Nowruz Greetings - NowRuzetan PiRuz va Khojasteh.

At 7:21 pm tonight Nowruz starts, time of nature's renewal, Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians, the same time is celebrated in parts of the South Asian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.

Nowruz is celebrated by over 300 million people of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kurdistan, Turkey, ... all around the world has arrived.


 

Brushed Copper Beads Design Challenge

Check out this spring's challenge sponsored by Rings and Things Blog .  I love to use copper in my designs.  I think the brilliant color of copper warms up any design.  Check out the Rings and Things Blog and take their design challenge.

I didn't know these facts about copper , did you?

• Copper is the most versatile and durable of all metals and has been called "man’s eternal metal". Copper is malleable, ductile and long lasting. Copper is a better conductor of heat and electricity than any other metal except silver. Without copper, there might never have been an electric light or space flight. This miraculous mineral and its alloys are at the heart of all technology, from telecommunications to transportation.
• One of copper’s major advantages is that it is recyclable. In North America alone, approximately one half of the copper consumed annually comes from recycled material. Copper’s recycle value is so great that premium-grade scrap has at least 95% of the value of primary copper from newly mined ore.
• The Statue of Liberty contains 179,000 pounds of copper.

Here is some great designs I found using brushed copper beads.

'Man's Eternal Metal' by Zeba

Brushed Copper Teardrop Ster... GlitzGlitter $24.00	Fire Torched Curved Copper W... allisonmooney $38.00
Ruffles earrings brushed cop... flauntdesignsj... $19.00	Copper Drops with Sterling S... piehat $20.00
Rustic Shimmering Genuine Co... BeadzNBling $22.00	Dusk Glow - Antiquated Brush... Beaditi $20.00
Dawn Glow - Pinkish Brushed ... Beaditi $20.00	Bright Copper Teardrop Neckl... piehat $20.00
Vintage Satin Finish Copper ... sobejeweled $12.00	Copper Trio Scarf Pin or Hat... DonnaJs $17.50
SAFFRON NECKLACE citrine, ru... carrieWdesigns $65.00	Handmade Rainbow Jasper and ... seasonsinstone $65.00
Copper Balls Earrings sleepingcatbea... $15.00	Thai Silver and Copper Brace... arielleandpame... $38.00
Brushed Copper TahoeTreasures $33.00	TIDEPOOL EARRINGS aqua quart... carrieWdesigns $22.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Source: Northwest Mining Association

"Butter And Jam" - OOM Yummy!

'Butter & Jam' by CuriousPreoccupation

Dreamline Gavotte- the OOAK ... LusterWear $400.00	SPRING LEAFS Women tie dye T... nikacollection $32.00
40 % Off Sale - Wire Crochet... Zeba $60.00	Spring tulips - 8X10 Photogr... BlueberryBayPh... $20.00
Yellow Cake Plate PotteryBarnes $25.00	original whimsical yellow da... SwallaStudio $45.95
Dark Beauty Necklace- Ametri... OddlyEnchantin... $165.00	Growing Hope (Dream) 3D Reli... euphorianchic $140.00
Bliss - 8 x 12 Fine Art Phot... RickStormPhoto... $39.00	Gingerbread Cupcake Dress in... Flutterbydaisy $145.00
Silver spoon MyLittleBlueDo... $80.00	Handmade Indonesian batik cl... LellaRae2 $40.00
Bronze Buttercup GailLannum $55.00	Handwoven Scarf Raspberry an... LoomOnTheLake $140.00
Little Buttercup - Art Vess... NansAlchemy $80.00	Golden Autumn - Moukaite, Sa... LiciaBeads $122.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

The Fine Art Photography, Jewelry, and Sketches Giveaway Results

First on behalf of Tangledwood and myself I would like to thank you everyone for participating.  The feedback we received was fabulous.   Colleen is very talented and her items are all great, I am sure you had a hard time just picking one item just as I did. 

The Fine Art Photography, Jewelry, and Sketches "Winner's Choice" giveaway I hosted for Colleen of TangledWood  on Etsy ended on Saturday, March 5, 2011 with one lucky winner.  I numbered all qualified entries in the order the comments were entered.  There were 52 qualified entries.  I used random.org to find the winner!   And ....

to

ArtsyChaos of Utah

who has a choice of any item or items up to $36.00 (USD) from Colleen's shop, TangledWood

Below is her selected prize in 11x14

Thank you everyone for particitpating.

A special thank you to Colleen for allowing me to host her giveaway.  Make sure to visit her shop, TangledWood on Etsy to see her wonderful work.

Qualified entries were:

Birgit (1); eclairre (2); Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys)( 3); MOMFOREVERANDEVER( 4); Lee( 5); johndale( 6); AmandaSue( 7); IvanH.( 8); Emily R.( 9); TopHat( 10); Wehaf( 11); Brooke( 12); Egare1( 13); paulthea( 14); Jacqueline( 15); sandyandcosmo( 16); Ang( 17); krystimarie( 18); Jessica( 19); Dovile( 20); Aik( 21); crystletellerday( 22); Karina( 23); Digital Misfit( 24); annemarie562000( 25); WhiteLilyCreations - pick( 26); WhiteLilyCreations - blog( 27); Kristen( 28); Yuliya( 29); Rebecca and Cody( 30); Anonymous( 31); Kashena( 32); nicole / Twitter: BTHM1( 33); calej( 34); Abby( 35); asuka - pick( 36); asuka - blog( 37); viorela( 38); sjt42075( 39); ArtsyChaos( 40); Jennifer R( 41); Kate( 42); Julie( 43); Julie – different email ( 44); pridelandmama( 45); kat( 46); Rachael( 47); Katherine( 48); Diane52( 49); Cerena( 50); ruslady( 51); Anonymous – different email( 52)

Note:  If I could not find an email for you, your entry did not make the list.

Raw Amethyst for My Birthday

Since my birthday is coming up and I do share the love of Amethyst with the creator of this lovely treasury,

vonderschonenrapunze

I decided to share this treasury with you.

'happy birthday to me and all naturally wild women out there!' by vonderschonenrapunze

yes, the end of february is my birthday. it is strange how my tastes have changed over the years. i still love my amethyst but it seems now that I prefer it chunky, raw and unfettered by the notion that society will only love you after you have been cut, polished and put in a particular setting. don't get me wrong, I like pretty polished things, but this year i want it like like my sashimi....raw!

Amethyst Geode Necklace 1 AMDsamplesale $46.00	Amethyst Slice on warm brass... laceydu $38.00
Alexandria, Stalactite Slice... eringotz $56.00	Raw Amethyst Crystal necklac... Gemoriah $80.00
Amethyst Stalactite Druzy Sl... zulasurfing $65.00	Amethyst Stalactite Flower w... bezaleljewels $195.00
ROXA. amethyst and agate Nec... BeijoFlor $79.00	Amethyst Crystal Cluster Nec... Zeba $180.00
OOAK Amethyst Geode Druzy w/... jessb01 $95.00	Amethyst Stalactite Necklace... SparrowCollect... $
One of a Kind Amethyst Druzy... RomancingTheBl... $245.00	Stunning Amethyst Drusy and ... LvoffStudio $375.00
Amethyst Crystal & Pearl Ste... simplyneen $123.00	amethyst and sterling silver... theforestprinc... $116.50
Ice Princess - Fine Silver- ... designsbysuzyn $450.00	Silver Mounted Amethyst Clus... TxEarthstoneJe... $36.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.