Thanks for the Etsy Love!

This month has been a record high for me in terms of treasury features on Etsy (for those who do not know what an Etsy Treasury is, it is an ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery of handpicked items). I am so proud to be hand-picked and featured alongside so many talented artists. Below are some screenshots of some of the treasuries I have been featured in this month. Enjoy!

Help a Worthy Cause and Look Great Doing It Too!

Help us join Ryan Brown on his (literal!) ride to raise awareness and funds for cancer research in Canada. Ryan has been cycling across Canada since Summer of 2009 in honour of his late Father Mel Brown that passed away from a brain tumor 5 years ago. For each "le bicyclette" necklace sold, I will donate 20% of the price to Ryan Brown's Trans Canada Cycle Tour. For more information on Ryan's journey or how you can contribute, please visit his webpage here.

And the winner is...

Congrats to Brigitte Churin-Eyraud! She is the lucky winner of our "glitz" earrings! Thanks to all who followed us here on my blog and became a fan of our Facebook page!

Who loves free stuff?

In the last week, it seems that I've hit a bit of a jeweler's block. I have a new shipment of beautiful gems and stones that have just arrived and normally I am all over it - but it seems I'm lacking a bit of inspiration. Hopefully, with a few more hours of sleep each day it should help. I am also going to be revamping my studio. Right now, it's a bit of a mess! I'd like to install some more new shelves, get some corkboards up (my "inspiration" boards) and fix up the lighting in this room. Maybe a new studio will provide a more creative environment?

Okay, now I'm just rambling. The point of today's blog is to announce a wonderful giveaway. Yay, we love free stuff! Everyone who follows my blog automatically receives a chance to win a pair of my ::glitz:: earrings. This giveaway is open until August 31 and the winner will be announced and contacted on the day.

Thanks for reading and good luck!

Official Website is up!

I am so excited that Goldspun's website is now finalised and up and running. Thanks to my boyfriend's younger brother (Bryce), we got this baby up in less than a week. It would have taken less time if I didn't keep requesting changes!

I also have a brand new logo - it is a silhouette of a girl at a spinning wheel. The idea behind it, is just as Rapunzel spins straw into gold, I spin raw materials into beautiful jewellery inspired by nature and its colours.

Over the next few weeks, I will be slowly adding more items to my website as well as Etsy - although some will be exclusively available on the website only.

The website address is: http://www.goldspundesigns.com

I Scream for Sushi!

I love cooking almost as much as I love creating jewellery.

I have always been a long-time sushi eater but first-time sushi maker. Yesterday, I tried making simple california rolls for the first time. My boyfriend has a mild aversion to shellfish, so I opted for imitation crab (not as good as the real thing, I know!). Also thrown into the mix were cucumber, avocado, brown rice (a healthier alternative!), rice vinegar and nigri (seaweed sheets). It turned out fantastic! I was so pleased with the way it turned out that I will definitely make it again. I found the recipe at this site http://www.makemysushi.com/sushi-recipes/california-roll-sushi.html .

I've still to perfect the presentation of the rolls. Hopefully, with some luck, my next batch will look as gorgeous as one of these felt sushi sets!

LittleFluffStuff.etsy.com

FeltedChicken.etsy.com

Swooning Over Saris!

I’ve always thought saris (a dress worn primarily by Hindu women which consists of several yards of light material that is draped around the body) were very beautiful garments, but I never realised how beautiful until I attended an East-Indian wedding this past weekend. Never have I seen such bold rich colours all in one place! Women of all ages were draped with sheer floaty fabric and meticulously embellished with beads and sequins – they definitely give the most vibrant rainbows a run for its money!

I was fortunate enough to have the bride (Thank you, Ras!) pick me up a pink and aquamarine sari for the event. Just a word to the wise, wrapping a sari is MUCH harder than it looks! Even viewing, rewinding, pausing, replaying four different YouTube videos did not help! Fortunately, one of Ras’ cousins, whom had been watching her mother wrap saris since she was 15, came to my rescue. *cheer*

I am hoping my newly-acquired materials such as shantung silk, glitzy beads and sequins will be able to capture the vibrancy of these saris in my upcoming designs. I am especially excited about the shantung silk as this fabric is so luxurious to play with!

So far, I have made this “pink lady” headband and I really adore the look and texture of the silk rose.