Monday, July 6, 2009

My Etsy-Versary Contest!!


One year ago today I timidly and hopefully typed in the pertinent information to begin the formation of Sunny Rising Metal on Etsy.

It felt bold. 
It ached with necessity: I love metal and had long wished to work with it.... I took a series of classes which taught me how to file and melt and solder and voila.... the rest has been something I have figured out on my own, stumbling and frustrated, wasting money over hopelessly destroyed pieces I could never really fix.

Onward I crept, buying a proper mini torch instead of using my Bed, Bath & Beyond creme brulee torch, purchasing thicker gauge silver and dedicating countless hours to mistakes and rebirths.

My business has sprouted, my leather and silverwork have grown in tandem as though planted together in the earth, one for each year I have decided to wing it and break the chains of corporate labor.

Their growth has been my saving grace and I have all of you to thank: your support, your comments and your love steer my little boat into calm waters when I come upon storms.
As my gratitude, I offer you this: 



A triple sprout necklace for the ultimate homage to how much we've grown, for surely we've grown together: I have known your joys and sorrows through letters and emails and I have pretty much bared it all here for you to see, and you have cradled my heart.

To win this lovely necklace all you must do is leave a comment in the comment section. I will draw a name at random on the 9th - you have three days to post, one for every sprout.

I am so grateful for you and so excited to say that the Metal Shop is thriving and full of new thoughts, as is the Leather Shop.
Here's to many more years to come!!!

41 comments:

crystals4eternity said...

I just want to wish you a Happy Etsy-Versary! :)
I can't wait to see what new gorgeous sproutlings you will bestow on us in the future.
As always, I love your work and your beautiful spirit!
xoxo Nicole

angie said...

wee!

and bravo to you! :)

MJ said...

Congratulations and cheers, my dear, on your continued success in all your new ventures, those realized and those to come. It has been a pleasure watching this one unfold, and I'm so proud to support you in praise and in purchase.

Fingers mightily crossed to win this beauty; I fell in love with it right after you posted it on your blog ... as I encounter my own next major period of growth. :)

xo!

Corinna said...

Congratulations on your bravery and success; I'm in awe of you and your work!!
:)

Elaine said...

Happy Etsy-versary, Allison! How exciting! Your pieces have brought me lots of joy and I can't say I mind the many compliments either. :) Let us know what you did to celebrate!

reconstructing sarah said...

first of all, congratulations! secondly, i find who you are and what you do to be inspiring. in fact, today is the day i open my etsy store (how ironic!) and later this month i start metal working classes...so hearing your success story means more than you'll know. you're lovely. keep doing your thing!

Liz said...

Bravo, indeed!

Both the pieces I have and the ones I watch flow through the shop bring joy and inspiration to my own heart.

Wishing you many, many years of joyful, beautiful and profitable Etsy-Versaries!

Desiree said...

So beautiful!

Congrats on the etsy-versary! Very exciting indeed ^_^

Lisa said...

Congratulations! I'm so inspired by your bravery and gorgeous work. I'm trying to get all set up so that I can teach myself how to work with metal, and I'm terrified (but excited at the same time). It's a long hard road.

And...I love contests!

susie said...

Happy Etsy-Versary! Thank you for your generous giveaway - what a wonderful reminder for us collectively to keep growing and sprouting new ideas and passions (plus, so beautiful to wear). You continue to motivate me as I make (and sometimes melt) by own metal creations-keep up the good work!

jordan said...

ms allisunny
big congratulations on this milestone for you - very exciting! here's to many more years of success for you
xo
jordan

siobhan said...

yay!

happy etsy-versary!

Good Girls Studio said...

congrats on your success in this past year! You are truly an inspiration :)

Gregarious Hermit said...

Your leather shop was the first shop I hearted as my favorite, and it still is one of my favorites. I wish you continued success!

E² - Esther Eve Metalsmith said...

Big Big Congratulations on your hugely wonderful success! You truely have talented fingers-heart-and-soul, and I greatly admire a fellow self-taught silversmith!

I wish you continued success, and my gosh I would love to wear that little sprout on my neck ;o)

lisa parker said...

Happy Etsyversary
I am in awe of the amazing work you produce.

lisa xox

cindyh. said...

Happy Etsy~versary!
Your work is amazing!!

AppaloosaMoon said...

...you took the plunge...

CONGRATS!!!

...YOURS was my VERY 1st Etsy purchase... :)

...HAVE a HAPPY #1...!!!

Kathy in TX said...

How lovely to read gratefulness. Is that a word? I love your metal and your leather, my dear, although I have not purchased anything...yet. I will, I'm sure. Soon as this shattered kneecap is better and I have my full income back LOL! Congratulations to you, ma'am. Keep on.

Dave Schipper said...

Tasty piece... I'll commission you to do a piece for Lori for Christmas... It's our cherry blossom tree. I'll send you a picture to ponder.

kwpershey said...

Congratulations and wow, what a lovely piece.

'Rin said...

Happy happy celebration! Not only does my rainbow koi bring me compliments every time he graces my neck, but your blog posts are a continual bright spot of light in my life as you keep reminding me that yes, the world is indeed a beautiful place and happiness is indeed out there.

Allisunny S. said...

Ladies (and Dave!) -

What an amazing, life-affirming collection of kindness.

I humbly thank you :)

xoxoxoxox,
Allison

Two B's said...

Congrats Sunny!
It's been great going back through your sales and seeing how your work has progressed! Many more!

CrashingBison said...

YAYYY! Happy Etsy-Versary Allison!!! What a lovely piece! Cheers to many, many more years of metal and leather for you (and us too!!!)!! :)

miznyc said...

yay!!! Happy Etsyversary Allison! You're such a wonderful lady! :D

Halie said...

Yay, congratulations on your one-year-old metal shop!

The Noisy Plume said...

HAPPY ETSYVERSARY DOLL FACE!

Wish I were with you...we'd celebrate with something bubbly! LOVES YA.
JSL

Kim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kim said...

Happy Etsy-versary! Congratulations! It brings me pleasure to read your blog and view your beautiful new works. (Loving the sprouts!)

Hugs,
Kim

Aisha said...

It's wonderful to see that the metal shop is a year old; I first found you when Shreve posted a photo of Charlie's collar. I love your work (both the leather and the metal) and can't wait to one day order my first piece! :)

Erin said...

Happy Esty-Versary, Allison!! Your work is so heartfelt and beautiful! I love all of the new sprout pieces and thank you for sharing all that you do in this blog!:-)

Cindy said...

I love your work, both metal and leather. Also love the honest emotion you share with your readers. Thank you.

resolute twig said...

Congrats on your etsy - versary and your success! Your work is beautiful. I am proud to own and wear some of your lovely jewelry. :)

Emily L. said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful designs from your beautiful spirit!

-Emily

Taddyporter said...

whoooohooo! here is to another year of always gorgeous, from-the-heart, magnificent jewels fired from the hand of a brave and kind lassie named Allisunny. you are a one in a million creation as well, angel girl....!

Ally said...

congrats. you have excelled at one of the things i love. metal working. i love gemstones and you bring out their beauty in every piece of jewelry you make. you are an inspiration!

Carlene said...

Congratulations on your Etsy year! I've been a follower for not too long, but thoroughly enjoy your pieces and hope to one day own one :) Please count me in on your contest. What a great way to celebrate! I love finding people getting to do what brings joy to their heart and makes their soul sing. And I can certainly tell that about you. Keep creating!

Kikii said...

It's amazing to see how many styles and themes you've explored in just a year! Please keep the leatherwork and metalsmithing coming and keep taking risks!

miznyc said...

um posting again. I loved your reply on my life is like a pizza crust post! :D

Thea said...

Happy Etsy-versary!

I love following along with the beauty and treasure of your life. Thank you for sharing the spirit of your life with all of us!