December Giveaway Part 2 Winners!

Congratulations Carol and Alison!

The random number generator decided that Chrisy from Art Decadence will be posting her super sweet Alice in Wonderland plate off to Carol.


And Alison will be receiving the gorgeous dendritic opal wire-wrapped pendant made by El of Rock n Wrap.

***

Carol and Alison could you please send us an email with your postal address to brisstyleteam@gmail.com so Chrisy and El can pop your items in the mail for you :)

Thank-you to everyone who entered - actually thank-you to everyone who has supported this blog throughout the year. Your encouraging comments and participation in the monthly giveaways is a fantastic motivation and inspiration for our members.

And that's it for 2009. We will be taking a bit of a break from the giveaways in January, but will be back bigger and better after a little rest and relaxation. See you on the other side folks.

And Happy New Year!!

XXX
The BrisStyle Team

December Featured Members and Giveaways - PART 2

Can you believe it's almost the end of 2009 already? And here we are, down to our last two BrisStyle blog giveaways for the year. So please whoop it up for these two very talented lucky last BrisStyle members, as they give us the sneak peak into their wonderful worlds of crafty goodness and offer up some truly delectable creations for two lucky readers to win.

To enter the giveaway is simple - just leave us a comment at the bottom of this post. For more info (and to find out how to score an extra entry) read The Rules at the bottom of the post. Good luck everyone :)

Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Chrisy
ETSY SHOP NAME: Art Decadence

1. Can you please describe the items you are giving away to one of our readers?

I’m donating an Alice in Wonderland plate with hand applied decals of Alice, playing cards, clock numbers, and the words 'Nothing's impossible’. The base plate is vintage porcelain from Rosenthal Germany. The plate measures 7.5 inches across and has been double fired for durability.


2. How would you describe your work?

Everchanging! I’m lucky that I’ve always found it easy to slip into ‘play’ mode and being easily bored I like to try different mediums often.


3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

When I discovered Etsy a couple of years ago it was a great inspiration to me. Here was a space filled with people on the same wavelength as me! I’ve always enjoyed being creative but it was Etsy that focussed me. And through the site I started networking with other artists through teams – DUST, BrisStyle – and other Etsy sellers blogs. This led to a real feeling of connection with other artists which has been reinforced through my own blog started ten months ago.


4. Who or what inspires you?

I believe we’re all artists. Whatever we’re doing in life we can do it creatively. Having said that I know how soul destroying it can be to spend time doing things that are a long way from what you want to be doing – and how wonderful it is to have the time to be creative. It’s a real privilege. I hope I can be always moving forward trying new things and maintaining a curious mind.

5. Do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as part of your creative process?

As I sit here surrounded by preloved décor and art materials a phrase comes to mind “My name is Chrisy and I’m a thrift shop addict”. And this porcelain series is the ultimate in recycling. All pieces are secondhand, but in pristine condition.


6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

Because of the need for water and an oven, this series is completed in my kitchen. I dream of a house with a big studio where I can play and just close the door on the resultant mess!

7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

My favorite item at the moment is the shoe. It’s so different.

8. Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work?

My blog – Artdecadence

_____


Introducing BrisStyle member...



NAME: El
ETSY SHOP NAME: Rock n Wrap

1. Can you please describe the item you are giving away to one of our readers?

The item that I am giving away is a dendritic opal wire-wrapped pendant. This gorgeous stone has been cut into a twisted teardrop shape and handcrafted with sterling silver wire into an absolutely unique pendant.


The stone is a yellow opal with quartz deposits and creeping black dendrites. The dendrites are iron silicates deposited in cracks in the opal and are shaped like trees. Very cool!


2. How would you describe your work?

I work with precious metals in one of the most ancient forms of jewellery-making – wire-wrapping. Because wire-work uses no chemicals or soldering and only a few tools, the design styles are almost infinite and always absolutely unique. My first love is creating pendants out of exceptional stones – each one ends up being of singular design – unrepeatable! I try to make sure that my embellishments compliment the stone, to enhance what nature has provided me with.


3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

My Etsy shop came into being through selfish means! My dad has always been a rockhound and specimen collector and I’ve always drooled over his collection. But all they do is sit in boxes. So one day when he won a wonderful collection on Ebay, he ended up with some pieces that he didn’t want. So I absconded with them. But they didn’t do me much good sitting in boxes, I wanted to take them out and show them off. So I got some tutorials about wirewrapping from off the net and it all snowballed from there. Soon I had far too many to wear myself, so to feed my obsession to make more, I had to sell them. And Etsy turned out to be the perfect forum to do so!

4. Who or What inspires you?

Like so many artists, I am inspired by nature, especially as I am working with some of her finest creations. The breadth of colours, texture and form that rocks come in is completely awe-inspiring. I never fail to be amazed by what comes out in the next cut, it’s so exciting!


5. Can you describe your studio / work area?

This is quite an embarrassing question, as up until very recently, I worked on a stable table on my lap. It has little jellybeans as its background picture. This was extremely convenient (not the jellybeans, the table), as I could move my mess from room to room, and I don’t need a lot of space. But with the continuing mobility and trail of destruction that my little daughter is wreaking, I had my husband build me a little shelf/desk next to my computer in the living room. All of my rocks live in plastic display boxes, ready to inspire my next creation, and my wire is safe and snug in a portable file under my shelf. I’m not going to share a picture because it’s an absolute pigsty at the moment, and I have absolutely no inclination to tidy it until I lose one of my pairs of pliers into its abyss.

7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

I absolutely adore my lepidolite necklet, I’m so very very proud of it! I’d never created a complete piece before, just the pendants, and to incorporate one into a necklace all of my own design, created by my own hand was very very exciting. It’s a very definite statement piece, but absolute elegance incarnate. Can you tell I’m just a wee bit proud?


8. Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work?

My own personal webpage (still in various states of disrepair – maybe I’ll get to it after Christmas) - www.rocknwrap.com
Flickr page - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocknwrap/
My blog - http://rocknwrap.blogspot.com/
I’m a Twit - http://twitter.com/rock_n_wrap
And my Facebook fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/rocknwrap/164869793814?ref=nf

_______

Thank-you Chrisy and El

The rules:

Simply leave a comment on this post to be in the running to win one of these two fabulous giveaways. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you. If you don't have a blog, please include your email address. Only one entry per person. You may enter twice if you mention this giveaway on your blog. If you choose to do this, please pop back after posting to your blog and include the url address to the post it was mentioned on here in the comments. This will count as your second entry. International folk are welcome to enter. BrisStyle members and their immediate families (ie: husbands/partners, dependent children, and their computer savvy pets) are excluded from entering all BrisStyle giveaways. A name will be randomly drawn on the 28th of this month and the winner will be announced on the blog on that same day.

And that, my friends, is it for the 2009 BrisStyle Giveaways. Good Luck Everyone, and Happy New Year from the BrisStyle team. XXX

December Giveaway Part 1 Winners!

Congratulations Kalynda and Susan!

The random number generator decided that Ali from Jellygnite & Little Jellygnite will be saying goodbye to 'Cherry' the Dashie Dog as she takes up a new residence with Kalynda.


Kalynda said "I'd love the chance to win from either of these talented ladies. And I must say, how beautiful is that dress- love it!!"

****

And Susan will be saying hello to the super handy Noah’s Ark children’s library/toy bag made by Robyn of Hot Fudge.

Susan said "Love both the blogs and sewing your work space. The Noahs ark bag is just great,
susan".

***

Kalynda and Susan could you please send us an email with your postal address to brisstyleteam@gmail.com so Ali and Robyn can pop your items in the mail for you :)

And thank-you to everyone who entered. Don't forget, we will have another double giveaway starting later TODAY - don't leave this space!!! We will be having gorgeous giveaway items from the very talented Chrisy of Art Decadence and El from Rock n Wrap. So make sure you get your entry in for this one, and enjoy reading about our next two featured members at the same time.

December Featured Members and Giveaways - PART 1

This month, we have been getting into the Christmas spirit here, with not two but FOUR giveaways for the month of December. Hence, the first two giveways will run for the first two weeks, and the second two giveaways will go up on 14th December and run until 28th December.

So without further ado, please give a warm welcome to the first two lovely BrisStylettes who will be giving away some gorgeous handmade goodies. Ali from Jellygnite and Little Jellygnite, and Robyn from Hot Fudge will be giving us a sneak peak into their fabulous worlds of crafty goodness as well as offering up some delectable creations for two of our lucky readers to win.

To enter the giveaway is simple - just leave us a comment at the bottom of this post. For more info (and to find out how to score an extra entry) read The Rules at the bottom of the post. Good luck everyone :)
_____

Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Ali Chisholm
ETSY SHOP NAME: Jellygnite & Little Jellygnite

1. Can you please describe the items you are giving away to one of our readers?

Sweet little ‘Cherry’. She’s a Dashie Dog from my ‘Little Loxies’ range.


The Dashie Dog pattern was made from a drawing of a sausage dog, done by my then 4-year-old son. Cherry is made using vintage fabrics; a bed sheet and dressmaking offcuts. She is happiest when snuggling into a little person’s arm!


2. How would you describe your work?

My jellygnite work (brooches, books, stationery) celebrates vintage fashions, patterning and old paper ephemera. LittleJellygnite softies are made simply, with re-used/vintage fabrics and a lot of love. They each have their own personality.

3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I was on maternity leave with my second child during 2007, making and crafting and surfing the net – I discovered Etsy and an outlet for my crafting!

4. Who or What inspires you?

A nostalgic love of thriftiness, vintage designs, simplicity and my children’s creations inspire my work. I like to try and ‘reduce and reuse’ as much as I can in my creations in order to try to tread more lightly on the earth; I look to my mum and grandma for inspiration. Vintage designs, fashions and patterns have long inspired me; I have a lovely collection of fashion, magazines, books and patterns from the past. Also, the simplicity and joyful nature of children’s drawings always brings a smile to my face! (being a primary school Art teacher, I have an endless supply of this kind of wonderful inspiration!)



5. Do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art / craft eco-friendly?

All of the fabrics used in my LittleJellygnite softies are vintage pieces, dressmaking scraps or upcycled clothes etc. I like the challenge of rummaging through my stash to find fabric pieces that work together to transform into softies! My new eco-envelopes are made similarly.
My jellygnite brooches, gift tags and notebooks contain a large percentage of (if not all) re-used materials: mat board scraps, vintage papers, pages from old books, cereal boxes, old fabrics…


6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

I am so very lucky to have an entire room of my own dedicated to creating things. It has a desk for my laptop and ‘making’ as well as a sewing table, a bookcase, a big old comfy chair and special things on the walls. It is full of things that make me happy (and a cupboard bulging with fabric, papers, card and art supplies!) … sometimes, just going in there restores my spirit! My children also love sharing the space with me – often ‘hanging out’ with me in there.


7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

Hmmmm, I think my favourites are my newest things; my eco-envelopes – which are so fun to make – and my new gift tags, both in my jellygnite shop. … but I do so love my little softies!!


8. Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work?

Shops in Brisbane that stock my things are ‘Nook’ in West End and ‘Lace and Bark’ in Nundah. I also have a blog: http://charlieandgrace.blogspot.com/.

_____


Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Robyn Dixon
ETSY SHOP NAME: Hot Fudge


1. Can you please describe the item you are giving away to one of our readers?

I’m giving away a Noah’s Ark children’s library/toy bag. It’s quite versatile and can also be used as a nappy bag, or even as a shopping tote. I have a couple of these bags at home, full of books and toys, all ready for when the grandchildren come visiting, so they make great bags for doting grandparents.





2. How would you describe your work?

I specialise in classic children’s clothing, turning them into one-of-a-kind garments with different fabric choices. I use only good quality fabric because I want the clothing to last as long as possible. Some of my dresses have hems which can be extended to grow with the child, while others can be used as tops to be worn with pants or shorts once the child has outgrown it.



3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I was looking for an outlet to sell my children’s clothing when my daughter suggested I try Etsy. I hadn’t even realised that such a website existed, so I was quite excited to find it.

4. Who or What inspires you?

What, apart from my seven grandchildren, you mean? I guess the thing that inspires me first and foremost is colour and the wonderful things which can happen with the right combinations. I’m always making mental notes whenever I see a combination which just “clicks” – it can happen in the supermarket, walking through the park, just about anywhere, really. I’m afraid I’m guilty of spending more time than I should playing with different fabric combinations before I come to one which works for me, but it’s fun and all part of the finished product.

5. Can you describe your studio / work area?

My sewing room is a spare bedroom which is a little space deprived, I’m afraid. Being an incurable fabricaholic, I am reduced to using about a quarter of my cutting table for the actual cutting process, with fabric bolts taking up a fair chunk of the balance, and smaller pieces of fabric stored in plastic bins along the back of the table. Then there’s the built-in wardrobe which is crammed with quilting fabric, and what’s the use of a good floor if you can’t use it for fabric which may come in handy some day?




6. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

I guess my favourite thing in my shop at the moment is this twirly knot dress featuring cute little ducks:


I’m also working on a new range of bow dresses which I will have up in my shop once our BiDM market on 5 December is behind us.

7. Do you have any other places that people can view/purchase your work?

Blog: http://www.hotfudge8.blogspot.com

MadeIt: http://www.madeit.com.au/hotfudge

Twitter: http://twitter.com/hotfudge8

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26865340@N02/
_______

Thank-you Ali and Robyn!

The rules:

Simply leave a comment on this post to be in the running to win one of these two fabulous giveaways. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you. If you don't have a blog, please include your email address. Only one entry per person. You may enter twice if you mention this giveaway on your blog. If you choose to do this, please pop back after posting to your blog and include the url address to the post it was mentioned on here in the comments. This will count as your second entry. International folk are welcome to enter. BrisStyle members and their immediate families (ie: husbands/partners, dependent children, and their computer savvy pets) are excluded from entering all BrisStyle giveaways. A name will be randomly drawn on the 14th of this month and the winner will be announced on the blog on that same day.