Getting ready....

You wouldn't know it by my Etsy store, but I have been in high gear with my jewelry making. Well, as much as I can do, with a hubby always working, 2 little kids and a couple of colds.

I have become much better at drawing and writing down ideas as they pop into my head.  Amazingly, this has been really helpful when I have the time to sit down and actually make something!  I am really trying to use up my current stash, I have some nice stones and they have been collecting dust.  The upcoming craft fair(s?) has been a good kick in the pants to produce.  Sometimes I get a bit indecisive (should I use an 8mm crystal or a 10? Is this the EXACT shade I want?) and nothing happens. 

I am having fun getting my craft fair table setup and logo done.  But sometimes I wonder about the sanity of doing all this so I can afford more supplies and tools to make more jewelry.  I love doing it but it does become a little obsessive.  Or maybe it is my ultimate way of procrastinating on housework?

Anyways, I did learn that next time I take a photo with a reflective surface in it I should remove whatever is red near it! :)

Country Living Fair 2011

Today was my first trip to the Country Living Fair. I had a great time! It was beautiful weather and I went by myself. I knew it was a huge event and wanted to see what all the hype was about.
I didn't really expect to find any deals. I know this has to be an expensive show for the vendors and I could tell that many of them put alot of effort into their displays. But i found a place from Springfield that i got some decent prices on jewelry. I also bought soy candles, soap, a purse (that is what is under the jewelry in the pic), a wooden skeleton to hang on the wall (for Zac who is loving all the "Spooky Scary!" decorations in the stores) all from the people who made them.
That being said, for an entrance fee of $16 and a parking fee of $5 I expected more antiques! What i really enjoyed was watching what other people were buying and the marketing of the items. Alot of the re-done vintage jewelry seemed to be really popular. I have really enjoyed doing this sort of work, so to see it sell gives me hope that one day maybe i could at least break even with my hobby!
Here is a description of my "finds" today, starting top left:
Blue Weiss rhinestone brooch (missing one light blue stone), unmarked black earrings - soon to be rings, Sarah Coventry goldtone brooch, siver with black center flower pin - it has a marking but i havent made it out yet, Sarah Coventry earrings, an Avon owl pin (i dont usually collect avon but couldnt resist this cute owl! I wonder if he originally had the "googly" eyes he has now?), HUMONGOUS yellow plastic beads from Western Germany (no, i have no idea what i am going to do with them), enamelled flower pin and a German glass beaded necklace.
I am so happy with my stash! My Weiss broch is dusty, but none of the pieces show any wear or corrosion. I'm looking forward to making rings and necklaces with them.

White Necklace Re-done

I was underwhelmed yesterday with the result of my necklace.  Sometimes what I envision doesn't translate 100%.  Not quite happy with the chain in the design.  I have a fix, probably get it done in a year or so.

So I still wanted a white necklace.  I bought a Monet necklace at a flea market a few months ago with white enamelled filigree beads. I took the necklace apart, cleaned the beads with a toothbrush and baking soda paste, and restrung some of them back on the original chain and spacer beads. I also had a (supposedly) vintage glass shankless West Germany flower button that I glued to a brass flower.  I am very happy with the result.

Not ready to let go...

Another post about mourning the end of summer.  It seems that Mother Nature isn't quite ready to let it go either. After a couple of weeks of cooler weather we have a heat advisory today.  While it is nice to get a few last trips to the pool, those cool nights have made the water chilly!

A goldtone necklace with these shell beads has been in my mind all summer.  Yes, I just made it, when it is time to put the white shorts away.  I saw the women of the Today Show bejeweled with semi-precious stones hung in a similar fashion on gold chain the other day - it motivated me.  Of course, mine is just base metal chain with shell but I can pretend!



It's Still Summer!

I am rebelling at the back to school items and loving green right now.  It is still time for summer jewelry, I don't even want to think about sweaters and jeans. 


In this picture on the left is a vintage glass green button from West Germany.  The middle is a glass vintage cabachon with little specks of white, blue and pink.  I glued it onto a chunky button.  It fit nicely and I thought the white made the green stand out.  The far right is a finished vintage silver earring made into a ring for myself!


The earrings are brass wire with vintage components.


With the high price of silver right now, I thought it would be a good idea to wait for it to drop before buying more supplies.  So I have ventured into making my own earwires from my current stash of wire. I know - it's not hard to make earwires - wrap the wire about a tube and cut - but I have never done it.  This was my first attempt - practicing with brass.  I hammered them a bit, and de-burred the ends with my new wire rounder.  I can't believe I picked the wire rounder up at Michael's.  They are carrying alot more tools.  Don't get me wrong - I like my quality tools (the few that I have!). But not every tool has to be expensive, and with the weekly 40 or 50% off coupon from the paper it makes it very economical to pick up some new stuff!

Vintage Earrings into Rings Day.

Soooo..... I should be studying. But I'm not.  I received my new ring blanks in the mail. Just really wanted to get these done. 

The one in the bottom left corner is a Weiss earring. I got it at the Sunbury flea market. I was thinking of keeping it for awhile and trying to find another orphaned earring but I really want it as a ring!

The one in the middle is not complete.  That is a vintage glass button. After it dries I will glue in the blue resin flowery former vintage earring that also came from the flea market.  It is part of a pair but the other will be put on a necklace with white filigree Monet beads (well that is the plan for now).  The blue earring fits perfectly in the glass button. 

The one on the right was missing it's inner white cabochon.  I was thinking a green agate would look awesome, but I am too impatient to wait on another jewelry order and I found I had a labradorite that was the perfect size.

The other 2 pieces you see don't have totally flat backs.  So I am looking for other backings (like a button or metal piece) that will be a help. Otherwise I think they may be knocked off the ring blanks to easily.

I will be listing the cream flower, the silver starry one, and probably the blue with vintage button (but I love that button!).  But definitely keeping the Weiss rhinestone for myself! I love making rings.

I had some problems with my new lens photographing these.  And some of my photos from the other day didn't seem very crisp.  Have to do some more research - maybe user error but never had this problem with my other lens before it broke.