On Fire for Handmade - Artist Spotlight

Featured Artist

Inky Doodle Crafts

Today's Featured Artist is Inky Doodle Crafts! You will find delightful, greeting cards, birthday cards and more in this Etsy Shop! Inky Doodle Crafts is a proud member of On Fire for Handmade and Jelly Park ! We are thrilled to have them on board!

You can find Inky Doodle Crafts on: Etsy  Blog  Facebook

Are You On Fire for Handmade?

Friday's Inspiration

While color is an important part of each design, texture is often an unsung hero. 

 

 

 

The vivid color of the sunset is what first captures your attention in this picture, but it is the beach that keeps it.  You would expect small grains of sand, but here the beach is created with vibrant stones.  And you can imagine how the gentle waves would feel running past your feet...

 

 Golden Elegance

 

Texture was an important part of designing this bracelet.  The wave-like pattern was created by increasing/decreasing the size of the beads.  But the real impact was created by using various finishes and colors throughout the pattern. 

 

A fun way to train your eye is to go window shopping.  Take notice of what gets your attention...is is the color?  The shape?  The texture?  You can do this for jewelry, clothing, flowers...anything you shop for. 

  

Once you can recognize what you are drawn to in other's designs, you will be able to better create your own. 

 

On Fire for Handmade - Artist Spotlight

Featured Artist - Share the Love, Blogger's Unite

VanBuskirk Family Farm

This week's Featured Artist is Stacy Lynne VanBuskirk of  VanBurskirk Family Farm.

Beautiful Handmade Creations with a "country" flair. Stacy Lynne is an active member of the On Fire for Handmade Group and creates wonderful accessories for the home and more!

I run a small hobby farm out side of Milan,Mi were we take in unwanted farm animals. Half the profits of what I sell go toward the animals food, housing and vet care. I  have made crocheting a passion since I was taught by my mom when I was 10. I have continue to strive to blend creativity and versatility in each of my items. I love what I do and I am constantly looking, creating, and discovering.

Are You On Fire for Handmade? Stacy Lynn is! Grab the code for your blog Here!

Monday Musings

I've learned a few things from collecting sea glass over the past year or so.  They are the beginning of my "Monday Musings."  

 

   Sea Glass Bracelet

 

 I love looking for sea glass.  The sound of the waves is like an old friend to me.  A lot of my memories have this sound etched into them.   
     
Occasionally, my family or a close friend will come with me when I go to look for sea glass.  One of the most important things I tell friends when they come with me the first time is to "take your time." 
 

 

Most of the sea glass I find is either brown or white and blends in really well with the sand.  It takes time to train your eye to pick out what you are there to find.

 

I guess it's important to remember this for our lives as well.  Each day is a gift and a treasure, but what you find depends on what you are looking for.  Look for the unexpected.  Be prepared to walk for a while without anything amazing happening, but learn to enjoy those times as well. 

 

And while it's always more fun to walk with a friend, learn to appreciate the solitude and quiet that comes from walking alone sometimes.

 



Friday's Inspiration

I found this picture on Facebook the other day and it has become one of my favorites. 

 

  

The repetition of the waves, the spiral of the branches and the cloud and the rays of sunlight all draw me in each time. 

 

I think it's hard to create with just neutrals and pastels, but this picture certainly has given me the inspiration to try something new!



On Fire for Handmade - Artist Spotlight

Featured Artist Christina Designs Art

Today's Featured Artist on Share the Love, Blogger's Unite is Christina Designs Art. You will find Handmade Jewelry: bracelets, earrings, and hair pins sorted by Color Collections in her Etsy shop.

Find Christina on:  Etsy  Facebook  Twitter  Printerest  Blog

Bead Soup Blog Party - Second Reveal

Today's the day!  Its the second reveal for Lori Anderson's 7th Bead Soup Blog Party! 

 

 

If you're not familiar with this event, let me just say you are in for a treat!  Over 500 artists from all over the world have been paired up and sent each other a "soup" created with beads!  Each person starts their soup with one focal piece, adds a special clasp and then tosses in anything else they wanted to add to the mix before mailing it off to our partner!  

  

 To be sure everyone has a chance to shine and show off what they created from the soup they were sent, Lori set three seperate reveal dates.  I was part of the first reveal (you can see what I did with my soup HERE)

 

There are a lot of blogs to visit and don't think you have to get to them all today.  But be sure to make time over the next week to check them all out...you'll be amazed at what you find!

 

Here's the link to the list of the blogs for today's reveal:

 

Bead Soup Blog Party Second Reveal

  

Be sure to leave a note for the artists...I know how encouraging it was for me to get comments on my reveal post!