Labor Day Sale

I'm having a Labor Day sale in my Etsy shop! Now thru 9/8/09, Buy One, get additional purchases for 25% off. Etsy doesn't have a handy sale option, so you have to either purchase the items and I can refund the difference via Paypal, or I can do a special listing.

I've added some new items to prep for the sale.

Caribbe Island Bracelet - pretty shells mixed with bright beads

Swingin' Green & Black - Peridot and Black super long necklace

Groovy Vintage Book "I Want to be a Nurse" from 1957

Stop by my shop and check it out. Have a Happy Labor Day all!!!

Self Challenge

So, I bought these shells - they were $2.95 individually, $10.95 for 10 - I bought the strand of 10. I've challenged myself to try and create at least 6 fun pieces of jewelry out of them.

The colors are great, brown, peach, green, even a touch of light blue. They're a Lisway shell in bamboo - I'm not sure if bamboo is a name of the cut or just what they look like. They do look like bamboo - pretty nice of the shell to create itself in this shape.

I have the 1st completed and listed for sale in my Artfire store.

I'm pretty happy with how it came out. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the rest.

So many things to do this summer, so little time!

How to Create Patina on Copper

I've played around for a long time to learn how to create different colored patinas on my copper jewelry.  I've decided to share some of the techniques & tips so that you can do it too!

The blueing chamber is simple, just take any plastic container with a lid.  In this one, I put ammonia on a cotton ball, added the copper and put the lid on tightly.  You leave this in until you get the color you want.  The copper should not touch the ammonia, it's the fumes that do the work.

You can also add the ammonia to sawdust, this allows for additional saturation which leads to the deeper blue color.  If you sprinkle the pieces with salt, those spots will stay copper and make an interesting affect.  

Once you have the color you like, just wash the piece with water and flake off any of the loose patina.  You will have to seal the blued pieces.  I just use a Krylon clear coat in a few light layers.  

Here's a finished piece of jewelry using the blueing technique!

Here Be Dragons

I just love dragons!  I have quite a collection - pewter figurines, stuffed dragons and my favorite, a ceramic dragon flute.  

I also have an extensive collection of novels dealing with dragons.  I'm quite intrigued by the different ways authors refresh this iconic character.  One of my all time favorites is "Tea with the Black Dragon" by R.A. McAvoy.  My latest read is a young adult novel "The Last Dragon" by Silvana De Mari.  My son read it for his 7th grade english class so I read it as well.  There's an interesting political theme that provided me an opportunity open a discussion with him.  He hasn't developed a good grasp on recognizing themes, he's still at the stage where he just enjoys the story.  

Enjoy these great reads for summer and check out my dragon choker/necklace and earrings.

Treasury Time

Woo whoo!  I made it into another treasury on Etsy - that's 2 for this month.  I'm not sure how long the list link lasts (try saying that 3 times) but it's fun while it's there.

I really like creating treasuries but I hardly ever catch it when a list opens up.  For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a treasury is a photo collage of items arranged around a theme.  They're fun to put together and the challenge is to have your list get "hot" enough from people looking at it to get your treasury featured on the front page.  I've never made the front page, but there's always a 1st time.

Happy Spring to everyone!

Milestones

I hate milestones, especially for birthdays.  After you hit 21 and can drink legally, what's the point?  30, pfft, 40-the over the hill jokes start, 50-you may as well be dead, 60-well, retirement is near, or is it???, 70-glad you're not dead yet...

But, I do have a milestone.  I have 49 sales in my Etsy store.  I like the number 49, it's a nice number, but I'm looking forward to 50.  If you're the 50th sale in my store, you'll receive 50% off any 1 item.  Just buy, pay and once I verify you're number 50 I'll refund you half of the purchase price (not 1/2 off of shipping, it is what it is).  Really easy!  If you're 51 or 52, you'll get 25% off.  

So help me get over this milestone!  Bold jewelry - Vintage Finds

Special special!

It seems I'm always running behind on the holidays.

So, in honor of Valentines Day, I'm offering free shipping on all my jewelry until 2/14.  On Etsy, the shipping is already set to 0.00.  For my Artfire shop, I can either send an updated invoice or refund the shipping price when I process the order.

Either way, jewelry is always a great gift for yourself or others!  And what's better than something that's one of a kind and handmade.

Tulip earrings with fluorite, "Hint of Mint" necklace, Tender Wisp sterling ring.

Can't Seem To Get It Together

I have 2 weeks to get DH's taxes together for his business.  I just can't seem to get it together - the more I work on my art, the more I hate paperwork!  

Imagine a little castle just to the right on the hills in "Sea Escape" above - that's where I want to live!

Fusion-Two Loves Combined

I love painting, especially in miniature.  I found a trove of wood blanks and started creating small pieces of art.  After figuring out a few logistics (like solving how to make and attach a bail), I was able to combine painting with jewelry making.  The 1st results "Winterling."  

I love the way the colors of the stones perfectly complement the colors in the painting.  I have a bunch more of these mini-delights just waiting to be converted into wearable art.

What loves could you combine?  I'd love to hear about them!

Stats

Ran some quick numbers for 2008.  Made over 200 pieces of jewelry.  Pretty good considering I only have around 3 hours a night to work on my crafts.  Of that, here's the sales stats:

Sold on Etsy (Feb-Dec) - 13

Sold at Jewelry parties (3) - 72

Sold by showing off new items to friends or wearing my necklaces:  58.

Resolved for 2009-have more parties, always wear my jewelry in public, work on marketing the on-line stores and diversify them.

Happy New Year everyone!

"Morning in the Amazon" can be seen here.