Up and Running!

I've finally finished or at least partially finished my other blog site. I feel like I've been working at it for weeks :D I'm sure that as I learn more the site will be changing a bit, but for now I'm satisfied with what I've created.

I tried like a mad woman to add a picture to this blog that could be hyperlinked to my other blog, but after many hours of frustration...reading the helps, adding, deleting, I've settled on just adding a bit of verbiage and a link at the top of this blog. I think that I may even have some hair left on my head after that!

I've only added a couple of pendants for now, but I'm hoping to add more before the weekend is over. The jewelry that I will be selling there will be exclusive to that site only. I'm excited about this new venture and I'll keep you updated on how it's working out.

I've been asked on several occasions if I'm planning on leaving Etsy....absolutely not! I love Etsy and the community there...it is a fabulous place to sell your wares and I will not be leaving that venue any time soon. I'm just spreading my wings a bit, hoping and trying to create a business that will sustain my family and myself. Though I think that's a goal for many of us that are in the business of selling our handcrafted/handmade items.

It's 3:00 am...what am I still doing up??

I took a weeks hiatus from my day job and now it's nearing the end. It's my kids spring break and I thought what the heck...I'll take it off too :D The boys had baseball practice all week so we weren't able to go anywhere, but it's sure been nice doing things on my own schedule.

I've opened a jewelry supply shop on Etsy to try and destash my overwelming collection of baubles. I have another bead show coming up next weekend, if I'm able to make it, I should come back with some more treasures to take the place of the stones that I'm selling. Just what I need huh?? Well a girl can't have too many treasures or baubles now can they?

I've also started another blog to sell my Tree of Life pendants and possibly some other jewelry. I'll post the link when I've got everything up and running. I'm having problems getting the pics in there and adding a Paypal widget to it...but that's just because I'm just not computer savvy. I should have it figured out before the end of the weekend though.

I had my danes spayed this week...which is another reason that I took the time off. Did you know that they charge by weight....holy crow!! Well it was a wopping $500....ouch, but it needed to be done! Dogs in heat....nope....definately not my thing!!! When we got our first dane, I definately wanted to breed her...awww how cute will her puppies be, until I read all the work that goes into it, and the possibility of complications....the vet visits...yikes. I also noticed that Raven has a curveture of the spine that I didn't want to have passed down. I don't think it will cause any long term problems, but I can't guarantee it and it wasn't a chance I was willing to take with her or her puppies. So that's that...and now they can go back to being the couch hogs that they are.

I'm also really sad to say that I will have to find another home for my cat Nanni. We've had her for 5 years and within the last couple of years she totally terrorizes the other cats, so much so that they're afraid to eat or do anything if she's around. One cat is now so afraid that she won't even come upstairs. I don't really know what to do....she doesn't like to be picked up at all, she loves to be petted...but on her terms, she will sleep in your lap, again on her terms. AND if you even try to pick her up...claws are out and she's trying to find a way out. She doesn't like to go outside...it scares her...and when she's in the mood to be petted....she definately doesn't want you to stop. She's the size of a kitten, and definately has short mans disease :D All of these traits are exactly what I love about her...well other than the terrorizing part, but as you can tell, it's not going to be easy finding her a suitable home...and I can't bare the thought of what will happen if I can find her a home. Uuugghhh...I'm so sad. Well I have my fingers crossed that I will find someone who'll love her as much as I do....I'll keep you posted.

First Tree of Life Custom Order

This is a custom order for someone who saw me wearing the Hessonite Garnet Tree of Life. She requested green, gold, black Tourmaline and a square frame. I really like the earthy tones of the Tourmaline in this pendant.

Since my last post I've received 4 orders, each one takes 2 days to make because I have a day job I can only work on them during the evenings. So as of right now I'm focusing on my store, and the pendants, then I'll make more pendants to post for sale here.

I love the creative outlet jewelry making offers!

Wire Wrapping

I've been trying my hand at making Tree of Life pendants after seeing one while browsing the internet . After making my first one I realized that one of my Etsy street team members also makes and sells them, so out of respect for her I won't be offering mine for sale in my store. I've made a couple without stone chips which is what's most commonly seen. I've never really cared for them, I'm not sure if it's because of the chips, but I really just like the organic look of the wire alone.

Last night I made a few sterling silver frames for the pendants, a tear drop, square and a rectangular one. Tonight I wanted to work with the tear drop frame and decided to add stones. I don't have any chips other than turquoise...so I used some of my small faceted Hessonite and Rhodolite Garnet rondelles. I'm really pleased with the results and I think I'll have a hard time parting with this one. I know I've said that before, but everything about this pendant screams, "Keep Me!!" LOL

After I've made a few more I may list them here on my blog for purchase. So stay tuned!

Not enough time in the day!

I can't believe that it's been 10 days since I've posted anything on my blog. I've changed shifts temporarily so by the time I get off work and finish everything else it's time to go to bed....this shift change has really messed me up though...it's going to be hard to switch back to a morning shift.

I've listed a few things since my last post so I'm just going to scatter the pics around this post, feel free to click on them to look at their listing on Etsy.

Illness has ran the gamut in my house for the last two weeks, it's been a vicious circle! I thought I was over it, felt great one day then the next it was in my chest...uuuggghhh! I had stopped taking Umcka too thinking I was all better. If you haven't heard of Umcka it's a homeopathic remedy, containing African Geranium, purified water, and vegetable glycerin. It's saved me on many occasions...except for this one :( It works alot like Airborne and other over the counter items like that, but at least I can pronounce the ingredients in this one!!