Setting up to blog

Well, I am finally jumping into the blogosphere and sharing how my passion for and obsession with CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements changed my life and brought me to a sparkling world where I belonged all along.

Welcome and thanks for visiting!  Whether you have come here directly, through a link on the COMMUNITY.CREATE-YOUR-STYLE.COM, Facebook, or from another blogger, I'm glad you have dropped by to visit and I hope you are comfortable here.

So why "Sparkles and Smiles"?  Two years ago I was invited to join the testing team of Swarovski's new Sparkling Community associated with their CREATE-YOUR-STYLE.COM website.  I was honored to be included and then excited to find three of my favorite teachers; Margot Potter*, Lisa Pavelka and Val Hirata, were also on the team.  I signed in, created my profile, posted a few pictures and said hello to the people I knew.  I was immediately welcomed and embraced by some of the lovliest people I have ever met.  Soon, checking in on the community was something I looked forward to every day.  I posted more designs, added details to my profile, and ventured into the Community forum, where one of our members (and now moderator), Wendy had initiated a "Daily Chit Chat".  I joined in the talk and signed my posts with "sparkles and smiles".  The phrase summed up what the community meant to me and later became what I wanted to share with the community.  Now sparkles and smiles are what I want to share with everyone I meet.

Our Sparkling Community, by the way, went live in June 2008 and has grown to over 7500 members.  If you haven't checked it out yet, please do.  It's a vibrant, international collection of designers and enthusiasts ranging from beginners to seasoned professionals.  You can read blog posts from our other CREATE YOUR STYLE Ambassadors.  I'm certain you will recognize many of them, for they comprise an exclusive network of well-known experts in the Do-It-Yourself field, have a passion for CREATE YOUR STYLE with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements, a high level of design expertise and a strong record of conducting workshops.

So until the next time....

Sparkles and smiles,  Diane

            *Margot has a fun blog, The Impatient Crafter.  She has helped
              me countless times believe in my ability to make my wildest
              dreams come true. Check back here later and I'll tell you much
              more about Margot.