Craftily Ever After...

Folks, meet my holiday banner.

Holiday banner, meet my readers.

Talk amongst yourselves.

Snort.

I am trying learn more about making banners and websites and I'm really proud of this little guy. Plus who doesn't love a knee hugger elf? I mean...really.

I was feeling beat up this week. I mean beat up like a fading prize fighter in the ninth round beat up.

Yup. Then I woke up yesterday with a fire in my belly and I got to work. I bought a url, and I made a fresh banner for the site and we soft launched. My pals Mark Montano and Stefanie Girard are in on the fun too and we've got a couple other folks who should be joining the party in the very near future. But here's a little peek at what we've got going on...eventually the site will be filled with big juicy pictures of projects linked to each of our blogs that you can review when you need a little crafty inspiration so keep checking back!

Welcome to Crafternity (n.): Where truly charming crafts go to find their happily ever after.

We hope you like!

Don't forget to check out my holiday giftables! I have books at 17 dollars each with a signature and a piece of ephemera tucked inside AND the FABULOUS jewelry I've put in my Etsy Shoppe at sale prices to make room for new! I will never sell my jewelry at this kind of pricing again, this is a once in a lifetime shopportunity people, even if you just take the pieces apart you are getting amazing values on the materials! Check back because I'm adding some Secret Santa goody bags for the holidays packed to the gills with studio swag!

xoxo
Madge

Four Seasons of Beading and The Card Album

I have really got to stop making these sweeping and definitive statements on my blog, because as soon as I make up a new rule...I change it! So our previously scheduled Holiday Fun (mostly) Facts posts is being pre-empted by some news and a product review! Huzzah!

Yesterday I got my copy of Barb Switzer's new book for DRG called Four Seasons of Beading. I have two pieces on the front cover! Barb didn't even tell me! I was ticked pink when I opened the box.

Winter Whites Copyright Margot Potter 2009
Persephone Copyright Margot Potter 2009

The first piece is a refurbished vintage necklace to which I added a bunch of huge vintage faux pearls and vintage plastic drops. I was excited to get this one back to wear! The other is an autumnally inspired asymmetrical idea with mixed metals and a lovely Kazuri fair trade bead along with a stunning Green Girl Studios shibuichi toggle clasp that I've repurposed as a pendant. These are both simple and striking ideas which suit the vibe of this book. Some of the biggest names in the bead world are included here and their designs are absolutely lovely. If you're looking for some design inspiration, this just might be your book. It's divided by seasons with a color palette for each at the start of the chapter. The designs are all basic stringing and wire working concepts that you could easily make in a flash.

I also wanted to share a very cool product designed by my fellow Crafty Blogger Stefanie Girard of Sweater Surgery and Craftside fame. Stefanie came up with The Card Album which is an ingenious storage system for greeting cards. With my ever expanding vintage card collection taking over my studio, this is a perfect solution to store them and get them out of bins and up on shelves. Like most of the best ideas, this is one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Any crafter who collects cards needs this and you can customize it if you'd like to give it as a gift to a bride to be or a new mom. Love it!

When you visit Stefanie's blog...check out the AWESOME shrink plastic holiday necklace she created using techniques from my book Beyond the Bead! Wow!

I'm off to spin more straw into gold, but I'll be back tomorrow with the weekly link round up from the Crafty Bloggers Gang! Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

Cheers,
Madge