New Priorities

Wow...I still can't believe that I'm a mom. Life has changed in ways that I only vaguely expected.

Feel free to visit my other blog to read about the new baby...Marshal Lawrence...born on September 26 - a week and a day early.

I decided not to shut down my Etsy shop at all. It's not like sales have been flying in, so I figured the odds of having any sales were slim.

Lo and behold...I had two sales in my first two weeks home with the baby. I was not ready. Thankfully my family has been incredible in helping out. Mom has stayed the night twice to let me get a full night's sleep and my aunt even drove over an hour just to help out for a few hours. So I did manage to get both orders out.

In less than a month I'll be doing my one and only craft show. I really need to step it up and start getting ready for it. I don't need to make any jewelry, thankfully. But I do need to organize and price things.

We're slowly getting into a sort of routine. The last four nights he seems to have figured out that night time is when we sleep. Though it's not super consistent. His fussiness is getting a bit better - he was super gassy the first two weeks.

And my mental health has gotten better. I knew it would be difficult for me and I was right. I hardly left the bedroom for the first two weeks. And I barely ate (I'm back down to my pre-pregnancy weight already). It was pretty stressful, but again between family and my doctors I made it through.

I have ideas for making jewelry ... now I just need to find time and energy to make it. :) Although I've been wasting lots of time on Facebook games. They are addicting!

Counting Down

It's getting closer and closer to "D" day. :) The doctors have scheduled me to be induced on September 27.

I'm also working at home now...my last day "at" work is tomorrow...and then I'll be in my virtual office until labor time.

My exhaustion level is crazy high. Hubby and I went out to breakfast and then grocery shopping today and even though it's only around 5 p.m. I feel like I could go to bed for the rest of the night.

I did make some new jewelry last weekend and even got photos taken...edited, now that's another story. Here are some basic, barely edited photos...basically just cropped.

I really love the pendants and got them from the Pacific Northwest bead festival this summer from Lillypilly Designs. I've got several more in different colors but of course have no energy to actually use them right now.






I also made a cute pair of earrings with some smaller pendants but forgot to photograph them. I figure the necklaces will each be around $50-$65...the pendants themselves are not cheap, even wholesale (sadly, I didn't buy enough to get wholesale prices). It's probably not high enough of a price for the whole necklace since I'm using freshwater pearls and real gemstones with them. But I mostly just want to get them sold so someone can enjoy them. I really love how they a ll turned out.

They're made with real shells and I have no idea what process they use to create the designs. If I get these listed in my Etsy or 1000 Markets shop it will be a minor miracle.

I'm sure blogging will be as light, or lighter, than it has been lately. Once the little guy is here I'll be sure to post photos...but it might just be on my other blog Amid Clutter. I'll try to link to it here too. :)

So Little Time

Time is running out very quickly... I have less than 5 weeks before I'm due and somehow I have this feeling that I won't even make it that long before he demands to be let out. :)

I have all these ideas for creating new jewelry pieces and yet no time to create them. The baby room is not done - everything is sort of piled up in the middle of the room. We haven't even gotten some of the things we need to have (like a crib mattress and a bassinet).

I did find a few spare moments - last week - to play with the new enamel I'd ordered over a month ago. SO much fun!!! I do want to know why the larger pieces bubbled when I did the second side though (the counter enamel was fine). Any ideas?

As I was pouring the enamel from the ziplock baggies into their new solid canister containers I read the warning label on the Orient Red color...yeah...after I'd already poured it in. It said not to use if you're pregnant because it might harm the fetus. Lovely.

Thankfully I was practicing a small level of safety - wearing a mask and an apron. Hopefully that was enough. I've already had enough issues this pregnancy without causing more on my own. :) And I will not be actually using the Orient Red in anything until after the baby arrives. I'll stick to the "safe" colors (and I will still wear a mask because breathing in ground glass is not my idea of fun).

I'm taking this Friday off and will have a 4 day weekend...I'm hoping that I'll get lots of things done including some jewelry and photos.

SSP Fundraiser Results

I'm so excited to announce that I raised $69.95 during the Etsy sale fund raiser for Saving Shelter Pets. YAY!!! I'm going to round up. *grin*

So $70 is on its way to SSP to help rescue animals from high kill shelters. I love this organization and hope you'll check out what they do and support their efforts.

Cross posting at my other two blogs.

Just Two More Days!

The SSP Fundraiser is still going strong and there are just two more days left. I've sold a few items on Etsy, but I also sold some items to my mom and one of her coworkers and I'm counting those sales toward the fundraiser as well. I'll add up how much I've raised on Thursday.

If you're needing a gift in the near future (or even the far future) please consider shopping one of the participating vendors who will then donate 20% of their sales to SSP.

An Oldie Finally Posted

I made these earrings at least 1 - 1/2 years ago...maybe longer. It was when I'd first started playing with fine silver and fusing, and I was a lot more brave and willing to experiment. I'm not really sure if I'll make another pair like these (I have a few more that I made with different designs, but the same concept...also not listed yet).

While lampwork artists use fire to create their beads, after the beads are finished more fire can crack them, and even discolor them. So fusing wire with the lampwork in the design can be a challenge. Somehow I managed to not crack too many beads in my quest for this design.


Remember that all purchases help support Saving Shelter Pets, now through August 26, with 20% of the purchase price being donated by participating Etsy shops.

This fundraiser has inspired me to pull out some of my older work that never quite made it into my shop and get it listed. I just need to find the time to edit all the photos I've been taking.

Let the Fundraising Begin!

The Saving Shelter Pets Etsy fundraiser began yesterday and I'm so excited to be part of it. I've already made one sale and am thankful to be able to contribute.

I'm also eying some of the items for sale from a few of the participating vendors.

If you are a planner like me and have upcoming birthday gifts you need to buy, please consider purchasing from the fundraiser participants. 20% of your purchase will be donated to SSP to help them save shelter pets from certain death.

Here are a few of my favorite items from participating vendors.

Gorgeous "The Mojito Maxi Dress" by Rali.


TTV Carousel photo print by Gothicrow.
And I can't decide on one of the pieces from Sherry Dole - all are so bright, colorful, and fun.

I'm trying to plan ahead for Christmas gifts and birthdays. :)

Exciting Fundraiser Coming Soon!

I'm super excited to be participating in a Handmade fund raiser for Saving Shelter Pets. It starts this Sunday and will go through August 26.

20% of all purchases made from participating Etsy shops will be donated to SSP to help with their ongoing pet rescue and other program efforts. I just love this organization.

If you want to get a reminder on Sunday morning, I'm sending out a newsletter with the relevant links and details. Sign up for my newsletter here (I don't send out very many newsletters ... less than 12 a year I'd say).

Do it for Timber. :)

And for all those adoptable pets out there who need and deserve a loving, safe, abuse free home.

I Heart Elephants

I've been leaning heavily toward elephant related items for our soon to be born baby boy (does 8 weeks count as soon?).

One of my coworker's just alerted me to her mother's Etsy shop, which she just started a few days ago, and I'm gaga over this adorable little stuffed elephant and matching onesie. I want!

Her shop is Chrissy Creates...head over and check out her other cute items. I'm sure she's going to do really well.

Crafting for a Cause

Even though I don't have a lot of new items to post, I am going to participate in a fund raiser for Saving Shelter Pets this August. Etsy sellers are being recruited to volunteer part of their proceeds to donate to SSP.

If you have an Etsy shop would you be willing to participate in this fundraiser? If so...

1. Respond to this Post in the Etsy forums.
2. E-mail info (at) savingshelterpets (dot) com (making the appropriate e-mail adjustments).

This is one of my favorite pet charities...you can see the good work they do and the tangible results they get saving lives of adoptable pets. I especially get choked up when I see the results of their Puppy Promises program.

Please spread the word for recruiting other Etsy crafters for this great cause. Thanks!!!

"Won't You Help Other Pups like Me?"
Timber Wolf, adopted September 2008

Some New Old Things

This last weekend I sat down and forced myself to take some photographs. Not all of the work is brand new - some is actually quite old but that I never quite liked enough to photoraph. Is that weird?

I made this PMC (fine silver) with 22k gold sun pendant ... I don't know ... early last year or maybe even before that. I think it was last year though. For some reason I just never felt motivated to photograh or offer it for sale. I honestly don't know why ... because now I think it's pretty cool looking. Maybe I was in my uber perfectionist stage and didn't like the more rustic "imperfect" look ... now I like it.

Then there's this really cute dragonfly pendant that I made earlier this year. I made another with blue and purple and sold it already. So why didn't I list this one? No idea. I do want to make a couple more with other colors eventually.

Then there's these freshwater pearl Keishi earrings. I totally love these pearls and the earrings are very different - not at all your standard pearl earrings. I have no idea how to describe the color...orangish tan? I've had them made for months - maybe even a year. And I even photographed them once before but never listed them.

Do you ever make things and then put them away? I have a bunch of jewelry that I've made over the last few years that has never been shown the light of day. It's not bad jewelry...it's not necessarily my style anymore but it's still good jewelry.

I guess I need to sit down and force myself to take more photos of these older pieces. It's just way more fun to create new jewelry. =)

Why Am I Banned?

I got banned from Twitter over a month ago. It is beyond frustrating...I have submitted three different tickets asking why and so far NO response. The first two tickets were closed...with no response explaining to me why my account was suspended.

What do I have to do to get back on Twitter and why was I suspended in the first place?

Has anyone else had a problem with being suspended?

I thought maybe it was because my previous website had gotten hacked and I had my site listed in my Twitter account. But the website is fixed and no longer hacked.

Was it because I disagreed with someone? Or someone complained because I offended them somehow? If so that is beyond lame.

Anyway...I'm just frustrated because I really like using Twitter and following people. And now I've been without it for over a month. :(

I Want a New Computer

Well, I could probably make a case for needing a new one.

We got hubby a new one for his 40th birthday. It's pretty neat but it runs with Vista - pure evil and random freeziness.

Right now I use an ancient (can such a term be applied to technology?) laptop that has been knocked over and dropped so many times that the plastic pieces around the edges have literally broken off. Not to mention its double duty as a TV tray. It's a very sad looking machine, but it loyally chugs on (knock on wood) and does my bidding.

For now.

I'm constantly worried that it is going to just up and die. I have everything on that laptop...and yes I know I should invest in some sort of backup but I just haven't done it yet. Mostly I want to save all my photos (literally thousands of them) and files relating to my jewelry.

I've been looking at the ads lately and it looks like we're closer to getting Windows 7. They promote it as an Upgrade, which is funny since Vista was supposed to be the 'best' thing since sliced bread. But I don't want to buy a machine with Vista installed and have to go back later for the upgrade. So I wait.

Then the question becomes...do I want a new super laptop (must play video games) or should I go with a desktop. With two monitors. Yes, two monitors. If I have to work from home more than once a week when the baby comes I have to have the same set up I have at work. Two monitors is divine. SO much easier to work it's not even funny. Having only one feels pathetic to me now.

I hate change though...I know how to use my laptop and get around on it. I'm used to it. It's comfortable. Until it dies. I'm nervous about picking out a new computer. What if I get the wrong kind? What if it's a lemon? What if my files don't transfer over?

It's those kind of fears that help make the Geek Squad of Best Buy money. :) Because I WILL pay to have them fix up a new system and transfer stuff from my old one. So I need to consider those costs in additon to the cost of a machine.

I need to sell a lot more jewelry. =)

Finally!

I've been having major issues with my website getting hacked this year. It's so frustrating, but even more so since I have no clue how to deal with something like that.

My wonderful web designer has just been too busy to really get a fix on it so I went elsewhere.

HUGE thank yous go out to Liz from Zola Bola Studios for taking my website design and shrinking it down to the basics. Which is exactly what I wanted and needed. No more gallery or pages of products...those seemed to be the most vulnerable and hacked.

It's a new simple and clean design ... and she even made a VIDEO tutorial for me - showing how to edit my pages. Above and beyond my expectations.

So now people should be able to visit my site with no scary warnings or big red pages popping up saying that the site is dangerous. Maybe this will help get me back on Twitter...my account has been suspended for a few weeks now and I'm just hoping it had to do with the website link.

My next goal is to clean up some of the pages on my site ... especially the press page and the policies page. But one thing at a time. I'm just thankful that it's hacker free. :)

Exhaustion Ensues

Holy cow what a few days I've had.

Starting Thursday I've been huddled in classrooms at the Puget Sound Bead Festival. Seriously...it ROCKS.

Four classes down, one to go. And so far I'm thrilled with two of the four.

The first was a Bronze Clay class. My pieces turned out really neat and I like them, but working with the substance itself is not going to be for me. I gave the rest of the clay I got in class to another student. It is a ridiculously messy substance. And VERY finicky. I am looking forward to taking photos of the pieces I did make...they'll be the only ones I make for a long time. At least until I get a kiln.

The class did give me lots of new ideas for use with PMC, which I haven't played with in awhile so it was definitely worth it.

That was Thursday's class. An all day affair.

Friday started out miserably. I had to take Timber to daycare, which took some time since I needed someone to help me get him inside (he can pull me down and that would be bad). By the time I got to Tacoma I had about 10 minutes to get to class. Which would have been plenty if ... A) I could have found any parking and B) I didn't have to waddle like a fat duck.

I finally found an open parking space and waddled down about 6 flights of stairs, WITH my suitcase full of supplies, to get to my classroom. I was near tears.

Walked into class and it had already started, of course. So I was pissed off to begin with and then the class just wasn't holding my attention. It was a class on how to polish / grind metal using a Flex Shaft (or Dremmel) ... I don't think it's something I'll do a ton of for awhile. Besides that I don't have a Flex Shaft...though I do want one.

The second class of the day ROCKED. It was enameling with a torch and I'm SO excited to buy enamel and get started making new pieces.

Today's class though...so far my most exciting. It was Tube Setting. One of the most technical classes I've taken in a long time.But there are SO many options and ways to use this technique. I just need to get a Flex Shaft. And clean my work space area...at least organize it better.

Tomorrow's class sounds like a fun one...probably a bit more of a 'project' class for me. It's called "Stack Rings" and I'm sure I'll learn new things. But I do know how to make rings...at a basic level. So hopefully I'll catch on quickly.

Thank goodness I took Monday off to recover. I'm already exhausted. I've done more walking in the last three days than the last three months. :) My legs are killing me. Surprisingly my back isn't in too much pain...at least not the sharp stabbing pain I had been having before I started taking water aerobics. It must be helping.

I look forward to finding time to take photos of the results of my classes. The piece I almost finished today is probably going to be my mom's birthday present. :) It's going to ROCK. If I do say so myself.

Oh yeah...I did manage to find an hour to browse through some of the vendors. Nothing spectacularly different but I did snag some incredible Czech glass beads. I know...glass...not my normal purchase. But they're really different and gorgeous beads. Some of them are more expensive than gemstones.

Small Update

It's been a very crazy few weeks. I haven't gotten a lot done jewelry wise.

First I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Then a tumor on my placenta. Don't worry... it's not as bad as we first thought.

I'm a little tired and stressed.

The good news is that my mother in law's last bone marrow biopsy showed no cancer cells! They aren't calling it remission yet, but it's looking good. She's still tired and has a few other issues but we're very hopeful.

I'm basically just updating my Etsy shop by renewing expired listings. Kind of lame, I know. And I have a couple of new pieces to post but haven't found time or energy.

And I have classes all day, 9 to 5, starting Thursday going through Sunday.

I sort of doubt that blogging will take a high priority in the coming months. They're going to be monitoring me pretty closely and I may even have to be induced. :( Which I don't want so I'm trying to be as careful as possible.

So I thank all of you who keep visiting! And those who have checked in and offered your thoughts and prayers. They are all welcome and I am grateful!!! =)

Raising Awareness

I finally put together one of the pieces of jewelry that I want to sell to raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and even had a little time to get it photographed. After we saw my MIL at the hospital for Father's Day of course. Yesterday was day 6 of chemo chemicals being pumped into her and today is day 7. Now the even more difficult part comes. They said around day 14 she'll really start to feel like crud and may develop a fever. We just keep praying that her body works hard to fight the cancer.

Anyway, here is the first piece I have listed in my Etsy shop. It is a simple sterling silver ribbon pendant with Swarovski crystals in Orange/Peach, which are the colors of Leukemia (well, Orange is for sure and I just like the peach color).


I can make the pendant with any color crystal that I have available so it doesn't *have* to be orange, but the proceeds for any color pendant will still go to LLS.

When I find some more time I'll be making the matching bracelet, like the one my MIL is wearing.

Does anyone have any thoughts about the price I put the pendant necklace??? I made it $27...which means $13.50 of every sale will go to LLS. But is $27 too much? It's a very simple and delicate piece, and doesn't take me very long to make. So I'm struggling with that.

I still need to cover the Etsy and Paypal fees, as well as packaging, time, and material costs. But I don't want to price it too high either...my goal isn't a big profit on these. The bracelets will probably cost around $40, but there's more work and more material that goes into them.

Oh, and I'll be selling just the pendant without a chain as well, and I think I will price that at $20. So $10 will go to LLS.

I appreciate any thoughts.

Please let me know what you think. I'm hoping that I can raise at least $250 this year and hopefully more.

A Bit of a Hiatus

I apologize for not updating this blog. I haven't updated my Pet blog either. :(

My MIL was diagnosed with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) on Friday and then I was on vacation with my mom for a couple of days. We are back and it's all about my MIL right now. She went into the hospital on Monday and started her first seven days of chemo Tuesday. It's a very aggressive type and they wanted her to go in on Friday but she refused.

I am finishing current orders and am re-listing things on Etsy as they expire, but doubt I'll have time or energy to take photos of new work.

I WILL be making special jewelry that I will make myself photograph and list - this jewelry will be orange (or some shade of orange) with a sterling ribbon and 50% of the proceeds of each piece will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. My MIL is already wearing her bracelet.

So my next update will probably be photos and links to those pieces.

Things are not easy right now. I'm sort of unsure what to do or say or how to help my hubby and his sister cope. I'm just trying to stay out of the way but at the same time be as helpful as I can. I've ordered a special head scarf for her (her hair will fall out around the 17th day of treatment apparently) and trying desperately to find a custom hospital gown (it's surprisingly hard to find a larger sized, pretty, and open shouldered one).

I've put in an Alchemy bid on Etsy so please forward to folks who you think may be able to help (it's a RUSH request).

Thanks for your understanding!

P.S. I will probably provide updates on my other more 'personal' blog - Amid Clutter. Please ignore any political posts (unless you agree with me *grin*) and comment and leave prayers on my personal posts there. We want all thoughts and prayers at this time of stress, anxiety, and fright.

Someday When I Grow Up...

I want to enter the Saul Bell Design Award contest put on by Rio Grande.

I'm not sure that I'll ever have anything "good" enough to really compete...some of the past winners and entries are just completely amazing to me and make my jaw drop.

First Place Winner in the Beads Category.
Jonathan Rutledge, Jonathan Lee Rutledge, Evanston, Illinois

Grand Prize Winner 2009
Gold/Platinum - Geoffrey Giles, Geoffrey Giles Jewelry, Asheville, North Carolina

Second Place—PMC®
Gail Crosman Moore, Orange, Massachusetts

I can't believe that's the SECOND place winner for PMC!!! I just shake my head in awe.

So maybe someday...but it won't be for 2010. If you're interested though they're starting to take entries. Entries are due by September 18, 2009. There are seven categories...

• Gold/Platinum
• Silver/Argentium Silver
• Hollowware
• Beads
• Metal Clay
• Enamel
• Emerging Artist

The grand prize is a $10,000 gift card to Rio Grande! Holy Cow! But that's not why I want to submit something someday...I think just submitting something will mean that my confidence and skill have risen. Today neither are high enough for me to go through with it. :)

Creative Feature - S&T Creations

It's time once again to feature another artist.

This week's designer are Saundra and Terri with S&T Creations, who have incredibly bold and vividly colored jewelry designs.

Together, this team creates one of a kind pieces using semi precious gemstones.

Check out more of these lady's bodacious creations in their Etsy shop and visit their blog.