JULY GIVEAWAY!!!

During the month of July, I will be giving away a gorgeous Bridget Pendant.



This pendant is composed of an oval freshwater pearl, a cluster of apatite gemstone chips and a chunky amethyst gemstone nugget. The pendant measures approximately 1 3/4 inches long. The chain is not included.

The retail value is $20, but it will be absolutely free to one fortunate winner.

It's a simple and sweet pendant. I made one for myself, too, and I always receive complements when I wear it. The playful shades of lavender and aqua make it a lovely accent to your summer wardrobe. Matching earrings are available in my Etsy shop.

To enter this giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post and be sure to include your email address. The last day to enter is July 30th and the winner will be announced on July 31st.

Don't forget to tell your friends so they can enter, too!

A Little More About My Jewelry

I recently devoted a post to explaining why I chose my business name. In this post, I'd like to share a little about how I design my jewelry.

As you know, my shop takes its name from one of the most intriguing elements in nature. I have always been fascinated by the intricate details and multifaceted complexity of snowflakes. My approach to jewelry is likewise multifaceted.

I use a wide variety of materials and techniques in my work:

• gemstones
• pearls
• glass beads
• wood beads
• polymer clay
• recycled paper
• wire wrapping
  

I feel that this mixed media approach gives me a broader range of possibilities to spark my creative muse. My goal is to create jewelry that is lush and colorful with an eclectic mixture of contrasting textures and details.

There is also a bit of a wabi-sabi feel to what I create. This term is used to describe the beauty of things that are flawed and imperfect. (Wabi-sabi does have a much deeper spiritual connotation as well, but I am referring to it merely as a principle in design.) I love to create using freshwater pearls with slight asymmetry and handcut gemstones that are irregular in shape. My jewelry designs reflect an appreciation for raw natural beauty.

I am a self-taught jewelry artist and I am always learning, always seeking to improve. I would love to hear your thoughts, opinions or constructive criticism, so please feel free to share them with me at any time.

Little Indulgences: Bath Products

In an ongoing effort to provide my readers with inspiration, I decided to present a series of posts on the theme, "Little Indulgences." Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some lovely handmade goodies that are both lavishly indulgent as well as reasonably priced.

Treat yourself to some luxurious handmade bath and body products from these great Etsy sellers:

Dhara Holistics has an environmentally conscious approach to making artisan cold process soaps and other products. Her products use natural ingredients like honey, beeswax, essential oils. The featured item, Clarifying Skin Care Set includes a Dead Sea mud masque and an exquisitely scented skin toner. This is the perfect combination for skin that gets oily in the summer heat.







The Abbey James Company began two years ago with a Mom's search for more natural products for her family. Noticing the beneficial effects of natural oils, butters and salts in treating her daughter's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, she soon found herself creating a variety of naturally nourishing bath and body products. The Fabulous Feet Foot Butter and Spa Socks Gift Set includes a rich Shea-based foot butter designed to soften your feet while you sleep-- definitely a must during sandal season!




Madeline Bea Soap Co. creates handmade, natural bath & body goodies from scratch using the traditional cold-process method . Their goal is to create really wholesome indulgences that can be used every day to help maintain sanity! Fresh Mango Deluxe Spa Set is an amazing comination of fantastic products including soap made with mango and shea butters. These products are nourishing for the skin in a great summertime scent!

Makeup Makeover Series: Part Three

Where to Scrimp and Where to Splurge in Your Makeup Case
Part Three: The Lips

One of the biggest makeup challenges is choosing the right lip color. Lipstick is the finishing touch of your makeup, so it's definitely a step you'll want to get right. Some women of trying to match their lipstick to coordinate with their outfit. Bad idea! Choosing a lipstick that complements your skin tone will not only be more flattering, it will save you money since you won't need to buy dozens of different shades.

So,choose a color that complements the natural shade of your lips and skin. Here's some thoughts:

• The best shade is the one that still looks great even if you're wearing no other makeup. This is a color that will always work for you.
• If your skin tone is warm, look for browns, reds, and other warm shades. If your skin tone is cool, look for plums, wines, and pinks.
• Use your lipstick color choice to downplay whatever you might not like about your skin tone. For example, if you have gray undereye circles, a lipstick shade with blue undertones will only draw attention to that. Likewise, if redness or blotchiness on your face is a problem than wearing a red hued lipstick may not be a good idea.
• Look for a long-lasting brand. The product will last longer if you don't need to reapply 10 times a day. And this will save you money.
• I recommend finding two shades of lipstick that you absolutely love. A lighter one for daytime and a darker one for night. When you find a shade that really flatters you, don't mess with success. You don't need a whole palette of lip colors. You just need a couple that really work.
• Make sure you own a wonderful lip gloss that you love for those days when you just want a subtle sheen.
  

YART SALE!!!

I am participating in the Yart Sale on Etsy sponsored by Team ESST-- the Etsy Supply Street Team.




What is a yart sale? It's an artistic slant on a traditional Yard Sale. Yard + Art = YART. Get it? Tons of Etsy sellers will be participating from June 10th through 14th.


In my shop, I will be offering 20 percent off every purchase on those dates plus even bigger savings in to be found in a special "Yart Sale Section."

Visit my Etsy shop, find some great jewelry, and be sure to mention promo code "YART" in the notes to seller section when finalizing your purchase and the 20 percent will be refunded to you via your Paypal account. You can save even more by choosing from the already clearance priced items in the special "YART" section of my shop.

You can read more about it by visiting the ESST Blog.

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Jen of 10oneworld.blogspot.com on winning my recycled paper bracelet.

You can see Jen's amazing items at her two Etsy shops:
10oneworld.etsy.com
sedonashots.etsy.com

I want to thank everyone who took the time to enter my first giveaway. I hope to have even more in the months to come!

As a special thanks to all who entered this giveaway, I would like to offer you a $5 credit toward any purchase of $25 or more at my Etsy shop. Visit my shop at snowflakedesign.etsy.com. Use promo code BLOG in the "Notes to Seller" space when making your purchase and I will give a $5 refund to your Paypal account.

Venezie Bags Giveaway

Venezie Bags is hosting a special giveaway to help a lucky crafter reorganize and revitalize their craft space. Items such as fabric, patterns, supplies, books, and more have been compiled to make one very special grab bag for a very fortunate winner. Visit this link to learn more:
http://veneziebags.blogspot.com

I have contributed several packets of beads from my jewelry making collection. This is definitely going to be an awesome giveaway!