Now I know you like a Challenge!

Don’t you just love a challenge!!

Be Sure to join the Blockhead Radio Artisan Challenge!!!

All you Artisans out there make a note of this date:

March 23rd.

The Artisans Challenge is Back!!

Some may remember... some may be hearing about it for the first time! Come on over at Blockhead Radio to hear more about the launch of this cool weekly contest. You will find some really great music by indie artists :) there too. Formerly known as the Etsy Challenge (the name was changed to protect the innocent...) and then renamed as the Artisan's Challenge because there are soooo many great venues out there for selling handmade.... and then the whole shebang came crumbling down. It was feared that the challenge would never be heard from again.

Yes, the Artisan's Challenge is being dug up from the depths of the internet graveyard! For those who may have never heard of the Artisan's Challenge, let me tell ya what it's all about. There are 12 different categories with 60 different artisans every week (5 submissions in each category). The winner's of the categories from the previous week then face off in a weekly challenge!So head on over, read the rules and enter your submissions now! You'll be notified when it's your week in the challenge. Then its up to you to tell your friends... your family... your neighbours... the postman, the butcher or the candlestick maker ... to go vote for you in the

Artisan's Challenge!!

What's in it for you? Besides lots of people seeing your item when they vote?? Besides FREE publicity for your shop??? Besides all the fun???? It just so happens that the winner of the weekly challenge will now win a audio commercial with a banner to play the entire following week on Blockhead Radio! That's even MORE FREE publicity for your shop!Remember, it's ANY selling venue! Entries are being accepted now so hurry and get your submission in. The winner is decided by you, so be sure you vote. I hope you will find me there a time or two with some items from On A Whimsey, if you do, please can I have your vote?

OH...ONE MORE THING... blog about it. I'll make it easy for you (because I'm nice like that)... just copy and paste this blog, post it, and Let Witchy of The Copper Cauldron know you did! You'll be entered for a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to The Copper Cauldron. Visit the Copper Cauldron here!! Last date to enter will be March 22nd. Winner will be selected by a random number generator. One entry per blog.

Top Ten February Entrecard Droppers!

Congratulations to the following who very kindly dropped their Entrecards on my blog during the month of February!

Storybeader - http://storybeader.blogspot.com 

This artist lives in Oklahoma, specializing in one of a kind (OOAK) southwestern and ethnic jewelry. During the day works in a history museum – how cool is that? 

John Wright - http://johnwrightart.blogspot.com

From the UK this artist traces the development of his paintings and drawings plus musings on any other bits of life that come his way.

Robins’ Nest - http://tqmnurse.blogspot.com

From the US check out awesome scrapbook pages, cards and altered projects!

Comics Legends and Lore - http://time-less-image.typepad.com/comics_legends_and_lore/

From the US we continue to seek exquisite beauty in our images, exploring all techniques, old and new.

 Art Joolree - http://www.artjoolree.com 

From Japan it's all about jewellery, fashion, the glitterati and all other things that sparkle.

Fire and Glass-Sweetwater Designs - http://sweetwaterdesignsat.blogspot.com

From the US this site describes the creating and joy of handmade glass beads, commonly called lampwork or flame work.

Rose Works Jewelry Blog - http://www.roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com

From the US this artist talks  about the ups and downs of running a small business as well as reviewing products they’ve bought and occasionally featuring other artists.

Art By Paul Baines - http://paulbaines.co.uk/category/blog/

An emerging UK graffiti star Paul Baines.

Unique You - http://www.beaderjojo.blogspot.com

Hand woven beaded gifts and jewelry including necklaces and pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings, dreadlock sleeves, beaded boxes, bottles, and more.

Three Fates Design - Beaded Jewelry - http://www.threefatesdesign.blogspot.com

From the US a blog about a girl and her love of beadweaving and lampwork beads.

My appreciation to you all for helping me promote my world of encaustics!

My first Pluggers Unite post!

I recently joined a wonderfully friendly team on Etsy called Pluggers United! What is that all about, I hear you say.

Pluggers United is a group of artisans FOR artisans whether you are on Etsy or further afield. This is a truly global team but we are all here to support and help each other rather than compete all the time which is so counterproductive. It is a group that is committed to promoting each other’s shops, and working as a team to provide additional exposure through blogs, web sites, and various advertising and marketing methods, as well as the Blockhead Radio show for which you will see my promotional button further down the page!

Part of the promotional help we give each other is to help show and tell about each other's shop. So, I would love to start with a fellow team member who also lives in the UK, as I do!

Sassa Lynne at Etsy

The lady who runs this shop, Myfanwy, has been seriously involved in textiles for about 20 years and has been dyeing for almost that whole length of time. The dyed items featured in her shop are from her Serendipity range. Serendipity means 'the result of a happy accident', and these items from random dye pots are so very special and individual. Cotton and Viscose items are dyed using a combination of Fibre Reactive Dyes. Procion dyes are one member of this family, but Myfanwy uses other types too. All are colourfast and are disposed of in a caring manner with a keen eye on the environment. Silk and wool are dyed using acid dyes.

Swinging Sixties Sassa Lynne Serendipity Perle 5 Green Landscape

Sassa Lynne Serendipity Jumbo Perle Medium, Red, Autumn, Gold

The richness of the colours is amazing with no end of variety. Stuck for ideas? Then look for the gift vouchers that are available in sets of $25, $50 and $100.

Sassa Lynne Serendipity Hand Dyed Scarf

Loosely woven, this viscose scarf is stunningly hand-dyed in Turquoise, Raspberry, Mustard and Olive. You will see from the photographs that there are even shades of Blue and Terracotta in there. It is a real head-turner.

And finally, I had to show you this lovely combination of 70% silk and 30% cotton. Hand-dyed using their Serendipity technique there are several colours ranging from Persian Green, Emerald and Bright Green with tiny flashes of Turquoise. I'm sure you will find more colours than these.

So, remember the name

Sassa Lynne at Etsy

Do watch out for further posts about members of this fun and sportive team - Pluggers United!