Spreading Good Cheer Giveaway: 4th of July

Today, I would like to introduce one amazing lady and crafty fellow blogger friend. Meet Oksana, from Oksana Plus Hobbies.

Oksana wrote to me one day and we decided to do a craft exchange. She would make me a pretty turquoise necklace, in return for one of my little embroidered pouches. Well, the exchange was settled, but I decided to turn it into a giveaway + interview post because this little lady is just about amazing. When the blog title says Oksana PLUS HOBBIES, she absolutely is not kidding.

1. First of all, please tell us a little about yourself!

Hello my dear bloggers! I’d like to thank Chui for the opportunity to tell you
about myself. My name is Oksana. I’m a girl from Siberia. You would think that
I’m tough and used to cold and snowy weather, but I’m not. I hate cold, maybe
this is why I now live in California :).

2. Living in an exciting city like LA, can you introduce one of your favorite spots?

I’m also a city girl (yes, there are big cities in Siberia). Maybe this is why I
immediately fell in love with Los Angeles. The Old Town in Pasadena is my
favorite place to hang out. And of course, Santa Monica which is near perfect—
has a beautiful beach + the Promenade, the street with all my favorite stores and a
shopping mall.

3. Tell us more about your passion for creating jewelry. Why jewelry, how you got started, who/ what was your inspiration, how long you've been doing this.

After I graduated from a medical school “100 years ago”, I landed my first job as
a psychiatrist at a hospital for mentally ill. Wait, what psychiatry has to do with
jewelry? It’s funny, but one of my first recollections about that time is looking
at stunning jewelry pieces my colleague used to wear. Later, she told me that her
husband made them for her. I couldn’t imagine even in my wildest dreams that
one day I would be making my own cabochon earrings. But here I am, taking
jewelry classes at a community college.

4. Do you have any new exciting craft projects in the works?

I’m always working on something, a necklace, earrings, etc. I also like to cross-
stitch, sew, take pictures and blog in my spare time.

5. Do you have any words of advice/ encouragement for fellow crafters out there?

A word of advice/encouragement for fellow crafters: Be open to constantly
learning new things/skills. Get out of a rut/comfort zone, and take risks:
experiment with a new craft/technique/project. It will be exciting, maybe
frustrating at times, but you will advance at the end. And most of all: your
everyday life won’t be boring. I’m taking an applique class this month :).


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Check out Oksana's blog for crafty DIY tutorials, especially on jewelry making, as well as to read about her latest hobbies. She also has a gallery of photos of her past projects. You can email her with custom orders!

We're doing a giveaway on Oksana's turquoise necklace!

This giveaway is open to international readers, but you'll have to be either a follower of ElephantisLove or Oksana Plus Hobbies or BOTH!

Leave a comment below to enter, and don't forget to include your email address so I can contact the winner!

The giveaway is open till 11:59PM EST on July 13, Friday the 13th! *gasp* and the winner will be picked via Random.org. Have a great 4th of July and good luck!

Found: A Nautical Affair

Via

Now that it's summer, I'm longing to hit the lake!

And I actually sat down and created a mood board for it too! Phew! It was time consuming but super fun! Here are my picks from my favorite sites!



:: Swimsuit :: Bib necklace :: Heels :: Maxi Dress :: Tote Bag :: Ring:: 




I love stripes, the color palette red, white and blue. So one weekend I whipped these up!


Here and here




Have a wonderful week ahead! There's time yet, to plan for a nautical weekend!

Etsy Pick of the Week :: Lepidoptery by jewiseha

I first came across this Etsy store when I made my treasury list The Rainbow Connection. Janelle is her name, and Lepidoptery is where she sells her mixed media art in different forms. From cards to jewelry, her creations make great conversational pieces. The last I checked, Janelle has also found a way to make her jewelry pieces water resistant. To read more about it, go to her shop and read the shop announcement.

And without further ado, here is this week's special!

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1. Can you tell us more about yourself and how you got into photography, painting and drawing?

Most of my life has been spent in an artistic environment. My mother is an artist, so I grew up learning to approach everything with a creative mind. It wasn’t until undergrad at Valdosta State University that I really developed as an artist. Since that time, mixed media painting and drawing have become my passion.





2. And a little more about your Etsy shop, and the significance behind the name 'Lepidoptery'.

This fall I am planning on attending graduate school for my MFA in studio art. I opened my Etsy shop earlier this year in order to help me finance attending school. This was my first attempt at jewelry making. I believe I chose paper as a medium because of my interest in origami as a child.

The name “Lepidoptery” is defined as the study and/or collection of moths and butterflies. While creating my shop I was looking for a title that was unique, feminine, poetic and yet personal. The study of moths is one of my hobbies. One day I hope to breed local endangered moths, helping to increase their numbers in the wild.




3. You have translated your designs into edgy and fun jewelry pieces as well. Why have you chosen to do so?

My approach to jewelry making is similar to how I make art. I strive for the unique and almost unnatural. Strong lines and color are key elements. I derive inspiration from artists like Alexander Calder. His use of geometric shapes within a three-dimensional moving space is amazing.

4. What is the next step for your Etsy store? Any exciting news ahead?

The future of my shop is uncertain at the moment. When I opened in January, I did not plan to stay open past August. To my surprise, the shop is doing better than I thought it would. I would like to keep it open while I attend school at USF.

Greeting cards are a new item. This is a way for me to share my love of illustration with my customers. I am working on some other ideas for this as well, so check back soon.


Kiki Smith | Via

5. Do you have a personal favorite artist that inspires you, and would you like to share with us?

There are so many artists that inspire me. Kiki Smith will always be my main source of inspiration. I fell in love with drawing after viewing her prints. Thrush Holmes has been on my mind the past few months. He is an amazing painter from Canada, who really knows how to use color.

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Thank you, dear Janelle for taking the time to help out in the interview, and I wish you all the best with your studies and your shop!