Morning At the Bead Show

I spent the morning at a bead show. Exhausting, but very fun! I am finding that certain stones are becoming harder and harder to find affordably. Makes me think it is time to switch to glass. Didn't even buy any citrine, it was so crazy expensive.

But......look what I did get! Pretty, pretty, pretty. I am envisioning lots of chunky bracelets in my shop this Spring!

The pendants are created by Natalie Gillihan. I cannot wait to use them as the focal pieces for some wire-wrapped necklaces. Do you think I could talk her into opening a shop on Etsy?

Buy Handmade

I want to promote Etsy a little bit today. I have had a great experience selling and buying there. I have not gone to the mall to buy a gift since I started selling last October! Please have a look around: you are sure to find wonderful and unique products.

Mostly I just want everyone to watch this video because, whether or not you are an Etsy fan, it will put a smile on your face.

84 degrees today!

Happy Etsy Dance

I sold my 40th item on Etsy today.

Woohoo!

"and that is significant because....?"

Just because I like nice round numbers, that's why.

Sorry, Mom, I'm Keeping It

I bought this beautiful mixed media painting by Jennifer Gordon from her Etsy shop, stilettoheights. I was planning to give it to my Mom for her birthday, but it looks so great in my newly organized (yes, you read that correctly) studio. I think I will keep it as a little reward for all my hard work!

I Am Full of Regret

For ever getting involved with the PTO.

That's all I have to say today.

Who Needs Toys?

Thing Two enjoys the bubble wrap that protected a fabulous little bowl made by Shoshona Snow.

Time To Lock The Doors

So, you remember the scary moment in Jurassic Park when they realize the raptors can open the doors?

Yesterday I was working in my "studio" (read: spare bedroom) and it suddenly occured to me that the house was really quiet. Too quiet. I went downstairs to find the garage door open. Suddenly my heart leapt from my body and I was in the driveway screaming my three year old son's name. Thank God our street is really quiet and he hadn't gone very far into the front yard.

Easily the worst moment in my parenting history so far.

Creative ADD

So, I thought I finally had a "direction" I was heading in creatively, and I was going to start giving my Etsy Shop a "look." I was going to focus on the wire wrapped necklaces and knotted cotton, earring and linkage, leaving necklaces on flexible beading wire for so many other shops to do.

And then I had the idea for this necklace inspired by ancient Egyption jewelry.

Oh well. Maybe I can work on developing a brand identity next week.

Oh How I Love "Brain Child"

My Brain Child Magazine came last week and I really cannot contain myself any longer: Oh how I love this magazine! When it arrives, my first impulse is to hide in my bedroom (door barricaded by laundry) for however long it might take me to read it cover to cover. But it only comes four times a year, so I make it last. One article every day or so until it is gone. And then I might go back and reread some choice parts. In every issue there is something that makes me laugh out loud, something that makes me cry. something that causes me to crinkle the pages in angry disagreement, and several things that make me nod like a bobble head in self-recognition and agreement. If you are a Mom (or Dad) you should check it out.

Creative Challenge #43

I participate in Jewel Street's Creative Challenge that runs in the Etsy forums every week. This week our challenge was to create something inspired by our favorite flower. I really love bracelets with big, chunky beads and I also really love the low maintenance day lilies a former occupant planted in the flower beds in our yard. The colors of our day lilies run the gamut from very pale yellow to a deep, almost black, purple shade. Thus, the Day Lily bracelet.

The World Traveler

With two small kids, I only travel in my dreams lately, but someday......

In the meantime, I have to be satisified with dispatches from my friend Josh who seems to be hopping a plane any time he has a couple free days. In 2006 he had several free months. He flew to Australia and came home slowly, hitting Fiji, parts of Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He kept a blog journal about the trip, and while it hasn't been updated since May, when he got home, the final entry is well worth checking out. In this entry he sums up the trip and describes some lasting impressions. Most compelling to read were his thoughts about being an American traveling in the world right now. If you have three minutes to spare, check it out. It is a valuable counterpoint to the view of the world that we get from the media.

Josh's Blog

The Year of Yes

Just finished: The Year of Yes, by Maria Dahvana Headley. This is a fun memoir that completely captures what it is like to be a student/young twenty-something living in NYC. She decides to spend a year saying yes to every person who asks her out and this decision completely changes how she approaches people and life. Thought-provoking and entertaining.

Thanks Mom!

This sweet pair of shoes was handed down by my fabulous mother yesterday. Cannot wait for warm weather!

Symbolic Stones Linkage Series

For some time now I have been meaning to create a series of bracelets in which I use the symbolism of stones to dictate my design. For example, a bracelet that includes all the stones associated with courage. Last night it occured to me that it would be fun to apply this concept to Linkage Componants. Here is the first in the series: the Creativity Linkage Componant. Combining five stones symbolic of creativity: labradorite, amethyst, aventurine, sodalite, and garnet.

Linkage

Yes, well, I am breaking that little promise below because I cannot watch American Idol and it is too late to tackle things like taxes or cleaning.
Thought maybe it is a good time to tell you a little about the Linkage Project. Linkage was started by one of my favorite Etsy sellers, lorimarsha. (If you have not seen her one of a kind clothing designs you are really missing something.) Linkage items are charms made from found/reclaimed/recycled items that can be attached to necklaces, keychains, zipper pulls, etc. Linkage is about making connections, reinforcing associations, striking memories. 10% of the sales of Linkage items are donated to the Alzheimers Association. This cause is very close to my heart, as I lost one grandmother to this disease and am currently watching the other slide slowly into an increasingly confused/disconnected state. I hope the Linkage Project will bring some attention to the importance of Alzheimers research.

Any Day Now

Any day now I will add interesting photos and witty text. I promised Geoff I would clean up my "studio" before I created a blog. And I should probably add paying our taxes to the list of things that need to be done before blogging.

See you soon.