Long time no Blog

It has been a busy 6 weeks since my last blog. I am really going to try to post more often things have just been hectic and not enough time to do much except create jewels and mail them out. It has also been a time of beautiful creations, a cherished son returning home from college, birthdays, a supreme court IDEA case, and the never ending and fun search for unique and beautiful jewelry components.

I made what I feel to be such a stunning piece. I call it the Nonagenarian because the glass jewel is 90 years old. It is a really lovely piece.

I have also been making cameo necklaces. I found some really pretty ones that are new and some awesome ones that are antique. That is the new one of my favorites. The butterfly cameos are exquisite.

I have not designed with the next one, I hope to get them soon. Been waiting impatiently for their delivery!

Going out to get a Christmas tree today. It has seemed odd to not have one yet. We typically get one the day after Thanksgiving but this year my son asked me to wait for him to come back home since he is on the decorating committee. So I waited. It will probably seem a lot more like christmas once the scent of the evergreen tree fills the air and the twinkling lights make my other son's face light up with the wonderment of the spectacle.

A joyous time of year. Blessings for good tidings to be had by all.

Happy Holidays...
Cheryl

Brass Filigrees

I have obtained quite a few brass filigrees and I am in the process of creating with them. I have posted a few. This is one of my favorites:



And I have finally learned how to get a nice aged look to the brass without chemicals or a lengthy process. The brass has such a nice sheen to it. I still like some of the oxidized brass I get from one supplier. Mostly because I like the shape of the filigree. This flowery filigree is one of my favorites.

Here it is used with a stunning zircon glass jewel:



Thats all for now !
Cheryl

Prices and Jadeite

I had an intersting "convo" - shortand for the conversation feature at etsy, basically an internal email system. This person convoed (is that a word) me and said that she wanted to buy some things but was scared because my prices were "by far much lower than other filigree artisans" (her words).

Well my first reaction was to be the snark I am and say I could make them higher if she would like. Instead I just answered that I base my prices on the cost of the matterals and how much time it takes me to make a piece. I guess I don't really get this. I mean you go to Target and see an item and you go to Walmart and they have the same Item for less do you question it ? Or do you say YAY and buy it saving some bucks? Or do you go back to Target so you can spend more for the item?

Granted the items aren't exactly the same in this instance, but I do make a quality product, using only quality components and since my pictures now reflect this even more (YAY) I suppose this will remain a mystery to me unless of course I inflate my prices or raise my per hourly wage :-) For now I am happy with what I make in both workmanship and price.

She didn't end up buying from me....

Another convo was informing the about a piece I had made using Jadeite. Telling me it wasn't jadeite but perhaps Nephrite. Was very informational tho, and I do like to know what stones I am using. The mystery of the stone is still a mystery however. The wholesaler insists it is Jadeite. He also sells Nephrite and does usually know his stones so short of a geological testing I have no idea who is right. The person who informed me tho did seem fairly knowledgable. Maybe I will keep it Jadeite with a Nephrite disclaimer ;-)

This is the piece in question -


If anyone knows I would like to know !

Thats all for now ....... jewels to make !

Cheryl

I love my Camera !

It is easy to use and the pics are awesome ! I have been so obssessed with taking pictures (and editing pictures) that i forgot to blog ! (Like I need an excuse).

I have redone about 1/3 of the pictures and the difference is amazing !

Maybe once I am done I can focus my attention on the blog. Or cleaning out my pool. Or making new jewels (ok I have still been making new ones, thats my biggest obesssion).

Back to the camera and editing !

Cheryl

Great Pics coming soon ....

It has been a ruff week after taking my son to college. Hard to believe only a week has passed... he is having the time of his life, loves Evergreen and is thoroughly enjoying the social aspects of it. Since he took my camera or should I say HIS camera to school with him it forced me to get a new one.

I asked the people at Etsy to post what camera they use so I could get an idea of the pics produced and decided on a Canon SD1000. This camera produced BY FAR the best pictures of anyone's that posted. The photos are crisp and clean and not a blur to be had. I even got a really great deal on one at Ebay ... yes I love Ebay !!!

Will be a major improvement in the jewel pictures!!! I can't wait to get it ! Will be nice to take pictures and not face dissappointment over the quality of photos. It is pretty sad to create a piece of lovely jewels then have the camera demolish that beauty, but that won't happen anymore ! And I hope the better quality pictures produce more sales, too ! It is such a nice feeling knowing someone is wearing what I think are beautiful jewels that I created.

IN the meantime got some new glass and some new czech beads that I am looking forward to creating with. This week hasn't been a good one for creativity but I can slowly feel that urge coming back! The ideas for new jewels are itching to be made into reality again.

And that urge to make glass beads is still burning strong, plan to work on learning that, too! So much to do, so little time.....

Cheryl

Distractions

I have a good excuse this time for not blogging lol

My son leaves for college tomorrow and It's been hectic to say the least getting him ready. I have made a few new things, listed some on etsy and have alot more list. I had wanted to get more pictures done today but the weather hasn't cooperated. I will have to get a new camera now that Gerald is taking his to college !

Today is a day of mixed emotions. I go from crying to almost giddyness.

Gerald and I leave in the morning to take him to Evergreen State College.
I will be coming back alone.

I hate to see him go, feels at moments the most unbearable thing I have had to face, even worse than autism. At other times I am just so pleased and proud he gets the opportunity to have a decent education, meet new people and experience dorm life and life in general outside the 4 walls of this tiny little town.

I know I will miss him greatly. He is not only my son, he is my friend. And my jewelry critic !

He has become a man I am proud of and I want for him only good things in life because he truly deserves to have great things happen to him. He is one of a kind. A compassionate loving soul like no other.

So tomorrow after almost 19 years my son will be going it alone, as will I....

Cheryl

Trees

Ok I have been a bad blogger again, been almost a week, what can I say, I just get busy and forget !

Today I hope to snag another treasury. Yeah I am a bit addicted to the whole treasury thing. Kinda like winning the lottery but no cash. OK that doesn't make alot of sense but perhaps its relateable.

I would really like to learn to make fused glass with metal jewelry. I think I need a blow torch....kinda scarey me with a blow torch. I have seen some really cute jewelry where they take things and put them behind glass and put silver around them. I would like to put brass around them since it's my favorite metal but haven't researched it yet to see if such a thing can be done. Not even sure what the melting point of brass is. But I will find out and get a torch and see if I can't create these little things i have in mind.

Here is my newest creation:


I really like the shimmery grey/blue look of it. I made a new red filigree piece too that turned out nice:



And that is about it ! Maybe I can try to remember to post ...

Cheryl

My Evergreen Treasury

I got a treasury.... that's a special thing over at Etsy (if you didnt know) and for this one I dedicated it to Evergreen. Gerald leaves in 18 days to start his college career at the Evergreen State College and why I picked evergreen.

Evergreen Treasury

Check it out !

Cheryl

This was such fun to make !

I am warming up to dragonflies. They usually arent my favorite thing but this creation is really cool and it's Dragonflies in Flight !



There are some really cool dragonflies in the world, check it out !

Dragonflies

I did another piece too today, no dragonflies, but a butterfly.... so something that flies ....




Thats all for today, time to eat the fried chicken I have been cooking while making this post !

Cheryl

I'm a bad blogger .....

It has been 5 days since my last blog. Yes I know that means I wont win the best blogger award. Or even runner up. I just don't know what to say on these things. I am a creator of tangible things not a writer of words, so it is very difficult to write anything.

I have been making more lovelys. A really pretty vintage glass amethyst filigree necklace with some cool not sure what you would call them lampwork type beads. Here is a sneak preview (pics are being elusive because there is no sun until i come back inside)



And matching earrings:



And here is something I am trying. I love working with wire ! This is something I like enough to share altho the picture is bad, no sun :

And last but not least here is a pic of my work area, yeah I am disorganized a bit which is odd because I am usually the most organized person I know but not when I am creating :-)



And that is about all that is happening....

Cheryl

New Jewels

I made several new pieces yesterday but the weather is not cooperating with taking pictures ! ARRRGH

I have these 40mm blue 6 sided pieces of glass that I created a design with. They are so amazingly beautiful ! I can't wait to take the pictures. Just hoping for some sunshine today!

I also made this really cool wire type necklace with brass filigree and a 30x22mm smokey topaz vintage glass. It was really hard getting all the "links" to be exact but it turned out nicely even tho it means I probably worked for $1 an hour lol

I think I am going to get lucky with sunshine today, its peaking out now. SO look for new pics soon !

Cheryl

No New pics today

Cloudy and rainy so I couldnt take pics. Was thinking tho that since I learned how to use the camera my photo box and lights would work. I had tried them before in the house and they just didnt pop. But now, hmmmmmmmm

Lots of rainy days here in WA i might need to try the box again !

Havent made any new pieces since before Jubilee, but may start working on more in a few days after I get the new stuff :-)

Thats all for today !

Cheryl

I learned the tricks of the camera !

Wish I had learned it about 3000 pics ago but better late than never, right?

My son actually taught me that my camera does have a macro ! lol SO I have to go back and retake all new pics. The new stuff I have listed show the new and improved pictures, but the older listings have the blurry terrible ones. Also means I am going to have to remake a few items that I sold at jubilee. The concept of one of a kind is becoming more appealing :-)

Hopefully with better pics I can nabbed that elusive first Etsy sale!

Cheryl (the picture taking newbie)

Jubilee is over !

It was a fun, exhausting 4 days. I did pretty good money wise and excellent self esteem wise....lots of compliments and wows about my jewelry creations so I felt pretty good. We had good weather on Friday and Saturday but overcast skies and rain by afternoon on Sunday, no fun and no crowd that day.

I got several compliments on my booth, too. Which was a homemade - or would that be handmade ;-) creation rather than the typical pop up style tent awning that most vendors had. I forgot my camera the first 3 days to take pics and actually forgot it the 4th day but I called to have my husband bring the camera when he picked me up later in the day. Except OOPS I had started putting everything away before I remembered I wanted pics. But here are 2 pics. 2 of the displays were actually out in front and they were a bit more full the first day. It was really a makeshift setup, but it served me well and people liked it so all in all it wasnt a bad thing. And considering I will never do Jubilee again it served its purpose.

Yes you heard that right, this was my first and last jubilee experience. The crowd was more into $2 jewels rather than quality (and might not a known the difference). One man made a comment that was interesting. He said " I see you handcrafting your jewelry and the other jewelry sellers unpack theirs from china, and it shows. You make really unique pieces and have good craftmanship". That really made my day!!!!

So it is over and it was a learning experience as well as an uplifting experience and now its time to take pictures of my new stuff, list it on Etsy and promote my jewels so that I can buy more beads .....

But first a nap might be nice :-)
Cheryl

3 Days Till Jubilee !

I am still making things for Jubilee, I have made some really gorgeous stuff using the vintage glass and brass chains, filigrees and components.

This one is my favorite (so far):




I have aabout 40 more pieces to list but probably will only get a few done cause I have to make more for Jubilee !

I also got my first Treasury !!! It was so cool to get one...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=5162

Thats all folks, time to get back to beadin !

Loggers Jubilee

I have 10 days to get ready for Loggers Jubilee and I am workin hard makin jewels !

Loggers Jubilee is something that usually irritates me because when over 100,000 people come into this small town it makes for some traffic jams ! But this year will be my first time I set up a booth and sell my jewels so come on people ! lol

Here is a link to learn more about this pretty cool jubilee:

http://www.loggersjubilee.com/

It still amazes me that someone has come as from as far as Autstralia just for a lawnmower race, but it has happened! And many many more come from all over america just to race their mowers. These are not your typical mowers, I assure you! I can hear some of them at my house a mile away from the race !

It should be fun ! See yall there ;-)

Cheryl

In the beginning ....

Seems I need a blog, so here it is ! I will post new items I have made and talk about jewels. I have become obsessed with making jewels, I love semi-precious gemstones, beads, vintage glass, brass ~ filigree and all the little things that go into making a jewelry work of art. I have 600 pieces of vintage glass I am about to have fun with, can't wait for it to get here !