Fools and Jewels

A magazine feature and a new giveaway!

2012-01-26T07:43:00.000-08:00

I may have mentioned this in a previous post but it bears repeating.

I am going to be the featured designer in Bead Trends magazine for February. This means I get my head shot, bio, and 10 page spread of my jewelry in the center of their February issue. I am beyond excited about this opportunity and have been searching for the perfect way to celebrate this momentous event.

I have found it.

I will be once again hosting a giveaway. But this time.... it is HUGE. I will be giving away a $100 gift certificate to not one but TWO lucky people on February 10th. Entries will begin on February 1st at midnight (12am CST) and end February 9th at midnight (12am CST).

How can you enter to win for a chance to win one?
1.) Tweet about the magazine issue on Twitter (send me a copy of your tweet). 1 chance
2.) Post a link to Bead Trends magazine on your FB. Make sure you tag me in the post (Cynthia Thomson). 3 chances
3.) Send me a photo of you with the February issue of Bead Trends magazine. Let me know if I may use your photo in my blog or FB page. 5 chances
4.) Make a comment on this blog about which featured jewelry piece from the magazine issue you like best and why. 5 chances

So, get out there and check it out. You can find Bead Trends magazine online ( http://www.northridgepublishing.com/store/issues/bead-trends-magazine ) and also in craft stores.

More Greenhouse updates!

2012-01-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

I am terribly behind in my blogging and in my greenhouse project reports. Forgive me.

We have the posts set and up, the framing for the roof done and the roof went on a few weeks before we left for Christmas break. Now, we are to the point where we need to start putting up the windows for the walls.

There's just one thing wrong with that. Some of our windows have since been knocked over by strong winds and broken. This isn't a huge problem as we have plenty windows and people keep volunteering more. But it means out initial window "layouts" will no longer be possible. So, when we start putting them up, it will be from square one.... a real trial and error process.

So that's where we stand thus far. We are hoping to be able to put up windows this weekend since it supposed to be fairly warm outside. Probably won't get all of them up but maybe one wall worth. I'll try to keep you posted on the progress.

Please support small businesses today!

2011-11-26T08:50:00.001-08:00

I've been watching all that has been going on in my country for a while now. People are pissed off. They are pissed off that there is such a huge gap developing between the haves and the have nots. And I know one small way everyone can help close that gap a bit.

Buy from local and small businesses this holiday season. Start now. You can even patronize small businesses online. It's a small easy step in the right direction.

Please do this. It will help everyone... including me. Shop small businesses and keep the money out of the hands of those Wall Street execs.

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/divapixie

http://www.artfire.com/

Greenhouse groundbreaking.

2011-11-07T07:19:00.001-08:00

We decided to break ground on our greenhouse project today.

For those of you who don't know, or more because I probably have been REALLY bad about updating my LJ lately, Lee and I have decided to tackle to project of building a greenhouse form mostly recycled materials. The inspiration for this project was our friend Jola, who has such a greenhouse attached to her little shed. We figured if they could do it, so could we.

Anyways, we purchased our 10' 4x4 posts this weekend and today we got started digging the holes for said posts. These five posts will be our support for the frame of the greenhouse, which will also be attached to a thus support by the existing shed.

So, Lee went out with the post hole digger and started digging... and hit concrete! I shit you not.... there was a sidewalk completely buried... and partially under my vegtable garden. This explains why my cucumbers did so poorly this season.

After much digging, prying and lifting.... we had quite the large stash of concrete panels and even somecurved pieces that were used as a drain next to the sidewalk. This was some old school concrete pouring.

We removed three sidewalk panels and 4 pieces of "drain" as well as two old bricks and one random large rock. UGH. After all this was taken out of the way, we tooksome bamboo pieces we have and some twine and found our line for the first side of the greenhouse. We measured out where our first two posts on that side should be located and then marked those places with some spray paint. Then it was all "hurricane Lee" from that point on. He dug a 24" hole with the post hole digger,injuring his knee and nose in the process. No worries, just bruises and small lacerations... no sprains or breaks.

Doesn't look like much huh? Well, one two foot hole dug.... only 4 more to go. Then we are on to placing and Quickcreting in posts. It's the first step anyways.

Some new pieces....

2011-10-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

I have been a very busy bee on many fronts lately. Jewelry is included in those. I've created a whole flock of new pieces. I would like to take some time to feature a few of them here. For the sake of picture sanity, I'll divide them into multiple posts.

This cameo is a tortoise shell vintage cameo surounded by a rose gold colored copper wire crocheted into a sort of basket. I then wove colored freshwater pearls around it in two layers. I have plans to do a Viking crocheted copper chain to accompany it.

In stark contrast to the above piece, here are is a simple pair of earrings. I used swarovski bicones, freshwater pearls and faceted glass beads along with the silver plated wire and findings to create these lovely drop earrings.

A pretty picture of beads...

2011-10-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

... just because I can.

Cosmos!

2011-10-05T06:12:00.000-07:00

I have and always will adore cosmos. They are such a delight to grow. The tall fern like plants, the delicate daisy like flowers and the bright colors make them such a wonderful addition to my garden. They attract butterflies and honey bees and lots of different beetles. They alaos distract grasshoppers from eating any nearby vegtables. Grasshoppers love to eat cosmos, flower petal and all. While some people might find that distressing, I don't mind. I have several eggplant and tomatoe plants nearby that appreciate the bug distraction.

These cosmos reseeded themselves all over my lawn this year. I had to literally dig up the small seedlings and place them inside the garden liner to save them form the lawn mower. And while it took FOREVER for them to bud and blossom, now look at them.

And the winners are....

2011-09-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

$50 gift certificate goes to Oana!
$25 gift certificate goes to Marija!
$10 gift certificate goes to Megan Morin!

Thank you all so much for your entries. There were over 200 names in the box today! That is outstanding! Keep your eyes on my blog for more giveaways and great deals!

Winners, please email me at divapixie25@gmail.com so I can send you your gift certificate codes for my Artfire studio.

ONE HOUR LEFT!

2011-09-30T09:10:00.001-07:00

To enter my giveaway! Hurry! I am drawing the winners of my three gift certificates at 12pm (noon) CST.

Nelly, our resident monarch

2011-09-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

One morning about 6 weeks ago, I went out to the garden with my camera to capture some photos or our morning glories. I saw a monarch butterfly sitting on a leaf of the grapevine airing out its wings. I could tell that she was damp because she had probably just hatched out. Pretty little thing.

Well, apparently she likes our yard. She has been sleeping in out elm tree at night and I find her and several of her butterfly friends on the zinnias, sunflowers and cosmos in the yard everyday.
I named her Nelly. It's a good butterfly name.

Oh no.

2011-09-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

CRAP IN A HAT.

So, I went online to my bank account to check to see if my overnight deposit had been posted yet (it had) and I noticed something.

I am SHORT $160. I have two major bills coming out of my account this week sometime and I am SHORT $160. Oh. Dear. God.

And I double checked all my figures…. they are all correct. CRAP.

Anyone want to buy some jewelry, jelly, jam, anything i make? Anyone?

Need help.

Autumn is here and so is my GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Equinox to everyone! I hope today finds you balanced and well.

Now, onto the important stuff. I am holding a GIVEAWAY! I want to drum up some traffic,views, and perhaps even some sales in my Artfire studio. I also want to giveaway gift certificates to my Artfire studio! How cool is that? I'll be giving away THREE gift certificates to my studio on September 30th. There are tons of ways to enter. Some activities will earn you more "chances" to win. So... here's the skinny....
1.) Like my Facebook page= 1 chance
2.) Make a comment on my Facebook page that doesn't include a link to another shop= 3 chances
3.) Make a comment on my Facebook page telling me about one of my jewelry pieces= 5 chances
4.) Follow my on Twitter= 1 chance
5.) Tweet about my blog or giveaway= 2 chances
6.) Tweet my Artfire studio or a piece from my Artfire studio= 4 chances
7.) Follow me on Tumblr= 1 chance
8.) Like a post on my Tumblr= 1 chance
9.) Reblog a post on my Tumblr= 3 chances
10.) Follow my blog= 1 chance
11.) Blog about my giveaway on your blog including links= 5 chances
12.) Make a comment on a blog entry on my blog= 3 chances
13.) Make a purchase from my Artfire studio= 7 chances

Now that you know how to get your name entered, here's the information you will need to get started.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/FoolsandJewels Facebook page for my jewelry
http://divapixie.tumblr.com/
http://divapixie.blogspot.com/
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/divapixie
http://www.twitter.com/divapixie

If you tweet something, please send me an email with a copy of the tweet, the link for the tweet and your name to be entered. If you blog about my giveaway, please email me the link to your blog entry. I can be emailed at divapixie25@gmail.com

And now... the REALLY important stuff.... more info on the PRIZES! I will be drawing three names on September 30th. First prize will we a $50 gift certificate to my Artfire studio. Second prize will be a $25 gift certificate to my studio and third prize will be a $10 gift certificate to my studio. These certificates will be emailed codes that can be used in my studio on Artfire. If the amount of your certificate does not fully cover the cost of your order, the difference will be owed. A gift certificate does not imply free shipping.

So, get out there and get entered to win!

Big things are a foot!

2011-09-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have been picking my brain and other's brains as well for over a week now trying to come up with some kind of promotion I could run for my jewelry studio on Artfire. Lots of ideas were given, considered and toseed around. I think this morning I finally have something solidifying in my mind.
I am going to do a giveaway. I did one last year with this blog that proved successful enough. This year I want to include every facet of my promotional online exsistence. I want to offer more chances for entry into this giveaway and include my Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Artfire studio and this blog. I am going to only offer gift certificates as prizes for this giveaway. And i am going to make sure and clarify things that were muddy last time.
Keep watching my blog this evening for more details for how to enter. I can't access all these internet elements on my computer at work. Check back for details.

A few words.

2011-09-06T13:25:00.000-07:00

I would like to take a few moments to share a few words about things that have been on my mind as of late.
First, I have come to believe that drama for the sake of drama is a waste of valuable time and energy unless it is put onstage. I've been reading and experiencing a lot of drama lately that seems to exsist for no other reason than to simply stir the pot. Teenagers do this because they honestly feel they have nothing better to do. Adults do this to feel some semblence of control and belonging. Neither actually happen and both are a waste of time and energy. Why bother?
Seriously, going out to pick a fight or even being passive aggressive in the hopes a fight will break out and you can jump in.... it's just stupid. That being said, having a disagreement is bound to happen. Passions and beliefs flare and cause lots of things to be said. But if you can express them and then release them, it's the best step. Sometimes the other party( or parties) involved will be reluctant or even downright refuse to let it go. Just say "oh well" and walk away. That is now their issue and not yours.
Of course, this can all be easier said than done.

Second, why do some people insist on bothering me about being friends with them when I am clearly not interested? Allow me to ellaborate.
My first love, let's call him R, was my boyfriend in college. We dated for 2 1/2 years. We had talked about marriage. We did things that serious couples do. Then his mommy told him he could do better and so he dumped me over the phone on Christmas Eve. I went batshit for the next 6 months. Seriously, I plead insanity. We tried to be friends. I got jealous and cranky. We tried being friends with benefits. I was fine for a while, then got jealous and cranky when he decided it was OK to boink a new girlfriend and an old one at the same time. Then we tried being just friends and I did the whole "la la la, we're just casual friends and i can act like you mean nothing to me, out of sight out of mind" thing. Then, in the middle of that phase, I realized something. I didn't like this person. If we hadn't have dated, this would not have been someone I'd have made friends with. I disliked him. I still dislike him. He acts holier than thou towards me because he is 9 months older and because he graduated college a whole year ahead of me. He listens to his mother and not to himself. I would NEVER have picked him to be a close friend.
So, why did I feel obligated to attempt friendship with him now? Why? The relationship was ended and sour at that.... so friendship is not necessary. So, I told him I didn't like who I became when I was around him. I told him I did not want to speak to him or see him ever again.
And yet... the douchebag has repeatedly attempted to friend me on Facebook.... 7 TIMES. I reject his request everytime. He even wrote me an email asking why we can't act like adults and talk and catch up. Because.... I DON'T LIKE YOU. Not even a little. And I tend to avoid people I don't care for so as not to cause drama for the sake of drama.
He calls this childish. Fine. Call it what you like... I just think it is necessary to stay the hell away from you.

That's what's been on my mind today.

Flowers in my garden

2011-08-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

I realize I haven't really shown any pictures of the flowers in my garden this season as of late. And there really are some lovely ones. I have a glorious hibiscus plant in a pot on my porch. It is a new hybrid from Burpee called Cranberry crush and it is amazing. This is it's second round of blossoms in the first year of growth.

I also planted some Scarlet O'Hara morning glories in the back yard alongside the vegtable garden. They are a fushcia color which mimics red in the right light. I adore them.

And the zinnias.... oh the zinnias. I plant zinnias every year but this year they have been particularily lovely. I have plans to plants more colors of zinnia next season and in more places. The butterflies we have had because of them is astounding.

Garden update

2011-08-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

Well.... let's see if I can summarize this without being too longwinded about it.
Lee backed over the peas with my car. They didn't look very good anyways.
We have had over 40 days this summer of over 100 degrees so the broccoli bolted and then died. We did get two good harvests and it was delish.

We had plenty of good spinach and lettuce in June and then that went to seed. The excessive heat really does take out alot of vegtables.
So far this summer though, the slowest vegtable to produce has been the tomatoes. Don't get me wrong, I've been watering them to keep them growing and alive and I have tons of tomatoe plants. They just reserved the right to flower and produce until these past couple of weeks.

In stark contrast, the pumpkins this year grew and fruited FAST. I have 4 pie pumpkins already harvested and cured. And there are a few more starting. It's insane. I wasn't expecting them for a couple more weeks.
Everything else seems to be sort of on time and if not then only delayed by a few weeks. And that is only because I ran the sprinkler a LOT this summer.

Back after a hiatus again.

2011-08-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

I just can not seem to motiate myself during the summer to blog about anything. And so much has traspired over this particular summer that I am almost uncertain about how to compose this "I'm back" blog post. Perhaps a list with select details will be best.

1.) The garden looks phenominal though as usual some things grew better than others. I have lots of pictures about that to post at a later date. We had some hellish weather this summer which made my watering of the garden more of an obsession than a passing chore. Because of that, the plants grew big but haven't really officially started producing vegtables until these past few weeks. It's bizarre. We had pumpkins ready to pick and cook before we had ripe tomatoes. Positively strange.

2.) My friends have some serious drama going on. One married couple split up the same day as another married couple... each of the dumpers leaving their respective spouses for the other. So.... it's been an odd social season for us. We can no longer just call couple #1 and couple #2 for dinner or drinks because... well.... they are now single #1 and single #2 and couple #3. It's a big, fat mess and we are all forced to deal with it. *sigh* Doesn't make a god case for marriage does it?

3.) I have been busy doing Farmer's Market things once again this summer. Since we've had 40 traight days of 100+ degree weather, produce has been slim and thus we have almost all resorted to making some kind of baked goods and crafts to sell in the mean time. I discovered that Dodge City is comprised of a number of dog lovers. So, I began making and selling homemae dog biscuts. People and dogs love them. I've also been making homemade english muffins and scones which are becoming a big hit as well. I've done quite well this summer.

4.) Lee, my boyfriend, moved into my home in January of 2011. Things have been going well for us. So well, he got a promotion at work. He is no longer an assistant manager of customer service at the car dealership but has been transfered to a different section and made a proper manager of customer service. In other words, when your car breaks down or has the oil changed or is making that weird noise, he's the guy you talk to to schedule an apointment with the technicians. And he's damn good at his job too.

5.) On the jewelry front, not much has been happening in the way of sales. However, a lot has been happening in the way of PR for my jewelry studio on Artfire as well as my designs in general. I've had pieces featured in Bead Trends magazine in the past and have pieces that were selected to be featured in the November and December issues for 2011 as well. This July I received an email from the editor asking if they could use me as the Designer Highlight for the February 2012 edition. It's a full 10 page spread along with a head shot of myself and bio page. I am SUPER excited about this opportunity and will therefore be getting pieces put together and shipped off in the next 2 weeks. How cool is that?

That's a good update thus far. More to come later.... including pictures.

Another garden update

2011-05-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

Things are continuing to pop up out of the ground in our garden. We finally did get the pumpkin garden planted with pumpkins, watermelon and cantalope as well as flowers to fil in the space. Things are popping up in that garden though I haven't photographed it yet.

Our other gardens are just zooming along. We have brocolli heads beginning to form. The onions are growing taller. There are cucumber and yellow melon sprouts and last night the zuccinni came up as well. The carrots are sprouting and the peas are growing larger everyday. I've had to this the radishes and beets as well as the lettuce and spinach.

See how my garden is growing!

2011-05-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Things are growing in my gardens and how! Check it out.

The onions are coming up like gang busters. We have planted yellow and red onions.

The peas I planted in the tire are doing well. There are 4 shoots so far and I put some more pea seeds in there not long ago. Can't wait to have fresh peas.

And look how big the potatoes have gotten! WOW!

This evening we are planning to tackle the pumpkin garden and maybe pull some weeds in the herb garden.

Garden season is upon us!

2011-04-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

I have the spring fever bug bad. I have been itching to get started on my garden work for almost 6 weeks now. So much so that I had started many of my herb and veggie and even some of my flower plants inside.

Anyways, this past week the winds were too high to get a proper start on the garden. However, this past weekend was the PERFECT time to start. And with highs in the 60s-80s for the next week and a half, I am so ready.

I started with my 4'x8' garden box. I have brocolli, cauliflower, tomatoe and pepper starters inside already, as well as some garlic starters. Those went in the box. Then I started lettuce, spinach, nasturtiums, and beets from seed. Top it of with some marigold plants to help with pest control and voila! My garden box is in and growing.

Lee and I had heard that planting potatoes in old tires worked realy well. Since Lee knows the tire guys in town, he inquired about getting some old beat up tires for this purpose. I planted two kinds of potatoes in tires as well as one tire of peas. All are coming up like gang busters now.

I also dug out the old dead foliage from last season from one of my flower beds. I put in some new dirt and peat moss and planted African daisies, black petunias and snapdragons.

And this is just the start of my gardens. Wait till you see the new herb garden addition, the pumpkin patch and the veggie bed. There's so much more to do yet. I'll keep you all updated. SQUEE!

The muse is still visiting!

2011-04-12T07:57:00.000-07:00

I am still creating new pieces.... lots of them. I seem to be inspired and motivated and these are the results.

All these pieces and MORE can be found at my Artfire Studio. http://www.artfire.com/users/divapixie

Rob Kalin SCARES me

2011-04-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

So, I have a Livejournal in addition to this Blogger account. That is my very personal and limited journal whereas this one is more public. On Blogger, I follow a number of other blogs for various reasons. Makes for excellent reading material throughout my day. At any rate, one of them I follow is called Etsy Bitch.

Etsy Bitch was founded on the principle that they wanted to help change Etsy by pointing out what needed to be fixed. This mission has changed... considerably... especially given that Etsy is turning into a complete and total MONSTER. But I digress. What I want to talk about briefly is something I saw in a few recent posts on this blog.

Apparently, Inc. magazine did an interview with the CEO and founder of Etsy recently and the article hit news stands and the internet yesterday. I became curious about what the man behind the monster had to say, so I went on over to the website and read the article.

WOW. That was the one word I came back to repeatedly. From reading this article, it became clear that the journalist was having a hard time trying to report exactly what was going on. To his credit, the journalist did try to stick to the point of just reporting the facts and quotes from the person in question... and just by doing that the truth about this nut was revealed. He's freakin' scary.

If you are interested.... here are the links.

www.inc.com/magazine/20110401/can-rob-kalin-scale-etsy.html#

And here's Etsy Bitch if you are looking for some more although snarky info.

http://etsybitch.blogspot.com/

Seriously..... SO glad I ditched out of Etsy while I could and am now happily instated at Artfire. Whew!

More new pieces

2011-04-03T19:11:00.000-07:00

I have been a whirlwind of creating recently... and I want to share some new pieces with you, my readers.

I have big plans to start working on some new pendants and rings this evening as well. I have started making pieces for a lady with a fashion website that offers clothing, jewelry and accesories for dwarves. I thought it was a great idea and agreed to do larger bulk orders for her. She wanted rings that are more adjustable for that exact purpose. I am planning to work on those shortly.

APRIL FOOL'S SALE!

2011-04-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Since today is the last day of my Spring Cleaning Sale, I decided to up the anty as it were. Today only, everything in my studio is a whopping 20% OFF! Yes, everything.... new pieces, old stock, puppets, destash..... EVERYTHING!
Fools and Jewels

Come on over to my studio and check it out!

New pieces!

2011-03-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

I have been busy creating and listing new pieces in my studio all weekend. Here's just a few samples of what's new.

Come on over to my Artfire studio and see what else is new! Fools and Jewels

Beaded crystal prisms~ a new endeavor

2011-03-24T15:41:00.000-07:00

A while back I asked my sister what she wanted for Christmas and she gave me a simple answer. She wanted a couple of crystal prisms to hang in her kitchen window. My nieces like to chase the rainbows that they make. i can remember clearing doing this with my sister when I was a kid as well. I decided I would bead a wire to attach the prism to for her.
As I was doing this one evening, my boyfriend remarked how lovely it looked and pointed out the prisms in my livingroom window. He inquired about perhaps beading them as well. And then once I had finished them and hung them up, he stated that there was the possibility others may be interested in them as well and they could be an item that may sell well. I don't know about that but they sure turned out nice.

Spring Cleaning SALE!

2011-03-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

I have decided to clear out some of my old jewelry stock to make room for new stock. This means savings for you! From now until April 1st I am offering 10% off everything in my studio! If you tweet, blog or Facebook this sale, please leave me a comment and something special might come to you as well. ;)

Come on over and check it out!

http://www.artfire.com/users/divapixie

Catching up

2011-03-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Wow. So much has happened since I last wrote. Both on the jewelry front and on the home front. In the past two weeks I have:
~Caught a BAD head cold.
~Had my parents and grandmother come for a week long visit.
~Fixed up my kitchen.

~Hung curtains in the livingroom.

~Worked on my final concert for my students at school.
~Been filling a large custom order for resin buttons.
~Been recruited to do a jewelry line for an online fashion website.
~Been asked to sew some quick curtains for a local community theater production.
~Helped my father sand, water seal and assemble a cedar bar for my dinning room.

Yep... that about sums it up. It was a LOT.

Preparations for Carnegie Arts Wine Tasting and Art Auction are underway

2011-03-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

At least on my end, preparations are underway. Last year I had the pleasure of being asked to donate a few pieces of my jewelry to the art auction. Of course I was delighted to do so. It is a great way to get my jewelrypieces out in the public eye and the proceeds go to benefit a local art gallery. I made three pieces especially for the auction. For my trouble, I received a pair of tickets to the event.

A piece from last year's auction, made by myself.

Lee always likes to attend this event so he had been going for years. We went and had a great time.... except for one thing. I had donated thre items for the auction. All three of my items were placed on the Silent Auction table instead of in the actual auction. I had donated three items in the hopes that they would at least place one in the full blown auction. I was hurt and upset by this.

Another of the pieces donated to the auction by myself from last year.

This year, I have once again decided to donate items to the cause. I will once again be creating brand new pieces fr this event. However, I am stipulating that at least one of my items be placed in the actual auction. If they do not agree to this, I wil not donate anything. I don't really think it's too much to ask. I just want the exposure of having the auctioneer takes public bids on my item and watch it being displayed by the lovely volunteer "Vanna White"s.
I have been planning to begin work on these pieces all week.. and have yet to actually sit down and do so. I have however been giving a lot of thought to what kind of pieces I want to create. My goal is to once again make three items. I plan to make one piece out of something vintage that has been repurposed, like an old vintage rhinestone piece or beads or chain from a broken piece of vintage jewelry. I plan to make one small copper wire wrapped pendant with fresh water pearls. And the last piece I can not decide on a design yet..... perhaps a large pair of wire wrapped earrings.

Painting project: Room 1 complete!

2011-03-01T05:56:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally finished all the walls, window trim, detail painting in the livingroom. No more green walls. Not that the green was a bad thing. I rather liked it. It was just time for a change and this is it.

I decided to do the large picture window in two tones to bring out the architectural design of it. I believe this window is nearly 100 years old and original to the house. It's not exactly efficient but it's historical and I could not bear to replace it when the new windows when in. I used a very deep, dark chocolate brown for the detail work on the top and outlined the rest in the same creamy shade as the rest of the trim in the room. I still am finding little spots that need filling in with a paint brush but that isn't so much trouble.

I completely cleaned out the aquarium while we had it moved out from the wall. It looks much better now and the fish seem more active. Goldfish really aren't all that exciting but they may move outside to a water garden someday so who knows what will replace them in this tank. And Lee's Frank Sinatra poster actually looks pretty good against the new wall color

We don't have all the wall art up yet.... we are still struggling with where to hang things. And we are currently on the hunt for curtains for all 4 of the windows. I'd like to not have to put the horrid blinds back up again.

Now, painting project room #2..... the library. Here's to hoping we have the energy and strength to start that venture this week. Blech.

Giving my livingroom a face lift

2011-02-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

So, my boyfriend of 2 years and I decided this year that we should live together. So, since January we've been moving him into my house. He's been living there since the 1st of the year but we haven't quite moved all of his things in yet. His mother only lives on the other side of town and that was where he had been residing. We are all working to cut back expenses and purge our respective homes of things we simply do not need.

As well as all the cleaning, purging and simplifing of our households... we have been rearranging furniture, reclaiming rooms and have also decided to redecorate a few of them.

This past weekend we began a painting project. We have decided to tackle the livingroom first. I had a livingroom that was a dep and bright shade of green and had black trim. I liked it. But honestly.... the paint was starting to fade and it had scuff marks and chips in it. They no longer make that color either. We both took our time finding a paint color we could both live with. That took a long time. I think men and women see colors differently.
I had to drive 45 miles to the next city over to get the paint color we wanted. None of the hardware stores in town carried Behr paint and that was the only color scheme we agreed on. I drove the distance and went to Home Depot. I had committed myself to purchase the much more expensive Behr paint that had the primer in it as well. We had to cover a prety bold color.
Yesterday we got the walls prepped in the morning and painted all afternoon and evening. About 9:30 we stopped. We have one coat of color on the trim (after two coats of primer) and two coats of paint on the walls. We have not taped off the window trim yet so it's still green.... but it's a start anyways.

A Day in the Life of

2011-02-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

6:14am Lee's alarm on his phone went off. He had changed it to a rooster crowing instead of the usual musical alarm. Had a moment of WTF when I heard it. I got up out of bed, got the dog his breakfast and went about getting ready for work.

7:03am I headed out the door to my car after putting Wynton in his crate. He put up no fuss this morning so he must have still been tired. I decided to listen to Royal Crowne Review on my iPod this morning instead of my usual Sirius XM channel (Siriusly Sinatra). Ahhhhhh... that's the stuff to wake me up.

7:32am Arrive at the elementary school where I teach. I brought along a box of construction paper and various other arts and crafts bits and baubles that I need to rid my house of. I put the box in the teacher's lounge with a sign on it that says "Take if you want". We'll see how quickly things disappear.

Noticed that the box I put these things in was a Bud Light box. I quickly found a copy paper box and transferred them into that. I am hiding the Bud Light box in my classroom till I can take it home.

8:55am Dismissed first round of 5th graders from class. Instrument activity went VERY well this morning. Patterns were clear and played with 85%-90% accuracy and the kids sang loudly and on pitch. Excellent class.

9:43am Awaiting the arrival of my second round of 1st graders. The morning is going by quickly. Thus far, no detentions nor outstanding disciplinary actions have been taken aside from one student relocation to a different seat. All in all.... a good morning.

10:05am Headed to the teacher's lounge to photocopy some listening tests for the 2nd grade. They have completed Unit 4 and I need to check their listening for comprehension.

10:28am A sly smile has spread across my face as the students take their listening tests. Several of them have asked that I play certain examples a second time. They are learning to take their time when testing and get their answers correct. Now, if only that caution pays off.

11:06 am Sitting in my quiet classroom for a few minutes eating a banana before heading to the cafeteria to do lunch duty. I HATE lunch duty. Hopefully it will pass by quickly.
Found pencil writing on the girl's bathroom stall walls. I Love [insert 5th grade boy's name here]. Reported it to principal and both 5th grade teachers. I suspect the 5th grade girls.

12:12pm Ahhhhh.... sitting again in the quiet of my classroom with my lunch before me. I have until 1pm to just chill out and eat. This is my favorite time of day.

12:34pm Chatting via gmail with my boyfriend's mother, Sharon. We are all trying to figure out the plan for this evening so we can get dinner all squared away. This is a typical afternoon activity for us since we all three enjoying cooking.

1:23pm Taught a simple song to the first round of 3rd graders. A wonderful proverb that was set to a simple melody. "Don't worry if your job is small and your rewards are few. Remember that the mighty oak was once a nut like you".

1:49pm I am sitting here in my classroom waiting for the Kindergarten. I am sure today will be an uphill day for them. They have an assessment sheet to fill out today and that is always difficult for them.
It's started already.... one of them walked in and let out the biggest, loudest yawn I have heard in a while. Great.

2:38pm Waiting for my last class to arrive. Thinking about whether or not I want to go to Zumba class this evening with one of my friends or if I want to skip it and work on some things at home. Tough call.

3:02pm I am done with classes and am very glad of that. That last class used up my last ounce of patience and got on my last nerve. ARGH!

3:16pm Made a follow up phone call with the people who run the new arena/events center about teaching ice skating. I wanted to inquire for further information about he actual job itself and how much it would entail. They said there were hoping to get back to me sometime after this week. Sounds like it could be a good part time job and it would get me back on the ice and exercising again.

4:42pm Sitting at home in my favorite chair. The windows are open and a nice spring like breeze is flowing through the house. It is 70 degrees outside. I ran some errands and took the dog out for potty time. I'm thinking maybe a walk and some jewelry photo taking might be in my immediate future.

5:53pm I managed to take some photos of both Wynton and my jewelry pieces while the sun and warm weather persisted. It was just over 70 degrees today! Wow!

My toy poodle puppy, Wynton.

10:57pm Well, I am back after several excursions. Lee and I went to the local community theater to mix up the specialty cocktail mix for this weekends performances. Then we had dinner at one of our usual Mexican restaurants. Then we went and visited with his mother for a few hours and watched a couple episodes of a super cute series on HBO Family called The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. It was a cute little show.
We stopped at the grocery store on the way home to pick up chapstick, toilet paper and an orchid plant for his mother. I've been meaning to get her a new one. The one we bought her for Mother's Day is not doing well. I am trying to resuscitate but so far it seems unresponsive.
Now we are back home, in our PJs and playing with the puppy before heading to bed for the evening.

There you have it. It is now 11:01pm.... bedtime for us here. Goodnight!

Orchids and heartfelt words: My favorite gift

2011-02-15T10:28:00.000-08:00

I am a music teacher in a public school district. That's my day job. I like my job. But every once in a while, I find something I dislike. Last night for example.
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Normally, I dislike Valentine's Day though as a child I adored it. I liked the idea that maybe someone would show me affection on this particular day. As I got older, that hope turned slightly sour and I became bitter aobut Valentine's Day. This is not uncommon for many people. Then I met my current significant other and things changed.
Valentine's Day became significant because it's the date we decided to actually date one another. And while neither of us was ever realy wild about he holiday in general.... we are crazy about each other and the date itself has significance, not so much the holiday that happens to fall on that date.
Anyways, last night our school held its first round of spring parent teacher conferences. This means I was here yesterday from 7:35am till 8pm. On my 2 year anniversary with my boyfriend, who also just recently moved in with me. Crummy timing to say the very least. I wasn't too happy about it at all.

I wanted to be home with my boyfriend having a nice dinner and spending quality time together for our 2 year anniversary. Instead, I sat in a classroom for 4 hours and saw only 3 parents come in to talk to me about their child's education. Once the clock struck 8pm, I was out the door and headed home as quick as possible.
Upon arriving home, I found Lee, my boyfriend, sitting at the dinningroom table with a big grin on his face and our puppy Wynton sitting on his lap. Both were very happy to see me and gave me lots of kisses. There was a gorgeous orchid plant on the table as well and a peach piece of paper. Lee knows I love orchid plants and he's been buying me orchids for special occassions for a while now. This one is one I had pointed out to him one day and he remembered. But what the note said was very special.
"These past 3 years have been one heck of a ride and I am better for having gotten on it. Everyday is Valentine's Day with you."
That might sound sappy but it meant an awful lot to me. And he knows that sometime having the words in print to keep and hold is important to me. I can pull that note out any time when I'm having a hard day at work or feeling low about myself. It is a lovely pick me up.

Costume construction: One of my other interests

2011-02-14T13:18:00.000-08:00

I am trying to blog about more of my other intersts so as to keep this blog interesting and give myself more blog topics. Today I'd like to share some of the costumes I've sewn in the past years.
I do have another studio on Artfire just for my costumes, though admittedly I neglect it and the sales show that. Gypsy Threads
On Etsy I did a fair amount of business, though even that was hit or miss. I did some great kid's costumes and some decent adult costumes but on occassion, like anywhere, I would have a PITA customer (Pain In The Arse). I no longer opperate either shop on Etsy, for various reasons.

A happy client in his ghost costume.

Anyways, I enjoy making costumes. I'm not a professional seamstress by any stretch of the imagination but I do enjoy it and within my given parameters, can turn out some nice things.

This is a picture of my best seller. I used to make at least a dozen of these every September/October. It is a cape design that allows a child to be a ghost without having to put a sheet over their heads. I could also do these in colors and you'd have the ghosts from Pacman.

I also do a lot of Renaissance costumes for myself, friends and family members. I'm a big fan of Renaissance festivals and always attend in "garb". I'll share more of those pictures at a later date. Right now I am having difficulty getting my photos to upload.

What's new today 2-10-11

2011-02-10T20:20:00.000-08:00

Well, today was the first day back at work after my two day snow break. Everything went smoothly. And we are already to the weekend again. Wow... what a strange week.

I have a few things to share with you. I have been working on a custom pendant as a part of a trade I have arranged with a fellow artisan on Artfire. I -finally- finished it this week. I hope that the recipient enjoys it as much as I've enjoyed creating it.

While I was snowed in my house I also spent quality time with my puppy, Wynton. He's a little over 4 months old now. He's a cream colored toy poodle. We had a good time playing and napping. I have to brush out his coat once every day or so. And his hair is so long now I have to band it up out of his eyes. Normally my boyfriend's mother does his grooming (she used to groom and show poodles for clients) but I have had to learn to take on a bit of the maintainence. It can be very frustrating, especially when he doesn't want to cooperate. Anyways, here's a picture of him right after he was brushed out.
That's all for this blog entry. I have several other jewelry pieces in the works, which I will fill you in on at a later date.

Guess what's happening where I am today?

2011-02-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Well, first and foremost... it's snowing like crazy! My school called and told me not to come to work today (I am a music teacher).
So... to that end, I decided to go through and purge my studio of unwanted fabric and other things. Here is what a choatic mess my studio looks like currently.

So, I am attempting to see about selling scrap fabric lots on Artfire to see if I can get a couple of bucks from all this mess. Whatever I don't sell, is being given to a local church quilt group. Here's an idea of now much fabric I have to get rid of.

That's a lot of fabric. Any readers out there interested? Let me know and I'll make you a great deal.

Sticking to the topic

2011-02-07T10:31:00.000-08:00

I know, we've all had this happen at some point. We just can not seem to stick to the topic at hand. I remember in middle school, high school and even in college English having an instructor hand back a paper I wrote that looked like it was bleeding. All because I couldn't stick to my original topic.
Has this ever happened to you? It -still- happens to me. Especially when it comes to my blog. Allow me to attempt to explain.
I'm not really an ADD or ADHD person. I just happen to have a LOT of interests. So, sticking to one point all the time is kind of hard for me. I tend to meander around a bit. I forget that when I'm blogging that this can be distracting and hard on the readers.
So, when I set up this blog I had one thing in mind.. to keep this blog for my jewelry ventures ONLY. I wanted to stick to the point.

And now, as usual, I find myself meandering from that point. I have an LJ for my truly personal stuff. I like it that way really. However, I find that I am more and more interested in blogging about my other interests... and what is going on in general with my life and direction.
Now, part of me wonders.. would anyone really want to read about that? Would ther be any more or les interaction on this blog if I went in this direction? Many of my friends who have successful, well trafficed blogs blog only about one thing... they stick to the topic. While others have said they get better traffic if they blog about more than one thing.
I am in a quandry as to what to do. I would like to think that my blog is being read and perhaps is even liked by people but alas my Goggle Analytics tells me otherwise.
So, I guess maybe it's time to break out of this blogging shell and write about everything.... or at least more than just one thing.

Experiments in photography~ Take 2

2011-02-04T09:09:00.000-08:00

OK. I used a link from a fellow blogger's entry to learn to make a homemade light box. Mine turned out pretty crude but it does seem to function the way described.
How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio.

So, after completing this box, I immediately wanted to try it out. I have an old goose neck lamp on my bookshelf. I placed it on one side of the light box and took some photos of a few new pendants. Upon taking these photos, I noticed that one side was lit up fairly nicely. However, the photos still have a slightly grainy texture and some shadows. This leads me to believe that I need another light source on the other side of the box.
I am also very curious what natural sunlight would look like utilizing this box. I plan to take the light box outside this afternoon and see what that does. Below is a photo I took last night with my crude light box. I need to do some tweaking methinks.

A valentine inspired piece I've been waiting to photograph and list.

Spring Fever

2011-02-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

I was featured recently in a collection based on Spring items! And I totally have a case of Spring Fever right now too.
Would love it if some of my wonderful readers would go check out the collection on Artfire and give it a comment or rating. Pretty please?

Longing for Spring

Curated By: daffydill

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Paintings

Photographing my pieces

2011-02-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

OK.... I am not a professional photographer and while I have several friends who are, I often find I just can not capture my pieces with my camera.

That being said.... I have been trying repeatedly to find and try new ways of photographing my jewelry pieces. Recently I took a few pieces and tried using some different backgrounds and props. See the example below:

This photo is taken in daylight out in my front yard on a bench under a tree. I like natural light and at first found this gave me the best photo results.

This one was taken on the same bench in the same location and using natural sunlight as well.

This is utilizing the same natural sunlight in my front yard only using a few pieces of colored cardstock and a lovely rock I found in my yard.

Another picture taken using a colored cardstock background and natural sunlight.

Now, I'm not certain which I personally like better. Each has their good points. So I ask you readers... which photo makes you want to purchase the necklace more? And why...?

I intend to try some new things in the future in regards to photographing my jewelry pieces. I shall kep you all informed as this project evolves.

In Home Jewelry Parties

2011-01-27T10:51:00.000-08:00

A recently sold piece from my Artfire studio.

I've done blogs about jewelry parties in the past. I've done some research, conducted interviews with other artists and even attempted to get friends and family to host a jewelry party for me. However, today I would like to blog about the one type of jewelry party that has brought me at least some measurable amount of success.... the "in home" jewelry party.

Let's face it, in these tough economical times it is very difficult to find people willing to host any kind of party in their homes let alone get guests to come to those parties with the intention of purchasing what ever items are being shown. I myself have not found anyone willing to host a showing of my jewelry in their home yet. It is tough. But I didn't and won't allow that to discourage me. No. I found another route to take. I figured if I couldn't find someone else to host me, why not host myself?
So, I began doing "in home" jewelry parties or jewelry showings. If I put out snacks for the guests, I would call it a "jewelry party" and if there was no snacks and I offered tours of my studio space, then it became a "jewelry showing". It's a simple, minor detail but for me it was necessary to establish.

A pair of earrings currently for sale in a local boutique.

I use Facebook to send out the initial invites and then I start inviting my friends, family and work colleagues in person. I encourage them to bring guests of their own. In the weeks/days prior to the event I make sure to post pictures on my Facebook of new items and items available for sale. It grabs the buyer's attention and gets them interested. If they see one piece that interests them, they are more likely to attend. They want to see the item in person sometimes before making the purchase decision.
I use my dinningroom in my house for my showings, though you could use any room you feel is appropriate. My dinningroom is large, has lots of chairs and my dinningroom table is large enough to display nearly all my current pieces. I also set up a smaller card table in a corner with bead and supply catelogues for those who want to have something custom made. I also put out some of my beads and supplies on the card table as examples. It helps your guests know you take custom orders and can even inspire them to ask for a specially created piece.
I also have my tools handy. I have quite a few repair customers who bring me things they have purchased, whether from me or another artist, that need some repairs done. I often do these right on the spot unless they require more time or complicated methods (usually they don't).
I also have things on display throughout my local area in art galleries and boutiques. An in home jewelry party is a good way for you to get the word out to people in your area that your pieces are available online, in person and throughout your comunity. The more places your work is available,the easier it will be for people to recommend your work or even recognize your work.

In conclusion, don't be afraid to host your own party or showing to get your work out in the public eye. It tends to be simpler and chances are you'll have better turn out and sales results if you go out on a limb. Plus, you never know when one of your guests may decide to host you in their home after seeing your things in yours.

Briolettes~ faceted wonders

2011-01-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

One of my absolute favorite materials to use in my jewelry making is the faceted briolette. Whether made of gemstone, crystal or glass, the shape and sparkle of a briolette is magical to me. And it's the shape and sparkle of these that capture the imagination of many a artisan as well as their customers.

To better understand the history of briolettes, I decided to research a litle more about the process of faceting. Lapidary, or the art of cutting and polishing gemstones, has been around for centuries. There is evidence that as far back as 5000 BC humans were utilizing lapidary skills to create smoothed and carved gemstone pieces and tools. There are also referrences that say the earliest proof of faceted gemstones occurs in a piece of literature referring to crudely cut gemstones in India.
The technique of cutting gemstones to certain shapes as well as the refining of diamond cutting techniques were developed in Europe. Many of these same techniques are still used in lapidary work today.

The process of cutting, shaping and poishing briolettes and other faceted stones involves some very specialized equipment. For example, there is a cutting and grinding wheel that can vary in size from a desk top sized one (pictured right) to one the size of a potter's throwing wheel. And there are several steps in the cutting process before the shaping and polishing even begin. I attribute these as factors for te expense of briolettes.
Here are some websites for more information on the process of faceting stones.
http://www.gemcutter.com/getstart.htm
http://www.faceters.com/beginners.shtml
http://scienceray.com/technology/how-to-facet-gems/
I still adore using briolettes in my jewelry work but always have marveled and dismayed about their expense. I know have a clearer understanding of why they are so expensive. And one look at them gives you clear understanding of why they are worth the price.
The definition of briolette literally is "a pear-shaped or oval gem, especially a diamond, cut in long triangular facets." However, briolettes have evolved to include smooth tear shaped gems as well as many other shapes.
Briolettes traditionally are shaped like teardrops, rounded on all sides and pointed at one end. More shapes for briolettes have evolved. There are pear briolettes, which maintain the tear drop shape but are flat on two sides instead of round all the way around. Heart shape briolettes are similar to pear brios except they have a shorter and wider shape.
Onion briolettes are short and wide like heart shaped ones but are rounded all the way around like the tear drop shaped ones. These are by far my favorite earring fodder as far as briolettes go. I would like to close this blog entry about the briolettes saying this... if you have not yet tried using a briolettes in your jewelry making, by all means spend the money and give them a try. It is well worth the investment!

OMG! I'm back!

2011-01-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

So, the tech guy here at work (I work in a school district) had to install a new content filter and thus cut me off from my blog for weeks, which seemed like years for me. And this morning... poof! I am back and able to acces my blog from work again! Expect to see more articles from me on topics I've ben itching to write about.

NSF fee SALE! ONE DAY ONLY!

2010-12-14T11:39:00.000-08:00

Due to a snafu between my vet's office and my bank, I am forced to have a one day 50% OFF sale in my studio! Yes, for the next 24 hours you can get anything in my studio for 50% OFF in order for me to recoup the NSF fees charged for this mistake.
Get over there and help me out please.
http://www.artfire.com/users/divapixie

Almost there....

2010-12-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

.... we are nearly the 150th follower mark! Whoever becomes follower number 150 gets a custom necklace made by me!
Also, when we get to 150, I will draw a name from those who have left comments on blog entries for a $25 gift certificate to my studio. So get out there and leave comments!
Spread the word around.... get those followers here!

A Christmas gift

2010-12-01T15:28:00.000-08:00

Guess what I am getting for Christmas from my BF and his mother?

His name is Wynton and he's a 10 week old toy poodle.

Gift Guide #5~ Fathers, Brothers and all the other Men in your life!

2010-11-30T11:45:00.000-08:00

I know.... buying handmade things for that special guy in your life can be beyond impossible at times. So, I asked some of the artists at Artfire to lend us a helping hand by giving us some ideas.
Bracelet for him by JenniferLynnProductions
Hand towels for his bathroom or "Man cave" by daisydoodleembroidery
Pirate soap by SummerfieldSoaps (and who wouldn't want their man to smell like a hot pirate?)
This wonderful pen would be an excellent gift! Pen by madmoravian
Every girl's crazy about a sharp dressed man right? Vintage suit by OneTrickChassis

Shower gel in a "manly" scent by essensu

Jewelry for men is becoming more and more popular. Necklace by TooFancy
Bookmarks for that bookworm guy by acadienne
And how about this for that geeky guy of yours? Absolutely fabulous clock by TheGeekeryShop
Wonderful bag for a laptop by CarryTheWord
After shave lotion to make his face nice and soft by Gingers-Garden
For that unconventionally dressed guy, a tye dyed tux shirt by jenellsrevenge
A wonderful men's pendant by AllWireUpTOO
Or for that car fanatic, a vintage oil can by RaigeCreations
A lovely hot or cold pack for him by CaliforniaCottageCreations

AJG~ Guild featured gift guide

2010-11-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

I am here to bring you the wonderful work of the member of one the guilds I belong to, AJG. Here is a look at a few ideas from the guild for your gift buying needs!
How about some bold statement jewelry pieces for that fashionista on your list?
Bracelet by SecondNatureDesigns
Bracelet by kimforrerdesigns
Necklace by popnicute
Or how about something more dainty and intricate for that special loved one?
Earrings by CanterburyVinesStudios
Ring by brandybrookdesigns
Necklace and earring set by Frenchelegantjewelry
Or perhaps you know someone who enjoys the twists and turns of elegant and skilled wire wrapping.
Bracelet by AllWireUpTOO
Pendant by TwistedBlissDesigns
Earrings by AvaDesigns
Or how about that wonderful chainmaille. For him or her!
Bracelet by WireWrapJewelry
Necklace by HarmonyInMetal
Bracelet by GemsCrystalsAndWire

Whatever your holiday jewelry and gift giving needs are, AJG has everything you need to make that special someone's season merry and bright!
http://artfireajg.blogspot.com/
Please check out all the member of the AJG! You will find so many unique gift ideas!

Blog giveaway reminder!

2010-11-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

This is just a friendly reminder that I am giving away a free custom necklace to follower number 150 on this blog. And once I get to follower 150, everyone who has made a comment on my blog will also be entered in a drawing to win a $25 gift certificate to my studio!
Come on over and follow and comment! We could get there soon!

Gift Guide #4~ Gifts for Mothers, Grandmothers and all those other female relatives!

2010-11-16T11:47:00.000-08:00

I asked for gifts for mothers and grandmothers but felt these ideas really would apply to any female relative one might have. Here are some wonderful ideas for holiday gift giving!
Originalsbycindy

ForgetMeNotSoapShop

LisaRaspino

MJsKraze

acadienne

CaliforniaCottageCreations

GalleriadiGiani

Hi-StrungDesignsJewelry

BadInkClothing

FlameFlyCreations

Bycamille

Patchtique

LilBritknits

Valmade

Hope45942

EntwinedVines

AndreaTJewelry

ShinyCatCreations

Gingers-Garden

STEMDesigns

VickyVK

Wickdchaos

Gift Guide #3~ Incense, candles and other smell good things

2010-11-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

I have another gift guide for you, my readers, to consider this holiday season. This guide is a small collection of the wonderul scented things you can find on Artfire. Obviously there are far more items on Artfire than I can possible list here.
What could possibly make your bathroom smell better than these wonderful handmade soaps?
NaturesArt

Gingers-Garden

Or how about some lovely scented candles for any room in your home?
Wickdchaos

Candleguy821

BlueIrisGifts

HeartJCreations

And one of my very favorite things... incense and incense burners!
GypsyMagiQ

Zombie-Sticks

FragranceBomb

Thesoapmagician

LaDeDaCreations

Ugabugabowls

Fools and Jewels Collection

2010-11-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

I have been so busy putting together gift guides featuring items from other Artfire artisans, I nearly forgot to promote the items in my own studio. So prepare yourself for shameless self promotion of my own studio, Fools and Jewels

Wire wrapped magic

Curated By: divapixie

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

Gift Guide #2~ Holiday Cards!

2010-11-11T07:10:00.000-08:00

What better to go with that perfect handmade holiday gift but a wonderful handmade holiday card! This is just a small smattering of holiday cards that can be found on Artfire.
Custom kids photo holiday cards from MommiesInk

A great printed card from SeaGlassGreetings

For the pet lover on your holiday list Zoomgraphik

Who doesn't love Santa? SatelliteHeart

Winter greetings from PlatinumMonarchDesign

Red is one of the warmest colors to send ChadQuilt

Our favorite reindeer Joannmarch

A variety of holly greens from FadedLeaves

For that earth minded SooBoo

Poinsettas are just lovely Distinctivemoments

But he waved goodbye saying don't your cry I'll be back again someday KmBerggren

LOVE the vintage flair of this card from BellaStitchery

Holiday Gift Guide #1B~ Teachers!

2010-11-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

I have been super busy but here it is finally... the second half of my Teachers gift guide for holiday shopping on Artfire! I am splitting this into two sections~ Jewelry and Micellanseous gift ideas.
Jewelry
Cinnamon Jewellery

Red Ruby on Fire

DesignsbyElenaMarie

Uniques

Mysticknotwork

Fools and Jewels

And now for those hard to shop for teachers.... the Micellaneous category has something for everyone!
BazilEssentials

SSwoodcraft

OldWorldPrimitives

Sewnfromtheheart

FadedLeaves

AuntiemBoutique

TinaDeanDesigns

FunkyChicDesigns

Ugabugabowls

WhiteDandelion

BoutiqueKarma

PreciousKnits

Susiearwine

KidsCraftyCreations

BabyBouquetsPlus

And what teacher doesn't like new purses? Well, OK.... most of the teachers I work with LOVE new purses.
PooLouDesigns

Patchtique

FieldOfRoses

DiscordThreads

Holiday gift guide #1A~ Teachers!

2010-11-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

I have decided to not only highlight a piece of my own for holiday shopping this season but, to put together a large collection of holiday gift ideas from other Artfire artisans as well! I put up the theme for my gift guides and had TONS of responses so.... here's my very first of the season.
Gifts for that special TEACHER in your life!
How about a great gift basket full of pampering goodies from Norma's Bath and Body

There are lots of wonderul bath and body products perfect for teachers! DebsDay SummerfieldSoaps essensu

ShinyCatCreations

Or maybe a beautiful rosary from Designs by Patricia Hall for that special Sister at the local Catholic school your child attends.

Journals are always a great idea for teachers and Salamander Art has some gorgeous ones. Or try these great index card journals from Art by Sunfire .

And to go with those lovely journals... BOOKMARKS!

PearlieGirl LucysPrettyPosies

I'll be back this afternoon with more in this Teacher's holiday gift guide! There's so much to show you, I had to split it into two seperate posts!

Bead Trends magazine again!

2010-11-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have had the good fortune to be published this year (2010) in Bead Trends magazine not once but twice! These earrings were in the October issue.

And this necklace is appearing in the recently published November issue.

Add to that the excitement of knowing that the editors at Bead Trends have also selected a piece for the upcoming April issue... well, my PR cup runneth over!

Woohoo..... super excited on my end of things!

And the winners are....

2010-10-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

... for my 125th follower: Joann March! Congrats Joann and thanks for following!

Congrats Button! I will get your gift certificate out ASAP!

... and for my comments drawing....

Custom earrings about to be given away....

2010-10-27T10:57:00.000-07:00

... to whoever becomes my 125th follower! We are so close now! Come on over and follow my blog!

Once we reach that 125 mark... I will also be drawing a name of one of my blog commentors for a $25 gift certificate to my Artfire Studio! So, don't just follow, make a comment on an entry or two as well. Every comment you make is an entry in the drawing. Entries from October 11th till the present date please. Leave me some comments and get entered to win!
http://www.artfire.com/users/divapixie

An addition to the Coralgate scandal

2010-10-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

I would like to put up some links, should you, my intelligent readers, care to investigate this "scandal" further and draw your own opinions and conclusions from it. I am linking to articles about coral bans, preservation, mining methods, blogs about Etsy, actual forum threads on Etsy and other bits and pieces I think you may find interesting in furthering your interest on the matter.
I am not saying "You should read this right now because I said"... just providing further information should you so choose.

I am also going to once again put up my personal opinion on the matter.
I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANYTHING USING THE ETSY SITE EVER AGAIN.
I would like to encourage others to do the same, since I believe and have for some time that they treat they handmade artisans like crap. But, you be the judge on this one. I know my ruling for myself.
Here are the links.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/27/coral-ban-hurts-italian-craftsmen.html
An article about a coral ban and how it is effecting local business.
http://blog.auctionbytes.com/cgi-bin/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2010/10/1287376895.html
An article someone did online about the outrage over this Etsy Storque blog.
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6658582
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6658218
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6659297
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6659498
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6660749
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6658291
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6657695
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6659467
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6657333
A variety of threads from the Etsy forums on the topic.... some more about being angry for being silenced and some about why the article upset them.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/declaring-coral-too-precious-to-wear-10844/
The actual Storque blog post that started the whole thing.
http://www.jckonline.com/2010/09/28/jck-asks-temple-st-clair
A feature article about the blog poster on another site. People have been blasting her in the comments section. I'm not condoning nor condemning this behavior. My personal belief is it was Etsy's stupid mistake and not hers.
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4967473_how-moonstones-mined.html#ixzz132rseUKz
This one was posted in one of the angry comments on the above blog in response to her featured sketch of moonstone earrings. I found it an interesting read for the sake of learning about where my supplies come from.
http://etsybitch.blogspot.com/
One of my favorite blogs for all issues with Etsy. Just a smattering of how angry Etsy has made its handmade artisans.
http://www.coral.org/node/127
A great site that talks about coral, its endangerment, environmental causes and reason why it is being harvested. If you really want to take a stand on the issue of coral preservation, this is an excellent resource.

That is all dear readers. I leave you to daw your own opinions and conclusions. Any comments on this you wish to leave would be greatly appreciated. Add to the dialogue. Agree to disagree and things will go well.

Etsy and the "Coralgate scandal"

2010-10-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

Alright, I've kind of been avoiding this blog entry since I didn't really want to bring more attention to the site I left behind. I've seen more trouble on there than is worth mentioning and spent more money on their fees than anywhere else. I left for many reasons and I'm very glad I left before all of this transpired. That being said, I have finally decided that perhaps I DO need to write this blog entry.
*takes a deep breath*
Let me begin with why I left Etsy in the first place. I was a member of the Etsy community for I'd say about 4 years. In that 4 years I had experienced marginal success. My jewelry sold alright... though the sales seemed to come in spurts. My costume orders were high from mid-September to mid-October but often times I found that I could not always keep up with customers demands and eventually stopped taking custom orders there.
One particularily low day, I realized how much of my actual profit had been going to Etsy over the years. I also stopped to realize that I had not sold an item in any shop for almost 9 months straight. And I realized what drives the Etsy machine was relisting and charging fees. At that point, I decided I was done with them. The jewelry market there was swamped and I just didn't have the money to keep up with the "big Etsy fish" anymore.
I was told about Artfire by a friend I had met on Etsy. I've been there ever since and have nothing listed in any of my Etsy shops. I have shopped there a little bit since. That will stop. From now on, if there's an artist I like and want to purchase things from ad they are only on Etsy, I will kindly convo them and ask them to email me privately to arrange the sale. Etsy will get no more of my money.
Now, onto the "coralgate scandal". First off, I want to go on the record as saying this is my OPINION on what has transpired and what I think of it all. So, before you all blast me for it.... keep in mind I am entitled to my opinions and this is in fact my blog. So, while you don't have to agree with me, posting comments blasting me for not believing the same thing you do... well it's just tactless and rude. That being said, I do not believe any of my readers would do such a thing. You all seem like civilized people who can agree to disagree with me without getting personal.
I don't want to rehash the entire situation in detail so... the short version.
Etsy has a blog calles the Storque. They invited a guest jewelry designer to write a blog to be featured on the Storque. The blog she wrote was about coral as being an endangered species and how she believes we should all boycott coral beads and jewelry made from it etc. People on Etsy got all upset because Etsy did not put a disclaimer on this blog post stating they do not necessarily hold the same beliefs and the poster. There are all kinds of things wrong with what Etsy has done and caused with this blog post. So, as I display pictures from Etsy artisan shops that display coral, I'll dissect the pieces of this scandal and give my opinion on them.
Point 1: Etsy should not have posted this opinionated blog entry without a disclaimer unless they share the viewpoint of the poster. It has been pointed out by numerous Etsy sellers since this whole scandal errupted. Even large newspaper and broadcast mediums put up disclaimers when they featured or interview someone with an opinion on a controversial issue. Heck, telvision stations put up disclaimers before infomercials on late night television for crying out loud! This is standard practice and for good reason. And it's not a difficult thing to do nor would it cost them any more or less money that it did to put up the blog entry. Common sense people!
Point 2: If Etsy did/does in fact agree with the poster view point, they should have banned coral from the site prior to the entry being posted. I don't mind if a gourp of individuals wants to take a stand or support a cause they believe in. But don't do it half-assed and just because you heard someone tell you a little piece of the truth about the issue. If you want to take a stand on an issue, do the research yourself and decide if it aligns with you and your beliefs before jumping on someone's band wagon. Activists and even just regular everday schmos will in fact selectively edit the facts in order to get more people to follow their cause. Look into it before joining. Then, make your decisions accordingly. Be an intelligent adult about it.

Point 3: By not doing either of the above points, Etsy has essentially alienated their sellers. They are allowing a featured artist to essentially tell all the readers to boycott products made from coral which in turn makes the actual sellers on Etsy who do sell and use coral look like environment moronic monsters. This is what has everyone on Etsy pissed. It's costing them sales and thus is going to drive business away from Etsy. Kind of shooting themselves in the foot aren't they? Since it's the artists on Etsy that have created the name, recognition as well as generated all that revenue. The revenue that pays the Etsy administration's salaries. Hmmmmmmm....

Point 4: While Etsy has acknowledged that it has upset it's artists and has attempted a half-assed apology stating that the above point was not their intention, they have done NOTHING to atone for it. The blog post is STILL there. Perhaps the deepest cut of all. They will not acknowledge they made a mistake. They will not do anything to defend what they did nor are they doing anything to fix it. I guess it would be one thing if they had taken a stand and said "No, we have nothing wrong and here's why" but they haven't even done that. They just acknowledge they've made people angry and then move on as if nothing has/was/is happening. Wow. Salt in wound there eh?

There are several other points that many Etsians are arguing, all of which I see as completely and totally valid. I do not feel I need to discuss any more of them in great detail because really... I think it's pretty clear here that Etsy screwed up and won't admit it. While I have previously stated I have nothing listed on Etsy now nor will I ever again for completely different reasons, I would not like to state for the record.... I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANYTHING OFF OF THE ETSY SITE EVER AGAIN. If I want something from a artist over there, I will contact the artist directing to arrange the sale. I will NOT allow any of my hard earned money to the Etsy admin. I WILL continue to support the artists if they are willing to work with me OFF ETSY.

So, there you have it. Feel free to comment, add, whatever. Remember, this is my opinion and I felt it necessary to express it.

The "Green" movement and its effect on jewelry making~ Part 2 Gemstones

2010-10-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Welcome back, readers! Here is part two in my series exploring the effect that the 'green' movement is having on jewelry makers. I would like to explore the realm of gemstones as today's topics.
I know many jewelry designers and creators, myself included, love to work with gemstones. Whether they are in bead form, cabachons or faceted stones, there's just something about a gemstone that is unique and attracting to the eye.
To start with, there are typically two types of gemstones on the market today: natural gemstones straight from the earth and man made or grown gemstones from labratories. These two options in and of themselves can often spark controversy. So, let's take them seperately, starting with natural gemstones.
Natural gemstones, like another other mineral in the earth, are a limited resource. Since these minerals occur naturally in our earth, this means that is can take thousands of year and the perfect conditions for some of these minerals to build back up into the stones we recognize as gemstones. So, while the earth is still capable of producing more of these mineral deposits, it is a very lengthy and condition specific task.
With that being said, there does not seem to be a visable end to the supply of many gemstones at this point in time. I have not found any information about gemstone depletion aside from an article about Tanzanite. Many tourist spots across the US and around the world have mines where tourists themselves can mine, dig and pan for precious and semi precious gemstones. I myself have done this time and time again. It's an enjoyable activity! And it's nice to see exactly where your gemstones and beads are coming from. It can also teach you a lot about the properties of certain stones. For example, mining your own opal can very quickly teach a person how very fragile this mineral is. The tendency of veins of opal in rock to crack and shatter while being dislodged from the earth is a clear indication of what care one must take with a ring displaying a fragile opal. I've had many a friend who have had their prized opal rings crack and shatter.
There's a lot of controversy surrounding the mining of gemstones like rubies, diamonds and emeralds. In countries outside of the US where these stones are mined, the workers and work conditions are not what they ought to be. Because of this, many jewelrs are looking for what are called "conflict free" gemstones to use. An excellent source for more information regarding this is the following link: http://www.brilliantearth.com/about_products/
Synthetic, man made or labratory grown gemstones are different in that they are not naturally occuring in the earth itself. Scientists and geologists have done the research and discovered methods of growing these mineral deposits in controlled labratory environments. Thus, they have created man made rubies, emeralds, diamonds and sapphires. Much of today's commericially sold jewelry is actually made utilizing these stones. After all, they look the same, have the same properties and the cost tends to be much lower. There is less labor involved with growing gemstones versus mining them from the earth.
So, there's a little more information and a really goo resource on the topic of gemstones. If any of my readers have more information or some informative links or resources, please leave that infor in the comments section so I can update and better inform my other readers. Feel free to add!

The 'Green' movement and it's effect on jewelry making~ Part 1 Silver

2010-10-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of hoopla on Etsy over the renewability of certain objects and materials used in jewelry making lately. And it's sparked an interest for me in researching that topic. I am always interested in the discussion between being more "green" and it's effect on artists and their work. I think it's great to be green but the speculation lately has been about what can be done and what can not. At any rate, it's a great topic to investigate further. And I want to look for more information and give myself and my readers a better picture to draw thier own conclusions from.
*For the record and preceding my article and research findings, I would like to state that I am not going to post my opinions nor views on the renewability of materials or resources I research nor am I going to put down other artist who use or do not use these materials and resources. I wish this article to be informative and nor a deragatory diatribe about how we should or should not support certain handmade artisans based on this information. I believe each human being on this earth capable of making that judgment call on their own after educating themselves about the topic and forming their own opinion of the issue based on their own personal beliefs. I will not shove my beliefs at you if you would in turn do the same for me.*
That being said.... let's begin our information hunt. I want to start with a material that I use sparingly in my designs due to the high cost: silver. I wear a lot of silver and therefore have a natural curiousity to learn more about it.
When one searches for information about silver mining, it is brought to light that a lot of mines that produce silver also produce other precious metals that may bring a higher price than silver. This would lead someone like myself to conclude that perhaps many mines are more concerned with mining those other metals than silver but this is once again speculation. To delve more into that idea, I would have to interview someone in the mining industry... which I may consider for a later blog.
I also made the observation that there seems to be quite a small list of mines actually producing silver at all. Makes me really wonder about how much more of this resource is truly available. Also makes me curious as to how many companies out there are going to be asking to recycle silver bits and scraps as well as perhaps unused or broken silver jewelry. Reminds me of all those gold commercials we are seeing at the moment on TV.
I've also made an observation from looking at several different mining company websites. It appears that many of them have either purchased more land for mining purposes or are in the process of acquiring more land. some companies have expanded their operations on land they already own. To the outside observer this means that the mineral resource is perhaps less than it used to be. Again, without further information from the source it would be difficult to say for sure. Just for you own personal research, here are a few good links for researching on your own.
http://www.silverseek.com/links/   This is a great resource. It gives you live prices on silver as well as a comprehensive lists of silver mines. You can link to many of these silver companies websites directly from here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_mining_in_the_United_States I know there are those of you out there that HATE when others site Wikipedia for information but I believe this particular page is a good source. I like that it gives you an idea of where in the US silver ore is being mined. It's always good to be conscious of where your metals come from if at all possible.
http://www.miningnerds.com/silver-mining-report-all-countries This is just a cool resource that gives you a good list of how much volume of metal each mine produces as well as their listing price for silver. There's a ton more information there as well that I haven't really deciphered what it is or means.

Another thing I discovered as I delved into the mining of silver is how they extract the metal from the earth. Most mining is a pretty earth invasive mission. Most minerals are extracting from the ore, or rock containing the mineral, through a process called smelting. Smelting is a chemical process in which the minerals are leached from the ore using other chemicals such as carbon or mercury. Many other chemicals can and have been used in the smelting process as well. Smelting also involves roasting or melting out minerals and chemicals from the ore. This process can also produce hazardous chemicals as biproducts.   The one that comes to my mind most readily is cyanide. My father used to tell me stories of the copper mines in MT. He pointed to an old smelting chimney on an abandoned mine once and showed me how the trees on one side of the mountain still to this day do not grow. Cyanide gas still resides in soil there.
I would venture a guess that gold, copper and other metals are mined and extract in much the same ways as silver. So, this information could really span over those materials as well.

Now, while this this information can paint a pretty dissmal picture, please understand that in no way is this article meant to sway you in one direction or the other. I am merely providing information. Also, keep in mind that new and better ways of mining are always being discovered and researched. I am aware that more and more efforts to recycle metals and minerals are being employed. We are always changing and always moving in new directions.

Over 200 FB fans celebration SALE!

2010-10-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

I now have over 200 fans on my FB jewelry page! That's awesome! I want to celebrate by throwing a sale. From now until October 22nd everything in my studio on Artfire is 20% off! Madness! Party time!
Had your eye on a certain piece.... now's the time to purchase!

Just head to my studio and see the savings for yourself!
Fools and Jewels

Thinking about selling online? Part 2~ The Pros

2010-10-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

I began this small series of blog entries yesterday with the cons about selling handmade arts and goods online. I chose to begin with the cons so that the pros might keep you, my readers from being discouraged. And without further ado, here are my pros about selling online.
1.) It is easy and fairly inexpensive to get started.
Most online sites that allow artists to sell their wares are very user friendly. For example, I currently sell my jewelry on Artfire.com. Artfire is extremely easy to use. They have tools that make listing items very simple and quick. There are all sorts of "short cuts", such as their shipping profile button. You can save a shipping profile and just click the button on all your listings after that. Makes listing items a shorter and smoother process.
As for cost, many places charge fees based on the number of listings you have. Some places, such as Artfire, charge nothing to set up a basic account. Absolutely free. Now, that being said, paying the fees on Artfire to become a Pro seller are definitely worth the investment. They offer you more tools and services as a paying member and depending on how much you are selling it can easily be covered each month.That's just a decision each seller has to make for themselves.
2.) Your items are seen by anyone who has internet access and a search engine.
Instead of only being seen at local arts and crafts fairs or in boutiques in your immediate area, your items can be seen and purchased by anyone in the world who has internet access, a search engine and a working paying account. With a market that large, it should increase your chances of having your work seen, recognized and possibly even sold. Now, that being said... you have to go out and promote your work on the web to make certain it is being seen and searched by the spiders on the web. We call this SEO or Search Engine Optimizing. That's a whole different topic for an entirely different blog entry though. ;)
3.) Your customers can browse your items at their leisure.
One of the most wonderful things about the internet for me is that I can order whatever I need to from the comfort of my own home. I love to order things late at night while I am in bed with my laptop watching the Late Show. And if there is something I can't find in my local shops, chances are I can find it online and have it delivered right to my door. This is true of your customers. They can find your products on their time. I also find this helpful when doing craft shows. If someone sees a piece at a show I do but can't afford it at the time, it's nice to be able to hand them my business card and say "Here's where my shop is. You can stop in later and see if it's still available." So much simpler for that person. Plus, there is the added bonus of having that person go out and share your website information with their friends, work colleagues and family members.
4.) Your items will find their niche or reach their target market.
Let's say you make handmade children's clothing. But you live in a place where there are relatively few children to be found. Not a problem! Your online shop can be seen by anyone anywhere and therefore, the customers for your products can find you and your products. Let's say you make something a little off the beaten path but live where there is little to no interest in your art. Not a problem! There is a market of customers out on the internet somewhere probably looking for items just like yours. Selling online allows you to find your market and your market to find your products.
5.) Selling online can generate revenue.
Yes, you can make money selling online. I'm not going to promise you'll make boatloads of cash and be able to quit your "day job" or pay for a cruise or anything but who couldn't use the opportunity to make a little extra spending cash now and again? Am I right?

I know there are once again probably more pros I am missing. If you would like to add to my list, ask a question or comment on your experiences selling online, please do! Comments are encouraged!

Thinking about selling online? Part 1~ The Cons

2010-10-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

I know that more and more artists, crafters and hobbyists alike join the online community everyday. They have heard stories of people who have been able to give up their day jobs and concentrate just on their art by selling online. They have heard how their hobby could make them extra cash and help pad their bank accounts. They have more and more handcrafted items in their house taking up space and need to unload them somewhere.
Whatever their or your reasons, online selling has it's pros and cons. Like all things, you only get out of it what you put into it. For the sake of our sanity... let's do this in a list style and only elaborate on points that need it.
I'd like to start with the Cons first.
1.) The online market may be saturated.
I find this one very difficult to overcome myself. I am jewelry designer and creator. The more I sell online, the more I realize just how MANY jewelry atists are selling their things online just like me. And there are some amazingly talented artists among them. It can be very discouraging.
2.) Your shop can get lost in a sea of other online shops.
This is directly related to con number 1 in many ways. If the market for your product is saturated it means that your items and shop can get lost. Customers often find themselves overwhelmed when they search for items. They can be just loaded with possible matches to their search criteria and it's a LOT to look through.
3.) There may not BE a market for your items.
A good friend of mine has always said "There has to be a place for macaroni angels". She was referring to the sudden shift of her church's holiday craft bazzarr towards be a much more upscale artist market. She insisted that there still needed to be a place for creations like macaroni angels made by children and others. She right but, the online market may not be that place. There are some items that just are marketed towards a smaller margin of consumers and therefore, selling online can become a tough thing.
4.) The economy does effect consumer spending, even online.
Let's face it, the economy impacts everything. If consumers are financially strapped for cash, they are more likely to spend their money on less expensive necessities and not on handcrafted artistically made items. This can either help or hinder your shop. Me personally, I sell jewelry. People with little money are more likely to spend it on groceries and gas than on the items in my shop. After all, you can't eat jewelry... or at least I wouldn't recommend it.
5.) You often times need to spend money on your online shop in order to make money.
Another con that is closely related to the economy. I have found more often than not, in order to successfully grow your onlins shop you need to invest money into it. I am talking about membership or listing fees on sites such as Artfire or Etsy, ordering the necessary supplies for your work, advertising slots on websites or blogs, even new camera equipment to take decent eye catching photos of your products. It can all add up. And if you don't have the initial money to invest in those things, it can seem like your shop just isn't being seen.

I want to pause here and let you, the readers, chew this over and comment. I plan to do the Pros list in the next blog entry.

New wire work pieces

2010-10-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

I am working on my wire wrapping skills and techniques and trying out new designs with these. I am trying to create pieces with a variety of textures and colors. Let me know what you think could be better, added, taken away, etc. I am always looking for feedback to help me grow and improve my designs and techniques.
These are the only two designs that my blog is allowing me to upload photos for at the moment. I have two other pieces as well but I'll have to upload those pictures later on.

Craft Appeal

2010-10-11T08:16:00.000-07:00

This was the piece that was awarded this morning

So, a little over a week or two ago I received an email from a lady named Hannah. she is the creator or person in charge of a site called Craft Appeal. It's a great site for artisans to use as a promotion tool. Basically, you open a free account and upload pictures of your pieces to it. Then, they are available for viewing on the site and will link to the listing in your shop, wherever that may be. And in addiction to that, they can be voted on by the viewers of the site. I woke up to this pleasant surprise in my email box this morning...

Best Jewelry Award | Art & Crafts Awards | Oct 2010

CONGRATULATIONS!

CraftAppeal users think your work is awesome and have voted to award you the "Best Overall Jewelry" Award for your Spring Surprise necklace!
It will now be proudly displayed on our the CraftAppeal home page and continue to give you great publicity!
But wait...there's more!
As an added bonus we would like to offer you this award emblem of achievement, this embeddable widget for you to use on your own site to facilitate ongoing promotion and recognition of your creativity!

Needless to say, I am hoping to get this widget listed on my Artfire studio page and am placing it here for all to see!
Here's the site... get out there and display your work!
http://craftappeal.com/

And the first winner is....

2010-10-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

... Tak! Tak is the winner of my first commenter's drawing! Congrats to Tak! Contact me for your gift certificate code!

Well...

2010-10-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

... at 107 followers and holding steady... I think it is time to draw a name from my commenters and give someone a gift certificate to my studio. I will keep at this until I do in fact get to 150 followers, giving away gift certificates to commenters along the way... randomly.... when I feel the fancy take me. So.... here's your last entry to comment on to get entered. I'm drawing a name tomorrow morning for a gift certificate. Get to commenting, readers!

One of my new wire wrapped pendant pieces

Wire Wrapping~ How did it all begin?

2010-10-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Photo by Mandala Rain

I am a novice wire wrapper. I look at some of the artists out there that also work with wire and I am ASTOUNDED by their work. Absolutely astounded. However, this does lead me to ponder how and where the art of wire wrapping started. I plan to explore some of my wanderings through the history of wire wrapping with you today... only some.
Photo from Bohemian Wire Wrapped Jewelry on the Rocks
Upon beginning my research I was astounded to see that many sources site that the earliest surviving examples of wire wrapped jewelry have been dated back to 1000 BC. I also discovered that many of these early wire wrapped pieces showed signs that soddering had not yet been discovered. So, essentially these craftsmen had to rely on their skills in their wrapping to hold the piece together. And the fact that they have survived as long as they have is a true testament to the quality of their work and level of their skills.
Original wire work was done with thin strips of metal. Metalsmiths would hammer bits if metal into thin sheets and then cut those sheets in strips, thus creating wire. Filigree was the most common use for this 'wire'. Bits of it were woven much like baskets are woven to create settings for stones.
Interesting links for further wire wrapping history information: http://www.creationsbycarolladine.com/history.html
http://www.url.biz/Articles/Article-3051.html
http://www.ehow.com/facts_6745842_history-wire_wrapped-jewelry.html

Many cultures have some form of wire wrapped jewelry in their history. I was fascinated to discover how world wide the artform has been and still is.
I plan to continue to study and perfect and expand on my wire wrapping designs and techniques in the hopw of someday being half as good as some of the artists whose work I have shown here. This last picture is my latest wire wrapped creation.

The concept of "Upcycling"

2010-10-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do in my jewelry design is to use things that need new life. Many people use the word "recycling" or "upcycling" to describe this method of taking something that is used and repurposing it into something new. I love this concept. It is good for the environment and allows for creative expression through everyday items. Here are some examples of things I have used in pieces I consider "upcycled".

1.) Old bottle caps and pop tabs.
I really enjoy taking old bottle caps and turning them into interesting jewelry pieces as well as magnets and coasters. I myself use resin and confetti or other "found objects" to do this. I have seen other artists simply use paper print out and glue. The sky is really the limit.
I have also seen other artists, such as Cindy's Creative Crochet, using pop tabs to create new and fun
accessories.

2.) Vintage costume jewelry bits and pieces.
This is hands down my very favorite kind of thing to upcycle. I love to buy and use old vintage costume jewelry pieces in my newer designs. For example, this sim
ple bracelet was made by taking this old vintage milk glass neck
lace,

and adding in czech glass beads and findings in my normal stock. Lovely, simple and upcycled. I've done LOTS of pieces like this and
they are some of my best sellers.

3.) Sea shells, watch parts and other "found objects" available. Anything you can find in your everyday surroundings is considered a "found object". I've seen LOTS of creative ideas with this concept. I myself have used pressed flowers, watch parts, microwave parts, computer mother boards, confetti, catalogue and magainze cut outs, cigar bands and so much more to create unique and unusual jewelry pieces, magnets and coasters. There is really no limit to what a person can do with found objects. A friend of mine in an art class once used a large clam shell she had. She actually punch some holes in it and placed rivets in the holes! It was an amazing piece and a stunning idea.

So, whatever you choose to recycle or "upcycle", be it old clothing, vintage pictures, pop cans, bottles... have fun with it! Everything has the potential for creative rebirth in the right hands!

Bead Trends and submitting photos for publication

2010-10-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

In April 2009, a friend and fellow jewelry artist walked into my classroom after the dismissal bell had rung for the day. She had with her a copy of a magazine called Bead Trends.
"I think you should submit photos to this publication."
"Really?"
"they published my things and your wire work is way better than my bead stringing. Submit something. See what happens."
She dropped the April issue on my desk, smiled and walked out again.
I flipped throught he magazine and saw all the wonderful things that people had created. Could my pieces really compete with these seasoned artisans? By the following morning I had decided to investigate the magazine further. I went to their website and poked around a bit. ALL their photographs were submitted by artists, some of whom design and create jewelry for a living and those who likeme are hobby jewelry designers.
I read up on their requirements for submission and decided to try it. I submitted three photos of pieces I had created and waited to hear back. It was so simple. All I had to do was send an email to the address listed with my name, contact info, a description of the piece in question and a photo of the piece. Simple.

Amazingly, they accepted one of my rings for publication! I was thrilled!
The editor wrote a letter explaining that I was to send the ring to their company in a secure box, well wrapped and insured to them within a specified period of time. They would then have their photographers photograph the item and then would send it back when the issue with my piece feautred was released. They also sent two copies of the magazine as well as a $20 certificate for me to spend at Fire Mountain Gems. I thought this was a great deal!
I have since submitted and had several other jewelry pieces accepted for publication, including a pair of earrings featured in this month's issue. I highly recommend this publication for great jewelry ideas as well as a means for getting pieces published. It's great PR and super easy to get pieces accepted.
My next goal is to be the 16 page feature artist in an issue. Still working on that idea though.

Fun with party favors

2010-10-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

So, in addition to wire wrapping and beading, I also use resin work in my jewelry designs. I started using resin as a means to make some "steampunk" pendants for a custom set I was commissioned to do about 3 1/2 years back. Once I saw how simple it was to use Easy Cast resin (this is a trademarked brand by the way), I decided to explore the options of this medium. I bought some different sized and shaped molds to use. I began searching and experimenting with the different kinds of things one could put inside of resin. I have used everything from confetti (which is super fun) to dried flowers, watch parts to magazine and newspaper cut outs. I even scanned some of my original artwork and photographs into the computer and printed them up for encasing in resin!

Now some of you may be asking "Cindy, what does this have to do with party favors? Glad you asked!
Recently I threw my boyfriend a birthday party. He decided he wanted to do some kind of party favors for the guests as well as a prize for a game we would all be playing. But, neither of us had much money to go and purchase anything... and we didn't know what to buy anyways. Then the light bulb in his head went off. He remembered that I make things with resin. He asked if I could take some of the pictures we had of him and turn them into magnets and coasters. Brilliant idea!
I tell you all, it was the most fun with resin I have ever had. I wish I had thought to take pictures of them before we gave them to our guests. The recipients of the magnets and coasters thought they were brilliant as well. I just love the idea! And what fabulous gift idea for the holidays. They are absolutely customizable. I'll show you some samples of coasters I've made from various materials.

Alarm clock parts, confetti, cut outs from an old model catalogue, cigar bands and even pieces of old play bills made excellent coaster fodder.

So, get our there and explore the wide world of resin! Make magnets, jewelry components, coasters... the sky if the limit!

The "Follower's" Special

2010-10-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

I have decided to run another giveaway special! I am so close to having 100 followers on my blog and I think that's a good reason to have a celebration of some sort. So.... here it is!
The 100th follower on my blog will receive a $10 gift certificate to my studio.
The 125th follower on my blog will receive a pair of custom made earrings.
The 150th follower on my blog will recieve a custom made necklace.

BUT WAIT! There's more.... I also want to reward those followers who are actively reading and commenting on my blog entries. An active follower is worth their weight in gold to me. Starting with my "Ask the Artist" blog entry, each time a follower comments on a blog entry I will enter their name into my hat for a drawing. The drawing prize.... $25 gift certificate to use in my studio!

So get out there and be active! There's only five more spots till the first prize will be given out!

Steampunk~ What is it all about?

2010-10-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog entry in my series of "Ask the Artist" blogs. SarasinArt from Artfire asks:
"Hey Pixie, I see a lot of Steampunk jewelry around now. Can you explain where that concept came from and more of what it's all about? Thanks! "

This is an EXCELLENT question and a great topic for this blog. Thank you SarasinArt!
I went out on a search last evening to find a true definition of what "steampunk" really is. There are a lot of references out there to explain it but I am choosing to quote the article "Steampunk 101" from http://www.tor.com/ as my definition reference. They refer to steampunk as meaning "Victorian science fiction". They continue on to state "Here “Victorian” is not meant to indicate a specific culture, but rather references a time period and an aesthetic: the industrialized 19th century."
In other words, Victorian clothing, fashion and ideals combined with what then would have been considered futuristic. Think of combining motorized, steam driven objects with corset, bustles and waistcoats.
The term itself came about in the late 1980's according to the article. "The term “steampunk” was not coined until the late 1980s, when author K. W. Jeter used it humorously to describe a grouping of stories set in the Victorian period written during a time when near-future cyberpunk was the prevailing form of science fiction." The article goes into more detail about the associations made with the word "steampunk" and also references items that are often associated with this fashion movement as well as dissecting why they have become so iconic to the movement. I highly reccommend this article for more in depth detail about all things considered "steampunk". http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/10/steampunk-101
Now, as for my personal experiences with this movement, I actually have very few. I was first asked to create some "steampunk" pieces about 4 years back. A good friend of mine was going to a Convention event in central Minnesota. My jewelry sales, then hosted on Etsy, were next to non-exsistent at the time and I thought perhaps I could send her some jewelry pieces to wear at Con to spark interest in my jewelry shop online. She said the types of pieces people at Con would most be interested in would be "steampunk" inspired pieces. I had no idea what on earth that meant.
After a short stint of research online, I made a run to the hardware store to pick up some nuts and bolts. I also had some parts from an old microwave I had recently taken apart. I lashed these together into a pendant and brooch (the pendant is still with me today and is listed in my Artfire Studio). My friend said the pieces were nice but not quite steampunk.
I continues on in my quest to make steampunk items and have tried MANY different things. Here's what i have discovered from my experiences.
~Some people prefer gears and cogs on their jewelry that have motion.
~Some people think gears and cogs on anything is great.
~Some people scoff at the idea of putting gears and cogs EVERYWHERE.
So as you can see... it's a subjective thing. Just like any of type of fashion, steampunk fashion is left entirely up to the person wearing it. I now subscribe to the steampunk fashion community on livejournal. I often read posts where the controversy over what is or is not steampunk can get rather heated. Everyone seems to have their own opinions and views on the matter. It is essentially, like so many other things, left to interpretation.
So you see, truly finding things that are "steampunk" is actually quite difficult. I prefer to think of some of my jewelry pieces as 'steampunk inspired' rather than truly steampunk. I'll let the discerning participant decide for themselves.

Well SarasinArt, I hope this helped or at least pointed you in the correct direction. I know it took me a long time to truly understand what is in fact steampunk. So many people on online selling venues abuse the word to generate more views in their shops. So, it is a word that can inspire and generate controversy.

Ask the Artist

2010-09-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

I've been at a loss for blog topics for a while now. Everytime I come up with something it just doesn't seem like i have enough expertise, research, ideas, etc. on the topic. Clearly, I need help with this blogging thing. SO, to that end... I have decided that I need to do a series of segments called "Ask the Artist". Got a question you want to ask me about my jewelry designs or techniques I use? Ask me! Want more information about gemstones, bead supplies, metals or other bit and pieces used in jewelry making? Ask me! Want to learn more about my experiences with online selling, selling venues, jewelry parties and farmer's markets? Ask me!

I will gladly share my knowledge about each and everything I know with you. Ask me, anything.... go ahead.

Pretty please?

Collections on Artfire

2010-09-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

There is this nifty feature on Artfire called Collections. We are now allowed to add items we seeon Artfire to a "collection" to feature them in a sort of gallery. It's a great way to promote both other artists as well as items you've made yourself. Other people on Artfire can then leave comments, rate the collections and use the link to cross post and promote. I love this tool. I have made a few collections since it was installed but haven't had time to mention nor share any of those. Here's a collection I made up today of some of my favorite items thus far.

A few of my favor...

Curated By: divapixie

ArtFire.com

Craft Tutorials

Etsy vs. Artfire continued

2010-09-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

There are a zillion threads on both the Etsy and Artfire forums about this topic. I read them every so often and sort of see if there are any new ideas or arguments one way or another. I know my opinion and how it applies to my shop and this is what I believe is the essential part of my decisions. However, every once in a while there is a good argument or piece of wisdom picked up from reading the ranting and ravings of my fellow artisans.
Today, a newcomer to Artfire made some astute observations. This person has only been there a short while... and their words really did kind of hit home with me. This person isn't just ranting or raving but making rational observations. I asked and they have granted me permission to repost portions of their post here.
"I joined Artfire about a week ago.(Around the time the new logo hit the front page)
I have a few observations about this place I thought might be interesting to some.
I first looked at this site about a week ago even though I had heard of it well before.
I didn`t come sooner because Artfire had a reputation of being invisible to buyers.
No traffic, no hits, no views, no sales.
I came here last week because the buzz about Artfire on the Etsy forums had grown to a fever pitch and I simply had to see what the hell everyone was going on about.
(Remember that, word of mouth is your best friend)
I signed up immediately for a free account and started testing the waters."

I want to stop here a moment to point out how this person discovered Artfire through Etsy.... exactly the opposite of what Etsy wants. I find this painfully ironic.

"About a half hour after I signed up for the free account I signed up for a pro account because I was simply amazed at the selling tools I could get access to.
For selling abilities, sellers tools, and search function this place blows Etsy away.
I`ve never really put much effort into selling on Etsy simply because it looked like whatever effort I expended would be neutralized by Etsy admin.
I have since imported my entire Etsy inventory here and this place will be my focus.
I`m going to put everything in this basket.
The search sucked(I believe purposely).
Policy was made on a whim and changed just as soon as that whim changed.
Sellers needs were always ignored.
Admin statements were constantly contradicted by other admin statements.
I had no idea what I should do as a seller in some situations simply because admin had no idea what their policy was."

Another good stopping point. I myself have learned through online selling sites that if your shop's policies are not crystal clear, you get more trouble than it's worth. Policy is IMPORTANT in any business. And after reading this comment on the forum today, I realized that all that time I had spent maintaining a shop on Etsy, I had never once looked for a site policy. Perhaps I should have. When I moved to Artfire, the policy was right up front and simple enough to follow easily.

"It slowly dawned on me that Etsy had no interest in my or any other sellers success."

What a horrible realization to come to. And yet this was the bottom line that made me empty out my shops on Etsy as well. I maintain an account over there only to shop with... and even that is sparse. I shop on Artfire 9 times out of 10 and only go to Etsy as a last resort now. Sad but true.
This person goes on to point out flaws in Etsy that most already have known, seen or heard about. But this last part I'll share is what made me want to blog this information.

"Artfire, this place looks great, the tools rock, the community is golden,the fees are a fantasy come true. The problem with this place is the first thing I mentioned in this post.
It still has a reputation for low exposure."

This is where my fellow Artfire artisans and I need to focus our attention. Artfire already gives me the best exposure on the web I've ever had. The fact that we can be found by the google machine is awesome.... but we need to focus more on getting Artfire's name out there in the public.
So let's get to it! This blog of mine is my first step in that direction.

Trading!

2010-09-24T06:03:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about handmade websites is trading. The old system of bartering goods for goods is simply awesome. I belong to the Trading Post Guild over on Artfire and we started out "Trade and Stay" event for September yesterday.
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=forums&op=view_topic&tid=13079

Now I know what some of you are thinking.... Don't I have to be a guild member to join the Trade and Stay event? NO! You just have to trade with someone on our list and you're in! Come on over and trade with us.... it's great fun and a wonderful way to get yourself something nice or to jump start your holiday gift shopping.
Here are a few of the things I traded for yesterday....

And LOTS more..... and hopefully.... LOTS more to come.
The event ends at midnight on Saturday Sept. 25th so get in on the trading fun NOW!

FREE PENDANT!

2010-09-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Now that I have your attention, Tracy Harmon of Harmony in Metal at Artfire is hosting a giveaway for me in her blog this week. The fabulous prize? A gorgeous handmade copper wire pendant with fresh water pearls made by yours truly!
We need to bump up the entries... so get over there and check it out!
http://www.harmonyinmetal.com/blog/2010/09/15/enter-to-win-a-fabulous-handcrafted-pendant/

Here's the fabulous prize.... in case you were curious....

And the final winner is....

2010-09-22T06:26:00.000-07:00

So, pink clouds and angels, please get me your contact and shipping information ASAP so I may pass it on to Jon. Congrats to all the winners and thanks for playing!

Artfire Deal of the YEAR!

2010-09-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Artfire is offering a fantastic deal to all artisans who currently have or open up a studio with them.
They are offering up the rate of $5.95 a month for a PRO ACCOUNT. Here's how it works. The goal is to have 20,000 artisans opt in to get this fabulous rate. Once that happens, those artisans are locked in as getting a PRO ACCOUNT on Artfire for $5.95 a month! For more details and FAQ about this deal here's a link that will help.
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=forums&op=view_topic&tid=12409

To opt in and get signed up for this fantastic deal, go here.
http://www.artfire.com/groupdeal

This means that you will get ALL the benefits and tools that come with a Pro account for the bargain price of $5.95 a month. This is a huge discount from the regular $15.95! Take advantage! The sooner we get to 20,000, the sooner the rate will drop for us all!

Third and final giveaway drawing....

2010-09-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

If you haven't entered already, hurry and get entered. Next Tuesday, September 21st I will do the final drawing for this lovely prize....

Instructions on how to enter the giveaway are below.

Ways to enter

Leave a comment on this blog~ 1 entry
Follow this blog~ 1 entry
Follow Jon's blog~ 2 entries (http://finewoodcrafts.blogspot.com/)
Become a follower of Jon's blog~ 2 entries
Become a fan on Jon's Facebook~ 1 entry (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fine-crafts/103696063001695?Created)
Follow Jon on Twitter~ 1 entry (http://twitter.com/JonPSU77)
Tweet about this giveaway~ 2 entries
Make a purchase from either of Jon's shops~ 5 entries
(http://twitter.com/JonPSU77 , http://www.artfire.com/users/JonFine)

Please notify me either in your comments on this blog or by email (divapixie25@gmail.com) proof that you have done one or more of these things for entries. Links to your tweets, purchases, comments etc. will be enough proof. ... is fast approaching! Get entered today if you have not entered already.

Week 2 winner....

2010-09-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

Shake those names up.

Wait for it.....

Katie Jeans Jewelry!!!!

Congradulations to Katie Jeans Jewelry! You are the winner of the giveaway this week. Please email me shipping info ASAP to divapixie25@gmail.com so I can forward it to Jon and he can ship your prize!
One more week left in this giveaway.... if you haven't entered yet.... get entered NOW!

Next giveaway drawing.....

2010-09-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

This week's giveaway is this wonderful stork picture frame. Great for that baby shower you need a gift for!

Instructions on how to enter the giveaway are below.

Ways to enter

Leave a comment on this blog~ 1 entry

Follow this blog~ 1 entry

Follow Jon's blog~ 2 entries (http://finewoodcrafts.blogspot.com/)

Become a follower of Jon's blog~ 2 entries

Become a fan on Jon's Facebook~ 1 entry (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fine-crafts/103696063001695?Created)

Follow Jon on Twitter~ 1 entry (http://twitter.com/JonPSU77)

Tweet about this giveaway~ 2 entries

Make a purchase from either of Jon's shops~ 5 entries

(http://twitter.com/JonPSU77 , http://www.artfire.com/users/JonFine)

Please notify me either in your comments on this blog or by email (divapixie25@gmail.com) proof that you have done one or more of these things for entries. Links to your tweets, purchases, comments etc. will be enough proof. ... is fast approaching! Get entered today if you have not entered already.

And the winner this week is....

2010-09-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

Mix those names up.

.... SWANK! Here come the pictures. I was on my own this evening.... bf had a doctor's appointment so.... forgive my horrible photography.

Swank, please email me at divapixie25@gmail.com so that we can get your mailing information for your prize shipping!

All the names that were not pulled, which is everyone except Swank, shall go back into the hat for the next drawing. Keep watching my blog for more details. Tell your friends and family to get entered to win fabulous prizes!

Congrats again to SWANK!

And the winner is....

First giveaway drawing....

2010-09-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

... will be tonight between 6 and 7pm Central standard time. This is your last chance to get entered to win this lovely wine glass holder which fits over a bottle.

See blogs below for entry details!

Friday Sept. 3rd~ What's happening in my Studio

2010-09-03T09:10:00.000-07:00

1.) I'm hosting a giveaway for another artist on Artfire. Details about the giveaway, how to enter and pictures of the prize for this week are in the posts below! Check it out and get entered to win fabulous prizes over the next three weeks.
2.) I myself have begun working with flat wire in my studio. I've thus far created a small but elegant pendant with a lovely Flourite stone at it's center. Pictures to come this evening!
3.) I will out at my local farmer's market tomorrow selling homemade jams, jellies and of course my jewelry offerings. Here's to hoping Labor Day weekend brings excellent business to the market.
4.) In other news, I will begin working on some new Renaissance festival costumes for myself and my bf this weekend. We are attending the MN Ren. fest in a few weeks and like to go to fest in "garb". I've also opened up my other Artfire studio http://www.artfire.com/users/gypsythreads to take custom costume orders for the upcoming Halloween season. If you need a child's costume (no stuffed costumes please) or something for yourself, get your order in SOON! I tend to fill up quite quickly.

That's what's happening here at Fools and Jewels! Keep watching here for more updates!

Adding a new way to enter the GIVEWAY!

2010-09-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

I had a request from Jon this morning... he says he does a newsletter from his blog and would like me to offer..... wait for it..... 10 ENTRIES for every person who subscribes to his newletter. What are you waiting for? Get over to his blog and sign up for that newsletter!

http://finewoodcrafts.blogspot.com/

This week's prize to be given away on September 7th!

I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY!

2010-08-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

That's right folk! I'm hosting a giveaway for another artist: Jon Fine! I've featured Jon's work previously on my blog as well. He's asked If I would host a giveaway promotion for him on my blog and I said I'd be most happy to.
Jon makes wonderful woodwork creations. He is 55 and currently lives and creates in south New Jersey. His creations are truly wonders to the eyes. He makes a little of everything from coat hangers to door frame decorations, picture frames to clocks. And this month, he has been gracious enough to donate not one, not two but THREE items for a giveaway to you, my loyal readers!

Here's how it works: each time you do one of the following things you will be given "chances", meaning your name will go in my "hat". To make certain that I am fair in drawing a name from the hat, I will have my dear BF do so and will make sure to take pictures. That way you will all know it was fairly drawn.

Ways to enter

Leave a comment on this blog~ 1 entry

Follow this blog~ 1 entry

Follow Jon's blog~ 2 entries (http://finewoodcrafts.blogspot.com/)

Become a follower of Jon's blog~ 2 entries

Become a fan on Jon's Facebook~ 1 entry (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fine-crafts/103696063001695?Created)

Follow Jon on Twitter~ 1 entry (http://twitter.com/JonPSU77)

Tweet about this giveaway~ 2 entries

Make a purchase from either of Jon's shops~ 5 entries

(http://twitter.com/JonPSU77 , http://www.artfire.com/users/JonFine)

Please notify me either in your comments on this blog or by email (divapixie25@gmail.com) proof that you have done one or more of these things for entries. Links to your tweets, purchases, comments etc. will be enough proof.

And NOW.... the fabulous gifts! One prize will be awarded each week for the next 3 weeks. The prize for this week's giveaway is..... a wonderful wine bottle and glass holder!

This prize will be given away on September 7th, a week from today! Now, get out there and enter! Free stuff.... you just can not go wrong.

SALE ends SOON!

2010-08-31T06:11:00.000-07:00

Today is the LAST DAY to get 25% off everything in my studio! Take advantage and purchase that jewelry piece you've been eyeing of those destah beads for that special project today before the prices go back up.

LOTS of great items to choose from. Remember, prices go up at midnight tonight!

Moonstone

2010-08-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Moonstone is certainly an intriguing stone. Whether it's the opalescent grey moonstone, the white whine with the blue flash of rainbow moonstone or the soothing smooth color of peach moonstone, it's certain to catch the eye and entrance you.
I first became interested in this stone in high school. I had a strange dream one night about being trapped in a cave made of some kind of opalescent stone with hints of blue. I wasn't sure what it was but I was fascinated by it. The following weekend, I found a pendant at a local festival made of the same stone as the cave in my dream! I was absolutely in love and purchased the stone at once. I still have that necklace (and matching earrings I purchased later) to this day.
My new found fascination led me to research the stone further. I discovered that moonstone is supposedly a stone of dreams. It brings peaceful, restful sleep if placed under a pillow. It's a stone of divination and psychism. This is because it is associated with the Moon Goddess. It is a sacred stone in many religions.
Moonstone is also thought to be a protective stone. People wear or carry moonstone with them on long journeys, especially over water.
Moonstone also comes in different color varieties. Rainbow moonstone is a beautiful white stone that have a shimmer like mother of pearl. It also has a flash of light blue when the light hits it just right, much like labradorite. Peach moonstone also has this mother of pearl like shimmer but is a much more smooth shade of peach or light orange. Grey moonstone has a quality like trapped fog. It almost seems to swirl in the light.
Whatever your reasons, I hope you will add this stone to your jewelry repetoire. It is definitely a stone with wearing and working with!

AJG August Challenge

2010-08-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am a member of the Artisan Jeweler Guild on Artfire and we just put up our August challenge blog this morning. I have a piece entered in the challenge but there are MANY wonderful choices. The theme this month was Artist's Choice... so we each chose one of our favorite pieces to be entered. Please go check it out and vote for your favorite!
http://artfireajg.blogspot.com/
Here's the piece I entered.

Piece in progress....

2010-08-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

... but now I need help. I need some input about what to make this piece into. A pendant? Necklace? Brooch? Something else?

Any ideas out there in blogger land?

A new piece in progress

2010-08-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't done a piece in progress post in a while. And now I have a piece in progress to share.

A friend of mine from back in MN was looking over one of my recent steampunk pieces and remarked that it was lovely. She then lamented that she has longed to see a steampunk necklace, pendant or brooch that has a skull and cross bones and wings. Her Steampunk costume persona is that of an airship pirate. I decided that day to order some brass embellishments and get after that idea.
I started with an old vintage rhinestone buckle. A lot of the rhinestones are missing but it still has a lot of shine to it. I then wired swarovski crystals around the oustide. I added the brass charms and am now about halfway through adding cogs and other watch parts to it. I haven't decided yet if it should be a pendant or a brooch. I also think it needs some additional wire work and perhaps some more beads....

Recycled Vintage piece

2010-08-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

I took care of my sick bf all weekend. But in between fetching him water and making meals I did manage to create another new piece. This one is made around a piece of broken vintage costume jewelry. I simply took the rhinestone encrusted piece and did some wire magic around it adding various crystals and beads. Then I added some antiqued brass chain and voila! More vintage bling.

New Steampunk/vintage inspired offering

2010-08-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

I sat down last night and created this lovely bit from a great copper filigree setting with a large rootbeer rhinestone and LOTS of wire, cogs and other beads. Steampunk meets vintage bling!
This piece has been listed in my Artfire Studio and is also on sale, like everything else, for 25% off!

One more time for the cheap seats in the back!

2010-08-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

I want to remind everyone that there is a HUGE SALE in my Artfire Studio happening right now. EVERYTHING in my studio (right now and those things that will be listed as the weeks wear on) is a whopping 25% OFF! This will also include CUSTOM ORDERS. That's right.... got an idea for a piece you just can't work out on your own? Let me help you! 25% OFF!
Stop in and see what I can do for you.
http://www.artfire.com/users/divapixie