AbraBOWdana
Meet our July team challenge winner, Dana from AbraBOWdana. I am very excited to tell you all about her and her shop. She makes the most adorable bows and puts them on everything from headbands to flip flops and she upcycles! Dana's shop is full of color and very fun to browse. I enjoy looking through all of the pretty bows and admire all of the many styles. I had no idea there were so many things that could be done with bows, but I should know to never underestimate creativity.
This summery bow is available for purchase here.
The first thing I always want to know about an artisan is how they got started. Dana told me that she "had been buying bows from many shops on Etsy. I had admired the work and wished I could do it myself. And then one day I bought some ribbon and tried!" I love it when people love a handmade product so much they decide to try to make it themselves! That is what keeps these arts alive.
This elegant jersey headband is available for purchase here.
So how does learning to make bows yourself become an Etsy shop? I asked Dana and she said, "I decided to open an Etsy store because I had purchased from Etsy myself and loved everything I had ever bought. I wanted to be a part of the community that is Etsy!" Etsy is a fabulous community. I can relate to wanting to be a part of the Etsy community. That is why I opened my shop up on Etsy too!
This Chicago Blackhawks bow is available for purchase here.
As a fellow upcycler, I couldn't help but notice all of the upcycled items Dana used. Bows made from upcycled denim, as well as bottle cap magnets and bottle caps used in the centers of some of her bows. I even noticed some vintage button in the centers of some of those bows. I asked Dana about her upcycling. She said, "I absolutely LOVE upcycling materials!!! My aunt was a HUGE crafter and she used to work in a thrift store. She would take buttons and fabric from the clothes that had stains and could not be sold. So when she stopped crafting and I started she gave me an entire box of buttons and gemstones and lace and denim! I was so excited! To me, it's a challenge to take something old and make it look new again. Right now I'm on the hunt for old vintage earrings and broaches to use as bridal or baptismal flower centers!!!" My heart skipped a beat when I read that. An entire box of goodies to upcycle??? Talk about upcycler heaven!
This pretty jersey headband is available for purchase here.
As I mentioned above, Dana has a fabulous variety of designs in her shop. Adorable bows for everyday occasions, bows with a sports team theme, bridal bows, and on and on. I wondered where her inspiration came from. Dana told me, "I would say my daughter Carli is my inspiration! I kind of go off what she is into and what she likes. Barbie, Hello Kitty, Bubble Guppies, Minnie Mouse, anything Disney! I also am trying to pay attention to the outfits she wears or what is in the stores right now. I never really looked that close at fashion, but now I definitely do!" It's great how owning an Etsy shop can open your eyes to things you had never noticed before. I love broadening horizons.
This adorable Hello Kitty bow is available for purchase here.
I want to give a special shout out to the jersey headbands! These are labor intensive and require a lot of sewing, but the result is beautiful. They look very comfortable and so stylish! I love it when comfort and style combine with such fabulous results. Here are a couple more of those headbands. I can't help it. They are so fun!!
This lovely jersey headband is available for purchase here.
This darling jersey knit headband is available for purchase here.
Although Dana is a "new" crafter, she is obviously a hard working one. I think these jersey knit headbands might be my favorite. Dana says, "I definitely aim to please. I am my harshest critique. I am going to keep learning and trying new things and having a ton of fun while doing it!" What a fantastic attitude for an artisan to have. I think it is in our blood.
Thank you Dana for sharing all of your wonderful thoughts and your beautiful bows! I have tried to show a good sampling of the variety in AbraBOWdana, but you will really have to visit the shop and browse her items to see all of the beautiful work she does. You can also find Dana on Facebook. Please stop on her page and show this hard working artisan some love.
Love and Peace,
Luci
Kelly's Craft Items
I am so pleased to introduce the first winner of our monthly team treasury challenge, Kelly from Kelly's Craft Items. Kelly displays an exciting variety of talents in her shop. I had a lot of fun looking through it and you will too. I couldn't wait to find out more about it.A love of learning and a fantastic sense of adventure are obvious in Kelly's work. I was curious to know how Kelly got started. She told me, "Art skills run in the family so I've always been around it and encouraged to develop those skills. Growing up I would win art contests. I am a college graduate and I have worked in the corporate world; however, I stay at home with my children right now so I have a little more free time to 'play'."
This lovely pair of earrings can be purchased here.
This stunning bracelet can be purchased here.
I was entirely enchanted with all of the beautiful items in Kelly's shop. What inspires this level of artisanship I wondered. I asked Kelly where her inspiration came from. She said, "I love to learn new things and challenge myself. I have a NEED to create. It brings me joy and calms me. I am new to jewelry so the various styles there reflect my dabbling to see what I like, what I am capable of, and what other people will buy. I really would like to work with precious metals and gemstones."
This fun set of cards is available for purchase here.
This pretty set of gift tags is available for purchase here.
You can see Kelly's love of creating in her work. She has so many fabulous items, but I was curious about her favorite material to work with. Kelly said, "I am really enjoying the metal wire! I like to find new and interesting ways to work with materials, I've just scratched the surface!" She isn't kidding about scratching the surface either. Just look at these jewelry trees!
This fun and functional jewelry tree is available for purchase here.
This adorable jewelry tree is available for purchase here.
You should also know that Kelly's 3 and 6 year old children craft with her. Kelly thinks we will be seeing some items from them as they get older. I sure hope so! I love that Kelly is passing these skills onto her children. I can't wait to see what the next generation designs.
Kelly also has a charity section in her shop for christian ministries that features jeweled crosses, cross charm keychains and more! There is something for everyone in Kelly's shop. With Kelly's amazing creativity, you can count on finding many fun items at great prices. This is a shop to keep your eye on. You can also find Kelly on Facebook. I recommend liking her page to stay updated on new items.
Thank you so much Kelly for participating in our team treasury challenge! You can find Kelly's lovely board on our Weekend BNS Bash happening July 7-8. You can find out more about the team treasury challenge in our team threads.
Love and Peace,
Luci
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