Featured Etsy Artist of the Week - Jenny Blasen Pottery

Recently, I was randomly searching through Etsy and ran across this seller - Jenny Blasen Pottery. I was especially interested in her original cupcake plates. They are so darn cute. I think I am in the mood for a cupcake so I think I need to get a plate!

When I was little my family and I used to go to this little German community and shop, they had a pottery store and I always loved to go in there and look around. I always wanted to buy something, anything. In high school I took an art class and we made stuff with the snake rolls of clay. That is the closest I ever got to working with clay. I admire anyone that can create with clay and not have it fall apart or "lean" like mine did.

So go check out Jenny's shop and admire her creations the way I have.

Jenny is also a member of the Etsy Mud Team (EMT).

How I got started:

I was an anthropology major in college and I took my first pottery class during my year abroad in Japan. Fell in love and continued to take classes over the years. I am a stay at home mother of two and finally got serious about clay after my youngest started preschool this year. I have a great studio to work out of and a supportive teacher/mentor who encouraged me to sell on Etsy. He actually started selling here first and pestered me until I opened up my own shop. His shop is hafelepottery.

What inspires me?

I make functional pieces, so I make things I would want to use. For example, I love to bake, so I was on the lookout for the perfect cake stand. I couldn't find one, so I decided to make one. I started out small and the cupcake stand was born. I lived in Japan for three years and have a huge collection of Japanese pottery. The typical Japanese table is filled with many little dishes, not Western-size dinnerplates. I love to make sets of little dishes.

One word to describe myself: busy

Favorite Book: I love to read anything. Right now I am reading The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Favorite Movie: Love the Indiana Jones movies--can't wait for the new one to come out next month.

Favorite Song: Anything by Jack Johnson or John Cruz (both are from Hawaii).

Welcome to LEST - Sale

Starting today thru the 7th participants of the Lampwork Etc Street Team will be having a 10-20% off sale to introduce you to our new Etsy Street Team. The list of talented artisans is located on our new Webpage and also our new Blog. So go check it out. Everything in my Etsy shop is 10% off during the sale. Please wait for a revised invoice with the sale price before paying. Go see what I have for sale. Thanks Pam

Can you say ADDICTED to making Pandora Beads!

I am absolutely addicted to making these beads. So go buy them all so I can continue with my obsessive behavior please! I love coming up with the color combinations and seeing how pretty they come out. I love how they look on the silver bracelet. I love to take pictures of them...they are soooo pretty! I sold some to a co-worker last week and she came in and was showing everyone at work her bracelet. She bought three copper green beads and they were absolutely stunning with her silver spacers. I was impressed (humble aren't I). So here they are... go to my shop and BUY, BUY, BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!! please :-)

Watercolor Lampwork Bead on a Skeleton Key Dangle

Here is something I made recently for Easter presents. I sent my mom one and she just loves it. She said she put it on her new purse. That is where mine is hanging, of course I had to have one too! The bead is made directly on the skeleton key and it turns. It is just kinda cool. I plan on making some this weekend to put in my Etsy store next week, so check back! Pam

Featured Etsy Artist of the Week - AJ's Country Cottage

Recently I was searching on Etsy for soap for a co-workers birthday present. I was intriqued when I found this shop AJ's Country Cottage . The soap was so beautifully created with an intricate swirl pattern and her descriptions sold me right away. Here is what she says....

"Life's too short NOT to surround yourself with the scents and pleasures you love. Pamper your skin and indulge your senses with this lovely artisan luxury soap designed to make your shower or bath time a true pleasure. Escape to your own private paradise!"

"Experience the silky smooth texture, intoxicating scent, and visual feast for yourself. Caress your skin with nothing but the best!"

OK.. sounds good to me.

So then I get the soap and it is as lovely as pictured and the scent is absolutely wonderful. Needless to say - I will be back. :-)

So all of this made me want to share my discovery with others. I DO hope that you will check out her shop and order her artisan luxury soap. I guarantee you will love it. Oh and I think my next purchase will have to be one of her soy candles. Go check them out.

Here is a little bit about AJ.

Let's here about your shop and how you got started:

I was initially motivated to learn to make my own soap because the idea of using the most pure and natural products on my skin (and my family's) really appealed to me. I like that I can control the ingredients! Soapmaking seemed like a fun challenge to learn, and I like challenges. :)

What inspires you to create:

Now I often find myself inspired by nature. The changing seasons, the colors of a sunset, and the scents of earth and flowers, for example, lead me to try and capture various concepts in my soaps. For example, my recent "Garden Mosaic" soap was my interpretation of a fresh garden. Earthy greens, yellows, and browns swirl together harmoniously, and the soap smells like sweet and fresh growing things.

Describe myself in one word: Content. :)

Favorite book and movie: Pride and Prejudice.

Favorite song: Linus and Lucy.

New beads for you Pandora bracelet on Etsy, also more bead sets

Hi... I am loving making the slider beads for euro bracelets. They are so much fun to do and really inexpensive compared to the brand name beads. Prettier too if you ask me. :-) So I have listed a few more sets of beads in my Etsy shop. Also I have my regular bead sets today too. Two new sets listed. Tomorrow I hope to do my first Featured Etsy Artist. I hope that you will come back to see who it is. Thanks and have a great day. Pam

Lots of New Slider Beads that fit the Pandora, Biagi and Troll bracelets for sale in my Etsy shop.

Lots of New Slider Beads that fit the Pandora, Biagi, Troll and other Euro bracelets for sale in my Etsy shop.