Friday, November 28, 2008

Faux Dichroic Glass Pendant


I spent much of the day working on this. It is a technique for a faux dichroic glass effect on polymer clay. To learn how to do this check out Donna Kato's site for a detailed tutorial.
Good luck and have fun!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Update of First Craft Show





Well, I did it. I got through my first craft show and it was a lot of fun. It was sponsored by the Women's Guild of my church and held in the church social hall. It ended up being a lot bigger than people thought with at least 40 different vendors, so there was plenty of variety. Of course there were several jewelry sellers, but we were spread out, and no one carried jewelry like mine.

All in all, in 7 hours I made 15 sales and sold 22 pieces of jewelry, gave out a lot of business cards and have one special order.

It may not seem like much to seasoned crafters, but I think for a first time, it was pretty successful for me. I got a lot of exposure and those who did not buy, were genuinely impressed and seemed to like my jewelry.



Attendance/turn out was low too, a lot of those who came said they had no idea it would be so big, and if more people knew how many vendors there were with such a variety of wares, more people would have come. Well, maybe next year the word will get out. I know I will be advertising it for sure.

Have some pictures of my display. Not too bad for the first time also. My pics aren't too good. I am waiting for Kelly to email the ones she took with her big Canon digital with the professional lenses.







On a side note,please pray for Joanna's family.My son lost a good friend on November 16th. Thank you.

Ok Tweeters - Lets Save a Young Girls Life!

Ok Tweeters - Lets Save a Young Girls Life!

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Monday, November 17, 2008

Getting Ready for First Craft Show











Since I've been back from New Mexico, I have been a busy little bee working furiously to increase my inventory for my very first craft show. I am excited and nervous of course.


It will be for one day only, November 22nd, at my church. I figure, even if it is not successful for me, I will learn alot, and this is probably the best place to start and get my feet wet.


Here's a peek at some of my newer items for the show:



















Thanks to Michele for taking so many pictures for me. I can't upload even a quarter of all the pictures she took for me. She is a lifesaver. Visit her Etsy store here.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I'm In An Etsy Treasury

I am so surprised and excited. I am in Etsy's Treasury West. A wonderful etsian, RhodesAnnalsDesigns made up the Treasury and chose my Cutting Edge necklace. It is in the 2nd row, 2nd column. Check it out before it's gone! When I can jump in at a time when there is Treasury space available, I have my choices lined up from Etsy, I will hopefully be able to put one together and I'll post it.

For any who do not know, on Etsy, they have what are called Treasuries, where other Etsy people can choose 12 or 16 items from other shops on Etsy, to promote others and show their appreciation for other's work. I can't wait to get to do one.

Now to work on some more pieces.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

My Work Table

Well I have really digressed on my blog lately, but now I am ready to start posting about Polymer Clay, Jewelry making and Etsy.
I do not currently have a work room, work shop or studio. I have a Work Table, with most of my supplies packed into my bedroom with some of it on the table and under the table. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment and I keep trying to get my son to shape up so he can afford to move out so I can take over his bedroom-sort of kidding but not really. He's 19 1/2 and I didn't move out of my parent's home until I was almost 23, but I already had a full time job with decent pay when I was his age. I mean, I don't want him to be a bum, and he certainly isn't a momma's boy, but he needs to get his act together soon, but he knows he has it pretty good here.


Here's a picture of him from about a year ago, with Gizmo and Savannah.





So, until he can go out on his own, or move in with his dad (Yesss! Please!!!) I have to make do with a work table. My work space is my dining room table which is actually rather large, covered with a vinyl table cloth. It works pretty well for me, except for those rare times when I need to eat. But at least I have everything where I need it and I don't have to keep putting things away when I am done. I can just sit down and get right to work.






Here's some pendants I recently finished.









A Pendant in the works.






More pendants waiting to be finished.




My tools!



Coiling gizmo. Very inexpensive and makes great coils out of wire.





Pasta Machine. Very useful with polymer clay. I will write about it later.










Beads and things. One of many containers.








Polymer clay, for my beads and pendants.




Tools for Polymer Clay. I will save the explanation of these and the pasta machine and other tools for Polymer Clay in another post.


Well, I need to get started on dinner. I am cooking for once, do not do much of that in this apartment's tiny kitchen, but I've been wanting to make spaghetti for a while now, so I better stop. Next time, hopefully, more about polymer clay.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

A Wedding and A Funeral



Well, my Etsy store is back up and running. I had it closed down for about a week and a half last month due to a sad event.


The night I got back from my niece's wedding (see below), I found out that my mother was going into hospice. She has been battling breast cancer that has now been in her bones and elsewhere for 4 years. At first we were told that it could be a couple of weeks at least or maybe up to 2 months, so I planned on going out there at the end of October.


We got a call 3 days later, on Thursday, October 23rd that she was starting to slip fast. My 2 sisters got there on Friday, and my brother and I arrived on Saturday, October 25th. "There" is Las Cruces, New Mexico , where my parents moved 20 years ago for their retirement.


I went straight to the hospice from the airport Saturday afternoon. I tried to prepare myself for how she would look, but still it was a shock. She was so skinny, her cheeks and eyes sunken in. She was no longer able to talk, and she appeared to be comatose. She was also heavily medicated for the pain. Since she could not talk to me, I am glad that I had spoken to her over the phone the week before. She did not sound good then either, and you could tell she was having trouble breathing.


My poor mother! All we could do was talk to her, hoping she could hear us, they say that the hearing is the last to go, and pray. We took turns spending the night on a cot in the hospice. I stayed the night on Sunday/Monday. That morning, on October 27th at 10:35a.m., she went to be with Jesus.




My Mom and Dad on Cruise for their
50th Anniversary-2005

We are all relieved that she is no longer in such pain, but it is still a loss, especially for my father. My mother was 77 and he is 82. His mind is very sharp, but his health is not that good either. He survived cancer himself, but has heart issues and needs to use a walker. My younger sister and brother are still in New Mexico with him, and hopefully, my brother, who has never married, will move out there permanently early next year. We would all be so relieved to have a family member living with my dad, instead of him being alone.

Please keep my family in your prayers. God Bless.