Bet you didn't know ...

I started a new Etsy shop. Yes I know I said I would cut back but this shop isn't really for me, it's for others. This came out of me wanting to help my friends and family in need. I have a lot going on on both sides of my family at the moment, people needing help and in financial difficulty. Major life changes are happening and we're not all sure we're ready for these things to happen. My art has kind of taken a back burner lately and I think this is one of the reasons why. I never have my own money when it comes to wanting to help others so I came up with the idea to make and sell jewelry and if it profits (I am praying it does) then I can help my loved ones. Every little bit helps right? I'm faithfully making jewelry in the evenings and spending time with my kiddo during the day. Next day if I can I post them in the shop and on my FB Fanpage. Please check it out when you get a chance. I've had one sale the second day my shop was running, boy was that encouraging! Another idea I had was to put one piece of art in this shop and the money would go towards a missionary friend I have who needs financial support. (still working on this one)
I've named my shop Impress 2 Bless. Please spread the word for me. I may do a giveaway from time to time on here as well. If you would like to donate old beads or anything jewelry related I would gladly welcome it and turn it into something new! Just let me know. You can follow me on Twitter as well @impress2bless

Deuteronomy 16:17: "All must give as they are able, according to the blessings given to them by the Lord your God."

Here are a few of my favorites in the shop now:

Help for Haiti

The recent earthquake in Haiti has devastated children and families in the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck just ten miles from the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, where people are left to search through rubble in hopes of finding loved ones.

Emergency supplies such as food, clean water and shelter are desperately needed.

Here is how I'm helping. Any sales this week on items that are 40% off (non originals) already will have 20% donated to the Red Cross. Any sales on full price items (originals) that I've listed here will have 50% donated to YWAM Haiti Relief. Click on my banner above to go to my Etsy shop.

So just so we're clear. All originals are now normal priced and will have 50% of the profits donated and all sales items will have 20% donated.

I've added some new items that haven't been listed in a long time because they were at a local shop.

Click here to go to my ArtFire Shop.

Please help me do my part for Haiti and get some cool art in the process!! Thank you for looking!

Sneak peek of my messy studio!

Please tell me there are more messy artists out there!!!!

Your chance to help out a family in need.

Eleigh Lecates, originally uploaded by creativeFlutter AKA MazerDesign.

Hi all.

It's been a little bit since I posted. I recently found out about a 15 year old girl named Eleigh who died in a car accident. Here is a little bit about her. Deconstructress was a friend of the family and I found out about it from a treasury on Etsy. This is what she wrote:

On June 4, 2008, my very good friends, the Lecates family, lost their 15-year-old daughter in a terrible car accident. Eleigh was the most beautiful girl and she had her entire life ahead of her. She was full of promise and her mother's best friend in the world. She was always at her mom's side. The last thing I want my friends to experience now is any financial hardship and I want to auction a dress here to donate ALL of the sale to them. (She is donating one of her beautiful handmade dresses to help and has a listing on Ebay and Etsy for it.)

I've donated a few paintings for the cause and a bookmark. 100% of the proceeds will go to help this family out. I can't imagine the grief this family is going through so if you can help this family out I'm sure it would help ease their minds. Thank you for considering this cause.

Here is the treasury with some items other Etsians are donating to help. You can also search on Etsy with her name like this "for eleigh" to see all the items that have been donated.

Aimée

Tattoo Help PLEASE!

Hi all,

Well I thought I would share some stuff that I've been trying to figure out lately. OK here goes ... I REALLY WANT a tattoo! But this tattoo has special meaning to me. I've wanted one for years and in my twenties I was so TOTALLY going to get a sun on my ankle. At the time I was a server at a seafood restaurant in Orlando called Shell's and was at the beach on my days off, totally a beach chic! I'm so glad I didn't get that because it really wouldn't have much meaning to me now. The tattoo I want to get is because of my sweet baby girl, Lorelei. She is my inspiration and joy! She will always be my daughter and I will always love her no matter what. I want a piece of art to signify my love for her. My original idea was to have her birth flower which is the carnation (pink) with her name. The carnation is the birth flower for January and it also symbolizes a mother's love which is why it's often given out to mother's on Mother's Day. Now being a designer I thought this would be a simple task to take on, just a flower and a name, but the more I think about it the more I don't want it to look like something everyone else has, I need to mix it up a bit. I'm drawing a blank though. One thought was to have like a gust of wind blowing the flower and petals around because she was a complete and unexpected surprise to Jason and I. Another idea was to have one of those cute vintage swallows holding onto a banner with her name and somehow incorporating the flower in there and if it's not too much to ask I want a heart somewhere. I also like those swirls and scripts they often do. I don't know where to start!! UGH! I've looked at numerous websites, watch Miami Ink and LA Ink, looked at magazines and nothing is coming to me. I don't know if I'm doing too much in one tattoo because I'm not sure what works and I don't want a super HUGE piece of art on me. I'm thinking of putting it on the inside of my ankle or on the backside of my wrist. Any opinions, ideas and thoughts are WELCOME! I'm a tattoo virgin and not sure where to start, can anyone help me??? Thanks so much!!