Hey there. How have you been?
I'm hanging out today with Barbara Ileiwat & Lily Belle from
Lilybellesjewels on Etsy.com. Lucky for us, they've stopped by for a chat ... and brought prizes!
Why don't you get to know each other a bit while I pop into the kitchen for something sweet to share - I'm making virtual cookies in your favorite flavor. Meanwhile, Barbara can tell you all about her passion for jewelry - and cats. And Lily, well, Lily tends to do her own thing. (However, if you are in a rush today, keep your hat on & buzz down to the end for giveaway details). Please note that clicking on any of the photo captions will take you to item details.
Barbara: Designing jewelry is a passion for me. I try to pay attention to the things I see all around me on a daily basis. It is amazing how many truly beautiful things we come in contact with each day and never really pay a great deal of attention to. The form of the branches of a tree, the texture of a lawn, the fabulous formations of the clouds in the sky above us. Because we see this things everyday, and because we have such busy lives, we very rarely take the time to stop and "smell the roses" as the saying goes.
All of these things can be experienced and translated into a work that will stimulate the senses of another. You will notice in my shop that I very rarely stay within the boundaries of any one particular area of style. I am constantly changing my designs to reflect whatever beauty I may have been lucky enough to have been exposed to that day.
Lily Belle feels that she is the creative talent in the team, and therefore I should not bother her with the day to day mundane tasks. Since she has never been very good at chatting, typing or any other menial task I should be the one in charge of any tiresome labor (and interviews). In case I forgot to mention; Lily Belle is a cat, but not just any cat. She is truly a foo foo girl, and considers herself to have exquisite tastes in all things pretty. She does oversee all the pieces, and only when she has judged it to be "the cats meow" are we allowed to place it on the site.
Lily Belle: Meow
Barbara: Will there be codfish cookies? I guess so. Stacey did say she was baking your favorite....
Lily Belle: purrrr
Barbara: Lily Belle and I would like to mention that 10% of all sales will be donated to Mt. Olive TNR Project, a tiny Flanders NJ based group that is doing amazing work on a very small budget, and a small circle of very dedicated volunteers who are making a huge difference in the lives of feral cat colonies in their area. For those of you who are not familiar with TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), it is a humane, effective way of managing feral populations within a community. For more information, or to make a donation directly, please visit them at http://www.mtolivetnr.org.
Lily Belles Jewels is also proud member of the ARTISTS FOR ANIMALS team on Etsy, along with many other caring artisans whose shops we hope you will seek out and patronize.
Many thanks, Barbara & Lily, for stopping in today. And now it is time to announce your awesome giveaway prize......drum roll please.....
To Enter This Random Drawing: Simply leave a comment on my blog before 1 a.m. EST on Sept. 8th. It is that easy. This random drawing is open worldwide and prize ships free to winner. Please leave an email address if your contact info is not in your blog profile.
(If you get a chance, pop over to Barbara & Lily's shop and let us know what your favorite pieces are. This is not required to enter the drawing, but I'd love to know which items are catching your eye)
Again, many thanks Lily & Barbara for dropping by and sharing your wonderful creations!
And thank you, Reader, for your comments. It is your interest in these artists and random drawings that keeps them coming!
Before signing off today, here is a final thought from Lily and Leonardo da Vinci, "The smallest feline is a masterpiece."
