WINNING!!

Congratulations to Jamie!!  You have won our yummy brownie sampler giveaway, courtesy of Bite Me Brownies, our featured Artist in the Spotlight last week.  Thanks for reading, following, and commenting on our blog.

More thanks to Emily Mericle, the mind behind the tasty dessert we've been salivating over this week.  I've tried every flavor and one of each simply isn't enough!!  You can read all about her brownie baking talents by clicking here.  

For those of you who didn't win this giveaway, you can find the full list of Emily's treats at her website:  www.bitemebrownies.com.  They'd be a fun treat to have shipped to someone you love.

Meanwhile, our top-notch guest blogger, Mod Podge Amy, is offering her own giveway.  Scroll down to find out how to get in on that action.

Dessert Deadline

Time is up.  If you haven't commented by now to qualify for our brownie giveaway...well you won't get the taste of chocolate and caramel in the corners of your mouth this week.  We'll pick a winner today.  Come back tomorrow to find out if it is you!!  Thanks for visiting Crafty Life and Style.

FREE Brownies!!

You have until Noon, EST, today to qualify for the brownie sampler giveway.  The rules are spelled out in our Artist in the Spotlight blog from last Thursday.  Click here to find out how to become eligible for FREE BROWNIES!!  Forget the diet, these babies are tasty and only for YOU...our readers.  Good luck.

Brownie Giveaway

This is your official reminder that we are GIVING AWAY brownies!!!  Our friends at Bite Me Brownies were profiled on this blog last Thursday.  Comment on our interview with Emily in our Artist in the Spotlight feature...all the rules are spelled out there...and you could WIN a FREE sampler of Bite Me Brownies.  Click here to find that blog.  Emily also happened to be featured on Arizona TV recently.  Check out the video to find out more about the baker behind these babies.

http://www.azcentral.com/video/850272142001

Artist Spotlight: Bite Me Brownies

Cooks can be artists too.  So, this week we are shining the spotlight on a wife and mother who bakes some fierce brownies.  Like many of our other "Artists in the Spotlight", Emily Mericle turned a personal passion into a small business.  She is just beginning her adventure.  But, the lessons she's already learning may be useful to many of you, who are considering a crafty career.  Meet Emily Mericle, owner of Bite Me Brownies, our Artist in the Spotlight...

1-Why brownies? How did this evolve from a hobby to a business?

Why do I love to bake?  The answer is simple... Waffles! I still remember standing on a chair watching my Uncle Don make waffles from scratch.  These where the best waffles I have ever eaten. Before then, I only thought waffles where made from a mix. From that moment on, my mixing bowl and I were a force to be reckoned with!

Why brownies? Because I love them! I have always loved brownies and I figured why not do what I love!  While I was on maternity leave after the birth of our first son, Mason Patrick, at the end of 2009, the idea for Bite Me Brownies was born! Apparently those sleepless nights paid off!  In October 2010, we opened our commercial kitchen, and by February 2011, I resigned from my nursing job to focus and Bite Me Brownies full time.

2-Naming your business is like naming a baby. How did you decide on that name?

I was trying to think of something really catchy.  I thought if I were walking down an aisle at the grocery store, what would make me stop and look at something?  Then it hit me, what if something yelled out Bite Me!  That would get my attention, like “pick me”!  At first I told my husband, Brian, about it sort of jokingly, but then we really liked it!

3-You obviously don't have to give it to us...but what makes your brownies special...do you have a secret recipe?  


What is special about our brownies? We have 9 unique flavors that are all preservative free. All our brownies are hand mixed, I find the texture is so much better. We make every attempt to use the freshest, highest quality, local ingredients. We only use butter, no oil! It would be really cool if I would say I had some secret recipe passed down generations, but I don’t.  I have had a brownie recipe that I have worked on for several years, “tweaking” over time.

4-This blog has lots of creative readers, who would love to launch a similar small business for their crafty passions. What challenges have you encountered along the way with this venture that you didn't expect?

The food businesses has more challenges than I expected. There are lots of rules, regulations, permits and licenses, and FDA guidelines etc. The internet is a great resource.  But, many times a short trip to the health department or other venues gets information a lot quicker!  I'm very lucky to have an amazing and supportive husband, but quickly had to learn it's ok to ask for help!  As for our project, I found packaging the most challenging. There isn’t a packaging store to just go to and look around, so this required a lot of sample ordering and PATIENCE! Sometime something would look great, but was too small or expensive. In the end, I'm happy we spent the time getting our packaging right.  It is one of the first things our consumers see.

5-What is your vision for Bite Me Brownies?

I want to have a Brownie Empire! Ha ha, just kidding, kind of :) Seriously I would love to see our business grow and expand to some other states, maybe an east coast location! I am also really passionate about giving back and helping however we can. For now we call this our “Bite Back” Campaign. It would be awesome if we could have our own Charity or at least help as many charities as we can!

6-How can people order your treats and what's available to them to choose from?

One can order online, by phone, or if they live in AZ...come see us at the downtown Phoenix Public Market every Saturday. We now have shipping available online to anywhere in the US!

We currently have 9 flavors to choose from: • Sweet and Sassy Salted Caramel • You Want a Piece of Me Peanut Butter Banana • There Can Vino Other- Red Wine • Slap My Apple- Apple Pie Blondie • One Crazy Blondie- White Chocolate, Macadamia Nut and Coconut • Get in My Belly Cherry Almond Vanilla • Not Your Mom’s Pecan Pie • Anything But Plain Chocolate • Gluten for Punishment- Gluten Free Triple Chocolate.

Thanks to Emily for sharing her story.  The great news is...she is also prepared to let you sample her product.  


In order to win, you must leave a comment here.  If you are a follower of this blog, let us know...it will double your chances.  Post a link to this on your facebook page and you get another chance.  


You'll have until Noon EST next Wednesday 3/30/2011 to become eligible.  We'll announce the winner on Thursday.  


It is worth it...we're talking about a brownie sampler here.  Let your friends know....Crafty Life and Style has another GIVEAWAY.

Artist Spotlight: Barbara Jean Design

Barbara Jean Design Studio offers an amazing experience to travel into the Adirondaks of New York State and a wonderful opportunity to learn how to create lovely silk wares! Thank you so much Barbara for supporting Crafty Life and Style! We love your work! Congratulations to LisaAnn!! You are the winner of this lovely scarf! Please email me your address so Barbara can send you this lovely gift!

Scarf Giveaway Ending Soon!!!

Take time away from shopping for one minute and leave a comment here for your chance to win this beautiful scarf from this week's Artist Spotlight! Giveaway ends Wednesday Noon EST!

Noon Deadline For GIVEAWAY

Crafty friends click here  to enter our quilted purse GIVEAWAY! It ends at noon today!!

Giving Thanks

On this Thanksgiving Day, here is a big thank you to our latest WINNER of a Crafty Life and Style giveaway.  Gailanne is the proud new owner of a finely crafted wooden earring tree, designed and handmade by our previous artist in the spotlight, David Barclay of Barclay Fine Woodworking.  We love offering our readers a taste of fine homemade products and hope you'll support the artists by visiting their websites.  We'll conveniently list all of them for you on Cyber Monday in a Crafty Life and Style shopping list.  Thanks to David for the latest offering.  If you want a chance to win...keep reading the next giveaway is already underway!!

Spotlight and GIVEAWAY: Sharon Bottle Souva Fabric Handworks

Vibrant colors and fine craftsmanship. You will not be disappointed by Sharon Bottle Souva Fabric Handworks. The attention to detail and beautiful creations are going to make all of you quilters out there giddy with excitement.

Sharon Bottle Souva is based out of Syracuse, NY

Q: Sharon- you sew beautiful creations. Tell us how you got your start and how that start took you to today.

A: Sewing is one of my greatest pleasures. I have been working with needles and fabric in one form or another since I was a child, starting with sewing my own, then my children’s clothes. I began making quilts in 1976, putting them on the walls instead of beds. This allows a greater freedom in exploring ways to manipulate the fabric.

I find myself looking at nature and man-made structures with the question: How could that be interpreted in fabric? How can I incorporate those elements of texture and design into my work?

Several years ago I discovered the joys of unfinished edges and loose threads which has become an important part of my current work. Dying and painting my fabrics has given me another dimension to my creativity. I work rather intuitively; the expression of “if it occurs to you…. Do it” is a big part of how I work.
Today all of these beginning elements show up in my work in various forms. Coming from sewing clothing has given me the technical accuracy I need for construction, while exploration of color and pattern brings in the creativity aspect. The needle is an extension of my fingers, the threads and fabric my palette. For me, color and pattern are equally important as my finished work. Fabric art is appealing to me, due to the fact that it’s more than a visual art. It is very much linked with a sense of touch and with memories.

Q: You are also great with combining various colors and patterns. You make it look so easy- but we all know it's not! How do you come up with your designs?

As I said, I look at the simple design in nature. I am keenly aware of the lights and dark, shadows and shapes. These all feed me information that end up in my work. I very rarely make a piece from a photograph (in fact I don't even take alot of photos for inspiration), instead I try to pick out elements in the view that speak to my spirit and bring that into the process. Sometimes it's a matter of a simple shape that gets the juices flowing. I work on a vertical design wall that allows me to put fabrics up and move them around until I see something pleasing.


Q: What is your number one tip for someone who wants to be a quilter or get better at it?
TAKE A CLASS AND START SMALL (sorry I'm not good at one tip)

Q: It's ok, It's a great tip! He He! How can people see more of your work? My work is in several galleries: Grovewood Gallery in Ashville, NC; Haven Gallery in Austin, TX; Painted Fish Gallery in Dunedin, FL; Eureka Crafts  in Syracuse, NY; Gallery 54 in Skaneateles, NY; Sea Hag Soaps and Art Mercantile Brackney, PA; my home AND on my web site  http://www.sharonbottlesouva.com/

Sharon thank you so much for being in the artist spotlight!

GIVEAWAY!!!

Sharon would love to give one lucky winner a hand quilted purse!!!

*Drop us a comment on this blog post. Tell us what you love most about this blog post.
* For a second entry be a follower of our blog and leave a second comment telling us you are follower. Just press follow- to the right of this blog! It just takes 2 seconds to do it but it makes us oh so excited!
* Contest ends Wednesday December 1st at high noon!
* One person will be randomly selected!
* Winner will be announced Thursday December 2nd.

ENTER NOW!!!!

GIVEAWAY Last Chance

Display your lovely jewelry in style with this fine piece of woodwork, designed by our most recent artist in the spotlight, Dave Barclay.  You can have it for FREE, if you win.  How?  Comment at the end of the post in which we interview Dave.  Find it by clicking here.  If you are a follower, let us know and you double your chances to win.  If you aren't a follower, it is as easy as clicking the follow button on the rightside of this website.  Here's the deal:  You only have until Noon EST Wednesday, November 24th.  Hurry up.  We'll announce the winner on Thursday, November 25th.  Happy Holidays and good luck.

Don't Forget This Giveaway

Don't forget about Dave Barclay's GIVEAWAY of a piece of his fine woodworking.  After you comment on the Shutterbug Sunday post for a chance at those custom greeting cards, click here for another GIVEAWAY opportunity.  Visit our Artist in the Spotlight this week, Barclay Fine Woodworking.  Be sure to comment at the end of the interview with Dave.  That will make you eligible for one of his handcrafted earring trees (earrings not included).  If you are a follower, just let us know...and that will give you a second chance.  You have until Noon EST Wednesday, November 24th.  We'll announce the winner the next day.  Good luck.

Artist Spotlight: Barclay Fine Woodworking

As I create and share crafts on this blog, one of my biggest frustrations is that I haven't learned how to carve, cut, saw, or shape wood.  When I was a little girl, proudly prancing around in dresses...I couldn't have imagined that I'd want my dad to someday teach me how to use a small saw.  But, I do want him to.  I think it would open up a new world of crafting for me.  That feeling was reignited when I met the owner of Barclay Fine Woodworking, our next Artist in the Spotlight:  David Barclay.

 1-Did you come from the carpentry, contractor, builder trades....or was woodworking simply a hobby that turned into a side business?

My first degree was a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering and my second was a MBA.  I worked 27 years as an engineer and engineering manager for Eastman Kodak designing cameras, production processes and organizations --- all creative exercises to some extent.   During this time woodworking was a creative outlet that allowed me to make things for friends and family that had more value than something I could have purchased.  When the creative aspects of my job ran out about 5 years ago I left and started woodworking full time.

2-Like many crafty people, you started out making things for friends who encouraged you to sell your woodwork.  What has been the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge has been to find out that all of those things I made for friends and family for all of those years did not turn out to be the things that customers were will willing to pay for, in spite of the fact that they loved what I made for them and told me I could make a fortune if I made more of the same.  The biggest challenge has been learning what really sells and how to price it.

3-How would you describe your style?

My style is my own.   I have been inspired by Art Nouveau in some of my furniture designs (i.e., the bed I made for us a few years ago), but the production pieces I make are exercises in functionally elegant simplicity.  I invite your readers to give a name to my style.

4-Woodwork involves so much labor...how do you determine the prices for each product?
I started out figuring time and materials to set prices, but found that pricing crafts is much more difficult than that.  Pricing one's crafts is, indeed, very difficult.  My transactions, especially at craft shows, are truly "arms length" and pricing is often that price which, by trial and error, has proven to make the customer happy and me as well. 

There is nothing more honest than that and I have become comfortable pricing my pieces where I feel the customer finds the most value and I feel that it has been worth my time.

5-Where can people see more of your work and order?
http://barclayfinewoodworking.com/ has not only many of my items for sale but the list of Fine Craft Shows I will be at as well.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!  As our holiday countdown continues...David has offered one of his fine woodworking pieces for another Crafty Life and Style giveaway!!  The lovely Barclay earring trees are popular with his customers...and you have a chance to get one for free, earrings not included of course.  We need you to comment here to become eligible...if you let us know you are also a "registered" follower of this blog (basically click the follow button)...you can double your chances.  You have until Noon, EST, next Wednesday, November 24th.  We will announce the winner Thursday, Thanksgiving.  Good luck...and visit David Barclay's website for more of what you see here...

Giveaway Glimpse

I just can't get enough of this giveaway storm!!!  I feel like Santa.  We've had jewelry, bags, and scarves...free to our readers.  This is your glimpse at what we will giveaway next here on Crafty Life and Style.  This is a fine handcrafted wooden earring tree by our upcoming Artist in the Spotlight.  Woodworking is his craft of choice and you'll see everything from bowls to clocks and headboards when we share this artist's story and more of his work.  Come back tomorrow to find out how to win at the end of the interview.  P.S.  Earrings are not included.  LOL.  Happy Holidays!!

You've Earned Earrings!!

It isn't totally suprising that another blogster won our blog giveaway....don't we all love following each other???  A big congrats to the latest WINNER, Patricia van Essche!  She is a talented artist and writer herself (pve design).  Patricia has won our Artist in the Spotlight earrings giveaway.  Our thanks to Loretta Fontaine for designing, creating, and offering our readers a chance to take these home.  Also, thanks to her little one for volunteering to select our winner as an unbiased third party, who couldn't care less about earrings ;-)
See the latest work of Loretta Fontaine Jewelry and Liz Vigoda Pottery at Delmar Holiday Open Studios in Delmar, New York  November 20th & 21st. 

If you would like to see an artist featured on this blog...drop us a line.  We're always looking for exciting new talent.  Congrats Patricia!!

GIVEAWAY Reminder

This is your friendly reminder that you have until Noon EST tomorrow (Wednesday, November 9th, 2010) to qualify for our latest giveaway.  Our Artist in the Spotlight this week, Loretta Fontaine, invited our readers for a chance to own these lovely reversible earrings for FREE!!  The earrings happen to feature Loretta's personal photography, cropped to fit her silver creation.  To become eligible, comment on the blog where we feature an interview with Loretta.  Find the blog and complete rules here.  We'll announce a winner on Thursday, November 10th.  Good luck.

Giveaway Coming Tomorrow!

Don't you just love this beautiful scarf?? It was created by this lovely woman and Tomorrow's new Artist in the Spotlight! Come back tomorrow and meet Kathy Klomaps from Ragged Edge Print Studio! Be ready to comment for your chance to win!

Headband Winner

Jewelry GIVEAWAY!!

Leading up to the holidays, you will enjoy a storm of giveaways on this blog as we introduce you to talented people, their crafts, and our own little creations.  Today, I'm ecstatic to show you the next prize up for grabs.  These gorgeous sterling silver reversible Amy earrings (the picture shows both sides), with a Stuyvesant Fern miniature original photograph and grey freshwater pearls were made by our upcoming Artist in the Spotlight.  You'll meet her tomorrow...and that's when you can enter to win.  Don't forget...there is a deadline.  Then, keep checking back for more and more and more GIVEAWAYS.  See you soon!!

Giveaway!!!

 Teddy is a great model, but let's face it, this would look better on you or someone you love! I was feeling crafty today and thinking about just how awesome all you readers are out there, so I decided to make you a gift! Leave a sweet comment on this post and you are entered to win this cute as can be headband! Yep, it's human sized! LOL If you are a follower you can leave a second comment on this post letting us know you are a follower and you get a second entry to win!

Teddy will randomly select a winner and we will announce who it is on Saturday November 6th! Good luck and have a safe Halloween!