Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Bliss

Bliss definitely describes my feelings when I hold these new necklaces in my hands! Here are my newest additions to my Etsy Shop:

Te Amo : Labradorite, Topaz and Peridot




Mystic Moon : Labradorite, Sapphire and Tourmaline



Monday, January 18, 2010

Liver of Sulfur

Well it's my first time using LOS (Liver of Sulfur - gel form) to patina my silver. I've always used the more eco-friendly egg way, but after reading that once the LOS solution is inactive, I can dilute it and use it to fertilize plants and grass...I decided to give it a try.



First I set out my plastic bowls and designated which bowl was for what by writing on them. If you notice I also wrote the little recipes so I wouldn't have to keep referring to the internet or search for the piece of paper that I wrote the "how to" down on....I'm always losing my notes :)

After cleaning all of my pieces using a warm soap bath, I created little baskets using plastic dixie cups to hold the metal pieces. I then punched holes in the bottom and the sides of the cups to allow the fluid to drain easily. Though I punched numerous holes, I did notice that it took longer to drain than I like so I'll be making some of those holes bigger.

Right now the silver pieces are in their neutralizing bath to soak for a few minutes and they have a perfectly uniform black patina to them. All in all this method is super easy and I'm glad I decided to give this a try!

**Added Note:

It didn't smell near as bad as the eggs do! LOL

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

A Birthday Gift

Okay, so as you know my birthday is coming up and I've been on a Labradorite shopping spree for my Etsy Shop. If the funds are available I don't generally have a problem with splurging on stones or crystals for jewelry....but what happens when you find a stone that you know you won't be able to part with?

A tug-of-war is what happens

...should I...I shouldn't
...oh I should...no I really shouldn't
...but I really want it....but you don't "need" it
...need it schmeed it!!

Yes, this is the exact conversation that I had with myself....and of course I won LOL...that's the wonderful thing about arguing with yourself--you always win :D

So here's my birthday splurge and I'm ohhhh so excited!!


It's such a lovely color and I've only seen this color in the veins (inclusions) of the stone never as the primary flash of color! As I wait for it's arrival I'll dream of the other stones to accent it with and smile and giggle uncontrollably at the thought of wearing it....*happy dance*

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Plans for a Giveaway!

My birthday is just right around the corner (28th) and to celebrate I thought I'd host my very first giveaway. I don't have all the details worked out yet....here's what I have so far:

  • I want to keep it simple
  • It will be through my Fanpage ( so if you haven't signed up and want to participate just become a fan!)
  • It will run from Jan. 22nd - 29th
So here's where you, my wonderful readers, come in! From the choices below, what would YOU like to win??

~ A pair of earrings
~ A necklace
or....
~ A gift certificate

If you have any other suggestions feel free to share...I'm open to any ideas! I'm so excited and would really love your input, thoughts, or any advice you might have -- just leave your comment!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

New Year and New Beginnings

It's been awhile again since I've posted on here...the reason for the lack of posts on my blog is because the link on the Facebook side seems to be a bit messed up. It was posting on both my Fanpage and my personal page and I didn't want my friends or fans to feel like I was spamming them. So yet again I've tweeked the blog post on Facebook so hopefully it will work correctly this time!

I hope everyone's Holidays were filled with love, joy and happiness! I enjoyed the time with my family as always and was even able to get some much needed projects done around the house!

Lately I've been on a bit of a buying spree...I have an absolute love for Labradorite and I've been going a bit crazy buying some pieces..hehe


The flashes of color are too scrumptious for me to resist! I can't wait to start working with these, I just hope I can part with them ;)

I feel a change on the horizon, my creative juices are starting to flow again as I take these first few weeks of January to search within, to rid myself of things that hinder my growth both spiritually and creatively, allowing myself to embrace the path ahead. Change is good, and I'm so ready!

Wishing you all a wonderful start to this New Year!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Fanpage Special and FAQ's

Later this evening I will be rolling out a special discount to all of my Facebook Fans! It's an offer exclusively for my Fans to help with their Holiday Shopping. Instructions on how to use the special offer will be included in the post later this evening on my Fanpage.

FAQ's:

Where can I purchase your items?
You can find my jewelry at http://shijewels.etsy.com

Do I need to have an account on Etsy to buy?
Yes -- it's a quick and painless process. Once you click on my shop link http://shijewels.etsy.com click on "Register" located at the top right side of the page. Fill the requested information and after a few short minutes you'll be ready to shop!

How do I pay for my items?
All payments are accepted thru Paypal. Even if you don't have a Paypal account, you can pay by using a credit or debit card . Once you've added your items to the cart just follow the easy checkout instructions. If you have any problems at all, feel free to contact me via Etsy or on Facebook.

What if the item I want has already sold?
Just let me know what item it is and I'll work with you to get another piece made. I also happily accept custom orders!

I'm buying this as a gift for my friend, will you ship it to her?
Yes! Just be sure to note the name and address in the "Message to Seller" box. Also include any note you might have for the gift recipient and I'll write it on the gift card for you!

Do you ship internationally?

I love to ship internationally! All International sales are shipped via First Class.

What are your shipping cut off dates for Christmas?
USPS has listed the cut off dates here. Though USPS lists the domestic mail cut off as December 21st, after last years snow storm I would feel more comfortable saying that December 17th would be a better cut off date for shipping within the US.

For international packages, December 4th is a better cut off date for all countries. It's far better to err on the side of caution than take the risk that your item won't arrive in time for the Holidays.
___________________________________________________

I hope the above FAQ's helped answer any questions that you have!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Now Available!


I'm excited to announce that Gift Certificates are now available in my Etsy Store!

Need a stocking stuffer, last minute gift idea or a little something for that "hard to buy for" person? A gift certificate that never expires is the perfect solution.

Currently listed: $10, $20, $25, $50, $75 and $100.

~Happy Shopping!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Blogging and Facebook

Now that I've finally figured out how to link my blog to my Facebook Fanpage instead of my personal page, I'm going to happily write more blogs since I will no longer be double posting updates.

In an attempt to try to be more organized I will be posting all of my newest listings for my Etsy shop on my Fanpage, but will continue to use my blog for ramblings and everything else.



On the agenda for November is really just prepping for the holiday season! I can't believe it's already that time of year, so be on the lookout for special discounts exclusively for my Facebook Fans. I'll be rolling out a special holiday discount on November 15th!!

A big thank you to all of my customers who helped me reach a milestone of 500 sales last month! These last two years have been fabulous and I look forward to seeing what this next year has in store for me!

Friday, October 9, 2009

It's Friday...


My kids are home for the weekend, I have pink extensions in my hair, it's a 3 day weekend for me and I just made a $108 donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation!! A big thank you to the girls at work who purchased the Cancer Awareness Necklaces !!! I'm so appreciative for their caring and giving nature. What a wonderful way to start my weekend!

I hope you all have a great weekend as well!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Supporting a Good Cause



October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness month. In honor of the women and families who's lives this disease has affected, I've made this necklace! The ribbon is made of Sterling Silver, and is adorned with a petite Mystic Pink Topaz gemstone. The pendant drops from an 18" sterling silver chain. A simple necklace that packs a lot of meaning.

For each necklace sold $12 will be donated to NBCF (National Breast Cancer Foundation)-- http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

Your donations will be made on every Friday this month, and I will keep a running total of the amount donated in my shop announcement.

If you'd just like to simply make a donation you can visit the link above. For every $100 donation you help NBCF provide an uninsured woman with a free mammogram!

Thank you all for your support!