New Brat on the Blog

Mariah has recently joined the Military Brats

Street Team on Etsy.  Thank you Mariah, for

sharing your Military Brat story with us.

http://www.laydeesjewelrybox.etsy.com

1. What is your first name and where are you originally from?

My name is Mariah and I was born in Canada.

2. What branch of the service was your parent(s) in?

My step‑father is in the Navy.

3. Where did you live while growing up?

Growing up we moved a lot, I've lived in Washington, California, and Texas.

4. How did growing up as a military dependent affect you?

Growing up as a military dependent it was hard because I was young and we were moving every 4 years. It felt like once I made a friend I was getting torn away from them because either their family or my family was moving. Also my step father was gone majority of the time, but that just makes me appreciate the moments we are able to share now.

5. Where do you live now?

Now I live in Houston, Texas.

6. Tell us a little bit about your life now.

My life now is more stable as far as moving goes. I'm a stay at home mother to my 2 year old daughter and I run my Etsy shop when she sleeps.

7. What is the name of your etsy shop and what is your specialty?

My Etsy shop is named Laydee's Jewelry Box, and I specialize in jewelry.

See more of Mariah's jewelry in her etsy shop:
http://www.laydeesjewelrybox.etsy.com

** Don't forget to hit the "tweet" button on the right-hand side of this post, before you leave.

FEATURED ARTIST

http://www.anhoki.etsy.com/

Check Angela's shop (click on link above) to see all of her shop treasures.

1. Your name and where you live now.


Hi there,

My name is Angela. I live in TN with my husband John and our two girls.

2. What branch of the service was your parent(s) in?

My dad retired in 1994 from the air force after 21 yrs of service.

Pumpkin Vanilla Latte Soy Wax Candle $18.95
3. Where did you live while you were a military dependant?

We moved quite a bit. I was born in Kansas and lived in Texas, England, Nebraska, Italy, New Jersey, Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico and California where my dad retired.

4. When did you become an artist?

I became an artist at age 8 when one of our best Italian friends told me I reminded him of a young and female Michelangelo. I was touched and that changed me forever.

 24 Peppermint & Cranberries Incence $4.25

5. What is your primary art form on Etsy? Well.....When I opened my Etsy shop in 2007 its main focus was bath and body. We brought the soap molds and stamps into the mix in '08. I've done a lot of soul searchng and decided to switch my focus to stained glass and all I can create with it in July of this year.

Windchime $95.63

6. Do you have more than one Etsy shop? Please list your other shops.

I do have two shops but the other is inactive.

7. Where else can we find you online?

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/anhoki

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/anhoki

Personal Blog: http://anhoki.blogspot.com/

Other: http://pinterest.com/anhokis_place/

HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR MEN

When you see something you like, click on the link to that shop!
****************

http://www.elephantdreams.etsy.com/

Patriotic Seasons Photo $18

Horse Ahead photo $22.00
8X11

Millenium Kuala Lumpar Petronas Towers photo $18
8 X 10

*********************************************

http://www.anhoki.etsy.com/

A Whole Lot Of Dude soap $21.00

***********************************************

http://www.oceanvintage.etsy.com/

Leather Case $46.50

Joe The Genie Of Steel comic book 1950  $50.00

******************************************

HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR WOMEN ( $4.00 AND UP )

See something you like?  Click on the link to that shop.
*************************

http://www.anhoki.etsy.com/

Orange Marmalade & Spring Gardens Handmade Soap $12.00

Pumpkin Vanilla Latte Scented Soy Wax Container Candle 12 oz. LIMITED EDITION  $18.95

***************************************

http://www.oceanvintage.etsy.com/

Vintage Dish Cloth $4.00

Vintage Dish Cloth $7.00

****************************************

http://www.oceankisses.etsy.com/

Mosaic Mirror $24.95

Mosaic Bird House $99.00

****************************************

http://www.earwingsandthings.etsy.com/

Lampwork Red Christmas package Dangle Earrings $10

Clear Christmas Candy Cane Lampworked Dangling Bead Earrings $10

Blue & White Hand Painted Chinese Porcelain Kitties Earrings $12

*********************************************

HOLIDAY GIFTS UNDER $25

CHECK OUT THESE HOLIDAY GIFTS UNDER $25 FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS:

*********************************************************
http://www.oceankisses.etsy.com/

mosaic heart frame $24.99

fan pull
leaded textured glass $6.00

***************************************
http://www.oceanvintage.etsy.com/

heart-shaped stone cookie mold $4.00

3 vintage dish towels $9.00

****************************************

http://www.anhoki.etsy.com/

Scrumptious Essential Lip Butter with Patchouli, Clove, Cedarwood, and Lime Essential Oils $9.95

Pumpkin Vanilla Latte Scented Soy Wax Container Candle  12 oz. LIMITED EDITION  $18.95

*********************************************

AND THE WINNER IS........

Drum roll please......

The winner of our annual Dandelion Challenge is:

GailsGlassGarden

Congratulations Gail!  Please check in at our discussion site on etsy for instructions on claiming your prize!

Thank you to all who participated in our challenge.  The voting was extremely close.  All of the entries were amazing!

ANNUAL DANDELION CHALLENGE ENTRIES

The Military Brats Street Team on etsy was challenged to create a work of art with the Dandelion theme.  The Dandelion is the "official" flower of the Military Brat.

Check out these fabulous entries and vote for one using the voting box within this post.
**********************

1.  http://www.anhoki.etsy.com/
windchime

The dandelion is the flower of the military brat. We brats relate to the dandelion because, like the dandelion, we call nowhere & everywhere home.


These glass wind chimes are my interpretation of the mighty dandelion. Delicate and fragile yet strong and vocal all at once.

At eighteen inches in length and 6.25 inches at the widest point these glass chimes weigh a hefty 2 pounds. Each of the 24 pieces of glass was hand cut (imperfectly of course), ground and drilled by me. The glass is connected by stainless steel wire and accented with wooden beads. The top of the chimes is made from repurposed pine flooring which came to use from a friend. The chain is a combination of stainless steel wire. wooden beads and titanium rings.

*******************************

2.  http://www.oceankisses.etsy.com/
painted plaque

When I think of the dandelion, I always imagine it in its seed-head form, where with just the right amount of wind the seeds scatter to parts unknown....much like military children who must move with their military parent(s).

I purchased this beveled wooden plaque ( 7 3/4" X 4 3/4" X 3/4"), painted it black, stamped on the mouse design and then hand painted it.  The letters spelling out the word "Brat" are made of wood and hand painted, then glued into place.  The plaque has a single hanging loop on the back or you could use a plate stand to display it.
********************************

3.  http://www.gailsglassgarden.etsy.com/
candle holder 

This unique dandelion colored fused glass candle holder measures 3 1/2” in diameter and is 4" at it’s tallest point. This beautiful dandelion candle holder can hold a tealight or a votive candle. It requires two fusings in the kiln, one to melt the glass into the pattern and a second fusing to form the glass into the candle holder.

*******************************

4.  http://www.creationsanew.etsy.com/ 
photograph: The Coffee House Dandelion

Dandelions have always been my favorite flowers, I know you say they are a weed, but I disagree! Hubby and I have the same argument every summer; he wants to eradicate every dandelion out of the grass and I want them to grow "wild". We've worked out a compromise; he's allowed to mow them down weekly and I'm allowed to smile, laugh and point when they grow back.

This is a great quote and fits the dandelion perfectly..." Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them. ~A.A. Milne"

Yes, dandelions are my favorite flower; they just add "sunshine to wherever they grow and they leave me with a smile.

My Challenge is named: "The Coffee House Dandelion" I was "practicing" photographying flowers and was shooting roses, carnations and tulips. I also just happened to pick a dandelion out of the yard and put it in a small European Coffee Creamer...My favorite shot from that day!

********************************

5.  http://www.elephantdreams.etsy.com/
photograph: Greek dandelion

The dandelion is the official flower of the military brat. This dandelion was found on the Greek Island of Sifnos. Amazingly I had to travel to an exotic Island in order to find this dandelion (my garden has every weed known to mankind except dandelions). I was so excited when I found this one. I was going on about it's origins, etc. when our expedition leader started laughing. Seems the last thing he had done before leaving Seattle for Greece was go to his mother's house and mow down all the dandelions in her lawn. Ah one woman's treasure.......

********************************

PLEASE "TWEET" (see box at right).

VOTING BOX FOR THESE ENTRIES IS AT TOP RIGHT SIDE OF THIS POST.  Thank you!

 

BRAT-TY BLOGGER

Military Brats Street Team
http://www.creationsanew.blogspot.com/


1. What is your name, your etsy shop(s) name?

Robin Hall - photographer and designer of Creations Anew Photography and Design

2. What is your blog address?

http://www.creationsanew.blogspot.com/

3. Why did you start blogging?

This is actually my 3rd blog.  Last year I was working on a 100 photo project and each week I would highlight that week's photo from the project.  I'm still trying to get a "handle" on what I'm doing this year.  It is already (past) July - IKES!...still no direction.

4. Does your blog have a theme?
*** What do you usually write about on your blog?

Yes, it has a Photography and Design Theme, but sometimes I like to mix it up and throw in other things that I'm doing or into...for instance, it is garden season so I may throw in some pictures of our garden and talk about what I'm growing...etc.

5. Would you like more “followers” on your blog?

Oh sure!

6. Do you promote your etsy shop or anyone elses etsy shop on your blog?

If I'm having a sale or special event in my etsy shop, I'll promote it on my blog.  Previously, I have spotlighted other photography artists on my blog.

7. Where else can we find you online?

FaceBook: I'm on FB which I really enjoy doing.  It can be addicting.
            http://www.facebook.com/CreationsAnewPhotography

Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/creationsanew

Other: Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/creationsanew/

All of my photos have some kind of thought or meaning behind them. They were taken during a trip, or a walk, or event, etc.  They all have a story.  One of my favorite items in my shop would have to be my photographs titled "Expressions".  These pieces of art let me incorporate my two favorite elements, photography and design. (Find the "Expressions" photos in Robin's etsy shop by looking for any of the photos with quotes.)

Please support Robin by following her on twitter and tweeting her etsy shop items, connect with her on  FaceBook, visit her blog and leave a comment, follow her blog, visit her etsy shop and add her to your circle, visit her Flickr site and leave a comment.
(Note:  to leave a comment on blogger, click on comment, write your comment, a new window will pop up asking you to sign in - sign in but do not check the "stay signed in" box.  Also, our "followers" lists have disappeared on blogger but sometimes they reappear so look for it if you want to follow a blog.  There is a new feature where you can follow through email.)
*********
Thank you, Robin, for participating in this blog feature and for being so active in our team activities.
*********

NEW BRAT ON THE BLOG

A big brat-ty welcome to one of the new members of our etsy Military Brats Street Team:

http://www.julenas1oak.etsy.com/

1.What is your first name & where are you originally from?

I'm Elena J. Abella,from the Philippines.

2.What branch of service was your parent in?

My father is a Master Sergeant from the Philippine Air Force.



3.Where did you live while growing up?

I lived inside a military base called Edwin Andrews Air Base,from birth through college and until I was called to active duty.

4.How did growing up as a military dependent affect you?

Growing up as a military dependent greatly influenced my choice of work after passing the Nurse Licensure Exam.  Instead of working abroad,which was the trend then, I opted to enter the Armed Forces thru its Nurse Corps.  I guessed I have always wanted to be a Lieutenant and the pride that it will give my father who was still in the service that time.

As a nurse, I genuinely would have loved to serve the men in uniform who were fighting insurgency and insurrectionist (sad to say, the Philippines has them all) but that was not the case for me, as I was assigned to the Presidential Security Group.


5.Where do you live now?

It has been 3 years since we moved out from a military camp.With my husband and our 3 very young kids.  We now live in a residential community in the suburbs. It is a middle-class subdivision. I still haven't gained the peace of mind like I had while living inside a military base.Maybe because my entire childhood and most of my adult life I lived inside a peaceful, secured community,where almost everybody is like a family. It's so different now, I miss living in a camp already!

6.Tell us a little about your life now?

So far,I think this is the most challenging and rewarding stage of my life- being a full-time mom! You have to be on your feet even if you don't want to! My goodness, I wasn't warned! After a decade of working as a professional nurse, I thought it's just right that I focus on looking after my brood. I love and cherish everyday I spend with these 3 little angels! It could be chaotic sometimes, but knowing you're making an impact to their lives is enough motivation to be a good person whom they can look up to. Now that we have kids, being a wife is only secondary to being a mom, and in between I have a 'non-profit' business(according to my hubby) to attend to.


7.What is the name of your etsy shop & what is your specialty?

My etsy shop is named Julenas1oak(julena's one of a kind).I make jewelleries such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and a few hair accessories. What makes them different from other jewelries you see is that most of the materials are rare, hard to find vintage components, and reproductions from old toolings sourced from reliable online suppliers. Some of these components are not being made anymore and are very limited so that I only make 1 per design.  As they say, "the possibilities are limitless", which is so very true.

It's tedious as most of my materials comes from outside of the country. Most of the time materials requires 2-3 sources to come up with a single piece like a necklace, not that they aren't available in one supplier, but thats just how I want it to be. As much as possible I use natural stone beads and very few glass beads just to add sparkle to a piece.

8.Where else can we find you online?

I maintain a blog at http://www.julena14.blogspot.com and a new twitter account http://twitter.com/#!/VintajjulEna


Okay Brats, let's all go follow Elen on twitter, visit her blog and comment, your circle on etsy.

Thank you Elen, for participating in this new blog feature!

BRAT-TY BLOGGER

Welcome to our Brat-ty Blogger Feature!
http://karencaseysmith.com/blog/

♥1. What is your name, and your etsy shop(s) name?


My name is Karen Casey-Smith, and my Etsy shop is under the same name, http://www.karencaseysmith.etsy.com/ I'm a fine art photographer who also makes spiritual Flower Mandalas, used to bring uplifting, positive energy into your living space, or work environment.

True - Flower Mandala

♥2. What is your blog address?

Title: photo energy - art that captures you ... http://karencaseysmith.com/blog/

♥3. Why did you start blogging?

Initially I began blogging to show my work, to make connections with people, introduce myself, and tell about what I do. I have to say though, that writing is good for me. Organizing my thoughts enough to write a post really does bring me a lot more clarity, and it's fun to be actively participating.

Presence - Flower Mandala

♥4. Does your blog have a theme? *** What do you usually write about on your blog?

Blogging allows me to make a bit deeper connection with others by telling the story behind an image, insights it has brought me, or by sharing a quote that conveys the feeling of the image. I love sharing things (images, quotes, music, and videos) that are uplifting, spark my enthusiasm, and have been helpful in my life. Sometimes, through my photographs, I enjoy simply showing beautiful, cool, or fun things I see.

Emissary of Light

♥5. Would you like more “followers” on your blog?

For sure, I'd love to have more followers! You can follow through RSS, or sign up by email. Look for the sign up directly under my blog banner, on the right hand side of the page.

Always, My Love

♥6. Do you promote your Etsy shop or anyone elses Etsy shop on your blog?

My Etsy mini is there in the left column, and links to the Etsy shops of some of my friends are on the right column.

Gentle One

♥7. Where else can we find you online?

You can find me at:

        ArtFire _ http://www.artfire.com/users/KarenCaseySmith

        Zibbet_ http://www.zibbet.com/KarenCaseySmith

        Facebook _ http://artist.to/karencaseysmith

        Twitter_ http://twitter.com/karencaseysmith


♥8. Let’s see your favorite item from your shop and tell us something about it.

It's hard to pick a favorite, though one image that continues to have a special place in my heart is Dandelion Clock. The dandelion is just at the right stage to blow for a wish. The colors are a warm memory. It has a lot of significance as well, since dandelions are the official flower for Brats, and the pocket watch you see was my great-grandfather's. I was fortunate to have him around until I was twelve. He was truly the perfect grandfather.

Dandelion Clock

END