Happy Birthday September Brats

SEPTEMBER
9-9 LaughingFridge (John)
9-12 AngeeArt
9-12 PenguinettaAfghans
9-12 VisualiciousGourmet
9-12 WonderWorks
9-13 mrmoonsoriginals
9-13 Tlsexton0913
9-21 MotherofJackals

September's Brat Feature - Jean of Moon Mystic's Handcrafted Gemstone Jewelry

Every month, the Brat Team chooses one of our members to “highlight.” This month, we are pleased to introduce our FEATURED ARTIST – SELLER… Jean of

Mystic Moon Handcraft GemStone Jewelry

Superior Stones

Silver Smack

*Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Jean and I live on the Western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in “Big Snow Country“ with my husband and four-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter. I also teach junior high and high school English.

“Aqua Sea Glass Pearl Pendant Necklace”

*What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

When I was younger, I loved these little fuzzy creatures called Weeples and you could buy them, of course, but they were really hard to find, so I started making my own. I bought little colored puff balls, and little google eyes, and little antennae, and little felt feet. I even started selling them in school for a quarter a piece.

“Green Amethyst Prasiolite Tsavorite Garnet Pearl Iolite Sterling Silver Cluster Pearl Pendant Necklace”

*What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?

Lately, a lot of my ideas come from nature. In my shop, SuperiorStones.etsy.com, I use a lot of natural beach stones, so I try to keep them as natural as possible and just give them a little accent. In my shop, SilverSmack.etsy.com, I do birds nests, pea pods, and many leaf inspired pieces.

“Seafoam Green Agate Smokey Quartz Woven Herringbone Wire Wrapped Silver Necklace”

*What are your favorite materials?


My current favorite materials are are flashy stones, like labradorite, moonstone, kyanite, and sunstone. I also love working with silver- hammering, oxidizing, texturing, buffing, twisting it, and just seeing what I can make it do.

“Daisy - Brown Carved Bone Knotted Pendant Necklace”

*What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?

I have learned so much from the members at Etsy. Everything from taking better photographs, to making my blog three columns, to uploading my items to Google Base, to setting my shop up for Google Analytics, to accepting Propay and getting the Etsy discount, to drilling, tumbling, and wire wrapping. Everyone at Etsy is so helpful- and not just with information- with moral support too.

“Rare Morenci Turquoise Blue Flash Labradorite and Gray Onyx Sterling Necklace”

*Why should people buy handmade?

People should by handmade because it is better quality and it is special. Somebody was inspired to make it. It was someone’s vision.

*What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?

I would like to be able to list faster, rearrange my shop, and I wish checkout was easier.

“Textured Fine Silver Eternity Rings”

*Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I also teach, garden, play with my kids, bike, read, and ski (about seven months out of the year.)



*Read any good books lately?

I’m just about to finish one. . .Don’t make me ruin it.

“Reflections of Gray”

*In ten years I'd like to be?

Retired and debt-free handsomely supplementing my income making jewely. . .

“Elegant Pearl Pink Swarovski Crystal Dangle Sterling Earwire Earrings”

*How did you come up with your Etsy Shop Name?

MoonMystic was supposed to be Mystic Moon, but Mystic Moon was taken. That one was just kind of a hasty decision because I needed a name for my business cards. Superior Stones was named that because I live near Lake Superior and I use Lake Superior stones in making that jewelry. SilverSmack was named thus because I love(Smack=kiss) working with silver and smacking it with my hammer.

“Beige Carved Bone Necklace”

*What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?

I was kind of lost on Etsy and the Brats were the first team I joined. They took me in and talked to me in the forums when no one else would. Patti or TerriAnn was always there with a hi or some kind words or just some acknowledgement of my existence. It was really nice to know there was a group of people with similar experiences who were just nice and I could just chat with. It was a place I knew I could always go to.

“Ice - Hammered Rock Crystal Fine Silver Eternity Textured Circle Silver Necklace”

Thanks for stopping by and getting to know one of our FAVORITE Brat SELLERS!

August Birthday Brats

8-11 FlutteringDesigns
8-19 TristaBell
8-21 Bamdesigns

July Feature - Michele of Michele's Essentials

Every month, the Brat Team chooses one of our members to “highlight;” this week. we are pleased to introduce our featured artist and seller

Michele of MichelesEssentials.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Michele Collins and I live in Kenosha Wisconsin. I am a Soap and Candle maker that loves to make products for your skin. I've studied Alternative medicine, holistic therapies, and herbs for nearly 12 years and I hold a Bachelors Degree in Science from The American Institute of Holistic Theology. However, I studied herbs and herbal remedies for some 5-6 years before I received my degree in Science.

Dead Sea Therapeutic Bath Salts SEA SIDE SCENT w Sea Kelp Lavender and peppermint

The use of Herbs and Essential oils goes back in history many thousands of years and has been used to treat many various conditions and ailments. In other countries, herbal supplements and Essential oils are often used medically before pharmaceutical drugs are administered. They also approach ailments with a combination of alternative therapies and common drugs for a heightened and usually improved outcome to the ailment.

I am fascinated with the power of herbs and essentials oils and love helping others with natural alternatives. I have had great success with many of my products. My goal is to own a brick and mortar shop within a year, and be able to fully support my children on my own.

I am a mother of 7 children 5 of which live with me and 2 whom live with their father, I am currently working on improving my business sense through multiple outlets and incorporating various tools to help me expand what I have already achieved.

Basil and Sun Dried Tomato Kitchen Soap

What is the first thing you can remember making by hand?

During my childhood, my mother and I were involved in craft shows. I remember making the old reindeer clothespin ornaments and selling them at the local show, along with various other items. It was so much fun going to the craft fairs and meeting all the people who made things; I enjoyed looking around and seeing just how creative other people where with their wood making skills, painting skills, and hand made dolls. It's always been like a second family to me.

Watermelon Votives

My first year in High School, I made an outfit in a class competition earning me a walk down the runway to show off my skort and matching shirt.

I think that is why, still to this day, I love to make my soaps, I have ventured far from where my mom and I started out, but I can honestly say that my mom was a large part of why I chose this path. I also love to create with polymer clay, even though that is a 'hobby' now.

What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?

Honestly, I take my inspirations from nature along with needs. I like to look at certain things and use them together for a certain necessity for my family or friends and I usually don't go wrong.

EVO Clean Laundry Soap

What are your favorite materials?

My favorite materials are oils, fragrance oils, essential oils, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and butters, anything I can make for your skin or in home scented needs.

Mojito Shower Gel

What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?

To keep working at it!

Fresh Forest Soap

Why should people buy handmade?

I believe in handmade because I believe in America, I feel too many people buy items made from other countries supporting their needs, and while doing so hurt the very country they live in. Handmade also brings that what our forefathers have worked so hard for back to life once again.

What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?

I like it all, there are SO many things to choose from on Etsy, I just love the actual variety that Etsy offers, if you can see it in another store I can usually buy it off of Etsy.

REFREASH Facial Toner

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I am a full time stay at home mom, who is working on going back to school for Cosmetology, with the hopes of bringing my company a complete full circle.

Lime Votives - "Oh My Gosh"

Read any good books lately?

My favorite books to read are actually information books, however I do like to indulge with an occasional fiction story, lately I have been very into a series of books by Yasmine Galenorn, So far I am on book #3 in her series called 'Darkling'.

In ten years I'd like to be?

In ten years I'd like to see my products in every house in America, LOL....

Snoz-Berry Bear Soap

How did you pick your business name and your etsy avatar?

I created my avatar from my logo design. After being on etsy for awhile, I realized I needed to bring a common ground to my products, so I designed a logo. As far as my business name, I used to use Earth's Essence, but I have more recently changed it to "Michele's Essentials" because I wanted to personalize my business and put a part of me into it.

What has being a brat at Etsy meant to you?
I love the support of the Brats, the ladies here are by far the best ladies you will ever meet anywhere on etsy!
To me a brat is someone who has a common ground with others or a group of others. Having a common ground is helpful because I feel we each have our own gifts or talents, and by sharing those talents along with the same backgrounds through our parents being in the Military, we all have that commonality.

Thanks for stopping by and getting to know one of our FAVORITE Brat SELLERS!

Happy Birthday July Brats

JULY
7-2 buttfreckle
7-7 beadstoo
7-7 Thetatteredgypsy
7-13 modcustomjewelry
7-13 teristreasure
7-17 CraftBonanza
7-17 Odannysgirl
7-19 scooyouphotography
7-19 designsbymariejulie

Featured Artist - Gini of Mod Custom Jewelry

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

"Mother Theresa"

Every month, the Brat Team chooses one of our members to “highlight.” This month we are pleased to introduce our FEATURED ARTIST – SELLER…

Gini of ModCustom Jewelry and Oceans Findings

http://modcustomjewelry.etsy.com/

http://oceanfindings.etsy.com/

*Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Gini Briggs, from Marshfield Missouri (in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and as far from the ocean geographically as humanly possible). I’ve been married for almost 16 years and am the mother of two big stupid dogs.

*What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

I remember making salt clay with my Mom; I must have been about 3 or 4, because my sisters were at school and I wasn't. I don't remember what we made from it, but I still remember the smell! I loved doing crafty things with my Mom.

DAISY EARWIRES

*What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?

The ocean and everything in it inspires me. I get most of my ideas in dreams. But I have to keep a notebook close by the bed, because I forget my dreams really quickly after I wake up.

BEACHY

*What are your favorite materials?

I love silver, copper, bronze and gold. Gold is probably my favorite metal to work with because it’s easy to work, but being it’s so expensive I don't get to work with it often. I also love gemstones, shells, coral and sea glass.

MERMAID

*What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?

I have made some of the best friends on Etsy! I've "met" people from all over the world and actually gotten to meet several in person during my travels. That's the best thing about Etsy, having a camaraderie borne of the common thread of handcrafting.

Hussy

*Why should people buy handmade?

Because you don't want to walk around as a carbon copy of everyone else! Anyone can mass produce "stuff", but it takes an artist to make something unique and it takes a unique person to wear art!

TEMPLE

*What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?

I wish there was more cracking down on mass produced stuff. I see so much that is not truly handmade. If you buy something at Wally World and attach a sticker to it, it's NOT handmade, no matter how you try to spin it!

*Apart from creating things, what do you do?

My education is in Accounting and Spanish, so it makes perfect sense that I've made my living as an air traffic controller for the past 20 plus years. Believe it or not, it's a very creative job. There are definitely rules under which you're constrained, but HOW you go about working within them is up to you. It changes every day and keeps my mind occupied. Plus, there's never anything piled up in my inbox when I come back after being gone for a few weeks.

I'm very involved in our union on a national level and I'm currently traveling the country teaching other air traffic controllers about a new safety reporting system. I love to travel, so that's great, but it is taking a toll on my art. I sneak in as much studio work as I can on my few days home each week.

My husband and I are also both certified licensed Divemasters. So we travel the world exploring our great planet's underwater treasures every chance we get.I'm also the best DogMom in the world...I love my two Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Rosie and Ruby.

I have tons of photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/modcustomjewelry/

*Read any good books lately?

Believe it or not, in spite of all I do, I read every day; usually for an hour or so before I go to sleep. Il have 5 or 6 books of various genres going at one time. I'm currently working on "Mists of Avalon," "Atlas Shrugged," "Bloody Bones," and Nelson DeMille's "Wild Fire." How's that for variety?

Visit Gini’s Blog - MOD, Missouri Ocean Design http://waterloggedblog.blogspot.com/

*In ten years I'd like to be?

Ten years younger!!! Seriously, I'm going to be retired from my government job, probably consulting about aviation safety on a contract basis, traveling and diving all over the world with my hubba-hubba-hubby and making more jewelry than ever!

Visit Gini’s Gallery http://www.missouriocean.com/

*How did you pick your business name and your etsy avatar?

My heart and soul belong to the ocean and have ever since the first time I dipped a toe in the icy North Atlantic. Making jewelry feeds my soul just like proximity to the ocean does, so I tied my physical location (Missouri) to my life's love (Ocean).

I'm a BIG Jewelry Geek: http://www.jewelrygeeks.com/modcustomjewelry

*What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?

My Stepdad was in the Navy for over 30 years. My Dad was in the Army, but long before he was my Dad. My husband is retired after 23 years in the Army. So the military has been a part of my life for a very long time. Some of my best lifelong friends came to me as part of the military family. I love that the Brats are such a supportive group and that they're as diverse as the art they create.

Visit Gini on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513392614

and follow her on Twitter http://twitter.com/ArieltheMermaid

Thanks for stopping by and getting to know one of our FAVORITE Brat SELLERS!

Happy Birthday June Brats

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUNE BABIES

6-2 RibbonalityBySushi
6-5 glassdancer
6-20 designsviadumas

Happy Birthday May Brat Babies

MAY
5-1 GrumpyTomsAttic

5-14 Kerleyskreations
5-21 Anhoki
5-26 BeccasBeadCreations
5-26 mash84

APRIL BIRTHDAY BRATS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

April 18 lilysgoatsoap

Dandelion Challenge 2009

Take a look at our wonderful entries for this years Dandelion Team Challenge! The dandelion is the official flower of the Military Brat. Please vote for your favorite entry here: VOTE!


Entry #1
LizEdgar


Description:
I made a bracelet for my challenge entry. I chose the yellow beads to symbolize the dandelion before it changes to the seedlings. I chose the millefiori beads to represent the the lands that dandelions can grow in. The crystals represent the dandelion when the seedlings are ready to fly away and plant their new roots. I just learned that the white puffy part of the dandelion is actually called a "wishie" or a spherical "clock".


Entry #2
Rhradcliffedesigns



Description:
My entry into the challenge is a mosaic done on a wooden plate approximately 11" in diameter. This piece is done with tessarae tiles. And while water resistant it is not food safe nor should it be soaked in water. You can display it in a stand, flat or mounted on the wall. I had fun with this idea and fun playing with tiles after a few years from my last mosaic work. The dandelion was a challenge to depict so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did planning and making it. The back of this plate is painted kelly green and compliments the green of the leaves.


Entry #3
Anhoki

Description:
I made jewelry again. I love the idea of showing off my dandelion pride. I thought about getting a kewl pic of my dandelion tattoo but......Anyway...Both are already listed. Enjoy!