Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: carrieWdesigns

"'Having patience along this journey' is the line I would use to describe myself these days," Carrie jokes. By day she is a teacher - and by night, a creative jewelry artist. At 30, she has a wonderful husband who is supportive of both her career and her art. Her jewelry making began two years ago when she had custom pieces created for her bridesmaids. "The artist who did the work, now a friend, led me to the right resources to begin," she explains. "I work with sterling silver, copper, pearls (my favorite) and semi-precious stones for the most part." Like many of us, she has a "serious addiction to beads." She has even gotten her mother into the craft. "When we shop for stones and findings, it is a marathon event." Her mother has always been an inspiration. "She is a true artist, teaching me everything I know about color and texture." One day she hopes to turn her passion into a full time career, but in the meantime she's enjoying the creative Etsy community. "I get great tips from the forums and always work on my photos. I relist items almost everyday, sometimes several times during the course of the day. I think relisting is one inexpensive way to get noticed and make sales." Please check out her shop: http://carriewdesigns.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: rivermoonblossom

The talent behind Etsy shop rivermoonblossom is artist Strawberry Curls. She grew up in a bohemian artist household, "moving all over the place like traveling gypsies." They finally settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico where they found a thriving community of artists. "Because my parents are artists, I have been creating and making art as far back as I remember," she explains. "One of My earliest memories is drawing and collaging in my play area, which was under my mama's sewing machine. We used to sing folk songs together as she sewed her soft sculpture dolls." At the tender age of 10 that she made her first ceramic tile, but it was not love at first sight. "I was taking a children's artist workshop from a famous New Mexican artist, but the class was in an old, drafty warehouse and had no heat, so my hands were like ice on the clay..it was no fun...it took me another 16 years to find my way back to ceramics, but once I did, I was hooked." She draws and paints mystical designs with glazes on her handmade red clay tiles, firing them at a low heat, which brings out the vibrant colors she is known for. Much of her inspiration comes from her passion for world goddess traditions and women empowerment stories, although they are usually tempered with southwest culture and color. While Etsy is currently her hobby, she is working to make it a full time job, although she admits that she would feel compelled to create even if she made no money at all. She hopes to begin 2009 with the addition of prints of her fantastic tiles, paintings, and collages. "Treat Etsy like the friendly community that it is," she reminds. "Look at other shops, not just related to your medium. Mark favorites, chat in the forums and chat rooms, make treasuries, look at the most 'successful' Etsy shops to see what they are selling...make yourself visible and accessible." Please check out her shop: http://rivermoonblossom.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: Starbourne

Starbourne describes herself as "a retired Grandma (Bubbe to those that love me) living bliss in sunny south FL, visiting my children and grandchildren all over the country, and creating through my crafting passions (which, thankfully, I can take with me when and wherever I travel)." After many years in executive management, she made a life change in her "senior wisdom years" and became a licensed esthetician. "This gave me great joy, not only in working in the healing field (which I had done many years doing aura photography), but working with other healers. It gave me the opportunity to use so many healing modalities; color energy, infra red energy, Reiki, aroma therapy, and so much more." Although she is now following her artistic passions, she still keeps in touch with the holistic community. Her fist love is cross-stitch, although she is also interested in (and may I say an expert at) 3 dimensional art, which she learned from her daughter who is a Graphic Designer and fellow Etsian as well (you may see her work at AshraJudaica.etsy.com). She also works on what she calls "'Mindful Bracelets' - A Tool for Change." She admits that she is "always in learning mode, so am open to learning anything new that piques my interest." Her inspiration comes from "all things beautiful, mystical, magical and spiritual." Etsy has been an excellent gateway for her to connect with people and she looks forward to networking with like-minded artists. Please check out her shop: http://starbourne.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Living the Good Life On A Budget: Trader Joe's

I've always loved Trader Joe's, but as prices rise even at bargain places like Winco, I'm appreciating TJ's even more. All of their products are organic, healthy, fair trade - and delicious. They have a new product called a "Take Home Thali For Two," which is basically an Indian dinner for $3.99! It includes rice, yellow lentils, and a potato & pea curry. Pair it with their classic or masala style naan (flat bread) and tomato chutney and you'd swear it came from a restaurant. I never have high hopes from Indian food in a box, but I was totally impressed! It cooked up so well in the microwave it seemed like it came off the stove top. Their multi grain vegetable lasagna is absolutely fabulous, as are their fish tacos with cilantro sauce (both found in the freezer section). Their breaded eggplant cutlets are perfect for making your own Eggplant Parmesan (just bake the cutlets as directed, add cheese and marinara sauce - I love Paul Newman's, but I'm willing to bet TJ's makes a good one, too). Their artisan cheeses are top notch and nearly half what you'd pay elsewhere. My three favorites are their blue cheese, brie, and cambrazola - which is like brie and blue cheese in one. They also happen to make the best tortillas and salsa verde. This salsa is so good it's hard to believe it's fat free, low calorie, and good for you. I use it for salad dressing, too - and it would be great with eggs (juevos rancheros). They also carry a huge selection of reasonably priced beer and wine, so you can really make dinner in feel like dinner out. If you haven't checked out Trader Joe's yet, put it on your To Do list. I guarantee you'll love it...
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Living the Good Life On A Budget: The Grocery Outlet; My New Favorite Store...

OK - I admit it - I'm a bit of a wine snob and "gourmand," but my pay and hours have been cut by almost 1/3 due to the struggling economy. I have to have my wine and brie. What to do, what to do??? Fret no more - Grocery Outlet to the rescue! First of all, they carry wine and beer. How cool is that? I just had a glass of Glory Days Voignier that I picked up there for a mere $3.99 a bottle. I bought a few other brands for $2.99! Some of my other recent finds have been an Oreo cheesecake for $1.99 with real name-brand Oreos, not the cheap knock-off stuff, frozen Indian food microwave dinners for $1.99 (the same brand others carry for a whopping $5), and the most Delicious Greek yogurt with honey for .50! I even got a HUGE bag of fresh red and yellow bell peppers for $1.99 that I cut up in slices and threw in the freezer for fajitas later in the week. This place is freaking AWESOME!!! You simply have to check it out - especially as prices are even rising at bargain grocers such as Winco. And remember - the items are always changing, giving you a great variety. Hopefully there's one near you. If so - what are your favorite finds?
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Living the good life - on a budget: series coming soon...

Let's face it - most of us have been hit by the struggling economy. Stocks are down, work hours are being cut - and worse yet - lay-offs and unemployment abound. As if that isn't bad enough, there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. So - how can we cut costs but still enjoy the good life? I have come up with a few ideas, tips, and tricks - and will post them soon in a series of features. I may even have a contest for the best submitted suggestion with a yet-to-be-determined prize. See you soon...
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Artist: gerebdesign

Izabela Gereb studied furniture design and graduated with a Master's Degree in Art Nouveau furniture from a University in Brasov in Romania. "I never had a chance to actually use my knowledge of Art Nouveau, but 'C’est la vie,'" she jokes. She spent much of her adolescence in museums and galleries - and considers this the most important part of her education. She later studied drawing and painting techniques in galleries in Montreal, Canada. Truly a unique artist, she even made her own clothing. "When I lived in Paris many times women actually wanted to buy whatever I was wearing on the spot." Her real joy comes from "making fun staff out of useless objects." She explains, "Basically most of my home accessories and furniture I developed primary from discarded materials. For example the series of portraits on MDF blocks was born because my neighbours furniture makers had lots of MDF pieces going straight to the garbage. I sold tons of these prints on canvas on unwanted MDF frames." She has designed and built thousands of "unique and crazy" furniture pieces and painted literally hundreds of paintings, selling every single one. "I am a product of split heritage and background," she says, "Polish and Canadian, artist and designer rolled into one." A part of many cultures, she speaks eight languages and "feel(s) at home in many places on this planet." Currently she lives on Vancouver Island where she continues her interested and exploration of human nature. You can view more of her work at http://www.gerebdesign.com./ check out her shop: http://gerebdesign.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/