Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Get ready for MAY MADNESS!

Every day throughout the month of May we're giving away a FREE pair of Genuine Pearl and Sterling Silver dangle earrings!

One winner will be selected at random for each day beginning May 1st and ending May 31st from a list of the total number of completed online submissions and in-store submissions, using the True Random Number Generator at www.random.org.

All winners will be posted on our blog following "giveaway" notifications.

Earring Details: Genuine Pearl Dangle Earrings
Size: 6.5mm Natural White Color.
Shape: Round (off), Hand-picked to match.
Solid Sterling Silver ear wires.
Retail Value of up to: $50.00

To register for your chance to win, simply visit www.Fo-Shizzle.com and click on the "WIN FREE JEWELRY" tab on the left side of the page!

Good luck!

Monday, April 13, 2009

SPRING!

From new budding on the trees and warming temperatures, to the animals peeking out of their winter hideaways, there seems to be a promise of new birth and color in the springtime air. This month's theme is SPRING, and below are just a few selections of my favorite Spring artwork created by Art Fire artisans. Click on the links to go directly to their online stores for more fine artwork!



























These fantastic butterfly wing earrings are from Suantova, hand made by Tommy Venable. The butterfly wing is coated clear resin to give a glass like finish. Each wing is approximately 1 1/4" x 3/4" Total length of earrings is approximately 2 inches.
Gorgeous!




























These are just TOO CUTE! From barretzz come these Adorable booties -- 100% Cotton fabric outside, with warm white wool felt inside and a satin bow -- specially for your little princess!






















This lovely oval dried flower wreath from NHWoodscreations just screams SPRING! Gorgeous actual dried flowers are handwired into this wreath (no silk or artificial stuff used here!).




























"Savannah's Spring" Giclee by Embellaments. Limited to a number of 250 and hand signed by artist.






















Gorgeous Art Tile Pendant by ArtfullPendants. Each pendant is hand created from an original painted work or photograph

















WallPaperWigWam
created these sweet little bags out of wallpaper! These sweet little bags are suitable for just about any spring and/or summertime occasion: And they're reusable! The bags don't lie as flat as the ones you purchase in the store because the paper is thicker and the bottoms have been reinforced with poster board.




















My next door neighbor has the most beautiful flowers and plants that she meticulously cares for each day... So I, Mzz Thang of Fo-Shizzle Design Studios, created this springtime bracelet using purples, fuchsias, blues, whites and greens. Gorgeous lentil lampwork beads by the very talented Kari Persson, aurora borealis glass beads, vintage Lucite, Swarovski crystals, Amethyst drops, purple jade and three adorable silver butterflies.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Pay It Forward!!

I am currently following several blogs, and one of them, http://djstoreroom.blogspot.com recently had a fabulous giveaway. It was such a great idea that I decided to join in and do the same.

So...


Here are the Rules:
1. Be one of the first three bloggers to "follow" my blog and leave a comment at the end of this post, which entitles you to a handmade gift.
2. Winners must post this challenge on their own blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers who "follow" you and leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!
3. The gift you send can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count!
4. When you receive your gift, feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love
5. If you are not one of the Top Three to comment on this post, you can still play along. Please start your own 'Pay It Forward chain', and encourage your blogging friends to do the same.

And, I would be most pleased if you could just join in the fun!!

Click the "follow me" button first, then leave your comments below. And remember to include your email address so that I may be able to contact you!!

~ Mzz Thang
Fo-Shizzle Design Studios

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Why the Hell did you name your store Fo-Shizzle?

I've been lucky in many ways. Lately, it's been with the opening of my brick and mortar jewelry store. It's located inside of a bowling alley and although many may not find that the ideal place for a jewelry store, it hasn't necessarily been such a bad thing. In fact, it's like being at a craft fair five days a week. With the steady flow of people in the bowling alley (whether they just be "looky-loos" or people actually making a purchase), sales have been extremely good during the first month of being open.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the bowling alley hosts what is known to the locals as "Celestial Thunder" -- a place for teens and adults to hang out and bowl as much as they want between 10:00pm and 1:00am - complete with loud music, black lights, dancing light shows and a live DJ.

My husband and I are "bouncers" during Celestial Thunder, and I've overheard several of the patrons laugh as they read my jewelry store sign, look at each other and exclaim "FO-SHIZZLE!"; and on occasion I've heard them still talking about it as they walked away.

Last night, as this same scenario repeated itself, I walked up to the five girls that were mocking my store name, and asked if they would like to go inside and look at the jewelry. One of them (in a somewhat "valley-girl" accent asked me "Why the Hell did you name your store Fo-Shizzle?"

"Two reasons", I told her. "The first is because about 34 years ago I was given the stage name (nickname) "Mzz Thang" by my band members (I was the only female in the band and the members were predominantly African-American) and Fo-Shizzle just seemed to fit along with my nickname." "The other", I continued, "Is because of young people like you, who have heard that word before. In fact, how many times in the past five minutes have you all said Fo-Shizzle?"

They had to think about it for a moment. "Nine that I counted", I said. "And you know what? Each time you see or hear that word somewhere else, I guarantee that you are going to think about my jewelry store!"

Most of them looked at me with a blank stare, but I saw the light bulb going off over one young girls head as she figured it out. "Wow", she said. "You're probably right."

"That's tight!" another one said.

Although they decided at that moment that drawing all over each other in yellow highlighters (it shows well under the black lights) was more important than looking at my jewelry, I'll bet any amount of money that they will never forget my little jewelry store in the bowling alley...each and every time they hear that word.

Fo-Shizzle.