AntinaArt "handmade creations that matter"

Recently I attended a ladies craft night hosted by a sweet friend. Crafting at my table was the lovely Christina Ryan, a Nashville 3^rd grade teacher and owner of AntinaArt. Christina runs the company as a team with her husband Anthony, who takes care of all the computer related elements to the business. Christina handcrafts beautiful and charming family jewelry that easily has all the qualities to become heirloom pieces known as AntinaArt. What I found most appealing about these homespun family nest necklaces are that each piece is uniquely crafted to fit your own little treasured family. The necklaces are custom designed and lovingly made to celebrate you and what you hold dear. AntinaArt has a large selection of budget friendly, handcrafted jewelry on their Etsy shop that opened in March of 2012. The family nest necklaces make the perfect gift for so many celebrated occasions Mothers Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, baby showers or just a simple I love gift! I love a personalized handcrafted piece of jewelry. Actually, I loved Christina’s Jewelry so much that I ordered my very own with five little family eggs surrounded perfecting by a copper nest. So, I can vouch for the suburb customer service, speedy delivery, and products that are now one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.

A Small Selection Of AntinaArt Bird Nest Jewelry

Christina was sweet enough to let me interview her about her jewelry and inspirations behind the business. Take a peek inside AntinaArt with the answers that Christina delivers. Oh and a little tip before we get started with the interview if you visit her etsy shop there is a free shipping code if you order before Mothers Day! Hint Hint!!! Better Hurry! Just click AntinaArt anywhere in the blog for a direct link to her shop.

My Sweet Family Nest Christina Custom Made for Me in the Copper

Interview with AntinaArt’s Christina Ryan

Q: First off you are obliviously very talented. How did you discover the art of jewelry making?

A: I have always loved doing crafty type things, but honestly, always kind of stunk at creating things but tried none the less. So, one day I had some teacher friends over for a craft night and we decided to try to make a pendant “nest” from wire and I kind of had a knack for it. While we sat there messing with wire and drinking wine I actually said “wouldn’t it be so fun to just sit at home and make jewelry all day” (and drink wine, of course) and they all thought I was crazy.  So the next day I went out and bought a bunch of supplies and practiced making anything I could from the wire. After about 20 tries and several “how to” YOUTUBE videos, I created the perfect little “nest” necklace. I made one for my sister and several friends and realized that they were a hit.

Q: You and your husband run the business as a team correct? What roles does each of you play?

A: When we started our little business a few months ago, we knew we wanted to do it together. We are a team in all that we do and this was no different. We are VERY different in almost every aspect. Anthony is a computer nerd so he takes care of all the shipping details, website design and any other computer or number related thing. I make jewelry. J

Q: I noticed have several unique jewelry pieces in your shop. Is the bird nest jewelry the most popular?

A: I have always loved birds. I have a little birdie (peace dove) tattoo on my foot and love the freedom they represent. One of my favorite verses in the bible is Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? This just reminds me of the trust they have and free spirited, worry free lives they lead. I try to remember to live my life the same way.

Q: The name of your Etsy shop is AntinaArt tell us about the name and where it originated from?

A: Well, my husbands name is Anthony and mine is Christina, so we married the two to get Antina then we just thought Art sounded cool at the end of it.

Q: What or where do you draw the most inspiration from?

A: My obsession with birds really helps. Haha.

Q: Have you been surprised by the response to your jewelry?

A: YES! I had no idea that so many people would love the jewelry as much as I do. Our long term goal is to use the proceeds from our jewelry business to adopt or conceive a baby. We have prayed that God would make a way for us in this area, and I think AntinaArt is a part of His answer. J

Q: What do you want your costumers to know more than anything else?

A: One thing that I want our customers to know is that the piece of jewelry that they order is all about them and their family so we want them to be a part of the whole process and any special requests or ideas they have we will create on their behalf.

Q: I personally love your shops motto “handmade creations that matter”. Can you explain a little more about that and what it means to you?

A: I feel like our jewelry isn’t just something pretty that you throw on to match your outfit that day. Instead it represents your family or grandchildren or something sentimental and symbolic to you. Almost all of our customers order our jewelry for a deeper meaning, whether it is for a wedding gift, a mommy gift or something special they can keep on them throughout the day to represent their children and family.

Q: What is your favorite jewelry creation to date?

A: My favorite piece would have to be the nest necklace that has the mommy, daddy and babies all wrapped up in a nest. I love that it represents the whole family (even the daddy)!

Q: How are some of the ways people are can order or find jewelry?

A: All of our jewelry is displayed on our etsy store just click here on AntinaArt

You can also click here to  find AntinaArt on facebook!

A Very Merry Pinterst Christmas

Today I completed my very first pinterest inspired project. I have lots of projects started and in the works that are via pinterest inspired, but today I actually finished one. Mine is not hardly as pretty as the inspiration one found posted on The Real Housewives of Bucks County Blog, but it does the trick for my front door. Thank you for the inspiration pinterest!

The Pinterest Find

Mine....I really need to work on my photography skills =)

Tuesday Treasury

This week's Tuesday Treasury is inspired by a book by Shel Silverstein, and one of my childhood favorites at that, The Giving Tree. So in this week's treasury, in which I call "Once There Was A Tree....", I have included all kinds of tree inspired goodies from the impressive and talented vendors from Etsy. Now, I will leave you with a excerpt from the book and a link to the full treasury list.Click HERE for full list.

Once there was a tree..... and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree.......very much. And the tree was happy. -Shel Silverstein

Once There Was A Tree

What was one of your favorite childhood books?

Stitched With Love...

Photo Credit to Moments to Memories

Mother of two, Mrs. Lauren Coffman of Livingston, TN has been crocheting on and off since high school, a hobby she picked up from her Aunt Teresa. These days Lauren has improved her crocheting skills to the level that people have started to take notice and talk about her adorable little projects, a long way away from the day when she could only stitch a straight line. Now Lauren has come to the point where she has discovered that she can learn almost any new stitch by using a good pattern. She has even began to develop her own techniques and skills of crocheting.
Lauren recalled the first thing she ever tried to make was a blanket for her then boyfriend, now husband. Lauren said, “it was hideous”. After that, she stuck with making cotton wash clothes for a time being. Still, she refused to give up her hobby and we are glad she didn’t, because those little winter beanie hats that everyone is noticing are just too cute. My personal favorite is the owl themed hat. Her hats take about 2-4 hours to make depending on their size and type.

I ask Lauren how in the world does she find the time to crochet with two small children and a full time job? Her response was that crocheting is used to help her unwind, her de-stresser. She even enlists the rest of her family to help her out from time to time. Her oldest daughter, Rylee, models the hats to make sure the size and fit is correct, while husband Josh cuts the strings needed to make the braided ears of the hats saving Lauren time for more crocheting. I am sure that baby Ryder will jump into the fun when the time comes, but for now, he is happy just to lay nearby and take it all in. Making this hobby of Lauren’s a Coffman family affair…

If you are interested in any of Lauren’s Crocheted hats just click HERE to get linked to her Facebook account. She will be happy to try, and meet any of your requests.


* This article also appears at Cookevilletimes.com

A Crafty Sisterhood

Rebekah and Deborah Robson are two small town girls, originally from Overton County, Tennessee who just happen to be sisters, who just happen to fall in love with and marry two brothers, who just happen to be stay at home mommies, who just happen to be two incredibly creative people.

Both of these young women are drawn to the crafting world. Rebekah has been painting, drawing, and sewing for years now, while kid sister Deborah is just getting her feet wet and exploring the crafty side of herself. After the discovery that both of them were interested in creating, the girls set out in search of an outlet for their creative energy. Thus, “20 Little Toes” was born, an Etsy shop devoted mostly to children’s projects.


“20 Little Toes” was originally created by sister Deborah and the name is a homage to her adorable twin boys. Soon after, sister Rebekah came on board as a mainstay contributor to the shop. The girls thought about changing the name, since Rebekah is also a mother to a sweet baby boy, but both decided “30 Little Toes” sounded a bit creepy, therefore deciding ultimately that “20 Little Toes” was around to stay.

The shop is dedicated to outfitting your children with both fun and practicality in mind. Both girls bring their own sense of style and ideas to the table. Rebekah's style is quirky, bright, with a twist of bohemian, while Deborah brings a more modern, streamlined, linear style with a dash of soft and feminine. The girls have found that in the crafting world their individual styles compliment each other very well. Their ability to work so well together is what makes the shop work and shows off a collective combination of their creative abilities and unique styles.


The shop has already made one appearance in the Etsy treasury section. The girls were thrilled that other crafters had connected with their work and chose their shop to be featured in such a select group.

These days the girls are busy preparing for the Holiday season. On average the girls spend 2-4 hours a day crafting and as far as plotting new ideas, the girls' brains are always in motion, daydreaming about new projects.

While Rebekah and Deborah love the crafting world, their main focus is their children. They are self described, part-time crafters and full time Mommies. While crafting is fun and challenging, their main priority is shaping the character of their sons. Crafting is something they do for themselves, something they enjoy, something that allows them to use a different part of their brains, and “20 Little Toes” is a lovely side effect of the crafting hobby of Deborah and Rebekah Robson.

To check out more of their products visit “20 Little Toes” on Etsy




Special Note: This article also appears in the Cookevilletimes.com

Fairy Tale Dream Etsy Style

To continue the week of Fairy Tales I went in search of some products on Etsy with a little fairy tale inspiration in there background. These where among my very favorite finds. Special little side note clicking on the links will take you directly to the artist Etsy shop, clicking on the artist name will take you to their Bio page or website. Don't you just love Etsy...happy shopping folks. I would be thrilled to hear from my readers what your favorite fairy tale inspirations are?

These adorable Little Red Riding Hood postcards are just perfect for handwritten note to grandma's house snail mail style. The stunning artwork featured on these fairy tale post cards is the creation of Marie Letourneau children's book author and illustrator based in New York. The postcards sell for $12.00 for a set of 8 plus shipping.



Fairy Tale flair featuring reproductions of artist Sandra's original illustrations. These brightly colored buttons are the perfect accessory to boring totes or make great stocking stuffer. This Fairy Tale inspired buttons sell for $4.50 each plus shipping.



Snow White inspired locket made by the crafty hands of Melissa Nucera. This beautifully whimsical vintage style locket will cost you $21.50 plus shipping.



Peter Pan original paper-cut art is so very fun. This paper art was careful done by Tinatarnoff a San Francisco based artist. I personally think this piece would be darling in whimsical nursery. The price of these piece runs at 85.00 dollars unframed plus shipping.

Autumn in Tennessee{fun Fall activities}

Autumn is upon us. Autumn is a time of harvest and gathering together with family and friends. I always think of this time of year as perfect marshmallow roasting weather. Autumn brings the loss of the bees, butterflies, and long summer days, but in return Autumn brings a kind of flower itself as it turns the leaves an array of reds, oranges, and yellows. Autumn also brings in the mellow breeze of a perfect day for family adventures and couples retreats. With this in mind, I thought I would compile a list of fun Fall activities in Tennessee. There is entertainment for all ages, groups and budgets scattered all over the beautiful state of Tennessee this Autumn.

Fall Events List by MysticIris on Polyvore.com

(1) Nestled away in the quiet, but bustling little town of Cookeville, TN is Hidden Hollow State Park. The park is located on Mt. Pleasent Rd and is considered a family friendly park in Middle Tennessee. This year the park will host Haunted Hollow, a kid friendly family fun zone with hayrides, haunted forest, carnival games, mazes, and maybe even some live music. The fun happens every weekend in October starting the weekend of October 8, 2010. $

(2) Looking for something a little more on the romantic side this fall and maybe even something indoors? You might be interested in "She Loves Me" a play by Joe Masteroft, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick showing at Cumberland County Playhouse in the adventure theater. "She Loves Me" has become two movies "The Little Shop Around the Corner" and "You've Got Mail". This big-hearted musical with a small, but talented cast runs November 18, 2010- December 18, 2010. $$$

(3) Honeysuckle Hill Farms in Springfield, TN is more than just a pumpkin patch. It's a whole discovery of family fun down on the farm. Honeysuckle Hills features a 6 acre corn maze, hillbilly pig races, pedal cars, steer roping, spider slide, petting farm, farmers market, The Kiddie 500 ( tricycle race), jumping pillow, and the new pumpkin train. Wittiness a family feud between the Hatfield's and the McCoys. Better take cover we hear those Hatfield's have a giant pumpkin cannon. Also, don't forget after all the fun you have to take home your very own pumpkin. You will find a super assortment in every color, shape, and size. $

(4) There's an absolute Spooktacular event coming to the Nashville Zoo. Ghouls at Grassmere, a family friendly Halloween event designed to appeal to families with children 12 years and younger. The event helps raise money for the upkeep of the zoo. This year there will be several new treats, along with all the old favorites including many treat stations, kid's costume Parade, gypsy maze, monster mash dance floor, scary-go-around, and so much more. The ghoulish fun begins the weekend of October 15-17 and continues the weekends of Oct 22-23, and Oct 28-30(not open Halloween night). The Nashville Zoo opens the gates at 5pm and closes them at 9pm. So put on your costumes and come out to the Nashville Zoo and join the fun! Hint...Hint, you can purchase tickets on-line in advance to avoid long lines and get a discount. This year is the first year that a Ghouls at Grassmere(GAG) total access pass will be offered. Don't miss out! $$

(5) Join in the Costume fun at one of Tennessee's most popular aquariums. The Fall 2010 Aqua-Scarium Halloween Party is October 29th beginning at 6:30pm and ending at 9:30pm hosted by the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. The event includes the ever popular costumed divers. You can also mingle with the lovable mascots donning their own Halloween costumes, dance the night away, and if you dare touch the unknown at animal encounters. Did I mention you can when prizes and gather lots of yummy treats.
Nonmembers $$$ (includes ticket to the aquarium) and Members $

(6) Dollywood's National Gospel & Harvest Celebration located in Pigeon Forge, TN. Four weeks of Gospel music beginning October 1, 2010. Your not going to want to miss Dollywood's fall celebration with music, crafts, and food located in the breathtaking smokies, nor are you going to want to miss Dollywood's signature fried green tomato's. $$$$

(7) Chester County BBQ Festival, Henderson TN September 30th- October 2nd 2010. The festival will feature arts, crafts, children's area, and the main attraction, BBQ. Enjoy Barbecue cooked with patience, skill, and experience in an open-pit barbecue producing "real barbecue" for all to enjoy. The first barbecue will go on sale by 10 am, September 30th. Admission to the event is free, but some cost will be required to fully enjoy the family friendly festival. You can contact the Chester County Chamber of Commerce for more information. $$

(8) Looking for personal treasures? Now is your chance to find them. September 30 - October 2, 2010 is the 25th annual Roller Coaster Yard Sale with stops at Glasgow KY, Tompkinsville KY, Albany KY, Celina TN, Livingston TN, Byrdstown, TN and many more stops along the way. A three day, 150 mile stretch of crafts, quilts, southern style foods, antiques and second hand treasures of all kinds. Detailed driving directions available on-line click HERE. FREE

(9) The Blue Man Group is coming to Tennessee's Andrew Jackson Hall in Nashville, November 16-21, 2010. The Blue Man Group theatrical show combining music, technology, comedy, and a touch of mystery to each show. Since there is no spoken word during the performances, The Blue Man group crosses over boundaries of all kinds, including age, cultures and language barriers. You are guaranteed to be left wildly entertained by this unique and visually stunning performance. Special note if you sit close to the front you may not want to wear clothing you value. Casual attire is welcome and encouraged for this show. $$$$

(10) Maybe you are looking for some adventure this Fall season. Well, your sure to find it at Fall Creek Falls State Park. For starters they are offering rock climbing workshops November 5-7, 2010, among many other events this fall. Enjoy any of these events while taking in the beauty and wonder of the Fall foliage and atmosphere. Fall Creek Falls is situated on the Western edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Pikeville, TN. The Park is Tennessee's largest state park with much to offer it's visitors from camping, hiking, fishing, bird watching, and lets not forget the beautiful waterfalls. This state park even offers top rate lodging for those who like indoor private plumbing areas. Cost of this adventure will vary depending on your agenda. $-$$$$

Cost Key
$$$$ Above $30 Each
$$$ Above $20 Each
$$ Under $20 Each
$ Under $10 Each
FREE

Special Note this article also appears at Cookevilletimes.com

A Little Red Paint Magic

So as I have stated in a previous blog I have been bitten by the craft bug. I have a desire to create and be creative. This week my Mother-in-law and I went to a Goodwill outlet here in Nashville. Instead of things being individually priced you pay by the pound...the more pounds you buy the cheaper things cost. So I found this very gold tri-fold picture frame. I am not much into anything gold. Just not my style, but I loved the frame's potential, the detail, and the fact it held several photographs! I am a bit of picture nut! I also thought this little gold frame would be a great way to start small with my new desire to be creative. Plus I was going to reduce, reuse, and recycle and that's always a pretty cool thing.

Here is a few before shots of the tacky gold frame I paid about 75 cents for at the Goodwill Outlet.

I really love the leaf details. Don't you?


Now for the transformation!

My Simple Supplies
Sandpaper
Spray Paint
Primer

First I removed all the glass from the frame and laid it aside for now. Then I lightly sanded the frame. Just enough so the paint would stick a little better. I added just a thin coat of gray primer, and lastly painted 3 light coats of red spray paint over the frame. Presto my new little red frame!


I cleaned the glass and added in a few of my own photos. We had our family pictures made back in April and I loved so many of them. Thanks Mrs. Kelli Trontell for the beautiful photographs. I have have been looking for a creative way to display several of them at one time, and I believe I found it with this sweet little red frame! Why red you ask? Well I just love bright bold colors!

Checkout the little details now! I was just so happy with my first project, and all it took was a little spray paint so easy!

This is finished product now to just find a place to display it at in my home. (the picture isn't that great! Sorry about that. I didn't think about the fact my kitchen is red, and red on red just didn't work to well.)

Monster Fun!!!

Today I am taking a little break from the America series that has been my main focus for this month. However, stayed tuned, because there is more to come in that series.

So, this week I discovered something unexpected. I have been bitten by the craft bug. I have not been able to soak up enough of all those amazing creative blogs that are out there in cyber world, which has given me a deep desire to create and be creative. I haven't quite decided what that craft is going to be. I will keep you updated on that decision. At the same time, I thought it would be great to share some of my fellow bloggers every now and then, and show you what they have been up to lately. I would like to reveal Mandee Franee Designs. This single mom of three boys started her craft with her son's holey sock and her creative instinct, which has lead to a business of making the most adorable little sock monsters. Each one has it's own personality, much like the children that ended up loving these adorable little monsters. No two are just alike, which I just love!

You know you want one of these adorable little monsters!!!

Say Cheese!

Besides the sock monsters, Mandee Franee Designs also offers Lens Pets. Lens Pets are a creative way to get those wondering toddlers to look at the camera. Even grownups will find the camera lens more fun...I mean how can you not smile when some creature is sticking his tongue out at you. You can find Mandee Franee Designs on her Etsy shop or follow her on facebook and twitter!

I wanted to share one last photograph with you. I thought it was just to creative to pass up showing you. Isn't this little ladybug just to cute for words? I just totally fell in love with this little monster. The little pirate is my favorite, but the ladybug is for sure a close second! =)






All Picture credits go to Mandee Franee Designs