Fall Events, shop updates and more Zombie Girl Diary news!

Fall Events:

September 29th is Townfest in Mercersburg, PA.

October 27th & 28th is The Great Outdoor Festival at Whitetail Ski Resort, Mercersburg, PA.  

*Set up locations and times for both events will be posted on the Zen Creations Jewelry facebook page, closer to the events.  

I am also very pleased to announce that our skull earrings will be available for purchase at the Zombie Girl Diary table at the Eerie Horror Film Festival!  If you are a fan of horror films and are in the area, please come out on October 11th - 14th and meet the director of Zombie Girl Diary - Mike Pine, as well as some of the cast: Mikayla Wagaman, Vanessa Rae Bent, Hillary Styer, Tim Cassidy, Lance Nowell (my husband!) and Frederick Cowie. 

Keep you eye out for new listings in both shops! Some of the new gear pieces, as well as some new inked and gem pieces will be listed in both shops tonight.  Sorry for the delay in shop updates, we are still operating without a computer and maintaining the shops via cell phone. 

Zombies & Skulls

      A few months ago, I had posted the trailer and info on an independent movie that is shooting in my area, called Zombie Girl Diary.  Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to stop by the director's shop - Creepy Cadavers Prop Shop in Chambersburg, PA., and get a look at some of the amazing props, molds and other monster making goodies he has there.  Mike was very nice to take the time to not only show us around, but to answer our questions, and even show us the deer he made for the movie Lovely Molly.
    Directed by Mike Pine, the movie is about "a mother and daughter fighting to survive throughout a zombie apocalypse.  Along they way they encounter other survivors and come together to make their way through the crazy world, now turned upside down."  The movie stars Vanessa Rae Bent, Mikayla Wagaman, Tim Cassidy, Hillary Styer, Mike Pine, Jimmyo Burril, and Jim Krut. Behind the scenes photos have been posted on on Zombie Girl Diary's facebook page.  Here is my favorite pic, an amazing shot of my husband, aka the Amish Zombie, taken by King Photography:

For see more behind the scenes pics, please visit here.

     To help support this amazing movie, Zen Creations is having a fundraiser. Purchase any pair of skull earrings from the Zombie Girl Diary section of my Artfire shop, and Zen Creations will donate a large portion of the sale to the production of Zombie Girl Diary.  With just one purchase, you get a great pair of earrings, and support independent film!  More styles and colors will be added over the next few weeks, so be sure to check back. 

 

Peach Festival, gears, inks and death of my computer...

My computer has died. :(  Correction, both computers in our house has died, all within  a month.  What are the chances???  We didn't panic when the laptop died, we still had the pc as back up.  Then a few weeks later ---- dead.  At first, I thought, we have our phones and my kindle fire, we can deal when we're at home for a few weeks until we get a new one.  And then it hit me --- no computer means no new listings in my shops!!!!! Of course this happens when I'm in the middle of a big creativity burst, making new pieces almost every day. Until we get a new computer, I will have to settle for posting pics on here and on the Zen Creations facebook page.  

Here are two pictures of things I have been working on lately.  I'm pretty excited to be playing around with some different materials/parts/objects and using inks and patinas.  The first one is the start of the piece in the 2nd picture:

Excited to work on more pieces, and soon include some feathers and other materials!

As for upcoming events, I have 3 in the next few weeks:

Peach Festival - August 18th -8am to 2pm @ Fort Loudon
community grounds, U.S. 30 and Hawbaker Drive; by Trinity United Church of Christ

Shippensburg Corn Festival - August 25 - 9am to 4pm, Shippensburg, PA

Boonsboro Days - September 8th and 9th, 9am to 4pm, Shaeffer Park, Boonsboro, MD. 

7 Years on Etsy, Zombies and more!

 On June 20th, Zen Creations celebrated 7 years of selling on Etsy.com.  I can't believe it's been 7 years, seems like just yesterday Etsy was a brand new site with a small community of sellers.  Both Etsy and Zen Creations has grown and changed over those 7 years!

I've been very busy lately experimenting with new techniques and materials, and creating new pieces for the shops and upcoming shows.  Later this week I will have photos ready and will be listing some of these new pieces.  For anyone local,  next week you can find Zen Creations at the Summer Jubilee in Waynesboro, Pa on July 4th, and on the 6th, we will be set up at Incognito Tattoo Studio in Greencastle for their First Fridays event:

Here is a sneak peek at some of the new pieces:

More pieces with skulls, mixed metals, inks and patinas in the works!

Zombie Girl Diary has started filming and has released a new teaser trailer:

Visit the Zombie Girl Diary facebook page for more behind the scenes pics and if you can, please donate to help support this film. 

Skulls and Supporting Independent Film

Zen Creations Jewelry having a special fundraiser for the movie Zombie Girl Diary! I added a special section to the artfire shop - Zombie Girl.  In this section there is a selection of skull earrings, and a portion of the sales from items sold in this section will be donated to the movie.  Now you can get yourself a cute pair of skull earrings and support indie film!  

The movie is being filmed in and around the Chambersburg, PA area, and stars Jim Krut (aka the "hellicopter zombie" from George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead".   The story is about "a mother and daugther fighting to survive throughout a zombie apocalypse. Along the way they encounter other survivors and come together to make their way through the crazy world, not turned upside down." Here is a teaser trailer for the movie: 

Creative block, Zombies and new jewelry

For the past month and a half I have been trying to break though the creative block that has rendered me unable to create anything new. Every day I would sit down at my work space, beads, wire and metal laid out in front of me, and nothing would happen. No inspiration, no flash of lightning, no "ah ha!" moments. I would sit there for 30 minutes to an hour, finally giving up and hoping that the next day would bring an answer. Finally, after a month and a half, the inspiration hit and I'm off and running with new ideas. Happy to be working on new pieces and looking forward to listing in both shops by the end of next week.

 In other news, my horror movie loving husband has been cast in a local horror movie! :) He will be playing one of the main zombies in the movie Zombie Girl Diary which will be shot in the Chambersburg, PA area. The movie stars Jim Krut, , aka the "helicopter zombie" from Romero's Dawn of the Dead. "It is a story about a mother and daughter fighting to survive throughout a zombie apocalypse. Along the way they encounter other survivors and come together to make their way through the crazy world, now turned upside down." Can't wait to see my husband as a zombie!!! Please visit and "like" the Zombie Girl Diary facebook page if you would like to know more about the movie.

Sale!

Our annual February sale is going on right now! Use this coupon code: FEB2012 and get 15% off all regular priced items. 1 customer will be chosen at random to receive a FREE gift.

Zen Creations Artfire Shop
There are a lot of new items in both shops, and be sure to check out the clearance section of our artfire shop for great deals!

Zen Creations Etsy Shop
Sale ends this Sunday at 10pm EST.

Annual February Sale!

I am very pleased to announce that starting this Friday, February 10th, Zen Creations Jewelry will be having our annual February Sale! As a special bonus for all our facebook fans, the sale coupon code will be posted tomorrow evening on the Zen Creations page . Sale ends on Sunday evening at 10pm EST. Also, I will be chosing 1 person at random to receive a special FREE gift!




Coupon codes will be posted in both shops once the sale begins. More new items are being added before the sale starts, so be sure to check both shops!

Clearance Sale, New Items, Art For Thought

A new year - out with the old, and in with the new!

I have marked down several items 50% in my artfire shop to make room for new designs. Get some beautfil pieces at great prices! Items are already maked down, so no need to mess with coupon codes. Just visit my artfire shop and click on the clearance section of my shop.

Now for the new pieces! I have spent some time over the holidays experimenting with some new techniques. I am quite pleased with the new pieces that have come out of this process. Here are a few examples:



Some of these pieces have already been listed in both shops, a few others are for sale locally at Incognito Tattoo Studio in Greencastle, PA.

For anyone local who wants to give this technique a try, Mercersburg Council for the Arts has asked me to teach a class on Feb. 18th in Mercerburg, PA. We will be making a brass cuff bracelet. Here is an example of one I made recently:

For more inforamation about this event, please visit the MCFA blog or the MCFA facebook page.

Win a Necklace from Zen Creations Jewelry!

Family Stichery is hosting a necklace giveaway for Zen Creations Jewelry!


To enter to win a Zen Creations faceted quartz crystal necklace, please go here, and follow the instructions on the page. They also have a very nice reivew of one of our more popular necklaces.

While you're there, be sure to look around their site. They have other giveaways, and great product product reviews!

Elemental Alchemist

Exciting news! Zen Creations recently shipped a line of jewelry to a new shop that is opening soon in Jim Thorpe, PA. Read on for more info about this shop from one of my favorite blogs, Green Mom Green Baby:

September 27, 2011 Jim Thorpe, PA. Alchemy Inspires Transformation in Jim Thorpe. The economy might be down but Alchemy means new business on Race Street in Jim Thorpe. This October, the first Wellness Studio is set to open on Old Packer Row: Elemental Alchemist.


Elemental Alchemist is comprised of three wise women; Annemarie Balog (Reiki Master, Yoga Therapist), Selena Mazmanian (Soapstress, Formulator) and Michelle Gallagher (Medium, Spiritual Counselor) who came together coincidentally but with divine purpose in mind: to provide a space for the surrounding communities to attain information on self-healing and transformation. Each Alchemist also wants to introduce products and services that may assist in the promotion of overall personal wellness. All three women serve as Universal Ministers and are available to perform ceremonies upon request.
“Alchemy is an early form of chemistry that was not only meant to transform metals into gold but to discover life prolonging elixirs and universal cures for disease.” Gallagher notes. “The three of us are well aware that personal transformation is possible with enough inspiration and want to provide that opportunity for others.” Gallagher was introduced to Annemarie Balog when Balog bought her book Witch Wolf? The Curse (Amazon.com). Annemarie had an idea for Gallagher that involved Selena Mazmanian’s handcrafted products from 13th Moon Creations. One lunch meeting was all it took for Alchemy to take place. A space on Race Street presented itself within minutes and the three women decided that they would forge a partnership to inspire others on the spot.


Annemarie Balog a Reiki Master wants Elemental Alchemist to provide a seriously fun blending of mind, body and spirit connecting with the five universal elements: water, fire, earth, air & ether. She is also one of less than two- dozen people worldwide certified in Lakshmi Voelker Level II Chair Yoga an experience Gallagher says “That will lend the amazing benefits of Yoga to all ages, shapes, sizes and flexibility.”


Selena Mazmanian and her husband Dan knew that they had to quit their jobs and move to Jim Thorpe on a day trip they took two years ago. 13th Moon Creations has been Mazmanian’s after work and weekend passion. Her soaps, body butters, incense and oils have drawn curious people through the doors of Elemental Alchemist while the women were just setting up. It seems as if Elemental Alchemist is the perfect cauldron to see Selena’s dream comes true.


Elemental Alchemist’s Lending Library will circulate books on natural medicinal and home remedies, gardening, herbs, mediation and more. Other services The Alchemists will provide are: Reiki, Hatha Yoga, Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Spiritual Counseling, Intuitive Readings, Oracle Consultations and craft and wellness courses. All three women want you to know “Everything we offer is for healing, protection or self love.”
Elemental Alchemist will open October 1st (11am-7pm). For more LIKE Elemental Alchemist on Facebook. For press info please call Michelle Gallagher at 570-954-4520.

Mercersburg Townfest

Up early today for Mercersburg Townfest. If you are in the area, stop by today, the event runs from 9am to 3pm, and you'll find crafts, food, music, kids activities and an auction at the First United Methodist Church. Zen Creations will be set up in our usual spot on Seminary Street, close to the square, across from the ATM of the bank and Dick McCracken Rugs.

More shows!

Well, it sure has been a busy summer! My plans to list items every week and keep my blog updated went right out the window the 1st week of summer. The good news is that I've been busy with shows and creating new pieces and now that I have a short break in my schedule I can finally start adding new things to the shops. Keep an eye out for new listings over the next couple of weeks!

New show added!
Saturday, August 20th - Trinity United Church Peach Festival - Fort Loudon Community Grounds, 8 am to 2pm

Next up is the Shippensburg Corn Festival, followed by First Fridays in Mercersburg, and then Boonsboro Days!

4th Annual MCFA Art Auction Fundraiser - Tonight!

Stop by Flannery's tonight for the 4th Annual MCFA Art Auction Fundraiser. Jewelry (including a set from Zen Creations), photography, paintings, music, hand spun/dyed yard from Hobbledehoy and much more! 5pm to 8pm at Flannery's in Mercersburg

Spring Craft Bazaar!

Zen Creations will be vending at the Spring Craft Bazaar @ Ft. Ritchie this Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Super Sale this weekend!

SUPER Sale in both shops this weekend!


Visit Zen Creations on Artfire

Use this coupon code: ZENSUPER11 in either shop to get 15% off your total purchase.





Visit Zen Creations on Etsy
2 lucky shoppers will be chosen to receive a free gift! sale starts Friday at noon, ends Monday at noon.


Watch for new items to be listed berfore and during the sale!

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Get 15% off in both Zen Creation shops this Friday to Monday! Simply enter this coupon code when checking out in either shop: VALUEDCUSTOMER02 and get 15% off your purchase. Many new items have been added to both shops for the sale and new holiday earrings and braclets.

Sale ends Monday at midnight!

Last craft show of the year - Kris Kringle

This Saturday and Sunday Zen Creations will be vending at the Kris Kringle craft show at HCC in Hagerstown, MD. The show features 250 vendors and free gift wrapping services. The entry fees ($1) collected will be donated to a local charity, and they will also be acceping can goods at the door for charity.

Hours are 9am to 5pm both days.

DIY Promotion

This morning I read a great article called 10 Ideas for Making Your Show an Event written by Martin Atkins. While the article is written for those in or looking to get their big break in the music business, a lot of what Martin suggests can be used for your craft business. The idea of having your craft show turn into a major even is what we all dream of and it's something that can be attained.

While we as crafters are sometimes limited because we don't organize the event (and have to stay within event guidelines), we can use some of the ideas Martin has suggested as use them as a starting point for creating our own events. Holiday open houses are a great way to start. Finding and setting up at events that we wouldn't normally set up at exposes us to new potential customers. Find and help a local organization or charity by creating a fundraising event or food drive or participate in one they already have. Have friends and family host themed open houses or organize a small local show with your Etsy street team or crafty friends. The possibilities are endless. Are only limits are our own creativity.

For those of you who are not familiar with Martin Atkins, he's been in active in the music business for ages. He was the drummer for many well known bands like Public Image Limited, Killing Joke, Ministry, Damage Manual and (my favorite!) Pigface, and has his own record label - Invisible Records. Over the last few years he has been teaching and giving seminars on the music business and wrote a book called Tour:Smart.

Speaking of shows and promotion -- this weekend is Boonsboro Days, in Boonsboro, MD. Both shops will be closed while we are away at this show. The show is held both Saturday and Sunday in Shaeffer Park. Zen Creations will be located near the band shell in the park. Mention my blog and get 10% off your total purchase!

Horrorfind Weekend, shop discovery, more shows!

This past weekend while I was recovering from my chemo, my husband and I ventured out to Horrorfind Weekend in Gettysburg. My husband is the big horror film freak, me - not so much, but I have gotten into them over the years. This festival was fantastic, Lance got to meet almsot everyone he wanted to, and we had a wonderful oppportunity to speak with Kevin "OhGr" Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy, Ohgr, Repo! The Genetic Opera, and most recently 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams.


While talking to Ohgr, he told us about the person responsible for the amazing costumes he wore on the recent Skinny Puppy tour and for Maniacs: Kerrie Kordowski.
I discovered that she also has a shop on Etsy and I highly recommend checking it out:
Opal Moon Designs You can see more of her work on her website: Opal Moon Designs.net

This week will be a short but busy week. Boonsboro Days is this weekend, in Boonsboro, MD. This show is both Saturday and Sunday, and tends to get quite busy so if you are planning on stopping by, you might want to head out early! After that, we have Mercersburg Townfest, plus more shows to be added to our list by the end of this month!