ALBINA ROSE

Moving from Blogger!

2012-02-01T18:01:00.000-05:00

I have made the decision to move my blog off Blogger and over to Wordpress. org. I've taken the next step up where my blog will have it's own domain name and I have more control over its appearance. It's currently under construction and lookin' good. I'm very excited about the direction Albina Rose is going in.

As soon as we're up and running over there in the next two weeks, I will post a link here to help you find your way over to my new home.

See ya there!!

Earrings for Mimi

2012-01-24T15:11:00.001-05:00

Just finished making these custom earrings for Mimi. I really like how they turned out so I am thinking up other color combinations they would look nice in.

I would love to see them in copper and silver with turquoise beads. Maybe silver and antique white with silver lined crystals beads. Oh, I know I'm going to have fun with this. The perfect way to use up left over supplies.

Thank You Zibbet!

2012-01-23T18:01:00.002-05:00

I'm very excited to have been selected as the featured seller this week on Zibbet, a handmade online marketplace where I have a shop. Thank you so much!

This is not only exciting but reassures me that I'm on the right track with all the hard work and time investment I have been putting into Albina Rose. It's taken me a long time to get to this point and by my estimation, I'm not even half way there.

That's because I believe the sky is the limit. And after the sky, there's space. And up there in space is the whole universe. Thank you, Zibbet, for giving me this opportunity. It is greatly appreciated!

"Always shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll still land amongst the stars."

Little Works of Art Part II

2012-01-22T17:19:00.001-05:00

No matter how much I would like to be, I'm not a painter. But I love paintings, drawings, whether it be pastels, oils, ink...Maybe some day I'll take the time for some classes. In the meantime, though, I found a way to create my own little works of art. No paintbrush involved. No years and years of education. All you need is some good sturdy paper, pigment stamping inks, rubber stamps and either colored pencils or markers. Or both!

I gathered all of the above supplies and sat down to see what I could come up with. A good heavy artist's water color paper is a good selection for tags that will hold up well. Then I stamp my image in the shape I want it, color in the image, carefully cut it out and attach a cotton string tie. That's it! To make them a little more finished, I add a tiny brass eyelet to some of them. And voila! Little works of art.

You can use them for gifts, give them as gifts, even use them as price tags on your items for a special occasion. By using archival inks, pencils or markers and acid free paper, they can be used in scrapbooking. Incorporate them into collages. Someone even purchased Asian themed tags I made as placecards for a Chinese dinner they were having.

The possibilities are endless and I'm quite sure many of you could come up with a new idea how to use them. Now I'm in a stamping mood, I'm going to be making lots more tags. Have fun making yours!

2012-01-17T14:17:00.002-05:00

Oh my! A very cool treasury near and dear to my renaissance heart.

'The Huntsman' by CollectiveHeart

Snow white winter c... MaybeTheWhiteD... $33.00	Autumn Photography ... PhotographyDre... $22.00	Engraved Primitive ... JourneyProduct... $18.95
Unisex Mens Wrist C... Waterrose $55.00	Chess Pieces Wall A... TheCookieClutc... $26.00	Victorian Bow and A... VintageJewelsA... $24.00
Antler Necklace Bro... LostApostle $40.00	Snow White's Ca... cookiefactory $336.00	Medieval Celtic Vik... MorganasCollec... $35.99
Animal Landscape Ph... ZenzPhotograph... $30.00	Handmade Decoupage ... MyDragonsRose $32.00	Antique BLACK FORRE... FISHRAVEN $75.00
Mens Rustic Medieva... tempore $138.00	Old World Leather B... stacyleigh $95.00	The Deer Hunter BuffaloPrairie... $175.00
Grey Wolf...8x10 ph... PhotosbyAdrien... $35.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Winter Arrived!

2012-01-13T16:04:00.002-05:00

Find more photos like this on Zibbet's Community

What is Beauty Perfection?

2012-01-13T09:30:00.003-05:00

For decades, society and media have defined what perfect beauty is. It's everywhere we look on magazine covers, in movies, the fashion industry. The pressure on women, especially young women of late, has been quite strong to look a certain way in order to be considered beautiful. And sexy. The 'industry' has always been defining what is beautiful and doing a great job of promoting that. I have felt the pressure too. That our self worth and value was tied to how we look, how sexy we are. Well, I don't want to be a cookie cutter product. I will define my own beauty, thank you!

Individual, unconventional, non-traditional, quirky, off beat...that's who I am and is reflected in how I dress, how I wear my hair, the things I do. Define your own beauty. And when you are who you really are, the happy glow you feel on the inside will show on the outside. And THAT my friends, is beauty perfection!!

I Love Anything Renaissance

2012-01-12T19:44:00.002-05:00

'Renaissance' by lullabygr

Handmade Decoupage ... MyDragonsRose $32.00	Feather fascinator ... modwedding $37.99	Hydrangea Photo - (... WhimsicalMinim... $15.00
Birth of Venus Bott... sweetheartsinn... $9.99	Cream Beige Ombre A... cosetta $10.50	In the Limonaia -- ... KatyintheUK $30.00
Renaissance paintin... TheatronItalia... $600.00	Renaissance Style B... MyDragonsRose $45.00	fine art metallic ... LDphotography $15.00
Creamy Blue Lace. V... happeemonkee $90.00	2 Renaissance costu... Puppycatmeow $165.00	Pannier Pocket Hoop... PeriodCorsets $350.00
Silk Art IMAGE - Re... THEwhimsicalPE... $5.99	Black lace choker, ... ShablulitTouch $20.00	she waits - 8x12 pr... sixhours $30.00
Lavinia Ivory Botan... TwilightShades $12.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Wearable Business Cards

2011-10-26T12:02:00.004-04:00

I found this idea in a Home Jewelry Business newsletter. The idea is from Upcycle Your Life on Aisle 3 . I thought it was such a clever idea that I would try it. Love love love the end product and can't wait to offer them up free to my customers at my Holiday Open House.

I'm on Zibbet!

2011-10-04T11:09:00.000-04:00

http://www.zibbet.com/AlbinaRose

I have been selling my jewelry on Etsy for almost 5 years now. And it has been quite a learning experience as well as mostly fun. Etsy, has become very big. HUGE, as a matter of fact. Making it more difficult for a little shop like mine to be seen in the sea of other sellers. Unless you already have a large following, are not in the jewelry category and sell lower priced items, you will have a tough time selling on Etsy. And lately they have made some significant changes making it that much more difficult.

Now, I am not of the mindset that Etsy owes me anything other than a venue to sell my work. But it is my feeling that the time has come for me to consider other venues. And I've looked at alot. The only one that appealed to me is Zibbet. It is smaller than Etsy was when I first joined back in '07 but has a very similar feel. Naturally, being very new, very small and very unknown has its drawbacks. But since I will have to drive all of my own traffic to my shop on Etsy anyway, I can do that for my Zibbet shop. And have the fun of growing with Zibbet as I did with Etsy.

Only time will tell. But come visit me on Zibbet.

Oh, Loving Ear Cuffs

2011-07-11T11:25:00.004-04:00

Ear Cuff

Renaissance Circlet Tiara

2011-07-07T08:44:00.001-04:00

Circlet Tiara

I Love Earrings and I Love Leaves!

2011-06-30T11:25:00.003-04:00

Shimmery Moonlight

2011-06-28T16:28:00.001-04:00

"Faeries are invisible and inaudible like angels. But their magic sparkles in nature." ~ Lynn Holland

Walking through the deepest part of the forest, it was dark and gloomy. Here and there a little stray moonbeam made it through an opening in the high ceiling of foliage on the tallest trees, giving minimal light on the barely there path. But up ahead, there seemed to be the faintest glow just off the path. The closer you get, the brighter that little glow gets until you see it's not a glow at all, but sparkle and shimmer reflecting the moonlight. There sitting on some dried leaves and roses is a lovely cuff. It's glimmer is mesmerizing and the simplicity of this bracelet is very appealing to you. You slip it on and it fits perfectly! You hear a little tinkling like tiny bells or chimes and look around to see where it comes from. Then you look up and there over your head are a dozen tiny faeries flitting around, dropping faerie dust all over you as their laughter brings a smile to your face. You acknowledge them and as they disappear into the darkness you make your way back with your treasure...

2011-06-27T17:07:00.000-04:00

2011-06-27T16:35:00.007-04:00

Not everyone wants to shimmer and sparkle with gems and jewels. Some of the earthy folk want to blend in with and be in touch with their natural surroundings, their roots. This necklace is made for them. Or, if you do like to shine in the moonlight, maybe, for a brave change, you're just daring enough to wear a necklace made with natural lacquered leaves. :)

My Latest - click the photos for more details

2011-06-26T12:22:00.008-04:00

The Woodland Faerie

2011-06-10T10:47:00.003-04:00

This necklace was made for the Woodland Faerie and given to her by the Faerie Queen in the Land of Enchantment. The dark green like the forest with the rustic copper wire goes perfectly with her gorgeous hunter green sparkling wings that are painted with shimmery copper swirls. Her wings and the necklace are sprinkled with little copper and amber lined crystal beads that twinkle in the moonlight as the Woodland Faerie flits through the trees weaving in and out between them. It's a very special necklace to her and she wears it all the time.

Do You Have a Brand Promise?

2011-05-18T12:16:00.005-04:00

I posted this almost 3 years ago. But I still get many hits on the article so I thought it was worth reposting today. In my opinion it is one of the top 3 most important parts of a successful business:

Do you have a brand promise? Several months ago, an online discussion in a group I belong to brought this subject up and I had honestly, never thought of it. But this discussion made me think long and hard. Now I understand how important it is to have a brand identity and brand promise.

One definition I found online:

The brand promise is what audiences are assured of receiving as a result of their relationship with the brand.

And another from Brain Trust contributor: Jean Wilcox, Co-author of Abullard's ABC's of Branding :

A brand promise is the statement that you make to customers that identifies what they should expect for all interactions with your people, products, services and company. It is often associated with the company name and/or logo. Sometimes also called a "tag line," here are three examples of brand promises following a name or brand:
For a heating and air conditioning company:
ABC Heating and Air -- "We're not comfortable until you are."
For a tire company:
Dave's Tire Company -- "More than tires, we deliver peace of mind."
For a fine dining restaurant:
Carl's Steak House -- "Our food is the best, but the memories we help you create are even better."

One more definition by Christine Hendricks, Director of Brand Strategy:

A brand is a promise a company makes to its customers, which must be delivered upon consistently with every single interaction.

I'm sure you now understand what a brand promise is. And the importance of having one for your business. It's an identity of who you are, what your product is, your customer service and what your customers will come to know you by. It also should convey to people who are not yet your customers, what they can expect from you.

Sounds simple but it's not been that easy for me to create a brand promise. That's because, as I wrote in my last post, I was all over the map with my work. There was no cohesiveness or balance between my jewelry (and everything else I was making) and my image. Impossible to create a tag line or brand promise for that kind of mishmash. Unless I wanted to use "mishmash", which doesn't sound appealing to me.

So I took the advice of some very successful artist friends. Who, by the way, all have successful businesses with very defined images and brand promises--let your work dictate what your brand is. In other words, look at your work and draw from those elements to create your brand identity. From that, your brand promise will naturally develop. And because you reached inside of your work, in essence, you, it will honestly represent you and your image.

So I end with this last definition of a brand promise:

From GarrReynolds.com:

Brands are Personal--
The greatest brands of all — that is, the greatest brands to you — are much like a trusted friend. In a sense, we judge brands by asking ourselves the same kind of questions we would ask about people we know or are thinking of doing business with. For example, we might ask: Is he authentic? Is he reliable? Is he honest? Can I trust him? Does he make me feel better about myself? The bonds we have with our most trusted friends, are bonds based on a promise. Our relationships with brands are not (usually) as strong as those with people, of course, but if a brand breaks a promise, you can bet that customers will feel betrayed, anger, and take their business elsewhere. Great brands have distinct personalities and people choose brands, more or less, that match their own unique personalities.

The Ever Timeless Denim Skirt

2011-05-18T11:24:00.016-04:00

Take one pair of old jeans, an old stained battenburg lace tablecloth, a crocheted doily, fabric scraps and your inspirations....Voila!! (I got the idea for the fabric scraps design from a pair of jeans I saw somewhere, but I'm sorry I forgot where!!! Wanted to give them credit)

My First Skirtain!

2011-05-17T09:51:00.006-04:00

This is my first skirtain - a skirt made from curtains. These linen panels had been hanging in my old house for years. We recently moved and they do not fit any windows in our newer home. What to do with them? I am just starting to get interested in the DIY upcycled clothing movement and realized these curtains would make a beautiful skirt. The doily medaillon is one I crocheted years ago. The roses and little 'hankie' were made from parts of the curtains that had to be cut away, so not one piece was wasted. It looks great on and I love it!!!

My Cuffs Are Featured In Some Beautiful Treasuries on Etsy

2011-04-25T15:48:00.006-04:00

What are your best memories?

2010-12-21T08:54:00.009-05:00

I know that most of us have been taught throughout our lives to strive for excellence. Even perfection sometimes. I know I was. And not just by our parents. Also by our teachers, coaches, bosses and even the media.

It's safe to say that there is nothing wrong with working hard towards excellence. To be the best we can be at anything we choose to pursue. That is a good thing and what keeps us trying, even when the going is tough. But what about striving to be perfect?

That is where things go wrong. No one can be perfect. At anything much less everything. Maybe the gymnast who gets a perfect 10 is considered to have achieved perfection, but have they really?

Anyway. There is alot of pressure from so many different sources to be perfect--have the perfect body, perfect hair, perfect job, perfect teeth, etc., etc. One big one is to have the perfect Christmas.

Ok. What exactly is a perfect Christmas? Snow on the ground, perfect turkey in the oven, perfect tree that is perfectly decorated, with mounds of perfectly wrapped gifts sitting under it. Cookies, cakes and pies on platters, beautiful Christmas music playing in the background and a perfect fire in the fireplace that has beautiful stockings hanging from hooks. Luminaries light the walkway to the double front doors with the perfect double wreaths. Guests are greeted with a Merry Christmas wish and glass of perfect eggnog and everyone has a wonderful time.

Hmmmmm. Sounds kind of like a Currier and Ives painting. Nice. But is it realistic? Maybe for some people but not for me. Oh, I was one of those who fell into that trap of working for weeks to create this magical event for my family. The only problem was that I never had a Plan B in case, just in case, plan A failed. And how could it not with all those sky high expectations?

Well, I learned a long time ago that life has a way of teaching us things we should know. One year, we waited too long to get out Christmas tree and ended up with the proverbial Charlie Brown tree. Naturally, the only place we had to put it up was in front of the big picture window. Which made our little tree look even skimpier. I was disappointed but still put all the trimmings on that tree. And it looked perfect!! I have a more clear memory of this little see-through tree than all the perfect ones that graced our living room before it. I learned that those times when things don't go as planned became a fond memory. One that we could look back on and share another laugh over, years after the fact.

Life taught me in other ways to lower my expectations from perfection down to whatever works. Oh, that doesn't mean I don't try to create a magical event or good memories and traditions. It just means that I know however it turns out, even if everything goes wrong, it will be memorable. Maybe not immediately after, but something I can cherish in my heart for the rest of my life. And a much more interesting story to tell later in years when we need a good laugh. More importantly, I enjoy the process with a laid back attitude that is so much easier than aiming for that perfection. And I'm happy to say that I have found a way to apply this attitude to most aspects of my life, making living much more relaxed and fun.

So when Plan "A" starts to fall apart, improvise! Go to Plan "B", Plan "C", then Plan "Oh What the Hell". It will be OK. I promise.

2010-11-14T09:48:00.002-05:00

This badass snowblower is my early Christmas present this year. All I need is some snow. Lots of it!! So what's wrong with this picture?

I know, I know! Why would a girl get so excited about a snowblower? Well, I'm not your typical girlie girl. I love power tools!! And for years I was the "shoveler" at our house. I didn't mind 'cuz it meant being outside after a nice snowfall. It meant getting some great winter fresh air and exercise. Now that doesn't mean I liked shoveling. I hated it! But I love being outside in the winter. And if it's going to be cold, I'd rather have snow so I can play in it. And get my Xcountry skis out. And I want to try snowshoeing this year.

So that brings me to the other peculiar part of this post. More snow!! I guess I like snow more than everyone else I know. Who don't like it, much less wish for more of it. But I say "Let it Snow!"

And there ya have it.

2010-11-07T11:10:00.003-05:00

I have a new collection I've called A Night at the Opera. Even though I've never been to an opera, the images that come to mind are women dressed in very elegant and glitzy evening wear. These two cuffs would fit right in!!

Ciel du Soir (Midnight Sky) is exactly that. Tiny silver lined glass beads on a black background that shimmer and twinkle like a starry night sky. My signature is a reclaimed brooch, which in this case, adds that vintage Hollywood glam and glitter.

Soleil de Cristal (Crystal Sun) is a bright crystal sunburst set against a golden backdrop with little satin pearl and silverlined beads.

So there you have it----a starry night and a brilliant sunny day. Perfect for any occasion!

The Cuffs are Back!!!

2010-10-20T21:15:00.006-04:00

Albina Rose is back on track after a long hiatus. Part of that time was taken up with my gift shop business which I have since closed up. Just wasn't for me. I spent most of my time tending to the business end of things when I really wanted to be creating jewelry.

I also had a big move when we sold our house and moved to our current residence. And somehow got sidetracked with making decoupage cuffs.

Now it's time to get back to business with the business of Albina Rose. I have a friend who is a professional graphic artist working on a logo for me which I will unveil when it's finished. I am consolidating all my work under the Albina Rose banner and am back at crocheting wire. Didn't realize how much I've missed it.

These two cuffs are the first of my new collection of which there will be much much more to follow. Stay tuned for more...........

Imagine my surprise...

2010-03-11T22:31:00.006-05:00

...when I got this note from Melodi who had just purchased one of my decoupage cuffs: "Hi there!! I'm purchasing this bracelet to give away on my blog.(http://www.prettyfabulousetsy.blogspot.com/)..."

I hope you'll check Melodi's blog for her giveaway and also because she has highlighted so many talented Etsy artists. You are sure to find something you love. I am very honored to have one of my pieces chosen and so I have made a matching 2.25-inch pocket mirror to include with the cuff for the lucky winner of this giveaway.

Thanks, Melodi!

".....Lookin' Out My Back Door"

2010-02-19T09:49:00.010-05:00

Every morning and every evening about two dozen deer congregate in our back yard. Sometimes we even see our elusive fox.

Art 14472

2010-02-07T16:52:00.005-05:00

The local art gallery in my town, Honeoye Falls, NY, is having a new art show starting February 10 through March 20. It's called Art 14472. This is the zip code for Honeoye Falls, and the Mill Art Center thought it would be fun to have a show highlighting only artists and artisans who live in the 14472 zip code.

I am truly honored to have been asked to submit some of my work. These are two of the pieces I have been working on and will show. If you happen to be in the 14472 area during the end of February and beginning of March, please stop in and see an eclectic, interesting and beautiful art exhibit.

It will be showing at the Historic Lower Mill on N. Main Street in the quaint village of Honeoye Falls, NY.

Yellow Bouquet

2010-02-05T08:38:00.006-05:00

As I often do with my cuffs, I used an old reclaimed brooch as the focal point. The only difference this time, is that I left the brooch pin intact so that it can be removed and worn alone as well as on the cuff. And the cuff looks very lovely without the brooch too, if you want something a little more understated, making this a very versatile piece of jewelry. I love all items, whether jewelry, furniture, etc., that do "double duty".

Getting Funky

2010-01-27T19:59:00.005-05:00

Last summer one of our friends had a seventies themed party. Everyone was scrambling to thrift shops or digging through boxes of old clothes in the basement.

Not me! I love funky. I love the seventies. And fortunately for me, that style is very in at the moment. All I had to do was walk to my closet and go through my clothes---clothes that I wear every day.

My latest decoupage cuffs reflect that era of peace symbols, love, guazy peasant tops and long, faded denim skirts, free expression. I've been having alot of fun with them. I love the freedom of expression they offer and plan to keep on making lots more. Stay tuned...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-09-29T18:11:00.002-04:00

Click away! Every day all year round.

Empty Nest

2009-09-08T09:28:00.011-04:00

Anyone with children knows the day will come when you face the proverbial "empty nest". Your kids will be grown and living on their own.

When they're little, you can't even begin to imagine what an empty nest is like, because it's years in the future. Anyway, you're too busy taking care of your little ones to even think about what's for dinner, much less what it's going to be like in 15-18 years.

I have three grown sons with less than four years between the oldest and the youngest. My hubby has had a very intense and demanding career path since we married. I wanted and chose to be a stay-at-home mom and have never regretted it for even one second. Now, that doesn't mean it was all fun and joyful all the time. It wasn't!! It was damn hard. Especially when my hubby was working 100 hour weeks or traveling for business.

But we managed to make it through those very demanding years. And managed to have fun too!

When the boys reached their teen years, I began to see that the time for them to leave home was fast approaching. It didn't make me sad, but rather excited. Excited for them to be taking that first step to independence and excited for my hubby and I, because.....well, because it meant time for us as a couple again. And everything that goes with that.

Not all parents see it this way though. My sister, for example, started crying the September of her eldest child's high school senior year. And when they brought her to college 5 hours away, it was like their whole family was attending a funeral, with their daughter crying after them as the car pulled away from the curb leaving her at her new college. They repeated this process two more times with their two younger children. Same thing happened. Only their second daughter, grabbed my sister and cried "Mommy, don't leave me here!" and of course, my sister just broke down. I know, I know, those are extreme scenarios, but I have friends with similar stories.

Our experience was quite different, I am happy to say. The September of my youngest's high school senior year, I started doing the happy dance 'cuz I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

See, I never cried when my boys went to kindergarten, even when it was the baby's turn. All of my friends (and of course, my sister), had cried when they sent their babies off to kindergarten. I thought I was a bad mom. My boys couldn't get there fast enough as far as they were concerned and I was excited for them. In fact, while some children were crying and clinging to their tearful moms, I had to pull mine back by the straps of their backpacks just to get a quick kiss before they slipped into the door of their new classroom. As I was leaving and looking at all the red eyes and clinging children, I was relieved to not be experiencing that. And happy my children weren't either.

Bringing them to college wasn't much different. We live in New York State and my oldest decided to go to school in Colorado. I took two days to drive him there and my hubby flew out to help move him in. The mom of his roommate was there folding her son's clothes, organizing his sock drawer, setting up his desk, making his bed. You get the picture. And they only lived a couple of hours away.

My son wouldn't even let me unpack a box. Every time I started to do something, I'd hear "Mom, leave that there. I'll take care of it." And with such a tiny dorm room, it was too small for 4 parents and 2 kids, so I stepped into the hall and sat down while the other mom went on fussing over her kid. Then we said our goodbyes, gave hugs, kisses, more hugs, more kisses and left. I had tears in my eyes and my hubby thought it was because I was sad leaving. But I was just really hurt that our kid wouldn't let me do the "mom" thing to help him get settled.

Of course, there was a tug at my heart leaving him so far from home, but I was more excited for him and his new adventure than sad for me.

We repeated this process with our middle son and went through the same experience. He wouldn't let me help settle him in either. By the third one, I didn't even try.

We give our kids wings, so we shouldn't be surprised when they want to fly.

At the moment we have an empty nest. My oldest is now on his own, and the other two have one year of college to finish. But guess what?! They'll be back home in the spring as college graduates, looking for jobs and of course, they won't be able to afford their own places right away. And you know what that means. No more empty nest!

So for now, my hubby and I are really enjoying having the whole house to ourselves, eating dinner whenever, and not worrying about who is where and what time they will be home. Not getting up weekend mornings and checking bedrooms to make sure everyone made it home OK. It's like we're on a honeymoon!

We love it when our boys are home and we love it when they leave. It's the best of both worlds!! This is how we choose to experience what is sad for many and even traumatic for some.

We're excited for our boys because they are excited about their journey to independence. An independence we instilled in them along with an adventurous spirt, from Day 1.

Bangles!

2009-09-08T09:03:00.010-04:00

This is a new twist on my wire crochet cuffs---no clasp! They're bangles. Yea! They just slip on over and sit lower on your hand than my more snug fitting cuffs.

The beads I used on several of these are more like large chips. Kind of like small nuggets, giving the cuffs more weight that feels so luxurious on your wrist. They absolutely shimmer in the light. And very dramatic. These are not for the faint of heart!

And what fun they are to make. Using different beads with different wires creates completely different and unique looks.

You can see them in more detail here.

Back in Black

2009-08-26T19:38:00.003-04:00

I tried something new with this cuff. Instead of my signature clasps, I used a button and buttonhole and really like the result. And as always, with my limited photography skills, I was unable to capture the real sparkle of this cuff. It looks great on. You can see more photos in my Etsy shop.

The Golden Rose

2009-08-19T14:03:00.004-04:00

Elegance and sophistication are the words that come to mind when describing this cuff. I used a shiny goldtone wire with small goldtone seed beads crocheted in. My signature clasp, a reclaimed brooch, is securely attached to one end of the cuff with a lobster claw clasp hooking into a loop made with the stem of the rose. This cuff is worn with the rose clasp off to one side. Pure elegance and sophistication. You can see more details in my Etsy shop.

Butterflies

2009-06-22T15:08:00.003-04:00

Look what I found on the threshhold of my front door one morning. It was sheer luck that the doggies didn't step on it when I let them out.

So to prevent its premature death by being trampled on, I gently moved it to the flower bed and set it down to take another photograph.

Later when I went to check, it was gone.

I have no idea what kind of butterlfy it is, but if anyone reading this post knows, please tell me.

Blue Belle

2009-06-14T13:04:00.003-04:00

We're all moved in, my gift shop is up and going, summer is here and this is my first new cuff in six months!

It feels so good to be back making my jewelry. I've had a very stressful 8 months of demolition, remodeling, moving, and starting a new business Through it all, what a challenge to also maintain an everyday life. There was absolutely no time for my art and passion.

So it is with immense pleasure and joy that I introduce my first cuff for 2009---Blue Belle.

Again, I was trying to use up leftover supplies before spending the money to purchase more. I only had a little bit of light blue wire left and quite a bit of shiny dark blue wire. So I simply picked up the wire, my crochet hook and started working. Like all of my cuffs, I have a very vague vision of the final product. It's much more fun and creative for me to let them evolve. My best work comes from that process.

When I finish the base of the cuff, that is when I decide what embellishments I want to add and I just happened to have these cute beaded flowers that were in different shades of blue.

Perfect for Blue Belle!

You can see Blue Belle in my Etsy shop where I plan to start selling my wire crochet cuffs again.

I'm taking Albina Rose out of hiatus and back into business.

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to share any thoughts with me. I love hearing from you all!

Do You Choose to Be Happy?

2009-04-03T07:14:00.000-04:00

We all experience ups and downs in our every day lives. Some ups are higher and some downs are lower. A few of us have to endure much more serious adversities and even tragedies. While others seem to always be on top of everything. How can we still lead happy lives while riding the roller coaster of these highs and lows? And how do you "choose" to be happy?

Whether or not the following story is true is irrelevant. The message however, is completely relevant to this question.

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. 'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' 'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied... ' Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing.'

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

How can you choose to be happy? You just do. Focus on the good in your life instead of the bad. That doesn't mean you don't acknowledge or deny the adversities you face. It means, you deal with them, not dwell on them.

"Don't get too attached to the good times because they don't last. But also don't get too attached to the bad times, because they don't last either."

Embrace your life, accept its imperfections but dwell on the good and positive aspects. That is the choice you can make. You are then "choosing" to be happy.

Life is What YOU Make of it!

2009-04-02T08:21:00.004-04:00

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, screaming WOO HOO, WHAT A RIDE! "

author unknown

Happy Valentine's Day...

2009-02-13T18:03:00.005-05:00

From Twigs and Faeries

ProPay Credit Card Service

2008-12-05T21:25:00.005-05:00

Last June I first blogged about this service when I had just signed up. I hadn't had a chance to use it at that time and this is what I had to say about it.

"Signing up for ProPay is easy. You have to go through a questionnaire that asks some strange questions. They are designed so that ProPay can verify you are who you say you are.

I had read some people say that if they incorrectly answered a question during the sign up process, they don't allow you to start the questionnaire over. You have to contact ProPay and mail or fax them the info. One person thought it was a hassle and didn't want to do it.

Well, that happened to me. But contacting ProPay couldn't have been easier. After you have "messed up" on the questionnaire, they give you very simple, clear instructions on what to do. They even give you the form you print out to send to them.

I did that and faxed them the required copy of my driver's license, a copy of one of our recent utility bills with their form that I filled out. I received an email the very next day saying I was all set and ready to go. All I had to do was set up my account and pay the $29.95 annual fee for a Premium account. With this option, you pay 3.25% per transaction to ProPay and $.35 to transfer funds to your bank account. "

It's been almost 6 months since that post and I've had a chance to use ProPay several times. I have to say that I absolutely love it! It couldn't have been easier and it did indeed increase my sales.

At one event I had $392 of my total sales in credit card receipts. When I got home that evening, I immediately got online and processed them through. In 3-5 days, the funds were in my account and I paid $15 in transaction fees plus the $0.35 to transfer the money to my account. It couldn't have been easier.

I know I got more sales that evening because I was able to accept credit card payments and my customers just loved it.

So have no qualms about setting it up and trying it out. It's a very minimal expense to accommodate the people who are so important to supporting your business. Go here to read more about ProPay and set up an account. You won't regret it.

Who is Responsible to Help Your Business Succeed?

2008-12-02T09:57:00.018-05:00

Strange question, and I would think the answer is obvious, but I have to ask. This is why.

I have been a seller on a known handmade site for almost 2 years. It has been a great learning experience. And really, I've learned that there isn't much I can't do on my own to succeed at it.

Recently, a topic of discussion on that site was titled "Stop encouraging people to discount and undervalue their work". Apparently, the site venue had been promoting sellers offering sales, discounts and free shipping. The author as well as many others, feels that this somehow denigrates artists and their work by cheapening it and the handmade movement. That the mere promotion of it, "puts pressure" on other sellers to offer discounts.

The general consensus appears to be that this venue has a responsibility to its members to educate the public about the value of art, the uniqueness of handmade and to promote the site as such. In their opinions, the site is doing the exact opposite and feel that this hurts their endeavors to successfully sell their creations and hurts the handmade movement in general.

I entered the discussion by stating that WE, as individuals, are ultimately responsible for all of those things. While it would be nice for this particular venue to help, they will advertise and promote as they see fit. That is not what should affect the success or failure of any seller there or of the larger handmade movement. Hard work, relentless promotion, and educating our own customers, with or without the help of this venue, is what will make a difference. Your energy should be focused there, where it will have the biggest impact.

My comments were criticized by a member who often criticizes my point of view. She stated I was implying that they were all wasting their time for justifiably asking for a change, that there is nothing wrong with that and by the way, I was off topic. *sigh*

OK. Let's take a look.

First off, I never said asking for change is wrong, bad or a waste of time. But they have taken this position, for almost 2 years, of constantly criticizing, asking for changes and feel that the site willfully or otherwise ignores their requests, and worse, does things that are harmful to its members. I suggest that maybe at some point, like after almost 2 years, it does become a waste of time. Maybe it's time to change tactics and direct your energies where they will more directly impact what's important to you. Anyway.

"Stop encouraging people to discount and undervalue their work". There are two parts to address in this statement.

a. How does promoting sellers with sales or free shipping discount or undervalue anyone's work? This is a selling venue where supposedly people want to sell and make money. If something has been sitting in their shop for months on end and they'd like to sell it, I see nothing wrong with them offering a discount or free shipping. It's their business! Nor do I see anything wrong with the venue promoting those sales. That's good business! It does not cheapen or denigrate anything or anyone. I do not believe that hurts us in general. (There are thousands of sellers underselling every day on a regular basis. I think that's a much bigger issue and would make a more valid argument)

b. How does promoting sellers with sales or free shipping "encourage people to discount or devalue their work"? The author of this particular topic suggested that the venue was creating an atmosphere that "pressures" other sellers to offer discounts. Are we not all adults? If someone is not interested in protecting their best interests or is so easily "pressured" by other influences to make poor business decisions, who is responsible for that?

So. Back to the criticism that my opinion (work your ass off improving your work, promoting it and primarily relying on yourself regardless of any adversities) is off topic---maybe a little, but not by a longshot.

They say that the venue's practices are devaluing artists' work and handmade by promoting sales and discounts. I say that's not true. We are responsible for and in control of our work and promoting it to success. If we succeed, the handmade movement succeeds. It would be nice to have help, but it can still be done without it.

See, several of the people asking for this "change" are the same people I've seen consistently asking for one "change" or another for almost two years now. And their requests for change are more often than not accompanied by harsh criticism of the venue, their policies, practices, behaviors, lack of response to the requests...you name it...and how it hurts them as sellers.

After a while, especially if they more often than not, do not get the desired response from the venue, I don't view that as productive behavior. Maybe it works for them, I don't really know and I doubt it. But it seems to be one of their preferred methods to attain what they think will significantly help them succeed. And then there are some who will never be satisfied and thrive on the negative aspects of anything.

My comments simply reflect that, and are based in my own personal experience. If to them, that means I am off topic, or they interpret it as me implying they are wasting their time, or even that I am not nice as the author put it----so be it. They are entitled to their opinions.

I stand by my opinion that it doesn't matter what any venue does or doesn't do as far as educating the public, promoting the site or anything at all. Only you can effectively achieve success in those areas. Or not. Ask yourself where are your energies going to be put to best use.

So criticize and ask away for changes. Time and time and time and time again. That's certainly anyone's perogative, even when it produces little to no results. I have too many things to do and more productive ways to accomplish them. And with only 24 hours in a day, I have to select the most efficient and effective way to successfully reach my goals. Constantly criticizing and asking this venue to change something is not the way for me. But, hey. To each their own.

Oooops! Was I just implying they are wasting their time? Depends on how you look at it. You be the judge.

A Thanksgiving Request

2008-11-22T07:00:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving.

Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, gravy, cranberries, pumpkin pie, families and friends around the table. People traveling to be home with family. So often we get all caught up in the excitment of gathering round and putting a fabulous huge, meal on the table, we don’t really take the time to think about how much there is to be thankful for.

Oh, I know that most of us are grateful for the big things like our family and friends. The food we are about to eat. The walls that surround us that make our home. That we’re in good health. All of these things are worthy of great thanks.

But how often do you stop and ponder the little everyday and mundane things you are blessed with. If I take a quiet moment to reflect on that, I am overwhelmed with the blessings in my life. That doesn’t mean I have a trouble free existence. in fact, it’s during those difficult times that I especially need to acknowledge the good things. They are what help me get through the darker not so happy days that we all experience from time to time.

Some of the things I am grateful for.

I have two doggies and they follow me everywhere in the house, oftentimes getting underfoot and annoying me. I can’t even keep up with the dog hair in the living room where they love to rough house. And one of them barks. A lot! It can be very irritating. But I love how they are so excited to see me when I walk through the door. Even when I’ve only gone to the store and back in 15 minutes’ time.

My hubby works late. Often. And I get so annoyed when he doesn’t call to let me know and I have dinner all ready. Sometimes he has to work weekends when we haven’t spent much together and I miss him. That is disappointing and makes me angry. But I love how when he goes to bed before me, he puts toothpaste on my toothbrush so it’s ready when I come upstairs a half hour later. Or he’ll stop by our favorite restaurant on his way home and pick up my favorite meal. I am grateful for his thoughfulness.

We have 3 sons in their early 20s. Every parent of young adults knows the ups and downs of raising teenagers. I don’t have the time or space to talk about of all those trying experiences. But when they know I’m down, I love the subtle little ways they show they care. Small gestures, but meaningful and touching. A little rose made up with symbols on the keyboard and emailed to me. No words. Just the rose. Sometimes I’ll find my car has been cleaned inside and out. Or when I go to empty the dishwasher, it’s already been done. No words. Just small gestures. Meaningful and comforting. Like a big hug.

Too often I grumble about having to go out on a cold winter night to bring the trash can to the curb. Our driveway is kind of long and sometimes I’m just wearing my PJs and slippers. But while I’m scrambling to get back in the house, I look up and am awestruck by a clear winter night sky that is wallpapered with twinkling stars. So I stop for a few seconds to take it all in. Something I would have missed if I didn’t have to bring the trash can out. I look at my chores differently now, and am grateful for that.

I am most grateful for my faith that was instilled in me my whole life, from which I strayed away at a certain age and that I am now rediscovering. That faith has gotten me through the most difficult days I have experienced. Without it, I could not feel any hope. I could not feel as much joy. I could not live fully. I am very grateful for my faith.

And now my request. I ask you to look around you and literally count your blessings. Take the time to really look, and find those everyday mundane things that enrich your life. You’ll be amazed at how much you have to be grateful for and how much it warms your heart.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday overflowing with an abundance of little blessings.

"Eye Candy Galore" is Right!

2008-11-02T03:25:00.006-05:00

One of my favorites is Carolina Gonzalez. She recently blogged about decoupage and shared photos of her work. As always, everything this woman touches, becomes beautiful and magical.

Carolina's "signature" is all over these---the romance, of course, but especially the vibrant colors. While she manages to capture that magical essence I love so dearly, it is her color choices and the staging she creates for her photos that initially capture the eye.

Not only is she a gifted artist, Carolina is also a warm and caring human being. So it's not surprising when you put those together, magical things happen.

Party Time!

2008-10-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

Just in time for all the upcoming seasonal parties, this festive little cuff would be the focal point of any holiday wardrobe.

I had too much fun making this one. With the sequins, the "buttons" and the colors, it is pure whimsy and magic, something near and dear to my heart.

Because of that, much joy went into the making. It put a smile on my face during this stressful time of preparing for the biggest event of my business career to date.

What made it even more perfect--the morning I finished it we had our first snow. A little early in the season, even for this part of the country. Naturally, I had to take the cuff outside to photograph it in a most natural and appropriate setting.

So there it is. I'm hoping to have time to make a little series of "party" cuffs for the holiday season that is almost upon us.

Little Acorns

2008-10-28T06:36:00.011-04:00

I was so excited the other day when I found my long lost bowls of acorns. But I have to go back about 10 years or so to tell you why.

It was back then that I found the instructions in an old magazine on how to make these adorable little "ornaments" / gift containers.

We have plenty of oak trees in our neighborhood so collecting a big bowlful of acorns was the easiest part.

Then I started working. It is a very tedious job, hollowing them out and carving the cork to fit in the cap. It requires time and patience. So, as always, when I have some handwork to do, I pop in a movie and settle down for a few hours' work.

I completely finished a few that I kept out, but most of them were in different stages of progress when I put the bowl away for another time. And somehow, they got pushed way back in a cupboard I hardly ever use and were forgotten. That was 10 years ago.

Last year, I sold the few completed acorns and racked my brains trying to remember where I had put those bowls. And I searched high and low through the whole house with no luck.

Then last week, as usually happens with me, while searching for something else altogether, I found them! And that's why I was so excited the other day! I think these are going to make a wonderful addition to opening night for my show next Thursday.

One More

2008-10-22T15:44:00.002-04:00

More Cuffs

2008-10-21T11:34:00.005-04:00

My wire crochet cuffs have become my signature item. And I absolutely love making them because they really bring out my creativity.

There is no plan. Just a very basic and simple base design that can be made up with so many different kinds of wire, beads and embellishments. The combinations are limitless.

I have two "trademark" clasps for my cuffs. One is a handformed and hammered "S" shaped loop for a toggle to slip through. The other is any one of several reclaimed brooches and pins that I purchase at thrift stores, consignment shops or are given to me by people who know I collect them.

The first cuff pictured here is bead crocheted with fine guage wire and little iridescent light amber glass beads. For the clasp, I handformed my "S" loop (the 'S' is for Sylvie--my name) and the embellisment is an old reclaimed clip earring that I adapted to fit on the cuff. Even though it's hard to see in the photo, it is shaped in a basket of flowers, the flowers being the assorted rhinestones and little "pearls".

The second cuff pictured is two-toned copper and bronze and uses a copper hook and loop clasp with two victorian style decorative buttons. The photo really does not do it justice. I love the blend of simplicity in the cuff itself and the romance that the buttons add.

Why I love to make these is because I never have a plan in mind when I start one. I just pick up my hook, some wire and start crocheting. Then I start to build on it with the embellishments and clasps. They just evolve into their final form. And I can never replicate one because of that.

Fall---My Favorite Time of Year

2008-10-15T15:27:00.005-04:00

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year and we are having a gorgeous fall right now.

I've been so busy getting ready for a month-long show at the art gallery here in town that I've barely had time to do anything else.

The one thing I am absolutely doing is getting outside to enjoy the beautiful colors, smells and sounds of a Western New York autumn.

My November "show" is in the Green Gate Gallery of the Mill Art Center in my village. I am their artist of the month for November and will be selling that whole time. I am having an opening night on November 6 and I know many people are planning to attend.

I have to make sure I have enough inventory to last me the following 3 weeks.

When I do a home party, earrings are the biggest seller. I must sell two dozen pairs each time.

Earrings are easy and quick to make so I've been taking a break from the more complicated and time consuming jewelry to make earrings. I don't have time to photograph them all, but wanted to share a couple of photos.

My work is now showcased here but I haven't put up any of my new items. I am waiting until after November and will show whatever inventory is remaining. Hopefully nothing will be left!!

Happy Autumn, everyone!

Moonlight Shimmer

2008-09-02T07:38:00.004-04:00

Oh, I wish I could have gotten a better photograph. I've been having a little trouble with my camera and this was the best I could do without taking alot of time fussing with it. And I really don't have much free time to fuss with photos at the moment.

I call this "moonlight shimmer" because the three-strand necklace is made with tiny crystal and white seed beads that have a little iridescent finish on them. I love the whimsy of this piece and the fact that you can remove the long strand of crystals if you want something a little more simple to wear.

Miniature "Works of Art"

2008-08-07T08:57:00.018-04:00

I have long admired artists who paint. This is one of the many areas of the art world that I have not explored, but would love to be able to. Maybe one day I will be able to fit drawing and painting classes into my schedule.

In the meantime, I have found a small way of creating my own miniature "works of art". And I am in no way comparing this to the real works of art created by talented painters. I'm not! I just wanted to share this fun little way to create hanging tags or gift tags that offer more than just a logo and/or price of an item, or the usual "To" and "From" greetings on a gift tag.

I have a collection of rubber stamps that I've had for many, many years, and have only recently pulled them out and added a few new stamps. Then I looked at my foot high stack of scrapbooking papers and thought there is definitely a way to pair these up. So I started experimenting.

What I found is that by using papers with interesting designs on them and strategically placing the stamp, I was coming up with some very interesting results. Of course, there were some that were not only, NOT interesting, but downright horrible.

If you like what you see here, you should try it yourself! Here is a list of what you will need:

1 - Cardstock weight scrapbooking papers with different designs. Lighter colors are better for the stamps to show up. Cardstock weight is a must to make tags.
2 - An assortment of rubber stamps.
3 - Different color inks. On papers with designs, darker is better.
4 - Scissors for cutting
5 - Different types of cords, fibers or threads to thread your tags.

Optional:
1 - brown and dark charcoal chalks with sponge applicators to age the edges
2 - eyelet punch and eyelets (I think these give the tags a very polished and professional look)
3 - Matte spray sealant.

Then start stamping! Don't be afraid to experiment. That's the only way you'll discover fun and exciting effects.

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

The smaller tags pictured were made with heavy weight water color paper. I stamped the image or partial image and cut them to the size of dominoes. Then colored them in with colored pencils. Some of the tags I used two stamps with two different color inks. Some tags I made with the same stamp, but different papers and color inks that gave them completely different looks. The combinations are limitless. Just try anything and everything. If you plan to sell your work, make sure that the copyrights on your stamps allow you to do so. Click on any of the images to see the details up close.

But most of all--have fun!

Flower Power II

2008-07-29T14:30:00.006-04:00

Meet Flower Power II. The first one I made had hot pink, turquoise and lime green stripes with black trim and black in between the stripes.

These colors here are more of a dark raspberry and a dark teal, but the same lime. The silvertone wire was used because I never exactly replicate any of my wire crochet cuffs.

Instead of my trademark reclaimed or vintage brooch, the clasp is my other signature clasp, an "S" shaped loop and toggle--handformed and hammered sterling silver.

What is Your Brand Promise?

2008-07-21T08:04:00.009-04:00

Do you have a brand promise? Several months ago, an online discussion in a group I belong to brought this subject up and I had honestly, never thought of it. But this discussion made me think long and hard. Now I understand how important it is to have a brand identity and brand promise.

One definition I found online:
The brand promise is what audiences are assured of receiving as a result of their relationship with the brand.

And another from Brain Trust contributor: Jean Wilcox, Co-author of Abullard's ABC's of Branding :
A brand promise is the statement that you make to customers that identifies what they should expect for all interactions with your people, products, services and company. It is often associated with the company name and/or logo. Sometimes also called a "tag line," here are three examples of brand promises following a name or brand:
For a heating and air conditioning company:
ABC Heating and Air -- "We're not comfortable until you are."
For a tire company:
Dave's Tire Company -- "More than tires, we deliver peace of mind."
For a fine dining restaurant:
Carl's Steak House -- "Our food is the best, but the memories we help you create are even better."

One more definition by Christine Hendricks, Director of Brand Strategy:
A brand is a promise a company makes to its customers, which must be delivered upon consistently with every single interaction.

I'm sure you now understand what a brand promise is. And the importance of having one for your business. It's an identity of who you are, what your product is, your customer service and what your customers will come to know you by. It also should convey to people who are not yet your customers, what they can expect from you.

Sounds simple but it's not been that easy for me to create a brand promise. That's because, as I wrote in my last post, I was all over the map with my work. There was no cohesiveness or balance between my jewelry (and everything else I was making) and my image. Impossible to create a tag line or brand promise for that kind of mishmash. Unless I wanted to use "mishmash", which doesn't sound appealing to me.

So I took the advice of some very successful artist friends. Who, by the way, all have successful businesses with very defined images and brand promises--let your work dictate what your brand is. In other words, look at your work and draw from those elements to create your brand identity. From that, your brand promise will naturally develop. And because you reached inside of your work, in essence, you, it will honestly represent you and your image.

So I end with this last definition of a brand promise:

From GarrReynolds.com:
Brands are Personal--
The greatest brands of all — that is, the greatest brands to you — are much like a trusted friend. In a sense, we judge brands by asking ourselves the same kind of questions we would ask about people we know or are thinking of doing business with. For example, we might ask: Is he authentic? Is he reliable? Is he honest? Can I trust him? Does he make me feel better about myself? The bonds we have with our most trusted friends, are bonds based on a promise. Our relationships with brands are not (usually) as strong as those with people, of course, but if a brand breaks a promise, you can bet that customers will feel betrayed, anger, and take their business elsewhere. Great brands have distinct personalities and people choose brands, more or less, that match their own unique personalities.

I need to thank Plumevine, Spellworker, Thyme, Isabella and Carolina for their wise advice and suggestions that have been very helpful in my quest to help my image evolve into what it's meant to be.

Jammin' Time

2008-07-03T12:17:00.008-04:00

I spent Tuesday afternoon at my friend's house making strawberry jam. And we made lots of it! Nine batches!

We both wanted to make extra this year because Kristine gives alot away as gifts and my family can go through one jar in two days. Easily!

I was always amazed by and loved homemade jam but was very intimidated by the canning process. So about 10 years ago I took the plunge with my first attempt. Who knew jammin' was so easy!

The basic recipe is simple: 4 cups of cut up or crushed fruit, 7 (yes, 7) cups of sugar and one packet of Certo (liquid pectin).

I do use the Ball brand jars, but I'm always on the lookout for cute and unique canning jars. Weck are my favorite! And I love their system of the rubber ring, glass top and clips. I've never had one not seal.

Steam canning is much easier and less time consuming than the traditional "water bath". So I invested in a steam canner, which actually can be turned upside down and used for a water bath if that is your preferred method.

First you take the tops off your strawberries. My friend showed me a neat trick using a plastic straw. You push it up through the bottom of the strawberry and it "pops" the green top off. Or you can just cut it off with a paring knife.

Next, rinse the berries in a colander and either place them in a food processor or in a big pot. If you use the processor, pulse for about 3 seconds. You don't want mush. You do want some pieces of fruit in the jam. If you prefer, you can mash them up in a big pot with your hands. Just dig right in and squeeze. Same applies here--don't pulverize them completely.

Measure out 4 cups of the mushed fruit into an 8 quart stock pot on the stove. Add 7 cups of sugar and 1 tablespoon of butter (to minimize the foam). Turn the burner on medium high to high and bring to a boil while occasionally stirring. Cook this until the sugar is dissolved. Then add one pouch of the liquid pectin and stir well. Bring back to a roiling boil and boil exactly one minute.

While the berries are cooking, you get your steam canner ready. Place the part of the pan that looks like it should be the top on the stove burner. Place the rack inside. Add water almost to, but not touching the rack with 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar. The vinegar is supposed to keep your pot from discoloring. Place the other part of the pot on top and turn on high. When you see steam shooting straight out of the hole in the top part, you are now ready to steam.

Once the fruit is cooked, ladle into your jars. Put the tops on and place the jars in the steamer. Process for 10-12 minutes. Remove the jars and set them somewhere to cool.

And now you've made a batch of jam and are hooked on jammin'.

Next on our list is peach, black raspberry, blackberry and maybe pear. I once made a pear jam with port wine that was delish!

I hope you'll try it at least once. It is one of the most gratifying experiences of handmade and makes a great gift.

A Rose is Just a Rose. Or is it?

2008-06-27T15:49:00.004-04:00

This is my new favorite cuff! I just love the way this one turned out.

I started with a rosey mauve wire in a very fine guage, crocheted with little clear glass silver lined seed beads. The seed beads are scattered throughout the cuff for just a little sparkle. The ruffled edge is accented with a looped edging of amethyst colored glass silver lined seed beads.

But my favorite part of this cuff, is the vintage 50s celluloid rose brooch.

I purchased this brooch from Anicka's Cottage on Etsy. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it for a cuff. It is gorgeous and the photos do not do it justice.

You know when you make something and you love it so much, you can bearly think of parting with it? Well, that's how I feel about this cuff. I want to keep it all to myself. But I won't.

You can find it in my Etsy shop here. But if it doesn't go quickly, I just might be tempted...

More Tips on Home Jewelry Business Success

2008-06-24T13:27:00.006-04:00

After reading my post about putting on a home jewelry party, one of my blog friends, Carolina Gonzalez of My Little Magick Shop, recommended that I check out a website designed to help jewelry artists sell their wares.

Rena Klingenberg is a jewelry artist and shares thousands of tips for marketing handcrafted jewelry. This site is loaded with great ideas, tips, links to related sites and much, much more! Not only can you benefit from all of Rena's experience and the experiences of others, but you can also submit articles of your own that could end up being published on her site.

If your article is published, it remains as a permanent page in her Home Jewelry Business Success Tips section. With a link to your shop and/or blog or website.

So, following Carolina's wise advice, I did submit my article about putting on home jewelry shows and to my surprise and delight, it was published.

Thank you Carolina for the suggestion and thank you, Rena for your generosity in giving so many of us a place to share our experiences and ideas.

I hope you'll all visit both of these fantastic ladies' sites, linked here in this post.

How to do a Home Party

2008-06-20T08:50:00.002-04:00

I've gotten several requests on how to do a home jewelry party so I thought I'd write about that here, rather than individual replies.

For me, they have been much more lucrative than Etsy sales. I feel I get a much better return on the investment of time, effort and money. And getting a large lump sum of sales and money is much more gratifying than the trickle of sales I get from Etsy.

First off, ask a friend to host one for you. I was lucky in that one of my friends actually came up with the idea and offered to have one in her home last summer. I worked like a dog for a month making a large enough inventory. We invited about 25 people. Fifteen attended and all purchased something. I sold $700 worth for my first home show. I was very excited about that.

Now that I've had several parties, there is a very specific routine I follow in preparation. Invite list is first. The hostess gives me her list with names addresses and I prepare and mail out post card invitations. About 2.5 weeks before the party date is just about right. They are asked to RSVP the hostess.

Rather than price tagging each item, I prepare a "catalog" of my items with a brief description and a picture of each one. I usually fit about 20 per page--5 rows with 4 columns. Those are printed up on plain paper on my printer and I write a cover sheet telling a little about me and my handcrafted jewelry. I staple the sheets together to make the "catalog". If I know there are 25 people coming, I'll make about 15 catalogs.

Once I arrive at the hostess' home, I set up, using displays I've come up with or purchased. Make full use of the space and spread out through the rooms. Have a grouping on the dining room table, groupings on the coffee table and end tables. Make the best use of anything and everything you can. I leave catalogs in different spots around the rooms.

Then I set up my "checkout" station away from all that, like at the kitchen table, and let the guests shop. This way, they can freely browse without the feeling that I'm hovering and watching them.

Here is my checklist:
postcard invitations
displays
catalogs
little shopping bags (to shop with)
sales receipts (with a sticker of your logo and contact info)
calculator
cash box with cash to make change
pens
business cards
bags and packaging (to send items home with customers)
tools (I will even bring some of my tools and a limited amount of supplies in case someone needs a size adjustment so I can do it right then)

My hostesses receive merchandise of their choice worth 10% of the amount of total sales for the evening. So when I tally up the sales I let them go through and choose their reward(s). If I sell $1000, the hostess gets $100 worth of jewelry.

Make sure you keep all of your mailing lists. You never know when you may want to host an "opening" of your own and invite all those people who have already attended home parties.

That's how I put on a home jewelry show. Please feel free to share any ideas you may have because I'm always open to those.

ProPay Credit Card Service

2008-06-18T09:08:00.005-04:00

I just signed up with ProPay and I can now accept credit card payments at shows and home parties. From everything I'm told, just having that ability can increase sales significantly. I will soon find out.

Apparently, when people are shopping, they tend to spend more when they can pay with their credit or debit card, than when they are writing checks or paying with cash. I guess that's true, but I rarely write checks and never carry cash anymore so that is my only point of reference. My debit card is my main method of payment wherever I go.

I will soon get to test this theory out when I do my next home party in a month. At the last one, I had 14 customers purchase $1,022 worth of merchandise, while accepting only checks or cash as payment. I can only hope that by now offering the ability to pay with credit card my sales really will increase.

This week I'm also working on a deal that I can't talk about just yet. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a definitive answer and will be able to write about it. But having ProPay was an absolute must for this to go through.

Signing up for ProPay is easy. You have to go through a questionnaire that asks some strange questions. They are designed so that ProPay can verify you are who you say you are. In a thread on Etsy about this, one person said she incorrectly answered a question and they don't allow you to start the questionnaire over. You have to contact ProPay and mail or fax them the info. She thought it was a hassle and didn't want to do it.

Well, that happened to me. But contacting ProPay couldn't have been easier. After you have "messed up" on the questionnaire, they give you very simple, clear instructions on what to do. They even give you the form you print out to send to them. I did that and faxed them the required copy of my driver's license, a copy of one of our recent utility bills with their form that I filled out. I received an email the very next day saying I was all set and ready to go. All I had to do was set up my account and pay the $29.95 annual fee for a Premium account. With this option, you pay 3.25% per transaction to ProPay and $.35 to transfer funds. No more expensive than an Etsy listing.

Easy! And now I'm ready to go!

Thousand Islands is So Beautiful!

2008-06-16T11:02:00.005-04:00

This is the view from our friends' island in Thousand Islands, NY where we just returned from spending the last four days.

The photo here is of Singer Castle on Dark Island which is no longer privately owned and is now a tourist attraction.

My friend, Nancy, told me that when it was privately owned, she used to attend a non-denominational church service on Sunday mornings. She would just hop in her boat and take the 5 minute ride over from Rabbit Island, which is the name of their island.

I didn't get a chance to take any photos of our friends' place and since it's not famous for anything, there aren't any photos of it online either. It is 17 acres of natural beauty. The family has two cottages side by side. They own half of this wonderful place. A different family owns the other half and their cottage is on the back side the island.

We were just the four of us there for four days of relaxation, boat riding, jetski fun, wining and dining, beautiful weather and gorgeous sunsets. We didn't want to leave to come home this morning. But all good things must come to an end. At least temporarily.

And now I want an island!

A Victorian Nosegay

2008-06-11T10:04:00.003-04:00

This is my latest cuff. I wanted to use up some supplies I've had hanging around for quite some time now. So I got my seed beads out to see what color would go with this yellow wire I had. Then when I found the old beaded brooch I've had for at least 12 years, I knew it would be the blue beads. The brooch was reclaimed from somebody somewhere 12 years go, so I have no idea how old it really is. But it was perfect for this project.

It doesn't matter what I work on or what materials I use, I always seem to end up in the Victorian age. I just love the romance, the lace, ruffles, flowers that represent that era so long past.

One of my friends, Carolina, mentioned that my jewelry has a very feminine look to it and she's right. I never thought of it that way and it's fun to see my creations through someone else's eyes.

My Little Magick Shop

2008-06-03T16:23:00.011-04:00

I love giving a shout out to the wonderful people I am meeting through Etsy, blogging and other networking sites.

Today, for those of you not familiar with her work, I want to introduce you to Carolina Gonzalez, owner of My Little Magick Shop.

Carolina is in the Canary Islands, Spain and we "met" when she posted her first comment on my blog. I visited her blog and knew right away that she has something very special about her.

I've seen shops with lots of different kinds of items in them. And it just looked like an unorganized mish mash of too many things. They gave off the feeling of so much clutter.

My Little Magick Shop is one of the most eclectic shops I've ever seen and Carolina has somehow managed to successfully pull that off. There is a common theme woven into all of her diverse works of art, both visually and in subject matter. They all seamlessly flow together no matter what order you look at them in.

You will find handmade jewelry, henna, paintings, magic kits, talismans, amulets and much more.

One of my favorites are her little Fairy Dolls pictured above. They are absolutely adorable and so appealing! The crafsmanship and care taken in her art work is very apparent, as is Carolina's intelligent and sweet nature. She has a gentle, kind and generous spirit. I'm very happy we met and I will continue to check out her blog to see what wonderful things she will be up to as time goes on.

I hope you'll take the time to visit her blog and her Dawanda Shop to escape this world for just a little bit. Because when you are "in" Carolina's domain, you do feel like you are in another world. A "magickal" world.

The Power Monkey! What is It?

2008-06-03T10:15:00.008-04:00

Are you into being 'green'? Recycling, reusing, flourescent light bulbs, conserving energy? If you are, you might be interested in this nifty little item.

Do you know what a PowerMonkey is? Well, I didn't either until my hubby bought 5 of them, one for each member of our family.

It's a solar charger with a variety of adaptors to plug into a variety of devices you may or may not use. Such as cell phones, iPods, PDAs, cameras, etc.

With the solar panel, you can charge your devices anywhere there is sunshine. So if you're out cycling and your iPod's battery goes dead, all you need is to plug it into the PowerMonkey, flip open the solar panel and let the sun do it's job.

They are a little pricey, but my hubby got a huge rebate which brought the price down to $30.

The only problem with mine is that I got a new phone, the latest model of the LG enV and none of the adaptors fit it. So I have to call the company and see if they have an adaptor for my phone. I hope so, because my boys are using theirs and they love it.

Just another small way we can help reduce the consumption of energy. But until I can actually use mine, I can't tell you firsthand how well it really works. Just what others have told me and reviews I've read.

And just so ya know, I have no vested interest in the company and don't know anyone who does.

Flower Power

2008-05-31T09:27:00.011-04:00

I wanted to try something a little different with a wire crochet cuff and am so pleased with this one.The colors and the beaded flowers remind me of the seventies, an era I love!

For this cuff, I used a particularly small steel crochet hook and made 3 different narrow strips which were then joined together, making this a more labor intensive project. But the technique makes it very sturdy and strong. The toggle clasp is handformed and hammered by me and shaped in what is becomming my signature "S" loop for my first initial.

The beaded flowers are really what gives it that 70s retro look. I used to doodle flowers like that all the time as a teenager. We used to cover our school books with brown paper bags cut up and that's how I would decorate mine, with brightly colored pens and markers. And of course, with our beloved peace sign.

I only wish I could truly capture the beautiful shimmer of this cuff in the sunlight. That simmer is almost completely lost in the photographs. It really is much more stunning in real life. But it's definitely meant to be worn by someone who isn't afraid to bring attention to themselves and who wants to be noticed. Oh, and someone who likes fun things.

Do Blondes Have More Fun? Or Do Brunettes? Maybe It's Redheads!

2008-05-30T08:47:00.029-04:00

Ever wonder what you would look like with a blonde bob? Or a short curly platinum blonde cut? Maybe you're into a straight jet black hairstyle. Well, now, your curiosity has a way to find out.

One of my friends, Denise, talked about Clairol's Try It On Studio, on her blog, where you can upload a picture of yourself and "try on" different hair styles and colors. Denise tried purple! From my pics here, you can see I had some fun with it. Maybe a little too much fun. hehehe

Well, no matter. I haven't had my natural hair color since I was 15 years old, back in high school, when Sun-In was the cheap way to go "blonde" for the summer. I use the term "blonde" loosely here, because depending on your starting hair color, the darker you were, the more orange your hair turned.

Sun-In came in a tall cylinder shaped cardboard container with a plastic cover shaped like a lemon. It was a spray, that you sprayed in your hair and then went out in the sun for the day and your hair would lighten up. How well it would lighten up usually depended on how dark you were to begin with. For the almost blondes and light brunettes, it wasn't too bad. But if you were a dark brunette, your hair turned orange. An ugly orange.

Over the years, I have tried just about everything except pink, purple, blue or green. I've been brunette, blonde, auburn, very dark brunette to almost black. I've had highlights and streaks. In the mid-seventies when I lived in Montreal, Quebec, the style was frosted bangs and sides. I did that too.

After I got married and had my 3 sons, I didn't have time to be high maintenance anything, so I just colored my own hair at home, no highlighting or anything. B-O-R-I-N-G. I even cut my own hair for years.

For my 50th birthday in September 2005, I finally decided it was time to have it done right. So off I went to one of the best salons in our area, which is a very upscale salon, and got a great haircut and some chunky caramel colored highlights. It looked great!! It also cost a small fortune, but I didn't care. My only gripe was why did I wait so long to do this.

Anyway, when I saw Denise's "purple" hair on her blog, I knew I would have to check out the "Try It On Studio" and here are the results.

So. Which one of these is the real me? I'm actually partial to the short curly platinum blonde look there, and the warm blonde bob at the top is very elegant and smart. The straight black is definitely not me! And while I like the hairstyle with the red color, I don't really make a great redhead. The only place you'll see me with any of those, is in the Try It On Studio. I'm more like the dark brown layered style up there. But ya never know what the future may bring...

One parting thought---I'm not blonde. And I've always had lots of fun! ; )

Wire Crochet Cuff - Black and White Formal

2008-05-14T21:28:00.005-04:00

We've been so busy lately with travel, yardwork and some family commitments I haven't had much time to make anything. I actually had 4 different pieces of jewelry in different stages of progress on the coffee table in our living room. And all the materials and tools all over the place in a big mish mash. But I finally got around to finishing a couple of them today and am quite pleased with this cuff.

As always, the clasp is the focal point of my wire crochet cuffs. My collection of discarded and old brooches has grown quite a bit in the last month or so. I found this one particularly elegant and thought it would be perfect with black and silver. Perfect for a Black and White Formal Gala, or the prom or just to wear with my white gauzy peasant blouse and long flowing black skirt.

The only thing that would make it more perfect is if my hubby and I could find the time to squeeze in a date night so I could wear it with my peasant blouse and black skirt. Going to check our calendar right now...

My Flowering Crab Tree

2008-05-02T11:48:00.004-04:00

Every other year, this is what the flowering crab in front of our house looks like. And every other year in between, it only gets one or two branches with a few blossoms.

It's right in front of our big picture bow window so that all I see when it's in full bloom, are little bits of green and blue sky scattered in this wash of pink blossoms. The absolutely most beautiful "curtain" in any of our windows.

It's That Time of Year Again!

2008-04-30T13:35:00.003-04:00

Meet Haley and Odie. Our two doggies, both rescues. Haley is a dobie/shepherd mix and Odie is what we call Heinz 57. A little bit of everything. In a few months, Haley will turn 9 and Odie will turn 5.

How did we come to meet and bring these two wonderful mutts into our lives? Well, let me go back to May of 2000.

My hubby was commuting to and working in Aurora, NY, north of Ithaca and his commute was 1 1/2 hours each way. One of the women he worked with, Maryl, was also a volunteer animal rescuer. She found Haley as a 4 month old puppy wandering the streets of Aurora. Maryl brought this puppy to the pound in case her owners might be looking for her. One week later she called them to see if anyone had claimed her. The pound told her no and that they were going to euthanize Haley the next day. Maryl pratically screamed "NO!" into the phone. She told them to cancel that and she was going to come get the puppy.

So Maryl brought the puppy home, brought her to the vet and started all the necessary shots and health care that Haley needed. Then she started to hunt for a good home for her. Haley came to work with Maryl in a kennel every day. Everyone at the office started to fall in love with her. Howie, my hubby, asked me once if I would be interested in meeting Haley and maybe adopting her. I wasn't sure at first, because of how busy our lives were with our 3 boys, then in high school and middle school. But we agreed to "foster" Haley for a weekend so Maryl could go away for a few days.

Well, as soon as Haley, then 8 months old jumped out of the car and shyly came up to me, it was love at first sight. Haley was home and that's where she's been ever since. We were both fortunate in this meeting. Haley got a home with lots of loving care and we got the smartest, sweetest, most loving pet we'd ever had.

Odie has a little different history. I was working at the local animal veterinary hospital when he came into my life in September 2003. One day, someone came in with a female dog who had obviously had puppies about 7 or 8 weeks before and one of her pups. They were found walking down a very busy route, and as we later found out, quite a ways from home. The puppy was an odd little guy. One ear was always flopped down. The other one up, but had a little bite taken out of the tip. One of his 9 litter mates had probably nipped him. One eye was white like a husky. The other brown. When he would open his mouth you could see way in the back, the dark purple spots of a Chow. His hind quarters are like a greyhound and just as strong. A funny sight for sure, but at only 8 weeks old, we all fell in love with him.

The girl who brought them in soon found out where they belonged and brought them both back so the mom could be with her other puppies. The rescuer found out that the owners wouldn't let them in the house, they were all living outside and didn't want any of them anymore. So she asked them if she could come back and get the mother when they had found homes for the puppies. The owners agreed.

A few weeks later, all but one of the puppies had been selected by prospective owners. Only one was left and nobody wanted him. So when the rescuer went to pick up the mom to bring her home with her, she also brought the one lone puppy. She named the mom Nazareth and asked if we could try to place Nazareth's puppy. Of course we agreed. Anyway, again, I offered to foster this strange little guy for a weekend, and again, he never left. We named him Odie after the dog in the Garfield comic strips, because, well, he looks like an Odie. Acts like one too.

That's how we came to have our doggies. And back to my title, waaaay up there somewhere, about this time of year. Every spring is time for their physical checkups, shots, heartworm tests and meds, and flea prevention stuff. It's very expensive, but having worked in an animal hospital, I appreciate and understand the value of good health care for your animals. They have brought so much love, fun, and joy to our lives, it's only fair that we love them enough to take the best care of them that we can, in return.

So off I go to make an appointment for them. At the same animal hospital I worked in for 3 years.

What if You Have a Housefire?

2008-04-27T08:36:00.011-04:00

Six days ago, my parents suffered a house fire. Fortunately, it was in the basement. The main living area of the house, though heavily smoke damaged, was saved.

Unfortunately, it was in the basement, where my Dad, a carpenter and my Mom, a seamstress, had their workshop and sewing room.

The fire originated in the workshop by my Dad's radial arm saw. It was an electrical fire. His shop and 99% of the tools are a total loss. My Dad is 76 years old and his workshop was filled with a lifetime's worth of everything he has purchased, collected and used for his craft. He was most disappointed about two things---1- his most recent woodstrip canoe which was finished and only needed the seats; and 2- two hammers he has had for 60 years, one which had been given to him by his mom when he was a teenager. My brother is going to try to salvage the hammers. They have already peeled off all of the fiberglass from the canoe and it looks like it can also be salvaged. It will still bear marks of the fire, and that will bother my Dad, the perfectionist. The rest of us feel it's now part of our family history.

My Mom's sewing room wasn't burned, but suffered heavy smoke and water damage. We will be able to salvage or replace almost everything.

It has been very sad to see my Dad sorting through the charred remains to find anything that can be saved and to throw away everything that can't. While helping him through this ordeal, it has gotten me to think about how I would deal with losing my studio and everything in it.

It's amazing how much we purchase and collect to support our art and how much we build it into our lives. I realized that I take it for granted every day, that my studio and everything in it will just "be there" whenever I want or need it. This fire has changed that frame of mind. At least for the moment.

I plan on taking a full inventory and photos of my studio and its contents. I will keep one copy here for me and send one copy "off site", with my hubby to his office. But I know I need to do this while it's still fresh in my mind because if I don't, I'll keep putting it off or on the back burner until I completely forget about it.

This has been a very traumatic event for my 76-year old parents. Because of structural damage, they won't be able to move back in for a couple of months and they are like gypsies living one week at a time at each of my 3 siblings who all live in the same town as my folks . But it was the best case scenario for a house fire--the house didn't burn down and no one was hurt. Not physically, anyway.

I Hate Wearing Glasses!!

2008-04-21T07:03:00.008-04:00

But when I have to, at least I can wear them with style on my eyeglasses holder necklace. See, I'm at the point where I have to wear bifocals but don't necessarily need to wear them all the time. And because I have astigmatism, I'm not a good candidate to wear the bifocal contacts. They tried me with the monovision where one contact is for distance and the other is for closeup, but that didn't work well for me. So, I'm stuck wearing glasses that I frequently remove and put back on and needed something to hold them close to me.

This was fun because I have been focusing alot on the wire crochet lately, and I enjoyed getting back to the wire work I love so much. I knew right away that I would call it "Hard Candy" because the pillow beads look exactly like, what else? Hard candy!

All of the sterling jumprings and eyepins were handformed by me. The main focal ring to hold your eyeglasses is too and hand hammered. And even though I made it as an eyeglass holder, it looks great just as a necklace. You can wear it two ways--with the large ring in the middle or off to one side in the front; or, wear the ring in the back, with only the beads showing in the front.

But be careful that all those candy lovers don't try to steal a piece of "candy" right off of your neck when you're wearing it!

Not Another Wire Crochet Cuff?

2008-04-15T04:51:00.012-04:00

Actually, yes, I do have a new cuff, but I thought I'd give them a rest for the moment and show off my new coasters that have a tropical look to them.

These are different than my other coasters to date because instead of a paper design covered with mylar, I used some vinyl fabric I had. I actually got the fabric from True Mirage who was destashing some of her fabrics. It was perfect for this project. But don't tell my husband! He suggested to me a few weeks ago that a nice heavy vinyl type of material would be great for my coasters. And I, in my ever all-knowing wisdom, kind of laughed and said "sure", in that not so convincing tone. Know the tone I mean? There was actually a little sarcasm on my part.

I didn't think my buttonmaker would be able to press vinyl, but then my curiosity got the best of me. So I dug around in the basket where I keep all my fabric and pulled out this vinyl with a great design and started experimenting. Well, here is the end result that I just love.

Now, who's having that luau and what should I bring? Some coasters, maybe?

Inspirations From Mother Nature

2008-04-14T06:29:00.015-04:00

We all see and hear statements from artists that they often get inspiration for their work from nature. Most of the time, it's about color or texture.

Well, two of my favorite Etsy artists have gone beyond capturing just the colors, shapes or textures of Mother Nature. They have actually captured Mother Nature herself.

I have a tree peony next to my back deck that must be 50 years old. Every spring around this time, it starts to sprout its new growth. If we have a nice spring with warm weather, by the end of May or the first week of June, my tree peony will be covered with huge flowers that measure 5-7 inches across in the most gorgeous shade of pink. One particular year of great weather, it stood 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide and had 75-80 blossoms. What a sight!

Last year I posted some pictures in a flickr group I belong too and when Marysusan came across them, she asked if it was OK to use one of my photos for her inspiration. Then she went to work. A few days later she posted a photo of her work and I was just completely awestruck. Her felted peony is gorgeous! She was able to perfectly capture Mother Nature at her finest. It will always be my favorite of her artworks, because of the special meaning it has for me.

My other favorite nature inspired work of art is from another Etsyian, Denise, of DCDesigns, a polymer clay artist. She was participating in the Polymer Clay Guild of Etsy's April Challenge and this year's theme was a covered egg.

Denise wanted to create a realistic work this year and I think she achieved that goal beautifully. This is a mama bird whose egg was stolen and broken in the process. Her three little eggs were also stolen and placed in a copper birdcage. The clay egg Denise created for this work is absolutely gorgeous! Again, I was blown away by the ingenuity and creativity.

Marysusan and Denise are two extremely gifted artists. Their talent in being able to so realistically capture Mother Nature in these works is amazing. With my Victorian and Retro inspired jewelry, I strive to evoke a feeling or a sense of being in another era long gone by. I hope I'm as successful at that as these two artists.

They have certainly evoked feelings in me with their work----awe, joy, and warmth. Oh, and inspiration!

Pretty Maidens All in a Row

2008-04-11T08:09:00.005-04:00

What a surprise when I got an email just before Christmas from Julie who graduated high school with my oldest son. She is getting married this July and wanted to know if I could make necklaces for her 10 bridal attendants. She felt that since I had made her medeival costume for the high school musical her senior year, it was completely appropriate that I make jewelry for her wedding.

I was very excited, pleased and honored that she asked me. So we very recently got together to come up with a design. She had a photo of the red strapless dress her sister and friends would be wearing. It's simple, elegant and very red! Exactly what she wanted in a necklace for them.

Since Julie knew what she wanted, coming up with the design was easy. Her sister, who will be her matron of honor, does not wear much jewelry and isn't a bling kind of girl. Julie wanted something that her sister would be comfortable wearing and would be able to wear after the wedding. But she also wanted uniformity with the necklaces the other bridal attendants would be wearing. So, we kept the same design, but instead of red crystals, we used clear. Julie loved it! These necklaces are her gift to them for being part of her big day.

So now, I've finished the necklaces and have only 3 little matching bracelets to make for the 3 little flower girls. I'm looking forward to seeing photos from the wedding with the girls all wearing their necklaces---hence the name---Pretty Maidens All in a Row.

Can You Stand Another Cuff?

2008-04-01T09:26:00.011-04:00

I am so drawn to the romance of Victorian style and can't help but work it in my pieces. I think this cuff captures the softness and vintage look that defines Victorian.

The Bronze Flower, is made with a double strand, one each of harvest gold and silvertone wire together. The "ruffle" is made with a heavier guage in the harvest gold color. The little beads are faux glass pearls.

I crocheted a two layer bronze flower with two twisted vines with a bronze colored perle cotton thread. The center of the flower is a gold flecked button flower with a black center.

It's all held together with a loop made of bronze glass seed beads and a vintage crystal.

And both this cuff and my Silver and Gold cuff are featured in two different treasuries on Etsy this week. What a treat and an honor that is for me.

I'm On a Wire Crochet Kick

2008-03-27T15:11:00.003-04:00

Another wire crochet cuff. I'm very busy with other projects at the moment which is why I'm making mostly wire crochet cuffs. Let me explain why.

Crochet and knitting are what I call "portable" works. You can pick them up and put them down anytime. They travel well. Easy to bring along with you because there are so few tools you need to bring---your crochet hook or knitting needles and wire. That's it!

I have a huge DVD slideshow job due in 3 weeks and a commission to make 10 necklaces and 3 bracelets for a wedding party. Added in this time frame are my youngest son's college lacrosse games every week that we travel 90 miles to go see. For the next 3 months I really needed some simple projects to work on. And this is what came out of that need.

This one is my Silver and Gold. I don't use patterns for my cuffs. I don't even design them ahead of time. I start with a basic foundation and just go where it takes me. And since I use reclaimed or vintage components, they are one of a kind. I couldn't even replicate one if I wanted to.

They are so fun to make and I really think I have found my little niche. But, in all honesty, that could change in a month. Or next week. Even tomorrow. I love to follow where the spirit leads me to go. Some of my best work comes out of those little journeys.

Friends and Business

2008-03-23T21:38:00.004-04:00

This is my most recent wire crochet cuff. I called it
Harvest Gold simply because that is the name of the non-tarnishing wire I used to make it. The "clasp" is a bronze vintage inspired button with a loop made of bronze colored glass seed beads.

Here is where the "friends" part of this subject comes in. The "charm" was part of a lot of "junk jewelry" I purchased from an Etsy friend of mine, Little Killers.

This lot of reclaimed jewelry can hardly be referred to as junk. Jooley, manager of Little Killers has some of the absolute best and coolest vintage items I've come across anywhere. I have purchased many items from her and have never been disappointed. Even though we live on opposite coasts of the country, we have become great friends and have even talked on the phone a couple of times. Using reclaimed components from my friends or family always make my jewelry special to me. I thought the charm was the perfect finish to this cuff, adding another "layer" of texture and color that gives it so much interest.

It didn't last long in my shop either. I listed it on a Friday and it was sold by Monday. The person who bought my cuff has now become another new Etsy friend of mine, GlassIsAGas, who paints beautiful and original art on glass. We discovered that we live only about an hour and a half away from each other, my two youngest sons go to college in her town, and in fact, half of Cynthia's family attended the same school my two boys are attending. We are planning to meet somewhere half way when the opportunity arises for us to do so.

I'm always happy when someone I know purchases one of my items or when a transaction itself introduces me to a new friend. The magic of the internet, giving us all opportunities that never would have been possible 20 years ago. I plan to make the most of it.

Button Makers!

2008-03-21T09:03:00.015-04:00

I bit the bullet so hard investing in the 3.5 inch button maker, I think I chipped a tooth!

Not really. But it did drain my bank account by a significant amount. And it's been worth every penny! I already have the 2.25 inch button maker and have been making mainly pocket mirrors, magnets and some pinback buttons. With the 3.5 inch machine, I can now make coasters, and large mirrors and pinback buttons.

Button makers come in a variety of sizes from 1 inch to 4 inches with a price range of $250-350. More recently you can get a button maker that makes 1 or 1.5 inch square buttons for a whopping $1,500. That's just for the button maker. You still need a cutter. The die cut punch is the most efficient and the most expensive, averaging $150.

I chose the two sizes I have because I believe they give me the best value for my money---versatility. The smaller buttonmakers make 1, 1.25 and 1.5 inch buttons and magnets. They are very cute and popular. But that's all you can make with them. Same goes for the square buttons. With the 2.25 inch machine, I can make pocket mirrors, magnets, key chains and pinback buttons. With the 3.5 inch machine, I can make pocket mirrors, coasters and pinback buttons. That means more versatility and better value for your money.

I purchased mine in a combo kit that included the buttonmaker, the die cut punch and 250 button parts. It was more economical than buying them separately, and since I purchased them from a seller on eBay, they were about $60 cheaper than the combo kits from the company that makes them. They were new, not used. I love them and am very excited about all the great stuff I will be able to make with them.

Since I am not an artist who paints or draws, I use images or "artwork", that come from a variety of sources: old damaged books, old magazines, scrapbooking paper, bits of fabric, public domain images, or digital graphic images I have purchased the right to use. That gives me a very wide choice of styles and looks that will appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

So check out my shop SassyRose to see what new and fun items I will be making with my new button maker.

The May Flower

2008-03-11T11:14:00.012-04:00

The May Flower is here!! Even though there is still snow on the ground, I have my sights set on spring. I am so looking forward to the warm sun, the spring green color of new growth, little crocuses and daffodils popping up to add some much welcomed color to the landscape.

To help bring spring in, I want to share my latest creation. A very original and unique wire crochet bracelet cuff.This is one of my most labor intensive pieces. I took a very fine guage non-tarnishing wire, a tiny metal crochet hook and about 6 hours to create a fine mesh cuff. Another 2.5 to 3 hours to add the double ruffled edge which gives the bracelet a little softness and the Victorian look I love so much. Freshwater pearls in shades of cream, mauve and champagne are scattered over the cuff. The main focal point is a very pale mauve resin May flower with three cream colored stamens in the center. A vintage crystal and a loop of small crystal seed beads make the clasp. I made the loop very strong and secure by passing the beading thread through it three times.

What mom wouldn't love to receive this for Mother's Day!

Shimmery Night

2008-02-13T22:59:00.005-05:00

I don't think I've been as proud of any other of my designs as I am of this one. It just turned out so perfect to me. And the photos came out really well too.

This is a very fine guage non-tarnishing wire that I crocheted into a cuff. Then I added the metal button with the aged finish on it, two little charms reclaimed from two different pairs of earrings that had lost their mates and voila!

I guess simplicity and elegance are more stunning sometimes, than anything else. It speaks volumes without making a sound.

I love this piece and may just keep it for myself.

Coral Hibiscus Bracelet

2008-01-31T16:48:00.000-05:00

I've been having trouble this week getting anything done. Too busy setting up other onlineshops, working in Photoshop on other projects, trying to meet with friends for lunch.

I did get one piece of jewelry made, that I just love. This coral and salmon colored wire crochet bracelet cuff.

I crocheted three strands of a very fine guage wire in three different shades. Brass, Copper and Silver. The vintage salmon colored leaves are scattered on and securely attached to the wire. The finishing touch and focal point of the bracelet is the resin coral hibiscus flower. It is just slightly iridescent and has yellow stamens in the center. The clasp is a handformed copper hook that hooks over a faceted peach colored crystal. It really is pretty on and will go with just about anything in your wardrobe.

Dragonflies, Pearls and Flowers

2008-01-24T15:02:00.000-05:00

Dragonflies, Pearls and Flowers. That is the theme of my most recent necklace. I only wish my photos could capture the beautiful whimsy of this piece that is eluding me and my camera skills. I wish I had a young model to show it off because it truly looks stunning when worn.

And so, here I am, with my good, not great photos and the necklace displayed on a paper background.

The dragonflies are clinging to a brass chain with their pearls and flowers nearby. The pendant is the larger of the three dragonflies and she is wearing her own necklace of a vintage handcrafted lampwork blue glass flower. The petals are made to form a windmill like shape. There is a golden center that does not show up in the pictures. There are two freshwater pearls hanging on bits of chain next to the flower.

One of the smaller dragonflies is accompanied by a vintage pink handcrafted fluted glass flower. The other dragonfly dangles underneath a chain of purple freshwater pearls. The chain measures 18.5 inches long.

Again, I so wish my photos could capture the true character of this unique one of a kind necklace. And it may be that I keep it all to myself!! I love it that much.

My Very First ACEO!

2008-01-21T10:25:00.000-05:00

When I joined Etsy one year ago, I had no idea what an ACEO was. I soon learned and was so impressed by the variety of them. First let me explain what an ACEO is.

ACEOs are Art Cards, Editions and Originals of any material and medium, but by definition, measure 2 1/2" X 3 1/2", in either portrait or landscape orientation. They are a wonderful and inexpensive way to collect art. Originally traded amongst artists as Art Trading Cards, they have become popular additions to online art galleries. You can mat it, frame it, mount it onto a backing, or even display it on a miniature easel.

I purchased my first ACEO from one of my Etsy friends, DC Designs. It is made of polymer clay and just beautiful! Another one of my Etsy friends, Elli, of Oso Azul Design, saw a photo of one of my doggies, Odie, in my flickr pics. She asked permission to use the photo for a drawing and without hesitation, I agreed. What a surprise when she gifted me with an ACEO drawing of my lovable mutt. He is a Heinz 57 mutt with one blue eye, one brown eye, one ear stays up while the other flops down. The ear that stays up has a little bite taken out of the tip from when he was a puppy in a litter of 10. As you can see, Elli captured him perfectly!

That's when I decided I wanted to try and make an ACEO. I chose a multi-layered mixed media technique to create what looks like a miniature "oil painting". The materials involved are an old photograph scanned in, gesso, colored pencils, pigment ink and paint markers. The image is adhered to an actual playing card, which is the exact size required to be legitimately called an ATC or ACEO. I then sealed it with a matte finish protective coating.

The image features a little girl clasping tightly her stuffed animal while she looks up and through the wrought iron fence she is standing behind. The text I chose was a saying "It takes courage to grow up and be who you really are." It's taken me well into my adulthood to accomplish that and I have to say I'm pleased with the results--of my first ACEO and who I really am today.

Happy 2008!

2007-12-31T12:04:00.000-05:00

There are so many different things I want to try and have on my plate at any given moment, that it's nearly impossible for me to focus on one thing. January 17 is my one-year Etsyversary and it's pretty much been a year of ups and downs learning experience. In November, I promised myself that by January 17, I would be organized, focused, have a plan and be ready to tackle this venture with new enthusiasm. That meant getting my paperwork in order (which was pretty non-existent the past year), cleaning up my shop, organizing my studio and desk (no small task), new logo and business cards, and venture into some new mediums. Over the past couple of months, I've been working at those goals and am happy to say that I've accomplished what I set out to do.

One of the new directions I wanted to take my jewelry in was the vintage look. I have mostly worked in sterling silver, copper and raw brass. Many of my friends, who are also customers, have asked me if I could make jewelry with that vintage look that so many people love. Here is a little sampling of my first attempts working with antiqued brass and vintage components. Oh, I have a big stash of vintage beads, but always worked them into a more contemporary look with my sterling wirework. This is a little different and I love the results.

If you look closely at the postcard backdrop in this picture of my Grape Leaves and Teardrops Earrings, you will see the addressee's name is Mlle Albina. These postcards were written by my grandfather Eusebe to my grandmother in 1916, all in French. My Etsy shop Albina Rose, is named after her.

Just below, you can see a wedding photograph of them from around 1918 or so. I actually have the beaded purse Albina is holding.

Eusebe Soucy and Rose Albina Vaillancourt were French Canadian, lived in Ormstown, Quebec and had 5 children, my mother being the youngest with a 10-year gap between her and the next one up. They always worked with their hands. At 12 years old, my grandmother was working doing laundry for other people to make money for her family. My grandfather worked many different jobs--crewman on a ship, cab driver, bootlegger during prohibition, farmer, and many more I'm sure I don't even know about. They were avid gardeners. When we visited them as children, we could always count on those delicious little new potatoes with real butter. In the winter my grandmother had one bedroom where she brought in all of her geraniums to keep until they went back out in the spring. She filled the room with them and to this day, when I smell geraniums, I immediately think of that room and my grandmother. She also had the most beautiful rose bushes. They raised 5 children all of whom are still alive. My uncle Eusebe, Jr., the oldest is 91 years old and my mom, the baby, is 76. My grandparents were strong, sturdy and healthy people who lived until 87 and 93 years old. My siblings and I were very close to them and they had a great influence on all of us. I miss them and am so grateful for their legacy to us--be a decent human being, work hard and enjoy life to its fullest!

Da Bomb for Guys

2007-12-20T10:34:00.001-05:00

While I was busy making my honey lip balm and creating pretty feminine packaging, as a mom of 3 college age snowboarding boys, it occurred to me that guys get chapped lips too! Why wouldn't they enjoy this luxurious balm as much as the girls?

So I made another batch using cucumber instead of mango or pomegranate. I left it the natural clear color instead of tinting it pink. Created new packaging that would be fitting for guys and voila, Da Bomb for Guys!! The true test was giving some to my 3 sons. They really liked it and said they would use it. Guess what they're getting in their Christmas stockings this year.

I sold out all of my lip balm within 10 days. The feedback has been nothing but positive and I have many repeat customers.

Da Bomb Lip Balm

2007-12-10T17:20:00.000-05:00

As part of revamping my Etsy Shop, I
decided to venture into the arena of homemade bath and body products. I soon found that there are a multitude of sellers on Etsy who are in the bath and body business. And they offer a very wide variety of wonderful products from body scrubs and lotions to massage oils and shampoos.

The only items I've ever made that fall in this category are melt and pour soaps and handmilled loofah soaps. This time I thought I'd start with something fun and easy--all natural lip balm.

So I made quite a mess in the kitchen this morning. It didn't go as smoothly or as quickly as I thought it would. I had made a small batch to sell at my holiday home show and that was quite easy. The lip balm sold out within minutes. And people were asking me when they could get more and to let them know when I had some more available. Obviously, I was onto something.

Which is what led me to the kitchen this morning. I got everything out and ready to go, which took a good half hour in and of itself. I had the double boiler (my little old pan on top of another old pan) heating up and my utensils lined up in their places within easy reach. Timing is everything when making lip balm with honey. All the containers were clean and waiting to be filled when done. So far so good.

The first thing to be done is heating the olive oil with the beeswax and cocoa butter until the latter two melt. Then you remove your pan from the heat and add your essential oil and vitamin E.

The tricky part is adding the honey at just the right temperature and whisking it just enough. The mixture before you add the honey has to be just cool enough so the honey will blend in but hot enough when you're done whisking that you can pour into the containers. It starts to set up very quickly. Several times I had to scrape the balm out of the containers because it didn't pour smoothly for a nice finish on top, or it was too hot for the honey and the honey separated from the rest of the ingredients. Not a pretty sight when that happens.

I consider myself still on the learning curve so I was able to muster up the patience I needed to finish the job. Then I just cleaned everything up, added my labels to the containers and tubes and I have to say that I'm quite pleased with the results. So, here's to smoother sailing next time.

My Studio

2007-12-04T14:34:00.000-05:00

My studio is a converted den right off of the dining room. There is a large arch way separating the two rooms. Some day we will have bifold French doors installed, but in the meantime I have hung a "curtain" of wooden beads. I keep the middle part open on an every day basis. When we have company, I stretch the beads across the whole opening. You can still see through, but that's kind of cool as I like to share my workspace with friends and family who like to see where I do my work. It's small and packed to the max, but I love it!!

Our house is 165 years old and not insulated. We are in the process of remodeling room by room. Even though we've lived here for 12 years, we aren't finished yet. When the 3 boys were younger and all involved in sports or school drama plays and a hubby who did alot of coaching and a mom who made costumes for the school musicals, we didn't have time to do much to the house. Now they are all 3 in college and while we have the time, we don't have the money! So we continue doing a little at a time. But it's home and it's very comfortable. No complaints. It's just cooooooold in the winter. And yes, my studio is one of the coldest rooms in the house.

My main "work bench" off to the right in the corner is a hollow core door that I polyurethaned and set on top of two trestle table legs from Ikea. I didn't stain them either, just polyurethane. The heighth is adjustable so I set it to bar table heighth. That is because our dining room set is that tall and I'm using two dining room chairs in my studio. There isn't enough space in the dining room to have all 8 chairs, so I threw two slipcovers on the chairs and now they do double duty. My hubby built the desk in the far left corner and built it to the same heighth. He also made the table in the middle of the room. It has two shelves and is on casters so I can easily move it out of the way when I need to. I was so grateful for that table. It is the most versatile piece I have in my studio. And space is at a premium, so the more storage I can get in there, the better.

This is where I spend most of my time. I love being in my studio. I listen to music most of the time. But I love to watch movies so my hubby is going to get me a little flat screen TV to put somewhere in here. If only I had room for an easy chair for when I knit, crochet, or read up on some art or craft I want to learn. Maybe some day. But I still love my space because it's one of only two spots in the house that are all mine. My studio and my vanity in the bedroom.

My First Blog Post

2007-12-02T15:00:00.001-05:00

Well, that's not completely true. I have had my blog for sometime now but have neglected it terribly and had such a mish mash of posts, photos and stories that it needed a complete overhaul.

I will be talking about my two shops on Etsy and how I make the items I sell there. Photos will help tell the story. Once in a while I will highlight one of my Etsy friends and their shop because I love them dearly. They have been so kind, fun, helpful and supportive of me through many good times, but especially through some particularly difficult times this past summer. Their blogs and shop websites are included in the left sidebar. Just scroll down to find them. They are a very eclectic group of unique and wonderful people I met through Etsy.

My journey here started when I was about 8 or 9 years old. My grandmother used to crochet oval rag rugs. I can remember sitting on her front porch watching and helping her rip fabric into strips, sewing them together and winding them up into a ball. She had a big wooden crochet hook she always used. After she passed away in 1988, my mom gave me that hook and I have it in a special frame on a wall in my house. Sometimes I take it out and use it. I even still have the first tiny oval rug I made with her.

When I turned 10, my mom, a seamstress, began teaching me how to sew. From seventh grade on, until my middle son was born in 1986, I made my own clothes. That was the most fun and gratifying art I learned. I always had fun and unique clothing to wear. When my third son was born in 1987, sadly, I didn't have the time to make clothes anymore. But I picked up a whole lot of other fun arts and crafts along the way that I was able to work on and I haven't stopped since. I am completely self-taught and always looking for something new to learn.

Etsy has provided me the outlet I needed to share this passion and to make some money selling my wares. Now, I have converted a small den in our house into my studio and I'm in business. I even left my part time job in a veterinary animal hospital in January 2007, so I could pursue this love. All the boys are in college, so now I have the time needed to devote to it. Somehow, though, there still don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything I want.