Life Runs Fast

Whoa.

It's been 13 days since I blogged.

I promise, I didn't mean to let life get in the way.

But that happens during the summer.

I last left you saying that I was having a show on the 21st.

Well, the day after (Happy 4th of July, btw), the boyfriend's car died. Long story short, his engine had to be rebuilt. Fun times.

So.

I cancelled the show and we took care of business. I didn't have to help pay for the repair or anything but he works far away and I drove him around (gas is expensive).

I will have another show closer to the holiday season and I'll keep you guys posted on that.

What else happened between now and then?

OH! I hit 100 sales on Etsy! *dance*

And now... this bracelet is selling like crazy. It's keeping me busy and I'm insanely happy about it. I feel so blessed there are people out there who like my stuff enough to buy it.

The blog will be changing a little. I have a few regular weekly post ideas bouncing around in my head. That should be fun.

I'm also working on some tutorials for the blog.

Lots of new and exciting things going around in my mind.

I'm moving forward and it's awesome.

Crazy for Druzy

I spent most of last night and a lot of today trying to read as many articles and watch as many videos on soldering. My late night study session reminded me that I have a book on the matter and that kept me up even later. I'm so very excited to start the process and am hoping for more sales to help fund my new adventure.

My late night readings and video watching led me to dream up rings. I LOVE rings. In high school, I wore one on almost every finger. I don't wear many now because I got into the habit of not wearing them in art school because of clay and paint. But I can't wait to start making my own.

I already know I want to try using druzy cabochons. I've been window shopping on Etsy.

Purple Designer Cabochons from saxdsign

Huge Peach-Orange Oval Druzy Agate Cabochon from LaveoBeads

Quartz Gem from beadsaddict

I'm so in love with how they sparkle and shimmer. I love the raw look they have and the different colors they can come in. I'm so crazy for druzy.

And of course, I looked up some rings on Etsy too.

Water Lily Ring by BellaBijouJewellery

Green Druzy Ring by StaceyLeunesDesigns

This next ring isn't a druzy but it's still so beautiful. I've been following Marcie Abney's blog probably since I started making jewelry. When I first started, I tried my hand at beadweaving and failed miserably but just love Marcie's work. Sometime last year, she started posting her adventures with metal working and I gobbled up her posts eagerly. This is her first ring and I love it.

For now, I'm gathering up a list of materials I need for my first foray into soldering. And I'm a happy sponge reading up all the material I can. I'm pretty sure I will be working a lot with copper as I love it so much but haven't really read too much about soldering copper so my research adventure continues. I watched one video where the lady just painted the silver solder with copper leaf and left it at that. I don't want to do that. I don't feel that would be permanent... but I will probably try it.

I'm rambling. Lol.

I'm off to do more window shopping and sketching! Happy Tuesday, all!

2 Weeks

Wearing this necklace today. Dragonflies inspire me. They represent growth. Rebirth. Feminine strength. I love dragonflies.

Wow. Has it really been two weeks since I've updated the blog? Wow.

It's been longer since I've uploaded anything new to my Etsy. Changed that today. Made a new beach bracelet.

Pretty shell rounds. Shiny.

I had such a nasty cold last week. Sore throat. Aches. And then now, my cold is gone... but hey, there's allergies now! YAY! Lol.

The job hunt has slowed since I was hired by *insert big craft store name here.* I was hired as an instructor. Oh, it was lovely at first. I had some great students. Had a good 4 class run. But now, no students for 2 weeks. And no students means no work. And because I'm an instructor, the other employees tell me that I can't be trained to help on the floor. It's rather frustrating. I really miss working. So much so that when the boyfriend complains about work, I say something like, "Well, at least you HAVE a job." Or, "I wish I could work."

It's really discouraging but my Etsy sales have picked up a tiny bit. My dream is to live off of my jewelry. That would be so lovely. But I'm not there yet. Must pick up the pace.

Ugh. My right nostril is clogged. Ew, right?

Hope everyone is having a fantastic Tuesday!

Book Destash

Updated the shop tonight. Added some books to the destash section. 

Check them out here. The first one I have here is probably my favorite. Lots and lots of tips. Happiness.

Happy Friday, all!

Pink and Gray

I'm currently loving this color combination. Purple and gray. Pink and gray. The seed beads there? I originally thought they were purple... but now they look pink. But both look great, I think.

Do you type "grey" or "gray?" I always spelled it with an "e." I think it was because I read it somewhere once and on a spelling test, I got it wrong... but to prove the teacher wrong, I brought a dictionary up to her and showed her I was right. But I think most people spell it with an "a." So. My Etsy listings have an "a." But it just looks wrong. Lol.

Both these beauties are up in the shop!

Happy Friday, all!

BTW: Ugh...

I know, I've been gone a while. Had my open house last week. And decided to take a little break after that. I will blog more about it later. For now... the aftermath:

My desk is a mess. A huge mess. And because I wanted to just take pictures and fill up the shop with all the jewelry I've amassed, I just shoved it all aside for that tile I use as my background in pictures. That's what's on my bead table today. Lol. Maybe next week I'll have something more worthwhile to show.

At least the shop is filling up nicely.

There's a coupon code for all you lovely people out there. 20% off with coupon code DEC2011. I will continue to add lovelies to the shop. Now's the time to grab what you want for that special someone!

Half way to the weekend, everyone. Aren't you excited???

Friendship Bracelets

Just listed some friendship bracelets to the shop tonight.

I love this quote: "Never shall I forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."

Happy Friday, all!

Printer Tray Tuesday: Golden Blossoms

Compartment #4!-
-2 gold rings
-6 gold flowers
-6 freshwater pearls

Not very much in this compartment. But I think what little it did hold were tiny treasures.

The rings were from a bead store in Tustin that I just HAD TO HAVE. They were chained together with 3 more lovely links. I can't for the life of me remember what I did with the other 3 rings but these beauts have sat in my stash for a few months.

The golden blossoms were bought on one of my first bead store trips maybe 2 years ago. Isn't that insane? I remember because I forced myself to buy them because I don't usually work with gold. I, personally, don't wear gold and I find that copper is an easier color for me to match. Let's not even talk about silver and how much it costs... :P

I have quite a few FWPs in my stash. But these are close to the last of my stock of the peachy color. I love that peachy color. I remember picking them up from JoAnn's and the tag read "lavender." I did a double take. They're clearly peach... to me anyway :P

The glass dangles at the bottom are from my newest haul at my usual bead store in Lake Forest. Czech glass, I believe. With touches of amber and brown. I love them. I see myself making them into a bracelet in the near future.

The earrings have made their way into the Etsy shop. You can find them here.

Side note: If you check out the right side of the blog, you'll see a new badge for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I am going to do my best to post everyday this month. Last year, I struggled but I think I got it done. It was a fun month, if I remember things right. And who couldn't use more fun in their life?

<3

Monday Muses: Gypsy Love

Tarnished Gypsy Coin Earrings by siphonophoria

Turkoman Headdress by AbsintheDancer

Grecian Double Finger Chain Rings by grigio

Last night was a nightmare for me. I'm struggling with insomnia and got less than an hour of sleep last night. There was a minor freak out as sleeplessness has been a constant these past few weeks and today, I'm a bit off my game. BUT, while staring at the ceiling last night, I have decided that I will be a gypsy for Halloween.

Usually, the boyfriend and I go looking at costumes at the end of September, beginning of October but have yet to go this year. Money is tight having lost my job but I already have the corset, a flowy white shirt, and a long velvet burgundy skirt! I just need to add some finishing touches.

I'm thinking a headdress, some earrings, rings, and bangles. Maybe even an awesome necklace if I have the time. Just searching for "gypsy" in Etsy brings up a treasure trove of inspiration!

I'm going to try and sleep a little more as my head is pounding. Hope everyone has a fantastic Monday!

BTW: My Weakness

Here's what I was working on today: Etsy shop update. Blah.

I love making jewelry. I love taking pictures. I even love editing the photos. But when it comes to creating the copy for each piece... it's like pulling my own teeth.

Hoo. But. I must get this done. So I can make some more stuff!

Maybe I can hire someone to do the uploading for me :P

What's on your bead table today?

Lucite Flowers

Currently in love with lucite flowers. They're inexpensive and light. They come in such beautiful colors and there are quite a few different kinds of flowers and leaves.

So of course, it makes sense that I combine my love for waxed linen thread and seed beads with some beautiful flowers.

 Teehee! Look at the sparkle in one of the seed beads to the left! That was unintentional! Love it!

And these flowers are so beautiful and inexpensive, they've inspired the beginnings of a budget bride collection.

I just have to have more flowers! So, I browsed etsy and found a wonderful shop that had a ton of different flowers! BellasBeadsandMore had 10 pages of flowers! I bought quite a few. And I can't wait until the come in.

Here's a taste of what I bought:

Jules, the shop owner, hand-dyes these flowers and they are just beautiful. I just can't wait to get my hands on those little teal beauties!

Unfortunately, I'm out of linen thread. Sadness. But the boyfriend is working on getting me more. YAY!

What a great way to end my Sunday. Let's all have a great week, shall we?

Owls and Earrings

 Forest Owl

 Dew Drop Earrings

 Didi Dangles

Deepti Earrings

My, I was in quite the funk the past few weeks. Unbelievable, really. But, I am back in the game. Sketching and looking at pretty magazines helped. So did blog hopping and browsing Etsy.

Ps. The above items are in le shop. Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!

Etsy Post and Photography Rantage

Updated the shop tonight.

 Feels like it took forever!

 Wanted to give up and just go back to sleep...

 But what would that accomplish?

 I now have a shop with 19 items!

 Even added the sliding knots from the last post.

 Now there's the task of promoting myself...

 I'm not very good at that.

Though I really do enjoy blogging... :)

My day consisted of posting to Etsy. I'd made a resolution to do it once a week. I missed last week because we went to Encinitas. But I'm hoping to do two posts this week to make up for it... today's was the first.

I'm not sure how I feel about the photography of my new works. I used to use scrapbook paper and silk flowers as props but found that it was a bit busy so I went to just a plain white background. It certainly makes color (ha... almost added a "u" to color...) adjusting in Photoshop easier.

What kind of props do you use in your photography?

Happy Monday, all!