Photo courtesy of Sooz1
By columnist Barbra aka All About The Buttons
Artwork created with shards of china, colored glass, stone, tile or other materials is what is known as mosaic. They may be a random pattern or a specific image or design with creations going back to the 4th century when mosaics were used mostly for floors and walls of churches and castles.
Today mosaic has evolved. On Etsy and Zibbet, wonderful artists are creating mosaic work for every day use and stand alone art, using a variety of materials.
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Nancy from Redford Glass Studio, says her interest in mosaics was a natural progression from stained glass as she loves to work with glass and stones. “Covering an item with stone is a simple process as long as you have the right materials. You need to start out with a good adhesive. A mosaic glue or mortar works well. Mortar is better for mosaics that will be in direct weather for long periods of time. Working a little at a time, glue or mortar your stones to the surface you’re working with. When you’re done, wait at least 24 hours for glue to harden. Then a sanded grout can be applied. Follow the instructions on the grout container, as the type of grout you use can greatly vary from another. After the grout has dried completely, seal with a grout sealer. Again follow specific directions.”

A new technique was tried by Shirley of Mamasakio when she created this terrific ring. Encouraging her children with crafts at Easter inspired her to create mosaic jewelry. She has a step by step tutorial on her blog at mamasakio.blogspot.com

Inspiration may come from the need to save which many of us can relate to. Kerri is from Kerri Blue Malibu and tells us about her amazing mirror: My grandparents lived through the great depression and I learned to “save” things from them. I started saving things that looked cool and interested me when I was really young. I didn’t know what I would do with some of these things until my high school art classes. I would save old paint tubes, pieces of this and that, anything that looked interesting to me. Thirty years later, I still do the same thing. I am big on conservation and recycling but the reason I was drinking so much of the oxygen water was because I have lupus. It made me feel better. I can’t get the water anymore. I saved the caps because they had such a cool look to them. One day I came across the bag in the kitchen drawer and decided right then that I wanted to build a mirror with them. I have tons of tiles, glass, beads, odds and ends and quirky things and spent probably a week playing with things until I figured out what I wanted to make with the bottlecaps. I wanted to focus on the caps.

Whether it’s clay, stones, glass or bottle caps after centuries of mosaic work, it is here to stay.

Slide photo courtesy of CatRocks

Photo courtesy of frecklesfairytales
Columnist Michelle aka Little Toad

MyLuckyPal began when PL started to create sock animals for her kids several years ago. “I made 2 huge dogs and my boys were amazed that I could turn regular socks into stuff animals!” Socks are her major materials and she has a huge sock collection. She creates her lucky pals with thoughts and love. “I get very excited if I happen to see something so inspiring to me and I just cannot wait to start.”
{ Q&A }
Have you ever created a plush that you got attached to and it was really hard to sell or you ended up not selling it? It happened! Hard to let it go with something I felt so special. But I have learned that sharing of love and happiness is a better and bigger purpose for me to create. Selling, for me, is sharing!
What is your guiltiest pleasure? I cannot think of anything! I enjoy all things and try not to feel guilty about them.
What can you not go a single day without? I have to create, make something with my mind and hands!
If your creations came alive what would you do? WOW! That will be cool! I will hug them all! I am all the lucky pals’ mom!

KitLane: Kit admits that she’s not entirely sure where her creations came from. “I guess the wee Jacabobs and their ilk developed over time. My intention was to create a character who only exhibited childlike goodness and good humor.” Her creations are made entirely of wool with the exception of their facial bead eyes and button noses.
She is currently preparing pieces for a 6 person gallery show in August at Bear and Bird. “I’m also writing and rewriting, scrapping and writing some more for a very short children’s book, a difficult audience indeed.”
{ Q&A }
Have you ever created a plush that you got attached to and it was really hard to sell or you ended up not selling it? I fall in love with every little thing I make from paintings, sculpts, drawings and of course the little Jacabobs you see in my shop at Etsy. Sometimes it’s quite hard to part with them but the truth is I don’t own a single one. I set them all free.
What is your guiltiest pleasure? Sweetarts and Lil Debbie Nutty Bars
What can you not go a single day without? I have a 17 year old daughter, the love of my life and away at University. I have a hard time missing at least some form of communication with her every day. I do, at times suffer from Internet withdrawal too. Just the thought of a day or two without it makes me light headed.
If your creations came alive what would you do? I’d squeeze them all, show them the little home I’ve built for them and hope at least a few of them would stay. I’d ply them with muffins and jam.

It’s the fuzz by uglyclothes: Liz started making Christmas ornaments the first year she opened her shop. “I have always had a bit of a darker streak when it comes to my art so it wasn’t much of a surprise when I started making some creepy cuties for Christmas. The zombie line came from a random conversation with my boyfriend. We were trying to figure out something I could make and sell for Valentine’s Day and that is when I decided zombies need love too.” All of her creations are needle felted. “I use wool roving which I then poke to perfection. I also embellish my creations with buttons, ribbons and whatever else I can find.”
{ Q&A }
Have you ever created a plush that you got attached to and it was really hard to sell or you ended up not selling it? Yep. She’s sitting on my mantle and I love her. I made her as a self portrait to try out doing larger plush creations, and she is pretty big, but now I can’t possibly part with her, she is a part of my little family!
What is your guiltiest pleasure? Chocolate. Lots of it.
What can you not go a single day without? My kitties. Even the loud annoying one (okay I could maybe go a couple days without him, but not many).
What is your favorite place in the whole world? Home. Every time I leave I am so happy to be coming back.
If your creations came alive what would you do? Oh no! Well, the birds would probably fly away. The zombies would start wreaking havoc on the local townsfolk and the vampires would have to quickly find a coffin for refuge!

Article edited with pleasure by Barbra aka AllAboutTheButtons

Druid Tribal Tattoo ring by 3 Rexes Jewelry

We have all heard the “Diamonds Are Forever” theme and admired each other’s engagement rings. Almost every bride-to-be is delighted with and proud of her ring, whatever the size or style. However, engagement and wedding rings are but a small piece in the history of rings.

Today, we still adorn our fingers with both the value and symbolism of rings. Throughout time they have meant love, wealth, authority, belonging, and power.

The Egyptians were using rings as gifts and currency for much of their history. Rings proper, as opposed to simple wire wrappings, first appear during the Middle Kingdom, growing increasingly elaborate into New Kingdom times, when large signets gained popularity.
The Egyptian gods-on-earth wore circular rings to symbolize the eternal, unending nature of their power: one of the oldest actual rings in existence–said to be the most valuable antique ring–is the ring of Suphis, whom you may know by the name of Cheops.

This King of Memphis,known for the Great Pyramid, had a ring forged for himself that was covered in hieroglyphics and featured images of Isis, Osiris, lotuses, and crocodiles
source:.http://everything2.com/title/The+History+of+the+Ring

Egyptian Scarab Ring By howardacademy

Missy of HowardAcademy says of her ring,” This particular ring is actually one of my personal favorites. The Scarab was originally made by my father William l. Howard, Master Goldsmith. It is made from a die that he cut by hand so we have been able to reproduce it many times. I believe he made it back in the 1970s when the King Tut exhibit was touring the U.S. Aside from the popularity of Egyptian relics at the time, the goldsmiths of ancient Egypt have long inspired jewelers for centuries – including my father and myself.
As a side note, he made a different ring using this scarab for his mother (my grandmother) with a yellow sapphire above the head of the scarab. I was lucky enough to inherit that ring and now wear it daily. When I was a child I used to think the scarab was a real insect – I thought it was the gold bug Edgar Allen Poe wrote about in one of his short stories”

Many consider the period of Egyptian jewelry as the dawning period for our modern form of jewelry. It was at this time that the manufacturing of jewelry became a profession and techniques and skills evolved to create a wide variety of styles and adornments. Jewelry craftsman began to utilize artistic skill and an increasingly wide variety of materials. Although artistic skill was valued, the primary purpose of jewelry was to act as amulets and talismans.

Gemstone and metal color was of greater importance than any other attribute. Gold was used extensively probably because it was available and is easily worked. Many expensive gemstones we consider precious today, like diamonds, were seldom used simply because they did not exhibit the color or symbolism of other gemstones.
Egyptian beliefs stipulated that every gemstone carried certain mystical powers which would be given to the owner when worn as jewelry. Symbols such as the sacred Egyptian scarab also were an important part of jewelry and were also believed to bear certain powers.

SparkleMe has a modern take on an Egyptian design. She says “My personal style is very eclectic in real life and that comes through in my designs. The Eyptian hieroglyphics eye signifies royal power. Word is that this symbol was found under the 12th layer of bandages on Tutankhamun’s mummy.

Egyptian Eye - Adjustable Silver Tone Ring

Early Greek and Roman jewelry relied heavily upon trade with neighboring cultures and is therefore quite varied in style and construction. Cultural symbolism once again played an important part of jewelry during this period. Greek and Roman jewelry was often created to symbolize legends and gods and later popular cultural beliefs. During this time metal working techniques evolved and jewelry pieces became more intricate and delicate.

Unlike Egyptians, the Greek and Roman cultures did not believe in the mystical powers of gemstones. For this reason, stones and metals are used as the primary construction materials. This period is known for the creation of the cameo. The cameo is a piece of stone carved to create a portrait of a leader or god. This form of jewelry remains popular today and has enjoyed a number of adaptations through history.

Where a ring was worn was different from places and times. Western tradition took for what we now know as the ring finger, from the later Greeks, who mistakenly but romantically believed that the vena amoris–the vein of love–ran from that finger directly to the heart.
We’ve all seen the movies where the evil court noble, with the large ring, flips open the stone and slips some unsuspecting sap a medieval mickey finn. One of the first said to conceal poison in a ring was Demosthenes, the famous orator.
Much later in history, the Borgias-a murdering family of great renown–also employed such devices. In Dumas’ Crimes Celebres, Caesar Borgia is described as wearing a ring with two lions’ heads, the teeth of which were poisonous. When shaking hands with an enemy, he would press them into the target’s palm, then smile and wait….” source http://everything2.com/title/The+History+of+the+Ring

About this selection, Cin says “I’ve always been fascinated with rings, but poison rings in particular. Those nifty little compartments filled with disaster hidden underneath bodacious glam, glitter and bling just captivate me so this one, with an obvious menacing (yet utterly adorable) caution sign, was a no brainer. Although it doesn’t have the hidden “jewel” that the poison rings of old had, to me it just oozes a “keep away” vibe that I so adore. I think I might have even giggled when I made it – LOL!”
So it is seen that jewelry in general and rings specifically have been a significant part of History. The rich history will be continued in another article covering selected unusual cultural traditions of engagement and birthstone rings.
Article photos courtesy of:
3RexesJewlery
HowardAcademy
SparkleMe
CinsationalBaubles

By Contributing Columnist  Amanda aka GimmeThatThing

Unless you have been holidaying on the moon lately you are bound to have heard about Zibbet by now. Zibbet is a relatively new kid on the block as a growing online market place for all things craft related and has slowly been gaining momentum over the past few months. However, like all young kids it has experienced a sudden growth spurt in the last few weeks as sellers choose to expand their repertoire and take advantage of its great offer. As an incentive to its shop owners to promote the site, Zibbet gives each seller a referral link when they join, from which they can reap the benefits. With each Premium Account referral that they acquire they receive $1 off their monthly fee, and can even find themselves owning a free shop for life. Sellers can also opt for a Basic Account with no monthly fee, and a small commission on sales is all they pay. Either way, it’s a win-win situation with Zibbet growing on a daily basis and experiencing increased traffic to the site. It looks like Zibbet could soon become huge.

A forum has been established on the ning network.  With the UK Zibbeters Group only a few days old, we already have nearly 20 members, many of whom I am already familiar with on the Folksy forum. Zibbet also has a growing forum and a chat facility meaning we can all get to know each other better on a personal basis if we so choose. The forum is informative, friendly and helpful, with many people having years of sales experience and only too willing to help any newbies who are still finding their crafting feet. Zibbet is simple to navigate and the item listing process is a piece of cake, even for the technology-challenged folk like me. Having more than one online shop is a great way to increase your exposure.

 I caught up with a couple of Folksy sellers who have recently arrived to sell on Zibbet too. Annabella of Annabella Designs opened for business with Folksy way back in June of last year and initially heard about Zibbet which she joined just a few days ago, from a discussion on the Folksy forum. She specialises in wedding items and bridal wear such as garters, vintage and retro bridal petticoats and wedding skirts and corsets. Her favourite item features in both her shops is a satin ring pillow.  Annabella promotes both her shops on the Zibbet and Folksy forums as well as with Craft Juice and many bridal forums. The particular features that she loves on Zibbet are the clean crisp and uncluttered look of the site and the fact that it is so user friendly.

Another seller I found on both Folksy and Zibbet is Caroline from Scape. She first discovered Zibbet via a Google search when she was looking for an additional online craft marketplace on which to sell her jewellery. She joined Zibbet in February. She is not keen on the self promotion that is required in order to get an online shop noticed but will promote new listings occasionally on Facebook. She is a keen fan of Stumbleupon as a promotional site. Caroline loves the fact that on Zibbet a seller can customize their shop in order to aid branding. She also likes the promotional coupons and gift certificates as a great way of plugging a shop. Her favourite item in her Zibbet shop is her Moonlight Ring Set which is also listed on Folksy.

There are many other Folksy folk who Zibbet too, including little old me at Gimme That Thing. I love the fact that I can list items for free in my Zibbet shop, so I do not have to think twice if I want to add or remove anything from my shop on a whim. My favourite item that currently appears in both my shops is the Temples of Siam Earrings. Check out Zibbet as a buyer or a seller. You won’t be disappointed.

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.zibbet.com/AnnabellaDesigns

http://www.zibbet.com/Scape

 http://www.zibbet.com/GimmeThatThing

http://www.zibbet.com/portablegraffiti

By contributing columnist Barbra aka All About The Buttons

When I first saw this shop name I had to check it out. It is so perfect! Judy is a wonderful woman with a great product. Learn more here….

Tell us a bit about yourself…
I created Portable Graffiti back in 1979 when living in a sleepy village in the Finger Lakes area of New York State. There isn’t much work in quaint sleepy villages unless you create your own job. I took a loan to buy my first professional button machine along with paper and art markers and began designing buttons by hand. I started doing small local arts and crafts shows and the business grew until I filled a 20’ long craft tent with 1000s of buttons on display. My first State Fair was the ‘The Fair’ in Syracuse, NY and I continued there in the same location for 7 years. I traveled with the buttons and have sold them as far west as San Francisco, east as far as Boston, and south as far as Key West, Florida.

Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?
I’m a full-time single mother. I homeschooled my daughters until they enrolled in college. I work at home as a freelance proofreader for various book publishers and I write articles published on eHow.com. I have a nice little agricultural homestead and have raised goats, sheep, geese, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, pigs and chickens partly due to our involvement in 4-H. Currently we have a flock of hens, our 11 year old Border Collie, 2 young Blue Heelers and 1 awesome old cat.

What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?
I was originally inspired to create Portable Graffiti after helping my best friend Margie sell her dough art at craft shows. I wanted to make something, too. At the time I ran an antique store, The Odd Lot in Lodi, NY and loved the customers and the social and community aspect of selling. I was inspired to come up with something that I could make and sell. I had a 20-year background in graphic arts and designing buttons seemed to be a logical choice.

Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?
My mother was the best salesperson I could ever ask for when I used to sell my buttons at art shows and fairs. I learned a lot from her. I restock sold items immediately because I can still “hear” her say, “If they can’t see it, they can’t buy it.”

What other passions do you have in your life?
That’s an easy question. #1 is my 2 awesome daughters who are virtual twins. They are the same age with one being adopted from Brazil as a newborn baby and one biological. #2 would definitely be my passion for recycling and reusing of everything from trash to found treasures. I have been moderating Freecycle-type recycling groups since 2004.

In the future I’d like to be…
In addition to continuing to make Portable Graffiti buttons and mirrors with my 4 button machines, I would like to start using the fabric button maker I have, paint, sew and make other creative things, especially from recycled trash.
I see myself moving out of Florida and back to the Finger Lakes in New York, opening a trash to treasures type shop selling art, vintage and antiques, right at my home, so I can sell direct to the tourists along the Finger Lakes Wine Trail in addition to selling on line here at Zibbet.

Judy can put just about anything onto a button and create a great gift or promo item…your logo, shop name, postage stamps, cereal boxes, tea bag envelopes, feathers, dried flowers…let your imagination go!

Find Judy and her buttons at  Portable Graffiti

AllAbouttheButtons

While professionally, I was an elementary school teacher, personally I indulged and pursued creative outlets since I was a small child and infused my teaching with crafts when I could. “All About The Buttons” came into being in the early 1990s on a small scale. In 2002, I retired from teaching and moved to South Carolina from NY. In our new home I was able to carve out studio space and in 2006 I discovered online selling. I now have 3 active shops:allaboutthebuttons, allaboutthefiber , and on Zibbet, allaboutthebuttons and a blog at allaboutthebuttons

I still get a thrill when someone down the street or across the ocean buys something I have created. I love what I do and do what I love and hope never to stop.

I’m also the Assistant Editor for Indiesmiles, I share the editing duties with Sue, owner of Indiesmiles. We enjoy getting the Indie “smiles” word out!

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ARTICLES by All About The Buttons:
Packaging on a Dime

Communication is the Key

Smile!!

Soft Agression

Forgotten Avenues

Craft Show-boating

Lets talk blogs!

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