Learning is fun...

...that is if Megan of Etsy's FFTF&B has anything to do with it. Megan's shop, "From Fragments To Furniture & Beyond"  is a shop for kids of all ages. She specializes in fun educational toys with special needs kids in mind and creates fun ways to encourage speech, motor skills and sensory stimulation. She also makes things for kids in general and those who are a kid at heart.

We are especially pleased to show of her latest project, these colorful numbered dominoes, not only because Megan is a fellow Handmade In Vegas Team member but because she commissioned a custom domino mold from our Clay Shoppe to craft these little lovelies.

 Her entire store is an explosion of color and excitement and well worth checking out. 

An exciting custom order...

We may  have mentioned...on a number of occasions...that we enjoy taking custom orders in our shops, well this recent order ranks among our favorites. Our commission was the perfect combination of creative challenge and preferred subject matter...fairies! But since the photos and words of Ryngan, our inspired customer, tell the story so completely...

  "I am delighted to recommend The Clay Shoppe. I found them online through Etsy. I loved their unique range of products and contacted them regarding a customised order. I was very impressed by their willingness to accommodate my requests. 

I'd seen that they produced handmade moulds for creating fairy wings; however I was after a very particular mould shape and colour to use a part of a miniature set (depicting 'The Iron Fairies'). The mould is centre stage with a series of miniature miners engaged in smelting and casting fairy parts to assemble the magical 'Iron Fairies'. 

Having identified Carrie and Kathy's artistic flair, I commissioned The Clay Shoppe to produce the mould. I left it to their experience with the colour mixes and use of metallic pigments to produce four variations of an 'antique weathered cast iron look'. I asked for four to give them the artistic freedom to try out different ideas. 

When the moulds arrived in the UK (very quickly I might add) I was hard pressed to chose between them - they had really out done themselves! 

The mould fits seamlessly into the set and really brings the scene to life. I would recommend any collectors of 'Iron Fairies' to get in contact with Carrie and Kathy at the Clay Shoppe."   

Best regards,
Ryngan

For more information on Iron Fairies, check out their enchanting website at ironfairies.com

 You can also check out  Iron Fairies on these Facebook pages

Facebook Fan Page 1 or Facebook Fan Page 2   

Hand of Destiny...SOLD before it hit the shop!

Hand of Destiny, originally uploaded by ametistagirl.

New...coming to the shop this week!

And the winner is....

 Congratulations to "Robin" 

of Massachusetts! 

She's our May drawing WINNER

and the recipient of a Wild Things Wear
original artisan necklace entitled,
"Dancing Flowers"
a handmade PMC Silver art pendant with Citrine & Tiger's Eye.

Thank you, everyone who participated and thanks for all the lovely comments!sure to check back in June for another FAST FUN FREE Giveaway

                               

If I were a...

I saw this on another blog I follow and thought it was cool.  So here are my answers....

If I were a month, I'd be mysterious October.
If I were a day, I’d be Wednesday.
If I were a time of day, I'd be the witching hour.
If I were a font, I'd be Carlson Mt.
If I were a sea animal, I'd be a Dogfish shark. 
If I were a direction, I’d be North.
If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be a Victorian wardrobe.
If I were a liquid, I’d be Moscato.
If I were a gemstone, I'd be a Amethyst.
If I were a tree, I'd be an Ash.
If I were a tool, I’d be a Swiss Army Knife.
If I were a flower, I'd be a violet.
If I were an element of weather, I'd be a storm.
If I were a musical instrument, I'd be my voice.
If I were a color, I’d be deep violet.
if i were an emotion, I’d be full of them.
If I were a fruit, I'd be a chocolate dipped strawberry.
If I were a sound, I’d be the waves on the ocean.
If I were an element, I’d be water.
If I were a car,  I'd be an Audi R8 .
If I were a food, (see fruit).
If I were a place, I’d be the place between sleep and awake.
If I were material,  I'd be a silk sarong...and I'd look fabulous!
If i were a taste, I’d be sweet and salty.
If I were a scent, I’d be Nag Champa.
If I were a body part, I’d be where passion lies.
If I were a song,  I'd be "Crazy"...the Kidney Thieves remix.
If I were a bird, I'd be a Raven.
If I were a gift, I’d be the one that keeps on givin.
If I were a city,  Portland, OR.
If I were a door, I’d be ancient and locked.
If I were a pair of shoes, I wouldn't be on my feet...
If I were a poem, I'd be "A Messy Room" by Shel Silverstein  

Exciting giveaway - Enter to win...Last weekend...don't miss your chance!

We've extended the contest to give you this weekend to enter for your chance to win!.

We proudly present this beautifully unique piece of artisan jewelry from Wild Things Wear valued at $68.00.  This is her precious dancing flowers necklace. Hanging from beautiful rust colored leather, this fine silver pendant has been given a pewter patina for an antique look, yet a high polish finish. Citrine and tiger's eye gemstones dangle from the pendant. The leather is attached to a sterling silver chain, with the total length 18".  Citrine will give joy and love to the owner, and tiger's eye promotes balance and strength to get through difficult phases of life.

Laura of Wild Things Wear, started making fine silver and gemstone jewelry, and combined it with her passion for art, creating wearable art jewelry! Each piece is unique and organic, and she loves using recycled materials.  To see more of Laura's work visit...
http://wildthingswear.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Austin-TX/Wild-Things-Wear/121101257902591
http://twitter.com/wildthingswear
Here is an example of a beautiful Precious Metal Clay piece that Laura created using our Heart Locket mold.

To enter simply...

1. Tell us what you love about this piece and why. Leave your comments right here at the end if this post...it's that easy! You don't have to sign up for anything or even have a Blogger account, you can still leave comments by selecting the "Anonymous" button.


2. PLEASE be sure to leave your contact information, either your email address or Etsy shop if you have one, so we can reach you when you win! (If not, we will move on to the next person who DID leave their contact info.) The winner will be contacted on or after May 17, 2010. If after 24hrs if we haven't heard from that winner, we'll pick another winner.


3. We will draw the winner's name on Monday May 17, 2010 after 5pm/pst.


Laura ships worldwide so ALL are welcome to participate in this fabulous drawing! Good luck everyone!

Orange you glad we posted this?

Check out this orangesom Etsy treasury put together by ebogie  ...

 

Celebrating Autism Awareness Month...

We are very honored to have not one but TWO of our shops represented in this wonderful Etsy West Treasury...thanks Cheryl of Cheryl's Purple Cow    

Beautiful Gothic Items from Etsy's Dark Side Team...

Why we LOVE blog giveaways...

Oooo....look what I won!

I entered a drawing hosted by Artist Halloween Queens, not expecting to win...but I did.  When I got home the other day there was a package waiting for me.

My prize was neatly wrapped in these wonderful "Halloween" tissue paper with the artist's card and a sweet little note too.

As I excitedly worked my way through the layers of tissue..

there he was, my Dracula Bat Ornie!  He was more spectacular than I expected. The details that Karen of Hope in the Heart of Darkness put in to the making of this fabulous Halloween ornament is remarkable.  She didn't miss a single stitch or fiber, just check out the loop on the top hat and the beads on the feet. 

 

This little guy measures an impressive 9" tall with his wing span of 8.5" wide.  Dracula is made from felt, satin, ribbons, beads and crystals for the eyes and buttons.  I love the fact she put in so much details that you can hang him upside down or right side up.

I had been checking him out for awhile before discovering her wonderful touch of her very own artistic tag (underneath his cape...I just love it).

I just can't seem to say enough about this awesome prize and all the workmanship that went in to him.  But doesn't he have the greatest face...LOL!

 

Thanks to all the wonderful artists and Karen for such a wonderful drawing and prize.  Be sure to stop by the Artistic Halloween Queens blog for there are many talented artists there and Karen's blog to see more of her wonderful work at Hope in the Heart of Darkness. She is a sculptor and 3-D artist with many different mediums, just amazing work.

Now I can't wait for Halloween...I think I'll hang him up for inspiration!

Bright blessings