Home » Archives for June 2009

Easy DIY Instructions for a Resin Photo Pendant

Photo jewelry is getting more popular nowadays. Learn to make resin photo pendant. Find out Maire Loughran offers tips how to make a resin photo pendant. Check it out here.

The picture shown sample from http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/how_to_make_resin_pendants. Nice step by step guide.

Subsequent paragraphs continue from here....

Tuesday's Tips #7

A Sock Monkey Named Huff

Today I want to talk about inspiration. Where do I find it? Where do you find it? What do you do when the well runs dry and you have NO IDEAS???

There is a lot that can be said about inspiration. In fact, I'm going to be spending the next couple of weeks of tips devoted to the topic. Well, more specifically challenges to you as an artist that might help you when need to find inspiration.

So where we find inspiration? Here's just a few ideas I had when I was thinking over the topic (in no particular order):

1. Books

2. Music

3. Art

4. Artists

5. Conversations

6. Nature

7. More Nature :P

8. Old Pieces we've created.

9. Children

10. Museums

11. Malls

13. Materials

14. Blogs

15. Dreams

I'm sure the list could go on and on! In fact - I'd like to hear you stories! Where do you find inspiration? Tell me something that's not on the list! I know I find ideas in the weirdest places sometimes. Like one time I was in class and I couldn't focus because the pattern on these girls shoes was calling out to be made into a bracelet...

The item I featured at the top of the post is a great example of finding inspiration. Amy, of Mama's Little Monkey's, started making sock monkeys for her shop a little while ago. Somewhere along the line (no idea where, but she just rocks, so that's that) she thought it would be fun to pattern some of them after her friends! The one at the top is the musician Chris Huff, who has some GREAT music :) Isn't that a cool idea?

And yes, I know, there aren't really any great "tips" you can pull out of this post, but I do hope it gets you thinking, and it gets the ground work laid for what I have planned in the next few weeks :)

A Lovely Morning Surprise

There's been so much going on lately - that I can't tell you how much it helps me keep going emotionally when I get lovely surprises in my inbox! Look at this lovely treasury I'm in! I actually got a shot of it this time too (*pats self on back*). Thank you so much KraftyMax! You can find the treasury here. Mine's the third down in the right column. Inara's Cuff.

The Weekly Special - and More!

Weekly Special!!!

This simple yet elegant bracelet is made from rainbow fluorite beads. Each bead has a slightly different coloration to it making this a dynamic bracelet that your friends will all love! Each link is lovingly handcrafted from gold colored wire to best accent the colors in the rainbow fluorite.

This bracelet is approximately 7 3/4 inches long. I can easily shorten this bracelet but I can not lengthen it with out adding different beads into the pattern because these are the only beads I have like this!

Gem Stone Lore:

Fluorite: The name for this beautiful stone comes from the Latin word "fleure" which means "to flux." It's thought that fluorite helps bring calm, a sense of connection to the universe, and symbolizes fresh beginnings just like a beautiful rainbow after a storm.

This week it's only $8 plus $2 shipping and handling to anywhere in the world!

Exciting News!

As you probably remember, I had to give up my radio show awhile ago because I've been too ill to meet the commitment. Well, a couple of weeks ago Rod contacted me and asked me if I wanted to write the weekly artist feature for the station! I was so excited! Basically it's going to mean that each artist who gets featured here on my Friday's Featured Artist will also get the expsure of being the featured artist on Block Head Radio! We're about a week off, but that's ok, nothing like spreading out the love! Go check out www.blockheadradiolive.com to see the first one!

Top Commentator Contest

We're almost to the end of the month which means this month's Top Commentator Contest is almost over! Let me just say there are some people in the lead - but that doesn't mean it's too late for you! All comments count - even on old posts! So if you have some time to read feel free to go back and read through my blog :) I just ask that you give me real comments and don't spam my inbox with a bunch of "cool!" and that's it. Here's what you stand to win:

Top 3 Commentators - Write up on this blog :)

1st Place - $20 Gift Certificate to my Shops

2nd Place - $10 Gift Certificate to my Shops

3rd Place - $5 Gift Certificate to my Shops

Check these Out!

Once again it's time to share my most recent relistings or new listings! Tell me which of these is YOUR favorite and earn an extra entry into the Top Commentator contest!

New Pretties! (And their stories)

Sometimes with my health it's REALLY hard to get around to taking product photos. I've been able to get a bunch of photos done today though and I'm looking forward to getting a bunch of new items up in the next week! The two I posted today have stories with them so I thought I'd share :) Both are available in my Artfire shop - which is currently running a 15% of sale!

The first piece I've named Aztec Treasure - doesn't it look like something from that culture? I love how it turned out!

This piece was one that literally evolved as I was creating it. I started out thinking I wanted to practice my St. Petersburg chain techniques and make a necklace. I love the color combination of these smokey black beads and bright copper colored beads, so that's what I started with! As the necklace got longer though I just *knew* that I needed some sort of focal for the piece.

I ended up putting it aside for a day or two while I thought about what I was going to do to form a focal piece. Finally I decided to play around with circular brickstitch, something I've been wanting to learn anyway, and so I started with that! It still wasn't looking quite complete, so I decided to add the fringe, which I kept short to kinda reflect on the rest of the pattern, and I fell in love!

Next I finished up stitching the two lengths of St. Petersburg chain, firmly attached them to the back of the focal, added a copper toggle clasp - and a new piece was born!

These earrings, Whirl of Color Beadwoven Earrings, grew out of two inspirations. I had finished my Aztec Treasure piece not long before and had been contimplating using beadwoven discs for earrings. Then Natasha put up the a challenge for the Thursday Sweet Treats called "Whirling Colors in Midflight." I had a few different ideas for this one, but everything I came up with in my head I ended up vetoing because of one logistics problem or the other! Then, as I was falling asleep one evening, I put the idea of the whirling colors together with the desire to make some disc earrings - and these were born!

Part of the whirling colors challenge was that she had given us pictures of hot air balloons for inspiration. That's where the bright colors come from in this piece! I've always loved the bold colors used in hot air balloons :)

Getting back in the swing of things

Oh I so enjoyed my week away in Napa Valley! I'll do my beady update first then do a run down of my trip at the end of the post for anyone who cares to read those details (I try to keep my blog 90% jewelry focused but occasionally have to divert to other topics!). The necklace pictured above is the beautiful work of Mary Jane, otherwise known as Marie Dodd- she was the helpful blog reader who suggested "Spruce" as the name for my new glaze. As a little thanks for her suggestion, I sent her a Spruce Abstract Butterfly pendant to play with. Don't you just love what she did with it? I think the browns and greens give it such a "from nature" feeling.Since I've been gone for a week (and am incapable of packing lightly with jewelry work) nothing new has created itself while I was away. However, inspiration galore in Napa so I'm excited to be home (well kind of) and will get back to working on new things this week.

Ok, can't stand it any longer, let's talk about my vacation now!!! This amazing entry is at Castell0 di Amorosa. What a great place to wander through and around. They had sheep, chickens and a winery dog (didn't see him though) and welcomed our big galumphing Golden Retriever who was able to chill out beside us in the tasting room as we sampled wine.

The details in the castle are really extraordinary. I'm a sucker for painted ceiling work like this!

The highlight of our trip (for me) was visiting Round Pond and touring their olive mill. It was just wonderful sitting down and doing the olive oil tasting in such a quiet and beautiful setting. Who would have thought that I would end up sipping olive oil like wine?! Olive oil tasting is done just like wine tasting, you take a sip then suck a little air in through it as you swallow. I could go on with details forever but I'll wrap this part up by saying that homemade vanilla ice cream with RoundPond olive oil drizzled on top is one of the most decadent things you could imagine!

Here's my quick list of fabulous things/places we experienced:
Castello di Amorosa
Round Pond Olive Mill (and the winery is gorgous as well)
Dean and Deluca Caramel Balsamic Gelato (oh my goodness!)
Michael Chiarello's Panini Cafe at NapaStyle (toasted chicken panini and sweet corn and arugala salad- so good I went back the next day for the same thing!)
Mumm Winery (sparkling wines, an Ansel Adams display in the gallery and the most peaceful patio)
Peju Winery (just fantastic people, generous tastings, and they give 10% of sales on their wine "Pink" to Breast Cancer charity)
Meritage Resort (dog friendly hotel)
Ruff (dog daycare/hotel, Nana had a blast there while we went on our olive oil tour-she went with us everywhere else!)

There's more but I'll spare you all! I have pictures on Flickr of some of the highlights (again sparing you the photo of my panini and arugula salad- I was so enamored I had to take pictures of it!).
Back to jewelry with the next post I promise :)

My First Artfire Sale!!!!

I'm so excited!!! I'm doing my first ever sale in my Artfire shop! Let me say I just LOVE how artfire has it set up so you just type in the percentage you want to give off - and they change all your listings for you! Sooo much easier than the way Etsy is set up!

So that's right - 15% off my entire Artfire shop! Make sure you check it out - most of the inventory (with the exception of my high priced items) is different from what you've seen in my etsy shop!

On a different note... I have a lot in the works for both my shops! Life has been really busy with apartment hunting so I haven't had the energy to take pictures this week, but I have a bunch of new inventory to put up as soon as I do!

I also picked up a book at the library that I've been waiting for - it's all about beading with cabochons and I'm so excited! I've been doing some research on-line and one of the sites recommended this book. So I ordered it at the library, had to wait TWO MONTHS, and it's finally here! I read the intro and first chapter last night and my fingers are itching to play!

I'm also planning on expanding my hemp line in the near future. I've sold quite a bit lately - for me at least - so I plan on having a hemp section in my Artfire shop soon and more inventory over all for both stores!

UPDATE:

I just found out that this necklace is in a treasury! Thanks Peacox Creations!

Delightful Blue Necklace & Earrings Set

Swarovski 5301 Bicone Crystals& Lampwork Beads inspired bracelet with Czech Glass Pearls / Cathedral Beads & Silver Plated Metal Findings. Necklace measure about 16" adjustable up to -18" in lenght. Earrings about 5-6cms including hooks..

Visit:www.my-secret-corner.com

Friday's Featured Artist - LazyT Crochet!

This week's artist is also the Etsy Blogger for the month! Tricia of LazyT Crochet has been a part of the team for quite awhile now, and I remember her being very friendly and welcoming when I first started. I had a lot of fun getting to know her better and I hope you do too!

1. What type of art work do you do?

I consider myself to be a fiber artist. I started out with simple cotton and acrylics in classic crochet, but have included a lot more natural fibers and techniques over the past year or two. I like designing knit and crochet shawls, hats, and purses as well as Nuno felted scarves and accessories.

2. How did you get started doing art work?

I taught myself how to crochet and started making dishcloths and potholders for gifts. The family can only wear so many hats, so I started making lots of different things.

3. What's Nuno felting?

It's a wet-felting technique. http://lazytcrochet.blogspot.com/2008/11/fun-with-felting.html

I'll probably be blogging about it again soon. This new cuff is wet felted also... (See the picture to the right)

3. Do you do any other crafts?

I do some sewing and often combine yarn and

fabric for projects. I am not very artistic when it comes to drawing, painting, or beading/jewelry work. I do like to add a holiday craft project to brighten up my holday show table each year. Sometimes natural things like potpourri or garlands.

4. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?

This art shawl is my favorite item in my shop right now. (See the shawl on the left below)

It was fun using the rings to design the edging. My favorite piece that I'm working on right now is a raw felted handbag, felt with wool batts and decorated with glitzy and colorful fibers.

5. Where do you sell your work?

I've had a shop on Etsy for over two years and sell at local shows and events. LazyTcrochet.Etsy.com

6. Do you blog?

Yes, I blog about yarns, patterns, fashions, recipes and more at LazyTcrochet.Blogspot.com

7. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?

I have a Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/LazyTcrochet/32716500715

8. Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?

I sometimes listen to audio books, but haven't in awhile. I do like to catch up on a soap or two.

9. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*

Hmmm...random random. I don't like taragon. It can totally ruin a dinner out if I order wrong!

Win a $20 Gift Certificate for my Shops to Celebrate!

What am I celebrating? My 100th post, that is!

I am kicking off a contest to give away a $20 gift certificate for any one item in my Etsy shop, Artfire shop, or 1000Markets shop (as I do keep different things in each shop) up to $20....or apply it to something over $20! The contest runs from Friday, June 26 until Friday, July 3.

To enter:
Leave a comment telling me which piece is your favorite from any one of my shops. That's it! Be sure to leave your email or Etsy name so I can contact you at the end of the contest.

To Earn Extra Entries:
1) Follow this blog
2) Subscribe to my RSS feed
3) Follow me on Twitter
4) Re-tweet the post
5) Tweet your own tweet.
Please make a separate comment for each thing done and be sure to include the URL of your own tweet in the comment. Of course, if you already follow, let me know for an entry.

There, you have 6 ways to enter! Winner will be chosen by random.com (each comment gets a number). Results will be posted Saturday, July 4!

Good luck, have fun and have a great weekend!

(Disclaimer****International entries are welcome, however, shipping charges apply. By the way, I am in the US.)

Feeling the Love Today :)

I've had a migraine all day - which sucks - but I've had some great things to help balance it out! And yes, it's mostly gone by now, or I wouldn't be blogging :P I'm down to the dull ache, lethargic, grumpy stage. Although to be fair the grumpy pretty much starts with the headache and takes forever to go away. Working hard to combat it though! And like I said, these things helped :)

First, I found my "Set Me Free" bracelet in this lovely treasury! Isn't that wonderful? It's been awhile since I've found myself in a random treasury and it always makes me want to squeal! I didn't though...head pounding and all...

Then I found a blog post by my friend Teresa of TiLT Creations. She was one of the winners of my Top Commentators Contest for last month! So she blogged about what she bought with her gift certificate to my shop.

Not familiar with my contest? All you have to do is comment on my blogs! Each month the person with the most comments (and two runner ups) receive gift certificates! Last month was a blast and I can hardly wait to see who wins this month :)

I Got it from My Daddy

Dad sold my car since I'm never home and SF's parking fees are outrageous.

However meet Daisy and the new car, two new additions to the Song Family.

(Dad's shrunken Calvin Klein Wife Beater, Skirt from Korea, Nine West Fedora, Charlotte Russe Black Flats)

At LAX before I left to Chicago & Kentucky.

I'm currently in Kentucky (got here on Tuesday night) and enjoying the extremely beautiful weather and scenery. I wish it was summer all year round so I could live here.

What is the market positioninig for www.Handmade-Jewelry-Club.com?

Somebody asked me, with the launch of DIYLessons.ning.com, how www.Handmade-Jewelry-Club.com is being positioned?

Well, DIYLessons is a social networking community for craft lessons. As for HJC, it focuses to bring you the best news on handmade jewelries and jewelry making tips and tutorials. Both offer memberships. DIYLessons is free, membership for HJC is exclusive for selected members with or without a small fee.

Both communities complement each other. Blog posts from HJC is linked to DIYLessons. So if you are posting in HJC, your article will appear in DIYLessons as well.

If you are a jewelry makers, i would like to welcome you to participate in both coummunities. DIY enthusiasts are handmade lovers. Hence, they are also your target group for your handmade jewelries. I would encourage you to post in both sites.

Thursday Featured Artisan...WillOaksStudio!

I am so excited to present this interview for you. Why, it's none other than my blogger-friend, Karen, from WillOaks Studio on Etsy! First a little background about her. Armed with a background in professional art training as well as inherited creative genes, Karen has found her original love of hand made artisan papers evolved to creating wearable art. Soon to come in the future will be her own metal fabrication pieces and elements. Not only is her work constantly experiencing an evolution, but Karen considers it a personal evolution also. She will recognize the need to master a new technique or medium to incorporate into her work so that she has many options as her ideas for pieces keep evolving. While she is working in her studio to create these pieces, she listens to a variety of things from news programs to music to the ever-cherished silence.

Simple (but not ordinary) White Pearl Necklace

Now, we all hit creative road-blocks at one point or another. When I asked Karen how she deals with this, she told me that she accepts that it is a normal thing and that having several different things going at the same time tends to help. She will gather whatever information her conscious mind requires, then lets her subconscious mind take over to work the problem out. Karen told me a story about an old art professor that would not let his students get away with the 'I have a creative road-block'. His response? "If you call yourself an artist, you get into that studio every day, even if all you do is sweep the floor" In my opinion, very good advice! As Karen puts it, "The discipline of working can help dispel road blocks." Well, Karen, I couldn't have said it better myself!

Aqua Blossoms with Moonstones Earrings

As far as keeping ideas organized, Karen does what many of us do I am coming to find: scraps of paper, notes taped everywhere, the cherished sketchbook. I truly think it is amazing that artists can come up with some of the most wonderful pieces being as disorganized with ideas as artists can be! And we're not even talking about the studio here! Typically, Karen will show her pieces in a gallery or museum shows, but recently she has been showing them online and finds it a wonderful surprise. She has been working hard to create her online presence and learning all about selling online, keeping these tasks as creative as her work. Well, it is obviously working! In her professional artisan life, Karen has received awards for her paper making and plans to keep setting goals along those same lines in her new medium. She admits that the hardest thing for her is to find clientele for her new medium, however. If you think about it, wearable art is really different than paper making, so it may be difficult to transition those clients to a new medium. Karen also offers that her most productive marketing technique is the photographs of her pieces.

Rose and Olive Blossom Grand Floral Bracelet

To conclude the interview, I asked Karen if she had any advice for artisans just beginning their business. This is what she had to say:
..."as an artist and a teacher, the very foundation of this "art business" is an excellent product that is somehow special, inspired or different -- so my advice is focus on your creations first, second and third...and when they are good enough, then work to get them seen."

Thank you again, Karen, for allowing me to interview you. To see more of Karen's work, click on the pictures above to visit her Etsy shop. You can also visit her Artfire Shop and stop by Karen's blog to see what is going on behind the scenes.

Please comment if you liked this interview, retweet if you wish, and stay tuned next Thursday for another Featured Artisan!

Plurk VS Twitter

I know, I know, some of you are probably thinking, "Not ANOTHER social media site to keep up with!?!" But wait! Don't panic! Before you close this post thinking, "I just can't handle any more," I want to challenge you to at least read what I have to say, and THEN make your decision about wether Plurk might be a tool for you to use to grow your business. Ok?

www.plurk.com and www.twitter.com have a lot of similarites and a lot of differences. Similarities can be summed up as:

1. Both are Social Media Sites

2. Both provide you with a method to do "mini-blogging." IE - to share a short message about what's going on in your day.

3. Both have systems for finding and making "friends."

4. Both have systems for sending a direct or private message to an individual "friend."

Twitter has been around longer and is the one that I'm betting most of my readers are more familiar with. After all, even the stars are using twitter these days! I've been on twitter for awhile now, and I know many people who've found it very useful. I currently have 1,424 followers and I follow 1,377.

Now I know several people who've made sales that they can directly relate back to advertising on Twitter. I can say that I've gotten views on items, but no sales. I've built a few relationships, but with that many people feeding in to my twitter, building a relationship is hard!

When I first heard about Plurk my thought was, "Well isn't that just like Twitter? It's not like Twitter's really been that helpful for me..." I ignored the first few inventations I got to it, but then I noticed something. I was getting a LOT of invites for Plurk! So one day when I had some extra time I signed up...and fell in love pretty quickly.

Like Twitter, you post up short thoughts on Plurk. However, instead of having to go to your "replies" section to see if you've gotten any responses, Plurk creates a "thread" with each post that's put up so you and anyone else who's interested can follow the responses! This makes it much easier to form a connection and have a conversation with the people reading your plurks.

Plurk also updates you immediately when one of your friends puts up a new post or when someone replies. With Twitter you have to find and download a seperate program to get those features, but Plurk does it right there in your browser. I can't run the Twitter programs because I'm on a laptop and it slows down my processing speeds too much, but I can keep up with Plurk!

Now here's the kicker - I've only been on Plurk for a month or two (vs 8-10 months with Twitter) - and I've already had several sales as a result! Since all your replies to a post are right there and easy to view it's really easy to talk to potential customers. I've had several direct sales where I've posted about a new item and it's sold, and I've negotiated several custom orders via plurk.

Does that mean Twitter's all bad? Certainly not! Like I said, I know people who make sales from it! Plurk allows me to send all my posts over to Twitter so I still use my twitter. I check for responses through out the day and I still talk to people over there. I just vastly prefer Plurk!

If your interested in signing up for an account on plurk just follow this link: http://www.plurk.com/roseworksjewelry/invite

A CUTE giveaway!

You all know I love anything fantasy related - so I love this shop! And I'm really excited about the giveaway :) Go check out the blog for Elfling Creations to get all the details!

Wordless Wednesday...

Vintage Inspired Necklaces & Cab Flower Earrings

shop.php?user_id=6942054

Bridal Jewelry Lariats and Back Dangles – Twice the sparkle

From the style of gown to the length of veil, every detail is important on your most special day. That’s why when it comes down to the detail of your wedding jewelry, it’s just as important to finishing off your wedding look for that momentous occasion.

While there are all types of styles and combinations of wedding necklaces, the bridal lariat or back dangle necklace adds a ton of drama to the neckline, but also to the back. Think of it as jewelry to accent your beautiful gowns neckline, but also the back of your dress as well. Once you have taken that walk down the isle to meet your groom, the rest of the guests will be staring right at your back side. Adding that additional element of surprise in one of the most simple ways is a back dangle necklace or a lariat necklace.

A bridal lariat is a longer style necklace, usually around thirty-two inches in length, but it can be shorter or longer depending upon the style and customizations you make. There is typically a front y drop style or pendant style that accents most necklines. Whether you have a v neck front or a strapless gown, the y drop in the front will drop between your v neck style gown or overlap your strapless gown in a fashionable and vintage feel and look. The back of your gown will be what determines how long your back dangle or lariat ties will fall.

With a lariat you take the two longer strands, strap one over the other just like tying your shoes, but without the bow. Then the dangles hand elegantly down your back. With a back dangle there is usually only one chain or wired or strung piece that dangles down. Either style is both complimentary and an elegant choice for brides.

Wedding lariats and bridal back dangle necklaces are the perfect accessory to add some glamour and elegance to your wedding look. Shop around to find a bridal jewelry designer that can customize items such as the metal type to match your wedding bands and other wedding jewelry, crystal and/or pearl colors you have in your wedding gown or colors and lengths that work best for you.

After the wedding take your back dangle or bridal lariat on your honeymoon with you. There are additional moments where dressing up is just right for the occasion and you can get double duty out of your lovely sparklers there too.

http://www.bonitaj.com
http://www.bonitaj.com/lbd-cat.html
info@bonitaj.com
888-430-2623

Weekly Special!

I had a lot of fun when I made these earrings! I remember sitting down to do some bead weaving, going all "crafty ADHD," and making these instead! They have all sorts of fun beads in them. Swarovski crystals and hearts, ladybugs, and all dangling from chain! The earrings hang about 3 1/4 inches. This week, on this blog, they are on sale for only $8 plus $2 shipping and handling to anywhere in the world! So what are you waiting for?

100th Post and Treasuries!

First I want to celebrate my 100th posting yesterday. Didn't realize it until I came to do a post today! I have grown very fond of this blog, as well as all my blogger friends I have made in maintaining it!

Incidentally, I am in a couple treasuries and on FoundHandmade! If you click the images below, it will take you to the treasury page to comment!

First Treasury:

Retro for Real treasury curated by FiberFancy
Piece chosen: Grape Vintage Stacked Button Bracelet

Next Treasury:

...the edge of a petal... treasury curated by Monarchdancer
Piece chosen: Mustard Seed Vintage Button Brooch

And, as an added treat, one of my pieces is/was featured on FoundHandmade! What an honor to be in two treasuries AND FoundHandmade! Sure made my day! Thank you to everyone who chose my pieces!

Crosses To Wear - FoundHandmade Blog
Piece Chosen: Delphia Antique Cross Button Pendant

The Ring Lord
Art of Chainmail
M.A.I.L - Maille Artisans International League
Spiderchai
C G Maille
Chainmail Basket
ChainWeavers
Maile of the Dreamseeker
Venom’s Pit
Bladeturner Armoury
Fire Drake Chain Maille

Davidchain Jewelry
Long Canyon
Unreal-Hunter
Call of the Wire
Bijoux de Terre
Zlosk

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