A video about xroma

Awhile ago, Etsy suggested all sellers to make a short video, about them and about ther work, a video that would show that behind each Etsy Shop there is a real person, an actual maker.

So, here's a short video about Christine and xroma!

Packing for Pop Up Shop!

xroma is packing and getting ready!
Oh, no, it's not moving out, but it's packing the goodies that will be displayed at the
Etsy Greek Street Team Pop Up Shop!

From Friday 5/12 to Sunday 7/12, 

11.00 to 20.00,

at Sous Sol (6 Veikou str., Makrigianni, metro station Acropoli)

handmade creations (ranging from clothing to jewelry and from house wares to handmade soaps), made by Greek artisans, members of Etsy.com , will "pop up"!

Also, during the event you will find every useful information on how to open your own Etsy shop!

Bonus 1: with every purchase you participate at a giveaway with many gifts!

Bonus 2 (exclusive!): Saturday afternoon there will be a mini party!

Participants:

Polykatoikia/ elixirio/ ILaBoom/ TheGreenerPastures/ TheWanderingDeer/ Tilissimo/Floti/ mouhoxlab/TACEHandmade/ FishesMakeWishesHome/ karmologyclinic/ MessProject/ kokona/ LinaECreations/ xroma/ JewelryByFlorita/ petiteutile/ WireMyTree/ BlueMargarita/ zdrop/ kleoxirou/ ouph/ theophanojewel/ Giampouras/ Laliou/ CreationsbyEve

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/867464223286706/

Etsy anniversary!

It's been a year since my first Etsy sale! 

The most exciting thing about being an Etsy seller is thinking of my jewelry travelling around the world...
Look where xroma has travelled so far:

My top-model

A pair of xroma earrings, worn by the most fabulous, the most beautiful, the most fresh, the most expressive young girl, my niece Jenny!

Etsy Craft Party 2014 - Bring new meaning to old photographs

Every year, in June, Etsy celebrates it's birthday with themed craft parties, which are hosted by etsy teams, all over the world.
This year, craft party's suggested theme was "Recapture: Bring New Meaning to Old Photographs".
So, on the 1st of June we got together at six d.o.g.s., armed with old photographs, threads, needles, scissors etc, and like old village gossipers we embroidered while talking about everything, we laughed and we got to know each other better.

The craft party was organized by Nafsika, Antigoni and Aleka & Georgia, the Etsy Greek Team leaders, valuable advisors and partners, as always.

More photographs here:
http://etsygreekstreetteam.blogspot.gr/2014/06/craft-party-in-athens-bring-new-meaning.html

Etsy Craft Party 2014

Every year, in June, Etsy celebrates it's birthday with themed craft parties, which are hosted by etsy teams, all over the world.
This year, craft party's suggested theme is "Recapture: Bring New Meaning to Old Photographs".
With this great step-by-step guide, I decided to embroidery one of my favorite photos:

In this photo, my daughter Myrsini (4 years old), is photographed in January 2011, by my husband Stamatis, in Nafplio, one of the most beautiful cities of Greece.
So, I thought I could "illustrate" her thoughts, with needle & thread:

Step 1: sketch

Step 2: needle & color threads

Step 3: poke holes with the needle

Step 4: Embroidering!

New gift bags!

September is here, it's time for new ideas!
So, xroma from now on is gifted in those cute little cotton bags, with colorful satin ribbons.
For stamping my logo I use a beautiful stamp, made by Sarah and Α Hue of Duckegg Blue

And the Oscar goes to...

Well, not excactly the Oscar...
But still, an Award!
Dimitra from Looney Stories just gave me an award which comes with a
little game:

1. Write 11 facts about yourself
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you
3. Give the award to max 11 bloggers (with less than 200 readers) and inform them about it
4. Ask them 11 questions.

1. My favorite color is purple
2. My favorite taste is chocolate
3. I love making sweets, but not cooking
4. My favorite movie is Match Point
5. I love to read scandinavian mystery books.
6. My favorite flower is tulip
7. My favorite series is Friends. I can watch it over and over again...
8. I love gadgets!
9. I learn easily, from foreign languages to html code
10. I love to travel, I get excited even with the preparations for a trip
11. The best restorant I've ever been is trattoria Da Enzo al 29, at Trastevere, in Rome.

Dimitra's 11 questions to me:

1. Which is your favorite band?

Red Hot Chili Peppers!

2. Which is your favorite city?

Rome

3. Bicycle or car?

Bicycle (but walking even better)

4. You want to live in a city or a village?

In a city. In the center of the city.

5. Which is your favorite video game?

All time classic is Tetris. But lately I love Candy Crash

6. Which is your favorite board game?

Trivial Persuit

7. Dark or white chocolate?

Dark

8. Have you ever been en erasmus student?

No

9. The first song that comes to your mind is...

She's like a rainbow, Rolling Stones

10. Black or white?

White

11. Is the glass half-full or half-empty?

Depends on the mood, on the time, on the season...

Crocheters-grLa Camera Felice
DimitrArt
Κερασόπιτες
Μικρή Κουζίνα
Itooktwo
To Καινό


My questions:

1. Favorite color?
2. Favorite movie?
3. Favorite book?
4. Coffee or tea?
5. Where was your most recent trip?
6. Where do you dream to be your next?
7. Favorite smell of your childhood?
8. Which historical figure would you like to invite to dinner?
9. Name a food and a sweet you would make for him/for her
10. What do you think as you best feature in your appearance?
11. And what is your greatest talent?

Creating a "xroma" ring

Today, 13/2/2014 is xroma's 1st birthday!

So, it's a nice opportunity to show you how I create a "xroma" ring:

1. First, I paint the ring base with enamel:

2. The next day, when the enamel is dry, I add: 

-one layer of ice resin (liquid glass), 

-then, the decorative inlay (so that it looks like it "floats" in the ring)

-then, a final layer of resin:

3. I use a straw to spread the resin evenly and to bring the bubbles on the surface:

4.With aheat gun, I pop the bubbles:

5. I also use a lighter to pop the remaining bubbles 

(carefully, because too much heat can "burn" the resin):

I repeat these last 3 steps continuously for an hour, because new bubbles keep coming on the surface

6. I use a plastic bowl to cover the ring, because resin attracts dust, hair etc.:

7. In 24-36 hours the new ring is ready to be put in the gift bag!

2014 Etsy Greek Street Team meeting

This year it was the first time for me to participate at the Etsy Greek Street Team (Etsy Greek artists) meeting.

It was a great opportunity to meet in person and talk about our future plans, not only for our shops but for our team as well. 
We had "Vasilopita" cakes and the lucky winners got handmade presents! 

Absorbing experience

The "Vasilopita" cakes

We also had a fun event creating the new year's resolution tree, where each one of us got to pin his leaf with future goals, making the tree bloom with green leaves.

New Year's Resolutions...

Me, presenting my New Year's Resolutions...

Etsy Greek Street Team: Items of the week - Autumn harvest

Etsy Greek Street Team: 

 Items of the week: Autumn harvest

1. Polymer clay necklace by AnarinaAnar 

2. Sunflower resin ring by xroma 

3. Ceramic pumpkins by  aspaceramics 

4. Geometric necklace by terrafique

New Look

After two months of inactivity due to summer absence
and while I am constantly collecting materials and ideas for new creations,
it's time for a change at the blog's apperance
and for a new logo, based on my favorite pattern, the Nautilus Shell:

Very soon, my little "shop" at Etsy will be ready:

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

A "xroma" ring on TV!

The ring with the spade, custom made for Stella (Asteraki slings, babywearing),
worn at her appearence at the TV show "Girls in Plug", at Zoom channel (25.7.2013):

(close-up at 2:22)