HAF Etsy Team Spotlight!! - K & K Crafts and Designs

K & K Crafts and Designs hails from Yokohama, Japan. Kazumi B. is the person behind the goods. She makes lovely frame purses. They are perfect for change and lipstick and whatnot. This one is so cute with the strawberries. It looks so sweet!. Kazumi has a blog where the crafts and drawings are discussed. She has also a Facebook Fan Page and a Twitter account.

In addition, K & K Crafts and Designs makes sock monkeys!  She has a set of sock monkeys, a bride and a groom. They are just adorable. I want one!

These have to be the cutest things I have seen in a long time. Not only does K&K Crafts and Designs do frame purses and sock monkeys, they do sock monkey frame purses! See the cute one on a keychain below.

As if all this wasn't enough, she also does chalk art on another Etsy shop.  It is called K&K Chalk Art Designs. She does chalk art for individuals as well as businesses. She does them for coffee shops and weddings. Check out a picture of her chalk art below.

Kazumi also has Socky's World where you can see what Socky the Sock Monkey is up to.

My Article on Photo Editing

I wrote an article on photo editing with Gimp 2.6. You can find it published on Rena Klingenberg's site Home Jewelry Business Success Tips


I think it's a great article and I hope you do too! Let me know what you think after you've read it.

HAF Member Spotlight iKnitQuiltSew!!

iKnitQuiltSew is from Cedar City, Utah. She was taught to knit and sew by her grandmother before there was even color TV! I think this is great. To be handed down a craft from grandmother to child is quite special. This long background in knitting and sewing enables her to create such beautiful items such as this.
These beautiful and colorful booties sell at her Etsy Store. Also in her store you will find beautiful knitted hats and soft little teddy bears.

                     Check out this orange knitted cap for $10. She has a great variety of knitted booties and caps in all sorts of colors.

She also makes teddy bears. I have no idea how you would even go about making one. They look so perfect, I'll have to ask her how she does it. I'm just too curious. My favorite is this white teddy bear seen below.

                       Just as I thought I had seen everything in her store, I find that she hand quilts these beautiful baby quilts. Here is one with rainbow fish. So bright and colorful.

She also has a blog.

On the blog she talks about other artists and offers insights into her life as well as offering tutorials on knitting a baby headband and sewing a barbie doll outfit. Check it out. This is one talented lady.







  iKnitQuiltSew Etsy Store

   iKnitQuiltSew Blog

New Chainmaille Jewelry for Dream Again Jewelry!!!

So, I have been playing with some new rings for my chainmaille line of jewelry. This is something very new for me. I had seen others make chainmaille and thought, "Oh, I could never do that!" So imagine my surprise and delight when I tried making chainmaille, and I CAN do that! I have been playing with some different weaves: Byzantine, European 4in1, Japanese Flower Maille, Cable Cross, and Spiral or Rope weaves.




All I can say is it has been so much fun. I really enjoy making chainmaille. It is the closest thing to weaving or knitting that I am going to get. I am not very handy with yarn. But I absolutely love making the chainmaille. I must admit, I had to keep a few pieces for myself. :) I am nearly feverish with my need to make more jewelry. Which is good news for all of you. Check out my Etsy Store. Over the next few days I will be adding new jewelry.

 I am afraid that soon I will need more rings! I'll have to go back to The Ringlord. 

They have great rings and great prices. 

Artist/Crafter spotlight Twiddletoes!

I am a member of HAF - (Handmade Artists' Forum). I am a part of a blog ring there and will be highlighting different artists each week. This week it is twiddletoes. She has an awesome website here.

She hand knits different types of luxury socks. She specializes in tabi socks. These socks have a separated toe so that you can wear them with flip flops. You can get rid of that annoying sock bunch up between the toes when wearing the flip flops. And  I am guilty of doing a little flip flop and sock wearing myself.

She also makes traditional socks out of some natural fibers, including alpaca, cashmere, and yak. They come in a variety of colors, and she also takes custom orders. just contact her here.

She also has a great blog. It is interesting, personable and funny.

From her website, in explaining the tabi socks she states, "Some of these features include:

• A ribbed cuff for elasticity and a comfortable fit for just about any ankle width.

• Grafted toes that eliminate rubbing and discomfort around the toes.

• Reinforced heel 'rise' to prevent rubbing and wear when wearing inside shoes and boots.
• Reinforcement between the toes to prevent flipflop thongs from wearing through and rubbing."

So check her out at her website. She also has an Etsy shop and a 1000markets shop.

New Chainmaille Rings

So I ordered rings from a new supplier, The Ringlord. You can find his website here. They sell rings made of all types of metal such as aluminum, copper, bronze, and sterling silver. They are very competitively priced and are based in Canada. I have to wait about a week to get the rings, but it is well worth the wait.

So, I am designing my new chainmaille line of jewelry using a variety of techniques including byzantine weave and Japanese flower maille. I am excited and I can't wait to upload some pictures when they are done and put them up for sale at my Etsy store.

I am just learning these weaves. Before I have only done the flat chainmaille, the European 4 in 1. Now I am venturing out. I was worried I wouldn't be any good at it, but I am doing well. Most importantly, I really enjoy it!

What inspires me to make my beautiful jewelry - a trip to the coast

I am planning a trip to the coast, and I am very excited about it. I find myself continually inspired by the ocean. I don't mean the paua shell necklaces on cord. I also don't mean the sunshiny beaches with bikini clad women and muscular men.

No, I am talking about the rough and wild northern coast of California. There is only a little sand and lots of ragged, rocky coastline. It is free, unencumbered. I want to create a line of jewelry that reminds me of the raw, stark beauty of that coast.

Perhaps I can make some jewelry that reminds me of a dark and stormy day at the beach. The kind where you are bundles up in a hoodie and rolled up jeans, with bare feet braving the iciness of the water. I want to make jewelry that is natural and raw.

So this means only one thing.... a bead and jewelry supply shopping trip is on the horizon. Which means good news for the customers of Dream Again Jewelry.