Spice up your Sunday.....

Calling all bracelet wearers..........

This is one giveaway that you DEFINITELY do NOT want to miss out on!!!

This gorgeous bracelet was created by Elisabeth Strong. 

Elisabeth, who so generously donated this for our giveaway, has an etsy shop called Lizard Breath Beads.

Check it out by clicking HERE.

Here is Elisabeth's description of this beautiful piece....

"This has seven of my lampwork beads (two simple orange beads and five orange beads rolled and worked in a shimmering frit). The findings are copper and antiqued copper with a lobster clasp and the bracelet measures 9 3/4 inches."

To win???

Well....of course we just can't give this awesome bracelet away without asking a question.  I found the name of Elisabeth's Shop very interesting.  It made me wonder what goes into naming shops. If you have a shop and you would like to win this gorgeous bracelet, here is the question:

"What went into naming your shop?"

"If you don't have a shop, what are the kinds of names that you tend to remember the easiest as a buyer on Etsy?"

Feel free to share this giveaway on your facebook, twitter, blog, etc. and come back each time to let us know EACH TIME that you did.  Each must be a separate entry as each entry will count once.

On another note, we have been making some changes on our blog, to hopefully, create one that is different and fun to visit.  Here are a couple of the changes:

Mondays we invite you to join us for ART SPARK!!

This is a new challenge that will be replacing our former "Call-to-Create."

Check out our first challenge HERE.  Lots of great prizes to add to the fun.

Sundays will be a mix of giveaways and introductions to designers that create handamade with handmade.

Thank-you to everyone who has been following and participating with our blog.

And I can't forget this today......

Happy Mother's Day!

april call to create ~

mary jane dodd

no color palette,

no picture prompts, 

no foolin'!

'open up my head and let me out.'

~ so much to say, dave matthews band

you know how you can be overcome by a song or even some of its lyrics? well, if

'music is what feelings sound like.'

then we want you to show us what they look like too... this month we decided to let you show us how music speaks to you - completely your way... it doesn't have to be literal, the way mine is... just let the music move you - and see what you come up with... 

here's how to enter::

most important - our mission is to promote handmade... using handmade components and beads in your handmade work... take chances, have fun! this isn't a test, it's an exercise to help you stretch... 


please share with us the song title and performer and the specific lyrics if applicable - we would love to be able to bring the auditory experience to the piece... 

post the work to our flickr page... look for the link in the sidebar...  if you don't have a flickr account, it is very easy to sign up using your email address...  please upload pictures of pieces that were created specifically for this challenge...

and, yes, to sweeten the deal we have a random drawing at the end of the month... we choose from those who entered to win these prizes::

this really fabulous book - even if you don't create lampwork beads, it will give you an understanding of what is involved in the process and provide some beautiful eye candy... 

and then some beautiful lampwork beads from elisabeth strong of lizardbreathbeads to work with!

cannot wait to see what you are listening to...