So yeah, I'm still working on my time management. (been working on that for years...) But, just wanted to pop in and say I'VE GOT SOME PLANS FOR YOU!!!! :)
I do. Have plans. And they're gonna be NIFTY!
I closed my Etsy shop not too long ago, and so I'm working on my Artfire shop and getting it all beefed up (have some cute new things to post, and more things in my head!)
I just finished up the Samples I'm making for the March Sampler Village box (I can't wait for you to see them! So cute!!!)
I'm hoping to be doing some product reviews soon (we'll see how that goes) and I'm going to continue my series of posts on Beading techniques!
I think it's going to be a big year for me! :)
In the meantime, here's a pic of the bracelets I made last weekend--2 for my mom's birthday, and the other for a friend's bridesmaids (I'm waiting on supplies, still). Not the best of pics, but how cute!!! :)
I'd almost forgotten how much fun TOGGLES can be!!!! :)
So, I've been a bit out of the loop crafty-wise lately, although I've actually been making a lot of stuff. I participated in Brave Girl Soul Restoration (I'm actually enrolled in that again now, since I wasn't able to finish) and I'm taking Christy Tomlinson's She Art Workshop (she's so cool). So, I've been playing with stuff, but its more in the toddling-around-from-thing-to-thing manner than in the concerted let's-really-go-for-it manner.... But at the moment, it's working for me.
Of course, I've also been frantically grading papers and trying to stay on top of all the school stuff, while also reading and re-reading tons of Brit Lit texts, and creating PowerPoints and lectures and stuff for them. THAT's been fun! But there's really been no jewelry making this year, because, you know, 8 classes!! (What was I thinkin'...)
So it was really nice when I saw I'd been included in an Artfire Collection put together by Intentional Stones. Now I can't wait to get back to jewelry making! Eventually.... (thank goodness summer starts soon... fewer classes!!)
So, I had a rather good crafty day, although I haven't made a thing (I was in class all day...) But, I had a friend at work who desperately needed a gift, so there went my favorite earrings (it's okay, I can make more!) And then I got home to see an email that I had been included in a Collection on Artfire. Check it out below! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!! :D
So, last week, as I begged my boss and all the office ladies to vote for my Art with Heart piece (which they did! So, yay!!!) they also asked to see what else I made. So, today, or I guess, yesterday now, I took all my work in so they could see. And guess what! I sold a pair of earrings, and have orders for five, (yes, FIVE) African Helix bracelets. YAY!!!!!!!
I know it's not much, but it makes me happy! :) And now, I get to play on Artbeads and buy some new seeds and druks. Whoo-hoo!!!!!
I also ordered the kit for Art with Heart Cycle 3, and I cannot WAIT to get that sucker! Here's a link; check out those colours. How gorgeous are those! And that focal! I'm tempted to get a few of those just to have on hand. I can feel a fabulous piece in the offing!
Well, that's it for my quick update. Look for some new pieces in the shop in a few days, and have a great weekend!
Okay, not so much "ripping" and taking stuff apart methodically so as to preserve all the original stuff to be used in making other stuff later. That's what I did a little while ago... I took apart a belt that I got years ago because it had these really interesting wood or palm-tree-bark-like thingies... See, like this:
[caption id="attachment_69" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This is the main piece. No idea what it's made of.... But it looks cool!"][/caption]
So yeah, I had fun pulling that belt apart. I've been looking at these pieces for ages, and I decided to work on something today. I made a bracelet, and I'm pondering earrings. Here's the bracelet:
[caption id="attachment_71" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="No idea what to call this bracelet... "][/caption]
I love the pink swarovski with it. Kinda makes it pop, you know?
[caption id="attachment_70" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Maybe I'll call it "Stuff"..."][/caption]
Eh, I'll work on a name before I post it to Artfire. And I think I'm gonna go with "faux wood" on the materials list and leave it at that!
Well, it took a good minute, what with all the, you know, real work and stuff, but I finally got a few new pieces up on my Artfire page. You can see them here. I'm in the middle of a rather major revision of my artfire page, and I'm aiming to spend the rest of my summer learning some new techniques, posting some new work, and trying to make a real go of my jewelry business. Which, if I really want this to be my life's primary work, I really need to get to work on!
So, the latest work... well, I have several more pairs of earrings, since earrings are something of a staple for me (I'm looking into making clip-on earrings, too, since I have several family members without pierced ears, so let me know if you'd be interested.) But I also posted a bracelet I'm quite proud of. The stitch is called the African Helix stitch, and I found a video tutorial for it on YouTube. With this stitch, it's relatively easy to master the basics, (you work with five beads at a time, so there's not too much room for damage) but I'm discovering new and different problems every time I make another piece. For example, this stitch is worked on a wooden dowel or pencil. I thought it would be a good idea to score the pencil with inch marks, so I'd know how long the bracelet was. Great idea, yeah? Yeah, I thought so, too... until I had to destroy the pencil to get the bracelet base off... oops! So far I've made 2 bracelets, and I have an idea for earrings.
[caption id="attachment_19" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This is the African Helix Stitch bracelet, done in a base of matte black, with transparent lilac accent beads."][/caption]
I've also made an awesome little bracelet for a good friend of mine who's moving back to Arizona next week. She's had a rough few months, but is getting back on her feet, and she collects bracelets, so I figured it'd be perfect (it was! She loves it!) My goal was to make her a "Beach Bracelet." She's lived here in Florida for 5 or 6 years, and doesn't really want to move back to Arizona, but at the moment, there's really no other option. So I wanted her to take a wee piece of Florida with her. Here it is:
I found some wonderful shell beads at Michaels, so that was obviously going to be the focal, since this is a "Beach" bracelet, and Florida definitely has shell-y beaches (unfortunately, we also have other icky stuff on our beaches now, too... boo....) And, of course, any "beach" bracelet must have it's water and sand! I used a spiral rope stitch (probably my true favorite, and the first I ever learned) that I modified a bit to include a bit more framing around the turquoise beads. This is just such a fun and bright little bracelet!
So that's my new news! More fun and changes to come!
