Advent Blog-a-long Day 17 EART Team Blog Ring

This week on the EART Team blog ring we were asked to share some of our favorite Etsy stores!

First off, I'd like to share pickleberries. She works with glass like me! Honestly, I can appreciate when another glass artist makes something beautiful, but it is hard for me to buy or trade for a glass. Lonnie is one of those artisans that I can not only appreciate her pieces, but I needed to own! She has created a niche and makes beautiful millefiori glass pieces!

Next, I'd like to show you Inner Earth Soaps! All her soaps are all mild and highly moisturising, made with skin-loving oils and have a creamy, bubbly lather. My son suffers from eczema especially in the winter months and she was very helpful in choosing a soap that will help keep his skin healthy. Also, her soaps just LOOK amazing!

And last, but not least is lime green modern! I absolutely LOVE the simple lines of her pieces! When it comes to jewelry, particularly earrings, I tend to stick tot he more-is-less approach. I love the sleek look of these earrings with just a pop of color! You could have one in every color and be set for any outfit!

Please follow our blog ring around! Next up is DivaDea ( http://divadea.blogspot.com ). Check out some of her favorite Etsy shops!

Blog Ring Thursday- Advent BLog-a-long Day 10

Time for another EART Team blog ring! Today's question-

What are your favorite colors to work with? Is it hard to work outside of your favorites?

I tend to use black a lot. Dichroic glass comes with black and clear glass as a base, so that makes it an easy choice. I also like earth tones. I tend to chose a cream color over a pure white. I pull patterns and designs from nature, so that lends itself easy to those kinds of colors as well. I do find it kind of hard to work outside my favorites. I usually just try to create a picture or idea that may have popped into my head and I struggle to find inspiration if I have a project that has a color palette outside of my norms.

Head on over to Diva Dea to see what her favorite colors to use are:

Diva Dea ( http://divadea.blogspot.com )

EART Team Blog Ring- How Did You Get Started?

This Thursday, the Eart Team blog ring asks- How did you get started doing your art/craft?

My mother has been doing stained glass for the better part of 10 years. She had actually invited me to take her first beginning stained glass class with her. I declined thinking that it was an 'old lady hobby'. She persevered and I was able to watch as she learned and created new pieces. Her work area at home kept growing from just the kitchen table to the unused dining room to the full working studio with room to teach classes that my husband and brother-in-law built out for her in her basement. To make a long story short, she bought the glass store in our area and I went to work for her after having my 2nd child. I still had yet to even touch art glass, but immediately fell in love with it and jumped right in (not literally, of course). I caught on very quickly being a fast learner and having the opportunity to work with it full time (and get paid as well!). We started stocking fusing supplies and introduced our community to that glass art technique. Unfortunately, we have since had to close the store (darn economy), but we both now have a full studio at home. I work out of my basement and have the means to work cold, warm, and hot glass (stained glass, fusing, and lampworking).


Head on over to Diva Dea to see what deals she will have coming up:

Diva Dea ( http://divadea.blogspot.com )