Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Craft Party every Wednesday Night at The Cozy Craft Corner!

Come enjoy Hot Cocoa, Crafting and fun!
Every Wednesday Night 6:30-8:30 pm

Here is your chance to enjoy your creative side!

Get together with others who are working on being creative. 

Enjoy learning how to make a card, jewelry, collage, doodling, painting, etc, or just play with the supplies.

Every night will have a different creative artistic class.

Have fun creating something you can give to your friends and family.

Drink delicious Hot Cocoa and eat Cookies.

Let's start this Holiday Season out right!



Cheerily,
Chandra

Monday, November 26, 2012

Cyber Monday...Etsy Sale today and this week 10% off!

Juniper Goods on Etsy is having a sale come visit us for Cyber Monday!
 Maybe you need some earrings to go with that beautiful dress for the party!


Or a red rose ring for that special someone!


Maybe you want to add some fun and color to your outfits!


Coupon code is AWHOLIDAY
so get some handmade goodies!

Thanks, 
Chandra

Friday, November 23, 2012

Sale with Artisan Whimsy!

There is a huge sale going on with Artisan Whimsy with over 40 different Jewelry Designers and Component Designers!



Over $1300 in giveaways...45 winners and a whole week to get entered and shop beautiful jewelry with many discounts!

I am giving 10% off every jewelry piece in my shop Juniper Goods with the coupon code AWHOLIDAY and I am also giving away two pairs of earrings see this post here.

Here are some of the items in my shop...


I made these earrings one day when I wanted to add some fun into my work. They are fun with stars and hearts, colors and dangles. With the berry necklaces I was inspired by my Grandma Betty who was very artistic and had a blackberry bush outside her house. We would pick berries and make pies. They were my favorite! Since she was artistic as well I was thinking of her while I created them. She would have loved them. I can see her smile and say those are beautiful Chandra.


These berry necklaces were also entered into a contest on Artisan Whimsy Berries and Leaves!


I made these with my Mom! She asked me if we could make these earrings because she saw them somewhere and wanted a pair. It was her first time making wire wrap anything. She was amazed at how hard it was and how much work it was. That's when she found out how hard I work to make the jewelry. Her pair turned out beautiful! 

I love Metal Me This! Here is a picture of her copper cuff. I like how she put a quote on it! She is giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to her shop.

Here is one great pair of earrings from Antiquity Travelers They are a great version of the ones my Mom and I made above. She is giving away some earrings made of African Opals!



So come on over to the Artisan Whimsy Sale on Etsy! 




Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Gluten Free Holiday Enjoyment!

Today I am talking about a yummy thankful Holiday with gluten free, sugar free sweets! I enjoyed Pecan Pie when I was younger. Now due to my no sugar diet I stay away from sweet things. Although I still love sweet things. I have been baking muffins with fruit as a sweetener lately. I found this recipe about 10 years ago in Vegetarian Times Magazine. It's called Quick Banana Bread but Iv'e changed it so much it is now more like Pumpkin Muffins so I'll call them this.
Pumpkin Muffins
1/4 cup almond milk (or any milk you like the old recipe said soy milk)
6 Tablespoons olive oil
6 Tablespoons maple syrup ( I use agave nectar sometimes or just omit this)
21/4 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup pumpkin ( they used peanut butter)
2 cups flour ( I use almond and 1/4 cup coconut flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cranberries,  blueberries or chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Blend the wet ingredients together in a blender. mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. Add the wet and the dry together using as few strokes as possible. Fold in cranberries, blueberries or chocolate chips.
Place by spoonful into muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes until brown.

I hope you enjoy!

There are two great bloggers out there I frequently read. The Balanced Platter and Elana's Pantry. Just when you thought you couldn't enjoy any desserts for the holidays here come the great tasting gluten free pies. They have many great recipes but I found this recipe from The Balance Platter Maple Pecan Freezer Fudge. It looks good, who needs crust!


I did make it almost to her recipe. I omitted the stevia and added more maple syrup equaling 1/2 cup. I also added vanilla and put them in the frig instead of the freezer. My Husband said they were good but a little too sweet. I can't have maple syrup either so I am making my own version with agave nectar and maple flavoring.

I did find a great recipe for gluten free pie crust from Elana's Pantry  made of almond flour, yum!
This recipe has eggs but this one from her book is better. It is easy to make.

Pie Crust
1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, salt, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, agave and vanilla. Stur in wet ingredients into the almond flour mixture until combined. Press dough into a 9 1/2 inch or deep dish pie pan. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before filling.


 Then you can add berries, pumpkin, or chocolate cream pie. Elana has many great dessert recipes. I am so grateful to her, she has a great cook book with many wonderful foods!


Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your Holidays!

Chandra

Thanks for leaving a comment, I love to read them!

Artisan Whimsy Holiday Shopping!


Shop the finest Jewelry Designers For the 2012 Holiday SeasonMany of our artists have published work & sell their beautiful pieces nationally and internationally.See something you like?Please click on the picture to browse their giveaway and view all their Fabulous Handmade Jewelry Pieces.The largest Artisan shopping event for Cyber Week...Ever!! It starts this Friday, Nov. 23rd thru Friday Nov 30th.All participating jewelry designers will be offering a discount on their stores &will be promoting a giveaway.  Winners will be chosen individually by the blog owners.For event wide discount code use: AWHOLIDAY



Juniper Goods on Etsy is in this sale,get 10% off all my jewelry. So,get your shopping on in the handmade creative way! Stay away from the crowds at home sipping tea and shopping, wearing slippers.

I am giving away these lovely earrings! Just enter a comment below. 




And I am also giving away these beautiful earrings! Just enter a comment below. I will pick a winner on December 1st.


 Have a lovely day!
Chandra

I appreciate all your comments and love to hear from you!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Interview with Andrea Saccone Snyder


Andrea Saccone Snyder is an amazing Artist with a passion of helping others. Her art is soothing and creative! She uses recycled materials, crayons and various other materials in her mixed media work. She also is a Haripist ( her trademark name)- a hair stylist and a therapist. She owns Andrea and Co. Salon. Let's find out about her art...



Q: What inspires you in your daily life?

A: Honestly the question should be what doesn't? Sometimes it is a curse, I have inspiration overload most times. Ideas, ideas, ideas... every thing from dirt to dreams and in between. I could be driving down the road and see the light playing with a gathering of leaves, the colors of someone's scarf, a conversation overheard in the market, my boy's laugh. My issue in the past has been getting the idea down on paper in some form. Focus and completion. Lately it seems I have broken through and have been quite prolific. I have had to become more organized than I have wanted in the past. Knowing that I can be overwhelmed with incoming ideas, and seeing the pattern that followed..... Paralyzation. I decided finally... ( something about turning 41) I NEED TO DO IT! One step at a time. Jot down ideas and get them in an ordely way. I essentially too back the control.

Q: I noticed you have your own business, can you tell us about how it came about?

A: I have owned my Hair Salon for 10 years and have been a Stylist / Colorist for 21 years. That is astounding to me to see on paper. I feel like a kid at heart. I grew up in a family of hair people. My Mother is a practicing Stylist and my late Grandmother was too, until just a few years before her death at age 81. I have numerous Aunts and cousins who were in the business, even my Father tried his hand as a Barber for a while. I like to say I have Barbicide running through my veins. Believe it or not it was not my intention to be a Stylist. It just seemed like an easy thing to do at the time. I was in Art school. I took a break for a year deciding to go to Beauty school to get certified. My plan was to return to College. I just never did. I figured fine art was my thing and I could paint and draw on my own time at my own pace. If I wanted to. ( I wasted a lot of time oh, 20 years floundering for various reasons not making much art) I think I wanted to start my "life" and earn money. Lucky me, I walked right into my Mother's Salon and started my career. I soon left to spread my wings in a few different Salons and then moved to NC with my now Husband. This is where I started my Salon Business.



Q: When did you start making art?

A: I started making art as a wee one of course. Like many of us. I just remember the feeling I had of pure joy and boundless possibility when a piece of fresh paper and some crayons or markers were put in front of me. The 64 pack of Crayola crayons with the built in sharpener can still conjure up smells and memories of that joyous time. I felt a mastery of some sort too. Which helped keep me interested.

Q: What inspires you to make art?

A: I am inspired by shape and colors I see in our world, and nature. It is hard to describe in words. It is like how, of course our bodies need air. When I am inspired by something it feels like the time between the inspiration and when I sit down to manifest something, is like the time between breaths. Like I am holding my breath on some level when I do create.

Q: What is your favorite medium?

A: Lately it's a wax combo I started playing with. Crayola ( yes back to my roots) bee's wax, soy wax and oil paint. Then I use other things like ink, watercolor and graphite and collage in my mixed media work.

Andrea's pallet



Q: What Artist inspires you?

A: Latelly Kelly Rae Roberts and so many of the amazing women from the Flying Lessons group. Of course I love the masters. Monet's winter scenes mostly. Degas and his use of line. Cezanne and Turner. My Husband David E Snyder who is also a painter. I am a bad 'name' person so I see work, it makes an impression and I have no idea who it is... same with music and bands. I can know a song very well and still be clueless to who is singing.

Q: On your blog you say you are a Hairapist, can you explain this?

A: I am a Hairapist. This is a term I am working to get noticed and integrated into society as I am on this beauty journey. Over the past 21 years I have been somewhat of a social scientist in my job. (I almost studied psychology or social work in college). My observations have lead me to this firm hypothesis. Hairstylists are VERY much like therapists. We play a very vital role in society. Beyond aesthetics. The Salon can be a very sacred space for women and men. It is one of a handful of professions were we have a license to touch. Sometimes in the case of single or elderly clients it is the only touch they get all week or month. It is one place people can come and truly let their hair down. Be seen as they are. No make-up, hair a mess. Time to BE. There is something about draping a cutting cape over the client as a lets say passive restraint. In the hands of a skilled "Hairapist" the client immediately relaxes and more often than not begins to share themselves with the stylist. From insecurities about their looks to details of close personal relationships and everything in between. This relationship can span decades. Through every major life transition. It is one of my missions in life to bring this phenomenon out to be acknowledged and to train stylists on some level about how to best utilize their role in the community as a "healer", "helper" to bring a real consciousness to the Salon and behind the chair. I think we as hairstylists have an opportunity to be a part of a global healing. But it has to start with the stylist themselves being conscious about their own life, healing and journey to wholeness. I hope to write more about this soon on my blog. Get something published or maybe a short documentary... ideas, ideas, ideas!


Q: Do you have any advise to give to your Artists?

A: My advise to fellow Artist would have to be... if you are a painter, paint. If you are a jewelry maker, make jewelry. If you are a writer, write. That is how you grow and evolve. Don't waste any more time thinking you need to know something more. You will learn what you need to know as you DO. The time is NOW. Live it!! Create your life one step at a time. Be grateful for it all. Lessons finally learned for me.

Andrea is currently running a kickstarter Reproducing Beauty to get her Art business rolling. Please help her reach her goal! She only has a few days left plus you get to see a very cool video of what she is currently working on.

Visit her blog Flowergirl Designs

Buy her art on Etsy Flowergirl Designs


Thank you Andrea for your inspiring words. The time is now! Make your Art, get creative, do what you love!

Have a wonderful day!
Chandra


Saturday, November 17, 2012

ATCs Star Book Give Away!

 I found a design for this great star book to display your ATC's in. I ended up giving this one away to my Husband with ATCs of us for our Anniversary. It has 14 slots for ATCs. It closes up as well into a nice little book. I have hand stitched and glued it all together. I am in the process of making more. With different papers. I will give one away to one lovely person. All you have to do is comment and you'll be entered. If you post this on Face Book or on your blog you'll get entered again. If you pin it on Pinterest you'll get entered again. Just let me know down below where you've posted. I will pick with a random generator one person from the list below on November Saturday December 1st. Thanks for playing. I know you'll enjoy this book!

Some of the ATCs I have received are in this book.

Have a wonderful day!

Chandra

Friday, November 16, 2012

Berries and Leaves I made!


I decided it was time for a challenge! I am a member of Artisan Whimsy a creative bead chat. I am up for the challenge. I love berries and leaves. I have some beautiful beads that I thought looked like berries so I wired them together. I could not stop making berries! Here they are... 

This was my first attempt, I love the color of these beads!

It turned into an interesting necklace!
I love the heart on top of the bale and the cork screw wire.
It looks a lot like grapes instead of berries. What do you think? I like the bright colors.
My second attempt turned out crazy, abstract and weird. I thought I'd try something new, it turned out different for sure!

Those are supposed to be leaves but  I think they look more like wings.
 My favorite berry is Blackberries! So I decided I'd make some with my lovely garnets. They look yummy, don't you think? Maybe these look a little like grapes as well...




I was thinking about berries and birds came to mind. I had bought this metal bird loop a while back so I made little black berries dangling from below. 




I added green leaves and blue beads for the sky.
Now what do I enter into the challenge? 
Come check it out and see what other jewelry Artists have made.

Have a berry nice day!

Chandra


Inspirational Card Deck Swap Hosted by Jessica Brogan!




Jessica Brogan is an amazing Artist. She has started the Inspirational Deck Swap. The most amazing swap and so much fun!  I enjoyed making my Inspirational Card Deck so much that I have a hard time letting them go. Each one although they looked similar had their own little neat color combinations and stamp marks. Each quote was hand picked by me for inspiration on many levels. So take a peek...

52 Cards!
We send our 52 cards to Jessica and she divides them up between us and gives us back a deck of 51 cards of other Artists and 1 of our own. So cool! I can't wait to see what comes back!

                                   






These two show the stamp I used in the paint, I like how it turned out!


Look at them all! Wow that's a lot.


I am addicted!!!


I want to do it with everyone. I asked my family full of Artists if we could do this instead of gifts for the Holidays. I didn't get such a good response from them, but I still want to do it. I think I would not make so many though, maybe 8 or 9. How can you get your family involved in your art? Or maybe if they aren't interested in doing them you can make them as a gift with quotes you know they like. I think Jessica has come up with a great swap! I hope it goes on every year. Here you can check out Donna from Gentle Threads Card Deck! I love the way she painted her's!!!!

Have an inspirational day!

Chandra

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Gratitude Blog Hop


Me in  my shop
 Well this is the month to have gratitude and so my fellow flyers have come up with this blog hop. I hope you come away feeling more grateful for what you have and enjoy the other fellow Artists posts. 

What am I grateful for?

My Shop
The shop window

   Of course I would not be able to have the shop without...

 My Husband.
My Husband
   He has supported me in all my creative en devours. I am so happy to have support in my art. He let my Daughter and her friend paint him, what a sport!

My Creativity
Drawing cut up for ATCs

   I would not have this without my... 

Artistic Family
My Son and Daughter
They are both very talented in art, I learn from them all the time.
My Dad
He is an Art Professor and knows many techniques and so creative.
My Mom
She does doodles, paints and is creative.
My Sister
She makes jewelry, and makes many other crafts including amazing cake and party decorations.

My grateful doodle


I am also grateful for having a meditation practice, all my family and friends, teaching.

All the things I take for granted but shouldn't like my health, life, working limbs (once I broke my thumb and realized how much I needed it), money, shelter, clothes, shoes, food, water, air, a positive mind, compassion and being able to give, and so much more! 

It seems unless we have lived without or had someone tell us what it's like to live without we don't really know what it's like to not have water, food etc. Are there things in your life you could look for that you take for granted? What are you grateful for? I encourage everyone to help those in need any way you can.   (Prayer, food, money, shelter, clothes etc.) I like the Toms Shoes idea of making a product and giving a product. What can you do to help?

So, lets see what Suzanne McRae has to say about being grateful hop......

Sincerely,
Chandra