Elite Writing Prompts

My first addiction in life besides drinking my dad's old pepsi at three in the morning is writing. Lately I've been cursed with a nice dose of writer's block so one boring day at work I was struck with an idea.

If you are into writing or just feel like being creative, come check out my new elite writing prompts blog. Dedicated to daily writing prompts to help you uplift your block. If you'd like to submit a writing prompt, feel free to send an email to elitewritingprompts@gmail.com

You can even subscribe so you can receive daily updates in your email! Perfect for when you're starting to fall asleep at the office.

Happy writing!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, art collages, awareness items, bookmarks, key chains, cell phone charms, and more!

Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts!

Mother's Day is fast approaching, and there is still some time left to find her an original gift (or two!) We have concocted a nice selection of gifts any mother will enjoy!

The first thing we wanted to show you is our very own Spanish Moss Bookmark. This ribbon bookmark is both classic and fun, and it is long enough to fit hardback books. Length adjustments can be done at no extra charge.

To view our current selection of bookmarks please follow the link below to our Etsy shop:

http://1337art.etsy.com

Give your mother an early gift of Summer with this Summer Love Women's Botanical Perfume. A gorgeous blend of Neroli, Magnolia, Orange Blossom and Citrus oils. A very feminine, floral and sweet/citrus scent that isn't too overpowering.

You can also find the same perfume in a convenient sample size, which is also great for mom to keep in her purse!

You can find this lovely perfume as well as other great products from Gabriels Aunt. Please follow the link below to view their great, lovely smelling collection of bath and body goods:

http://gabrielsaunt.etsy.com

Every woman loves to be pampered! Let your mother cleanse, moisturize, and exfoliate with a tempting array of strawberries and a dash of pink grapefruit and papaya milk fragrance!

You can find this delicious Twisted Strawberry Body Scrub for sale at Sweet Body's Etsy Shop along with other luxurious soaps, bath and body care products in delicious scents!

http://sweetbody.etsy.com


What mother wouldn't love an eco-friendly handmade journal? This love journal features the Chinese symbol for love--both romantic and inspiring in itself.

This (6x6") journal is also available in a large (8x10") version.

You can find this muli-use journal along with a great selection of other journals and items at Thisisit's Etsy Store. Please follow the link below:

http://thisisit.etsy.com


Happy Saturday Shopping!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, bookmarks, collage art, awareness items, key chains, cell phone charms, and more.

Etsy Artist Feature 13: crazytimescandles

It is important to show the world the charm of handmade items. I plan to do this one Etsy artist at a time. Today I feature crazytimescandles. This husband and wife team have a wonderful selection of bath and body products.

I have personally tried their coffee scrub (delicious!) flower pot candle (mmm!) and a couple of other items.

If you're looking for a unique and useful gift, crazytimescandles has something for you.

Below you will find their interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

That is a tough question, but for me I would have to say making hand prints and pencil holders in clay back in kindergarten and first grade. I always enjoyed that even though it got quite messy.

2. What do you specialize in?

High quality hand poured candles and handmade soap and bath & body products.


3. What made you decide to open up a shop on Etsy?

Etsy is a great community for people who enjoy handmade products and we wanted to be a part of that. We had looked at Etsy back in October of 2007 briefly and set up an account but didn't add any items to our shop until January 11th 2008.


4. What are your hopes for the future?

We hope to continue to expand our business at a steady pace where we can end up with a fairly large wholesale account base as well as attending more craft fairs / shows in the future. We are considering the possibility of a brick and mortar store in the future as well depending on which way we grow faster.


5. What are some of your favorite past times?

We really enjoy camping in the summer and visiting with family and friends.

6. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

Our workspace is our basement. Every wall has shelves, and there are tables everywhere each with it's own purpose.

7. How do you feel about custom orders?

We love working on custom orders. We do a lot of custom colored candles especially for weddings and parties. I really think that people like the ability to get a lavender scented candle colored green to match their room for example.

Contact crazytimescandles:

Our website: http://www.crazytimescandles.com
On Etsy: http://crazytimescandles.etsy.com
By e-mail: erin@crazytimescandles.com

Thank you so much for reading! It is very much appreciated.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

**Featured images include:

Coffee Sugar Scrub
Sweet orange essential oil goat milk soap
Custom color chunk pillar set

1337 Collages - Mini Style

Tonight I introduce a new product to our Etsy Shop. I have been into collages since high school. They have a certain, unspecific freedom to them.

ACEO stands for 'Art Cards, Editions and Originals'. They are a standard size (2.5" by 3.5"), and are a great way of buying a piece of original art at a very low price. They are fun to collect and display.

You can own an original piece of artwork at a very affordable price!

There are many uses for ACEOs:

*Wall/desk/notebook art
*Miniature greeting note/card for a bouquet of flowers
*Coffee table book
*A fun little extra in a birthday card
*Cubicle art
*A unique addition to your personal collection
*Inspiration

Please keep checking back for new ACEOs and more from 1337 Art.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, bookmarks, collage, charms, awareness items, and more.

Discouraged...or ambitious?

We all have days where we keep going back and forth between discouraged and ambitious. Therefore, the solution to this silly problem will look something like this:

DiScOuRaGeD: Day #1

Today I feel discouraged because I have been trying very hard most of the time lately to up my sales, but I see no result.

Ambitious: Day #1

I have so many new ideas to write down and get started with that I don't have time to write about how well all of these new ideas are going to sell like mad!

Some days we feel like quitting, when other days we feel so inspired and happy about what we do. It's dangerous to let those negative thoughts linger. That is why they need to be written down. You can look back on your Discouraged entries and see how silly you sounded.

Your biggest problem at this point is where to find a notebook! Thisisit and thescenicroute have a great variety of unique handmade journals.

Thank you so much for reading.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, charms, and more. Customs are accepted.

What Inspires You?

There are so many things in this world that try to keep us down...but what inspires us to push our way through the muck and negativity of the environment we live in?

Inner Passion: Without ourselves we have no inspiration. What is it that "fuels our fire?" Do you want to impress someone? Do you need to prove or express yourself?

Purpose: Creating gives us a sense of purpose. Why must we do anything if there is no gain? Always ask "why?" Why do I paint? Why do I write? Why do I want others to experience what I have to offer? We are all human, and we all want to be apart of our world.

People: The opinions of others have a dramatic effect on our creativity, whether positive or negative. You may feel like you have to prove yourself to someone, and you may also feel that you have to prove someone's false judgments wrong. Or perhaps you want to give someone else joy. Your creativity evolves around a single persons wants, likes, dislikes until you have yourself a finished product.

Colors: Some people are easily inspired by colors. Our moods are said to be effected by what colors we choose to wear and what colors attract our eyes the most. When you look at the bright blue sky, do you think "run for shelter" or "I wonder if I can catch that on canvas?" Some of my designs started out with a group of colors that I felt went well together.

Weather: Weather changes mood. Weather also induces memories. Do you feel the most creative sitting under the shade of a tree or when you are cuddled up on your porch while you watch the rain pour or the snow meander to the ground?

Hidden Meanings: There are people out there, such as myself, who feel the need to express ourselves outwardly, but secretly. We write stories and poetry with references and ideas that no one but us will recognize (or so we think!). It makes us feel comfortable knowing that we can show the world what we did without them knowing what we mean.

Symbols and Traditions: Inspiration can be aroused when we discover what a color or a gemstone or an animal represents (among other things, of course.) Mythology, for example, has been the pinnacle of many people's inspiration. Dragons, wizards, magic...fantasy, adventure, the impossible.

If you read this may you always be inspired.

Thank you so much for reading.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart: Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, and more. Customs are accepted.

Dragon Keeper

Surprise the special man in your life with a masculine piece of jewelry. Not only will he feel comfortable, but he will wear it with confidence!

Your man deserves a casual, seductive necklace. Let this be the one. The red agate has hues of red and orange - both colors that reflect passion, power, and creativity.

Approximate length: 21.4 inches

The synthetic quartz pendant is approximately 40mm x 29mm, and it has a laser carved Chinese dragon on the back.

Made with Sterling Silver, Red Agate, Pewter, Czech Glass, Rhodium, and Synthetic Quartz.

You can find this masculine necklace for sale at my Etsy shop.

Our growing selection of men's jewelry gives them the opportunity to express themselves. Most men do not wear jewelry because they don't share a personal connection with what they find in stores.

Does your man know exactly what he likes? Let us know so we can make him something he will treasure.

Thank you so much for looking! Enjoy your evening.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Masculine Wolf Necklace

I have been on a jewelry-making spree.

I have been wanting to make more jewelry for men, and this piece could not have turned out any better. The colors, the design, is perfect.

This necklace is great for a special occasion or for everyday wear. Your man would wear this proudly.

Makes for a great gift! Have an anniversary coming up? Or perhaps a birthday? Give him a gift he can cherish.

Approximate length: 18 inches (base of collar bone)

The pendant measures 40mm x 30mm

The pewter Wolf pendant was made in Oregon with diamond tipped cutting wheels to produce such a fine detail.

Made with Sterling Silver, Blackstone, Black Labradorite, and Pewter.

You can find this beautiful Masculine Wolf Necklace for sale at my Etsy shop.

Please also check out my growing Men's Jewelry section.

Thank you so much for reading. Enjoy your evening.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Modern Chic

I was making new pieces like crazy the other night. I made two necklaces, four bracelets, and two bookmarks.

Today I show you my Modern Chic bracelet.

This adjustable bracelet is the perfect fit to your casual personal style. You can wear it in addition to other bracelets or let it stand alone in it's own chic style.

Approximate maximum length: 8.6 inches
Approximate adjustable length: 7 inches - 8 inches

Made with Sterling Silver, Blackstone, Czech Glass table cut Picasso Jet beads, Antique Pewter spacers, and Cat's Eye Fiber Optic Glass beads.


I also added a couple more items to my growing destash section. I hope the items I put there can be used towards new and beautiful designs.

Thank you for reading! Enjoy your weekend.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Custom Dolphin Necklace

I was messing around with my supplies when my fiance's friend comes over and starts watching me. Finally he asks me to make him something. We found some blue beads that he loved, and when I showed him the dolphins he almost screamed in excitement.

He loves it, and he said he's not going to take it off ever.

The necklace is choker length, and it's also adjustable.

Made with Sterling Silver, Czech Glass, Porcelain, Blackstone, and Pewter.

I accept custom orders. If you are interested in a special theme or design, please feel free to send me an email at 1337art@gmail.com

Thank you so much for looking!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Mermaid Lust

An array of blues and things shiny, this lovely choker is the perfect highlight to your Spring wardrobe! It is definitely time to treat yourself with something as unique and sexy as this!

The beautiful polymer clay mermaid pendant was made by our very own Analiese.

Approximate Maximum Length: 15.8 inches

If you think you'd need a slight length adjustment I will be happy to do so at no extra charge.

Made with Sterling Silver, Pewter, Polymer Clay, Blackstone, and Cat's Eye Fiber Optic Glass Beads.

You can find this choker for sale at my Etsy Shop.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Customized Piece for Mom!

My mother's birthday was last week, and I came up with this necklace. She likes bunnies, blue, and dolphins.

I thought I'd incorporate the things she likes, and it turned out pretty well.

The pendant is handmade by LiiLii with an old wooden game piece and Japanese paper.

The necklace measures approximately 17.5 inches

It is made with Sterling Silver, Pewter, Rhodium, Snow Jade, and Cat's Eye Glass Beads; a nice mix of whites, blues, and silvers.

I enjoy making custom and personalized jewelry items (and bookmarks!) for people. If you would like something especially made for your mother this Mother's Day, or if a friend is having an upcoming birthday, I would be happy to help! You can send me an email at 1337art@gmail.com with your inquiries and comments.

Thank you so much for reading!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Ribbon Bookmarks!

Ribbon bookmarks are gradually being added to
1337 Art! The Penguin Love bookmark is only the second out of many ribbon bookmarks to come.

Ribbon bookmarks are stylish, traditional, and a great way to express your individuality.

Please feel free to email us any suggestions you may have for future items. If you're looking for a particular theme for yourself or a friend, we accept custom orders. Please send all requests and suggestions and inquiries to 1337art@gmail.com


Thank you so much for reading!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Big News!

Last week I celebrated my two year anniversary. Thank you to everyone for all of your kind comments and wishes. It made my day. :)

We spent the morning taking pictures on the beach, and once we got back to the Bed and Breakfast we were staying at...he asked me to smell a rose. Inside the rose was a ring (the one pictured,) and he asked me to marry him.

The ring is made of Garnet (the stone of love) and Black Onyx (guards against negativity.) It's beautiful! It is one size too big, but I can't bring myself to take it off for a second to get it adjusted.

We have not yet set a date, but we do want an early summer wedding outdoors with a lovely view of the water.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

I want to thank...

I wanted to say a special "thank you" to two great, creative people. The first one is LadyJinx of Deviant Art.

Deviant Art is an artistic community where all forms of art are shared.

I met LadyJinx when I was browsing the recently submitted jewelry pieces. She has a great eye for design, and after awhile the two of us hit if off, and we're like each other's cheerleaders when it comes to new pieces.

She was kind enough to feature me in her profile, and I wanted to say a big THANK YOU!!! Please some take a look at her deviant art page. She also has a great eye for photography!


I also want to thank NYblaque for her lovely and very sweet feature of me in her blog. Last week my boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary, and she wished us the best of luck. <3 Please feel free to visit her blog and her Etsy Shop for more designs.

Thank you both for your support and kindness.

And thank you for taking the time to read.

Enjoy your weekend,

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

Etsy Artist Feature 12: thescenicroute

It is important to show the world the charm of handmade items. I plan to do this one Etsy artist at a time. Today I feature thescenicroute from Philomath, Oregon. This two-person team makes beautiful, creative, and fun notebooks out of recycled products.

Below you will find their interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

Home Economics was a required course in my seventh grade year. I'd always been terrible at crafting so it was no surprise that my guitar pillow came out looking like something out of a Picasso painting. I couldn't curl ribbons with scissors, much less sew a straight line! Gene was much the same way. The "whole craft thing" was completely alien to both of us and neither of us ever imagined that our perspective would be changed almost overnight. Now, we're enamored and almost obsessed with creating things! In a short span of time, the list of crafty ideas we have has grown so long that we'd never be able to try them all out even if we lived another century. It's been unbelievably fun and it's nice to finally be able to relate to the crafters who create things for nothing but the simple joy of creating.

2. What do you specialize in?

Our primary focus is on crafting notebooks and journals from product packaging and other reusable materials. There are many reasons we enjoy creating notebooks out of these things, but the one that is really satisfying is that it makes us feel like we're making a difference in the problems facing the world today. It's a major part of our efforts to help reduce, reuse, and recycle.

I'm practically jumping up and down in anticipation of some of the secondary specializations we've been exploring. We have a growing horde of odds and ends from games and puzzles we've taken all the notebook friendly materials from. We've come up with some fun ways to repurpose those things, too! The idea of taking only the notebook materials out of games and discarding the rest seemed downright rotten, so we're relieved that we can use every resource down to the very last pink $5.00 bill and make some really neat things in the process.

3. What made you decide to open up a shop on Etsy?

We couldn't resist the idea from the very beginning! We were so excited about the notebooks we'd been making for our family members that it was impossible not to share them. Etsy was without a doubt the best forum for doing it. It was an honor to join the ranks of so many talented and clever artists.


4. What are your hopes for the future?

You might ask what the lyrics to our siren songs are! Neither of us can ignore the distant dream of self sufficiency through days filled with creating art and consciences buzzing with the thrill of making a difference in the problems that plague our environment. We try to remind ourselves daily that the dream truly is distant, and that there are risks and obstacles every step of the way. Say it with me: "Patience, Grasshopper!"

In the near term we hope to create few more hours a week to dedicate to our projects. After the day jobs it seems as if there isn't enough time for family time and obligations and even less for crafting. It's all such fun, though, and we have the will to make a way!

5. What are some of your favorite past times?

It's hard to choose just a few! We all love cooking. My daughter hopes to be a cook when she grows up, so cooking often becomes a family affair. We are currently head over heels for our new baby chicks. We enjoy taking care of our worm farm (nope - that's not a typo!) Gene and I love to go backpacking. We all like to read. And then there's the crafting! Notebook crafting, especially.

6. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

If you don't hear from us again in five days, send help! We've been buried alive!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes! Thanks so much for promoting other Etsy sellers.


How can people get in contact with you?

Etsy convos work well, and we check our email regularly. Write on.the.scenic.route@gmail.com

Also, check out our blog at http://onthescenicroute.blogspot.com/

How do you feel about custom orders?

We adore custom orders! See our Etsy history for some examples.

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Thank you so much for reading! it is very much appreciated.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.

It's time to think about Mother...

May 11th is the day to show mom how much you appreciate all of the things that she's done for you, and to let her be aware that you still love her even though she makes mistakes.

This lovely burgundy pearl choker is a beautiful way to let your mother know what she means to you.

Comes gift wrapped in your choice of a silver cotton-filled box or an organza bag.

The polygon-shaped pendant measures approximately 21mm. (~1 inch)

Approximate length: 15.5 inches

Fixed with a heart-shaped lobster clasp.

You can find this Divine Wine choker for sale at my Etsy Shop.

**MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL**

For the entire month of April all purchases over $15.00 will receive a free pair of Swarovski Bicone earrings. Please specify which color you prefer in the comments to seller when checking out! Come check out what I have to offer today! http://1337art.etsy.com

Thank you so much for reading!

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart.