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.

Just wanted to share this heartfelt poem written by my beautiful 15 year old niece, Libby.

Now help me God
And listen well
This secret I'm about to tell
Is not the daily normal strife,
But about the truth of teenage life.
We teenagers think we know it all
We doubt that we will ever fall
But on our knees we find ourselves
On the paths of truth and heaven and hell.
Now the followers will take the path
Where Satan laughs his evil laugh
One more down he seems to say
As he goes looking for more prey.
Now the logical will take the path
Where there you stand as strong as staff
And bow our knees beneath your robe
And do exactly as we're told.
Now God my prayers just begun
We have the moon up until sun
I've got a lot my friend to say
In this bed of which I'll lay.
Now God we still have parents to
They tell us not and what to do
But we don't always listen right
We're all out getting drunk and high.
Cigarettes are a crime too
The ring of smoke that he just blew
I guess its just T.V these days
We've all become they're money slaves.
Now lets not forget those STD's
Where condoms failed to be the sleeve
Mommies and daddies at age of 12
Wow this world is going to hell.
So everyday we hear the news
Some drunk boy; hung up on booze
And tons of weed in the back of his car
Who knows who all he's sold it so far.
Now God come on are you kidding me?
Is this how life is supposed to be?
Now whoever knew it'd be so hard
For a teenager who's life's turned into shards?
So listen God and listen well
The secret that I had to tell
Is not about the normal strife
But the truth about a teenagers life.

A New Year and We've got New Products

Wow! Can you believe another year has passed? The older I get the faster they go by. Smokey Mountain Scents will be offering some new products this year. I thought I would give you a Sneak Peek at some things to come.


Margarita Dead Sea Salt Spa Bars will be available on February 1.

Salt Spa Bars are amazing. The produce a creamy lather while they gently exfoliate your skin to a smooth, polished sheen. These Salt Spa Bars have the added benefit of Dead Sea Salt.
Why are these types of salts beneficial?Because of all the wonderful minerals they contain.

* Magnesium is important for both combatting stress and fluid retention, slowing skin aging and calming the nervous system.
* Calcium is effective at preventing water retention, increasing circulation and strengthening bones and nails.
*Potassium energizes the body, helps to balance skin moisture and is a crucial mineral to replenish following intense exercise.
*Bromides act to ease muscle stiffness and relax muscles.
* Sodium is important for the lymphatic fluid balance.



You can see why I'm so excited about these wonderful soap bars!



I will also be introducing a new line of vegetable wax free standing Candles. I will have a variety of pillars and votives. These are in the testing phase and should be available in a few days.



Tulip Mottled Vegetable Wax Pillar







Stay tuned....I will be adding lots of new goodies this year!

We are expanding also. You will still be able to find Smokey Mountain Scents at our etsy shop http://www.smokeymountainscents.etsy.com/ and at our new studio at http://www.smokeymountainscents.artfire.com/ and also at our market in
http://www.smokeymountainscents.1000markets.com/ . Hope to see you there.

Youtube video Marketing

I have been procrastinating about making a video/slideshow for Youtube . I'm fairly computer illiterate and was worried that it would be too difficult for me to do. Well, last night after all day shopping with my daughter, I finally took the plunge. And lo and behold, it was NOT as horribly difficult as I thought it would be-actually it was pretty easy and fun. I used http:www.onetruemedia.com. I found Onetruemedia to be very user friendly, it is free to sign up and make a video or you can purchase a subscribtion and get more goodies. The most difficult part for me was deciding which photos I wanted to upload. My advice to those who are worried about doing a video for marketing is -take the plunge!!
Here is a link to my Youtube video if you would like to see it...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Oc2WvrM_I

Christmas Shopping with ETSY Part III

There is soooo many wonderful things on etsy for women that I had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few. Any woman would LOVE to get these as a Christmas Gift.

Bad Cat Jewelry's Say Anything, the Necklace is made with Sterling Silver and milky swirled lampwork beads is the perfect necklace for any occasion.

A Long Cardigan is one of my favorite articles of apparel and the Royal Rattlesnake Long Cardigan by Ahpeele is gorgeous!

Look at this beautiful All About Green Bracelet from Mom Potter. I love it.

Anyone would be proud to have Spice of Life's Chaste Tree stering silver, aquamarine and pearl dangle earring.
Keep her warm and in style with this Green With Envy Clonch from Ohio Crochet Lady. I would be green with envy of anyone wearing it.

She will be thrilled to open this stunning necklace and earring set in a beautiful mix of swarovski cream pearls, copper findings and a deep olivine swarovski pearl for BGK Designs



And she would be tickled pink find this Kelsey Reverible Tote from A Stone's Throw under the tree on Christmas Day!

Christmas Shopping with Etsy Part II

Look at these great Christmas gifts for Boys...

After watching my 18 year old nephew and my 10 year old son have a blast playing with a similar item I had to include this in my gift finds....

Pom-Pom/Marshmallow Pistol Style Shooter by boys toys would be great fun for boys of any age.

Got a sports lover in the family? Hockey Puck Soap from Daisy Cakes Soaps would make an awesome gift or stocking stuffer.

Little boy love to play with cars? ?The Merryville Playmat for Monsterbug Blankets is a the perfect mat to drive his cars around on- it has an airport, a school with playground, a pond, a motel, and more for hours of driving fun.

How about this t-shirt for your little Cars fan. Peanuts Boutique has the cutest Tow Mater embroidered T-shirt.

On those chilly days when your little man wants to play outside-keep his head warm with this adorable Keep on Truckin' Hat by Moose Threads.

Christmas Shopping with ETSY Part II