WOW Wednesday!

Wow Wednesday is here again and with it some fun ideas for stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, or just that cute item you've had your eye on.
Hope you enjoy the creative, one of a kind goodies I've picked out for you this week.

For the Book Lover this sweet "The Earth Laughs in Flowers" bookmark by Theresa at FaeryMoonGoddess is perfect for the reader on your list.

This lovely Hand Painted Silk Scarf by Jodee from Palette Passion is simply stunning!

Hand crocheted Cotton Dishcloths by MadeForMebyOaklie in beautiful shades of lavenders and greens. Wonderful for the bath as well.

Hand formed from stoneware clay, this adorable Owl Ornament by OneClayBead in NC. Perfect for the owl lover!

Any coffee or tea lover would love this plush Cup Cozy by Natalya. Keeps your drink warm and your hands cool.

Click on the photos to visit any of these shops and see these nice (and Affordable) gifts.

Support handmade this holiday season. You'll be glad you did.

If you see something that you think should be included here, send me a convo at my ArtistiKat Shop or contact me at my ArtKat Shop with your suggestions.

Thanks for stopping by!

WOW Wednesday Gifts

Welcome to WOW Wednesday!

The day before Thanksgiving; time to spend with loved ones and give thanks for making it through another year. I know I'm thankful for the many blessings we've had along the way.

The day after Thanksgiving also starts off the very hectic shopping season with Black Friday in the brick and mortar shops and Cyber Monday on-line.

Why not do yourself a favor this year and save yourself the hassle of dealing with the crowds and take a peek at the talented artists on-line. Your gift will most certainly be prepared with care, and will be much more unique than the mass produced items you'll find in the mall.

First on the list is this charming hand blown Glass Angel from AJ Jewelry Designs.
Each little angel is a one of a kind piece of art.
I love the way her skirt flows out around her. Lovely!

Glowing Sun Goddess Earrings by Girl Loves Glitter.
The stones are a beautiful clear white topaz. The gold you see is actual 23k yellow gold set under the stones. Gives it such a luminous effect. Definitely a keeper!

For the bath/ spa lover, you can't go wrong with these incredibly unique Amethyst Soaps by AmethystSoap.
When I first saw these I thought "what a lovely piece of amethyst!" I was blown away when I realized they were soaps. Certain to make your giftie smile.

For the book lover, here's a cute little Book Ornament by Pease Blossom Studio.
There are actual pages in this book ornament that would be perfect for writing a special note to your special someone.

Shop handmade this year; you'll be glad you did. You can also feel good knowing that you've supported a handmade artist.

*** Remember, all the photos are clickable and will take you right to these delightful shops.

Thanks for stopping by.

WOW Wednesday/ Thursday.

Wow! I'm a day late... I guess WOW Wednesday became WOW Thursday for this week only.

I blame it on my inability to make a holiday header for my ArtistiKat and ArtFire shops that I'm satisfied with. I keep tweaking and tweaking but just haven't gotten "it" yet.

Speaking of holidays, the Christmas holidays are almost upon us. I know I'm not prepared; how about you?
Thought it might be helpful for the next few Wednesdays to focus on some gift ideas.

Its a safe bet that buying handmade will WOW that special someone on your list since it was made with care and attention and you certainly won't see it in bulk at the department stores.

So, here we go:

Silver Pearl definitely gets WOW points for her unique design. I have been drooling over these ever since she listed them. So clever, and definitely unique. She's got them in other gemstones as well.

For the owl lover, the most adorable little Santa Baby Owlet by WoolCrazy. Who could resist that sweet face? I love to scope out her shop, every little owl seems to have its own personality.

Just had to stop and look when I saw this tree by Gary "Wiz" Burns. Perfect for the tree lover, art lover, or anyone who likes a unique piece of craftsmanship.

Love this bowl by Makye77! So awesomely striking; it caught my eye in an instant. It's a safe bet that it will do the same for your giftie (is that a word?).

Hope you like this week's WOWs.
To snag these lovelies, just click on any of the photos to take you right to their shop.

Remember, if you see something that you think is a Wow, or would love to see your item here, just let me know.

Have fun!

WOW WEDNESDAY Returns!

Welcome to WOW WEDNESDAY number 2!

Dedicated to showcasing the many talented artists out across the world wide web.

Whether it’s funny, whimsical, or just strikingly awesome…when I run across something that makes me go WOW, you may see it here.

I've found some fantastically awesome and fun items today for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

Going to start of with this amazing Owl Sculpture by Jason Tennant.

For all you jewelry lovers out there.
Here is a marvelous piece of work by Metal Couture Jewelry.

Just couldn't resist showing you this unusual stone by Raven and Pearl.
Doesn't it look like there is a goldfish in this stone?

This hilarious elephant by Blow Hard Glass made me laugh out loud!
What a creative piece!

All the photos are clickable and will take you right to these incredibly talented artists' shops. Definitely stop by and look at all their other amazing creations.

If you see something that makes you go WOW and would like to see it mentioned, please feel free to contact me at my Etsy ArtistiKat shop (just leave me a convo) or my ArtKat shop on ArtFire (email me there).

WOW WEDNESDAY

Wow: 1. An exclamation of pleasure or surprise. 2. A sensational hit; a striking success.

Welcome to ArtistiKat’s first ever WOW list.

Dedicated to showcasing the many talented artists out across the world wide web.

Whether it’s funny, whimsical, or just strikingly awesome…when I run across something that makes me go WOW, you may see it here.

All the photos are clickable if you want to see more of these artists' fantastic work. Take a moment and check out their shops.

Definitely a sensational Pyrite Ring by Stacy of Formandfunktion.

The skill it takes to make something like this just amazes me.

Yummy edible Fall Leaves by Andie Specialty Sweets.

Imagine the incredible amount of work that goes into this.

Awesome mini vase by Kivaford.

I can't even begin to imagine the difficulty of making this unique work of art... and in fire no less.

Incredible Fantasy Dragon by Ellen of Creatures from El.

The detail is astounding!

*** If YOU see something that WOW’s you (or if you want to see one of your items here) send me a convo in my ArtistiKat shop on Etsy, or an email to my Artkat on ArtFire shop… or leave a comment on my blog.

Enjoy!

The WOW List

The WOW List is coming soon: A glorious list of fantastically creative goodies made by wonderful artists of all mediums.



I'll also be posting early information on ArtistiKat on Facebook and on Twitter; so stay tuned.

My Packaging Brings the Boys to the Yard...

My Packaging brings the boys to the yard...

;)

I'm fortunate to belong to a creative group of Aspiring Metal Smith Artists. Each month we have a blogroll that focuses on a specific theme.
This month's theme is about our packaging... more specifically, how we package up our goodies to send to our wonderful customers.

Here's mine.

Its fun to get a prettily wrapped package. Much of the excitement is receiving it and seeing what's inside.

My packaging serves more than one purpose.
First, if the gift is for yourself, it's nice to receive a little present specially made up for you.
Second, if the gift is for someone else, it's VERY nice to have all the packing and wrapping done for you. Saves time during the busy holiday season.

Often I will color coordinate the ribbon with whats inside. Helpful for people who order more than one item.

I always love to get a prettily wrapped package. Much of the fun is receiving it and seeing what's inside.

Take a peek at the other wonderful artists participating in this blogroll:

Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Claire English - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com/view/classic
Mary Anne Karren - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/
Lisa - http://glenshire-shop.blogspot.com/
Stacy - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com
Amy Estelle - http://www.amyestellemetalworks.blogspot.com/
Morgan MetalAdornments - http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2761961341137394116&postID=1892894981092726755
Jason - http://happytortoisedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog

Special for Today!

As you know, I've been trying to help Amanda reach her College Goal.

To help her on her way, I've decided to offer a special deal for today ONLY! (July 10, 2011).

Donate at least $25 to Amanda's College Goal today, and receive a pair of my Unraveling Earrings.

It's as simple as that. ;D

Just show me that you donated and send me a message along with your name and address (so I know where to send it to).

You can friend me on Facebook (KDavisArt) and send a message that way, or message me here on my blog.

Feel good by helping a student in need AND get a goodie too!

win-win!

Amanda's College Goal

Thought today I would let everyone know of a fantastic daughter who is really thinking in a creative way trying to help raise money for college.

She's a hard working, class-A over-achiever that has her heart set on, of all things, being a forensic anthropologist (even before Bones became popular).

She was thrilled when she was accepted into the University of Tennessee.
The only hitch now is paying for it... that's a BIG hitch.

In addition to working a part time job, and saving all her money toward her goal, there is still quite a bit needed. She set up a donation page at GoFundMe in an effort to help reach her goal.

Just click the photo to see her page.

If anyone out there would like to help a deserving, hard-working girl, I know it would be greatly appreciated.

If you can also share this with friends or family that would be such a boost! She has worked so hard and come so far, I would really love to see her reach her goal.

Etsy front page!

There's a first time for everything!

I was on Etsy's front page a few days ago! Granted, it was at 1:30 AM my time, but hey, the front page is the front page...

so thrilled.

;D



Enjoy! You may never see such a rare occurrence again.

LOL!

To Mannequin, or Not to Mannequin...

... That is the question...

Whether it be nobler to wait until I can purchase a real one or go ahead and see if I can make my own... hmmmm.

I've been wanting a mannequin neck/ torso to display my necklaces in my ArtistiKat and ArtKat shops. I've found a few on-line but they were well outside my price range, and also visited many of the department stores in my area to see if they had any broken ones they'd be willing to part with.
No luck.

Most of you know that I hate waiting, so I thought I'd jump in with both feet and see if I can make one.
I have no idea what I'm doing and precious little to work with, but they do say that necessity is the mother of invention... here goes.

First I started with a holiday tree stand that my sweet hubby made for me a couple of years ago to display my jewelry on at craft shows. I cut off the widest bottom branches, covered with a red t-shirt and filled it with newspaper.

Found an old container of plaster/ spakle for patching wall under the sink. added water to make it a runny batter consistency. Ripped paper towels into strips then dipped into the plaster and had a bit of fun.
Here's the rough with the top of the tree still showing. It kinda looks like a manic mummy.
;P

After a lot of sanding and patching, and sanding again, I finally have something that may work. As you can see from the 3/4 view, the back is still rough. I probably won't do much to that; just need the front for my photos.

I found a little white tank top at goodwill and am going to use it to hide the imperfections.

It may not be the most professional looking end result, but it was actually pretty fun to do.

* Expect to see her (it?... I haven't got a name yet) displaying my necklaces real soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Spring and Weddings

It's Spring and a young man's thoughts turn to ....
Well, probably not weddings. LOL

I HAVE seen a lot of wedding items and wedding preparations showing up lately. My little shops are no different.
;)

I've been working up a few new designs for my Spring/ Summer Wedding Collection.
Here are a few of my first plus a favorite that seems to be generally liked.

Elegant Pearl with pretty Silver Curl, perfect for a Bride.


Lovely Pastel Blue Amazonite, would be pretty for a bridesmaid or lovely on a Bride


Stunning Golden Heart also comes in other colors. Take a peek at my starfish for more shades or contact me if you have a particular color scheme in mind.

A favorite for weddings. The union of two Hearts.

Stay tuned for more of my new wedding line to come!

Look What Came in the Mail!

Something wonderful came in the mail yesterday...

I was the lucky winner of this gorgeous hat from the Wugs Backyard Blogspot giveaway!

It's even better in person than in the photos. The workmanship on this is incredible!

It's so soft and snuggly.I had to include one of Deb's photos that show the craftsmanship better than mine.

I'm amazed at the skill Deb has with crocheting. She is truly an artist. You should see some of her fantastic creations at her Wuglyees Etsy shop.

Perfect timing too... this morning was windy and chilly. I was all set to wear it today while walking the dog but couldn't find it. Looked everywhere!
Was frantically searching throughout the house, then I came across the note...

Turns out my darling daughter decided it would be the perfect thing to wear to school this morning.

I can see that if I want this lovely hat to myself, I'll need to hide it away.
LOL

Thanks Deb! You made my day!

No Joke April Fool's Day Special

Happy April Fool's Day everyone!

Woke up to a bright sun shiny day! Went outside and froze! brrr!!!!!
I guess that was natures idea of a little joke.
LOL

In honor of April Fool's Day, I'm running a free shipping (U.S. orders only) special in my Etsy ArtistiKat shop for TODAY (4/1/2011).

...no joke! ;DHere's a brand new item posted yesterday!
just click on the photo to see it in my shop.

Have a fun April Fools Day everyone!

Milestone Weekend

Happy Monday!

I'm feeling pretty good today.
This weekend was a great milestone in my Etsy shop!

I finally reached my magic number of 100 listings! Yup, you heard it right...
After all the work, whining, and postings, I've finally reached that magic number.

Here are the pieces that finally pushed me to my goal:

Beautiful Blue Starfish with Swarovski pearl.

Glistening Green Starfish with Swarovski Pearl.

Soft Silk Shade Starfish with Swarovski Pearl

LOL... do you sense a theme here?
I admit my mind has been strongly thinking of warm... no, HOT weather, surf and sun.

We had some glorious warm weather a week ago which I absolutely loved.
Alas, it's now in the upper 30s today and will be cold for the next few.

For now I guess all I can do is dream of warmer days...

Next goal... 150 listings.

Mood Music... My Dark Side

It’s time for the Aspiring Metalsmith Team’s monthly blog roll.
This month's topic is: What do you listen too while working at the bench?

I’ve always had something of a quandary when listening to music while I work. I don’t have a separate studio; it’s a little corner of our family room on an antique drafting table I’ve lovingly named Colossus. Most of my odds and ends fit(?) here quite nicely with the occasional spread to my desk, kitchen table, floor, etc.

That being said, I have to be somewhat considerate of the rest of the family when I’m working at the bench. Before I got an actual jewelers block I used to hammer on an old railroad tie. Believe me, the ring on that when you’re hammering is a real attention getter.

My long suffering family has been very tolerant over the last few years.

When I’m lucky enough to be alone, I almost always have Pink Floyd in the background. For the past 20 plus years my all time favorite and my TOP art-creating music is “Dark Side of the Moon”.

It’s perfect for mental creativity. I might vary it with a bit of Yes every once in a while, but find I can’t listen to Yes for long while I’m working. I start to get annoyed. I always come back to this.

An interesting thing about “Dark Side of the Moon” is that contrary to popular belief, there is no song of that name on the list/ album/ CD.

Here’s the playlist:

Speak to Me

Breathe

On The Run

Time

The Great Gig in the Sky

Money

Us and Them

Any Colour You Like

Brain Damage

Eclipse

You are welcome to stop by my ArtistiKat shop on Etsy or my ArtKat shop on Artfire to see what I make when I'm listening. Better yet, take a peek at the rest of the awesomely talented Aspiring Metalsmith’s Team and their creative music by following the links below.

Stacy - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
Clarity of Scrollwork Designs - http://www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com
Brandy - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com/
Happy Tortoise Designs - http://happytortoisedesigns.blogspot.com
Claire - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com/
Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com
Autumn - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
hemlockhollow - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com/
Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Resurrection Silver - http://www.resurrectionsilver.blogspot.com
RadianTrace - http://radiantrace.blogspot.com/
nancycreations - http://nancysjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog

Fabulous Fluorite

Was lucky enough to snag an assortment of fluorite points a few weeks ago and have been trying to figure out how to best incorporate them into jewelry.

I was not pleased with the standard top wrap and I wanted to make something that would show off all the wonderful rainbow colors.

This is what I've come up with so far.

This one shows mostly purples and lavenders.


Nice blend of all sorts of purples and blues.

Like the simple style of the arc. Its secure, plus I get to see all of the fluorite colorful goodness.
;D

I've got many points of various shapes and sizes (some may even work for earrings) so expect to see more of these in the near future in my ArtistiKat shop.

Stone Envy

While this isn't exactly a new addiction, I haven't actually done much in the way of collecting new and unusual stones; that is, until I joined the Aspiring Metalsmiths. I blame them for my newly acquired case of stone envy (been lusting after all the beauties that they keep posting) - such bad influences! LOL.

I foresee a bunch of new stones in my future, in the meantime here are a few little oddities that I've picked up here and there over the years.
Many of these aren't necessarily good for setting, but they are fun to have.

Probably my oddest looking stone. Found this in a river while hiking in the Midwest.


So fond of fluorite; and the little bit of amethyst sitting behind it.

Tourmaline cutie that I keep meaning to do something with

I'm sure everyone has one of these

Pink quartz(?) that I have keeping me company on my workbench.

jade ball (fun to hold)

glistening piece of tiger eye

Sweet stone from my secret santa this year (thanks Steph). the photo doesn't do it justice. It's a nice soft blend of the most beautiful colors. It's been teasing me lately to do something with it.

Now if you want to see some really exciting collections, check out these links below of the awesome Aspiring Metalsmiths.

Autumn Bradley - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
Clarity @ Scrollwork Designs - http://thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com/
Stacy Low - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com
Chrissi Lynn Designs - http://www.chrissilynn.blogspot.com
Sylvia Anderson - http://www.sylviaanderson.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog
Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
Steph Stargell - http://www.stephstargell.com
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/show-us-your-stones/#more-4
Claire - brightstar109.blogspot.com/