NEW Hair Clips

I am now selling beaded hair clips! The "ladies" (as I call the hair clips) are inspired by the 1920's flapper phase and the extravagent headdresses the ladies would wear. I colors used also lean torwards the vintage. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! They were an absolute joy to design and create. :)

~ Evelynne Hair Clips ~

~ Willa Hair Clips ~

~ Darla Hair Clips ~

~ Francie Hair Clips ~

And as always free shipping within the US and Canada.... :)

Interview With An Artist

A little while ago, after joining a West Michigan Etsy Team (EtsyWMI Team), I discovered a true artist among Etsians. Her work is both mesmorizing and stylish. Shannon from gypsymoonart.etsy.com creates jewelry with intricate wire wrappings, coils and designs. Her second shop, gypsytrinkets.etsy.com, houses unique wire components and accents for fellow designers to use in their pieces. I recently interviewed Shannon through Etsy's super cool comunication tool, Convo, and was able to learn a lot of very interesting and inspiring facts about her and her remarkable trade.

Trina: Where did you first hear about Etsy?
Shannon: I actually heard about Etsy years ago from other artist friends, but wasn't really at a point where I was ready to open a shop yet.


Gypsy Earrings

What inspired you to start your first Etsy shop, gypsymoonart
I began making jewelry and sold a few items to my mom and my friends. People complimented me on my pieces that I would wear and I began to think that I should give it a shot. I was creating so much jewelry that it was piling up. With the full support of my husband, I started a website. My Etsy shop opened up a short time later.


Honey Mead Ring
And what made you decide to open your second Etsy shop, gypsytrinkets?
Store bought findings looked too commercial and lacked interest. They didn't compliment my jewelry designs. I started making my own and people who saw my jewelry couldn't believe that I made my own clasps, ear wires, etc. I decided to share my handmade findings with other jewelry makers. I wanted keep my finished jewelry seperate from my findings,so I decided that opening a second shop was the thing to do.

Brass Artisan Headpins

I noticed that all your pieces are made with handworked metal. Which metal is your favorite to use and why?
I love sterling silver. It is easy to work with and when oxidized it has a beautiful mystical, almost magical, glow. It is easily recycled by either melting down the scraps, or sending them to a refinery. I also love copper. It has a warm, earthy, rustic glow that makes it look very "Old World". I grew up going to Michigan's Upper Penninsula and visiting the copper mines there. Copper reminds me of all the great times I had exploring the U.P.'s forests, and Lake Superior.

Saugatuck Lake Michigan shell pendent

Which items in both of your shops are your favorites? Why?
That is a difficult question. Whatever piece I am working on at the time is my favorite. I pour all of my love and energy into a piece while I am creating it. Even when I am not working on it, it consumes my thoughts. That being said, I do have a pendant that I have never listed for sale and probably never will. I cannot bear to part with it. It is a beautiful, huge red stone that is intricately woven in copper wire.


Where, how, and when did you learn your craft?
I have always been an artist and worked professionally as a muralist and faux finisher for many years. When my children were born, my husband and I both wanted me to stay home with them. But creating art is in my soul and I began searching for other ways to satisfy my creative appetite. I began playing with wire. Right about this time my father was diagnosed for the second time with kidney cancer. For christmas that year, I made my grandma and my mom (and myself) very simple wire bracelets with beads in the symbolic color for kidney cancer. I attached little awareness ribbon charms in support of my dad's battle. I became totally obsessed with wire working. I have never taken any classes or had any professional training. I am an avid reader and devoured anything I could get my hands on about wire working. I have taught myself by trial and error. If I had an idea that didn't work, I just tried again. It spiraled out of control from there. Oh, and my dad is cancer free!!!

What inspires you in your art? What helps you design?
I am inspired by fairy tales, myths, and Celtic legends. I am completely in love with the Legend of King Arthur, I think my favorite characters are Morgan le Faye and Merlin. I love dreamy, romantic stories that carry me away to another time and place~ anything with knights, pirates, fairies, wizards, kings and queens. My family loves to go to renaissance faires, and I come away with hundreds of ideas. I am also inspired by nature and love using stones, gems, and shells in my designs. Sometimes I sketch a design out completely before I create it, and sometimes I just sit down in my studio and the design creates itself. It really just depends on my mood.


Dragon's Treasure

You have been sucessful in your business. Do you have any advice to give other Etsy sellers? Anything in particular that has really helped you?
The best advice I can really give is to be patient. Get involved in your local art community, and get involved in online communities. I participate in local art shows, and have items in local art galleries. Make friends with other artists, surround yourself with supportive people. Be confident, but kind and accomodating to people, attitude is everything!

So there you are! You can check out Shannon's other website at http://www.gypsymoonart.com/. You can also find her on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter.

Autumn Arrivals: Part 2

New Autumn Accessories are here! And new items are being added daily at Trina's Trinkets. Be sure to stop by, say "Hi", and see what's new!

Something to Think About

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his mind is a craftsmen. And he who works with his hands, mind, heart and soul is an artist."

~Native American Proverb

Labor Day Weekend Sale!

There is currently a Labor Day Weekend Sale going on now at Trina's Trinkets! It's started a day or so early since I'm not sure I'd be able to get on Etsy tomorrow to get things rolling. :) All items in the "SALE" section have been reduced by 25% for immediate savings. There are Bead in Cage Earrings, Set of 2 Green Beaded Bobby Pins, Light Blue Dragonfly Beaded Bobby Pin, Whimsical Cage and Spiral Bracelet, and many more currently on sale at a reduced price. Check 'em out before they're gone!

Autumn Arrivals: Part 1

I am pleased to announce the arrival of Autumn Cards to Trina's Trinkets! Four new autumn inspired designs are now available. This week only: Free shipping for Autumn Cards!




http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30228815




http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=30228376




http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=30227846




http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=30226963

Check them out! Free shipping for this week only!

Fall Is In The Air

Cool, crisp air. Hot tea in the morning. A strong desire for cuddly blankets and Audrey Hepburn movies. Pulling sweaters and corduroys out of storage. That's right! The season is changing folks! And while the leaves may not be in quite their glorious array of orange, gold, and burgundy just yet, Autumn is upon us even now.

While winter holds its charm for me in the form of hot cocoa and leafless trees frosted in ice, and spring its wonderful aroma of fresh buds and new flowers, Autumn is the most dear season to me of all. (Summer cannot even be accounted for since it doesn't last long where I live, and I can't stand the heat that even accompanies it's two short months.) And so with the arrival of fall comes my great excitement of my Autumn Arrivals!

Except new Autumn-esque greeting cards! Black lace , rustic brown, golden yellows, and gold metal are overrunning new jewelry and beaded accessories! I am a little late in the forthcoming Autumn Arrival line of Trina's Trinkets, but I am working hard to insure that all will be available before mid-September. Keep checking back here, at Etsy, and also on Twitter and Facebook for the announcement of Autumn Arrivals: Greeting Cards. And also expect to see a post on writing homespun messages inside blank cards!

Stamped Cards

Good news! I finally have hand stamped cards for sale on Etsy! Stamping cards is my favorite thing to do when I want to experiment with color combinations and different texture effects. The layering process of stamped image, paper, and ribbon is also a big plus for me. I've never been good at drawing or painting, but I can be very creative. And making cards gives me that kinsthetic ability to make art and make it look good. :)

I hope to have more cards available soon, so keep checking back for new additions. And if you have a special order for coordinating invitations and thank you cards, please e-mail me at trinas_trinkets@hotmail.com and I'll see what I can do.

Etsy Favorite: KelRae Designs

To show off my favorite Etsy shops I'm going to start adding a "Etsy Favorite Of The Week". This week's Etsy Favorite is for KelRae Designs, an Etsy shop owned by my very own Aunt Kelly! KelRae Designs specializes in tote bags and throw pillows, but other hand sewn items such as crayon rolls for children and mini wallets for ladies can also be found there. You can check out her shop at http://www.kelraedesigns.etsy.com/.

KelRae Designs started after Kelly first heard of Etsy on the popular morning news program "Good Morning America". Kelly enjoys sewing very much and she especially enjoys sewing tote bags. Experimenting with different color combinations is very inspiring for Kelly and her shop shows that. Lots of colors and patterns are seen there for just about every taste.

Here is Kelly's favorite item available for sale:





http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27669536





Here is my favorite item for sale at KelRae Designs:




http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=26977923

Check out KelRae Designs for more unique hand sewn items!
http://www.kelraedesigns.etsy.com

Earrings: Simple and Cute

At Trina's Trinkets I pride myself on offering stylish earrings for sale. I take inspiration from everywhere: television shows, trips to the mall, Celtic Festivals, and missions trips to Ethiopia just to name a few. A lot of times I'll find two really unique beads or charms and I will use them only for earrings... no other project will do! For this blog post I am highlighting some pairs of earrings that are for sale at Trina's Trinkets. These are very simple, very cute, and very wearable accessories, and they also make great gifts. You can find these and more at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7640818&section_id=6251701. That link will take you right to the earring section in my Etsy shop.

Happy Shopping!

Creative Creating

I am so excited for all of the pieces that I have been working on! After my trip to Frankenmuth, MI, and a stop at my favorite bead store (Bead Haven, http://www.beadhaven.com/), I've been doing my best to create functional yet original jewelry pieces with all the little beauties (beads and findings) that I bought. I absolutely love the colors that are in right now: soft aqua, vibrant green, deep blue, pomegranate, cream, and coral.

To get the creative juices flowing I've been poring over beading magazines, other Etsy sites, and I've even been looking for inspiration from old movies (or movies that depict an older generation): Breakfast at Tiffany's and a newer movie Public Enemies. A bit of old whimsy, noir, and natural have also gone into some of my newer pieces.

I hope you enjoy these lovelies as much as I do!

Reasons For Aqua

If you have been to my Etsy shop and had a look around you've probably noticed something. Well, hopefully you've noticed two somethings. One being the main colors in all my jewelry pieces. That's a lot of aqua isn't it? To be honest, I love that color. It is my absolute favorite. So it's no shocker that I would naturally be drawn to it. The second being that all my photography for my pieces is done out of doors. That's because the lighting is always better outside and I am truly inspired by nature. I take pictures out of doors because of nature, and I use the color aqua because of nature. There are many lakes in Michigan. And whenever I see a lake I see many hues and shades of blue-greens and aquas. I remember one vacation to Mackinaw City, MI. The Mackinac Bridge travels split down the middle between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. I remember being completely enthralled as I noticed that the Lake Michigan side was a deep, rich indigo. And the Lake Huron side was the loveliest shade of blue-green.
When I go to a bead store and see rows upon rows of rich, aqua and blue-green beads, I see ripples in Lake Michigan or the summer sky just before dusk. My hope for the jewelry that I make is that it will bring customers and fellow artisans a little bit closer to nature.

~~Looking Ahead~~
Expect to see more jewelry, that's for sure! On my next trip to a bead store or antique mall I hope to snag jewelry elements in shades of oranges and raspberries. Not only because the fruit of the same name is delicious but because of what it reminds of: summer sunsets and snap dragons, and autumn mums and pumpkins. Look for it in my shop!

Trina's Trinkets: Up And Running

Trina's Trinkets on Etsy is now open for business! Stop in for some hand made earrings, beaded bobby pins, and a beautiful beaded necklace. There seems to be a theme with the colors I used for all these projects. I don't think I've written out the word "aqua" so many times in my life! I did go for a type of natural, "at the beach" kind of look with my designs. Everything I have for sale is sure to go with any breezy, summer fashion ensemble.

Another Step

Today was photo shoot day! I took pictures of all the jewelry I will be selling for this season. I still need to take pics of the cards... those are going to be more tricky. Also today I got an account started with Etsy. So... I'm getting there... just a few more things and I'll be selling. :)

The Beginning

I am very excited about starting my own Etsy shop. And so I have decided to create a blog to journal my progress with my own little business.
I love stamping cards, designing and creating beaded jewelry, as well as cross stitch and some sewing. I hope to have my Etsy shop up and running by the end of August. :)
I will also keep this blog up to date with new items for sale, as well as current trends in the jewelry and stamping crafts. Be sure to come back for more!