BKD Signature to Contribute to Exclusive Celebrity Gift Bag for Genevieve Gorder

Brianne Durkin, founder and owner of BKD Signature, in association with The Artisan Group, was recently selected to gift her premium handcrafted products in an exclusive collaborative gift bag prepared for celebrity TV designer Genevieve Gorder.  Ms. Durkin specially made Ms. Gorder one-of-a-kind pieces: a heart pendant necklace and a pair of rectangle earrings, assembled by Durkin using handmade glass tiles and beautiful Asian Chiyogami paper.

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Durkin has been a huge fan of Gorder’s for many years.  “I first saw Ms. Gorder when I was twelve, while watching the first season of Trading Spaces in 2000,” explains Durkin.  “Over the next eight years, I crossed my fingers before each episode hoping that Ms. Gorder would be one of the featured designers.  I love her design style, and think she has an amazing personality.  I dreamt that one day I would have the opportunity of meeting her or somehow connect with her.  I am absolutely ecstatic that my dream has come true twelve years later.”  Gorder will be receiving a heart shaped glass tile pendant necklace featuring the Whimsical Bubbly Flowers in Red and Gray Chiyogami paper and a pair of rectangle earrings featuring the Blue Bamboo Shoots Chiyogami paper.  Ms. Durkin feels the bold and colorful palette in these papers beautifully reflects the vibrant and soulful personality of Ms. Gorder.

Through The Artisan Group, Ms. Durkin gifted actress Kaley Cuoco an one-of-a-kind Chiyogami heart pendant and a Blue Winter pendant from her famous Love in Bloom Collection in July 2012.  In April 2012, she gifted celebrity chef Rachael Ray her Love in Bloom Collection, Kitties in Love pendant, and a Birthday Cake soy candle.

To learn more about BKD Signature’s glass tile jewelry and eco-friendly soy candles, or her participation in The Artisan Group's celebrity gifting initiatives, visit her Etsy shop at www.bkdsignature.com, her Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/BKDSignature, or email bkdsignature[at]gmail[dot]com.

Brianne Durkin, BKD Signature's sole proprietor, is a resident of Sacramento, CA, but is currently spending her time in Chico, CA while attending graduate school at California State University, Chico.  She established BKD Signature in February 2009, but has been crafting her whole life.  Her work can be found on Etsy at www.bkdsignature.com and Craft Café at http://craftcafe.co/shop/bkdsignature/.

  

For press inquiries regarding The Artisan Group, please visit http://www.theartisangroup.org or email press@theartisangroup.org.

Review of New Farm Hussy Scents

I was recently asked to review some newly released and yet-to-be-released scents over at Farm Hussy.  Now, if you've been following my blog and Facebook, you'd know how much I LOVE to gush over her products.  They are simply the best lotions and lip balms I've ever tried.  I've got several boxes full to make up my stockpile.  I am always eager to share her good products, and have gained several new customers for her.  I don't have to do much talking because these products speak for themselves!  Therefore, obviously, I was ecstatic to leap at the opportunity to test out some new scents.


It is important to note several things when reading reviews about scents, especially in handmade items.  First off, my sniffer may be very different than your sniffer.  The notes that your sniffer detects may be different than mine.  It may detect some notes more strongly than others, which may be different than mine.  Secondly, my body chemistry is certainly different than yours.  It will most likely change the affect the scent in a different manner than yours does.  Thirdly, these are simply my opinions, just a little something to keep in mind when purchasing.  There are several notes I do not like (patchouli, for example) that may in fact be your faves.  Feel free to take what you want from my reviews - they're for informational purposed only.  The bigger goal is to achieve happy sniffing! :)


Flower Child - Lovin' everyone under the sun is your motto.  Fresh cut lavender infused with patchouli, sandalwood, ylang, amber, violets and powdery tonka notes create your themed summer scent you'll remember forever.
My review: This is a new fave of mine (add this to Cherry Cow Chip and Gift Hog).  This smells like sandalwood and baby powder/floral to me.  Sandalwood is one of my fave notes - it's actually a scent memory trigger for me.  Ages ago, my family and I went on vacation to Seaside, CA and stayed at Seascape Resort.  I absolutely loved that vacay.  Not only are all the bath and body products in the resort scented sandalwood, but the beachside cliffs are full of it.  Now, I always associate the beach with the scent of sandalwood.  Added to that, I don't know why, but to me, hotels smell like cleaning and sandalwood.  That's what this scent reminds me of and I love it.


Chevre Noir (Black Sheep) - This delicate fragrance stands apart from the herd, with its lime/citrus top notes blended together with lavender, rose, wisteria and hyacinth and a soft dry down of powder and green apple.
My review: This is definitely one of my new faves, too!  This evokes scent memory for me so of course I gravitate towards it.  This smells like that favorite grandma or aunt you love seeing at the family gatherings.  A gently classic scent that stands the test of time.  I normally don't like citrus notes, but in this case they are balanced beautifully with the floral notes.  No one note outshines the other, but they complement each other nicely, sharing the stage in a wonderful symphony.


Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Jasmine - *Fresh type Pink Jasmine Precious pink petals sparkle with romantic notes of sweet blood red orange, floral blends of white lilac, magnolias (not steel ones), peony, freesia and tiare flowers kissed with peaches and marshmallow.
My review: There is actually a Star Jasmine plant at my house so I know what the flower smells like and it can be very pungent.  In the jar, this has some very strong floral notes and I wasn't so sure about it knowing what the plant is like.  But I knew I needed to try it before my final verdict as body chemistry has influence.  The scent ended up settling in much more softly on my skin, not overwhelming like I thought it'd be.  I very true smelling Star Jasmine scent without the pungent-ness (yes, made up that word).


A Pocketful of Posy's - This soft rose scent is brought to full bloom with petals of lily, ylang, gardenias and a hint of sandalwood and musk to create the perfect posy for your nosey!
My review: In the jar, this smells like sunscreen to me.  For some reason, when gardenia and ylang-ylang are blended together, that's the scent my nose picks up.  I have no idea why.  It smelled much nicer on my skin as the sandalwood and lily took more prominent roles.  I can attest this lives up to its name, a nice powdery floral scent, but this isn't much of a fave for my sniffer.  If your sniffer is a fan of wildflowers, this is a good one for you.


Butterfly Garden - A summer flutter of fragrance, dusted with magic wings of cherries and strawberries, sprinkled of lavender and roses, hyacinth and violets floating on a cloud of soft musk.
My review: I was really excited by the name and had high expectations.  Unfortunately, my sniffer didn't find this scent to be what it wanted.  The hyacinth and violet take center stage with the lavender and roses trying to squeeze in.  I can't smell the cherries or strawberries, which kind of saddens me because I think those notes would add a nicely sweet twist to it to make it perfect for my nose.  My sniffer is not really a fan of this one either, but perhaps your sniffer will be.


{{I still have more scents to review, but wanted to publish what I had so far.}}






Discloser: The opinions in this post are completely my own.  I received the product mentioned above so I could try it out and share an honest opinion with you.  The best way to find out if these scents work for you is to buy some samples and try them out yourself! :)

Christmas in July Sale! Buy Two Get One FREE

Christmas in July Sale 07/15-07/31: BUY TWO GET ONE FREE: Buy any two Chiyogami pendant necklaces, get a FREE square Chiyogami pendant packaged with your order. Buy four, get two free; buy six, get three free; etc. Stock up and get your holiday shopping done early! No coupon code needed, your order will automatically arrive with your freebies. :) www.bkdsignature.com

SOY CANDLE CLEARANCE SALE:  35 soy candle scents are on sale at a low price I've never done before!  Normally $7 each, they're on sale for an AMAZING$4.50 EACH!  Stock up now - I ship flat rate to save you even more!!!  http://craftcafe.co/shop/bkdsignature/?category=54&sub=3664

Gifting Rachael Ray!

The past couple months have been a whirlwind for me. Between taking five grad school classes and ramping up my business, I've certainly had my hands full. In the midst of this stress came the EXCITING NEWS that I had been chosen for an exclusive celebrity gifting opportunity. I had the unbelievable honor of sending my products to Rachael Ray! Crazy heart pounding when you get that special e-mail with the exciting news!


So then the big question becomes: what do you choose to send for such an opportunity? Not only do you want the celebrity to like your stuff, but you also hope this opens the door to bigger and better things. I wrestled big time with what to send adorable little Rachael Ray - I didn't want to screw up the biggest opportunity that's happened for my business.


Sending her my famous Love in Bloom Collection seemed like a no brainer. It's become almost a signature look for my business, a second form of branding in a way, and is my most popular product by far. It appeals to all ages. I also remembered that she is a big advocate for animal rights and a supporter of animal shelters: she has her own line of dog food, her own foundation that supports animals, and is a spokesperson for the ASPCA. My Kitties in Love pendant was perfect. (I had almost forgotten that I carry this - I had neglected to place it in its own listing in addition to its inclusion in the Charity listing. Major booboo on my part seeing as it was a huge seller in the larger size). But I also didn't want to forget the home fragrance/decor aspect of my business. A 2 oz soy candle would still fit within the maximum size requirements and make an elegant gift. What scent? Birthday Cake, of course! One of my best sellers and makes perfect sense to give a chef. Even then, I hummed and hawwed about whether I made the right decision. I didn't think I'd second guess myself so much! I am just so honored and thankful to have the opportunity.


The gift is on its way to New York right now to her rep; it should arrive on Friday! I am so stoked. Friday the 13th - I embrace superstitions, I think they're good luck, so maybe this is a good omen for me! If anything, it's crazy exciting to think a celeb will soon own my stuff!

The Rachael Package by BKD Signature - Love in Bloom Collection, Kitties in Love Pendant, and 2 oz Soy Candle Tin

My 3rd Etsyversary Celebration!!!

So my 3rd year Etsyversary is coming up on February 19th and I wanted to celebrate it BIG.  3 years seems to be a milestone in the Etsy world, usually because it signals that you've survived the nuances of owning a small handmade business in a big commercialized retail world and, hopefully, have reached several milestones to becoming a well-established shop.  Just this morning I reached sale number 5-0-0, a HUGE milestone, and I couldn't be more excited.  So I am fortunate enough to start celebrating several things today. :)

To thank my loyal fans, I have decided to host three GIGANTIC giveaways.  Below is one of the giveaways (due to glitches with it on FB) and the other is a tab on my BKD Signature FB fan page.  You have many opportunities to get entries so take advantage of them all!  {{Due to the recent problems with USPS and shipping internationally, these contests are only open to USA residents.}}

Giveaway #1 through Blog:
- Love in Bloom Collection
- 5 assorted graphic pendants
- Two 6 oz soy candles; one in Downy Fresh and one in Beach Daisies
- 3 pairs of cabochon earrings; one pair chrysanthemum, one pair hibiscus, one pair rose
TOTAL VALUE: $128
Above in post

Giveaway #2 through Facebook Page:
- Love in Bloom Collection
- 1 pair rose cabochon earrings
TOTAL VALUE: $45
http://www.facebook.com/BKDSignature?sk=app_150794994973742

Giveaway #2 Surprise Package to Unlock through Facebook Page:
TOTAL VALUE: $45
http://www.facebook.com/BKDSignature?sk=app_150794994973742

{{To clarify, the "purchase" entry refers to new ones while the giveaway is open.  Purchase 5 items to get all 95 entries.}}






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Sampler Village Box Arrival

My January Sampler Village box arrived today!  It's always so exciting when this comes!  You know it's a good box when you can smell it in the mailbox. :)  Can't wait to review these products for you - there's bunches of great samples!

Saturday's Sales Sheet

Naughty & Nice Lingerie:  The New Year, Valentine's Day and a sale at Naughty and Nice Lingerie!  15% off sale in the eBay store; use coupon code vday12 in Bonanza booth "nnnlingerie".  New Dreamgirl Lingerie $25 and under with free shipping within the USA.


Natural Mountain Body Care: 75% off ALL soap at www.naturalmtnbodycare.etsy.com use code SOAP75 at checkout. DISCOUNT APPLIES TO SOAP ONLY!


Briar Muse: All discontinued fragrances now 50% Off!


Suzy's Scent Shop: Whole store is on sale!


La Fuffie's Boutique: Use code FreeShip on http://lafuffiesboutique.storenvy.com/ and www.lafuffieboutique.etsy.com


Aqua Blossom: I have 20% off everything in my Luulla shop only :) No coupon necessary.


Rustic Rainbow: 20 perent off sale


The Realist Mermaid: Buy two get one free on all items, mix and match


Sampler Village boxes are on sale!  These go quick so get yours now!!!