Happy Solstice!!

And what a wonderful Solstice it is! I just found out some wonderful news...a local boutique is going to carry my jewelry on consignment *does the happy dance* I'm so excited. The owner is wonderful...I love just chatting with her when I visit her store. I made her a Goddess pendant for a Solstice gift today and also made a gift for Lori (the Labradorite bracelet in an earlier post and Labradorite earrings). I had just recently started thinking about doing consignment, and her store was the first that came to mind, the vibe in her store is great, so tonight I emailed her and asked her, and she said YES!!

On another note...I did make a Goddess charm (talked about it in an earlier post). It was like I had a dream about them. I drew the design at my parents house, showed my dad, he tweeked it a little...it looked so familiar and I was worried that it was something that I've seen before. I've searched and searched through thousands of pages looking for this design...and nothing. I showed my friend Lori tonight and she said she's never seen anything like it either. So now I'm really psyched and I'm going to copyright it before I make anything using the design. It's been hard to create any new jewelry because I've been "obsessed" with this charm. It's calling to be made into earrings...necklace...accent on a bracelet, so many things. I worry so much about putting them out before copyrighting them because of all the "copying" that goes on at Etsy and other venues...*sigh* On one hand you're honored that someone likes your piece so much they're copying it, on the other hand it hurts because it's "you're baby".

Anywhoey...well that's my fabulous news for the day! Happy Solstice...have a safe one!

A Great Place For Your Web Design Needs

I just wanted to mention a friend of mine. If you look to your right you’ll see that I’ve added a business where you can get your web and graphic designs done by Deon at Impact Design & Images . I’ve known the owner of this business for 10 years. He’s very professional, and does exceptional work. He’s also a photographer so if you happen to be in PA, and need some photos done drop him a line. I can talk him up until the sun rises, but I’m kind of partial because he’s very near and dear to me, so I would like to suggest that you go to his site and check out his “Testimonials”. I can tell you there’s nothing but praise for his professionalism, his customer service and the knowledge that he has for creating a successful website for your business. Also, be sure to check out the other businesses that he’s created web pages for.

Deon, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your help, suggestions and for being such a wonderful friend. I look forward to working with you in the near future to create my own web page for my jewelry business.

Aquamarine and Amethyst Pendant

I just made this tonight by hammering 18 gauge sterling silver wire. I'm thinking this pendant would look nice on a silk cord too. I really like the way it turned out. I'll be listing this tomorrow on Etsy. Hmm...maybe I'll make some matching earrings too. I haven't listed the Labradorite bracelet yet, I'm thinking I might tweek it a bit, we'll see. Anywhoey, I'm off to work on some Goddess Charms.

Here's the Bracelet

This is the bracelet I was talking about in my earlier post. I seem to be able to get more of the color flashes when I use paper under them instead of the sand that I normally photograph my pieces on. I had a picture that showed flash in almost every stone but it was too blurry. So tomorrow I'll have to retake some pictures before I post it for sale on Etsy.

Well I've still got my cough but I at least feel like I'm among the living. My son's car is making alot of noise so it sounds like I'm going to be dumping alot of cash into getting that fixed :( It's so odd because he baby's his car and we pretty much call him "Driving Miss Daisy" because he drives soooo damn slow. My other son on the other hand is just like his grandfather and thinks he's Mario Andretti.....grrrr I'm seeing flashing lights, an expensive piece of paper and an after school job for him in the near future...lol

Have I mentioned that I have twin 16 year old boys??...Well I should say 16 going on 30 or maybe to be more accurate 16 going on 2. And they're Leo's to boot (I'm an Aquarius)....holy hanna...if you know anything about Astrology then you know that Leo's are Aquarius' polar opposites. The God's or Goddesses (whichever you choose) thought it would be pretty funny to put me...the only Aquarius and surround me with Leo's...my father and my twins...so needless to say my life is never boring...or uneventful because we always have something to argue about on a daily basis! *uughh* Even though I bitch about it or sometimes think it's unfair....secretly I cherish every moment I have with them. They're juniors in high school and college is just around the corner....and I'm getting a very small taste of the empty nest syndrome since they've gotten their drivers licenses...I can't imagine what it will be like the day when I won't hear them arguing as they come through the door...or see that shit eatin' grin they get when they're pushing my buttons...and the worst...when I walk by their rooms and see their empty beds. Makes me tear up every time I think about it......

Okay...enough of that...too depressing for me to talk about. So on that sad note, I'm going to head to bed...walk by their rooms...and take in every detail as I watch them sleep. ~Nite

Labradorite Earrings

Here are my newest pair of Labradorite earrings. They flash blue, green and gold...I just wish I could've caught those flashes of colors when taking the pictures. *sigh* I've also made a bracelet, that I'll post tomorrow on Etsy as a "made to order". I've specifically put certain Labradorite stones aside just for the bracelet orders. I'll have to post a picture of the bracelet later tonight.

Well I have a work meeting *fun...fun*...gotta run!

Lepidocrosite in Quartz Pendant

This is my new pendant that I was also talking about, I'm definately making myself this soon. I just love the colors and sparkle in the stone.

The cough is worse today, and I feel totally wiped, but I'm getting ideas for some new pieces, so I'm off to create.

Sacred Circle Goddess Earrings

Here's the pendant I was talking about last night. I revamped them alittle though by hammering the circles....for some reason they just looked like they were missing something. So I just added some texture then relisted them on Etsy.

Still feeling...

like death warmed over...but I actually got alittle creative today. I made a pendant to match the Lepidocrosite in Quartz earrings and I've made some hoop earrings which I've named Sacred Circle Goddess, I love them, but I think I'm going to hammer the hoops. I really like the look of hammered silver, it just adds a bit of character.

Well the pendants that I sent off were not what they were looking for...they wanted actual stones that they could add their vintage style to...unfortunately I don't do vintage and I only have finished pieces done in precious metals. I don't know why I don't work with copper or brass, and I'm not sure if I ever will. The finished pieces with those other metals look nice, just not my style. The wierd thing is about 5 years ago, I wouldn't wear sterling silver...let alone plated or any other metal, I would only wear gold and it had to be at least 14kt. It also needed to be a nice piece with diamonds or just the gold alone...nothing else....sheesh. Now I have all of this gold, and I don't wear a bit of it...other than some white gold hoops my mom bought for me a few years ago. Hey now that I'm thinking about it, I think those hoops were the last gifted jewelry that I've received since I've been making jewelry....hey...that just ain't right! I'm gonna have to do something about that...hehe....nah

There is a plus side to making your own jewelry....any outfit I get all I have to do is make something to go with it. If I see a celebrity on tv or someone around town wearing some earrings, necklace, or a bracelet...then I go home and try to make something similar. And here's the funny part...like if I buy a jewerly magazine, or bead magazine....I'll say,"Oh, I'm going to make that!", but when I actually sit down to do it...some other creation always comes out of it. I don't know if it's something within me that won't let me make an identical piece or if it's the stones themselves....oooooo....I like the thought of the stones deciding where they want to go.

Well I've blabbed enough for the night...I'm off to OD on some Nyquil and disappearing into dreamland!

Uugghh

I've been sick for the last few days...head cold, now it's moved to my chest *yuck* During one of the times that I was awake yesterday, I tried making a pair of earrings.....after a few tries I thought I had it...once I started stringing the Tourmaline the metal backing(this was my 3rd pair as the others kept breaking) decided to break...again. Sooo...I turned off my light, and crawled back in bed. I've decided that I'm not going to attempt making anything until I feel better. Which will hopefully be soon.

On a more positive note...I'm anxiously awaiting my approval to join the SRAJD (Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer) Organization. I think the next application processing is going to be at the end of the month. Though I'm not sure if my app got in before the cut off.

I've also submitted some of my pendants to another company for possible publishing. So maybe we'll hear something from that :)

New Earrings

These earrings will be available in my store http://shijewels.etsy.com/

The pair on the left are Sterling Silver earrings with Lepidocrosite in Quartz. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome this stone is. The reflective colors in the Lepidocrosite is really like looking at a pool of confetti gathered at the points of the Quartz with some stray flashes of color throughout the stone.

The pair on the right are Sterling Silver earrings that are hand forged and textured by me. The faceted Amethyst briolettes dance in the center of the circle.

How adorable is she.....

This is my niece Abi...and she just turned 4 months old on the 12th. I love her nose, it looks just like mine :D Isn't she's just the cutest!

First International Shipment

Okay, so yesterday I mailed it off. I had to send it first class instead of priority...holyman priority is expensive when shipping internationally. Thank goodness for small towns and small town postoffices. Mine was so helpful yesterday :D

I just posted a new pair of earrings, and I have a wire wrapped pendant that I made. I'm not sure if I want to part with the pendant though. I've had a ton of compliments on it and I've just really grown attached to it. The focal stone is Rhodochrosite with 4 Tourmaline beads hanging from it. I picked the Tourmaline to accent the different colors in the Rhodochrosite. Decisions...decisions...decisions

I guess if that's my only dilema for the day then I'm doing pretty darn good!

Another Sale!

Yay!! Another sale....was wondering when I would have another Etsy sale and tadaa! It's my favorite pendant, with the most personal meaning to me. This is also my first International shipment, and I've just read in the Etsy forums that they (USPS) aren't allowing "jewelry" to be shipped anymore. So "fashion accessory" it is :D

I'm also really excited to have another order from a friend and Etsy customer. It'll be a first for me to make this type of bracelet, but I wanted to send Kudos to whoever was the first to create this bracelet. I'll post pics of it when I'm done!

I got an invitation to Rings & Things this weekend. I can't wait to see the choices of stones and findings they have...my favorite things to shop for!!

Anywhoey...I'm off for the night! I'll post more later.

Yay...Look what I did!!!

Sleep....I need it!

I'm so completely tired, exhausted, I haven't created a thing in 2 days *sigh*

I was a dork...okay...I am a dork...guess what I did? I ordered some small priority mail boxes from USPS. I only wanted 20 or so to ship my jewelry in, so I ordered 20. Well guess what showed up??? 20 friggin' boxes of 25 small priority boxes. WTF??? So now I have 500 boxes and no place to put them!!!! I think I'll only keep a few of them then give the rest back to the Post office for them to use. Lesson learned......"Read the fine print!"

I ordered more stock...haven't received them yet but hopefully they'll be here soon. I can't wait to add more to my inventory so I can create some newer designs. Though I do need to destash somethings on Etsy. But I'm one of those people that have a hard time letting go of things. Cuz as soon as I do, I'll probably need it...isn't that the way it always works??

Well I'm out of here for now, hopefully I'll feel more creative tomorrow. Homecoming is this weekend and my kids have a baseball tournament so it should be a pretty busy weekend.

I'll check back in and maybe post some new creations this weekend. If not, then have a good one!!

Very Berry Ring/Pendant

If worn as a ring this is a size 7, but it's beautiful as a pendant too! It's available for purchase in my Etsy store.

http://shijewels.etsy.com

Here's another!

These are Aquamarine, Shell and Sterling silver earrings available in my Etsy store. They measure 1 1/2" in length including the ear wire.

http://shijewels.etsy.com/

Here's what I created last night....

These are made with Peridot, Shell, Sterling Silver Leaf and Lever backs.

I'm amazed!

Well I just got another sale...I was off creating a new pair of earrings and taadaa...checked back in and one of my first wire wrapped pendants sold. I'm so excited. That's 5 sales in a month. For just beginning on Etsy...I think that's pretty good. I'm on my way, and I'm seeing more sales in the future. I already have one in the works outside of Etsy, she's deciding whether she wants the Chakra pendant or a Goddess of Abundance necklace. I would like to sell 10 pieces each month. I'm thankful that I'm able to do this. My ultimate goal would be to do this full time =)

Of course that's a dream right now....but dreams do come true!