My next Etsy Shop feature is on Haannh's Shop

She is a talented artist from Malaysia. She specializes in painting on silk. Her work is really beautiful. Check out her shop - there are some really nice pieces in there.

When was the very first time you painted on silk?Almost 3 years..Can't remember when..

Are there any particular elements you like to paint the most? (e.g. flowers, geometrical shapes...)I was inspired by natural environment and cultures...I love the combination of retro and abstract form.


How did you decide to join Etsy?When I found that there are so many nice and talented people to mix around in Etsy :)


What is your ultimate goal in silk painting?To create a beautiful living environment :)

New at this one.... Quilting

Decided to use Kai's old t-shirts to make a quilt. I am not particularly happy with colors, but it's my very first attempt at quilting. Kai seems to enjoy it and that's what counts for me.

Some melting ice along the way....enjoying my new camera :)

Lost River Cavern, PA

Yesterday we went to see the Lost River Cavern. The tour guide told us that nobody ever found where that river actually leads. It does not show anywhere on the surface, so they believe that it's going to under the ground lake somewhere. Kids really loved it. It wasn't big, but was still interesting.

They said it takes about a 100 years to grow a tiny little stalactite.

http://www.gpdesignsart.blogspot.com/

Another wonderful Etsy shop:

Designs by Gina

This month she is offering a free shipping at her shop so stop by to check it out.

Gina is very comfortable with her artistic calling, because she believes in her calling.

She says: "My mission is to glorify God by being exactly who He made me to be-- a creator/artist and placing special, one of a kind, meaningful gifts into the hands of people- that they will always treasure, forging a forever bond between giver and receiver! If you are looking for that kind of gift..."

Snowflake Designs

is my next shop feature from Etsy.com

She is a young designer of unique jewelry pieces. Every item is special and one-of-a-kind - just like snowflakes! Isn't that a beautiful thought! Each piece is made with thought and care, with emphasis on the overall effect rather than strictly adhering to one certain technique. She is a self-taught jewelry artist and uses glass beads, gemstones, pearls, wood, polymer clay, and even recycled paper in her designs.
Snoflake Designs is always improving and perfecting her technique. She is always open to suggestions for the better of her work flow and customer satisfaction.

SnoflakeDesigns was kind to share her inspirations and creative ideas with us, so here they are:

How long have you been creating jewelry?

I got my first introduction to jewelry making as a class project in the fourth grade. I was immediately hooked! Well, I'm almost 30 now and so obviously, my styles and techniques have changed a lot since then. I've shown my work at dozens of art shows and festivals and now on Etsy. My goals for the future include continuing to learn new techniques to improve my collection and eventually I hope to sell my jewelry in a few small boutiques.

Do you have any particular materials you like to work with?

I use a very mixed media approach to designing jewelry. I work with gemstones, pearls,glass, wood, and shell beads, polymer clay, wire, and even recycled paper. I feel that this approach gives me more flexibility to exercise my creative muscles. Some of my favorite gemstones are amazonite, amethyst, and citrine.

What is your most favorite item on Etsy ?
I am constantly amazed at how much talent exists in the Etsy community and I have so many favorites. But to name just one, I have to say these sarcastic little notes really cracked me up: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20107451 from Neat Things

What inspires you when you are creating new pieces?

I often find inspiration in nature. For instance, I recently created a necklace made of pearls and smokey quartz that was inspired by a snow covered branch of pussy willows. Also, sometimes the materials themselves really inspire me. A certain gemstone might just beg to be used in a particular color combination. Sometimes my ideas start with a sketch and then I build the jewelry from there. Other times, I just figure it out as I go!

Here is our second Etsy shop : CapriceCreations's

Big Welcome sign is featured on the front page of Caprice's shop on Etsy. She welcomes us into her lovely shop where everything is handcrafted by her personally. She specializes in hand-stamped stationery and home decor as well as hand painted items and embroidery. You will find a wide variety of items here so check her shop often!

PS. she is offering a free shipping only for the month of February, but don't tell her I told you.... shhhh it's a secret! :)

CapriceCreations is very passionate about her crafts and here is a little story from her on how she came up to be in business on Etsy:

As far back as I can remember, I have been creating something. As a child I was always making cards from construction paper. As I grew older, my grandmother taught me how to do many of the crafts that I enjoy today including embroidery, cross stitch, and oil painting. My mother taught me to sew and to pursue my dreams with all my heart.I am a wife, mother, teacher, artist, and volunteer firefighter. I am a strong supporter of Autism Awareness (my son has Asperger's syndrome) as well as MADD and the right to homeschool!My passion is creating! I love to paint, cross stitch, embroider, stamp, and scrapbook. My daughter is quickly following in her mother's footsteps! At the age of 4 she sold her first handmade soap. I was so proud of her!

I also had couple of questions for CapriceCreations and here are her answers:

What inspires you when you create your art pieces?

I get inspiration from everything! Books, magazines, nature, advertisements, even clothing

Do you tend to create in a particular color scheme? I love bright, bold colors, but I don't let that limit me. I can create some amazingly tranquil pieces as well.

How did you start your own business? I have always created stuff. But once I was grown, it was really my Mother-in-law that made me realize that I other people might be interested in what I create as well.

Do you have any favorite shops on Etsy that you'd like to list? Trendy Cards - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5927380Southern Sassy Pants - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=36371Hello Crafty - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5254986