Friday, February 26, 2010

{Featured Artist: Stormy Sky}

This giveaway is now closed!


Here at
Gussy has a lot to say we love to look at all things beautiful.
Beautiful winter accessories, beautiful jewelry, beautiful stories about family life.

Today marks week #14 of my series on featured Etsy artists. I hope by now you've been introduced to a few drool-worthy eye-candy shops. I have many more, so please stay with me :) Over the next few months I'll be showcasing hand-selected Etsy artists that offer products that I think will appeal to you, my readers.

Please join me in welcoming Bindi at Stormy Sky.



***

What inspires you? Almost anything! Art, nature, architecture, fashion, color combinations and textures. I keep notes of ideas - in journals, on the backs of envelopes, scraps of paper and the back of my hand! I will never have time to attempt every design that springs to mind, but I still love to come up with new ideas, even if most of them will never be realized.


Where do you call home? Are you from there originally? I live in a small town in the south west of England, just a few miles from where I grew up. It is very picturesque with thatched cottages and narrow streets. The town is built around the site of a 12th century castle, which is no longer there, but many of the town buildings and the church are hundreds of years old and very beautiful. I am very thankful to live in such a wonderful part of the world.



Share an interesting fact about yourself. My great, great grandmother was a famous Gypsy Queen.

How did you come up with your shop name?
I’ve always been fascinated with storms – I just find them so intense and awe-inspiring; I can stare at a moody, cloud filled sky for ages. Plus, I never really wanted a name that advertised the product - hence Stormy Sky.


Share a little bit about yourself.
I live with my husband and cat in a very small house. No children as yet so we are making the most of being able to socialize and travel as a couple – we are often either planning a trip or dreaming about places we’ll visit one day. Life is pretty hectic but I think we both prefer it that way. I always seem to have several projects in progress; I crave knowledge and love to learn new skills and develop existing ones.



If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be? Determined.


What made you decide to open up shop? I had been making jewelry and selling locally by word of mouth for a year or so and was considering setting up my own website. I came across Etsy and realized that I didn’t actually need my own website (which was frankly a relief). Etsy has provided an ideal environment for my work. I would love to set up another Etsy shop solely for vintage creations, hopefully later this year; and then I will really have my hands full!


Name your favorite thing about selling handmade. The interaction with my customers is very rewarding - It really makes my day to get emails of thanks from my customers. And knowing that something made by me is being gifted as a token of friendship or love is very special too.


Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I work two days a week at a veterinary surgery (which I love!) and also sell jewelry outside of Etsy to local boutiques. Although I always need more time to work on my jewelry, I would never give up my day job - I work with a wonderful team and truly love going to work.




Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like. On a non-day job day, I get up pretty early, answer any emails, relist sold items and then make a big list of “Things To Do”. My list always ends up being far too ambitious, but it does make me focus.

I work until about 3 - 4pm on various fabrications tasks. I try to streamline the processes to a certain extent, making findings and fixtures one day, and setting stones and doing assembly work in batches. After that I stop work to get orders packaged up and taken to the Post Office. For the rest of the day I dodge between jewelry, cooking, housework, admin and photography. After supper I relax and spend time with my husband, and we talk about our day. In the evening I do small, easy-to-manage tasks like cropping photographs, leaving feedback, accounts and ordering materials.


List a few of your most favorite pastimes. Reading, making jewelry (of course!), traveling, decorating and collecting vintage paraphernalia.



Read any good books lately? The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson – a very compelling read with an awesome heroine.


What is your most prized possession? My cat. Although my husband would probably say that it’s really the cat who owns me.

What are three of your favorite foods? Ok, now I know this is not very mature, but my absolute favorite foods are jelly beans, Pralines and Cream Haagen Dazs ice cream, and chocolate mints.

What would you like to learn to do?
Play the guitar! I have the guitar, the amp, and the “how to” books and CD’s. But not the time!



What are you listening to right now? Kings of Leon.


Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why. I would really love to see the Northern Lights, so I am planning a trip to Norway next January. The further north you get, the better the chance of seeing the lights, so it means going within the Arctic Circle. It is a trip my husband and I have wanted to take for a long time and will be a real dream come true for us.


***

Now for something fabulous!

One lucky reader will win this Air necklace:




***


To enter:

Leave a comment sharing your favorite item from Stormy Sky's shop.



For additional entries {leave a separate comment}:

-Comment that you follow my blog

-Comment that you follow me on Twitter

-Tweet about this {leave a comment with your Tweet}

-Blog about this {leave a comment with your post URL}



RULES:
  • The giveaway will close Sunday, February 28 at 10 pm CST, and the winner will be announced the following day
  • An email address must be listed on your blog profile or in the comment you leave


Please check back Friday, March 5 for another featured artist post!

151 comments:

Meredith said...

I LOVE the Lagoon - Smooth Chrysoprase and Hand Forged Sterling Chain Earrings

Meredith said...

I follow your blog!

Meredith said...

I follow you on Twitter!

Hana said...

I love the Little O earrings. They are so simple yet pretty! Love the Air necklace as well for the same reason! Would be tickled pink to win! Thanks for the chance!

Hana
MomTog Diaries
luvmybabyblue@yahoo.com

Hana said...

I follow!

Unknown said...

Actually, the Air necklace is the item i like the best in the shop!

Unknown said...

I follow!

Sarah said...

I follow you on twitter

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

Hard to choose so many lovely things. I think my favorite is the Black Pearl Necklace

m.chphotography@hotmail.com

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

I am a Gussy follower!

Sarah said...

I really like the flower shaped mother of pearl necklace. Beautiful!

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

I also follow Gussy on Twitter

m.chphotography@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

The air necklace is beautiful! Simple and dainty.

Linda said...

Lovely shop!! Love Amulet and Pretty Dot-both such pretty necklaces!

Unknown said...

Oh, and I follow your blog!

Linda said...

twitter follower
lindaasmith

shana said...

i came over from the vintage pearl. the stuff in your shop is adorable -- good work!
have a fabulous weekend!
oh, i'm a new follower, so count me in!
shana

shana said...

i like the mini heart earrings!
thanks!
shana

shana said...

hey, i live in the twin cities too! are you as ready for sprint as i am?
shana
kirbyandshana {at} gmail {dot} com

Mrs. Curtis said...

I love the wired stud earrings!

Mrs. Curtis said...

i follow your blog

Mrs. Curtis said...

& twitter :)

Jesica said...

The Rain on Slate bracelet is so pretty!

Jesica said...

And I follow your blog!

Unknown said...

It is hard to choose just one favorite, her stuff is gorgeous! I do like the Archaic - Hand Forged Sterling Necklace, as well as the Lagoon - Smooth Chrysoprase and Hand Forged Sterling Chain Earrings.

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter

Lis said...

I love the air necklace.

Lis said...

I follow your blog.

zimme345 said...

I love those simple siver rings...beautiful!! Also, welcome to MN! I moved here 3 years ago, and absolutely love it!!

Ashley said...

Love, Love, Love the Air Necklace!
email: ashley.flusche@cox.net

Mel B. said...

I love the Marrakech Earrings and the set of 3 stacking rings. Although, that was a VERY hard choice!!!!

Mel B. said...

I follow your blog

Mel B. said...

I follow you on twitter

Abigail Leigh said...

I love the Lagoon earrings!!!

Abigail Leigh said...

I follow your blog

Jeannett said...

follow your blog!

Jeannett said...

follow you on twitter!

Jeannett said...

i have to CHOOSE ONE THING??? Is that possible??? :)

Celeste said...

I like the Intrepid Heart necklace :)

Celeste said...

I follow your blog!

Celeste said...

I follow you on twitter
@celeste_w

Candice @ Made With Love said...

Beautiful pieces! I LOVE THE Set of 3 Stacking Rings - Silver and Pearl. Thank you for this opportunity! :)

cmyersdoyle@aol.com

Candice @ Made With Love said...

I'm a Gussy follower!

cmyersdoyle@aol.com

Kristin said...

I love the square snippet posts!

Alisha said...

The satin stack rings and the little o earrings have definitely caught my eye!

Kristin said...

I follow you!

jordenandkristin at gmail dot com

Alisha said...

I'm a blog follower!

Alisha said...

I'm a twitter follower too :)

Brooke said...

I came over from Vintage Pearl! I love your work! I follow your blog!

The Clines said...

Such pretty jewelry! I love the Rain on Slate bracelet.

Nancy said...

New follower...thanks to Erin at The Vintage Pearl :-). Love, love your stuff!

Katie said...

Its so difficult to choose! But I think the Open Heart Earrings are my favourite! Would love love love to win!

katienoz@googlemail.com

courtney said...

I'm so blessed to have stumbled upon such great finds. First the Vintage Pearl and now Gussy! I love it all Thank you for opening our eyes to someone new again!

Unknown said...

I love the snippet and open heart earrings!

Unknown said...

I also follow you on twiiter! :)

susan said...

Tomboy Stacking Ring Set in Turquoise and Sterling--LOVE IT!
susanerios at hotmail.com

kadywood said...

The black pearl has my heart. The Air necklace is pretty special too.

kadywood said...

The black pearl has my heart. The Air necklace is pretty special too.

kadywood said...

The black pearl has my heart. The Air necklace is pretty special too.

Constance said...

Love the air necklace.

constanceseal@yahoo.com

Kendall and Brooks said...

Love your blog and your etsy site!!!!

C'est La Vie said...

Oh my goodness, this is a beautiful new discovery! LOVE YOUR STUFF

keight dukes said...

i am loving all her turqouise stuff. such a cool hippie, vintage, authentic look!

keight dukes said...

and i follow yooooou!

keight dukes said...

and now i follow you on twitter too!

Laurel E. Riffey said...

My favorite item... that mother of pearl pendant!

Laurel E. Riffey said...

I am now a blog stalker! :)

Laurel E. Riffey said...

I am a follower on TWITTER!

Laurel E. Riffey said...

Here's my blog post!

http://laurelphotography.blogspot.com/2010/02/fun-giveaway.html

threeboogers said...

I am now a follower of your blog! (via the Vintage Pearl) Great, cute, stuff!

threeboogers said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
threeboogers said...

Following Gussy on twitter! Another entry?? Woohoo!!

threeboogers said...

Tweeted about you!

Gosfam said...

I like the
Liquid Silver Bracelet - Hill Tribe Silver Beads Bracelet. I love a lot of her stuff though :)

mattles22 at yahoo dot com

Gosfam said...

I follow your blog, and LOVE all your stuff.

Gosfam said...

I follow you on twitter: Gosfam

threeboogers said...

Bare Rose Quartz or Rain on Slate have got to be my favorites!
(of course the most expensive things, that's me!)

Jaimie said...

I tweeted this giveaway!

http://twitter.com/jmechap8/status/9690104446

Jaimie said...

My favorite item from stormy sky is Vanilla - Mother of Pearl and Sterling Silver Pendant!! : )

jechapman8@gmail.com

Jaimie said...

i follow you on twitter!

@jmechap8

Jaimie said...

i follow your blog via google reader! : )

mommy2luke2008 said...

I'm a new follower!!
maryw1981 at yahoo dot com

Ginajam said...

I am new here...love your work...A LOT! I will be back :-)

mommy2luke2008 said...

I love the Intrepid Heart!!!
maryw1981 at yahoo dot com

Courtney said...

Very pretty stuff!

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

Pretty! I like the Equinox earrings.

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

I follow your blog!

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

And I follow you on Twitter - @thesweetpetunia

Anna said...

I subscribe to you! HOPE i win!!!

Jessica said...

I'm a new follower :)

Rockstar Mommy said...

Found you via The Vintage Pearl and SO glad I did!

My favorite item is the Pretty Dot necklace.

Rockstar Mommy said...

I follow your blog!

VJ said...

I cannot get your little turquoise o earrings out of my head...must have them!

Rockstar Mommy said...

I follow you on Twitter! (@1rockstarmommy)

VJ said...

I subscribe to your blog.

Brittney said...

found your blog from the vintage pearl :0 love your stuff!

mel98942 said...

I follow your blog

mel98942 said...

The wired stud earings are the cutest!!!

Laura said...

My favorites are the lapis and sterling and the vintage mother of pearl bracelet. Thanks for the giveaway Gussy!

Laura said...

I follow your blog. One of my favorites!

HeidiCogdill said...

I love the Satin Stack rings...they are simple, yet elegant.

HeidiCogdill said...

I follow your blog.

HeidiCogdill said...

I follow you on Twitter

Brooklyn said...

I love the Bare Rose Quartz bracelet! She has such beautiful pieces though, it's hard to pick just one!

Brooklyn said...

I follow you on Twitter too!

Brooklyn said...

I follow your blog!

Ed said...

Black pearl necklace for sure!! Love it!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

Great pieces... I LOVE the black pearl pendant!

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

I follow your blog!

Paula said...

Do I have to pick one? I love the Satin Heart necklace, the Black Pearl necklace... the Pretty Dot - Bezel Set. :) What lovely things!

Paula said...

and, I follow your blog... which I love, too!

Michelle said...

Oh the sepia freshwater bracelet is purely heaven. I want this and the perfect day earings too are gorgeous. I just discovered your blog through The Vintage pearl Love the hello roses bag. I love the colors so much. I would not put this away it is too pretty, I would have to leave it next to me so everyone can be jealous of my little bag:)

Melissa G said...

Hi Gussy,
I think you deserve the beautiful blogger award...
http://geoffandmelissa.blogspot.com/2010/02/beautiful-blogger-award.html

Thistle Cove Farm said...

All her work is lovely, especially the Bezel necklace.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

I'm a follower and enjoy your blog so much.

heycecelia said...

The lantern earrings are beautiful!!

ceceliaquillin@gmail.com

heycecelia said...

I follow your blog, and it's great!

ceceliaquillin@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog and love the green teal earrings so cute!

Sue said...

I love, love, love the vanilla mother of pearl flower shaped pendant.

Raylene Nicole said...

I LOVE the laptop bags!!! so adorable!

Raylene Nicole said...

I follow your blog!!

Raylene Nicole said...

I follow your twitter!

Raylene Nicole said...

I love the chain earrings... so adorable!!!!!

koralee said...

So nice to meet you..thank you for visiting me the other day. Your work is lovely...I do love ruffles too. I am in love with all her lovely pieces..but that satin heart look amazing.

Franchesca said...

My fav would have to be the Marrakech Earrings. Simply gorgeous!

Franchesca said...

Oh and I follow your blog!

Franchesca said...

And I follow you on Twitter!

Franchesca said...

Tweet: Visit Gussy's blog to enter the chance to win some gorgeous jewelry from Stormy Sky's etsy shop called Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

susan said...

<3 the air necklace

susan

suebell21 at gmail dot com

susan said...

follow your blog!

susan

suebell21 at gmail dot com

~*~ Allison ~*~ said...

I just started following you.

~*~ Allison ~*~ said...

I LOVE the Shady Gus & Skinny Gus in HELLO ROSES!!!

~*~ Allison ~*~ said...

DEFINITELY following you on Twitter!

~*~ Allison ~*~ said...

DEFINITELY following you on Twitter!

*Alex* said...

I am in love with her Lagoon - Smooth Chrysoprase and Hand Forged Sterling Chain Earrings and her Sepia - Freshwater Pearls and Sterling Silver! Too Gorgeous!!! :)

alex.sedrowski@gmail.com

ShannonV said...

I LOVE the vintage cut glass bracelet! It is simply, beautiful!

vytlas@cox.net

Kelly from Montana said...

so the vintage firey opal glass pendant or the Lagoon - Smooth Chrysoprase and Hand Forged Sterling Chain Earrings - might have to go for both!

Kristi said...

i'm a follower

Kristi said...

ummm...to pick one thing from her shop... i love it all!

Kristi said...

i'm a twitter follower

Kristi said...

twitted:
http://twitter.com/jsimplysouthern


~Kristi
JUST SIMPLY SOUTHERN

Stephanie said...

It's so hard to chose! I love the Monochrome Earings, the Air necklace, and the Midnight Chain Lapis Necklace.

Stephanie C. said...

I think the Pretty Dot - Bezel Set Vintage Fire Opal Glass in Sterling Silver is my favorite!

Stephanie C. said...

Blog follower!

Stephanie C. said...

Twitter follower!

cindy said...

I love the SATIN STACK SET of 3 RINGS!

barrigacindy@yahoo.com

cindy said...

Follower!!

barrigacindy@yahoo.com

Biteofpunkinpie said...

love the fantail earrings! super cute stuff!

...here's hoping!!!

Andrea said...

I almost forgot to enter! my favorite item from her shop are the Sepia Freshwater Pearls & Sterling Silver earrings. she has so much great jewelry though!

niehausal@yahoo.com

Andrea said...

I follow your blog also!!!

niehausal@yahoo.com

Kim said...

love the air necklace!