Garnet, January birthstone

Garnet is the January birthstone which has been used to make gorgeous jewelry pieces since the Bronze Age. It comes in many colors but the most common is deep red.

Take a look at garnet jewelry our team members has to offer at their shops today. Beautiful, isn't it?

1. Garnet brooch pin by JD4dreamer

2. Garnet gemstone chips crochet necklace by DKHM

3. Green and red garnet necklace with silver elements byLenaMer

4. Garnet and silver chandelier earrings by MyDreamBox

5. Vintage garnet sterling silver ring by agardencottage

6. Garnet & black meteorite silver ring byDemyBlackDesign

7. Tree-Of-Life garnet and copper pendant necklace by  JewelryFloren

8. Garnet and sterling silver earrings by StasyaWireWrap

9. Rough garnet adjustable ring by daimblond

Button necklace to crochet this summer #etsycraftparty

 Do you have a lot of buttons sitting around? Here is an idea how to use them from Tonya (CityCrochet): crochet this cute necklace with colorful buttons. Perfect for a summer outfit!

This tutorial is a part of our virtual Etsy Craft Party 2016. See more on our blog!


So, here is how to make the button necklace. We will need a mercerized cotton thread, a toggle clasp, a crochet hook and about 30 buttons of different sizes and colors.

To make crocheting simple and to safe us some time we will start with beading all out buttons on a thread first. Once all our buttons are ganging there nicely we can start crocheting.

Crochet a simple foundation chain adding buttons with 1 or 1 and 1/2 inch. intervals. In case you would like to make your necklace longer you can add some more buttons or make a space between them larger. Mix and match hues of green and blue buttons and your necklace will looks unique and stylish.

With 34" long necklace you can wear it either around your neck or your wrist. But of course, you can adjust the length to wear this necklaces on your waist instead of a belt or on your ankle.

The necklace crocheting shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. When the thread is ready we will attach toggle clasp to it and our summer bright necklace is ready to wear. It's a perfect summer accessory and will make you look beautiful and special!

I love you, Mom!

Mother’s Day is coming up and it’s a great reminder to tell your Mom that you appreciate everything she’s done for you.

I know we should not need reminders but we get so busy in our everyday routines that we sometimes forget to tell the ones we love that we really care.

So this time don’t forget to let her know how important she is to you.

If you live far away send her a nice card.

If you are able to visit you should plan to spend the day with your mom. Find her a nice gift.

Put the gift in a nice box that will become a keepsake and you are set!

There are so many wonderful gifts that the members of the Russian Artists Team have created for you to choose from. Head on over to Etsy and find something for your mom!


By Yana (WineCountryLife)

Crocheted necklace bracelet giveaway from TomBjornDesigns

This year's Earth day comes closer and we decided to contribute to it by having this earth-friendly giveaway from TomBjornDesigns.

This versatile piece of jewelry is made of upcycled beads taken from several old broken and forgotten necklaces and bracelets. Ira can never resist giving old items a new life, and tries to upcycle old jewelry as often as she can.

Ira hopes the person who wins will love this summer bright and earth friendly piece and enjoy wearing it!

As all of TomBjornDesigns' necklaces, you can wear this item as a bracelet, belt, or a thousand different necklaces.

Go to see her shop to get inspired!

Here's how you enter for a chance to win this:

- Visit the TomBjornDesigns shop, take a look around and leave us a comment of what your favorite item is (1 entry per comment)
- Follow our blog - 1 entry
- Subscribe to our blog via RSS - 1 entry
- Grab our button and place it on your blog - 2 entries
- Blog about this giveaway - 2 entries
- Tweet about this giveaway - 1 entry
- Leave a link to this giveaway on Facebook - 1 entry
- Follow Tombjorndesigns on Facebook - 1 entry
- Follow TomBjornDesigns blog - 1 entry

Please leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to leave us your email address so that we can contact you!

The more entries you submit the more chances of winning!

A winner will be chosen by Ira using random.org on April 22th and we will announce the winner on our blog.

Gemstones necklace DIY

Today, Lena from LenaMer is sharing a tutorial how to make a great necklace with gem stones and copper elements.

To make the necklace, we will need instruments:

• smooth and hard metal surface
• metal hammer
• round nosed pliers
• side cutting nippers

And supplies:

• big oval flat beads
• small round beads
• wire which match the bead’s hole

Flatten one end of the wire

...and twist it into a "croissant"

Put a bead on and bend wire 90 degrees

Bend again and wear a "bagel" from the next link

Make a small loop and cut off the “leftovers” with nippers

Crochet nursing/ teething necklace giveaway results

We are happy to announce the winner of our crochet nursing/teething necklace giveaway!

Comment # 46 by ali was chosen as a winner. Congratulations!

Julia (bysiki) will contact you to verify your mailing address.

Congratulations to the winner and thank you for participation, everyone!

Interview with a Star - Ira from TomBjornDesigns

 If you ever see this shop you will always want to come back. They have the loveliest necklaces and cute crochet rings which will make you feel so cozy. There is so much more there! Ira, the owner of TomBjornDesigns is telling us about her shop and her inspirations. It is especially nice when you know that today is Ira's birthday!

So happy birthday, Ira! We wish you all the best and may your all wishes come true!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a Russian/ Israeli girl living in Sweden. (and I am turning 30 today, so I am not sure if "girl" still applies to me :))

And I think you can see it in my items - some are inspired by Mediterranean treasures, some by cold Northern fjords, so by my memories from the Soviet Union.
I live in a small apartment, which I am sharing with the man of my dreams and my business. And my beads take most of the space in the apartment.

How long have you been creating?
Since forever. Sometimes I think I was sitting in my mom's belly with a crocheting hook and a handful of beads... or buttons :)

What would you say makes your shop unique?
Probably the mix of old and new. I am inspired from vintage jewelry, but I am trying to put it into new context.
On top of my handmade items I am selling vintage beauties that I happened to find. Nothing makes me more happy than seeing it being shipped to it's new home.

What is the most important about your work?
I am trying to make happy items, and I hope that my customers feel it. Also, I mix the colors and materials in order to give my necklaces a flirty and unusual look.
And the last but not the least, I love my customers. I am trying to provide the best customer service possible, and hope they feel it!

What inspires you and what is the day in your studio look like?
Everything inspires me! Nature, vintage shops, my dreams, beautiful handwriting, my grandmother's photographs, and of course, love of my life, Stockholm.

Your versatile necklace / bracelets line is so popular. What's the key?
Well, first of all it is their versatility that makes them so appealing. They can be worn in so many different ways and my customers like to change their look every day. Another things that makes them my best-seller is probably the colors... and the love I invest in carefully picking the color palettes.

Do you take custom orders?
Yes, I love them. I love to follow the imagination of my customer and to make quite unexpected things for me.
This necklace was inspired by a customer:

Where would you like to go with your business?
I would love to develop it further and to brand it better. I dream of selling it to shops and galleries on a regular basis (so far I had only several orders from various galleries, but I work on it!)