Really trying to build up my stock here in jewelry, as well as try new things. I follwed a couple patterns in an old Stringing magazine that I'd really liked and then tried doing them differently.
Also trying to use up all these little findings I got forever and a day ago in a findings assortment from FMG (that's Fire Mountain Gems) by making earrings, and even a dainty little focal. I'm behind on my picture taking because it always seems to be cloudy or otherwise dark when I'm ready to take pictures. I'll get them done and posted soon, I suppose. Yeah, I know, I say that a lot and then never do it, but I suppose my intentions are good.
Going through an Etsy success shop makeover series right now....it's pretty helpful, actually. I have also discovered that while I'm getting the hang of my crimping beads, wrapped loops are a whole new animal. Whole. New. Animal. It's not really that they're hard; they just require....patience....
Will update soon! (hopefully with pictures!)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New Year, New Plans
I'm ignoring the fact I haven't updated this in forever. Really, I am. So, here's what I've been doing....
I FINALLY got my mom's necklace for Christmas finished maybe the week of Christmas. I found these topaz-y flowery connectors at Michael's and fell in love with them. So I picked out some brown facted rounds with gold around the edges and a smaller version in a more rice pellet shape. Then I strung two strands of the larger rounds on the lower half of the connectors (and typing this is making it sound MUCH easier than it was--took me two or three tries to get the length right!). I had orignially intended to use one strand of both sizes for the top and bottom strands, but I like the larger better. for the top of the connectors, first I strung four little rice beads on each side and then crimped it so it looked like a little triangle. Then I just strung it as usual until it was somewhere between 18-20 inches total length. I believe that part took me two tries because I made it too short....and I forgot to take pictures so you'll just have to use your imagination!
I decided I wanted a more beachy themed necklace too, because I had beads left over from my sister's necklace (which didn't take me NEARLY as long). It had a silver hoop connector with a strand of blue pearls and a strand of bluish rounds and tan mother of pearl-ish shell beads. These went over to a flying bird connector with a regular silver chain to finish it off. I didn't have a present for my grandmother yet, so I gave her that for Christmas. My aunt was very jealous. :D I'm making another one for myself because I liked it so much, but it's a much different version because I'm running out of those beads. And I have to go restring it because I crimped it wrong....blegh....
I also went and completely rephotographed every piece of jewelry I have for sale in my Etsy shop. It looks SO much better now, and I posted some new pieces of jewelry!
I promise to try to keep this up more often!
I FINALLY got my mom's necklace for Christmas finished maybe the week of Christmas. I found these topaz-y flowery connectors at Michael's and fell in love with them. So I picked out some brown facted rounds with gold around the edges and a smaller version in a more rice pellet shape. Then I strung two strands of the larger rounds on the lower half of the connectors (and typing this is making it sound MUCH easier than it was--took me two or three tries to get the length right!). I had orignially intended to use one strand of both sizes for the top and bottom strands, but I like the larger better. for the top of the connectors, first I strung four little rice beads on each side and then crimped it so it looked like a little triangle. Then I just strung it as usual until it was somewhere between 18-20 inches total length. I believe that part took me two tries because I made it too short....and I forgot to take pictures so you'll just have to use your imagination!
I decided I wanted a more beachy themed necklace too, because I had beads left over from my sister's necklace (which didn't take me NEARLY as long). It had a silver hoop connector with a strand of blue pearls and a strand of bluish rounds and tan mother of pearl-ish shell beads. These went over to a flying bird connector with a regular silver chain to finish it off. I didn't have a present for my grandmother yet, so I gave her that for Christmas. My aunt was very jealous. :D I'm making another one for myself because I liked it so much, but it's a much different version because I'm running out of those beads. And I have to go restring it because I crimped it wrong....blegh....
I also went and completely rephotographed every piece of jewelry I have for sale in my Etsy shop. It looks SO much better now, and I posted some new pieces of jewelry!
I promise to try to keep this up more often!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
PICTURES!!!!
So my Winston Churchill quote today said, "The short words are best, and the old words are the best of all." I like that. I think my favorite old phrase (or maybe it's just British) is "hey, presto!" Pretty much the equivalent of
"Voila!" I'm ignoring the fact that I haven't updated in eons and still haven't put pix up....okay, I'll do that now....
Black Pearl swirly earrings--made in a fit of creativity. I'm quite lucky I had all these stashed away from a very productive day as I had some earrings featured in a Piercings category.
Pearl and Jade earrings, very elegant. Discovered a second pair and decided to keep those!
There! I posted pictures! I've got some more necklaces I whipped up this past weekend, but I'll tell you about those later! :)
"Voila!" I'm ignoring the fact that I haven't updated in eons and still haven't put pix up....okay, I'll do that now....
The somewhat troublesome howlite necklace
Coral Earrings--I've got about 3 pair of them, I was trying to use up all my chips
Pearl and Jade earrings, very elegant. Discovered a second pair and decided to keep those!
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And...a Christmas-y looking bracelet! Well, the colors are, at least! I think I have enough to make one more, possibly!
There! I posted pictures! I've got some more necklaces I whipped up this past weekend, but I'll tell you about those later! :)
Friday, November 26, 2010
Black Friday Sale!!!!!!!!
Black Friday sale on my Etsy shop! Use coupon code BF2CAH20 when you checkout to get 20% off of your order!!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tocatchahummingbird
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tocatchahummingbird
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Quick Update
Just a quick update because I'm tired and want to go to sleep. I made a necklace with some howlite dyed to look like turquoise-- and there's a really funny story in that, but I'll save it for tomorrow :). I finally got my shipping rates all figured out-- hallelujah!--so I can stop stressing about that. I've got tomorrow off to make stuff and I'm really trying to get a bunch of stuff made to start selling for the year's biggest shopping season....but I'll get very busy at work also. Busy at work=tired at home, but I'll make it work. Somehow. Now I need to go to sleep, 'cause it's been a looong weekend....!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Update
Okay, so no pix tonight....my bad. It's been a long day. Hope everyone had or wished a member of the military a Happy Veteran's Day! And yesterday was the 235th birthday of the Marine Corps, Semper Fi!
Now that that's out of the way, time to get down to business. I bought a TON of stuff today at Michael's (20% coupon!) and already made a Chrstmasy-looking red bracelet with green dangles, and a dyed howlite necklace on leather cord. It's my first time using leather cord, so that was a bit of an interesting experience!
I got down to this one bit of howlite and the cord just stopped partway through. Rather disconcerting. So I finally peered through the hole and discovered it was uneven. So I went downstairs to see if my dad had a drill tip small enough to straighten the hole out. He did, looked at the stone and said it looked straight to him. But he gave it to my brother, since his eyes are younger and therefore better. So I followed my brother, threatening him that if he broke it, he was buying me a whole new strand. He looked at the bead and proclaimed it to be "not straight." I said something along the lines of, "I'll alert the media!" Case in point, he did straighten the hole--without breaking anything--and now I owe him a chocolate milkshake. The necklace is complete, and all is slightly better with the world. Now I just need to get my act together with my shop!
Now that that's out of the way, time to get down to business. I bought a TON of stuff today at Michael's (20% coupon!) and already made a Chrstmasy-looking red bracelet with green dangles, and a dyed howlite necklace on leather cord. It's my first time using leather cord, so that was a bit of an interesting experience!
I got down to this one bit of howlite and the cord just stopped partway through. Rather disconcerting. So I finally peered through the hole and discovered it was uneven. So I went downstairs to see if my dad had a drill tip small enough to straighten the hole out. He did, looked at the stone and said it looked straight to him. But he gave it to my brother, since his eyes are younger and therefore better. So I followed my brother, threatening him that if he broke it, he was buying me a whole new strand. He looked at the bead and proclaimed it to be "not straight." I said something along the lines of, "I'll alert the media!" Case in point, he did straighten the hole--without breaking anything--and now I owe him a chocolate milkshake. The necklace is complete, and all is slightly better with the world. Now I just need to get my act together with my shop!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
*snooze*
Yes, yes, yes, I know it's been awhile. I haven't updated in ages and I haven't posted anything new on etsy in ages. Right now I am dragging! I have the next two days off so I will TRY to give a longer update then. But until then, GOODNIGHT.
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