Locket

Leandra is hosting a giveaway. 
The winner of Leandra’s giveaway will receive a beautiful vintage blue rose and brass locket necklace, pictured to the right.  To be entered to win, visit Leandra’s shop and then come back HERE and leave a comment on this blog posting with your favorite item in her shop.  Please include your email so we can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post

Introduction
I am a proud wife and mother and an avid crafter.  My husband is a brilliant artist and always keeps me on my toes creatively and my children inspire me everyday.  I studied design in Europe and the US for several years.  Although serving my heavenly Father and my family comes first, design has a special place in my life.   It is something I've always done, something I still love.  My Etsy shop is jewelry and accessories, but I also embroider, embellish /screen print clothes and make items for my home. 

Beauty Love Faith

How did you get your start on Etsy? 
A friend and I were talking one day about the difficulty of finding the right styles unless we made things ourselves.  She asked me if I'd ever heard of Etsy.  I went home and looked it up.  It was love at first sight!  Within a few months I opened a shop and I just celebrated my two year anniversary in September 2010.

How did you choose your shop name?
I'm a bit of sci-fi nerd and the name of my shop is a tribute to my favorite show of all time Firefly.  Blue Sun comes from the show and I've met a few fans (Brown Coats) on Etsy who recognized the name.  I've always wanted to start an Etsy Brown Coats Team.

Dance of Light

What does a typical day look like for you? 
I wake up at 5:00AM and see my husband off to work.  Next I fill orders and answer e-mails until 6:30 or so.  Then I exercise and by the time I'm on my cool down my two little girls are awake, so we head down stairs to make breakfast.  I think this time of day is the most important.  This is the time to give our attention to the Lord and when we sit down at the table the first thing we do is a devotional and prayer time.  Then we have a nice breakfast and talk about dreams we had and what we are going to that day.  After breakfast, the girls go out to play while I tidy up the house.  They come in and we home-school until lunch.  Afternoons are the time I do all my creative work.  I have the best focus for putting new combinations together and the best lighting for photographing them.  It's a quiet moment in the busyness of the day.  When it's over, it's time for dinner, baths and bedtime stories.

Garden Broach

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I've traveled all over the US and Europe.  In this past year, we've lived in the Mid-west, the East Coast and the West Coast.   Where I am doesn't matter so much as with whom.  On any given day where ever my husband and daughters are, that is where I want to be.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to bless you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"  Jeremiah 29:11-13

Ring Set

What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?
Everyone is so busy these days, I love the idea of sets and getting the whole look.  I often include vintage and handmade sets in my treasuries and I've been very pleased with my ring and barrette sets.

URLs to where else we can find you on the internet.
http://www.ustrendy.com/store/blue-sun-emporium