So HAPPY...Finally Taking Photography Lesson!

Monday Dec 28 I will be taking a photography lesson and I am sooooo HAPPY. I am hoping that this lesson will help me take way better pictures for Etsy and entrance into craft shows. Yesterday I was taking some pictures and I was getting so frustrated with the lighting and other photo problems. My Christmas present to myself, can't wait!

Thinking Flowers Today

Today I was in the mood for flowers. I am already tired of the cold, snow and ice. So instead of cleaning my work room I made some flower earrings from some new supplies I received recently. I think they turned out pretty nice. I like combining the sparkle of the Swarovski crystals with opaque stones. These happen to be vintage and I am loving them.

Snowflakes

I love snowflakes and enjoyed making these brooches. Since each snowflake is different so are all the brooches I made using these snowflake madallions. Since this a season of SPARKLE I have added Swarovski crystal rhinestones to all of them.

Winding Down

Well one more craft show for 2009 in Hope, NJ. It's a two day show and has been advertised all around the region, should be a good one to end the year on. Then we hope together with our son's and grandson which will be a first and something we are looking forward to. Next week is my birthday, my step son's and grandson's birthdays, all Sagittarius. Dec 24th is my daughter's 33rd birthday. I wish she was talking to me so that I could share in the day maybe someday. I never give up 'hoping'. Then Christmas. After the holidays it will be time to get ready for 2010 and all the new adventures it will bring.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Well, I have been doing a lot of work hoping to sell some of my things in my Etsy shop from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Not sure how or if this is going to work. Etsy is promoting this weekend and giving tips to sellers. So much information to absorb and lots of work to do. I did read through some forums and some sellers say they did not have any sales during this weekend other years. I will not know if I do not try.

It's been awhile since I have posted to my blog. I have been soooo busy with craft shows and making things, there are not enough hours in the day. This past weekend I participated in the Whitehouse Station Firehouse craft show. What a show! I was totally impressed with the organizers, friendly, organized, helpful and I had lots of sales. I hope I get invited to the Spring show and get to do the winter one again for 2010. Now to get ready for the Northwestern Christian School show at the Sussex Fairgrounds. I am busy making Christmas earrings, trees, snowflakes and poinsettias. So I better get going!

Angel Wing Necklace

I am in love with mother of pearl. I found these great wings made of carved mop. The wings have a lovely glow and were so fun creating this necklace. The chain is vintage brass with pink glass cats eye beads. I finished off the piece with a few dangles, a flower, leaf and a brass bird. I think it looks romantic and pretty.

Vintage Swarovski

I love searching for unique pieces for my jewelry creations. I came upon some vintage Swarovski crystals in cherry red. They are so gorgeous! I needed to decide to make pendants or earrings and decideded on a pair of earrings. I kept the design simple so as not to distract from the crystal. The brass metal looks really good with the red. These are one of a kind (OOAK) and I LOVE them. Maybe I should keep them for myself!

A Touch of Satin

Do you LOVE satin? Do you know the benefits of using satin pillowcases and pillows? A Touch of Satin offers luxurious pillowcases and pillows with all the wonderful benefits of satin. The pillowcases can help prevent split ends, control fly-aways, minimize wrinkles on your face and reduce hair breakage and loss. Who knew!

Mary Clarke, a very charming fellow crafter in New Jersey, makes all these lovely items. Visit A Touch of Satin website http://www.atouchofsatin.com/home to find out more information and to view all the beautiful selections of satin pillowcases and pillows.

Katie's Wedding

A couple of months ago I was contacted by Katie via my Etsy shop. She needed a brooch to go with her wedding dress, she did not like the one that came on her dress. She had seen some of my brooches in my shop as they have a vintage look. As we worked together through Etsy convos, e-mails and Shutterfly everything came together. The color scheme is so pretty, pale yellow, olive green and brown. Even though we started with a brooch we worked on necklaces, hairpins, bracelet and earrings. It was so fun getting flowers and brass pieces for this project. I was also lucky enough to find vintage brass chain with the prettiest olive green glass beads. Well the order is in the mail and I hope she and her bridal party love everything. The wedding is not until May 2010 but at least one job is done. I'm hoping she sends some pictures next year so that I can see how wonderful everyone is going to look!

GREAT Week!

I must say it was a very good week! I had been waiting for confirmation of two craft shows that I REALLY wanted to get into and I did! Haddonfield on Oct 17 and the Northwest Christian school at the Sussex County Fair Grounds on Nov 21. These are shows that are tops on my list.
I also went to a bead show and met my friend Maria, always to so pleasant to see and talk about all different things with her.
Today I am off to do the a show in Somerville, Arts on Main. Hope its a good day. Got to go...

The Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton

What a grand day yesterday! I participated in a craft show at the The Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton, NJ. I got into this show last minute and did not know what to expect. I was pleasantly surpised. So many very nice people from the people running the show to the vendors on either side of me and of course the customers. Amy Doderer of Nostalgic Designs who helped me out with clips to hold down some of my things as it was a bit windy plus so friendly to speak to. Mary Clarke of A Touch of Satin with her husband and daughter were so nice to chat with throughout the day. Plus I had some very nice customers, the newly retired customer who was enjoying shopping, the 2 young girls who had to decorate their pierced ears with some earrings, to the young lady who looked gorgeous in lavender necklace she bought and wore since it matched her outfit perfectly! Plus I met a young lady and her beau who are getting married in December. She saw the necklaces I make and has ordered some for her bridal party in purple. Oh, and the woman who bought 15 rings! Yes, it was a very good day!

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas will be here sooner than we think. I have been busy making Christmas things. One of my favorites are woven Swarovski crystal earrings that look like Christmas candy. They remind me of the old fashinioned hard candy. Love these!

Belvidere Victorian Days

What a weekend! This was my first year to participate in Belvidere Victorian Days and I am glad I was there. Saturday started off very wet but then the rain stopped. The rain did not keep the people away, they were there rain and all. Lots of activities in Belevidere, house tours, teas, civil war reenactments, demonstrations, food and more. I especially enjoyed all the ladies and gents wearing Victorian clothing. So many pretty dresses, hats and accessories. I also met so many very nice people, customers and vendors, who were in the spirit of the weekend. I will definitely be there next year!

ETSY Mexico Team GIVEAWAY

The Etsy Mexico Team is having an Independence Day Giveaway! And it's their FIRST. Here is the link with all the details:
http://etsymexicoteam.blogspot.com/. Have some fun!
We love Mexico especially Mazatlan. Why? The people are so friendly, the weather is perfect, the food is delicious and there is lots to do. If you visit you will go back. We have 4 years in a row.

Ever Green Consignment & Thrift Shop

A couple of months ago I noticed a new shop near our home. The sign was interesting and the name of the shop 'Ever Green' was written in chocolate brown and white in a green circle. Since it was consignment shop I decided to go through some of our things and bring them into the shop to see if the owner would try to sell them. The owner Joann is just WONDERFUL! She is friendly and a delight to converse with. Her shop is filled with all sorts of pretty things. When you enter the shop it is inviting and neatly decorated. If you like beautiful home decorations, furnishings and clothing then this is place to visit, you just might find that special something. I did. I love paper flowers and there they were! Crepe paper roses in shades of orange and yellow. They go really well in my home. So if your in Hampton, NJ stop by the Ever Green Consignment & Thrift Shop located at 456 Route 31. Phone 908-537-4197. You will not be disappointed!

Labor Day Weekend Sale

Well I have never tried having a SALE in my Etsy shop so I am giving it a try. I have been thinking of ways to get folks into my shop so this is what I have done and will continue to do through tomorrow...

- Via Etsy Forum with Labor Day Sale in the title add a comment about my sale

- Twitters throughout the weekend

- Added a comment on Facebook

- Added a comment on IndiePublic

- And sharing news about the sale in my blog

So let's see what happens. So far I have a couple sales.

I am giving 20% all item in my shop. The discount will be refund in Paypal.

Here's hoping!

Believe Street Jewelry

Sometimes you meet special people when you least expect it. I met Maria S earlier this year at a craft show and since then we have become good friends. Maria is very talented and makes the most gorgeous things. Visit her Believe Street website at http://www.believestreet.com/ or if you are in the area go to one of the craft shows she will be participating in which are listed on her site. Aren't these bracelets and earrings just beautiful!

Resin Cabochons

I know I have said this before but I just love working with resin cabochons. I order them from suppliers on Etsy and I can't get enough of them. I wish I know how to make them. They come in so many colors and shapes, especially the flowers. Last year I had ordered the pinecones, although they look like acorns to me, and I made a necklace and brooch. I think they look so good with the contrast of the copper metal. I am looking forward to wearing one on my jacket as soon as it gets cooler. Can't wait for Fall!

Thinking of Mexico Today

for some reason today I was thinking about Mazatlan, Mexico today. Maybe because today is cool and rainy and I wanted sunshine! We have been going to Mazatlan for a few years and love it. We love Mexico so much we painted some of the rooms in our home deep rich bold colors. Okay back to reality!

Resin Flowers

One of the materials I love working with are resins flowers. I purchase them and mix them with brass, Swarovski crystals and beads. The flowers in come in so many shapes and sizes and lend themselves to all sorts of pretty things. Like earrings, necklaces, rings, brooches and much more. The past few days I have been creating some pieces gearing up for the Fall/Winter craft shows. Isn't this rose pretty!

Bean Fiend Coffee Roasters

We are soooo proud to know the Bean Fiend Coffee Roasters who are located in St. Petersburg, Florida. This business was a dream of our friend Paul who recently moved from NJ to FL. We do miss him and Sharon. Paul's dream after much work plus determination have made this business a reality! Check out the website and if you live nearby stop by, chat (Paul love to talk) and buy some coffee. http://www.beanfiendcoffee.com/
Don't forget to read his great story http://www.beanfiendcoffee.com/The_Birth_Of.html.
Oh yes, we are still waiting for Paul to send us bag to try ... maybe he is waiting for Christmas!

Waiting for Fall

I'm ready for Fall. I am so tired of the hot and humid weather here in the Northeast. I can't wait to wear sweaters and jackets. The only thing I miss in cold weather is wearing my Birkenstock sandels. I wear them all summer long. I must have 20 pairs that I just LOVE.
I made some pretty brooches that I hope I sell at all the craft shows I will be doing this Fall/winter season.

Quite Day

Very quite today and very HOT! I am so looking forward to my upcoming craft shows especially Belvidere Vicorian Days. Since I like working with brass and vintage things I hope I do well. I started making these brooches from metal filgree, Swarovski crystals and beads. I hope they do well at the shows.

It's Been Awhile

It's been a while since I have posted anything to my blog. It's been very hectic the past several weeks. My mom who just turned 87 on Aug 6 has been very sick with a disease I never heard of called Wegener's Granulomatosis. The treatment is similar to cancer. She is now on prednisone and is getting treatments of Cytoxan. Right now she is doing better so things are getting back to normal. I made some things over the past few days and I am looking forward to the Fall/Winter craft shows.

Just Updated My Craft Shows

My goal this year was to participate in more craft shows than last year. Last year I did 8 and this year I will be doing 14. And for 2010 I hope to do more. I have been keeping a list of my shows and deciding if I would want to do them again the following year. I am learning as I go and I am meeting lots of very nice people. So far it has been a pleasurable experience but lots of work.

FACEBOOK

I just created a Fan page on Facebook and cannot figure out how it works! I am soooo frustrated. I will spend another hour or so an then I will just give up!

Just Wanted to Show these Off

I am in love with Swarovski crystals. The crystals come in so many shapes, sizes and colors. I had fun making these earrings from new and vintage beads.

Taking Pictures

My focus the past few days is trying to take better pictures. So much to learn! Nothing is easy and everythng is so time consuming. Just wanted to post some of my recent pics for the day. Enjoy!

Girlfriend Trip

I just returned from a trip to see one of my best friends and her hubby, Barbara and Bill. Barb met me at the airport in Raleigh, NC and then we were on our way. First stop was the Enchanted Cottage. This place was BIG and full of rubber stamping and scrap booking stuff. We were there a few hours and bought some things. Then we went to Greensboro to check out a couple of bead stores, Terra Blue and Lost and Found Gallery. Bought beads in both stores but Lost and Found was just WONDERFUL. Lots of vintage glass and such a friendly shop owner. We HIGHLY recommend this shop.

Next day we went to Oramentia in Raleigh. What a GREAT store and such friendly store gals. LOVELY things in this store. I saw this great book 'Beading with Filigree' and decided to purchase it. As I was checking out the woman be hind the counter said that she wrote the book! I met Cynthis Deis the author and store owner. She even signed the book for me! I felt very honored. Beautiful book and I recommend it highly. Lots of ideas and nice pictures to be inspired.

http://www.ornamentea.com/

Then on to more shopping and finally to Rocky Mount. Barbara is a REALLY good cook. Plus she does all kinds of other things and looks absolutely fabulous all the time. She LOVE bright colors especially blues and greens. Bill is GREAT too. He takes care of lots of things especially their big yard. He also does all the coupon clipping and food shopping. Barb is very lucky.

On another day we went to an Intergalactic Bead show and bough more beads and things. Nice show.

Well I am home now and back to my hubby Tom, my parents, babysitting and even a craft show on Sat.

Signing off for now.

Chester Craft Show May 2009

I was sooo nervous before this show. Why? Because it was the biggest show I had done so far. Well it turned out to be PERFECT. It was a beautiful sunny two days and there were lots of people. Our vendor neighbors were seasoned and were a big help. The customers were pleasant and of all ages. The organizers were just the most wonderful people and the entire even was very organized. Will I do it again? YES! Two more shows this Spring. The next one is Somerville and then Phillipsburg. I hope these shows will be as good.

NEW Things

I decided to add some new items to my product line. I made some ponytail holders using plastic flowers. They look so pretty stacked and there are endless color combinations. I am gettings ready to do my first REALLY big show on May 30-31 in Chester New Jersey. I hope and pray I do well.

What a Day

Another cloudy day here in Jersey. Started the day by going to a local garden center and purchased some annuals. Lots of colors, purple, pink, red, white, orange and more. I want the fron of our townhouse to be an explosion of color, like the colors in Mexico. Well they are all planted so now we need some sun and a little rain. Finished the day by making some jewelry. I made a OOAK crystal necklace which is stunning. I love the mixed textures of crystal, shiney and antique silver all strung together. Tomorrow is Mom's day and we are going to the Casa Bella resturant in Denville. Should be yummy and fun!

LOVE Crochet and Lace!

I enjoyed making this series of earrings. The filigree is painted bright white which makes the discs look like crocheted doilies or lace. Each one is topped with a flower. If these are popular and sell I hope to expand this idea.

WOW! It's been a month since last blog.

Well shame on me for not taking time to blog. Just to many things going on. Craft shows are starting this Saturday, can't wait. Its suppose to be a glorious sunny day in Washington.

WBID’s 1st Annual Warren County Bazaar April 25, 2009

If you are nearby please stop by! Will be a fun day.

Interested in being a vendor? See contact information below.

WASHINGTON (March 12, 2009) – Downtown Washington Borough will be teeming with activities, entertainers, crafters, artisans, exhibitors and street vendors of all sorts when the Washington Business Improvement Districts (WBID) hosts its 1st Annual Warren County Bazaar on Saturday April 25.
The Bazaar will also include demonstrations and lots of fun stuff for the entire family, a chance for kids and their moms and dads to enjoy a fun-filled day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.!
Several downtown businesses will be hosting their own activities. Sal’s Pizza is going to have a special activity for kids, “Make Your Own Pizzas” for just $3. Children can go to Sherwin Williams and a “Make a Gift for Mom.” Meanwhile, Ink Works will air brush a motorcycle and the Washington Christian Bookstore is scheduling Christian Story Hours during the day. Fliegauf’s Jewelers will do free ring cleanings and free appraisals. Other downtown businesses will be participating as well.
Expect to see tents set up all along Washington Avenue (Route 57) with vendors, organizations and exhibitors showcasing their products and services. Throughout the day there will be demonstrations, street performances and other activities. Vendor space is still available.
“While arts and crafts are still a major component of our spring show, the intention is to give this event an even broader appeal,” said Sandi Cerami, Executive Director of the WBID. “We’ve made it so there is something for everyone!”
The Warren County Bazaar Fair will take place in the downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To reserve your space, contact the WBID immediately. There is a $20 registration fee with day of show registration of $30 if space is available.
For further information about the Warren County Bazaar and other programs associated with the Washington BID, please phone 908-689-4800 or visit www.washingtonBID.org.

Made in Mexico

While on our trip to Mexico I made some REALLY pretty things. I love working with delica beads and all the great colors. Right before we left I found patterns and instructions by Suzanne Cooper for 'really round flat peyote'. What fun I had creating these round medallions and using my own color combinations. The designs are placed on compact mirrors and pillboxes. Great additions to a take along in a purse.

We're Back!

It's time to get back to work after such a long and relaxing vacation. I could not update my blog because the wireless connection was down or slow most of time, very disappointing. This week I need to help my parents and watch Sophia. Hope to have time to create this weekend.

Wireless Was Down

It was torture having the wireless down! No e-mail, no checking Etsy and all the other things we use the internet for. Let's hope it does not do down again. Well today we went into El Centro and walked around. We bought some fresh shrimp in the market and made pasta and shrimp tonight for dinner, yummm. We both sat in the sum to much today so tomorrow is an off sun day for me. Enjoy the pictures!

El Quelite

Today the morning was very very foggy but then blue skies and lots of sunshine. Tom had a pool day and I went on a tour of a little town called El Quelite with a new friend, Lucia. What a pretty town, colorful houses, pretty flowers and good food. Great day!