Akula Hope Designs in the Press!

About a week and a half ago I received an out of the blue email from a gentleman named Jack Coraggio.  Jack told me that he was a reporter from the Litchfield County Times and that they wanted to do a business feature on me and my business Akula Hope Designs.  Whhhaaaat?!  Needless to say, I was totally stunned, surprised and excited all at the same time!  Within the span of a few days, I had been interviewed by Jack and photographed by Walter Kidd.  It all seemed so surreal... how did they find out about me?  To this day, I'm still not completely sure how my business card came to be in the hands of the Litchfield County Times, but I am sooooooo happy that it did!

If you have a few minutes, please take a moment to read the wonderful article about Akula Hope Designs by Jack Coraggio.  I think it's great!

-Carrie

Hand Stamped Jewelry

For a while now, I've been wanting to try my hand at making hand stamped jewelry.  I really love being able to make something that is sentimental and has meaning for a person.  My first venture was to create a necklace for my sister.  I hand stamped silver discs with the initials of her children and wire wrapped gemstones to signify each one of their birthdays.  I gave the necklace to her this past Christmas.  She's worn it everyday since. :-)  Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of that particular necklace, but I have made many since.  I wanted to share a few of them with you.  Let me know what you think!

-Carrie

You can also see some of these items in my Etsy shop in the Hand Stamped Necklaces and Bridal sections.

 Custom Initial & Birthstone Necklace

(using customer's birthstone charms)

 Custom Mother's Necklace

(w/ baby's initial and Garnet birthstone)

Custom Word Necklace w/ Pearl and Iolite Dangles

 Custom Word Necklace w/ Pearl and Madeira Citrine Dangles

 Wedding Keepsake Necklace

w/ Bride & Groom's Initials, Wedding Date & Wedding Colors

 Custom Bridesmaid Necklace

(Gemstones are the wedding colors)

Amethyst Earrings Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Karen P. for winning my Amethyst Earrings giveaway!!!  I hope you love the earrings!

In honor of my first giveaway (which was totally fun!!!) I am offering 10% off anything in my Akula Hope Designs Etsy shop.   Please use coupon code THANKYOU10 upon checkout to receive your discount.  This coupon will be valid through February 28th.

Thanks again, and happy shopping!

- Carrie

Akula Hope Designs Giveaway!!!

It's a new year, and a new month, so I'm going to try something new!  I've participated in a few giveaways on other people's blogs which was quite fun.  So, I figured why not!...I'm gonna do one of my own!

In honor of all those February babies out there, I've decided to give away a pair of my gorgeous purple amethyst drop earrings.  Deep purple faceted rondelles are wire wrapped on sterling silver and suspended from twisted silver rings.  They are totally adorable!

 Amethyst Drop Earrings

***Amethyst has been known to have a calming effect and reduce stress. It promotes happiness and an optimistic and uplifting perspective.***

Giveaway Guidelines and How to Participate

This giveaway is open to anyone worldwide that would like to participate. It will be running from February 1, 2011 through February 14, 2011. You have six possible ways to enter.  One lucky person will be selected at random from all of the valid entries received by February 14, 2011.  The winner will be notified via email.  You must claim your prize within 48 hours by emailing me back or a new winner will be chosen.  Good luck!

Listed below are the ways to enter this giveaway.  I hope you take a few seconds to participate because I’m really excited about giving these adorable earrings away!


Main entry: Visit Akula Hope Designs on Etsy and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite shop item is. (Required – Without doing this, no additional entries will be counted.)

1 additional entry: “Like” Akula Hope Designs on Facebook and leave a comment on this post with your name. 

1 additional entry: Follow @akulahope on Twitter and leave a comment on this post with your Twitter name. 

1 additional entry: Tweet about this giveaway.  Please include @akulahope in your tweet for it to count and post a comment here including your twitter name. You can of course tweet as many times as you’d like about my giveaway, however you will only receive one entry for this. 

1 additional entry: Write about this giveaway on your blog!  Be sure to include a link to this giveaway page.  Leave a comment here including the link to your blog post and your name. 

1 additional entry: Join the Akula Hope Designs mailing list! Please leave a comment on this post with your name so that I know you’ve joined.  You can subscribe to my mailing list by entering your email information in the top right corner of my blog.

All entries must be posted as separate comments at the bottom of this post. Be sure to include a valid email address in one of your entry comments.  Alternately, you can email me your email address at akulahopedesigns@gmail.com.  You will be contacted via email if you win this giveaway, so don’t forget to give it to me!!!

Good luck to you all! Have fun!

-Carrie

Recent Treasuries

I've had the pleasure of being included in quite a few treasuries this month, so I figured I'd share a few of them with you!  They are really wonderful collections.  Feel free to click the titles to visit them yourselves.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Sweet Blush by dahlies 

My Blush Pearl Drop Earrings are a part of this treasury.

Pretty In Peach by GraceyMay

My Peach Pie Flower Hairpins were included in this treasury!

Lemony Goodness by thewanderingstars 

My Summer Sunshine Hairpins are in this treasury.

Gorgeous Garnet by deziningems

My Key to My Heart Silver & Garnet Necklace is included.

Flower Webs by BlissJoy

My Erica Black Peacock Pearl Necklace is included.

Big Sky by LostInTheValley

My Blue Skies Flower Hairpins are included in this treasury.

It's a New Year!

Boy, I haven't blogged in ages.  It's a new year though, so I should probably get on it! 

I know that everyone talks about making resolutions at the beginning of the year.  Does anyone else get scared of making resolutions?  I think I'm always leery of making resolutions because I just don't have the willpower to actually follow through and keep up with the promises that I'm making. lol!  At least I'm honest!

So... with that being said, I don't think I'm going to make a resolution to lose weight, exercise more or eat more vegetables.  Instead, I think my goal for the year is pretty much my goal for life.  I'm going to strive for love and happiness because I think that's what life is truly about.  Everyday I'm going to try a little big harder to love every moment and find happiness even in the trying things because life is a wonderful gift full of lessons.

Happy New Year everyone!  I wish you all love and happiness for the coming year.

- Carrie

Happy Thanksgiving!!! and A SALE!!!

Thanksgiving signals the beginning of my FAVORITE time of year!!!  Tomorrow I get to share the most AMAZING meal with my family, and then I can finally start to play CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!  I can't say my husband loves the drive back home from Massachusetts because it has become tradition for me to play all kinds of Christmas songs on the way home. he he he.  Next comes all the present buying, wrapping and decorating... (oh yea, and snow...) :-)  I love nothing more than buying present, decorating the tree and drinking hot cocoa as I stare at the snow falling outside.  Yay!!!

I just wanted to wish you all Happy Thanksgiving!  Whether you're here in the United States or elsewhere, know that you all share a special little place in my heart!

Now onto the sale!!!!  Now through Cyber Monday, November 29th, I'm offering 10% off on everything in my Etsy Store!  Hop on over there and take a look!  Use the following code upon check out to receive the discount.  Coupon Code: BlackFriday2010

Enjoy the holidays!