The Seeds of Life . . .

Ayana Features: Trista Bell

2008-05-23T14:32:00.007-04:00

Today's next Ayana Feature is all about One of a Kind with Trista Bell. In this shop you will find jewelry, blankets, photography and supplies. If you are looking for handmade items that are sweet and simple to bold and beautiful with a little bit of whimsical, then this is the shop for you! So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Stephanie with Trista Bell!

1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
Where do I start, I've been doing crafts in one form or another since school. I've always done sewing, floral arrangements, writing (which I could put you to sleep in seconds)LOL ,painting, and in the last few years I happened onto jewelry making and have been hooked ever since. I try to use gemstones, pearls, and swarovski crystals in my pieces. My pieces are more on the sweet and simple side. I love to try new techniques, but if its not perfect it will not be seen, I'm my worst critique. Every once in awhile I'll through in a BOLD piece.

2) How did you decide on your shop name?
When I found out about Etsy and decided I wanted to start selling, my biggest problem was coming up with a name. There were so many Stephanie's (Its a great name!) LOL, and I wanted something that would stand out. So, I decided on TristaBell, my oldest nieces name is Trista and the youngest niece is Isabelle. Just combined the two:)

3) What inspires you?
For me I think it a color or a shape that gets me inspired about a new project.

4) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
For me thats a hard one. I love all my pieces, but I guess my most favorite is the "Sea of pearls". I put my heart into every piece, so there all kinda in the favorite column.

5) What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
Promote,promote,promote! Get your name out there and I think the biggest is be patient. It gets frustrating at times, but when you make that special piece and the right person comes along, its all worth it:)

Here’s a fun question:
6) If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
Oh, boy!! I don't know the answer to this,LOL:) I want to say the Bionic Woman, but I don't think she was a super hero, not sure. If I was Bionic woman, I can run around at lighting speed and get my jewelry, sewing, and house work done in the fraction of time. Plus, I would have super human strength to pick anything up:) BUT,I do have to say I think everybody has alittle bit of villian in them.

Shop for your uniquely designed and crafted jewelry and other goodies at www.TristaBell.etsy.com

Ayana Features: Audzipan Design

2008-05-23T10:50:00.013-04:00

Today's first Ayana Features is all about Awesomeness with Audzipan Design. In this shop you will find awesome glass, wood and bottle cap magents, decoupage boxes, banners, custom graphics and more. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Audrey with Audzipan Design!

1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
My name is Audrey Mann, and I am a fun-loving, newlywed twenty-something with a love for design and a newly discovered freedom for design. I recently graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor's degree in Interior and Business Design, and my shop reflects a lot of my personal taste and style. However, my biggest sellers are custom graphics for other Etsyians!

2) How did you decide on your shop name?

I decided on my shop name based on a nickname given to me by a college roomie. We were huge fans of homestarrunner.com, and one of the girl characters is named "Marzipan." My roommate modified it to fit my name, and it stuck like glue. Marzipan + Audrey = Audzipan!

3) What inspires you?
I am inspired by birds, trees, nature, and most of all life in general. My husband is one of my biggest supporters, and he often brainstorms with me on new designs, ideas, and business plans.

4) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
My favorite item in my shop is usually my newest, because I am always so excited to create something new. At the moment, it is my Wooden Fridge Magnets with Awesome Animals. I just finished the design and assembly, so I am still basking in the rays of new creation.

5) What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
My advice to other Etsy sellers- Don't take yourself or your art too seriously! Art should be freedom, not a headache.

Here’s a fun question:
6) If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
If I could be any superhero, I would be Supermom. We don't have any kids yet, but I would like to continue creating and listing on Etsy while raising a family. It seems like I will need to be Supermom to do that!

Shop for your handmade magnets, decoupage goodies, custom banners and more at http://www.audzipan.etsy.com/

Promoting Others

2008-05-23T09:57:00.003-04:00

I usually only feature one artist on Friday who makes some items with a floral theme, but since this is my blog, I'm going to do something a little bit different. Throughout today I'm also going to feature various artists just because I can. Today is all about promoting someone else. So stay tuned . . .

Starting my crochet adventure

2008-05-23T09:56:00.001-04:00

My birthday was last Friday and since my husband "planned" a spontaneous day for me, I didn't do everything I planned on doing, which is fine by me. All I have to say is The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a great movie . . . The Cheesecake Factory has awesome cheesecake . . . outside malls are not as bad as I expected . . . it's always hard to decide which book to get from the bookstore. As you can see I was quite busy. So now that I am a little bit older and a little bit wiser, I am going to challenge myself to learn a new craft . . . crocheting. I'm a little apprehensive about trying a new craft. I tried to learn how to crochet years ago, but soon got bored with it and I let it go. Like I said earlier, I am a little bit wiser and I figure that if I can teach myself how to make beaded flowers, I can learn how to crochet. So stay tuned . . .

"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something.

But I can't accept not trying."
- Michael Jordan

EFC for the Month of June

2008-05-21T16:21:00.006-04:00

I have been a busy bee this week, which is why I haven't had much time to blog. Yesterday was the last day to submit entry proposals for the Etsy for Charity June theme and charity to donate to. The voting will starts today and members will vote for their favorite. It took longer than I thought to come up with a theme for June since I wanted it to focus on Father's Day, but I eventually decided on "To Dad With Love". Since there were no other entries, my theme won by default.

What's next?
EFC members are going to vote on the charity to donate to for June. The other entries are Central Asia Institute (www.ikat.org), Holy Angles (www.holyanglesinc.org), and the Vestibular Disorders Association (www.vestibular.org). I proposed the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), which sponsor programs and raise awareness of the challenges facing the world's children. They are currently working with the Government of China to rush tents, medicine, clean water and other supplies to help children who were affected by the earthquake on May 12.

The following links are press releases on what they are doing:

http://www.unicefusa.org/news/releases/unicef-rushing-medical-suppl...

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_43981.html

And then . . . .
EFC members and non-members can make a handcrafted goody related to the winning theme. These items will then be donated to the Etsy for Charity Shop, in which all proceeds will be donated to the charity of the month.

We'll see what happens . . .

Ayana Features: Jennifer Squires Productions

2008-05-16T23:25:00.004-04:00

This week's Ayana Feature proves that a picture is worth a thousand words with Jennifer Squires Productions. In this shop you will find stunning and fresh photographs of flowers, food, landscapes and more. What I love about this shop is that Jennifer can even make onions look amazing. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Jennifer with Jennifer Squires Productions!

1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
I have been photographing professionally since 1996, but I’ve been taking pictures my whole life. I opened my Etsy shop in February 2008 - it’s been great for me, I work from home but the Etsy community never lets me feel as though I’m by myself.My work covers a broad range of categories, from shopping carts to gerbera daisies, but I always find that I focus on the details of life.

2) How did you decide on your shop name?
I use my name for my shop name, so I guess it comes from good ole Mom and Dad.

3) What inspires you?
I am constantly inspired by the world around me and I use photography to search for simplicity and meaning in the beauty of the everyday.

4) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
Currently my favourite photograph is February Blues 3, one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been. It's where I became engaged to the love of my life.

5) What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
Spend at least as much time advertising off Etsy as you do on Etsy and don’t compare yourself to other stores, you have no idea how they’re marketing elsewhere.

Here's a fun question:
6) If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
Hmmm... What a great question! I think I'd have to be one of Charlie's Angels (uh-oh, did I just show my age?), because they are girls that kick butt and have some cool gadgets to help them along the way. And they know how to have a good time!

Shop for contemporary photographs at http://www.jennifersquires.etsy.com/ or http://www.jennifersquires.ca/

15 Facts About Me

2008-05-13T05:38:00.007-04:00

1) I look like this . . .

2) I was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in Hampton, VA.

3) I have never been outside of the United States.

4) I love cornbread stuffing.

5) At one time in my life I wanted to be a pediatrician.

6) I had an internship as a probation officer for adults and loved it.

7) I can not stand it when people bite their nails/cuticles.

8) I watch anime . . . in Japanese . . . with English subtitles (My husband and I are addicted to Naruto and Bleach).

9) I used to watch Passions until they moved to Direct TV...sigh

10) I want to throw down in the kitchen like my mom someday.

11) I have a gap between my two front teeth and love when I meet other people who have one also.

12) My maiden name is Awkward . . . no this is not a joke . . . yes that is what it says on my birth certificate

13) When I was born I weighed less than 3 pounds.

14) I have natural hair and have been thinking about getting locs for a long time.

15) I was on the flag line in high school.

Sushi for you

2008-05-11T08:09:00.003-04:00

I normally feature other artists on Fridays, but this just looked too good to wait. At first glance this looks like real sushi, almost good enough to eat. It's made of wool. Can you believe that? It was made by Wool By Willow. I first tried sushi when I was a freshman in college. My roommate convinced me to try something different. I even tried the wasabi, but my roommate did not warn me about it. For those of you who are going to try wasabi for the first time . . . a little dab will you do. I had to learn my lesson the hard way.

The results are in . . .

2008-05-11T04:02:00.002-04:00

I've been running a poll on my blog to let you decide which beaded flower I should make next. Well . . . the results are in and we have a tie between a water lily and pansy. What does that mean? I'll be making both of them. That was fun so I will definitely have another poll soon so stay tuned. Thanks everyone for participating.

Sweetheart Crystal Rose

2008-05-10T18:46:00.005-04:00

Shhhh . . . Don't tell anyone. I'm working on sweetheart roses with Swarovski Crystals in the center. Stay tuned . . .

All about orchids

2008-05-10T18:30:00.010-04:00

I've been commissioned to make wedding flowers with orchids and calla lilies. All of the women will have orchids and the men will have calla lilies. The bride of course will have both. So far I have been working on the orchids. The bride wants white orchids with silver and black sprinkled centers. The bridesmaids also have white orchids, but the centers will be black with silver sprinkles.

Bride's Orchids

Bridesmaids' Orchids

Ayana Features: Nora Dora

2008-05-09T05:30:00.006-04:00

This week's Ayana Feature is all about crocheted memories (for me at least) with Nora Dora. In this shop you will find crocheted doll clothing and the cutest doll hats. This shop reminds me of my mother because she loves to crochet and used to cochet dresses for my barbie doll. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Noreen with Nora Dora!

1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
I have crocheted all my life but during my office working years had put it off. Not too long ago my granddaughter was visiting with me and she brought one of her dolls and was play-making clothes out of cloth, just tying them on the doll. I was inspired to pick up my "hook" and make her some doll clothes. That small event has started a while new passion for me. It's endless the ideas and creative venues available, and I have made clothes for a multitude of dolls and trolls and lately have been obsessed with the beautifully unique Blythe doll. I am proud to say I am in my second childhood!

2) How did you decide on your shop name?
Back in the day when I was working in the legal field, several of us had last names that ended in "een" (Noreen being my real name). My nickname became ‘noradora' and it stuck with me and seemed like a perfect fit for my shop name.

3) What inspires you?
I don't use a pattern for any of my creations. I just pick up my hook and start crocheting, never knowing exactly what I am going to make. One of my sisters, who is an artist, sometimes sends me a list of Titles and color combo's with "why don't you make???"....that is one of the things that comes to mind that inspires my creativity. I do find encouragement to be inspiring.

4) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
The favorite item in my shop would have to be what I call my "Fly Me To The Moon" Blythe Outfit.....I call it my ‘signature outfit' as the color combo (blues and greens) was my first Blythe outfit and it sold within 24 hours of listing. I was hooked! She's my avatar and brings me smiles!

5) What advice do you have for other Etsy sellers?
I think promoting in the forums, hearting other shops, making treasuries, joining a street team and most of all good pictures are all pluses to help you get out there for people to find you. I also think commenting on blogs when you stop to visit brings people around to see you too.

Here's a fun question:
6) If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
Not sure if Samantha from Bewitched is a super hero....but I would love to have the power to just twitch my nose ....dishes done, house cleaned, weeds pulled out of garden. Wouldn't that be fun then I could just crochet more lovely creations!

Shop for your doll's crocheted attire at noradora.etsy.com

May Giveaway Winner

2008-05-05T16:21:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to TJMETZ, who is the winner of the May gift card giveaway. The next drawing will be held on June 1.

Mom Would Love This Challenge

2008-05-04T05:38:00.003-04:00

All EFC and non-EFC members are welcome to take part in our EFC Monthly Challenge! The theme for EFC May Challenge is "Mom Would Love This"! Submit your entries to EtsyForCharity now! Please take note that all submitted entries need to be donated to EFC Shop where the sale proceeds will be donated to EFC Charity of the Month.

Submission deadline : 10 May 2008

The poll for voting the winning entry will be from May 11 - 17, 2008.

The winner of the EFC May Challenge will win the following prize kindly sponsored by the EFC members:

1) $10 Shopping Spree (Free Shipping) by UniqueGrabs
2) $15 Gift Certificate by ClaireAndJanae
3) A Pair of Earrings - Blossoming Beauty by ErinToKuuke
4) A Felted Pin - BlueBird by ValeriesGallery

If you are interested in contributing a prize to EFC May Challenge, please convo UniqueGrabs and provide him your prize details.

Register at EFC Site to be an EFC member.

View our members' crafts at EFC Gallery !

Come on and join in the fun and help out the community with your crafts!

Featured Sweetheart Roses

2008-05-03T21:13:00.008-04:00

My sweetheart rose was featured in the Etsy Treasury West by Sunshine of Sunshine and Laughter. Thank you so much for adding my rose.

Beaded Talking Tulips

2008-05-03T19:32:00.007-04:00

Here are some talking tulips that I have been working on. They are made with transparent yellow and green beads. I used brown beads for the stamen. I have admired these beauties on a larger scale at the General Assembly in Richmond, VA along with pansies, dogwood and other floral delights.

Tulips represent lasting love and happy years. They measure approximately 10-11" in length and the bloom is about 1 3/4" across.

Close Up

Front View

Back View

Top View

Ayana Features: Doll Closet

2008-05-02T09:27:00.008-04:00

For this week's Ayana Feature, I'm presenting Doll Closet. In this shop you will find quality handmade doll clothing. This shop reminds me of my mother-in-law because she has a collection of procelain dolls. Since Mother's Day is coming up, I will feature shops that remind me of my mother and all mothers. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Christine with Doll Closet!

1) Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
I have been into sewing for as long as I can remember. I started sewing doll clothes as Christmas and birthday gifts for my little sisters and soon their dolls had WAY too many clothes. Then came the idea of selling them. Actually I can’t take credit for that, my friend Ashley (http://ashesplace.etsy.com - who is also the one who told me about Etsy) got me into selling them at farmers markets and I took off.

I enjoy many other crafts also, such as knitting, quilting, cross stitching and the like. Another hobby I am really getting into is photography. I plan on setting up a second shop to sell prints soon.

2) How did you decide on your shop name?
Doll Closet. I wish I could take credit for it, but actually my mom came up with it. I really like it, I guess because it just makes sense.

3) What inspires you?
Shopping for fabric! I love it! Until I check out of course, LOL. There’s so many cute fabrics out there, it’s really inspiring thinking of all the things I can do with them.

4) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I’m not sure I have a favorite. I tend to like the old-fashioned dresses better personally, but right now I really like this one. The hat was a pain to make but it turned out really cute, don’t you think? =)

5) What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
Keep at it! Be patient. If people like your stuff, it will sell. You just have to give it time.

Here’s a fun question:

6) If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
Spiderman. He’s cool.

Shop for custom handmade doll clothing at http://dollcloset.etsy.com/

June Birth Flower Sale

2008-05-01T13:33:00.004-04:00

The wedding tribe has spoken

2008-04-30T11:14:00.004-04:00

I know I'm late with posting this, but I'm gonna do it anyway. ;D

The Esty Wedding Team has voted on a brand to promote ourselves. We had five different brands to chose from, which were all amazing. With a landslide win of 9 out of 14 votes, the flowers design is now our official brand. I'm really excited because this is the brand I voted for. YEA!

Picture Preparations

2008-04-29T08:39:00.010-04:00

I love taking pictures, especially of unsuspecting family and friends during their embarassing moments like when they are in the middle of stuffing their faces with food. LOL. One of the challenges I've encountered in having an online business is taking good pictures. I've received feedback and advise from other artists. When I first started most of my pictures were dark. That was before I found out I could lighten them up. So I've been working on making my pictures lighter. I prefer to take pictures in natural light, especially since computer settings are different. This will show the best composition of my flowers. When I took these pictures, it was a bit cloudy outside, however, it think they turned out pretty good.

My next goal in picture taking is "setting the stage" for my products. Other artists have mentioned using models, props, etc. in order to enhance your products. That is something I will definitely work this year. Even though I did not use props to display the following moss roses, I did attempt to "set the stage". I especially like this picture because you are able to see the roses from different angles all in the same photo.

Two-Toned Sweetheart Roses

2008-04-28T05:44:00.004-04:00

I was commissioned to make a two-toned sweetheart rose for Cinco de Mayo. This rose was made with hot pink beads with yellow beads for the edging. I also used medium green, specifically emerald green, for the leaves and I found embroidery thread to match. So for your viewing pleasure, I present my first of many two-toned sweetheart roses!

Gloriosa Lilies

2008-04-25T14:52:00.006-04:00

While I was "busy" last night making flowers and watching ER, my husband asked me what my favorite flowers were. While smiling too myself, since I know he is up to something, I reminded him that I love lilies, especially gloriosa lilies. I don't know what he has planned, but I'll let you know. So in the mean time, here are some pictures of lilies for your viewing pleasure.

Gloriosa Lilies

Calla Lily

Spider Lilies

Ayana Features: Princess Tiffany Creations

2008-04-25T08:05:00.009-04:00

Here's another Ayana feature just for you. This week it's all about Princess Tiffany Creations. In this shop you will find hair clippies, snap clips, bows, ribbon pens, headbands and crochet creatures. My favorites are the hair clippies, snap clips and bows. They are just sooo cute. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Sarah with Princess Tiffany Creations!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.

My name is Sarah (Tiffany is actually my chihuahua!) I have been making bows for about 2 years and crocheting for about 5 years. I offically listed my first item in my etsy shop on Januray 8th of this year and am having so much fun with it!

How did you decide on your shop name?

Tiffany is my 9 year old chihuahua! I was having one of the girls in my bow group whip me up a banner, but I did not have a name. She suggested the shop name, since she knows me and knows that I love Tiffany so much and the rest is history!

What inspires you? My bow making friends really inspire me, as well as the new clothing lines. As far as crocheting goes, I just love to make little animals that are cute and cuddley!

What is your favorite item in your shop and why? My favorite right now is either Annabelle or Mary, my mini monkeys. I love them! They are so cute and something I would have wanted when I was a little girl.... heck I want them now!

What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?

Get your name out there as much as possible. Also take good pictures, that is what I am working on improving currently.

Here’s a fun question:

If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?

Not sure if this is considered a superhero, but I love the girls from the show Charmed! They have all these cool powers and save people. I think I like them because they have girl power also!

Shop for hair accessoires and crocheted creatures for your little girl at http://tiff705.etsy.com/

Mother's Day Special

2008-04-23T12:30:00.005-04:00

Unexpected Plans

2008-04-23T09:21:00.008-04:00

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

==========================================

This year has been an extremely challenging one for me. I have a family, I'm in graduate school, I work part time and I have my own business. Last month I found out that I was pregnant, which is great news. I had been having some difficulties with the pregnancy and found out last week that I had a miscarriage. I have been feeling guilty lately and am wondering if there was something I could have done differently. I know that God has a plan for my life, even though this one was unexpected. Even as I am typing this, I am having second thoughts about posting it, but hopefully I will inspire and encourage someone else. Even though things don't happen the way we want them to, there's a reason for everything. Don't try to analyze or figure out why, just know and believe that things will reveal themselves when you are ready to understand them.

Here is a poem that I wrote about this experience.

================================

Life Unborn

You were my unexpected miracle
The next bloom on my apple tree
Already done picked out your names
Envisioned your facial features
Staring back at me

My instincts warned me
That something was wrong
When the doctor told me the news
I sat in disbelief
I feel numb inside
Just want to go and hide
In that secret place inside of me

I am in sync with Mother Nature
As my life unborn flowed from my womb
My heart began to break
The tears poured from the windows of my soul
Thunderstorms reflect my inner being

Guilt is setting in
What if crowds my thoughts
Through this pain
I am reminded that
God has a plan
A divine purpose for my life
Even though my path is hidden from me
All things will reveal themselves
In time

-CHarding 2008 Copyright

Ayana Features: Canvas Colors

2008-04-18T10:24:00.006-04:00

While searching for all things floral, I found this wonderful shop called Canvas Colors AKA Colors1. In this shop you will find hand painted canvas flower flippers, animals and more. My favorites are the flower slippers, which look absolutely amazing. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Mary with Canvas Colors!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
I have been a needlepoint designer for about 30 years, I have my B.F.A. in ceramic sculpture and I'm from Lex. Ky now reside in Cumming Ga. north of Atlanta. I work as a graphic designer for a International Gift Co., paint needlepoints and teach ceramics.

How did you decide on your shop name?
The name of my internet shop is actually "Canvas Colors" I just shortened it.

What inspires you?
Beautiful art and nature insire me.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I have many things in my shop that I love, don't know if I have a favorite!

What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
Put as much on your site as you can, the more you have the more you sell!

Here’s a fun question:
If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
I would like to be one of the Incredibles!!!

Shop for hand painted canvas decor for your home at http://colors1.etsy.com/

Poems for Mother's Day

2008-04-17T14:35:00.004-04:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner. . . May 11 . . . and will be here sooner than you think. Why not purchase an original poem, written by yours truly, for this special day.

This poem entitled "To My Mother" can be customized just for you and comes in a ribbed frame. The frame measures 6 x 8 inches and can be hung on a wall or displayed standing up. The poem reads:

To My Mother

I just want to say thank you
For your warm smiles
Your encouragement
Your words of wisdom
That still guide me today
Thanks for everything
Happy Mother’s Day!

CUSTOMIZE:
Frame Colors - white, natural wood, mahogany (shown) and black.
Saluation - To my mother (shown), To my grandmother, To my Aunt, etc

This original poem, also written by yours truly, however is not a gift for mother. I wrote this poem to acknowledge the women who are our grandmothers, aunties, tias, role models, mentors, advisors and sisters who are like mothers to us.

This poem entitled "To My Mothers" in a peacan colored frame. The frame measures 8 x 10 inches and can be hung on a wall or displayed standing up. The poem reads:

To My Mothers

To my mothers
Who are not my mother
I just want to say thank you
For your warm smiles
Your encouragement
Your words of wisdom
That still guide me today

To my mothers
Who are not my mother
I just want to take the time
To acknowledge
To thank God
For putting you in my path
So that I would not stray

To my mothers
Who are not my mother
I just have to say
I love you
Thanks for everything
Happy Mother’s Day!

Copyright 2008 Crystal Harding

Trading African Violets

2008-04-16T21:08:00.003-04:00

Here are some African violet hair pins that I made for my fellow Etsian Mai-Ling of Alpha Omega Art. I will be trading these lovely hair pins for her CD entitled "Chronology". The colors are red, gold and magenta. I love trades. :D

Ayana Features: Dainty Diva's Boutique

2008-04-11T08:22:00.007-04:00

While searching for all things floral, I found this wonderful shop called Dainty Diva's Boutique. In this shop you will find custom clothing and accessories for your diva. Even though I do not have a little diva, the items in this shop are just too cute to keep to myself. So for today's Flower Power Friday I am featuring Dainty Diva's Boutique!

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your shop.
My name is Trisha and I am a SAHM mom to 2 wonderful kids that always keep me on my toes. I started making hair accessories for my daughter shortly after she was born. I had so much fun dressing her up with her custom made clothes and matching hair pretties that I decided to expand my designs and offer custom clothing as well.

How did you decide on your shop name?
I decided on the name of my shop because of my daughter. If you met her, you would know why. She is a tiny little thing but has a big attitude. Dainty Diva's Boutique just seemed too funny and fitting not to use it.

What inspires you?
My inspiration is my daughter. I enjoy dressing her up and seeing her reaction when she puts on things I made for her. As soon as she sees me on the sewing machine or working or hair accessories she immediately says " Is that for me mommy? " I just laugh and explain to her it is for another princess. She loves to help me pick out flowers for the headbands and taking her to the fabric shop is always an adventure.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
My favorite item(s) in my shop are my "Think Pink" items. I lost my sister to breast cancer last year. I had the idea to make things pink/breast cancer related and donate the proceeds to research in her memory. I belong to a wonderful design group called the PixieChix and they have joined me to do launch on April 13th donating proceeds to my breast cancer walk on May 3rd. I won't stop spreading the word and help finding a cure of this awful disease until it is gone for good. I hope nobody has to go through what our family had to March '07. It forever changed our lives.

What advise do you have for other Etsy sellers?
My advise for other Etsy sellers would be just to have fun. We are all on here to offer our talents to others to enjoy. Nothing feels better than to please a customer. I have met many wonderful people on here and even made some friendships from this fabulous site. I love it! I hope other Etsy sellers enjoy the experience of meeting new people and just have fun with it. That is what it is all about.

Here’s a fun question:
If you could be any super hero (or villain), who would you be and why?
If I could be a super hero or have any super power I would be John Coffey (played by Michael Clarke Duncan) from the movie The Green Mile. Anyone that has watched that movie will understand why I would want his power. I would heal all the sick people in the world and my sister would be here with us today.

Shop for custom clothing and accessories for your diva at http://www.daintydivasboutique.etsy.com/

A Poem for Parents

2008-04-09T21:53:00.003-04:00

My son is just as handsome and cute as he wants to be. He recently turned three and it seems like his temper tantrums have been turned up another notch. Last night he whinned and cried over every little thing. He wanted me to hold him and as soon as I tried to put him down he started crying. I'm just thankful that I realized he was just tired. Little ones at that age are not able to verbally explain when they are frustrated and tired, but that sure didn't help my mood because after work and class, I was tired as well. So today after some sleep, quiet time and reflection, I wrote the following poem about my frustraton:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOY!!!!

BOY!!!
That’s what I started calling you
Even though that’s not your name
You just keep on pushing my buttons
Testing me in every way

BOY!!!!
Now I know you can hear me
I see you peeking out the side of your eye
Don’t you walk away from me
Think I’m playing?

BOY!!!
Don’t you understand Mama is tired
I need some quiet time
You better go somewhere and sit down
Cuz you’re working my last nerves

Copyright 2008 Crystal Harding

Catch me at the Spring Bada-Bing!

2008-04-07T09:04:00.005-04:00

I'm so excited that I'll be participating in this year's Spring Bada-Bing. Myself and fellow Etsians will be promoting the Richmond Etsy Street Team and Etsy along with our selling our products. Make sure to stop by our table. For more information about this event, click on the following image.

Using Delica Beads

2008-04-05T19:48:00.007-04:00

I went to B&B a few days ago to buy some purple seed beads for a rose. There were not any royal purple regular seeds beads, so I looked to the Delica beads. I've not used them before and had no idea why the cost more. So here is what I found out:

Delica beads are a specific brand of bead made by the Miyuki Company in Japan. They are cylindrical in shape and have very thin walls, as opposed to the rounder, thick-walled seed bead. They line up perfectly in loom and in off-loom stitches such as Brick or Peyote, with the thin walls and large holes allowing for multiple thread passes through each bead. Delica beads are so precise and they make any pattern line up perfectly and give a clean, crisp finish to any project. The beads are usually of excellent quality, creating fewer culls when you are working and therefore are cost effective (Taken from About.com).

So for this rose, I used Delica beads for the petals and regular seeds beads for the leaves. You can really see the difference between the beads. I love the way this rose turned out. The only thing I didn't know was that I had to use more Delica beads to make the same size flower when using regular seed beads. Even though Delica beads cost twice as much as regular seeds beads, I will definitely use them again.

The Bizarre Market is Coming

2008-04-04T16:15:00.002-04:00

I'm just spreading the word about

THE BIZARRE MARKET!!!

Saturday, April 26th, Noon-4 pm

It is again time for us to take over Randolph Street with Richmond's best art, crafts, and unique items sale. As you know, this market is open to anyone with something (legal) to sell. It is free to set up, but we do ask that you donate 10% of your day's earnings to our selected non-profit. For the Spring Bizarre Market, we have selected Books On Wheels as the recipient of these funds. We encourage all artists and artisans to come out and sell their handmade art. Plus, for this Bizarre Market we are really pushing for people to do some serious Spring Cleaning and bring out yard sale items to sell. Even if you only have a few records, a stool, and a toaster oven, this is the place to find someone to buy it. Of course, Books On Wheels will be here giving away books and fixing bikes, so bring things for them to fix. Set up begins at 11 am.

Ward
Chop Suey Books
1317 W. Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23220
804-497-4705
www.chopsueybooks.com

The Etsy Wedding Team is Official!

2008-04-03T14:08:00.003-04:00

I know this happened last week, but I'm gonna blog about anyway. :D Etsy administration has approved the Etsy Wedding Team. YEAH!!! What does this mean? You can easily shop from our Etsy Wedding Team members by typing "EWT" in your search on Etsy. Our members will be tagging all of their wedding related items with these letters for ease of searching.

May Lily BOGO

2008-04-02T15:14:00.003-04:00

March winds, April showers brings forth May flowers and this wonderful sale! Lilies, which are the May birth flowers, will go on sale starting Tuesday, April 1. You can purchase full size lilies, tiger lilies, peace lilies, and calla lilies. You can also request the mini-me sizes, just let me know. Since my birthday is in May, when you purchase one lily you can a second lily for FREE.

Full Size Lilies are $16

Mini-me Lilies are $8

Osram Ne Nsoromma

2008-03-28T21:42:00.003-04:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my favorite adinkra symbols is Nsoromma, which means "child of the heavens (stars)". It is the symbol of guardianship and a reminder that God is the father and watches over all people.

One of my husband's favorite adinkra symbols is Osram, which means the moon. This is the symbol for patience. The related proverb is 'it takes the moon quite a while to go round the world' – you need to show patience when awaiting a particular event or outcome.

While looking through The Adinkra Dictionary, we found another symbol that combined both of ours - Osram Ne Nsoromma. This means "the moon and the star". It is the symbol of love, faithfulness, and harmony. This symbol reflects the harmony that exists in the bonding between a man and a woman.

The related proverb: "Kyekye pe aware." (The North Star has a deep llove for marriage. She is always in the sky waiting for the return of the moon, her husband.)

This would also make a wonderful addition in your wedding decor to incorporate West African culture. For more adinkra symbols click here.

Gift Card Giveaway

2008-03-28T08:41:00.005-04:00

I just designed new gift cards, so as a way of promoting them I will giveaway one FREE $10 gift card each month. You will have to join my mailing list to be entered into the monthly drawing. The winner will receive an email pdf file of the card, which can be printed at their convenience.

April Winner: jcfoldmedic

Next drawing: Thursday, May 1.

Etsy Wedding Team

2008-03-27T16:35:00.007-04:00

I am so excited about the new Etsy Wedding Team that is forming. Our tagline is "Plan your Perfect Wedding! (We can supply everything but your spouse!)" The group membership is for etsy sellers who make handcrafted wedding items. Our goal is to promote our Etsy shops which feature quality wedding related items for the perfect handmade wedding! We also have a blog, which you can click here to view.

What's in a name?

2008-03-27T10:38:00.009-04:00

During my senior year in college, I took time to learn about myself and what I wanted out of life. During this period of self-discovery I learned more about my heritage, African American history, the African Diaspora, Black hair, etc. While learning about Adinkra symbols (West African symbols that are used on cloth, pottery, jewelry, etc), I decided to informally rename myself Nsoromma (pronounced: N-soar-row-mah) as a way to connect with my African heritage. Nsoromma is a star and means "child of the heavens (stars)". It is the symbol of guardianship and is a reminder that God is the father and watches over all people.

My real name is Crystal, which means pure and clear. I am by no means ashamed of my real name. I only use Nsoromma as my poetic name.

Ain't God Good

2008-03-27T08:59:00.001-04:00

It's so amazing that we sometimes believe we are the only one going through something. While talking to my friends, I realized that we have similar struggles and tests. This past year I had lost sight of what's most important, my relationship with God. I have been letting my circumstances determine how I feel and react to certain things lately. So it's no wonder why I've been so tired. I just thank God for carrying me, literally, through 2007 and staying with me even though I've strayed. Here's a poem that I wrote last year while I was reflecting on some things.

AIN'T GOD GOOD

Do you know how good my God is?
The Alpha and Omega
Fed me when I was hungry
Gave me peace of mind
Healed my body
Do you hear what I’m saying?

Do you know how good my God is?
The bright morning star
Sent His angles to protect me
Answered my prayers
Took away my pain
Do you understand what I’m saying?

Do you know how good my God is?
The beginning and the end
Blessed my finances
Blessed my marriage
Blessed my everythang
Do you believe what I’m saying?

Do you know how good my God is?
He’s so awesome
So merciful
So wonderful
That He wants to bless me
Beyond my understanding
With His unlimited resources
Ain’t God Good!

- Nsoromma 2007

Seeds of Life . . .

2008-03-27T08:58:00.004-04:00

My husband and I carpool to work every morning. After we drop off our son, we turn to the Yolanda Adams Morning Show just in time to hear the Points of Power. They have been reading from Proverbs, which is all about wisdom. I have challendged myself to become wiser this year so I'll be posting some of my "seeds of life" lessons that are revealed to me. This way I can also incorporate my love of poetry and social justice. I hope inspire, encourage and motivate others through my seeds of life. Please enjoy and let me know if you have any comments. Have a blessed day.

New Logo

2008-03-25T00:20:00.003-04:00

Okay....I have been thinking about a new logo for a while now. My biggest problem was deciding on which colors to use. Right now I'm loving the rust, burnt orange and coppery colors. This is what I worked on this weekend. I'll keep it like this for now...depending on how inspired I feel to make another one.

200 Hearts and Counting

2008-03-21T09:07:00.005-04:00

I just receive over 200 hearts on Etsy. Thank you so much everyone for hearting my shop. :D

Paddle vs. Artistic Wire

2008-03-13T11:06:00.012-04:00

As you know I went to B&B the other day for red seed beads for my sweetheart roses (click for previous post). When I was ready to make them, I remembered that I am extremely low on red wire. Since I didn't feel like going to the store, I decided to use green paddle wire instead. I started working on a rose for the boutonniere, but stopped when I taped it together. I don't like seeing the green wire from the front or the back of the bloom.

Front View

Back View

I actually prefer paddle wire, especially since it's cheaper than artistic wire. 26 gauge paddle wire is also stiffer than 26 gauge artistic wire. When I first started making beaded flowers, I used 24 gauge wire and hated that my fingers were sore at the end of the day. I love artistic wire because it's available in a wide range of colors. I can only find paddle wire in green, gold and red (only in 24 gauge) at my local craft stores.

So even though I love the mini-sweetheart rose I made for the boutonniere, I think I'll wait to get red artistic wire before I continue.

New Web Site

2008-03-12T10:41:00.007-04:00

I have just designed and launched my own website. Don't worry, I'm not leaving Etsy. I just wanted a site for those who have not yet discovered the wonderful world of Etsy. I used Google Page Creater to create my pages. So, for your viewing pleasure . . . I present {drum roll} . . . . Ayana Creations ONLINE!

Think Green Etsy

2008-03-11T21:27:00.005-04:00

I am a member of Etsy for Charity, which is a group of Etsians who donate a portion of their sales to charity. This month's theme is Think Green and the monthly charity is Sightsavers International. Sightsavers work to combat blindness in developing countries, restoring sight through specialist treatment and eye care. They also support people who are irreversibly blind by providing education, counselling and training. They help the people who need it most - those living in poverty in some of the world's poorest countries.

For this challenge I made a green beaded dragonfly. This time I included antenna; the gold dragonfly I made does not have antenna. It measures approximately 3 1/2" in length and wingspan is approximately 5". 100% of the sale proceeds will be donated to Sightsavers International.

View my beaded dragonfly and other great handmade items in the Etsy for Charity Shop.

Bouquet Styles

2008-03-08T07:43:00.003-05:00

There are various styles of bouquets that you can choose from depending on your personal style and type of wedding.

NOSEGAY
This classic style, which is a tightly packed mound of flowers and greenery

HAND-TIED
This bouquet is a bunch of flowers that have a just-picked, natural look with a casually tied ribbon. This is the perfect bouquet for informal wedding.

CASCADE
Also known as the "shower" bouquet, this is the most formal and traditional of the bridal bouquets. Flowers drape down from this bouquet to create a cascade.

PAGEANT
Also known as a presentation bouquet, this has a bunch of long-stemmed flowers that are cradled in the bride's arms.

PROMANDER
This is a small, compact ball that is covered with blooms.

Love Your Heart Sweetheart

2008-03-07T09:43:00.012-05:00

I will donate 25% of the proceeds from my beaded sweetheart roses to the American Heart Association. Go Red For Women is a national movement founded by the American Heart Association to help raise awareness about heart disease, which is the Number 1 killer of American women. For more information go to http://www.goredforwomen.org/

Show your sweetheart just how much you love them with beaded roses, the gift that lasts a lifetime. Each stem includes 1 bloom and 6 leaves and is wrapped with embroidery thread to give it a silky finish. Measures approximately 12-13" in length and bloom is approximately 3" across.

Pennies add up

2008-03-07T09:32:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone. I wanted to tell you about Goodsearch.com. It's a search engine from Yahoo that donates a penny to your choice nonprofit every time you do a search with them. You can change the charity you want to support at any time. As you know pennies add up and the best part is...IT'S FREE!!! You search and Yahoo donates.

Make Something for Yourself

2008-03-07T08:45:00.005-05:00

So last weekend we went to Bangles & Beads (B&B for short) so I could get some seeds beads and Swaroski crystals. I plan on making a red sweetheart or either miniature rose bouquet with the crystals. I also bought some fresh water pearls for another bouquet in the making. For some reason it always takes me a long time to get what I need at B&B, mainly because I'm looking at everything else they have. :D While I was looking at the crystals, I mentioned that I liked the sea glass beads. My husband, Gary, asked me if I wanted them and I said yes, but I would wait since that was not on my list of things to get. A few minutes later, I'm still looking around and he gives me one of their fancy bags with a gift card in it and tells me I can buy whatever I want FOR MYSELF.

Now of course I was thinking about everything I wanted from B&B and for a while I couldn't decide what I wanted. This made me sad for a moment because I haven't made anything for myself in a while and thus haven't gone shopping for myself either. Since it was getting close to closing time, Gary started giving me the "incremental time warnings". I did buy those sea glass beads I was eyeing and I plan to go back and buy something else for myself soon.

Earlier that day I told Gary I planned on selling a pair of earrings that I love and he was surprised because he thought I made them for myself. While we were in the car he told me that even though he's not the most romantic person in the world, he wanted to do something special for me. Since I don't make a lot of things for myself, the gift card was perfect.

Moral of this story: Don't forget about you!

New Buzzing Bugz Collection

2008-03-06T19:42:00.004-05:00

Here's the first addition to my Buzzing Bugz Collection. There are few insects in the world that I actually don't mind being near me. Sorry for you bug lovers out there, but I don't do bugs. I do like this one. I used the pattern from Dalene Kelly's book More French Beaded Flowers. I plan on makinng butterflys, bees and other buzzing bugz soon. So check back often for updates.

St. Patrick's Day Sales and Promos

2008-03-06T14:23:00.002-05:00

Etsy Artists of Color Team is celebrating the color green in honor of St. Patrick's Day! The following shops are honoring these promotions now through March 17, 2008. Save some green on your green. Just mention code EAOC GREEN during checkout and wait for an adjusted invoice.

mosaicsbyah - 10% off anything green
ayanacreations - Free gift with every purchase
theivorymagnolia - 17% off any Cucumber Melon, Lime Mint, or Kiwi item
lamarlynch - Free shipping throughout the continental US
jamilary - Free pair of $10 earrings with a $65 purchase (total before shipping)
callidora - 10% off anything green
raghousenternational - 15% off anything greenHappy St. Patrick's Day!

Ayana Weddings

2008-03-06T13:43:00.004-05:00

Ever since I received my first request for wedding flowers, I have been doing research on weddings. I wish I could tell you I made my own beaded wedding flowers, but I didn't find out about beaded flowers until a year later. So I've decided to focus my blog on weddings, especially African American weddings and of course beaded flowers. Please enjoy.

Hand-tied Lily & Stephanotis Bouquet and Boutonniere

Easter BOGO

2008-03-05T13:02:00.004-05:00

I'm having an Easter BOGO promotion on my French beaded lilies. Buy one get one half off. This applies for lilies only. This promo ends on Easter Sunday, March 23 at 11:59p EST. Cannot be combined with Ayanaversary Sale.

Ayanaversary Sale

2008-03-05T09:37:00.005-05:00

I started my business on March 16, 2007, so to show my appreciation for everyone who has supported me, I will be giving customers 25% off their orders (sale items not included/cannot be combined with Easter BOGO). Sale ends March 16 at 11:59p EST

Phalaenopsis Orchids

Leap Day Sales

2008-02-29T10:17:00.001-05:00

Leap Day is special! It only comes around once every 4 years. The shops of the EAOC Team are celebrating with a Leap into Savings. These Specials are good for ONE DAY ONLY, so be sure to take advantage. Starting at 12:00AM EST on 2/29/08 and ending at 11:59PM EST the same day, the shops listed below will offer their Specials.

Mention code "EAOC Leap" in the Message to Seller to receive your discount and wait for an adjusted invoice. This is a great way to stock up on favorites and or buy gifts for upcoming holidays and birthdays.

mosaicsbyah - 10% Off trivets and small votives
ayanacreations - 20% Off all flowers (sale items not included)
theivorymagnolia - 29% Off all orders. Free roll-on perfume oil with orders of $29 or more (after discounts and excluding shipping)
lamarlynch - Buy 4 blank floral cards set, get any card free
jamilary - 15% off any order
origamicentral -20% off any order
callidora - $2.29 Shipping on any first item, $.29 for each additional item
raghousenternational - 20% Off all scarves
satindollco - $5.00 Off all items before shipping

These savings are so fantastic, they only come around once every 4 years.

Happy Leap Day from the Etsy Artists of Color Team

African Wisdom

2008-02-22T05:38:00.004-05:00

Ananse Ntontan means "spider's web". It is the Adinkra symbol that represents wisdom, creativity and the complexities of life. Ananse, the spider, is a well-known character in African folktales. I personally do not like spiders, but I do appreciate their webs (from afar).

Since my goal in 2008 is to have more wisdom, I have been inspired to create jewelry with Adinkra symols on them. So this is my first addition to my African Wisdom Collection, a pair of Ananse's Web (ntontan) earrings made with yellow horn bone beads and antique brass web focal beads and antique brass findings. Measures approximately 1 1/2" in length from earwire.

History of Beaded Flowers and More

2008-02-22T05:31:00.004-05:00

Recently Rosemary Kurtz submitted an article in EZine about bead flowers. The article includes the history of bead flowers, the 9/11 wreaths, the Swarovski project and much more. Click on the following link to view the article.
http://ezinearticle%20s.com/?expert=

To view Rosemary's work go to http://www.rosemarykurtz.com/

EAOC Feature

2008-02-20T14:32:00.002-05:00

The Etsy Artists of Color snagged another treasury. :D My stephanotis were featured. Click on the image to view. Thanks!

Aaawww Moment

2008-02-18T05:31:00.006-05:00

Okay this is an "Aaawww" moment. One of my customers bought a forest fire dahlia a while back for his wife and she loved it so much that he wanted to buy a sweetheart rose this time. So for Valentine's day he purchase one sweetheart rose and a dozen real roses. When he gave her the flowers, he planned to tell her the following: "I will love you until the last rose dies." I'm paraphrasing, but you get my point. One of the best things about my beaded flowers is that they never die. Now I don't know how she responded, but if that were my husband....he would have been a very happy man that night.

Featured Again

2008-02-18T05:13:00.006-05:00

My work has been featured again. This time in the Etsy Treasury West. This is so exciting. My French beaded moss rose and ivy brooched was featured on February 11, 2008. Thanks for adding me ShineAndSparkle. Click on the following image to view feature.

My First Etsy Treasury

2008-02-15T16:23:00.002-05:00

This is the first treasury that I have been able to grab, literally. I wanted to feature the art that is closest to my heart...beaded flowers. I picked flowers from various etsy artists to show off this lovely vintage art. So for your viewing pleasure, click on the following link

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=1594

Beaded Birthday Gifts

2008-02-13T16:09:00.005-05:00

This year I plan on making a birth flower for each month, if I haven't already done so. These flowers will be on sale during their respective month, so check back often for undates.

January - Carnations & Snowdrop

February - Iris & Violets

March - Daffodils

April - Daisy & Sweet Pea

May - Lilies {{{My birth flower}}}

June - Roses

July - Larkspur & Water lily

August - Gladiola & Poppy

September - Aster & Morning Glory

October - Calendula, Cosmos

November - Chrysanthemum

December - Holly, Narcissus, Poinsettia

Cleon my Dæmon

2008-02-13T13:48:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist finding out which dæmon I would get, so now I'm sharing it with you.

Customer Appreciation

2008-02-13T12:06:00.001-05:00

"The bouquet and boutonnière are beautiful! You did an amazing job! Thank you so much!!!!"
- Customer, Conneticut

"Perfect!"
- Customer, California

"Beautiful. I love them!"
- Customer, New Jersey

The DIVA Behind the Beads

2008-02-13T11:31:00.004-05:00

I've decided to talk more about me this year so that my customers and potential customers can get to know me better, besides the fact that this is my blog and I can write about what I want to. So....Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Crystal and I'm the DIVA behind Ayana Creations. Ayana means "beautiful flower" in Ethiopian and so I sculpt beautiful flower creations. :-D My gift is making beaded flowers using the vintage art of French beading. Just to clarify...I do not use any vintage supplies, I use a vintage technique.

I also make jewelry and accessories. I began making beaded flowers when I was trying to decide on a stress relief outlet during my internship as a domestic violence/sexual assault counselor in addition to graduate studies, family and other responsibilities. I am a self-taught artist and I’m passionate about making flowers come to life with my seed beads. :D

I am also the wife of an amazing husband and mother to an energetic son.

I am currently a full-time social work graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University and I'll be graduating in May...on my birthday. Isn't that exciting?! Well it is for me.

In the little spare time that I do have, I write poetry. Check out my poetry blog The Seeds of Life. One day I plan on being a slam poet...of course that will only happen when I have more free time. *sigh*

So in a nutshell . . . that's me, the Diva behind the beads.

Ayana Features: 1 Feb 08

2008-01-31T22:52:00.004-05:00

Mizusugi's Designs

In this shop you can find ribbon ornaments, jewelry, handcarved wood pendents, pocket mirrors, key chains, bottle openers and my favorites flower hair clips and brooches. Now I know I'm biased about flowers, but who cares.....this is my feature. :D

Now unfortunately "my" Blue Mum Fabric Hair Pin has just been sold. *sigh* On the bright side I can always get a custom made hair pin. ;)

Here's a brooch that has not sold yet. (Ahem) Buyers what are you waiting for? These flowers are made with cotton fabric in a kanzashi, Japanese fabric flower, style. You can view more of these beautiful flower creations by visiting her Etsy shop http://mizusugi.etsy.com/
or going to http://www.flickr.com/photos/amizugirl/

100 Hearts and Counting

2008-01-31T22:15:00.002-05:00

I would like to thank everyone on Etsy who has hearted my shop. That truly means a lot to me. Thanks so much.

All About Reciprocity

2008-01-30T14:22:00.002-05:00

One of the virtues I live by is reciprocity, in that whatever you put out in the world (whether good or bad) eventually comes back to you. So I've been thinking about how I would go about promoting other artists. I have recently inlcuded a mini gallery of some of my favorite items on Etsy, some of which will hopefully be mine one day. Wahaha! (evil laugh) :D

I am also going to start featuring certain artists who have an "ayana creation." Ayana means beautiful flower in Ethiopian. So every week or so I'll be looking out for handcrafted floral items. I hope you enjoy my Ayana Features.

I Heart Craft Social

2008-01-25T08:55:00.000-05:00

Why Knot Bracelets

2008-01-24T22:34:00.001-05:00

This is my new line of bracelets just in time for spring. Why not purchase a Why Knot bracelet for yourself or that special someone? Each bead is individually handknotted using nylon cord and finished with an antique silver heart clasp.

Measures approximately 8-8.5" in length. If you need a different size let me know. Available on natural (shown) or dark brown cord. Include color of cord in the message to seller section during checkout.

COLOR CHOICE: Include in message to seller during checout.

yellow, yellow and aqua, aqua, peach , peach and hyacinth, hyacinth (red)

Why Knot Topaz

This bracelet includes topaz, bone and metal beads.

Measures approximately 8-8.5" in length

Go Red For Women

2008-01-23T16:50:00.002-05:00

SAVE THE DATE: February 1 - Go Red for Women Day
25% of the proceeds from this item will be donated to the American Heart Association throughout the month of February

Go Red For Women is a national movement founded by the American Heart Association to help you to fight back against the No. 1 killer of American women.

Show your sweetheart just how much you love them with beaded roses, the gift that lasts a lifetime. This lising is for 1 French beaded sweetheart rose. Each stem includes 1 bloom and 6 leaves and is wrapped with embroidery thread to give it a silky finish.Measures approximately 12-13" in length and bloom is approximately 3" across

COLOR CHOICE: Available in white, crystal, pink and red (shown)

MULTIBUY: Want more roses? Let me know and I'll create a reserve listing for you.

February Birth Flower - Irises & Violets

2008-01-11T09:16:00.001-05:00

Birth Flower Sale
Ends February 29 at 12 midnight EST

Beaded Iris

1 Iris for $10
3 Irises for $25

Each stem includes 1 bloom and 1 leaf
Measures approximately 13-14" in length. Blossom is approximately 2" (5cm) across

Mini-Me Beaded Iris

1 Iris for $4.50
3 Irises for $12

Each stem includes 1 bloom and 2 leaves
Measures approximately 7" in length. Blossom is approximately 1" across

COLORS: Available in white, topaz, yellow, pink, red, purple, and blue (shown). Include color choice in the message to seller section during checkout.

FLOWER MEANING: Irises represent faith, hope, and wisdom.

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African Violet Hair Pins

COLORS: Available in white, crystal, topaz, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple (shown), and blue. Include color choice in the message to seller section during checkout.

Wedding Flowers Commission

2008-01-09T08:27:00.003-05:00

I have been commissioned to make a hand-tied bridal bouquet with orange lilies and baby's breath/stephanotis and a lily boutonniere. Throughout the crafting process I will post pictures of the bouquet and boutonniere. I hope you enjoy my "adventure".

Lilies for the bouquet

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Lily for boutonniere

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Okay...so I decided to make stephanotis for the bouquet and boutonniere instead of baby's breath. I have not made them before, but found them both easy and quick to make.

Here's the boutonniere . . .

And the bouquet

Option 1: the leaves are right under the lilies, which makes them hard to see from this angle.

Option 2: the leaves are placed in between the lilies to make them more visible from this angle.

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So...my client decided on option 2. Yea! I curled the leaves into a spiral to make them look fancy and added leaves under the lilies. I also found ribbon that matched the orange lilies.

My First Feature

2008-01-03T14:25:00.002-05:00

This is my first feature, so I'm really excited. My French beaded poppies were featured on January 2, 2008 in the Etsy Treasury. Thanks for adding me April (http://HandcraftedByApril.etsy.com). Click on the following link to view feature.

Valentine Rose Sale

2008-01-02T20:06:00.002-05:00

All of my French beaded roses are on sale

Sale ends February 14 at 12 midnight EST

Available colors: white, clear, pink and red (shown)

Available for purchase in my Etsy Shop

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Moss Rose Spray

Miniature Roses

Sweetheart Roses

Carnations Sale - January Birth Flower

2008-01-02T19:55:00.001-05:00

Sale Ends January 31 at 12 midnight EST

1 Carnation for $10

3 Carnations for $25

Each stem includes 1 bloom and 3 leaves.

Measures approximately 18-19" (47-48cm) in length - can be shortened to desired length. Blossom is approximately 2" (5cm) across

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COLORS: Available in pink, red, purple (shown), white, and yellow. Include color choice in the message to seller section during checkout.

FLOWER MEANING: Carnations represent pure, deep love. Certain colors also have a significant meaning.

Pink - I'll Never Forget You

Red - My Heart Aches For You, Admiration

Purple - Capriciousness, Whimsical

White - Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love, Woman's Good Luck Gift;

Yellow - You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection

Flower Power Fridays

2007-12-26T12:11:00.004-05:00

Get 10% off my beaded flower selection

Include "flowerpower" in the message to seller section during checkout

Wait for invoice email before paying

Sales begins at 12 midnight and ends at 11:59p EST every Friday

Visit my shop at http://ayanacreations.etsy.com/

Let me know if you have any questions.

New Banner

2007-12-21T11:05:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank Robin Lynne for creating my new banner. It is beadiful and totally me. Check out Robin Lynne's Etsy Shop at http://byrobinlynne.etsy.com/

Thanks!!!

New December Items

2007-12-11T17:06:00.000-05:00

This is the latest addition to my floral line for your viewing pleasure. They are available for purchase in my Etsy Shop. Let me know what you think.

Poppies

Each stem includes 1 blossom and 2 leaves. August Birth Flower.
Available in red (shown), white, and yellow.

Poppies represent eternal sleep, oblivion, and imagination. Certain colors also have a significant meaning. Red poppies mean pleasure. White poppies mean dreams and consolation. Yellow poppies mean success and wealth.

Measures approximately 9-10" in length and blossoms are approximately 2" across

Mistletoe - ON SALE

To kiss or not to kiss. That's all up to you.

This French beaded mistletoe includes 6 large and 3 small leaves with aventurine beads. Measures approximately 6" in length and 3" across

Kwanzaa Roses

I made these roses for a fundraiser for the Association of Black Social Workers (ABSW) at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. For more information about ABSW go to http://abswvcu.blogspot.com/

One Hit Wonder

2007-12-07T15:53:00.002-05:00

For your viewing pleasure, the following items are my "One Hit Wonders" so once they're sold, I won't make another one.

Basket of Lilies
Miniature basket with white tiger lilies growing out of it. This is the perfect little decor for you home or office and can also be given as a gift if you can part with it.

My Etsy Shop

2007-12-05T09:04:00.002-05:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
ayanacreations.etsy.com

Fundraisers

2007-11-30T08:48:00.003-05:00

I believe in giving back to the community that has given me so much. Let me know if you have any questions.

Etsy for Charity
I recently joined Etsy for Charity. As a member, I will donate 5% of the proceeds from my ETC items to various charities. For more information go to http://etsyforcharity.ning.com/

New November Items

2007-11-28T16:16:00.002-05:00

This is the latest addition to my floral line for your viewing pleasure. They are available for purchase at Chop Suey Books in Richmond, VA during the Holiday Bizarre Market. Let me know what you think.

Pinky Trillium Spray
I bought this cool looking "bubble" vase and just had to make something to go with it.

You can purchase a custom trillium spray from my Etsy shop.

Basket of Lilies

I was in the mood to make lilies and had this mini basket on hand. So. . .This is what I created.

This is a "One Hit Wonder" so once it's sold, I won't make another one.

Moss Roses and Pine Needles

This is the first bouquet I've made. I wanted to start out small so I make something "quickly". So here you have 3 large blooms, 3 small blooms, 4 buds and a lot of pin needles. This would also make the perfect bouquet for a flower girl and someone with small hands. I placed it in a clear vase and surrounded it by white decorative sand.

Windflower
Okay - so this is what happens when I have leftover beads

Floral Hair Accessories

2007-11-19T14:49:00.001-05:00

Please read the policy agreement prior to making a purchase

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African Violet Hair Pins - Small
Accessorize your look with these French beaded African violet hair pins. Available in white, blue, purple, red, pink and yellow.

Measures approximately 2.5" in length; blossom is approximately 1" across

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Green and Red Floral - Small
Complement your style for the holidays with this lovely green beaded 3-petal floral hair pin with red edging. They also make great gifts. Available in any color.

Measures approximately 3" in length; bloom measures approximately 2" across

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Blue Floral - Small

Try something new, try something blue. Complement your style with this lovely sparkling blue beaded 5-petal floral hair pin. This floral hair pin would look wonderful on your wedding day, prom, and everyday wear. They also make great gifts. Available in any color.

Measures approximately 3" in length; Bloom measures approximately 2.25" across

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** The item is available for purchase in my etsy shop**
For all other items, email me and I will forward you an invoice

2007 Holiday Bizarre Market

2007-11-05T12:02:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone - I will be selling my products during the 2007 Holiday Bizarre Market at Chop Suey Books by Virginia Commonwealth University. The opening reception will be held in the upstairs gallery on Saturday, December 1 from 6p-9p. You can purchase my products at Chop Suey books during their normal business hours through the month of December. Come out and show your support.

Chop Suey Books
1317 W. Cary St
Richmond, VA 23220
Hours Mon-Sat 11a-6p, Sun 1p-6p

Floral Hair Pins

2007-11-05T08:30:00.002-05:00

Here is my new line of hair pins. They are available in any color and you have the option of having a different color edging. Price ranges from $10 - $15. Discounts are available for multiple items. Floral hair pins are the perfect accessory and make wonderful gifts. They can be purchased at http://ayanacreations.etsy.com/

Click on image to enlarge

New Poem - Just Rest

2007-11-05T08:24:00.001-05:00

This is my latest poem. It's about a conversation I had with God the other day about me taking the time to rest. I'm sharing it with the purpose of reminding you that self preservation is extremely important. Always remember to take some time out for yourself even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Enjoy.

JUST REST

My child
If you just come to me I will give you rest
You need to rest

REST!
But God don’t You know how much I have to do?
I just need to
Finish these assignments
Attend this next meeting
Participate in that activity
I don’t have time to rest

My child
If you just come to me I will give you rest
You need to rest

REST!
But God don’t You know how much I have to do?
I just need to
Find a new job
Sell these flowers
Start on this load of clothes
I don’t have time to rest

My child
If you just come to me I will give you rest
Haven’t you seen the signs?
When you locked your keys in the car
When you left your paper at home
When you started crying over everything

My child
Please come to Me and I will give you rest
I will wrap you in my comforting arms
Blanket you with peace
And lay you beside the Baobab tree
So that you can have rest
Just rest

-Nsoromma 2007

November News

2007-10-31T10:14:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone - Here are the latest news and updates for my products. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

NEW CUSTOMERS
All new customers receive 10% off their first order.

NOVEMBER BIRTH FLOWER
Chrysanthemum Spider Mum

NEW THIS MONTH

Coral Earrings

Bougainvillea Candle Holder

Bougainvillea Stem

Lilies

Ivy Stem

Pine Needles

Starr Flower Stem

That's all for now. Have a beadiful day!

I'm now on CafePress.com

2007-10-26T16:52:00.001-04:00

I just wanted to inform you all that I have a new online store at CafePress.com. There you can purchase greeting cards, note cards, postcards, prints, calendars, etc. with pictures of my French beaded flowers on them. Don't see something you like? I can customize a listing with your favorite flower AT NO CHARGE. Go to http://www.cafepress.com/ayanacreations for more information and to see my new items.

NOTE: You'll have to chose an item that I have already created from my gallery. If you want something specific, contact me directly.

Customized Orders

2007-10-25T17:07:00.002-04:00

I gladly accept commissions and customized orders using my consultation design service. I will provide a free consultation with you via email or telephone for the design of your custom floral package. During the consultation we will discuss the size and type of flowers you wish to have in your custom package. This may include sending you photos of flowers we have made in the past and photos of beads to select the colors. We may be able to provide a rough indication of the price of the custom package as well, but any amounts discussed at this point are subject to change once the full crafting process begins.

How to Order
If you are interested in placing an order after our initial consultation, a non-refundable deposit fee of $50 will be required to begin the crafting process. For orders under $50, the total amount of the item(s) will be the deposit. Once we have designed the items of your custom package, I will be happy to create it.

The Crafting Process
I will begin crafting your order once your deposit has been processed. During the crafting process, I will send you photos of the arrangement, bouquet, wreath, etc. before the final assembly has taken place. You are free to request small alterations at any time; however, major alterations (i.e. change in color, type or size of flowers or beads) will require an additional fee. If you are satisfied with your finished custom package and would like to finalize your order, your remaining balance will be due prior to delivery.

Cancellations
If you are not satisfied with your finished custom package, you are not obligated to purchase it. You can simply cancel your order (but you will lose your deposit) or you can request small alterations. I reserve the right to refuse to accept alterations that are deemed too major. All custom orders and special request sales are final.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

What are "French beaded flowers"?

2007-10-25T16:09:00.001-04:00

The term "French beaded" refers to the techique I use to create my flowers. When using this technique, thousands of tiny seed beads are strung onto flexible wire and sculpted into various flower components (i.e. petals, leaves, etc). These parts "come to life" when they are crafted to make flowers and foliage. Next the stems are wrapped with floral tape and embroidery floss to give them a silky finish.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about French beaded flowers.