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A FEST Treasure Hunt!!!
Yes, that's right! On May 1st FEST will be running a fabulously fun Treasure Hunt game of EPIC proportions!
There will be prizes(a whopping 16 wonderful items from the talented members of FEST)! There will be riddles (start stretching your brains now)! There will be fun!
Anyone can play! Simply stay tuned to this Blog for further information.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Kyanite Can Be Worn At Night
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Sorry guys, but I just can't seem to get away from rhyming. I am sure it will go away soon. Maybe I better see a doctor, LOL!
Anyways, it is Wednesday, and that means I get to share with you some of the gemstones I love the most. Each week I try to pick something unique and different to share. I am a gem geek, so I could go on and on forever.
The ring shown is Kyanite, with Zircon accents. I did not make this ring, but is one of only two rings I have ever bought and not made, the other is one of my wedding bands. Kyanite in its finest quality is this lovely blueberry blue color, that looks just like a top notch sapphire. While buying a loose Kyanite was not a problem, finding a setting to put it in was. You see Kyanite is very fragile. It has a hardness of only 4 if cut in certain directions, and a six in others. Since I do not cut gemstones, this made it incredibly difficult to choose one to buy that was loose and needed setting. Also, if you ever choose to purchase this luscious gemstone, in jewelry, especially bracelets or rings, you need to be sure your stone is protected. Bezel settings would be the best choice, as shown in the picture. The bezel setting will protect the edges of your stone from chipping or breaking. It is not recommended to wear Kyanite as an every day stone, as scratching it can be easy as well. As with all gemstones Kyanite comes in many forms of color and quality. From a light grayish blue color with streaks, all the way up to this lovely blueberry blue color. I did see where there is orange Kyanite being sold. Beware of this, because it is not really orange, but more of a brown color that they call orange. The finest Kyanite comes from Nepal. However, good quality Kyanite is also found in Brazil, and right in the US in North Carolina. Kyanite has strong pleochroism, and will show flashes of red in certain lighting.
Sorry guys, but I just can't seem to get away from rhyming. I am sure it will go away soon. Maybe I better see a doctor, LOL!Anyways, it is Wednesday, and that means I get to share with you some of the gemstones I love the most. Each week I try to pick something unique and different to share. I am a gem geek, so I could go on and on forever.
The ring shown is Kyanite, with Zircon accents. I did not make this ring, but is one of only two rings I have ever bought and not made, the other is one of my wedding bands. Kyanite in its finest quality is this lovely blueberry blue color, that looks just like a top notch sapphire. While buying a loose Kyanite was not a problem, finding a setting to put it in was. You see Kyanite is very fragile. It has a hardness of only 4 if cut in certain directions, and a six in others. Since I do not cut gemstones, this made it incredibly difficult to choose one to buy that was loose and needed setting. Also, if you ever choose to purchase this luscious gemstone, in jewelry, especially bracelets or rings, you need to be sure your stone is protected. Bezel settings would be the best choice, as shown in the picture. The bezel setting will protect the edges of your stone from chipping or breaking. It is not recommended to wear Kyanite as an every day stone, as scratching it can be easy as well. As with all gemstones Kyanite comes in many forms of color and quality. From a light grayish blue color with streaks, all the way up to this lovely blueberry blue color. I did see where there is orange Kyanite being sold. Beware of this, because it is not really orange, but more of a brown color that they call orange. The finest Kyanite comes from Nepal. However, good quality Kyanite is also found in Brazil, and right in the US in North Carolina. Kyanite has strong pleochroism, and will show flashes of red in certain lighting.
Monday, April 18, 2011
April Challenge
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Due to unforseen circumstances, the April Challenge is going to have to be postponed. Apparently Blogger has reformatted something during the time I was saving all the entries in draft form. It is not allowing me to view the preview due to some error. Also, I've been without a power cord for the last three days, so I haven't had computer access. As soon as I get this sorted out, I will post the entries.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Greetings From On Board The SS Tesla! 04/17/11
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Hello FESTers!
This is Capt. Maricruz speaking and i have encountered a few FEST Team Member shops that sell all kinds of amazing items! One of these sellers caught my attention because it was chain mail jewelry and I have been wanting to learn how to make chain mail jewelry for a while! So I am going to present to you a tutorial on how to do chain mail so that you can make jewelry out of it or do whatever you like with it:
This tutorial is brought to you by the good folks at CGMaille.com They have other tutorials too for you all to check out!
Step 1: Make a strip of E4-1. It should be somewhat longer than you want the final chain to be.
Good Luck and Godspeed,
xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
This is Capt. Maricruz speaking and i have encountered a few FEST Team Member shops that sell all kinds of amazing items! One of these sellers caught my attention because it was chain mail jewelry and I have been wanting to learn how to make chain mail jewelry for a while! So I am going to present to you a tutorial on how to do chain mail so that you can make jewelry out of it or do whatever you like with it:
This tutorial is brought to you by the good folks at CGMaille.com They have other tutorials too for you all to check out!
Step 1: Make a strip of E4-1. It should be somewhat longer than you want the final chain to be.
Step 2: Put a ring through two edge rings. This is a TE connection. Subsequent rings will have both TE and AE connections.
Step 2a: A closeup of how the rings should be arranged.
Step 3: Add another ring, above the ring added in the previous. This time, there will be a AE connection on the left, and a TE connection on the right.
Step 3a: A closeup of how the rings should be arranged.
Step 4: Continue all the way across the side. Note that the last ring should have only an AE connection.
Step 5: Do the same thing on the other side...
Step 6: Adding rings all the way across...
Step 7: To the end of the side.
Step 8: Now we can start adding E4-1 rings to the top to finish up the chain.
Step 9: All the way across...
Step 10: To the end of the chain.
Good Luck and Godspeed,
xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Pictures are Worth a Thousands Words (or Sales!!)
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Happy Friday, Team Fest Members!
I opened up my Etsy shop just less than a year ago and have learned so much - especially about the importance of pictures! If you're new to the Team, check out our Shop Critique thread. You'll get some great advice from a new pair of fresh eyes!
Some of the comments I received were in regards to my pictures. If you're not an avid photographer - this seems to be one of the most popular challenges. In my particular case, my pictures were always kind of dark, so I tried going outside in direct sunlight. I quickly learned that it's also bad to get too much light. I couldn't win!
I started doing some research and found that many suggested a light box to create even bright tones in your pictures - but of course - I did not want to go spending $200 for one!! Luckily, I found a great article on how to create your on light box in our Team Fest Seller Solution section. So, with a little help from my husband, I made my very own light box!!
Front of the Light Box:
Inside of the light box:
Here are is one of my hairclips before:
Now after - using the light box and adding some simple rocks and clay pot:
Some tips for constructing the light box:
I opened up my Etsy shop just less than a year ago and have learned so much - especially about the importance of pictures! If you're new to the Team, check out our Shop Critique thread. You'll get some great advice from a new pair of fresh eyes!
Some of the comments I received were in regards to my pictures. If you're not an avid photographer - this seems to be one of the most popular challenges. In my particular case, my pictures were always kind of dark, so I tried going outside in direct sunlight. I quickly learned that it's also bad to get too much light. I couldn't win!
I started doing some research and found that many suggested a light box to create even bright tones in your pictures - but of course - I did not want to go spending $200 for one!! Luckily, I found a great article on how to create your on light box in our Team Fest Seller Solution section. So, with a little help from my husband, I made my very own light box!!
Front of the Light Box:
Inside of the light box:
Here are is one of my hairclips before:
Now after - using the light box and adding some simple rocks and clay pot:
Some tips for constructing the light box:
- You don't have to use Bristol board. It's pretty expensive. I just bought regular card board paper, but make sure its a bright white.
- I do suggest buying that exact bulb the author recommends. It can be easily found in hardware stores. I originally bought another kind and the pictures did not come out bright.
- If you don't want to spend the money on the light bulb - sunshine is always free!! The light box is also great is direct sunlight. You may have to adjust the brightness a bit on an editing software, but it works great!!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Diamond Is Forever
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Good morning fellow FEST team members, and anyone else who may come across this blog. Last Wednesday I missed my post, because I was at Seaworld with my family. So this week I thought I would talk about April's birthstone, the diamond. Did you know that originally a pearl was the engagement stone, and then sapphire became the traditional engagement stone? Then a company started marketing diamonds as the engagement stone, and has become quite wealthy in the process. I personally am not a traditional kind of girl, and do not particularly care for diamonds. I do love colored diamonds, however. A diamond is basically just atoms of carbon all pressed together to form the diamond. There are three videos below. The first is a short history of the diamond. The second one is very cool, and I included it because if you have a microscope and Windows you can do this as well with gemstones, jewelry or any other small items you might sell. It is very cool. The last one will explain the grading process of diamonds. I find all this stuff fascinating, as a gemstone collector, and I hope you will too.
I have a personal blog at http://www.melissasjewelryandgems.blogspot.com/ and also my Etsy store
I have a personal blog at http://www.melissasjewelryandgems.blogspot.com/ and also my Etsy store
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Greetings From On Board The SS Tesla: 04/10/11
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Hello Team FESTers!
The Steampunk Circus was a lot of fun and now I am going to report on some upcoming Art and Craft Shows for all of you FEST members that would like to attend and maybe be a vendor as well.
April/May Events:
Delray Affair - April 15th - April 17th
(Vendor Submissions are closed at this time)
The Steampunk Circus - April 2nd - April 22nd
(This show is going to be in different parts of Florida and in different states so all of you Steampunk FESTers in Northern and Southern Florida, I would take advantage of this and try to sign up. I did the opening night of the show.)
Art Rock - May 7th
(As far as I know submissions may still be open at this time, but I am not sure on this.)
SunFest - April 27th - May 1st
(It's possible that there might be vendor space available but I really doubt it.)
Also if there are any other events going on that I may have missed, feel free to let me know in the comments section! Feedback is always welcome!
And now I must go. This captain is one very busy woman.
I will leave you all with a delicious recipe for all of you FESTers that love to cook brought to you by Christine's Recipes:
Ingredients:
Capt. Maricruz
Read more: http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2009/11/pumpkin-mochi-cake.html#ixzz1JAabLOqe
Good Luck and God Speed,
The Steampunk Circus was a lot of fun and now I am going to report on some upcoming Art and Craft Shows for all of you FEST members that would like to attend and maybe be a vendor as well.
April/May Events:
Delray Affair - April 15th - April 17th
(Vendor Submissions are closed at this time)
The Steampunk Circus - April 2nd - April 22nd
(This show is going to be in different parts of Florida and in different states so all of you Steampunk FESTers in Northern and Southern Florida, I would take advantage of this and try to sign up. I did the opening night of the show.)
Art Rock - May 7th
(As far as I know submissions may still be open at this time, but I am not sure on this.)
SunFest - April 27th - May 1st
(It's possible that there might be vendor space available but I really doubt it.)
Also if there are any other events going on that I may have missed, feel free to let me know in the comments section! Feedback is always welcome!
And now I must go. This captain is one very busy woman.
I will leave you all with a delicious recipe for all of you FESTers that love to cook brought to you by Christine's Recipes:
Ingredients:
- 160 gm pumpkin, peeled and chopped into chunks
- 60 gm sugar, or to taste
- 80 gm glutinous rice flour
Capt. Maricruz
Method:
- Sprinkle water over the pumpkin, covered and cook in a microwave oven at high power for 4 minutes, or until softened and cooked. Or you might like to steam the pumpkin in a wok for 20 minutes.
- When the pumpkin is still hot, immediately stir in sugar. Press and stir hard until sugar dissolves completely. This is the sweet pumpkin puree you need. If you steam the pumpkin, use the same method of mixing sugar and make pumpkin puree.
- Stir in one-third of the glutinous rice flour and combine thoroughly when the puree is still warm. Incorporate the rest, with a small amount at a time until you get a smooth, non-stick pumpkin dough.
- Roll the dough on a clean surface, sprinkle extra flour if it's too wet or sticky. Cut into 6 equal portions, each about 40 to 42 grams, and shape into little balls. Press with the bottom of a cup to shape a flat disc.
- Heat some oil in a non-stick frypan. Place pumpkin cakes in a single layer and fry both sides over medium-low heat until golden brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Cut a bit to taste. There should not be any raw flour taste when they are cooked through. Serve hot on a platter. Decorate them with roasted almonds if desired.
Tips:
- When rolling the pumpkin dough, you can add more glutinous rice flour if you feel too wet, or vice versa add more water when it’s too dry.
- You might like to put cooked pumpkin with sugar into a food processor and get smoother puree within a few seconds.
- If you use steaming method, the dough would be a bit wetter than those cooked by microwave oven. Don’t discard any water in plate, combine with sugar as well.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake (from Simply recipes)
- Low-Sugar Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie Recipe for a Thanksgiving Dessert Option (from Kalyn’s Kitchen)
- Traditional Pumpkin Soup Recipe (from Christine’s Recipes)
Read more: http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2009/11/pumpkin-mochi-cake.html#ixzz1JAabLOqe
Good Luck and God Speed,
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Interview with March Monthly Challenge Winner
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Meet Mandy of TwinkleJewels85
Who are you?
Hello all! My name is Mandy Kuhlmann and I just moved to Florida with my husband who recently got out of the Army and has decided to pursue and aviation degree at Embry Riddle.
What do you create?
I create handcrafted jewelry of all types, mostly focusing on sea glass and wire wrapping at the moment
How did you come about your Etsy store name?
I came about the shop name Turquoise Sun because I have always loved that particular stone and Native American jewelry in general
Where does your inspiration come from?
I get my inspiration from trying to tap into something different, something that not everyone else is doing ...after all isn't that what its all about..
How would you describe your creative process?
I would describe my creative process by saying I usually start off with a general idea of where I want to go or a particular color I want to work with and go from there
When did you know you were and artist?
I have always been an artist I started drawing and painting when i was young, I have recently decided to more toward getting an art degree and making this a huge part of the rest of my life
What does handmade mean to you?
Handmade to me means creating something original using your own imagination
What is your favorite material to work with?
I really enjoy working with clay and I think that will be my next material I will start working with
What is your life outside of Etsy?
I work full time at Florida hospital Flagler in the Health Information department analyzing and scanning chart...you can see why I want to get away :)
What do you enjoy "window shopping" on Etsy on your free time?
I enjoy window shopping a little bit of everything...glasswork , photography, and lots of other things :)
What other interests do you have?
I have lots of other interest metaphysics, all things art, I enjoy going and entering car shows with my husband, and relaxing on the beach
Where do you live in Florida?
Palm Coast, FL
Could you recommend a fun activity near your Fl home that other members might enjoy?
Everyone in Florida needs to visit St. Augustine at some point in time, it is an artist dream town! Lots of vendors and things to see directly related to art
How do you get out of your creative ruts?
I get out of my creative ruts my visiting art shows and getting away to a place where I can just be silent ...once I have cleared my mind I can be creative again.
Where would you like to be in ten years?
I would like to be finished with school, enjoying a full time career selling my art, vacationing as much as possible and just enjoying life.
If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?
Wow this is a tough call to just pick one... I can think of so many talented men and women that are not with us anymore, but I would honestly love to sit down with my father in law so he could teach me his wonderful woodworking skills
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
I think I cherish most of my drawings from when I was younger and some of my clayworks
Where would you go if you had a time machine and why?
I would go back to the Victorian Era without a doubt ...lots of wonderful art coming out of that era!
Who are you?
Hello all! My name is Mandy Kuhlmann and I just moved to Florida with my husband who recently got out of the Army and has decided to pursue and aviation degree at Embry Riddle.
What do you create?
I create handcrafted jewelry of all types, mostly focusing on sea glass and wire wrapping at the moment
How did you come about your Etsy store name?
I came about the shop name Turquoise Sun because I have always loved that particular stone and Native American jewelry in general
Where does your inspiration come from?
I get my inspiration from trying to tap into something different, something that not everyone else is doing ...after all isn't that what its all about..
How would you describe your creative process?
I would describe my creative process by saying I usually start off with a general idea of where I want to go or a particular color I want to work with and go from there
What does handmade mean to you?
Handmade to me means creating something original using your own imagination
What is your favorite material to work with?
I really enjoy working with clay and I think that will be my next material I will start working with
What is your life outside of Etsy?
I work full time at Florida hospital Flagler in the Health Information department analyzing and scanning chart...you can see why I want to get away :)
What do you enjoy "window shopping" on Etsy on your free time?
I enjoy window shopping a little bit of everything...glasswork , photography, and lots of other things :)
I have lots of other interest metaphysics, all things art, I enjoy going and entering car shows with my husband, and relaxing on the beach
Where do you live in Florida?
Palm Coast, FL
Could you recommend a fun activity near your Fl home that other members might enjoy?
Everyone in Florida needs to visit St. Augustine at some point in time, it is an artist dream town! Lots of vendors and things to see directly related to art
How do you get out of your creative ruts?
I get out of my creative ruts my visiting art shows and getting away to a place where I can just be silent ...once I have cleared my mind I can be creative again.
Where would you like to be in ten years?
I would like to be finished with school, enjoying a full time career selling my art, vacationing as much as possible and just enjoying life.
Wow this is a tough call to just pick one... I can think of so many talented men and women that are not with us anymore, but I would honestly love to sit down with my father in law so he could teach me his wonderful woodworking skills
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
I think I cherish most of my drawings from when I was younger and some of my clayworks
Where would you go if you had a time machine and why?
I would go back to the Victorian Era without a doubt ...lots of wonderful art coming out of that era!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Greetings From The SS Tesla: Crochet Cthulhu!
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Hello Team FESTers!
This is Capt. Maricruz speaking and boy do I have a treat for you! This will be a short post today but it's going to be a very cute and evil one at that.
I am sure that most of you may be familiar with Sci-Fi author H.P. Lovecraft. His most famous character from his series of short stories and novels is the greatest evil the universe has ever known, Cthulhu!
Since this lovely Captain has gotten back into the habit of crocheting while she is working on new items as we speak ( I will post pictures of my completed Tardis Scarf and my amigurumi octopuses) I thought it would be nice and appropriate to give the crocheting members of Team FEST something deliciously evil to work on.
Here is the link to the pattern, brought to you by the lovely folks at Cthulhu Crochet and Cousins Blog:
Cute-Thulhu!
Good Luck and Godspeed,
xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
This is Capt. Maricruz speaking and boy do I have a treat for you! This will be a short post today but it's going to be a very cute and evil one at that.
I am sure that most of you may be familiar with Sci-Fi author H.P. Lovecraft. His most famous character from his series of short stories and novels is the greatest evil the universe has ever known, Cthulhu!
Since this lovely Captain has gotten back into the habit of crocheting while she is working on new items as we speak ( I will post pictures of my completed Tardis Scarf and my amigurumi octopuses) I thought it would be nice and appropriate to give the crocheting members of Team FEST something deliciously evil to work on.
Here is the link to the pattern, brought to you by the lovely folks at Cthulhu Crochet and Cousins Blog:
Cute-Thulhu!
Good Luck and Godspeed,
xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
Monday, April 4, 2011
FEST Spring Fling Blog GIVEAWAY
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It's time for the Fest Spring Fling BLOG GIVEAWAY and we are really excited to present a wonderful, hand painted butterfly wine glass from Toni of AllYarnCreations. Toni paints all of her gorgeous creations with the newest glass paint available. She also does custom work and will personalize and paint any subject on her glass pieces your heart desires.
Her lovely wine glass is 7 inches in height and 3 inches across. Perfect for any occasion. As a work of art, hand washing is recommended and your stem will last for years.
Here's a peek at another of Toni's creations.
HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win the lovely and colorful hand painted butterfly glass stem by visiting AllYarnCreations 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 leave your email or contact info so we can reach you if you're the lucky winner. The winner will be picked on May 3rd. Simply and Easy!
It's time for the Fest Spring Fling BLOG GIVEAWAY and we are really excited to present a wonderful, hand painted butterfly wine glass from Toni of AllYarnCreations. Toni paints all of her gorgeous creations with the newest glass paint available. She also does custom work and will personalize and paint any subject on her glass pieces your heart desires.
Her lovely wine glass is 7 inches in height and 3 inches across. Perfect for any occasion. As a work of art, hand washing is recommended and your stem will last for years.
Here's a peek at another of Toni's creations.
HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win the lovely and colorful hand painted butterfly glass stem by visiting AllYarnCreations 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 leave your email or contact info so we can reach you if you're the lucky winner. The winner will be picked on May 3rd. Simply and Easy!
Friday, April 1, 2011
May I Have The Envelope Puhleez...
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...and the winner is...Mandy of TwinkleJewels85!!! Her March Challenge entry was the Peridot Wire Wrap Earrings and Bracelet. 
Let's all congratulate Mandy on her amazing wire weaving skills! Mandy has the option of having her Etsy mini or an in-depth interview displayed on our blog. As promised, she will also be featured on my Inner Muse Jewelry blog :D Also, a big round of applause to all our March Entrants. There were more entries this time than ever before and they were wonderful representations of our group's diverse talents.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
What Is Your Birthstone?
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Hello fellow FEST members. It is me Melissa again, and that must mean it is Wednesday. Last week I shared the beautiful Kunzite with you all. Did you check it out? Please do if you didn't. This week I am asking the question, do you know your birthstone? If you do, do you know the meaning of your birthstone? For example I am a Peridot, and it means Dignity. Years ago, when I was ahem much younger, Peridot was not found in good quality and I thought it was oh so ugly. Now that I make my own jewelry, and have found that there is some of the finest most beautiful qualities of Peridot, I wear it with great pride and dignity, LOL! The ring pictured is one I have in my store. I would love to own it for myself, but since the setting is rhodium plated it can not be resized, and I wear a five, this is a seven. So of course I am hoping someone who will love it, will buy it. Watch the video below to learn your birthstone and meaning, then be sure to comment and share with all of us. Happy Wednesday, have an awesome day! It is kind of rainy and icky today.
Hello fellow FEST members. It is me Melissa again, and that must mean it is Wednesday. Last week I shared the beautiful Kunzite with you all. Did you check it out? Please do if you didn't. This week I am asking the question, do you know your birthstone? If you do, do you know the meaning of your birthstone? For example I am a Peridot, and it means Dignity. Years ago, when I was ahem much younger, Peridot was not found in good quality and I thought it was oh so ugly. Now that I make my own jewelry, and have found that there is some of the finest most beautiful qualities of Peridot, I wear it with great pride and dignity, LOL! The ring pictured is one I have in my store. I would love to own it for myself, but since the setting is rhodium plated it can not be resized, and I wear a five, this is a seven. So of course I am hoping someone who will love it, will buy it. Watch the video below to learn your birthstone and meaning, then be sure to comment and share with all of us. Happy Wednesday, have an awesome day! It is kind of rainy and icky today.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Greetings From On Board The SS Tesla: 03/27/11
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Hello Team FESTers!
This is Capt. Maricruz speaking and I have been very busy getting ready for the Steampunk Circus! If you want to see me in person come and attend the show. Here is the info:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171561626227181
It's going to be at the Pompano Citi Centre so any of you FESTers that are in the area, come and say hello to a fellow team member. I will be bringing a special guest of honor with me as well. You can also check out the other artists there and maybe say hello as well.
Back to business as usual, I currently have an item up for sale in which 100% of the proceeds will go the American Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Japan (http://www.etsy.com/listing/70134011/relief-for-japan-special-edition). I would like for fellow Team FESTers to let me know if they have any charity items to help Japan as well so that I can make a Team FEST treasury with those items as well.
I shall depart for now while I make more pieces for the show and relax in my cabin with my octopus companion Inari and my dogs and cats as I continue crocheting my Tardis Scarf. Speaking of which here is a video for all of you that crochet brought to by the good folks from Thread Banger:
Godspeed and xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
This is Capt. Maricruz speaking and I have been very busy getting ready for the Steampunk Circus! If you want to see me in person come and attend the show. Here is the info:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171561626227181
It's going to be at the Pompano Citi Centre so any of you FESTers that are in the area, come and say hello to a fellow team member. I will be bringing a special guest of honor with me as well. You can also check out the other artists there and maybe say hello as well.
Back to business as usual, I currently have an item up for sale in which 100% of the proceeds will go the American Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Japan (http://www.etsy.com/listing/70134011/relief-for-japan-special-edition). I would like for fellow Team FESTers to let me know if they have any charity items to help Japan as well so that I can make a Team FEST treasury with those items as well.
I shall depart for now while I make more pieces for the show and relax in my cabin with my octopus companion Inari and my dogs and cats as I continue crocheting my Tardis Scarf. Speaking of which here is a video for all of you that crochet brought to by the good folks from Thread Banger:
Godspeed and xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Kunzite From The Spodumene Family
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Kunzite is a violet to pink gemstone, first found in 1902, by gemologist G.F. Kunz. Kunzite is a 6 1/2 on the Mohs hardness scale, but is very brittle in its internal structure. Extreme care should be taken when setting, and wearing this gemstone. It is a pleochroic gemstone, which means it can exhibit different colors at different angles. Violet, pink, paler shades of violet, clear, and even red can be exhibited. There is a very new find of Kunzite called Patroke Kunzite that comes from Afghanistan. It is the loveliest hottest pink color I have ever seen. I do not own any, as it is very, very expensive. The Kunzite pictured is set in sterling silver, and measures 12mmx10mm, and is oval. Set in a fancy filigree design ring, size 6 1/2. It is a lovely soft lilac color. This was a beautiful Kunzite, the only one I owned. It has since been sold to one lucky buyer, from my Etsy store.
Kunzite is a violet to pink gemstone, first found in 1902, by gemologist G.F. Kunz. Kunzite is a 6 1/2 on the Mohs hardness scale, but is very brittle in its internal structure. Extreme care should be taken when setting, and wearing this gemstone. It is a pleochroic gemstone, which means it can exhibit different colors at different angles. Violet, pink, paler shades of violet, clear, and even red can be exhibited. There is a very new find of Kunzite called Patroke Kunzite that comes from Afghanistan. It is the loveliest hottest pink color I have ever seen. I do not own any, as it is very, very expensive. The Kunzite pictured is set in sterling silver, and measures 12mmx10mm, and is oval. Set in a fancy filigree design ring, size 6 1/2. It is a lovely soft lilac color. This was a beautiful Kunzite, the only one I owned. It has since been sold to one lucky buyer, from my Etsy store.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Greetings From The SS Tesla: Upcoming Shows & Events: South Florida
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Hello Team FESTers!
This is Capt Maricruz and I do apologize for reporting in a day late, but there is a good reason. I have been currently looking for upcoming shows that fellow Team FESTers may be interested in attending/or vending at. So without further ado, here they are:
That is all for now Team FESTers and before I sign out to contiune my repairs on the Tesla, I would like to take a moment to place an announcement. I am currently selling a very special limited edition piece from my newest jewelry line called Octo-Couture on my little shop. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Japan. Plus there will be free shipping.
Here is the link:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70134011/relief-for-japan-special-edition
I know there are fellow Team FESTers out there that have some items for Japan so be sure to check them out.
Thanks and Godspeed!
xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
This is Capt Maricruz and I do apologize for reporting in a day late, but there is a good reason. I have been currently looking for upcoming shows that fellow Team FESTers may be interested in attending/or vending at. So without further ado, here they are:
DR. SEUSS Live art group show by Art Nouveau Events Mar. 23rd from 8:00 pm to Thursday 2:00 am
The submissions for this event are currently closed but you can contact the lovely Teresa Korber if you are interested in doing future events. It's seriously worth it and a great way to get your name out there and $25 for a vendor spot, how can you refuse that?! Do be prompt, it's a first come, first serve basis to sign up.
The Steampunk Circus Presented by WeMerge Magazine Apr. 2nd, Pompano Citi Centre, Pompano Beach Florida, 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
(This is a traveling art show, there are more dates, check out the link). I am not sure if they are still taking vendor submissions, but there is a possibility that they are. This is perfect for all of the Etsy Artists out there that paint, sculpt, photograph and do mixed media art in general.
The vendor/artist submission is here:
http://thesteampunkcircus.yolasite.com/join-the-circus.php
The Downtown Open Market, Apr. 3rd, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
This show will be held once a month every Sunday. This one is perfect for fellow Team FESTers who are located in the Boca, Pompano, Deerfield, Ft. Lauderdale and even further south of the state to attend. There may be some vendor openings for the first show but I think they're looking for vendors for the next show.
Here is the Vendor Application:
http://www.downtownopenmarket.com/vendorForm.asp?id=BocaThat is all for now Team FESTers and before I sign out to contiune my repairs on the Tesla, I would like to take a moment to place an announcement. I am currently selling a very special limited edition piece from my newest jewelry line called Octo-Couture on my little shop. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to help with the relief efforts in Japan. Plus there will be free shipping.
Here is the link:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70134011/relief-for-japan-special-edition
I know there are fellow Team FESTers out there that have some items for Japan so be sure to check them out.
Thanks and Godspeed!
xoxo,
Capt. Maricruz
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March Challenge Entries!
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I present to you the March Team Challenge entries! OK...I'm on my second cup of coffee and I've received invaluable advice from our lovely Gail of Seaphemera on how to install the poll widget. So, without further ado, the voting is now officially open. NOTE: You may vote for MORE THAN 1 ENTRY!!!! Since my learning curve was rather steep for the first Monthly Challenge, I have decided to feature the winning entry on my blog! The exposure will be monumental since I have millions of followers (actually closer to 14 at last count but the other 999,986 have no idea what they're missing!) Take your time to enjoy all the beautiful, creative entries from our fabulously talented Team Members :D Good luck one and all!!
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