Showing posts with label artistikat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artistikat. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Long Time No Talk to

Is it just me or do the days just seem to speed by lately?
You get busy doing something, and the next time you look up months have gone by.

It's a beautiful day today with the fall colors showing in our little mountains here in Tennessee.  We're having an unseasonably warm day that just screams "come out and enjoy me before the cold weather settles in for good."

I'll try to snap a few photos for you all and put them in my next post.

Meanwhile, I have been doing something fun.  I tried my hand at melting sterling silver and trying my hand at salt casting and bean casting.

I had the hardest time trying to get the silver to melt in my little crucible and ended up carving a hole in my fire brick and using that instead.
Maybe the fire brick acted as more of an insulator and allowed the silver to heat up more uniformly.
It worked like a charm and I was able to get some fun shapes from the molten silver.

Here is a pic of the "keepers".  

I think my favorites are the castings in the salt (the front ones).  They seem to show a bit more detail and remind me of some underwater plants.

I found some of the prettiest little tourmaline crystals from RocksaMillion on Etsy that I've been dying to use.  I think that they will look amazing in these as a pendant.

I'll post some pics of the completed pendants when I get them finished and put them up in my Etsy ArtistiKat  shop... or maybe my K Davis Studios shop  (I'm trying to get that organized as well).

Thanks for stopping by and I promise I'll not wait as long to post the next time.
;)

Saturday, November 16, 2013

HandMade Call to Arms

Can't believe this year has gone by so fast.  It's November already!
Hope everyone has had a productive and happy year.
;)

I saw a wonderful mention on Etsy's blog this morning geared toward making the public aware of the wonderful handmade items still on Etsy (they'd received a lot of bad press lately with all the changes to their policies).

There's been a "call to arms" from many of the handmade sellers to let the public know that we're still alive and crafting.
I'm posting the following (as are many other homemade shops) to hopefully bring folks in who still support handmade.

Here goes:  



The Holidays are quickly approaching. Before you spend precious time and gas running from store to store and fighting the crowds only to find the same selection of gift ideas everywhere you go why not spend at least a few moments visiting Etsy.com.

Etsy is an online marketplace made up of over 850,000 independently owned and operated shops that create and sell their own handmade jewelry (like me: ArtistiKat), clothing (brand new t-shirt shop that is worthy of a peek:  WearItTees) , housewares, supplies, and personal care items as well as unusual Vintage and Antique items.

By shopping with one of these independently owned artist shops from the comfort of your home you will not only find unique gift ideas but you will be helping a small business person this season.

Definitely a win-win situation.

Hope to see you there.

Have a wonderful day.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Brides to Be

Spring and Summer are popular for weddings.
Traditionally, June has been the most popular choice; which is where the term "June Bride" came from. Lately, however, July and August have been catching up with June as the most desirable month to get married.

Summer months are well liked for a number of reasons: Great weather, larger numbers of outdoor venues available, and its often easier for guests to attend during common vacation times.

Whichever month you choose, you want your day to be special.
For Brides planning your perfect day, I've added a new Wedding Section to my shop.

Pearls are always a classic for weddings and I have a nice selection to choose from as in this lovely pair of pearl earrings...


or this elegant necklace...


Also, I've added something new this season; colorful crystal hearts in popular wedding colors.

If you're looking for something special for your bridesmaids, make it easy on yourself with this wedding necklace set. It can be personalized for your wedding colors.


Each handmade jewelry piece comes ready for giving with it's own gift box and ribbon.

Do you have a special color combination you'd like to match? Send me a message at my Etsy shop and we'll create something for your wedding day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

ArtistiKat Has Grown Up

Well, sort of.

My business and jewelry cards have a new "grown up" look.

I've retired my beloved "ArtistiKat" kitty. She's being replaced with a more stylized, simple design.

Over the next few months the ArtistiKat will be slowly changing over to a more grown up K Davis Studios name.

Here are some before and after pics of the old design verses the new.

Hope you like them.

The New K Davis Studios Design and logo.


The old ArtistiKat design.


My Etsy Shop and ArtFire Shop will look the same, but you will see a gradual transition to the K Davis Studios name in the future.

Hope you like the new logo.

Thanks for stopping by.


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

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!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

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.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

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!


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

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).

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

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!


Saturday, October 29, 2011

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.

Friday, June 3, 2011

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!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

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!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

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!

Friday, April 1, 2011

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!

Monday, March 28, 2011

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.

Monday, March 14, 2011

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.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Still going good

I've gotten a couple pairs of earrings AND a heart necklace up in my ArtistiKat Etsy shop this week so far!

Earring one...


and earring two...



Here's the Valentine Necklace.


I also have another pair of earrings waiting in the wings, but didn't get to those photos today.

Been waiting on an order of gemstones that will look awesome (I hope) made up as jewelry; but it hasn't arrived yet.


Have a great evening everyone!

Monday, January 3, 2011

On a roll...

So far, so good.
I've actually photographed AND listed the garnet pair I spoke of on the last post.

Hope this activity doesn't slow down and stop like my feeble attempts at weight loss. LOL.

Please click on the photo and give these garnet earrings some love.


These earrings were surprisingly challenging to photograph. The deep reds of the garnets and the VERY clear prasiolite (green amethyst) each look better with a different light and technique. When the garnets looked awesome, the prasiolite green amethyst became invisible. When I was able to get a nice shot of the clear stones, the garnets looked muddy.

Actually this is a very pretty sparkling pair of earrings.
I may see if I can come up with different photos this afternoon in my shop.

My picture taking abilities work with "the law of large numbers". I take about a hundred in the hopes that a couple look good.

Hope your Monday is happy and successful as we get over the holiday craziness.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Resolutions? ...maybe, Goals... Definitely!

Morning Everyone!

Resolutions? Maybe. Goals? Definitely!
My Etsy ArtistiKat shop and my ArtFire ArtKat shop are growing this year by leaps and bounds. Can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings.

With this in mind I've been making new items for the New Year and been trying to get organized. I've spent a great deal of time studying and planning how to improve my shops this year.

I DO have a long way to go, so I guess it's very lucky I love to do this. ;-)

You've seen my new header (hopefully). Yesterday I listed a new pair of earrings (below), and have a pretty garnet and prasiolite pair to photograph today. I hope I can keep this momentum going for the rest of the year. I would like to have at least 150 to 200 pieces in my shop(s).



I was lucky enough to snag the loveliest pair of petite aquamarine briolettes (drops) and wrapped them in sterling.
That clear pale blue is really speaking to me for some reason. I wish I had more of them.


Well, now that I have committed myself and posted my goals for this new year, what plans do you all have? I would love to know.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

New ArtistiKat Header

Thought with the New Year I would brighten things up a bit with a new header for my Etsy shop.

Here is the header before the change...


and here is the new one.

What do you think?