Welcome to the weekly Feature and Giveaway! Every Monday, we’ll be featuring a lovely craftsperson, artist, or artisan – and every week you’ll have the chance to win something from their shop!

This week we welcome Dee Gordon, from Runako Designs!

Dee is a jewellery designer, and she makes lovely beaded work!

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Where do you live?

Virginia (USA)

Where do you do your work?

I’m an HR Manager for a Manufacturing Company full time, mother and jewelry designer after work.

What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?

My favorite place in  the world is my living room couch!  It’s there were I can chill and relax with my son and watch a great movie. Life moves so fast, I just want to cherish the moments I have with him.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your day job or business,  family, hobbies:

I’m an HR Manager with a manufacturing facility here in Virginia. I have one son who’s 12 and growing rapidly.  I’ve been in business for myself for 5 years making and selling jewelry.  Jewelry making is my passion. When I’m not making jewelry, I’m reading, writing or spending time with my son.  I enjoy listening to music, my favorite being Jazz and
Christian.  When I’m making jewelry it’s Jazz or Raggae!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a teacher, so not sure how I ended up in Human Resources. I actually went to college for Accounting, then finished up with an HR degree after working in the field for a couple of years.  I guess HR is a trade off as I get to facilitate classes and create development goals for manager.  Adults can sometimes act like kids ya know?

How did you first get into your craft/art?

I got started in making jewelry by simply asking someone to teach me how to make a bracelet. They were kind enough to oblige. From there, I bought books, listened to CD’s, took classes and look at me now, I have an online shop!

What do you make?

I make mostly beaded and wire jewelry.  I really enjoy working with wire, gemstones, pearls and natural materials. My designs are mostly inspired by ethnic beauty and nature, both of which I look to for inspiration.

What are you most proud of making?

WoW…that’s a good question. I’m so proud of all my finished products. I think I’m most proud of a necklace I designed called the Giving Necklace that can be found on my website.  It was designed to show your support for the Kiva organization.  25% of the  proceeds from the sale of this necklace goes towards funding a micro loan  through my business. I’ve been able to fund 5 loans since November, which  I’m very proud of.  The money repaid from the loan recipients, go right back  into Kiva for another loan.  If interested, you can find more information about the recipients of these loans on my blog under Positive Changes in the World.

What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?

What I  enjoy most about selling online is the fact that people all over the country and or world are wearing my jewelry. The least favorite…would probably be  all the hard work that goes into it..but even that is fun sometimes, so I would probably have to say, all the tedious work that goes into taking photos and updating three sites. I look at that time as time I could be making more designs.

I love:

Meeting new people and interacting with my customers

It drives me crazy when:

I have designer block!

What’s your favourite word?

Unveil

If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say:

I’m so thankful for the gift, that has been giving to me to share with  others and help those in need around the world.

Visit Dee Online:
Shop: www.runakodesigns.etsy.com
Website: www.runakojewelry.com
Blog: www.runakodesigns.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/runakodesigns
Facebook Page: http://companies.to/runakodesigns/

This week, Dee is generously offering a $20 gift voucher to her shop, Runako Designs!

To Enter:

1. Visit Runkao Designs, and come back here leaving a comment about your favourite piece from the store.

2. For additional entries, leave a comment saying that you: followed or subscribed to Epheriell Designs (or already do); have Twittered about the givewaway; have shared the giveaway with friends on Facebook, or; you have written a blog post about it.

3. Entries close next Sunday night, the 2nd of August, at 12pm Australian EST. Winners are announced the next day as part of next week’s Feature and Giveaway post.

Remember to leave me a way of contacting you.. and Good Luck!

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The winner of last week’s giveaway – Michvanetta - congratulations!

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Subscribe or ‘follow’ Epheriell Designs during July 09 and go in the draw to win a $40 gift voucher to use in my shop – Epheriell. Details here.

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This week, we feature 10 top sites for jewelry supplies (or jewellery for the Aussies and British amongst us!).

Jewellery is such a broad topic, I’ve decided to break it down into subtopics, and supplies ranks up there as one of the most important things! In future “10 Top Sites” I’ll feature instructional sites, blogs, forums, and more. I’ll also be covering the same for all sorts of crafts! So if you have a site that you’ve found super-useful for your craft, please let me know, either by contacting me or leaving a comment on this blog.

So, without further ado… (please note, these are not in any particular order!)

1. Etsy (US)

I did have another choice here, but after some discussion on the Etsy forums, I have decided to change my first choice. There are a large number of suppliers on Etsy, and the beauty of buying from them is that you’re helping out an individual, rather than a corporation. So, if handmade is what you’re about, search Etsy under ’supplies’

2. Artbeads (US)

A massive store – a wide variety of beads, findings, and other jewelry components.

3. Fusion Beads (US)

Excellent supplier of Swarovski, all other beads types, as well as tools.

4. Aunties Beads (US)

Again, huge range of beads and findings.

5. Rio Grande (US)

A shop for metalsmiths more than anything – with lots of metal, tools and even soldering equipment. Lots of lovely cabochons for setting, too.

6. A & E Metal Merchants (AUS)

These are my own go-to guys for all my metal supplies. Great service, and a good range of base and precious metals.

7. Empire Beads (AUS)

Huge range of supplies – based in Australia and New Zealand.

8. Crystal Park (AUS)

A good supply of beads and charms from Australia. Lots of other bits and bobs there, too!

9. Alpha Imports (US)

If you want precious or semi-precious gemstones, this is probably the place to go. A huge range, right up to top-grade diamonds, at wholesale prices.

10. Over the Rainbow (AUS)

This shop has a huge range of quality beads, polymer clay andjewellery making supplies. You can select to view currencies in your own choice of moula! Provide supplies for resin jewellers, too.

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Well, last night I was playing around with some silver wire and pearl beads, thinking of making something to wear in my hair for the wedding. So, I made this:

I’m thinking about how to attach this to a pin, or a comb, and wear one on either side, like so:

I usually do pretty much nothing with my hair, and as the bodice and straps of my gown are a bit sparkly, I’m not wearing a necklace. So I thought some hair adornment was in order!

Obviously I need to work out how to attach it so the pins/comb is hidden, and all you see are the dewdrops.

Well. I looked at this and the thought struck me – ‘gee, this would make a nice pendant, too… or perhaps even earrings…’

So I was inspired to make this:

And it is now for sale in my Artfire shop Thinking I might make more of these – what do you think?

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