Wednesday Wellspring: Happy New Year and Congratulations

Congratulations to Salleefur/Jesslyn/Jesster for winning the elegantly beautiful pendant from Beauty in the Eye!

And a hap-hap-happy new year to you all! See you next year in the Wednesday Wellspring for more wonderful giveaways and team challenges! Wishing you all the best!

Treasury Tuesday: RNEST's Shiny New Year!

If you're like me, the thought of New Year celebrations conjures up images of bright and SHINY things! Well, luckily, I have a nice little collection of some handmade (and vintage) shiny things from some of our local artisans! I know it's a little late to order any of these to get your glam on at a New Year's Eve party this Friday, but New Year's Eve isn't the only time you can wear shiny things!

RNEST's Shiny New Year

Happy New Year! See you in 2011!

(anyone pick up on this treasury's title as an homage to the movie "Rudolph's Shiny New Year"? Anyone? Bueller?)

Make-it Mondays: Home Baked Crayons

This is a project I have been excited to do for awhile. After teaching Art for a couple years, I have a big box of little Crayola stubs that I couldn't part with. So here is a fun way to reuse them. These make great gifts for small children and a fun art club project as well.

All you need is:

1. Broken, nubby crayons in search of a new home
2. A muffin pan
3. Paper muffin pan liners
4. Oven mitts
5. An oven

1. Divide your crayons by color scheme and peel off any paper. I like staying with analogous and warm or cool color families, but feel free to go crazy!


2. Place paper liners in a muffin pan and fill the cups up with crayon pieces. Most of the gaps will fill in, instead of overflowing.


3. Put your mitts on and the pan in the oven. I preheated my oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and melt time took about 15 minutes. (Times may vary based on brand, so keep an eye on them!)

4. Once melted, remove the pan and let cool until they have solidified and feel cool to the touch.

5. Remove the crayons from the liners and have fun!

Post project thoughts: When the paper liners are peeled off, it is a good idea to rub down the tops, as the edges have thin, flaky pieces. You could also just leave the liners on the crayons to give them as gifts or even leave them in a cute, thrifted muffin pan that doubles as gift wrap and storage for your home baked crayons. The only downside to that is the tie-die effect isn't revealed until they are taken out of the liners. Side project options could be personalized coloring books/pages...mmmm, another tutorial perhaps?

Wednesday Wellspring: Beauty in the Eye

Bubbling up from the well this week is Beauty in the Eye with some beauty for your eye: a gorgeous reversible pendant!

This reversible pendant is made from handmade Japanese paper - two different designs are nestled between glass slides wrapped with copper tape. Each side of the pendant shows a different paper. A metal leaf charm completes the ensemble! This pendant can be worn on a ribbon, chain, or leather cord.

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to the US only.):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Beauty in the Eye, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.
MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. Become a follower of the Beauty in the Eye blog.

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. "Like" Beauty in the Eye on Facebook.

4. "Like" RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, December 28 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesday: White Christmas

Christmas is this weekend and so this will be the last holiday gift guide of 2010. Whether you're dreaming of a white Christmas or wishing the white stuff would go away already, you can enjoy these bright and white items from our RNEST members.

Under $35 Gift Guide from RNEST (White Christmas)

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Season's Greetings!...and all that jazz! See you next week with some shiney New Year's items!

Make-it Mondays: Goodies For Your Blog

As Esty sellers we are aesthetically sensitive people. We've made a visual, online space to market our goods, and many of us have also created blogs, Flickr and Twitter accounts and Facebook fan pages to reflect our style and story. Here are some fun things you can add to your blog that will let readers know a little more about you, your interests and enhance the visual space of your blog.

WidgetBox: a site that offers great pre-made and custom widgets for your blog. Updates often. I added their Music Monday player widget to my personal blog, since I blog specifically on Mondays. (BTW, great music choices as well)

LinkWithin: With this application you can add a list of posts readers may also enjoy if they liked the post they are currently reading. The list will go at the end of a post with thumbnails. It's a good way to keep people reading, when they don't want to search hard.

RNEST buttons: Members did you know we have a variety of colorful buttons/badges for your sites, designed by our very own Kira of KiraArts? Grab them on our Ning Team page and spread our street team love.

The Cutest Blog On The Block: Don't know much about designing your own blog layout? This site has TONS of free ones perfect for an Etsy seller. Other great blog template sites are: shabbyblogs and hotbliggetyblog.

Jack's Pick: Pottery Plates by Goldhawk Pottery

Each Friday I select an item created by a member of the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team(RNEST). What criteria do I use? I look for great looking items that I think are well made offered for a great price!

I'm very pleased to introduce you to another new team member of RNEST this week. Sara Goldhawk of Goldhawk Pottery is not just new to RNEST, she is new to Rochester as well. Sara moved back to the greater Rochester area after spending some time in Washington DC. She is putting her BFA to work, as she sets aside her Masters in Education to make pottery her full time pass

ion. I say the Capitol's loss is our gain!

Just look at this great example of her work; a set of serving plates. Sara's work

is in a style I just find so visually interesting. These serving plates have an eastern edge to them, with a great use of complimentary colors. Her glazes are nice and sharp and precise, and I can totally see this on my dining room table for a simple Sunday dinner, or a special holiday gathering.

On an aside, my wife loves pottery. She loves this type of glazing as well. So when I see it, I pay attention. I am very happy to now know someone who she can go to when she needs a piece of show off. I am happy to know I can just stick them in the dishwasher too!

Great job Sara, and welcome to RNEST.

Wednesday Wellspring: Double Your Fun Giveaway Winner

Congratulations, Crystal! You've won the double your pleasure, double your fun, double whammy giveaway from In My Head Studios and The Quilted House! Thanks everyone else for entering and while you may not have won the giveaway, you're still winners since the RNESTROCKS coupon code is still good for both shops until December 31st! Thanks for entering!

Treasury Tuesday: Firey

You asked for it! This week's Gift Guide Treasury features items in firey reds, oranges, and golds to make you feel all warm and toasty as the snow flies outside! So fire up the woodstove/fireplace/space heater and cuddle up as you check out these handmade gift ideas!

I had to break my goal of having all these December holiday gift guides be under $25 and make this one under $30 instead, because some items, like the lovely scarf from kurpisz (aka:
"Beauty In The Eye") simply HAD to be included!

Under $30 Gift Guide from RNEST (Firey)

Jack's Pick: Hercules by Dan Bentley

Each Friday I select an item created by a member of the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team(RNEST). What criteria do I use? I look for great looking items that I think are well made offered for a great price!

This week I would like to introduce Hercules, a robotic sculpture from the creative mind of Dan Bentley, one of the newest members of RNEST.

Dan Bentley have been building and deconstructing toys and tools since his childhood. Dan's mission is to feature the aesthetics of manufactured products in unique sculpture. Hercules is a great example of this mission.

Hercules arms are made from two vintage Black and Decker electric drills. His head is made from an old alarm clock. You quickly begin to realize Dan's genius in finding complimentary curves, colors, and shapes in putting together these found objects. In his descriptions of his creations, you begin to realize this robot IS the sum of it's parts, with each element telling an incredible story of design and function.

Dan wisely recruited the aid of his daughter who captures a mood for each of these robots in her stunning photos.

You can see more of Dan's work on his website, and in his etsy shop.

Wednesday Wellspring: Double Your Fun

Congratulations, Erin! You won Kelley's Beadings awesome kit from last week's giveaway!

This week with much excitement, we're doubling your fun with a double giveaway from In My Head Studios and yours truly, The Quilted House! Vickie from In My Head Studios is offering a sweet and unique domino pendant, while I am offering a mini gift tote to present it in! You can check one person right off your list and you won't even need to wrap anything!

You can find beautiful domino and scrabble tile pendants and ornaments in Vickie's shop, perfect for unique and thoughtful gifts. She also LOVES custom orders! Plus, through December 31st, the coupon code RNESTROCKS will net you 10% off everything in her shop!

As you know from my name, my specialty is quilting. I love to create useful quilted items that are beautiful and will make you smile every time you use them. My shop is currently chock full of fun items for the holidays and beyond! And not to be outdone by In My Head Studios, the coupon code RNESTROCKS will give you a 10% discount in The Quilted House, too!

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to US and CANADA!):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to In My Head Studios, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Go to The Quilted House, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #3: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. We both hid holiday candy in our shops, click around and leave a comment with the link where the candy's hidden. (Leave a seperate comment for each link to get two entries!)

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. Follow the In My Head Studios blog.

4. Fan In My Head Studios on Facebook.

5. Fan RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, December 14 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesday: Blue & Silver

The holidays don't just have to be about red & green! Wanting to break from the norm, on our first Christmas together, my husband and I decided to decorate our tree in blue, white and silver. My husband likes blue, and I prefer silver over gold.

It was only later on that I learned that those are the colors traditionally associated with Hanukkah (which is December 1st-9th this year). But whether you celebrate Hanukkah or not, you can enjoy the color scheme and these lovely handmade items from our RNEST members!

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (Blue & Silver)

Only two more weeks of gift guides before Christmas! What treasury theme/color scheme would you like to see next?

Make-it Mondays: Fill Your Circle

Image from Think Vitamin

Most of you have probably noticed that Etsy has created a bunch of new apps to make listing, searching and connecting easier and more fun. One of the newest is the "activity feed". In it you can see a live feed of who likes you or your items, who puts you in a treasury, and my personal favorite, who adds you to their "circle". Adding someone to your circle is sort of like "friending" them into a creative network. (Which leads one to wonder if there will be a rash of uncircling, just like unfriending on Facebook...hmmm?) One plus to being in a network is the strength that comes with numbers.

Speaking of numbers, let me give you a little math....

I started my Etsy shop late in 2006 while in college. I didn't network. I didn't know how to take great photos. I didn't have feedback from other artists. And I had no business tips from anyone. Not surprisingly, between 2006-2008 I averaged a measly 8.5 sales a year. Finally in August of 2009 I began to get serious and joined RNEST, a local network or circle one could say. With better morale and a few tips I doubled my sales to 17 in 2009. Still small potatoes I know...but with the ideas, suggestions and accountability I feel being on a team, in 2010 I have made 48 sales with a couple solid holiday shopping weeks left. And this doesn't even include the opportunities I have gotten from local businesses and indie craft shows, just because I knew someone, who knew someone.

So what am I getting at? Fill your circle. Fill it with everyone on your team. Fill it with other local sellers you love. Then fill it with those special Etsy sellers you love and may never meet, but really really want to from all over the world. There is strength in numbers and it multiplies the opportunities for people to find YOU.

Wednesday Wellspring: Kelley's Beading

Bubbling up from the well this week is Kelley's Beading and a unique gift-giving/gift-making opportunity! Kelley is offering the winner a Crystal Flowers Bracelet Kit. It's prefect for the holidays - you can give the kit as a gift or make the bracelet and surprise someone with something handmade by you!

Kelley's passion is creating jewelry projects for others to make. Seeing someone's face light up when they "get it", watching them show off the jewelry they made and listening to them tell their friends "you can do it, too!" makes her heart sing. Since classes only reach a few people at a time, she took her writing skills and turned her classes into kits with the best materials, full-color patterns and detailed instructions. Her goal? Simple patterns, outstanding results.

With this Crystal Flowers Bracelet Kit, you can transform 20 Preciosa crystals into five perfect flowers. The kit contains materials for one adjustable bracelet (up to 9 inches long!) in fuchisa pink, including crystals, two colors of seed beads, clasp and findings--all in a reusable plastic case. A Level 1 Beginner Kit - no experience necessary!

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to US and CANADA!):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Kelley's Beading, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. Check out the Kelley's Beading website and leave a comment here telling Kelley what you'd change.

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. Follow the Kelley's Beading blog.

4. Fan RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, December 7 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesdays: Under $25 Gift Guide (Going Green)

We're still giving you Under $25 Gift Guides here on Treasury Tuesdays! Last week's color theme was red...so this week I'm giving you an Etsy Treasury in the other traditional Christmas color...green! Although these shades of green seem to have a bit more of a spring green feel to them than the dark evergreen associated with winter. But there are still some great items that will make you feel cozy. And maybe thinking of warmer seasons will help warm you up as well!

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (Going Green)

Make-it Mondays: Studio #6 Goldhawk Pottery Etc

I am excited to profile a very new member of RNEST this week, who is working from a newly set up studio as well. Sarah Goldhawk, of Goldhawk Pottery Etc is our first ceramicist to be interviewed here on the blog. I have a soft spot for clay work and can tell you there is nothing like drinking coffee from a nice, heavy, hand thrown mug. Make sure to visit Sarah's shop and show some love. So without further ado....

Buenahelena: Where do you work/where is your studio?

Goldhawk: My studio is primarily in the basement of my house in Hilton, NY. The kiln is now in the garage which is attached to the house. It has taken a few months to set up the studio as I received equipment in September and then the kiln was blowing fuses so I had to have some electrical work done.

B: What is your medium or product?
G: I sell functional pottery for daily home use – primarily bowls, plates, mugs, serving dishes, bonsai pots, and more. All pottery is wheel thrown and made of stoneware clay which is fired to a high temperature making it food safe, and safe for use in the microwave, oven and dishwasher.

B: What is the biggest challenge about your space and how have you worked through it?
G: My biggest challenge recently was the electricity. I was not set up in the house properly to fire the kiln so I kept blowing fuses. I had an electrician completely reconfigure the electricity panel and then he created a special outlet in the garage for my kiln. My next challenge may be that the kiln is in the garage and the studio and glazes are in the basement, so I will have to go up and down stairs to transport the pots that need to be fired.


B: Describe a typical day at the studio.

G: I have not had a typical day yet, but here’s how it should go. I would definitely start my day checking email and Facebook (and I hope to start a blog soon), and then throw pots on the wheel. I’d then clean the wheel and trim pots made yesterday or the day before. If I have pots that are bisque-fired already, I might glaze them in the afternoon. If I am firing the kiln, I would likely set up the kiln in the evening and then turn it on first thing the next morning as it will take anywhere from 8-12 hours to fire and it needs to be monitored frequently.

B: What do you love the most about being a crafter/artist/etsy seller?

G: I love the continuous change and surprise of pottery – opening the kiln after each firing is always fun! I love being independent and making my own decisions. I have been laid off twice over the past two years from working in the non-profit education world in Washington, DC. I had wanted to start my own business a long time ago and this triggered it. I am so grateful to Etsy for making it easy for me to launch my shop and the wonderful tools they offer to keep me on the cutting edge for online selling. I sold primarily to friends and family in my early Etsy days but now I’m reaching a wider audience. I could not have done that without Etsy.


Thank you for sharing you studio and process Sarah! If you would like to have your RNEST studio profiled on the blog check out the details here.

Wednesday Wellspring: Congratulations!

Congratulations to Asuka for winning Beadwork by Amanda's awesome circuit jewelry!

And Congratulations to Heather of Merv and Delores for winning this month's "Give Thanks" team challenge with her Happy Turkey Day card! Check out her fabulous items in her mini in the prime parking spot at the top of the blog!

Happy Turkey (or tofurkey) Day to All!!

Treasury Tuesday: A Touch of Red

Thanksgiving is just days away. And then...the horror of Black Friday! Forget about venturing out to stores and taking the chance of getting elbowed in the face while trying to get the best deals on Christmas gifts for your family and friends. Make a point to stay home, curl up with your laptop and a nice cup of tea, and do your shopping online! And better yet, make it an Etsy Christmas!

And if you need some ideas, here's another "Under $25 Gift Guide", featuring RNEST members' items...

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (A Touch of Red)

Be sure to keep an eye out, some members are offering special discounts or free shipping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

Make-it Mondays: Make Your Shop Holiday Rush Ready

This weekend will be one of, if not the, busiest shopping times of the year. The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is a day of long lines, ridiculous crowds, parking mayhem and commercialized insanity. More and more shoppers are looking to buy online and avoid the stampede. Cyber Monday, or the Monday after Thanksgiving has become a popular sale day for strictly online shopping as well. Make your shop one of the calm, sane choices while still offering great holiday sales.

Etsy is doing its part to support shops with sale promotions going on for the Black Friday through Cyber Monday long weekend. Read their article and try out these ideas.

1. Offer a Black Friday thru Cyber Monday Weekend Sale in your Etsy shop.
2. Tag sale items with the words Black Friday Etsy, Cyber Monday Etsy and/or Free Shipping Etsy
   
3. Create a section of your shop for holiday sale items...
   
4. ...or divide the sections of your shop by gift price points
   
5. Promote holiday sales on your blog/twitter/Facebook fanpage
6. Do a Holiday giveaway on your personal blog or on the RNEST team blog
7. Create treasuries supporting holiday items by RNEST street team members and gift treasuries themed by demographic or price point.

Good luck to everyone! With some planning and promotion the sales will come rolling in while you settle into a turkey coma. Now that is something to be thankful for.

Jack's Pick: The Quilted Houses' Jotter Mini Quilted Notebook

Each Friday I select an item created by a member of the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team(RNEST). What criteria do I use? I look for great looking items that I think are well made offered for a great price!

Awhile ago I read a really fascinating book called "How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci." One of the suggestions the book made was to carry around a small notepad with you and jot down all those creative thoughts you have when you have them. If you don't, you

will forget them and may not ever revisit them.

Michelle of the Quilted House probably did this because she is making these wonderfully crafted mini-notebook pad holders that are a delight to the eyes and the mind. I kind of like the colors of this one best, as they are a bit more masculine, but would work for anyone. I can see myself sitting in a coffee shop, writing down all those ideas I have for my own shop.

This could be a great stocking stuffer for anyone! Michelle makes these in a variety of patterns, so check out her shop for other color options.

Wednesday Wellspring: Beadwork by Amanda

Many congratulations to Donna - the Random Number Generator drew your lucky number 4 to win Gock's Frocks' fun Vintage Skaters Winter Twirl Skirt!

And now bubbling up from the well this week, is a fan favorite: Beadwork by Amanda! This wonderful artisan is offering the winner a choice of a circuit ring or mini circuit pendant.

Beadwork by Amanda will be offering FREE SHIPPING throughout November on any purchase - just put RNEST in the message to seller when completing your purchase!

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to THE WORLD!!):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Beadwork by Amanda, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. "Like" Beadwork by Amanda on Facebook.

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. Fan RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, November 23 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesday: A Cool Colored Gift Guide

Okay, we've accepted that Winter is inevitable (although the November weather has been pretty decent lately). But even though we know the temperatures will be dropping and the snow will soon be blowing, we all know the part of winter that makes it all worthwhile right? The Holidays!!!

Yep, gift giving season is fast approaching. And this year, why don't you make it a Handmade Holiday! Whether you need that perfect gift, or just a few fun stocking stuffers, Etsy is a great place to go! You get to skip the crowds, find unique, one-of-a-kind items, and support handmade! This week, I have done some of the work for you and compiled this list of affordable, under $25, handmade gifts...all made by fellow RNESTers!

Under $25 Gift Guide from RNEST (Cool Colors)

This is the cool-colored edition...stay tuned next week for the warm-colored edition!

Make-it Mondays: Studio #5 Turtlefly

Here is another sneak peak into the creative habits our street team members. This week's studio visit is with a member I just met at this month's meeting, Jennie Fox of Turtlefly. Be sure to visit her shop and check out the super cute turkey bibs she has designed for Thanksgiving :) Thanks, Jennie!

Buenahelena: Where do you work/where is your studio?

Turtlefly: My studio is in the attic of my home in West Irondequoit.


B: What is your medium or product?

T: Mostly I create clothing and accessories for women and children as well as
home accessories such as pillows, quilts and table runners. All items are
created using new, repurposed and scrap fabrics.

B: What is the biggest challenge about your space and how have you worked
through it?

T: The biggest challenge for me is that I have allowed some space for my
children to play up there too. If this was not the case it would be great to
have an area dedicated to displaying some of the work. I love being in the
attic because it is like working in a tree house and very bright no matter
what the weather is. I used to have a basement studio and that was not a
very enjoyable space! The only perk to a basement studio is the ability to
bring people in for open house or fittings without having to go through my
whole house to get there.


B: Describe a typical day at the studio.

T: A typical day in my studio is usually made up of a few shifts whenever the
kids allow me to work. If I can engage my daughter in an activity or if the
baby takes a nap, I get more done. It is very hard to spend any length of
time in there. Usually I will set up all the parts of a project and work in
an assembly line manner. I like to get things all cut and ready to sew
during the day. The sewing gets done on the weekends or in the evening when
my husband is home. There is always music playing in the studio, the type of
music is usually influenced by the project at hand.

B: What do you love the most about being a crafter/artist/etsy seller?

T: The thing I love most about being an artist/crafter/etsy seller is that I am
doing what I enjoy first and foremost, but I am also doing what I went to
school for which isn't always possible. I think that I love being at shows
the most because I think that the work I do is appreciated so much more when
people can touch it and see it up close. Etsy is great though because you
can reach so many more people and your work can go all over the world!

Wednesday Wellspring: Gock's Frocks

Bubbling up from the well this week, is a fun and flirty Vintage Skaters Winter Twirl Skirt from Gock's Frocks! The sweet vintage reproduction skater fabric will be sure to be a hit this winter season. The skirt is made from 100% premium quality quilters cotton, preshrunk, machine washable, and available in sizes 12mo-12 years!

Gock's Frocks will be offering FREE SHIPPING throughout November on any purchase - just put RNEST in the message to seller when completing your purchase!

And now for the rules (This giveaway is open to US only):

MANDATORY ENTRY #1: Go to Gock's Frocks, heart the shop, and then leave a comment here telling me your favorite item.

MANDATORY ENTRY #2: Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment letting me know- or if you are already, leave a comment saying you're a loyal follower.

BONUS ENTRIES (leave a separate comment for each):

1. Fan Gock's Frocks on Facebook.

2. Tweet and blog about this giveaway and leave a comment here with the link.

3. Fan RNEST on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen using the random number generator on Tuesday, November 16 and will be announced in the next Wednesday Wellspring.

Treasury Tuesday: RNEST Clings To Autumn

Hello! I am your new Tuesday RNEST blogger, Kira of KiraArts. Kaitlin of Inky Star Shop is no longer able to bring us her fun and funky Trash and Treasures Tuesdays post. We'll miss her, but we're excited to bring you a new Tuesday Blog series...Treasury Tuesdays! On Treasury Tuesdays I will bring you Etsy Treasuries featuring the creations of our RNEST members. Some weeks the Treasury may feature exclusively RNEST members' work. Other weeks I may choose an RNEST member's piece as a jumping point for a theme and fill the Treasury out with pieces from all over Etsy.

This week's Treasury consists of exclusively RNEST pieces. Snowflakes have started to make their dreaded appearance already here in western New York, and as old man winter approaches, we cling to the crisp coolness and cozy colors of fall...

RNEST Clinging to Autumn

I hope you'll enjoy Treasury Tuesdays! I'll see you next week with another collection of great handmade items!

Make-it Mondays: Studio #4 Kelley's Beading

This particular blog has been enjoyed so much, let's just keep em' coming! This week's studio visit and interview is with Kelley Allen, the creative force behind Kelley's Beading. Kelley makes beautiful lampwork beads. For those of you who don't know, "Lampworking is a type of glasswork that uses a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is formed by blowing and shaping with tools and hand movements. It is also known as flameworking or torchworking, as the modern practice no longer uses oil-fueled lamps."(thank you wikipedia!)

Enjoy!

Buenahelena: Where do you work/where is your studio?

Kelley: My lampworking happens under a hood in the shed. I've been experimenting with silver-laden glass that releases fumes when it's reduced and inhaling that would be dangerous. Jewelry design and beading happens in the living room. I like to be surrounded by activity when I create, so a lot of my work is done in the evening when my family is around.

B: What is your medium or product?

K: I make lampworked glass beads and jewelry.

B: What is the biggest challenge about your space and how have you worked through it?

K: Honestly, my biggest challenge has been a lack of good lighting. New York is surprisingly gloomy-- especially in the fall--and working in the evenings, well, forget it. I have a sun lamp I use when choosing glass and bead colors (Blue Max; highly recommend them!) and I just got a tiny portable light I use when working in the evening with seed beads.

B: Describe a typical day at the studio.

K: On the days I get to lampwork (which still don't come often enough), I get coffee, then turn the kiln on to ramp up while I choose which colors/what type of glass I want to work with. I clean each glass rod with rubbing alcohol and pull whatever stringers I think I'll be using. By then the kiln is up to temperature, so I start winding beads and let the day carry me where it will.

B: What do you love the most about being a crafter/artist/etsy seller?

K: I love the independence. Being a crafter/artist/Etsy seller allows me to access many different talents and skills: I can be alone creating art; I can spend a weekend out with the public at a show; I can meet fellow jewelry lovers in a class; I can be a part of a wonderful community of artists/crafts people/business owners on-line and in person; and I can push the necessary paperwork in my pajamas, What more could I want?

Not much! Thank you Kelley for sharing your process with us. You can see more of Kelley's work at her Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelleysbeading

Wednesday Wellspring: Jackbear Stamps

In a well-deserved win, Jackbear Stamps took the glory and the prime parking spot in the Scaredy Cat Team Challenge! His stamps range from truly spine-tingling to the hilariously clever mini works of art that would be glorious gracing any correspondence! Congratulations, Jackbear!

Make-it Mondays: Make Waves

Our team members are out there making waves again in Rochester!

Amanda of Beadwork by Amanda was profiled by the Rochester Examiner here.

MAYDAY Underground Crafts + Art Luau (created by Amanda and Casey of Peaches Products) will take place this Saturday May 6th and feature several RNEST team members. Check out the fun things they have planned!

Kristen of Gock's Frocks showcased her designs at Rochester Fashion Week at Four Walls Gallery, here.

Beth of Moonblossom Signworks has founded a new Art Co-op with three friends in the old E.P. Reed Shoe Factory. Their premiere show, Boots and Shoes: Variations on a Theme Opens this Friday, November 5th. See the article here.



Team members Michelle of Beauty in the Eye and myself, Buenahelena will have work featured in that show as well.

Did I forget something awesome that you did RNESTer?
Let me know and it will be added :)

Jack's Pick: In My Head Studio's Mummified Domino Pendant

Each Friday I select an item created by a member of the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team(RNEST). What criteria do I use? I look for great looking items that I think are well made offered for a great price!

With less than two days from Halloween, I have to get one morespooky item in for October. I like the classic monsters best, I'm not really a fan of the new Freddy Kruger's and Scream spooks. I like Dracula, Frankenstein, the Creature, and the Mummy, etc.

Guess that is why my eye was drawn to this little fellow today. In My Head Studio's transforms the common into the unique. Taking domino and scrabble tiles, and turning them into small works of jewelry and art. This little mummy is a great compliment to the Halloween outfit if you are going to the office, or heading to a friends house. I think this would be great on a teacher during those days leading up to All Hallow's Eve. Not too scary, but a nod to the classic monsters of old.

My thumbs up!