Bonny Jewelry

My Sony Reader

2010-01-25T07:03:00.005-05:00

My husband spoils me - I'll freely admit it. He helps around the house, plans special trips and activities that he knows I'll like, and is MUCH better at picking out gifts than I am.

One of the things he bought me last Christmas was my Sony Reader. It was something that I had drooled over but just couldn't justify buying for myself. As a preface, I have an overflowing bookcase that somehow also flows into all areas of the house and the books never seem to make it back to their bookcase home. A couple of times a year I'll cull them out and donate the ones I've read or pass them around at work on the condition that I don't get them back. This paring doesn't seem to help - the bargain book bins and discount book stores just call my name!

Anyway, I love the reader. It's a great size for traveling, the battery life is really good, and (for those who perpetually turn down a page corner to mark their page) it automatically bookmarks the book you are reading. Downloading books is cheaper than buying a paperback (and many libraries have started having ebooks that you can "check" out and expire on your due date) and there are many classics that you can get absolutely free! I have already downloaded Emma and Jane Eyre - two of my alltime favorites - for future reading. He even got the one with a touch screen - so easy to use and I don't have to worry about losing my place!

I love my Sony Reader and would recommend it for any book lover out there!

Back in the Swing

2010-01-22T20:46:00.003-05:00

Well, it's time to get back into the swing of things. Today I reflected back on the last few months and found myself wondering where the time goes. I deliberately took some time off from blogging (so sorry if you've been checking but I just couldn't seem to write!) to get settled into a new job, try to figure out which direction to take the jewelry, all while I still am really, really missing my girl (see post below).

The job (well, technically I have been there seven months now so I can't consider it a "new" job) has me really hopping - in a good way. I've learned a new database (its the same system used a some really large amusement parks and ticketing services) and have become very involved with training - something I love to do. The days fly by and I count myself blessed to have a job I actually enjoy. On the Etsy site, I often see posts about wanting to do their craft as a full-time job - I'm not sure I want that. I'd love to be successful at what I do but have also discovered that I don't handle being home most of the time very well.

I hope everyone out there is also doing well and would love to hear about your jobs, Etsy shops and life in general. Best wishes for the upcoming New Year!

Discovered! Savage Artworks

2009-07-14T21:28:00.006-04:00

Whenever I browse around the Etsy site, I am overwhelmed by the amount of talent and creativity that I find there. This brought to mind an idea that I thought would be fun - what about sharring these sweet little "discoveries" with other folks? Well, I decided to go ahead and do just that. Note that permission has been given by the "discovered" artist to use their photos so you can see just how beautiful their work really is!

This week: Savage Artworks

Beautiful artwork! I love animals and Terry's work is unbelievably detailed - the shop has been a favorite of mine for awhile. Like what you see? Feel free to visit Savage Artworks!

A Sad Day

2009-05-28T20:46:00.004-04:00

Oh my - as I logged into my account I realized just how long it has been since I have touched my little blog. I do apologize but the last few weeks have been a bit trying. I started a new job (good news) and all seems to be going along smoothly.

On a much sadder note, I lost my beloved girl - my collie, Amber - about a week ago. For those who know me a bit, you'll know that she was my little love, my shadow and I am having a tough time adjusting to life without her. My husband and I brought her home when she was 10 weeks old and she was a bit over 11 when we had to say goodbye. You can see her beautiful face in my avatar - one that won't be changing in memory of her. For those who have pets and understand how much they contribute to your life, you understand.

You'll always hold a special place in my heart, little one - I miss you.

New Orleans

2009-03-17T11:35:00.003-04:00

Just returned from a trip to New Orleans! My husband planned a long weekend away for us to NOLA and we had so much fun! I haven't had a chance to download the pictures yet, but I'll be sharing them with everyone this weekend. I'm really excited - one of them actually includes a baby alligator (stay tuned)!

I'll write down more details this weekend but Rich went all out on this one. We had a different style of tour each day so that we could see different parts of the city. He must have researched for hours - my poor little feet were so sore but well worth the pain. We saw the (in)famous Bourbon Street area, did a haunted house tour, saw one of the oldest cemeteries in New Orleans, took a city tour, soaked in some history at two different plantations, and rode around the swamp. To round it all out, on our last night he signed up for a carriage ride through the city (for animal lovers such as myself, New Orleans has strict regulations regarding the mules - they can only work for 6 hours at a time, they have a required amount of time off during the month, and the licensing).

I would love to have you check back later if you're interested!

Letter stamps

2009-02-22T20:25:00.003-05:00

Just before Christmas, I bought some new alphabet stamps. I made a few items for the holiday craft shows, but really didn't want to get caught up in the whole personalization thing that everyone else seems to be doing. Don't get me wrong - I love some of the personalized pieces. But it is also something that is being done by so many others and I wanted to find a different way to express my creativity.

One of my first pieces that didn't get thrown into the silver recycle pile is my new Faith Necklace. Not because it came out perfectly - quite the opposite. The letters are not lined up perfectly and in a neat little row. I kept it (and listed it in my shop) primarily because of the meaning behind the necklace. Life itself can be a bit up and down - and NEVER (at least for me) seems to go as planned. But you need to keep the faith and you'll get through it.

It was really hard for me not to remake this piece as I tend to be a perfectionist. More silver has been put into the recycle pile just because of some minor flaw that I knew was there. This was a change of pace and I kind of like it. I know it's not absolutely perfect - but who is? What do you think?

EtsyHacks

2009-02-18T06:48:00.003-05:00

For those of you who have Etsy shops - did you know about etsyhacks? This has been a topic lately on the forums and I finally decided to check it out. Most have been programmed to run in a Firefox web browser (instead of Internet Explorer), but there are a few you can use with IE.

To find out more information, check out the etsyhacks blog - it notes all of the hacks available, as well as lots of other topics. To find out which hacks can be accessed using IE and Firefox, you can check out the scripts page. There is also a link for installing greasemonkey, which allows the little programs to run.

And finally, if you are just curious to see what is available, you can find that on the latest releases page of the site.

Please note - I have NOT installed these yet myself. I also do not necessarily advocate downloading information from unknown sources. The information noted has been used and tried by many users on the Etsy site and I thought it might be helpful to some of my Etsy shop readers.

Other helpful Etsy sites:

Let'sEts - Googlebase formatter.
The Heart-o-matic from CraftCult - see who hearts your shop and products - just enter in your shop name. No downloads necessary.
Etsyfeeder - allows you to tag and organize your favorite items and shops.
Featsy - send you a notification if your product is featured.

Enjoy!

Hearts for you!

2009-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Yup - the picture says it all! Hope you enjoy the day!

Birthstones, birthstones, birthstones!

2009-02-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

I've been experimenting with lots of things lately - and one of these is a new setting for stones. I love birthstone necklaces so, once I found a setting that I liked, it seemed a natural path to add them to my Etsy shop. For some color punch (and because I happened to love the colors when I saw them!) a bright orange and a champagne color cubic zirconia also found their way into the mix.

Tangerine Necklace

All birthstones available!

My New PDA!

2009-02-09T20:40:00.005-05:00

By my own admission, I am one of the last people to get onboard the technology train. Not that I don't like technology - it certainly makes life easier - but I tend to be a late adopter type of person. A new item needs to be out for awhile and get all of the bugs worked out before I spend my hard earned money on it.

When it came time to renew my cell phone plan, I decided to upgrade my phone to a Blackberry Curve. It was a business decision (or so I told myself!) for several reasons. First of all, I can be notified when a potential customer has a question - it will allow me to respond faster and provide better customer service. AND it has a great calendar and contacts feature - no more having to carry around a pocket calendar and everything is in one nice little place. I can also renew items from my phone without having to log into a computer.

The big day - my phone arrives. It is pink (is there really any other color - LOL! my husband was horrified!) and has all the little bells and whistles. So cool! At least, until I try to access my Etsy account - with no luck. According to Etsy tech support "We've found that mobile devices do not support Etsy very well, if at all." Really? Funny. I would have thought that Etsy doesn't support the mobile technology but hey - what do I know?

I still love my little gizmo though - it's a keeper and I think I'm addicted!

Lately

2008-11-11T07:08:00.005-05:00

I know, I know - it HAS been a long time since I have posted. What can I say? Life has been a bit crazed. My grandmother had a "spell" and I spent some time in Maine trying to get her settled into an assisted living facility. I started a new job this past summer, only to have the position eliminated at the beginning of the month. This is also my busy time of year since craft show season is upon us here in NH and I signed up for a number of those. Thank goodness I did! I thought a part-time position would be easily found this time of year - and I am wrong. It would appear that the economy has affected retail as well and some places are not even hiring for the season (or they already have their staff in place).

On the bright side, I have lots of time to create. And I've met lots of my NH Street Team members at recent craft shows - and I have to say, we have a GREAT team! For me, this is a huge bonus to actually put faces and names together. Not to mention, the talent! We are trying to schedule a get-together after the holiday season and I'm really looking forward to it since I've already met some of our members.

I hope you'll check back - now that I have more time, I'm hoping to be able to post to my blog a bit more often and I'd love to hear from all of you!

Autumn is in the air!

2008-09-09T21:09:00.009-04:00

On my way to work this morning, I noticed the tree leaves are beginning to change color here in New Hampshire. A sure sign that autumn is on the way - well, that and all of the bright yellow school buses on the road!

For me, another autumn "new" tradition is the craft shows that I will be attending. I thought I had tons of time to prepare but now I realize that my first show is only a month away! I know time flies as you get older but at this rate I'm going to turn ninety by December!

I'm really looking forward to this season. Our NH Street Team has been busy and we've all been sharing information about various shows, contacts, and events. Katy (aka muchachak) has been hard at work with the Concord Arts Market. Our street team is planning on getting together for a couple of hours and work on projects while chatting with each other. It should be tons of fun and a great way to get to know other team members.

I've also been working on my Etsy shop, trying to build inventory and take better pictures to entice people to browse through the store. Some of my new items:

Pretty Raspberry Pearls Necklace

I love pearls and found some really beautiful little freshwater pearls at my favorite bead shop. Lots of colors! This necklace is available in a gorgeous green, beautiful blue and (of course) a lovely ivory.

Hoot-ee Owl Earrings

Lime Green Saucer Earrings

I would love to hear about your autumn plans!

US Holiday - Labor Day

2008-08-29T15:40:00.003-04:00

For many of us here in the US, Labor Day weekend signifies the symbolic end of summer. The kids are heading back to school, the nights are starting to cool down, lightweight jackets come out of the closet, and sandals get retired. The long weekend looms before us like a special treat (unless you're working one of those industries like healthcare or retail, in which case special holidays really don't exist) - a last chance to go out and play in the warm summer sun before the fall season arrives.

Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894. All fifty states observe Labor Day, which was instituted as a day off for the "working man", according to Wikipedia. Many cities and towns have parades to celebrate.

For many of us, including myself, it is time to enjoy the last rites of summer passing. My husband and I always have a bar-b-que on Monday (the official holiday) and sit outside enjoying the cooler weather. With the extra day off, I also often take time to pack away items I won't be needing in the near future. My flower beds get one more pass - cutting and pruning away flowers that have faded so new ones can appear. As fall is one of my favorite times of year, I really don't mourn the passing of summer - the best is yet to come in my humble opinion.

Best wishes to all of my blogger friends to have a safe and happy Labor Day holiday weekend (or just an enjoyable weekend if you live outside the US).

Featured Etsyblogger!

2008-08-22T09:34:00.007-04:00

This morning I woke up and packed a small suitcase - I'm heading to Maine to visit my Mom, brothers, grandmother and see lots of old friends! It takes 6 hours from my house to get there (yuck!) but I've got some great CDs for the trip and plan on stopping at one of my favorite bead shops on the way. Hmmmm, I wonder if I could write this off (LOL - just kidding IRS!)

OK - so onto the important stuff. The featured Etsyblogger of the month is .... *drum roll* ... Tulips Treasure Box! While there are many beautiful items in her shop, my mouth actually dropped open with this piece - so much work and attention to detail!

"Framboise Drupelet BLACK RASPBERRY Essential Oil Necklace"

Beautiful and functional - it allows you to fill the handmade essential oil glass vessel focal with your favorite scent. How cool is that?? Stop on by Tulips Treasure Box for more gorgeous items!

Getting back on track!

2008-08-04T16:26:00.004-04:00

Slowly but surely I am getting back on track with my Etsy shop. This summer has been a bit difficult due to a number of things (job being the main item on the list) but things are finally starting to settle down and get back to normal.

This past weekend was spent catching up on housework, taking photos, and writing descriptions. Trying to come up with a quick way to post new items during my work breaks has been a challenge but I think I've finally come up with something that works. I send the pictures and a written description to my personal email from myself (make me feel like I'm getting mail!) and then its just a matter of copy/pasting the info onto the site.

Here are a couple of new items just posted up today - I hope you enjoy them!

Cool Tones Anklet - Sodalite, New Jade and Sterling Silver

Green Secrets Lariat Necklace - Swarovski crystals and sterling silver

It's Grilling Season!

2008-07-27T21:27:00.007-04:00

I know, I know - what does this have to do with jewelry? Absolutely nothing! But I thought I would share one of my favorite grilling recipes with all of my blogger buddies as a "something different".

Now, this is a really complicated recipe so be sure to follow the directions closely. One slip up and the whole thing could be ruined (like I could cook that way!!) I actually have requests from friends to bring these to parties, which is amazing since I am a basic cook at best. The great thing about this recipe is that you cannot mess it up - as long as the hot sauce mix touches most of the chicken, they will be fabulous. I've adjusted how much hot sauce and ranch dressing I use, depending on the size of the package of chicken, but it is a total taste preference.

Slow Burn Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

Family pack of chicken wings (I like to cut the tips off the wings and then cut them in half but you can certainly leave them whole if you prefer)
Large bottle of hot sauce (generally found with the marinades - I like Frank's Red Hot but pick whichever you like or prefer)
One package dry Ranch dressing mix

Directions:

Wash and place your chicken wings into a large ziploc style bag. Mix the hot sauce and ranch dressing together. Pour mixture over chicken wings, securely close the bag, and let the mixture marinate for 24-48 hours (the longer they soak, the richer the flavor) in the refrigerator. Grill the wings on a medium heat until cooked through and serve hot.

An alternate to grilling these would be to broil them, making sure to watch them closely to avoid burning them. I prefer to grill since chicken wings tend to smoke a bit and much better to have this happen outdoors.

Enjoy!

Busy, busy, busy

2008-07-23T11:29:00.010-04:00

Hello all my blogger friends! I've missed you all but needed to take some time to find a new job (I HATE sending out resumes and job hunting) and get settled into my new position (now into the second week). While that has been happening, my little Etsy shop, my blog and creating fun new pieces have all taken the back seat (so to speak). I've been thinking of you all often!

Now I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things! I've been experimenting with new materials again and have some fresh, new items that I will be posting up to my shop over the next couple of weeks.

To give you a peek, I have some bright and colorful necklaces (pictured below) that would be great for the summer months or as a gift to that tween/teen in your life. I'd love to hear your thoughts on them! The rubber cords and sterling silver are perfect for those hot and humid summer days!

Featured EtsyBlogger - Cozy

2008-05-28T08:15:00.004-04:00

Looking for fabulous handknit items for your home? Well, look no further! One of my fellow EtsyBloggers, Cozy, has terrific AND functional items for you to use and make your home more "cozy".

These kitchen cloths are among one of my favorite items in Cozy's shop. I love the oatmeal color and I can just imagine using them in my kitchen instead of those that anyone can buy at Walmart.

Cozy also carries some really adorable accessories. As a paisley fan, I fell in love with this Blue Paisley headband:
Have fun shopping!

What have you been up to lately?

2008-05-17T17:57:00.005-04:00

My goodness - I can't believe how quickly spring has sprung. My poor little blog has suffered mightily since I have been trying to enjoy the warm spring weather and get some long neglected outdoor chores done. Here in NH, the lilacs are starting to bloom (is there a more heavenly scent?), my bleeding hearts have blooms on them, and I have lovely little green shoots popping up everywhere!

With the upcoming summer, I decided to also add a new product line to my jewelry selection - belly rings! I've added some photos below - I'd love some feedback on them since it is such a new item for me!

"Starfish"

"Butterfly"

"Mr. Sun"

So what have you been doing lately?

Recycling sterling silver

2008-04-30T17:01:00.005-04:00

I recently discovered that you can recycle your scrap sterling silver by sending it in to be refined. In the interest of reuse and recyle, I thought I would post a list of companies that will recyle your scrap sterling (or other precious metals). Most of these companies offer a choice of either a check back or credit toward a future purchase.

G&S Metals

Hauser & Miller

Hoover and Strong

Marvin Tanner, Silversmith

Midwest Refineries

Monsterslayer

Rio Grande

In the interest of full disclosure, I have not personally used any of these companies yet - I'm still saving my scrap for a rainy day. But I save every single link of chain, cut off headpin, and wire that didn't wrap properly for a raindy day payoff - AND it's good for the environment! Talk about a win-win situation!

Blogger Carnival - Poetry

2008-04-25T08:37:00.004-04:00

The EtsyBloggers Street Team have a Blog Carnival theme each week. This week the theme is Poetry Reading Day, which is April 28th. Tough one for me, I must admit.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like poetry. BUT - it is not something that I aspire to read, write or even think about. This might make me a social moron, but I evidently do not have a poetic bone in my body. Maybe it was all of those high school English classes where I had to deconstruct every line, ready into every nuance - way too much work as far as I was concerned. I'm more of a lay-it-on-the-line kind of girl (my no nonsense New England upbringing showing through) - if I'm happy, then you'll know it. No prose needed.

That being said, I have nothing but respect for those who can write expressive poetry and understand that world of words. The just right turn of word, the thought provoking phrase and it emits a world of emotion. Kudos to all of those who have the talent.

On that note, I will leave you with one of my favorite poems by William Blake - I hope you enjoy it.

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

Latest projects

2008-04-22T09:29:00.010-04:00

Oxidizing has become my newest "thing" - and I've made some fun new earrings just so I could keep practicing!

Pearlicious Earrings

Rosy Rhodonite Earrings

Lakeland Earrings

Featured EtsyBlogger - Stormy Designs

2008-04-20T10:25:00.004-04:00

As part of the Etsy Bloggers Street Team, I am always finding fun and interesting new shops. A recent find is Stormy Designs, who makes amazing pieces out of polymer clay. Stormy makes interesting pieces of jewelry, home decor, and other fun accessories in wonderful colors and textures.

One of my favorite pieces is this cuff bracelet. Terrific colors and fun pattern - the perfect accessory for upcoming summer days! And to think, this is just ONE item out of many that Stormy features in her Etsy shop.

For those of you who would like to find out more about the Etsy Bloggers, visit our blog for details.

I'm oxidizing!

2008-03-27T11:10:00.004-04:00

As part of my experimenting with new processes, I tested out oxidizing a few of my newer pieces. I love the results - and it was much easier than I had anticipated. I was SO nervous but it was all for nothing. The little glass flower earrings were a perfect item to practice with since I knew the glass would be unaffected by the chemicals. What do you think?

Bluebells and Buttercups!

Lucky 7

2008-03-23T18:04:00.002-04:00

The Wildfire: Gifts and Decor tagged me for a blog game - I'm supposed to come up with 7 different things about myself. Since I haven't visited my blog in quite some time (you'll find out why in later posts), I thought this would be a good way to jump back into the swing of things.

Hmmm....7 things - that's a lot of info to come up with but I'll try my best!

1. Macaroni and cheese is one of my all time favorite comfort foods (along with pot roast)
2. I love to spend snowy winter days baking. It can be anything - but my favorite thing to make is cookies.
3.Out of the MANY cross stitch pictures I've done, I've only kept one to hang in my own home - a Welcome sign with birds and flowers. All others I've made primarily as gifts.
4. I can watch the Lord of the Rings movies over and over again - it drives my husband crazy!
5. I love to eat ice cream for breakfast. (shhhh - don't tell anyone!)
6. My husband and I were together for 13 years before we got married.
7. I love to walk the beach during the spring and fall months - not as many people and it is so peaceful and calming.

So, now I get to tag 7 other people and they get to share their little secrets. Let's see - I think I'll tag:

Lane Designs
Feltland
Lora Kelly Designs
Across the Pond
Prairie Daisy Homespun
Tizzalicious Crafts & Cuteness
Bags by Melanie

Have fun and Happy Easter! *wink*

New Heart-o-Matic

2008-02-14T11:12:00.010-05:00

Since it IS Valentine's Day, this particular post seemed somewhat appropriate. I don't know about you, but I love to see how many people mark my Etsy shop as a favorite (or heart it, in Etsy terms). It's also interesting to see which items get "hearted" the most. At one time, there was a tool that showed exactly this information. Alas, it was lost when the Etsy administrators changed some programming on their side and the heart finder no longer worked.

Good news! The Heart-O-Matic is back, thank to Juln from the Etsy Tools site. If you are interested in finding out how many hearts each of your works has earned, check out the Heart-o-Matic! Very easy to use and a fun way to gather some interesting market information about your store.

Thanks Juln! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

New Hoop Earrings

2008-02-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

Another style - entirely handformed! - hoop earrings with a post. Made of sterling silver wire, lightly hammered and then tumbled in my new tumbler for a beautiful sheen. Did I mention how much fun I am having with my new tumbler? Lots of new things on the way!

I finally did it!

2008-02-11T21:32:00.000-05:00

At last! After thinking about this for several months, I took the plunge and decided to make more of my own components. My first attempt using sterling wire was to make some paddle earrings. Since I love the look of the denim lapis so much, I decided to use some of my spare beads and a couple of oxidized sterling saucers to make a fun, yet casual, pair of earrings.

I hand forged the earwires, then lightly hammered them for texture and finally tumbled them in my new tumbler. What do you think? Is it worth the extra effort?

Super Bowl Sunday

2008-02-04T10:24:00.001-05:00

I'm not a sports fan superfan by any stretch of the imagination. My husband has always followed basketball - both college and pro - and I admit that I enjoy a good game every now and then. We are from New England and even I, with my very limited knowledge of the game, knew that the New England Patriots were headed for the Big Game against the NY Giants. So when Super Bowl Sunday rolled around this year, I figured we'd be checking the score every now and then but certainly didn't expect to be caught up in the hoopla.

Well ... big surprise! We turned the channel at the beginning of the fourth quarter just to see what the score was at the time. It seems to me that the score was 7-3 with the Pats leading. Hmmm, closer than expected so we tuned in to watch the rest of the game. I think I learned more about football in that quarter than I ever have before! The fourth quarter had a touchdown from the Giants, a responding touchdown from the Pats, and then an amazing game-winning pass from quarterback Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress - leaving only 35 seconds for the beloved Patriots to get back down the field to score. They failed to do so - and the rest is Super Bowl history.

There were, as always, lot of commercials posted. I obviously didn't see them all since we really only tuned in for the last part of the game but I thought this one was hysterical (child of the 80s that I am!) - hope you get a laugh out of it also!

And the winner is ...

2008-01-22T16:09:00.001-05:00

Smilesandsunshine - the winner of my earrings from the Etsy Bloggers Treasure Hunt! Congrats - your earrings have been shipped!

On a different note, I have decided to move forward with learning a new jewelry skill, in keeping with my resolutions for 2008. Today I placed an order for a tumbler and some basic tools so that I can learn how to make my own jewelry components. I love the look of handmade earwires (especially those that have been hammered down a bit and oxidized), as well as the unique clasps that I see out there while shopping online.

While I know the tools are considered an investment, I must admit that I was a little freaked out when pressing the "Place your order" now button. Even using moderately priced items, the bill was a bit more than I expected. However, the expense will *hopefully* be outweighed by the fact that I will never run out of earwires again! Since I was in the ordering mode, I also decided to splurge and purchased some sterling wire in various gauges (obviously some of this is for the upcoming earwire project) so I could play around with some designs that have been sifting through my head for some time now. Now comes the hard part - waiting for everything to arrive! In the meantime, some copper colored craft wire has been purchased so I can experiment with different shapes.

As soon as the goodies arrive, I'll post a picture so that all those interested can take a look. Hope I didn't forget anything important!

Just a reminder

2008-01-18T16:03:00.000-05:00

The Etsy Bloggers Street Team's Treasure Hunt begins tonight at midnight. If you like to peruse various shops and would like to get a free item just for shopping around (which we know you LOVE to do anyway!), this is the event for you! Details can be found in the Etsy forum post for the treasure hunt.

And it would be remiss of me not to post some new items that I have in my store - hope you enjoy!

" Misty Glade"
Sesame jasper, prehinite

and sterling silver
<-----

"Fall Feelings"
Autumn jasper with
sterling silver accents
----->

Cloudy Skies Necklace

2008-01-16T09:54:00.001-05:00

I was wandering through one of my favorite little bead shops and discovered these delicious denim lapis beads. Now, what to make with them?

Floating along a serene blue sky on fluffy white clouds ...

Spotlight on ... Bags by Melanie

2008-01-15T10:55:00.000-05:00

Let me start off by saying ... wow! there are lots and lots of talented bag sellers on Etsy. So why pick Bags by Melanie to spotlight?

I met Melanie at one of my craft fairs that I attended last fall. As a fellow New Hampshire crafter, we started chatting about trying to start our own small business while still taking care of our families and living life in general. She impressed me with her knowledge of fabrics, the various style choices she offered and most of all the obvious careful attention to detail on each of her bags. Patterns are not required (all of her bags are made freeform) so you will never find another bag quite like the one you buy from her - each one is unique! You can request any size or color combination, strap length, or even closure - your final accessory is limited only to your imagination and needs. And, to top it all off, quality does NOT suffer with all of the options - each bag is double stitched with patterns beautifully meeting at the seams. You can even get a personalized bag!

Melanie is also talented when it comes to special orders. She has made aprons for craft shows or gardening (I have one - pockets made to fit all of the items I normally carry - it's perfect!), small jewelry bags, gorgeous cosmetic sets, matching wallets, and coin pouches. As a nonsewer, it fascinates me that someone can create such beautiful items without even referring to a pattern!

So, if you're in the market for a truly unique bag for yourself or to give as a gift, check out Bags by Melanie - you won't be disappointed!

EtsyBloggers Treasure Hunt

2008-01-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

The EtsyBloggers Street Team is putting together a sure-to-chase the January blues away Treasure Hunt!

When? Saturday, January 19th
Who can play? All Etsy members members - both buyers and sellers -are welcome to join in the fun!

For more details (or if you would like to partipate), check out the forum post about this fun event. The more participants, the merrier!

Resolutions? Not sure about this ...

2008-01-04T19:35:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know - New Year is the time for so many resolutions to be put into place. Good intentions, things I want to accomplish, and activities I'd like to do with the upcoming fresh start. Hmmmm ... I haven't always been so good with the whole resolution thing. Although to focus on the positive, I did manage to work a few into last year (got my jewelry business of to a good start, read more books, and started this blog) but soooo many things left to do. Who knows, this year may be MY year!

So, the resolution "thing" - here goes (maybe sharing it with you will inspire me to actually hold myself accountable for these things!)

Learn metalsmithing - I absolutely LOVE the idea of creating an original piece of jewelry out of a plain sheet of silver or making a beautiful ring from a gorgeous gemstone and some wire. Oh, the possibilities!
Make more time for friends. Go to lunch or dinner, or walk around the lake, or just pick up the phone more. I have some truly fabulous people in my life and am blessed - I need to take advantage of having them be a part of my existence!
Be healthier in my living style. I would love to lose weight (wouldn't most of us?) but I'm hoping this will be a natural extension of just being healthier and feeling better. More fruits and veggies, regular exercise instead of the occasional exercise video, and less take-out.

I've limited this to 3 to keep it manageable (not that I don't need to do many more than that but 3 will suffice for now). Do you have any resolutions for 2008?

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T22:28:00.000-05:00

Well, 2008 has finally arrived. Being the major party animal that I am, I fell asleep at about 11:50 and woke up at 12:02 - missing the ringing in of the New Year by two whole minutes!

Following our tradition, my husband and I spent a quiet eve at home watching movies and eating Chinese food. Shrek 3 was on the movie list - quite cute and funny although Shrek 2 is still my favorite in that group. I just love the tongue-in-cheek humor that it portrays and it always gets a chuckle out of me. And isn't that what life should be about? Humor in little places in life.

New Years Day found us relaxing around the house with it snowing outside. While I am the first to admit I like a winter wonderland, I am getting a bit tired of shoveling the white stuff. However, it still is better than dealing with hurricanes and tornadoes so I'll count my blessings! Homemade lasagne for dinner and then outside to clear the driveway and burn off some of those pasta calories.

Best wishes to everyone for the upcoming year - may it be all that you wish it to be!

I haven't gone away - honest!

2007-12-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

The month of December has been a bit challenging for me and I hope all of my regular blog visitors will forgive me for not posting often.

To offer a quick rundown - my husband was in the ER with kidney stone pain and then had surgery a day later (still recovering - nasty - I won't go into details on this). This is his third surgery for kidney stones in the past few years. He's doing OK but is really uncomfortable and cannot exercise heavily or lift over five pounds.

Last week my beloved collie, who has seizures, had a cluster seizure - basically seizing every six hours. Ran her to the vet, who then recommended we take her to Boston to get the seizures under control. After much worry, stress, an evening in the Critical Care Unit and a neurological consult, she is home again and seems to be doing well (although with her legs shaved she looks like a poodle!)

On top of all of this, we are getting slammed with snow in the Northeast (and I know this is also happening in other parts of the country). I've had several nights that I've gone home and spent a couple of hours just clearing our driveway. The piles of snow are now waist high (or higher) and I'm not really sure where I'll pile it if more comes our way. The good news: there WILL be a white Christmas!

My little Etsy shop has taken somewhat of a back seat during this time. However, please know that I will be back blogging and visiting your blogs as soon as things at home calm down a bit.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season with your families and friends!

Oh, happy morning!

2007-11-29T07:49:00.001-05:00

I was so excited this morning! I turned on my computer and was featured in TWO treasuries - how flattering! What a nice way to start the day!

thanks Beadinky for featuring my orange marbled earrings!
(beginning of 3rd row)

and also thanks to bdazzlingcreations for showing my Bella Infinity Necklace!
(also beginning of 3rd row)

New items in my shop

2007-11-28T15:46:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to keep my little Etsy shop fresh by adding a couple of new items each day. So far the only thing slowing me down is the photography portion - creating new items is fun but taking photos and listing is not my strong suit!

My latest items:

Denim Blues Necklace

Ocean Blue Ear Thread Earrings

Timeless Pearl Leverback Earrings

And how is your busy holiday season progressing?

Whew! Thanksgiving is over!

2007-11-27T11:59:00.000-05:00

The US Thanksgiving holiday was last Thursday and it's always a busy time in my house. Fortunately, my husband is a total gem and handles all of the cooking (I peel the potatoes - light duty!) while I clean house in the morning. That afternoon generally finds us snoozing and watching movies (it's just not Thanksgiving without a viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life") while the turkey and cranberry sauce settles in our tummies.

This year my two brothers decided to pay me a visit after the holiday. My younger brother, Scott, had spent the holiday with my Mom in Maine and was on his way back to his family in Wisconsin. My older brother, Danny, drove down from Maine with his family - I had a full house! Isn't that what the holidays are all about?

We had fun shopping and chatting and arguing (good-naturedly of course!) - I really do miss not having my family close by and this time of year it really catches up to me. Now that they've returned to their homes, my house is feeling a bit empty and Amber (re: collie) is looking a bit glum since she's not getting all of the attention she had over the weekend.

OK - now to post a couple of my new pieces of jewelry - more to come!

My stone and crystal sterling necklace

and my latest (and fave)
Dark Beauty Bracelet

Out and About

2007-11-19T11:44:00.000-05:00

Oh my - time certainly moves quickly this time of year! My poor little blog has suffered due to the general craziness in life but I didn't forget about it - it just got put on the back burner for a bit.

Well, I've got 5 shows down and only 1 left on my hectic craft show schedule. I've certainly learned a lot from all of the customer comments and what people have purchased once they actually see my jewelry in person. Another great fringe benefit on all of the craft shows is that I've actually been able to meet some of the people on the NH Street Team!

Jodi, from Happy House Quilts, was my first visitor at the Concord show. Along with her hair accessories, she also carries cute items for pets and craft kits for the younger set (or older set if you like to try new crafts also!).

During the Manchester show I was able to hook up with Michelle from Pandy's and Griffin Gear who also happened to be participating. Sherry from ThreadFed also visited during the show - she has really fun embroidery style earrings in her shop.

And last (but certainly not least!) I met Melanie from Bags by Melanie fame. Melanie joined me at the Derry show and was right at the next table. It certainly makes the day shorter when you have someone to chat to during the long hours after setup and while customers stroll through. Check out my favorite (yes! she had this one at the show and I absolutely LOVE it!) from her shop:

Melanie was so much fun to have as a show buddy and I also found out she makes everything without a pattern! This is totally impressive to little ole me - especially since the sewing machine looks like a huge monster that bites. Her fun fabrics and creativity certainly show in her bags - they're fabulous and great quality!

My next show is in Hudson NH on Dec 1st - would love to have more visitors!

It's vacation time!

2007-10-25T15:54:00.000-04:00

This time of year things really seem to move along quickly. I participated in my second craft show this past Saturday and have a great day. It really is gratifying when people like your items enough to shell out their hard-earned money to purchase it. If you'd like to check out pictures of my display, I posted some of them in an earlier blog entry. I did make minor changes (it's all a learning experience!) but you get the idea. I have another show as soon as we return from our vacation so there's no time to waste!

This week I have been scurrying to try to replace some of the stock I sold during the show, as well as get ready for our upcoming time away from home. I'm sooooo excited to finally get some alone time with the hubby! To put it mildly, he is a workaholic - and he's not allowed to bring his computer along with us so no checking email, no checking on his team, no customer issues - all of that stuff is going to be put on the back burner so we can relax.

We are heading to Orlando - and, of course, seeing all of the touristy sites there are to see. So far, the week is looking pretty full. We are meeting up with some friends for the first weekend (yeah!!) and will be going to Epcot with them on Saturday. The International Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing so there will be lots of tempting little booths with samples of food from all over the world to tempt the taste buds.

On Sunday, it's off to Universal Studios for the day. Lots to see and do (of course!) but Rich is really looking forward to attending their Halloween Horror Nights event. His favorite holiday and we'll need to go into every ... single ... haunted house. Not too bad - unless you're a total chicken like me! I admit it - I just don't like being scared.

The rest of the week we'll be making the rounds to the rest of all that Disney has to offer. However, before all of that happens, I have to pack! So ....

Heigh ho, heigh ho - it's off to pack I go

So sorry - just couldn't resist! Have a great week blogger buddies!

New item - ear threads!

2007-10-18T11:18:00.000-04:00

The latest item in my shop - dainty, feminine and a bit funky! Sterling silver ear threads (aka threaders and strings) with dainty little ruby red flowers.

Click on picture for more information

Time to get organized

2007-10-17T07:21:00.001-04:00

This past week has been quite a blur - things have been so busy (as they are for all of us crafters this time of year!). A friend of mine took some of my jewelry into her office and sold a number of pieces, as well as some custom orders - done - check. I set up my new light box for photos and experimented to get new photos in my shop before holiday - done - check. Cleaned house - done - checked. Managed to get about halfway through the fall yard checklist - done - check. Well, you get the idea.

In the midst of all of this, I decided it was time to get my jewelry tools/materials/shipping goods/displays all organized since it always feels like I can't find exactly what I want without wading through a ton of other materials. Fortunately, I have a label maker that I bought when we first moved into the house for all of the boxes we had to store (geeky I know, but I LOVE my label maker!) and decided to put it to good use.

So, I sorted and packed this last weekend and here are the results:

Beads and stringing materials sorted by color and labeled. I found this awesome little rolling rack and put all of my little boxes on it so I can roll them to and from my workspace (i.e. kitchen counter) easily. The boxes are inexpensive little tool boxes from Home Depot with moveable dividers - cheap but oh so effective! How did I manage to accumulate all of these beads?? I think they multiply on their own at night while I sleep!

I sorted my jewelry by type - earrings, bracelets, necklaces, sterling - into shoebox sized plastic bins. The bins all fit snugly into a bigger plastic tote, which I can take to home shows, craft shows, etc pretty easily. The nice thing - very lightweight.

And finally, I recycled one of those little inexpensive drawer units into a small shipping center. Each drawer holds something needed for shipping - envelopes, thank you cards, business cards, labels, packing material, jewelry boxes - and the list goes on. I couldn't bear to mark up the front with labels - LOL!

I finally feel like I'm ready for the holiday rush - bring it on!

New Infinity necklaces

2007-10-12T17:18:00.000-04:00

I just posted two more infinity necklaces to my store this weekend. As you may be able to tell, I love lampwork beads and using them in unusual (or at least I hope so!) designs.

The first uses a beautiful deep golden brown and black focal - I called it "Bliss" just because I happen to love this color combination. The second one, "Gabriella", is designed in softer, more feminine tones.

Both use sterling silver figure eight (also known as infinity chains!) and sterling silver accents to accent the focal pendant portion of the necklace.

Craft show checklist

2007-10-11T10:44:00.000-04:00

Craft show season is upon us and I've noticed lots of posts requesting information about what to bring in the Etsy forums. Although I am no expert, I have done a fair amount of shows during the last year or so and thought I would share my list with everyone - I hope it helps a bit.

Keep in mind that most of the supply items can be packed into a small (shoebox size) plastic bin - you don't need all you own - just a couple of tags, a small roll of tape, a couple of pens, travel-size tissues - you get the idea. When I do a craft show I only make 3 trips in and out. The first is to carry in my table and chair, the second trip is for 1 large tote with inventory and most of the display materials, and the 3rd trip is another (much lighter) tote containing my tablecloths and more display, along with my cooler (or insulated lunch bag in my case) on top.

Basics

Inventory - whatever you plan on displaying, along with extra items to fill in as your inventory sells down.
Money, receipt book, and calculator
Credit card imprinter and slips if accepting credit cards
Cell phone and 800# for credit card order (I have mine on a speed-dial so I always have it with me when needed)
Table/chair and tablecloths/coverings
Bags, packing materials and gift boxes
Pens and a notebook for ideas, suggestions, mailing list, etc.
Business cards with holder
Camera with spare batteries - I like to take pictures of my booth before the show starts. It allows me to make notes about space constraints, what displays worked, how items are positioned, etc.
Polishing cloth or lint brush - something to clean your inventory if it gets marked or dirty
Garbage bag
Directions, show application and acceptance, confirmation and copy of cancelled check
Cooler with snacks and drinks

Merchandising

Display materials
Mirrors, if applicable
Banner, if using one
Lighting and extension cords - mark your name on them, if possible
Credit card signage

Supply Kit

Scissors
Tissues
Price tags/stickers
Tape - include packing, duct tape and scotch tape for all emergencies
Safety pins
Paper towels
Baggies containing paper towel spritzed with window cleaner or damp paper towels for cleaning up fingerprints, spills, etc.
First aid kit - Advil, band-aids, antibiotic, hand sanitizer or baby wipes
Dolly, handcart, or rolling suitcase is nice to have for all of the transporting of goods

Outdoor shows

Tent with weights (filled water jugs or bricks will work if you can't use your tent posts)
Sunscreen
Display weights or something to make sure your displays don't fly off on you if a wind blows through the show

I'm sure there is more to add to this list, depending on what you sell - but this will get your personal list started down the right path!

Other "nice to haves" include a friend to help pass the time and watch your booth if you need to make a bathroom run, something to do during quiet periods, and an inventory list for a quick look to see what is selling and to check everything back in when you return home.

More helpful tips:

Pack the car the night before. The morning of the show is stressful enough without worrying about forgetting items or trying to get there on time for set-up.
Stay positive during the show, even it the show is slow. Nothing is more of a turn-off than to hear other vendors complaining while there is a customer nearby. You never know who is listening.
Make notes about the show - which items were noticed, comments on prices and displays, which items/styles sold the best, which colors appeared to be noticed the most, etc. While this won't be a hard and fast rule as to what to bring to the next show, it will give you an indication of what works in that area if you sign up for the show again.
Accept credit cards, if at all possible. Most people only carry a finite amount of cash and when it's gone - it's gone. It is unlikely they will make a trip to the ATM to pull out more money and drive back to the show to get your item (not impossible - just unlikely).

And finally, if you would like some display ideas, there is a flickr group with lots of pictures - check them out for great ideas!

To infinity

2007-09-28T09:54:00.000-04:00

“To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour.”
- William Blake

I love this particular quote and based one of my new necklaces on it. "Bella Infinity" - my own unique design on a sterling silver chain. Sterling silver accents with a floral lampwork focal.

Family Birthstone Necklace

2007-09-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

I love making personalized gifts and this was tons of fun to create. The inspiration came from my mom (of course!), who mentioned that she would like to find a mother's necklace that was a bit different but could still be worn with lots of different outfits. Nothing toooo fancy - but classic.

So, I came up with this - a sterling silver and Swarovski birthstone crystals family necklace:

I have to admit, I'm pretty pleased with the results. Obviously, it can be customized for any mom or grandmother and I love the colors and simplicity of the pendant. The sample necklace is to be my mother's Christmas gift (good thing she doesn't know about my blog!) and shows my parent's birthstone (they were both born in November), my older brother's is August (peridot), I was born in July (ruby red) and my younger brother was born in May (emerald green). Fingers crossed that this is what she was hoping to find!

Denim Blues Necklace

2007-09-26T11:26:00.000-04:00

I've been experimenting with sterling silver quite a bit lately and this is my latest creation. Blue sodalite with sterling silver accents strung directly onto a sterling silver chain. Just posted in my Etsy shop today!

First craft show of the season

2007-09-25T07:29:00.001-04:00

As always, I get a bit anxious as craft show season approaches - and this year is no exception. Will the customers like my new pieces? Are my prices OK? Will I have enough inventory? Do I have enough change? and the list goes on and on and on.

The morning finally arrived for the show and I got up early to drive to Concord NH. I'd never done a show here before so I had no idea what to expect in terms of customer traffic, access to the arena or how many vendors. Fortunately, I allowed plenty of time and had my booth set up with 2 hours to spare before the show started. Thank goodness I had set everything up the week before in my living room and it all went smoothly.

This is a picture of my whole setup:

These are some of my new Infinity necklaces (still to be posted in my Etsy shop!)

And a close up of some of my sterling silver anklets:

And to round out the day, Jodi from Happy House Quilts stopped by and introduced herself. I love meeting members of our NH Street Team and we had a chance to chat for a few minutes - it's always fun putting faces and personalities to names from the web!

On to more shows - 1 down, 5 to go!!

Learning more about blogging

2007-09-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

Chatting one night on Etsy, I expressed frustration at feeling like I never know what to write about on my blog. And I don't mean writer's block - more like just lack of what to really write about. After all, I lead a pretty quiet life for the most part!

To alleviate this, Jenny (aka JennyBunny) suggested that I google for some blog ideas. A bell went off inside my head as I thought to myself - "I should have thought of that!" since I am constantly searching the internet when I want to shop or need information.

After wandering through some of the sites that popped from my google search, I found the following to be interesting (there are lots more of course, but this is a start). They're not quite ideas about what to write about but rather how to write blogs that others would potentially want to read.

One article that caught my eye was "5 ways to increase Internet traffic to your blog or web site". The author of this article had some points that I hadn't even considered, such as submitting for blog contests. OK - I admit it! I'm not really a contest kind of girl! And while it's not something that I will necessarily do, for those who like to enter contests it could be loads of fun. Other suggestions included using your technorati tags more effectively and using keyword tools when writing posts.

Another article that I stumbled across and found interesting reading is "10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog". The tips here are common-sense-icle but again, I certainly don't DO all of them. Be controversial?? I admit, I'm not the type to throw my political views out there for all the world to see. A time and a place for everything and my blog is not the place for that in my mind! But I see the author's point. The biggest suggestion that caught me off guard was #10 - Make it Easy to Comment. Sounds simple really but made me go look at my settings to see if I actually allowed this to happen.

So, my next step is to explore more ideas on what to write about. How do you come up with ideas for your blog?

Autumn is in the air!

2007-09-17T14:47:00.000-04:00

I love the fall season - warm days - days that you can actually "smell" fall in the air. And chilly nights - sweatshirts (I'm a casual kind of girl) needed for dog walks and snuggle under my down comforter kind of nights. For some reason, baking always seems to be on my mind this time of year also. Not cooking - never that! - but baking pies, cakes and cookies kind of baking. Mmmmm, warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven with milk - my little bit of heaven!

I'm pretty fortunate since there are lots of apple orchards near our home in New Hampshire. Rich loves it when I make individual apple pies - I think he is kidding himself into thinking he's not eating as much - LOL! But the tempting aroma of them baking - especially the cinnamon - and how the whole house smells when they come out of the oven - yummy!

So, plans for the upcoming weekend? Wish I could say baking but I'm rushing to get ready for the first craft show of the season. I'm creating new hang cards for my earrings and trying out a special display for my sterling necklaces - so much to do! But I'm still going to stop and smell the autumn scents ... and I recommend you do to!

4 Things about me ....

2007-09-13T10:32:00.000-04:00

Sunshinecitylassie tagged me for a fun game - I need to note 4 things about me in various categories. These games always make me slow down and think about lots of different things - mindbending LOL! Anyway, here I go ...

4 jobs I've had:
convenience store clerk
retail manager
call center operator/order-taker
office manager

4 films I can watch over and over:
Pretty Woman (sappy, but I still love it!)
Lord of the Rings (pick any of them - love them all!)
Sweet Home Alabama
The Lake House

4 places I have lived:
Robbinston Maine
Waterville Maine
Hudson New Hampshire
Manchester New Hampshire

4 favorite TV shows:
Criminal Minds
Big Love
NCIS
Two and a Half Men

4 favorite foods:
Chocolate
Macaroni and cheese
Melty Brie cheese with apple
Ice cream

4 website I visit every day:
etsy.com to check my store
hotmail to catch all of my email
ebay (always find something interesting)
bank account site

4 places I would love to be:
Washington DC around cherry blossom time
Greece - have never been but would love to visit!
Paris
secluded Hawaiian beach enjoying warm sunshine and swimming with dolphins

4 favorite colors:
Blue
Black
Red
Purple

OK, so now I need to find another person to tag .... hmmm, how about Lis from Simple Arts Planet ...

Also, since I'm blogging my little heart out - a couple of my latest jewelry pieces showcasing carnelian, black onyx and sterling silver

Time flies!

2007-09-11T07:09:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed that life gets reallllly crazy all at once? I've been planning a trip to northeastern Maine to visit my family over the Labor Day holiday for awhile. Rich opted to stay home with the dog since his mom had back surgery on the Wednesday before I left and we didn't want to be too far away should she need any assistance.

So, I drove my six hours to get home and I must admit, it was great seeing everyone. Friday was spent with my maternal grandparents and running some errands. I definitely count myself very lucky to still have grandparents to visit! Saturday was great fun - a family friend (I used to babysit his daughter, who now has kids of her own - I feel so old!) took me to some lakes that I haven't seen in ages in his four wheeler (not an ATV - this is like a mini jeep - not sure what they are actually called) and I got to snap some pics.

This is a view of Rand Lake:

Merrill, my chauffeur for the afternoon, with his constant companion Daisy:

Western Lake, where we used to ice skate and go ice fishing as kids:

A view from the top of Trimble Mountain (that's Canada on the far side of the St. Croix River):

A fire pit is a necessity for hot dogs and roasting marshmallows!

And this is the view from my house - again, that's Canada on the far side of the river:

I also got a chance to spend some time with my mom, friends, and my brother. The day before I returned home, I spent some time picking fresh Maine blueberries for everyone in NH. I refuse to rake and pick the berries over afterward - I'd much rather just pick a spot, sit down (make sure you are wearing old jeans!) and pull clean berries from the vine. Imagine these in fields as far as the eye can see!

With my visit behind me, I now have to focus on my upcoming craft show in two weeks. Yikes! Time sure does fly!

Going to see my Mom

2007-08-30T12:42:00.001-04:00

This is a "run-by" blog! I'm heading to Maine to see my Mom, brother, grandparents, and extended family for the Labor Day weekend ahead. I thought I'd post a quick note to let those of you who swing by my little blog that I'll be back with lots of pictures next week. Have a great Labor Day weekend if you are in the US and happy weekend to those of you in other areas!

Special order request

2007-08-25T15:23:00.001-04:00

I was so excited when I received this special order! My onyx and sterling anklet was chosen for purchase at a local shop where I sell some of my jewelry. One of the customers fell in love with it and requested a necklace, bracelet, earrings and (of all things!) a ring using the same materials.

After chatting with her to discuss preferences, my customer opted for a "Y" necklace. I suggested a sterling chain to add a bit of sparkle and to help show off the beauty of the onyx. She was thrilled with the results:

The bracelet and earrings were alot of fun to make. The bracelet was just a smaller version of the anklet she had already purchased and was pretty quick to put together. As she liked longer earrings, I added 3 small dangles to the end and, fortunately, she loved them.

The ring posed a bit more of a challenge for several reasons. First (and foremost!) I don't own a ring mandrel so sizing was a worry. Luckily, she took the same size ring as I wear so I was able to use myself to size it.

I must admit I was really pleased with the way the set turned out - and more importantly, so was my customer!

Treasury post

2007-08-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Woohoo! This morning I was thrilled to find out that my Sunrise Earrings (beginning of second row) were part of a treasury posted by BeadsDeep. How cool!

Weekend fun

2007-08-20T11:48:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was a much needed break from house, jewelry, gardening - you know, those things that you like to do (for the most part anyway!) but can sometimes just really start tiring you out.

My husband and I decided to go into Boston on Saturday and spend the day since we were going to a Pat Benatar concert that night on the waterfront. Yes, I am a child of the eighties and still love that music - and I love going to concerts so this was a great time for me! Of course, I forgot my camera so I don't have pics for you (I know, I know - shame on me!) but I'll do my best to give you some fun links to check out.

We started out in Faneuil Hall, also known as Quincy Market. I love wandering around this area since there is SO much to see. The weather was a bit breezy but gorgeous and street musicians and vendors were out in full force. There was a blues group that was fabulous and an acoustic guitar player that I could have listened to all day. We strolled around the marketplace and grabbed a snack (silly, I know, but I love the corn dogs there!) before deciding our next step.

Although we have walked the Freedom Trail in Boston before, we had never taken one of the trolley tours. Trolley tours are loads of fun and (for me at least) a bit more informative since the drivers give out a bit of history on the drive. Rich and I settled into one of the back seats and relaxed while our driver discussed some of the various historical sites of Boston (Boston Commons, the Granary Burial Ground, the USS Constitution, and lots more).

After our strenuous trolley tour, we decided to have a nice dinner in the waterfront area. One of my past favorite places to eat has always been Anthony's, but we decided to be daring and try out a new place and opted to go to the Chart House restaurant instead. I hesitate to say it but ... I think I've found a new favorite. The seafood was to die for (there were at least 4 different items I really wanted to try!) and Rich, who wouldn't touch seafood if it was the last item to eat on the planet, chose to check out their prime rib. Now, keep in mind that generally when a restaurant has great seafood, the non-seafood offerings generally lack flavor (to put it mildly!). Rich's prime rib was so yummy that I would actually consider it the next time we visit and my Dynamite Halibut was just that - absolutely dynamite. Definitely on our list for our next visit to the city!

To round out our day off, we hit the Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo concert at the Bank of America Pavilion. Lennon opened for them. Generally, she's a metal artist but did some terrific songs with just a keyboard and her voice. I wound up buying her acoustical CD because of her opening act. And then of course, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo took the stage. Absolutely fabulous concert! Pat's voice is as strong as ever and Neil's guitar rips are enthralling and a big part of each of the songs.

Great time, great day - nice to get away for some time together and recharge the batteries.

Quick update

2007-08-16T15:23:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how quickly this week has flown by! So much to do! But the weekend is looking to be a bit more relaxing. My hubby and I are going to Boston for the day on Saturday for some much needed couple time. I'm looking forward to it so much!

In the meantime, just to keep you updated, here are some of the latest postings to my store. As you can see, I've been experimenting again. I'll let you determine the results!

Lots and lots of new earrings - ice cream cones (yummy!), candy swirl earrings (OK, must have food on the brain) and rain drops. So many ideas .... so little time!

NH Street Team highlight

2007-08-15T11:09:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy, busy week - time sure flies when you've got list a mile long and no time to get everything done! I've missed my blog and look forward to catching up with all of my blogging friends within the next couple of days.

In the meantime, the NH Street Team blog posted up my profile this week as the seller spotlight. I love reading about other sellers and how they got started (and it's a really fun way to shop as well!) - it's amazing how much I've learned from the Etsy community. If you get a chance, check out the NH blog - I promise we really are a fun group! Melanie, from Bags by Melanie, is our official blog rep and does all of the heavy lifting when it comes to updating the NH blog.

And how is your week going?

Treasury hunting

2007-08-10T09:23:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning to an email from the wonderful beadedeyefairy - she had kindly featured my Cool Tone Earrings in her treasury! How cool is it to wake up to that kind of surprise?

And ... my Cinnamon Sprinkle Earrings recently posted to my Etsy shop

Recent additions

2007-08-06T07:53:00.000-04:00

As promised, I have a couple of more additions to my "Simplicity" line of jewelry. I love funky and unusual stones and the ocean jasper stone definitely falls into that category for me. The colors and texture really do remind me of barnacles clinging to ocean stones - just love it! And in this case, I opted to use a brown leather cord with a sterling clasp to highlight the earthiness of the stone.

Pietersite is also one of my all-time favorite stones. The last gem show I attended I just couldn't seem to stay away from this unusual beauty - the swirls of gray-blue, purply-pink and cream in this lovely stone just kept calling to me until I caved in and bought a couple of pendants in different shapes. A sterling silver chain lets the stone take center stage.

I hope you like my latest additions!
** Click on picture for more information or to purchase **

Surprise, surprise!

2007-07-29T07:28:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning and, lo and behold, found an email from pinkicejewels - she has featured me in her blog! I had responded to some questions back in the beginning of July when she had offered to run a feature but I had completely forgotten about it since there were so many other artists for her to pick from.

What an awesome wake-up call :)

My newest

2007-07-27T14:40:00.001-04:00

I'm SO excited about my newest pieces of jewelry. Yeah, I know - I do tend to get carried away when I get involved in new projects but I still really do like my latest items.

First up - the first in my Simplicity Series. Beautiful blueberry quartz used as a focal on a simple sterling silver chain. Hence - simple.

I have more focal stones in both quartz and gemstone and I'm looking forward to putting them together for that simple, elegant look that can be worn anytime.

Next is a specialty item that is perfect for that "special" gift. A sterling silver double heart holds a Swarovski crystal birthstone (customized with the birthstone or crystal of your choice). A delicate sterling silver chain is used to add charm.

More ideas to follow in both of these lines. Oh! the possibilities....

Latest creation

2007-07-25T14:47:00.001-04:00

Whew! This past weekend was SO busy. I recently bought some wonderful new supplies and was just dying to start using them. I have decided to expand my lines to include more sterling silver and gold-filled pieces so it was great fun just experimenting with new styles and the new pendants I managed to find on my last little shopping spree. Luckily, I have a local shop that displays my jewelry (they actually have most of my new items) but keep an eye on my Etsy shop - I'll be adding more there as I get the chance!

One of the items I just finished up is this pair of Unakite and Crystal earrings. I love the mossy greens and swirling pinks in Unakite - great earrings for the upcoming fall season!

Click on item for more information or to purchase

Maine-ly good lobster

2007-07-23T11:33:00.000-04:00

*DISCLAIMER*
If you are vegetarian or stricter, you may not want to read the following post.

I got an email from a friend of mine who knew I had just returned from my little Maine vacation. Knowing how much I love seafood, she asked if I had enjoyed any lobster during my trip. This caused me to ponder - I wonder how many people outside the New England area are familiar with the delicious Maine lobster and what lobstering entails. If you're interested, read on ...

Historically, lobsters used to be so plentiful that Native Americans used them to fertilize their fields and to bait their hooks for fishing. Now, they are not nearly as plentiful due to overfishing and commercialization. They ARE still considered a delicacy by many and as such, command a fairly high price (the last time I was in Maine lobster meat was selling for $47.95 a pound, US compared to crab meat - my personal favorite - at $17.95 per pound).

To catch a lobster involves devious technology - a trap is needed. There are lots of laws concerning the trap (I won't bore you with the details - if you are interested there is lots of information on the Dept of Marine Resources website) but basically most traps contain a small compartment which the lobster enters and has a tough time exiting. The lobster is lured into this compartment with bait.

Then the traps are lowered into the water. Each trap is attached to a colored buoy (all those dots in the water are buoys) and each buoy has a unique color combination which fishermen use to identify their traps. It is actually illegal in the State of Maine to pull a trap that is not registered to you. Each buoy also has to be marked with a fishing license number.

Finally, the lobstermen pull their traps and sell their catches to you directly or via a restaurant. Contrary to popular belief, a lobster is not bright red by nature. They are actually a brownish/green so they can blend into their environment. Lobsters turn bright red only after they have been cooked, as seen below.

Mmmmm, mmmmm - good!

Vacation photos

2007-07-19T09:31:00.000-04:00

Yeah! I finally got around to pulling some of the photos from my little vacation to Boothbay Harbor Maine and thought I would share a few (with running commentary of course!) with all my blogger friends.

This is the cottage where I stayed. I had a quaint little bedroom toward the back with a window looking right out onto the rocks. Most mornings you could hear the lobstermen in their boats pulling their lobster traps.

Rocks, rocks and more rocks - Maine has a very craggy coastline and this picture gives you an idea of exactly what it looks like. You can barely see it, but my beloved Adirondack chair is included - lovely place to watch the boats go by or take a quick nap in the sun!

The view from the previously mentioned Adirondack chair. Lazy sailboats cruise by all day long - what a beautiful sight!

You can tell I am easily entertained. Throwing bread into the air to attract the seagulls in the area and then feeding them for awhile is great fun! Greedy little urchins!

Another wonderful part of the island is the back beach area. A long dock with a smaller floating dock for mooring boats can be found in this area. I loved this picture just because it shows a typical Maine beach - rocks, seaweed and beautiful pine trees (Maine's state tree is the white pine) dotted all around. When it is high tide, there is very little beach showing but I walked around as the tide was going out and had some fun checking out shells and beach glass findings.

*Sigh* I think I need another vacation!

Weekend getaway

2007-07-16T15:35:00.001-04:00

What a fabulous weekend I had (and a rather extended one at that!) A friend invited me to the cottage that her parents rent every year in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. So on Wednesday night after work, I packed up my little suitcase and drove for 3 hours to take full advantage of her offer to come up for a few days.

The cottage is located on a little private island where most of the houses have been owned by families and passed down through the years. Some are rented out, while others are used for family vacations throughout the summer. We were close to the very tip of the island (there were only a couple of houses beyond ours). By day we could sit out in the adirondack chairs with a cold drink in hand and enjoy the sun and seabreeze. Night found me reading on the screened in porch and then turning in with my window wide open to listen to the sound of the water crashing on the rocks (Maine has a very rocky coastline - it's not a sandy beach kind of thing in most places).

Pictures to follow in a later post ...

I've also posted a couple of new items in my shop:
Ocean Mix Earrings and Pink Drop Earrings

Click on item to find out more information or to purchase

The NH Street Team blog

2007-07-11T13:01:00.000-04:00

Living in southern New Hampshire is a wonderful thing. Along with the benefit of having gorgeous seasonal changes, we are fortunate to have the mountains, ocean and large city (Boston) all within an hour of drive time. It's difficult to describe how breathtaking the mountain area is during the fall season with all of the leaves changing and the crisp air while you are enjoying apple-picking time. And while I despise shoveling snow, I must say that waking up to a winter wonderland during the holiday season is something that I would truly miss were I to live in a warmer climate.

Since joining Etsy and opening my Etsy shop, I've been fortunate enough to meet many people I now consider my online "cyber-friends". They've been kind enough to share their families, their craft and their lives with me (and others) through their blogs. One group in particular - the NH Street Team - is relatively new. This team consists of New Hampshire crafters who are banding together to promote Etsy and their shops through shows, marketing, and networking. We'd love for you to get to know all of us and what we do - visit us on the NH blog site and have some fun with us!

Weekend work

2007-07-06T07:36:00.001-04:00

Well, now that the weather in NH is truly hitting the "hot" range, I can no longer put off the dreaded project - my mulch pile. While I really do love working in my flower beds, spreading mulch is not one of my favorite chores. With the summer weather now upon us, I am out of time and need to get the mulch down to help protect my plants and conserve on water.

I had to take a photo of it in front of my car just so I could have a point of reference when my back is breaking and I need to realize just how much mulch has been moved once the weekend is over. My timing is a bit off - it is supposed to be in the ninety degree range this weekend - last weekend would have been a much better time to do this project as it was nice and breezy and in the seventies! But, as usual, my procrastination has caught up with me and I'm going to pay the price.

It will all be worth it - the flower beds looks so much nicer and cleaner when fresh mulch has been spread. Hope your weekend is much more relaxing!

Latest editions

2007-07-01T09:26:00.000-04:00

As promised in earlier posts, I have been working on a new anklet line - and I must say, it was alot of fun and I loved the way they turned out. Since anklets are one of those items that can easily get wet, I opted to make all pieces with marine quality jewelry wire and used nothing but sterling for all metal parts (right down to the crimp bead inside the crimp cover!) Since this is a new market for me, I also tried to make some casual styles which could be worn every day, as well as a couple of dressier styles that would be perfect for a summer wedding or at work.

The mother of pearl in this one is perfect for summertime fun!

Oh, so feminine! Swarovski crystals and glass pearls

My fave is the fluorite and sterling

Onyx and pearls - classic combination! This would also make a gorgeous necklace.

This multi-colored anklet is perfect for summer and beach weather!

(click on images for more information or to purchase)

The option to have the various elements made into a necklace, earrings or a bracelet is also available through my online store.

How wonderful ...

2007-06-27T14:21:00.000-04:00

I've been neglecting my blog lately in the interest of making some new items. I'm really excited about the things I've been working on lately (to the exclusion of all else - my housework has been sorely neglected!) and will be posting them to my online store this week. Stay tuned if you love sterling silver and anklets!

Also, on a wonderful note, CreationsbyUli was kind enough to feature me in one her JET (Jewelry on Etsy) treasuries. My "Aqua Funk Necklace" (last item in the second row) was chosen to be part of her featured list. Thank you so much!

I made a Treasury list!

2007-06-21T07:45:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited - Marsha was kind enough to feature me in her treasury list. She picked my Unakite and Crystal necklace (top left) to be included with some other really beautiful pieces created by our JET (Jewelry on Etsy) Team. Marsha also had some unique pieces in her Etsy shop - check 'em out! Thanks so much Marsha!!

Summertime jewelry

2007-06-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

I've been trying to make some new, more summery items. The US holiday Independence Day (aka 4th of July) is always fun so I was inspired to make my little Star Spangled bracelet. The earrings were made last night while I was experimenting with some new beads - I love the richness of red and gold together!

(Click on the image if you would like more information or to purchase)

New earrings in my shop

2007-06-14T10:55:00.001-04:00

Just in time for warm weather - some fun, lightweight earrings in summery colors! All of these can be found in my little Etsy shop.

(click on the picture to find out more information or to purchase)

My "other" hobby

2007-06-12T16:16:00.000-04:00

Like alot of other people who craft, I love to dabble in lots of different mediums. While jewelry satisfies my "I want it now" fix, counted cross-stitch comes in at the top of the list as far as crafts that I truly enjoy. There is something about taking an ugly (yes, if using Aida or plain linen, it truly is somewhat ugly to start) piece of fabric and, using simple cotton threads, making it into something that I cherish for my home or want to give as a gift.

Admittedly, I have more patterns, kits, fabric and thread than I can ever use in this lifetime but I still have to "check out" the cross-stitch section of the local craft store or specialty store to see what's new (my husband has long since given up on coming into those stores with me). Since I love the ocean (and just about anything related to it), most of my projects are lighthouse, shell, water related themes. Pictured below is my first attempt at stitching on linen - and using charms for that matter!

I picked up the frame up when I purchased the pattern at this great little needlework shop called Yankee Cross Stitch located in North Hampton, NH. I just couldn't help myself - I loved the weathered driftwood feel of the frame. If you're ever in the area and like to stitch, this is one of the best little stores I've found.

May you enjoy your "other" hobby as much as I do!

Look what I bought!

2007-06-08T06:53:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine is due with twins in September and, of course, I wanted to get her a special gift that wouldn't be like all the other baby gifts she would receive. In my Etsy search, I discovered Arrets Place - a wonderful little shop that carries reversible baby afghans, beautifully crocheted baby sweaters along with adult items such as crocheted wraps and hats (among lots of other things).

Since I wanted coordinating sweaters, I asked Arrets Place for a special order. Not only was she willing to make the sweaters, but she also searched for the cutest buttons she could find - note the trucks on the blue and the little cupcake buttons on the pink - they are absolutely adorable!

The workmanship is also excellent. Both items are wonderfully soft and the colors are perfect - I didn't really want the typical baby pastel colors and these worked out wonderfully. I can't wait to give them just to hear the oohs and aahhs!

On a completely different note, my peonies (see post below) have bloomed and, as promised, I took some pictures.

My peonies are budding!

2007-06-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

I love this time of year. Gardening is one of my "other" hobbies. My husband seems to think that I really love to get dirty and muddy and wet and have an aching back just for the fun of it all. Little does he know, while playing in mud IS fun, it's not the work that I love (DUH!) but the results of that work. I don't relish sifting enough dirt through a screen until my fingertips hurt (even with gloves!) to fill out my front flower beds - who really would? But I DO love the flower beds and the fact that almost anything will grow there very quickly because of the attention it was given pre-planting.

The peony plants shown here are another "heirloom" plant from my great-grandmother's garden.

They were carelessly dug up when workers installed a new water well for the house and tossed to one side. Since they had been exposed to the November weather for a couple of weeks before I got to them, I didn't think they were going to grow - but I just couldn't bring myself to throw them away. So I brought them from Maine to New Hampshire, dug a hole in my back flower bed (gets the most sun), put in some of the glorious Miracle-Gro potting soil, and planted my "doomed" bulbs. This is the third year they have bloomed for me and some of the buds on them have grown to the size of golf balls. The flowers, once open, are a beautiful magenta pink color with yellow centers. Stay tuned if you're interested - once they actually bloom I'll post some pictures!

My pretty little "casual" set

2007-06-01T13:51:00.000-04:00

(click on the picture for more information or to purchase)

I have been toying with the idea of putting together more "sets" of jewelry for those who like the coordinated earrings with a necklace or a bracelet combination. The pictures noted are my fairly recent exploits into this challenging territory for me. Why challenging? After all, you would think that once a bracelet is created, then the matching earrings should be easy-peasy - the hardest part is done, right? For some reason, it just doesn't work that way for me. I have a tougher time with the smaller pieces. Trying to get them to look right and balanced and still coordinate with the piece that is part of that particular "set" means that I take almost as long to make the earrings as I do to make the whole bracelet or necklace!

Regardless, I really love the blue and black swirl beads in these particular pieces. They are great for the summertime casual wear now that the warm, sunny season is upon us. Now, if I can only get into the swing of doing this more ....

Memorial Day tribute

2007-05-28T16:59:00.001-04:00

On Monday, May 28th, the US celebrates a national holiday called Memorial Day. This time of year always makes me ponder our history - the wars and conflicts - as well as the current state of affairs. For those unfamiliar with this particular US holiday, it is a time for citizens to pay respect and homage to the men and women who have died in wars or in the service of our country. Memorial services, flowers and flags on grave sites, personal reflection from family members who have lost someone near and dear, as well as parades honoring our Armed Forces, are all part of the tradition. Regardless of political views, these are real people and families and lives who deserve to be remembered and honored.

Thank you to all of those who have given their lives for our country, as well as those currently in service. May you be safe.

Long weekend ahead!

2007-05-25T13:46:00.001-04:00

Whew! Glad this week is over! and all the other wonderful sayings that go along with "Wow - I'm really glad this week is over and I have a long weekend ahead!" I truly hate wishing time away - I always feel like I'm wishing for the weekend to arrive so I can take care of all of those projects that seems to always be around (you know the ones!!) and I never seem to have time to get them all completed. Then I wonder why it's already the end of May and think how quicky time flies!

Summer has definitely arrived here in southern NH. Today it is in the 90s and the weatherpeople have claimed that records will be broken. Personally, I love the warm weather - so much better than shoveling snow in the middle of a blizzard! They claim in New England that if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change since we are hardly ever consistent on the thermometer from day to day. The Memorial Day weekend, which makes for a 3 day weekend for me since it is a US holiday, is looking busy with yard work and catch up projects. Can't wait to really dig in and get my hands dirty with my gardening projects! TGIF everyone!

My flower garden

2007-05-21T16:43:00.001-04:00

This morning (after having had rain for a week here in NH) I took a stroll around my little flower beds to have a look see. I don't really consider myself a "gardener" but I love to wander around nearly every day just to see what changes have occurred in my little beds. You would think not much but ... nearly every day I can see a plant got bigger or buds are starting to come out or some other little miracle has opened up.

I have my work cut out for me in the upcoming week. I went to a garden center this past weekend (rain won't keep me away!) and got into LOTS of trouble. Of course, this means that some plants will have to be moved around to make room for the newbies. For some reason, this always seems to happen to me - and this time of year I can't wait to get my hands dirty.

And Celebration!! My lilacs are finally blooming!

The picture above is a purple lilac that was already here when we bought our house. However, my little lilac family has expanded to include (2) that my best friend bought as a housewarming gift, as well as a treasured family heirloom plant (if there is such a thing). I was able to successfully transplant a piece of my great-grandmother's white lilac from her farmhouse in Maine to my little corner of the world. It's still small and doesn't have any blooms this year but it's healthy and growing! Can't wait to have her flowers in my home.

Lesson learned

2007-05-17T13:58:00.000-04:00

Late last night I was fiddling around with all of my wonderful beads and kept returning to a beautiful (or at least in my opinion) pineapple quartz pendant that I've had for awhile. I love the swirls of color in this particular piece - it's almost like there is movement inside the pendant. So I set to work and tried various color combinations until - VOILA! - I tried it with some light amethyst purple rounds that I had on hand. The purple and yellow combination totally worked for me.

Crafting different items is like that for me. I love trying various combinations and working with different materials - not just my beloved jewelry but also fabrics, paint - this even carries outside to my flower beds. Every year I gather new plants that I've never had and pop them in my flower garden to see what happens. Sometimes I'm disappointed. But more often than not, a beautiful flower or plant will flaunt it's summer color. The moral of this lesson (for me at least) - keep trying and continue to work with things that you love. Something glorious will always come through!

Oh my gosh ... I've been "tagged"...

2007-05-15T11:18:00.000-04:00

by Happy House Quilts. 7 Random Things about Myself?? Let me think - this could take awhile ...

1. I grew up on the coast of Maine and love the ocean - but I'm terrified by all of the little (and big) creatures that live in it.

2. In spite of #1, I am a certified PADI scuba diver. But have never gone deeper than 50 feet.

3. I dream of becoming a foster home for the Collie Rescue League of New England. Need to be able to spend more time at home and a fenced in yard first though!

4. Power tools are my friends - I love DIY projects and working around my house.

5. My husband and I met in college, got engaged after 9 years of dating, and got married after being together 13 years.

6. Oreo Double Stuff cookies and really cold milk are my all-time favorite snack.

7. When I first planted my flower beds I informed my best friend, Eileen, that I would not be moving any of the plants - they had to be right the first time. She laughed. Needless to say, I've revamped those same flower beds more times than I can count!

Now comes the fun part! I am tagging:
qbranchltd
marshatoh
misseskwitty
islandblossom
discardsblog
feltland
lazytcrochet

My apologies in advance for the tagging if this is not your "thing". However, I must say, it is fun to think about and great to visit other blogs!

My shop has been featured!

2007-05-14T09:53:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited! Q Branch Ltd, a fabulous Etsy shop containing many unique and affordable items like the beautiful green corian pen on the right, has been kind enough to feature Bonny Jewelry as their featured artist of the week. I was asked some questions regarding my craft and how I got started (among other things), which Q Branch then published in an interview format. Please feel free to visit their blog and/or myspace page to read all about it!

It's Friday, it's raining and ...

2007-05-11T09:47:00.000-04:00

I have a mile long list of things I have to do to get ready for the craft show tomorrow. It's the first one I've done this year and I was hoping to have more summer items to show but ... time flies and the show date is here before you know it!

On a brighter note, my flower beds really needed the rain and I'm hoping my lilac trees will come into full bloom this week. I LOVE the smell of lilacs! I also found this really great place that sells unusual lilacs in lots of different colors (I've seen lots of purples and whites but never yellow or red!). If you love lilacs and their luscious fragrance, check out Fox Hill Lilac Nursery for more of the unusual varieties - they also carry a great lilac fertilizer!

TGIF!

I'm a member of JET - Jewelry on Etsy Team !

2007-05-08T10:46:00.000-04:00

A new Jewelry on Etsy Team (JET) has been formed, thanks to two creative ladies - Tara of Jewelry by Tara and Tanya of Crescent Moon Creation. Why? "To provide a positive place of sharing for all jewelry sellers on etsy to come together" - what a great idea!

The concept of the team is to share ideas, have some fun, and help promote other etsy jewelry artists. All JET members will add the tag "JETT" to their items, making it easy for other members to find your shop for supplies, to add to treasuries and of course, to enjoy your jewelry creations!

If you haven't yet discovered Etsy, you're missing out on some really terrific handmade items and should really check it out - it's an experience!

Getting creative

2007-05-06T21:54:00.000-04:00

After taking a bit of time off to get my store in order, I finally took some time to begin the creative process again today. My new Pearly Pink Bracelet that you see on the left is one of my new items, and is also turning out to be one of my favorites. There is something very refreshing about getting back to doing something that you love and all of the beads, the colors and the different textures were beckoning to me today. Many more items need to be created as I have a craft show coming up this Saturday, but at least the process has begun!

Getting used to blogging

2007-05-04T12:46:00.000-04:00

While I am still trying to figure out how to actually put items into my blog, I thought I would insert a picture of my girl. The gorgeous collie noted on the right is my pride and joy - her name is Amber. I've had her since she was 10 weeks old and she is my constant companion whenever I am home. She even helps me in my flower beds! My neighbor once commented how funny it was to watch us outside - I'd move a couple of feet to weed (or whatever) and she would get up and move with me.

While learning blogging, my etsy shop is taking a bit of a backseat. I shall be posting some new items for summer on there this weekend so stay tuned!

New blog - WOOHOO!

2007-05-03T14:26:00.000-04:00

It's NEW! I've finally jumped and decided to have a blog of my own. More updates coming soon - this is the first posting and I've got SO much to do! I hope you come back soon to view how the site develops!