First Ever Run-Off Voting for Craft a Long!!!

Sorry this is so late, life!
For the first time ever, Handmade Louisiana is having a run off for winner of the craft a long!! So these are the top four entries tied at 1st place! We need to declare a winner so choose your fave and spread the word!

Pumpkin Necklace by Etco

Autumn Haze Ornament by Dusty Oak Ornaments

Sunset Trees Handpainted Scarf by Splendiferous Fiber

Rustic Pumpkin Earrings from Chloe Boutique

Vote in the poll on the left hand side!

July Craft A Long Voting Time!

July's Theme is American Pride. Which item(s) do you feel best captures that theme?
You may vote for more than one item but can only vote once per IP Address.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Entry One:
USA Pride Earrings by ChloeBoutique
Show your support for the Red, White and Blue with these patriotic earrings! Earrings were created using polymer clay beads in shimmery red, white and blue. Each bead is complimented with sterling silver twisted spacers and coordinating Swarovski crystals in light siam, crystal and satin sapphire.

Entry Two:
American Flag Badge Reel ID Holder by Badge Reels

Entry Three:
American Earrings by Etco
Two “one cent” coins from United States of America are combined with Swarovski Crystals and Solid Copper

Entry Four:
July Fourth Fabric Wreath by Mama's Little Monkeys
Fabulous fabric wreath in honor of July 4th!

Entry Five:

Proud to be an American Boutique Hair Bow by Hailey's Beads and Bows

Entry Six:

Oyster Shell Wall Clock by Art on the Half Shell
Art On The Half Shell. Hand-crafted wall clock featuring a dozen oyster shells set like the hours around a red dinner plate accented with gold and royal blue sea glass set like the minutes. The 12 o'clock hour is embellished with a real 7mm pearl

Entry Seven:

Blue and White Hand Spun Cotton Hat by Knitzy
Cotton Yarn - blue, black and white - is knit in a wide rib pattern and can be "folded" into all kinds of interesting shapes. One of a kind, as always

So get to voting friends! :) Assuming the poll does not malfunction again, you can vote on the side bar! :)
~~Amy

June Craft a Long Winner goes...

TO THE BIRDS this month! LOL :) Congratulations Wendy to her and her flamingos for winning with this fabulous bag!!

Please check out Wendy and all her awesomeness over at Splendiferous Fiber!!
Congrats!!

May's Craft a Long Winner is................

This beautiful bustier from Trapped in Time Designs.

Congratulations to Trapped in Time Designs for winning with this beautiful piece and thanks to all who entered!!

~~Amy

December Craft A Long--Time to Vote!!

This month's Craft a Long with our members was on the theme "Winter Wonderland". Now we need your help to find the piece that best fits this theme!! 


Entry One:
Christmas Valentine's Winter Hair Bow by GirlsLoveBows

Entry Two: 

Monkity Flake Sock Monkey by Mama's Little Monkeys

Entry Three:

Welcome Santa Christmas Wreath Soap by 2VirgosDesigns

Entry Four:

Wintry Peace Dove Earrings by ChloeBoutique

"The dove and the olive branch, or a dove carrying an olive branch in its beak, are ancient symbols of peace. And, the occasional flashes of blue, teal and lavender remind me of a cold wintry day"

Entry Five:
Red and Gold Paper Bowl by Etco

Entry Six:

Let it Snow by Cheeseandchocolate

"Opaque sugar cube lampwork beads sit above sterling silver snowflakes. This is one way to get snow in Louisiana!"

Entry Seven:

Waltz of the Snowflakes Mini Bag by Splendiferous Fiber

"Crystal blue satin, sheer ribbon, embroidered snowflake, and bead fringe make this item a wintery delight."

Entry Eight:

Wintry Ice Jewelry Holder by HurricanePottery

SO please help us crown this months' winner by voting in the poll on the sidebar and help spreading the word about this contest! 

Don't let your favorite piece lose!

Thanks!
Amy

Member Artist Profile: Stitches in Cotton

Congratulations to November’s Craft-a-Long runner up: Stitches in Cotton. (It was Handmade Louisiana's closest vote ever!)

Artist/owner Dee creates accessories for babies, children and adults. “Throughout my life I have had an interest in various crafts,” she says. “I learned how to crochet when I was a little girl, then I moved on to hand quilting. It’s been about a year since I’ve gotten back to doing it on a more regular basis.”

Hers is another example of necessity being the mother of invention. She explains, “When I found out my boys were allergic to polyester. It was getting cold and I needed to find hats and gloves that didn’t contain polyester. I searched stores and the internet and came up with nothing. I decided to look for a crochet pattern and I found an adorable little hat. My boys loved the hats so much and it brought so much joy to them that I decided to create more to spread that joy. Nothing makes a mama happier than seeing her creation being drug inside and outside, through stores and being slept with because it’s their prized possession.”

When asked which is her favorite item, Dee cites the popcorn hats she made for her boys (and the one submitted to the Handmade Louisiana November Craft-a-Long).

Dee’s biggest challenges include time and money. “I have so many ideas in my head I don’t have enough time to get them out,” she says. Her favorite part of the works she does is being able to stay home with her sons and earning a little spending money.

She offers the following advice to new sellers: “If you are just starting out, have patience. It’s hard at first. Get a lot of products together and take the best pictures you can.” She advises seasoned sellers to “help the newer sellers. The advice of those that have ‘been there, done that’ is invaluable to us. I tend to promote those who have helped me to try and pay back what I was given.” (Her philosophy epitomizes Handmade Louisiana’s mission.)

When asked what other skills she’d like to learn, Dee replies, “I don’t think I could fit another skill in my life. HA HA! But if I had all the time in the world I would say painting.”

Dee’s connections to Louisiana are strong. She grew up in the Greater New Orleans area, left for a brief year stint in the Air Force. “There is no place like LA, and no matter where I am it will always be home for me,” she says.

To learn more about Stitches in Cotton, visit the following links:
www.stitchesincotton.artfire.com
www.stitchesincotton.etsy.com
http://www.stitchesincotton.com
http://twitter.com/stitchesncotton

Member Artisan Profile: Jodie Flowers

Meet Jodie Flowers, winner of the Handmade Louisiana’s second Craft-a-Long (theme: "Education, School and Learning"). She is the artist/proprietor of Jodie Flowers - Animal Flowers Art Studio. Jodie is a true Renaissance woman! Her creations include mixed media, sewing, ceramics, polymer clay, among others.

When asked how she got her creative start, Jodie replies, “My mom basically built the house I grew up in from scratch. She combined two old shacks and fixed them up with tons of salvage stuff from New Orleans. She taught me to sew and I used to make clothes for my dolls when I was little. I loved making things with paper and scotch tape too. Then I went on to school and thought I wanted to go into journalism (because I love to write too). Liked it [writing] in high school, but in college, things took a turn and all I wanted to do was to take every Art class available. I stayed in college for seven years just making stuff. I graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from SLU.”

Monster Patch

Jodie finds inspiration all over, including from her son, cartoons, nature, the sea, bugs, poems, Dr. Seuss, Tim Burton, Alice in Wonderland, Shell Silverstein, Maurice Sendak, Flickr, and “my mind's eye.” This explains the wonderfully eclectic nature of her body of work.

Her favorite pieces include her Crazy Leg Wall Vases and Screen Porch Spiders. Also popular are her monster patches. And let’s not forget her winning Craft-a-Long entry: Book Bugs.

Crazy Leg Vases

The best thing about being an artist, Jodie explains, is “doing what I love, when I want to and always having $$ in my pocket for myself, my husband and my son.”

When asked what she finds most challenging about being an artisan, Jodie says, “Juggling being a Mom, Wife, Daughter, Friend, and a full time Artist, when all I want to do is create all the time. If I had an island I could seclude myself on, I would!”

Jodie has this piece of advice to offer her fellow artists: “Promote, Promote, Promote! Tell everyone about your work, take chances and make something every day!!!”

What’s next for Jodie? One skill she’d like to learn is lampwork (glass bead making) and knitting. “I wish I could knit something more than a long scarf and learn to bind them all off properly. LOL!” she says.

Winning Craft-a-Long Entry: Book Bugs

Jodie explains her Louisiana connection: “I was not born here. I was born in Ismir Turkey, but my mom and dad are from here. My dad was a dentist in the Army, they returned to Louisiana when I was very young and I have lived here ever since.” She’s lived in Baton Rouge, Jackson, St. Francisville, Zachary, Hammond and now Abita Springs. “Louisiana is nice. I have traveled to some great places and this seems to be the place for me,” Jodie says. “You can make friends easily here. The weather could be cooler, but as long as there is AC, I am fine where I am.”

Visit Jodie online at:

http://www.jodieflowers.etsy.com/
http://www.jodieflowers.webs.com/
http://www.jodieflowers.synthasite.com/
http://www.waterstreetpottery.com/
http://www.lalunaarts.com/
http://www.twitter.com/jodieflowers
http://www.myspace.com/jodieflowers

Vote for the October Craft a Long Winner HERE!

This month's theme was "Happy Fall Ya'll!" And our fabulous artisans came up with some great work!! Please check these out and vote for your favorite in the poll on the sidebar.

Neon Orange SLS Free Soap in Cranberry Apple from Mama's Little Monkeys

Crochet Scarf and Hat from BarbsMacrameandMore

Autumn Spice Soap from HerbFriend

Farmer 2 by BlackDogStudio

Autumn Glory Handpainted Silk Scarf from Splendiferous Fiber

Canaima Earrings from Etco

Thanksgiving Aline Dress With Pumpkin from Georgannaandcompany

Nuts for Fall Handpainted FloorCloth by RueDesign

Autumn Leaves Flamework Glass Necklace by DebiDeaux

Graffiti Painted Canvas Placemats by CTStudios

Please get your votes in and pick your fave!! The winner will be announced in a few days and meanwhile our artisans are cooking up the next Craft a Long!!!
~~~Thanks~~~
Amy/Mama

First Ever Handmade Louisiana Craft A Long Event!

Here at Handmade Louisiana we host a monthly "Craft a Long" (inspired by my lovely friends at the Cafemom Street Team!) This month's theme was "Louisiana Life".

Now it's up to you! Please help us vote which piece truly epitomizes Louisiana Life!!
The winner receives a free ad here on Handmade Louisiana and of course bragging rights :)

Help us decide!!

ENTRY ONE:
Bon Temps by Cheese and Chocolate

ENTRY TWO:
Underwater Gator by BlackDogStudios

ENTRY THREE:

Ooh La La Louisiana from BD Originals















ENTRY FOUR:
Black Fleur de Lis by DebiDeauxDesigns

ENTRY FIVE:
Fleur De Lis Birthday Cake Soap by Amelia Amos

ENTRY SIX:

Snugged In, Folk Art Print by Barbara Thibodeaux of SouthernHeart

ENTRY SEVEN:
Parade Moss Umbrella by LizmPetro

ENTRY EIGHT:
Turtle Hair Clippies by ChickyGirlsHairBows

ENTRY NINE:
Mambo Clown by SplendiferousFiber

ENTRY TEN:
Prestigious Peaches Vintage and Antique Bracelet by LemonJitters

ENTRY ELEVEN:
Black and Gold Hair bow by GirlsLoveBows

ENTRY TWELVE:
Louisiana Gulf Coast Oyster Shell Wall Clock by sfweichert

ENTRY THIRTEEN:
Bourbon St. Necklace by voyagejewelrydesigns

ENTRY FOURTEEN:
Crazy Leg Wall Vases by Jodie Flowers

ENTRY FIFTEEN:
Knit Hat by Knitzy

Check out MORE fantastic pieces by searching etsy.com and artfire.com "handmadelouisiana"!!

Long Live Louisiana Artists!

Please vote in the poll on the sidebar!!
~Amy