn to create it and how long have you been creating it?
originally I made my first handflower just by arranging some chains until they looked good and would fit over my hand. I didn’t even know what it was called at the time. Then I found some chainmaille somewhere, decided I loved it, and found weave instructions online. It’s been about ten years since I started all that, I think.
Oh, actually my first attempt at a handflower involved seed beads and fishing line. it didn’t work very well, but it was an interesting try. I also tried crocheted string.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/47566959/chained-turquoise-handflower-bracelet?ref=v1_other_2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/20286817/silver-with-purple-cross-chainmaille

Have you done any craft shows and how do you prepare for them.
Yes I have a craft fair in October. To prepare I get together a tablecloth and some display things, a sack lunch, a money box and (hopefully) some cash for change, make some price tags with sales tax included, and hopefully find someone to come with me. Also I still have a bunch of business cards and a banner, but I don’t think I’ll have anything to hang the banner on.

How long have you been on etsy and do you sell in any other venues?
I’ve been on there since May 19, 2008 (although not actually selling that long). No other venues besides the craft fair, but I do sell occasionally to friends and family.

What are some of your favorites? movies, food, books, stuff to do.
Hard to pick from movies, there’s so many… but Lord of the Rings (movies and books), The Princess Bride (movie), The Book of Eli (super-amazing movie); favorite book is Firegold by Dia Calhoun. oh and anything by C.S. Lewis, ’cause he was a total genius.

Where else can we find you on the web? Fb, twitter, kaboodle etc… other selling venues your blog…
http://www.facebook.com/ShadowCutterJewelry
http://twitter.com/ShadowCutter
http://shadowcutterjewelry.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/shadowcutterjewelry

Here are a few more of her favorite pieces!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/29574074/purple-and-silver-persian-chainmaille

Have you been featured anywhere else? blogs, front page etc…
http://themidwasteland.com/style-pile/inspiration-givenchy-fall-2009-couture#comment-22875
http://thedoorinmywardrobe.com/2009/07/extraordinary-jewelry/#respond
http://www.lovelyish.com/730415791/etsy-spotlight-shadowcutter-jewelry/?page=1&jump=1514849823&leftcmt=1#1514849823

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Shadowcutter’s jewelry is wonderful! Wow, I can only imagine the time it takes to make each piece.

Which piece of chainmaille is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks,

Karen

6 Comments

Posted in Chocolatedogstudio information

Etsian Interview: JC’s Sewing Room

01 Sep

Our Etsian interview is with JC’s Sewing Room!

Her product is unique as is her story of how she got started! I am going to let her tell you in her own words

who she is and how she got started. Her project is near and dear to my heart. I have spent extended time in a wheel chair and a pocket would have been a great thing to have. I have actually made a pocket for an Uncle when he was using a walker. Her pockets are much nicer than what I hastily threw together for him. These pockets allow the user to be more independent and saves many steps for their caregivers.

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I was born and raised in Columbus Ohio, but now live in South Florida. My grandmother was a quilter and did lovely hand embroidery.

She taught me how, which eventually led to sewing and other crafts. I actually won an award in high school for a dress I made for myself.

When I see a need, I try to fill it. Trying to help others during difficult times has always given me a great inner joy. A girlfriend of mine recently shattered her leg. She was forced into a wheelchair, and then a walker. When I saw that her husband had duck taped a plastic cup to the walker, I said to myself “She needs something better.” The next morning I brought her my version of the wheelchair/walker bag.

Sewing is my first love. Working with fabric of all kinds, transforming it into something special, for some one special. I recently renewed my interest in crochet. I got away from it for quite some time. I found my hands idle during the evenings, watching TV with my husband. I can crochet and still be close and interact with my him.
Up until a year and a half ago I worked as an accountant for a country club. With the economy going sour, it was necessary to cut back. Since then I have been enjoying the “Housewife” way of life and the respite from the corporate grind.

I would love for this niche to take off to the point that I would need to hire an employee or two to keep up with the orders. I love making items for those who I know appreciate the thought, effort, and love that goes into each piece.

It breaks my heart to see anyone struggle. You don’t need to be an elderly senior citizen to be forced into a mobility device. If adding a colorful bag made especially for your device, or your special need, will brighten your day or just make it easier for you to maneuver safely, then I am more than happy to do it.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/43546857/rag-style-lap-quilt-with-helping-hand

All the places we can find Helping Hand pockets!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JCsSewingRoom 
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JCs.SewingRoom 
My fan page: http://www.facebook.com/HelpingHandPockets 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JCsSewingRoom

1 Comment

Posted in Chocolatedogstudio information

25% off Sale

30 Aug

I am having a close out sale on my scarves, hats and shawls. After taking inventory yesterday I realized that I have several scarves that are not listed. Since I am no longer going to be carrying hand crocheted or knitted items, it is time to clear them out of my shop. Here are several that I no longer have listed with Etsy that I am ready to sell. Just e-mail me or contact me via facebook and I will be glad to sell these to you.

Each scarf $5 each plus three dollars shipping! Paid via paypal. Just e-mail to make sure that they are still available. Personal friends in town, just let me know and we will meet somewhere!

Thanks so much,

Karen

2 Comments

Posted in Chocolatedogstudio information

Need a Thank You card!

23 Aug

I have several not listed in my Etsy store yet!

Take a look at my facebook page to see them all!

Here is one of my favorites!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54543762/sing-to-the-lord-with-thankful-hearts

: http://www.etsy.com/listing/54512770/thank-you-card

I have turned cardmaker for a few days! I saw this beautiful paper and couldn’t resist!

The first 5 buyers get their card at 1/2 off!

: http://www.etsy.com/listing/54544167/thank-you-card

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Karen

I always seem to need Thank you cards! What about you what kind of cards do you need?

2 Comments

Posted in Chocolatedogstudio information

New items in Chocolatedogstudio!

21 Aug

New Items in Chocolatedogstudio at Etsy!

This is one of my newest purses! Up cycled and reworked into this cute purse!

I have already listed these great pincushions. I have more that I am going to list soon!

Here are some of my new items!

This is a great tote bag/purse created out of a synthetic suede. It is so soft!

1 Comment

Posted in Chocolatedogstudio information

What is a BnR treasury?

12 Aug

What is a BnR treasury?

First it is a treasury where you can buy and then the item you bought will be replaced by an item from your store. Pretty quick and easy promoting. You can get a lot of views for your shop and it helps to get your shop name out of there. Here are some tips!

There is usually a curator. You want to buy into a BnR where the curator is active and participating in the BnR. Sometimes things at home happen and the curator will be out of the BnR for awhile. That is ok, but if you have limited funds to spend to buy in then you need to be sure that the one you are buying into is one that will be curated well.

There are rules to the BnR and you need to be sure to follow them. They are usually listed at the beginning of the BnR

Here are some examples of a set of rules from the BnR.

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1-Comment and Click each picture and PROMOTE your shop, too through out the duration of this bnr(especially if you are featured).
2-If you buy,(don’t have to be a cast member to purchase) give who you bought from and what it was(link).
3-Only $1.00 min. buy in(can be a pif if it is $1.00).
4-I’m going to try and keep this open until 7:00pmEST.

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Here is another example:

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506 SALES FROM LAST 30 BNRS

$2.50 MINIMUM BEFORE SHIPPING

1 ) Buy any item from featured shop( No PIF )
2) Announce who are you buying from.
3) Come back and post transaction link.
4) I will pick an item from your shop and replace with the featured shop.

THIS TREASURY WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY 10 A.M AUGUST 13

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See they tell you exactly what to do. Sometimes you ask permission from the curator and sometimes not. Sometimes the Buy in is more $ and sometimes not.

If you are trying to get your feedback rating up then it helps to have some lower priced items in your shop. Be sure and follow through with any buyers. Send them a convo to let them know when you will ship their item and how much you appreciate their business. You need to stay involved in the BnR and help promote it. This is not a post and run activity. You need to stick around and comment on other shop’s items. The pages will change as the BnR progresses, post your BnR specials on each page and it will help keep the BnR current.

I think that this is about it!

Do you have anything to add about BnR’s treasuries? I would love to hear what you have to say.

talk to you later,

Karen

2 Comments

Posted in Chocolatedogstudio information

The dog of Chocolatedogstudio!

08 Aug

Today, you get to hear one of the stories that surrounds the dog of Chocolatedogstudio. He is a large 90 + lb dog. Chocolate brown with brown eyes. We got him from Labrescue Tulsa when he was about 18 months old he is about 8 years old now. Well, this story has to do with some peppermint goat soap that I bought from Smileymoo at Etsy. Mine was snowflake patterned as I was buying ahead for Christmas!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/33394599/peppermint-goatmilk-soap

Here is an excerpt of the e-mail I sent her about the mishap!

When I recieved it and opened it my Mom was here and I just opened it quickly and put it in my empty etsy storage box. There were some books and paper items in there. Well, quite frankly, I forgot about it. My chocolate lab, Bear sleeps in this room and is not crated, so he has free run of the room during the night. When I woke up the next morning I found the opened and partially chewed soaps on the desk in the kitchen where our oldest had put them, before going off to the early shift at work. Later, I found out that the soaps were found about eight feet away from Bear. He was looking reproachfully at Mark as though he was wondering why the cookies had such an odd taste to them. So I hate to tell you that the peppermint soaps are not Lab approved. Though he thought he would approve of them when he started them. They were just nibbled around the edges. HE did have minty fresh breath and they did him no harm, though he was probably squeaky clean inside and out!

This is just one of the funny stories about this Labrador.

Check out my new Etsy treasury in his honor!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5efd5ed2856d918b9d20aa/lab-approved?index=0

1 Comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Recipe: Stuffed Italian eggplant.

02 Aug

Stuffed Italian Eggplant.

Ok this is a Karen recipe which means all ingredients are added to your tastes and until it looks right for you.

I have adapted this recipe many times. Here is the basic recipe.

Ingredients

eggplant 2 largish

Italian sausage about 1/2 a pound – 2 pounds depends on whether you are stuffing or casseroling!

Cubed dried bread slices about 4 (french bread works great)

tomatoes 2 med. chopped

Mozarella cheese cubes; about 1 cup

mozarella cheese grated; enough to sprinkle on the top of the eggplants.

brown the sausage and break it up into chunks, and chop everything else and grate and cube the cheese.

Slice the eggplant lengthwise and scoop out the eggplant meat. Leave the skin intact if possible. Slice the eggplant and sprinkle with salt. Leave the eggplant to weep for 1 hr or so. Dry the eggplant off and mix into a mixing bowl with the rest of the ingredients, minus the grated cheese. Spoon the mixture back into the eggplant shells (placed on a rimmed cookie sheet or casserole pan.) Top with the grated cheese and bake at 350 degrees until the eggplants are cooked to your satisfaction. (Lightly browned cheese and bubbly mixture about 20 -30 minutes). You may serve this with spaghetti sauce to top your eggplant casserole.

This smells wonderful cooking! If you cook for a crowd like we do then up the ingredients and place it all in a casserole forgoing the stuffing part.

5 Comments

Posted in recipes

Cup cosey: What are they?

24 Jul

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52075711/tiny-flowers-cup-cosy

Cup cosey : what is it?

Well, if you go to Starbucks they call them cup sleeves! Here is the greener answer to your paperboard cup sleeve trash dilemma- just slip one of these around your cup. It does the same thing as the paper board cup sleeve and helps you know which cup is yours! Cold or hot cups won’t bother you any more with these cup cosies wrapped around your cup.

: http://www.etsy.com/listing/52014746/camo-cup-cosy

Do you want a cosy that projects a greener image than the regular cup cosies. Then get a cup cosey that is made from upcycled fabrics or from a felted sweater.