Got the creative bug back!

I have opened an ArtFire shop! Here, I am showcasing my 'Signature Collection' as well as my newest and best creations. Please check it out at http://creationsbyjae.artfire.com Interested in joining a neato community like ArtFire? Click here!

Moving on to my newest creations, all finished within the past week. The first is a necklace made from Azurite and Malachite combined with copper chain. It really has an earthy feel, reminds me of looking at the Earth from space. It's a longer necklace at 23 inches, and totally cute and casual!

Next, I took a filigree butterfly and cut it in half, preserving the wings. I then wired black tourmaline rounds to the wings to make a body on each half. These have to be my favorite earrings to date! I love flutterbies!

My latest project was just finished on Saturday. I took a beautiful green piece of beach glass that Diane of MyGemStoneBox sent me from Rhode Island and finally learned how to cage it to make a beautiful pendant! I used square copper wire to cage it, and hung it from a length of brown leather cord. The cord is adjustable to make a long or short necklace. Turned out just darling!

Lets hope the creative bug keeps going for me! })i({

I've been featured on Found-Handmade!

Just received an email late this afternoon that Found-Handmade, a wonderful blog that finds handmade items to showcase. I have been selected to be featured! Isn't that fantastic news? I can use all the exposure I can get!

Visit my selection of featured items from my ArtFire shop! Visit http://found-handmade.blogspot.com/2009/02/creations-by-jae.html to see the yummy goodies and also to leave a comment pretty pretty please! })i({

Winner of One World One Heart Giveaway

I have a winner in my OWOH giveaway!

I used a random number generator at random.org to select my winner for this year's giveaway. Join me in congratulating #206, Lilly from Sampa, Brazil as the lucky gal to win my earrings! Yay!

View Lilly's profile at http://www.blogger.com/profile/10524602149251062130 to find out a bit about her.

I thank everyone for leaving a comment, I had 251 comments left for me, and I got to see all sorts of neato blogs! This is a wonderful opportunity to mix and mingle with bloggers from all over the world, and I look forward to doing this again next year! })i({

Meet Dani Garcia of DG Designs!

Dani, one of my dear friends and a fellow eSMArts member, allowed me to find out a bit about her! Read on to see what she has to say about jewelry, selling, and life in general!

"Welcome. My name is Danis Garcia and I am in independent jewelry
artisan living inthe Texas Hill Country just outside of San Antonio.
I started making jewelry years ago, mostly for myself and
family/friends but it blossomed into a full time love of creating
after my 4 children were grown and doing their own thing.

I also love creating that one truly unique element for some of my
jewelry designs by custom wrapping stones, shells and other materials
with sterling silver, copper or gold filled wire as well other handmade
findings. You can find some of my work online at
http://dgdesignstx.etsy.com.

I am also a retail/wholesale jewelry supplier with a huge show show
schedule that covers most of Texas. My online store for jewelry supply
is http://dgdesigns.artfire.com.

Currently I am learning to make pendants and other elements in glass
and precious metal clay.

Visit my blog, http://dgdesignstx.blogspot.com, and read a little more
about me and take a peek at some of the things happening in my life."

Dani works with her daughter, Toni Garcia and they are the best of friends.
She is hopelessly in love with her husband Henry, and they celebrated 25
years of marriage this past December.
She has three grandkids, Jeremiah, Christopher and Kendal Marie.
She is a member of the San Antonio Bead Society, eSMArts social marketing
team, Texas Artisan Promotions, and SRAJD.
She strongly believe in the concepts of paying it forward and bartering.
Justice is dealt with by the Karma Police.

Thank you Dani for the great interview!  })i({

20% OFF all items in my Etsy shop!

I'm now having a 20% OFF sale in my Etsy shop for ALL items! Please go to http://creationsbyjae.etsy.com for details and to shop your hearts out!

Please please wait for a revised invoice before paying with PayPal. This will make things much easier for everyone! Otherwise you will get a PayPal refund. ;)

Enjoy shopping, and remember, do your part for the economy and my food fund! })i({

And the winner is...

I have the winner of the Team Challenge for January! Our favorite design is Joyce Bevil's 'Daisies and Lace' dress with a total of 4 votes! Second place goes to Jill Milan's anklet, and 3 people tied for 3rd: myself with my 'First Flower of Spring' choker, Wilma Travis's 'Spring Pinks and Greens' bracelet, and Anna Lee Husband's 'Springtime Imagery Study' earrings.

The theme for this challenge was 'Springtime Pastels' and we had many truly fantastic designs entered!

All entries are beautiful and here's a list of those who participated and their designs:

Jamie's First Flower of Spring Choker

Elayne's Groovy Spring Flowers Bracelet

Wilma's Spring Pinks and Greens Bracelet

Diane's Candy and Pearls Necklace

Jann's I Love Pink Set

Lois's Carnelian Carnival Necklace

Jamie's Springtime Branches Choker

Anna Lee's Springtime Imagery Study Earrings

Jill's Entry Anklet

Wezz's The Mermaid's Blues Necklace

Joyce's Tulip Garden Dress

Joyce's Pastels for Spring Dress

Joyce's Daisies and Lace Dress

Theresa's Garden Trellis Bracelet

Joella's Spring is Sprung Bracelet Heather's Think Pink Bracelet

Van's Turtle Medicine Wheel Goard If you want to see these designs for yourself, please visit my Picasa site at http://picasaweb.google.com/creationsbyjae and look for the January Team Challenge 09 album! })i({

New listing on my Etsy shop! Also made a sale!

I listed a new item in my Etsy shop this morning, my first January Challenge entry for the eSMArts team! Please check it out at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20529775 and let me know what you think of it! I tried something different for this design, and I think I like it, the more I look at it. Stepping out of your comfort zone is difficult for sure!

The listing has already been picked up by CheapTweet. If you want to vote for it, go here and click on the 'Cheap!' button!

On another positive note, I woke up this morning to a sale! My Monet Bling Ring is packaged carefully in its envelope and waiting to be mailed to MA this afternoon! Woohoo!!!

My friend and fellow teammate Wilma has been chosen for an Etsy treasury! Check out the treasury here and check out all the cool 'Aquafied' items, including Whimsey's 'Swirling Seas' lampwork beads. They are gorgeous and I want them bad!!!

Enjoy the eye candy and let me know what you think! })i({