Last but not least

I decided these

are going to be the last starfish earrings for a while.
I'm so into 3d beadwork lately, especially pitayas beaded beads and stars. They give me a satisfaction I can't explain!
Holidays are almost here, and I can't wait to be like this:

via: Pinterest

First donation for Italy earthquake

The Etsy Italia Team has made the first donation of 700€ to the region most hit from earthquakes this last month.
Actually the earth is still constantly shaking, people are afraid and most of them still sleep in tents, but hopefully things will get better.
So far the team collected 172 items donated by members, 114 were sold, raising about 1292€ - the 700€ donation is documented on the team blog.
I think it's really amazing that something born for personal profit like the etsy website can make a difference in things of such matter.
Thanks to everybody who purchased something from the bottom of our Italian hearts!

June Challenge: Mistery

This month the theme for the Etsy Beadweavers challenge is "MYSTERY":

"Design a beaded mystery. Could be a symbolic chalk outline from a crime drama, or the tweed pattern from Sherlock Holmes, or a piece from a puzzle, or a simple suggestive clue. A key to a lost locket, a cypher of a cryptogram, a secret message woven into a work of art. Make an arcane riddle hidden in the pattern of beads, or do a scene from a crime novel. Make a map with an X marks the spot, or make the jewels be the prize in a treasure hunt, or the one earring dropped by the strange lady in red. Any idea woven in beads, just be mysterious somehow in its origin."

Here's the mosaic:

Jump on the Etsy Beadweavers Blog and vote for your favorite entry, you have time until 15th of June as usual!

New stars

Some new arrivals in my shop:

Grey starfishes

Bronze ones

and light blue

Summer is coming....

To win a giveaway

I'm not one of those person who win stuff at games or giveaways.
Never.
I partecipate whenever I can, but never thought I could win.
Last week I received an email from Gaea (the owner of a wonderful shop I've been drooling on these last weeks) saying I was one of the winners of her giveaway.
What??!! I didn't even recall partecipating...
I had actually commented on her blog, but my mind was somewhere else.
She was so kind to pick up 3 winners

via Gaea

and I was one of the lucky...see what I found this morning in my mail box (so fast!!!)

I can't even begin to tell you how the photo doesn't give justice to the perfect, smooth texture of these beads, to the tiny details and the delicate colors.
This was the perfect reward to the first (of two) web design exam I had today!