Beads, Beads & More Beads!

I get so excited when the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is here! Living in Phoenix makes this show easy access for me. My first year was a bit overwhelming however,  I am now comfortable making my way around town, chatting with my favorite sellers & going crazy sifting through all the bead strands.

My husband is an angel through this whole ordeal. He gets to haul around all those heavy rocks in a backpack, then takes them to the car to unload when they get too heavy only to refill it again. I was somewhat disappointed in some of the items my favorites were showing this year, although it could be that I just have too many to start with & have most of the gemstones in my inventory already. None the less, I still found pounds of items to bring back home. Now for the fun part…creating!

I am back in the groove of jewelry making after having two hospital stays, one for bad pneumonia & one for an emergency surgery resulting in long recoup times. I hope 2009 is going to be much healthier for me so I can once again play with my gemstones on a regular basis & blog once again.

What The Heck Is Etsy?!

• What Is Etsy?

Etsy is a website dedicated to handmade items and crafter’s supplies. Here you will find talented artisans given the opportunity to sell their items under one roof to the rest of the world without the hassles of an auction. Imagine a huge arts & crafts fair or a gallery allowing you to leisurely browse or shop in the comfort of your own home anytime of the day or night.

Etsy allows you to add sellers or items to your favorites, read customer feedback, ask a seller a question, jump into a forum and securely pay for your items through Paypal. Depending on the seller, there are optional ways to pay for an item using a credit card, e-check, personal check or money order.

• Who Are We?

Regular, everyday people who want to share our creative, talented side with others. We are crafters, artists and designers. We are fun, helpful and friendly. We have an uncontrollable passion and love for the art we create.

• What Do We Sell?

Drop by this friendly environment to shop for one of a kind (OOAK) gift items or to pamper yourself! You will be amazed at the variety of handmade items available on Etsy.

Small examples of items for sale: soap, candles, clothes, quilts, jewelry, paintings, digital art, sculptures, ceramics, baby items, purses, wood items, metal items and the list keeps growing everyday. See an everyday item, turned into a work of art.

• What Makes Etsy So Different?

Simply put…the sellers. Aside from the differences of the arts & crafts available on Etsy, all sellers have the same things in common: talent, creativity, passion and indescribable love for their expression of art. Each pours their heart and soul into their art forms to create a unique item with one goal in mind, having someone else love their art just as much as they did making it. This is by far, an artisans best compliment and accomplishment.

Etsy sellers stick together to help one another accomplish their goals rather than treating each other as a threat, resulting in a tight community. Come see the creativity of these wonderful sellers or use your own talents to join our ever growing family. Either way, we would love to see you and give you a warm Etsy welcome!

Handmade Artisan Jewerly

Parade          UFO’s On Acid        Lots of Love   Scarlet Rose

Welcome to Designs by Denise Marie! I will have this blog up and running shortly. My goal is to educate consumers as well as jewelry artisans about the industry in a fun & friendly atmosphere. Please come back to visit this blog often! Take a look at my jewelry while you are here.  www.DesignsbyDeniseMarie.com

Here you will find information on:

• Jewelry styles best suited for you.
• Get the 2008 spring/summer & 2008/2009 fall/winter predicted colors for the fashion industry!
• Fashion trends, jewelry, clothing, shoes & accessories!
• Ideas on gift giving.
• Know your gemstones before you buy. Information on elements, beliefs, colors, grades & imitations.
• How to clean & store your pearls, gemstones & metal jewelry properly.
• Interviews with artists of all kinds.
• Special interest articles for those with metal allergies & options, the best styles & clasps for the elderly, handicapped & arthritic, teen trends, jewelry warnings & more!
• Fun polls, questions/answers & tips on fashion!