YaY....Giveaway Time!!!!
I initially found Melisa when she marked my etsy shop as one of her favs, and I sent her a convo thanking her (I no longer do that, as one of the people I thanked told me my "thanking" them was "spam")...Melisa and I struck up an etsy conversation, she checked out my blog...I checked out her etsy shop and fell in love with her jewelry, especially her customized photo charm brag bracelets ... Melisa liked my amethyst mohair cowl and we decided to do a trade...
My siblings and I chose to purchase one of the customized brag bracelets for my mom this past mother's day, with each of our baby pics on one side of a charm and grown up pics on the backside...we also chose to add a few charms and our birthstones.
Here are a couple of pics of it...our mom LOVES it...
Melisa also makes necklaces, rings, brooches/pins and more, so please go check out her shop! She is an amazing seller who offers outstanding...yes, OUTSTANDING customer service.
I recently traded her a baby blankie for a pair of these stained glass earrings in PINK and can hardly wait to get them...
So now, onto the interview with Melisa...
1. What is life like at your house? (husband, pets, children, etc)
Since I live in San Diego we have many outdoor days enjoying the sun. I'm very lucky in that way. My husband and I have two boys who are the most fabulous kids! My oldest son is in Spanish Immersion and my youngest in French Immersion. Neither my husband nor I speak the languages so we are constantly challenged with their homework. One son is in fencing and the other gymnastics, and I am an official chauffeur! Currently we are trying to sell our home as we need a lot more space!
2. What is your morning routine?
I wake up around 5 or 6am and get my coffee! Gotta have my morning coffee, it tastes sooo good. Then I turn on the news and check email, then start working on jewelry biz. Get the boys up and off to school then I work out. I figure I won't be able to do my work very well if I don't feel good so I try to get a work out in most days, little or big.
3. What hobbies do you enjoy?
Jewelry making, hanging with my boys, kayaking, working out. Anything with my family is the best thing to do.
Melisa with her son Gabe and Basset Hound Heidi
4. How did you become a designer?
I was at a friends house who was making jewelry. Her studio was filled with a rainbow of colors, shapes, textures, etc. I absolutely loved it. I thought it would be fun to try to make some jewelry and was hooked right away. I took several classes and learned the basics, and bought lots of beading books and self taught as well. Then I decided to take a soldering class and fell in love with soldering. I'm not too surprised about that! Fourteen years ago I took an art welding class and discovered that I really enjoyed cutting, melting and sticking metals together.
5. How did you start your etsy business?
I heard about etsy from the same friend I mentioned previously and decided it was a great way to sell my jewelry.
6. How does your creative process work…(where do you find inspiration?)
I feel inspired by colors I see around me in my everyday activities. I get an idea in my head - I'm not always sure where it comes from. Could be a color I spot, or a shape I like. Then I expand on it by laying out different materials together to get an idea if I actually like the combination. I love mixing textures, colors, and materials that have high contrast. Pearls with leather and hammered metal. Crystals with nugget stones, wrapped wire and leather.
7. What one thing do you keep close to you at all times?
My glasses! I'm dead in the water without them. I just got a new prescription with bifocal and I'm soooo excited! I'll actually be able to do detailed work close up without a magnifying glass, whoohoo!
Melisa and her family family at DisneyLand
8. Since starting your etsy store, what one thing are you most proud of?
I love my photo charm bracelets. They have so much sentimental meaning for the owners as well as the one's who give the bracelet as a gift. I've met some truly wonderful, loving families this way. It's pretty special.
9. What is one thing you would do differently (in your etsy business)
Right now I need to settle on the right prices to charge. I'm starting to understand the need to charge the right price in order for me to make a living at it. The price really does reflect the labor, detail and work put into making a handmade item. This is challenging.
10. Is there anything new you have an idea for or are currently working on to add to your etsy store in the future?
Charm necklaces that are lariat style. I really love the way the charms look when they are dangling and clustered together. Very fun necklaces!
Melisa's nephew Sam and her boys Gabe and Avery
11. Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny? (why)
Bugs Bunny because of his irreverence!
12. Handmade vs Manufactured (your thoughts)
Handmade. Special, unique, and even though the price may be higher than a manufactured item the quality often times is better as is the customer service.
13. What is one piece of advice you'd give to other women who are fortunate not to have to work outside the home?
If they are like me and fortunate enough to be home with their kids I would say make sure they reframe the frustrating times to remind themselves that they only get one chance to raise their kids and it's all gone in the blink of an eye. This may sound morbid but I say to myself in frustrating times "on my death bed will this situation make that big of a difference or impact on my life?", especially when it relates to the decisions I make regarding my kids.
You can also find Melisa here...
Doesn't she sound amazing!!! I have soooooo enjoyed "meeting" her and becoming etsy "buds"...wish I could be more like her in the "workout" department. I tend to go in spurts...I'll get into the habit of working out for a while, then much more important things come along and there goes the habit, right out the window....
Okay, back to the giveaway....I personally hate giveaways in blogland that require me to jump through hoops just to sign up...(ie. go like so and so's facebook page, go to their shop and pick your fav item, go check out their blog and become a follower...the list goes on), I did that in my first giveaway because I thought that's what I was supposed to do...then I remembered this is MY blog and I can make my own rules, so I am NOT NOT NOT going to do that this time.
All that is required to enter this giveaway is a comment, any comment on this post. I have even set my "comments setting" to allow anyone, even non-followers of my blog to be able to leave a comment. But...if you read my Post yesterday, you'll know that some people are having trouble leaving comments....soooo, to help those that are having that problem, you can email me at mybluepeacock3333@hotmail.com and leave your comment...I will then copy your comment from the email and leave it in this post's comments for you. (I know it's a pain, if this is you....but I don't know any other way of doing this).
I'm also planning to use random.org for the number generator for the first time (wish me luck)...hopefully I can figure it out. In my last giveaway, which was also my first, I just had hubs help me draw the name out of a bowl... I know, not very professional, so that's why I'm gonna give random.org a try.
And finally, how cool is this Crazy Mad Hatter Brooch/Pin...definitely a converstion piece!!!
Okay everyone, sign up time, you have until Monday, June 27th @ 8am eastern time.....Good Luck!!!! 
">
">