I know I am a few days late posting this month’s contest. I got busy, and then I got sick 
But here I am! And I am hoping to make up for it with this great contest!
February is a great month! Along with so many other things, it is also my birthday month. So I decided to make this a big contest, with 3 prizes.
Prizes:
3rd Place - $10 gift certificate, good in any of my 3 shops
2nd Place - $15 gift certificate, good in any of my 3 shops
1st Place - $25 gift certificate, good in any of my 3 shops
Ways to enter:
Entering is simple, and I will give you a chance for multiple entries.
1. Get 1 entry by leaving a comment here telling us what your favorite Etsy shop is, and why!
2. Get 1 entry for signing up for my mailing list. I do not use this list to spam, and I will not give your email address to anyone else. I use my mailing address to announce special sales, and I may eventually do a monthly newsletter. This is the address: http://www.simplyraevyn.com/index.html#contact
3. Get 1 entry for posting the link to your favorite “February related” item on Etsy. This can be any item that relates to February in your mind! Valentine’s Day, Black History Month, President’s Day, winter…or whatever! Show us those items! 
Okay so there you have it. You can get up to three entries. All entries must be received my Febraury 28th at midnight (est). On March 1st I will put all entries into a hat and my fiance will draw three winners; 1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place. Game on!
Tags: beading, blog, contest, etsy, febraury, gift certificate, giveaway, handmade, jewelry
Well my first monthly blog contest is done, and the response was so much more than I had expected! There were 57 entrants. I decided to use a totally “random” way of picking the winner. I used a random number generator and used 1-57 to pick the winner. The winner was Sue. Congrats Sue, you won a $25 gift certificate that can be used in any of my 3 shops!
I will be posting Febraury’s contest tomorrow!
:w
Tags: blog, contest, etsy, gift certificate, jewelry, monthly, wimsy
Today’s featured artist is another amazing Etsyian that I have met while socializing on the threads. Wimsy and I are often following each other posting new items. She is the only person I know that seems to post new items as often as I do. And her items are simply beautiful! She has two shops: wimsy and wimsywillow
Wimsy recently took the time to answer some questions for me.
How long have you been creating jewelry?
I have been creating jewelry for about 4 years.
What is your favorite material to create with?
I have lots of favorite materials. Gemstones,lampwork beads,polymer clay,swarovski crystals, pearls. It seems like my favorites change and kind of go in a circle 
How long have you been on Etsy? Is Etsy a hobby for you, or a business you are trying to a business?
I have been on etsy since March 2007 but didn’t start selling until March 2008.
Etsy is a hobby for me. I work full time and would like to devote more time to etsy but it is the fun and the great people that keep me on etsy.
What is your favorite word?
My favorite word is “Jamie” (my daughter)
Do you shop on Etsy? If you do, what sort of things do you look at?
I shop on etsy all the time. Probably more than I should but I just love the bead sellers, the card makers, the bead makers, the artists and the jewelry makers. My purchases aren’t limited to those catagories because I love almost everything on etsy.
Cats or dogs?
I love cats and dogs equally.
Do you have any advise for a jeweler looking to start selling on Etsy?
My advice to a new jewelry seller on etsy to to keep your prices and shipping costs reasonable and promote in threads, treasuries and outside of etsy with business cards. I have a custom made etsy sticker in the back window of my car.
What are you working on now?
Right now I am in love with copper and lampwork and polymer clay beads so have been making a lot of bracelets and earrings.
What inspires you most?
The beauty of beads inspires me. I can look at gemstones, lampwork, polymer clay and see such beauty that it inspires me to combine them with stones that compliment them and end in a pretty creation.
What is your favorite all time piece? If you have a link to the picture for it, please include it.
This is my favorite item. I have it listed in my sister shop wimsywillow. Kyanite is my favorite stone.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14216833
Stop in and see wimsy. She has really beautiful pieces, are her prices are so reasonable! She also happens to be very personable and easy to talk to.
Tags: beading, beads, bracelet, crystal, earring, earrings, etsy, glass, handmade, necklace, sets, wimsy, wimsywillow