Showing posts with label beaded jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beaded jewelry. Show all posts

Cast Featured Artist Anita Martinez
posted by Colleen Conrad of Conrad Designs

Introducing Anita Martinez from Creations by Anna 

My name is Anita and I am a native of Texas. However I was raised in the cold state of Michigan where I now live with my daughter and two grandsons. I grew up with a family of crafters from sewing to cooking to decorating and creating beautiful embellishments. I recall as a little girl watching my mom and older sisters always creating some kind of craft and just could not wait until I was old enough to create my own crafts. About ten years ago I started to fiddle with beads and create simple jewelry pieces for family and friends. As the years went by I explored with more medias such as polymer clay, wire wrapping, chain malle, to now bead embroidery. This is where my love of the art is, bead embroidery.  It is like a form of art painting only you are painting with seed beads. It truly is a form of peace and restful time for me when I am designing my pieces. My favorite gemstone is turquoise and I have always been drawn to the Southwestern and Native American look.
Summer Harvest Necklace
How did I get started with Etsy?

Well I knew nothing about Etsy nor that it existed. I was through my friend Rachele who introduced and convinced me to open a shop with Etsy and I have loved it ever since.  Its work but I love it.




Sterling Silver Hyacinth Beaded Earings
How did I choose my shop name?

My Spanish name is Ana and my nickname is Anastasia. I decided to use the 1st three letters of Anastasia which in turn is Ana. I strongly feel that my creations are a God given gift, it just made since to combine creations with Ana, thus CreationsbyAna was chosen for my shop name.
Succor Creek Bead Woven Metal Cuff
What does a typical day look like for you?
Most days I try to start with a thankful heart to God for another day. With the coffee brewing and the computer booting up my day begins. 1st I check my Etsy shop for any overnight messages or convos. Then I check my e-mails anywhere from 15 to 30 e-mails and respond to them. Then I check in with FB make my comments. I try to check in with FB at least 3 to 5 times a day and try to work on bead embroidery about 3 to 4 hrs a day. Unless it is my photo day there is no time for beading. A photo day for me is taking photos about 7 of each item, editing them, and listing on to my shop and sharing with FB and my Etsy Bead Weavers Team. When I am working on my bead embroidery an idea or an inspiration will come to me and that is how many of my creations come to reality.
Ginger Spice Beaded Necklace
Where would if be if I could be anywhere in the world?
Oh my if this one counts it would a gorgeous sunny day sitting down with God and just talking about everything, but if this does not count then it would be Savannah Georgia.
Czech Button Bead Woven Broach
What is my favorite bible verse?
Jeremiah 29, 11 --- "For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
This verse has kept me from throwing in the towel and giving up. Many times we let our stresses and cares of this life take priority over God. Thus when we are going through a trial or an unwanted experience and everything just feels like a much heavy load on our backs. Just when we feel like we are going to give up God reminds us that he has a plan for us and it is a good plan.
Where can we find you on the Internet? 
My Etsy Shop, Creations by Anna http://www.etsy.com/shop/creationsbyana

Thanks to Anita for sharing her story and her art.  Please visit her shop and share some love!
. . .  and the winner of last week's giveaway is Becky K.  Congratulations.   I will contact you and Anita soon.
8:32 AM | Category: , , | 8 comments

Featured Artist: Mimi Jiries from BijiBijoux
by Cindy Knight of cksilver

Introducing: Mimi Jiries (aka BijiBijoux)

Introduction
My name is Mimi Jiries and my shop’s name is BijiBijoux. I am married and a mother for three children Sami is 24, Sandy 21 and Simon 15. My former job was as an accountant but I quit my job after a car accident. I was forced to stay home to do a lot of physical therapy and lots of doctors visit. I became a full-time stay at home mom. I love watching Christian TV and listen to all kind of Christian songs.

How did you get your start on Etsy?
My hobby is making beaded jewelry. I've been creating jewelry pieces for over a two years. I started out showing my work at local art shows and have been so encouraged by the response that I've decided to branch online. I love to work with high-quality glass beads and Swarovski crystals. I also use gemstones, freshwater pearls, and wood in my creations.

My son helped me to design a web site to sell my jewelry there but I didn’t make any profit from the web site. It needed lot of work and it didn’t get lot of traffic so I decided not to renew the website again. A cashier on the fabric store referred me to Etsy. So I opened an account with Etsy and started selling there.

How did I come up with my shop’s name
I was trying to find something people to remember and fun at the same time. Off course I tried so many names at the beginning and then I decided to name my shop BijiBijoux.

I picked first two letters of my last name which is Bi and added my husband’s two letters of his last name which is Ji and put them together Biji and the other word is Bijoux means jewelry in French so I came up with the name of my shop which is BijiBijoux.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I get up at 7am and get the breakfast ready for my husband and children. After I finish drinking my coffee and everybody leaves, I sit, read my bible, and pray for the family. I check my email (and of course check out my Etsy), clean, cook, shop and walk the dog.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I would want to visit the Holy Land and Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
I really love the whole book and can’t say I have a favorite. There are so many verses that are my favorite but this one is the best:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

URLs to where else we can find you on the internet:
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BijiBijoux
Blog: http://www.bijibijoux.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bijibijoux#!/pages/Bensenville-IL/Biji-Bijoux/114091478612734

Please take a moment and visit Mimi's shop, and give her some love!


And the winner of last week's giveaway from Jana's shop by way of random.org is... Drumroll please... Stephanie! Congratulations! Look for the convo I'm sending you both.
8:40 AM | Category: , , , , , , | 17 comments