Welcome Wednesday with Glass Paradox

Please welcome Amy and her Etsy shop Glass Paradox

Bright, colorful and unique...Amy offers great houseware gifts that are wonderful conversation pieces.

Now let's discover Glass Paradox

What is your first creative memory?

I have no idea what my 1st creative memory is! If I ask my mom, she says, I have always been creative. I can remember using scraps of fabric to make tents and such for my Barbie dolls...In jr high school, I made a "life size' latch hook gnome!

Glass Paradox, painting on glass came about when a friend mentioned a pair of wineglasses she had seen in a magazine but didn't want to pay that much for. She said something to the effect of "you're artsy, you could do this" so, I looked into glass painting. The design she had looked at, never came to be but, wine glasses looked like tulips to me and so, it began!

Who are what started your journey on Etsy?

Several people suggested Etsy to me as another means of marketing my artware. I tried it first about a year ago with no real results but, this year, I decided to give it another go, discovered teams and am enjoying the experience!

How did you come up with your shop name?

Glass Paradox came about, almost 20 years ago when art and function were not commonly combined. Glass Paradox is functional artware for everyday use.

Describe what you have in your shop

MY Etsy shop features hand-painted functional artware. Stemware, vases and candleholders.

What inspires you?

Colors and function are an inspiration to me. I enjoy creating items that people can enjoy and use daily.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

Usually, there's music playing at my studio. Anything from classic rock to jazz and blues. Depending on my mood. I don't like silence when I work.

Please share a favorite recipe

My favorite recipe?
That's a tough one! It really depends on what I am doing....
I enjoy salad when dining alone. My favorite is probably taco salad.
I start with a plate of leafy greens, add cukes, salsa, browned ground beef, sour cream and tortilla chips. And lots of cheese! Sometimes, I'll have refried beans on the side too.
And a margarita :)

Where else can we find you?

Website
Facebook
I can also be found at:
mainemade.com, artsyhome.com and the Maine Craft Association's website.
Wholesale at www.wholesalecrafts.com and at several gift shops across the country.

Now please show Amy some love and check out her Etsy shop and website...and please come back and tell us what your favorite creation is! I love the unique hanging tea candle holders.

Mommy Monday with Uses for Fruit Rinds

At our house...my kids eat a lot of fruit, I mean A LOT! Fruit for every meal plus for snack time. We fortunately live out in the country with birds and squirrels so I usually throw the cut up rinds out to them to enjoy for a snack. It got me thinking...what other uses are there for fruit rinds? So I did some lookin' and this is what I found...some of these ideas are very interesting and I will be trying them! Happy Monday ya'll :)

USES FOR WATERMELON RINDS

Here are a few uses for the rind instead of just tossing it out in the trash.

- using the rind for Thai Gaeng Leang Soup, the rind is one of the main ingredients, recipe here
- candying the rind to make a sweet treat with granulated sugar, recipe here from watermelonrind.com
- pickling the rind...such as you would pickle cucumbers, recipe here
- mmmmmmmmmm...watermelon rind preserves from Amazon
- cut up the rind and toss it in a salad

DIY PUMPKIN AND LEMON CANDLES from momtastic

CITRUS VOTIVE CANDLES from Divine Party Concepts

MAKE A CLEMENTINE CANDLE from Apartment Therapy

I would love to hear any of your ideas for uses of left over rinds...I didn't even get to uses for apple and pear rinds or banana peels...another post for me in the future!

Welcome Wednesday with Mylana and a Giveaway

Please welcome Clare and her Etsy shop, Mylana

Ecclectic, bright, and unusual are the key words she uses to describe her shop filled with soaps, candles and jewelry. I love her use of recycled materials for her packaging and shipping. Most of her soaps are vegan, with her most popular recipe containing olive oil and coconut oil, for a simple, but luxurious soap.

Currently, she is running a promotion with the code "TEAMBORO" for 15 % off.

Mylana has also offered two of her items from her shop for a giveaway...please see the details at the end of this post or check it out under the "Giveaways" tab under my blog header. One lucky winner will win both!

Let's meet Clare and discover her Etsy shop, Mylana.

What is the first creative memory you have?

The first memory I have relating to something creative is when I was maybe 4 or 5, I was looking at the wood knots and patterns in our garage door and I remember later trying to replicate the swirls and lines in a drawing.

What or whom began your creative journey on Etsy?
After my husband died in 2010 of cancer, my sister contacted the site Regretsy (features the worst things on etsy) about having an urn donated for his ashes, because we couldn't afford one, or his funeral. When they said yes and donated the urn, I looked at the

site and then thought about Etsy and wondered if I should set up a shop for some extra money.

How did you come up with your shop name?
I like to play the video game World of Warcraft and it was the name of my first character- a troll priestess.

Describe what creations you have in your shop?
Mainly, I make soap, candles, and jewelry. I do have some odds and ends like magnet and incense, but those are items I only make occasionally.

What insprires you?
I try to be inspired to make things out of what I have versus planning on what to make and ordering ingredients. I want to use up materials I have first. My biggest inspiration is nature and foods. Lately, I have been on a big green tea kick- I love that scent!

What do you listen to or watch while creating?
I usually listen to the itunes radio. I like new age music and some electronica/dance. I also like Tori Amos.

Please share a favorite recipe
I love to cook and usually don't use recipes, just add a pinch of this and a handfull of that, but this is th e basic version of an easy vegetarian chili I make:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can red beans
1 12oz package frozen corn
2 pouches of Chili Seasoning
1/2 Onion, Diced
Salt and Spices to taste (garlic, red pepper flakes, cumin)

I mix everything together in a stockpot and simmer it for about 30 minutes, adding water if it gets too thick. This freezes up really well.

Where else can we find you?
Facebook
Twitter
I only sell on Etsy right now, but I do blog for our regional Tennessee Etsy Team:
borocrafters.blogspot.com/

Now see what you can win!

Winner will get BOTH pairs of earrings!!!
***You do not have to do all of the entry options...but keep in mind, the more you do the higher your chances are of winning!


a Rafflecopter giveaway