SALE! Buy 1 Get 1 Half-off!!

Seems like there is a sale every where! Might as well join in! Plus, I have some great new beads and findings to work with and once I get my Christmas decorations packed up, I'm hitting my work bench to hammer out all the design ideas in my head!

Why not a sale to make room for my new pieces on the way?

Visit my Eye Candy Creative shop online to see what is in stock currently. Lots of great sterlings silver, semi-precious gemstones and artisan findings to choose from!

Make your purchase and wait for an adjusted invoice to receive the discount.

But hurry! This sale only lasts one week through the 6th of January and is on in-stock items only!

International Exposure

SkyDreams, another Etsy.com shop alerted me to the fact that one of my pieces made the home page of Etsy earlier today! Catch a Falling Star, an apatite, labradorite and sterling/hilltribe silver necklace is too pretty for words! After I stopped silently squealing, I peeked at how many times it had been viewed and wowie! Gotta' love the treasury which I am addicted to!

Well, the necklace hasn't sold as of this post, and I hope someone snatches it up. It really is wonderful! It is still in LunaLove's treasury Green and Grey Lyrics.

Here is the treasury list I curated yesterday!

'Tis Better to Give!

So many beautiful handmade goodies!

I seriously need to get back to scrubbing my floors! My friend took my toddlers to an indoor park so I could do just that!

Have a blessed day!

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday morning and through mid-day we had the most beautiful hoarfrost on all the trees and bushes outside! I quick snapped a photo even before the sun came up. I meant to get back out to take another when the sun was hitting them making them glisten like diamonds where hanging off of each branch but I never did.

Here are a couple of shots I took. Hockey rink in the background and all!

What a creation! God must have a glorious time doing this!

Enjoy!

Married to a Wonderful Dream Chaser

Inspired by the Etsy Forum post, "How long have you been married?" I'm adding our family photo and giving kudos to my super fab hubby who always wins husband of the year and father of the year hands down!

We met in college and have been together for about 20 years and married for just over 17. He's a terrific dream chaser and spiritual leader of our household! It is a secure feeling when you know your husband's first partner and advisor is the Lord! May your marriage and relationships be blessed!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Speaking of Trader Joe's

Since I just mentioned Trader Joe's wine shop in my last blog a minute ago, I thought I'd mention, DANG! their Mandarin Orange Chicken is incredible!

OK, so now I can pop open a bottle of wine, without guilt that I'm the only one drinking it. And my kids are completely happy eating chinese that taste like take-out!

Way yum!

p.s. Trader Joe's folks, you can contact me directly on where to send the marketing spiff :o)

Kirsten
Eye Candy Creative

Trunk Show and Wine Drinking

Two great reasons to pull friends together. A designer jewelry sale and wine.
I had a request from a friend to hold a viewing of my jewelry. She has family coming in for Thanksgiving and wanted to buy their Christmas gifts.

I thought, absolutely! I have to clean my house for my thanksgiving anyway. I have many friends and clients who missed my art shows, perfect.

So off to Trader Joe's to get a case of vino. I made a tiramisu dessert, got your standard munchies, and whoolah!

I'd take a picture, but my 2 year old broke my latest camera. Aargh.

Good thing is that the ideas have been flowing and I've made a lot of new creations.

Check them out at Eye Candy Creative at Etsy.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Creative Block?

A Spattering of Creations. The Flood is coming!

Ok, call it lack of time, lack of creative ideas whatever..... I like it the most when new ideas flow and flow and flow. I guess I can appreciate now when people say to me, " I don't know how you do it?". Usually I can just look at what I call a "puddle" of beads and see lots and lots of possibilities. Lately, not so much. I take out my "puddles", and nothing. Nada. Nilch. Zippo.

I have managed to create a few beautiful pieces. But I'm waiting for the creative flood gates to come open!

We Adopted a Chinchilla!

I feel like a little school girl! I begged and pleaded with my family to let me adopt a chinchilla. Well it all started when my soon to be 5 year old son came home with a baby mole in his hands that he decided to pick up in the road outside.

Trying not to freak out, we got the mole back outside and hopefully on his way back to his own family. But... my son reported that he has always wanted a pet of his very own.

Well, I thought back to when I saw a chinchilla at the pet store a few years ago and started my google research. Cute enough. Long lasting. EXPENSIVE.

I found an adoptable chin cage and all but my family shot me down. I pouted like a little 8 year old. Two weeks went by. I thought, well then I'll drag the fish tank back out and get more fish again. Hopefully our 2 year old won't fill it with glue like our soon to be 5 year old once did.

We went to the pet store to get some pregnant guppies and what did they have there? Chinchillas. Two of them. One too cool to play with us. The other so happy to have anyone paying attention to it. So I was whipped. I called my friend on the way home who gave me a half-dozen reasons on why we could adopt that other chinchilla to my husband. Then I called my husband and poured it on thick!!!

6 hours later, I came home with a 5 1/2 foot tall cage and a 4 year old chubby chinchilla named Buster. Since all of our sons names start with a "B", I think I'll call him Chico.

Our dog can't quite figuire him out. The cage looks hilariuos in our family room, with a big rainbow colored tube running out the top and sides. So much for my Pottery Barn decor!

Well, we are a family of fun here! I'm hoping the lump in my throat this morning is not because I'm allergic to him.

Any advice for me that anyone can offer would be appreciated!!!!

Fall is Approaching

Minnesota is so wonderful! The change of seasons is one of my favorite times here. In the past week we have gone from a hard frost which took my morning glories, to 80 and hot and humid. None-the-less, winter is on the way and the fall colours are painting the woods.

I've been acquiring new semi-precious stones to work with, and in between shuffling kids to football practice, pre-school and mite hockey skating lessons, I am trying to create something wonderful with them!

Meanwhile, check out Eye Candy Creative at Etsy for a few new posts with wonderfully rustic citrine nuggets and some new labradorite features!

Also, I tend to forget my destash supply store TheReserve at Etsy. I'll try to post some new finds there also as I have more than I can use in super supplies right now!

Semi-Precious Stones and Sterling Silver Jewelry

The earth creates no short of wonders. Semi-precious stones and silver are two of them that I have a passion for. Each stone is unique and wonderful. Pair them with quality sterling silver findings and you have a unique pairing of earths elements that bring beauty and creativity to your wardrobe.
One of my "custom-order" customers said after she received her completed necklace said, "You have converted me. I can never just be satisfied with trendy Kohls/Penny's-style jewelry again!"
Another customer to my booth at Arts in the Park said, "Wow, now this is real jewelry!". A true compliment!
Stop by my designer store Eye Candy Creative on Etsy to preview my latest offerings. Be sure to look through my SOLD gallery. If I have some of the same stones and findings available, I may be able to recreate a sold item by request!

Last 2 Weeks for Arts in the Park!

Eye Candy Creative has just two weeks left to appear at the Forest Lake, MN Arts in the Park Tuesdays 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Stop by if you are local and see my designs up close! You can also take advantage of some of the Summer Sale items!

I've throughly enjoyed being a part of this event and will look forward to attending it again next year!

Weekend Sale through August 5th Midnight

****Dog Days Complimentary Shipping or 10% OFF SALE!!****

Now through Sunday August 5th at Midnight central time, purchase an item in my shop, www.eyecandycreative.etsy.com and choose either 10% off your entire purchase or FREE shipping!

Your choice, but please leave a message to me with your puchase on which you choose and I will send you an adjusted invoice!

Kindest creative regards,
Kirsten

Prayers and Miracles

The I35W bridge near downtown Minneapolis collapsed last night around 6:00 p.m.. The tail end of rush hour. We sat frozen as we watched the rescue attempts flipping from local channel to local channel and to national CNN coverage.

My prayer is that the miracle stories will be heard, that peace that only God can bring come over the families who have lost someone in this tragedy and that each of us come to understand that life is but a vapor and each day is to be cherished.

Love each other, friend or stranger. Be willing to put your hand out to help someone UP and leave anger under the rubble where it belongs.

God bless you, your family, your health and your finances.

Lovingly,

Kirsten

Heart Strings Foundation

Here is a great cause my heart is full for!
Go to http://www.beheartstrings.com/ and read all about a wonderful legacy left behind by a wonderful young lady!

Also, support their foundation by shopping the Brynnalex http://www.brynnalex.etsy.com.
Lots of donated artisan crafted items! Look for the Dream Bracelet I donated as well as lots of other gorgeous creations!

http://www.etsy.com/get_convo_image.php?convo_id=5519524&image_id=5085113&image_type=full

Visit eeja.org for more information on the Eclectic Jewelry Artisans!

Enter to Win at EEJA.org

Here's your chance to vote for your favorite wire project by the artisans of EJA and your chance to win a free gift bag that will include hand made jewelry and other goodies!!

Just visit http://eeja.org/wired.html and fill out the form. On July 25th, we will draw a lucky e-mail address from those that have voted. One vote per person. Voting on an item will sign you up for our newsletter that will inform you of future sales and other prize drawings.

I did not design an entry, but there are a lot of incredible entries to vote on! Good luck!

Street Teams Eye Candy Creative is on!

I am on some incredible street teams! Three to be exact! Although I am new to this whole blog thing..... I will try to list their links here:

JET (Jewelry on Etsy Team)
Again, wonderful and diverse group of jewelry designers and suppliers! Lots and lots of members and fun to be a part of!
http://www.jewelryonetsyteam.blogspot.com/

ETSYMN (All Minnesota talent with ETSY shops)
Diverse collection of designer/artists from knitting specialties to stained glass works!
Such an incredible collection of talent and support!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MinnesotaEtsyStreetTeam/

Sterling silver Jewelry

I love working with sterling silver and Hill Tribe Silver! I like the organic feel to it and how it oxidizes as it ages! Please visit my store www.eyecandycreative.etsy.com to view my latest designs!

Mention blog in your purchase window and I will ship it FREE!

;o)

Personal Invitation to stop by Eye Candy Creative

I am way new to this blog department. But am willing to learn. If you find this blog and end up in my shop.... enter blog in your purchase and I will ship your item free!

Thank you for stopping by!