Buddhakittyglass giveaway

Today I have another exciting giveaway to share with you! Enjoy meeting Steena from Buddhakittyglass and enter to win one of her fabulous glass trays. Check out her work below and see more at her Etsy shop.

Tell us about yourself.

I am Steena, owner and artist behind Buddha Kitty Glass. I live in Seattle which is a mecca for glass artists and a great place to create fused glass. Over the years I’ve studied fused glass, cold working glass, lamp working, glass bead making and stained glass at Pratt Fine Art Center in Seattle.

Tell us about your art. What do you make? How did you come to your craft?

My love of glass goes back many years. During a college trip to Europe, I became fascinated with the stained glass in the cathedrals. Upon returning home, I took my first class in glasswork and learned how to make stained glass windows. This served as a wonderful introduction to the world of glass art. From there I began to learn glass bead making and became intrigued by the amazing transformation that takes place in glass once heat is applied. These glass beads became parts of handmade jewelry that I gave to friends and occasionally sold at small craft fairs. A cross-country move and new neighbors served as my introduction to fused glass. My new neighbors in Virginia commented on a glass bead necklace I had made which turned into a discussion about kiln formed glass. My neighbor’s mother taught fused glass. We talked about my fascination with glass she suggested I try one of her mother’s classes. I signed up for her class and was immediately captivated by kiln formed glass. Shortly after the class, I purchased my first small kiln and began perfecting the art of fused glass in my basement in Virginia. After several years, my husband and I decided to relocate back to the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area is renowned for its glass art and is a wonderful location to continue to pursue fused glass. I continued my study of fused glass and kiln formed glass at Pratt Fine Art Center. In January 2009, I launched Buddha Kitty Glass. When I am not fusing glass for Buddha Kitty Glass I also serve as a docent at the Museum of Glass, leading tours of the beautiful glass art collections. Being a docent at the Museum of Glass is another way for me to share my enthusiasm for glass art with others.



What inspires your work? Describe your creative process and tell us about your favorite materials to work with.

My favorite material to work with is glass! Specifically though I love to make pattern bars of glass, which are thick layers of glass fused together. I then cut them into pieces on a tile saw which reveals the patterns created from stacking the glass. I fuse these pieces into the glass dots seen thought my work. I really enjoy mixing colors together in random patterns in the bars and seeing the amazing results, which come from it.

What are your goals for your business? Is Etsy a full or part time job?

I would like my shop on Etsy to get so popular that I have to buy a much bigger kiln to keep up with the orders! Seriously, I would really like to have this become my full-time work and eventually have a brick and mortar shop with my glass.




What are your favorite hobbies?

A few years back I started trapeze lessons and really love it. I also just bought a canoe and can’t wait to get it out on the water with my family. Besides that I love to travel. I went around the world in 2005 with my husband and would like to do that again in a few years.

What brought you to Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?

A friend and I were discussing the art work we made and she told me about Etsy. She wanted to start a shop there but her internet connection was not working properly so I said I would do some research for her and let her know how it worked. After researching the site for her, I decided to start my own.

Where can we find you online?

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Buddha-Kitty-Glass/79270261377?ref=mf

We Love Etsy:
http://etsylove.ning.com/profile/BuddhaKittyGlass

I Heart Rummage:
http://iheartrummage.ning.com/profile/BuddhaKittyGlass

Fused Glass Artist:
http://www.fusedglassartists.org/Buddhakittyglass

And of course:
http://www.buddhakittyglass.com




What is your favorite item in your shop?

I can’t play favorites it makes the other pieces of glass jealous.

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller?

Its really been wonderful seeing people react to and enjoy my art. It is great to get to share this with people outside of my friends and family.

And now for the giveaway! Buddhakittyglass is giving readers the chance to win this blue and white glass tray:

Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit Buddhakittyglass on Etsy and leave a comment with your favorite item. Please be sure to include your email adress in your comments or have it visible in your blogger profile. You want to know if you won, right?

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

~Visit my shop, Oceanside Creations, and share your favorite item- 1 additional entry (leave 1 comment)

~Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already do- 1 additional entry leave one comment

~Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway including @OceansideJewlry in your tweet - 1 additional entry (leave a comment letting me know)

~Blog about this giveaway with a link to your post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments)

~Enter any of the current giveaways on this blog -See left sidebar for a list- 1 additional entry per giveaway entered ( leave 1 comment per giveaway)

~Become a fan of Buddhakittyglass on Facebook- 1 additional entry (leave one comment)

~Become a fan of Oceanside Creations on Facebook- 1 additional entry (leave one comment)

~Add Oceanside Creations to your blog roll- 1 additional entry (leave 1 comment with a link to your blog)

~Make a purchase from Buddhakittyglass between now and midnight July 10 -5 additional entries ~ Leave 5 comments with your transaction #

That's a lot of chances to enter this fabulous giveaway!
Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Friday, July 10 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Saturday morning, July11 via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim their prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you. All photos are courtesy of Buddhakittyglass.
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See more from Buddhakittyglass

Enter to win a knit sweater bag from Bags of Blessings~ Ends July 3 at midnight

Oceanside Creations Giveaway Winner

Comment # 27 was our winner today, belonging to Quilting Diva. She says "You had me at "orange"! Burnt orange bracelet is one of my faves."

Congratulations! The $15 gift certificate is yours.

Bags of Blessings Giveaway

Here's another fabulous featured artist with a giveaway to share with readers. Meet Amy from Bags of Blessings on Etsy and enter for your chance to win her Blue Recycled Sweater Bag.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Amy Gibbons. I am a stay at home mom in Westfield, IN, just north of Indianapolis. I have two wonderful sons aged 10 and 12, one fabulous husband and two slightly neurotic dogs. Even the dogs are male, so the testosterone runs high in our house. I think that is partly why I chose a girly hobby like knitting purses :)

Tell us about your art. What do you make? How did you come to your craft?

I started knitting seriously about 5 years ago when our church started a prayer shawl ministry. It was amazing to see the looks on the people's faces that would receive these shawls when they were going through a crisis time in their lives. I still do charity knitting with my church group, but my shop on etsy, www.bagsofblessing.etsy.com, features mainly handknitted and felted bags, purses and totes. As well as scarves, shawls and my newest items, my "Blessings" keychains.


What inspires your work? Describe your creative process and tell us about your favorite materials to work with.

All the blessings in my own life inspired my shop name as well as my work. I am fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom and I needed something to give me some meaning, definition and sense of self back in my own life. I believe my bags, scarves and shawls are wearable art. I hope they make the wearer feel a little bit brighter and special in having a one of a kind item like mine. My goal is that this increased sense of well-being that comes from wearing my art is passed forward to the people they encounter.

What are your goals for your business?

I haven't really set goals for my business. Right now, I am totally enjoying doing what I am truly passionate about, and getting paid to do it. If I come out making more money than I spent to make it -- great!


What are your favorite hobbies?

I love reading, playing volleyball, going to my sons' sporting activities, going to the beach, spending time with my husband and family, singing and hanging out with my girlfriends.

What brought you to Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?

I was directed to Etsy through an acquaintance of a friend. Kind of a weird beginning, but it has blossomed into a great business partnership and friendship. I also do a lot of custom work by referral, and am slowly getting my merchandise out into boutiques and shops throughout the Indianapolis area.

Where can we find you online?

You can find me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=132171290455 or http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Bags-of-Blessing/72282814249

I am on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bagsofblessing

I also have a website at www.bagsofblessing.net



What is your favorite item in your shop?

My favorite item has to be any of my "Blessings" keychains. The whole idea behind them inspires me. I hand make them out of recycled, felted wool sweaters. I add beaded handles and inside each tiny purse a "blessing", in the form of an inspirational quote, scripture verse or customized message, is tucked. I think they make great gifts or party favors. I just love the idea behind an actual "Bag of Blessing".

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller?

It's all about bringing joy to other people. It's not so much about how much you sell, but the friends you make along the way, and the way you feel about yourself and your work at the end of the day.

Anything else you would like us to know about you?

I believe in kindness, generosity and the power of the human spirit. We all need each other to thrive. The more we can help each other out, the better off the world becomes.

And now for the giveaway!

Bags of Blessings is giving readers the chance to win this Blue Recycled Sweater Bag:


Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit Bags of Blessings on Etsy and leave a comment with your favorite item.

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

~Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already do- 1 additional entry leave one comment

~Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter username in your comment - 1 additional entry

~Blog about this giveaway with a link to your post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments)

~Enter any of the current giveaways on this blog -See left sidebar for a list- 1 additional entry per giveaway entered ( leave 1 comment per giveaway)

~Make a purchase from Bags of Blessings between now and midnight July 3 -5 additional entries ~ Leave 5 comments with your transaction #

~Add your review of this giveaway to StumbleUpon using the Share Button on the bottom right of this post- 1 additional entry (leave 1 comment)

~Post this giveaway to any other social networking site (Facebook, Myspace, etc.) - 1 additional entry ( Leave 1 comment with the link to where you posted)

That's a lot of chances to enter this fabulous giveaway!
Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Friday, July 3 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Saturday morning, July4 via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim their prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you. All photos are courtesy of Bags of Blessings.
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See more from Bags of Blessings on Etsy.
Enter to win your choice of jewelry from Oceanside Creations- Ends June 30

Piper Riley Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Lindsay, the winner of the gorgeous peacock hairclip from Piper Riley! The winning comment was #22. Lindsay chose the Eden Peacock Flower Hair Clip as her favorite shop item and said "This one is the prettiest hair clip I have seen in a long time. Love it!"

Lindsay has been contacted by email and will have 48 hours to claim her prize. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Stranded Treasures Daffodil Earrings Giveaway

Today I have another fantastic Etsy artist to share with you and another giveaway as well. (That's 3 giveaways going on at the moment! See left sidebar.) Today's interview is with Sharlene from Stranded Treasures, who makes the most gorgeous clay flower jewelry. I was amazed by how lifelike her flowers are. Check out the interview to learn more about Sharlene and enter the giveaway to win her beautiful jewelry for yourself!

Tell us about yourself .

My name is Sharlene and I live in a small condo in the center of town in a coastal city in Florida with my husband, a cat and a rescue turtle. I work from home and so my place is very inspirational for my creative side. Lot of flowers on the balcony, vintage and handmade items and very colorful accents yet calming. I’ve always felt it is so important that your home is your sanctuary.

Tell us about your art. What do you make? How did you come to your craft?

My jewelry line consists of my hand sculpted clay flowers which I started creating about 6 years ago. I was trying lots of crafts and was doing macramé jewelry. I wanted to make my own large holed flower beads. When I stopped macramé, I just kept making the flowers. I’ve been creating jewelry on and off for over 15 years and eventually just blended the two crafts in one.



What inspires your work? Describe your creative process and tell us about your favorite materials to work with.

I love flowers and vintage style things so I’m always looking to reflect that in my work. I like the challenge of trying to re-create a style of flower. I always look through flower books and supply catalogs to spark different designs to apply to components. One of my favorite parts of making my flowers is color mixing and creating color schemes. I have books on that too that I often refer to.

What are your goals for your business? Is Etsy a full or part time job?

I am constantly working on my jewelry but I also freelance as a marketing assistant. I would love for my jewelry business to keep growing. I feel like I’ve been lucky enough to have it pay for itself but of course if that could expand it would be wonderful!




What are your favorite hobbies?

I enjoy container gardening on my balcony, sewing, playing the piano, bike riding, and going for walks around the neighborhood.

What brought you to Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?

I was looking into online sites outside of ebay and came across it. I also am on Trunkt for wholesale hoping to reach some retailers.

Where can we find you online?

I can be found at www.StrandedTreasures.com, etsy (which is linked from my website) and Trunkt.org.




What is your favorite item in your shop?

Right now I like my blue and brown daisies necklace. I really like that color scheme.

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller?

To be very focused when developing a product line. I used to create so many various items and it made it hard to evolve at one so I just started focusing on making flowers. And also photos! So important when selling online.



And now for the giveaway!
Stranded Treasures is giving readers the chance to win this beautiful pair of Daffodil Post Earrings:


Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit Stranded Treasures on Etsy and leave a comment with your favorite item.

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

~Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already do- 1 additional entry leave one comment

~Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter username in your comment - 1 additional entry

~Blog about this giveaway with a link to your post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments)

~Enter any of the current giveaways on this blog -See left sidebar for a list- 1 additional entry per giveaway entered ( leave 1 comment per giveaway)

~Make a purchase from Stranded Treasures between now and midnight June 24-5 additional entries ~ Leave 5 comments with your transaction #

~Add your review of this giveaway to StumbleUpon using the Share Button on the bottom right of this post- 1 additional entry (leave 1 comment)

~Post this giveaway to any other social networking site (Facebook, Myspace, etc.) - 1 additional entry ( Leave 1 comment with the link to where you posted)

That's a lot of chances to enter this fabulous giveaway!
Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Wednesday, June 24 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Thursday morning, June 25 via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim your prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you. All photos are courtesy of StrandedTreasures.
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See more of Stranded Treasures jewelry on Etsy.

And The Winner Is.....

***Update***

Unfortunately KitKat has not responded to claim her prize within 48 hours. I have chosen a new winner, Ashley, who says Ocean Dreams' "A Glimpse Into Tokyo is very pretty." Please claim your prize within 48 hours.

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Our winning comment for the Ocean Dream's Studio giveaway for the Going To The Beach Inspiration Kit is... Comment #5!

KitKat says "this card is so cute!"

Congratulations!
The winner has been contacted through her blog and will have 48 hours to claim her prize.

Giveaway From Piper Riley

Time for a fantastic giveaway from Etsy artist PiperRiley who describes herself as "just a gal from New Jersey." I love her shop filled with floral hairpieces, leather bracelets, and peacock feather hair clips. I love peacock feathers so I am so jealous that I can't win this one. Take a look at this beautiful hair clip that you can win. Enjoy getting to know PiperRiley and check out her giveaway below.


Tell us about your art. What do you make? How did you come to your craft?

I started crafting about a year ago while my boyfriend was away on tour. He is a touring musician and would be away for months at a time, so while he was gone, I started crafting just to kill time . I am very new to Etsy and started off making vintage upcycled bracelets. I would take old belts and give them new life. Then I started to make hair accessories and TahDah!! Piper Riley was born

What inspires your work? Describe your creative process and tell us about your favorite materials to work with.

My biggest inspiration is nature. I work with alot of feathers and flowers. I love feathers!! Especially peacock, the colors are just so amazing and can go so many ways.

What are your goals for your business?

I would love to go full time because it is so much fun. My next step though is to do my first craft show. Not sure when yet but if that does well then hopefully I will be on the right track


What are your favorite hobbies?

I like being outdoors a lot so anything involving that. Snowboarding, swimming, traveling, etc..
I also love garage sales....not sure if that is a hobby or an addiction though :)

What brought you to Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?

My roommate introduced Etsy to me. At one of our BBQ's I wore one of my hair pieces and received a ton of compliments, asking me where I got it so I told them I made it and everybody then said they wanted one. Thats when my roommate told me that I should sell on Etsy. I checked it out the next day and I was hooked! Buying, selling, critiquing, EVERYTHING!!!




Where can we find you online?

You can find me on Twitter..... twitter.com/heypiperriley
And on Facebook

What is your favorite item in your shop?

I made one of these for myself and haven't taken it off since, I LOVE IT!!




I also wear one of these a lot. It is simple but it really adds a lot to an outfit.



What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller?

Not to get down if someone doesn't like your product. You can't always make everyone happy but you can try to do your best. Have faith in what you are selling and work your butt off!!!


And now for the giveaway!
PiperRiley is giving readers the chance to win this beautiful peacock hairclip:

Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit PiperRiley on Etsy and leave a comment with your favorite item.

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already do- 1 additional entry leave one comment

Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter username in your comment - 1 additional entry

Follow PiperRiley on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter username in your comment- 1 additional entry

Blog about this giveaway with a link to your post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments)

Enter any of the current giveaways on this blog -See left sidebar for a list- 1 additional entry per giveaway entered ( leave 1 comment per giveaway)

Make a purchase from PiperRiley between now and midnight June 19-5 additional entries ~ Leave 5 comments with your transaction #

That's a lot of chances to enter this fabulous giveaway!
Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Friday, June 19 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Saturday morning, June 20 via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim your prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you. All photos are courtesy of PiperRiley.
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See more of PiperRiley's work in her shop.

Six Month Etsyversary Giveaway!

Wow! I just realized today is my 6 month anniversary of being an Etsy seller. I can't believe it! So as a thank you to everyone who has helped me start up my shop and been supportive along the way I wanted to have a giveaway.

I am giving away a 15 dollar gift certificate good towards your choice of jewelry in my shop. All you have to do is visit my shop, leave me a comment telling me your favorite item AND why along with your name and a way to contact you. The giveaway will run from June 10 through June 30. I will choose a winner on July 1 using the random.org widget on the right sidebar.

Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit Oceanside Creations and leave a comment with your favorite item AND why. Your feedback is really helpful when coming up with new designs.

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already are- 1 additional entry (leave 1 comment)

~Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter AND tweet this line along with a link to this giveaway: Win your choice of handcrafted jewelry from Oceanside Creations
Leave 1 comment with your Twitter username - 1 additional entry

~Become a fan of Oceanside Creations on Facebook - 1 additional entry (Leave 1 comment)

~Enter any of the other giveaways on this blog between June 10 and June 30- see left sidebar for a list of current giveaways- 1 additional entry per giveaway entered (Leave 1 comment per giveaway entered)

~Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments with link to where you blogged)


Thanks for entering and Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Tuesday, June 30 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Wednesday morning, July 1 at 9 a.m. via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 24 hours to claim your prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you.

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Enter to win a Peacock Hair Clip from PiperRiley~ Ends Friday, June 19th.

Tile Me Beautiful Giveaway Winner!

Our winner is janetfaye who says "I like From Sunrise to Sunset" (Tiled Mirror). Congratulations on winning a $20 gift certificate to TileMeBeautiful on Etsy!

Giveaway from Ocean Dreams Studio

Happy Friday everyone! Here is a great giveaway for anyone who loves to scrapbook. Sierra from Ocean Dreams Studio is giving one lucky reader a Going To The Beach Inspiration Kit (pictured below). Her kit features some really fun and summery decorative papers, handmade tags, ribbons and everything you need to capture the memories from your summer vacation fun. I hope you enjoy meeting Sierra and enjoy her wonderfully whimsical shop!



Tell us a little about yourself.

A little known fact about me is that I am originally from Utah and I am a small town girl, even though I now live in a high paced life. I decided to stay in Southern California after I graduated from college and now I work with a creative magazine company! In my spare time I am always trying to think of new items to create for Etsy. I love to give gifts to people and lately I am enthralled and have enjoyed learning more about interior design and yoga!

Tell us about your art. What do you make and how did you come to your craft?

I make a little bit of everything. I make domino and scrabble necklaces, head bands, inspiration kits, digital art, photography, watercolor painting, and whatever else I can think of for the future. My mom inspired me with her Etsy shop to create to my heart's content. I have been making art and crafts since I was a little girl and it has always been a part of me. On my 23rd birthday she gave me a domino necklace made with a stamp, glitter, and beads, and ever since then I decided to create new necklaces and whatever else inspires me at the moment for Etsy.


What inspires your work? Describe your creative process and tell us about your favorite materials to work with.

I am inspired by current fashions, anything vintage, lovely, sparkly, bright, cheerful, and has a story behind it. I always love tying in a good story with my work of art.


What are your goals for your business?

My goals are to keep on creating, believing, and not settling for anything less than who I am. There is always going to be bigger and better ideas than my own, but that is when I need to believe in myself and reach for the stars. I also would like to continue watercolor painting and branching out more in the mixed media direction too. I would also love to learn how to sew really well so I can create altered clothing.


What are your favorite hobbies?

My favorite hobbies besides creating art, of course, are reading, writing in my journal, training for 1/2 marathons by jogging and going to the gym, recently learning yoga, watching movies, going to the beach, traveling, watercolor painting, and learning more about interior design, to name a few.

What brought you to Etsy?

My mom brought me to Etsy. She inspires me every day with her creative living and beautiful creations. You can check her out at vintage1955.etsy.com if you love all things vintage!

Where can we find you online?

You can find me on Twitter (oceandreams4u), Facebook, and my blog oceandreams4sierra.blogspot.com


What is your favorite item in your shop?

Hmm, favorite item. There are too many to choose from, but I love Dreaming of My Prince in Paris vintage tag...I had fun making it because I seriously adore Paris ever since I went there when I was 16!

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller?

Art comes in so many forms, and each is individually made with love and care. I think every artist has something wonderful to offer. Fear should never stop someone from creating, coming up with new ideas, and striving to be the best artist they can be! Oh, and art is a journey. Whenever I am creating I learn something new about myself and it helps me relax as well in the chaotic moments of my life.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?

I am an ocean dreamer and hence my Etsy name and blog name! I have loved the ocean ever since I was little, so it was my dream to move to California and live here by the sea. Now that I live near the ocean I will continue to dream my dreams into reality and I hope you do the same!

And now for the giveaway!
Sierra is giving readers the chance to win a Going To The Beach Inspiration Kit!
Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit Ocean Dreams Studio and leave a comment with your favorite item.

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already do- 1 additional entry

Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway. Leave your Twitter username in your comment - 1 additional entry

Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments)

Make a purchase from Sierra's shop Ocean Dreams Studio -5 additional entries
Leave a comment with your transaction #

That's 10 chances to enter this fabulous giveaway!
Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Friday, June 12 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Saturday morning, June 13 at 9 a.m. via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim your prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you. All photos are courtesy of Ocean Dreams Studios.
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Don't forget to enter the giveaway from Tile Me Beautiful as well. Scroll on down! Ends at midnight EST Friday, June 5 so hurry!

Giveaway Time!

I have a very special shop to share with you today...plus an awesome giveaway! Michelle from TileMeBeautiful is offering readers the chance to win a $20 gift certificate from her Etsy shop. Read the interview below to find out more about Michelle and her work and for your chance to enter the giveaway. This is one not to miss!


Tell us about yourself.

My name is Michelle Gunnell (yeah, it rhymes). I live in Spring, TX. It's a little bit north-west of Houston. I have a spoiled rotten dog. Her name is Jersey. She's a 4-year-old Lab/Pointer mix. I have a BS in psychology, but I'm not sure what I'll ever really use it for. I don't really want to get a Master's at the moment.

Tell us about your art. What do you make? How did you come to your craft?

I tile just about anything I can get my hands on. I use mostly flooring tiles. They're thicker and more substantial than your usual mosaic tiles. They just have a look that I like better. Glass is my favorite, but I enjoy using ceramic, slate, and stone tiles as well. Most of the things I have right now are housewares, but I have so many ideas and I'd love to expand into different areas.

I actually discovered my craft in the middle of my divorce. I was hurting and needed something that I could do for myself. Something that I could throw myself into and really love. I needed to create something, if that makes any sense. I was never, ever good at art growing up, so I went for something kind of untraditional. During the really dark parts of the divorce, I was holed up in bed watching HGTV all day. I've always loved tile, but seeing it used so much in so many ways was what really got me thinking.

What inspires your work? Describe your creative process and tell us about your favorite materials to work with.

My personal style inspires a lot of it. I have to be careful to branch out to things that I normally wouldn't choose for myself though. I forget that someone out there likes different stuff than me. I just make things I would love to own. Standing in the flooring section of the store always inspires me! There's so much to look at. I usually don't create in wholes. I'll see a color tile mix I like or a beautiful 4"x4" tile and then my piece comes together around that one element.

The actual creating process can be kind of long and tedious. When you work with individual tiles, it’s hard to get them lined up. The type of mosaics I do require a sense of symmetry and evenness. I nudge, push, and pull each tile probably at least 20 times. If the piece is wooden, there’s two coats of stain or paint and two coats of sealer/polyurethane. Depending on the type you use, that could take up to four days. Then you stick the tiles down. The next day you can usually grout. I do two coats of grout, so that takes two days so that I can be sure the last coat is dry. I can’t seal the grout for another 24-48 hours, and I use two coats of that as well. That takes another day. There isn’t a whole lot of instant gratification involved. It’s usually almost a week before you get to see your finished product. You also have to be willing to get messy. I get grout all over myself - my elbows, my ears. I don’t use gloves when I grout (oops!). They get in my way and I feel like I have more control over the tile without them. Everything about it is sticky, smelly, or messy. I love it though!




What are your goals for your business?

I would love to be able to support myself doing this. Baby steps though! I'd just like to start out with some steady sales. Maybe get into some local shops. I have plans to do craft shows with my best friend, who also sells on Etsy. I'm mainly in the stage where I'm trying to get my name out there an network. I truly believe that good connections make for a good business, so I'm trying to support the handmade community and get involved in any way possible.

What are your favorite hobbies?

Running and biking with my dog. We do a lot of that. I also LOVE to read! I've pulled many all-nighters to finish a great book. Tiling takes up a lot of my time right now. I love to spend time with my best friend Stacy and her daughter Kaitlin. And does shopping count as a hobby??

What brought you to Etsy? Do you sell anywhere else?

After I decided I wanted to make my tiled stuff, I decided it might be nice to make some money at it! I had purchased something from a friend of a friend about a year ago on Etsy, and it came to mind. I didn't know much about the whole handmade movement until I started selling, but I've found it incredibly interesting and easy to immerse myself in. I also sell on Artfire, Zibbet, and Made It Myself.

Where can we find you online?

http://tilemebeautiful.etsy.com
http://www.artfire.com/users/tilemebeautiful
http://www.zibbet.com/TileMeBeautiful
http://www.madeitmyself.com/user/tilemebeautiful.aspx
http://tilemebeautiful.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/tilemebeautiful
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1696249263&ref=profile




What is your favorite item in your shop?

Can I pick a section? My trays are always my favorite! A serving tray was the first thing I made, so that's special. Plus, I just love them. I also invest the most time in them.

What is the most valuable thing you have learned from your art and being an Etsy seller?

That you get what you give. I love to buy from handmade sellers and promote people on my sites. I love to chat in the forums and just make friends with other sellers. You get great advice, critiques, promotion and support.

And now for the giveaway!
Michelle is giving readers the chance to win a $20 gift certificate to her shop!
Here's how to enter:

First you MUST visit TileMeBeautiful and leave a comment with your favorite item.

For additional entries you can do any or all of the following, leaving ONE comment for EACH:

Become a follower of this blog or let me know if you already do- 1 additional entry

Follow Oceanside Creations on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Leave a link or your Twitter username in your comment - 1 additional entry

Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post- 2 additional entries (leave 2 comments)

Make a purchase from Michelle's shop TileMeBeautiful -5 additional entries
Leave a comment with your transaction #

That's 10 chances to enter this fabulous giveaway!
Good Luck!

Giveaway runs through Friday, June 5 at midnight EST. Our winner will be chosen on Saturday morning, June 6 via the random.org widget in the right sidebar and will be announced right here on this blog. Winner will be e-mailed and have 48 hours to claim your prize. If winner does not claim their prize a new winner will be chosen. When leaving comments please be sure your e-mail address is available for me to contact you. All photos are courtesy of TileMeBeautiful.

And The Winner Is.....

Congratulations to Heather Leavers, winner of Oceanside Creations' April Facebook Giveaway! The prize was a $10 gift certificate to my Etsy shop, Oceanside Creations good towards any item in the shop. Thanks to everyone who became a fan this month. More giveaway fun is sure to follow on this blog, and I hope to have a Facebook giveaway every few months. Follow Oceanside Creations on Facebook to hear about upcoming giveaways for Facebook fans.