Sunday, October 19, 2008

Steam Powered Rings


Cathrinette Rings has a fabulous etsy shop filled with innovative and beautiful steampunk inspired rings.
One of my favorite pieces, the Steamed Artistic steampunk wire ring with mysterious amber seen here is a perfect example of the artistry of her one of a kind jewelry. The rings are designed in a style that would suit men and women, and come in ALL ring sizes.

If you are shopping for a bracelet instead of a ring, check out this brass and rutilated quartz beauty.

Don't forget to stop by Steampunk Rings, the blog of Cathrinette Rings and enter for your chance to win one of TWO rings in her latest giveaway!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

HUGE Indie Fixx Autumn Cornucopia Giveaway!


Visit Indie fixx for your chance to win one of two amazing prize packs full of awesome goodies from indie artists & crafters. Each prize pack is filled with almost $400 worth of beautiful handmade items.

There are 2 ways to enter:
You can blog about Indie fixx (or brag about this awesome giveaway on Facebook, Myspace, Craftster, etc) and then go back to Indie fixx and let them know where to find your post.

The second way to enter is to just leave a comment in their box letting them know you found out about the contest right here on my blog. If you win, then I win too! How cool is that?
The 2 winners will be comprised of the person who blogged about the giveaway and the person who responded to the blog.
So enter soon - this fabulous giveaway ends November 14th, and don't forget to mention that you read about it here, at My Hiding Place in Cyberspace, and share this link with them so your entry will be valid!

Good luck and I hope you win!

Friday, October 17, 2008

NyBlaque: MY FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY!! WOOHOO

NyBlaque: MY FIRST BLOG GIVEAWAY!! WOOHOO

Win your choice of a GORGEOUS pair of earrings or a beautiful unicorn necklace by visiting NyBlaque's blog! Giveaway ends Sunday (Oct 19th), so hurry over!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Bonghi Natura GIVEAWAY!

Visit Bonghi Natura's blog to find out how you can enter to win one of 3 lovely prizes in their latest giveaway!
Bonghi Natura Blog

Also, visit the Bonghi Natural etsy shop in the month of October and buy some amazing handmade soaps and body scrubs - 10% of all purchases will be donated to support Breast Cancer Research!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Pitter Patter Boutique babylegs giveaway! Ends tomorrow!


Visit The Pitter Patter Boutique blog and enter the giveaway for these (or your choice) of adorable babylegs! The draw ends on Oct 9, so get your entries in fast!

Gabrie's Shop October Giveaway !


Gabrie's Shop is holding a FABULOUS giveaway for this stunning necklace. Round Swarovski green crystals and black pearls lead the way to the elegant butterfly pendant.

Stop by Gabrie's Shop and find out how you can enter to win this gorgeous $85 piece!

The Giveaway: Zaja Natural Giveaway

The Giveaway: Zaja Natural Giveaway

Visit The Giveaway Blog to enter to win a fabulous natural skincare set from Zaja Natural!
While you are there, read the great interview with the lady herself, Zaidat Bombata. I am so jealous of her amazing workspace. I can only imagine how wonderful it smells :)

Good luck!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Sweet Irie: Wednesday Feature and Giveaway: Rio Oso Designs

Sweet Irie: Wednesday Feature and Giveaway: Rio Oso Designs

Enter here to win a $20 gift certificate to Rio Oso Designs etsy shop. Have her make you a custom banner for your own shop, or browse one of her many beautiful pre-made designs.

Monday, October 6, 2008

my tiny star: Update! Nie Nie Auction and GIVEAWAY!

my tiny star: Update! Nie Nie Auction and GIVEAWAY!

Etsy seller mytinystar is holding an online silent auction to raise money for the Nielson family. "Nie Nie" and her beloved husband are fighting to recover from critical burns sustained in a private plane crash in mid August of this year.

You can help the cause by making a bid on mytinystar's wonderful original art and doll.
She is also holding a giveaway to help promote this auction. Visit her blog to find out more!

Best of luck with the silent auction, mytinystar. It is wonderful artists like you that make the huge world wide web seem like a small and caring community.

And best wishes to the Nielson family for a successful recovery from their tragedy.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Info For Craft Swap Partners

Ok, so I will be the next one to pirate this post so that I can share information with current and potential crafty swap partners from Craftster.org and around the web. I will even keep this topic updated if my abilities/wants change :)


I'm addicted to creating: poppets, dolls & stuffies, polymer clay charms, jewellery, polyshrink pendants and art dolls, upcycling 100% wool sweaters into fab bags, painted wooden keepsake boxes

I'd love to experiment with: crochet/knitting/embroidery

My favorite colors are: greens (celery, lime, kelly, wasabi, etc), brown, turquoise (esp turquoise with a bold orange-red)

I'm not too fond of these colors: metallic gold, purple

I'm currently or always in awe of: unique poppets, classic tattoo crafts, LOOOONG knit or crochet scarves, handmade cold-process soap, resin bangles, ironic crafts with swear words (pillows, embroidery, etc), bold jewelry, handmade pottery and lampwork art beads

I'd never refuse to take: scarves, purses, poppets, stuffies, supplies (hell I wouldn't refuse anything!)

Some things I've been wanting:
  • retro apron
  • doll shoes
  • anything with goddess, trees or birds on it
  • big purse in a retro fabric
  • handspun yarn
  • huge long art scarf
  • soft & cozy armwarmers in a neutral color
And a little bit more about me:

do you keep a journal/art sketch book? not really, though I do sketch out craft ideas now and then

do you have any pets? a chubby mixed breed med-large dog named Booker

do you have any kids *ages*? nope

do you have a portable CD player, mobile phone, or ipod? just a small mp3 player

do you need another random trinket box? need? no. but I am always open to receiving something unique

do you need something to carry your knitting/sewing with you? I would always welcome a sewing machine "cozy" or a bag to hold my current sewing project supplies. I also do not have a needlebook, which I could definitely use - and one of those sewing machine scrap bags that collect all the bits of thread that usually fall to the floor

do you need a CD case/folder thing? I rarely listen to my CDs, so no.

do you need another purse? always - I have lots of purses, but can always use another. Purses always fit, and a fab new purse can really perk up an outfit!

what crafts do you do/want to do? I like to sew and play with polymer clay. I love making custom jointed dolls. My specialty is making poppet type dolls in the image of a person. I love playing with shrinkydink. I like painting. Basically I love trying anything and everything - I just cant crochet or knit!

what crafts do you admire? knitting and crochet, dollmaking, ATC, clothing, resin bangles, felting and/or handspun, embroidery, soap making...all crafts have something amazing to admire about them.

do you collect anything? nothing in particular, but I have a fondness for purses, teapots, birds, goddesses, and trees...oh, and winter scarves!

do you wear earrings? very rarely...and yet I make them. ironic?

do you wear bracelets/cuffs? More now than before. I do love resin, beaded and felted cuffs/bangles most.

whats your wrist size? umm, average?

do you wear necklaces? almost always! The bolder, the better. I love big & chunky necklaces and pendants that make a statement. I am not into delicate chains, and not a big fan of gold. Not a fan of plastic.

do you want gold or silver findings? Silver!

what is your shirt size? I am a plus size chick so I guess an 18-20 retail size or a 2x.

what is your shoe size? 9 US/CAN

would you like some clothes made for you? definitely! I have been dying for a vertical patchwork skirt in neutral colors (long jellyroll-type strips instead of squares). If corduroy is involved, I would be in love!

what is your favorite color? turquoise, green, brown

what is your favorite color to go with your favorite color? I love combining my three fave colours (chocolate, green and aqua) in any manner. I also love aqua with bold orangey-red.

do you have a favorite animal you would like something made with? bird of any kind

do you have a favorite TV series you would like something made with? not really

do you have a favorite book you would like something made with? Orwell's 1984 maybe

What is your favorite food? hard call. anything Italian, Indian food, cupcakes (not only delicious, but adorable too!), beautifully decorated desserts.

What is your favorite smell? Satin Sheets scent from Something Special; exotic florals mixed with sandalwood; traditionally masculine scents; lavender; green scents

are there any colors you hate? purple (though lilac is ok)

would you dislike receiving items made from animal products? I am fine with reconned furs and leather

is there anything you would rather not receive because of religious references? I do not like traditional/Christian religious crafts - crosses, etc. I do like goddess items. I am atheist (and would LOVE atheist-themed crafts!)

is there anything else you would dislike? not a huge fan of classic floral patterns (retro and funky flowers always welcome)

do you have any actual allergies? my skin is sensitive to perfumes, but I spray it onto my lower pantlegs.

what are your favorite movies? documentaries, indie films, dramas

who is your favorite person from those movies? relative unknowns; anthony hopkins; john malkovich; kevin spacey

who is the best dresser on TV? I loved SJP's quirky style on Sex & The City

who are your celebrity crushes? no celeb crushes for me

who is the best cartoon character? smurfs, Thundercats

what are some of your favourite bands? Old jazz - Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday; 80s stuff like Pat Benetar, Bonnie Tyler; strong female vocals like Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge, etc

Monday, June 2, 2008

My Poppet Zola

I have recently become poppet-obsessed. I received the pattern from the wonderful Ghilie
on Craftster and after spending some time collecting all the materials, went to work on my first poppet.

I named her Zola, an Italian name meaning "earth".



Her body is made of Alova Suede (great to work with!), with thrifted yarn in 2 colours for her hair, and silk leaves for her inner ear. Her eyes are from suncatchereyes (eyelids of felt and jewelled lashes courtesy of the beauty section of my local dollar store). She is fully jointed (oh what a pain! will use teddy bear joints in the future because I SUCK at jointing using the buttons!).
I have been busy making poppet clothing for her as well as her upcoming siblings. I will also be making them to help raise money for the Strive For Life Foundation (to benefit Romanian street kids and orphans). I am working on finishing the element series (Lahni, the sky/air poppet; Shula the fire poppet and Mizu the water poppet), as well as my Manny Ramirez poppet and an Alice Cooper poppet for a friend. I will post pics when they are all complete.





Sunday, June 1, 2008

My hand-y pincushion (with pattern and tute)


Here is the basic pattern for my hand-y pincushion as posted on http://www.craftster.org/


http://www.mediafire.com/?eja2jmmhmmf

Trace the pattern onto freezer paper and iron onto your fabric. Cut 2 of the hand and one of the end piece. Make sure right sides are facing, and it is time to sew!

Sew all around hand leaving bottom open. Sew end piece to half of wrist area leaving it open, and turn right sides out. Sew a line down from either side of the middle finger so that each of the 3 fingers is defined (do not do this before turning!).

Stuff hand firmly with polyfil, using screwdriver or pen to get stuffing into the fingers and thumb.Ladder-stitch the end piece closed.You now have a hand pincushion that you can leave plain or decorate as you choose!