Free ipad App for Kids! until 1/1/12 June Blossom ABC Coloring Book

Remember a while back I told you about a great new ipad application for kids or anyone learning their alphabets and sounds?  No?  To refresh your memory, click here!

June Blossom ABC Coloring Book

 is now offering a special promotion!  

Download the initial application for FREE!
Get it here!

All they ask is that you spread the word!

But hurry, this promotion won't last!
It's only free until New Year's Day (that's this Sunday)!
Click here!

Regular price is a mere $0.99, but what a great way to try something different and new!  Plus they sell great add ons to the app at really low prices, too!

Looking for a great educational application to help your child (or anyone, for that matter! - know someone trying to learn English?) build a solid foundation?  June Blossom believes that children and adults learn best through fun and engaging activities!  They want to turn your child's play time into an active learning environment without them knowing!

Check out the demo!

June Blossom is an effective tool with colored illustrations and interactions, allowing children to color in pictures, apply stickers to their creations and playing with interactive alphabet blocks!  They consulted educators, pediatricians, designers, parents and children while building their application!

They carefully chose words and pictures that best represent each letter of the alphabet, so that your child hears the correct phonetics of pronunciation from their voice coach.

Even Better?

After each session, your child can be surprised with a congratulatory award message an animation!  I love the positive reinforcement!

AND, once your child has mastered their ABC's, they offer many more upgrade avenues like writing, counting numbers, a wider variety of themes and colors for a low low price!

In anticipation of having our first child, my husband and I have already downloaded this app to our ipad!  =)

Would love to hear what my readers think about this application, too!

Want more information?  They have a facebook page!

HGW Jewelry Designs Giveaway!

Hope everyone is getting into the Holiday spirit!

I would love to introduce you to the designer behind HGW Jewelry Designs!  Harriet Warkel!

Harriet's shop specializes in fine silver jewelry, wire wrapped , enamel and handmade beaded jewelry!

She's got something for everybody with pendants, earrings necklaces - all with gemstones, crystals or cubic zirconia!

Harriet, how did you get into making your lovely jewelry?

I am an art lover. It’s who I am and a part of me. For 25 years I was the curator of American art at our local museum.  I spent that time looking at art, writing about it, exhibiting it and being thankful for the wonderful opportunity of overseeing the museum’s collection of American art. When that ended during their big layoff, I knew I had to stay in the arts, but this time I wanted to be the artist not the art historian. I have a BA and MA in Art History, but never envisioned having a creative side.

Before I left my position, I began taking courses in metalsmithing at our art center. I soon discovered that I had a talent for creating jewelry. I continued my creative learning experience by taking additional courses in wire wrapping, beading and precious metal clay. I have a Level 3 certification in precious metal clay. I don’t like to specialize in a certain technique because for me it is limiting.  One of the most exciting aspects of being an artist is learning something new and creating something different with my newly acquired knowledge.  What I do specialize in is one of a kind jewelry.  I don’t think I could, nor would I try, to duplicate my pieces.  I want people to feel they have something special that they won’t see on anyone else. 

Thanks, Harriet!  You've got beautiful jewelry!  I think it would make the perfect gift for someone who loves jewelry and already has everything or loves intricate designs!

Where you can find Harriet

www.etsy.com/shop/HGWjewelrydesigns

www.HGWartisanjewelry.com

This is going to be a different kind of giveaway!

When you purchase an item from HGW Jewelry Designs, you will be entered to win this!

A gorgeous and intricately wrapped copper and marisposite pendant!

Number of entries are determined by the dollar amount that you spend in HGW Jewelry Designs' etsy shop!  So, the more you spend, the more entries you get!!!

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!

ALL MY READERS WILL GET A FREE GIFT WITH THEIR PURCHASE FROM HGW JEWELRY DESIGNs' etsy shop!

that's right!

You will get an additional FREE copper name pendant 
HANDMADE by HGW JEWELRY DESIGNS
 (in name of your choice, of course)!

similar to this:

Now for details...


How to enter:
1.  Once you make a purchase from HGW Jewelry Designs Etsy shop,
come back here and fill out the rafflecopter form below!
Click the entry form up to the dollar amount you spent!
So if you spent $70, you get 4 entries!


Make sure you include a link to your paid invoice so that your purchase can be verified!


It's that simple!

Antoniya Koleva Designs Giveaway! ends 12/14

Just in time for the holidays!  Please meet Antoniya!

My name is Antoniya, but everyone calls me Tonka. I was born in Bulgaria but lived in Hungary and Holland while obtaining my business degree. Throughout my studies my only goal was to learn how to be an art entrepreneur. I love making things - since I was a little girl I was sewing Barbie doll dresses with my cousins, learned crochet from my grandmas, and being a cool teenager made my own jewelry. I am now living in Turkey with my awesome husband and our zoo - 2 dogs and 2 cats. I live near the beach in the suburbs so nature is my biggest inspiration. There is so much it can give us! I like to combine natural and man-made materials for the best results in my products!

 My inspiration are the creative people around me and nature! I take the shapes and materials from nature and use the creative energy around me to turn them into something fun and beautiful! For my jewelry I use local newspapers which inspire me with their originality. In my art the important thing is to make things always different and one of a kind. I might make something similar but I wouldn't like to make the same things over and over again!

Thanks, Antoniya!  Great stuff!

See something you like?

Antoniya is offering YOU
10% off all items with coupon code

GIVEAWAY

in her etsy shop!

Enter to win this!  One of a Kind!  Headband and bracelet set:

Hand cut and sealed newspaper over a plastic bangle and headband, and varnished for anice, matte look. The bangle is 7 cm/2.6 inches in diameter inside and it will fit most. It's width is 1.5 cm/0.6 inch. The headband is tight and will sustain even the craziest hair! Both are somewhat water and alcohol resistant

Giveaway open internationally

How to enter:

Mandatory: You must be a follower of my blog!

1. Mandatory Entry: Check out Antoniya Koleva Designs etsy store and then come back fill out form below. Be sure to leave me your blogger ID (1 entry)

optional entries (1 entry for each one you do unless otherwise specified):

2. Like Jewelry By J on facebook
3. Like Antoniya on facebook and tell her Jewelry By J sent you

4. Heart one of Antoniya Koleva Designs item in her etsy store

5. Antoniya Koleva Designs etsy store

6. Heart my etsy shop or an item in it!

7. purchase an item from Antoniya Koleva Designs etsy store (10 entries)

Contest ends on 12.14.2011

Winner will be chosen by random.org

Heart Of Stone Giveaway ends 12/5!

Hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving! - lots of eating, family and lots of shopping!

Speaking of shopping, what a great time to talk about my next guest!

It's my pleasure to introduce you to Rachel from Heart of Stone!  She makes an array of beautiful natural stone and gemstone jewelry!

Rachel, please tell us about yourself and your beautiful creations!

I've been a professional seamstress (among many other things) in the costume industry for 21 years, making garments and props for theater, movies, TV, ice shows and even parades.  I was once on a reality TV design competition show, too!  I wasn't a contestant, but 1 of 3 professional seamstresses there to assist the competitors.  It was dang fun, too!  I still make costumes, but the jewelry has taken a front seat in my life, so all my energies go to the jewelry now.

When i first started making jewelry it was just as gifts for loved ones and me, then I started selling at fairs and shows.  I have a lifelong love affair with rocks because my mom was always a rock gatherer and that quirk (or quality, depending on your point of view!) has been passed down to me and my sister both.  You can find the three of us together in a dry creek bed with our butts in the air and faces to the ground, looking for any rocks, stones and minerals that catch our eyes.  So you can imagine the collection we all have in our homes and gardens!  Friends go on vacation, and what do they bring me?  A handful of rocks from where they went!  I really love that!  So my natural choice of medium to work with is gemstone!  Showcasing the beauty of the stone is my passion and muse.  I don't know the metaphysical properties of the stones, because they all make me happy!


This has been the most creatively fulfilling and satisfying time in my life, and i can't wait to see what happens next.  I have a dream of opening a shop where it's half garment manufacturing (I have a men's line of shirts in the works) and the other half id dedicated to all things costumes.  I have a small room all to myself for Hearts of Stone!

This coming January I will be participating in a gift lounge at the Golden Globes as a member of The Artisan Group, which is a juried group of artist.  The Group promotes the artist's work through gift lounges at red carpet events.  There will be a table with displays and swag bags to give away.  I'm going to be gifting 100 pairs of earrings to the celebs, so I'm very excited!


My favorite pieces in my shop?  Too hard!  I love it all!  Seriously, if I love a piece so much that I don't want to sell it, it sells!  I love some more than others, but I can't make a living by not selling anything!  Right now at this very moment, my favorite is the Lucky buddha black corral fossil.  

Thanks Rachel!  I love all your items!  Now that YOU have to have one of Rachel's items, go check out her etsy store!

Find Hearts of Stone here:

etsy:  www.HrtsofStone.etsy.com

facebook:  www.facebook.com/HrtsofStone

twitter:  www.twitter.com/HrtsofStone

BUY IT!

You can get 15% off your entire purchase!

coupon code HOSJ15

at checkout in etsy!

WIN IT!
Win these gorgeous ocean jasper and moss opalite earrings in Gold Filled!
They are 2 3/8" in length and have glass and Swarovski crystal accents

Two ways to win!
1.  You can head over to Rachel's place and clean her house - she says she will give you a jewelry set!  =)  ha ha ha
or
 2.  You can win by entering the rafflecopter form below:

Open world wide!

Mandatory 1st entry:

Check out Hearts of Stone and come back and fill out the rafflecopter form below

You must be a follower of my blog to win!

extra optional entries (1 entry each unless otherwise indicated):

Like Hearts of Stone on facebook

follow Hearts of Stone on twitter'

Heart an item in Hearts of Stone's etsy store

Favorite Hearts of Stone's etsy store

Purchase an item from Hearts of Stone using coupon code above (10 entries!)

Heart an item from Jewelry By J

Follow this blog via email

post a blog comment

ends 12/5

New iPad app for kids! Free download of June Blossom's ABC Coloring app for Black Friday!

June Blossom ABC Coloring Book

Limited time free download for Black Friday!!!

I know i usually talk about jewelry, but I know a lot of you moms out there are always looking for ways to entertain as well as educate your children!

One of my friends (who is a physician and whose wife has design background for a big name company *wink*) came up with this application for iPad to help educate his little girl because they just couldn't find anything out there to help kids learn.

Their emphasis and belief has always been that they want her to have a superior command of the English language.

We all know that kids learn so fast and always want to be involved with things that we are.  So, my friends wanted to make something different, something better, and something fun.  They spoke to teachers, parents and looked at how their child, as well as other children, use the iPad and other tablet devices.  

Check out their new application!

It's called June Blossom ABC Coloring book and is for babies and toddlers to learn to read and write, learn their colors and numbers!

Check them out on facebook, too!

www.facebook.com/juneblossomofficial

Stop by and tell them Jewelry By J sent you!

For black friday, they are offering one lucky person a free download of the app per hour!!!!  Hurry, this only lasts today!

What a cool deal!  And if you miss it, the app only cost 99 cents!

If you're happy with their application, they also have a bunch of other add ons that are great!

Mutti Giveaway ends 11/27

It's my pleasure to bring you another giveaway sponsored by Mutti!  

Meet Mutti shop owner, Linda

Industrial Beauty Necklace

I am a lifelong native of Philly and I love to walk the trails of the Wissahickon Creek. Much of the creek now runs through or next to parkland, with the last few miles running through a deep gorge. The beauty of this area attracted the attention of literary personages like Edgar Allan Poe and John Greenleaf Whittier. The gorge area is now part of the Fairmount Park system in Philadelphia, and the Wissahickon Valley is known as one of 600 National Natural Landmarks of the United States. Industry sprang up along the Wissahickon not long after European settlement, with America's first paper mill set up on one of the Wissahickon's tributaries. A few of the dams built for the mills remain visible today.
I have been making jewelry from objects found in the Wissahickon which range from broken glass and weathered metal objects to river stones.

Love and Death Bracelet

My inspirations vary.  Walking in the park, beautiful flowers, my daughter, and when I can find time to sit and let my mind wander sometimes inspiration will strike.  I also often sit and arrange and rearrange some of my finds until they find their order. Of course things that one thinks will look awesome in a picture often don’t come out right.  Working with metal means I can take it apart or recycle it if I don’t like the final product.

Love Mutti's stuff, but can't wait until the giveaway's over?

You can get 20% off with code DREAMY right now!

Now for the GIVEAWAY!  

Mutti is offering one lucky winner her 

lampwork copper bracelet!

How to enter:

Mandatory:  You must be a follower of my blog!  

Not a follower?  It's easy!  Just click follow to the right!
Please note this is not an entry option.

Fill out the rafflecopter form below

If the form does not show the Mutti one, just click on the title of this blog or the link to the right under "current giveaways" to refresh the rafflecopter link.  Thanks!

open to followers in the US, Canada and International!

1.  Mandatory entry:  Check out Mutti's etsy shop; then come back and come back and fill out the rafflecopter form below (1 entry)


Optional extra entries:

2.  Like Jewelry By J on facebook (1 entry)

 3.  Heart one of Mutti's item in her etsy store (1 entry)

4.  Heart Mutti's etsy store (1 entry)


5. Heart my etsy shop! (1 entry)

6.  Check out my etsy shop and the come back and tell me what your favorite item is or what you'd like to see (1 entry)

Contest ends on 11.27.2011

Winner will be chosen by random.org

New! Rose Sculpture Jewelry

For one of my best friend's wedding this past October, I designed these simple and modern rose sculpture (scribble?) earrings!  Her theme was roses and her colors were red and gold, so I thought it was appropriate!  These sets are what the bridesmaids wore.  All materials are gold filled with semi precious stones.  

What do you think?

Set #1:  

Of course, you don't have to put them together this way, but I liked the small earrings with the large necklace :

Small rose sculpture earrings dangling on a large clear quartz crystal with large triple rose necklace.  The rose in the center of the necklace is larger than the ones on the sides:

Here's a close up:

Set #2

Large single rose sculpture earrings with crystal quartz "dew drop" with triple mini rose sculpture necklace:

close ups of the earrings and necklace:

and last, but not least, the earrings I designed for the bride herself for her rehearsal brunch:

double rose earrings:

These are all now listed for sale in my etsy shop!
Check it out!

I think they came out so much better than I was expecting!  Her wedding was simple and elegant and I wanted earrings that wouldn't be too over the top or "bridesmaid-ey" and I think they came out very well.  Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Yawnydifranco headband giveaway! ends 11/21

I'd like to introduce you to Megan, owner of Yawnydifranco - a shop with an eclectic mix of items, from pottery and jewelry to hair accessories and art work!

My name is Megan and I just graduated from college with an art degree and have worked at a craft store for almost 7 years now, which is why I think my shop has such a wide range of products - I love trying out new things!


My shop, Yawnydifranco, is just about a year old and contains many of the pieces I have made for classes.  In addition to that, some pieces I have made outside of class on my own as well as some more crafty things like my knitted goods.  I love trying new crafts and using new materials - looking at other Etsy sites definitely keeps me inspired and motivated to try new things. 

Right now, I'd say my favorite item is my braided knit headband (like the one I am sponsoring for the giveaway).  They are fun for me to make, and they look very nice with a dress or even something more casual like jeans.  I get compliments every time I wear one!


I also try to keep my prices reasonable, and I really feel like I have a little something or everyone!  I'm open to doing custom work as well - so if you see something, but would like it in a different color, feel free to contact me!

Where you can find Yawnydifranco:

etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/yawnydifranco

tumblr:  yawnydifranco.tumblr.com

BUY IT!

Like something from the shop?

Megan is offering YOU 10% off you entire purchase

enter code 10NEW at checkout!
*Bonus - Thanksgiving Day - Cyber Monday, Megan is offering FREE shipping!*

WIN IT!

If you love the headband, you could win one for yourself!

Check out Megan's shop and then come back and fill out the rafflecopter form below for entries!

You must be a follower of my blog to win!

Open to US residents!

Goodluck!

Bella Anela Giveaway ends 11.14

Who doesn't love pretty jewelry?!  Do you recall about a month ago, I ranted and raved about adorable earrings I got from Bella Anela?  Well, here's your chance to get your own if you haven't already!  Angela is offering one lucky reader a gift certificate to her etsy shop!  Angela, tell us about yourself...

Aqua Quartz and Coral Teardrop earrings

My name is Angela and I was born and raised in Hawaii. 
I've been creating jewelry for about six years now, thanks to a wonderful friend of mine who first taught me the wonders of wire wrapping. While her business has been flourishing over the past several years, I had been happily tinkering along, not overly concerned about what I was going to do with all of the stuff I had been making. Then, a little over a year ago, I discovered Etsy. **Pausing for the horrified gasps to abate and for jaws to be picked up off the floor** Yes. Thanks to a few supportive coworkers and some complete strangers, I've finally discovered a place where I can obsess over how many people have "favorited" my shop and if my pictures are as good as the next Esty seller's. But I'm mostly just jazzed that people all over the world can now see what I've been working on at 2 in the morning.

Ice Blue Swarovski Hoop Earrings

Much of my inspiration comes from fleeting glances of what some stranger was wearing as we happened to pass by one another. Rather than risk looking like a lunatic by running after them to ask if I could take a picture, or even hold it in my hands so I could study it for a minute (I promise I'll give it back!), I scramble to find a writing utensil and a scrap of paper. My sketches usually end up looking very little like what I thought I had remembered seeing in that fraction of a millisecond, but by then the spark has already been lit, and the wheels being a-turnin'.

Lace Blue and Cream Cuff

One of my favorite items is my Lace Blue and Cream Cuff.   This was the first one that I had made of that style, and I loved the process of figuring out how I could incorporate the different materials - fabric ribbon, lace, and various beads - to create a wearable piece of jewelry.

Now for the GIVEAWAY

One lucky follower will win a gift certificate for $10 to Bella Anela's etsy store! 

How to enter:

Mandatory:  You must be a follower of my blog!

Open to followers in the US 

1.  Mandatory Entry:  Check out Bella Anela's etsy store and then come back fill out form below.  Be sure to leave me your blogger ID (1 entry)

optional entries (1 entry for each one you do):

2.  Like Jewelry By J on facebook 

3.  Like Bella Anela on facebook and tell her Jewelry By J sent you

4.  Heart one of Bella Anela's item in her etsy store

5.  Heart Bella Anela's etsy store 

6. Heart my etsy shop! 
7.  purchase an item from Bela Anela's etsy store (10 entries)

 

Contest ends on 11.14.2011

Winner will be chosen by random.org

My Hobby Shop Giveaway ends 11/6

Featured Shop This week is My Hobby Shop

Meet Lily, one of the women behind the shop =)  She's got a mix of jewelry, hats, purses, shawls, ponchos, shrugs, hair accessories and more!

Furry Shimmery Gray Eco Friendly Bangle Bracelet

My name is Lily. I am married with three children. I work full time and run my Etsy shop with my mother. She taught me how to crochet when I was 13 years old and I instantly fell in love. I started out  making small baby blankets for friends and family and soon evolved to other items. I love experimenting with yarn and stitches to see what I can come up with.

Cowl Neckwarmer infinity Grey Button Scarf

For years friends would tell me that I could sell my items. One day at a craft fair I met a nice lady who told me about Etsy. After doing some research I decided to give it a try. After two years I still love everything about Etsy. I have joined forces with my mother and now offer her wonderful crocheted garments in my shop.

I would love to eventually make this my full time job. The more I work on my shop the more I am motivated to make this a reality.

Lily is generously offering readers 10% off with BLOGBFF in her etsy store for a limited time!

Thanks, Lily!

Now for the GIVEAWAY!  

Lily is offering one lucky winner her 

Crocheted Cowl Neckwarmer Infinity Scarf in the color of your choice! (honeysuckle pink (pictured), red wine, black, green, pink, turquoise, purple and bright pink)

 

How to enter:

Mandatory:  You must be a follower of my blog!  

 

open to followers in the US, Canada and International!

1.  Mandatory entry:  Check out My Hobby Shop shop on etsy and then come back and fill out the rafflecopter form below (1 entry)

optional extra entries:

2.  Like Jewelry By J on facebook (1 entry)

3.  Like My Hobby Shop on facebook  and tell her Jewelry By J sent you! (1 entry)

4.  Heart My Hobby Shop's item in her etsy store or her entire shop(1 entry each)

5.  Become a follower of My Hobby Shop's Blog and tell her Jewelry By J sent you.  Be sure to leave me your Blogger ID(1 entry)

7.  Follow My Hobby Shop on twitter.  Be sure to leave your twitter ID (1 entry)

8.  Check out my etsy shop either heart an item or the entire store (1 entry each)

Contest ends on 11.6.2011

Winner will be chosen by random.org