I don't even think I know the exact date my store opened its "online doors!" On my first anniversary month, I remember mentioning it in some sort of mumbling way on my blog, that I had been in business "about a year now." Yep, that was pretty much it.
But our guest today, Laren Dee Barton, knows how to celebrate life in bigger, better ways, and she's including all of us in her celebration too! What could be more fun?!
If you have any question about Laren being an artist in many forms, just take a look at the slide show that appears on her "About Laren Dee Designs" page on Etsy! Not only is the jewelry there intriguing and beautiful, but so are the photographs, the arrangement of items on the page, and the overall presentation.
And here we begin to learn the secret that Laren has a multi-layered past that has involved many experiences, quite a few having to do with art, all overlapping and coming together now in her jewelry design business!
As Laren says,
"With a lifetime of arts and crafts experiences in my home and as a prior owner/designer of a full service flower shop, working with beads and wire feels very natural to me. I've been a business professional and an ordained minister, a spiritual teacher, counselor and author. I devoted years to giving of my time in order to help women find personal healing in their own lives. I am most proud of that work."
Today, she and her art are on a new journey! Let's take a look at where they are at this moment in time!
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On June 2, 2012, Laren open her store, Laren Dee Designs on Etsy! This June, she's celebrating with an all-month anniversary celebration! Details follow at the end of the page, so keep reading--wonderful, wonderful opportunities to win!
Meanwhile, I want to show you a few of my personal favorites from Laren's store. There are many to choose from, although I keep finding one and then another favorite missing these days, so don't wait too long!
Most of you know I love long, dangly earrings, Czech glass crystals, brass, the color aqua, and handmade ceramic beads. So why didn't I think to make these earrings? (I dunno!) But no worries, because Laren was inspired to do so! She also had the good taste to use Marsha Neal Studio Beads!
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Chocolate Clay Ceramic Beads with Glacier Finish and Czech Beads in Antique Brass Wire-Wrapped Earrings |
It might seem a bit arrogant or self-serving for me to include this pair. So forgive me, but how could I not? Basically, I have to love someone who takes my metal components, matches them up with lovely handmade lampwork (by Dreamscapes Studio, Ontario, Canada), and turns out an extremely stylish design!
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Lentil Bead Raku Lampwork Focals with Gold and Blue Beaded Copper Earrings 4.5 Inch Length
I often associate crystals with Laren's work, because she has used really beautiful glass cut crystals in her work since I have known her this past year. (I admit I'm partial to them too!) But I've also seen her jewelry designs expand to include lovely lampwork and metal findings such as beadcaps, accent beads and special clasps--details that really make her work seem special and one-of-a-kind!
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Puffed Hearts Lampwork and Copper Leaf Motif Toggle Bracelet and Earring Set for 7-8 Inch Wrist
Her wireworking skills and designs involving stones have also expanded, and pendants such as this one below are some of my favorite pieces in Laren's store!
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Purple/Lavendar Sea Sediment Jasper with Antique Brass Wire Wrapped Tassels with Ribbon Necklace |
I love jewelry that looks like it comes from another culture, and this one feels just right to me! So impressive! Look at the colors, the types of beads, all the stringing, and those wonderful beadcaps! Once again, nice job, Laren!
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Mediterranean Torsade Necklace Artisan Crafted |
So those are some of MY favorites! I'm sure you will find your own! Share with us in the comments section if you like, when you apply for the drawing. Details below!!!
GOOD NEWS:
A $25 Gift Certificate is going to be given away on this blog to be used at Laren Dee Designs!
A $25 Gift Certificate is going to be given away on this blog to be used at Laren Dee Designs!
REALLY GREAT NEWS:
The winner of the gift certificate is also eligible for the One-Year Celebration Gifts and Activities mentioned above!
Not required, but I invite you to:
- Follow Laren's blog!
- Friend her FB page!
- Visit her on Pinterest!
- Take a look at her store!
- Spread the word through your own blog or FB page!
What you MUST do:
- To be entered in the drawing for the $25 gift certificate, please leave your name and contact information in a comment on this blog. As always, if you don't want to make your contact info public, you may leave a 2nd message with your email address. I will not publish the contact info if you have left two separate messages. Otherwise, I assume you don't mind if I publish.
--Thank you to Laren, for being our featured guest!
--The rest of you have until Thursday night, June 13, 2013 at 11:55pm Central time to enter the drawing!
--Let the fun begin!
~Sharyl
"Girl Pirates, Ahoy There!" from Laren's "About" page on Etsy. Used by permission of Laren Dee. Barton.
Photo of Laren from her blog, http://larendeedesigns.blogspot.com/ used by her permission.
All photographs of Laren's jewelry are from Laren's Etsy store. These are copyright protected and used here with permission of the artist.
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16 comments:
Great post! Congrats Laren Dee on one year! I love the great stories that you share in your newsletters, they always put a smile on my face. :)
The two pairs of earrings you picked out Sharyl are also my favorites. Great minds think alike. ;)
I also love the colors in this necklace, and the gorgeous focal that Sharyl made - http://www.etsy.com/listing/152487643/copper-focal-in-blue-green-brown?ref=shop_home_active
This bracelet is just too cute :http://www.etsy.com/listing/153595678/if-i-eat-my-vegies-i-can-have-dessert?ref=shop_home_active.
I'm following both of your blogs now (I thought I already was,oops), I look forward to more posts from both of you.
I just love Laren's tidepool treasures seashell bracelet! Another great blog post/artist feature, Sharyl!
Amazing and talented you are Laren Dee Barton! Congratulations on your one year Etsy Anniversary!
great work! congrats on 1 year!
Thanks for focusing on someone and how they've done. Very cool. The leaf motif bracelet was my favorite, but I loved both of the earrings, too.
Passing along comment from Carol D...
Congrats on 1 year Laren! Beautiful jewelry. Heading now to check out your shop!
I have just recently started following Laren's blog and have been really impressed by her posts. I would love to win a GC show that I can go shopping and pick myself up some gorgeous jewelry.
Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I love the use of color in the Jade Budha Necklace also Lovely design.
congratulations on your one year anniversary! I am now following your blog, liked your face book page, follow you on penterest ,,,,,,
normaturvey@yahoo.com
Just found this site, love your work, the anklet is so cute. I am going next to Etsy to check out the shop.
Shanon
shanon.gibbs@sbcglobal.net
Nice feature..!!!
The earrings are gorgeous and I can see why you chose all those pieces as your favourites..
Carmen (kahmin31@gmail.com)
I do hope I getting your messages properly separated. Some are a bit confusing to me. Hopefully I've not printed any here that you didn't want printed. If you see yours and didn't want it posted, please comment to me and I'll remove it.
If I haven't posted yours to the public, please know that all comments (one per person) will be entered in the drawing whether they are posted or I've kept them confidential.
Many thanks to all who have commented! The drawing for the gift certificate closes Thursday night just before midnight Central time!
P.S. Thanks to you all for your really kind, thoughtful, enthusiastic words expressed for Laren and for me. Laren certainly deserves it (and I'm just a lucky bystander!) :-)
Sharyl, you did a lovely job of featuring Laren and her work. She is very talented and its so nice that she uses your components as well as those of other artists. I really liked her piece on Etsy that showcased the purple sea sediment jasper-Fantastic! Warm Regards, Tammie (tammie@ttedesigns.com)
Oh how fun! I wanna play too! And I'm making it at the 11:50pm mark! Cutting it awfully close! ;)
Love Lauren's work!
<3,
Andrea
zenithjade@yahoo.com
So glad a few more joined us today and this evening! Entries for the drawing for the $25 gift certificate are now closed.
As I mentioned before, there are a few more than you see here, people who specifically requested or left me with an impression that they desired to keep their emails confidential. Those were not posted, but will be included in the drawing. Thank you and good luck to each of you!
Hate to leave you in suspense, but will announce the winner later Friday morning! In the meantime, sleep well (or have a good day if you live on the other side of the world!) :-)
Sharyl
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