Weekend Promo

2 Belles & a Bead is a member of the most fabulous group on Etsy - SATeam! Our team has a fabulous blog, and we're having a fabulous secret sale this weekend.

Check it out!

The Dreamer - A Front Pager!

I happened to catch Mama Belle's gorgeous copper heart earrings on the front page of Etsy a few minutes ago.

Go Belles... go Belles... go! Go! Go Belles!



*giggle* Sorry, we're like a couple little school girls sometimes.

*grin*

Front Pager

I was doing some Etsy shop work and logged out of one shop so I could sign into the other, and when the front page loaded, tadaaaa! Our little sterling silver bloom ring was -BAM- right there on the front page! This is a big deal, people! Our first time on the front page of Etsy.

Congrats to us! *grin*

Do you Etsy?

No?! Well, you should!

Etsy is awesome. I Etsy. All my friends Etsy. You should Etsy too.

If you do, would you like to visit my treasury?

Rockin' Robin

An Etsy treasury is where an Etsian shows a collection of some of their favorite items... usually going with a theme or color or both. The cool thing about treasuries is several times a day, one is picked to be shown on the front page. This brings lots of exposure to the artists who both make the treasuries and are featured in them.

2 Belles & a Bead is also currently featured in a treasury made by one of my good jewelry buddies, Laurel!

Sultry Sexy SILVER

At the time of this writing, both Rockin' Robin & Sultry Sexy SILVER are on page three for hotness. I'd love for one or both to make it to page one! They both expire tomorrow afternoon, so there's not much time left.

So how can you help? If you Etsy, I'd love for you to sign into your Etsy account (buyer or seller, it does not matter) and visit both treasuries. While being signed in, if you will click on each individual item featured it will help boost the treasuries further to the top. If you leave a comment on the bottom, that helps too. If you're not comfortable leaving a comment but still want to help, the clicks alone would be great!

No pressure, no pressure. ;oP

But at the very least, you really should Etsy.

Hey! That's Handmade! - "ellembee"

Hello, people! It's about time for another handmade feature, don't you think? So today, I'll be introducing you to Lisa of "ellembee" on Etsy.

I know most of you readers are women, and what woman doesn't like new clothing?! Yes! You read right! I've found some fabulous handmade clothing to feature. Aren't you excited? I'm excited to show you, but first, let's get to know Lisa and ellembee a little better.

*How long have you been screen printing and working with clothing, and how did you become interested in it?

"I just started screen printing about 5 months ago. I was a bedding designer in California for the past 4 years, until I got laid off in January. I moved back to Michigan, where I grew up, and had to find a way to make some money! I had taken a screen printing class in college, so I knew the basics. I looked at some how-to videos on Youtube, and read a few books on the subject, and just sort of fumbled my way through figuring out how to do it!"

"Floral Tank in Robin's Egg Blue"

*From where do you draw your inspiration?

"I get inspiration from the weirdest places! Usually, I'll glance at something and think it's something else. That sounds weird. lol. For example: the other day I was driving and I saw this billboard that had a huge key drawn on it. But the drawing was pretty bad, and I couldn't tell right away what it was, and it sort of looked like a city skyline to me. A few seconds later I realized that it was a key, but I thought that a skyline would look really cool printed on a shirt, and now that will be one of my designs coming out on a hoodie for my fall line."

"Twigs Long Sleeve Hoodie in Gray"

*What is your personal favorite of your collection and why?

"I have a love/hate relationship with lacy indigo. The design that I originally thought of for that shirt looks totally different. I sort of happened upon the way it ended up looking, and I think it turned out great. That shirt is my best seller, and I think it's the most original in my line, but because of the bleaching process that I do, and the intricacy of the design, I mess up a lot of them that can't be sent out, (that's the part I hate!)"

"Lacy Indigo V-Neck Short Sleeved Shirt"

*Things are tough these days, especially for many of us "starving artists". What do you do to stay positive in such a difficult field?

"I LOVE working for myself! I love the fact that how much money I make is completely up to me; I take full responsibility for my income. With amazing places like etsy.com and the local craft fairs that I do, the sky is the limit. I find myself working 14-hour days, 6 and 7 days a week, and it doesn't even faze me, because I love what I'm doing! I love my job!"

"Diney the Dinosaur Onesie"

*Lastly, is there anything else you want my readers to know?

"Just that I think they'd be really happy with any of the items in my line! When I got started, I really wanted to be able to affect the way someone feels with my clothing. I love going into a dressing room at a store and trying on an outfit that looks so cute on you, and makes you feel so good, that you have to jump up and down! (Am I the only one that does that?!) Anyway, that's how I came up with my slogan ellembee- hand printed clothes that'll make you jump up and down! I love that I get to help people feel good about themselves!"

I'd jump up and down to own anything from Lisa's Etsy shop, ellembee! Make sure you stop by and check out her full line of fabulous clothing. I know you'll want to add a piece or two to your wish list!

Thanks so much, Lisa, for letting me share your work with my friends. Best of luck to you!

Hey! That's Handmade! - "barkingbirdart"

Hi bloggy buds! Today I'm featuring a really special artist. Rebecca of "barking bird art" on Etsy!

Rebecca has some fantastic illustrations in her store. I found her by clicking on an advertisement and fell in love, so I asked her for a little interview. I hope you enjoy reading about this great little shop!

*How long have you been doing illustrations, and how did you get into it?

"I opened my Etsy shop last November and sold my first pieces a few weeks later. Prior to that, I'd never shown my work publicly, so it was quite a thrill to suddenly share my illustrations with people around the world! As far as my credentials go, I majored in Art History and took many studio art classes in college, and I've been a doodler and painter most of my life. I'm still new to the business side of illustration and really excited by the possibilities."

"Star Gazing Turtle"

*What inspires you in your art?

"My work is inspired by classic children's book illustrators, contemporary Pop Surrealist artists, and the natural world--especially the animal kingdom--which never ceases to amaze and delight me!"

"Turtle Steeping Tea"

*Your colors are soft and lovely and your pieces are so adorable... your "voice" definitely speaks through each one. What led you to that particular voice?
*What do you hope to give the world by sharing your talent with it?

"You might be surprised to learn that I'm a bit of a cynic and a pessimist by nature, but I like to think that my better side shows through in my work. I figure that there's enough ugliness, angst, and sorrow in the world already, so I choose to celebrate the sweetness instead. In response to what I hope to give the world through my art, I'm afraid that I don't really have any lofty intentions. When I'm going about my day and I see something cute, it gives me a momentary little burst of happiness. I'd love to think that my illustrations occasionally have that effect on people."

"Elephants in Love"

*What is your personal favorite of your collection and why?

"That's really hard to say. I'm completely crazy about elephants, so I'd probably pick "Elephants in Love" as my current favorite. I try to strike a balance between enjoying what I've created and acknowledging that there's lots of room for growth and improvement."

"Giraffe Wearing a Bow Tie"

*Things are tough these days, especially for many of us "starving artists". What do you do to stay positive in such a difficult field?

"I am lucky to have a really sweet and supportive husband. Seriously, my work would not be possible without him. Not only does he pay the bills (thanks, Sweetie!) but he offers lots of encouragement during the slow spells. Also, I try to remember that although times are certainly tough financially, we are living in something of a golden age for indie artists, musicians, and crafters. The internet has given us so much power and control over our careers. It's truly amazing! Ten years ago I wouldn't have imagined that I'd be selling my art to customers as far away as Australia. It's a real honor and something that I'm grateful for every day!"

I urge you all to check out Rebecca's Etsy shop, barking bird art, to see the rest of her fabulous work. I promise you'll love it! Or at least, I promise I do. *grin*

Thanks so much, Rebecca, for letting me share your work with my friends. Best of luck to you!

Guest Blogger - Ana of The Pretty Peacock

Happy Monday!

Ana of The Pretty Peacock has written a guest post to share her practical advice on having an Etsy obsession. I know I can identify with that. Can you? *grin*

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Is this a healthy obsession? You can make it so.

By: Ana Talukder Simpson
theprettypeacock.etsy.com

How shamelessly obsessed are you with your Etsy life? I am pretty new to Etsy. I really knew very little about it coming into it. I was never even a buyer (I know, booooo on me, but I have bought a load of stuff since then!). In April of this year, I decided to list a few of my creative endeavors and, lo-and-behold, people liked them. My first listing was just over two months ago and I am now shamelessly obsessed with my Etsy life. I know you have all been there and still live here.

I am a stay at home parent with two small children (5 and 2) and I consider the work I do for my shop on Etsy as my ‘work’: My real-life, tangible, get-paid-for-it-in-real-money, work. My children are my joy and butterflies and all those other happy, lovely images one gives when they talk about being a mother. All true –most days.

Being an obsessive Etsy shop owner takes its toll on our little ones, loved ones, friends, relationships, etc. I make no apologies for wanting my shop to succeed or being in love with my work, but I do not want it to negatively affect my life, because, then, what would be the point? So, I invested in an inexpensive little timer with a loud buzzer to keep my obsession in check , and what it ended up doing was help me manage my time and invest it where it needed to go – so EVERYONE is happy! Don’t get me wrong, there totally needs to be more hours in the day, but at least now, I have more definite direction of where my time is going.

I typically set up my email/convo time for fifteen minute segments a few times a day. I make sure that after every thirty minutes of Etsy work, I take a break and hang out with the kids – even if that means just getting out the Play-doh or having ‘tickle-monster-time’. For those more involved projects, I wait until my littlest is napping or they are both in bed for the night. Twenty minutes is devoted to setting up shipments for the next day, another thirty to plan new designs, etc. You get the idea. It is all pretty magical. Oh! And if you get real fancy – you can get a timer with multiple features like counting up, so you can hit “start” right as you begin a new piece so you know exactly how long it takes you to create it for pricing. Shamelessly working the double-duty. Gotta love that.

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Indeed, we do! What a fabulous idea. I definitely need to work on my organizational skills, including organizing my time. Thanks so much for sharing, Ana. We wish you all the luck in your business as well as your other non-Etsy life. *grin*

Be sure to visit Ana and obsess over her gorgeous Etsy shop, The Pretty Peacock. Ana creates beautiful jewelry. I especially admire her PMC work. Check it out!

Guest Blogger: Morgan

Hi, bloggy buds. I asked Morgan of LaVogue and morgansilk on Etsy to write a guest post about how her cute little buddy named Chippie entered her life. He's such a doll! I hope you enjoy reading about him as much as I did. *grin*

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I couldn't do anything, hadn't been able to walk, or paint, or do anything since November, and now it was February. It was even getting hard to push the buttons on the remote. I had had two surgeries on my knee, one aborted, and all kinds of misery that I didn't understand. Finally, the orthopedic surgeon took the dang thing out and put in an oversize titanium one, but by that time the real problem was my hands. They hurt. The hair follicles hurt. My orthopedic surgeon thought I was an hysteric and my friends couldn't stand to be around me. My husband had to put food out for me when he left for work in the mornings because I couldn't pick up a pitcher or open a jar. I lost 25 pounds because I couldn't feed myself and didn't want to admit it.

I woke up in the hospital after the knee replacement and a new doctor was in my room. He took my hand, felt it gently, and asked me a few questions, then turned to the surgeon I deeply hated, and said, "She has rheumatoid arthritis". I was too messed up to pay any attention, but I did promise to make an appointment with that new doctor, and by February the medications were finally kicking in and I was beginning to feel more human. That month, my husband came in from working in the yard with a tiny little pink wormy thing the size of my (enlarged) thumb and told me he had found it under a leaf. What was it? We were familiar with baby squirrels, and this little thing was too small, so we decided that it was either a mouse or a chipmunk. He put it in a cardboard box lined with an old towel, filled an empty mayonnaise jar with hot water and wrapped that in a towel, and I emailed my veterinarian niece for advice. This little chipmunk was my constant companion until September when I was finally able to go back to work teaching high school. We bonded, and he has never tolerated anyone or anything else but me.

Laura told us to get some puppy formula at the local vet, and he grew and grew until he was a sweet little striped chippie. I would sit in the living room, doing my range-of-motion pedaling, and hold him in my lap. His tiny little eyes were closed and his ears were flat against his head, until one Friday night when one eye opened with a pop, then the other eye, then both ears perked up and he was off and running like a shot! Sometimes he's friendly, sometimes he's combative, and sometimes he couldn't care less. He wants to be left alone most of the winter, and has been known to attack people he does not like and remember them the next time. He would rather have chocolate than nuts or seeds, but it is dangerous food for little guys like him. He took off with a piece of oreo cookie one day and it took the two of us the better part of an hour to get it back. He chewed holes in my clothes, my purse, and hid seeds and nuts in our shoes. He even escaped the house for a whole day; just as I was trying to convince myself he would be okay he appeared in the driveway, looking around cluelessly. He would NOT be alright! I ran out there and he practically jumped into my arms. Squirrels will devour little chipmunks, hawks swoop on the them, cats will torment them; I have no idea how long they can live without predators, but he is more than six years old now.

What will I do when he is gone? I can never have a little friend like this again; you cannot capture a chipmunk and if you did it would never love you. It has to smell you and hear you and feel you long before it can see you or know that you are not of the same species. I have read that wild animals can make attachments with only one person, and although I do not know if this is true in general, it has been so in our case.

Find more videos like this on We Love Etsy


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Awww, animals sure have a way of warming our hearts. We all hope Chippie gives you many more good times, Morgan! Be sure to stop by and visit Morgan at LaVogue and Morgan's Silk Scarves where you will find a wide variety of fabulous items from vintage housewares to hand-died silk scarves. You can also visit her on We Love Etsy.

Thanks for being a part of my little space in the world wide web, Morgan! *grin*

**Do you have something interesting or informative to share and would like to be a guest blogger here at The Song of My Soul? Shoot me an email and we'll chat!**

Hey! That's Handmade! - "CopperLeafStudios"

Hello, fellow handmade stuff lovers! It has been way too long since I have featured an artist on Song of My Soul. Waaaay too long. I fully intended to pick it up after a little holiday break, but life sort of got in the way and I let the ball drop. Well, here I am starting it again, hoping that I will be a little more faithful with it this time. *grin*

So today, I'm introducing a very awesome artist to you: Chris Zielski of Copper Leaf Studios. Bloggy buds, her work is fantastic. I thought I could do cool things with metal, but Chris truly has me beat. I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like her art before. It's gorgeous, y'all.

Ok, I'll shut up now and show you a little. *grin*

"pretty cherry flower metal artwork"

"sage palmera w/ copper metal artwork"

"watery teal palmera singlet"

Each of these three are made with 4" squares of metal. I personally think they're little bits of heaven.

Can you even believe how beautiful they are? So earthy. So vibrant. So organic. Stunning! And people, they're made from metal! You all know how much I love metal. I only wish I could turn it into something this gorgeous. Don't tell my husband, but as soon as I find the perfect spot in my home, I will own my own Copper Leaf Studio piece. Or 3. Or 5. *grin*

Chris has a nice variety of items to choose from and she also does custom work. To see more of her pieces, please visit her at CopperLeafStudios on Etsy. You can also see more of her lovelies featured in her Trunkt portfolio.

Thanks, Chris, for letting me share your work with my friends. Best of luck to you!

Hey! That's Handmade! - "Gallery32"

I have recently fallen in love with handmade items. Ok, so I guess it's not so recently that I've fallen in love with them as much as it's recently that I have started buying them more. I am not in love with the Wal-Marts of this world, nor am I in love with their cheap, mass produced items made in sweat shops from who knows where. Especially in light of the current problems that we have been having with mass produced items coming from overseas, I am even more conscious of what I buy and from whom and where it comes.

Being one of the "little guys" in the business world, I've really come to appreciate the work that goes into something you make with your hands. It often takes so much time there is no way you will be repaid what it is truly worth. Because of that, it's so important to love what you do in this kind of business!

In honor of others who share their love with the world by making things with their hands, I have decided to do a feature on my blog around once a week (give or take a few days - HOPEFULLY just a few days - you know me...) about handmade products that I have tried and loved or just found and hope to try and love. When I first came up with this idea, I immediately knew where to turn for ideas... my fellow Etsians! (For those of you new to the handmade community, an "Etsian" is a person who buys and/or sells on Etsy. If you have not yet checked out Etsy, I encourage you to. There are a lot of cool things there - all handmade, supplies, or vintage.)

So, today I am starting out with a cool shop I was just introduced to on Etsy called "Gallery32". Trina holds a BFA from the University of Kansas and takes some really great photos. She sells them along with greeting cards and other such things. She does some really cool special affects with the photos in photoshop (aaaaahh, a woman after my own heart!) and they are definitely worth taking a peek!

Trina says, "I have always been interested in phototography. My grandmother bought me my first camera, a Nikromat, at a garage sale when I was 9 years old. It was love at first sight.

Recently I started taking photos to include in my collage. However, I have enjoyed taking the photos so much I have not made many collages."

"Wispy" - Gallery32

Look at the colors in that.... soo nice. Earthy. Love it!

"I enjoy taking photos of objects and nature. I am also influenced by the beauty that I find here in Kansas. I like to capture images from a different perspective than we normally look at them . I spend a lot of time on the ground taking photos from below object to see it in a different way. I also use a macro lens to get close up to objects to capture texture and tactile features."

"Stacked Star Brites" - Gallery32

Again, I love the colors. I also love how each photo looks old but still somehow not. They're simple but yet complex... they speak to me! I bet you never imagined a photo of candy could speak to me, but it does. What does it say? "Eat me..." But I bet that a photograph wouldn't taste very good. So it also says, "BUY ME!"

Trina says, "I have a lot of different cameras that I like to use. My current favorite is my Polaroid EE100. I love the look and the instant gratification you get with this camera.

My favorite technique is Through the Viewfinder, TTV, photography. I ran across this technique on flickr. TTV involves using a digital camera, a twin relflex camera and a cardboard light tube. You put the light tube on the twin reflex, then use the digital cmaera to shoot through the viewfinder of the older camera. I also enjoy doing Polaroid transfers."

Christmas Cards - Gallery32

A very cool idea - turning your awesome and unique photographs into cards for the holiday season! And perfect timing too. If you are still in need of some Christmas cards, give these a looksee. They are too cute!

Thank you, Trina for allowing me to feature and interview you! Trina can also be found at her Gallery32 blog. Stop by her Etsy shop and take a look around and don't forget to visit her blog as well to say hello!

So this concludes the first installment of my new "Hey! That's Handmade!" special feature. I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to the next one. I have some neat shops to share with you. Everything from jewelry (*GASP* More jewelry?!) to clothing and from photography to bath & body products... you can find just about anything handmade if you know where to look. I plan to help show you and hopefully welcome you to the wonderful world of handmade!