Colorful Sundance Necklace

Today when I was browsing Pinterest I saw the most beautiful fabric:

(you can find it here if you are interested)

I like the color combination of this fabric so much that I decided to make a piece of jewelry in those colors. I dug through my beads to see what I had, and this is what I came up with. What do you think?

I'm pretty excited about this one! It will be available soon in my Etsy shop.

If you have a dress or other piece of clothing that you would like jewelry to match, I will be happy to make something for you! Send me a message and let's talk!

Go here and click on "Request Custom Order" in the left hand column to contact me.

New Buttons Galore!

I have acquired a lot of great new buttons and am now in the process of listing many new button bracelets at Holly&Sage! 

These bracelets are a unique finishing touch for casual outfits - light-weight, and fun to wear! They are even washable!

In celebration of Spring, I have made bracelets in pretty spring colors: sweet pastels and natural earth and flower tones.

Want to make a button bracelet yourself?

If you are feeling creative and have some unused buttons laying around in a drawer somewhere (who doesnt!) learn how to make your very own button bracelet here! (If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.)

Pure Gifts Grand Opening! Saturday, January 22

I am happy to announce that a selection of my Mommy Necklaces will be available soon at Pure Gifts in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina! Read on to find out about their grand opening this Saturday, Jan. 22.

There is a great new gift shop in the Charleston area! Pure Gifts, located at The Shoppes at Seaside Farms, features a wide selection of artisan-crafted, eco-friendly products from local and regional designers. 

Pure Gifts specializes in organic or recycled items made with natural materials by artists and crafters in the United States, especially in the Southeast region. 

During the grand opening on Saturday, they will be having giveaways, refreshments and a trunk show. Visitors will also receive 10% off all purchases!

For more information about Pure Gifts and available products, call  843.654.5151. 

For company news and information, subscribe to their e-newsletter or follow the store blog.

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The Shoppes at Seaside Farms 

1956 Long Grove Rd., Ste. 5

Mount Pleasant, SC, 29464

Twiddletoes: Not Your Ordinary Sock!

NOT your ordinary socks, Twiddletoes are handmade toe socks with a twist! Like mittens for your feet, they have a separate 'toe' for the big toe.

Stacy started making what she calls 'tabi socks' because she was tired of seeing people wear flop flops with regular socks. She started out small, first making them for family members; now she sells her handmade socks at craft shows and festivals as well as in her online shop and her Etsy store.

She uses fine natural wools and her own pattern that features a ribbed cuff and reinforced toes and heels for superior wear and comfort. Her Simple Luxury line includes socks made from alpaca and cashmere! Those are truly luxury socks that would make a wonderful gift (especially for someone that likes to wear socks with their flip flops!).

When you're talking socks like this, anyone would be thrilled with socks for Christmas!

May Your Holidays be Cuddly, Cozy, and Soft!

Isn't this the cutest little guy? Can you believe he's handmade? (And only $20!! Amazing!)

Sandi at IKnitQuiltSew makes bears like this and and lots of other great stuff - all of it cuddly and cozy! Here are a few other samples:

Hot Air Balloon Baby Quilt

Handmade Knit Baby Gift Set

Popcorn Knit Receiving Blanket

Find her on:

Facebook
Etsy 
Handmade Artists Forum
Blogger

Don't Miss This Fantastic Giveaway! Fair Trade Hemp Items

I am so glad that today I discovered a company called Earth Divas. In honor of Fair Trade Month this month they are giving away a $100. credit to their fabulous store! That is great in itself, but I am more excited about what the company does.

Earth Divas works directly with small groups of people in Nepal and India to produce fair trade bags and other handmade items. The company exists to help families in Nepal and India rather than to make a profit for the company. All profits are returned to the artisans.

Visit the site at Earth Divas to read more about them or the blog to enter the giveaway.

This Week's Featured Artist: Sarah of Mama's Milk Money

Welcome to our weekly series on Holly&Sage!

Each week we feature a different artist or artisan of handmade items. If you would like to be featured, see Would You Like to be a Featured Artist? for details.

Today we are talking with Sarah of Mama's Milk Money!

1. What is your first name and where are you from?

Sarah from Southern California


2. What type of art or craft do you create and how did you get started with it?

I crochet hats, toys, and hair bows; do custom embroidery; make custom clothing and baby blankets; and make custom onesies and tutus.

I have crafting ADHD! I started with embroidery when I saw a cool embroidery machine demonstration. I was a stay at home mom trying to earn a little extra cash. I taught myself to crochet (left handed) and have since experimented with tutus, hair bows, crayon cases, etc.

My mother taught be to sew as a little girl.


3. Where do you market your products? How long have you been selling your work?

I have an eBay store. I have also sold to friends and at craft shows. I have been selling for approximately 5 years.


4. What is your dream for your products or artwork? Is it a mainly a hobby, or a main source of income (or would you like for it to become a main source of income)?

This is a hobby for me. I love the create things and love to see the recipient's face. I would love to do it full time, but I don't have the time right now.


5. How are your items different from the next guy’s? What is unique about your work?

I love a challenge. I have crafting ADHD so I have tried almost everything. I put my heart and soul into my creations. I want them to be perfect and I want every customer to be completely happy with their purchase. I love to do custom work.


6. What is your favorite subject matter/medium/material (whichever applies to your art form)?

At the moment I am really enjoying crochet, but that could all change tomorrow. I love a challenge and new ideas.


7. What is your favorite part of creating and selling your products or artwork? The part you like the least?

What I love the most is positive feedback. I love it when people love my work. What I dislike is that handmade items are often undervalued and not seen as 'real gifts'.


8. Tell us a little bit about your family and how they feel about your business or your artwork.

I have a 7-year old boy and a 4-year-old girl. Both of my kids love to model my creations as long as they get one for them too! My daughter has an insane number of requests; my son has just discovered my crazy crochet hats. I just made him a Pikachu and a Jack Skellington crochet hat.


Thank you so much for sharing a bit about yourself, Sarah! And I can attest to the quality of her work - she made a crocheted hat last year that I gave my step-daughter for Christmas, and I swear it was perfect! I was amazed at the workmanship!


To see and learn more about Sarah's work, visit her at her eBay Store

Here's to Handmade Holiday Success!

Etsy is sponsoring a Holiday Boot Camp to help promote handmade and vintage gift-giving this holiday season. With so many unemployed and financially troubled, it makes more sense than ever to support independent artists and craftspeople.

We at Holly&Sage pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

To learn more about the Boot Camp, visit Etsy's blog.

We Have a Winner!! Is it YOU?!?

I want to thank everyone that entered the giveaway for the copper necklace - it was a great success! We had 97 entries - not bad for a first giveaway!

I used a random number generator to choose a winner, and the winner is...
...
...
...



Kelli Lee!



Congratulations, Kelli - I have contacted you about getting your address so I can mail the necklace to you.

Everyone else - thank you so much for participating! I will be sending an email to each of you (if you provided me with an email address) with a discount code good on any purchase from Holly&Sage through August 31.

Also, a friend of mine will be doing a giveaway of another one of my items in August - check back for more details later!

Introducing My New Line of Button Jewelry!

I have created a new line of jewelry made from recycled vintage buttons. I never thought I would use buttons in my jewelry, until I saw a button bracelet that was delicate and feminine. I dug out my stash of old buttons and tried making a couple of bracelets and I was hooked! The color and texture combinations are endless!

These bracelets are so fun, easy to wear, and affordable, and they look even better when you stack two or three together! (At Holly&Sage shipping is always free for a second item!)


Made from buttons and cotton or hemp woven cord, these bracelets don’t have the limitations of metal or pearl jewelry – they can be worn while swimming or playing sports and can be hand washed if they get dirty! (Please don’t put them in a clothes dryer, though!)


Many of the buttons I am using are truly antiques! The craftsmanship of these very old buttons is a wonder to behold! Today's mass-produced plastic buttons simply do not have the delicate etching and carving or interesting swirls and textures that so many of these old ones have. In some styles, I have only one button - as a result of this, every bracelet I make is one-of-a-kind. Some may be similar to others, but no two will be exactly the same .

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Down to earth and simple - like friendship bracelets - these affordable bracelets let you add some personality to even the most casual outfits or wardrobes!
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If you are interested in button jewelry of a color combination or size other than those I have listed, send me a message. I am very open to conversations about my work and will be glad to work with you to create just what you are looking for!