CREATIVE CONTEST

For the month of October, from the 1st of the month until midnight on the 21st of October I will be running a contest.
To enter the contest a design (a sketch) for an eye glass case has to be submitted. The materials used can be leather, or fabric (probably solid color fabric so it can be replicated). It can include applique, etc. To submit your design, just email me at goldcrestbags@gmail.com. You must include your full name.
The winner will receive their design made with the materials indicated. Shipping will be free.
I will also feature that design in my etsy shop with the designers name indicated.
I will sift through the designs. The final five designs will be posted on this blog on October 22. You can than vote for the design that you deem the finest.
Good luck.

REAL ARTISTS

I am constantly amazed with the talented artists I meet in Unique Women In Business (UWIB), Carried Away Bag Team (CABT) and Etsy in general. I decided to focus this feature on artists that use color in a lot in unique ways.

The first artist is Kristen Stein of www.kristensteinfineart.etsy.com. She is a member of UWIB. She is an award winning artist with paintings in both public and private collections. More recently her art work was selected to appear in an upcoming movie and TV show. Kristens' use of colors is quite mesmerizing. She uses them both subtly and with a splash.

The next artist is Marcy of www.studiomarcy.etsy.com. and is also a member of UWIB. Marcy is a glass artist who loves to make people smile through her whimsical beads and sculptures. Aside from creating her original pieces she teaches both private and group lessons. She lists her favorite materials to work with. Along with glass and sterling and other precious metals were chocolate and coconut. Try as hard as I could, I couldn't figure out how they would withstand the heat she uses. I was afraid to write that the chocolate and coconut are what inspires her as she works. I emailed her to ask about it and it turns out I was right.

From the CABT there is a designer who uses color with such a splash that it brings a smile to your face. Her shop is called Vernon Ave www.vernonave.etsy.com. She is a graphic designer by profession. She's been making bags for friends and family and small boutiques for the last few years. She obviously LOVES color as all of her designs are filled with exuberance. The hand stitching on each bag makes them future vintage bags (which is apropos as she adores those as well).

This next designer is also from CABT. She makes really lovely bags with oil cloth which are on display in her shop called www.njoydesigns.etsy.com. I soooo appreciate the loveliness of her creations, because of the mundane character of the oil cloth.

She uses the designs and combinations of prints to create real art and vibrant combinations.

Her styles range from fun to funky and sleek to sophisticated.

1. www.vernonave.etsy.com 2. www.njoydesigns.etsy.com 3. www.studiomarcy.etsy.com

4. www.kristensteinfineart.etsy.com

I'd like to introduce to two great bag designers. They both have a passion for creating, designing and beautiful fabrics.

Wendy is the creator behind Bags and Buds (www.bagsandbuds.etsy.com). She belongs to the Carried Away Bag Team (CABT).
She designs bags of the finest fabrics and with interesting details (like weaving different fabrics). Her signature is her floral buds that adorn almost everything including her key wristlets and hair accessories.
Wendy has been chairing the CABT challenge to raise funds for the "adopt" a soldier project. Visit the team shop at www.cabteam.etsy.com to see all of the freedom bags.

Kathleen is the designer behind gm Purseanalities (www.gmpurseanalities.etsy.com). She belongs to Unique Women In Business (UWIB).
She loves creating with many mediums including paper and wood. Right now, though,her two biggest passions are bags with a lot of ooomphff and jewelery.
Her Timeless Dragonfly Bag is on Etsy Storque Voter - Fabric Frenzy. It is typical of her eye catching designs.

The top bag is Wendys and the lower one is Kathleens. (Now that I know how to upload pictures, I have to figure out some more fine points. Until then please excuse the amateur look).