Interview With Illumina Jewelry and GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway is closed! Thank you to everyone who participated!

Laxa from Illumina Jewelry has generously offered to give away a pair of gorgeous pearl earrings. How fun! I had the chance to interview her so we could all get to know her a bit better. She makes beautiful earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, which you can see more of at her shop, Illumina Jewelry.




But before we do the giveaway, lets read the interview first!

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Tell us a bit about yourself and your family!-

I live in beautiful California with my dear hubby! We fell in love while doing our graduate studies and got married 3 years back. I love each and every moment of being with him! He is my right hand in this new venture of my life! He takes photos of my jewelries and I ask for his advice in everything!
My mom and dad have always been encouraging me to achieve the best in life. And fortunately, my in-laws too are very supportive. In fact, they are the ones who help me find the best quality semi precious gemstones to make my lovely jewelries! Family means a lot to me…

When did you start making jewelry?-

I made the first piece of jewelry 15 years back (I remember it had beautiful pearls and cubic zirconia!) and I am so proud to tell you that my mom still wears it on special occasions like weddings etc!

Your jewelry is lovely! What inspired you to start creating?-

I love wearing beautiful jewelries just like any other girl! And I love creating things. I get a feeling of accomplishment when I finish making my jewelry design. I am very passionate about it!

What are your favorite materials to work with?-

I like to use semi precious gemstones and precious metal to make my jewelries. I believe that when you are spending money for the jewelry, the value of your money should hold (and even grow) as time passes. At the same time, you can enjoy wearing beautiful jewelry pieces!

Where do you get your ideas...anything in particular that inspires you?-

I get ideas for creating my jewelry designs from anything that is exotic, lovely and classic, and of course from the beautiful nature! You can’t go wrong with the color combinations nature presents to you!

Do you attend art and craft fairs/shows?-

I try to, whenever possible. Though, I have never had my jewelry booth at any of the craft fairs yet, as I just started making jewelries for public. So far, I have been making it for myself and to give as gift.

What are your long term goals for your shop?-

I would love it if I can start selling regularly through my IlluminaJewelry Etsy shop! If I can sell more, I can afford to buy my supplies in bulk to reduce my overall jewelry making expense, which will result in reduced item prices for my customers!

What is your favorite piece you have created?-

Well, I cannot be partial towards any one piece, I love them all! 

What is your favorite color?-

Purple

What do you do when you're not creating?-

Selling on Etsy requires us sellers to do a lot of other stuffs besides creating! When I am not creating new designs, I work with my hubby to take photos of my latest designs, write item descriptions and promote my shop.

What are some places we can find you on the web?-

Main Store - http://www.illuminajewelry.etsy.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Illumina-Jewelry/115867811785068
Twitter – http://twitter.com/IlluminaDesigns - Still exploring
Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/illuminajewelry/
Blog - http://illuminadesigns.blogspot.com/ - just started blogging!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!-

I have taken classical dance training for 9 years and gave a 3 hrs dance performance on stage in front of ~500 people…


500 people....that's a lot of people lol! Thank you Laxa for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm sure my readers will enjoy reading as I have! I love your jewelry, you do a wonderful job of creating artful pieces that any girl would feel lovely wearing.

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Now for the giveaway! Laxa is giving away the Eva pearl and sterling earrings to one lucky winner.

The lovely earrings, which are also on sale for $15 in her shop, are made of freshwater pearls and sterling silver.




Rules:

First you should know that this is open to US and Canada residents only.

For your first entry, you need to go to Laxa's Etsy shop, Illumina Jewelry, and pick a favorite item. Come back here and post about it. (This entry is required, or all other entries will be disqualified!)

NOTE: make sure you post a SEPARATE comment for each entry, as each comment will count as 1 entry.
Also make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in your comments.

Additional entries:
Become a fan of Illumina Jewelry on Facebook, and come back and post that you did. = 1 entry

Follow Illumina Jewelry's blog, and come back and post that you are a follower. = 1 entry

Follow this blog and post that you are a follower. = 1 entry

Follow me on twitter, and post that you are a follower. = 1 entry

Follow Illumina Jewelry on Twitter, and post it here = 1 entry

Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment with the tweet link. = 1 entry

Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the blog post. = 1 entry

Purchase something from Illumina Jewelry. = 5 entries! Make sure you post a comment 5 times for them all to count (sorry for the inconvenience)

Please be honest, and don't post that you follow unless you really did follow! I will be checking :)

Giveaway ends on Friday July 2nd. Please hurry and enter to win! One winner will be chosen using random.org
Open to US and Canada residents!

Interview With BonitaBellita and GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who participated! Winner will be announced soon.

I was recently introduced to a beautiful new shop, Bonita Bellita, where Stephanie sells wonderful hair accessories.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Stephanie, and also of giving away a gorgeous hair piece to one lucky reader....but first read the interview!



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Tell us a bit about yourself and your family!

Well, I am a happy little bride to a wonderful (ie very patient) man, we are the classic high school sweetheart story. I'm lucky to have found love so young. We also have two young children who teach me to take a second look at everything in life and see it with open eyes.

I also have my mom, brother, and sister, who are all big influences on my life and store. My mom is so supportive about this new adventure in my life. My brother is my business advice, he's always thinking ahead. As for my sister, she's my main model!

When did you start creating?

The flowers I use in most of my store I just started to create this year, but I've been creating my whole life! I started out with crayons and blank paper, worked my way up to markers and colored pencils, and of course graduated to just about everything else! I use paint and do photography as well, but one day I was looking through some fabrics and just fell in love. A needle, thread, and hours later, Bonita Bellita was born.

Your hair pieces are amazing...what inspired you to start creating?

Why thank you! I've always liked the freshness of flowers, they are always beautiful and when they bloom it is simply captivating. I wanted to bring that into the pieces I create. I wanted to make them at affordable prices as well. Similar items sell at chain stores for much more, I want to make sure that everyone has a fair chance at owning a pretty blossom for themselves!
I also have a friend Emilee who started her own Etsy store, and she's the one who inspired me to start my own! (This is her store - http://www.etsy.com/shop/tastefultatters)

Where do you get your ideas...anything in particular that inspires you?

I get inspiration from life in general! I definitely get a big chunk of that from looking at other blogs I find to be unique and thus inspiring. I also get it from the music I listen to and photos that I take or what I see from other artist's work. Gardens and nature hold a large role in my creative thoughts too!

Do you attend art and craft fairs/shows?

I do attend these shows, but right now just as a pastime or to purchase something for myself. I'd like to try and have a tent at a show one day though!

What are your long term goals for your shop?

Since I'm still fresh, I'd like to work on getting more people to take notice of these pretty little flowers. I'd eventually like to start becoming more diverse in the pieces I create, and maybe one day open my own real life boutique, featuring not just my work but other artist's as well.

What is your favorite piece you have created?

You may be surprised, but it's the yellow headband featured in this giveaway! It was an accidental success, and for that I hold it dear.

What is your favorite color?

Ooh, that's a tough one... I am a longtime lover of scarlet, but right now I'm obsessed with bold, jewel tones; in particular emerald green, teal, and royal purple.

What do you do when you're not creating?

I love to go to the beach, I practically live there in the summer! The library is another favorite, or even just catching up on my favorite shows and movies. That may be cheating though, I sew when I watch TV too! I spend a lot of time with my kids and husband too, they (of course) get a majority of my focus!

What are some places we can find you on the web?

Right now I have my main store...
http://www.bonitabellita.etsy.com
...my facebook fan page...
http://www.facebook.com/bonitabellita
...and my new (still in progress) blog...
http://bonitabellita.blogspot.com/
...I'm still debating on that twitter idea.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

Hmmmm... when I watch movies that take place across the pond (think Love Actually, Sense & Sensibility, ect;) I will end up speaking very proper with a British accent afterward. It's true, ask my husband!

Thank you Stephanie! I really enjoyed getting to know you better. Your shop is gorgeous and every girl should have flowers for her hair! I love how your yellow flower headband came out...my favorite as well! You have a great attitude and a great love for your family, something I really appreciate! And you seem like such a fun person as well. Wishing you much success!

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Now for the giveaway.

I'm excited to give away this gorgeous yellow flower hairband. When Stephanie asked me what piece she thought we should give away, I was immediately drawn to this one.
Isn't it pretty?





One winner will receive this beauty, read on to find out how to win.

Rules:

For your first entry, you need to go to Stephanie's shop, Bonita Bellita, and pick a favorite item. Come back here and post about it. (This entry is required, or all other entries will be disqualified!)

NOTE: make sure you post a SEPARATE comment for each entry, as each comment will count as 1 entry.
Also make sure you leave a way for me to contact you in your comments.

Additional entries:
Become a fan of Bonita Bellita on facebook, come back and post that you did. = 1 entry

Follow Bonita Bellita's blog and come back and post that you are a follower. = 1 entry

Follow this blog and post that you are a follower. = 1 entry

Follow me on twitter, and post that you are a follower. = 1 entry

Tweet this giveaway and leave a comment with the tweet link. = 1 entry

Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the blog post. = 1 entry

Purchase something from Bonita Bellita. = 5 entries! Make sure you post a comment 5 times for them all to count (sorry for the inconvenience)

Please be honest, and don't post that you follow unless you really did follow! I will be checking :)

Giveaway ends on Friday June 25th. Please hurry and enter to win! One winner will be chosen using random.org
Open to worldwide residents!

Thank you everyone, and have fun!