When your gone...

When I am sad that an item has sold... it makes me realise that yes, I do really want it. Even though I had no intention of buying this lovely scarf, I was rather disappointed to see that it has found a home (with someone else).


The scarf is by Etsy seller "homelab"

Now if you have read my "how to acquire a scarf..." post you may think its quite easy. However, the golden rule with this technique is not to overuse it.
I have a special friend in mind, who could easily whip this scarf up for me... but as this is more of a winter item... maybe I should let her knit herself something for a while, you know, just for a change :)

Colour Phase

Everything in my world is PINK right now
Pink folders on my desk at work
Pink case on my iphone
Pink logo for Jasmalicious (I think that is actuall what started the phase)
and i've just realised I am wearing a pink tshirt.

So using a funky website I pulled this collage from Flickr

Darlington Festival

This is my table at the Darlington Arts Festival yesterday. I took these pics early in the day but sadly, the table was still nearly this full by the end of the day.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had hoped for more success. The other stalls seemed to be in much the same situation. I was right opposite another jewellery stall, who didn't seem to sell much more than I did. The main problem seemed to be the simple fact that there was too many jewellery stalls. There was at least 8 that I counted. I can't say that me pricing was wrong, as many people walked straight past, without looking at prices. Others would stop and admire the jewellery, but still not go so far as to pick up a pricetag.
Overall it was a great day, good fun and a learning experience. But I won't be doing that festival next year. For the moment I will focus my energy on marketing my website, to try and get more sales that way.
Without sales, beading is a very very expensive hobby.

Sneak preview

I love having friends that craft. I have an amazing scarf on its way to me from a dear crafty friend. Not only does this mean I will be looking ultra stylish... but it kicked my butt into gear to finish the necklace I promised that same friend.

Inspiration struck hard and I managed to complete the project within 24 hours (this is why I bead... not knit).
Don't want to completely kill the anticipation - so this is just a little sneak... (payback!)

I really love this necklace, it turned out even better than I thought it would... hopefully she likes it too!

I have reached a milestone

After making a few pieces of jewellery I usually photograph, load onto the computer and save the pics ready for the website. Saving involves allocating a code for the piece that I can use for the inventory etc.
The earrings above are 'e100' which mean they are the HUNDREDTH pair of earrings I have created since starting this code system. In reality I have probably made close to 150 - but this is kinda exciting that I have reached the code 100.

I have been very busy creating lately, between getting ready for the Darlington Arts Festival (in one week) and filling an order for bridal jewellery. The bridal jewellery has been a pleasure to work on - with a bracelet and earrings set for the bride, and then four sets for the bridesmaids.

My fingers are getting a little sore now though.

Whats new?

I decided to tackle a long dangly pair of earrings for myself. I have had a few requests for 'chunkier' jewellery so this is my way of easing into it. Chunky jewellery is not usually my style, so I find it difficult to create. These earrings would tick the 'chunky' box I think - while still being quite delicate. They are very light to wear and theres a lot of movement in them (with a nice little tinkly sound). The beads are only about 4mm but there is about 23 on each earring. My hands are a little sore now after turning close to 80 wire loops!


Heres another few things I have been working on. My recent purchase of vintage brass components has arrived, but I am struggling to decide what to make that will really do it justice. I started out with a simple set for myself:


Then I have started on some creations for the website. This is really a sneak preview - I'm not planning to upload them untill I have a bit more of a range of this style.

What I am lusting after

I love this bangle
It has three cute little Murano Glass Cubes on two sterling silver bangles. Simple. Delicate. So perfect for Spring. It is by Leeski who has lots of beautiful Murano glass pieces
Not sure how much longer I can resist.

Aquiring a scarf...

Further to my previous post, my scarf is currently at step 5: Robyn knits scarf.

Heres the update pic:
So of course... I cannot wait to get my hands on it :) No pressure Robyn... honest ;) I'm just a little over-excited

Tulips

Too many words with no pictures in my last few posts.
I was driving through the city yesterday and saw some amazing pink Tulips. Unfortunately there was no place to stop the car so I couldn't buy them. But I have just found this beautiful photo on Etsy
Its by EllieLee

Not sure where to start...

It seems that there is so much to do, so much to think about, so much to plan that I don't know where to start. Here are the things currently running through my brain
Darlington Arts Festival -

• My stall application has been sent, so now I am awaiting word from them to confirm. I am working on the assumption that it will be accepted.
• Table display. My previous experience with stall set-up went reasonably well, but as the wind picked up there was far too much movement. If it wasn't the umbrella threatening lift-off, it was a bust falling over. The umbrella eventually broke, luckily near the end of the day, encouraging us to pack up a little early. This festival will be out on an oval, so even more exposed to the wind. I am planning to try to keep display props low so not to allow wind to disturb them. I am working on ideas of objects to go under the tablecloth to add height and shape for the jewellery to sit on. But finding different display stands/props etc is rather time consuming, and potentially expensive. Then theres the overall design of the display eg. signage, pricetags etc.
• Creating. Lots of ideas running through my mind, but when I sit down to create, I struggle to turn the ideas into physical pieces of jewellery.
• Purchasing. The internet is my worst enemy (but also my best friend). I can spend hours looking for new beads, findings and components. I've found a supplier of beautiful vintage look filigree pieces, so that order will be processed soon... I can see that taking me a while.
• Marketing my website. All of the above is useless if I am not selling anything. I need to bring more visitors in, and turn the 'visitors' into 'customers'.

See my predicament?

The sad little dollar

I don't really understand how the exchange rate works, or how its decided - all I know, is right now it SUCKS!
The Aus dollar is currently worth 79 US cents. This puts all those beautiful little things on Etsy just that little bit out of reach. It makes me stop and think, is this really worth buying... since it will work out to almost 25% more than it appears.

I am soon to be placing a nice juicy order from USA (wont tell you where from just yet). But this miserable exchange rate has got me questioning it.

It's a sad day for online shopping.

Color Experimentation

I am always fairly safe with my choice of colour - usually the most colour variety a piece will see are shades of a colour - eg light brown with dark brown and cream - yes, it works, but its very safe.

I've tried something a little different here, I think it works:
Quite hard to get a good picture, but it is Bronzite (a rich brown with light and dark flecks) with Smokey Quartz & blue Amazonite

More Vintage Love

I have found yet another amazing vintage jewellery designer.
Have a look around this shop Mystic Moon Studio
There is so much beauty in the delicate filigree pieces, with the soft edges and fine detail

How to acquire a scarf... in less than 10 easy steps!

Step 1
Mention to Robyn that you really really like the scarf pattern she is working on, and that you have been looking for a scarf like that
Step 2
Wait until Robyn says "I could knit you one, its a great pattern to work on"
Step 3
Choose yarn. This is the hard bit. I chose this one

Step 4
Robyn orders yarn
Step 5
Robyn knits scarf
Step 6
Robyn posts scarf to me
Step 7
Repay Robyn for her kind efforts
Step 8
Enjoy wearing scarf
Step 9
Brag to everyone that your talented friend knitted the scarf... especially for you!

Garnet

This is one I made this afternoon using faceted Garnet and a Stering Silver bead. These Garnet beads are beautiful - they have a really rich, deep colour and the faceted shape lets the different shades shine through. I think I will keep this one, but perhaps make another one to list on my website.

Summer is coming

And what accessory says Summer more than an anklet? Something I have always overlooked in my jewellery making, but after spotting this cute anklet on Etsy I will be expanding my range this Summer.

Lost...

I am a little lost tonight as the beading forum website is down.

I have been offered a great opportunity - to hold a stall at the Darlington Arts Festival. Sounds like a great day/weekend. I am on the search now for an insurance policy for my stall. So I am so far undecided about the fair. If I can't get insurance at a reasonable price it may not be worth my while.

Powercruise Sponsorship

August 30 will mark the second 'Miss Powercruise' competition that I have sponsored. The organiser, Nicki has been so supportive of my jewellery collection and has given me this great opportunity. The winner will be crowned 'Miss Powercruise' - her and the 5 runners-up will be given a gift bag which is supplied by Busywear swimwear, a piece of my jewellery will feature in each gift bag. I have decided on these earrings for the runners-up:Here they are, wrapped up and looking very pretty in pink:

Now I need to decide on the gift for the winner.

Showcase Results

The jewellery showcase was somewhat successful. Although it didn't generate any immediate sales, I now have 5 more people favourite-ing me. The number of views on each item has jumped up considerably, particularly the actual piece that was pictured in the showcase. This has received about 24 more views.

I might try purchasing another spot, this time for a Saturday or Sunday, and see if this improves the number of hits.

Jewellery Showcase

If you are browsing the jewellery (or should I say 'jewelry') pages on Etsy tomorrow - keep an eye on the showcase (top panel). I have booked a spot and have been busily uploading. It will be interesting to see how much (if at all) this increases the number of views on my items, and following that, the number of sales.

Vintage Necklace

I posted some earrings some time ago that I had ordered from Etsy. Well they were so beautiful that I wear them as much as possible. I contacted their designer, Kathy (aka Secret Jewellz) about getting a necklace to match. So I now have a beautiful pink necklace to match my earrings. At the same time, I ordered this most stunning dragonfly necklace. I wore it today and it went so perfectly with the olive green top I was wearing, so heres a pic:And a close-up:
So please... click on over and have a peek in her store.

Aren't they cute...?

Charm Necklace

I have tried charm necklaces before, and never been satisfied. I am not good at 'random'. Give me 3 pearls, 1 crystal, 3 pearls, 1 crystal and so on and I'll breeze through ... Ask me to throw random shapes/sizes/quantities together and I really struggle.
I think the difference this time was that I had a them. The Swaro starfish started me off, so I ordered little shell and starfish pewter charms and the rest flowed on from there. I love the look of the Indicolite Swaros mixed with black nickel findings, it really lets the vibrant aqua colour stand out. I threw in some fresh water pearls, an Adventurine square and some extra Swarovskis. The chain is quite long so it hangs about chest length, so theres 2 pearls and a crystal up the chain for a bit of detail to break it up.

Hope you like it... I do. Now for some earrings and I can wear this tomorrow.

I was however supposed to be making some things to upload to my website and etsy store... I have a spot on the jewellery treasury on August 14 so I really need to fill up my store to make it worth it.

Weekend update

The craft fair was good, although not a lot of jewellery or beads. I picked up some lovely scrapbooking papers for photographing my jewellery. Crystal Cascade were there, they always have a great range of gemstones and high quality pearls. I purchased 7 strands of fresh water pearls, all were half price. So I will begin creating with these soon.

I am getting stuck into the FMG parcel which arrived last week. Here are the first creations, these bracelets are similar to one I made some time ago, and have had numerous requests for it since.

Craft Fair

Tomorrow I will be heading to the WA Craft show with my mum. Not expecting a lot of beads/jewellery supplies at this one, but its still worth a look and a great way to catch up with my mum.

Hopefully I will have some exciting new items to show you when I get home.

I present to you...

The Multi-Tourmaline Bracelet or 'Rainbow Wrist' as it is called in the Creative Beading Tutorial.The little separator beads are sterling silver, these are only 2mm, so that should demonstrate how small these are. The pinks are just gorgeous, and there are lots of deep forresty and khaki greens. The fade-through is based on the intensity, rather than grouping them simply by colour.
I am thrilled with how this has turned out, and with the rainbow of colours it will go with just about any outfit and since it is so small its a beautiful subtle splash of colour and sparkle.

Progress

My Tourmaline strand finally arrived today - however its a bit too late now to start the project. By the time I got home from work/physio and cooked dinner... it needs to be completed in one sitting since it involves laying all the beads out and grouping into colours.

Anyway I have started experimenting with the pretty papers:


Subtle - but I think they add something to the pic.

Don't know where to start

Following my recent post about a search for pretty scrapbooking paper, I wandered down to Borders today to check out their range. They carry an extensive selection of 'Cristina Re' paper. I was stuck for about 10 minutes trying to decide between the white floral/silver swirly pattern/grey & silver abstract pattern etc etc. Finally found a sampler sort of set, well actually I think its made to cut bits from to use for scrapbooking. Anyway apart from being a little bit too small, its exactly what I wanted. Heres what I scored:


So of course... upon arrival home I was in immediate search of her website. This is the best place to start: Wedding & Engagements just because it shows their beautiful selection. But be sure to visit Craft Tips and the product range page.

Just Beautiful. Can't wait to photograph some new jewellery on these backgrounds.

Pretty as a Picture

I snapped these in the garden today after the rain. You wouldn't believe that it had just poured, looking at that beautiful blue sky.

Wordle me

This is a Wordle of Craftseeker. I decided to keep this font/layout when I noticed the beautiful alignment on the left hand side - "keep shopping". Go to Wordle to create your own.

Designer of the Day

This one caught my eye:

Its by SavageArtworks. Some beautiful pics there, and some have been made into useful little things like magnets and coasters

Pretty Paper

I don't even scrapbook, but I want to buy these papers. They are soo pretty.

They are part of the latest range from Kaiser called 'Blushed'. I would like to get a light, pastel, almost watermarked paper that I can use a backdrop for Jewellery photos. I think these are a little too busy. But I am sure to find something from the Kaiser range that would suit.

Lucky they don't sell online - or I may have bought by now.

Happy 50th

The previous post was the 50th post on Craft Seeker!

What better way to celebrate than with a beautiful new template. Not really sure that it fits the 'craft' theme but its nice a bright so I think I will keep it.

The Tourmaline Bracelet - part II

The Multi-Tourmaline strand below is still in transit. But I also needed a new clasp for this bracelet, a 3 strand silver clasp. A $36 strand of gemmies deserves a sterling silver clasp. I went to a local supplier for this, now I didn't expect it to be cheap, but $25 is waaay out of the budget - this is only the clasp remember.

Therefore its obvioulsy time for a FMG purchase. I think this is where beads a bred. This online mega-store has everything you could possibly need. Shipping is a little expensive, so when you order, order big.

Anyway, the clasp was only $12 so I upgraded to a prettier one with a filigree pattern which was still only $16.

I expect this to arrive on Friday (Fed-Ex is much more reliable than the Australian postal system) along with a heap of Swarovski Crystals that had been sitting in my shopping cart for over a month waiting for the magical 'buy now' button to be hit.

Too much time at home = Too many online purchases

First up was some lampwork beads. This was a case of 'you don't know what you want till its gone'. I had been umming and aahhing and about these for a while (without adding to faves). When I came back for another look and couldnt find them I realised how much I do want them. So the next day when I found them again I snatched them up.

Next up was a stock up on cute charms and chain. I also put together a selection of stampings. Which hopefully are soft enough to bend around gemstones to make some little vintage looking things. They were all from Over the Rainbow I have always had great service from there and the quality is always brilliant.

Last but not least... a beautiful strand of Multi Tourmaline. This project will most likely be for myself, mainly because if it goes to plan it will be beautiful and I won't want to part with it, But also because these beads alone cost $36 and I will most likely use the entire strand.

The project is not my design, its from the latest Creative Beading mag. A 3 strand bracelet with a rainbow of Multi Tourmaline fading through from dark-almost black-green and red through a burnt orange, ruby pink and finishing with soft pastelly colours. All separated by itty-bitty sterling silver beads. Anyway, here they are:


The wait is on for all these beautiful goodies. Now I just have to get to work and make something. I haven't made a lot lately. Maybe the arrival of these parcels will re-inspire.

Oops! I did it again

Yup... I fell for another Etsy item. This is what happens after too much browsing.
But I love the colour of these earrings and lately I just love all things filligree. The delicate metal swirls have a gorgeous medieval/heirloom feel.

Secret Jewellz has such beautiful, inspiring jewellery. I'm sure I'll be back for more!

Made on the Left Market

Made on the Left Market is being held in Perth in 2 weeks time. I am hoping to get to it to have a look at what talented designers reside in Perth.

Great to see more events like this happening in Perth.

New Etsy purchase!

Thanks to Robyn for the kick in the butt I needed to post here. I have just received this beautiful top from Etsy so it was perfect timing!
It's hand screen-printed on a lovely soft fabric. I am a little worried that it may stretch after the wash... but we will wait and see. If it holds up I will go back to Ellembee to order some other prints I think. Oh its also a bit longer than I expected, but thats OK.
Gooooo Etsy ;)

EDIT: by the way... thats NOT my body in the pic! hah! if only...

Damn you Quarantine!

Well that explains the delay - Quarantine thought my parcel looked dodgy... so they cut it open, realised its not dodgy at all, its just some innocent gemstones, sealed it back up and sent it on its way.

WHY did they choose my parcel? We will never know.

But this means I have my beads now. and they are sooo pretty

Waiting

I'm not a patient person when it comes to parcels & deliveries.

I WANT MY BEADS NOW

Oh and the Craft Fair is on this weekend in Perth. 4 sleeps to go!

Finally Found

I've been searching for these for some time now, and have finally found (and purchased) some at a decent price. They are black Onyx faceted Squares, only about 12mm in size. Now to plan some creations, they must be used wisely - I only have 16!

Two for me

I made this bracelet yesterday, nothing special, but I like the texture that the shapes & sizes give. It makes it very comfy to wear too.


So yep, I'm keeping it. I've also added a little dangle near the clasp, it was a little bare.
I've also made up another pair of silver cube earrings like this.
It's the third pair - the first is listed on the website, then made a set for Mum and now I have some of my own. Also included some little spacers on mine, either side of the crystal cubes.

Success!

After lots of cutting, measuring, sewing, measuring again, a little bit of unpicking, one broken needle and a bit more sewing, my quilted wallet is finally finished.
Here it is...



All it needs now is a bit more ironing to hold that top flap down a bit firmer.

I must say this project did my head in a few times. The worst part though was the topstitch around the outside of the whole thing - after turning it the right way out. At some points I was trying to sew through 2 layers of zip and about 6-8 layers of fabric because of all the hems etc. I've ended up doing the topstitch only on about 2/3 of it, the part that I haven't done is tucked inside when the wallet is closed so its no problem.

If I was doing this again... I would use longer strips for the paneling. I think I'd use stronger press-studs too, these ones are secure, but I dont have much confidence in them lasting too long.

All in all I'm satisfied.

*EDIT* just noticed a very wonky line in the stitching - I never notice these things until I examine the photos.

Card holder

Using leftover fabric from the quilted wallet (which is on hold until I find a zipper), I've made this little card purse.
And inside...
Will be suitable for a business card holder, train card, office swipe card etc etc

Lessons learnt - don't forget to trim the corners before turning it inside out. My corners have ended up a bit rounded and quite uneven.