and the winners are........

It's official!! I am overwhelmed at the response for the contest, and am excited to get postin' those winners...so here goes!!

FIRST PLACE

"Amethyst & Rose"

Heather Bluhm of California

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SECOND PLACE

"Sweetly"

Barb Perch of Pennsylvania

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIRD PLACE

"Beautiful Spy"

Nicole Mailett of Canada

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congrats to the winners! I really enjoyed having this contest and will be sure to do some more in the future!

New in the shop today:

Stone & Metal

Have a fantabulous day!

xoxox

posted by: sweetpeas at July 31, 2006 20:40 | link | comments (7) |
artsy fartsy, junque revival news

CONTEST!!

Hey gang! Just a reminder that the Junque Revival contest will be ending this Sunday at 6:00!

Any person who signs up for the newsletter and is CONFIRMED will be automatically in the contest!

First Prize

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

I have been a busy little bee shipping out orders and  while packaging up an order this morning, I included some cards from several of my wonderful artisan friends. I was thinking that if any of you listed in my links section would like to swap business cards for promo packs....PLEASE email me at jes@junquerevival.com  and lets get swapping! If you are new to my site, and would like to be considered for some business card swapping....give me a shout too!

While we are on the subject....if you'd like to to swap links from my shop to yours...just email me! You can find my links section here. As you'll see, I go out of my way to make it extra special!

Will catch up with some of you real soon!

posted by: sweetpeas at July 27, 2006 15:27 | link | comments (5) |
artsy fartsy, junque revival news

in my life.....

Recently Leslie started a Flickr group called In My Life, where you pick a day in July and chronicle it with photos, then pick four of those photos for morning, noon, afternoon and evening. Jon and I went cruizin' the Maine coast last Saturday, so I picked that day to photograph.

This is not one of the pictures I chose to put in her group, but one of the many I took that day. To see the rest of our day go here.

This was the "evening" series of the photos. Again, not a picture I chose to put in the group, but certainly sweet enough to put here! My Rudy makes a great foot rest!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of fun times at Flickr, I have met some wonderful jewelry people through the power of photos! One would be the amazing Belinda Lee. What to say that doesn't sound too weepy and dramatic? AW...HELL with it! Belinda has this fabulous flare when making her jewelry. Basically if you like a piece you see, you should buy it as they go fast! She has been nothing but kind when it comes to my work. You see I have always felt that people in the arts could and would be more successful if they open their minds and their hearts and work together. Sharing is not a bad thing on some level. I don't mean sharing your secrets,techniques, ideas, but sharing yourself. Not always being concerned that someone thought something up before you, or jealous. As a lot of you know, I tend to seek out artsy folks who live by similar philosophies. And sometimes someone seeks me out, like the wonderful Belinda Lee! I should also mention another girl known as "Blingalicious", someone who has always had such nice things to say about my designs. Her pieces are just so beautiful, and it's always such a nice feeling when she tells me I'm doing OK. Are girls from Singapore just over the top sweet, or am I imagining things?

Hmmmm...so I guess this could perhaps be a good segue from the last post. Sometimes I care if people like my work, and other times I don't care a bit! I do, and always have created art first and foremost for myself. Me being happy is the first important thing in my life. Trust me when I tell you that taking care of myself first was a hard lesson I've had to learn over the years. I am fortunate to have a Hubby and family that support that. I think the "caring if other people like my work mentality" might have been taken the wrong way. I am not an insecure person, though I am normal and feel the typical insecurities, but quickly try to banish that sort of thing from my life. I do have feelings, and if I am feeling snubbed, you more then likely will never hear from me again. I don't have time for your kind. The best way that I can explain it is this: Though who and what is not important, I very much enjoy making friendships with other creative people. When someone from the industry says something clever about a piece of my work, or seems to get it....it makes me happy. I very much enjoy giving praise to other artists, and buying their pieces when I can....again, another thing that makes me happy. It's really quite that simple.

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH...I know! I usually only get into this stuff in my own personal, hand written journals, but I am in the reaching out mood. Forgive me.

SO, getting back to Belinda, look what she sent me!

Just because!

d

Fabulous bag charm!!

She's like the little Karma Fairy spreading sparkly happy dust throughout the lands.

Thanks girl! You rock!

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Have a great week all! We are heading up to camp to rejuvinate. My plans? Kayak, kayak and kayak some more.

(and maybe give my Man a big 7 year wedding anniversary smooch while we're up there too)

posted by: sweetpeas at July 19, 2006 17:35 | link | comments (16) |
artsy fartsy, bloggy presents, bloggy projects n such

"BEAUTY SURROUNDS US"

she's mine

MINE

all MINE!

I opened the box and beautiful layers of color popped out at me. Her eyes said, "I know I belong here". I stopped for a while to study the intricate layers of her patchwork dress. She really is an angel.

Lovely artist, extraodornaire Kellyrae Roberts emailed me and asked me if I'd like to do a trade! I was thrilled, because I have been a fan of her work for a while now! This was my first trade, and it was great fun! Thanks Kellyrae....you're a doll! I really love her, and will show another picture when I get her framed!

so this has got me thinking about......

I once mentioned to someone (and I can't remember who at this point) if they'd ever like to do a trade....just let me know. Well I'll use my dear friend's Leslie's expression..."you could hear the crickets chirping at the other end"....but after that I never really dared to ask anyone again. I think we all get this bit of insecurity when it comes to our work (for crying out loud I've been selling my works of art for about 22 years now!)....and I remember feeling like I must be making crap! (OH GIRLS....I KNOW better....really I do....so don't feel bad for me....I am one of the biggest toughies you'll meet and I have VERY thick skin....and as you now know YEARS of experience in this world). BUT, we all feel it....it's our inner sensitive side, and I know for me, the outer TOUGH side of Jes is always screaming at the inner sensitive girl to "stop sniveling and shut the hell up!" LOL

How about you??? What scares you when you've given over your soul to a piece of work?? How do you get over the worries & insecurities of sharing, showing and selling your art? Do you care if someone likes you or your art?

I'd love to know, share it!

OH...and a big P.S....yesterday I got the nerve up to ask another wonderful artist (from over seas) if she'd like to do a trade...and I got a wonderful response! You see? Insecurities be gone!

posted by: sweetpeas at July 14, 2006 12:33 | link | comments (13) |
artsy fartsy, bloggy projects n such

company, jewelry and new friends......

Hey all! So sorry I have been MIA...I'll be by to visit you all soon! We had a week of company and family get togethers, so it's been a little hectic! My sister came from Georgia with her 17 month old Emma. We did fun things like go to the beach, had a family BBQ....and of course shopped! I've always loved shopping with Jenn as she is sure to tell me what looks like crapola and what looks good. She worked for years in retail management, and still has the eye!

Having a 17 month old in the house was a little different for Jon and I, but the child is fairly easy going, and really loved her Uncle Jon. He'd come home from work and you could see her eyeballing him the minute he walked through the door. By the end of the night she was following him around the house, teasing, flirting, laughing and giggling at him! I on the other hand was paranoid all of the time that she would fall on the stairs, fall off the porch, go play in traffic...I DUNNO! When did I become so paranoid anyway???

I am waiting for pics. to come from somebody to show you how cute she is...the few I got all have the evil red eye! BAH!

During the craziness I would sneak a couple of peeks at the computer and discovered a great little blog called Funky Finds. She finds the most adorable sites, and I am linking her because I love what she comes up with! She found ME for crying out loud...she must dig deep into the depths of cyber space....hehe. Anyhoo...go over and say HI.....she's quite the cutie!

xoxoxoxox

I finished a couple of new pieces last night....just in time as I sold the last two I posted. One piece went to a fabulous lady I met in NYC through Dawn. We all went to a tres chic spot for lunch...she was lovely and intelligent, and I even remember feeling a bit shy at first in her presence. (I KNOW, I KNOW...ME????) Let's just say, I really feel good about my work if she likes it! She's got style!

Remember...there is still plenty of time to sign up for the contest over at Junque Revival!

La Limoges ~ SOLD

I was digging through my boxes of broken pottery and china and NOTHING was looking good. But then I remembered that when Dawn and Hope came to visit, that I had pulled out a couple of pieces they might like to craft with. And there was this beautiful Limoges plate...all chipped and broken! I made a double wrap necklace with amber and jade beads, (to match the limoges design) it clasps in the front with a magnetic clasp.

Sea Grass ~ TRADED

I really love using this Maine sea glass in my pieces...I think it's as precious as any gem! I was in a soothing green mode...(green IS my favorite color after all)...so I used Jade and Avent beads in my green theme.

xoxoxoxox

Before I leave you and head off to my REAL job, I just wanted to let you know that Hope has got some WONDERFUL new goodies at her shop! 

All I can say is that I love 'em, I love 'em, I love 'em! Click on the logo above to go and check them out!

Have a fabulous week darlings!

xoxo

posted by: sweetpeas at July 11, 2006 13:39 | link | comments (12) |
artsy fartsy

many thanks.....

I have to take a break this holiday weekend and sneak in a big THANKYOU post to all of you that have either mentioned the opening of Junque Revival, linked the shop...or just plain ole BOUGHT something!! You all are so sweet, and I was just so surprised to see the name on all of your fabulous spaces!!

THANKYOU!

1 of 4 Sisters

Art Junk

Blueberry Moon

Dancing Upon Air

Fine Van Brooklyn

Gnome

Green Wellies

Kelly Rae

Kraf-o-la

Liquid Sky Arts

My Life with Garlic

Queen Conch

Rubbersol

Salty Gal

The Soul of Hope

Maria Pysslar Och Ler

Under a Pink Sky

Yvestown

Belinda Lee

I sincerely hope I didn't forget anyone! It really means so much to me to have found a great group of woman who believe in the power of words, art & friendship. I could not have done it without some of you!

(Especially...Hope, Leslie, Kathleen, Giao & Dawn)

xoxoxoxox

And I am still being the shameless promoter! There's still an entire month left to sign up for the contest...so if you haven't yet.......GO FOR IT!

New in the shop this weekend.....

High Tide ~ SOLD

Sea Goddess

SOLD!

OK....I know my husband is lingering over me at the moment waiting to get going on our morning's kayak trip, so I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday weekend! So far ours has been great! We went to a terrific BBQ Saturday night and just had a ball! (THANKS John & Deb for throwing such a FUN party!) Yesterday we went for a "boonie ride" not far from my house! I didn't know all of those dirt roads with beautiful homes existed! Too much fun!

I'll be back soon!

UPDATE: the kayaking trip was just beautiful & last night we went for a boat ride.

posted by: sweetpeas at July 03, 2006 13:40 | link | comments (8) |
artsy fartsy