mmm...yummy big news

So my little sister is getting married in a month -almost a complete surprise! If I didn't tell you and you feel you should know, now you know (provided you read my blog of course)!

And my big sister is expecting! - still early days yet so if you know my sister and you're reading this don't go running your mouth.

So my mom basically said she can't handle anymore excitement so I have to keep things calm. I told her she need not worry. The biggest thing going on in life is my lip balm.

While it might not seem monumental, if you know me, you know I love lip balm. I think in my yearbook there is even something printed for all eternity that reflects my love of lip balm.

Anyway, I found the shop KreatedbyKarina a while back but did not take the lip balm plunge until recently. She is a bath and body seller on Etsy and she has some pretty awesome looking things. Like rose petal soap?!?!? I think I might need to get some for my mother in law for her bathroom. It is sooo her.

But back to my lip balm. I got two flavors - Peppermint Ice Cream and Vanilla Frosted Cupcake. They are absolutely yummy!!! They are made with shea butter and feel so nice going on.

So mom, that is my big news. I love lip balm and found some really great flavors. I wonder which one I should try next...perhaps New York Style Cheesecake...

Do you know what today is?

It's my Etsyversary. :D

I can't believe I've been at this a year. It has been a fun ride.
I've learned a lot about myself and have been honored to share my work with you all.

200+ sales and 2,000+ hearts. Next year I'll work on more sales, less hearts. ;D
At it's best, Etsy is a vibrant community of artists with passion. And for that I am thankful.
Before I get all teary eyed or something, let's get to the good stuff.

To celebrate, I am having a 25% off sale kidlets.
Hop to!

I'm in LOVE

As I've gotten older I've found that I have gotten pretty good at prioritizing my purchases. I can now pass over an impulse buy of a cute pair of shoes because I know I'll personally get more satisfaction from other purchases. I love coats, art, jewelry and crafts materials. Not necessarily in that order but I'm glad I know myself.

I abhor buying socks. They are like my *least* favorite thing to purchase. So feel free to send me some because you know I wait forever and a day to get those bad boys. But I digress. Anyway, art is on my love list. Makes sense as I was an art major and all. ;P

I love art by my fellow Etsian Tabitha (http://thepairabirds.etsy.com). She has a new series of works called "The Heart Murmurs Series."

I *had had had* to own at least a couple of these. Really I'd like the whole series but I'll control myself and give you all a chance to get in on the action. This is my second purchase from her because I am just so in love with her work!

Her work has a graphic quality I love with a hint of old school soul. Check her out! Oh and here are the pieces I bought!

Better pictures here: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=10543907

Your Personal Garden Cocktail Ring

Well now I've gone and done it. I've *secretly* been working towards at least one new item per week. But then I go and blab it on the blog and you people might actually try and hold me to it. pfft. That's good old accountability at work.

So here we have this week's piece! Available in three finishes: black, bright or a mix of both! I love it and I hope you will too! This is kind of similar to my In Bloom ring I made a while back. This one is not wire wrapped though. It is soldered (I've added to my technique bag of tricks). Pick up your own personal Garden Cocktail ring here!

I reached 100! No foolin'

Could not resist an April Fool's Day quip. Anyhoo...

So excited! So excited! This weekend, I reached 100 sales on Etsy. Not bad (at least by my standards) for about 5 months at this thing! March has been a really good month for me. If you recall, I did that Etsy fast and it was to great result. March has been my best month yet! Here's to continual growth and maturation!

front page!

So today you get two posts for the price of one! I've kind of been playing catch up on some pieces and projects I'm working on so I've been busy. Anyhow the other night I signed onto Etsy to check on an order and boom! There I was on the front page! My Swirls A Go Go ring was on the front page, to be more specific. I had seen this treasury earlier and fallen in love with it. It really is so calming don't you think? Thanks so much for including me Miss Purl!

Big Blue!

So it just occurred to me that I did not post my Big Blue bird here. I'm so excited about this guy!!!

He is the newest addition to my "For The Birds" line. He is big, he is turquoise blue. He is Big Blue. He is awesome!!! You can find him here:

I was on an Etsy fast

Dear blog oh blog,

I did not mean to ignore you so. My apologies. Do you think we can be friends again? Great!
I was in the midst of an Etsy (fora) fast and somehow you got lumped in there too. So here is what happened with my Etsy fast:

It has now been 11 days. I didn't read or post (except when necessary - I had a materials issue and needed some advice and a quick promo post here and there). Here is the short version of my results:

• I created and listed new designs in the shop. At least two of which sold that same week.
• I finally reached the goal of 50 items in the shop and at least 10 pairs of earrings.
• I ended up in *multiple* treasuries - I'd like to think it was because I was listing new things and bringing fresh eyes to the shop or something.
• One of those treasuries hit the front page! See last post.
• I took the time to analyze which are my best selling days.
• I was blogged about twice this past week that I know of. Now three. Thanks Mrs. Dragon!
• I also contacted someone about a possible wholesale order with a new design and she is open to it.
• In the last week (excluding today), I've sold at least one thing every day. Now that doesn't mean I'm some huge success - but for me, that is definitely improvement.

So...I think I made a good choice in forum fasting for a week, don't you? I'm not here trying to brag. I'm telling you what *can* happen.

That place can really suck up a lot of good creation time and energy if you are not balanced and disciplined in how you go about taking part in the community. I'm not saying don't go to the fora at all but I am saying be mindful of how you spend your time.

More Flowers in the shop!

So some people have been asking when was I going to add more flower vases with different colors into the shop. Well, I was having trouble locating colors I *really* like (like that yellow. Love it!) so I searched and searched and searched some more until I was pleased! I am sure I'll be getting in some more colors soon as well. Click on the color name to be taken to this item in my shop.
Yellow

Ruby red

Opally turquoise blue (that's a technical term of course)

Orange

Tumbling Fool

So guys, I got a tumbler. I like to call it my starter tumbler. You use tumblers to harden metal and polish it to a mirror shine. Well, my goodness - it is ridiculous how shiny it gets! I personally don't need all that bling but I'm sure some will appreciate it. Here are a couple of kind of before and after shots:

The piece on the left is just normal. The piece on the right has been tumbled.
Before:

After: I mean, wow right??!?!?!
In other news my little shop got somewhat busy the last week. Yay! I don't know how those high volume folks do it! More power to 'em. This means, I've not had much time to play in new designs. boo. :(

Front page! Woot!

Well I was minding my own business yesterday and decided to check the treasuries. I found out I was in one or two. Woohoo! Well then half hour later, this one hits the front page! Woot! And I actually saw it on there! Double Woot! So exciting! The All My Eggs Basket was featured and it sold during the time it was up. So did one of my other pieces - my sweet little Cafe au Lait bird and I got a custom inquiry as well! It is beyond cool to see yourself up there! I don't think you can buy that type of publicity! Thanks so much for putting me in your treasury soleilgirl. Her shop is so cute!

Featured Artist for Black History Month!

So Etsy decided they wanted to do a piece on Black History Month for their online newszine, The Storque. They solicited ideas and stories for this, and guess what? I got picked as one of the features!!! I am too through people. I never knew there were so many artists of color on Etsy.

I guess one super great thing about that place is that you are judged solely on your work and not your appearance. How wonderful is that?

And Ma, I mentioned the frilly socks! hee hee. See the article here

Ah! Minty Fresh - Day 14

So here is my latest tree. Isn't it minty fresh? This lovely one reminds me of Spring. We're waiting Spring! Sterling silver trunk, branches and frame hold amazonite leaves.

This tree stands 1 in tall x 1.5 in wide (2.5 cm x 3.8 cm) and hangs from a lightweight 18" sterling silver chain. It is available for purchase here in my lil' Etsy shop.


Just for fun I thought I'd throw in this photo. Looks great with brown!

Gorgeous Treasury

This treasury is just beautiful. I love the muted tones and was quite honored to be included! Whether it will make it to the front page remains to be seen but I thought it deserved to be on my front page. There are so many wonderful curators on Etsy it's a pity not all of the greats make it to the front! To view it before it expires, follow this link.

Hippity Hoppity...Easter's on its way!

So I love these golden pearls! I found that the only way to truly show off their luminosity was to oxidize the sterling silver until it was completely black. It can be purchased here

In other news, one of my All My Eggs Basket necklaces has made into the Etsy Easter Gift Guide! See the second picture. It's the bad boy on the orange background:

Day 12 etc

Cafe au Lait Caged Bird

Lavender Caged Bird

A few Flower Vase in the Window pieces

These are some things I've been working on recently! I've been a soldering fool recently. Actually, the correct term is brazing. Can I tell you, I just love what I do?!?!?!

The Oval Planet - Day 11

I call this The Oval Planet Necklace. This would be my Design A Day - Day 11 piece.
Good gravy I love this bead. It has all these wonderful colors in it. I used my handy dandy new torch to create my own balled head pin to which I've wire wrapped this lovely red sardonyx wonder. It is available for purchase in my Etsy shop, Beads In The Belfry

Valentine's Day pieces

So I've been wracking my brain as to what do for V Day since like, December. I had one idea that didn't pan out. Had another idea that I still may pursue but is a bit different from my "normal" style.

I really want to do a piece that is timeless rather than gimmicky, you know? So I think the answer came to me last night. It fits in with and incorporates my current work, is appropriate for Valentine's Day and yet could be worn at any other time of the year.

I personally don't like jewelry that I have to pull out for special occasions and so I am happy with my conclusion. I've worked on it in practice wire and will do the real deal tomorrow! I would do it tonight but everyone else has gone to bed and won't appreciate my hammering. ;D

ooh idea! I'll do two versions!

New goodies for you

Brief post as the munchkin is ready to be attended to. New items in the Etsy shop

Cage Caged Bird Pendant

I made this set for my mom. It just arrived at her home today and she loves it! This is only the second time I've made a cage frame that is more cage like in shape.