Friday, October 26, 2012

Using what you have

It's amazing the beads we accumulate in little piles as we create our projects. Leftovers as some might call them and sometimes they just sit there...
Well it was my turn to just sit there the other day and I decided there had to be be something I could make out of of a few of the beads just sitting there. So I decided to take out a couple things I have had for a long time and use them.
 Now I am a longtime fan of Summers Studio. LeAnn Weih is an incredible woman and artist and also one of the first two artists I have ever bought from on Etsy. These focals are from her. She has not made them in awhile, so it was fun to take a couple out and make something special. It's simple really, I just found whatever I thought would compliment the focals out of the little piles of beads sitting on plates and added them together. I think the necklaces were a hit and they make me smile, so I guess that is all a girl can ask for!
This one is so rich and earthy. I love the tribal feel and the browns that come out in so many shades. All these beads came out of the little dishes of treasures I had sitting there. I may have to try this technique again, I think it worked well :)
I am glad to still be able to work and create. My fingers are starting to hurt from the treatment again today, so I don't know how much I will get done this week. I just may push through and just suck it up. It seems to be the one thing that makes me happy right now, and who would want to give that up!!

Thanks for always stopping by and saying hello! I would love to read your comments today!

Marie

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

A little Colour and those goals...

After all that dark and almost Gothic steampunk I wanted to give you a little colour! Just earrings today, but they are fun and have some spunk! I did add some more steampunk pieces in my shop though, just in case you loved that style ;) New Earrings, so have a look see.
I love my copper! I have been using it more and more and love the way it takes patina and looks so vintage. Depending on where you get your wire and findings though, they can sometimes give you surprises. That's OK, I take it in stride and leave them for fun!
 I am still a huge fan of Vintaj brass of course, and since I had long ago run out of their ear wires I stocked up at the last sale. I should have enough to last me about a year! Unless my earrings start to sell out faster than intended, which would be OK too.
 I have made some fun eclectic earrings, some more rustic ones and I have tried to have a good amount of colour for every taste!
 I used beautiful beads and charms from some of my favorite bead creators. I mixed polymer and clay, lampwork and whatever your heart desires! I added some of the absolutely Fabulous new bead caps by Vintaj!! Way to go on those! They are fantastic!!
I am filling up my Etsy Shop, to try to achieve those big goals I made for myself. I am still very far away and getting a little nervous I won't be able to get there. Facebook is getting closer, about 80 likes to go. My blog is getting close to the right number too, so keep following! lol
 I need to focus on sales. It is hard to get everything done when I feel so crummy, but I am really trying! Just so much to do! I had an assistant/apprentice but she moved to New Zealand early Nov, so she will be very missed. Not that I had been able to teach her much the last few months. Sweet girl.
So for my Jewelry shop I am still trying to get to 300 sales by the end of the year. I am 63 sales away! Yikes! It seems so far off...
For my Supply shop, I want to get to 2000 so I am 426 away... might not be very realistic. I don't know. I have more product to add, things that are ready to take pics of. I also have a few things I am hoping to work on but can't seem to get the get up and go to start! I need a serious burst of energy and motivation!

So come help me out! Pick up a few things with coupon code GOALS which will save you 20% in both shops. You MUST enter it at check out. Enjoy it while it lasts. Not sure how long I will leave it up.

Thanks for all the support!!

Marie

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Steampunk!!

I had a lovely lady ask for a couple of steampunk pieces for her husband and herself to go with their Halloween costumes. I had an idea to put together a funky key and some Angel wings mixed with different tones of chain. I could not be more pleased with the results! When I posted the pics on Facebook, the results were so well liked I just had to make more! The top picture is the first I made after the special orders :)
 This is the one I made for the special order. I also made the pocket watch in the next picture. I really hope they will send me pictures of the finished costumes! I am really excited to see them!!
 I was on a roll and made 5 total necklaces not including the order. I also made a pair of earrings that sold in less than two minutes! A new record I think! I might have to make more today...
 These awesome Tim Holtz wings are a favorite of mine. I have used them a few times before and will keep using them in the future. They are a real hit!
This one was much more difficult to assemble. Getting the wings to stay in place in this particular position was quite a challenge. The results are awesome! It looks amazing on!
 I actually made this one before the previous one, bigger key slightly smaller wings, but the little dangle makes it awesome! These are making smile. I love the feeling I got creating them!
 I had to use a few different styles of keys. These are just funky and have a great Vintage feel for a great price! Just don't ask me where I got them ;) my little secret...
These ornate wings are from Fallen Angel Brass, that I don't mind sharing! lol 
 The final necklace I made I used some Verdigris wings and a pewter colored key. I had a little trouble making the holes in the wings without chipping the finish, but I kind of like the rustic edge it added to it. If I didn't I would have discarded them. 

All these pieces are an array of mixed metals and funky steampunk pieces! I am hoping to make more, just need to order more supplies! I have listed all of these in my Jewelry shop on Etsy. I hope you will hop on over and add one to your cart ;)

Marie

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Positives and Negatives!

I have been working on trying to keep my life positive. Sometimes it's hard especially when you are sick and suffer from strange side effects of medication. So I tried to start with the easiest things...
 I needed to add to my earring inventory since I sent so many of mine to the Deer Valley Florist close to my house. They are hopefully selling well and I will need to make even more :)
 So some simple wire wrapping was in order to test out my very numb and sore fingers. Some of the side effects of this second medication in my rounds of chemo include numb and tingly fingertips. Mine are mostly painful, but I needed to create! 
 Well, it was worth the pain :) I feel like a huge positive has come back to my life! The pain may be a negative, but it is worth the final creations that flourished from those sore fingers! I feel more alive! Huge positive! right?
 I am very pleased with what I created. I think it will help get things going again on the creative horizons!! I even included my new Skye Jewels tag on the last bracelet! Another positive! I think they add something special to my jewelry! I am afraid to run out too fast or I would add one to all my pieces! We will see where that goes.

I have some pretty big goals right now that I am trying to accomplish. These are meant to be positives, but I am worried so it's partially a negative I want to change for the better!
I want to reach 500 followers on my blog, I want to reach 2000 likes on Facebook, I want to reach 300 sales in my jewelry shop and I want to reach 2000 sales in my supply shop! ALL before the the end of the year! BIG goals! I know! So of course I hope you will all help me reach these! lol I know, huge undertaking, but what is life without goals?

So until next time...

Marie