Discover Me Wednesday

I am constantly on the lookout for new artists to feature on Discover Me Wednesday.  I love to wander around on ETSY and just put in key words and see what comes up.  Last week when I put in the keyword "Tree" I came across so many wonderful items, but one artist really caught my attention and I wandered around her shop for quite some time ooooo-ing and aaaaah-ing over every little thing.  

Underglass is the name of the shop I'd like to introduce you to.

These gorgeous creations are not made with glass, as the name of the shop would suggest.  All of the items you will find are handmade Resin and mixed media jewelry. 

In the artists profile she talks about the name "Underglass" and how it came about.  Her grandmother used to have a collection of glass domes in her home.  Under those domes she kept items that were special to her.

When this artist would give her grandmother a handmade gift she says that she would know that she got it right when her grandmother would say; "This is wonderful, this belongs under glass!"  You can visit Underglass's profile page to read the whole story in her own words. 

   

Please be sure to visit "Underglass" and wander around her shop like I did.  Enjoy the beauty there.  Purchase a lovely of your own to place under your own glass. 

Discover Me Wednesday

This week's edition of Discover me Wednesday is very special to my heart. I am featuring my best friend Dorana.

Dorana and I met many years ago and I will never say it was chance that brought us together. I don't believe in chance.  I was a Partylite consultant at the time and went into Staples to make some copies. Dorana was there as well and we started talking at the register. After a brief conversation about candles and Partylite I left her with a catalog and we both said goodbye. I walked out of the store. Once outside I remembered something I had recently learned in a training. The teacher said..."never walk away without getting the other persons information", so I took a deep breath, walked back in the store and asked Dorana if I could have her phone number to follow up with her. She gladly gave it to me and encouraged me to give her a ring.

That day God brought Dorana and I together. Through the years there are days, weeks and sometimes months where Dorana and I don't speak regularly (we are both extremely busy women), but when we do get together it is like no time has passed at all and we laugh, cry, and love like we were never out of each others company for even a day. I recently found a quote on a blog whose name I can't recall at the moment and it reminded me so much of Dorana that I wrote it down. It is this " What a gift it is to stand in the light of an old friends gaze and feel the wonder of stopping, even reversing time - for at least a few days. A stopped clock presents us with time to remember - time to know that who we were, remains who we are." That is how I feel when Dorana and I are afforded the luxury of spending time together. Like time has stopped and each moment lasts for an eternity.

Dorana is my crying shoulder, my nursemaid : ) , my confidant, my inspiration, my sister, my opposite and my equal. She drives me crazy and grounds me all at the same time! We have been a lot to each other and I ponder what our future looks like all the time. Along the road of our relationship, Partylite went by the wayside and I started with a new direct sales company that had me going to peoples homes and teaching them how to make their own jewelry with gemstones and sterling silver components. Naturally Dorana; ever the artist; was intrigued by this concept of making your own jewelry and joined the company to support me. But Doranas journey went a different way than mine and she began to create some of the most intricate, and beautiful designs I had ever seen. It was not long before she found ETSY and started her own shop where she could sell her handcrafted jewelry. Not only did she open her shop "A Dorana Design" but she also started a Forum on ETSY called More Meaningful Gifts which is a Buy and Replace Thread where ETSY artists support one another through sales and encouragement. One of the many ways that Dorana and I are alike is that she is a little ADD when it comes to crafting. She is constantly thinking of new designs, ideas, ways of doing things. In January of 2009 Dorana opened her second ETSY shop called "ddots". This unique shop sells greeting cards and gift tags that are all hand-dotted with hammer and special tools. They ARE NOT done by a hole punch!  I have been in Doranas art room at her home and I can attest to how much work goes into just one of these beautiful cards. You really need to check out her shop to see all of the choices and keep in mind that Dorana also does custom work as well if you are looking for something personal. This driven woman did not just stop at two ETSY shops and a thread that she maintains in the ETSY forums; NO! She went on to create her own website called My Handmade Registry. This fantastic site is original and innovative. It is not just another networking site for crafters, it is a place that connects buyers of handmade gifts to sellers of handmade gifts. Anyone can go on this Handmade Registry - a place where everyone can create a personal page with a list of their favorite items from only HANDMADE RETAILERS! It is really an incredible website and you should take a moment to check it out and create your own registry page! 

 
Dorana is not only an artist, but she can write the most eloquent Blog posts. Her Blog Siempre - Dorana, will make you laugh out loud, run for a box of tissues, and have you watching patiently for the next Blog post. She writes in a way that is so vivid you can almost see exactly what she is trying to convey in words in your head. I promise you will not regret going to her blog and taking the time to read her posts.  

I remember when Dorana first discovered ETSY she told me that someday she wanted to have an all handmade wedding and then have it featured on ETSY. This was a dream that she just recently turned into a reality when she wed her wonderful husband Todd this past December. On December 26th 2009 among only their closest friends and family Dorana and Todd got married in their beautiful home in Mendham, NJ. The entire wedding was handmade. The dress, The cake toppers, The flowers, everything was found on ETSY. On July 19th 2010, Doranas handmade wedding was featured on ETSY. In an article titled "Handmade Weddings - A Simple Fairytale" Dorana describes her dream of a handmade wedding and shares photos of the items she used as well as links to all the artists shops who participated in this beautiful day. Her next goal...to have a Handmade Baby shower!  

It has been my honor to share this incredible woman with you. I hope you have enjoyed the photos of Doranas work, as well as hearing her story. Please visit her website, shops, Blog and thread on ETSY and let her know you heard about her here at Heathers Meadow.

Into the Trees

As I drive down the roads in my town and the surrounding areas, I find myself looking into the forests and woods that I am swiftly passing by in my car. Along the edge of the road there is a blur of wildflowers. Blue Cornflowers, White Daisy's, Queen Ann's Lace, Orange Tiger Lilys, and little purple flowers whose name I do not know. I catch glimpses of fallen trees and baby pines among the saplings and majestic elder trees that grow just inside the curtain of leaves at the edge.

I can envision all types of life that must be carrying on in these forests. Momma bear is teaching her twins the dangers of crossing the road to get to the river for an evening drink and dinner of wild raspberries that grow there.The beaver family is busy slapping together a home made of mud and freshly cut trees with their flat tails.

Chickadee parents are teaching their babies to fly.

Does, Bucks and Fawns are having an afternoon snack of Birch Tree bark, and squirrels are scurrying about their work of forever preparing for the long cold winter ahead that I am not even thinking about on this hot August day.

Then there is the forest world of my imagination. A forest where fairy families build their homes among the roots of the trees that are so plentiful. Where fairy ladies are sewing new clothing out of Black Eyed Susan petals. Fairy men are out risking their lives for a bit of stolen honey from the local honey bee hive. Then there are the fairy children. They are happily chasing dragonflies and building forts to play in among the toadstools that grow low to the ground.

 

This is is the world that I often dream about and wish that I could escape to as I am driving to the next destination on my list of errands that must be run.

For now I will have to daydream but who knows what I will find in the forest when I pull the car over, step off the road, through the wildflowers and into the trees.

Discover Me Wednesday

Well hello there. I know that is has been two weeks since my last post, but as I've said before...the summer days just seem to get away from me.

Two weeks ago my boys and I went on a short overnight to Baltimore, Maryland. We enjoyed a ballgame and also went to Fort McHenry which I have wanted to see for a long time now. This was where the Star Spangled Banner was written and it was very moving to be at place that is so rich in our country's history.

Last week my back went out and I was stuck in bed for 3 days. I was just too depressed to blog, although I suppose it may have been good therapy for me.

Since I missed two weeks I wanted to make up for it in a big way. I searched the word "Meadow" on ETSY yesterday and I came across so many wonderful artists that I decided to feature a whole bouquet of them with you today.

The first artists shop is called Mercury's Glass. This Wisconsin born artist creates lovely lamp work glass beads made with high quality glass form Italy, Germany, China and the United States. Be sure to visit the shop to see other beautiful items from this artist.


This Sandalwood Meadows soap is made by an ETSY shop called SunBasilGarden Soaps. This Delaware mother of two makes all of these juicy soaps and the descriptions sound absolutely heavenly. This soap is a handcrafted all natural goats milk & glycerin soap.
It has been topped in sea salt and marigold petals for a gentle exfoliation. Sunbasilgarden describes the scent as a "unique bouquet of woodsy sandalwood, cedar, rose and jasmine with bright and fresh notes to enjoy." You can also follow Sun Basil Garden on her Blog SunBasilGarden.blogspot.com.


This pretty little felted picture called Lavender field of Provence was designed by an ETSY artist called Real Farey and can be found in her shop called the Funky Felt Shop. Real Farey...also known as Betti...not only makes these felted landscapes, she also makes really cool felt clothing, wraps and pillow covers. Betti also has a wonderful blog and you can follow her at realfaery.blogspot.com.



The Plant Press is an ETSY shop run by Regina and Omarr. They find all these beautiful flowers and leaves in Austin and then press them into these framed beauties as well as in bookmarks. Be sure to check out their profile page to read about how they go through the process of pressing the plants, how they make the frames, and how they make their bookmarks. This particular item is a reserved listing on ETSY, but there are many like it available in their shop.




The Speed of Light Gallery on ETSY is run by two wonderful artists Jerry Nichols and K'lynn McDonnell. Jerry creates the natural wood frames and K'lynn creates the colored pencil landscapes. This work of art is called "Meadow at Dusk" and is just one of many unique creations in their shop.




"Dew drops suspended in time" is an 8x12 fine art photograph; ready for matting that can be found in an ETSY shop called Leaping Gazelle Studios. Located in Michigan; Lauren creates nature inspired home decor photography, botanical jewelery, cards and gifts. Be sure to stop by her shop to take a peek at her other wonderful items.




Meadows can be found all over the place. This one called "Summer Meadow" can be found on a hand painted silk scarf in an ETSY shop called Silk Story. The proprietor of this little shop is Zita; a happy grandmother and mother who resides in Lithuania creating her silk art at her kitchen table. You can find scarves as well as paintings and cards in her shop. Zita also has a lovely little Blog and you can follow her at zita-silkstory.blogspot.com.



If quilting is more your style, then you will love this quilted wall hanging called "Serenity Meadow". Daria is a self-taught quilter whose shop Quilts by Daria can be found on ETSY. She has many beautiful handcrafted items in her shop and each one is a unique piece of artwork.


Natalie Bowman is a self - taught artist who resides in Florida. This cute little Sunflower Gourd is actually a bird feeder. You can find it and many other wonderful items in her ETSY shop Nat's Kreations.

















Last but certainly not least is an artist who I admire greatly. Dorana lives in Mendham, New Jersey with her handsome new husband Todd and her Senior Citizen pets, Lance, Merlin and Neisha. She is constantly creating and designing beautiful works of art for her shop A Dorana Design; on ETSY. There; you can browse tons of beauties just like this flower weave bracelet perfectly named Blush Rose Trellis. Be sure to stop by for a look at her gorgeous creations. Also check out her other shop DDots to see the spectacular cards she creates.Dorana also has a great Blog so be sure to stop by and check that out as well. It is DoranaDesign@blogspot.com.