New Arrival

 It's a Boy! 

Baby Boy Angel ornament, pendant or charm

 Ok, before I start a rumour, I should clarify that I am referring to the new arrival in my Etsy shop. I have finally listed a baby boy angel charm or ornament. This cute little fella would make a great gift to pop into a card for a new Mom, for example. Or maybe you want to put it on your Christmas tree, hang it on your rear view mirror as a good luck charm or wear it as a pendant.

Baby Girl Crystal Angel

So It's official, this pink, baby angel has a brother!

What's in a Name

Lately I have been making tweaks and improvements to my online store. The most important one was to change my Etsy shop name and therefor, my user name, from byAMOR to Handmade by Amor, in line with my shop front.

  

A year ago, I wrote an article for the Etsy Ireland team blog about the delicate operation of choosing a shop name and my rookie folly of choosing byAMOR as my user name. Read about it HERE.  

The old URL will still work by redirecting to the new one

Since then, Etsy have made it possible to change your user name. I finally managed to streamline my user name to go with my branding and identity, Handmade by Amor . The new URL is http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandmadebyAmor but the old one will still redirect so no harm done there. I chose to do this as the term byAMOR just doesn't seem to stick in people's minds and according to my google stats, is never used to find me, where as Handmade by Amor is. I believe and hope I have made the right choice.

New Designs in Connemara Marble Earrings

Here's a little glimpse at new, exciting designs in Connemara marble coming to my Etsy shop this month.

Today I listed the tear drops in the centre:

 Connemara marble earrings with Swarovski crystals 'Emerald Isle'

Want to know more about this rare, Irish gemstone? Click HERE for a little info on Connemara marble.

Update, 16/05/2012: just listed the Silver Celtic earrings: 'Mists of Time'

Colour Me Etsy.

It's a beautiful, bright day in Dublin Ireland. I'd normally say that makes a change, but the winter has been so mild this year and the Spring sunshine has warmed us with soft, golden rays for most of this month. Long may it last!

I'm Irish and proud of it, but I think I've had my fill of green in the run up to St Patrick's Day. It appears you can have too much of a good thing! As an antidote to all that luscious 'glas' as we say in Irish, this morning I went in search of colour. Throughout Etsy there is no shortage of bold and bright, handmade creations, vintage goodies and supplies. All listings in the following collection are from the European Street Team, of which I am a member. Some are Irish, who, like me, are also part of the Crafty Ireland Team.

Colour Burst by Handmade by Amo'r

These past few weeks with the focus on Ireland and March 17th, I was really lucky to have my items featured in numerous Patrick's Day Treasuries. I'd love to thank everyone who featured me.

Lynn Corrigan in particular deserves a huge Etsy hug from me. Ever since this lovely US-based crafter with Irish roots purchased a gift from me, she has featured my items in several treasuries (member curated collections on Etsy.) I just can't thank her enough for her infinite goodwill. Here is her latest, beautiful treasury, which features my labradorite teardrop pendant among all these gorgeous handmade items. The cornflower and peacock blues with a hint of lime and yellow are fresh and fabulous!

Proud as a Peacock by Lynn Corrigan

So to thank her I would like to show off some colourful goodies from her Etsy shop, Lynn's Creative Crochet:

Easter Basket

Cotton Wash Cloths

I'd also like to share this pretty treasury by Ava from Driftwood and Fossil. Thank you for featuring my Irish beach glass pendant in this stunning collection Ava. The soft colours capture the essence of Spring and Summer.

 To the beach by Ava of Driftwood and Fossil 

So let the sunshine in. Let's hope it's here to stay. I best get out there and enjoy it while I can.....

Button Up!

 

Though I've been working a lot with very Irish materials like Connemara marble and Irish beach glass lately, I've also been experimenting with buttons. They're fun and bright, readily available, and come in so many colours and sizes. The possibilities for pretty jewellery and accessories are endless.

 I had learned to make button rings on a wire-work course a couple of years ago, but after splitting my thumb in a silly accident, I had to put the ring mandrel aside for now as it is still too painful to press the wire tightly onto it with my thumb - a pretty essential technique. I still had loads of beautiful buttons to use up. This bright bookmark (listed in my Etsy shop) started out as a Christmas tree ornament, but I changed my mind midway.  It was the perfect size and weight for a jumbo shepherds hook I had in my stash. Besides, I figured the pretty buttons and flowers deserved to be seen all year round!

  

 Needing to introduce a few lower price points for a Christmas market in December, I wired up some pretty button pendants. They make great stocking stuffers, especially for teenagers and women who like girlie accessories. 'Trudi' is the first one to be listed in my other store on the Irish site, Fondelifair.  

'Jilly' is also now listed and more button jewellery will follow shortly. If all goes to plan I will be rolling out this young, fun and affordable line in my Etsy shop before the summer.

Featured on Etsy Ireland Blog

Dublin me eye ;-)

Today I was featured on the Etsy Ireland Team blog for the Eyes Open Ireland segment.  This is my favourite section of the team blog, where fellow team members share photos of places and things that have inspired them. Check it out!

In The Green Corner

In February Etsy tends to turn a fantastic, vibrant green with St. Patrick's Day looming ahead of us. Great for me as my Etsy store is nearly always bursting with forty shades of green and more than one Celtic spiral motif at any time of the year. I'm very fond of local, Irish materials such as Connemara marble , Cork red marble,  Kilkenny Black marble and Irish beach glass foraged from the shore. I love Ireland and I'm proud to promote Irish! And if we are deemed to be green then bring on the greens I say!

 

This Kelly green, seaglass pendant, 'Emerald of the Sea' was listed yesterday and was soon featured in a couple of beautiful green Etsy treasuries. (showcase collections of Etsy items artistically curated by Etsy members).

 Don't you just love the zesty limes and fresh Spring greens in  St. Patrick Approves by Lou City Goods ?

 Cool Stuff for St. Patrick's Day by ccdesigns09 Creations by Carol is an eclectic mix of international items in fresh verdes.

In the USA, Lynn Corrigan of Lynn's Creative Crochet sent some love to Ireland with Forty Shades of Green-Johnny Cash's Valentine to Ireland (Thanks for featuring my Connemara marble pendant)

Craft of Ireland by fellow Irish Etsonian, Traban tastefully showcases stunning work from members of the Crafty Ireland Team (It's an honour to have my green and black necklace included among such treasures.)

Another Irish Etsonian, Bead Bash Ireland captured zingy Spring greens and lemons with Spring In My Step

So far I haven't tackled an-all green treasury. However, I did recently put together my own, quirky take on Spring treasuries:

 What Sort of Spring Treasury Is that? by moi.

For more Etsy treasuries curated by me or featuring my items click here:

Etsy Treasury Time

Just thought I'd share a few recent Esty Treasuries to show off some wonderful, handcrafted goods. (Treasuries are lists of Etsy items curated by Etsy members in order to showcase each other. As we try to make them beautiful, treasuries have become an art form in themselves.)

Firstly, a couple of Valentine treasuries that I made to promote fellow members of the Crafty Ireland Team (Etsy Ireland.)

The Darker Side of Love (Crafty Ireland Team Treasury)


Fabulous February (Crafty Ireland Team Treasury)

My own items appeared in a couple of treasuries in the last couple of days too. This gorgeous one features my flame-coloured agate purse charm:

'Mud and Rocks' by Nancy and Mike of Hilltop Pottery

And my Connemara Marble Heart Pendant featured in this beautiful, Valentine list:
''Who Said Hearts have to be Red' by DesignsBloom

Then yesterday my Irish Sea Pottery Pendant featured in this stunning Celtic collection:

'Twilight Blues' by Karen of Capallglas Studio

I hope you are drooling over all these lovely items made by small, independent artisans around the world. I know I am!

If you are an Etsy fan and would like to know how to make a treasury, here is an article I posted last year for the Etsy Ireland Blog: Step by Step to Making Treasuries. Have fun!

Purple Amethyst, February Birthstone

Is it any wonder Amethyst is the gemstone associated with royalty? The rich, purple tones of this semi-precious stone are classically regal. The most highly prized variety of quartz, the amethyst is elegant and enchanting, demure yet delightful and quite simply, stunning. This is a stone fit for a Princess. Born in February, it's my birthstone and one of my favourite pieces of rock.

Amethyst Teardrop and Sterling Silver Heart Pendant, Violeta

The stone gets its name from the Greek term 'Amethystos' meaning 'not drunken.' The ancient Greeks believed it would help keep them and their guests sober, so wine goblets were often encrusted with amethysts.

Lavender Amethyst Earrings, Lila

It can be a very pale lavender or a darker, damson purple. The darker variety is more valued, but pale amethyst can be very spectacular. The gem is particularly beautiful when faceted for extra light and sparkle.

Amethyst Necklace Extender

Matt beads are shaped between grinders and drilled. They are quite affordable for beading or for making dangly earrings etc.

Lush Purple Earrings, Damson

Sunlight can fade the colour, so if you own a specimen crystal or a lush piece of amethyst jewellery, best not to store it on a window sill!

Amethysts have been used by healers for centuries. The power stone is believed to help with insomnia, balance energies and keep one grounded. It is also considered to be a spiritual stone, particularly in Tibet. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that amethysts 'quicken intelligence'...hmm, don't know about that one...

If you are a February baby: Happy Birthday!

2012 Starting Afresh

Welcome to my new blog! Anne-Marie of Handmade by Amo'r aka 'byamor' here wishing everyone a Happy New Year. May 2012 be a better one for us all!


My Etsy friends may know my Irish blog but having written from time to time for Etsy Ireland , I kind of missed the simplicity of Blogspot.com. So here I am, starting afresh in the hopes that I will post more often. Once I get my blog looking a little prettier, I am looking forward to posting How To's and tutorials for beading and wire work beginners as well as articles of interest for lovers of gemstones, beach glass, Ireland and all things handmade....and whatever else pops into my crafty little head....Please do join me!