Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
BlueBrooch
*Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a South African by birth and a globetrotter by believe!! The last 7 years I have been living and working at game lodges in Africa together with my husband. We live in a pretty remote area in South Africa with the closest real civilization 40 minutes away by car. I love the bush, I love to travel and I love to surround myself with beautiful and unique things and I am always busy scribbling down ideas! I think my biggest challenge out here is to get my supplies but the moment I go out into the real world (the city) it’s just crazy exciting!
*How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
Having my own business has always been something in the back of my mind and last Christmas my husband surprised me by registering a company for me, Blue Brooch & Peony Rose. As I do not have all the knowledge to take the big leap yet and leave my day job I decided to open a shop on Etsy: Bluebrooch. I love making the little treasures and want to share it with others and hopefully sell a few! I am also looking at expanding my shop in 2010…
*Do you have a blog?
No, not that tech savvy just yet and unfortunately there is not enough hours in the day after work and some play to get stuck behind the computer again. I try to join Etsy’s forums whenever I can but due to the time difference between Africa and the USA the majority of the Etsy community is fast asleep when I chat!
*When did you start making jewelry?
I have never really liked wearing something that hundreds of others have or that was mass produced (be it clothes, jewelry etc.) and have always adored vintage, antique or unique pieces. I have made jewels for myself since my teens and always something that I knew would be “one of a kind”; I still do!! However, the first piece I made to give away was for my sister’s 30th Birthday this August. I wanted to give her something truly special!
*Where do you craft? what does it look like?I usually work at a large wooden table in our lounge or outside on the patio overlooking our garden so I can keep an eye on any antelope or game that might come past. My “craft area” is pretty mobile and I move around quite a bit especially when taking photographs or if something just does not want to work. I also like to sit and work close to where my husband and our spaniel are lounging.
*What would you love to add to your crafting space?
I would love to have a dedicated “craft room” with huge French doors leading outside and a huge wall panel to scribble down all my ideas! A large distressed vintage table and some Moroccan ottomans would really add the cherry on top!
*What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
Ribbons!!! Grosgrain (pretty hard to find in South Africa); satin, silk, velvet you name it. I love ribbons around prezzies, around my wrists, draped around our Christmas tree and dangling in front of windows. And I really like using them in my pieces.
*Where do you get your ideas from?
I am inspired by things that make the child in all of us come out to play. That could mean an African bangle one day, a dainty flower necklace the next. These are my charmed treasures, all things whimsical and fun, made of dust and dreams!
Mish Mash Monday
1) Let's not repeat last week again - ok? Had to take my computer in to get a "check-up" on Tuesday, and only got it back Friday afternoon! That is just way to long to be without a computer. Did manage to get to the library on Wed. and Thurs. to check emails. But it's really hard to get the emails answered, post on two blogs, plus check out other blogs and comment. Really need to get a lap top so that we have two computers! Can't convince hubby yet.
2) I received this amazing soap and votive candle in the mail from Capricorn Soap Company. Don't you love the way the soap is packaged? This soap is really really nice! LOVE the candle too :) Noticed that she now carries lip balm!
3) Logan decided one day that it was time to clean their room. With Luke in College - he could do it alone (no arguing about where stuff should go). Didn't realize how many teddies they had until Logan stacked them all up. Told him it looked like a choir :) Wonder if they sing to him at night?
4) Blog of the week:
Nancy has a beautiful blog! I love to visit it. She has great posts, features great shops she finds, and is really a lovely woman! You really should check out her blog :)
5) I haven't received my Valentine swap items yet (from the swap I hosted). Have heard from a few people who have. I will be setting up a MckLinky next weekend, so if anyone has posted about their swap items, they can link to it and we can all see what everyone got! Hopefully a few packages have arrived at their destinations :)
I did receive a package from another swap I did! Got this wonderful assortment of Valentine goodies from Stephanie at Mississippi Songbird.
*Chocolates
*Mississippi Delta Cooking Cookbook
*Note pad with 2 magnets
*Avon lotion
*Sweetheart Candies
*Cinnamon Heart candies
*Heart suckers
* Letter "A" wall hanging!
* Cookie mix
Thanks so much Stephanie!!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Inspirational Sunday
A Conspiracy Of Kindness
Kevin is a boy who might be described as "slow." He didn't learn his ABCs as fast as other kids. He couldn't compete in schoolyard races. But Kevin had a way with people. His bright smile and big heart won him plenty of friends.
My friend Randy, the pastor at Kevin's church, decided they needed a basketball team for boys. Kevin signed on and soon basketball became a center of his life. He practiced hard. While the other boys worked at dribbling the basketball and shooting lay-ups, skills Kevin would never master, he simply shot baskets. Or more correctly, he threw the ball AT the basket. He had a special spot near the free throw line. He threw and threw, and it occasionally went in. On the rare times that he succeeded, Kevin raised his arms and shouted, "Look at me, Coach! Look at me!" Randy looked at him. And smiled.
The day before their first game, Coach Randy gave each player a bright red jersey. Kevin was number 12. He scrambled himself into the sleeves and wore that jersey almost every day. Everywhere. One Sunday morning the church worship service was interrupted by Kevin's excited voice. "Look, Coach!" He lifted his gray wool sweater to reveal the red jersey underneath with number 12 on the front. Nobody there minded the interruption; the congregation knew Kevin and loved him.
I'd like to be able to tell you that the team did well. But the truth is.they never won a game that season -- except for the night it snowed and the opposing team never showed up. At the end of the season, the boys played in the church league's tournament. As the last-place team, they drew the unfortunate spot of playing against the best team -- boys who had never lost a game all year. Game day arrived. Both teams played their best, but the game went as expected. Near the end of the last quarter, Kevin's team stood nearly 30 points behind. It was then that one of the boys called timeout. "Coach Randy," he said, "this is our last game and Kevin has never made a basket. I think we should let him make a basket." The team agreed.
Kevin was instructed to stand at his special place near the free throw line and wait. He was told that when he was given the ball, he should shoot. Kevin was ecstatic. He ran to the floor and waited. When the ball was passed to him he shot -- and missed. Number 17 from the other team snatched the rebound, dribbled down the court for an easy basket. But a moment later Kevin got the ball again. He shot -- and missed again. Number 17 repeated his performance scoring two more points. Kevin shot a third and fourth time with the same result. But slowly the other team seemed to figure out what was going on and the next time they snatched the rebound, a boy threw it to Kevin! He shot...and missed.
Now every rebound came to him and he threw and threw toward the basket. Time was running down and Kevin still had not scored. BOTH teams circled the boy by this time and all of the players were shouting, "Kevin! Kevin!" The crowd took up the chant. Soon everyone in the gym was shouting Kevin's name. Coach Randy was sure that time must have run out; the game HAD to be over. He glanced at the official clock. It was stopped at 4.3 seconds. Even the timekeepers joined in the mania and stood by their table shouting with the crowd, "Kevin! Kevin!" Kevin shot and shot. Everyone was screaming. He attempted again and again and again and...miraculously, one of his shots took a crazy bounce on the rim. Everyone held their breath. The ball dropped in. Chaos reigned.
Nobody remained seated. Everyone stood and cheered as if one boy had single-handedly won a world championship. Kevin's arms sprang up in the air and he shouted, "I won! I won!" He had scored. His team escorted him off the court, the clock ticked down and the game was over. That day an undefeated team retained their perfect record. But everybody won. Everybody. Because everybody had participated in a crazy conspiracy of kindness that was so compelling, so powerful, the earth itself might have stopped for a moment to rejoice with one young boy. How beautiful it is when we all conspire together in kindness. Everybody wins.
~ Steve Goodier ~
Friday, February 5, 2010
Recycled Baskets and More
*Where are you from? I was born here in Michigan, went to Alaska for 4 1/2 years in my 20s then have lived in Michigan ever since.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was around creativity all my life and so I naturally gravitated toward it - it was one of the benefits of living in a house of packrats - there were craft supplies everywhere!! In my spare time, I would find something interesting in a drawer or on a shelf and try it out. When you're a kid, it's not like 'school' or 'training', it's just play. I remember finding a calligraphy book and pen and doodling away. For me, it was just 'doodling' and so the pressure was off to be perfect or get it 'right' quickly - I was just playin'. :)
*How did you decide on your shop name?
My shop name came from my son and I LOVE it!! I had been brainstorming about what to name my shop and I was trying to figure out how to encompass all of the things I do or use the word 'purple' somehow (my fav color) but most things were either silly or cheezy. My son walked by and asked what I was doing. I explained my dilemma and he said - instead of naming it something that you do, why not name it something that you are....Like maybe.... "Craftinator"? AH! I had worked on a name for DAYS and he came up with it in minutes!!
*What got you started in recycling?
I was recycling before recycling was cool :) I suppose it goes back to the whole 'packrat' thing - I don't want to throw anything away! I've had the mindset of re-using and re-purposing my whole life - it just made sense! It sometimes frustrates people when I constantly try to find alternate uses for things but it's one of the things I like to do - it helps keep my brain busy.
Why did you start your business?
Money is a part of this society, can't get around it, so I want to find ways to make money doing what I WANT to do and am good at instead of trying to make money doings things I HAVE to do and am just kinda good at.
*What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
"Hello, my name is Michele and .... I'm a craft supply addict" (crowd replies - "Hello Michele". LOL I can't think of anything specific!! It depends on what my current set of projects is! So, as you could guess, I have piles and piles of sweaters and stacks and stacks of baskets in my workroom at this time :)
*What motivates or inspires you to create?Hmmmm....that's hard to define....so many things come to me 'out of the blue' or at the spur of the moment. I guess I don't know!
*Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
Well, I like making them all but I get quite a kick out of ruffling through my stash of sweaters, baskets and trims and finding things that all match but were all found at different times at different places. The orange oval basket is a good example. The beads were from a garage sale, the basket was given to me and the sweater was bought at a second hand shop! I think it's the 'thrill of the hunt'.
*Do you have a blog?
Yep! www.craftinator.blogspot.com
*What is your favorite shop that uses recycled materials, and/or your favorite blog about recycling?
Oh, man, I can only pick one??? I'm gonna HAFTA bend the rules just a bit and give you two :) Sarah Jo and Butch at www.ForrestConcepts.etsy.com and Sarah at www.sjroemer.etsy.com
Friday Follow 4
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