Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Featured Artist and Giveaway



My featured artist this month is Bad Cat Jewelry from San Antonio, Texas. Bad Cat Jewelry offers stunning handmade jewelry using sterling silver, vintage beads, lampwork, Swarovski crystal, and textiles. You can find Bad Cat Jewelry on Etsy, Artfire, 1000Markets, twitter, http://www.badcatjewelry.com/ which links to her *new* blog: http://www.blog.badcatjewelry.com/, and Flickr. If Bad Cat Jewelry is typed into Google, she will turn up. Bad Cat is also in the process of increasing her stock to sell at a crafter's market in February.




I recently spoke with Bad Cat via email and asked her a few questions...


What inspired you to begin creating jewelry? I needed an outlet when my husband was deployed. I put all the blame on my sister-in-law who got me back into beading (I did a little in college). Then I found out that our friends' child had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and I couldn't help them since I was so far away. So I decided to set up a little tiny business online and donate 10% of the profits to Specially for Children in Austin, Texas.

Where did you start and how did you learn to make the products you are creating today? I am totally self taught. I took one class, but it was basically what I had already taught myself.What are your favorite products to make? Anything that has been in my mind's eye. I love seeing an idea come into fruition and working.

What inspires you? Color and symmetry. I love playing with colors. Symmetry is very important to me. You probably won't see me using chips or oddly shaped stones in my pieces. I just can't do it.
What was your biggest handmade oops? Ummm...really just messing up with some sterling. That always irks me. I'm too impatient at times and just jump into a project without a practice run on some cheap wire.

How do you spend time when you are NOT creating? I would love to say I am an incredibly organized person who runs a perfect household. Its just not true. In my spare time I am trying to coax my active preschool boy into clothing, finding matching socks, and making sure shoes are on the correct feet. I am also trying to fix whatever toy is broken, building train tracks (I should have an engineering degree), cleaning up from little "helping" hands (Pinesol gets crayon out of the carpet), and explaining why the cat doesn't want to be dragged around by his tail.
THE GIVEAWAY

I will be giving away of a pair of Bad Cats beautiful Pink Stacked Earrings, which are constructed using two fabulous, faceted pink stones on sterling silver headpins and attached to earwires. These earrings would make the perfect Valentine Gift for yourself or someone you love. To enter the giveaway simply go to Bad Cat's shop http://www.badcatjewelry.etsy.com/ and to http://www.smokeymountainscents.etsy.com/ then leave a comment on this blog (please don't forget to leave contact info or I will have to choose a different winner because I won't be able to reach you) to tell me what your favorite item is in each shop is. The contest begins January 21 and will end February 4. I will have one of my lovely kiddos choose the lucky winner. The Earrings will ship in time to give as a Valentine gift.

31 comments:

Jessi said...

I love badcat's jewelry. It is so simple, yet elegant. Absolutely goreous and I would love any piece of hers! Wonderful feature on such a talented Etsian.

El at Tantalizing Stitches said...

I love turquoise colored jewelry so I naturally fell for the Mint Chocolate Chip earrings here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18734682

And I just love soap, especially this Cinnamon Vanilla Shea Butter Soap here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17777248

You can reach me at http://tantalizingstitches.etsy.com or http://tantalizingstitches.artfire.com
thanks!

BadCat said...

thank you so much, smokeymountain for offering the chance to be featured. I really appreciate it.

Beth said...

Smokey, this looks so yummy! I'll have a hard time not eating it when I finally give in to getting one. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16325621

And I'm a big fan of Badcat and the photography she uses for her shop. I adore these earrings from her, the colors dance:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16794106

Beth (aka theyarnchick)

Momma J said...

Beautiful! I love Bad Cat's work!!

Marianne
www.crochetbymommaj.etsy.com
http://crochetbymommaj.blogspot.com/

Leah said...

Great feature! Her jewelry is lovely and she takes such beautiful pictures of it too!

demmi said...

the A Dry Red, Thank you...the Necklace and the Clove Glycerin Soap con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

Valley Primitives Gift Shoppe said...

Beautiful jewelry! Love the pink earrings :)
Kim

Gloria said...

From BadCat:
Smoke and Mirrors, the Necklace

From Smokey Mtn:
Peach Cobbler Cupcake Bath Bomb/Fizzy

gjw823@aol.com

Chloe said...

Here are my faves:

- Mint Chocolate Chip, the Bracelet
(from BadCat)

-Pralines and Cream Cracklin Wick Candle in 8 oz Mason Jar
(from Smokey Mountain)

springshoot5@aol.com

Celeste said...

What great things!!! Love...

* Say Anything, the necklace
* Lemon Verbena Luxurious Cocoa Butter Lotion

contact me at:
celeste@mail4me.com

Cindys Creative Crochet said...

Great blog feature! Bad Cat certainly has her own feel!

The Stewart Stuff said...

I love Lipstick Jungle Earrings in her shop and Cotton Candy Cupcake in yours! Both shops are amazing!!! Thanks for the intro!
-10oneworld on Etsy

Kathy said...

Wow..she has so many beautiful items, but the "Abacus" the bracelet is my favorite. It's so unique and just all around fun.

K. Jones
myametista@live.com

PS found your thread in the promotions in Etsy.

secret cake said...

What great finds in both of these shops! From badcat, I love item 19790480. From smokey mountain scents I love 18612484.

Thanks for the opportunity!

Unknown said...

From BadCat, I love the simple and vaguely aggressive asymmetry of the Gothic Clan Necklace. You know, for those nights when I'm feeling a little bit dangerous.

As for Smokey Mountain Scents, I have been seduced by the Tea Tree ,Rosemary ,Lavender with Oatmeal and Dead Sea Salt Foaming Facial Scrub. I can only imagine how wonderful this would feel to my winter-chapped skin.

boldnessbe(at)gmail(dot)com

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

I love the Glossy Asymmetry (Honey), the Bracelet from badcat.

My favorite from smokeymountainscents is SugarPlum Soy Candle in 8oz Mason Jar.

=) melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

CatrinkaS said...

Pretty, simple, pink. I like the featured earrings that led me here.

csabonis@gmail.com

Missy said...

I love Badcat's jewlery. My favorite piece would probably be the Elphaba bracelet.
What fun I had looking at Smokey Moountain Scents, I am a tart addict so I think my favorite item would be the different apple scented tarts.
thelandoffoo(at)msn(dot)com

Amy said...

I love BadCat's Denim earrings. They've been in my Favorites forever. I'm going to buy them one day if someone doesn't beat me to it.

And I love your Rosemary Teatree soap and your cranberry crackling wick candle both equally well. One smells delicious and one gives you a refreshing facial. :-)

Amy
mail@recycledjeansco.com

Audrey said...

This is my favorite in your shop:
Cinnamon Vanilla Foaming Whipped Cream Soap

And this is my favorite in badcat's shop: steampunk earrings!!

I will also post a link to here on my give away blog:
http://audreyscountrycraftsgiveaway.blogspot.com

BadCat said...

wow! You all have really nice comments on my jewelry. It is much appreciated and thank Smokey for featuring me.

My personal favorite from Smokey is her cinnamon vanilla whipped soap. I want to eat this stuff.

I've also tried her cracklin' wick candles and they ROCK! I think the scent I tried was Autumn Leaves.

paintingpam said...

BacCat, I love the names of your earrings. They fit the color of the gems.

Linda said...

Badcats jewelry is beautiful. I love having other people's jewelry and the pink earrings are beautiful.

Of course you know I love your soaps. I just wish you didn't have to show all that good candycorn with them. I am trying to loose weight. ;)

mompotter

Maddie and Mommy said...

Well I've always loved the merlot earrings in BadCat's shop and as for yours my all time favorite is still the gardenia sugar scrub (which I tested for you way back when)!
My contact info? Well you have my phone # if you need it my email is still 1maddieandme@gmail.com

Here's hoping I win...:o)

Anonymous said...

you could use these to do alot of fun games with your wife after going out on the town

Unknown said...

I have a hard time picking a favorite badcat item! I love the Vintage Dot bracelet - it is so unique, and it makes me think of Katherine Hepburn in her black-and-white glory days.
My favorite Smokey Mountain item is the Oatmeal Milk and Honey soap bar - luscious soaps with natural scents are one of the little luxuries that I allow myself.
What fun!

Unknown said...

Re. ruth's comment from 1/27/09 - that's me! I thought my email contact info would show up, but it didn't...here you go - froehlichr@gmail.com

Creative Focus Design Studio said...

My favorite Smoky Mountain Scents item is this apple soap... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18311745 and my favorite Bad Cat's Jewelry piece are these gorgeous earrings....http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16794106

You can reach me at Creativefocusds@aol.com

Veronica :)

Anonymous said...

You have a very nice (and yummy looking) blog.

ONE of my fave items from badcat is the Whiskey Sour Earrings http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14384532

Your shop is awesome! Hard to pick just one thing. But this sounds yummalicious - Cafe Latte Foaming Sugar Scrub http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19593652

Thanks!
Susan
www.yaffadreams.etsy.com

NewYorkMemos said...

My favorite items are Rockin RObin Necklace and Cupids Spell. =)

You have beautiful jewelry.

~Nyny
NewYorkTran@gmail.com
NewYorkMemos.blogspot.com