Artisan Whimsy Winner

Thanks again to the Artisan Whimsy Holiday Market and to Melinda Orr and Marla James for sponsoring this event. I received some new traffic on my Etsy shop and had several people favorite my pieces.  Hopefully I will get some new customers from these visits.  

17 blog commenters kindly left messages on my blog and I picked up a few new likes.  I used Random.org to select the winner and the winning comment was #4. Counting from the oldest to the newest, the winner is Tammie Everly from TTE Designs.  Congrats Tammie.  I will be contacting you via email to get the shipping details.  

Thanks to all who participated and have a wonderful holiday season.

Linda

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:4Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Artisan Cyber Sale ~ The biggest EVER!

Get in on the holiday sales for Cyber week!

The largest Artisan Jewelry Sale ever!

This year offer handmade artisan jewelry for all the

women on your shopping list!  I will be offering <15% Off>

use coupon code:  AWHOLIDAY at Lindys Designs.

I am also offering a giveaway of a bracelet valued at 

$28.00

"Leave a comment here to be entered, 

Like my blog, tweet, pin, post to facebook, or make a 

purchase from my Etsy shop for an additional chance to win!

One winner will be chosen on Saturday December 1st 

via randomizer.org

Check below for the full participant list:

Sale and giveaways start on 

Thanksgiving Day and ends on Friday, Nov 30th

There will be 3 exciting "special giveaways" hidden 

throughout the participants blog posts...so be 

sure to visit them all and find them!

If you would like to participate in the cyber sale as a vendor, 

please check the Artisan Whimsy blog for more details

You can also search Etsy with the code: AWHOLIDAY

to find participating shops...

Metal Prong Challenge

Sorry for anyone that is visiting my blog looking for a metal prong challenge piece.  My link was inadvertently included and should not have been.  I'm admiring all the work my fellow Artisan Whimsy peeps created just like you.  

There is some awesome work over on the site.  Check it out site for the links.  

Artisan Whimsy

Holiday Window Shopping Blog Hop

Toltec Jewels for Jewel School Friends is sponsoring a Holiday Window Shopping Blog Hop.  Join Lindy's Designs for this fun Holiday Window Shopping event.  Let's kick off the holiday season with some special sales!  Some of the stores in this hop will be offering discounts and special offers for the early shoppers.  

Here's a preview of some of the items in my shop for sale.  Visit the store on Etsy for the entire selection.

Lindy's Designs is have a 10% off sale for any customer from this hop.  Please visit my store and enter Holiday10 for this special savings.  

Lindy's Designs

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LindysDesigns

I can also be found on facebook at 

http://www.facebook.com/lindysdesigns

Here's a listing of the other shops that are joining in the fun.  Check them out and enjoy your holiday window shopping:


Jewel School Friends (host)
www.JewelSchoolFriends.com


Lindy's Designs >>> You are here!
http://lindysdesigns.blogspot.com/

A Grateful Artist
http://gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Fabric of My Life
http://shelleygrahamturner.blogspot.com/


Libellula Jewelry
http://libellulajewelry.blogspot.com/

Knot Just Macrame
http://www.knotjustmacrame.com

Amazing Designs by Marlene
http://amazingdesigns-marlene.blogspot.com

Antiquity Travelers
http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/

Spice Box Designs
http://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com/

Freestyle Elements
http://freestyleelements.blogspot.com/

Alankarshilpa
http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

Pretty Things
http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

The Adventures of Belle West
http://bellewest925.blogspot.com/


Have fun and happy shopping!

Berries and Leaves Challenge

The folks over at Artisan Whimsy are sponsoring a new challenge for the month of November titled "Berries and Leaves".  Artists are invited to create either a component or a finished piece of jewelry using this theme.  What a perfect lead-in for the holidays.  Fall with the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground as we head into the fall and winter season and Thanksgiving the gathering of berries for the holiday feast.

Here's my entry for this challenge.  I hope that you enjoy it.  This piece is titled "Holly" and represents the holly leaves and berries of the season.  This bracelet was made a few years back for the holidays.  I fringed the leaves and berries onto a base of seed beads and added a toggle clasp.  Loving charm bracelets and bracelets that jingle, this bracelet just filled the bill.  

Head on over to the Artisan Whimsy site to check out the other entries,  while you are there if you are not already a member consider joining.  There are a lot of fun happenings going on.  

Also if you are looking for gifts for the holidays why don't you check out my etsy shop for gift ideas.  My designs can also be viewed on my facebook page.  

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LindysDesigns

http://www.facebook.com/lindysdesigns

Modern Chic

Modern Chic by lyounk featuring high heel shoes

Plus size dress / Gianvito Rossi high heel shoes / Clutch purse, $7,840

My Designs

My Designs (clipped to polyvore.com)

Pearly gray nights

Pearly gray nights by lyounk featuring lime crime lipstick

Sequin dress
topshop.com

H&M high heel shoes
$48 - hm.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs marc jacob
$380 - ekseption.es

Lime crime lipstick
$21 - beginningboutique.com.au

Hooters are showing at Artisan Whimsy - Voting has begun!

Welcome to Artisan Whimsy's Owl Challenge

The gals at Artisan Whimsy are showing their hooters.  Head on over, take a look, and vote for mine if you don't mind.

Southwest Casual

The Southwest look is one of my favorites and teal and red say it just right.  This is my first attempt at making a page on Polyvore using my own jewelry as inspiration.  The kinks have not yet all been worked out but I don't think it's turned out too terribly bad.  

Southwest Casual by lyounk featuring a suede fringe handbag

Madewell denim blouse
madewell.com

J.Crew j crew jeans
jcrew.com

MABEL suede fringe handbag
$125 - witchery.com.au

Kalmbach Bead Soup Party Reveal

To celebrate the release of Lori Anderson's book, Bead Soup, Kalmbach Books is having a Bead Soup Party.  I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the party goers.  From Safire Rose Beads and Things in my home state of Ohio, I received this great soup below .  

The soup ingredients included beads in several shades of blue with some silver accent beads, some silver tone findings, some clear seed beads, and a gorgeous, fused-glass focal bead. 

 

At first I struggled with the recipe for my soup - the blue in the focal was just a little bit different from the accent beads and I really wanted to use the focal bead in my necklace.  While pulling out some black beads from my pantry, I just happened upon some crackle glass beads in the same shade of blue as the focal.  Once I found these crackle beads I was ready to go.  I used the gorgeous silver accent beads from my soup and also some of the pearlized seed beads.  

There were many design attempts of this necklace before I was pleased with the results.  After much stirring, here is what I finally came up with from my soup.  

A special thanks to Kalmbach Books and Safire Rose Beads and Things for allowing me to attend the party.  

Show me your Hooters Owl Challenge!

Welcome to Artisan Whimsy's Owl Challenge

Artisan Whimsy is sponsoring an Owl Challenge for jewelry designers to show off their original designs using an owl. Although I like owls, I don't have an arsenal of owl components in my stash.   A while back I participated in the Pantone Bead Swap sponsored by Lori Anderson and one of the pieces that I received from my partner Cindy Wimmer Muse was an owl.  This little owl was perfect for the challenge.  

Taking my cue from the owl focal, I focused on fall colors for this necklace.  I added some amber and Czech glass beads from my stash along with some glass beads that Cindy sent me in the swap.  I completed the piece with some chain and a component that I put together with Sari Silk and wire.  

This is a voting challenge so if you like my little owl necklace, I would love it if you would please head on over to Artisan Whimsy in 8 days to vote for my entry.  While there why don't you join Artisan Whimsy if you're not already a member.  It's a great site. 

The winner will be announced October 31.

Holiday Bling Blog Hop

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

CBC Administrator Appreciation Day

Back in the spring, a fantastic group was started on facebook for all of us jewelry making addicts by two lovely jewelry artist, Melinda Orr and Marla James.  This group aptly named "Creative Bead Chat" is made up of a wonderful group of people who like to make jewelry, all kinds of jewelry and components.  It is a group where friendships are made,  information is shared, and wonderful eye candy is shared.  This group has provided me with new friendships, inspiration and information on a daily basis and I am so grateful to the two lovely women who started this group Melinda Orr and Marla James. 

 I only knew Melinda through a few purchases that at had made from her Etsy store, Orrtec. I had purchased some copper components through Melinda after seeing some of her gorgeous jewelry and a tutorial that she had posted on her blog Orrtec Blogspot. I became acquainted with Marla James only after this group was started and she is a hoot.  A lot of fun is had by all.  In addition to these two wonderful gals, this group is also supported by Karen Totten, Marla Gibson and Keirsten Giles.  

As our way of saying thanks for all the work these gals do to keep this group together and for making it so much fun to be a part of, we're setting aside today as Administrator Appreciation Day.  I would be thrilled if you would check out each of their stores.  I'm sure that you won't be disappointed with what you see in each of these shops.  

Marla Gibson is having some health issues so a special hug and thoughts are sent her way.  Her shop is closed during this time so check out her blog and send special prayers her way.  

To find Creative Bead Chat Group on Facebook click HERE.  Be sure to join us today for some wonderful giveaways!  

Marla James:www.etsy.com/shop/marlasmud 
Melinda Orr:http://www.etsy.com/shop/orrtec 
Karen Totten: http://www.starryroadstudio.com/ 
Marla Gibson:http://spiceboxdesigns.blogspot.com
Keirsten Giles:http://lunedesigns.etsy.com/

Pay it Forward - Handmade

I was over at Lesley Watt's blog The Gossiping Goddess and Thesese Frank's at Therese's Treasures and read about a great new blog game called Pay it Forward.  Here’s How It Works

I’ll send a surprise gift to the first three commenters on this blog post. The gift will be a handmade surprise by me and will be sent to you some time in the next 365 days (yep, mystery gift at a mystery time).

Here’s what you need to do, leave me a comment and make sure you include your email address (if your profile doesn’t include it). I’ll email you for your snail mail address and a ask a few questions (likes/dislikes, favourite colours, sizes general stuff like that).

To complete signing up you MUST play along too. To do this you must blog a similar post and pledge to make a surprise gift for the first three people who comment on it.

So, do you want to play? Comment below and I’ll sent a thoughtful handmade gift to the first three people who do.

Let the fun and games begin!

Bead Soup Blog Party Reveal Date is Here!

The third installment of the 6th Bead Soup Blog Party is here and I'm so excited to be in the final group of Bead Soupers.  This is my first Bead Soup Blog Party and I am thrilled to finally be able to join in the fun.  A special thank you to Lori Anderson of Pretty Things Blog for organizing and putting so much effort into this extraordinary party!  

The Bead Soup Party is very popular and has become so large that Lori split the reveal dates into thirds and this is the final and largest group.  My lovely partner, Laura Guenther of Blue Antiquities, was such a joy to be partnered up with.  Laura is a lovely person and she make some absolutely beautiful jewelry.  Laura does quite a bit of enameling and she included some of her own enamel pieces in my soup.  I was thrilled to receive these as I am just starting to learn how to enamel and I love enameled pieces.  Laura was very generous in the beads that she sent me sending me two lovely mixes in the cutest boxes you have ever seen.  There was a blue soup and a green soup for me to work with.  

Both soups were awesome but I decided to use the green soup for this reveal.  The focal in the green mix was a beautiful porcelain bead by Classic Bead.  My hope was that I could do these wonderful beads justice.   The first piece is a rather long style necklace using the silk ribbon in the back.  My second piece is a bracelet that I made combining a kumihimo braid I made with leather, one of my patina pieces as part of the closure,  and one of Laura's own enamel beads.  Lastly, I put together a pair of simple earrings with some leather and a couple more of Laura's enamel beads.  I had so much fun working with these beads and I'm sure that when I get the blue mix together I'll have equally as much fun.  Here's what I came up with.  

Now, please check out these other sites for some more fantastic jewelry:  

Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things

Agi Kiss, Moonsafari Beads 
Alice Peterson, Alice Dreaming

Alison Sachs, Beads by Earthtones

Amanda Dittloff, Passion Smashin'

Andra Marasteanu, Bijoux de Monanage

Angie Szlovak, SweetBeads

Anitra Gordy, Leelu Creations

Ann Sherwood, Ann's Blog

Arlene Dean, A Glass Bash

Audrey Belanger, Dreams of an Absolution

Barb Solem, Vivi Magoo Presents

Barbara Blaszczyk, laboratorim Flory

Becky Pancake, Becky Pancake Bead Designs
Beth Emery, Stories by Indigo Heart

Bianca Odenthal, Zydies Glasperlen

Birgit Klughardt, GitesBeads
Bobbie Rafferty, Beadsong Jewelry
Bonnie Coursolle,  Jasper Gems
Cece Cormier, The Beading Yogini
Charlene Jacka, Clay Space
Cherrie Fick, En La Lumie're
Cheryl Foiles, Get Your Bead On
Christie Murrow, Charis Designs Jewelry

Christina Miles, Wings n Scales
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads
Christine Stonefield, Sweet Girl Design
Cindy Cima Edwards, Live to Design
CJ Bauschka, 4 His Glory Creations
Claire Smith, Embergrass Jewelry
Cynthia Riggs, Cynth's Blog
Dana Fowler, Trunk Full of Treasure
Dawn Pierro, Turtle Moon Designs
Dee Elgie, Cherry Obsidia
Donetta Farrington, Simply Gorgeous

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Eileen Snyder, Dorset Hill Beads
Elizabeth Bunn, Elizabeth Beads
Eva Kovacs, Ewa gyongyos vilaga!
Evelyn Duberry, Sheba Makeda
Fay Wolfenden, Torch Fairy
Fen Li, Bead Flora Jewels
Gail Zwang, Angel Moose Enterprises
Geneva Collins, Torque Story
Grace Dorsey, Fan of the Flame
Gretchen Nation,  Art Food Lodging

Hannah Annear, Squintessential
Hajer Waheed, My Beaded World
Heather Goldsmith, As I Bead It
Heather Otto, The Craft Hopper
Heidi Kingman, My Bead Therapy
Hope Smitherman, Crafty Hope
Isolina Perez, Isolina Perez
Jacqueline Keller, CreARTelier
Jane Haag, Did You Make Something Today?
Janeen Sorensen, Wild Vanilla Designs
Jean Peter, Jean P. Designs

Jennifer Judd, Jen Judd Rocks
Jennifer L Justman, Soul's Fire Designs
Joanna Matuszczyk, Bizuteria z filcu
Joanne Brown, Jo's Jewels
Joanne Lockwood, Jo Bunkum
Joyce Becker, Joyce's Joyful Gems
Judy Riley, Three Red Beads
Karen Mitchell, Over the Moon Design
Karen Williams, Baublicious
Karin von Hoeren, Creative Ideen

Karla Morgan, Texas Pepper Jams
Kashmira Patel, Sadafule .. always in bloom!
Kate Richbourg, We Can Make That at Home

Katrin Lembke, AllesPerle
Kathy Combs, Torched in Texas
Kathy Lindemer, Bay Moon Design
Kay Thomerson, Kayz Kreationz
Kelley Fogle, My Life, One Bead at at Time
Kelly Hosford Patterson, Traveling Side Show

Klaudette Koon, Only Road
Lara Lutrick, Lampwork Beads by Lara
Laura Guenther, Blue Antiquities

Laurie Lalonde, Simply Mod Jewelry
Lilik Kristiani, Soul of My Embodiment
Linda Younkman, Lindy's Designs
Lisa Chapman, Beach Cat Beads
Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures
Loretta Carstensen, Designs by Loretta
Lori Bergmann, Lori Bergmann Design
Lori Dorrington, Lori's Adventures in Etsy Land
Lupe Meter, Gem's PC Corner
Lynn Davis, LLYYNN

Malin de Koning, Beading by Malin
Mandi Effron, Craft-o-licious
Mandy Williamson, Mimi's Beading
Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter
Maria Rosa Sharrow, Willow Street Shops
Marianne Baxter, Simply Seablime Jewelry
Marina Dobrynina, Savon Feutre
Marjolein Trewavas, Room for Change
Marelene Cupo, Amazing Designs
Marsha Neal, Marsha Neal Studio

Marta Kaczerowska, uhuhu
Mary Govaars, MLH Jewelry Designs
Melissa Trudinger, Bead Recipes
Menka Gupta, Menka's Jewelry Blog
Michelle Burnett, Reverie and Revival
Michelle Escano-Caballero, The Cabby Crafter
Miko Wiropati, Uniquely Yunikua
Milla Hope,  LB Creative Arts and Crafts
Mimi Gardner, Other Curiosities
Miranda Ackerley, MirandackArts
Natalie McKenna, grubbi

Noemi Baena, fuego, metal, y color
Pam Ferrari, Ferrari Originals
Pam Sears, Crazy Creative Corner
Penny Neville, Copper Penny
Rachel Baron, R. Baron Designs
Rachel Myers, Rockabead Jewelry
Rana Wilson, Definitive Designs by R. Wilson
Rebecca Anderson, Song Beads
Rebecca Sirevaag, Becca's Place
Riki Schumacher, Riki Jewelry

Rose Binoya, Ahtee's Blog
Rossana De Gaspari, Rdegas Blog
Sally Anderson, Wild Sally Road
Sandi James, Do Be Do Bead Do
Sandi Volpe, Sandi Volpe
Sandra Wollberg, City of Brass Stories
Sarah Goode, Pookledo

Sarah Small, blog by salla
Shai Williams, Shaiha's Ramblings
Shawn Mills, Shawn Marie Designs with Bent Wire
Sheila Davis, Stone Designs by Sheila

Sheryl Stephens, Babble Bead
Shiraz Biggie, Secret Song Designs
Solange Collin,  Ahowin Handcrafted Jewelry
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stephanie Dixon, The Dixon Chick
Susan Kennedy, Sue Beads
Susan Sheehan, Strands of Thought
Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria
Sweet Freedom, Sweet Freedom Designs
Tabatha Dinger, Modernly Created
Tania Hagen, Pelima Jewellery Design

Tanya Boden, Fusion Muse
Terri Gauthier, Blooming Ideas
Terry Carter, Tapping Flamingo
Tracy Stillman, Tracy Stillman Designs