And the winners are...

One of my newest art charms, for the Springtime in Paris swap I recently hosted. This charm features one of my lampwork headpins paired with a shrink plastic Eiffel tower.

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, reviewing the day, I thought, "I know I forgot to do something...what in the world could it be?" And then I thought some more, and realized, horror of horrors, I'd forgotten to do the random number thingie to figure out who won the art charms I'm giving away in honor of International Charm Day! D'OH!

So now, without further ado, here are the five lucky winners as selected by the Sequence Generator over at Random.org:

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

 8
11
 5
 1
 3
 6
10
 4
 9
 2
 7

Timestamp: 2012-05-07 15:05:00 UTC

Matching up comments to the first five random numbers means Cindy Green won the domino charm, Valerie K. won the spring flowers charm, Peggy Aplseeds won the ruler charm, Cris Peacock won the steampunk charm, and Lori Anderson won the washi paper charm. Congrats ladies! I will get your charms out to you as soon as I have mailing addies for each of you.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to celebrate International Charm Day, and who took the time to leave a comment on my post! May your days be filled with art and charms!

Happy International Charm Day 2012!!!

Giveaway prize no. 1 - domino charm by C. Hansen

I love Art Charms...partly because there is such a wonderful potential in each one, like a tiny present, from the Art Charm artist to the ultimate recipient/owner. Art Charms are a fun and unique way to make, trade, and enjoy original works of art. While methods and materials for creating Art Charms are unlimited, one rule defines an Art Charm: Art Charms are made by hand, one at a time. True Art Charms are never mass-produced in a factory (but an artist might use mass-production techniques). This is something that can only be created by an artist’s hands, therefore it is precious and unique. Art Charms are a completely inclusive art form – anyone can make an Art Charm!

Giveaway prize no. 2 - spring flowers charm by C. Hansen

Top Ten Reasons Why Chris Loves Art Charms (in no particular order):
1. Making Art Charms helps me to practice and refine my skills.
2. Art Charms are individually handcrafted, never made by a factory.
3. When I collect Art Charms, I’m collecting original mixed media art and supporting other artists.
4. The small size and format of Art Charms makes them easy to display and collect.
5. Art Charms have a variety of end-uses above and beyond the basic charm bracelet.
6. Art Charms hold great potential for fundraisers or benefits – just have everyone participating in the swap make and send in an extra charm for a bracelet or necklace.
7. Swapping Art Charms builds connections between people, creates community, and invites the interest of non-swappers.
8. I LOVE the design challenge of creating an original Art Charm while honoring the swap theme.
9. I love getting my swaps back and seeing how the other artists interpreted the swap theme!
10. Making Art Charms is an easy, affordable, and portable hobby. Many materials for Art Charms can be gleaned from discarded items, available as near as the local thrift shop or garage sale...or even in the junk drawer!

Giveaway prize no. 3 - ruler charm by C. Hansen

In celebration of International Charm Day 2012, I have five of my own mixed media art charms to share with my readers. They’re the eye candy for this post. Just leave a comment on this post before midnight Saturday May 5, 2012, with your email addy or some reliable manner in which to contact you, and Sunday morning I will use a random number generator to select the five winners. I’ll post the winners here, and will contact you to get your mailing address.

Outside the US? Leave a comment anyway - I'm happy to ship internationally.

***If you do not leave your email addy or some reliable contact method, I won't be able to get your prize to you - so please, please PLEASE leave some sort of contact information!***

Giveaway prize no. 4 - steampunk charm by C. Hansen

Want more chances to win awesome stuff? Head on over to my friend Amber Dawn’s International Charm Day blog – she’s got more giveaways and interviews on her blog, as well as some tasty eye candy and links to other blogs celebrating International Charm Day.

Giveaway prize no. 5 - washi paper on Scrabble tile charm by C. Hansen

Can't get enough of Art Charms? Please consider joining our Art Charms Yahoo group - we're doing swaps, challenges, contests, and weekly online chats.

Here's hoping your International Charm Day is filled with art and charms,
Chris

Anniversary Giveaway!

EDIT: 7.26.11: The signed copy of Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry will be signed by BOTH Peg AND me - I'll send Peg a signed copy, then she'll sign it too, and mail it to the lucky winner.

It's been a year since the book I wrote with Peggy Krzyzewski, Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry, was published by Kalmbach, and THAT means it's time for a little celebration giveaway!

I'm giving away one signed (by me) copy of Making Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry, and three of my original limited edition mixed media art charms.

Under the Sea Art Charm

How to enter?
You have two chances to win.

• Chance No. 1: Leave a comment below this post telling me why art charms appeal to you.
• Chance No. 2: "Like" my page on Facebook AND leave a second comment under this post telling me you did so.

Christine Hansen

Spring Flowers Art Charm

Details:

• PLEASE include a way for me to contact you in case you win.
• EACH entry must be in its OWN comment, and maximum of two entries per person please!
• Comments must be received no later than midnight Pacific standard time, 7.28.11, in order to be eligible.

Winged Jewels Art Charm

Next Friday, July 29, 2011, I will use the random number generator thingie to select four winners - Prize No. 1 is the signed copy of Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry, Prizes 2-4 are my own mixed media, as pictured in this post.

I will announce the winners here on my blog next Friday, and will contact winners for mailing addresses. If I do not hear back from a winner by August 5, 2011, I will re-do the random number generator thingie and give that prize to another commenter.

Good luck and best wishes for a charming day!

Celebrations: A Life Remembered

Grandma Olive, 1913-2010

This is a difficult topic for me. My gran passed earlier this year, the day after my birthday. For the first 45 years of my life, all of our celebrations were centered around my mother’s mom. It’s painful to imagine any sort of family gathering without her sparkling blue eyes, bright white hair, and merry smile. To me, the word “celebration” is synonymous with my Grandma Olive.

Detail shot of 2008 Mother's Day necklace for Gran

My gran was a remarkable person. Born in 1913, she survived two world wars, the great depression, two bouts of breast cancer, and bore five children to my Grandpa Ted. Gran was a registered nurse, and worked as a nurse and director of nursing for many years. After Grandpa Ted died in 1965, Gran went to war-torn Nigeria in the late 1960’s, as a Red Cross nurse. She played piano and organ, and was the church organist for decades, as well as the pianist for the local theater troupe. In 1984, she married Grandpa Don, and enjoyed a wonderful life with him until he passed in 2006.

My mom sent me the silver portion of this necklace, hoping I could make it so Gran could wear it. I added the sterling silver cones and clasp, and the luscious silk ribbons in Gran's favorite colors.

Gran was pivotal in steering me towards words and music – as a young girl, I often tagged along with her to church so she could practice the music for the next day’s service. Gran taught me how to play (or rather, lose, at) Scrabble, and amazed me with her ability to do the New York Times crossword puzzle in ink. Gran and I loved to sit together and watch Wheel of Fortune and Name That Tune...of course, she always knew the answers.

In addition to her accomplishments and talents, Gran was a warm and compassionate soul, kind to humans and animals alike. She loved nothing more than to be surrounded by her friends and family – Sunday dinners at Gran’s, complete with aunts, uncles, and cousins were a regular event. If someone in the family had a birthday, or an anniversary, or a graduation, or maybe it was a holiday, ANY holiday, a potluck barbeque at Gran’s was the customary celebration. Christmas Eve parties at Gran’s and Grandpa Don’s home were an annual favorite – Grandpa Don mixed wicked strong hot buttered rums, while Gran supervised the decorations, food, and music.

At every event, Gran delighted in wearing lovely bright clothes, always accessorized by just the right jewelry. Leading off this post is a picture of a necklace I created for her a few years ago, featuring a bunch of my lampwork beads in Gran’s favorite oceany blue and green colors. Also pictured in this post are three pieces my mom sent to me to re-work for Gran, so that she might continue to enjoy them. The faux pearls and blue stone necklaces just needed to be restrung, while the silver bib required a little more planning and forethought.

Gran, I love you so much and miss you every day. Thank you for all you taught me, and for being my grandma. You will always be in my heart, and you will always inspire me. Be well.

Another view of Gran's Mother's Day necklace.