Monday, January 27, 2014

Artists: Local and From Afar

This week, I'd like to focus on those artists who deserve a feature because of their creativity and customer service. 

I recently went for a facial at Vitoria Adamo Day Spa in Schenectady, NY. Rebecca was the professional who provided the facial. She was so friendly and accommodating! She knew when to converse and when to let me relax. She did a wonderful job and I left there "glowing"! It was one of the best facials I have ever had! You can learn more about Vitoria Adamo by going to their website www.vitoriaadamodayspa.com


Donna Marie sells her gorgeous jewelry on Sundays at the Farmer's Market in Proctors Theater, Schenectady, NY. Her designs are beautiful, they sparkle in the light, her prices are reasonable, and her display is gorgeous. Although I did not purchase anything from Donna Marie the day I met her she was very helpful and pleasant in answering all of my questions. This quote from her website describes her artistic philosophy: Anyone can go to a store and purchase a piece of jewelry. I take great care to make every item unique, incorporating many little touches that echo the original Vintage piece that inspired it.

Learn more about Donna Marie's selection by going to her website www.jewelrybydonnamarie.com.


Gayle from Craft Wishes in Wisconsin Rapids, WI is a new Etsy Shop owner. Gayle has a unique outlook on Valentine's cards. Rather than spoil the fun by telling you about it here I will let you visit her shop to view her clever and poignantly put card. Click on the link below to see the card.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177237728/humorous-valentine-no-sweet-and-mushy?ref=shop_home_active_1

To learn more about Gayle's craft visit her website: www.craftywishes.etsy.com.


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My birthstone and mother's necklaces and bracelets are quite popular. They would make the perfect Valentine's Day gift so why not drop a subtle hint to your significant other that you would like one? Don't delay! Valentine's Day is in 17 short days!

January's garnet birthstone would make the perfect Valentine's gift!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/173955406/18-birthstone-necklaces-made-with?


May, June, and October birth months are featured in this Mother's and Grandmother's sample.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/174133342/design-your-own-mothers-and-grandmothers?

Until next time...
Diane

Monday, January 20, 2014

Cellphone Etiquette

I'm going to use today's post to discuss a pet peeve of mine, cellphone etiquette. 

So, picture this:
It's Christmas Eve and my daughter and I have managed to find two seats together in our church and they happen to be right up front. Not our favorite place to sit but what are you going to do? We were happy to find seats. While we were able to see everything that was going on on the altar, and were privileged to watch a little girl set the baby Jesus in the manger, we were also bothered by the conduct of a teenage girl who was sitting nearby. 

This girl was sitting with her parents, siblings and niece. Prior to mass she was texting on her cellphone which was inappropriate enough, but did she have to begin videotaping the people in front of her while the mass was going on??? I ask you, why was this girl even in church that afternoon??? It was obvious that the solemnity of the occasion was totally lost on her. And...what was wrong with her parents, who were sitting right next to her, and didn't make sure she put her phone away for one hour to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child???

Backtrack a few months. I, again, walk into church and see a father and his son texting and playing games on their phones before mass starts. Isn't that time before mass for prayer, meditation, and reflection? What does playing on your cellphone have to do with prayer? Is it me or has society forgotten about appropriate phone usage

A couple of years ago, my husband and I are at one of our favorite restaurants and a family we know comes in. We exchanged pleasantries then they sat down at a table nearby. Throughout the entire meal the daughter was so busy texting on her phone that she did not exchange one word of conversation with her parents and brother! Rude, disrespectful? Again, I ask, why didn't the parents tell her to put it away? Was it easier to let her be rude than deal with her moodiness if they confronted her?

I do recognize that there are times when the phone rings while shopping, dining, driving, or doing any assortment of activities. It happens to me frequently. Sometimes I answer and ask to call the person back, sometimes I carry on a brief conversation, and sometimes I let it go to voicemail and call the person back later. NEVER do I answer that phone in church, at the doctor's office, or while checking out at a store. And, NEVER do I text while driving.

It is up to each of us to weigh whether it is an appropriate time to answer that phone or if it can wait. Will answering upset the people we are with, will it show disrespect, will it disrupt the situation we are in? Not every call needs to be answered immediately. In fact, now that telemarketers have gotten a hold of our cell phone numbers, many don't ever have to be answered at all. 

So, I'm hoping that my rant will bring enlightenment to those of us who use cellphones and get us thinking about being more aware of what is going around us and less focused on this mini-computer that seems to have taken over our lives.

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New item!

Flexible Reversible Lap Style Fleece Beading Mats

I like to string the beads onto the yarn I am working with in the evening while I am watching TV. I found that I kept spilling the beads onto my lap so when I got up from the sofa there were more beads on the sofa and floor than on the yarn. Then I started putting a fleece blanket on my lap which is very comfortable in the winter but not in the summer. So, what to do? I came up with this beading mat design that uses fleece so the beads stay on the mat; the sides are raised so that if I shift my position the beads do not roll off, and the black and white sides allow me to change sides so that I can see the color of the beads easily.


It is a very valuable tool for my business and has made production of my products so much easier!

10" X 12" reversible mat

12" X 20" reversible mat

Check it out! 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/174404420/reversible-flexible-lap-style-beading

Until next time...
Diane

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Susan Newberry Designs


Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business

My name is Susan Newberry and I have always been interested in art and design. I teach both interior design and fashion design at two local colleges and have recently stepped in to the world of graphic design. I started taking classes in graphic design at the school where I teach and found that I really had a knack for it. My business is Susan NewberryDesigns and I design vintage and contemporary art for kids and adults. I sell on both Etsy and Zibbet. 

How did you get your start?

I started by making handmade greeting cards and began selling them at work. One of my colleagues told me about Etsy and recommended that I start selling there. I started my store in March of 2012. Since then my store has evolved to include calendars and graphic prints. I love designing for children as well as adults. My projects range from vintage to contemporary designs. I love typography so you will find quite a few inspirational sayings among my items.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love all things design and find inspiration in all things. Color draws me. Art moves me. Typography excites me. My grandkids inspire me. Designing brings me much pleasure and the items I create come from my heart. You can see evidence of my love for interior design and fashion design in many of my projects.

What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

I’ve had a few exciting moments since I began. The first was when a furniture store in Canada asked me to design a calendar for their store. The second was when I was contacted by a Design Show on the BBC who wanted several of my prints to use on a house they were building for a client. I was honored that they chose my artwork. I am eagerly awaiting the show to air even though I may not be able to see it. I am hoping that it brings business my way! 

What challenges do you face selling online? 

I've had a few challenges since I began selling online. One of my biggest challenges has been getting my name out there. That takes time. But as long as I am doing what I love, I'm happy. My advice?

Find something something you love to do and then do it for the rest of your life.
(www.etsy.com/listing/159580819/typographic-wall-art-find-something-you?)

What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?

In addition to doing what you love, I would tell sellers to be patient. I opened my shop in March of 2012 but didn’t really see a lot of traffic until spring of 2013 and things have been moving upward ever since. I keep reminding myself that my Zibbet store will take some time. Good luck!

twocreativewomen.blogspot.com
www.susannewberrydesigns.etsy.com

www.zibbet.com/snewberrydesigns
Modern Wall Art - All You Need is LOVE is all you need - Typography - 8 x 10 or larger print - Valentine's Day - Wedding Gift - Beatles
Modern Wall Art





2014 Desk Calendar - Fashion Shoes - Pink - Fashionista - 13 Months - Holiday Gift - Jewel Case Calendar -  Pink - Fashion - Holiday Gift


2014 Desk Calendar




Room Decor - Wine Bottle Wine Glass Typography Duet - Kitchen  Wall Art - Two 8 x 10 or larger prints - Your choice of background
Room Decor


Congratulations to Susan on her success! May she enjoy many more...

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All beaded and team spirit ID badge lanyards are half price! Regularly $13.95 they are currently reduced to $7.00. Stop by www.cruisincreations.etsy.com to choose your colors and styled!


Sale! Turquoise Beaded ID Badge Lanyard with Hook, Regularly 13.95!


https://www.etsy.com/listing/129365304/sale-turquoise-beaded-id-badge-lanyard?

SALE! Orange and Black Team Spirit ID Badge Lanyard and Bracelet - Half Price!


https://www.etsy.com/listing/129032797/sale-orange-and-black-team-spirit-id?


I am in the process of scheduling craft shows for 2014. If any of you have had success with a show around Albany, NY would you please send me the information? dbabin731@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping...Diane

Monday, January 6, 2014

Hope you are keeping warm on this blustery and cold January day! Actually, upstate New York is enjoying a bit of a heat wave with temps in the 30s! The past few days the thermometer could barely manage to get above 0. And tomorrow will have wind chills of 20 below! Yikes!!!

Featured Shops


This week's blog highlights three very talented ladies who belong to the Women In Business Team on Etsy.com. Please visit their shops and let them know how much you enjoy their work!


Amanda Vita of MJ Sparks Boutique has such an eclectic collection of jewelry, envelope books, journals, purses, and even dog jewelry! It is obvious that she truly enjoys creating each beautiful item. Check out her creative designs in her shop www.mjsparksboutique.etsy.com. She is a very busy lady because when she's not creating she is running her beading supply shop www.theatticexchange.etsy.com.


Jennifer Eldred-Haines of LivyLynn repurposes bottle caps and Scrabble tiles into pendants that will certainly make a statement! She is a stay-at-home mom with a toddler so you can imagine the challenges she faces on a daily basis as she tries to run her Etsy shop. She is an inspiration! www.livylynn.etsy.com!


Stellar Seal Jewelry has such clean lines that I am not surprised that such a new company is already selling! She has a deep interest in geology and with a background in welding it is easy to see how this line of jewelry would be a natural progression. Check out her shop www.stellarsealjewelry.etsy.com. She is another very busy Etsy shop owner as she also has a photography shop, www.drakeexplorations.etsy.com.

New at Cruisin' Creations!


Cruisin' Creations was recently featured in a blog - http://twocreativewomen.blogspot.com/
Thank you to Susan Newberry for the feature!

Recently listed is a Design Your Own Mother's and Grandmother's Necklaces and Bracelets! Each piece is loomed with soft white nylon yarn. Swarovski crystals in birthstone colors are spaced throughout giving each piece a one of a kind look. List the birth months desired when ordering these pieces and I will create a necklace and bracelet especially for you! You can view them at 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/174133342/design-your-own-mothers-and-grandmothers?




Thanks for visiting!

Diane





Wednesday, January 1, 2014

I'm Not Sorry To See 2013 End!

What a year 2013 has been! To say it was full of highs and lows would be an understatement! While we were extremely blessed during 2013 we endured an awful lot of heartache with the loss of love ones, job changes, and added responsibilities. Good bye 2013!!! I am not sorry to see you end!


Welcome 2014!


As each new year begins I am always full of so much hope and wonder! I resolve to do so many things and sometimes am successful. Successful or not, the feeling of hope is such a boost to my aging soul.
One of my resolutions for 2014 is to bring enjoyment to more people through my Cruisin' Creations designs.


New Design


I had so much fun making our most recent design! Each filled me with so much aw and delight as the crystals I was working with sparkled in the light with each stitch that I took. We recently announced this new design, birthstone necklaces, in our January email. 

These necklaces are knitted out of soft white nylon yarn. Swarovski crystal beads are strung onto the yarn before the necklaces are created on a loom. They are stunning and so unique and are sure to make a statement as you wear them.


Each necklace measures 1" X 18". It closes with a silver-toned alligator clasp and has a 4" extension chain providing you with flexibility as the necklace can be extended to a maximum length of 22". 

The garnet colored crystals in this January necklace are so rich in color and sparkle beautifully when they catch the light. And not only are they perfect for that special someone with a January birthday, but, brides, imagine your bridesmaids wearing this stunning necklace with a gorgeous red bridesmaid dress! The white and red combination would be breath taking!






The 4" extension chain allows you to adjust the necklace to compliment any neckline you are wearing.









Just the right amount of crystals are added to this necklace to provide the perfect contrast with the white yarn!
Click on this link to view the colors for all of the birthstone necklaces and to place an order! 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/173955406/18-birthstone-necklaces-made-with?ref=shop_home_feat 


Not Receiving Our Monthly Updates?


If you would like to receive our monthly updates on new designs, special offers, and local events Cruisin' Creations will be participating in, please send your email address to us. We will be happy to add you to our list ~ dbabin731@gmail.com

Cruisin' Creations does not sell your email address. It is solely used for sending our monthly updates to you. We also do not load up your mailbox with email. We send an email once a month unless there is a special reason to send out an extra one. So sign up today so you don't miss out!


Happy New Year To All Of You! 

May You Enjoy A Healthy and Prosperous 2014!