New Year, New Blog

A new year brings new beginnings...or at least new directions for old ideas.  This is the year that will be focused on this blog.  It has been difficult staying on track so far in 2011 due to a couple family emergencies, but things are starting to slow down and I am finally regaining my momentum.

After spending the end of December looking back on this blog, I realized that it needs a new direction and a new focus.  I invite you to take this journey with me, offering me feedback as we walk down that road together.

The fact of the matter is that people just don't have time to waste on blogs that don't have a clear-cut purpose or a certain element of focus to it.  This includes myself.  While my blog visiting has been pretty sporadic since the holidays, I aspire to get back on track with this also, but want to offer my readers a reason to keep coming back.  So, this post marks the beginning of this new journey.

So, you may be asking exactly what is the purpose of this blog?  I have thought long and hard about this and this is what I intend to offer:

• I plan to continue to embrace the handmade movement and share my enthusiasm for this with you.
• I will continue to share my designs and creations but include you more into the working process, inspiration, the eras that my jewelry reflects and any other aspect revolving it.  
• I will continue to share my love for antique buttons and plan to educate you a little bit more than I have in the past.  You may not end up loving them the same way I do, but I guarantee that you will find a new appreciation for them at the least.
• I will add into the blog elements of fashion, design and the typical life of the eras that my jewelry reflects.  Those of you who follow my blog will know that I am simply in love with the years between 1880's and 1946.  To me, it is the most interesting eras ever seen.  The Victorians, the Edwardians, Art Deco and the Flappers, and I cannot forget the greatest generation...the World War II era.  To me, any era after this is a bad Twilight Zone episode (although I do adore the old B&W Twilight Zone shows!)
• I plan on having much more giveaways and features.  I can only tell you so much, but to see for yourself is a whole other animal.
• Finally, I want my readers to know what I create, why I create it and what I hope to gain or share by creating it.  Sure, there will be snippets of family and fun, but I believe focus to be paramount.

So, buckle up.  You are in for a ride!

By George, She's Doing it!

Knitting.  My nemesis.  I have been trying to knit since I was 21.  Believe me...that was a while ago!  My mother tried teaching me, I tried using books from the library, I even tried tutorials online.  However, it all turned out the same:  it didn't resemble knitting in the least!

My last attempt?  Christmas break last year.  I gave up to the point where I started Tunisian Crocheting just so that I could make something with yarn that at least LOOKED like knitting!

Last week, my favorite craft store had a super-wicked sale, so I went with the intent to grab some stuff for my business.  As I passed the yarn section, the yearning to learn to knit bit me again.  I didn't need to grab any yarn, but I did pass a book that I was hoping was THE BOOK to finally teach me.  I got the book at 50% off (it is just one of those skinny paperback Leisure Arts books) and sat down that night watching "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", needles, yarn and book in hand.  Would you believe it, by the end of the show I was knitting!  Me!

Get the book here

I was so excited!  Now, I don't know if it really was the book or if it was years and years of trying to learn and it just so happened to click that night, but I have been knitting every night since then.  After making tons of squares to practice the stitches, I have embarked on a project:

Find the pattern here

I love wrist warmers and my crocheted pair is just plain yucky from use, so I shall KNIT another pair!  The first image is the beginnings of this wrist warmer.  It may take me a while, but I am just too excited!

In other news, this blog is going to be going through some changes in 2011.  I have set a goal to include more posts, giveaways, tutorials and just plain fun stuff so that you will definitely not want to miss it!  I scanned through the current content and have decided that she is just swinging in limbo and she needs to be utilized more.  So look for that in the coming weeks.  Of course, it is going to be a work in progress over the next year, but I am hoping that this blog will be much more purposeful than the waste of web space it is now!

Okay, Folks, my wishes to you for a super Christmas and I will see you in the New Year!

Giveaway coming soon....

(photo credits)

Planning a giveaway later this week.....STAY TUNED!

Tutorials Voting Results

The results are in!

I guess there is really no need for much discussion when you look at the most popular choice in the bar graph....Beading! I will start putting together some tutorials over the summer to be featured on Tuesday. Here is your chance to let me know what kind of beading tutorials...bracelets? stringing? beadweaving? Leave a comment below telling me what kind of beading tutorials you want.

Oh, and don't worry...RE suggested that I have some button jewelry tutorials...don't know why I didn't think of putting that on the list...there will be some of that included as well.

Thanks everyone for voting. It's gonna be a fun summer!

AHHHH.....SPAM!!!!

In this case, it's

"They're coming to my blog, I'm in a Jam..
I know they're going to leave some SPAM!"

Really? Really?!

I know you have seen it on your blog, too. Spammers saying something about a college assignment.
Yea, right.

Spammers touting their marketing links and knowledge.
Who cares?

Spammers leaving links to sites, spammers leaving non-working links to sites.
Learn your html, pal.

What about the random word list spam that makes absolutely no sense?
ADD much?

And then, of course, the infamous porn and Viagara spam.
Honey, if buttons turn you on, that's your business. What you do to help that situation has no concerning of me!

As it has been mentioned before by another one of my fav bloggers, this only occurs on older posts. However, sometimes they really do appear on new posts. Well, since I don't want to wade through pages and pages of posts and comments all the time to keep checking them, I have had to institute comment moderation for older posts. Sorry for the inconvenience to my regular readers and blogging friends.

You think you are going to up your rank in the blogging world by leaving these pathetic comments on people's blogs. Hello? Haven't you heard the latest news? Bloggers can delete comments!!!! Doh!

I'm sure you understand. Spam has no place on kitchen table....or my blog!

Spammers, Spammers, Go away...
Everybody else, Have A Nice Day!

UPDATE:
Since writing this post...I got a spam for weight loss.
Do you have any idea how skinny I am?!
I can't even bank my own blood because I'm too thin to donate! And I have Type O Negative!!!!
Sheesh!!!!

She's At It Again...

As you may have noticed, I changed the aesthetics of my blog again. The dark purple was just to oppressing to me.

I promise I will try to stick with this one. It's much cleaner and lighter, don't you agree?

Anyone Else Want a Feature?......

I know...you probably stopped in and thought you were not on the right blog. I am redesigning it again (what a nightmare...future post coming).

Anyway, just wanted to mention that there are still a few spots left for a feature before Christmas. As I mentioned in another post, I want to do features on fellow talented artisans once a week from next week until Christmas (maybe a little after to nab after-Christmas sales). If you are interested, simply leave a comment with a way to contact you (etsy shop, email, etc). I will then send you the interview questions. I will also send you instructions on your give-away piece. I am asking that everyone who has a feature find something (can be inexpensive) that you created (can make it up special if you don't want to take from your inventory) to give-away in the feature post. After the winner is selected, I will contact you with their address to mail it. Simple!

So....leave me some comments and let's book up the rest of the year!

Happy Monday!

I am glad to report that my Monday is a very Happy one indeed! Getting orders out, making phone calls, connecting with contacts...what could be sweeter?

This Thursday will be the pilot launch of my Feature Thursdays. You will have a chance to hear from some great artisans in some insightful interviews. You will get a chance to get to know the artisans better as well as maybe learn a trick or two. Who would want to turn that down? You never know what you might learn! My interview questions were designed to offer insight and learning to the beginner artisan just starting out and seasoned artisan looking for fresh ideas. This is not your ordinary Blog Feature, Lucy!

In all fairness, I will be doing an interview on myself on Wednesday as a primer so you know what to expect from these interviews. It's not fair for other artisans to offer advice while I keep my little gems to myself. Some cultures say that karmic debt is a real thing. Don't take a penny unless you are willing to leave one. Well, I'm baring my pennies Wednesday, so don't miss it!

I am also working in another regular posting on Tuesdays...Tip Tuesdays. These tips can range from artistic tips to business tips. Be sure to check it out and not miss it. You may learn a thing or two (or not!), who knows, but don't miss the boat...you'll only get wet!

Incidentally, Jerri did a blog feature on me last week. Great job, Jerri...check it out here!

Okay, not stop reading and get back to work. May your Monday be as swell as mine, just take it easy on the coffee!

It's Done!

Thank you so much to Emily of PolkaDotPixels for creating such a wonderful, eye-catching theme for my blog! Visit her on my side bar to see more of her work. Who knows what she can do for you!

Construction Is Almost Over...

And I am amazed what Emily did with this blog! Can you believe this? Emily is PolkaDotPixels and as you can see by her work does fabulous blog templates, Etsy shop graphics and custom graphics. See her BLOG or visit her SHOP. Just let her go and she will come up with something wonderful. I tried to retain control and my blog just wasn't working out. When I let go of the blog and finally gave Emily the creative license, Shebang! Look what she comes up with! Her blog has lots of examples of past work she has done...it is definately worth a look!

Construction....

Please forgive the construction on my blog. I have hired PolkaDotPixel to help me get my blog in pixel-perfection! Please visit her link in my side bar...she does great work and is quite reasonable!!!