My Bloghttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008-07-01T08:29:00Zhttp://www.webjam.com/enRecipe for Success - A Glass Artists Collaboration - Lampwork Glass Necklacehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/07/01/recipe_for_success__a_glass_artists_collaboration__lampwork_glass_necklacehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/07/01/recipe_for_success__a_glass_artists_collaboration__lampwork_glass_necklace#Comments2008-07-01T08:29:00Zjewelry, handmade, glass, pendant, lampwork, etsy, focal, chickadeebeads, wildsagelampwork, "etsy glass", "lest necklace"http://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/07/01/recipe_for_success__a_glass_artists_collaboration__lampwork_glass_necklace


I am a member of the Etsy Glass Artists Street Team and as such I have become involved in a collaboration project with Kristy Kempinger of chickadee beads. We traded beads a couple months ago and combined them with our own creations to create a collaboration item to sell.
Here is what I came up with.

Base of ivory, rolled in raku frit then decorated with raku and turquoise are the ingredients and recipe for the gorgeous focal bead created by Kristy Kempinger of chickadeebeads. Add to this the deep azure blue and turquoise spacer beads and the turquoise and raku nugget dangle created by me and it is a recipe for success.The hammered antiqued brass chain and flower clasp set off the focal and inspire visions of scenic rural flower gardens in bloom and cool flowing waterways. The focal measures 30mm x 45mm and the total length of the necklace is 29 inches. Kristy and I are both members of the Etsy Glass Artists Street Team - and Lampwork Etc Street Team.




]]>Whimsical, Rustic and Oh So Charming - Artisan Lampwork Glass Necklace - A Glass Artists Collaborationhttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/06/17/whimsical_rustic_and_oh_so_charming__artisan_lampwork_glass_necklace__a_glass_artists_collaboratihttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/06/17/whimsical_rustic_and_oh_so_charming__artisan_lampwork_glass_necklace__a_glass_artists_collaborati#Comments2008-06-17T12:32:00Zjewelry, handmade, glass, pendant, "sterling silver", "etsy glass artists", "collaboration project", "silk ribbon", chickadeebeads, "kristy kempinger", "pam dansie", rustic, "lampwork beads", "wild sage lampwork"http://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/06/17/whimsical_rustic_and_oh_so_charming__artisan_lampwork_glass_necklace__a_glass_artists_collaborati


I am a member of the Etsy Glass Artists Street Team and as such I have become involved in a collaboration project with Kristy Kempinger of chickadeebeads. We traded beads a couple months ago and combined them with our own creations to create a collaboration item to sell. I am still working on my projects so continue to check back for that as well. So here is Kristy's creation and her description of it. It is just beautiful.


I love combining a little of this with a little of that and ending up with alot of oh how I love it! Little glass beads, a turquoise nugget, and my handstamped sterling charm all dangle from a fine silver ring that I fused then hammered, brushed and stamped with whimsical stars and squiggly designs. I love that the process of working with the fine silver still shows~a tad on the rustic side. It's original and true, just like everything in life should be. The hand dyed silk ribbon necklace (by Etsy id 'jamnglass') is approx 20 inches in length and simply ties behind the neck. The ends are finished in simple knots with Greek ceramic beads (Etsy id 'na0sglass') that have been coated in silver. Pendant clusters hang approx 1 1/2 inches from the ribbon.Thanks to Pam Dansie (Etsy id 'mycabincreations') for the extra little sky blue glass bead that has now found a home!
]]>A Glass Artists Collaboration - Eclectic Earth - Lampwork Glass Necklacehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/06/05/a_glass_artists_collaboration__eclectic_earth__lampwork_glass_necklacehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/06/05/a_glass_artists_collaboration__eclectic_earth__lampwork_glass_necklace#Comments2008-06-05T05:21:00Zeclectic, silver, pendant, lampwork, etsy, copper, "etsy glass artists", "collaboration project", "silk ribbon", ega, chickadeebeads, mycabincreations, earthy, "kristy kempinger", "pam dansie", rustichttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/06/05/a_glass_artists_collaboration__eclectic_earth__lampwork_glass_necklace 


 
 
 
I am a member of the Etsy Glass Artists Street Team and as such I have become involved in a collaboration project with Kristy Kempinger of chickadeebeads. We traded beads a couple months ago and combined them with our own creations to create a collaboration item to sell. I am still working on my projects so continue to check back for that as well. So here is Kristy's creation and her description of it. It is just beautiful.

Earthy with a splash of color, this necklace features the work of two members of the Etsy Glass Artists Street Team (EGA)! Inspired by the beads of glass artist Pam of Etsy shop 'mycabincreations', I envisioned a rustic and eclectic piece that would incorporate both copper and silver. Pam's gorgeous pillow bead was created with ivory glass and features layered dots of metallic copper green and mosaic green. The focal I created with a type of glass that when worked a certain way in the torch, creates tiny bubbles on the surface that give it a lovely texture and an aged appearance. I then wrapped subtle stripes of shades of sage, caramel and a hint of blues around it. The cluster of beads hangs from a fine silver ring that I fused, hammered and brushed for a nice rustic, matte appearance. Copper and silver Greek ceramic beads, my own fine silver hammered and brushed hook clasp, and a gorgeous brown hand dyed silk ribbon that has just a bit of a bronze sheen finishes the piece. Silk ribbon necklace is approx 20 inches in length. Pendant cluster hangs approx 2 1/4 inch from the silver ring.
]]>Featured Etsy Artist of the Week - Mud and Minthttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/04/09/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__mud_and_minthttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/04/09/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__mud_and_mint#Comments2008-04-09T06:42:00Zjewelry, earrings, etsy, "etsy artist", "mud and mint", "handmade jewelry", "color drops", "color pools"http://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/04/09/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__mud_and_mintI was shopping around on Etsy the other day and ran across this seller Mud and Mint. I saw these earrings and immediately was looking around in her store.

Aren't those just pretttttty! Such spring colors. Wait there is more.....


I just LOVE these. She calls them Color Drops and Color Pools... fitting names. So I was intriqued and asked her to be my featured Etsy seller this week. Here is one more little delicacy for you to see and then I will let her tell you about herself... Here you go...


Tell us about you, and as much as you'd like to share with the Etsy world:
my name is cari and i live in madison, wisconsin with my fiancee will and our bulldog lola. during the day i work as an office/general manager and all around "girl friday" for two locally owned businesses: a bakery/cafe and a funky, retro decor tavern. both are owned by my good friend jane and i have some of the best co-workers a girl could ask for.

in the evenings and on weekends you'll usually find me having happy time: hanging out in my attic studio, playing with beads and wire. seriously, we all have our problems but answering this question reminded me that all things considered, i really do have a pretty sweet life.
:)

Let's here about your shop and how you got started:
i got started making my own jewelry primarily to justify my bead addiction and it grew from there. i was eight years old when i strung my first little seed beads i had purchased with my allowance onto a safety pin and attached it to my shoelaces (as was the style at the time). then, i went into my first bead shop when i was 16 and was immediately hooked; the color, the sparkle, polish and texture. to this day when i walk into a bead shop i can’t just look, i always have to touch and feel the beads as well (shop owners must just love me!).

over the years i would occasionally buy beads, make a few things, then put everything away until the next urge to get crafty hit me (sometimes i would also feed the crafty urge with cross-stitch but that's another story!). then about 4 years ago ..two things happened: first, i discovered the world of online bead shopping (yes, i was a late online retail bloomer) and it opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me... i was no longer trapped by limited supplies or materials. second, something in me changed. i had always had artistic or creative interests but always found "art" or the idea of creating things and putting it out there for public consumption a bit intimidating. now, i'm just so over that. i love what i do and it feeds a piece of my soul. the rest of it... having a business and other people appreciating my work... it's just the icing on the cake.

i originally opened shop on etsy in january of 2007 as caris designs before i decided on a name change; my current shop, mud and mint, is named after a necklace i designed last year and has been open about 8 months. as for my work itself, i do some strung jewelry, a lot of wire wrapping, and i work primarily with sterling silver, gold fill, semi-precious stones and vintage beads and components.

What inspires you to create?
I love to play with size, shape, texture and contrast but the biggest inspiration to my work is color. It could be a beautiful painting or a small bit of left over wrapping paper…certain colors and combinations really draw me in and inspire me to create new and interesting things.

Descibe yourself in one word:
complicated.

What's your favorite:
it is really impossible for me to narrow these questions down to one decision...

Book: i can't say i have a favorite book but john irving is my favorite author... i love just about everything he has ever written.

Movie: rushmore... i'm a big wes anderson fan.

Song: heroes by david bowie.

]]>Featured Etsy Artist of the Week - Jenny Blasen Potteryhttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/04/02/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__jenny_blasen_potteryhttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/04/02/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__jenny_blasen_pottery#Comments2008-04-02T07:15:00Zclay, mugs, pottery, "cake stands"http://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/04/02/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__jenny_blasen_pottery


Recently, I was randomly searching through Etsy and ran across this seller - Jenny Blasen Pottery. I was especially interested in her original cupcake plates. They are so darn cute. I think I am in the mood for a cupcake so I think I need to get a plate!
When I was little my family and I used to go to this little German community and shop, they had a pottery store and I always loved to go in there and look around. I always wanted to buy something, anything. In high school I took an art class and we made stuff with the snake rolls of clay. That is the closest I ever got to working with clay. I admire anyone that can create with clay and not have it fall apart or "lean" like mine did.

So go check out Jenny's shop and admire her creations the way I have.
Jenny is also a member of the Etsy Mud Team (EMT).

How I got started:
I was an anthropology major in college and I took my first pottery class during my year abroad in Japan. Fell in love and continued to take classes over the years. I am a stay at home mother of two and finally got serious about clay after my youngest started preschool this year. I have a great studio to work out of and a supportive teacher/mentor who encouraged me to sell on Etsy. He actually started selling here first and pestered me until I opened up my own shop. His shop is hafelepottery.

What inspires me?
I make functional pieces, so I make things I would want to use. For example, I love to bake, so I was on the lookout for the perfect cake stand. I couldn't find one, so I decided to make one. I started out small and the cupcake stand was born. I lived in Japan for three years and have a huge collection of Japanese pottery. The typical Japanese table is filled with many little dishes, not Western-size dinnerplates. I love to make sets of little dishes.

One word to describe myself: busy
Favorite Book: I love to read anything. Right now I am reading The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Favorite Movie: Love the Indiana Jones movies--can't wait for the new one to come out next month.
Favorite Song: Anything by Jack Johnson or John Cruz (both are from Hawaii).

 

]]>Can you say ADDICTED to making Pandora Beads!http://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/can_you_say_addicted_to_making_pandora_beadshttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/can_you_say_addicted_to_making_pandora_beads#Comments2008-03-28T16:08:00Zeuro, troll, glass, beads, lampwork, etsy, lest, pandora, biagi, slider, spacershttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/can_you_say_addicted_to_making_pandora_beads





I am absolutely addicted to making these beads. So go buy them all so I can continue with my obsessive behavior please! I love coming up with the color combinations and seeing how pretty they come out. I love how they look on the silver bracelet. I love to take pictures of them...they are soooo pretty! I sold some to a co-worker last week and she came in and was showing everyone at work her bracelet. She bought three copper green beads and they were absolutely stunning with her silver spacers. I was impressed (humble aren't I). So here they are... go to my shop and BUY, BUY, BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!! please :-)

]]>Watercolor Lampwork Bead on a Skeleton Key Danglehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/watercolor_lampwork_bead_on_a_skeleton_key_danglehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/watercolor_lampwork_bead_on_a_skeleton_key_dangle#Comments2008-03-28T15:59:00Zvintage, key, glass, lampwork, skeleton, dangle, watercolorhttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/watercolor_lampwork_bead_on_a_skeleton_key_dangle

Here is something I made recently for Easter presents. I sent my mom one and she just loves it. She said she put it on her new purse. That is where mine is hanging, of course I had to have one too! The bead is made directly on the skeleton key and it turns. It is just kinda cool. I plan on making some this weekend to put in my Etsy store next week, so check back! Pam]]>New beads for you Pandora bracelet on Etsy, also more bead setshttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/new_beads_for_you_pandora_bracelet_on_etsy_also_more_bead_setshttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/new_beads_for_you_pandora_bracelet_on_etsy_also_more_bead_sets#Comments2008-03-28T11:34:00Zeuro, troll, beads, lampwork, pandora, biagi, sliderhttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/new_beads_for_you_pandora_bracelet_on_etsy_also_more_bead_sets




Hi... I am loving making the slider beads for euro bracelets. They are so much fun to do and really inexpensive compared to the brand name beads. Prettier too if you ask me. :-) So I have listed a few more sets of beads in my Etsy shop. Also I have my regular bead sets today too. Two new sets listed. Tomorrow I hope to do my first Featured Etsy Artist. I hope that you will come back to see who it is. Thanks and have a great day. Pam]]>Featured Etsy Artist of the Week - AJ's Country Cottagehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__ajs_country_cottagehttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__ajs_country_cottage#Comments2008-03-28T11:29:00Zsoy, soap, shop, candles, featured, etsy, artisanhttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/28/featured_etsy_artist_of_the_week__ajs_country_cottage


Recently I was searching on Etsy for soap for a co-workers birthday present. I was intriqued when I found this shop AJ's Country Cottage . The soap was so beautifully created with an intricate swirl pattern and her descriptions sold me right away. Here is what she says....
"Life's too short NOT to surround yourself with the scents and pleasures you love. Pamper your skin and indulge your senses with this lovely artisan luxury soap designed to make your shower or bath time a true pleasure. Escape to your own private paradise!"

"Experience the silky smooth texture, intoxicating scent, and visual feast for yourself. Caress your skin with nothing but the best!"

OK.. sounds good to me.

So then I get the soap and it is as lovely as pictured and the scent is absolutely wonderful. Needless to say - I will be back. :-)
So all of this made me want to share my discovery with others. I DO hope that you will check out her shop and order her artisan luxury soap. I guarantee you will love it. Oh and I think my next purchase will have to be one of her soy candles. Go check them out.

Here is a little bit about AJ.

Let's here about your shop and how you got started:

I was initially motivated to learn to make my own soap because the idea of using the most pure and natural products on my skin (and my family's) really appealed to me. I like that I can control the ingredients! Soapmaking seemed like a fun challenge to learn, and I like challenges. :)

What inspires you to create:

Now I often find myself inspired by nature. The changing seasons, the colors of a sunset, and the scents of earth and flowers, for example, lead me to try and capture various concepts in my soaps. For example, my recent "Garden Mosaic" soap was my interpretation of a fresh garden. Earthy greens, yellows, and browns swirl together harmoniously, and the soap smells like sweet and fresh growing things.

Describe myself in one word: Content. :)

Favorite book and movie: Pride and Prejudice.
Favorite song: Linus and Lucy.
]]>Welcome To LESThttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/26/welcome_to_lesthttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/26/welcome_to_lest#Comments2008-03-26T03:17:00Zstreet, team, etsy, lesthttp://www.webjam.com/wildsagelampwork/$my_blog/2008/03/26/welcome_to_lest