Etsy Feature: ♥AlluRing - Handcrafted Jewelry by Lori♥

Etsy Feature: ♥AlluRing - Handcrafted Jewelry by Lori♥
Shop name: AlluRing

What do you make? First and foremost I make rings.....LOTS of rings. It's sort of an obsession~lol. I do dabble in other jewelry, though, and in the coming weeks you will be seeing a lot of new items such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets hit my shop (hopefully!)

How did you first pick up your craft? I have been 'artsy' since I was really young. For as long as I can remember I have had this need to create. I was constantly drawing, making my own paperdolls and comic books. I drove my folks nuts with the amount of paper I would go through.

In college, I majored in illustration ~ I have a bachelors' degree in it. In my junior year the university I was attending re-opened the jewelry/metalworking shop (it had been closed due to lack of funding) for a few semesters. It was LOVE at first solder! To be able to make and wear my creations~what fun it was! I even did my workstudy in the jewelry lab so I could spend more time in there. Sadly, the funding fell through again and the lab did not re-open again until several years after I graduated. I hear they have a fantastic department now.

I dabbled off and on with jewelrymaking over the years, but wire wrapping is actually fairly new to me. About a year ago I picked up a book that had instructions for simple wire wrapped rings. I had been looking for the perfect mother's birthstone ring ~ I then became inspired to try my hand at making my own. It re-affirmed my love of creating. I started making more rings for friends and family, then I started selling my creations at the OpenMarket here in New Bedford once a month. They went over pretty well. From there I finally got brave enough to open my own Etsy shop. Now it is like a second job(that I love)!

What are you inspired by? Pretty much anything and everything. I walk through a bead shop and see beads that I instantly want to make something out of. I literally have drawers filled with beads and wire! I probably ought to destash some~lol!

Tell me about yourself: 42 years young(this June)~I have a nearly 7 year old and a nearly 16 year old. I work full time as a toddler teacher, which is why my shop isn't always as fully stocked as I'd like. Sometimes I come home from work and I am wiped out. Toddlers are busy little people! (and so are 7 year olds and 16 year olds!)

Other Etsy shops you love:
Where do I begin?? I have 78 pages of favorites! (as of this writing)
WeeBeeUniques - beautiful freehand(no pattern) crocheted items and sweet jewelry
Lauren Smash Toys - adorable handmade plushies
tinaseamonster - fun handscreened t-shirts
Milena's Supply Shop - fabulous handmade jewelry findings
Perfect Children - funky fun plushies by Marc~who is a wonderful person to deal with
and many,many MORE!!!!!!!! Shopping on Etsy is my addiction :D

Advice to fellow artist/crafters? Don't just dream it ~ do it!!! Take it from me, it is never too late:)

♥GIVEAWAY♥

This weeks giveaway is absolutely incredable and I'm so thrilled to be able to offer all of you such a wonderful prize from not only one of my favorite etsy shops, but from a seller who makes rings that I own, wear all of the time, and love!! Lori is an awesome chick and also my first etsy customer from my Twist This shop and I'm so delighted to be able to call her my friend!!

Lori of AlluRing has graciously offered any ring from her store (excluding stacking sets) to the lucky winner of this weeks blog giveaway! You Pick It!! And I can personally attest that these rings are FABULOUS!

How to enter:: RUN, dont walk, on over to AlluRing and leave a comment here stating your favorite item from this spectauclar shop! I guarentee that you'll have a hard time picking out your favorite though as Lori's shop is filled with amazing items!

Standard rules apply ---> You must leave a way for me to get ahold of you in case you win! On Tuesday 4/29 I'll announce the winner provided at least 20 people have entered this giveaway!..... what are you waiting for??? Go and check out the amazing goodies at AlluRing