Blog Review: Chance to Win a $20 Gift Certificate for My Etsy Shop

I'm honored to have my Etsy Shop and jewelry reviewed on this blog:  Adorable Etsy Shop: DreamBelle Designs !!! Check it out, for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate for my shop.

I’ve been busy making new items, getting ready for two upcoming home jewelry shows! Here are some new items in my Etsy shop:

 

 

If you get a chance check out  my new ArtFire Shop!  Still have a lot of work to do on it, but it’s slowly coming along. Have a wonderful weekend! :D

All I need is some good red sauce & crusty bread…

In my former life I was Italian  and I spent my childhood days in the kitchen where my sweet Nonna taught my how to make all her special dishes.  Well since I don’t really believe in re-incarnation, I bring myself back to reality…where I did spend my childhood days with my German Grandma.  Who taught me how to make her special dishes like: spaetzle, fleisch küchen (meat cakes), potato salad, and German red cabbage.  As a child I loved being in the kitchen helping out my Mom or anyone else that would let me stand by their side to learn.  That resulted in a love for cooking.  I enjoy making a big meal for others and watching them chow it down, and then leave me to clean it all up (o.k. I don’t really like that part).
Over the years I have  developed a certain fondness for Italian food.  Especially red sauce (or as the Italian’s would say “gravy”) with fresh baked crusty bread.  I could make an entire meal out of those two things, but my waste line wouldn’t be so forgiving!
I’ve tried many recipes for sauce, some good, some not so good.   I’ve taken what I’ve learned and come up with  my own recipe that I want to share:
28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T onion, minced (optional…still tastes great without it)
¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
1 ½ tsp. sugar
Salt & pepper to taste
3 T olive oil
1 tsp each: fresh chopped oregano & basil
Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pan on medium-high heat, add garlic and onion; cook until fragrant, about 1 -2 minutes.  Add the red pepper flakes and the tomatoes.  Season with salt & pepper, breaking the tomatoes up as you go.  Bring to a boil, add the sugar and reduce the heat to a rapid simmer.  Cook, stirring often, until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes.  Stir in the fresh herbs.
The longer you cook, the thicker the sauce will be. I use my Braun hand held blender to puree it!


Sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or do like I do and freeze it.  I use this sauce on my homemade grilled pizza dough (yum!), for zucchini parmesan and of course dipping crusty bread.  Do your kids like sauce but not veggies?  Try this trick: chop up a cup of carrots and celery, put them in the oil and saute them until transparent (or mushy) then add the garlic and onions and finish off the recipe.  Your kids will get a whole serving of veggies and not even know it!

LiveJournal Tags: gravy,red sauce,crusty bread,pizza,pasta,Italian,recipes,cooking,food

Sharing Saturday…

I’m cleaning house in my shop, need to make room for so many new items! I’ve added a whole bunch of items to my S-A-L-E section.  Here’s a little peak ~
     
    
   
Stop on by and take a look around! Mention this blog post in the notes to seller box and receive 10% off you entire purchase, including sale items! Have a wonderful weekend! xo

Sharing Saturday…Memorial Weekend Sale!

Letting you all know I’m having a Memorial Weekend Sale ~ 10% OFF your entire purchase ~ now through midnight Monday!  Stop on over and take a look around! Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend filled with lots of fun!  Here are some new items in my shop:

   

     

LiveJournal Tags: jewelry,etsy,zibbet,sterling silver,handcrafted,copper,sale,memorial day

Sharing Saturday…

I’m going to make an honest effort to post more to my blog.  So I thought I’d start a weekly post called “Sharing Saturday”, where I will post new items from my shop and share other great finds!

Here are some new listings in my Etsy Shop! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

 

     

 

LiveJournal Tags: jewelry,handcrafted,hammered metal,sterling silver,brass,copper,handmade,etsy,zibbet,unique,modern,simple

Mother’s Day

Wishing all the Mom’s out there a wonderful Mother’s Day! May your day be blessed with happiness and joy! 

Yesterday I delivered 46 new items to the buy-sell-trade boutique that is carrying my line of jewelry--Nomad.  The boutique was inspired by the owner’s online Etsy shop: Le Amor. It’s a quaint little shop one block from Lafayette College.  Many awesome finds can be found from new to vintage.  Clothing, accessories, shoes, jewelry and more.  Some of the clothing that you will find: American Apparel, Ann Taylor, Bebe, Banana Republic, Diesel 7,  JCrew, Kenneth Cole and the list goes on and on. Great shop for the local college students.  One can choose to sell their items for cash or receive store credit…great deal if you ask me for the starving college kid who’d like something new & fashionable.

If you live in or around the Lehigh Valley you can visit the shop in College Hill at 518 March St.

Here’s a few Etsy sellers featured at Nomad…

Dahling Accessories beautiful eye-catching fabrics, awesome designs all with a vintage flair.

Leo and Junie great jewelry inspired by nature with a vintage look!

Ordinary Mommy hand-cut and hand stitched felt hair pieces and jewelry.  So many cute and unique designs to choose from!

Blue Toad Journals of Tremundo amazing journals with a unique design! Featured artisan on HGTV’s “That’s Cool!”

Have a great day! If you have a bit of extra time…check out all the new items in my Etsy Shop!

LiveJournal Tags: handmade,handcrafted,journals,vintage,jewelry,purse,buy,sell,trade,etsy,zibbet

Metalwork Creations

I’ve been slacking on my blog, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.  I think if I had 36 hours in the day, I might be able to get most of it done.  With spring being here, more work has been added.  Looking forward to all of the yard work and re-doing my flower beds.  They definitely need a make-over.   In the meantime, when I’m not outside playing….I’ve been inside  playing around with sterling silver, copper, and brass sheet plate.   I’m excited to work with the sheet and see what new and fun designs I can come up with.  Wanted to share some of my latest metalwork creations, now available in my Etsy shop.

        
        
        
        

Sunshine Award!

 
Great things happened yesterday! Celebrated the first day of Spring with wonderful weather.  The temperature was 74 degrees, and sunny! I opened all the windows and almost got all of my spring cleaning done. My purple and white winter crocus sprouted into the world, what a pretty site to see!  Check out  the pictures on my Facebook Fanpage. 
More importantly I was delighted to find out I was nominated for the Sunshine Award by Odin's Bead Hall.  I am honored, flattered and would like to say a big thank you!  Please stop by her Etsy Shop and check out her beautiful  jewelry, there is something there for everyone!

For the Sunshine Award the rules are:
1. Place the logo within your blog or post
2. Pass the award on to 12 other bloggers
3. Link the nominees within the post
4. Let the nominees know they have won by commenting on their blog
5. Share the love by linking to the person from whom you received the award

The nominees are:
1. Demure Artistic Designs
2. Dean Designs
3. TJB Designs
4. Fruits Of The Bloom
5. Faerie Moon Creations
6. Fat Bottom Bags
7. The Pine Cone Tea Cup
8. JKA Designs
9. Goody Goody Tutus
10. CinLynn Boutique
11. Lean Dog Pottery
12. Classic Keepsakes

Facebook Give-A-Way!

The rules of Facebook have changed and you can no longer post give-a-ways, promos, etc….so I am announcing it here with hopes that you all will all help me out.  When I reach 350 fans I will be giving away a free pair of earrings.  Please spread the word, invite your friends! I’m only 15 fans away, so the give-a-way will be here before you know it! All fans will be entered unless they let me know that they are not interested. This is an easy give-a-way, you have to do nothing if you are a fan.  Winner will be drawn by random.org for fairness.  Become a FAN! Thanks :-)
 

Irish Eyes Are Smiling & Spring Is In The Air!!

FREE SHIPPING BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

OFFER Good 3/13 thru MIDNIGHT 3/20!  Help me celebrate St. Patty’s Day & the coming of Spring! 

I admit it, I’ve been lazy about my blog posts.  The winter blues have left me without motivation to write…but don’t think I forgot about you all!  The weather here has been fantastic for early March, temps topping out around 63 degrees.  So refreshing after a grueling winter full of too much snow!  So on that note in honor of St. Patrick’s Day….yep I have a wee bit of Irish in me…and the first day of Spring; I am offering free shipping in my shop starting at Midnight tonight through Midnight~March 20th!  Shipping charges will be refunded via PayPal after payment is received.  Please stop by and take a look around!  Check out some of my new items that are sure to add to your Spring wardrobe:

        

Enjoy! Please visit my Esty Shop anytime!

Technorati Tags: etsy,handmade,jewelry,spring wardrobe,accessorize,sterling silver,give-a-way,free shipping

Snow, snow, snow….

I never know if the weather man’s forecast will come true or not.  More times than not he’s way off the mark!  Well this time he was dead on…forecast: 6-12 inches! We got 10 inches with winds whipping around 25-30 miles per hour.  Needless to say the snow always drifts onto my driveway.  I think I had about 18 inches that had drifted my way…making clean-up harder.  Take a look, it’s so pretty outside and the snow is light as a feather.

 

 

Testing Out Windows Live Writer

Oops…my computer had some issues! I zapped the AC jack on my laptop and my desktop just didn’t want to cooperate at all.  It has been making my life difficult to say the least…but alas I am up and running again!! Spanky new laptop and a desktop running in brand new condition, needless to say I am one happy camper.  Lost a few days on the internet…so I just wanted to let you all know that I am BACK!!

Where I Do My Designing....

Are you ever curious as to what other artisans/ designers work areas look like? I am!  I wonder are they neat, tidy & organized or messy & disorganized....or maybe they are little bit of both!  I think I fall under the last one, neat and tidy...but then watch out disorganization will come quickly.  I don't have a studio per se, I only live in a three bedroom house.  That leaves a room for me to sleep in, a spare bedroom (for those out-of-town guests...mainly my niece and nephew!) and the other room doubles as my office and studio. Although, I'd like a bigger space, it works for me.  This way I design my jewelry and play online at the same time.  Ok sometimes I play online more than I design jewelry.

Here take a look (psst...it's looking pretty neat & tidy right now):

Now look what happens when my creative mind opens up....woosh! I think an explosion may have occured...LOL!!

Well I hope you all enjoyed checking out my little designer space. Have a great weekend, we're half-way there!

Awesome Give-a-way by Twillypop!

Check out this awesome give-a-way by Twillypop....such pretty items in her Etsy Shop.  Why not take a look around...take your time....browse a bit and when you've decided please enter her give-a-way!
Contest ends on January 24th at 6 p.m.....so go run along...you know you want to enter! :-)

Here's one of my favorites!

Sweetheart & Tweethearts Etsy Treasury

I'm so excited, I was lucky enough to snag a Treasury today on Etsy. I've included some wonderful people I've met throughout my Etsy and Twitter journey!  I have so many more that I wanted to include, but you only get so many spaces...so I'll catch the rest of you on the next treasury! Below the photo, I've listed the shops so you can check them out!  Wonderful artisans and people!  ENJOY!

Shop listings are left to right starting with the top row:

My Attics Treasures

Dean Custom Designs

Jennifer Dickerson Photography 

CinLynn Boutique

Demure Artistic Design

Val Vanias Art

GreenStar Jewellry

Wuglyees

Jennifer Lynn Studio

TJB Designs

Glass River Jewelry

Everyday Diamonds

SqueakyBug Specialties

Dutch Felt Art

Classic Keepsakes

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