Living Single

Well sorry for the lack of updating my blog. I've been working on some stuff, but my mind has traveled else where recently. But I have returned and soon I will have some great stuff to put up. Recently I've also been thinking about selling my wares at farmer's markets and such. It think it helps actually being able to see the finished product in front of you rather than on a computer screen. I will keep you posted on my new journal line and accessories.

A Special Journal

I have been missing in action for a while and I’m so sorry. Things have been very busy at work and I’ve been trying to play catch up with my home life. I got pushed back into the lovely world of crafts when I realized that I was almost done writing in my journal. I figured that I needed a new one so I went out to search for a new journal, worthy of containing my personal thoughts and secrets. NONE COULD BE FOUND. I purchased some fabric from Etsy (of course Frida Kahlo fabric) and I decided I would make my own journal.

Of course it took me a week to do it, even though it only takes 2 days if you have all the stuff to make it. Out of fabric, glue, staples and cardboard I made this.

I remember the first real journal I got, Mom gave it to me. I wrote stories in it and little drawings, that was in 7th grade. It was a plane burgundy cover with pastel pieces of paper in the inside. After that journal, I told Nana that I wanted more of them. She bought me unused ones from yard sales and I used them until a classmate found a journal I’d left with my newest colonial story in high school. She ripped the pages out and told me that it was hers. Oh sure you would be genius enough to laminate pictures of the bands I like on top of a ugly flower print cover. I went on a break from journals for a while until I took up poetry my junior year of high school. I’ve owned lots of different types of journals, but I love the bound ones. There is just something classic about it. I hope to make more journals in a classic style, but with a little twist.

New Update

I just got finished updating my shop!!! Here are some pictures of what I've made so far. I will post more items later on this week.

A Random Posting

It’s been a while since I’ve written, I’ve been up to making pieces for a Mardi Gras Ball, which I attended on the 13th. I can across a little issue when wearing my necklace, but I will make my repair and upload photos of it later on today. I’ve been less productive with my shop fighting the snow grumps. I find it hard to get anything accomplished being stuck in the house, watching snow engulfing everything around you.

The snow has turned gray and yellow so now its time to get back to work! Last night I watched my favorite movie, Frida for inspiration. I love Frida Kahlo so I’ve decided to make some pieces that are inspired by her. Many people on Etsy have done the same thing, but I will put a modern spin on some of the pieces. I am a fan on chunky necklaces so I will make a couple of those. When I was at the craft store two weeks ago I found these huge wooden beads that I must have. I think I will pair them with fax turquoise beads. It will be like a new age Mexico. I will keep all of you posted on my newest pieces when I start working on them.

I recently tried to work with resin and well the resin wouldn’t work with me. I must have mixed it incorrectly because both of them are stuck in the ice cube tray one is hard and the other is sticky. I guess I have more work that needs to be done. Stayed tuned for my resin experiments. I got a book for my birthday and they had projects the integrated polymer clay and resin, which will be really exciting to work with.

My love for jewelry

I am making a desperate attempt to keep this blog professional, but I feel that if someone that isn’t related to me by blood or Phi Mu sees this they will have no idea who I am and why I feel the need to 1) make jewelry and 2) be obsessed with swirls. Since I was a little girl I loved to draw and color, drawing turned into drawing cartoons in middle school; then from cartoons to painting in high school, in college I wanted to be a real artist, without the classes. On the Hill (McDaniel) I took my first drawing class with Linda Van Hart, who cranked so many pieces from me. I took the class thinking it was easy, but it was anything but that. We all had our own drawing ability, some could render objects to look like the real thing, some where like me so had a certain flare to cover up their inability to render and of course you had the elementary school drawers (I know for some assignments I was in that class). But as difficult as it was to complete an assignment that required you to draw a hybrid of two animals (I chose a hippabunny, past Hippo part bunny) I liked her teaching style. She was a small woman, with a big attitude and a love of art that I hadn’t seen in anyone else. I decided to find a elective class that would be an easy A, seeing that I got an A in Linda’s first class I knew her teaching style and I figured I could handle Jewelry Making. Little did I know that the class taught me metal smithing, I didn’t think on the first day of class I would be holding an acetylene torch praying not to set my partner on fire. But I loved it, I loved the torch and I made the majority of my work with chains. I loved the creative outlet so much I took the independent study, which took me two semesters since I couldn’t finish my locket in enough time. That locket was my labor of love and I hated the outcome. I think she gave me a B for it, since I had a general design for it, and it didn’t fall apart.

College ended in ’06 and I found myself clueless in the world. I went back to what I knew best, administrative work; leaving my jewelry pliers and pearls to collect dust until I found a cute bead shop in Dupont Circle. I made a couple of things for myself and I continued to make my own pieces when the occasion called for it, but until recently I felt the need to really share my talent. Although with limited means (no torch) I am restricted to the creative process, but I am determined to make it happen. I am learning how to use polymer clay to make beads and pendants. I found it to be an inexpensive way to add a personal touch to my pieces rather than only using glass beads. I am also re-learning wire wrapping and I am experimenting with making statement necklaces which are the new rage.

I think everyone has a talent and I think this is mine.

PARR-TAY

I updated my shop! Come check it out!!!

FREE SHIPPING

I updated my site to have free shipping from now until February 28th. I figured maybe since I hate shipping costs my customers would hate it too!!!

Last week I added some items to the shop although i have alot more to put up.

A brown necklace made out of various shades of brown glass beads.

A pair of smore earrings on sterling sliver shepards hooks.

New Items

Last night i posted some more items!

Check out my store!!!!

Mag-net-ic

I totally forgot, I started making bottle cap magnets here are the series of them that i completed.

Boo-Boo Kitty (Hello Kitty Magnet Set 3 magnets for $3)

Random Magnet Set (3 magnets for $3)

**These aren't posted on Etsy yet

A Trip to the Library

Well the internet is down because the phone line is dead. I guess mom will need to become Tim the Tool Man Taylor!!! Of course I’ll be Al. Last night I worked on a necklace with earring set. I rarely do sets, but I figure some people may not buy a necklace without anything to go with it. So I’ll sell them separately in case the earrings are a hit. I went to the good ol’ library yesterday to find some jewelry books and some books for pleasure. For pleasure = non fiction books about the Jamestown settlement. I have no real reason to borrow them besides I love Jamestown and Williamsburg. Maybe I was there in a past life. Since this is a jewelry blog I guess that should be the focus of this entry. I found some books on wire wrapping, which are helpful. I need to get more books that show how to do things without soldering. Anything that I can get my hands on to gain different techniques is great. I’m still waiting on my resin jewelry book that I’m dying to read. I think I would like working with resin since I an incorporate stickers, glitter, plastic figurines etc in jewelry. I want to make a bracelet and call it “Baby Be Gone” I want to have the “charms” be in she shapes of cubes with little plastic babies and birth control pills (made out of clay) in them. I also want a “Baby Be There” bracelet that will have little plastic babies, bottles, and pacifiers in there. I figure that they can go along with a wish concept. I will have different “races: of babies of course. Maybe I’ll make a rainbow tribe one for the Brangelina couples. I hope to start working on resin fairly soon, but in the mean time I’ll be cracking out what I can make.

Aint Got No Enternet

I haven’t updated the blog in a while, but I promise there is a good explanation. The internet is down and I don’t have my laptop so I can’t go wireless. But my hands have been busy making goodies for Valentines Day.

I’ve made some smore dangly earrings, lemon lime beads and a couple of necklaces. I also took Cee’s idea and made some chocolate charms to put on a bracelet. I don’t have any of these items pics just yet, but please stayed tuned. I hope to have my computer issue resolved ASAP. In the meantime enjoy wonder pics of crafts and me from yesteryear (I had them saved to my flash).

Sushi Go Round Necklace

Me as Frida Kahlo

Me at the Sanrio Store in Vegas

Necklace I made Aunt Lisa for Christmas