GIVEAWAY: The Silver Craftsman

Sheldon Roy is the 14 year old creative force behind The Silver Craftsman. His shop features a wide variety of unique items made out of silverware ranging from jewelry to garden markers. I love the silver napkin ring holders (pictured) & the silverware bracelets with beads are beautiful. I asked Sheldon how he got started working with silverware.

"Last year, I saw someone stamping silverware and it was intriguing. I thought, I can do that! So I made personalized luggage tags for myself out of flattened spoons. That is where it all started and I was hooked. I made a few items for gifts and many started telling me, You have a real talent, you need to sell these! So, in March of this year, I started my own Etsy shop and it has really taken off. I like to say all my items are hand-crafted or handmade...there is a real craft involved, coming up with my own original ideas and unique items, telling their own story. My items aren't something you can find in popular jewelry stores."

He went on to say that jewelry making wasn't on his radar as an interest, but he really enjoys it now. In addition, Sheldon also enjoys basketball, baseball, fishing, playing guitar & also does lawn work. Talk about an active enterprising young man! SPECIAL OFFER: Receive free shipping when placing an order between August 6th and August 20th, 2012, with coupon code SHIPFREE.

*** GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Elizabeth!***

PRIZE: One lucky winner will receive a $25.00 credit for anything in The Silver Craftsman shop.

TO ENTER: Visit The Silver Craftsman & leave a comment on this post noting one of your favorite items.

ENDS: Monday, August 20th, at 9pm CST.

Third Meaning Jewelry

Third Meaning Jewelry features accessories designed by Dana Bell that are a sacred exploration of everyday iconography. Bell's collection offers a contemporary, earthly take on the traditional milagro, a religious folk charm used for healing purposes within the Spanish-speaking Americas. Bell exquisitely casts seemingly commonplace objects as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, & rings. The result includes silver & gold symbols perfect for meditation & reflection. The necklace collection includes charms, such as a dress & a slice of pizza that could mean a number of different things to various people. Third Meaning also highlights charm bracelets that are made up of three various icons. All of Dana’s designs are cast in 100% recycled silver & gold and commissions are welcome. All orders placed before December 16, 2010, will receive free priority mail shipping.

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats The Messy Crafter! Third Meaning Jewelry is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate. To enter, visit the website & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Sunday, December 19.

Funky Five: Mustaches

1. Handle Bar Mustache Pendant by A Snails Pace

2. Mustache Vinyl Wall Decor by Willow Creek Sign Company

3. Stache Pillow by Sew Lucky Girl

4. Mustache Stud Earrings by Little Angels Jewelry

5. Glitter Mustaches on a Stick by Little Retreats

Claudia Endler Designs

Claudia Endler Designs features modern, contemporary fine jewelry that features a blend of high fashion and architectural elements. Passionate about modern jewelry, art, architecture, design, and self-expression, Claudia Endler has been designing modern jewelry collections for everyday wear, special occasion, and bridal for more than 10 years. After a successful career as a designer representative in the fashion industry, Claudia’s passions and talents collided, culminating in the formation of Claudia Endler Designs. By combining elements from graphic design, art, and architecture, the essence of Claudia’s jewelry designs is to illuminate the unique qualities that define each person, individually. Her engagement / bridal pieces offer distinctive alternatives to the traditional matrimonial fare. “Timeless and infinitely modern jewelry” is how Claudia describes the style of her work, creating mostly custom pieces aimed at revealing subtle aspects of an individual’s taste, personality, and desires. The silver designs have a very minimalist feel and will blend well with any wardrobe. Many of the designs, such as the stackable rings, feature architectural and geometric-inspired elements. Whether you are looking for a unique piece for your wedding day or a simple, classic piece for everyday wear, Claudia Endler has a variety of choices that are sure to fit the bill. Funky Finds readers will receive an exclusive 30% discount on the following pieces with coupon code FunkyFinds. Round Bead Triangle Earrings, Tear Drop on Leaver Back Earrings, Silver Round Bead on Chain

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Dana! Claudia Endler Designs is giving away a beautiful pair of round bead triangle earrings. To enter, simply visit Claudia's website & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. For an additional entry, become a Facebook fan & leave a comment noting you have done so. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Sunday, May 23.

Tru.che

Tru.che features handmade accessories created by Chicago-based designer Stephanie Koerner. Her World of Love collection explores new ways to express local love through custom jewelry designs. These thoughtful and unique accessories are the perfect way to show some love for your home state or an area you have come to love. Since moving to Pennsylvania from Texas, I have so missed my home state. The I Heart Texas necklace is the perfect way for me to show some real Texas pride & keep home close to my heart. Of course, these aren't just for Americans. There are lovely designs for proud Canadians, Italians, and more. And you will need a pair of matching heart studs recycled from the necklace's heart cutouts to accompany your necklace. If you're looking for designs that aren't state or country-specific, Stephanie offers many great pieces, such as vintage glass earrings and the wood grain heart necklace. Receive free shipping when you mention Funky Finds in the comment section at checkout.

Ka Gold Jewelry

Ka Gold Jewelry features beautiful accessories by cosmic jewelry artist David Weitzman. He has designed a variety of pieces perfect for Mother's Day (May 9). The Seed of Life pendant is the perfect gift for mothers-to-be, offering protection during pregnancy. All Mothers deserve a gift that inspires love, such as the Key of Love. Of course, Ka Gold Jewelry has items that are not only perfect for Moms, but others, including various pendants, bracelets, rings, and much more.

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Laura Stewart! Ka Gold Jewelry is giving away a silver Flower of Life pendant. To enter the giveaway, simply visit Ka Gold Jewelry & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. Giveaway ends at 9pm EST, Sunday, April 18.

Hip Fusion Designs

Hip Fusion Designs features ultra-cool handcrafted metal clay and dichroic glass jewelry created by Neida Joseph-Abel. Her line consists of three categories: Personalized, Made-to-order, and Ready-to-go ensuring you get exactly what you are looking for. For those on a budget, there's a great selection of accessories costing $25 or less. Have you seen the Love sculptures designed by Robert Indiana? Neida, a Philadelphia area resident, offers a Brotherly Love necklace featuring a bronze metal clay LOVE stamped pendant that hangs on a gold-plated crystal cut chain. It can also be made in silver clay if requested. Hip Fusion Designs offers such a wide variety of accessories that you can find the perfect piece to fit your needs whether it be sentimental, sassy or just plain beautiful! Receive a 15% discount with coupon code FUNKY. Expires March 9.

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Amy! Neida is giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to one lucky reader! This time we have multiple ways for you to enter to win (see below). Giveaway ends at Midnight EST, Tuesday, March 9.

Multiple Entries:

1. Subscribe to Hip Fusion Designs' newsletter.

2. Become a Hip Fusion Designs' fan on Facebook.

3. Visit Hip Fusion Designs and leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design.

Ka Gold Jewelry

Ka Gold Jewelry features the work of designer David Weitzman. He released his first design, the Merkaba pendant, in 1998 as a symbol of healing and protection. David has continued to created dozens of jewels designed to inspire positive changes in people’s lives. As an avid nature lover, with a passion for both plants and animals, he uses symbols from nature in his work. The Flower of Life pendant is a beautiful, geometric design that contains a secret shape known as the fruit of life. I love the silver Mobius ring which represents the inner divine self. One of the most interesting designs, in my opinion, is The Butterfly Effect pendant. The butterfly effect is one of the terms related to the Chaos theory as coined by Edward Lorenz a meteorologist who discovered chaotic behavior in differential equations. See, Ka Gold Jewelry is not only beautiful, but also educational!

*GIVEAWAY - Closed - Congrats Megan! Ka Gold Jewelry is giving away a silver Mobius ring. To enter the giveaway, simply visit Ka Gold Jewelry & leave a comment on this post noting your favorite piece. Giveaway ends at Midnight EST, Friday, February 19.

Gifts From Cupid

1. Deep Red Heart Necklace by Blue Forest Jewellery

2. Vintage Valentine Notebook by Timeless Totes

3. The Key To My Heart by Art Mind

4. Show Me Your Heart Necklace by Holly's Designs

5. Sutured Heart Necklace by Idle Hands Designs

6. Hugs and Kisses Pillow Set by Sofa Garden

7. Canvas Cotton Tote Bag by TrulySanctuary

8. Falling in LOVE Ceramic Dish by New Moon Studio

9. In Love Heart Necklace by Hello Again

10. Conversation Heart Necklace by Christina Kober Designs

11. Free Amigurumi Heart Pattern Roxycraft

12. Charm Bracelet Tutorial by Ornamentea

13. Valentine Bath Gift by Me Too Lord

14. Chemistry of Love Earrings by Freeforged Jewelry

15. So Loved Handmade Tile by TileSmile

Hip Fusion Designs

Hip Fusion Designs features hand-crafted jewelry created by Neida Joseph-Abel. Using precious metal clay Neida creates personalized pieces, including front toggle bar tag necklaces. I have one of these necklaces featuring mine & my husband's name and it is such a special & unique piece. The floating disk tag necklace is another beautiful design. Neida also offers made-to-order jewelry allowing you to custom order your jewelry by picking out what you like best including glass & leather color, bead type, and more. Of course, this talented designer offers many ready-to-go accessories, as well. I love the brown pearl & silver charm necklace made using brown pearls, beads and small silver discs. Check out all the unique & stunning pieces Hip Fusion Designs has to offer.

Birthday Wishes

In honor of my 31st birthday today I give you some birthday-inspired finds!

1. 1969 Original Vintage Zodiac Poster perfect for any Leo!

2. Birthdays are for celebrating, so why not display that flair with a collaged birthday block from Pocket Full of Prettys?

3. The hoop earrings from April Bella featuring August's birthstone, the peridot, are beautiful.

4. Isotope's Leo Constellation Star Astronomy Graphic printed on an eggplant colored tee is lovely.

5. Any strong Leo is sure to love The Lion necklace from Brooklyn-based Contrary.

6. Sweet Pickle Designs offers a vibrant birthday pendant banner that will be a great addition to any festive party.

7. As I've mentioned many times in the past, I LOVE MONKEYS! You can imagine my excitement when finding Spirit Mama's sock monkey cake toppers - perfect for any age in my opinion.

8. What August birthday gal wouldn't love to receive a lovely sparkling Peridot Silver Ring created by Arctic Jewelry?

9. I would love to see lots of colorful Party Poms at my birthday soiree, thank you!

10. And I would certainly enjoy sporting a unique Steampunk ring embellished with a Peridot Green Swarovski Crystal by edmdesigns.

Blue Nostalgia Jewelry

Blue Nostalgia Jewelry features beautiful designs created by Ohio-based designer Ashley Davis. I love the Whisper earrings that are created using aqua chalcedony faceted pear briolettes on hand-forged and antiqued pure copper swirl ear wires. I also like the pieces featuring sparrows, such as the Fly Away and Pretty Bird necklaces. And how gorgeous are The Darkness in the Light earrings? Receive a 10% discount on any order by entering the code "FunkyFinds10" in message to seller at checkout. The 10% discount will be refunded after completed payment via PayPal.

GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a $20.00 gift certificate to use toward anything in the Blue Nostalgia Jewelry shop (shipping included). Simply visit Blue Nostalgia and leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. Giveaway is only open to US and Canada residents. Giveaway ends at Midnight EST, Tuesday, August 4.

Asha Patel Designs

Asha Patel Designs brings symbols of meditative peace, intuition and hope through accessories. Jewelry designer Asha Patel designs with symbolism and sentiment in mind. Branded on a leather bracelet the calming effect of the Eastern symbol OM is a reminder for peace through the balance of mind and meditation. The eye-catching labradorite bracelet promotes self-control and inner peace. Strung on a leather cord, the powerful stone is meant to delicately stand for clarity of insight and intuition. The Get Tagged Collection, my personal favorite, allows you to wear your heart around your neck. The tags are especially unique in that they are a modern-day locket with an opening for a photograph on the reverse side.

SimaG Jewelry

SimaG Jewelry specializes in personalized jewelry in both English & Hebrew. Sima Gilady hand-stamps her metals and letters creating a piece you will treasure forever. The rimmed disc necklace makes a thoughtful personalized gift for just about anyone. And why not share your favorite quote hand-stamped on a silver necklace with your loved ones? The Will You Marry Me ring has to be the most unique approach I've seen to proposing! Sima generously created a gold disc necklace for me with my initial & I love it. I have received many compliments when wearing it & can tell you that these pieces are very eye-catching & well-made. See what's happening behind the scenes at the SimaG Jewelry blog.

*GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a 14/20 KARAT GOLD FILLED disc with CZ Necklace that has YOUR name - YOUR word - YOUR letter on it. Simply visit SimaG Jewelry and leave a comment on this post noting your favorite design. Giveaway ends at Midnight CST, Thursday June 18. Please leave your email address so I may contact the winner.

Locher's

Locher's is a small potty-mouthed women's label out of an atelier in beautiful Paris. This company creates sweet embroidered romantic tops featuring a variety of gentle shapes with wispy embellishments in dusty pastel shades like decadent French desserts. However, their clothing is anything but sweet and naïve. The embroidery is of the most delicate little florals and sweet birds that may remind you of the needlepoint designs your grandmother used to detail pillows and such, but are contradicted only by discreetly placed playful phrases using very naughty potty-mouthed words. In addition to the tops, the line also includes a new vintage vixen series of handmade silver-chain necklaces carrying pendants adorned with tiny pastries, porcelain flowers, satin and lace bows, & more. Of course, the pendants don't shy away from naughty statements either offering the right touch of intrigue and danger. Locher's is currently running a Spring Fever special with tops marked down to $49USD. They also have a Menage a Trois special - buy any 3 items and get 1 necklace of your choice for free.

Designs by K. Cayetano

Karen Cayetano Leano is a young designer that offers women personalized, handmade jewelry inspired by luxury designers Chanel, David Yurman and RJ Graziano. This sophisticated, trendy line combines pieces such as silver/gold chain links and beautiful beads, creating bold necklaces that make a statement, as well as quaint styles that compliment, rather than make, an outfit, for the more subdued fashionista. The beads are carefully hand-selected by Karen during her frequent trips to Asia, Europe, and throughout the country. The 2009 New Styles section features beautiful pieces perfect for spring & summer months. Browsing through the Best Sellers section you will see the luxurious work Karen has created.

*GIVEAWAY: Enter to win a Modern Vintage necklace by visiting Karen's website & leaving a comment on this post noting your favorite design. The necklace has a mix of chains with various silver finishes. Accent stones consist of glass pearls and fresh water pearls to give it a vintage feel and twisted moon stones to give it a modern look. Perfect for both day and night looks. Giveaway ends at Midnight CST, Monday, May 18.

AG Ambroult

Amy Ambroult is a jeweler and metalsmith located in the Boston area. Her contemporary designs have an earthy, yet urban, tone. Designs such as the Orbit earrings are sleek and organic at the same time, bridging nature and industry. The Sweet Silhouette dog necklace wins me over as it resembles my lovable Yellow Labrador. And the Mobile Earrings are innovative and extremely unique. Amy says she crafts these "elegant and elemental" pieces for the up-to-the-minute gal who has an eye on nature, her feet firmly on the pavement, and her finger on the pulse of the evolving world. I think we would all like to believe that we fit that description, so why not dress the part & accessorize with Amy's beautiful pieces?

Mani Designs

Mani Designs features Amber Mahler's handcrafted work that ranges from Botanical-themed silver jewelry to 18K gold lost wax cast jewelry. The variety of botanical designs include very unique pieces, such as the Field Flower Hoops that are to be worn through the back of the ear. The Branches drop earrings are another pair that are beautiful. Amber also works with enamel and vintage tin when creating jewelry that includes necklaces, as well as earrings. I love the asymmetrical circles and 3 circles center necklaces. Have a look at all the distinctive and sophisticated pieces Mani Designs has to offer.

Gorjana Jewelry

Gorjana Jewelry is a collection of fashion, and now fine jewelry sold in over 400 fine boutiques and websites including Henri Bendel, Fred Segal and ShopBop. This fabulous line, created by independent designer Gorjana, is consistently featured in major publications, such as Lucky Magazine, and is often worn by celebrities including Cindy Crawford & Mandy Moore. Ok, ok...enough with the name dropping! But honestly, these piece are glamorous yet definitely wearable. Each piece looks to be delicate & beautifully made. I would love to have a pair each of the earrings. I especially admire the cut out designs, such as the trees & flowers. The necklaces are the perfect accessory for adding a bit of understated flair to any ensemble, as well. If you live in the Los Angeles area, you may want to check out this sample sale Gorjana is participating in on Saturday, April 19.

Kryzia Kreations

Magical forests and the creatures that reside in them are only a few of the popular myths and legends that surround nature's beauty. These magical beings come to life in the new Wild Whimsy jewelry collection at Kryzia Kreations. Owner & designer Christina Paluszek has taken her love of nature & transformed it into wearable pieces of art by combining hand-carved sterling silver & semi-precious gemstones and pearls. This series of necklaces, bracelets and earrings includes finely etched trees and vines, inquisitive little fairies, a bird's nest comforting a tiny white egg, and even a charming spider resting in its web. Every detailed piece completely hand-fabricated by Christina. Her other collections are equally enchanting & can be found at various high-end art shows around the country, as well as in small boutiques.