Jewelry by Desiree

All About Cloth Diapers Final Giveaway day!

2011-12-17T08:58:00.001-05:00

Tons and tons and tons of goodies for all your cloth diapering needs!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event

Day 8 Giveaway!

2011-12-13T15:48:00.002-05:00

Lots and lots of fun and cool stuff!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Giveaway Day 7!

2011-12-12T13:28:00.004-05:00

Hey all!

Day 7 and lots of great stuff!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Day 6 of the Giveaway!

2011-12-10T10:35:00.001-05:00

Lots of good stuff! There is a ton on the giveaway today so check it out here!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-day-6-giveaway/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AllAboutClothDiapers+%28All+About+Cloth+Diapers%29

Day 5 of the All About Cloth Diapers Giveaway!

2011-12-09T09:45:00.001-05:00

Day 5 of the Giveaway. There are some great products on there today. Enter and check it out!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Day 4 Giveaway!

2011-12-08T09:33:00.001-05:00

Lots of cool stuff. Check it out!!!

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Day 3 of Great Giveaways!

2011-12-07T12:45:00.001-05:00

Day 3 of great giveaways from All About Cloth Diapers!

Check it out here

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-day-3-giveaway/

My Favorite Things Giveaway Day 2

2011-12-06T19:28:00.001-05:00

Hey all!

Day 2 of the giveaway. Check it out here >>>>

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

2011-12-05T19:17:00.001-05:00

All About Cloth Diapers is having a great giveaway for a bunch of cloth diapers. She is doing 12 days of give aways.

Check it out here

http://allaboutclothdiapers.com/my-favorite-things-event/

This is also a GREAT blog that Autum put together that I subscribe to. It's literally EVERYthing that you wanted to know about cloth diapering.

Working on a new project

2011-11-09T20:25:00.004-05:00

Today my sister-in-law came to see me to see what I have in stock. She needs a birthday present for her cousin and she wanted to get her a necklace. I didn't have anything that worked but we found some great inspiration with a pair of earrings. She's buying the earrings from me as well.

For the record these earrings are know OOAK because I can no longer find the pendants that I used for them. Her cousin is getting an awesome pair of earrings and necklace that she and I worked on loosely designing this afternoon and I will be making over the course of the next few days.

I'm going to use the colors of the earrings and a combination of peyote "beaded" beads in the blues and whites of the pendant colors and a mix of silver and copper on leather cording. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Once I have it finished I promise that I'll post pictures of it.

Selll Handmade on Artfire!

2011-11-02T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hey all!

I know Etsy is the "main" handmade outlet but Artfire (where I've always been) is really great. If anyone wants to sell their handmade "anything" on artfire sign up with the following link.

http://www.artfire.com/users/JewelrybyDesiree/sell-crafts

Check it out, it's pretty cool.

Look for this fun necklace in my Artfire store soon!

2011-10-25T21:36:00.001-04:00

I know that it's a really crappy photo but here's a sweet little necklace that I made a while ago that I am planning on listing in my shop soon. I promise that I will put up better ones tomorrow.

Woo Hoo

2011-10-23T20:26:00.001-04:00

Been a busy weekend. I got a order for a custom necklace over the weekend! Not too bad for not really marketing all that well.

I also will be shipping out stuff for the sorority's founders day coming up.

Exciting stuff.........

What is on tap for me

2011-10-19T21:02:00.001-04:00

I have my sorority's founders day in a few weeks. What this means is that I have to get together stuff to send up to NJ for the silent auction.

I think I have enough stuff to be able to put some stuff together and send but not totally sure.

I also have to put together a newsletter for the event but that's not a big deal.

Any thoughts on what jewelry I should do?

What has been up with me lately

2011-10-18T21:00:00.001-04:00

I know that I have been really bad about updating the blog on the past 2 or so years. I promise that I have a really good reason.

In September of last year I found out that I was just about 2 months pregnant. This was great news because we had been trying for a while. Fast forward to April of this year and I had our son JD. Short for James Douglas, we named him after our fathers. He is 6.5 months old now and a big distraction. :-)

Also while out on maternity leave I was laid off just after my short term disability ran out when JD was about 6-7 weeks old. Since then I have been looking for a new full time job.

Anyway, that's a huge post for the mobile app so I will just leave all of you with this photo of JD.

Mobile Test

2011-10-18T20:47:00.001-04:00

Testing the mobile app just to see how it works!

Song Lyrics that really speak to me

2010-04-29T08:44:00.003-04:00

I know it's been a while. Life has been really crazy lately. Anyway, I happened to come across this song and the lyrics really spoke to me on several levels. I wanted to share it. It's a really great song, enjoy.

Ths song is One Day ft. Akon by Matisyahu

Sometimes I lay under the moon
And I thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray don't take me soon
Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waiting for
I been prayin forFor the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play

One day

It's not about win or lose cause we all lose when they feed on the souls of the innocent blood drenched pavement keep on moving though the waters stay raging and in this life you may lose your way, it might drive you crazy but don't let it phase you no way

Sometimes I lay under the moon
And I thank God I'm breathing
Then I pray don't take me soon
Cause I am here for a reason

Sometimes in my tears I drown
But I never let it get me down
So when negativity surrounds
I know someday it'll all turn around because

All my life I been waiting for
I been prayin forFor the people to say
That we don't want to fight no more
They'll be no more wars
And our children will play

One day

One day this all will change
Treat people the same
Stop with the violence down with the hate one day we'll all be free and proud to be under the same sun singing songs of freedom like...

Featured Artist - Bunga Brand

2010-03-01T08:46:00.003-05:00

I usually put up photos of the artisan's work but for whatever reason artfire isn't letting me look at individual artisan items. I will try again later.

- What’s your name and where are you from?
My name is Elizabeth and I currently reside in Ohio.

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?
My shop name is Bunga Brand. It has a special meaning to me as my youngest son, Micah, inspired it. As a baby he would say "Bunga Bunga" all the time and it always brought a smile to my face. I wanted a shop name that would reflect who I am as well as be memorable to others.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?
Currently I sell the majority of my items on Artfire. I have a smaller shop on Etsy.

- How long have you been crafting?
I have been crafting for as long as I can remember, my mother was a talented woman who I grew up watching and emulating.

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.
My Christianity and family are the most important thing to me. I get all my strength and encouragement from them. My sons love to ask me what I am making and even help me on some items. We are a close knit family and always lean on each other. We have 2 German Shepherds that we adore and that are part of our family. I love to garden as well and always try to reflect who I am in pieces.

-What do you sell in your shop?
A variety of things, all mostly hand made by me. I sell Reversible Purses that come in some fun and unique prints, Regular and Eco Friendly Laundry Products, of which the ECO side I am using my own recipe that has been tweaked and tested for years and is more then proven in it's track record. I will not use a recipe I have not myself made and I work until the best possible outcome is achieved for all my laundry products. and I think that is what sets me apart from others. I also make unique and fun Pin Cushions that range from Micro to Decorative. I also sell some supplies like envelopes of all sizes and business card sheet paper and other paper products in that general area. You can also find, at times, some heirloom seeds as well as seeds from my very own rare and unique plants.

- Tell us about your crafting space.
My crafting space is a small room with a few tables set up and a work desk. I have my sewing machine section, laundry products section and a misc section and general work space.

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?
Not as of yet, but I am hoping to become verified on Artfire soon and will be joining many guilds. (Author note: Elizabeth is now a verified/pro artisan on Artfire)

-Where do you find inspiration?
From a little bit of everything. My children have inspired several of my items and the prints I use (Rice bags and Laundry Products). I want to give them the best. My husband inspires me because he is 100% supportive in all of my ventures and will do everything and anything to make sure I have the supplies and means to see my ideas come to life. I also get inspiration from nature and try to have many floral patterns as I think it makes the soul feel good.

-Tell me a bit about your creative process.
Sometimes it just comes to me. I see something and BOOM I know what I need to do to make something work or start a new project (Like my Glass Based Pin Cushions) When I try to force creativity, I fail, so I work in sprints and when I can perform at my best, to ensure everything I do is of high quality.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?
I am mostly self taught, but do remember a few things from my Mom and my childhood. Everything I make is something I have taught myself to do or have been doing for quite some time now.

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
I love the Glass Based Pin Cushions, as they are just the right weight to not move when I am placing or removing pins....and right up there are my dryer sheets which I have been making for years and have developed my own unique and proven recipe for. I am not the type to see a recipe on the Internet or hear about something and try it and sell it right away. I want to make sure anything and everything I sell is at it's best and always make sure I try everything out many times before I list it.

-Why is it your favorite?
Pin Cushion http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=643444
Dryer Sheet http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=629014

- What is your favorite part of your craft?
When the final product is ready to be photographed. I love when I have accomplished what it is I set out to do.

- What is your least favorite part?
Some parts of what I do are very time consuming..which sometimes bugs me, but in the long run worth it.

-How did you get started with your craft?
Dove right into it one day. I watched my Mom as a child and when I became of the age to begin learning, I did :)

-If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why?
I sell on Artfire and Etsy. Artfire is by FAR my favorite because of the difference in sales, the wonderful staff here and the close knit friends I have made.

-What makes your shop unique?
My creativity and low prices. I think my shop is unique and is something most people will like. It is a fun and happy shop that welcomes everyone. I also love to trade for items I am wanting or need.

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?
Do what you know. Practice and keep your eyes ahead and always believe in yourself.

-Where else can we find you on the web?
http://bungabrand.blogspot.com/

New Artist Association

2010-02-26T07:30:00.003-05:00

So, last night I went to a meeting for a new artist association, the North Gwinnett Arts Association. They happened to find me on Twitter and I figured that I'd check them out and see what was up. I did what any sane person would do and google them, not much came up. I did find them on Facebook and became a fan.

Long story short, they are a brand spanking new artist guild/forum/group whatever. The meeting last night seemed really cool. They want to do lots of really cool stuff. I'm about 95% positive that I want to be a member (actually who am I kidding I WANT to be a member). Ponying up $40 annually isn't such a big deal. Especially if I can participate in craft fairs/show for free (included in the membership fee). They just have to get the web payments up and running (Naomi, if you are reading this the website is starting to look good!)

I met some cool people last night and handed out a few business cards (actually remembered them, rather proud of myself). One girl (can't remember your name, it's early we talked about the 5:30am thing, but I remember that you WERE the loudest in the room) was very interested in the fact that I make jewelry. She loves art but can't do it. I was wearing my snowflake obsidian necklace that I made. One of my favorites and I did find the beads locally. That bead shop is now closed but they do still have a website and sell out of the home. (http://www.imperialgemonline.com if you are interested)

If you are a artist (any medium) and live in the North Gwinnett/metro Atlanta area we'd love to have you. Just contact me for more info or you can click on the post title and it will bring you to the website and you can sign up for more info yourself.

Very exciting that I'll have a way to be promoted locally with little to no effort on my part.

Come back tomorrow for another featured artisan interview!

Teaching myself something new....

2010-02-05T14:13:00.003-05:00

Let me first apologize to all my readers. It's literally been forever and a day since I've posted but I've been so damn busy with life and my full time job lately.

Shortly after my last post, October 28th I found out that I passed my last architecture licensing exam which means that I am now a registered architect and can put R.A. after my name. Pretty cool when all is said and done. As for my full time job it doesn't really mean all that big of a change for the time being. But in the end, it's nice to be done with all that.

I also have some artisan interviews that I need to get to posting and I promise that I will get back on that soon.

For whatever reason I've wanted to teach myself how to knit for the longest time. Well, one day going through the craft section at Walmart I happened to see a teach yourself how to knit book. It was cheap (something in the $4 range) and came with a pair of knitting needles so I figured why not. I grabbed the book and a thing of yarn and made my way to the checkout line.

Back at home looking through the book I noticed that it has a section for those of us who are left-handed. Being left-handed I really appreciate this. I started trying to cast on with one needle. That's something that still eludes me for whatever reason, I just can't get the hang of it. When I tried the 2 needle method this went much smoother. I only know how to knit so far. I haven't tried my hand at purling yet but we'll see how that goes.

Long story short I'm now the owner of 2 sets of knitting needles and 2 partially finished scarves. I will take a picture of the scarf that I've decided to finish first and post it here this weekend.

I'm seeing a lot of scarf presents being given out by me in the future. I just got to work on making sure everything is even!

Really cool shirt/dress tutorial I saw today

2009-10-16T14:02:00.004-04:00

I subscribe to a lot of different blogs. One of them Totally Tutorials always has multiple postings a day. These range from face painting to jewelry to sewing, knitting and a whole lot more.

Today one of the tutorials was How to Make a Drawstring Halter Top/Dress

Now, I do sew enough to hem a pair of pants, fix a hole in a shirt, re-attach a button but that's about it. I'd like to get to the point where I can make my own pouches for my jewelry packaging. I know what to do/how to do it, even have the fabric, thread and ribbon for them. I just need a sewing machine. Technically I have one, it's one of those hand held deals that I think would work. I just need to find the time to try it out

This tutorial I could do with my hand-held thing or I could hand sew the 2 seams. I really want to try it out as soon as I can. I just need to either A. find a suitable shirt that I could use at home that I don't mind not being a t-shirt anymore or b. head out to target or walmart and buy one.

I think I'll maybe try this one out early next week.

How is it that this month is already half over?

2009-10-15T13:27:00.003-04:00

When I looked at my watch this morning (it has the day on it) and saw that it was already October 15th I couldn't believe it.

I've got so much to do before November hits I can't believe it!

I've got jewelry to make up for my sorority's Founder's Day Chinese Auction. I've got 60 samples to make up for the November Spotted Box. I've got things that I've made that need to be photographed and listed.

Not to mention everything that I have to do for my HOA (I'm on the board and also on the Architectural Control Committee), my day job and my home life.

Where has this month been going?

Had a really productive evening last night

2009-10-14T07:48:00.003-04:00

As the title of the blog post states I did in fact have a truly productive evening last night. I was able to finish a few projects that have been around for longer than I care to remember.

My first project was to paint the plastic ceiling medallion for our dining room so it actually looks like a piece of wood and not the cheap piece of plastic it really was. Not so hard but glad that I got it done anyway.

We've bought a new chandelier for the dining room. My husband took the old POS builder grade one down like a month ago and was gonna hang the new one but decided that he'd rather not mess with it and call an electrician to put a new mounting box up there (the plastic one bothers him) and hang the thing because he doesn't want it to come crashing down on the brand new Stickley dining table that we've ordered. The table is rather expensive so I can't say that I blame him.

Personally I'd like the whole thing done because we're currently without lights in the dining room because the only light source there is from afore mentioned chandelier that's been taken down so there's just a hole in the ceiling with a few taped wires hanging out. At least he remembered to call the electrician this week.

I'm getting really sick of having to figure out what bottle of wine I want to drink with a flashlight after the sun has gone down. Of course the wine rack is in the DARKEST corner of the room....

Anyway, the next thing that I got done. I FINALLY finished the cork board that I've been working on for much much longer than I care to think about. When I first bought the board from Wine Enthusiast I started filling it up with all the corks that I've collected over the past 3-4 years. I started collecting them when we were still living in New Jersey and I bought the board about 8 months ago (told you it's been around for longer than I care to remember). So that's what? About 4 years worth of corks. Yea, I still didn't have enough, I was about 3-4 rows short. So as we drank bottles at home, at friends house's, out I'd collect the corks.

Now for the past 4-5 months the board has been mostly finished. I just needed to cut the corks for the spaces that couldn't fit a whole one. I FINALLY for around to that last night.

I wound up using a craft saw that I've had since I've been in college that I used to use for cutting bass wood for models in architecture school. It worked better than I imagine an x-acto knife would have for any other cutting implement would have. The only downside, cork dust. That's now done and I have to figure out where to hang the damn thing. I've got some ideas that I just need to convince the husband to go along with.

My last project of the evening was making myself a beading loom. It was a fairly simple process that I was able to do with an old cardboard box, duct tape (what can't you use it for?), some glue and toothpicks. Here's a few links where I got the info on how to do it.

http://hubpages.com/hub/How_To_Build_Your_Own_Bead_Loom - I took the duct tape and toothpick part of it from this one.

http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismdepts/anthro/beads/pdfs/Loombeadinglesson.pdf - I got the cardboard part from this one.

Instead of screws I used little eye loops for picture hanging. Works just as well IMO. I promise to take a picture and post it tonight or tomorrow.

I wanted a loom but the sizes that I saw in stores were too small (for bracelets only) or online were way too expensive. Total cost to me was almost nothing as the box was from something that was shipped to us and we'd recycle it anyway, duct tape that we've had around for a while and the toothpicks which were also bought a few years ago.

I started using it last night with the elastic thread that I found at Hobby Lobby on Monday night. Really super easy so far. Best part about the box is that I can keep my seed beads in it and if they fall out of the little baggie no big mess because they are contained in the box.

Featured Artist - Charlene Anderson

2009-10-13T14:20:00.003-04:00

This is the last of many interviews that I have left to post on my blog. I know that I've gotten some new followers in the past week so if any of you would like to be featured just contact me and I'll be happy to email you with the questions!

Here's Charlene of Purveyor of All Things Creative, she's got a great mix of totes, jewelry supplies, beads, and fiber arts supplies.

- What’s your name and where are you from?

Charlene Anderson, born in Hollywood, CA, lived in Hawaii 20 plus years, now in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

Purveyor of All Things Creative. I chose it as I have several creative fields I word in and wanted a name that meant creativity to everyone.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

eBay, Amazon and just starting on Etsy and a few smaller ones that are getting set up as I type

- How long have you been crafting?

As long as I can remember but seriously started at about age 15, which would be 36 years. Ugh. I'm 16 in my mind.

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

I have travelled to over 100 counties, am a tech geek, was a world class athlete in several sports and am married to a great English guy 17 years my junior who is an incredible photographer.

-What do you sell in your shop?

Art and craft tools, supplies, equipment, books, DVDs and more all related to arts and crafts. I also sell my own work.

- Tell us about your crafting space.

I have two rooms upstairs that are devoted to my business. One is the office and one the studio. But I am like Mark Twain and Vera Wang, however and like to work sitting on my lovely bed with my work around me and my Vizsla dog Arazi next to me.

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

Handweavers Guild of America. I was their National President for several years in the 90's.

-Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere. Photos, travel (a big one) walks, brainstorming, talking with husband, in the shower, everywhere!

-Tell me a bit about your creative process

Usually I let an idea run around around in my mind for a bit before working on it. I'll take notes and talk it over with my husband, who can help work out kinks in my process.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?

Trial and error

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

The new Wubber Pliers.

-Why is it your favorite?

Easy on the hands, easy on the wire, easy to work with, very cool.

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

Thinking up new ideas

- What is your least favorite part?

Photographing finished work

-How did you get started with your craft?

One thing lead to another, and it seems I am interested in a lot of things!

-If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why?

eBay as I have been doing it for 9 years and know it well.

-What makes your shop unique?

I carry items that are hard to find, I have fabulous customer service, great prices and ship very quickly.

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

It's hard work and be prepared for it. I've been doing this since 1981 and it is still hard work.

-Where else can we find you on the web?

http://stores.ebay.com/Purveyor-of-All-Things-Creative?refid=store , http://charleneanderson.typepad.com/unravelings/ ,
http://www.andersonshea.com/ , http://www.charnews.com/ , http://www.purveyorofallthingscreative.com/

Thanks again for letting me interview you Charlene!

Trying to find the right damned thread

2009-10-12T10:49:00.004-04:00

So in my last post I was talking about trying to find the right kind of elastic thread for the headbands that I want to make. This is proving to be quite a task. Nothing that I've found as yet has been thin enough for the beads that I want to use. I've checked Walmart, Michaels, bead shops. I need to get my behind to Hobby Lobby because I think they have what I need.

And craft stores... Is it really so hard to have a SEWING section? And WTH did Walmart do with there's? It was there BEFORE they did the stinking re-model. I can't find a freaking thing in the store anymore.

In other news, I finished a pair of earrings for my friend Anne. I've sold a pair of them before and I own a pair. Here's the pair that I sold but they are pretty much the same.

They are simple but kinda fun at the same time. I've got these beads in a few colors (pink and blue. I need to make up a few more pairs and get them listed.

I've also got a few artist interviews that I need to post still. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.

What I'm trying to work on

2009-10-09T11:21:00.003-04:00

When I was in Hilton Head a couple of weeks ago I saw these really cool stretch beaded headbands in the same shop that I bought this really cool necklace (I'll take a photo of the necklace post if over the weekend). I thought that it would be really cool to make a few up and try to sell them.

The main body of the headband was just seed beads. It looks like it would be really time intensive to weave by hand so I might need to go out and purchase a beading loom to speed the process up a bit. That and I need to get thin enough elastic thread. I really need to get out to the craft store and see if the sewing section has what I need because my local Walmart, which is usually pretty good about sewing supply inventory, is lacking right now. They are in the middle of a re-model and not only did they move EVERYTHING around in the damn store they don't have all of the inventory out because they are moving it all.

Oh, and in other news I started to build a web page yesterday. Still a work in progress but here it is http://JewelrybyDesiree.webs.com It's a free service right now and depending I may upgrade to a pay site. I could also have a mini store on the site. Right now as a free member I can list 5 products. If I upgrade then one day I can have my store totally on my own website. We'll see how that goes for the time being. I'm still trying to figure out everything that I want to put up on the site. So if you have any suggestions just shoot me an email!

Totally unrelated to jewelry but I'm pretty proud of myself

2009-10-07T13:35:00.007-04:00

I just finished this today.

Should have been done a LONG time ago but I promised my friends, Ken & Stacy, that I'd draw them up a pavilion for there pool deck that they want to put in next year. I drew up the plan in CAD then imported into SketchUp (3D Modeling software) then built the model.

Fairly certain that it will actually stand up the way that I drew it. King Post trusses with a purlin roof system (so you get the overhangs without a huge truss). The pavilion is 16'x16' the spans are about 7' which the trusses should be able to carry. They are only holding the roof up. Seems a bit of overkill but not too sure.

Whaddya think?

What am I going to do with myself?

2009-10-06T11:34:00.004-04:00

Yesterday morning I had what I pray is my last Architecture Liscesing Exam (ARE).

I've been taking these stinking tests since December of 2007. When I started out there were 9 divisions, 3 technical sections, 3 non-technical sections and 3 graphical sections. I flew threw all of them except the 2 structural divisions (general structures and lateral forces).

On round 2 with the structures exams I managed to pass general structures but once again bombed on lateral forces. Doesn't sound too bad does it? Well I got news for you, each time you fail an exam you have to wait 6 months before you can re-take it. Oh and also after I failed lateral forces for the second time they had closed the transition window to a new format.

What did this mean for me? Not only did I pass general structures but because of the new format (7 divisions instead of 9 and they mixed a bunch of crap up) and the associated graphical vignette but I get to take 1 exam and re-do the vignette that I already passed.

Well, took the test yesterday and I feel pretty good about it. I'll get the results in about 4-6 weeks (yes you read that right). NCARB is horribly slow with score reporting even though the exam is administered by computer and also computer scored. If you want some interesting reading check out the ARE forum general topics section and do a search for NCARB. It's rather amusing to see some of the posts.

But now that I'm not studying I have ALL of this free time on my hands. I really need to get my house back in order first off. Also I've been neglecting the jewelry business a bit and need to get back on the train with that one. Maybe I'll go out to the movies or dinner with the girls sometime while the hubby is in Charlotte?

Any suggestions?

Getting to try a little something different

2009-09-29T11:56:00.003-04:00

At my day job (as an architect) I've done a bunch of fun things with some of the other people in the office. We've done cookie swaps, a competition called CANstruction (google it for more info), various community service projects, heart walks, etc. It's always been great fun and I enjoy doing things like that.

The group that I've done the cookie swap with is going to do a handmade card swap. It's got a Thanksgiving/Holidays theme. I've never really made a handmade card in my life. Not counting the colored ones that you do in school. I have no idea where to start. I have to make 8 identical cards. I've been searching all over artfire for handmade cards with holiday/thanksgiving themes.

I think that I have some good ideas but I'm not really sure. I just need to make a trip to the craft store and start buying some stuff and run with it from there.

I wish that I was this good with wireworking

2009-09-28T14:02:00.003-04:00

Check out Sharon's wire work, amazing isn't it? I hope to be this good at it one of these days.

I may just have to try and find a way to make myself a pair of these.....

Click on the post title to go to her website.

What I learned on my summer vacation

2009-09-27T18:57:00.003-04:00

Remember when you had this assignment during the first week of school right after summer vacation? Yea, me too. I got back from our little mini vacation on Hilton Head Island a few hours ago and this blog post started forming itself in my head when I was somewhere on I-16.

The trip took me about 4.5 hours so I had a lot of time to think being that I was on I-16 for about 100 some odd miles and I had a few highways to go before I made my way home.

Some of this applies to the business but most of this does not so enjoy anyway.

1. There are morons on the highway. No matter what highway, what state the highway is full of morons. Why people can properly merge with a right on ramp but not a left one amazes me. Why does everyone need to slow down to look at what's happening? Why does the one idiot on the highway always end up in front of me when I'm in the left lane going 80 and they decide that they own the highway so they will go 2 miles above the posted minimum speed limit (40mph in case you are wondering) And don't get me started on sympathy breakers, just because someone in the other lane is breaking does not mean that YOU have to break as well.

2. I never realized that elevators in South Carolina were under the office of Elevators and Amusement Rides. This oddly makes sense (free fall at six flags anyone?).

3. If I'm going to wear my bathing suit that has the gold rings on it I get some fairly interesting tan lines. Yes I now have a perfect circle of tanned skin on each hip bone.

4. If I'm going to hang out at the pool all day it would be a good idea to be in either full sun or full shade. My right side is more tanned than my left. It's a nice gradient right in the middle of my stomach.

5. Always, always, always bring my jewelry business cards with me wherever I go. At the entrance to the lighthouse in Harbor Town I was complimented on the bracelet that I was wearing and of course I had the cards but they were in my other purse conveniently in the hotel room all the way across the damn island.

6. No matter how fast you want to go it will take you FOREVER to go anywhere on the island. Mainly because the highest posted speed limit is 35mph. Also because anything worth going is no where near your hotel.

7. Cell phone reception is crappy at best on the island. Except for at the top of the afore mentioned lighthouse. Can someone please put a cell tower on the damn island? Is that really too much to ask?

8. If you spend a whole day at the pool and are eating and drinking at the pool your are not walking off the pool deck without spending at least $100. It's too easy to raise the flag on your lounge chair.

9. If your cover up is black remember the black flip flops, or at least the pink ones. The brown ones are ok but I look like an idiot when I where them together.

10. I like to shop. No matter what store I go into I'm going to find something that I want to buy. My husband is just going to have to get used to it.

11. Dive bars have the best food, period.

I think that's it for now. If I can remember anything else I'll post a follow up. Happy Reading!

Some random thoughts

2009-09-24T08:18:00.005-04:00

So in a few hours I'll be pointed towards the coast on my way to Hilton Head. I finished everything that I set out to do yesterday so that was a bonus. I'll have to post some pics of the weekend when I get back.

Yesterday my sorority sister, Brandy, called me up. She received my package for the auction. She really loved everything that I put in. That really made me smile. The best compliment that she gave me is that nothing looks like a craft project. Apparently some of the other sisters were inspired to make some stuff. I do work hard to make a quality product and I'm constantly trying to improve upon my skills. I'm just worried that Brandy and her mom will hijack my jewelry before it gets to the auction!

Oh, Really cool giveaway on one of my favorite blogs. Win a super cute teapot and a tin of tea on Anne's blog Tea Journal

Facebook - it's amazing the people that you can connect to, with, again on that site. You can create fan pages for your business and update your customers. I have a fan page along with my Artfire kiosk on both my profile page and my business pages. If you want to become a fan click here

A million things to do.....

2009-09-23T08:06:00.003-04:00

So it's Wednesday right? Yup, I checked. I've got about a million things to do today to get ready for our trip to Hilton Head tomorrow.

I still haven't started on my samples for the October spotted box yet.... Gotta get on this because I need to get them ready to ship by October 1st. Nice job huh? Did I mention that my commitment is for 60 samples? Yes I am a genius.

I did manage to mail my order from my Artfire studio this morning. So that's one more thing in the done column. See my post from yesterday if you want to see what I sold, I put up a pic.

So today when I get home from work I have to pack, load the car, get the hubby's weekend suitcase and attend a HOA meeting for our landscape proposal.

I'm on my HOA's board of directors and usually All I have to do is go to 1 meeting a month and answer a few emails a month. Right now however, we have already had a meeting with the landscape company last Monday. I had to take the day off work because the meeting was at 10am and I work in midtown. Next time please schedule a meeting during non-business hours, I work full time in Atlanta thank you very much! I'm the only one on the board out of the 5 of us that works full time. The 2 men are retired, one woman is a stay at home mom with 2 little ones and the other woman works 3 days a week. They have a tendency to forget that I do work full time. I'm also the only one on the board with any kind of architecture/construction background, lovely...

This meeting tonight is yet another meeting with the landscaper but for the life of me I can't figure out why. But I'm a glutton for punishment and am going to the meeting. As if I don't already have enough to do tonight.

I just can't forget the extra pair of black socks that the hubby needs me to bring because he couldn't count on Sunday.

Oh, and it's supposed to be crappy this weekend, wonderful. Anyone want to make me 60 jewelry samples and pack for me? Oh I forgot about my last architecture licensing exam that's on October 5th. Finding time to study for that has not been easy but I'm making due.

Really Really Strange Monday....

2009-09-22T15:31:00.005-04:00

So yesterday was an experience. Not sure how many of you have seen the news about what's happening in Atlanta but we've had some flooding issues. Long story short we got over 9" of rainfall overnight.

Getting to my job in midtown Atlanta was a bit tricky yesterday morning. I live about 35 miles from the office and I take I-85 to get here. There's the perimeter (I-285) that goes all around Atlanta. Well if you wanted to get from 85 or 285 or the other way around your were just plain S.O.L. because the ramps flooded. What this meant for me? It took me over 2 HOURS to get to work yesterday. Luckily we live at the top of a hill so our house is fine.

When I finally get to work yesterday I notice that my shoe is making a weird noise and I'm also wobbling. My heel of my shoes broke. Just wonderful, on the bright side I had a pair of flip flops in the car that haven't made there way back into the house since Labor Day and we have a shoe guy in the building so Doc is my savior. $11 to fix the busted heel and put new tips on the spikes. Not bad IMO.

Today is working out to be a lot better so far. Driving to work was normal today. The sun actually came out (I almost forgot what it looked like). And the crowning glory, I sold something on Artfire today. Just a pair of earrings but a cute pair none the less. Here's a pic in case your are wondering what the earrings look like:

Simple little pretty Swarovski dangles, black diamond with round silver spacer beads and a surgical steel earwire.

Now I just get to drive home, buy beer, and start to pack for my trip to Hilton Head for a long weekend.

Please don't rain while we're there!

Fundraiser for a really good cause

2009-09-21T14:00:00.003-04:00

A few months back a good friend and sorority sister of mine, Emily, was hospitalized because she came down with the swine flu pneumonia and other complications. After over 2 months in the hospital the infection left her system and she's now been in rehab for a while.

My sorority wanted to do something to help her and her family out with her medical bills and other associated costs.

We're doing a dinner and silent auction for her on October 10th in conjunction with her EMS Rescue Squad. Our part is the auction with all the proceeds going to Emily.

I mailed about 17 different things for them to auction off. It's all stuff that I've had laying around for a while and haven't gotten around to listing yet. It's a nice mix of sterling, gemstone, glass. I have sets, bracelets, earrings, the works. In the short run I'm hoping I get some sales.

I really do wish that I could be there but everyone is in New Jersey and it would be very difficult for me to be there when we will be heading up there for Thanksgiving to spend it with my family.

What a great day to stay in and craft!

2009-09-20T10:52:00.003-04:00

It seems like it's been raining for days now..... Not continually but for the better part of the day most days. With all this rain who wants to go outside at all?

I'm thinking about getting a jump on the pendant for Anne. She picked out a green glass that really looks like periodot. She's also getting it made with gold wire. I probably should re-string that necklace for my co-worker. My one co-worker, Peggy, will give me necklaces and earrings and stuff that have broken for me to fix. I don't mind doing the fixing but I don't want it to become to big of a part of the business.

I think that I'm going to get started on that pendant.

Found a really cool tutorial in my email this morning

2009-09-19T09:54:00.003-04:00

So I open up my laptop this morning and I've got a couple of emails from http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/ Christine sends out a newsletter semi-regularly and there was this really cool earring wire tutorial on it. http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/earring-wires.html Very simple and pretty easy to do. I've made earring wires that are similar to these in the past. I'll have to play around with it. Instead of 20 gauge wire you could also use eye pins if you can get the right length and gauge.

Now I just have to make my pasta salad for the party tonight.

Happy Friday!

2009-09-18T11:37:00.003-04:00

So it's Friday (Yay!). I'm excited about the weekend for a few reasons.

The first? My friends Ana & Monty had there baby girl a little over 2 weeks ago and tomorrow is the Welcoming Shower for them. Hopefully it won't rain but we'll make the best of it.

I just have to remember to bring the glass pieces for Anne to look at for the wirewrapped pendant necklace that she wants me to make her. I have 2 that I've made for myself and about 5-7 more that I have done but never had gotten around to listing yet. (I really need to get on that)

By the way Anne has a really great blog that you should check out. http://estreetanne.blogspot.com/ She talks about her dogs, her cat and living with MS.

I'm quite frankly surprised about how many people have really liked the pendant that I wear most often. It's a rectangle of mosaic glass that I've wirewrapped with copper wire. The glass is an amber color. I have it strung on a simple black leather cord. Simple and really fun to make. I never know how it's going to come out until I'm finished because the design has a tendency to take on a mind of it's own. I'll have to snap a pic of it and throw it up here when I get a chance.

And I have to remember to go to the store tomorrow morning and buy the ingredients that I need for the pasta salad that I'm bringing.

Oh, and football. The NY Giants are playing the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night. It should be a really great game. I hope that my G-men wipe the field with the Cowboys. I just have to stay up late enough to catch most of the game.

Interesting form of inspiration

2009-09-17T07:30:00.003-04:00

So last night I went out with a few girlfriends to see the movie Julie and Julia. Really great movie by the way. It's really funny because we've been trying to get together to go see it for like a month at least. Most of you I'm sure have heard about it but the basic premise is that this girl, Julie Powell, decides to actually do something with her life and cook all of Julia Child's recipes from her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, in a years time. She sets up a blog about it and posts frequently about it.

Well, I'm getting away from myself, let me get back on track. Watching this movie last night made me want to do 2 things. The first was to make that damn beef stew that she burns in the movie (I conveniently have a dutch oven that's brand new to use) and the second is to really get back to my blogging.

So here's the deal, I'm going to attempt to post to my blog 4-5 times a week on various crafting related topics and occasionally throw in some stuff about the rest of my life. Now I'm not doing this to get some kind of recognition I'm doing it to get myself back into good habits about keeping up with my jewelry business.

What could be easier than blogging? (please don't answer that, it was a rhetorical question)

So stay tuned fellow followers, strap in, hang on it's going to be a fun ride...

It was time for a change

2009-09-01T06:46:00.003-04:00

I've been playing around with getting my hair cut for some time now. I finally decided to do it last week. I normally have shoulder-length hair. I've been told for at least 15 years that I'd look great with an angle cut. I've been putting it off for a while (like I said, at least 15 years). Last week I finally decided to just do it. I checked with the hubby to see if he'd be ok with it because he likes long hair. We found him a picture of exactly what it would look like and he said to go for it. So I decided to share with my fellow bloggers the final result. Enjoy.

Life gets in the way...

2009-08-25T08:57:00.004-04:00

When you have a full time job and a 'part time' job that's really more of a hobby the life that pays the bills often gets in the way. I've taken a hiatus from the blogging and handmade worlds recently because there just hasn't been enough time to devote to my 'part time' job.

Has anything really suffered? No, but it's disappointing to myself that I cannot devote the time that I really want to my jewelry business. I have done another sample box at the Spotted Box again that went out in August. I wanted to do June but due to a death in my sister-in-law's family things got a bit de-railed. I'll have some $10 gift certificates in next month's box. It's a special anniversary box, TSB's 2nd so that should be fun. I'd like to do another Spotted box in October, I'll have to get working on a Halloween theme.

I really need to update my artfire studio as well. I have several items to list and others waiting to have photos taken.

I've had a few sales during my break which have been really great. One was for a set of wine charms that was purchased off my artfire shop and that lead to 2 more sets for similar charms. I've also had a custom order from a good friend of mine (thanks Stacy) for a really beautiful necklace that we designed together. It started off as chain then went to beads and finished in a eagle charm. She's a high school teacher and the school colors are green and white and the mascot is an eagle. It came our very nicely. I may use that same premise for a line for my online shop. I've also had a few sales in the form of jewelry repair. Mostly re-stringing necklaces that have broken. That's fine and I don't mind doing that kind of thing so I'll probably only do it for friends and family.

The last thing that I have been up to has been presented to me last night. My sister-in-laws birthday is coming up in a few weeks and she wants me to make her something. She gave me some good ideas and showed me her current collection of jewelry so I can get an idea of what she likes. She'd like an anklet or a necklace. She doesn't read my blog but I'm thinking that I'm going to make her one of each. I really do like to do custom orders. It's so much fun to create something for someone that no one else has and they like to help me design the piece as well.

Anyway, my current project at work is wrapping up this week and I'll be headed back into the office again starting on Monday. I'm really quite excited about it. What it means for me is that I'll have a nice normal schedule again and my days will be somewhat predictable again.

Check it out - I'm the Featured Artist on The Spotted Box Blog!

2009-04-21T09:52:00.003-04:00

So I'm a participant in The Spotted Box. What it is for those of you who don't know is a sample box of handmade/organic/eco-friendly products from various handmade sellers. The box goes on sale the 15th of every month. There's a huge variety of samples in it. You can check out my blog post here to see what came in my box this month. Each box is different, no 2 are a like which is part of the fun because you know who is participating but you won't know who will be in your box until it arrives and you open it.

Anyway, they do weekly artist features and this week I'm up! To read all about me (yes I'm shamelessly promoting myself) check it out here.

If you would like to be part of the box in an upcoming month go to http://thespottedbox.com/ for more info and be sure to tell Tory that I (Jewelry by Desiree) referred you.

The best part is that if you give 60 or more samples you get a free box of your own (totally worth it in my opinion).

Featured Artist - Ninja Jenn

2009-04-20T09:09:00.006-04:00

- What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

Ninja Jenn - it's something my friends have always called me (LOL). I can get myself into some funny situations, as I am totally clumsy and eccentric (which is a dangerous combo!), but somehow I always manage to "save myself" just in time. One day a friend called me a "Ninja of Chaos" and the Ninja part has just stuck...

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

Artfire http://ninjajenn.artfire.com/
Etsy http://ninjajenn.etsy.com/
ShopHandmade http://www.shophandmade.com/Store/Ninjajenn
and Made it Myself http://www.madeitmyself.com/user/ninjajenn.aspx
I started out on Etsy, but I was looking for something a little more welcoming and fun... thank God I found artfire! I just recently started selling on the other two... mostly just to try a few new venues out. My heart definitely lies with Artfire, though.

- How long have you been crafting?

Essentially all my life...but i've only been selling for about 10 years

- Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

I am totally quirky. I keep really strange hours. I love people. I used to run a bar. I used to be a real estate broker. I love music. I'm a car dancing fool. I laugh ALL the time. My family is SO very important to me. I've gone to the same church my entire life and I still love it there (even though i've tried all the major religions... and some minor ones... over the last 30 years LOL).

- What do you sell in your shop?

Mostly jewelry. I use recycled materials whenever I can. I love using resin on everything. I am about to list a few new things, though, like magnets and trinket boxes.

- Tell us about your crafting space.

Well, technically I have a "studio" set up in my home... but it's a constant work in progress LOL. The reality is that I craft all over the house... and all over my friends' houses... and all over my mom's house... well... you get the picture... LOL

- Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

I just got accepted to my first guild ever - the Fairweather Friends Guild on Artfire

- Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere. I love to roam through craft stores and thrift stores trying to find things I can breathe new life into... and I simply ADORE the hardware store... I can think of a million and one uses for all the stuff in Home Depot! LOL

- Tell me a bit about your creative process

Mostly it's a crafting free-for-all LOL... I grab a ton of stuff, drink a lot of coffee, and just go to town... there's really no rhyme or reason to it! I just let the creativity flow and hope for the best!

- Where have you learned to do what you do?

Mostly I am self-taught. I've always been that kid that took everything apart just to put it back together... and that has run over into my creative life. I love to buy mass-marketed things, rip them to pieces to find out how they were put together, and try to make one my way... hopefully better as well! I constantly read everything I can about crafting, arts, music... so a lot of what I read spills into my creating too.

- What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

I love everything in my shop, but currently I am in liking my domino pendants a whole lot...

- Why is it your favorite?

A friend found me these wonderful vintage pressman dominos at an estate sale, and it took me forever to decide what to do with them... Now that I have found a use for them, I love them far more than I thought I would! http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=107607

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

I love taking something that someone else didn't want and breathing new life into it... it makes me feel good to know that I am keeping things "in the cycle" and doing my part to help our environment

- What is your least favorite part?

Paperwork... I am NEVER caught up on organizing my purchase receipts... I don't think it will EVER happen tbh LOL

- How did you get started with your craft?

My family is a crafty family in general... we are always making stuff in one way or another... whether it's sewing, cooking, painting, whatever. It’s just in my blood I guess...

- If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why?

Artfire... BY FAR! I LOVE the community there, and the listing process is hands down the easiest I have found

- What makes your shop unique?

NINJAS! lol... seriously though... I like to think I’m what makes it unique... I try to give the best service and product to each of my customers, and I always try to make each buyers experience unique in and of itself...

- What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

Do what you love! Don’t worry who else is doing what, or what they are selling or not selling... just pour your heart into your art and the rest will fall into place!

- Where else can we find you on the web?

Facebook, MySpace, just about anywhere... I am an internet kinda gal! ;0)

April's Spotted Box

2009-04-19T12:14:00.005-04:00

This has been the second box that I have been a part of. This month’s box was great. Only my second box but I’m so happy with it. So many great samples I can’t wait to use them this time. Here’s what came in my box this time around.

2 by 2 Boutique - $5 gift certificate
Clear Hills Honey Company – Lip Balm samples (one of my favs)
Coffeybean Boutique – Clean Beans (can’t wait to try these out)
Country Soaps by Marlene – Rosemary Gardeners Soap (can’t wait to shower with it)
Creative Thought – Quotes (I'll have to find a cute way to use these, maybe as an extra in my jewelry orders)
Crochet Frog – fun hair band (I’ll have to try this one out soon)
Custom Candy Creations & Memories by Olenka – Cute little basket with some candy in it (and man are these little wintergreen candies good!)
Elizabear Crayon Designs – Little green duck crayon (can’t wait to give it to my nephew)
Fluffinfixings – Upcycled Baggie (I’ll have to use this in my jewelry packaging)
Glittersniffer – Mineral Makeup sample, eye shadow (can’t wait to use it)
Goose Hill Designs – Gingerbread Man Crayon (another to go to my nephew)
Glory by Herbals – Lavender Sachet (gonna put this in my pj drawer)
Kinder Klothes – wipe (no kids yet but it will still get used!)
Lil’ Bit Sassy – Mini Envelope (these I love, might need to buy more!)
The Melting Pot Candle Co. – Cotton Candy tart (now I need a tart burner!)
Monkey Tree Creations – Sleepy Sleepy Tea (I love tea, so excited about this one)
My Whimsie – Cotton Face Scrubbie (love it, perfect size too)
Naturally Adorable – Bamboo cloth (way cool)
Pony Pretties –Pony (meant for kids but I like it so I’ll probably use it myself)
Seventeen Stone - $10 gift certificate and a lollypop
ShopBub – Pretty gift tags (The next thing that I wrap is getting these on it)
Social Butterflies – Hair Clip (this one will have to go to my friend’s little girl)
Stitch ‘N Love – Hair clippies (also will go to Skylar)
Sudzy Baby – Goats Milk Lotion & Healing Hemp Balm (love this one)
Tiffany’s Trinkets – Cell Phone charm (I’ll probably use this as a zipper pull)

Looking for more artists to Feature

2009-04-15T11:24:00.002-04:00

Hey there all of my followers (old and new).

I'm running out of interviews to put up on my blog. Anyone interested in being featured on my blog here please contact me through blogger or through artfire. Just go to my artfire page at http://JewelrybyDesiree.artfire.com and hit the contact button and let me know that you would like to be featured!

Featured Artist - Twilights Fancy

2009-04-06T08:27:00.003-04:00

- What’s your name and where are you from?

I'm just north of Hollywood and I go by a few different names. Lisa when I'm on camera as an extra in movies and television, Rina Slayter when I'm making purses or sewing costumes, Ashleigh Raine when I'm writing romance novels and Twyla when I'm making Twilight's Fancy necklaces. I also happily answer to "Hey you!"

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

My shop's name is Twilight's Fancy. It has a couple different meanings. In college when I was a theatrical lighting designer, I earned the nickname Twilight through my use of color. My work is creating what I fancy. Thus, Twilight's Fancy. However, there's an equally important genesis. In the romance novels I write with my best friend (as Ashleigh Raine), there's a character named Twyla, a corruption of twilight, and she makes necklaces that are fancy. Again, Twilight's Fancy.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

My shop at Artfire is http://TwilightsFancy.artfire.com . That's where I post my necklaces. I also have a shop at Etsy http://rinaslayter.etsy.com where I post my purses and various other bits I make or would like to pass on to a good home. I didn't think I'd really dive in as much as I have, so I never imagined I'd end up with two shops, but that's how it went. And so it shall go forward! I list something new every day. It's a challenge, but one I happily accept.

- How long have you been crafting?

Do pipe cleaner candy canes count? If so, since I was about three or four! In other words, I've been around various crafts all my life. My mom used to sew and arrange flowers and my grandma was a seamstress and knitted a lot. I don't do the same things they did, but by being around them watching, I learned that if I wanted something bad enough, I should just make it. Following that logic, in junior high, I got very heavily into jewelry making and recycling old broken necklaces. Since then, not much has changed!

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

I'm a strange bird. No, really. My friends say I'm weird, but they love me that way. I've been in more than one hundred movies and television shows. I write romance novels with my best friend. I never learned how to ride a bicycle, but I drive and work on my classic cars. I'm a paranormal investigator for the TAPS West Coast Home Team. While I don't get to investigate with Jason and Grant from Ghost Hunters, I'm on their team and they're really awesome guys. In high school, I was a band geek (flute, piccolo, xylophone, saxophone). In college, I was a stagehand (props, carpentry, lighting, sound). On Fridays, I usually don one of my wacky, tacky, ugly vintage outfits and boldly wear it while running errands. Yes, it takes a lot of nerve to wear a plaid burlap pantsuit like it's just another outfit!

-What do you sell in your shop?

For the most part, I sell my handmade glass beaded Twilight's Fancy necklaces in my shop. I also sell handmade purses and ribbon choker necklaces with beads.

- Tell us about your crafting space.

I love my craft room. I really do. When I first met my husband, he'd just bought the house. The previous owner's wife used to sew, so the room already had a cutting table and a long counter for sewing machines. (Don't tell hubby, but that sewing room was one of the reasons I married him!) We've added shelves over the years in order to hold all of my supplies: beads, fabric, tools, antique doll parts (doll restoration is one of my many hobbies.)

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

I'm just getting started in organizations. I've joined a few on ArtFire, but not yet on Etsy. Give me some time. I'll definitely get involved one way or another!-Where do you find inspiration?I dunno where I find inspiration. It kinda finds me. Usually, it has something to do with color. I'll be organizing my beads and a certain color will just stand out and I'll have to make a necklace out of it. Also, since one of the characters I write in the Talisman Bay series makes necklaces, too, I like to pretend I'm her and live in her world as she works. Twyla's a firecracker and I can only dream of having her guts!

-Tell me a bit about your creative process

First I either choose a color or the color chooses me. Then, I may or may not choose a second color. From there, I look through my bead inventory and pull out all the beads that seem appropriate. I begin laying them out and see what happens. Usually, I'll have a full necklace designed in about a half hour. From there, I have to build it. That can take anywhere from a half hour to three hours depending on how the necklace is constructed and how cooperative my beads are that day.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?

In high school, I tried to take a jewelry making class, but on the second day, I brought in a few of my pieces and the teacher told me there wasn't anything to learn from his class. He is an awesome teacher and even told me to transfer out that day, but keep working, keep creating, keep building. I most definitely did. Part of me wishes I'd taken the class, the other part of me is glad I didn't because I went off to experiment on my own to find out what works for me.

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

Sure, I love my purses and ribbon choker necklaces, but my Twilight's Fancy necklaces are truly my heart. They've been with me the longest and I'm at my happiest when I'm designing and building them. My favorite item right now is my most difficult to make, but good golly it looks awesome. It's a necklace I've titled "Good Omen". It's much harder to do than my signature Twilight's Fancy necklaces. I never make the same necklace twice and while I'll continue this design, I don't make them very often. In fact, I've only made two from this design. The first one was a prototype for myself and then I made Good Omen. It has dangles as well as a second strand, but since I don't string the beads, it's difficult to balance the correct lengths using beads on eye pins. Each link is done by hand and it takes a long time and requires a lot more precision than a regular Twilight's Fancy necklace.

-Why is it your favorite?

It's my favorite because it's awesome! http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=98136

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

My favorite part of making necklaces is seeing people's eyes light up when they smile at my work. Making Twilight's Fancy necklaces brings me joy. Seeing my necklaces bring joy to others is why I make them in the first place.

- What is your least favorite part?

My least favorite part is the big dent I get in the end of my left thumbnail from securing beads on the eye pins. It's the best tool I take with me everywhere, but it's not exactly the prettiest.

-How did you get started with your craft?

I got started making jewelry because I had no money, but I had a bunch of old broken necklaces. I made the best of what was around me and still do. In college, I was a seat filler for some rather large televised awards shows (I even tripped and face-planted in a celebrity's lap once! I was so embarrassed.). Anyhow, I didn't have the money for a gown and jewels, so I made my outfits from $1/yard fabric and recycled old broken necklaces. Also, a friend of mine bet me that I couldn't make something out of the frayed and broken clutch cable from his car. Yes, the prototype Twilight's Fancy necklace was made with a broken car part even though no one would ever guess. That necklace inspired the one I made while I was a seat filler. That necklace inspired me to write Twyla as a necklace designer in the Talisman Bay series by Ashleigh Raine. All that just because I didn't have the money for what I wanted, so I just made it myself.

-If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why?

I'm not real sure why I like ArtFire more than Etsy, but I do. I think it might have something to do with how user-friendly it is, but I find myself surfing ArtFire more often than Etsy even though there's more traffic at Etsy. I figure that if ArtFire keeps going the way it is, it'll catch up to Etsy traffic-wise. We just gotta get the word out. It's still sort of a secret, but I think it's catching on. More people are hearing about it.

-What makes your shop unique?

My shop is unique in that my necklaces are the real thing from the Talisman Bay series novels. I list a new one every day and I never make the same necklace twice. Sure, they follow a similar design, but that's what makes a Twilight's Fancy necklace, a Twilight's Fancy necklace. All of my purses and ribbon choker necklaces are unique as well. I never make the same thing twice.

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

Don't give up. Laugh a lot...even when the cards are stacked against you. If you stay true to what you love, what you love will stay true to you.

-Where else can we find you on the web?

My website is http://rinaslayter.com where you can find out all sorts of crazy stuff about me. I'm into a lot of different things and I try to blog about them all.

I'm also at http://myspace.com/rinaslayter

and at http://profile.to/rinaslayter on facebook.

My twitterfeed is at http://twitter.com/rinaslayter

and my shops are http://rinaslayter.etsy.com/

and http://twilightsfancy.artfire.com/

Featured Artist - Bijoux Designs For You

2009-03-30T08:14:00.005-04:00

-What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is April and together with my mother Glenda we are Bijoux Designs For You. We hail from just outside of Toronto, Ontario Canada.

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

Our shop name is Bijoux Designs For You. We wanted something a little fancy but a little everyday! Bijoux is French for jewelry so we thought it gave our shop a bit of exoticism while staying true to our desire to reach the everyday woman.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

We sell on both Etsy and Artfire. We sold on Etsy first after specifically looking for an online venue for handmade items and we thought it was a good start for our first virtual shop. It wasn’t until this past November that we joined Artfire after looking into several other markets. We decided on Artfire because of the flat monthly fee and really enjoy the community there.

- How long have you been crafting?

I have been crafting my entire life. The “fever” was instilled in me by my mother who is multi-talented. For as long as I can remember she has sewn and done folkart and that is where my own crafting journey began. About 4 years ago I took her to a jewelry making class for her birthday and we were both instantly hooked!

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

I am the mommy to a beautiful almost 7 month old baby boy! In my pre-mommy life I used to be involved in the local theatrical community. I have had my Oscar speech ready since I was a little girl! I have an English degree and met my wonderful hubby while working at a newspaper as proofreader (office romance!)

-What do you sell in your shop?

We sell affordable and fun jewelry and gift items for women who still want to be stylish but are on a budget.

- Tell us about your crafting space.

My craft space is a disaster! I try to keep it organized but it just never seems to work out that way. Some how I know where everything is though. My mother on the other hand, has a whole room for her studio. She has everything labeled and hanging on pegboards and in containers…I’m so jealous!

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

On Artfire we belong to the Artfire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Guild, The Canadian Guild and the Crafty Moms Guild. We currently don’t belong to any Etsy teams but there are a few that we have looked into.

-Where do you find inspiration?

Sometimes inspiration comes from making a piece for myself to match an outfit, sometimes it’s a great bead or charm, sometimes you just wake up at 3am with an ah-hah moment!

-Tell me a bit about your creative process.

My mom likes to lay everything out first and then put a piece together. I am more of a build as I go type.- Where have you learned to do what you do? My mother taught me to sew and paint. As mentioned above we took a class a few years ago and have just learned from there.

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

The pink and white MOM bookmark

-Why is it your favorite?

I love to read and remember going to book fairs as a kid and searching for the perfect bookmark. Being a new mommy I am also addicted to anything that announces it to the world (as if I don’t do that enough). Plus its pink!
You can find it in our Artfire studio http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=38540
and our Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19548452

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

Seeing an idea go from concept to completion and then having a customer get as excited about a piece as I am!

- What is your least favorite part?

Sometimes I feel like I spend SOOOOO much time promoting and not enough time creating.

-If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why?

I enjoy certain aspects of both selling venues. I think that you have to find what works best for your own shop but a supportive community is definitely a necessity for us.

-What makes your shop unique?

Our bookmarks and microwave mitts are extremely popular and we have scoured many suppliers to find great charms and materials at a good cost so that we can bring them to you at a very reasonable price. It’s nice even on the tightest budget to be able to treat yourself to something special.

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

Be prepared for A LOT of work, not just the work of creating. Learning to take good pictures, write good descriptions and the sheer amount of promotion involved can be overwhelming. I think that many people are under the illusion that if they just make and list items the business will start pouring in. While that may be true for some, for most it is a long journey (one that we are having a blast with!)

-Where else can we find you on the web?

You can also find us at http://www.bijouxdesignsforyou.etsy.com/,
you can tweet with us at http://twitter.com/bijouxdesigns
and find our blog at http://bijouxdesignsforyou.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist - Rue Kream of Peaches & Kream

2009-03-23T10:03:00.003-04:00

- What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Rue Kream, and I live in Massachusetts.

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

My shop name is Peaches & Kream. When we moved to our current house nine years ago we were excited to find we had inherited an old peach tree. It yielded a huge amount of fruit, so I gave myself a crash course in canning. My sister made ‘Peaches & Kream’ labels for my canning jars, playing off my last name. So for me my shop name is all wrapped up in the taste of sunshine and the connection of family.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

I sell on etsy. I’ve shopped on etsy for a long time, so I was familiar with the site and felt comfortable setting up shop there. http://ruetabega.etsy.com

- How long have you been crafting?

About ten years. Up until then I had believed I wasn’t a creative person. I was happy to find out I was wrong.

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

My kids don’t go to school, and I’ve written and published a book about unschooling (http://www.freechild.info/).

-What do you sell in your shop?

I make sterling jewelry, often incorporating everyday and vintage components, and I also make needle-felted items.

- Tell us about your crafting space.

We’re in the middle of creating a family studio. I love designing functional and beautiful spaces, so I’m really enjoying myself. It’s going to have a big built in shelving unit – about 11 feet wide – and enough work space that the four of us can each have a spot to ourselves while still being together.

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

Not yet.

-Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere. I love color and balance and texture and strive to really look at the world around me.

-Tell me a bit about your creative process

I have a million ideas banging into each other in my head all the time. Most often I write them down, which helps quiet things down in there. About half the time I sit down to create I have a specific idea I want to work on. The other half of the time I just get out a bunch of supplies and pick them up and move them around and let my hands lead instead of my head.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?

I learned to make jewelry by reading on the Internet. There’s so much information available. One site I found helpful in the beginning was wigjig.com. I learned needle-felting by just playing with the wool.

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

I’d say my Earth and Sky necklace

-Why is it your favorite?

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21365467
Because it’s the one I’d be most likely to wear myself.

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

Flow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology

- What is your least favorite part?

Poking myself with a barbed needle.

-How did you get started with your craft?

I first became interested in making jewelry when my older daughter got a wire jewelry kit as a present. She asked me to help her figure it out and I was hooked. I became interested in needle-felting when I saw some tapestries on the blog of another unschooling mom. (That artist was Julie Persons, who has a beautiful etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=44218 )

- What makes your shop unique?

Well, we all see the world slightly differently, and hopefully that comes through in my work.

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

I’m new to selling online myself, so I don’t feel qualified to give advice on the selling aspect yet. On the creative aspect, I’d say try new things. Don’t pigeon-hole yourself as ‘a painter’ or ‘a jewelry designer’. You can be lots of things at the same time.

-Where else can we find you on the web?

http://another-roadside-attraction.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist - The Empty Nest

2009-03-16T08:54:00.004-04:00

- What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Janet Metzger and I am from New York, but live in Warrenton,Va.

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

My shop name is The Empty Nest so named because my two handsome sons are on their own (I miss them, they make me laugh)

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

For now I sell on Etsy at theemptynest.etsy.com, I found it by accident

- How long have you been crafting?

I have been creating treasures all my life and got serious back in the 80's

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

I am the first girl in a family of eleven. Was born in Tarrytown,NY on Sleepy Hollow Lane ...yup THAT Sleepy Hollow

-What do you sell in your shop?

I sell a very eclectic mix of handsewn, handpainted and handknitted creations

- Tell us about your crafting space.

I work from a home studio that my wonderful husband set up for me. I have a table for painting and sewing, lots of shelves for all my beautiful fabrics. I have a television, DVD player for movies and my indispensable Ipod dock. My husband teases that if I had a litter box and a refrigerator, I would never have to come out.

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

Not yet a member of any org. pretty much stay in space and create

-Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration is my life around me...where I live, my friends, the birds at my many feeders, music...everything

-Tell me a bit about your creative process

Usually a piece of fabric or felted sweater will tell me what it wants done to it by it's feel or texture and color. When I paint it's the pictures in my mind dictate what comes from my brush.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?

Mom taught me to crochet, Google to knit, Nancy Tribolet to paint and myself to needle felt

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

My favorite item is my Hostess apron featured in Apronology magazine http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20921801

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

The doing part and seeing the results

- What is your least favorite part?

Love it all...well maybe the cleanup

-How did you get started with your craft?

It has been so long I no longer remember

-What makes your shop unique?

Unique for my one of a kind offerings and beautiful fabrics and textures

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

My advice is stop thinking about and go for it!

-Where else can we find you on the web?

My blog is http://theemptynest-janet.blogspot.com/
Featured on http://chattyhomemaker.blogspot.com/

Was featured on www.bloomacious.com

Featured Artist - Shiny Things by Orin Drake

2009-03-09T11:14:00.004-04:00

- What’s your name and where are you from?

My name's Orin Drake, and I'm originally from Arizona. I've been living in Massachusetts for 10 years now, yet I still don't feel "like a local". Must be the snow.

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?

My shop's name is "Shiny Things by Orin Drake", and that... pretty much encompasses everything that I do. Whether it's jewelry, sculpture, painting, or working with fabric, I do rather like to make everything shiny.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?

Currently I'm selling on both Etsy and ArtFire. I started off on Etsy because it was my first real introduction to artists actually selling for themselves online, and I liked the set-up. I gave ArtFire a try because I was looking for the "second generation"; a.k.a. the newer site that had learned from the older site's mistakes, which tend to work out really well. I'm keeping both for the moment just because I've become known for my Etsy site, but... eventually I just may have to move over to ArtFire completely.

- How long have you been crafting?

For as long as I can remember. My mother taught me really simple crochet when I was young, and it just seemed to have sparked something. School was a good excuse to make all kinds of weird fun things, too, so my craftiness was encouraged. After a while it just became the best way to be creative and de-stress, and here I am trying to make a living on it.

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.

I am a packrat. I just am. If something looks interesting and is given to me or I can afford it at the time, I will take it and I will keep it, for years, until I find some use for it. This has only served me well. Also, I'm easily able to ignore the complaints of other people for being a packrat.

-What do you sell in your shop?

Right now I'm selling jewelry, mostly. All different kinds of necklaces, a few earrings, bracelets, and my "infamous" dragon bracelets of which I always wind up more proud of than I should. Probably. I've also got some "geeky" items that prove I love video games, some sculpture, and am planning to add more plush items/soft sculpture in the near future.

- Tell us about your crafting space.

My crafting space has somehow spread from one desk to the whole of the boiler room. It's really a lot more comfortable than it sounds, especially now that I'm giving in and totally rearranging it for my needs. There's an old dresser to use for storage space, an old glass-front stereo cabinet in order to display the more fragile things, and some Sterilite things on wheels! I have no idea why those amuse me, but they do. Oh yes, and there's also a desk that I'm working on seeing again, since everything is currently piled on top of it during the rearrange.

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?

Right now I believe to the Whimsical and Magical Artisans Guild, which looked completely appealing since whimsy really describes the "creative process" to me. I'm also trying to start The Geekery Guild, but apparently few people on ArtFire are willing to admit they're geeks yet. The day will come, I assure you.

-Where do you find inspiration?

Anything and everything. It's a cliche answer, but it's true. I'll just see something--a form, a color, etc.--and it sticks with me and winds up in something. Music is a big inspiration, too.

-Tell me a bit about your creative process

I really don't know what there is to tell. A get hold of materials, find something to do with them, and see it through from start to finish. Some of them tell me stories, some just are as they are. Rarely do I have a clear image of what I want to accomplish first. I just like to let something be itself, weird as that may seem.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?

Mostly? The Internet. Invaluable resource. Then I just built upon basic skills, and hope to continue to do so.

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

I have to admit, I still feel a bit of pride every time I walk by Andrew: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=90093

-Why is it your favorite?

He's such an accomplishment for me. From making the pattern all myself to sewing the wings by hand (not to mention putting him all together by hand), he just represents so much love and work and devotion to all things dragon and shiny. And I made him a necklace, an "old skill" meeting a new one.

- What is your favorite part of your craft?

The result. *grin* Something to look at and honestly wonder, "I did that?!"

- What is your least favorite part?

Often times, clean-up. Of course it's a necessary part of the process, but that doesn't mean that I can't hate it quietly.

-How did you get started with your craft?

Jewelry sort of came naturally over time because, well, I love shiny objects. So making shiny objects just seemed logical. Crochet came from childhood and the desire to make something awesome out of very simple materials. Plushes/"stuffed animals" are sort of a natural evolution too, since I like dealing with characters.

-If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why?

I am moving a little bit toward ArtFire, I must admit. Sure it's shiny and new, but there are just little features that I appreciate. Being updated when an item gets shipped, for instance, and having separate places for the item descriptions and story behind them. Granted at the time of this writing I haven't gotten a sale through ArtFire yet, but there's plenty of time.

-What makes your shop unique?

The obvious love and celebration of shiny, of course! Well, maybe not so much that--it's a love and celebration of all things shiny and fun with a story to tell and a rather casual attitude toward... everything. Except the shiny. The shiny is serious business.

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?

Don't get discouraged! You're going to hear that a lot, but that's because it's true. Some people just plain aren't going to like your stuff, that's just how it goes--but somewhere out there, someone will LOVE it. It's all a matter of time and trying again and again. So long as you enjoy what you're doing, focus on that and the rest will come.

-Where else can we find you on the web?

I'm a little bit of everywhere! But my base is my web site: http://www.reignofangels.com From there you'll find my omnipresence on the web, from shiny things to writing to music to sheer weird insanity. But in a fun way, of course.

Featured Artist - Linda B

2009-03-02T13:03:00.005-05:00

- What's your name and where are you from?
I'm Linda B. from the Chicagoland suburbs.

-What is your shop name and what does it mean to you?
My shop name is http://www.lindab142.artfire.com/
When I signed up for Etsy (same name), I didn't know that would be the name of the shop, but the 1+4+2 = 7, the days of the week that G-d created. So, the number acknowledges G-d and Creation.

- What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones?
I sell my handbeaded jewelry creations at http://lindab142.etsy.com/ , http://lindab142.artfire.com/ http://linorstore.com/ (my Website).And you can find me also at http://onlineshoppingmall.ning.com/profile/Linda and http://yourhandmade.ning.com/profile/LindaBlatchford63

- How long have you been crafting?
I've been crafting for about 15 years, but focusing on jewelry and stamping for the past 4.

-Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share.
I have a tremor in my hands and head that makes me shake. It's sometimes challenging to finish off a piece off jewelry. But, I love a good challenge.

-What do you sell in your shop?
In my shops, I sell one-of-a-kind handbeaded gemstone and glass jewelry. I've been using sterling silver earwires lately, either fishhooks, which I love, and leverback, which my friend really likes. I have a ton of stamping supplies too, but there's not enough time in the day.

- Tell us about your crafting space.
My crafting spaces are all over our house, I create jewelry in the dining room, paper items and do photography at my drafting table in the bedroom, candle supplies are in the garage and my computer is in the office bedroom.

-Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations?
I'm in the Jewelry Guild, Self Representing Artist Jewelry Designer, the EtsyBead Team, the EtsyTwitter Team, the EtsyChai team, and I've just been accepted into the Etsy Bloggers Team.

-What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
Right now, my favorite item is my Luck of the Irish Malachite sterling silver earrings http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21196390.

-Why is it your favorite?
I love malachite and green represents healing and the heart chakra. My husband gave me a piece of malachite years ago, and it's a feel good stone.

-Where do you find inspiration?
I'm inspired by gemstone and glass bead colors, different shapes and healing characteristics.

-How did you get started with your craft?
Years ago, I went to a women's group study and we listened to a rabbi talk about Esther and women in the Bible, and made bracelets. Since then, I've been addicted.

- Where have you learned to do what you do?
I'm self-taught and I subscribe to BeadStyle Magazine to create variations of some items that impress me. I enjoy doing custom work, based on the color of a piece of clothing or having the client show me an piece of jewelry to making a matching bracelet or pair of earrings.

- What is your favorite part of your craft?
The favorite part of my craft is creating and having people buy my creations and wear my originals.

- What is your least favorite part?
It's tough to take pictures, and promote because it takes a lot of time. I work full time, you see, and I'd rather be creating!

-What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out?
Advice: take excellent pictures of your items, no matter how many times you have to re-shoot them. I'm still learning and got a tripod from my cousin, who's an excellent photographer. Post in the forums and get to know people. Join teams, participate and be kind to other sellers. Chat Rooms are fun, but one can spend too much time in them, so use them wisely.

-What makes your shop unique?
There are so many jewelry designers online, what makes my shop unique is that my creations are from my heart and soul and G-d given talent. I combine gemstones and glass to make my items more affordable. I love working with gemstone or glass pendants and creating around them.

-Where else can we find you on the web?
My blog is http://linorstorecom.blogspot.com/
Twitter me at http://twitter.com/lindab142
Web http://www.linorstore.com/
http://onlineshoppingmall.ning.com/profile/Linda http://www.myhandmaderegistry.com/profile/LindaBlatchford
http://lindab142.byhand.me/ (new)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24930325@N03/
http://www.myspace.com/lindab142

Have you heard about ByHane.me?

2009-02-24T22:01:00.002-05:00

There is this new site to promote handmade artists called ByHand.me. It is a wonderful community. I found about it through my website on Artfire. You have a blog, clubhouses, spotlights (like etsy treasuries) and forums.

I didn't realize that I was getting much exposure on the site until a Google Alert for my full name popped up for a tutorial that I wrote that I posted. Here's the link to the site that borrowed me http://www.blogher.com/crafting-life-dna-beading-tutorial I'm not sure how Debra Roby found me on ByHand but I am glad that she did.

If you aren't already on ByHand.me come check us out!

Featured Artisan - Sonja of SIlver River Jewelry

2009-02-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Each week I'll be featuring another artisan as part of a new weekly post.

Here's my interview with Sonja of Silver River Jewelry

What’s your name and where are you from? My name is Sonja and I am from Ohio

What is your shop name and what does it mean to you? My business name is Silver River Jewelry. This name has my dreams of living by water wrapped up in it lol and also, since I use a LOT of metal, a river of silver seemed appropriate.

What websites do you sell on how did you decide on which ones? I have narrowed my websites down to Artfire, 1000Markets, Etsy and my own .com

How long have you been crafting? My entire life, as a child I had such a love affair with crayons and I learned to crochet in 2nd grade.

Tell me any interesting things about you that you would like to share. Hmmm that's a tough one lol. I love to garden and read but don't have time to do much of either, I love being around the water and outdoors.

What do you sell in your shop? Jewelry of course.

Tell us about your crafting space. I have two crafting spaces. My husband bought me a huge 6 foot desk that is in the living room (he says its so he can actually see me on a regular basis lol) which is where I do all of the beading and wire wrapping. I also take up the entire basement wall with my metal smithing and lapidary equipment..

Do you belong to any guilds, teams or other indie craft organizations? Yes several here on artfire and also on etsy.

Where do you find inspiration? anywhere and everywhere. Nature and a lot of times I can just sit down and look at all the beads and usually something will inspire me.

Tell me a bit about your creative process. It all starts in my head. I have soo many ideas running around up there lol! I have been known to sketch stuff out on napkins in a restaurant when an idea hits.

Where have you learned to do what you do? mostly self taught except for 1 metal smithing class and the lapidary clubs instruction on cabbing.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now? My new series of rustic wildflower pendants.

Why is it your favorite? (Please provide a link) I love what the flame does to the copper and its a very earth series that ties in to my love of nature. http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=100410

What is your favorite part of your craft? I love all of it really but turning the torch on and looking at the raw materials with the endless possibilities, that moment is probably my favorite.

What is your least favorite part? Polishing the finished pieces.

How did you get started with your craft? I bought my daughter a beading kit 3 years ago for her birthday. She decided she really didn't like doing it and I picked it up one night out of shear boredom. I made four pairs of earrings and a necklace that night and that was pretty much it for me lol!

If you sell on more than one site which is your favorite and why? I have two favorites really Artfire and 1000Markets. I really think these two sites are going to be the ones that are hugely successful in the future. I love Artfire for many reasons, the top two being the people I have met and the accessibility and openness of the admin. And its super easy to list and sell. 1000Markets is very different but a lot of the same things apply.

What makes your shop unique? Excellent quality, a wide range of techniques and price points and great customer service.

What advice do you have for other independent crafters just starting out? Learn your camera inside and out if you are going to sell on the web and take really good pictures. Be patient, it WILL most likely take months or even years to become truly successful, and be prepared to work very hard at many other things besides your crafting if you want to make it work.

Where else can we find you on the web? SilverRiverJewelry.Com, also flickr, facebook, and myspace.

Looking to Feature Artisans

2009-02-21T18:31:00.000-05:00

I have been toying with the idea of having a weekly artisan feature on my blog. I'm in the process of making up the questions. So I'm putting it out there. Who wants to be featured? It doesn't matter where you sell. Send me a message through here or Artfire and I will send you the questions. I'm JewerlybyDesiree on artfire.
Thanks,
Desiree

I won the Artfire Treasure Hunt!

2009-02-18T21:49:00.002-05:00

So, most if not all of my fellow Artfire sellers know about the treasure hunt that Moonstone put together. For those who don't there the gist of it was that there was a list of 35 questions that needed to be answered. The answers could be found by browsing through the participating artisan studios, there were 18 participating studios. You filled out the form and submitted it. The winner got $50 to spend in any of the participating studios. It was free to participate.

I happened to get the highest score, I got a 34. Technically I didn't get a question wrong, I got partial credit on 2 questions. There were 14 participants, including myself. The scores ranged from a 28 to 33 not including my 34.

I really had a great time trying to find the answers for all of the questions. There were only 2 questions that I had a tough time with. I'm thinking about being a participating studio next time.

Here's the items that I bought from 3 extremely talented artisans.
From Pirate Pixie http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=17218
From Catinalife http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=48453
From Roseange http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=52956

Artfire has been a really wonderful community to belong to. It doesn't matter if you are verified or not, we are all on an even playing field. The Admin are great and are always in the forums and around to answer all of our questions. They also practically live on twitter. I'm not quite sure if some of them sleep. I do know that the pres, John does have dinner with the wife and kids as often as he can. Good for you John!

How to Make a Multi-Strand Seed bead Necklace with only one length of Thread

2009-02-17T15:05:00.001-05:00

I always seem to struggle with bead tips. Whenever I try it never seems to work out. Wire can be used but I really like the flexibility of thread or Fireline. There are numerous tutorials out there but none of them really clicked with me so I decided to try something different and see if it worked and it did.

First a little background on this one. I have my cousin’s wedding coming up in early March. Technically I’m the matron of honor but since they are having a civil ceremony I’m a witness. And that lead me to need to buy a new dress. I found the fabulous long dress that’s kind of black on one side and kind of red on the other and the colors merge in the center of the dress. Well now I need some jewelry to go with it. The idea for this set that I made came to me when I was in a team meeting at work.

Here’s what you need
- beading needle of your choice
- Scissors
- 6 tubes of seed beads (I used 6/0 but you could use whatever size you want), pick whatever colors you want. I used foil lined red, a silvery metallic, matte red, matte black and metallic silver
- 2 bead cones, whatever style you choose, mine are plain silver
- 2 – 10mm round beads (you could use a different size or even bicones or round ovals)
- 2 – eye pins (mine are about 2.5”)
- Clasp of your choosing
- 2 jump rings
- Fireline (or beading thread of your choice) I used 6lb test crystal

Start with about 3 ½ yards of fireline. Thread your needle then, leaving about a 6-8” tail tie a surgeon’s knot around the loop on the eye pin.

Thread the 10mm round bead snugging it up against the eye pin.

Thread on the seed beads. You can mix the colors or have separate colors in each strand.

Once you have gotten about to the length that you want your necklace to be (you will be adding anywhere from 1” to 2” with the cones and clasp so keep that in mind) thread on the other 10mm round bead tight to the strand of seed beads. Tie it off with another surgeon’s knot through the eye in the other pin making sure that there’s no slack between the strand of beads, 10mm bead or the eye pin. The cones hide the yucky part of the eye pin with all of your threads and knots so you can be a bit messy.

Run your needle back through the round bead and all the way through it.

String on another length of seed beads at about the same length as before and back up through the other round bead. Tie another surgeons knot making sure that there’s no slack in your strand.

Repeat this until you have as many strands as you want.

To finish the thread tie off another surgeon’s knot on each end and trim your thread. You can also add a dab of glue to each end where all of the knots meet.

To add the clasp string one of the bead cones over the eye pin tight to the round bead.

You can add a small bead to this end or leave it plain like I did. Finish off the pin with a wrapped loop. Repeat for the other end of the piece.

Attach a jump ring on each of the wrapped loops you made and add your clasp and voila! You have your multi strand necklace!

Here’s some pictures of my finished necklace and bracelet for my cousin’s wedding.

You can also see this article on Artdaily on Artfire here: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Art_Daily2&op=viewarticle&adaid=360

I won a Lemonade Award

2009-02-16T16:51:00.003-05:00

My wonderful friend LibertyDoll nominated me for a Lemonade Award. I hope LibertyDoll doesn't mind I stole her version of the rules from her blog.... the rules are quite simple.

1.Put the logo on your blog or post

2.Nominate at least 5 - 10 blogs that show great Gratitude and/or Attitude.

3.Be sure to list and link your nominees within your post.

4.Let them know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blog.

5.Nominate your favorites and link to your post.

This wonderful honor is now given to the following bloggers: GemsbyJeri, JStoneCreations, PicardCreative, DJStoreRoom, and DesignsbyLaurie . All these talented ladies have inspired me in one way or another. I enjoy following their blogs and seeing what they are up to.

One of my fellow Artfire Artisans is having a giveaway

2009-02-09T09:38:00.002-05:00

There's this really great chainmaille artisan on Artfire that is having a giveaway for her 3-year etsy anniversary. Red Panda has amazing things in her shop.

You have many ways to enter.
1. One Entry. Comment on this blog post with a link to your favorite item from my etsy shop.2. One Entry. Write a blog post about this contest and comment with a perma link.3. One Entry. Tweet about this contest. Link to the exact tweet in the comment, not just your twitter account. You can do this one once per day!4. Three Entries. Each item you purchase from any of my shops will get you three entries into the contest. Make sure you comment with a link to the item you bought so you get your entries!

Here's the link to the contest. http://www.redpandajewelry.com/blogs/the-maille-blog/773432-3-year-etsyversary-giveaway?comment=88762

I had my first sale in my Shop Handmade Store!

2009-02-05T12:15:00.005-05:00

So, everyone remember the Bead Unique ad screw up? Well the editor that is my contact over there is doing everything that she can to make it up to me.

Currently I'm on the front page with my store being the 1 that they feature from time to time.

See it here http://www.shophandmade.com/

Well, I haven't really been all that pleased with my shop over there because I really do like artfire better but I'm keeping the store open for the exposure. I get this email a bit ago Notification of Payment Received. I look at my sold products on on AF site, not there.... Ok, so I check my SH site. Well look at that, I've sold 2 pairs of earrings. Woo Hoo! I go to paypal to double check to make sure that the payment is actually there, it is, good.

Maybe this BU mag screw up will be a good thing for me in the end.

Here's some pics of the earrings that I sold.

Got some bad news today...

2009-02-03T19:40:00.003-05:00

So, some of you know that I am trying to pass my architecture tests to become licensed. I took what I was hoping were my last two in mid January. Well, I got my results back. Out of my 2 re-takes I passed one of the two. Not thinking it's all that bad are you? Well it is and here's why. If you fail a section of the ARE then you have to wait 6 months before re-taking that section. As if that wasn't bad enough they are transitioning the format of the exam so it's currently 9 sections and they are making it 7 sections. And the test that I just passed is combined with the one that I didn't so I get to re-do the whole damn thing again in July. This really does not sit well with me. That and the fact that I'm quite upset about the whole thing.

Today has not been a good day.

Today was a good day.

2009-01-29T17:16:00.003-05:00

Today was a good day. I made my first real sale on Artfire today.
Tecnhically I have had one already but that buyer never paid so that one doesn't count.

I'm also off done with work for the week. That's great that I have a day off but the downside is that I'm having oral surgery tomorrow so I took a sick day.

I am looking forward to the time that I will have to work on the custom order for my friend Jen. I'm hoping to also finish a few other projects that I've had lying around as well.

Love this new necklace and pair of earrings that I just listed.

2009-01-26T10:35:00.006-05:00

So,

Last week when I went out to buy the Bead Unique mag (we all know that story) I found these stunning purple jasper beads. I got these really supurb antique copper and regular bright shiny copper findings as well. Looking at the beads I saw that they had this almost rust colored streak runnign through them. I wanted to pair them with copper so I used both the bright copper and also the antique copper.

Here's the result.

Bead Unique Ad

2009-01-21T10:43:00.007-05:00

So, I run out to the bead shop after work to buy the current issue of Bead Unique.

One of my necklaces is in a Shop Handmade ad. The owner of the shop is like where are you in the mag. So I flip through and get to the ad. There are 8 total pieces from different people. One is mine.

GUESS WHAT THEY LEAVE OFF THE LISTING FOR MY NECKLACE????????

MY FULL STORE NAME!!!!!!!!!

Sorry about the yelling but saying that the store is Jewelry by DOES NOTHING FOR PROMOTING MY JEWELRY!

I've emailed the person who contacted me about the ad in the first place voicing my displeasure.

I emailed the editor about it and here is her response:

Apologies. Profuse ones. The ad got made at the last moment, and was delivered on a weekend when we were all off work...But that's no excuse. Mistake is a mistake. I'm going to make up for this as best I can. I'll definitely get the graphic designer to correct it in the next ad that comes out. And I'll feature your products in other promotions...

Please don't be too disappointed. There will be lots more stuff.

I really feel bad, thinking how awful you must have felt when you opened the magazine and saw the glitch. I do apologize again...

Here's the page. I'm on the bottom left.

Here's the link to my flickr as well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jewelrybydesiree/3215763830/

Bead Unique Update

2009-01-20T10:23:00.001-05:00

I don't have a direct link but I WILL scan in the page and post it for all to see.

The Spring Issue of Bead Unique Magazine

2009-01-20T08:40:00.002-05:00

On stands today! Look for the Shop Handmade adventorial with my Round Pendant Necklace featured in it! You can find it in my Artfire studio as well!

To craft fair or not to craft fair?

2009-01-15T12:30:00.002-05:00

So, I found out yesterday that there's this craft fair happening in May of this year in a town called Griffin, GA called Hatch Market. It's right up the handmade alley, ergo, my alley. Now the big thing is that I'm wondering if I should try to apply. The booth fee is inexpensive ($85), they give you a skirted table, chair and sign with your business, hometown and website on it. Now I'd need to get a credit card merchant account. I can do that for about $40/year so that's not too bad and the fees aren't that bad. Griffin is about 70 miles away from where I'm at. Not sure if I could potentially get ready in time as I haven't ever done a fair before and I'd need to buy some display stuff and make a ton of pieces. That and I'd have to sell about $300 worth of stuff to break even.

I won free advertising!

2009-01-15T10:52:00.004-05:00

So the website http://indiesmiles.com was having a free advertising contest. Post a comment and sign up for there newsletter and get a chance to win free advertising. Well guess what? I was picked as a winner. Hopefully this will generate more exposure for my site and also sales!

I'm totally stoked!

Look for me in the February Spotted Box!

2009-01-13T10:52:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I decided to do a promo box. I did some research and in addition to an Artfire promo box that I'll be in I'm going to be in the February Spotted Box! Check me out in the listing for who's going to be in the box here http://www.thespottedbox.com/february2009.html

I'm not sure yet if I'm going to be a regular in the box or just do one a few times a year or not.

Look for my coupon in all of my samples!

Free Pair of Earrings with any purchase

2009-01-12T09:05:00.003-05:00

OK people. I'm running a promo in my artfire studio. Receive a free pair of earrings with any purchase now through January 31st. I can't guarantee what pair you get but if you have any requests you can put that in the notes to the seller and I'll do my best to accommodate you.

Happy Shopping!

Desiree

Got an order, made a bracelet and found a new bead shop

2009-01-08T07:56:00.004-05:00

Ok, so yesterday was a big day of sorts. I finished the peyote stitch bracelet that I was making. It didn't take me all that long to do, maybe 2 hours or so. I'm excited because it's the first time that I've really ever made anything with a peyote stitch. The bracelet came out ok, a little rough but not all that bad. I'm not selling it though. I'm going to wait till I get the stitch down before I try my hand at selling them. I did also start my first ever tubular peyote stitch. This one is turning out much better that my flat peyote. I'm going to make it into a bangle. It should be fun.

The bead shop that I found happens to be in the same complex that my mother in law lives in. She lives in town center. The community has retail along with town homes and detached single family homes. I came across the shop when I was dropping off cardboard at her house. Long story about why I was doing that and I'll spare all of you that. Anyway, I went into the store yesterday, it's nice, a bit different than Atlanta Bead Market that I blogged about before but nice. I bought some stuff there, some snowflake obsidian that I can't wait to make into a necklace and earrings and some glass and silver beads that I'm going to use for my promo boxes submissions.

The order I got was actually from today but my co-worker, Pat, told me that she wanted me to do something yesterday. She has this cool hematite bracelet and she wanted some earrings to match. And she's already thinking about other things that I can make to sell to her as well.

I can't wait! I just have to get through these dang tests first!

The holidays are over but....

2009-01-05T15:09:00.008-05:00

Life isn't any less crazy right now. So for those of you who don't know my alter ego is as an architect. I have 2 more tests left to take before I'm a registered architect (RA). The first of the 2 is next Friday and the last is the Friday after that. So between studying my brains out for these obnoxious little tests, my day job, my fun job and what the heck my husband is doing next with work I'm a bit stressed. All the rest aside I thought that I'd have the hubby home for the month of January, lately he's been traveling to Charlotte, NC for work. Now I find out that he's going to be flying about helping out the account executive until his contract comes live Feb 2. And that was this morning, who knows what it will be by the time that I get home.

On the upside I just delivered a custom order bracelet to a co-worker. I have materials on order from Artbeads.com for another one for a friend. Now if I could only sell something online!

As one year comes to a close...

2008-12-31T10:26:00.003-05:00

Another one is just beginning. Sitting at work this morning at my desk with no real work to do (not that I'm complaining) I'm getting the chance to reflect on this past year. Much has happened this year.
There have been graduations, military commissionings, marriages, new homes, new furniture and many new ventures. With new ventures specifically I mean the fact that I have started to make (and sell) jewelry. I'm not totally sure how this happened but I'm enjoying my new hobby/business. I have a few websites, a blog and a new community of people to share my ideas with. I have not yet sold anything online but I have made several offline sales. I currently have 2 orders for custom pieces. I really do hope that the online portion of my business takes off. I'm quite hopeful about it.
The entire Art Fire community has been great. Through the forums there I can find all of the support that I need and then some. The other sellers on Art Fire are just supurb. There does not seem to be many bad apples in that bunch and I hope that it stays that way. 2008 has treated me well and I hope that 2009 does as well.

Check out Studio Art Fire...

2008-12-30T10:48:00.002-05:00

My wire wrapped lampwork bracelet is up on the blog. Check it out! http://studioartfire.blogspot.com/2008/12/wire-wrapped.html
Many thanks to Tim for the feature!

Working on my photos...

2008-12-19T11:52:00.003-05:00

So my photos get better bit by bit. It's a slow process because I am not always available to shoot in the daytime when there's natural light. I can't hover over the piece because then it leaves a shadow. The dang macro feature on the camera is a pain in the rear end as well. The macro setting is sooooo sensitive it's ridiculous. I'm hoping that I get a chance to take some pics this weekend and revamp some of my listings before I go on vacation on Monday cuz I really won't have the time when I'm up in NJ visiting my family.

We'll see I suppose.

I found the BEST local bead shop.

2008-12-18T07:40:00.004-05:00

So I'm going to be featured in the issue of Bead Unique that's comming out next month. I wanted to find a place locally that sells it because I'm not sure if I want to subscribe to it yet. On there website I found this local bead shop Atlanta Bead Market. This is the cutest store! It's a bit on the small side but that's ok. They have a great selection of all kinds of beads, semi-precious, seed beads, czech glass, pearls, swarovski, silver and a ton more. Judy, the owner of the store is just wonderful also. She said that once the magazine comes out she's going to post it up in the shop with a note about how I have been in the store. The prices here are pretty fair, they are a bit more than I'm used to paying but the quality more than makes up for it. They also have some really hard to find things also. They have a ton of classes, a few of which I'm going to take to imporve my skills.

I found the best way to make earring cards!

2008-12-17T07:40:00.009-05:00

So I've been looking for a relatively inexpensive professional looking solution to display my earrings and package them so they don't fall to the bottom of the little zip top baggie that I put them in. I've been doing some reasearch on the subject and found the perfect thing. My earring zip top bags are 2" x3" so I needed something relatively small. A standard business card size is just a bit too big. I have some old place card sheets lying around from when I got married last year (we printed up our own cards) so I thought that they would be about the right size. Well I checked and they are the perfect size if I cut them in half. All I need to do is to fold the top part down a little under an inch or so and poke 2 holes in the card (a push pin works great) and insert the ear wires. Voila, the perfect earring card! These cards also work if you will be displaying them at a show. You can preprint whatever you want on them or leave them blank. Mine are blank for now but I'm going to work on printing up my store name and website on them. Total cost for 96 earrings cards? It's about $5 for a package of 48 cards. Cut each of those cards in half so you get the 96. That comes out to about $0.05 a card, it's only about $0.03 a card if you can get the pack at 50% off like I did.

Here's a few pictures to show you.

Torn between promoting my 2 different shops...

2008-12-15T13:59:00.002-05:00

So I have 2 stores. One on shophandmade.com and the other on artfire.com. I really like the artfire layout and everything a lot better and was considering closing the shop handmade store but I got an email that a pendant necklace that I made was going to be featured in a magazine and that they found the necklace on my shop handmade store. So I have no idea what to do. I really haven't had sales at either shop but I'm hopeful that after the magazine comes out it will boost my sales.

So I found out today that....

2008-12-12T21:24:00.002-05:00

One of my pieces is going to be featured in a magazine. See my post for my Round Pendant necklace with the swarovski crystals. That piece will be featured in Bead Unique in the January issue so be on the lookout!

Join Artfire and Sell!

2008-12-12T13:04:00.002-05:00

For a low $7/month you can sell on Artfire. Yea they have a free store but you can only list 10 items at a time. Now there's Etsy which charges $0.20/listing and then a 3.5% commission once an item sells. For $7/month I can have unlimited listings, for right now I have 30 listings so were I on Etsy that would be $6 right there not including commission of course. I'm in the process of making about 10 or so other things so that would be another $2 right there, I already made up my $7/month for this month.

Check it out.

Register on ArtFire.com

I think that I need to buy some more supplies

2008-12-11T12:56:00.002-05:00

So I was looking at all of the materials that I have in stock. The answer was not such a good thing. I need to re-stock in a bad way. I think that I need to try branching out into some different mediums.

Quite possibly my favortie supply shop.

2008-12-10T12:26:00.004-05:00

I love this online retailer for my jewelry making supplies. They have everything that I need and I don't have to buy 50 of something if I only need 1 or 2. Check them out, they have the best Swarovski prices that I've seen yet even when my local craft store is having a 50% off sale. Best part is that they offer free US shipping with no minimum order.

My favorite piece that I've made so far

2008-12-10T11:45:00.004-05:00

So this has got to be my favortie piece by far. I found this cool pendant and made a necklace for it. It's a round black & white pendant that has this really cool crackle effect to it. I made another necklace similar to this one for myself with a purple pendant.

So I totally just love Art Fire

2008-12-09T17:25:00.003-05:00

They just seem to have all of the features that I want/need and a website layout that I just love. I still do have the shop handmade store but I think that Art Fire is my new love. For just $7/month I can have unlimited listings and track my stats to see the views that I'm getting. Plus I just love the forum, they call it a chatterbox. Check it and me out on it if you get the chance.

Free Traffic for your website or blog!

2008-12-09T07:47:00.003-05:00

So, I started this new website traffic thing called link referral. You can use it for free (I do) or can become an upgraded member. So far both of my websites have been getting increased traffic and hopefully it will generate more sales. To stay in the top half of your category all you have to do is to log in once a day. If you want your status bumped up just pick 5 sites to review a day and visit 25 more.

So I started another website that I think I like better....

2008-12-08T19:24:00.002-05:00

So I knew about Artfire.com but decided to check out Shop Handmade first. I have some things listed on shop handmade but I'm thinking that I like art fire better. Yea I can have a free site on art fire but I like the features that I'm paying for the verified membership. So take a look at my other website and let me know what you think.

So I started a website...

2008-11-25T13:04:00.006-05:00

So, after I went to my sorority's Founder's Day dinner with 5 pairs of earrings to auction off and left with 4 orders for earrings and a bracelet that I made I thought that I'd take a crack at this selling business. I first looked into an ebay store. Shot that down because an ebay store is like $50/month for a BASIC store, no way was I paying that. Then I found this website called etsy.com. To have a store is free, a big plus there, and to list an item it's only $0.20 and when the item sells you have to pay a 3.5% commission. Ok, I thought, not so bad but let me keep looking around. Then I found artfire.com and shophandmade.com. Both are free to have/free to sell. I looked into all three and decided on using shophandmade.com to start. I also signed up for the other 2 to save the name, just in case. So for right now I have 14 products listed (with a few more in my head that I need to make first before I can list them). I'm getting views on the stuff which is good, no sales yet though. We'll see what happens because it doesn't cost me anything to have the stuff out there for people to see.