It's Better Handmade Blog Ring Post #10 - Icehouse Crafts

Okay, so I lied or maybe I couldn't count...but this is the last victim of the Blog Ring Post. Seriously...I mean it this time...*crosses fingers*

This week's roastee is Icehouse Crafts.  She lives in Baltimore, Maryland and has been a full-time professional crafter for a good long time. She hits up and down the Eastern shore doing shows. Good on her. I'm pretty localized, except for when I go to Chickenstocks, but that's another story.

She paints and stencils signs and home decor goodies.  She's got a great sense of humour...I giggled looking at some of her work.
How true is THIS one?


This one too:


Obelisk could use this one for her chicken bucket aka cat carrier because that's her attitude:


This is too true for here:


I could use this one for DS:


This is another must have for my place:


Yep:


I like this one too:


Being a Pagan, I'd have these out all year long...The neighbours are already afraid of me...sheesh I never thought I was terribly scary, but I guess so... :(

She has a section for the spring holidays, for pirates, kids and adults. She has one for pets, even.  Basically something for everyone. I suggest that you guys come in and check her shop out.

Dear Icehouse Crafts can be found on Artfire:
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/icehousecrafts
Her own website is here:
http://www.icehousecrafts.com/
There are some other neat things here, like Rag Dolls, pie tins, blocks, spoons, wreaths, all sorts of kitcheny stuff.
She's got a cute little blog too:
http://www.icehousecrafts.blogspot.com/
And she's on FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/Icehousecrafts

It's Better Handmade Blog Ring Post #9 - CatyAnn

This is our last victim...sigh...I've enjoyed getting to know my team mates and checking out all the shineys. Her name is Cathy and she lives in NW Ohio! A BuckEye, if I remember correctly. My cousin went to Ohio State.

This is SOO Springy looking.  Look at the details in the glass flowers!  The flat disks remind me of Caramel Bulls Eyes. mmm.


This is just dreamy! Look at that Focal...Love the deep green. And  it's got Orange!!

She's got matching/complementary earrings for both of those necklaces. I like to do that too. And a bracelet for the yellow lollipop one too...so you can be completely stylin'.

These are very rich looking especially as we head for fall. 

 

This bracelet is a classic...you could wear that to see the Queen or the President whilst carrying your Chanel bag.


She also has things to showcase your new bling...Gods, I dislike that word. They're made of old picture frames and have screen to hang your goodies...what a great idea! Wish I had thought of it. ;)

On another note, she's a Breast Cancer survivor...
Can I hear some applause from our audience?!
Damn Straight! It's a HUGE accomplishment. Two women from my son's grade school died from it, another friend's sister has it and my hubby's aunt had it.
She has some charms in her shop for that too.


She can be found here on Artfire:
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/CatyAnn
On Wordpress:
http://catyann43506.wordpress.com/
On Blogspot:
http://www.catyannscreations.blogspot.com/

It's Better Handmade Blog Ring Post #8 - Wyvern Designs

This week's victim is a fellow BayStater! W00t!! Think I'm a bit State-centric? hehehe. She hails from Auburn, which is way way way northwest of me, out by Woostah.


She's also a Pagan, as am I. We don't bite and we throw the best pahties 8 times a year.


Dear Wyvern is a Jill of all trades. She paints, works with Polymer Clay, knits, crochets, and makes jewelry and house stuff too...

Off we go to see some wicked pissah (New England Speak for really cool) goodies in her shop.

Oh boy oh boy...the first things I see are ORANGE!!! W00H00! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Orange!!!

Utoh she's got Flamingos and a Crow too... I'm a bit of a bird brain myself...


These are really neato in her supply department: You can NEVAH have too many Scarabs...or Wolves either.


She makes very intricate and interesting greeting cards too.

She sends them in puffy envelopes so the "Post Orifice" doesn't squish em or otherwise wreck them. Good idea...They can manage to mangle magazines...pfft.

I love her Rune Bracelets too. This one's for guys:


She has some SteamPunk and some Pagan-y goodies too.  A very neat and cool shop to take a wander through...I hope some of our Team Mates will take the time and have a peek.

Wyvern can be found here on Artfire:
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/Wyverndesigns
On Twitter:
http://twitter.com/WyvernStamps
And on BlogSpot:
http://wyverndesigns.blogspot.com/

It's Better Handmade Blog Post Ring #7- JudyCogoDesigns

This week's Roastee is Judy Cogo of JudyCogoDesigns. She resides in the Great White North...Canada, in case you didn't know. Around TO (Toronto) to be more exact. It's a nice area...I haven't been since 68, but that's what my friends who live there say.



She's from a bit North of there, in a cute little small town called Stouffville. I can only think of Stouffer's Mac and Cheese...Dunno why...maybe because it sounds like a comforting place to be creative. 


Well whatcha know: Stouffville was named after a guy named Stouffer and it was used for the filming of a 97 movie.  Nice claim to fame.


She's a gal after my own heart...she works in gemstones...drool. She wire-wraps, knits, crochets and sews too. She also loves to garden and read. 



Back to her shop...before I get completely off on a tangent.  
This gorgeous piece is from her Bead Crochet section. I just can't describe it. 

It's like she wove butterflies and tropical fish into a piece of art!
I wouldn't even ATTEMPT that in my wildest and most coordinated dreams.


This wonderful piece is in her Valentine's section:


I think it would be lovely for Mother's Day too. Aventurine is SUCH a wonderful stone. I've seen it myself in Red and Blue and the usual Green and they're all pretty.


Utoh...I found my favourite colour combination!!!

Here's what she said about it:

"I was inspired by the forecast of orange being the Color of the Year 2012, and knowing that there are many individuals who think they cannot wear this color, I softened the design by combining the lighter orange with green and blue. Anyone can wear this jewelry set. I am very pleased with the final result and think it is beautiful."

I happen to agree absolutely! 
Another of my favourite stones is Obsidian and she has a set of Rainbow in her shop too.




This one is really interesting also with the different textures and the colours of the Greek Flag...I would be touching it all day.

And she's got Snowflake Obsidian earrings...drool...
Now I'm in trouble...hehe

Oh jeeze, something else I love: Copper Goldstone. What a pretty bracelet!


Anyone wanna pass me a bib, plznthnx?


If you wanna see some more really pretty things like Swarovski Crystals, and Chain Maille come and check Judy out!

She can be found here on Artfire:
https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/JudyCogoDesigns
Her own site here:
http://judycogodesigns.mysupadupa.com/
On Pinterest:
http://judycogodesigns.mysupadupa.com/
On FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/judycogodesigns
And this is her blog:
http://www.judycogodesigns.blogspot.com/

It's Better Handmade Blog Ring Post #6 - Lisian Blue

On the hotseat this week is Kris from Lisian Blue. She called the shop after her favourite flower and it's colour. I've never heard of them...but by Googling I found out that it's a pretty "big" flower for bridal bouquets...They're very pretty, too See?


She lives in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico, another of those places I'd like to visit. According to her bio, she paints on all sorts of things with all types of paint, beads, photographs, works with wood, crochets, and works with glass too...all supervised by her 12 yo kitteh.  I know how it is to be supervised by a pet...I'm rather surprised Obelisk hasn't laid a Faberge egg yet, with my propensity to drop beads on the floor. 

In her Shop she has Ornaments which are available only until 24 July...They're all so pretty. She also has a spring collection of ornaments and heart shaped ones too. I really like this one because it reminds me of Fish Scales and I love and spoil my fish too.How many people do you know who would buy Xmas treats for their goldfish?


This is my fave in her Stained Glass section:

I'm an Egyptophile since way way back. I even tried to run away to see the King...and I don't mean Elvis.




The one on the right is prolly more of how you've seen him...

Moving right along...Her Miscellaneous Painted Glass section has too many cool shinies. I especially LOVE these bears.


Aren't they just gorgeous?!In Native culture bears are a very powerful totem. 


The last section of her shop has hand beaded appliques...better her than me, because the whole deal would go out the window if I was doing them...My Great Grandmother used to tat and I'd watch her and just shake my head...I don't have the manual dexterity and that just looks akin walking and chewing gum...so I'll leave that to the folks who can.

Just lookit how delicate that is...and if those teeny itty bitty beads are even life sized, I'd be so screwed. LOL


Kris can be found on Artfire, here:
https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/lisianblue
This one has her crocheted goodies and an awesome quilt.
http://handmadeartistsshop.com/shop/lisianblue
This one's got more glass shineys.
http://handmadeartists.com/shop/reflections
Her blog is here:
http://lisianblue.blogspot.com/
And she's got pictures on Flickr too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisianblue/


Come over and check out LisianBlue...Her blue phase is NOT depressing and it's better understood than Picasso's.

It's Better Handmade Blog Ring Post #5 - GlassSculptureOrg

This week's victim is Joy Alyssa Day of GlassSculptureOrg.  She and her partner reside in Carmel Valley, CA. It's really beautiful there. Clint Eastwood was Mayor of Carmel by the Sea for a bit and DH and I visited the Hogs Breath Inn while on our honeymoon.  Carmel Valley is about 10 miles away from the seaside town.


They does glass blowing, painting, etching, carving, all sortsa stuff pertaining to glass. They also write books, have a cat rescue, do regular painting, and things with wood. Yikes...must keep 'em out of trouble to be so creative.


Glass and I have a tendency not to get along...I've broken all types from Porcelain(You haven't lived till you've glued a Heron toe to your finger) to Swarovski(proud owner of a crystal lute) to Correlle and Pyrex. Needless to say, I try to have a very small profile around ANYTHING of a glass ilk.


Going through her shop...this jumps right out at me...and I sorta wish it was real...cuz I'm rather hungry right now...

A Red Velvet Armadillo Cupcake sans Armadillo. Just like in Steel Magnolias.

And no Armadillos were harmed during the making of the cake...seriously...I swear...


I love this paperweight too. I used to live on a beach/resort town/tourist trap where the streets rolled up from Columbus Day to Easter.

So the ocean's in my blood.


She's got some gorgeous fused glass pendants too...

Aren't they out of this world? Pun intended.

Another really touching and amazing thing that she does is Urns, and Paperweights, for you  to keep and cherish the cremains of your pets whom have crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  I wish I had known this when my birdies crossed. :( I have some feathers and Slifer the Sky Dragon's spurs in a box, some of Tom Brunanski and Jerry Remy's and MissMoneyPenny's feathers too.

I'll have to remember this shop when Obelisk the Tormentor crosses. Hopefully not for quite some time yet.

She also does Bottle Stoppers, Business Card Holders, Candleholders and Dishes of various sorts.  Along with glass furniture (steps quietly away) bowls for your babies to be dunked in, awards and windchimes...I swear to the Gods that if it's glass, they can do it! They've even made awards for the Planetary Society, including Professor Stephen who got one and  a "Lobby Sculpture" for the Space Foundation. NOW I am even MORE impressed!!! If that's possible...

She, well THEY, can be found here:
http://sphericalmagic.com/

https://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/GlassSculptureOrg

http://joysblog.glassnebula.com/

This is for the Bengal and Maine Coon Cat Rescue:

http://bengalmania.org/

And on FaceBook:

http://www.facebook.com/JoyAlyssaDay