Charm Day events in N.C.- Are you in the Charlotte, North Carolina area?

   
Beadlush in Charlotte, N.C. is celebrating Charm Day with a variety of events.

Charmed I'm sure!  If you can't bead em' charm em'!   Have you heard about International Charm Day? Jewelry and bead artists around the world have  been creating and swapping handcrafted charms  with other artists on April 28th! When we heard  about it, we decided we had to get in on the fun,  so on Thursday April 26th we will be hosting a  make and take event with our friends at  Crown Town Handmade Our very own Vanessa  will be teaching how to make simple charms  all your own.

Click here for more info --->Beadlush

If you are new to celebrating International Handmade Art Charm Day---

If you are new to this event, and would like some ideas on how to participate, take a look at how they've celebrated in Centurion, South Africa for the past couple of years--- HERE

 International Charm Day - A South African version

Participate in our online Handmade Art Charm party!

 The deadline has been extended!

 This small bead above  and some of the confections made of polymer clay and Swarovski stones, below, will be given away during our International Handmade Art Charm Day blog party!

If you would like to be involved in the online giveaways, share tutorials, share photos and stories of your charm making events or share plans for celebrating International Handmade Art Charm Day, in your part of the world, you can send me a message via Face Book or leave a comment on this post.
Links will be added to the sidebar of the 2012 International Charm Day blog!
www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com

You can also contact me through FB here-https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-Dawn-Creations/132876490085347
Please have your pictures and posts, for International Charm Day, posted to your blogs on the 27th of April. If you are giving away charms or other charm related goodies, please indicate if you are willing to ship overseas, if your winners are in a different country. You can open your giveaways to include all countries or only some, but please make it clear in your post online where you are willing to ship your prizes and gifts to.

Many stores are hosting parties and classes to celebrate, this year!
If you are a business or teacher that is hosting a gathering at a store or public location, please let us know about it so we can advertise it for you

~*Charm Day is coming!!!*~ Start spreading the news!

Would you like to help spread the news? 

The seeds are being sown! Broadcast it!

International Handmade Art Charm Day Celebration 2012!

Giveaways, tutorials, interviews, photos, RAKs, Videos, 

& much much more! 

Participate!!! Everyone is welcome from every part of the world!

This is the first of many Charm Day tags that are being designed for this year's event. 

Stay tuned for more!

Feel free to share!

 Copy and paste either of these onto your blogs and sites with a link back to this blog, www.InternationalCharmDay.blogspot.com

There will be a gorgeous array of miniature books and charms made using the designs and images from- http://www.riandesign.eu/ featured during the Charm Day online blog party!
You can buy your own to play with too! They are SO much fun to work with!!!
Let her know that you found her work on this site, it will make her smile!
If you purchase her images and create charms with them, post them to your blog and share a link!

<3
Amber Dawn

~*Handmade Bead Charms For Charm Day 2012*~

These are beads which I made yesterday using polymer clay and Swarovski Vitrail light rhinestones. I will be making charms in this style with different colors and patterns to give away in April, right here on this blog.

Those who participate by offering either handmade charms, charm making supplies or charm jewelry as giveaways on their blogs or sites will be eligible to enter to win in this category. :)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
April 28th is almost here!
Start preparing now if you haven't already!

It's going to be a lot of fun this year!

Amber

CALL FOR Artists, Designers, Fashionistas and Crafters!

INTERNATIONAL Call for Charm making artists, crafters and designers!
 Beaders, Metalsmiths, Mixed Media Artists, Woodworkers, Fabric Artists, Crocheters, Miniaturists, Photographers, Quilters, Collage Artists, Assemblage Artists, Jewelers,  Writers, Resin Artists, Scrapbookers, Clay Artists,  Painters, Model Makers, Tinkerers, Graphic Artists, Doodlers, UpCyclers, Glass Artists, FASHIONISTAS & General CRAFTERS! 
Create your works into wearable and portable pieces of art!


Spread the cheer/news for  ' Charm Day. 
April 28th!


We're looking for tutorials and pictures of handmade artistic charms. 
Made of ANY MEDIUM that can be worn or used in a project or as a decoration.
 Charms are usually 1 1/2 inches and smaller! (Larger pieces are accepted as pendants)
ANY skill level!
Photos of handmade charm jewelry and other projects incorporating art charms are needed too.
If you would like to promote a giveaway on your website or blog, you'll can sign up for the list to advertise it on our sites, there is a deadline of March 12th, to let me know if you will be participating.
Start sharing the news now.
Blog about it, talk about it with your friends, in your art groups, tell your art buddies, younger children, big kids and older people who may be interested in participating too.
For those who may not have computer access or a camera/scanner, offer to help them out if you know they are talented/gifted at this art form.
Get them involved :) 
Start making charms to give away to people you want to share with, or even give them away as random acts of kindness to complete strangers. It's actually fun to do!
Share this post on your FB wall if you'd like. There is an email to contact me on the sidebar of my blog. Write Charm Day in the subject line. You can also post to my FB wall to let me know if you will be participating or to ask any questions. 
www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com
Or leave a comment on my blog. <3 Amber Dawn<3

CHARM DAY 2012! Join in with over 13,000 other artists, crafters, designers, celebrities and collectors, worldwide!

International Handmade *Art Charm Day* festivities are being planned out for April 28th, 2012. If you would like to be a part of the worldwide event, you can start planning ahead with us and send us your ideas, links and share your handmade art charm tutorials, tips, tricks, videos and website info. which will be advertised and shared via the web.

If you plan on hosting an event in a brick and mortar location such as a store, boutique, cultural center, church, community center, school, art store, coffee shop, library, home etc. please let us know about it.

If you have a jewelry supply or craft business and would like to offer a promotional sale for the event, send an email with the details.

For those of you who will be joining us via the web, you can post videos to YouTube and send us the link to be a part of the link list.

Everyone, from everywhere is welcome to participate! Feel free to post in your native language and translate to English if you are able to!

Wear, share and create handmade art charms!!!

More to come, 2012!

http://internationalcharmday.blogspot.com/ <---click here to see current posts.
If you'd like to be a part of the celebration and add your links to the list, please leave a comment below.
If you have news to share, have a question or are interested in sharing a tutorial, you can write a message with CHARM DAY in the subject line. Messages sent with attachments will not be read. Charms2Wear @ aol . com Without the spaces.

See what Amber has been busy making!
www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com

~*Charm Day 2012! Will you be a part of it?*~

If you would like to be a part of International Charm Day in 2012- please leave a comment and let us know what ideas you have!

We are looking for people from all continents- islands and territories of all ages to participate!

Spotlight on- MICRO ORIGAMI-CHARM MAKER ~*Kim*~ From Toronto, Canada!

While browsing Etsy a couple weeks back, I spotted this amazing collection of beautiful charms, made of ever so tiny folded paper, charmingly encased in glass vials.

~*AMAZING DETAIL!*~

 This is my ~*FAVORITE!!!*~ Isn't is breath taking?!

You can find Kim's work for sale here-
http://www.etsy.com/people/PaperPeaches
What a beautiful gift these would make for any origami enthusiast!

A Charming Giveaway!

I'm offering the winner a choice between the two. To enter- head on over to my Amber Dawn Creations page on FB and leave a comment under the photo! https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Amber-Dawn-Creations/132876490085347

Francine V from LI NY wins the 1 pound assortment of charm jewelry making supplies!

Francine! Come and claim your winnings!


I will post photos of what she won after she gets her parcel in the mail!

~*Charm Day Celebration in South Africa!*~ With, Elna & Benice

~*Between Cupcakes And Tea*~

Benice & Elna did it again! 

They hosted a fun filled workshop to celebrate 

International Handmade Art Charm Day, 

down in South Africa! 

Complete with tea & cupcakes! 

Interested in seeing what they are making here?- http://betweencupcakesandtea.blogspot.com/2011/04/international-charm-day-south-african.html

Visit their blog to read more! http://betweencupcakesandtea.blogspot.com

~*Thank you for sharing your celebration with us Elna & Benice!*~

# 6 Lynne wins! #11 Leigh gets a runner up prize! Charm Day Giveaway! Say the name & color that you'd like to make into a charm!

 Click on comments below this post and choose anonymous if you do not have a blog id or leave your name and website if that is how you prefer to be contacted! Leave the following info- Color of the heart and name that you'd like it to say! The winner will be offered the choice of having little rosebuds and rhinestones added or leaving it plain with just the name. 

Winner- #1 Lotus ~*Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry - Book Giveaway!*~ Brought to you by the authors, Chris and Peg!

COOL GIVEAWAY!

Chris and Peggy co-authored this book of making all sorts of mixed media charms. 

Making Mixed Media Art Charms and Jewelry 

You might find it to be inspirational, informative and entertaining!

(I know I do!)

Click on the image of the book and you will be brought to Amazon.com where you can take a look at some of the pages within the book & you can read some reviews as well. This might help you to decide if this is a good book for you to own.
Leave a comment below to add your name to the drawing.
The winner will be chosen on on Saturday April 30th.
The winner, once announced, will have 7 days to claim the prize!
~*Thank you Chris & Peg for sharing your book with us!*~
It's a great publication!

Winner- Monique from South Africa! ~*Polymer Clay CupCake Beads giveaway!*~ Leave a comment to enter! You will have 7 days to claim your prize if you win!

This offer is for 2 polymer clay cupcake beads made by Amber!
Click on "Comments" directly below this post to enter your comment. Please choose anonymous if you do not have a blog and leave your name and location or your name and email if you'd like to.

Winners- #2 Francine Vorbeck #5 Carmi #8 Lynne Are the winners! ~*Amber Dawn's Handmade Polymer Clay Charms & Beads Giveaway!*~

READ CAREFULLY!-
To enter, please comment with your name AND the part of the world you are joining us from!
If you do not have a blog ID, you can choose anonymous and leave your name. If you have a common name, please leave a unique identifier such as this example- Jane Doe, knitter and charm maker from South Dakota. If you do not mind your email being public, then please just leave your name with email and the place you are joining us from!

I moderate the comments so they will not post right away, please just enter each giveaway one time.

Specify if you'd like a clown charm or a girl bead or write either if you don't care which you win!

I'll be choosing a few winners from the comments, left on this post, on Saturday!
If your name is drawn, you will have 7 days to claim your prize(es)!
:o)
~*Happy Charm Day everyone!*~

~*Otherworlds!*~ Featuring artist & designer, Saffron Johns!*~ She's a sensation!

~*FEATURED ETSY SELLER!*~

OTHERWORLDS

The little ladybug is wearing a tiny spotted dress and has cute silver fairy wings, striped tights and red high heel shoes, she flys in the green swirls and blue flowers.

Ladybug in fairyland miniature wire sculpture pendant. sold

~*Wonderful Wire Work by, Saffron Johns!!!*~

I am so glad to have found her on Etsy.  It was love at first site for me!

If you fall in love with her work too, be sure to write her a note telling her so! 

The best part is she is always creating new work!

So, sit back, relax and enjoy some of the miniature "Otherworlds" that she has so lovingly created!

Hi, my name is Saffron Johns I'm 29 years old and moved from the UK to Bulgaria with my partner about four years ago in search of a less stressful life and a place where we could work towards a more self sufficient way of life. We found a rural house with land for veggies and animals and are working at making it a wonderful place of inspiration and life with chickens, sculptures, hydroponics and much more, it's a very big adventure and a lot more work than anticipated.

I specialize in wire art of all kinds including original art, jewellery, beads, treasures, sculptures and pictures, I call this body of work, Other Worlds. In 2005 I received a BA Hons in Contemporary Applied Arts from Hereford art college UK where I spent many wonderful years making and refining my work and this is where I found colored wire. I tried and sill use many different medias but by far my favourite is wire as it is so versatile and comes in many colours and thickness. I also learnt to crochet about two years ago and fell in love with it especially after finding some very small crochet hooks so much of my work now is made by crocheting wire.

The renovation work on the house and limited space meant that I had to put on hold making my larger works until it is finished and I have a studio, this is what inspired me to make miniatures in the form of pendants, rings, charms and other jewellery. I am so glad as I really enjoy it and I love the challenge of making things as small as I can with wire, capturing them in a moment in time to make a piece of original art jewellery. 

I take much of my inspiration from dreams I have and  from incorporating animals and bugs in funny, strange imaginary scenes, I find making cats quite tricky which is strange as I have three pet cats and I love making ladybugs, I have collected anything ladybug since I was a child so they have always held an interest for me for some reason.
http://www.wireart4u.net  
http://www.otherworlds.etsy.com

~*~*~*~

A tiny crochet crown with bead detail & banner

                                         Little Princess tiny crown in a bottle charm. 

                                   Currently on Etsy for $18  

A very cute miniature sculpture picture of a tiny hedgehog in a garden of little flowers. This little piece was made with enameled copper wire using a tiny crochet hook. 

 Miniature hedgehog in a flower garden sculpture pendant.  Currently on Etsy for $45. US dollars

A white rabbit driving a carrot shaped car over a field of flowers

White rabbit driving a carrot car 

miniature wire sculpture pendant 

sold

A ladybug sitting on a cloud while his friend carefully cuts another cloud with a tiny pair of scissors releasing the rain which pours into a tiny red cup.

 Head in the clouds ladybugs miniature sculpture pendant.

Currently on Etsy for $40.

A cheeky monkey swinging in the tree tops 

Swinging cheeky monkey miniature sculpture pendant .

Currently on Etsy for $45

A little bee perching on a daisy smiling out at the world from inside his bubble

 Bumble bee sitting on a daisy miniature sculpture glass bubble ring.

Currently on Etsy for $85

 A dancing monkey wearing a red, white and gold jacket and tiny shoes. 

He is really sweet with his cute little outfit, curly tail and cheeky grin.

                          Dancing monkey in a glass bottle pendant. Sold

 A jolly spider with top hat looking out from inside his web

Spider in a web wire sculpture pendant. sold

Plenty of fun looking through the lens at wonderful things in close up.

Through the looking glass optical lens.

Currently on Etsy for $25

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank you so much Saffron for celebrating 

International Handmade Art Charm Day with us from Bulgaria!!! 

Your work makes us smile!!!

 ~*~*~*~

Storm in a bottle miniature crochet sculpture

Inside a bottle a tiny teapot pours a flurry of rain into a tea cup, the waves rise and a tiny boat is swished around in the storms brew. A very tiny wire sculpture and very sweet. It is housed in a bottle just 4.5cm tall.

Here are two of Saffrons kitties! :o) 

Cat amongst flowers adjustable silver plated ring  

SOLD

A handmade one of a kind statement sculpture ring 

of a ginger and white cat sitting amongst a bed of flowers.

Saffron takes commissions for special custom orders 

so if you feel inspired to ask her to create a very special

one of a kind "Otherworld" creation, be sure to contact her 

through her website or her Etsy acct.!

~*Midstream South Africa- Charm Day Event!*~

If you are near Midstream in South Africa and don't know about Elna & Benice's event, then please click here to check it out! They celebrate with Tea & Cupcakes!

~*Spotlight on Christine Hansen, co-author of, Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry.!*~

Chris Hansen, what have you been up to lately as far as creating charms?

I always enjoy participating in swaps – having a theme and a deadline to work with really gets my creativity flowing. I just finished a batch of steampunk charms I’m pretty happy with – which is terrific, because while I LOVE steampunk, it’s sometimes challenging for me to interpret that style in my own artwork. Currently, I’m busy cooking up ideas for two of *your* swaps (Music & The Orient), and in the Art Charms group, I’m hosting two swaps (Winged Jewels & Adopt-An-Ancestor), and have signed up for Barbara Finch’s Celestial swap.

Do you have a special medium that you enjoy working with at the moment?

Glass!!! I am in love with melting glass! In fact, when I’m thinking up design ideas for a new swap, I usually try to figure out if I can do it in glass first. I’m delighted with the glass hearts I made for a recent Valentine’s themed swap – they were so much fun to make. I’m also grooving on the awesome sparkly Preciosa flat-back rhinestones I just purchased from Shipwreck...and paper. I LOVE paper. Paper is good. :)

How has making charms and being a part of the charm swap community changed your life?

Making & swapping charms has had a profound effect on my life. Aside from the incredible creative expression I find in making my mixed media charms, I have been generously blessed with many wonderful new friends. And too, art charms led to the realization of a lifelong dream – that of writing (and publishing, LOL) a book.

What 3 tools do you find absolutely wonderful to use while making your charms?

I have to narrow it down to just three tools? Hmm. What about three non-tangible tools? (1. a sense of humor, 2. a sense of curiosity and adventure, and 3. a willingness to explore and try new things) As far as tangible tools, I can’t live without five: my torch, my pliers (chain nose, bent chain nose, round nose, and flush cutters), my trusty scissors, my (and Jerry’s) drill press, and files to smooth all those edges and corners.

Do you have a favorite piece of charm jewelry? If so, please share...

I think my VERY favorite is my charm cluster pendant, which is currently on my eyeglass necklace. It has my charms and fractal swirl beads on it, as well as a few charms made by my dear friend and writing partner, Peg Krzyzewski. I love how all of the different colors and elements come together so beautifully - and the best part is I can add new charms all the time!

What do you enjoy most about the whole art charm movement?

Three things: I enjoy making new friends through swapping art charms with others, I enjoy expressing my own creativity, and I really enjoy nudging others into playing with art charms, because it’s such an inclusive format.

The art charm movement feels to me like we’re in new territory as artists and as a community – we’re taking odd bits & pieces, often recycled or re-purposed, adding to them, sharing & building connections with other people, and then putting the results together into a unique combination with layers and layers of meaning.

Have you celebrated International Handmade Art Charm Day before?

EVERY day is International Handmade Art Charm Day at my house, LOL.

Do you have any plans to celebrate this year?

Absolutely! Peg & I are donating a signed copy of our book, Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry, for you to give away, and too, I will be blogging about IHACD with links to your blog, and doing a giveaway of my own art charms.

~*~ 

Thank you Chris!

~*~ 

Moniques' International Charm Day Giveaway In South Africa @-

Monique's giveaway

Amber Dawn's ultra quick YouTube demo/tutorial, how to make a polymer face cane.

Lower your volume if you dislike loud music, before pressing play.

Here is the link to see it full screen on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8fIC81HuLc

GIVEAWAYS!!! & Send me your blog links if you will be posting on Charm Day!

Start sending me your links and tell me what your plans are for April 28th's Charm Day!

Will you be hosting an online event, featuring charm art, spotlighting your own or another charm artist on your blog or webspace? Also, please let me know if you are promoting Charm Day because everyone who promotes will be entered into a fabulous drawing!!! The prize?
An amazing ONE POUND PACKAGE of charms & charm making goodies! Sterling silver wire, 14/20 GF wire, vintage glass beads, Swarovski components, vintage goodies, beautiful trims and buttons as well as miniature glass vials, some of my handmade polymer clay charms are just some of the lovely prizes I will be giving away the week of April 28th. Become a follower of my blog to keep up with the posts! www.InventiveSoul.blogspot.com