Hodge Podge
I've been busy to say the least. I committed to do my first craft show ever. It's not even until November but I'm going crazy thinking about what to make, how much to have on hand for stock, what to concentrate on, how much variety etc. etc. It's a 2-day show, at my church - I feel comfortable in that setting at least as I know many faces etc. So, I'm planning out what supplies to buy and order and I'm easily sidetracked and led down the path of spending way too much money. More than I'm sure I need and then of course, I forget about the basics like needing headpins and eye pins and ear wires and lobster clasps..... :-) If anyone has any tips, I'd be more than grateful to hear them.
The other thing I really need help with is getting organized and how to find the ideal storage solution for all my beading and chainmaille supplies. Right now, nothing is working for me and last night I couldn't find my gold filled ear wires. Okay, I only have 3 pairs in stock right now and they are in a little 2X2 zip lock baggie so they can easily be missed but come on...... I made a pair of earrings and I want my gold filled ear wires. So I'm probably just going to run to the LBS and grab a pair which will cost me more than double compared to those that I have in stock. I knid of know what I want and my Dad would laugh if he knew. In his working days, when he ran his artistic ironworks business he had this great wall unit that had all these little flip out containers that he used for washers and screws and nails and all the little things that someone like him would need in his shop. It's that wall unit I'm after. I'm sure he's sold it by now and if he hasn't, then he's still using it plus it would take a whole lot of cleaning to get it up to snuff for use with fine jewelry supplies. It came all the way across the water with us when we moved to Canada from Germany many years ago. I think I need to talk to him. Maybe he knows where I can get one just like it.
Well, what's new in my store? A hodge podge of goodies. Some aren't brand new but I just haven't blogged about them yet and others are in the store but I don't have pictures handy here, at the moment. So it's always a good idea to pop on over and check out everything that's in store.
First of all, I'd love to show off the set I made for my daughter's Kindergarten teacher for the end of the school year. I combined some chalk turquoise with some mother of pearl and created a bracelet and earring set. I think she really liked the set and I love the combination of the colours. It's just so summery.
I've also been a bit on a cross kick. I've always loved crosses and for many years, all I would ever wear for a necklace is my sterling silver cross and a sterling silver "God Bless You/Guardian Angel" charm (text in German) - the only thing I own that was given to me by my grandma. It tarnished and I never cleaned it up (silly me and now I've got some great tarnish remover so I should get to it). After learning the persian weave and making some lovely basic key chains and a very pretty sterling silver and copper bracelet, I wanted to learn how to extend that weave and make the crosses so I did and I've been enjoying making them. I love the key chains but I'm especially fond of the small, dainty cross I made from niobium and sterling silver and attached to a sterling silver chain.
Aren't those kind of cool..... of course, if you're not objected to crosses.
And, of course, I'm forever making earrings because if I have no time for anything else, I still have enough time to let my creativity be and make a pair of earrings. I am so very fond of these funky glass beads that I got in pink and blue.
And then here are a few other random earrings that I made. The flower spheres remind others of eye balls which I think is hilarious. I didn't see it until others said it to me but I still don't totally agree but I guess if you want to see eyeballs instead of flowers, be my guest. :-)
Time to be off now. I have more catching up to do later. All these things are available at Sparkles & Fuzz, my Etsy store.
