Look what I got for Christmas

NEW TOOLS! I love getting and using new jewelry making tools! Benn got these for me, (with help from a list from "Santa"). I got a new texturizing hammer. Just love those hammers! Very therapeutic. An some new stamping tools. And a great new pair of Lindstrom pliers. Wow, you can really feel the difference when using an expensive tool over a cheap one. I am so glad that I finally got these.


An assortment of metal beads. These are going to look great in some new designs. I really like the assortment of colors: pure copper, nickel, dark copper, gunmetal, just to name a few. Surprisingly, these are not cheap. A good assortment of colors and sizes can be found at Fusion Beads.

And finally,

A new bathroom! Yeah! I am so glad that project is finally complete and I can have my bathroom back!

In other things, today I just listed a new pair of earrings called, "Dark Lady" and will be adding a few new things this week.
BTW: I'm offering THRU JAN. 1ST, TAKE 25 % OFF ORDERS OF $45.00 OR MORE; 10% OFF ORDERS UNDER $45.00 in my ETSY shop. Also check out my SALE SECTION where I've added a bunch more.
That's all for today. Hope everyone had a great holiday!

"Dark Lady": http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37444739

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Time, Rothenberg ob der Tauber, Germany
Originally uploaded by Batikart

Photo by LostonFlickr's


Photo by yukky on Flickr


Photo by Sometimes I'm Nicola


Photo by maskirovka77

Magic Kingdom - Cinderella's Winter Castle
Originally uploaded by Matt Pasant

All chocolate carousel in Disney World resort.

A blog Book Giveaway

"Beth's Book Review Blog" is currently running a giveaway for Joyce Meyer's "Hearing from God Each Morning".


Pop over to Beth's blog and check it out!

Home shows: my last show of 2009

It's been a mad dash to get everything together for my last show of the year, which was this past Thursday, early evening. This is the second year I've done a holiday open house. Now the funny thing, well, not so funny is that I had a pipe leaking behind a wall in my bathroom and had to call in a plumber that morning, just to find out that the walls had to come down and there is dry wall damage. What fun! And what timing!

Just lovely, isn't it?
Anyway....THE SHOW: It was a very low turnout. I did make a little money which is good and helps out, but not as good as last year's. I contribute this to 2 things:
One, the economy. People are not spending as much this year. And 2, I don't think I talked about it or invited quests early enough for them to plan ahead. I think last year I started talking about it a month prior, and this year, I waited until about a week and a half to invite. Oh well, lesson learned.
A home show IS a great way to sell; make money; have friends over; and offer a convenient shopping experience for others. I read an article in Step by Step Wire jewelry magazine last year where the author stated that she makes most of her annual sales at this one type of show.
While browsing the web yesterday, I found this blog article entitled, "5 tips for a successful Handmade Craft Shopping Party". She also offers good tips on having a home based show. She refers to another site, Selling Your Crafts at a Craft Home Party, which offer many more tips about offering customers to host a show, how you would do that, offering hostess benefits, and more. Another good idea.

Another great source of information in Rena Klingenberg, so stop by her site; there is so much to read and discover.
That's all I've got for today. Oh, please stop over to the poll in the side bar and vote. I guess I'll be back with photos of the new bathroom, (when finished of course!)

Etsy Blogger's features Calkat

It takes some time to check out all that Calkat has to offer. Calkat consists of a team of 2: Kathy and Carrie. Not only do they create unique jewelry items, but offer 3 other shops too.

http://www.calkat.etsy.com : a jewelry shop
http://Ametista.etsy.com : a shop for the "dark arts" and polymer clay items
http://TheClayShoppe.etsy.com : a shop of molds, and polymer clay
http://YogaFairies.etsy.com : This is a favorite. A must see.
These are busy gals that also have time to keep up with a great blog. Hurry over there as they are having a giveaway that ends on the 20th.
And here's just a taste of my favorites:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35670604


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35295567


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35214990


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26517325

Wow! There's alot to see!

Color Schemes

Etsy Blogger's Team has proposed the question, "what colors do you like to create with?"
This is easy for me to answer. My first love is of the southwest, which has inspired many of my jewelry creations, as well as my home decor. I just love the colors of turquoise, teal, terra cotta, rust, copper, and coral. And they never seem to go out of style.



Another 2 of my favorite color combinations are pink and brown and green and pink.
Pink and brown is a popular combo in fashion, I've noticed. And I just love pink and green together. I think of the colors of tourmaline gemstone.


If you need some color basics, take a look at the color wheel.

They say colors across from each other on the wheel are complimentary colors. I read an article once about this (speaking of photography) and tried to use complimentary colors as backgrounds when photographing jewelry. Sometimes it has worked, other times not. I guess you just have to play around with it.

You can go to Fire mountain gems and take a look at their color forecast complete with color charts for each season.

They have alot of great information on their site. I hope you enjoyed this short journey in color!

Team ESST Vintage - Oldies but Goodies

In my supply shop: DECEMBER 10 THRU DECEMBER 31: FREE BRASS FILIGREE WITH ANY ORDER! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

A Poor turn out

Yesterday's craft show (can I say this plain and simple?) SUCKED!
Poor advertising, poor location, and local competition. Shall I continue? I had second thoughts about blogging today, since I am not in a great mood today. Not only was the show a loss; I'm worrying about paying current bills, now the foot doctor wants money, saying insurance didn't cover certain things (that I should have been advised of before hand), and I have a blown tire on my car (an expensive cost as I have a sports/luxury car with big 17 inch tires on)
I'm drifting, I know.
The show: location was a bit out of the way, and down the street was a big juried annual show, where all the people were.



A restaurant across the street from location:


I don't think we even had 30 people come through the doors.


Yeah, these photos kinda sum it up.
I only made back my booth fee due to a friend stopping by and making a purchase. Really, I lost money, because I donated a rather expensive necklace for a raffle basket. Enjoy it! whoever won.
I should have known to expect this, as this was a "first" show the promoter had put together. And another thing, I think I need to start applying at the bigger, juried shows, as some of my work is high end, and I need to be in shows where the customers are expecting to see this type of work (and pay for it). I think I've said enough. I hope you all enjoy the photos anyway!
BTW: the new scarf pins will be in my Etsy shop sometime this week. And I'm offering free holiday gift wrapping until Christmas, and throughout December, 20% off all purchases of $45.00 or more.

My table:

Finishing touches for the show tomorrow

So I'm about to go pack my car for the show tomorrow. I'm glad we are indoors as it has been raining and is chilly here in Florida, which we are not used to. I'm hoping (and praying) for a great turnout, with large crowds and that all the vendors have a profitable day.
We are competing with a big juried art show just down the street, which BTW is outdoors, so I hope everyone is in place and have their "ducks in a row" for advertising opportunities to get more people over to our show.
I just finished 4 scarf pins to add to my stock and bring to tomorrow's show. If you see any you like, check back in a few days, as they will be added to my Etsy shop if I do not sell them tomorrow.

"A single spiral pin"


"Bali beads and coils" (my fav.)


"Polymer clay" pin


"Golden Mandala pin"


So that's it for now. BTW: does anyone know what happened to my "follower's box" or how I can fix it to appear? ~showing my computer illiteracy~

Re-inventing a piece of jewelry

Sometimes you must be more than just creative. Step out of yourself, take a look at a product from the customer's view, use your entrepreneur skills, or sometimes it takes some psychology.
Take for instance this bracelet, made with components from Vintaj Natural Brass Company.
I've had this bracelet complete and listed on-line for some time now. And I had it on display at the last 2 shows I've attended. Now here's what I noticed.
The bracelet got alot of attention. Maybe the brightly sparkling "bling" it has brought many and eye to admire this piece. I even had a number of customers try this bracelet on. On all, (who tried it) it was way too big. Now I admit that this is a bangle using a brass creative ring that has been demonstrated by the Vintaj company as a potential bracelet.
As many a jewelry designer has told me, if it doesn't sell after a while, either put it on sale, or take it apart and re-create.
I chose the latter. I came up with a charm bracelet, and 4 pairs of earrings. My thinking is this: people liked the look, but not the fit, I can probably make a sale this way, I can make numerous sales, because I've created a number of earrings which, a) people tend to buy earrings more than any other jewelry item, and b) earrings will tend to be less expensive.






All these pieces created from one bracelet! I'll be taking these with me this weekend to a local Winter Arts and Crafts Fair and test my theory. We'll see what happens!