New Stuff Coming

I can not wait to start listing the new stuff that will be coming soon for my studio. There are a ton of cool brand new designs and even a new product line. That's right, I will be starting to list pendulums. I am working on my first one now. If all goes right I should be able to get it finished today and then get pictures within the next couple of days. I'm trying to fit it in with a custom piece I'm working on too.

I do have some projects that are currently in the process of being finished. One is about 95% done and there are some that are still in the design phase. I just have to wait until I can put in a ring order. I have a slave bracelet that is finished and I just need to get pics but I'm not sure if I'm going to list it, only because of the sizing.

I am also gearing up to start my line of men's and unisex jewelry. This will be wonderful mainly because that means my husband can actually model stuff actually made for men... I am going to be adding copper, brass and even bronze to this line.

My fine jewelry pieces are going to start adding up quickly. I already have one in my studio now and will be adding more. I have a beautiful piece beginning but I am working it in aluminum right now so I can get a ring count and then it will be made with Argentium and Rainbow Moonstone. This is going to be an "Icicle Necklace". Its going to be so cool since it will look like snowflakes and icicles. I can not wait to get the materials for this. Of course its going to be a higher priced piece but that's where the Fine Jewelry line comes in.

Of course you will be privy to the sneak peeks of the pieces that are in the works as soon as I get pictures. So don't get too antsy and they will come soon enough. Trust me I am antsy enough for all of us.

Crafting for a Cause

Well here it is, I wrote a special article that is near and dear to my heart. As I am a big supporter of many different charities and awareness causes, I decided to make that the topic of my article.

So you can read about it here at Handmade News.

It is a very touching article and I really wanted to show how supportive the handmade community is. We create from the heart and this is something that shows it. Each cause is just as important as the next. I only wish I could have touched on more.

Special Article

I know that I normally run my Crafting With Gemstone article on Thursdays but I am doing a special article this week. It will run tomorrow and the gemstones will return next week.

This special article is about cratfing for a cause. I decided to do this because I am a big supporter of several causes including breast cancer awareness, autism, domestic violence and now fibromyalgia awareness. This last one as I am recently working with a doctor and being diagnosed. I am also a huge animal rescuer so that will play a part as well.

I feel that it is necessary to bring attention to the fact that we as artisans make strides in these causes. We have been touched by these issues at some point in our lives.

This article will run on HandmadeNews tomorrow and I will link to the article here as soon as it runs as well.

Apatite

A beautiful blue stone that has some amazing properties. If you have never really known what Apatite has been used for in the centuries past, then click your way right here and check out this amazing article.

http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=4559

Angelite

Today's installment of Crafting With Gemstones is a beautiful stone called Angelite.

Most of you know that stones produce natural and metaphysical properties, well this particluar stone is a great tool for contacting your angels. Angels are around you every moment and act as a guardian. But did you know that you can actually meditate with this gemstone and be able to communicate with these angels? Well it is actually true. Your spirit guides and angels will be drawn to you stronger if you possess and use Angelite in your meditations. You can use it to boost your natural communication strength to aide in bringing them to you.

The full article can be found here: http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=4526

New Items Being Listed!

I have finally been able to get new pieces listed today and will have even more if the weather cooperates with me tomorrow.

Okay, let me show what I was able to get listed. First is an amazing bracelet that is perfect for Valentines Day or just something special for your significant other.


This bracelet is made with a byzantine chainmaille weave in silver with touches of red. It also has Swarovski crystals in the color Siam and a beautiful stone with the word "Love" on it. This is a great piece as it is also adjustable in length.

Any special girl would love to see just how much you love her and this would be a great way to show her.






Next is a piece that I made because it is just so super cold. I am so sick of winter that I really need something to break the doldrums and put me in the mindset to get ready for Spring. I think this bracelet pretty much does just that.


This bracelet is extremely high quality and is very special. Why special? Because I used a special metal for the chainmaille. This piece boasts Argentium silver rings for the European 4-1 weave. It also has Swarovski crystal butterflies in pastel colors and a Sterling Silver lobster claw.

Now if you have never heard of Argentium, let me tell you about it and why it is so special. This metal is a higher quality than regular sterling. It will not tarnish nor turn as sterling eventually will do. It will remain bright and shiny just as it now. How do I know this for certain? I made a bracelet for my mom using this metal and she has worn it for 6 months straight without removing it. It is just as bright as when I made it. With no tarnishing, no turning color, nothing. Just bright beautiful shiny rings. I am totally in love with this metal. It is still very expensive to order but I am planning on slowly building up my supplies and integrating it into my designs.

So that is what I have listed now. I have some sneak peeks of upcoming items that should be listed within the next couple of days.

I have finished a bracelet in a Romanov weave with black and pink Czech crystals inside. This piece is so beautiful and I am working on earrings that will match the bracelet. However, these earrings will stand on their own as well.


This is the piece prior to me putting the clasp on it, which I did today. I will be getting pictures of it tomorrow, hopefully. I really love how this piece turned out and will be making one in black and red as well. It will also be a basis for a choker design that I am working on. The choker, I have not started as of yet but will be starting soon. It will be an icicle necklace and will have clear Czech crystals inside and Euro 4-1 drops with a clear teardrop dangling down. I'm even thinking of using this nice Swarovski snowflake that I have as a focal piece. I am still working out all the details but at least I have something to work with.


There is also a chainmaille charm bracelet that I finished today with an angel theme. It came out so amazing that I can't wait to get pictures and share. It has 3 different charms as well as blueish green swarovski crystals. This should be up tomorrow in my shop. I will be stressing to get this piece listed as it is just so nice.

I have a couple pairs of earrings that are finished. A pair of shoulder dusters with blue swarovski crystals inside dangling rings. These are going to be my waterfall earrings as the crystals kinda look like running water as its coming off a mountain. They are really pretty but I have not been able to get really good pics yet.

Kitty earrings are done as well and is just precious and I thought that they would be good to do because all my other kitty earrings sell really fast so with luck these will too.

So what am I up to now that I have been getting all this done? Well, I'm working on a chainmaille slave bracelet. I have most of it done but am just trying to work out all the details as far as how I want the swags to hang. I am trying to get it so it's feasible to wear and not be too bulky or too tight. That is where the issues are coming because it's so hard to hold the piece at my wrist and measure and mess with the swags. I so need more hands.

I have more supplies coming Thursday so I can't wait to see what I come up with next. I am just glad to have my design mojo back. Having been sick for 2 months and not feeling up to making hardly anything, this creative spurt is just what I needed.

So stay tuned and check out my shop and see the listings as well as a new banner that I made today.

Andalusite

Have you ever heard of the gemstone, Andalusite? Well maybe you have just not by that name. This is a very unique stone and so beautiful in both its tumbled and faceted state. But it has 2 different names. Interested in finding out more? Check out this great article on the stone and learn some great information:

http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=4491

Like this? Well then keep an eye out because I will be posting articles every week about wonderful gemstones. Who knows what might pop up.

Happy New Year!!

Well here it is another day, another year and another decade. A new beginning in not only a business sense but also in a personal sense.

I plan to expand into yet another genre of crafting and this might just be my best part. As I have begun making cosmetics but I am not quite ready to add these to my shop just yet as I still have a lot of mixing as well as testing. So my personal guinea pigs will be getting a sneak peek of colors and will be reporting back to me how they work. But since I have Crafting ADD very bad, I couldn't just let it go at that. I had to work on something that I could readily add to my shop.

Thus, I am working on investing in a screen printing machine and I will begin making shirts with original designs. Of course, since I can't draw worth a hill of beans, my dear husband will be making the drawings. This will be opening a whole new area for me and will allow me to utilize my hubby's artwork as well as my infinite volume of imagination.

On a personal sense, I plan on getting back into shape. I haven't been working out as much as I had been prior to my knee surgery a couple years back. Now I am feeling the strain of my bad back. I am also going to start regular massage therapy to help with controlling the tension and stress. So my new workout regiment will be yoga and belly dancing. I really don't need to loose weight, more like gain weight. So hopefully, this will build some more muscle mass.

This should be a great year and I hope my muse continues to inspire and fuel my mind. So here is to a bountiful year and many more! Happy 2010, everyone!