Finding Extra {in the} Ordinary :: my latest distraction

Guess what, people?  I finally stepped into the future and am now a new proud owner of a smart phone!  I know, I know.. I'm a little fashionably late to the party, but I'm here at last.  It is already proving to be quite a distraction for me because now, with all the cool photo enhancement apps out there, I can satiate my desire to be artsy fartsy amateur photographer whenever I want!  *happy happy dance* 

This photo was taken over the weekend while hanging out at the playground.  I just love how the late afternoon sunlight casts that gorgeous glow, and how miraculously, my daughter stood still for a millisecond at just the right angle, and I just happened to have the camera ready.  This was definitely a rare moment because I have such a hard time photographing her.  I just added a little bokeh effect and a cool border with the pixlromatic app, and voila!  I'm having so much fun with this thing.. so beware, there may be an influx of photos on this blog, and for no reason at all.  You'll tell me if I'm going overboard, right?  I trust that you will.  ;)

Be back soon.

Brilliance :: Pencil Tip Sculptures by Dalton Ghetti

The incredible work of Dalton Ghetti awes me every time I see it.  With only a razor blade, his naked eye, and pencils that he finds on the streets and sidewalk, Dalton Ghetti meticulously carves out tiny sculptures on the graphite tips of pencils.  His idea is to turn attention to the small things.  It can take months to years to complete a single sculpture.  His 9-11 Memorial dedicated to the victims took 10 years to complete.

His immense patience, dedication, and great attention to the tiniest detail is inspiring!  For him, his art is a hobby and a form of meditation, not something to be sold. 

Here are just a few examples of his amazing sculpture work.

 

 Even the smallest things in the world can have immense impact.

What's inspiring you today?

And the winner of the {Shabby Apple + eNVe} giveaway is.......

So rather than going the random.org route to select the winner, I decided to do the drawing the old fashioned way.. an actual random drawing!  So I printed all your entries and cut them into tickets, put them all into my daughter's little play soup pot.  We stirred and shook it up really well and I had her pick a winning ticket.  :)

And the winner is....

Ali Holt!

You selected Look #1 ~ Spanish Steps + Glass Droplet Necklace.

Congratulations, Ali!!!  Hope you enjoy your fresh spring outfit. :)

And thank you to everyone else for all your entries!  I wish I could make all of you a winner, but because I can't, here's a special offer to make up for it:

Use code "SHABBY" for 20% OFF in my etsy shop!

Valid now through the end of the week (sale ends Sunday March 4th). 

Use code "OURGIFT" at Shabby Apple

for free shipping and a free necklace on your order over $50!

So you can still get a fresh new look in time for Spring!  What are you waiting for?  ;)

Giveaway Time! {Shabby Apple + eNVe Designs}

Who's ready for spring?  Ok, so it's not exactly right around the corner, but why not kick it off a little early with a fabulous giveaway?  Up for grabs is one of two looks perfect for spring.  Each look pairs a dress from Shabby Apple {an boutique featuring women's dresses} and a necklace by eNVe Designs {my line of handmade gemstone jewelry}.  Decide on your favorite look and be sure to enter so you're ready to frolic when springtime arrives!

THE PRIZES

LOOK 1: the Spanish Steps Dress ($86 value) + Glass Droplet Necklace ($49 value)

~~~ OR ~~~

LOOK 2: The Da Vinci Dress ($56 value) + Gold Mine Necklace ($52 value)

HOW TO ENTER:

{required for valid entry}  

1)  Leave a comment on this post indicating your look of choice if you win the giveaway:  

Look 1~ Spanish Steps or Look 2~ Da Vinci   

2)  Visit Shabby Apple then comment here on your favorite dress or collection.

3)  "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook and leave a comment on their FB wall about this giveaway with a link back to the blog.  

 Feel free to use this:  

"I just entered the Shabby Apple giveaway on the eNVe Designs blog! http://envedesigns.blogspot.com"

4) "Like" eNVe Designs on Facebook and feel free to say hello while you're there. :)

BONUS ENTRIES

{totally optional}

5) follow my blog

6) sign up for my newsletter

7) follow me on twitter: @eNVeDesigns and tweet about the giveaway

8) share the giveaway on your FB page

9) pin your favorite item from my etsy shop on Pinterest (one entry per pin, so you can pin as many items as you'd like)

** Please leave a SEPARATE comment on this post for EACH entry completed. **

Deadline for entries is Feb 29, 2012 (one week from today).  

One winner will be selected at random and announced March 1st!

Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck, everyone! :)

Sneak Peek :: I love it raw... and of course versatile ;)

It seems like there's very little time these days to create new one of a kind pieces, but I managed to hammer out this one recently.  It's a rough chunk of prasiolite (also known as green amethyst) suspended from sterling silver wire that I wrapped and hammered, to go with the raw look of the stone.

It slides freely along a delicate satellite chain that I oxidized and then polished.  Little rough pyrite nuggets accent the chain as well.  It's finished with a sturdy sterling bar that I also hammered and wire wrapped to the necklace. 

This piece can be worn short by doubling the chain, pulling the bar toward the front, and toggling through the focal.  It can also be worn long simply by opening the necklace to a single strand and pulling it over your head.  Either way you wear it, it's great as a simple stand alone piece or layered with other chain necklaces. 

Available in the shop soon, along with a couple of other new pieces in the same style!  I'm so in love with gemstones (no big surprise), but there's something about stones in their rough, natural state that makes them truly intriguing to me...uncut, unpolished, yet still gorgeous.  They're also extra special because no two raw stones are ever alike.  More will make their appearance in the shop, so be on the look out!

Have a safe and happy weekend!