Voleur De Bijoux

How time flies...

2012-02-08T20:45:00.000-08:00

TORUN

oooh...my...it has been a very long time since my last blog post.

I'm still alive!

Just wrapped up in work aka daily grind....blahblahblah...

I'm sure you don't want to hear me talk about work.

It's called work not vacation for a reason.

I'm out in the sun digging that ditch like everyone else.

Here are some new lovely designs that I've been working on

in between what little free time after work, late late late nights,

or if I'm lucky during the weekends.

Hope your days are filled with special moments that will

bring a big smile to your face.

Remember to breathe and look up into the sky for a little

moment to relax and watch the fluffy clouds float by.

ELODIE

CILO

MIREIO Spa Candle - WINNER!!

2011-09-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCING the WINNER to

MIREIO

SPA CANDLE!!

CONGRATULATIONS

to lucky Winner #8 "Lynda"!!

❤ ❤ ❤

Thank you so much for your entries, follows, tweets,

links, blog features and wonderful words of support for

my friend Wende of MIREIO!

We truly appreciate your love and support.

p.s. I will doing another fabulous giveaway very

soon...so stay tuned. Have a beautiful day. XO

❤ ❤ ❤

Blog GIVEAWAY: MIREIO - Spa Candle

2011-09-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

MIREIO

SPA CANDLE GIVEAWAY

***

It's time for a new BLOG GIVEAWAY!!

I am thrilled and honored to host this fabulous

event for my friend Wende who is the owner
and handmade maiden of MIREIO on Etsy.

Wende is giving away one of her beautiful

Spa Candles in a Frosted Glass Tumbler!

MIREIO is also having a special

15% OFF SALE

to celebrate this special event!

Use Coupon Code at Checkout: MIREIO 15

***

Shop: MIREIO

Find gifts for your bffs, coworkers, teachers,

neighbors, friends and families. The holidays are

just around the corner...so stock up and save!

These candles would also make the perfect

gifts for birthdays, weddings and bridal showers.

Wende's shop is overflowing with beautiful

handmade creations that are incredibly luxurious

and eco-friendly. It's like walking into a boutique

filled with your favorite scented candles and
colorful accessories for your home or office.

Everything created by Wende is gorgeous...from
her little Acorn Sachets to her handmade Pillows
to her Soy Candles and her images are like candy
for the eyes.

I've asked Wende to share her story and the special

reasons why she decided to open her shop on Etsy.

It's a peak into the spark that started Wende on this

journey to develop her own handmade line of spa

candles, luxurious pillows and collectibles for the home.

We could all use some les choses de luxe because

life should be filled with beauty that inspires us.
Our home is a special place where we gather
our thoughts and the place where our dreams

come to life.

What inspired you to create this new line of candles? 

Mireio has always made amazing soy candles--- usually

in upcycled or recycled glass. But for the longest time,

I’ve been craving something more evocative of spa like

the fragrances Mireio is best known for creating.

Something that is long lasting and soothing—something

that lets you take the spa with you. And I don’t think

any glass says “Spa” like the frosted tumbler.

What are the ingredients in your handmade candles? 

I always start with eco-friendly soy wax. Did you know

that soy burns cleaner than paraffin wax? And it also

burns differently. In fact, I have a great tutorial on how

to best burn your soy candle ---and how to salvage it

if your candle accidentally goes awry.

(Link: www.mireiodesigns.com/2009/mireio-designs/burning-soy-candles/)

As well, I only use a cotton wick to keep the sooting

at a minimum. It’s easier on the environment and it’s

easier on your lungs. As always, Mireio candles feature

only the best of fragrances---and this line is poured into

the loveliest of frosted glass. When you’re done, a quick

clean-up and you can reuse the glass in a number of ways.

I think they make lovely little vases for a handful of flowers.

Just the right size for my desk in my studio!

What is the handmade story behind your desire  to create

these lovely products and to share them with others?

I’ll confess, I’m a candle addict! And there is nothing more

disappointing than to get a candle home from the store and

not have it “perform” properly. Whether it doesn’t smell as

good burning or it doesn’t burn correctly---it’s maddening!

So, three years ago, I decided I would create my own line

of candles that would both smell amazing AND have a long

life. I spend a lot of time sourcing just the right ingredients to

create a long lasting and still eco-friendly candle. My customers

rave about Mireio’s Spa Fragrances. I’ve chosen to focus on

just a few really amazing fragrances, and I only add new scents

that live up to my standards. We do a lot of fragrance blending

and testing at my house!

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Giveaway:

WIN a MIREIO Spa Candle
in a Frosted Glass Tumbler
***

Choice of Mireio's 10 Fragrances:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mireio?section_id=5565753

That's a $21 value plus shipping/handling!!

(which Wende is also including)
Each candle comes gift boxed with a hand-crafted gift tag.

Giveaway Starts: Sept. 12th - Sept. 26th

A Winner will be announced on: Sept. 27, 2011

How To Enter Blog Giveaway

#1 Please enter each entry in a separate comment
#2 Please include your contact info...i.e. Etsy, Twitter, Facebook

#3 Complete each line & receive 1 entry per step
*Contest is open to US Residents only
***

1. Go to MIREIO...come back here and post your favorite item(s)

2. Follow MIREIO's BLOG: http://www.mireiodesigns.com/

3. Fan MIREIO on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MireioDesigns

4. Follow MIREIO on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/wende
5. Tweet about this Blog Giveaway on Twitter
6. Post this Blog Giveaway on Facebook
7. Blog about this Blog Giveaway

8. Follow Voleur de Bijoux: http://voleurdebijoux.blogspot.com/

9. Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/voleurdebijoux
10. Fan me on Facebook: Voleur De Bijoux

❤Merci for all your entries...Good Luck! XO

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Words of Wisdom: Guidance of Virtue

2011-08-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth,
so virtue appears from good deeds,
and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.
To walk safely through the maze of human life,
one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.
~ Buddha

HEARTSY DEAL Extended: 5/22/11

2011-05-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

HEARTSY DEAL - VOLEUR DE BIJOUX

Hurry! My Fabulous HEARTSY DEAL

*$20 for $50 Store Credit*

has been extended to 5/22/11!

VOLEUR DE BIJOUX

http://heartsy.me/deals/995

❤Thank you to all the lovely Heartsy Friends!

You have been amazing!

I truly appreciate your love and support. XO

HEARTSY DEAL $20 for $50

2011-05-21T17:36:00.000-07:00

HEARTSY DEAL

VOLEUR DE BIJOUX

$20 for $50 Online Store Credit
at

VOLEUR DE BIJOUX

Hurry! One Day Only...Ends May 21st, 2011.

I will donate $2 from every order to

The RED CROSS. The lovely people at

HEARTSY will also be making a matching

donation to help the natural disaster victims

in the United States and Japan.

❤Thank you so much for your support!

Etsy Feature: Hermann Lunn Glass

2011-02-15T03:23:00.000-08:00

HERMANN LUNN GLASS

The beauty of Art Glass is mesmerizing! The shapes, colors

and designs can be boundless in the hands of a fine artist.

I am truly honored to feature a special friend Gina Lunn

who is an amazing glass artist. Her work is incredible!

Each piece has the spellbinding feel of movement, color,

passion, fire and light.

Gina started creating Art Glass in 1999 after seeing the

glassblowing process at the Laguna Beach Art Festivals.

She goes to museums to look at the traditional work

of the Italian Maestros from Murano, Italy.

(Murano Glass Art has been produced in Venice

since the year 1291.)

Gina works with cane glass to create colorful designs

and patterns. Caneworking is a glassblowing technique

that is used to add intricate patterns and stripes to vessels

or other blown glass objects.

With her creative talent and eye for design, Gina transforms

the glass rods into beautiful pieces of sculptures. Each one is

filled with depth, color and light that is magically encased in time.

Imagine swimming in the ocean and looking up through the

deep blue to see rays of light flowing through the water...that

is the feeling that one feels when viewing a beautiful piece of

Art Glass by Gina Lunn.

Etsy Shop: ZionKitty Art Glass

http://www.etsy.com/shop/zionkittyartglass

Gina and her partner Michael Hermann have been working

together since 2005 to create incredible pieces of artwork at:

Hermann Lunn Glass

http://www.hermannlunnglass.com/

Michael Hermann

Michael learned his craft from Gianni Toso, an Italian Maestro

whose family has been blowing glass for over 700 years.

You can see their amazing work and process at:

http://www.hermannlunnglass.com/HLz_Video.html

Gina Lunn

Micheal Hermann

Gina Lunn

Hermann Lunn Glass

http://www.hermannlunnglass.com/

Etsy Feature: Fifty50Studio

2011-02-15T00:27:00.000-08:00

Fifty50Studio

I'm so excited to show off one of my dear friend's

fabulous work this week in my special ETSY Blog

Feature! Shiho is an amazing jewelry designer who

has just opened up a new shop on ETSY called

Fifty50Studio.

Shiho's work is sleek, modern and beautiful! She loves

working with simple designs to create unique pieces

of jewelry that is "elegant yet funky". Her inspirations

come from things that catches her eye and holds a

bold balance between the material and its contrast

with other elements. She works in special materials

such wood, precious metals, pearls and stone.

Shiho's background in Graphic Design and Illustration

also has a deep influence in her design concepts as you

will see in her work. Each design is lovingly handmade

with attention to detail, clean lines and craftsmanship.

Each piece of jewelry has a distinct look with a little

twist to evoke your interest. Check out more of Shiho's

wonderfully original work on ETSY at Fifty50Studio:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Fifty50Studio

ETSY Shop: Fifty50Studio
Twitter: @Fifty50Studio
Facebook: Fifty50Studio/174639005913104

Jewelry Workshop: Jennifer Blackwell

2011-01-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Jewelry Workshop

Jennifer Blackwell

Jennifer Blackwell is having a wonderful workshop

this SAT. Jan 15th, 2011 at UCSD Crafts Center.

Her workshop will inspire you to create beautiful

wire-wrapped jewelry with gorgeous gemstones.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Jewelry Work Information:

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Artist: Jennifer Blackwell

Workshop: Under Wraps Micro-Wire Wrapping

Where: UCSD Crafts Center

When: SAT. Jan 15th, 2011

Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Link: http://crafts.ucsd.edu/?go=classes&s=17&c=113

Jennifer Blackwell's ETSY Shop

You can see more of her beautiful work on Etsy.

Each piece is created with colorful gemstones

and amazing wire-wrapping technique.

Happy New Year 2011!!

2011-01-07T00:27:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Wishing all a splendid NEW YEAR filled with amazing

moments, new discoveries, inspirations, laughter, bliss,

love and true happiness.

It's the year to do more, be your own inspiration, live

better, discover your dreams, go on an adventure, find

your passion, check off your goals, try something new,

listen to your heart and do what makes you happy.

We only live once...make it happen!

XOXO

WINNER for LEAVES Wreath by SADIIE

2010-12-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone for their wonderful comments and

entries to SADIIE's fabulous LEAVES Wreath Giveaway!!

I would also to like to thank SADIIE for her generous and
beautiful LEAVES Wreath that was given for this Handmade
Giveaway. I hope everyone will visit her wonderful Etsy shop for
their holiday gifts and support this amazing handmade artist!

I've used RANDOM.ORG to generate a WINNER

and the lucky WINNER is: 22

...................................................................

Congratulations to MAMIPDX!
..................................................................

...............................................................................

Thanks again for all of your incredible show of love and support!

I will be posting a new Giveaway soon......stay tuned. xo

Giveaway: Leaves Wreath by Sadiie

2010-11-11T03:24:00.000-08:00

Leaves Paper Wreath by Sadiie

................................................................................

FABULOUS GIVEAWAY

by SADIIE

................................................................................

I am so excited to host this fabulous GIVEAWAY by

SADIIE! This Etsy shop is located in the beautiful city

of Prague. It is filled with wonderful vintage items and

handmade paper wreath creations by Sadiie.

SADIIE aka...The antik * et cetera, is a shop with hand-picked

vintage finds, modernist design, antique and retro ware with a

special Bohemian twist!

I had a delightful time interviewing Sadiie and learning

about her passions and inspirations. I hope you will enjoy

getting to know her and discovering a new place for unique

collectibles.

Please visit her fabulous shop for some amazing
vintage finds and beautiful handmade wreaths.

................................................................................

INTERVIEW

................................................................................

1. Please tell us a little about yourself and your Etsy shop.

Hello, it's nice to meet you! I'm Sadiie Addams a little loud devil

who lives with her boyfriend, grandma, her two canaries, dog and

two cats in a big house outside Prague, Czech Republic. I lived and

studied in Prague until 5 years ago when I moved back to my old

family house. I work my gears as a full-time designer at a web

developer agency. When I have some free time, I love to do crafting,

garden work, cooking or any manual work that can clean up my

thoughts and refresh my thinking.

Besides other hobbies I have always been interested in flea markets

finds, collecting old stuff, antiquities, design, old books and such.

I love to share my finds and treasuries and my Etsy shop is a

showcase of my finds, especially mod Czech design pieces,

which I would like to share with others. Czech design suffers

under Cinderella syndrome and my goal is to present its unknown

beauty. Apart from that I though that accompanying vintage finds

with some paper work and wreaths would be great idea.

So, voila there it is, antik*et cetera.

2. What is your inspiration or passion for collecting your fabulous finds?

I was always surrounded by old treasuries, my parents are also avid

collectors, even my sister studies fine arts so I"d say it's carved deep

into my bones. I love vintage items and photographs, and enjoy all the

fun in a hunt on a misty, rainy muddy early morning in the local flea market.

3. How does your Graphic Design background assist in

photographing your Etsy items?

(Any good tips for visual communication and presentation.)

I do a lot of commercial photography at work, so I would say
my approach is to be a bit different from that. I like to crash the

composition, use less light than needed, keep the colors in darker

tones. I still seek the perfect style for me so I guess my advice

would be: be original, don't be afraid of using something else than

white background, give it a unexpected twist. And use stones!

I love stones and I try to hack them into almost every picture.

Their texture is always a good companion to the cold white porcelain.

4. Do you have any good tips for running an On-line/Etsy business?

Be polite and nice, spread karma and appreciate others work.

I might sound silly to you, but I don't care about the sales in the

1st place, I take my shop as a way how to make friends and get

to know a lot of talented people from all around the globe.

5. What are your future goals for your Etsy shop?

My nearest goal for my shop would be better description texts.

They are not the mirror image of perfection :]. And a long term

one is more great finds and wreaths.

SADIIE http://www.etsy.com/shop/sadiie

................................................................................

WIN this Beautiful Handmade

LEAVES WREATH

by SADIIE

..................................................................................

Giveaway Starts on: Nov. 11, 2010

A WINNER will be announced on Nov. 30, 2010

...................................................................................

...............................................................................................

How to ENTER for a chance to WIN!

*NOTE: Please post each entry separately.

*This contest is open worldwide.

*Thank you so much for your love and support!

❤ Good Luck! xo

..............................................................................................

*1 Entry = Please go to SADIIE's shop, come back here, post your fav item & contact info.

*1 Entry = Please ❤Heart Sadiie's shop & add her items to your fav.
*1 Entry = Blog about this Giveaway on your blog and post your link.
*1 Entry = Post Giveaway on TWITTER & make sure you mention "@Voleurdebijoux".
*1 Entry = Post Giveaway on FACEBOOK & make sure you tag "Voleurdebijoux".
*1 Entry = Please follow me on Twitter: Voleurdebijoux
*1 Entry = Please fan me on Facebook: Voleurdebijoux
*1 Entry = Please follow my blog: Voleurdebijoux

SADIIE: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sadiie

October Treasuries...Thank You!

2010-10-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Treasury by Sadiie

Sadiie's Etsy Shop

Treasury by LadyFranCreations

LadyFranCreations' Etsy Shop

Treasury by EspritMystique

EspritMystique's Etsy Shop

Treasury by Bayahta

Bayahta's Etsy Shop

Treasury by LizardsPlay

LizardsPlay's Etsy Shop

Treasury by VampiresKisses

VampiresKisses' Etsy Shop

Treasury by FuchsiaBloomStudio

FuchsiaBloomStudio's Etsy Shop

Treasury by Chloe333

Chloe333 is Etsy's biggest fan! She creates Treasuries filled with her favorite shops.

Treasury by DreamBelleDesign

DreamBelleDesign's Etsy Shop

Treasury by FaeryMoonGoddess

FaeryMoonGoddess' Etsy Shop

...................................................................................

❤Thank you to my fabulous Etsy friends!❤

I really appreciate your love, friendship and support.

It means a great deal to me and makes me smile. :)

Thank YOU! XO

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WINNER of DIAMOND DOLLS COUTURE'S Giveaway

2010-09-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Announcement

WINNER of DIAMOND DOLLS COUTURE'S

GIVEAWAY

We would like to THANK everyone for all of their

comments and entries! It was an amazing show of

love and support for the beautiful handmade work

by Maggie a.k.a Diamond Dolls Couture.

We used Random.org to generate a winner for this

Giveaway. And....the lucky winner of this fabulous

Giveaway is Number 7!

Congrats to CARA SCARLETT!

..................................................................................

Thank you so much for your support and love!

Stay tuned...I will be announcing another

new Giveaway soon. XO

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Imagine

2010-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Remembering 911

Cherish each moment and love one another.

Imagine...John Lennon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw

GIVEAWAY: Diamond Dolls Couture

2010-08-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

Diamond Dolls Couture

I am so excited and honored to host this fabulous

GIVEAWAY for my dearest friend Maggie

aka DiamondDollsCouture on Etsy!

Maggie has a gift for dazzling designs with a touch

of romance and nostalgia. Her artisan skills are

incredible!

Maggie's beautiful jewelry have some of the

most intricate designs. They display her love and

passion for original and exotic handmade creations.

...................................................................

FREE SHIPPING

...................................................................

To celebrate Maggie's first blog Giveaway,

she is offering FREE SHIPPING

in her Etsy Shop:

DiamondDollsCouture

*Just mention "Voleurdebijoux Blog Giveaway"

in your message to Maggie and she will refund

your shipping charges.

...................................................................

INTERVIEW

...................................................................

1. When did you start creating or felt inspired to do so?

As a child I used to play with paper dolls a lot!

I design the paper dresses and paper jewelries

and styling the dolls as I like. It was so much fun!

I guess that was the beginning.

2. How do you start your designs or

what sparks your artistic ideas?

Ideas come spontaneously. And when they do, I sketch

whatever that crosses my mind onto my sketchbook.

3. What do you love about creating things with your own hands?

I love creating jewelry with my own hands because it

allows me to experiment with colors, textures, materials and

most importantly, my heart’s content. It is the experience

of creating these jewelry that I find so exciting.

4. People love seeing other artist's studio space...Do you

have a picture or description of your "creative space"?

My kitchen table is my workspace…lol

5. What learning lessons do you have to share with other artists?

Always believe in yourself, work hard with perseverance

& determination.

...................................................................

Now for the Fabulous

GIVEAWAY!

(Starts: 8/28/2010 - 9/12/2010)

...................................................................

WIN these GORGEOUS EARRINGS!
They are made with antique brass, Swarovski crystals,
seed beads and rhinestones.
(These beautiful earrings are valued at over $30)
Giveaway is open worldwide.

Diamond Dolls Couture

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First Entry

(mandatory)

....................................................................................

1. Please go to Maggie's Etsy Shop "DIAMOND DOLLS COUTURE",
come back here, post your favorite item from her shop and
leave your contact info (i.e. name, e-mail, Twitter, Facebook).

....................................................................................

Extra Bonus Entries

(more chances to win)

*Please post each Extra Bonus Entry, separately.

....................................................................................

2. Heart Maggie's Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/DiamondDollsCouture
3. Follow Maggie's Blog: http://diamonddollscouture.blogspot.com/
4. Follow Maggie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/diamonddcoutur3
5. Follow Diamond Dolls Couture on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diamond-Dolls-Couture/200742598265?ref=ts
6. Heart my Etsy Shop Voleurdebijoux: http://www.etsy.com/shop/voleurdebijoux
7. Follow my blog: http://voleurdebijoux.blogspot.com/
8. Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/voleurdebijoux
9. Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/voleurdebijoux#%21/pages/Voleur-De-Bijoux/195804989442?ref=ts
10. Post this fabulous Giveaway on your Blog.
11. Post this fabulous Giveaway on your Twitter.
12. Post this fabulous Giveaway on your Facebook.
13. Post this fabulous Giveaway on your Flickr.
14. Post this fabulous Giveaway on your Tumblr.
15. Post this fabulous Giveaway on your Stumbleupon.

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❤ Thank you so much for your entries and lovely

comments! Good luck to everyone! XO

Diamond Dolls Couture

Etsy Front Page!

2010-08-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

Grow Where You Are Planted by

LadyFranCreations

Special Thank You to LadyFranCreations for including

my Rochelle necklace in her beautiful Treasury!

Just found out it also made it to ETSY's Front Page! :)

Rochelle by Voleur De Bijoux

❤

End of Summer BOGO Sale

2010-08-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

Voleur de Bijoux

To celebrate the end of Summer...I am having a fabulous

BOGO SALE

Buy One, Get One 1/2 OFF

❤SALE: August 20 - August 31, 2010
❤BOGO: Buy one item and get the 2nd one half off,

of equal or lesser value.
❤Refund: Please send me a message on Etsy

and I will revise your invoice prior to check out.

Thank You so much for your love and support! xo

Etsy Treasury: Thank You!

2010-08-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Treasury by JudysDesigns

Treasury by Imali

Treasury by Gypsyeye

Treasury by LaurenBlytheDesigns

Treasury by Imali

.............................................................

❤I would like to thank all of my lovely

Etsy friends for including me in their

beautiful Treasuries!

I truly appreciate it. XO

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New Movement: Do Good

2010-08-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

In this day and age, it's an amazing and beautiful thing

to me when people "do good".

There's so much bad news out there that it's easy to be
negative about the world and the human race in general.
It seems normal to be jaded since our society reflects more
bad news than good news. I guess bad news sells better

in our social environment and brings in bigger ratings which in

turn means more money for that media outlet. I think much

of what we do and see is amplified via social media outlets,

celebrity based voyeurism, political bias, corporate greed,

religious views and way too many reality TV shows.

We're also huge consumer addicts as credit cards became

our new bffs and brought our economy to what it is, today.

What values and truths are we really teaching our children?

Our world is filled with so much misinformation, special
interests, corporate greed, political machines, marketing
madness, fear mongering, dysfunctional families, debt
consumption, self medicating, youth obsessed, instant

gratification, hateful oppression, class division, economic
anxieties, social bigotry and we could go and on about all
the things that are wrong with the social fabric of our
society today.

But I see a glimmer of hope in the horizon...I see a new

movement towards something beautiful and bright. I see

people making a conscious change to be less selfish,

more giving, kind and willing to help others in need.

The most amazing news story this week barely made it into

the main stream medias' consciousness. Which really makes
me wonder why it was left out? This story should be the
leading news story of the day instead of what the media
keeps reporting as news. Stories like these are so profound
and will help teach our children good values that can inspire
them in the future. So I had to blog about it and bring some
good news to give us something to smile about.

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The $600 Billion Challenge

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40 Billionaires Pledge to Give Half

Their Wealth to Charitable Causes

On Tuesday, May 5th, 2009 -- Warren Buffet and Bill Gates

invited a group of billionaires to pledge half their wealth to

charitable causes. Warren Buffett started by talking about

philanthropy, describing their first meeting as "exploratory".

He asked each person, going around the table, to describe

his or her philosophy of giving and how it had evolved.

"The charitable causes discussed in those stories covered the

spectrum: education, again and again; culture; hospitals and

health; the environment; public policy; the poor generally.

Bill Gates, who found the whole event "amazing," regarded

the range of causes as admirable:"

"The diversity of American giving," he says,

"is part of its beauty."

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mayor Bloomberg

among billionaires signing up for

'The Giving Pledge'

http://givingpledge.org/#enter

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Forty wealthy families and individuals have joined Microsoft

co-founder Bill Gates and billionaire investor Warren Buffett

in a pledge to give at least half their wealth to charity.

http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/06/16/gates-buffett-600-billion-dollar-philanthropy-challenge/

.............................................................................

With this inspiring story, I hope it will lift your hearts and give

you a new and hopeful outlook. We can all do something to

make a difference in our world. It could be donating food to

your local homeless shelter, volunteering at your local schools to

help kids with their homework, reading to seniors, building

homes for the homeless, donating clothes, donating books

to your local libraries, doing an act of kindness for a stranger,

saying hello to your neighbors and so much more. It will make

a big difference in our world and bring a smile to your heart. ❤

..........................................................................

Here are some links to charities and volunteer

centers in your local areas and around the world:

http://www.lic.org/

http://www.serve.gov/

http://www.habitat.org/

http://feedingamerica.org/

http://www.volunteermatch.org/

http://www.charity-charities.org/

http://www.redcross.org/en/volunteer

http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/

http://www.projecthope.org/site/PageServer

http://www.thegenerationproject.org/default.aspx

ART Feature: Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic

2010-07-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic
Art is an amazing and powerful process of deliberately
arranging elements in a way to affect the senses and
emotions to the viewer and artist.

Compliments (Wood and Alabaster Sculpture)
It transforms the ordinary experiences into
something deeper than the everyday life.

Jazz Always (Linocut Print)

We live in a world filled with beautiful and ever
changing moments that are lost in the space of time.

Ella (Travertine Stone Sculpture)
Through art, we are able to hold on to these moments
and look at it in a closer capacity of truth and meaning.

African (Watercolor)
Art evokes our memories and senses to
bring these lost experiences back to life.

Gracious (Bronze Sculpture)
It has the amazing power to capture our imagination
and inspire us to see beauty in all elements and
expressions of humanity.

Fall On The Lake (Acrylic Painting)
We can look at art and feel the passion and pulse
that it represents...from many facets of this journey
called life. It takes us to places and people we may
never meet and connects us in ways that are so profound.

Alongside The Taj Mahal (Etching Print)
The true beauty of art is that it reflects our inner-self
and bridges our view of the world as it relates to
each and everyone of us.

Conversation By 4 (Bronze Sculpture)
........................................................................................
Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic

I am so pleased and honored to feature one of
my dearest and truly talented artist friends,
Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic.

Marie was born in France and has traveled the world
to experience all of its richness, landscapes, peoples
and diversity. Her passion has always been art.
She is creatively inspired by the modern masters
like Cezanne, Rodin, Archipenko and Picasso.

Toro (Bronze Sculpture)
Marie is attracted to cubism and abstraction which
are a huge influence in her beautiful artwork.

Self-Portrait (Oil Painting)
I have seen her creative process at work and it is
spellbinding. She has the ability to work in so many
different types of mediums such as bronze, stone,
wood, oils, acrylics, watercolors, printmaking, mixed
medias, ceramics and jewelry design.

Canyonland (Mixed Media)
Marie is one of those prolific artists who can create
works of art in a matter of days. She can transfer her
creative energy from one medium to another without
hesitation. Her gift to bring forth emotions to convey a
deeper sense of feeling into each piece is something
that all artists aspire to capture. As her work continues
to evolve into something that can only be described as
transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary,
it is a privilege for me to showcase her many talents
and share her beautiful artwork with the world.

(This bronze sculpture is featured by the front

entrance of the Festival of Arts 2010)

Marie's bronze artworks are currently featured at the

prestigious Laguna Beach Festival of Arts. This

festival showcases 140 Award-Winning Artists
in Southern California, and is one of the premier
places to see fabulous works of art.

Reversible (Bronze Sculpture)

One of Marie's bronze sculptures was selected to

be displayed near the front entrance of this art
festival that started back in 1932 by the
Art Association. This gorgeous bronze sculpture
is over 6 ft tall and strikes a powerful display of
femininity and strength.

You can view Marie's fabulous bronze sculptures in

person at the Laguna Beach Festival Of Arts.

This summer long festival starts on

July 5, 2010 and ends on August 31, 2010.

For more information on the Laguna Beach

Festival Of Arts: http://foapom.com/

For more information on Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic:
http://www.mppl-art.com

Etsy Sellers Unite to Help The Gulf Coast

2010-06-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

Help The Gulf Coast

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelpTheGulfCoast

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened on

April 20th, 2010 and created an environmental disaster,

with extensive impact already on marine and wildlife

habitats in the Gulf Coast.

This massive oil spill changed the lives of so many

people and the many different types of wildlife in the

Gulf Coast region.

We may never know the true effects of this incredible

disaster and the long term environmental devastation

for many years to come.

I believe that we can help to solve this problem and

bring the Gulf back from this massive disaster.

We all have to unite and help in whatever capacity

that we can to clean up the Gulf.

We only have one Earth, we are all responsible

for this beautiful world that we share

together.

....................................................................................................

HelpTheGolfCoast is a collective Etsy shop to help

the Gulf Coast recover from the massive BP oil spill.

Etsy sellers have donated their items so that

100% of the proceeds can be given to charity.

Happy As A Clam by erban

They have set up a separate Paypal account for this shop

and many Etsy sellers have donated their items to help

raise money for the Gulf.

Sutured Heart Necklace by idlehandsdesigns

100% of proceeds (after Etsy & Paypal fees) will be donated

to OxFam America and the National Wildlife Federation.

Large Plush Trout by arttales

Both organizations have given HelpTheGulfCoast

permission to raise funds on their behalf.

Friendly Turtle by zahnerphoto

So far, they have donated over $5000 to Oxfam America
and to the National Wildlife Federation!!

Bleu Clair Glass Necklace by voleurdebijoux

You can help support in this wonderful effort by spreading

the word about this amazing Etsy shop or purchasing an

item from HelpTheGulfCoast to help raise funds for

the Gulf.

Etsy Shop: HelpTheGulfCoast

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HelpTheGulfCoast

❤Thank you so much for your love and support! xo

Winner of Distressing Delilah

2010-06-18T00:28:00.000-07:00

WINNER of DistressingDelilah's GIVEAWAY

I would like to thank Jenn...aka DistressingDelilah

for letting me host this fabulous Giveaway and to

everyone who have posted their lovely comments for

a chance to win Jenn's Shabby Chic Earrings!

...and the lucky WINNER is #23!

(number generated by www.Random.org)

Congratulations to ERIN H!

Thank you to everyone for your comments and entries!

I had a wonderful time promoting my friend Jenn's

lovely Etsy shop DistressingDelilah. I hope you have

enjoyed seeing her beautiful jewelry and amazing

photography work.

ps
I will be hosting another fabulous Giveaway from one

of my talented Etsy friend very soon. So please come

back for another fun and exciting Giveaway. :)

Have a wonderful day! xo

Etsy Treasury Features

2010-06-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

LITTLE LIGHT ROMANCE

Little Light Romance by JewelryByNaLa

Thank you for including me in your lovely Treasury,

Jewelrybynala! I really appreciate it. You are such

a sweet and supportive friend.

Heart Necklace by JewelryByNaLa

SUNSHINE ON MY TWITTER

Sunshine on my Twitter by MABjewelry

Thank you so much for including my earrings in your

wonderful Treasury, MABjewelry! I love the bright

colors and great company of all my Twitter friends.

El Conquistador Necklace by MABjewelry

URBAN GLAM

Urban Glam by Jasmina100

Thank you so much for including in your beautiful

Treasury, Jasmina100! I am honored to be among

some of my wonderful WWES friends. Merci!

Turquoise Necklace by Jasmina100

LAVENDER AND SAGE

Lavender and Sage by Memoriffic/Daniellegraphics

Thank you so much for including me in your gorgeous

Treasury, Daniellegraphics! I adore all of your fabulous

selections...thank you!

Sun Bather by Daniellegraphics

~*~

❤ Thank you for all of your love and support!

It means a great deal to me. I enjoy seeing all

of your beautiful creations and I am inspired

by your generous hearts. I hope you will have

a fabulous and inspiring day! xo

Featured in Etsy Finds: The World's Your Oyster

2010-06-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Etsy Finds: The World's Your Oyster

It was such a fabulous surprise to see my

Isis Parisian Nostalgia Crystal Necklace

featured in Etsy Finds! I am honored to

be featured among such wonderful and

talented Etsy artists. I would also like to

thank Etsy for including me in their beautiful

June Wedding Celebration!

To celebrate this special occasion, I would

like to offer

FREE SHIPPING and FREE GIFT!

Please write "ETSY FINDS" in message to

seller for your shipping refund and FREE Gift.

Thank you so much for your support! xo

Dress by The English Dept. on Etsy

GIVEAWAY: Distressing Delilah

2010-06-02T00:46:00.000-07:00

GIVEAWAY for DistressingDelilah

I am so thrilled to be hosting a fabulous new

Giveaway for my dear friend Jenn...

...aka... DistressingDelilah!

Jenn is giving away these beautiful shabby chic earrings

from her fabulous Etsy shop DistressingDelilah.

To celebrate this special blog Giveaway, Jenn will
also be offering a special FREE SHIPPING Sale
for her Etsy shop DistressingDelilah.
Just type "Voleur Rocks!" in your message to
seller for your shipping refund.

She creates one of a kind pieces of jewelry from

her collection of vintage and shabby chic jewels.

Jenn is also an amazing photographer and artist. I

love her altered photo art prints.

They are filled with haunting images that will leave
a lasting impression.

Each image speaks of frozen time and space like
forgotten love that awakens with a gentle touch.

Jenn has an amazing eye for distressing digital
images to create beautiful and surreal worlds.

For the love of Ben

INTERVIEW

Here is my interview with Jenn to give you an

insight into her creative inspirations and processes.

1. When did you start creating

or felt inspired to do so?

I started creating when I was a child, and have never

stopped! I still have my first sketchbooks from when I

was a little girl. As far as designing jewelry, that is my

parents "fault!" They started beaded about 8 years

ago. I never took any interest in it, until, I gave in and

made my first bracelet. That was it, an addiction began!

2. How do you start your designs or
what sparks your artistic ideas?
I usually have one piece or finding that I start
with, be it a vintage clip on earring, or a brand
new, shiny crystal. Then I go to my large stash of
vintage jewelry, which I have sorted into drawers
by colors and shades. I sift through the pieces
until I fine just the perfect pairing to go with
the component I began with. The design just
sort of follows. I often don't have a design
in mind when I start, it just sort of takes on
a mind of it's own and evolves.

3. What do you love about creating things
with your own hands?

I don't know if I can always call it love..it is a need!
Yes, I enjoy it, but like most designers and artists,
it is something I feel like I have to do every day.
Without creating, I would feel empty! The most
satisfying part though, is being able to portray a
feeling or an emotion, without speaking a word.

4. People love seeing other artist's studio space.

Do you have a picture or description of your

"creative space"?

I have my own little studio right off our main

living area. It is bright and airy, with sliding

glass doors to the outside. My dogs often

lie next to the doors and nap, while I work.

(That is Yogibear in the picture by the door)
5. What learning lessons do you have
to share with other artists?
Be patient, be true to who you are and
let your own spirit shine through. That
is what makes an artist unique, when
they can let others inside their own
unique world, through their creations.

.....................................................................
Now for the fabulous GIVEAWAY Prize!
Starts: JUNE 2nd - JUNE 16th
.....................................................................
WIN A LOVELY PAIR OF
SHABBY CHIC EARRINGS

These lovely shabby chic earrings are made from

vintage beads and smoky gray Swarovski crystals.

from
DistressingDelilah
...................................................................
FIRST ENTRY (mandatory)
...................................................................

1. Please go to DistressingDelilah, come back

here, post a comment with your favorite item

from Jenn's Etsy shop and leave your contact

info. (i.e...email, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy shop)

.................................................................
EXTRA BONUS ENTRIES
.................................................................

2. Follow Jenn on Twitter

3. Follow Jenn on Facebook

4. Follow Jenn's Blog So Distressing

5. Follow Jenn's Blog Shabby Accumulations

6. Heart Jenn's Etsy Shop DistressingDelilah

7. Follow me on my blog Voleurdebijoux

8. Follow me on Twitter Voleurdebijoux

9. Follow me on Facebook Voleurdebijoux

10. Heart my Etsy Shop Voleurdebijoux

11. Tweet this Giveaway on Twitter

12. Post Giveaway on your Facebook

13. Post Giveaway on Tumblr

14. Post Giveaway on your Blog
15. Post Giveaway on Flickr

Thank you so much for your lovely comments
and entries! xo

Special Thanks to Mireio

2010-05-31T00:04:00.000-07:00

Front Page Treasury by Mireio

❀ ❀ ❀

I would like to send a special Thank You to Wende of

Mireio for creating this lovely Etsy Front Page Treasury

that included my Leurelle Earrings and for my special

Love Spells scented candle from her fabulous

Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mireio.

My whole office smells divine!

Wende also creates beautiful handmade pillows

and lovely acorn lavender scented sachets.

To see more of Wende's Etsy shop, website

and blog, please click on the following links:

Mireio Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mireio

Mireio Website: http://www.mireiodesigns.com/

Mireio Blog: http://www.evidently.org/

❀ ❀ ❀

Winner of Glass River Jewelry

2010-05-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! We had such an amazing turnout for

GlassRiverJewelry's Giveaway. I would like to

thank Vicki for her fabulous prize and everyone
for your lovely comments and entries! I had to
use Random.org to generate a winner because
it would take me forever to write 224 entries
and pull one out of my lucky bunny hat. :)

............................................................
....and the WINNER is #190....
Congrats to LIGA!!
............................................................

Thank you so much for your entries! :)
I will have another giveaway very soon,
so stay tuned for a new fun giveaway.
Have a wonderful day! xo

Memorial Weekend SALE

2010-05-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

❀ ❀ ❀ MEMORIAL WEEKEND SALE ❀ ❀ ❀

BOGO

BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF

SALE: MAY 26th - 31st

http://www.etsy.com/shop/voleurdebijoux

Discount: 50% OFF applies to equal or

lower price of 2nd item (excludes shipping).

Please send me a convo or message and I

will revise the pricing prior to check out.

Thank you!

Wedding Blog Feature: Before The Big Day

2010-05-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

Before The Big Day

Inspirations for British Brides and Grooms

http://beforethebigday.blogspot.com

Serena Regency Romance Mint Chalcedony Earrings

Voleurdebijoux

This fabulous wedding blog is wonderful site where

you can get ideas for your special wedding day.

I have been lucky enough to be featured by this

beautiful blog! It is such an honor and surprise to

be featured by Before the Big Day.

~*~

SPECIAL PROMOTION

To celebrate this special feature, I am offering a

"20% OFF Coupon"

if you mention

"Before the Big Day"

in your order.

Voleurdebijoux

Thank you so much for your support! xo

Voleur De Bijoux

How time flies...

MIREIO Spa Candle - WINNER!!

Blog GIVEAWAY: MIREIO - Spa Candle

Words of Wisdom: Guidance of Virtue

HEARTSY DEAL Extended: 5/22/11

HEARTSY DEAL $20 for $50

$20 for $50 Online Store Credit at

Online Store Credit

at

Etsy Feature: Hermann Lunn Glass

Etsy Feature: Fifty50Studio

Jewelry Workshop: Jennifer Blackwell

Happy New Year 2011!!

WINNER for LEAVES Wreath by SADIIE

Giveaway: Leaves Wreath by Sadiie

October Treasuries...Thank You!

WINNER of DIAMOND DOLLS COUTURE'S Giveaway

Imagine

GIVEAWAY: Diamond Dolls Couture

Etsy Front Page!

End of Summer BOGO Sale

Etsy Treasury: Thank You!

New Movement: Do Good

The $600 Billion Challenge

ART Feature: Marie-Pierre Philippe-Lohezic

Etsy Sellers Unite to Help The Gulf Coast

Friendly Turtle by zahnerphoto

Winner of Distressing Delilah

Etsy Treasury Features

Featured in Etsy Finds: The World's Your Oyster

GIVEAWAY: Distressing Delilah

Special Thanks to Mireio

Winner of Glass River Jewelry

Memorial Weekend SALE

Wedding Blog Feature: Before The Big Day

$20 for $50 Online Store Credit
at