Nov 3, 2010

Earth Elements November Gift Ideas on ArtFire


Dec 11, 2009

Congrats to the Winner of the Oct/Nov Challenge!

Hillary of Artful Unity Won The October/November Challenge by one vote! She had the following to say:

Thank you to everyone who voted. I think the fact that I only won by one vote shows how beautiful Diane's Piece was and a big thank you goes out to her for creating such a work of art.

My piece is about covering up beauty in the process of covering up imperfections. Making the base pendant was easy for me - I just wire wrapped a big gemstone bead and added little crystals and Czech glass beads for accents. It took a few tries of covering it up with different things before I realized ribbon was the answer. Once I started working with the ribbon, the piece just finished itself.

You can check out more of my work at http://artfulunity.etsy.com and http://artfulunity.blogspot.com. Here is a post that more thoroughly explains the inspiration behind this piece

Thank you again for voting and have a great holiday season!

Dec 5, 2009

Dec Montly Design Challenge Theme

We are going back to challenges being monthly due to low participation this time and due to requests from some of the team members.
The challenge for December is: "Winter". The
challenge will be due midnight EST on December 31st. You can enter by
sending a picture of your entry to artfulhillary@gmail.com Please be
sure your entry includes the following:
1. your shop name
2. the name you want your piece listed as
3. The type of piece (i.e. bracelet, sun-catcher, pen, etc.)
4. a picture that is no more than 1 mb and is in one of the following
formats: gif, jpg or png (if you need help re-sizing pictures or
changing formats please contact Hillary or ask for help on the yahoo
group.
We always have such beautiful stuff, I can't wait to see next month's!

Dec 2, 2009

Vote for your favorite! eSMArts Oct/Nov Team Challenge!

The entries for this month's challenge are in!

First, we have "Steampunk Necklace" made by Diane of My Gemstone Box


Second, we have "Exactly" made by Hillary of Artful Unity



There's only two for this month, but they're both beautiful! Hopefully we will have some more gorgeous entries next month!



Thanks for voting! Look for the details of December's Challenge in the next day or two and look for the results of this challenge in a week!

Nov 30, 2009

Hidden Santa GiveAway: We Have a Winner!




Sadly, our contest has now ended.  But to everyone who participated in the 2009 eSMArts Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt we're sending a huge THANK YOU! 

Hopefully all contestants had as much fun as our sponsoring shopowners :) 

Entries were slow at first, but eventually they came rolling in!  Our sponsoring artisans truly rallied together in support of this opportunity to share the spirit of the holidays with you, our many customers, followers, blog readers and fans.  A great time was had by all of us :)

Without further ado... the lucky winner of our prize package of handmade treasures is:

Suzin Schiff of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario CANADA

We'll be contacting Suzin today to inform her of this windfall :) and her winnings will be on their way to her soon. 

Stay tuned to our particpating shops and keep reading this blog for news of future contests! 

And once again, thank you to every one who took part in this event.

Nov 26, 2009

Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt - Hint

play the eSMArts Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt!


Want to play the game but just can't find 3 pictures of our Santa?   
Here's one of them - a hint to get you started:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19425806

Visit our participating shops to spot just 2 more sightings and you're ready to enter!!

Find 3 Santa sightings and you're well on your way to grabbing the prize basket!

Email the 3 [three] URLs along with your name and address to:
esmartspromos [at] yahoo.ca

eSMArts team shop

Nov 19, 2009

Enter to Win!








Our Christmas Gift Bundle is ready to ship! To enter, find three santas hidden anywhere within our participating shops and email those 3 urls to esmartspromos@yahoo.ca. Here's a bit more information about the prizes donated by participating sponsors:





Always Wired Bead Lady: Jasper and onyx bracelet




Wilma's Whimsey: Copper wire wrapped cabochon pendant



Jannadu: Freshwater pearl dangle earrings



Artful Unity: Special handmade ornament for your Christmas tree




A Beaded Affair on Etsy: Lovely copper wire wrapped pendant




A Beaded Affair on Artfire: Beautiful pearl dangle earrings





MyGemstoneBox: Copper and opalite necklace



UnicornGem1994: Copper and gemstone bracelet




ByCoco on Artfire: Patriotic stained glass stocking





Gahooletree: Handmade chandelier earrings featuring Brazilian Emerald and Ruby on 14k gold fill







SassyDLite: Mystic blue quartz faceted onion nestled in hammered sterling disc necklace









Anna Lee: Rustic oxidized sterling necklace with prasiolite, yellow tourmaline & iolite treasures and freshwater pearls









Gahooletree Supplies: Large faceted citrine chevron earrings on sterling








World of Wezz: Seed bead snow white bracelet


eSMArts Team Shop: Visit us here to buy more wonderful items created by talented artists!

Nov 16, 2009

Congrats Joella!

We at eSMArts would like to offer a belated congratulations to Joella, the Always Wired Bead Lady!
Joella won our September challenge with her beautiful HippyChick Bracelet.
Here's what Joella Had to say when we congratulated her:
"I always look at the challenges posted on eSMArts and other groups that I'm in and wonder - how can I do this? And most of the time my mind just doesn't click into gear. But when I saw the 'Flower' Challenge I knew right away what I would make and enter.
The first time I saw the pattern for this weave it really made me smile. It's obvious that it's flowers - and can be created with one color of flower color or a whole flower bed.
Thanks to everyone who voted for me!"

If you would like to see more of Joella's work, you can check her out at

http://www.etsy.com/shop/alwayswiredbeadlady
and
http://www.artfire.com/users/alwayswiredbeadlady
and her blog at
http://alwayswiredbeadlady.com/

Beautiful work Joella and congrats again!

Nov 6, 2009

Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt November 14-28, 2009



 
Contest Update: eSMArts team is sharing the love with a handmade bundle to warm your holidays!

 
Enter our Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt to WIN a Christmas Gift Bundle of unique handmade creations.

 
The complete prize package, item photos and detailed descriptions will be announced here shortly.

 
Our contest begins November 14th so check back here for the full list of Sponsor Shops. 

 
Sponsor Shop banners will be displayed at the top of this blog (both left and right sidebar). 

 
Simply click the banners to visit each of our Sponsor Shops.

 

 
How to Play:
  • Check this blog for contest details and a list of participating eSMArts Sponsor Shops.
  • Visit each participating shop to find images of our santa.
  • Make note of the url where you find our santa pictured!
  • HINT: santa images are not embedded yet. They won't be online until the contest start date of November 14, 2009.
Here's how to complete each entry:
  1. find 3 Santa images that you haven't previously submitted.
  2. Email the urls along with your name & address to esmartspromos [at] yahoo.ca to be entered.
  3. Find new/unsubmitted Santa image urls and enter as many times as you like!
  4. Entries will be validated to ensure that contestants are submitting fresh Santa spottings.
  5. Remember that 3 new Santa image urls equals ONE additional contest entry.
  • Contest runs November 14-28, 2009 (close is November 28/09 at midnight eastern).
  • Drawing takes place November 29th
  • Winner will be announced here November 30th
  • Prize package ships December 1st, 2009.
check back for hunting hints and tips!
and Happy Hunting :)

Oct 21, 2009

A Lesson From Our Elder: Alihelisdi Itse Udetiyusadisvi

Gift of The Sacred Pipe by Rogue Guirey Simpson

eSMArts team is fortunate to have crossed paths with a truly remarkable artist (and a really nice guy), our friend and elder statesman, Van Stewart Bevil, who reminded us yesterday of the passing of the Cherokee New Year by posting this brief lesson our our yahoo discussion forum.  We quote:

Alihelisdi Itse Udetiyusadisvi

On October 7, we left the year of the Firepit, a sign of refuge and warmth, and entered the year of the Big Star, also known as the Rabbit.  Both terms refer to the planet Venus, a body which is often mistaken for a star and which appears and disappears from view, just like a rabbit.

Many of the familiar stories of the Rabbit trickster - the pre-electronics Bugs Bunny - refer back to interactions in the sky with other features, such as the constellations Deer, Bear and Turtle.  As with all wisdom traditions, these stories have many layers of meaning.

We have entered a year where the pace of events will speed up, and the direction of events may change as quickly as a zigzagging cottontail.

We wish you all the best and a Happy New Year
Kicking Bear
http://kickingbear.etsy.com/
http://thegrandfathersspeak.blogspot.com/




When I formed the eSMArts group I hoped I would meet funny, talented and caring people like Van, but I never anticipated learning as much as I have from my online family!  These folks keep me guessing daily - and that says quite a bit :)



Here is one of Van's paintings that I particularly like (well I actually love all of his works).  Buffalo Dreamer is available for purchase in Van's shop, Kicking Bear on etsy.



I encourage you to visit Van's Kicking Bear shop to view his gallery of wonderful oils and also explore the magical healing and wellness items created in the 'old way' by Van himself.
Zero Tolerance an original oil by Van Stewart Bevil available for purchase at CoastalArtist on etsy

Van's stunning nature theme oils are on display and available for immediate purchase at Coastal Artist on etsy and you can read lessons from this learned educator, writer and spiritual leader by subscribing to his newest blog The Grandfathers Speak




 

Stay Tuned to Win!

ENTER the eSMArts Hidden Santa Treasure Hunt to Win our Christmas Cheer Gift Basket Giveaway - Contest begins Nov. 14th - details tba soon!


eSMArts is spreading the love with a bundle of unique, handmade delights to warm your holiday!

Contest rules and entry details will be announced here SOON!

Oct 13, 2009

Vote For The Winner of the September Challenge!

September's challenge theme was "flower" and all the entries are bloomin' good! ;)
You can vote for your favorite at the bottom of the page, but we wanted to post the big pictures too just so you can see up close how amazing these are.



Shades of Victoria - "Lazy Daisy"



Maryanne "Rhodonite Rose"



Wilma's Whimseys - "Crystal Flower"



Artful Unity - "Flowerette"



Coastal Artist - "Stargazers"



My Gemstone Box "Re-purposed Flower"



Always Wired Bead Lady "Hippychick"