Thursday, October 1, 2009

Aimee's Birthday Giveaway



It's Aimee's birthday but she is giving away the gifts. Help Aimee celebrate by heading over to her blog and leaving her a comment. One of her giveaway gifts is a Sunflower Brooch made by.......ME!! There are also a bunch of other fabulous gifts to be won. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIMEE!!!



blessings, Zuda Gay

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Winner Is....

Using the random number generator I got the numbers 9, 1 and 35!!! Now, off to find who these numbers reveal.


Number 9 is Jill!!! WooHoo, Jill!!! Jill is one of my BBEST team friends. Jill has wonderful things in her Etsy shops. In Jill's Treasure Chest she has her ceramics (check out her adorable figurines!) and jewelry and in her Turtle Treasures Shop Jill offers supplies and crocheted items.

Number 1 is Bev!!! WooHoo, Bev!!! I can't tell you how long I've known Bev....although we have never met face to face, I've been talking to her online for quite a few years. Bev's Blog is wandering, wonderings of a wacked-out woman.

And the third number is 35 is Tessa!!! WooHoo, Tessa!!! I haven't known Tessa very long as she is a pretty new member of the BBEST team. Tessa is a talented artist who lives in UK. She offers beautiful original paintings, silk scarves, jewelry and greeting cards in her Etsy shop, Colours and Textures.

I am sorry this is late. I reminded myself several times throughout the day on Tuesday and then we were invited to friends for supper and I totally forgot to do this before we left home. We stayed out until after 10 pm!!! I can't tell you the last time I stayed out that late. :) Yummy food and great conversation....you can't beat that!

blessings, ZG

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

WOOHOO!! 1000!!! and a Giveaway!!

As most of you know, I have been waiting for my 1000th item to be sold from my Etsy shop. Today it happened! Yay!!! I threw confetti and streamers and danced around the room.....well I danced, and if I had had confetti and streamers they would have been flying. I'm tickled pink!!

Let me introduce you to the customer of the day. Lulu is a return customer and oh my! what a delight. She and her sister Lisa pool their talents in their business called Coastal Sisters. They have an Etsy shop, CoastalSister.etsy.com, and their online store is, Coastal Sisters. They have all kinds of wonderful things from banners to items to decorate your home and beautiful jewelry. Lulu publishes a delightful blog, Coastal Sisters News. Pop over to Lulu's blog and see the beautiful necklace she made with one of my focals!

To celebrate and thank everyone for the encouragement you have given me and for my customers who have helped to put food in our mouths, I am having a giveaway! I would love to give something to everyone, but I just can't do that....so I am going to give three items. If you are one of the three chosen, you may pick anything from my shop or if there is something you would rather have that has already been sold I will try to make what you desire. All you have to do is just leave a comment on this post and your name will be put in the hat. PLEASE make sure I have a way to get a hold of you. Names will be drawn around 6:00 pm Illinois time on Tuesday, September 1st. Good grief, September!, where did the summer go??

blessings, ZG

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Count Down and A Little Sculpted Leaf Tutorial

August 19th count: 994! The person who buys the 1000th item will get to choose a free item from my shop. AND....there will be a give away here.
The count down (or up) is at 990....only 10 more items sold to reach 1000!!!

This is a little tutorial for making a somewhat realistic sculpted leaf. You may make a leaf any size you like with these directions. This one is quite small, I think it ends up being less than 1/2" long. I will put these leaves on the top of a pod bead. I think they add just the right finishing touch! You will need Polymer Clay and a needle or needle tool.

Roll a smooth ball of clay. This one is about the size of a very small pea.

Place your finger on the side of the ball and roll it back and forth
to make a teardrop shape.

Flatten your teardrop into a leaf shape.

Using a needle tool make a crease down the center of the leaf.
(my needle tool is a needle that has been baked in a clay snake for a handle)

Using your needle tool make veins on one side of the leaf
with the point of the needle touching your center line and
angling with the point toward the base of the leaf.

Press veins into the other side.

A leaf with veins.
Run your needle tool down the center from point to base to make the veins line up
and to give a crease to fold the leaf so it looks realistic.

Fold the leaf on the crease and
squeeze the point then give it a little turn or twist to make it look realistic.

Finished leaf ready to decorate a bead.

The leaves are going on top of a little pod bead.

Placing the sculpted leaves on a pod bead with the needle tool.

Finished bead ready to cure.

I hope you enjoyed this little leaf tutorial. If you have any questions about it or about working with polymer clay, I am happy to help!!

blessings, ZudaGay

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Coming Soon To This Blog

Just a heads up....

I will be having a give away soon. I decided sometime ago that when my Etsy shop reached 1000 sold I would have a give away. I'm getting close!!! Yay!!!! So, stay tuned. 987 and counting...more information coming.

blessings, ZG

Monday, August 10, 2009

Premio Meme Award from Diane

I am so remiss when it comes to awards, but I really do appreciate the honor and that someone is thinking of me and HEY! she actually LIKES me!! hehe.. This award comes from one of my BBEST friends Diane Clancy. Diane is an artist who works in pastels and paints and also does some very cool digital artwork. I am so blessed to own some of Diane's prints in ACEO size. They bring me joy when I look at them! Here is a small sampling of Diane's work and are some of my favorites.






Primio Meme Award
This award is a Meme in which I am suppose to tell seven little known things about myself. Hummmm. I've done other memes so I may repeat myself because I can't remember what I've previously shared. So, if I repeat myself, I apologize.

1. Either I have rose colored glassed when I look back at my childhood or I really did have an idyllic childhood. I enjoyed playing outside with friends until the street lights came on. Spending time up in my favorite tree reading books and riding my bike all over the north end of Quincy, IL.
2. I used to shoot archery and somehow I became pretty good at it and won some awards from tournaments I participated in.
3. I LOVE peanut butter. I could probably live on peanut butter. I like it straight from the jar on a spoon or on toast or spread on a banana among other ways.
4. I seem to be stuck on old standards and big band style of music. I would have loved to stand in front of Tommy Dorsey's band and sang the old songs.
5. I love dancing shows- Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. I have this hidden desire to be able to dance. Hehe...it's not going to happen! Dancing doesn't seem to be one of my talents.
6. My favorite sandwich is BLT, my favorite food is crab, I love Mexican, Italian and Greek foods and Chinese (which I'm told isn't really real Chinese food) and even some "American" food. hehe..
7. Now we are down to number seven and I can't think of anything else. I will go with an obvious fact. I love animals especially cats. I have the sweetest, softest kitty and sometimes he is quite silly. We have granddogs that we get to play with when we need a doggy fix as well. A very good way to have dogs. IMO :)

If you haven't received this award yet, please feel free to say that you received it from me and let me know so I can come and read your seven things. :)

blessings, Zuda

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Blog Awards and Six Things

I feel really honored and really bad. Hehe... Quite a combination of emotions. Honored because I have received the One Lovely Blog Award from three wonderful people. And really bad because it has been a while ago and I am just now getting around to doing something about it. sigh...


At this time I am only going to do part of the award requirements and link back to those who awarded it.....and give a little feature on each. I don't have time to search out new blogs to pass the award on to right now. I'll try to get to that a bit later on.

The first one came from Vicki at Graceful Moments blog and EllieLee Etsy shop. Vicki is a painter and photographer who offers her beautiful originals and prints and photos in her shop. This is a beautiful day lily ACEO.


The second one came from Arlene at Harrison Hollow Designs blog and Harrison Hollow Designs Etsy shop. Arlene makes some fun and beautiful things from polymer clay. I just love her adorable plant pokes!

The third one came from Eugena from Polymer Clay Chameleon blog and Eugena's Creations on Etsy. Eugena is a very talented polymer clay artist. She also creates tutorials of some of her techniques. How cool is that? Steampunk is so popular right now and Eugena has made some gorgeous Steampunk Butterfly necklaces.



Arlene also tagged me for Six Silly Things That Make Me Happy meme. I've never done this one before so I am playing along. My six thing are:
1. When grandson Aaron plays my harmonica and granddaughter Anika dances. So cute!!
2. My cat Rusty. He is silly a lot! See my Rusty makes friends pictures.
3. I think the Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice commercials are so funny!!
4. Watching all my grandchildren being silly. And they can be pretty silly at times!!!
5. My hubby, Danny's silly one liners...I groan, but they do make me laugh as well.
Me: "I'm going to take a shower" Danny: "Well, put it back when you are finished" Ha!
6. I know they aren't really silly, but I love Jasmine Green Tea in the mornings and I just love
handmade soaps.....simple pleasures that add a bit of happiness to my life.

May many silly things come your way to bring laughter and happiness to your day!
blessings, Zuda Gay

Monday, May 25, 2009

And The WINNERS Are....

The numbers are......drum roll.........





1 and 10!!!! WOOHOO!!! Number 1 is ShellieArtist and number 10 is SixSisters. Both Etsy shop owners. Congratulations Shellie and Joan!!! I will contact both to see what they want.

Thank you for playing and helping me celebrate my 2nd Etsyversary!

blessings, ZudaGay

Friday, May 22, 2009

Happy Etsyversary To MEEEEE!!!

My 2 year Etsyversary is Monday, May 25th! It has been a such great experience since the very first day. I have met some wonderful people, some who are the best customers ever and some who are wonderful team mates! To celebrate two wonderful years, I'm going to have a give away. I will pick two winners....because it is my two year Etsyversary, and they will be able to either pick anything from my shop or I will make them a custom item. Anyone leaving a comment on this post is eligable to win. I will pick the winners, by the random number generator thing, at 8:00 pm CST...or is it CDST, I have no idea....Illinois time on Monday, May 25th.

ALSO.....I am offering free shipping, on items bought from my shop, until 10 pm Illinois time on Monday, May 25th.

Blessings, Zuda Gay

Friday, March 27, 2009

Lisa Pavelka Tools

It seems like the big thing right now is Facebook. I really didn't know what to expect when I joined. My hubby, Danny, joined about six months before I did. Then both daughters joined. Quite a few of my team mates from the Etsy street team BBEST were talking about friending each other. So I broke down and joined. I am having the best time!! I can keep up with fellow Etsians, friends from school and childhood and family who live far away and those three blocks away.
A few weeks ago another polymer clay artist invited me to be her friend, on her friend list was polymer clay celebrity, Lisa Pavelka. I've never been one for being a celebrity hound, but I thought I would invite her to be my friend and if she didn't want to, that was fine. One of the quirks of being friends is that you get to view one another's profile. As I was looking at Lisa's profile page I clicked on the link to her webpage. I hadn't visited it for sometime and she has redone it. In her store are some really cool tools that Lisa has developed. I love tools!!! I rarely buy any, but I do lust for them. Then... I just received an email announcing a blog giveaway for guess what?............Lisa Pavelka tools and video!! How cool is that? :) I know that my chance to win goes down with the more people who enter the giveaway, but I also get more chances to win by announcing it on my blog.....hence this post. hehehe... For your chance to win these great tools, go to Fave Crafts Blog for their Product Review and Giveaway.

blessings, ZudaGay

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

AND The WINNER Is........

The random number generator did it's number thingy and came up with the number 6!! The sixth person to comment was Beth Peardon!!! WooHoo!!! Bethy!!! Beth is a wonderful photographer and sells her work in her Etsy shop Beth Peardon Prods. I am so honored to own one of her gorgeous prints and a couple of her delightful ACEOs. I will get the brooch in the mail to Bethy tomorrow. To go along with the flavor of this giveaway and for your viewing pleasure....here are a few of my favorite Bethy pictures. :)





Congratulations, Bethy!!

blessings, ZudaGay

Monday, February 16, 2009

Featured Artists and A Giveaway

I have three wonderful Etsy shops that I would like for you to take a look at. Each one is different, but each of these artisans creates with love and passion and it shows so beautifully in each and every item.

The first shop is my friend Sharon's shop, Mana Moon. Sharon is a wonderful jewelry designer and I am so honored that she uses some of my beads in her amazing creations. No matter the type of beads Sharon chooses to use, her jewelry is beautifully made and always a work of art!! You may like to read Sharon's blog Mana Moon Studios. And check out her other online shop at Mana Moon Studio.com. You may also check out her graphic design shop for banners and avitars and all manner of lovely things to use in your online life at Mana Moon Studios on Etsy.

FIDELIA
This next shop belongs to Kym whose shop is Kimbuktu. Kym creates beautiful quilts and quilted bags with her amazing color sense. Every single piece of fabric is just the perfect choice. I can sit and look through her shop over and over and my eyes are always delighted. If you would like to see more of Kym, you can check out her website Kimbuktu.net and her second Etsy shop Paper Paraphernalia.

CHRISTIE QUILTED & BEADED PATCHWORK BAG
I would love to own a wire cross from Les & TC Cunningham of Totally Crosses. I think they would make a thoughtful wedding or anniversary gift!! There is just something so extra special about these crosses! You can just tell as you look at them , that love goes in to creating each loop of the wire. You can see more of TC's work at their website Totally Crosses.com.

SHABBY CHIC BEADED WALL CROSS

Now we are getting to the giveaway part!! I'm offering a giveaway of one of my newest style brooches. This brooch has a touch of lace decorated with leaves and of course a flower. All you have to do for a chance to receive this brooch is....visit the shops I have listed then tell me your favorite item from one of them by leaving a comment to this post.



PLEASE....be sure to leave a way I can contact you if you win!!! I will pick a winner by random drawing at 8:00 pm CST on Tuesday, February 24th.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

CPSIA

I'm not usually one for protesting, but as a Gramma I love buying handmade toys for my grandchildren. Toys that are lovingly made by artisans who are mommys or daddies or grandparents as well. I love to buy things from people who are just like me and are putting a little of their heart in their handmade exquisitely made items. I copied and pasted this from a thread about CPSIA in the Etsy forum because there is no way I could have put it any clearer or better.

"As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react."

blessings, ZudaGay

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Springy Creating


After this last below zero cold snap I have heard people wishing for spring. I don't think wishing will get it here any faster, but we can always look at springy things and dream a little. I have been playing with some springy colors in the last couple of weeks. So here are a few soft pastels just for the Spring of it.
A Funny Springy Sugar Bug Bead

Pink, Yellow and Aqua

Blessings, ZudaGay

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