Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cindo de Mayo! It's time to celebrate the Mexican Influence on America. Here's a spotlight of some items for sale on Artfire.

Start with this cute and eco-friendly notebook from withourhands. Made from an upcycled Mexican Style Hot Pockets box. Only $2.50




How about some Mexican Mug Mats? These beauties are the essence of summer. Perfect for a fiesta or just a picnic with great margaritas! The mats are made entirely with embroidery thread - no fabric is involved. They are machine washable and color safe.
The mats come in sets of 6 and are $16.00.




Now we have a cute little Mexican Flag Charm. The seller of this charm, Cripple Creek Boutique, sells magnetic lockets that this charm can be used on. This charm is also great for use in your craft project. $5.00






Don't forget about your cat. This cute Catnip Taco comes in a set of two. Each one is stuffed to capacity with 100% Organic Catnip that will send your cat to the Moon. $8.00 for two catnip toys.







Maybe you'd like some Mexican Artwork for your walls. The Cantina is an original water colour painting on paper 280gsm. Created using professional quality water colours and mediums. This has been framed in a Black Frame behind glass. Artwork is ready to hang as soon as it arrives. This beautiful piece is only $45.00.







and last, but definitely not least is the Lime Margarita Bar of Soap. The Mexican influence is not complete without something with Margarita in it. Don't drink and drive, instead bathe in this fresh-squeezed scent of Mexican limes, Cointreau, and tequila. Transform your bath time into a South of the Border Happy Hour! Tangy citrus, sweet hints of orange, and the wickedness of sweet blue agave tequila, combine for a perfect fiesta fragrance. $5.00

Enter to Win a $500 or $100 Visa Gift Card

How would you like to win a $500 or $100 Visa Gift Card? I am 1 in 1000 of the house party hosts for the American Idol and Ford House. What I need is your help in making me the ultimate winner. The more votes I get, the more entries I have to win a 2010 Ford Fusion and trip to the American Idol Finale.

What's in it for you, besides helping me? You'll be entered to win either a $500 or $100 Visa Gift Card.

Just visit my house party page at https://fordvehicles.secure.emipowered.net/idolrocksfordrolls/register/index.php?SITE=vote&ID=136498. Once there you'll need to fill out the form. You do not need to fill out the section about buying a vehicle. You only need to fill out the info with an *.

If you have any questions on the contest, please let me know. Thanks so much for voting for me!

Newly Listed on Artfire

Today I decided to spotlight some new items that were just posted on Artfire. Enjoy!

SUSAN SHEEHAN - HOT NIGHTS LAMPWORK GLASS BEAD PENDANT $42.00

CROCHETED COMFY SLIPPERS
WOMENS SIZE MED 7-8 OR LARGE 8 1/2-9 1/2 $8.00

Red White and Blue Flag Bracelet, $10.00

DECO TILE : DIGITAL ART : ABSTRACT (1) $9.95

Show me some Bloggy Love

I am in a contest to win a $200 Gift Certificate to The Children's Place. The one with the most comments on their "Children's Style" post will win.

I'd love it if you could stop by and leave a comment on my post about Kendra's style. It's on my other blog, Front Porch Reviews.

http://frontporchreviews.blogspot.com/2009/04/show-and-tell-kid-clothing-styles.html

If I win the $200 GC, I will be giving it away on my blog. So help me out and maybe you'll be the lucky one who wins the Gift Certificate in the long run. :)

3 Strand Necklace Giveaway

Through my networking on Artfire, I ran into a wonderful woman, Desiree. She sells beautiful jewelry and more. She has graciously offered a custom created necklace for my giveaway. It's a 3-strand necklace made out of acrylic beads that are lapis lazuli colored with silver nugget beads. It's 18" long with a 3.5" extender clasp. Retail value $25. If you're the lucky winner, you'll be able to own this beautiful piece.
You can find her other items at Jewelry by Desiree.

This giveaway is open worldwide and will end on April 19, 2009 at midnight EST. To enter, stop by my other blog Front Porch Reviews.

Stone Soup Challenge

This post was copy and pasted from The Stone Soup Challenge Blog.

The Stone Soup Challenge is a grassroots movement founded by artist Laura Bray. The goal of the challenge is for artists and crafters to help one another by promising to use a portion of their monthly profits to invest in a fellow artist's shop. To join us in helping artists everywhere and to read more about the challenge, please go to this post.

Remember! If we all contribute a little to the pot of Stone Soup, we will all feast.

No More Starving Artists!

I am hearing fear in the voices of my fellow artists whenever the subject of the economy is discussed. So I've decided to do something about it. Using the folktale, Stone Soup, as my inspiration, I am creating a grassroots movement in the art community to help artists overcome their fears and give them control over their future.

In Stone Soup, a stranger comes to a starving village and looks for food. He puts a boiling pot on the water and adds a stone, telling everyone he is making stone soup. Gradually, the villagers come forward with ingredients to add to make the soup. The contributions are items that the villagers are hoarding due to their fear of starvation. Each villager only contributes a small amount, but the end result is a soup that feeds everyone.

I see the same scenario happening in today’s economy. People are hoarding whatever resources they make because they are afraid. What we don’t realize is, that by hoarding, we are just perpetuating failing economy. We need to spend money and infuse the economy with cash. I’m not saying we should spend money we don’t have, but we should continue to spend.

I've created The Stone Soup Challenge to encourage my fellow artists and crafters to spend more and support one another. The basic concept of the program is to have each artist/crafter make a promise to set aside a small percentage of their net sales each month and use that money to buy something from another artist.

The challenge will officially launch on February 1, 2009, but you can get started now. Here's what you need to do to participate in the challenge:

1. Leave a comment on this post and pledge your dedication to the challenge. Once you have committed, please go to this entry and enter your shop link. Please only link to one of your online presences. We need to make sure everyone gets a chance to place a link!

2. Blog about The Stone Soup Challenge. Link to this blog everywhere you can and spread the word. The more people who take the challenge, the better. (If someone wants to make an HTML badge that we all could use on our blogs, that would be great!)

3. Decide on the percentage of your net sales that you will spend each month. It is recommended that you spend 10-25%, but it is okay to pledge whatever amount you are comfortable with. Don't forget-net sales dollars is the amount of money you make from sales AFTER costs.

4. Each month, when you know how much you will be spending, visit your favorite online venues and spend it! Focus on buying from artists and crafters. It's these people, just like you, who need the sales right now. Be sure to leave a message in the comments area of your order, telling the artist or crafter that you are making the purchase in the name of The Stone Soup Challenge and link to this blog. That way the artist you purchased from can pay it forward.

5. To help you find places to spend your money, visit this entry to see who else is a Stone Soup Challenger.

That's it! A simple, painless way for us to help one another. I can't wait to see us change the world!

Feelin' Blue?

Are you feelin' blue? How about going shopping on Artfire to pick up some things that will cheer you up. It just so happens that these items are blue also. Perhaps pairing them up with you will make them (and you) feel better.

PLEATED WOODLAND BIRDS ON BLUE PURSE HANDBAG

This pleated purse is made from a beautiful bird fabric with a sky blue background. Just the right size for a fun day shopping or for everyday at work.
The inside is made from Ivory quilted fabric. There is 3 inside pockets and a swivel hook key fob to attach your keys to.

The entire bag is lined with a heavy interfacing to help it stand alone.



BLUE LEAF AND GOLD DANGLE EARRINGS PIERCED OR CLIP

Here is a pair of blue leaf, blue faceted round bead, and blue Swarovski beaded dangle earrings. The earrings are pierced and are gold plated. The earrings are 1" long.
This is part of my "Spring Earring Sale". Buy 4, and I will refund your shipping.







FANCY BLUE LAMPWORK BRACELET WITH HEART CHARM

This beautiful lampwork glass bracelet measures 7 1/2" long. It is made with 8mm to 10mm to 10mm x 12mm fancy blue lampwork glass beads. It has a 15mm x 18mm lampwork glass heart charm dangling from the middle. It has 6mm faceted glass accent beads and has a silver plated lobster clasp.



BLUE HANDBAG/PURSE $8

This handbag is so cute. Perfect for a teenager or younger child (or an adult!). Single crocheted with blue 100% acrylic yarn. The top has a flap that is closed with a button loop. Measures approx. 7" x 5" and the strap is about 21" long. Perfect for wearing on your shoulder or straddling your chest.










BIG BLUE BUTTON RING - FUN US $5.00

A Big, Blue, Button Ring with lighter colored accents. Adjustable ring fits most sizes.










IPOD, MP3, CELL PHONE CASE/SOCK US $4.99

Crocheted sock for your cell phone, mp3 player, or makeup. Drawstring closure.
Measures approx. 9" x 2.5" - although it does have a bit of give to stretch a little more. Made with 100% acrylic yarn.
Custom orders are always welcome.





PURPLE AND BLUE DISHCLOTH SET WITH POT SCRUBBER US $6.00

Set of two crochet dishcloths. Made with 100% cotton yarn, double crocheted. Plus, one matching pot scrubber made with netting. Works great on teflon pans without scratching them.









SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL & STERLING SILVER RING US $30.00

Swarovski crystal blue, brown, and goldsterling silver beads, stretch band, one size








MARTY, SMALL BEADED SPIDER US $10.00

I could not resist that color blue. Sapphire with a distinctive silver sheen.

Marty is about 2 inches long and 2 inches wide--and all sparkle. He is easily poseable, but please remember that he is only wire, and bending her legs too much will break them. Don't pull legs off of spiders, even beaded ones--it's quite revolting and the artist might not like you anymore.



NAVY HOUNDSTOOTH DOG JAMMIES US $22.00

Our super stretchy, super soft fleece will keep your pup toasty warm through the winter months without hindering movement.
Body is made with premium houndstooth anti-pill fleece in two-tone blue with contrasting baby blue front legs and turtleneck.
Open underneath for quick potty breaks and great for layering under our coordinating topcoat for really cold weather. We can add a bit of elastic on the legs if you'd like...just ask.
Will fit up to a 20 pound dog.






AVERY'S DRAGON, ACEO PRINT US $6.00

Art Card Edition Original 2.5" x 3.5" •2 of 25, printed on Canson Watercolor paper with high quality color HP Vivera Inks.

Exact reproduction of original art by me. Original was worked with ink and blended Prisma.










AQUA BUBBLES TOTE - WITH MATCHING POUCH - REDUCED PRICE US $40.00

This tote can be used to carry papers, a laptop, wallet, and any of your other necessities. This tote will also work well for travel. It can fold flat in the bottom of a suitcase and can be used for carrying souvenirs or as a big bag to use when going out on the town. Exterior and interior is made out of 100% heavy cotton and has a zipper pocket.
Comes with matching pouch to carry smaller items in your tote. Can also be used as a make-up bag.
Dimensions: 17" across x 14" high, 2” gusset


To see more blue items, visit the Artfire Community Boards where other Artfire sellers are sharing their favorite blue items.