Showing posts with label free give away. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free give away. Show all posts

Monday, October 22, 2012

My Beautiful Nieces



 
                 Kirsten, the photographer
Emily the model (photo by Kirsten)















These are my beautiful nieces, two of many in my family.  You can see they are beautiful women, but they have beautiful hearts too.  Both Kirsten and Emily worked hard to make these pictures to help me update my Etsy site.  Kirsten is a professional photographer and Emily works at EMILY'S List, she's not a model.  Although, maybe she should be.  You can find Kirsten on Facebook or via the link I provided.   

My Chunky yellow cereal box necklace (photo by Kirsten)

I have been working very hard this last week, getting ready for the Artisan's Fair in Croton, NY next weekend.  Here are some of the items I have crafted recently.  I will have all of them at the Artisan's Fair.

Chinese Tubular Bead Bracelet
Paper Bead and Ribbon Necklace
Alice in Wonderland Necklace


Alice in Wonderland Bracelet

Below is the information on the Croton Artisan Fair.   I'll be there with my sister Kaye and my daughter Tori.  We will have all of the new necklaces and bracelets I have shown you lately along with lots of paper beads for you to use in your crafts, wine charms, and a special Free Paper Bead Bracelet Kit Giveaway!   There will be activities for the kids and food!  I hope to see you all there.

PS:  Bring a copy of this blog for 20% off any item at the fair.

See you soon,
anne


Friday, June 8, 2012

Phelps Hospital Craft Fair Tomorrow

Chunky new necklace
Hi to all,

Just a quick reminder for those of you in the Hudson Valley, NY area--the Phelps Memorial Hospital Craft Fair is on for tomorrow!  The chunky new necklace will be one of the items I will be featuring.


Here are pictures of my new displays, the Beach Art Beads and I'll have tons of new earrings! Also all of the new Jane Eyre collection will be there.















Saturday, June 9, 2012


Rain or Shine!
10 am - 4 pm
at
The James House Mansion
on the grounds of
Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
701 No. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY
free admission free parking
Music PrizesRefreshments for Sale
Silent Auction James House Tours


My table space will be on the veranda, hope to see you all there.  I'll  have a bead kit giveaway for tomorrow




Still have lots of work to do, so this is short.  Talk to you soon.


anne




Sunday, May 13, 2012

Paper Bead Workshop

An eighth grade assistant at the Middle School Earth Day Fair

Hi everyone,
The local Middle School Earth Day Fair was held last week.  What fun!  There were many exhibits and displays and I am sure all of us learned a lot about recycling and reusing.

I set part of my table up with paper bead bracelets, earrings and book marks for sale.  The other part was set up for the paper bead workshop.  I also prepared some posters about the history of paper beads and some different ways of making them. As before. I offered a raffle for a Vintage Atlas Bracelet Kit.

The objective was not only to teach the middle schoolers how to make the beads, but also to see that something beautiful out of trash.  The school assigned me three eighth grade assistants to help me teach the other students how to make the beads.  They were fabulous.

  I had pre-cut cardboard and paper triangles for making the beads.  I brought lots of glue, tooth picks, brushes and other supplies for the kids.  Each one made about two beads, then let the glue dry for about ten minutes.  We used styrofoam egg cartons as drying racks.  We skipped the glazing step, their simply wasn't enough drying time.  The next step was to string the beads on a 12" piece of hemp.  We added a couple of large seed beads and then tied it on their wrists.  A very chic bracelet they were all proud of.

So what did I take away from all of this.  You really have to be super prepared for a workshop, especially with children.  Think about everything that can go wrong, it will.  Be sure to bring paper towels and baby wipes.  I would also recommend an adult helper. 


My sisters, niece and I  at Shipley's Choice 5K Walk/Run


So on to a totally different subject.  Here I am with my sisters and my niece getting ready to run or in my case walk my first 5K.  When you are running or even walking; 5k seems like a pretty long way!  I came in third....from the last!  We all had tons of fun, kudos for all of us for trying.  After the run, my mom had a beautiful brunch all ready for us.  A great Sunday!

Please check my etsy site; I am always adding new things.

Until next time,

anne

Monday, April 30, 2012

Croton Spring Arts Fair

Setting up my table for the Croton Spring Arts Fair yesterday
Hi everyone,

Here I am setting up the table for my second craft fair!  It was yesterday in a Croton-on-Hudson park.  What a beautiful setting and a beautiful day for a fair. One note to all of you who are are new (like me) to the craft fair circuit, be sure to have wind proof set-ups.  Displays and even tents went flying in yesterday's wind.

And just like they say, each time you set up your table or booth it does seem to get easier.  I think you are more organized and a lot more confident that it will all work out.   Of course the best part of the fair is meeting other crafters and several "etsyites" too.  I even reconnected with a jewelry maker from the fair I attended last weekend.

Another fun part was the giveaway contest I had.  I ran a drawing with a simple entry blank and picked one name to receive one of my bracelet kits.  It is a good talking point when people come to your table and just filling out the entry slip gives them a chance to spend some time with you and look at what you have. Not to mention, the contact list you build!

For this fair, I made a few more bracelet kits including one Tropical Pink Bracelet Kit, which I just listed on my Etsy site.  Also I crafted some black beads and combined them with beads made from the pages of my French grammar book from many years ago.  I think this bracelet has a completely different look made this way.  It is listed as Vintage French Language Book Bracelet.

Paper Bead Bracelet Kit-Tropical Pink
Vintage French Language Book Bracelet










These items and every thing on my Etsy site is available with FREE SHIPPING until Mother's Day.  So take advantage of the offer.

Later this week, I will be participating in an Earth Day Fair for the local school.  I will be leading a workshop for middle school students, teaching them how to make paper beads.  Sounds like fun, doesn't it!

Talk to you all soon,
anne

Sunday, March 18, 2012

annemadethis giveaway winner


Hi to all,

I am really sorry that it has taken me so long to get back to everyone.  When there is too much to do, it just becomes overwhelming and nothing gets done right (or at least the way I want it done!).  My mind just clouds over and I totally lose my focus and my creativity.   I am always afraid that I will forget something, something will "fall between the cracks".  Then I don't feel good about what I am doing or myself for that matter. But, now I think I am back.  Once I  focus, I can prioritize and weed through the mess.  So I can say that a lot of neat things will be coming up this spring and I'll let you know about them soon. But first I have to announce the giveaway winner.

 annemadethis giveaway winner





And the winner is...    Meg for her comments on February 27th about my collage art beads. 

Congratulations Meg!
Please contact me at annemadethis@gmail.com to confirm mailing instructions for your bracelet. Thank you everyone for participating.

Stay tuned for another annemadethis giveaway!

I"ll be talking to everyone soon,   Be sure to visit my Etsy shop.

 anne




Sunday, March 4, 2012



"Creating is my Happiness, sharing it with the world is a dream come true."

Square Fused Glass Art Piece

Hi to all,

Isn't this glass piece spectacular.  A friend of mine and a fellow Etsy artist made it.  Today I'd like to tell you a little about her and her art work.  Her name is Kelly and her shop is RedPony50Creations.  Kelly and I worked together in the corporate world for many years.  She was in Texas and I was in New York.  




When she was laid off from her corporate job, Kelly created every day to lessen the stress of job
 hunting. Her Etsy shop was born! But Kelly did not get there overnight, it all started fifteen years ago when she took her first stained glass class with a friend. As soon as the class was over, she began investing in glass and tools to set up her own home studio. Working on glass at the end of a busy day helped her decompress and relax.




Black & Gold Dichroic fused glass pendant
Another example of Kelly's work




When she took her first fused glass class, she knew she was hooked. Her studio out grew her garage, so she built a barn to work on glass. Recently Kelly relocated to Colorado and set up her studio in her basement. She says the "air in Colorado is so fresh and the skies are always blue...it's an inspirational space to create in!"


Glass Flower Stake Sun Catcher
What a fun piece!
I hope that you will visit Kelly's shop RedPony50Creations, just click on the link. Make the store one of your favorites.  Feel free to convo her for custom work or a specific color combinations.  She will also create wholesale orders.

Just a reminder
The drawing for the Recycled Paper Pendant is March 15th!  You can enter easily, just leave a comment.   That makes you eligible.  Read my post of February 9th for all of the details.

Check out my Etsy shop annemadethis  

Take a look at my button bracelets and my new tropical paper bracelets and thanks for reading my blog!
                              anne

Friday, February 24, 2012

Giving up control, once in a while!

My new guest room chair
Hi to all,

My new guest room chair has a long story attached to it.  I will just give you the highlights.  This chair was picked out by my daughter, Tori on a trip to Home Goods.  It's a great chair, isn't it? 

This chair is the beginning of a decorating and a personal adventure for me.  Tori is going to redecorate my guest room (her old room) completely.  My input will be very limited.  It will be her vision and  I will have to give up all artist control of the room.  This means getting rid of things that I have a 25- year attachment to.  (And it is probably about time for some of the stuff!)  Really difficult for a type-A personality like me.   But, change is good!  And I think the room will be beautiful.  All of my relatives will appreciate it, I am sure.  I will keep you posted as the redecoration progresses.

 Megan Brizzolara from California is one of my fellow Etsy artists.  She is a nurse by day and a crafter at night.  Megan purchased paper beads from my Etsy site annemadethis; she reworked the beads combining them with her own and crafted this great necklace.  You can visit her shop by clicking on Nutmeg5.  Since she has purchased more beads, I am looking forward to some new creations!

From Megan's Etsy shop Nutmeg5

Enter now for a chance to win a Recycled Paper Pendant
This is our second free giveaway at annemadethis!

This month annemadethis is giving away the recycled paper pendant was crafted step by step in my January 14th blog. Entering to win is easy. To enter just leave me a comment on my blog. Each comment equals one chance. If you leave a comment linking an item from my Etsy shop, that equals two chances. Enter as often as you wish. Every comment is a chance to win. The winner will be announced on March 15th here! Here's a picture of the pendant. I will put it on a rubber or faux suede black cord for you with a magnetic closure, you choose. It's a funky interesting piece you will love wearing!


anne

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day

Hi to all,

Hope you get tons of candy today!  During the last few days, I've been working on some new paper bead  bracelet designs.     I'll be listing them this week on my Esty site.  Soon I plan to do a tutorial on how to make this bracelet.  In the mean time, please let me know what you think.


Paper Beads from the Funnies!
Tropical Paper Beads












I've been wanting to put this recipe in my blog for a long time.  Although the recipe name sounds unappetizing, the results are delicious!  And you will always have homemade vegetable stock on hand.


Vegetable Broth (Garbage Broth)

This is a great use of vegetable peelings and trimmings. When you fix potatoes for dinner, save the peelings. Do the same for carrots, squashes and sweet potatoes. Also save the trimming from celery, onions, garlic and just about any other vegetable you prepare. Put the peelings and trimming in a plastic bag and store in freezer. Once bag is full, get your big stock pot, fill it with water and the frozen vegetable scraps and peelings; bring water to a boil and then simmer for 1 1/2-2 hours. Add salt if necessary. Strain out all vegetables. Refrigerate.  You will have a fantastic vegetable broth that you can use as a base for soups and sauces. And it didn't cost anything!

Don't forget about the annemadethis recycled pendant giveaway!



anne 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Recycled Paper Pendant Giveaway

I wouldn't mind turning into a vermilion goldfish.
                                                                                           --Matisse
The Goldfish   1910

Hello to all,

I have been experimenting with a new bead design.  These beads were made from Sunday newspaper magazine supplements.  I varied the font of the pages to give some visual interest.  And adding the large seed beads gives it a splash of color.  The bracelet is strung on heavy elastic thread, so it just slips on.  I thought I might try making a bracelet from the comic strip pages and some colorful magazine front covers.  It's a fun bracelet to wear!  There is a picture below.  I appreciate your feedback, just leave me a comment.

Paper Bead Cuff

Enter now for a chance to win a Recycled Paper Pendant
This is our second free giveaway at annemadethis!

This month annemadethis is giving away the recycled paper pendant was crafted step by step in my January 14th blog.  Entering to win is easy.  To enter just leave me a comment on my blog.  Each comment equals one chance.  If you leave a comment linking an item from my Etsy shop, that equals two chances.  Enter as often as you wish.  Every comment is a chance to win.  The winner will be announced on March 15th here!  Here's a picture of the pendant.  I will put it on a rubber or faux suede black cord for you with a magnetic closure, you choose.  It's a funky interesting piece you will love wearing!

Collage Pendant
Looking forward to hearing from all of you!
anne

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Collage Art Paper Beads


I shut my eyes in order to see.
                                                      --Paul Gaugin


Tahitian Women on the Beach   1891

Hi everyone,

The other day I was sitting in my work area/studio and I was trying to think of an idea for decorating my paper beads.  What could I do to make them stand out from an ordinary paper bead?  On my work table, I left over materials from previous projects all scattered about.  What about a mixed media collage on the bead?  And then I started.

I began by layering tissue and glue on the finished paper bead, then small pieces of paper, plastic, ribbon, string, thread and glitter. I coated the whole thing with an ultra thick gloss. And my collage art bead was born!  Another way to use those scraps of paper and bits and pieces of string, yarn etc. left over from other projects. What do you think?




Be sure to check my blog again in a few days.  I will be announcing the Pendant Giveaway.  You will have chance to win a recycled pendant and a paper bead bracelet.  Two ways to win!

I love comments, so please give me your feedback.  And visit my Etsy shop.

anne

Thursday, January 26, 2012

And the winner is...

Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face or what's behind it?                                                
                                                       --Pablo Picasso


Dora Maar      Picasso 1937



annemadethis giveaway winner!

And the winner is...    Kim for her comments on December 29th about my circular pendant:


Congratulations Kim! Please contact me at annemadethis@gmail.com for
mailing instructions for your bracelet.  Thank you for participating.

Stay tuned for another annemadethis giveaway!



anne


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Perspective

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
                                                                               Henri Matisse

Every one looks at things differently.  So, what I see in the flowers can be different from what you see and that's OK.  Apply that idea to a chair.  A chair that seems reddish blue to me, may look bright red to you.  Matisse says he sees the chair the way it makes him feel. We are all coming from different places and see things from different perspectives.

The Racaille Chair   Henri Matisse 1946
Look how differently Van Gogh and Picasso "saw" a chair.

Nude in a Rocking Chair Picasso 1956
Paul Gauguin's Chair  Van Gogh  1888













If we all made allowances for how others "saw" things and respected them for it in our everyday life, not just in art and music; wouldn't this world be different? No religious wars necessary, no civil rights legislation necessary, Just peaceful coexistence with people who see things differently than we do.  WOW!

This week I have posted a couple of new bracelets on my Etsy site, they are pictured below.  You can see close up photos and read more about them at annemadethis .  The last one I made was snatched up in less than 24 hours from posting!

Black and Red Eiffel Tower Bracelet
Sunshine and Blue Skies Bracelet    










I hope you like the bracelets, I would welcome your feedback.


And just a reminder.  Don"t forget today is last day for the annemadethis free giveaway!  See my blog on 12/27/2011 or 1/17/2012.


anne

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

annemadethis Giveaway!!

"Color is my day long obsession, joy and torment"
                                                  --Claude Monet

Free annemadethis Giveaway

Enter now for your chance to win


Visit my Etsy shop and pick your favorite item .  Leave a comment on this blog post and tell me why you like the item.  This will automatically enter you for a free paper bead bracelet.  I will give away one of these annemadethis paper bead bracelets to one of you.  

Paper Bead Bracelet  Pastel
PASTEL PAPER BEAD BRACELET


Paper Bead Bracelet  Purple
PURPLE PAPER BEAD BRACELET

Every comment is a chance to win.  I will announce the winner on January 25th.  And in the meantime I will be looking forward to seeing what you have to say about my paper pendants on my previous post.

anne

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Recycled Paper Pendants


Everything begins with an idea
                              --E. Nightingale

Hi to all,

The other day someone asked me about making my recycled collage paper pendants.  You can get a look at them on my Etsy site; there are a few designs there and this link will take you to one of them.  Below is a picture of some of my recycled pendants.

Recycled Paper Pendants by annemadethis
So Pam, here is my "how-to" on making the pendants.  These are the supplies & tools you will need:

small piece of corrugated cardboard (at least 3"X 3")
2- eye pins not more than 1" (I prefer to use silver plated findings, they always look nice and shiny)*
1-1.5-2" head pin*
1-5mm-6mm jump ring*
1-bail*
a few small beads
magazine scraps
Tacky glue
Triple thick(R) gloss glaze
2 toothpicks
styrofoam egg carton
paper plate

Optional:  stamps, paint
Tools: scissors, jewelry pliers and wire cutters, 1/4" soft and 1/4" stiff brush, hot glue gun

These are some of the tools and supplies you will need.  This photo may help you locate them in your craft store.




1. Take corrugated cardboard and measure into 2- 1' X 1 1/2" rectangles.  (see below).  Cut the two small rectangles out.





2. Take one rectangle, line up the 2 eye pins in the center of the rectangle as shown below.


3. Now using a hot glue gun, set the two pins in position.


4. Using the hot glue gun again, glue the two rectangles together (like a sandwich), with the eye pins on the inside.  Make sure both eye pins stick out and the rectangles are lined up evenly. 



5. Now the fun part begins!  Cut your magazine scraps into strips about 1/4" and about 3 1/2" long.  Squeeze some tacky glue in a paper plate.  Using the tacky glue, glue one strip around the rectangle in one direction and then take another strip and wrap it around the other way.

6. Continue this process until you cover the entire piece of corrugated cardboard, all sides and front and back.


7. Now you can decorate your pendant with tiny snippets from magazines, newspapers, and scrap paper.  Cut out words, tiny pictures numbers or designs, really anything you want.  You can also use paint or stamping to enhance your design.  Remember to decorate both side.  Let glue dry.


                                                                                    

8. The next step is glazing the pendant.  Squeeze out a little Ultra-thick (R) on a paper plate . Hold the pendant by the eye pin or with a toothpick, use the stiff 1/4" brush to cover the pendant with the Ultra-Thick(R) glaze.   Cover completely and let it dry at least 30 minutes.  If the weather is very humid, the pendant may need to dry overnight.  Use toothpick and the egg carton to hold the pendant while it is drying.  You need to put two coats of the Ultra-Thick (R) glaze on the pendant.


9.  While pendant is drying, we are going to assemble the beads which hang below the pendant.  String beads on the head pin.  Use the remainder of the headpin to form a loop.  For more detailed instructions on how to make headpin loop, go to this link.  Then using a jump ring attach the headpin to the eye pin on the bottom of the pendant.  If you are not sure about these last directions, go to the links, that will help.

10.  Last step is to put on bail.  Attach bail to the top eye pin.  Now you can wear your pendant on a chain, a ribbon or a leather cord.  And here is your finished pendant.  Enjoy it!!



Try making the pendant, let me know how it goes--send me a picture of your creation.

Don't forget the free annemadethis giveaway.  Read my December 27th blog for entry directions.  Drawing will be on January 25th!

anne