2/11/10

New Feature & Prize: Kim Smith + her Over The Rainbow Bracelet

Over The Rainbow bracelet made by Kim Smith
for sale at Hearts For Haiti


I Love This Bracelet!

Last month while visiting the nonprofit etsy shop Hearts for Haiti I stumbled over this colorful bracelet. It is made of memory wire, plated glass pearls & seed beads by Kim Smith from Kimmsmith.etsy.com. Beautiful piece, great price & free shipping - I decided to make it mine. Plus I loved knowing my $ is going to a good cause.


All money spent at Hearts For Haiti is donated to Doctors Without Borders once etsy & paypal fees are removed. As of 2/8 Hearts For Haiti has raised $29,079.92 (after fees) If you have some time, please check out this fantastic shop. A variety of items have been donated by hundreds of Etsy sellers and all shipping is free.

I love my new bracelet (it is even prettier in person) and decided to share. I contacted Kim and she made another for Thursday's Giveaways. I then purchased that bracelet from Hearts For Haiti & will give it to one very lucky winner.

To enter the random drawing for 1 Over The Rainbow memory wire bracelet, leave a comment on this blog before 1 a.m. on 2/25. That day 1 winner will be selected using random.org. The bracelet is one size fits all. This drawing is open worldwide & prize ships free. Make sure you have contact info in your profile or comment.


Kim has also popped in today to share some of her colorful thoughts and photos. Kim lives in the UK, where she creates the vibrant bracelets that she sells in her Etsy shop.


Thanks so much for dropping by, Kim. What would you like to share about yourself today?

KS: I'm a beadaholic! I am married to Ian who is so supportive and praises my work always. I have 2 boys Kristian 17 and Jamie 8 who are football mad! I sing to myself all day whilst beading.

KS: I love walking to gather inspiration, watching my boys play football, lunching with friends and spending time with my supportive family. I love all sorts of crafting and I'm constantly amazed by the beautiful things that people make. I love anything that is different. I dream beads and constantly come up with new colour mixes so my journal is always to hand.

When did you 1st become interested in beading?

KS: My first encounter with beads was when I was about 5, my grandad gave me a big bag of coloured beads, I strolled through the park on the way home happily with my mom when a huge dog bounded playfully at me, I lost every single bead and cried all the way home!

KS: I have been beading now since 2007. My sister used to make jewelry and I always admired her; she tried to show me how it was done one day, it was fiddly and needed patience, it just wasn't for me even though I had always loved beads since childhood! I was made redundant from my job quite a few months later and had lots of spare time on my hands and was very bored so I decided to have a play but kind of doing it my way, from that day on I became addicted!


How do you choose the colors & patterns for each design?

KS: My inspiration for colours can come from the most bizarre things such as a colour combinations on a shower gel bottle, wallpaper, fabric, a pattern on a dress or a gift box.
KS: My main inspiration though is my garden and childhood memories of the hours I spent in my grandparents award winning garden full of flowers and orchards! My nan and my mom taught me every craft I know and always inspired me! The inspiring feedback from customers and other artists makes me want to keep doing what I'm doing and I love every moment of it.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, Kim. It has been great fun! Also thank you for donating your fantastic Over The Rainbow bracelets to both Hearts For Haiti and
the new Thursday Giveaway.

Many thanks to all who take the time to enjoy this visit with Kim today. Please leave a comment to enter the random drawing. If you simply can't wait to get an Over The Rainbow bracelet of your own, click this link to visit Hearts for Haiti where there is another one for sale. They are also available in Kim's Etsy shop, Kimmsmith, along with an assortment of other colorful & affordable jewelry pieces.

84 comments:

  1. Stacey I am honoured to be featured on your fabby blog! Thank You so much! Good Luck to everyone who enters! xx

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  2. Kim's bracelets are amazing, and she is such a generous and caring person! I love this bracelet... fingers crossed!

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  3. Not only is she insanely talented, but she's so sweet on Twitter and Facebook!

    Cari
    kotibeth @ gmail dot com

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  4. Kim your work is gorgeous :)

    Stacey, another great interview :)

    Gotta love Hearts for Haiti :) T.

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  5. Great interview Stacey...nice to meet the artists and how they came about their art. Lovely beading Kim. There were so many pretty ones there and I have to check your shop out!
    eva

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  6. Wow her work is outstanding!

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  7. This bracelet is so pretty! It makes me wish for summer and the pretty colors that mean winter is gone!

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  8. It is just a DEVINE bracelet I have a 3 piece suit that will match it PERFECTLY !! birdson@roadrunner.com

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  9. I have been a big fan of Kim's work for a while now and follow hher on FB. Her talent is just amazing and pieces are BREATHTAKING. I o course have my FX but just love to see what she come up with next.

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  10. I just found the designer Kim Smith recently too!I am in awe of her colors and themes(and patience)!!
    Although everything is so pretty...Love the Fall Harvest Bracelet;)
    cyclona66(at)aol(dot)com

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  11. All so very beautiful. I adore bracelets.

    marypres@gmail.com

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  12. Kim is a very talented lady. I stumbled across her itemson Etsy by accident and was lucky to purchase one of her gorgeous charm bracelets. It is even better in rela life and gets lots of compliments when I wear it.

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  13. Gorgeous bracelet! Glad to hear that the purchase $ goes towards "Doctors Without Borders." :-)

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  14. The jewelry is such art work. Such beautiful items.

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  15. Kim, you do beautiful work. What a wonderful way of redeeming that day in the park.

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  16. I don't wear bracelets often, but these are seriously changing my mind! Beautiful!

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  17. That is so very pretty! Kim your work is lovely and imaginative.

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  18. Beautiful! Thanks for the chance.

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  19. realitybbq*AT*gmail*DOT*com

    Gorgeous! My favourite thing in the world is rainbows :) Thanks so much for bringing this awesome talent to us!

    Thank you!

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  20. Hi Stacey!
    Your bracelet is so beautiful! As is all of Kim's work. Loved this post and it's cause. I hope all is well with you, it has been super snowy and cold here. Looking forward to spring.
    hugs,
    Dee

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  21. what gorgeous jewelry...I hearted your shop, Kim :)

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  22. That bracelet is gorgeous! I would love to be entered. Thank you

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  23. What makes these bracelets even more special is that you will be helping the survivors of Haiti. Bravo!

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  24. The bracelet is lovely and will complement anyone's wardrobe. I also want to thank the donations to Doctors without Borders as that is an awesome organization and they are doing a lot of work in Haiti. I live in FL and know quite a few Drs that have gone.

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  25. I love the colors of this bracelet. It is so beautiful.

    SamneneD@aol.com

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  26. I would loove to own that bracelet - its so beautiful

    timesurge(at)live.ca
    http://tsgiveaways.blogspot.com

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  27. Kim Smith has the most gorgeous bracelets! I check her site everyday! And she is absolutely wonderful to work with. I gave my purchases as gifts and have gotten rave reviews! What a wonderful gift she has!

    wendep@verizon.net

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  28. Beautiful work Kim, and so great that Doctors Without Borders/Haiti are benefitting as well!

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  29. all of these are just so beautiful

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  30. Such a beautiful piece of jewelry.
    I love it.
    a10small at hotmail dot com

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  31. madwoman-doing-cartwheels3:59 AM, February 13, 2010

    What a gorgeous bracelet. I had no idea there were Etsy sellers who supported charitable causes.

    Great interview also!


    rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

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  32. The bracelet is beautiful!

    hrracer @ verizon dot net

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  33. WONDERFUL work its just fantastic I <3 it and would love to show it off on my wrist ;)

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  34. Thanks for the opportunity!
    rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

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  35. Kim is very talented. I was hoping to get into beading but school obligations consumes all of my time. Well, I would love to win this bracelet.

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  36. These are beautiful and I would love to win!
    judyylee@hotmail.com

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  37. I love Kim Smith's work. It is so sunny and festive. The giveaway bracelet is gorgeous and would go with anything.
    Thank you.

    sabrita@juno.com

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  38. I love Kim's work. I especially like the luscious lemon bracelet

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  39. WOW! THis is a gorgeous bracelet! The other items you highlighted are gorgeous as well!

    kissyjensen at gmail dot com

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  40. Love the bracelets bargainfun1 at yahoo

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  41. Very beautiful work. I would love to own one of your pieces.

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  42. What beautiful work!!! Absolutely gorgeous pieces.

    Another great interview and giveaway.
    Thanks Stacey!!

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  43. Wonderful interview and Kim's work is amazing! So colorful and playful! Love it and I am going to visit her shop right nowl.
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  44. Wow those are some gorgeous bracelets! I absolutely love the beading :)

    Ashlei
    alc4253@hotmail.com

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  45. Kim's work is gorgeous. Thank you for hosting this giveaway and exposing me to her jewelry!

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  46. I'd love to win this gorgeous bracelet!

    lejn05@yahoo.com

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  47. Wow, that shop is amazing!

    alicialovessweeps@gmail.com

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  48. Beautiful things,wondeful use of colours:)

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  49. I think this etsy shop has the most items that i've ever seen one have! wow!
    Love those Baby Blue Baby Booties i saw there!

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  50. Wonderful! Thank you.

    annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

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  51. I am such a fan of Kim's jewelry! I've seen it before and loved it for some time now. :) I'm always happy to see a giveaway of hers (gosh, if I could afford it, I'd just purchase everything in her shop!)

    I listed this giveaway in my blog:
    http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com/2010/02/bracelet-from-kimm-smith.html

    Ronit
    internationalgiveaways[at]gmail[dot]com
    http://internationalgiveaways.blogspot.com

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  52. Gorgeous items!! Love all the beadwork!
    kkondek at gmail.com

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  53. Hi, the colours are beautiful, thanks for the chance to win.

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  54. What a beautiful bracelet, would love a chance to win
    Tanya

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  55. Neat bracelet, she has some other gorgeous pieces too! Very pretty!

    Anna
    perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

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  56. I love this Over the Rainbow bracelet! All of the items are just beautiful!
    alcz728 at yahoo com

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  57. Stacey you have such great taste no wonder you love Kim's work she's amazingly talented - wow luv her beadin ways!
    Jill

    jillzwhimzy@yahoo.com

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  58. i think the one you are giving away is my favorite i just love love the colors soo pretty
    roswello athotmail dot com

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  60. the colors are so beautiful, love this bracelet.

    Michelle
    glass_identities@yahoo.com

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  61. Just looking at her bracelets makes
    me happy. I added her as a favorite seller on Etsy. Beautiful attention to detail
    winti6@hotmail.com

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  62. Such gorgeous pieces, love them all! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  63. Kim! Your work is fantastic! It is amazing for originality, beauty and charm! I would be proud Bracelet from this collection.

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  64. her bracelets are beautiful and i would love to win, thank you for the giveaway

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  65. I just wanted to thank you all for your beautiful comments. Good luck to you all xx

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  66. Gorgeous bracelet. I like that it is one size fits all-I have large wrists and bracelets are normally too small for me.

    email (amt at telus dot net)

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  67. What a stunning piece!!!!

    monkeychild92@gmail.com

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  68. That would be a wonderful gift for my daughter. She's right into jewellery and style right now.
    abrennan09@hotmail.com

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  69. very nice piece - love to give as a gift to myh daughter or wife.
    coreybrennan26@hotmail.com

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  70. Kim has some beautiful pieces :) Thanks for the chance!
    eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  71. I am a fan of Kimm's work. I get many compliments on the bracelet I own and I would love to have more!

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  72. Beautiful bracelets!! Have admired them for some time!!

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  73. I can't believe I didn't leave a comment yet! I must have just jumped over to Kim's shop and admired her bracelets there. They are so beautiful!

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  74. The bracelets are beautiful! I would love to enter. :)

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  75. Thanks for this chance.
    hugs

    ale84.vercelli at hotmail dot it

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  76. Oh Stacey I'm in love with so many of Kim's awesome bracelets so even if I don't win I'm going to get one from her shop!!! You know it's really kewl that you showcase artisans and their work...(((hugs)))

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  77. such beautiful bracelets!

    cindyascott{at}yahoo.com

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  78. Oh my goodness! I just found myself a new favorite shop! Thanks, Stacey, for turning me on to Kim's lovelies...and a huge thanks to you both for your support of the "Hearts For Haiti" shop.

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  79. i hearted those gorgeous bracelets soo pretty. thanks for sharing.
    greenpating@gmail.com

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