Featured Post: Pam of PeeGeeJewelry

Meet Pam of PeeGeeJewelry! Pam makes fun and funky jewelry that I absolutely adore! Learn more about Pam below...
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I am Pam George and I sell Country Girl, Gypsy Chic jewelry with a kick of Vintage Boho. I round it out with Shabby Chic!

I am an art quilter at heart, but I love to make jewelry when I'm not quilting. Now the jewelry has seem to taken over. Although I do have a quilt going usually at the same time.

I love to work with cold porcelain and air dry clay. I tend to get inspired by nature and vintage things. I love to create plants and flowers and work a lot with my photography for inspiration.

Right now I have been making vintage camping trailers that I have cut from steel. I paint each one to have it's own retro feel. I hope to create custom pendants for people who "Glamp" , thats glamorous camping. I also would like to reach out to the vintage campers.

I have a Face Book page called PeeGee Jewelry at www.facebook.com/PeeGeeJewelry and I share a blog with my daughter called Family Style Living at Wordpress. familystyleliving.wordpress.com/
We are both DIY girls and I talk about my quilting and jewelry on the blog quite frequently. We share all our decorating projects and cooking and gardening ideas. Life is great!

3 weeks and one final exam to go...

It's finally getting closer and closer to summer break, and I am looking forward to it more than ever! I have so many ideas and plans in my head... But first, I have to get through two end of the year projects, one 10+ page research paper, and one killer final exam. Three more weeks and counting!

I spent last weekend at Tusculum College attending the Old Oak Festival. It was a blast! I was there with a bunch of my friends from Etsy, including PinkMouse, SSBaud, ChickenCoopStamper, JaneyLaughs, JerisJewels, and W.E.Creationz. We had a blast through the cold and the rain, and I got to meet some great people and had a bit of fun as well!

This coming weekend, I am looking forward to heading to the Spring Craft Show at the Boones Creek Baptist Family Life Center in Johnson City, TN! This show is being thrown by my friend Cathi at SistersActTwo, and more of my Etsy people will be attending!

I am planning on bringing my soaps and lip balms, as well as new products like whipped body butters in 5 scents, water-based body sprays, and scented bath salts! I am featuring new scents in soap, as well as classics like lavender, vanilla, and sandalwood.

I will be at the show on Saturday, April 27 from 9-4! Come out and see me!

Only three weeks left until I can kick my shop back into high gear... Stick with me, readers! The blog drought is coming to an end soon!

Feature Friday: Eric and Dustin of KnitsbyED

Eric  and Dustin of Knits by ED features fun knit toys along with a sampling of gorgeous vintage finds. Learn more about him below:
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1.Who are you and what do you sell?

We are Knits by ED; a small town business, producing hand-knit plushies and home décor made from recycled materials. We can recycle any blankets, clothes, knitted items, and even plastic bags. The items are cut into strips (or in the case of knitted items they are simply unraveled) and attached at the ends to create yarn; then we can turn that yarn into unique creations and critters.

2.What inspired you to get started in your craft?

We got a lot of our inspiration from our childhood memories with stuffed plushies, Beanie Babies, and the like. But we really wanted to start our business to help save our environment. Most of the materials used to make our items are recycled. We wanted to turn plastic bags, old sweaters and other knitted items, and even old t-shirts into something useful and memorable instead of them ending up hidden in the back of the closet, or stored away forever in the garage, or even worse, littering our precious Earth.

3.What is your favorite part of your process?

Our favorite part of our craft is seeing the joy that one Knits by Ed creation can bring to a person and knowing that we’re helping the environment in the process.

4.Handmade: What inspires you the most while you create?

We gain a lot of inspiration from nature and animals. We have two cats running around at home plus multiple aquatic critters. Whether it’s from the sea, the sky, or land, all of Earth’s creatures are beautiful and deserve to be recognized and kept safe.

5.If you could pick, what is your most favorite item in your Etsy shop?

Our favorite items to create are the octopi. We love them all too much to pick just one, though!

6.Got any social media links?

Please like us at www.facebook.com/knitsbyed.

7.Anything else that you want to share?

10% of all sales from Knits by Ed are donated to Oceana to help maintain our oceans. We’re just two guys running a small business in a very small town but we believe that everyone can make a difference when it comes to keeping our planet clean and beautiful!

Feature Friday: Lisa of W.E.Creationz

Meet Lisa, of W.E.Creationz fame! You may know her from her bright and fun creations, or you may know her from her colorful, happy presence at craft shows, or you may know her from her Zulily.com fame! Learn more about her below!
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1.Who are you and what do you sell? wecreationz....anything and everything shabby chic and for children!!!! I love creating for children and it needs to be things you can't really find any where else!

2.What inspired you to get started in your craft? I have sewn all my life, I make my own patterns, and when grandchildren started coming along I realized this was the funniest stuff of all to make!!!!!

3.What is your favorite part of your process? Going from a pile of fabric, ribbon and trims to all dolled up kids at a photo shoot. I guess I love the entire process!!!

4.Handmade: What inspires you the most while you create? The love for my grand babies and just how special and cute these little people are in our lives! :)

5.If you could pick, what is your most favorite item in your Etsy shop? My new "Emmelia Grace" set

6.Got any social media links? 
www.wecreationz.blogspot.com
W.E.Creationz on facebook
wecreationz on twitter

7.Anything else that you want to share? Being able to create with your hands are sew gratifying but being able to do this and make your little pint sixed customers and their parents happy is even better!!!!!!

Updates

Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for sticking with my blog while I scale things back a bit. I just wanted to let everyone in on a few updates...

ANNOUNCEMENT:
I will be at the Tennessee Soap and Candle Social on Saturday, May 4 in Nashville, TN! This is my first year attending, and I am really excited to meet and rub elbows with other Tennessee soapers. I'll have a full write-up on the different speakers and activities that are planned, so keep your eyes peeled in the second week of May!

CRAFT SHOWS:
I have two craft shows to announce coming in April, with many more coming later in the year.

• April 19-21: I will be at the Old Oak Festival at Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN! Hours are Friday: Noon-dark, Saturday: 9am-dark, Sunday: noon-4pm! (I will be with the indoor crafters, so come out and see me rain or shine!)
• April 27: I will be at the Boones Creek Baptist Church Craft Show in Johnson City! Hours are 9am-4pm!

NEW PRODUCTS:

Green Apple Solid Lotion Bar

--I am working on a few lines of new products that I am hoping to debut soon. My solid lotion bars are slowly working their way on to my Etsy shop, so make sure to keep checking back for new fragrances.
--I am also working on a line of whipped body butters! They are packed full of great oils and butters, like mango and shea butter, avocado oil, and sweet almond oil. I am going to have them at my spring craft shows, and I am working on the stability of the mixture, so I will be able to ship them in the summer months.
--Lastly, I am perfecting my recipe for water-based body and linen sprays. These will also be at my craft shows and should start popping up on Etsy very soon, so keep checking!

I have a few other things that I am developing, like new melt and pour soaps, new cold and hot process soap varieties, and whipped cold process soap, so keep a look-out!

With school starting to wind down, I should be able to pick up my blogging a little more often, which is great! I have really missed it... I cannot wait to start up again!

Feature Post: Judy of Dazies Head 2 Toe

Judy's handmade items are amazing! Learn more about her below:
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My name is Judy Carrier and I live in Bristol, Virginia. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 41 years and have two children, and three grandchildren. I work for the City of Bristol Tennessee, but I have a little business on the side called Dazies Head 2 Toe. I have two shops on Etsy, one is called Dazies Head 2 Toe, the other is Dazies Head 2 Toe Too.

I started my first shop in March 2008 after the birth of my granddaughter. I’ve always been a crafty person and when my daughter asked if I would make my granddaughter some hairbows I started looking around to see what the little girls were wearing. I started making the hairbows and since I loved to crochet I decided to also make her some crochet trimmed socks. It just blew up from there. I found that I loved making them and decided to open a shop on Etsy, and because it was hairbows and socks I came up with the name Dazies Head 2 Toe. I soon incorporated jewelry, headbands, and hairbow holders, into my line also.

My second shop Dazies Head 2 Toe Too is mostly key fobs right now but I plan to expand that shop to also include more adult jewelry as well.

Even though I work a full-time job I find that in the evening and on the weekends I have plenty of time for handcrafting and making the things I love. I like everything I make, but I guess my favorite is the hairbows. They were the beginning of Dazies Head 2 Toe and will always be my first love.

I not only have the shops on Etsy, but I also have a shop on Artfire.com, sell my hairbows at True Colors, in Bristol, Virginia, and I have a section in Blowfish Emporium in downtown Bristol where I sell my whole line.

Feature Post: Leslie of atouchofhealinghands

This week's feature is all about Leslie! Read more about her below in her own words, and make sure to check out her Etsy shop to see her amazing creations!
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I am a wife and step-mother who loves to be at home with family, that is why I decided to sell on etsy. I create cross stitch patterns for other people to find there artistic and crafty side. I believe with the right encouragement anyone can stitch. My grandmother taught me to crochet and it took off from there. I am the only family member left who can carry on the tradition of making gifts for the kids in our family. My favorite thing to do is help someone learn how to create something for themselves that they will cherish for a lifetime. My family and Movies inspire me most, watching movies would be my 2nd hobby. My Beauty and the Beast pattern is my favorite, because its the 1st disney movie I ever got! www.facebook.com/leslie.grizzell I have tried to sell other things on etsy and have found that my patterns are the most successfull and give me the most joy!

Spring Break!

Whew! I am so grateful for the person who first dreamed up the concept of spring break! I really needed this week off... School has been kicking my booty up and down the road, and it is great to take some time off and relax... and make soap!

I've got lots planned for my spring break week (wait, wasnt this supposed to be relaxing?!?), and I'll give you a quick taste:

• I am planning a HUGE project for this summer, and I am so excited about it I could burst! The planning stages are going to start this week.... :oD
• New bath bombs are coming!! It has been ages since I made any new fragrances, and they're going to feature some of my most popular scents!
• I'll be soaping once a day for 5 days straight! I've got everything planned out, and I am going to make YouTube videos of each one. I'll be doing different techniques, from in-the-pot swirling, to using embeds, to piping. It'll be fun on the bun!
• By the end of this week, most of my solid lotion fragrances will be listed on my Etsy shop. I'll also be playing around with my whipped butter recipe, tweaking it as I go.
• Two words: Body. Spray.

Relax?!? Who ever said anything about relaxing?!?

Featured Post: Peggy from MyCountryCloset

Girls Pillowcase Dress

MyCountryCrochet is filled with a touch of vintage and a touch of handmade! Peggy creates gorgeous crochet creations as well as beautiful clothes for children. I am love with her shop! I love the vintage patterns that she offers... They remind me of patterns that my grandmother collected. Learn more about Peggy below in her own words:
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1. I'm Peggy Spivey, originally from Chicago where I raised 4 children, then got divorced. Soon after, I was offered a job here in Kingsport TN. I met my 2nd husband here and we've been married 23 yrs, have 6 adult children together and 15 grandchildren. I'm retired now, and I have to keep busy.

Easy Stitch & Save Pattern 6268

2. I've been sewing & crocheting since I was 9 yrs. old; my grandmother taught me. When I had children, I started sewing for the girls, and continued through their proms and weddings. I stopped for awhile when I was pursuing my career (about 15-20 yrs.) I resumed when I retired, first collecting antique dolls and sewing & selling doll clothing. A few years ago, I started making clothing for young girls because the styles & patterns were so adorable.

3. The favorite part of the process is choosing the pattern and the fabrics. That's the creative part.

4. I get inspired by the work of others. I love browsing through sewing and craft sites, through etsy and ebay. I post my items for sale on sewing sites and enjoy members comments and input.

5. My favorite item in my etsy shop is a girl's dress with an attached apron; I added free-hand appliques of chicks and hens and enjoyed seeing them come to life.

Crochet Scarf

6. I have 3 blog sites, but I'm bad about keeping them up.
sews4you-peggyspretties.blogspot.com/ mycountrycloset.blogspot.com/
sews4you.blogspot.com/
...and a Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sews4you-Creations/179173778830832

My crochet scarves have been selling well, but the girls' dresses have not. I've been asked to write an article for Sew Beautiful and it's supposed to be in the July-August 2013 Issue. It will feature 3 of my girl's outfits, and I'm hoping that will bring in more traffic. I'm in the process of making more inventory in a variety of dress styles.

My Inspiration Wall

I love to read books on crafting, and one of the suggestions that I have came across a few times is to start an inspiration wall, filled with gorgeous things that inspire you to create. So, I started one of my own! Mine isn't big yet, but I hope to keep adding to it as time goes on to make a beautiful collection of awesomeness!

Ignore the panic button in the middle...  All, college living!

I started by adding my three favorite photographs of my three favorite people. First, I added a photo of me and my husband at our wedding, a picture of my son blowing kisses at 2 weeks old, and a picture of me and my sister making chocolate dipped strawberries for my wedding. I also added the note from the Fall/Winter S.O.A.P. team that I received last year. And I picked out three gorgeous handmade cards from ChickenCoopStamper last winter at a local farmer's market that I cannot part with and they have made their way onto my inspiration wall! My wall still looks a little bare, but I am always keeping my eyes open for great new things to add to it! Inspire me, wall!

Featured Post: Ashley of AshleyAfterDark

Glass Paper weights

Bright. Colorful. Fun. Those are the three words that I would use to describe the amazingly cool things that you can find in Ashley's Etsy shop, AshleyAfterDark! Ashley makes some beautiful peices using alcohol and ink to create random, gorgeous patterns! Read more about Ashley in her own words below:
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1.Who are you and what do you sell?

I am an artist that loves trying new ideas and projects. I specialize in designing an assortment of gorgeous and unique alcohol ink products. You will find a very colorful variety of coasters, tiles, framed art, motivational and inspirational art pieces, as well as upcycled and repurposed jewelry. I am also in the process of adding a new line of trendy magnets. As time progresses I continue to branch out on new adventures in order to create fresh and new products.

2.What inspired you to get started in your craft?

I had been eyeing alcohol inks for awhile so one day I decided to give it a whirl. I started out with 3 colors for a trial run. And as soon as I tried them I was completely hooked. It was fascinating to see all the colors and how they combined and mixed. You will notice that all my products are different and reflect a unique style.

Alcohol Ink Coasters

Crafting and creating however has always been a big part of who I am, and is something that I am passing along to my children. I grew up in a house with a mom that is very talented and always had some craft project going on. We now can create together and bounce ideas off one another. It has become a real bonding time for not only my mom and I, but my daughter and I as well. She is always asking when she gets to head out to the craft cave to do some art.

3.What is your favorite part of your process?

Getting to view the final product is by the far the best part of the whole process. I have somewhat of an idea what it’s going to look like just from the colors that I have applied, but the high gloss glaze is really what completes it in order to make the colors POP!
I also love to see what tiles people gravitate towards and so far people seem to order such a variety of colors and would much rather them be all different versus coordinating.

4.Handmade: What inspires you the most while you create?

While I am creating a big part that plays into my creativity is my emotions. I have to be in a carefree relaxing state of mind in order to properly create something that I love. Many times I will sit down to start a piece of art, then when I step back and view it I think of it as just ok. With a little more color and love being poured in it, it usually ends up being one of my favorite pieces of art.

Magnet Set

5.If you could pick, what is your most favorite item in your Etsy shop?

There is so many that I love that it’s hard to pick just one. The brighter colors have more of an appeal to my eye so I would have to go with this one…..

www.etsy.com/listing/121152239/alcohol-ink-modern-artwork-trivets

6.Got any social media links?

Following me on:
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/AshleyAfterDarkWhereThePartyStartsAtTheCraftTable
TWITTER: twitter.com/AshleyRodgers26
PINTEREST: pinterest.com/ashley_breann/
GOOGLE+: plus.google.com/u/0/101678518806867897153/posts?tab=XX

7.Anything else that you want to share?

Creations of any sort come from the heart and have meaning behind them for each and every individual. You must have confidence in yourself and in the products you are selling. In order to make it worthwhile you have to believe in yourself.

The first craft fair I did was very intimidating, but it was also a great learning experience. There was a blind vision on my part that I could hide in the corner and magically sell my art. But as many of you know that is far from how it works. It forced me to communicate with buyers as well as various sellers in order to get my products out there. When I began to see results there was a confidence about me that I wanted to share with the world. If you are able to connect yourself with craft fairs and galleries it's something I would highly recommend to any artisan.

Upcycled Domino Necklace

You also have to go into selling with realistic expectations. Most etsy sellers aren't able to throw some items together, take a few pictures and make money. It takes patience and realistic goals. Success is not going to happen overnight.

Oh, College...

Hello, sweet readers!

Man, life has really been hitting me hard lately. As some of you may know, I am a full time college student at ETSU. I'm a junior this year, and after coming off a not-so-great semester in the fall, I am determined to really kick things up a notch this spring and rebound off into a great summer.

I decided to take extra classes this semester in order to keep myself on track to graduate in about 2 years. I'm finally getting around to knocking out my science classes, and the my choice for the first of two sets necessary for my diploma ended up being Geology. I am in love with this class! My professor is an amazing speaker (and I am not just sucking up in case he stumbles across this post!). However, if you have ever taken a science class, you know that they are taxing... As much as I love the subject matter, I am getting quite overwhelmed with it. AND, this is only one of four sciences that I will need to graduate! I'm also taking the first of my advertizing classes, as well as picking up a few classes that count towards my electives.

I'm taking 16 hours total, which has turned into more work that I realized!
Add on top of that an amazing toddler who is learning more and more and his favorite thing to do all day is to play with his "Mom-mom." Oh, and add a blossoming small business that is doing better and better as time goes on... Plus a blog... and a YouTube channel... and the daily grind of creating bath and body items/photographing/editing/listing... and now there are craft shows to think about, with two of them coming up at the end of April... YIKES! (Oh, and don't forget my husband, who likes to see me every now and then!)

So, with all of these things pulling me in a hundred different directions, I've decided that it is time to start scaling back some things in order to make school and my family the priority. So, until this semester ends at the beginning of May, I am going to scale back my blog posts to two a week: Monday and Friday. I will continue to feature my Etsy artists until I run out of folks to feature. I would like to continue to add new content to the blog on Mondays, but as school and family and my shop continue to need my attention, Monday posts may move to the back burner for me. My YouTube channel will also be scaled back as well, as it is easier to create new things without having to worry about extra equipment to set up, as well as not looking like a complete moron in from of a camera. :o)

I hope that you all will continue to bear with me as I make it through this semester. My Etsy shop will still be around, as well as my Facebook and Twitter, which are easier to update on the fly. Make sure to follow me there to keep up with me!

I hope to hear from you all soon!

Feature Post: Mary of NeedlecraftbyNan

Place mats, napkins, and ring holders

If you are looking to see some amazing handiwork, then make sure to check out NeedlecraftByNan! Mary Evans, who also goes by Nan, has amazing talents with a needle and thread, and her amazing creations can be found on Etsy! Mary's shop is just getting off the ground, so make sure to head over and show her some love! You can learn more about Mary below in her own words...
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1.my name is Mary[nan] Evans. i opened a shop on etsy.com several months ago. I make quality hand crafted items for babies, mothers and children, home decor, and seasonal items.

2. i started many years ago sewing for my children and friends. both my mother and grandmother were needle artists and it fascinated me to watch them create beautiful things out of fabric, yarn and crochet thread.

3. the favorite part of the process is creating original designs and putting my ideas into a product.

Gorgeous bib ... Original Design!

4.i think making things that are well made and will last for years with a minimum of care. i love having others get enjoyment out of things i make for them

5.my favorite items to make are baby bibs with my original designs on them.


6. i am on facebook, and i have just joined two etsy teams - knoxville creative hands street team and east tennessee crafters network. i'm just learning how to use the computer so hope it will help me to get aquainted through these groups. my goal is to build a local customer base.

Whipped Body Butter Adventures

Solid Lotion Bars - Travel Size

Since about mid-November, I have been playing around with a few solid lotion bar recipes, and I have finally perfected my recipe, tested it, had my testers give it a go, and I am confident enough to start offering my solid lotion bars on Etsy!Yay!

My solid lotion bars have become a huge hit among my testers, and through word of mouth, I have actually sold a few already! The bars are made of beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and a little bentonite clay, to help cut the greasy feeling and help the lotion glide on the skin. Currently, I only have small lotion bars, which are pocket-size, and I am looking forward to creating large sized bars, once I confirm my packaging!

However, as my lotion-creating adventure went along, I stumbled into the world of whipped body butters, and I am head over heels in love with body butters! I created my first tiny batch of body butter, using this recipe:

• 70% shea butter (My local health food store sells unrefined shea butter, so I had to fight it when it tried to go grainy on me.)
• 15% grapeseed oil (I have this lying around, but I would not use it in a sellable product, since the shelf life is so short)
• 15% coconut oil
• 1 tbsp corn start (to cut the greasy feeling)

I do not have a standing mixer (super sad face!), but I do have a hand blender, so I used my hand blender to whip the mix. Without a whisk attachment, it did not whip up as much as I had anticipated, but it was still arid enough for me to be happy. I added some Cucumber and Green Tea fragrance oil, which smells lovely! The small batch that I made (I started with a little over 3oz. of oils and butters) ended up making over 5 oz. in product, so I packaged some and sent it off to my testers.

Two of my testers loved it, but one did complain that it felt greasier than the solid lotion bar. The greasiness comes from the shea butter, so I am thinking about playing around with some mango butter, which is supposed to be smoother and dryer than the shea. I'm thinking of trying a 40% shea ad 60% mango blend for the butter part. I am also going to play around with a sweet almond/olive blend for the soft oils, rather than the grapeseed/coconut blend that I used before. Grapeseed has a very short shelf life (3-6 months), and coconut oil seems to be a more-common allergy, so I think the sweet almond/olive blend would work well.I am also considering grabbing some tapioca starch to substitute for the corn starch, since some people have reactions to corn starch... Loads to think about over the next little while!

Working with the body butter also has me thinking about preservatives, which is something that I have not had to research before. Currently, my products do not contain preservatives, but it is something that I may need to consider in the future if I ever branch out into liquid lotions or products other than soap that are water and oil combinations. I've come across some fantastic information on preservatives from some very reputable blogs, like Soap Queen and SwiftCraftyMonkey, so I am starting to feel confident about which preservatives to chose as I expand my products.

Featured Post: Marci of MarcisChainDesigns

Wow, if you are looking for some amazing, unique handmade jewelry, you have found something fabulous in Marci's Chain Designs! Marci, the hands behind these amazing chainmail creations, has an eye for the colorful and unique! Looking for a chainmail bow tie or belt? Marci is your gal!

You can learn more about Marci in her words below. Enjoy!
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Rainbow Earrings

I'm Marci, owner of Marci's Chain Designs (www.marcischaindesigns.com). My creations are accessories and jewelry inspired by chain mail armor from the Middle Ages. Each piece is crafted from links that are woven together by hand, one ring at a time.

I've been fascinated by chain mail since the first opportunity I had to touch a finished piece. There's a captivating quality to an item made from stiff metal rings that, when woven, become a flexible and fluid piece of art. Each item has its own unique texture and movement, making it as much fun to play with as it is to wear.

My favorite part of the craft is engineering. Chainmail is based on repeating patterns, all of which behave differently with different sizes of rings or types of metal. I love the challenge of creating something from the ground up and finding the correct combination of size, metal, color and design to make a piece that is both functional and beautiful.

Chainmail stretch bracelet

In the 10+ years I've been making chainmail the history attached to it has never ceased to amaze me. The process I use is very similar to what armorers used during the Middle Ages when linked rings were used to craft armor that protected troops and saved lives. Since chainmail armor isn't as in demand today, I enjoy finding new and different ways to turn that piece of history into something modern and unexpected.

Chainmail Bow tie

My favorite item currently for sale in my Etsy store is the bow tie. It's quirky, eye catching, and guaranteed to jump start any conversation. That said, I most often find myself wearing a pair of four in one stretch bracelets.

You can always find me at Marci's Chain Designs on Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/MarcisChainDesigns) or my business site, www.marcischaindesigns.com.
Don't forget to Like me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Marcis-Chain-Designs/291322975238) as well, where you can find my calendar of shows and special discounts that are only available to Facebook fans!!

Treasury Wednesday: Bright and Clean

Youtube Tuesday: Making Marigold Mint Soap

This video features me using the 9 bar birchwood mold that I reviewed yesterday. If you have any questions, let me know!

Review: Birchwood Soap Mold from Brambleberry.com

One of my favorite soaps so far: Marigold Mint

At Christmas, I begged my husband for only one present: the 9 bar birchwood mold from Bramble Berry. The mold looked so slick and perfect, and I was dying to start making soaps with swirls and designs on top to match the fragrance within. And as soon as Christmas arrived, I became the proud owner of the 9 cavity mold!

The mold came with the wooden box, four outer walls, the four dividers that could be slid into place before or after pouring the soap, and a wooden top to help insulate the soap.

This mold has presented me with a few interesting challenges. First off, this mold was quite different from the silicone molds that I have been so accustomed to. I had to learn how to wrap the wooden mold in freezer paper to keep the soap batter from spoiling the wooden box. My first few attempts to wrap the mold where HUGE disasters! I learned quickly that when I added the walls after molding, I have to take care not to rip the paper, or else the soap batter will leak into the box and will ruin it.

After perfecting the art of wrapping the mold, it was time to make the soap. Using the mold is very easy and makes gorgeous soaps! I've been able to start making pretty swirls and flowers on the tops of my soaps, and I have been super pleased with my mold. I've actually ditched most of my loaf molds in favor of the birchwood mold. I love the new look and feel of my soaps!

Be sure to come back tomorrow and checkout a video that I made of soaping with the 9 bar birchwood mold!

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Just a quick FYI, this is a personal review of this product. This review was not paid for in any way and I am not affiliated with Bramble berry or Brambleberry.com!

Feature Post: Alicia from OwnSomethingAwesome

 If you want to own something awesome, why not head on over to Alicia's etsy shop, OwnSomethingAwesome! Her handmade crochet kitchen and bath accessories are fabulous! I love the different colors, patterns, and textures in her work. Learn more about Alicia below...
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Face Scrubbies

1.Who are you and what do you sell?
My name is Alicia from Own Something Awesome, and I offer eco-friendly crochet items for the home. =)

2.What inspired you to get started in your craft?
Actually, it was my baby shower a couple years ago. My mom and I were trying to think of some gifts to give the guests that were meaningful in some way. Well, I ended up crocheting some wash cloth sets! After seeing how much some of the guests really liked the gifts, I decided maybe that's what I would go into. I use to make needle felting sculptures, but when I got pregnant, the motion of punching the felt over and over made me SUPER nauseous, so I needed to find something else to pass the time. Crocheting then became my new hobby and now my business!

3.What is your favorite part of your process?
My favorite part is taking some yarn and making something great out of it. I'm sure there's one item in my shop that everyone uses, and it makes me feel good that I'm offering eco-friendly items. I've been big into finding more eco-friendly solutions in my life the past year or so.

4.Handmade: What inspires you the most while you create?
Looking at my house, and thinking, what can I make that would be useful in this room? or even going through certain isles at the store. I like to see the new cleaning products out.

Crochet Double Layered Scrubbie

5.If you could pick, what is your most favorite item in your Etsy shop?
My absolute most favorite item, is any of my double layered scrubbies (pot scrubbers). I make them with thicker strips of netting than a lot of people, so they tend to last for like, ever it seems! And they are great to use on pretty much anything because they don't scratch!

6.Got any social media links?
Blog: OwnSomethingAwesome.Blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/bestupendous
Facebook: facebook.com/ownsomethingawesome

7.Anything else that you want to share?
First - I know some people might not think cleaning things are "awesome" per say, but personally, I love the words Awesome and Stupendous! They are just really positive uplifting words! =)

Dish Cloth Set

I am working on adding more items throughout this year, but with my 2-year-old son, and my youngest son born on December 6th, I am a little behind on getting a whole lot of new things into the shop, but keep checking back!

Also, for all of you awesome readers who like to support handmade, Use coupon code BLOGSPECIAL at checkout and receive 20% your order!

I hope every one of you have an Awesome Day!

Treasury Wednesday: Vanilla