Monday, September 19, 2011

Thursday, September 15, 2011

SEPTEMBER 2011 TEAM MONTHLY CHALLENGE: CAST YOUR VOTES!

BOO! It is time again to vote for your favorites in the Team Fest Monthly Challenge!

Since Halloween is right around the bend and everyone is preparing for the BIG EVENT, our theme this month was to submit your best Halloween Party item ~

Cast your vote for your favorite, poll found in right hand side bar. Voting ends on September 30th at midnight!

Little Spider Tutu by UPTOMYKNEESINCRAFTS

Here Kitty Garden Stake by GARDENWHIMSIESBYMARY


Orange and Yellow Halloween Earrings by BAJUNAJEWELLRY


4 for 20 Halloween Soaps by AQUARIANBATH
 

Witches Boots Earrings by AUDREYGARDENLADY

Halloween Party Invites by PAINTEDLATHEESPLUS 

Trick or Treat Door Wreath by PENNYBOPEROO

Halloween Candy Corn Bracelet by BEADLOVERSKORNER
 Now get crackalackin!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Happy Birthday To You!

Happy Birthday wishes going out to the following shops

Seaphemera on September 12th
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80316651/copper-abalone-pendant

Copper & Abalone Pendant

ClassyCookAprons on September 13th
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80258001/apron-cherries-on-pink-with-white-dots

Apron Cherries on Pink with White Dots, Red Ribbon Trim and Ruffled Flounce, Cute Girly Hostess Kitchen Gift

Oliveforrest on September 15th
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67638378/green-and-brown-resin-beaded-bracelet
Green and Brown Resin Beaded Bracelet

Hope you all have a Wonderful Birthday!
ReneeBrownsDesigns ♥

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Coast into the September FEST BLOG GIVEAWAY

Our lucky September FEST Blog Giveaway winner will receive these fabulous natural stone coasters from TheRetroRoad featuring vintage Florida citrus crate labels dating from the 1920's to the 1960's. These coasters are sure to bring fun, color and memories to your coffee table and your life.

In addition to these wonderful coasters, TheRetroRoad creates magnets and decorative push pins from collected vintage fruit crate labels and vintage maps. Each item has its own story and they are not only functional but interesting conversation pieces, as well.

All coasters are backed with a signature Peacock Blue felt to protect your table surfaces. Long lasting and made for everyday use. Simply wipe with a damp sponge to clean.

A fantastic housewarming, birthday, vacation, or travel souvenir gift. Also a great wedding gift or wedding favor for traveling guests.

HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win these kicky coasters by visiting TheRetroRoad or any of the FEST Team members listed in the Member Section. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email address so we can contact you if you are the lucky winner! Winner picked on October 8th. Simple and Easy!


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Greetings From On Board The SS Tesla 09/06/11

Hello Team FESTers!

It has been a long time since I last posted and I do apologize, but Grad School and life has gotten in the way but I do have something exciting to share with my fellow Team FESTers in the Southern Florida area!

The 1st Annual ArboledaFest! The date for this event is November 12th and they are looking for vendors! This one promises to be one of the biggest Craft Shows in Miami, so if you're near the Broward/Dade area, you won't want to miss this event! The Vendor Application is here:
http://www.arboledafest.com/vendor-application/

As always the monthly Art Nouveau Event Shows as well! Here is the ANE Website.
Contact Person: Teresa Korber:
http://www.artnouveauevents.com/

Here are some upcoming art shows in which I will be making an appearance at as a vendor if you would like to say hello to the Captain (and even get a tarot reading while you're at it too):
http://www.facebook.com/ArtSunnySideUp -Sept. 11th
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=243405369038130 - The Funk Fashion, Fashion, Arts, Hors D'oeuvres,Trunk Sales, School Drive for Haiti - Sept. 17th 


That will be all for now. Unfortunately my posts will be less than they used to due to Graduate School taking up my time but I will post here at least once or twice a month. If any of you know of any other events for other Team FESTers to sign up for, feel free to add these events in the comments section!


Good Luck and Godspeed,


xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz

Friday, September 2, 2011

INTERVIEW WITH AUGUST 2011 TEAM CHALLENGE WINNER

Meet Gari Anne of  Bead Lovers Korner:

Who are you?

My name is Gari Anne and I am a coffee-aholic, and also I am the owner and creator of Bead Lovers Korner. I have three grown children (two boys and one girl), in fact we just moved the last one out a couple weeks ago. I also have a Granddaughter but seldom see her since they live up in Missouri, but we share on facebook, phone, text, etc. I am married to a great guy who puts up with me and is a workaholic, but that is OK for now since I spend a lot of time working on my business anyway.

What do you create?
I create things with beads and various other jewelry findings. I hate to say jewelry because everyone these days is making jewelry, while I DO make jewelry, many of the things I make can also be considered an accessory or supply. I also sell beads and jewelry supplies, and I am an authorized seller for Carlo Biagi Jewelry and Landmark Travel Beads which are compatible with Pandora, Troll, and other European style chains.

How did you come about your Etsy store name?
Well, I named the Etsy Store the same name as my business, which actually was created about 10 years ago, I have only been selling on Etsy for a little over a year. So ten years ago I was playing around with Ebay and the Internet, realizing what a wonderful tool it was for business, I also got back into beads and beading about the same time and decided to open a store on Ebay. I have been married several times in my life and when trying to come up with a name for my store I started with all my initials and came up with Gari Anne's Esoteric Bead Lovers Korner, that was way too long so I knocked off the first half and it became Bead Lovers Korner. I was truly excited about this name and the inspiration I had to think of it. So thanks to those guys that couldn't handle me, I got a name for my business!!!

Where does your inspiration come from?
I am half whacked and always have been, so sometimes I just come up with hair brained ideas and images in my mind. In the past year though I have noticed that monthly challenges and the Etsy marketing plans will help me to think creatively about what I have and how I can put something together that fits that scheme. I give thanks to my Higher Power for most of my inspirations!

How would you describe your creative process?
Well, it is kind of like throwing up! I am sorry, I don't mean to gross you out. I get this idea and it's all I can do to keep it inside - so I have to drag my beads out and make something. Sometimes I get thwarted by my lack of a good workspace, but I have a plan on how to make that better and since the kids are gone I can make use of some extra room and set up a permanent work space for my beads.

When did you know you were an artist?
I never really thought of myself as an artist, more of a crafty girl. But I did have someone tell me that what I did in my previous job as a custom catalog editor was an art. So maybe I am :)

What is your favorite material to work with?
Wire, and I would really like to learn to make some of the neat things I see that others have made. I just have not made the time to take anymore classes. I will put that on my To Do list. Along with Mosaic, something I would really like to try!

What is your favorite tool?
Well, I currently don't have one, but I just got a Wubbers and as soon as I practice with it, I am sure it will be a favorite!

What is your life outside of Etsy?
I used to have a job outside the home, but a little over a year ago I convinced my husband to let me work at my bead business full time. Outside of Etsy I have Ebay, and my Website plus all the jobs that it takes to keep everything going. I wear ALL the hats! When I need a break I read, exercise, watch movies, etc. Sometimes we travel, but I don't have any activity that I am tied to.


Is there on online "tool" that you like to use?
I have been playing with Quickbooks online to help with the accounting, it was free for 30 days, but now I pay monthly. It creates all the little neat reports you need when people ask you how much you sold or what is your profit. Before I would just throw my hands in the air, and say "I don't know but I got money and beads!"

What other interests do you have?
I love anything about Ancient Egypt, UFOs, Ancient Aliens, weird stuff like that. I used to go to Star Trek conventions when I was younger... they were lots of fun, you might think that is kind of geeky and I guess it is, but I don't mind being a nerd! I also read a lot of Spiritual material and metaphysics to increase my Spiritual Knowledge, when I make the time to read. My mind is pretty open to different aspects of thinking, in fact that is probably where my creativity comes from, the open mind. Since all knowledge is available all the time, you just have to be open enough to receive.

Where do you live in Florida?
Deltona

Could you recommend a fun activity near your Fl home that other members might enjoy?
Blue Springs, it is nice there all year long! Nature walks and Manatees in the first part of the year, then picnics and swimming, snorkeling or catching some rays in the summer!

What are some other sites to find out more about you and your art?
Blog: beadloverskorner.blogspot.com
Web: www.beadloverskorner.com/
Ebay: stores.ebay.com/Bead-Lovers-Korner
Zazzle: www.zazzle.com/beadloverskorner
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beadloverskorner
Twitter: www.twitter.com/beadlovers

How do you get out of your creative ruts?
Do something else like photography or accounting :)

Where would you like to be in ten years?
I just want to be comfortable and make as much money as I need, I wouldn't mind having a little shop/boutique but I don't know if that is economically worthwhile.

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
Mozart, poor guy was a musical genius



Where would you go if you had a time machine and why?
Ancient Egypt because I am just so attracted to the art and culture.

If you were a dessert what would it be and why?
A White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie - The kind that is just a little hard around the edges, soft and yummy in the the middle with White Chocolate morsels that melt in your mouth, and just a little nutty!!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Strology for September 2011

If you are not familiar with Ellen Whitehurst then you should be! With her list of Em-Powering-Days She is my Shuistrologist Extraordinare! So, in cohesion with said list posted here, which anyone can subscribe to or read on her website we would like to share our picks from the Florida Etsy Street Team to help your Shuistrology for this month!

SEPTEMBER 2 - Unwind! Relax! The answer to your prayers. Or six of them (wink.) On this  FIVE-STAR day! It’s the SUPER STELLAR DAY OF SEPTEMBER! And there’s money to be made!

Beladonna
SEPTEMBER 8 - Cranky Mercury the Messenger talking smack and opposing foggy Neptune. Better be perfectly sure that everyone’s all in and all on the same page too! Can practically promise some sort of communications snafus unless of course you have six clear quartz crystal balls (or six clear glass marbles!) sitting on a mirror placed on any table in the living room. Keep it social. Keep it crystal clear. And, if possible, just for today, keep it zipped.

MemoriesinMosaics
SEPTEMBER 10 - Flirty, fun-loving and ‘in the mood’ Venus sextiles her main man Mars and is doing a darn good ‘job’ of it too These are some mighty magical romantic vibes and my O my you can be sure you’ll get your groove on too. If you try. Go ahead and try. With red sheets. OR two (9, 18, 27, 49 inch, depends how long you like them!) red cords intertwined and hung on the inside back of your bedroom door. And, then, a glass or crystal bowl filled with candy kisses and placed in the ROMANCE area of your bedroom can make this magic lip smacking good!

MoreThanTreasures
SEPTEMBER 11 - Chatty Mercury talking Pluto’s ears off! You should listen up too because today’s message has to do with planning for YOUR fabulous financial future. Especially where the next few months are concerned. Start the strategizing by sprinkling some powdered ginger into all the nooks and crannies of your wallet. Surefire way to spice UP your bottom line!

JeniLuScraps
SEPTEMBER 12 - Full Moon in Pisces. Sensitive, dreamy, a day to pack your proverbial bags for an escape into your imagi-nation! Your intuition/instinct and sixth sense holds the key to unlocking a current concern. Sit quietly with both feet on the floor and back straight. Pick ANY book and place it squarely on your lap and keep you left hand, palm atop the cover, sitting atop it. Breathe in a golden light through your ‘Third Eye’ and exhale saying ‘Ahhhhhh.’ Do this breathing exercise four times. In through the nose and out through the mouth. After the fourth breath, ask a question about a current concern and then, with LEFT HAND ONLY, open the book to any page. The first sentence you read will hold the answer and the key to success. Delve deeply into your imagination and your intuition and success is assured. Ahhhhhhh indeed!

CinfulOldies
SEPTEMBER 14 - Loving Venus enters balanced Libra and Mercury the Messenger harmoniously trines expansive and generous Jupiter. Whoever you speak to today will be MORE than open to hearing what you have to say. And YOUR words take on a magical life of their own! Communications of any kind shine, shine shine and so will anything having to do with the arts, writing, speaking or even negotiations and travel! NO better day to manifest a magical affirmation. Speak these power packed words both silently and aloud all the day long (and for the next 26 if you are really serious about invoking health, happiness and prosperity! ) From the Florence Shinn annals, of course: “Before I called I was answered and I NOW gather in my harvest in a remarkable way!”

Miscler
SEPTEMBER 16 - Pluto goes direct in Capricorn after having been retrograde since April 19! Caps will feel the personal power returning the most, but all of us will get a big boost to our confidence, esteem and sense of self. Locate the KNOWLEDGE area of your main floor and ring a bell there. Ring it nine times. A renewed sense of personal power returns. Don’t ask for whom this bell tolls, it definitely tolls for thee!

WeAre1
SEPTEMBER 17 - Uh oh, Venus, why so cranky? And why you beating up on volatile Uranus? If you think Uranus is volatile, wait until you see what could potentially take place in your own love life today. That said, if you place an image of a pair of love birds in the ROMANCE area of your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen (the love triangle in Feng Shui) for this day only you and your lovuh should stay right in the flow! Yes! Yes! YES!
Magartsypartycrafts
SEPTEMBER 18 - Mars marches into spotlight stealing Leo while Venus takes her chances squaring off against uber powerful Pluto! Yesterday’s angst over love morphs into today’s new anxieties over money. And perhaps a power struggle or two around that $ame agenda. Stand your ground. And then stand in the ‘abundance’ room of your house, the kitchen, and add some secret and powerful Feng Shui magical money cures. NINE pieces of juicy and ripe fresh fruit in a wooden, glass or crystal bowl positioned on the kitchen table. Change out the bulb in the main light fixture to a more POWERFUL one, and, lastly, turn every single burner on the stove on so you can heat up your bottom line. You’re cookin’ with coin now!

Malinda612
SEPTEMBER 23 - Autumn Equinox! Sun enters Libra! Mars trine Uranus. Seasons may change but the tenor of a terrific day remains the same. And this is one terrific day! Look for sudden changes and even more sudden chances to grab the brass ring (or just have some tall fun!) and take them! In today’s case, the MORE risk, the MORE reward! Want to increase the potential for the play? Blasting some music in the CREATIVITY area of your main floor and then dancing like a fool will open pathways for play that you never even knew existed. Go on, hurry, do the hustle!

Wainbowmudd
SEPTEMBER 25 - Mercury enters Libra and Sun opposing Uranus, hmmm. Could be a bit of a difficult day especially where authority figures are concerned. Unless, of course, you are one of us. Then all you have to do is keep a pinch of cinnamon somewhere on your person and the whole world will just seem so magically delicious. Even those pesky authoritarians. With or without that ‘warm brown spice of friendship’ you will need to watch what you say though. Hey, just, well, sayin’.

AquarianBath
SEPTEMBER 26 - Mercury the Messenger opposes unpredictable and highly charged Uranus. Kids say the darndest things. And, today, you might too. WATCH YOUR WORDS. Or, better yet, keep it locked and throw away the key. Shhhhhh.

Afuras
SEPTEMBER 27 - With Mars making a supportive sextile to today’s New Moon it will be highly probable that you could make some swell progress with some personal projects or plans. Those efforts may, however, take a bit of negotiation. With Mercury also in Libra you should be quite willing to work with others and all of these energies could make a dream come true. Hang a six rod metal windchime in the HELPFUL PEOPLE are of your main floor and ring out the old while ringing in the New--Moon, that is!

Awpphotography
SEPTEMBER 28 - Pluto--duck! Sun square Pluto then Mercury doing the exact same thing. As long as Mercury sextiles Mars though there is hope for compromise. And resolution too. Keep some STILL water (not moving) in a bowl in the power corner of the living room and that will help to keep the peace. Three days max before that water gets stagnant which is how your efforts at compromise could be described too.

sewZinski
SEPTEMBER 29 - Venus conjunct Saturn while the Sun sextiles Mars. Looks like all those energies directed at efforts to compromise and collaboration are finally paying off. Place an image of the Sun in your FAME area of the main floor so you too can shine baby shine!


HappyLittleMonkey