My mind sometimes goes off on it's own! I can't shut it down there is so much to think about!
today it's Craft Shows..(imagine THAT!) I am going as a customer today to a local show..Doing some PR..
Next week is the Fox Hunters Christmas Bazaar.. then my show on the 20th..
I have built lots of earrings,(a best seller) some bracelets and I'm wrapping some newly polished cabs.
OKIE BBL for another post...
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Featured from etsy Skinz 'N' Hydez Leather Designs
Ian AKA SkinzNhydes has unique leather and fur accessories.
Here is my interview with Ian:
Do you you process your own fur,skins,and leather?
I do not process my own materials, but I will be soon with moose hide. I actually up cycle most of the materials I use. I get my materials from a leather store here in Victoria, scraps that are going to be thrown out. Or I buy belts, jackets, and other leather and fur material from Value Village, a second hand clothing store.
What inspires you?
I would have to say what inspires me is everything.... from the trees, to people, to insects. But what inspires me most of all is my girlfriend. (cristysjewelry)She directed me on the path of selling my crafts, and encourages me to keep it up. She makes silver jewelry and very successful with it. She is an amazing person, and I am so lucky to be with her.
Do you and Christy collaborate on projects?
I see every project of mine a collaboration with my girlfriend. She helps me think of new ideas, as well as I help her. She directs me at what women would wear, good color contrasts, etc. She's the best!
Do you listen to music while creating and what genre or prefer quiet?
I prefer to listen to music while I work. Usually something like Gary Jules, The Blow, Johnny Cash, Metric. Something soft and relaxing
Were do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hrm, where do I see myself in 5 years? That's a hard one. Maybe somewhere over seas, designing websites and still making crafts, with my beauty by my side. I try to not think that far ahead, its just too overwhelming... I try and take baby steps
What is one thing that you want people to know about you?
One thing I want people to know about me, would have to be, that I'm a kind hearted person but strong when needed.
Thanks Ian for that insight.
Here are some of Ians creations:
Wolverina, a lovely leather and wolf fur cuff.
Eye of Oblivion, a hammered metal and leather cuff.
Jangle, lovely turquoise wrapped in silver..OOOOLALA! I think this may be my personal favorite!
Visit soon and often! I predict an upcoming top designer here!
Here is my interview with Ian:
Do you you process your own fur,skins,and leather?
I do not process my own materials, but I will be soon with moose hide. I actually up cycle most of the materials I use. I get my materials from a leather store here in Victoria, scraps that are going to be thrown out. Or I buy belts, jackets, and other leather and fur material from Value Village, a second hand clothing store.
What inspires you?
I would have to say what inspires me is everything.... from the trees, to people, to insects. But what inspires me most of all is my girlfriend. (cristysjewelry)She directed me on the path of selling my crafts, and encourages me to keep it up. She makes silver jewelry and very successful with it. She is an amazing person, and I am so lucky to be with her.
Do you and Christy collaborate on projects?
I see every project of mine a collaboration with my girlfriend. She helps me think of new ideas, as well as I help her. She directs me at what women would wear, good color contrasts, etc. She's the best!
Do you listen to music while creating and what genre or prefer quiet?
I prefer to listen to music while I work. Usually something like Gary Jules, The Blow, Johnny Cash, Metric. Something soft and relaxing
Were do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hrm, where do I see myself in 5 years? That's a hard one. Maybe somewhere over seas, designing websites and still making crafts, with my beauty by my side. I try to not think that far ahead, its just too overwhelming... I try and take baby steps
What is one thing that you want people to know about you?
One thing I want people to know about me, would have to be, that I'm a kind hearted person but strong when needed.
Thanks Ian for that insight.
Here are some of Ians creations:
Wolverina, a lovely leather and wolf fur cuff.
Eye of Oblivion, a hammered metal and leather cuff.
Jangle, lovely turquoise wrapped in silver..OOOOLALA! I think this may be my personal favorite!
Visit soon and often! I predict an upcoming top designer here!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
I'm in Heaven!
Some of you may know that I cut cabochons, (well not lately ..) I have been saving for a new Diamond Pacific Genie...in catalogs they are 1900 to 2200 dollars...Well I found one on eBay,YES eBay...
So I investigated, checked feedback...waited for a few days a VIOLA' I got a coupon from eBay for 10% off my next purchase..up to $100!
I thought a hundred bucks! WOWSER a hundred bucks!!!!!!! I investigated a little more and purchased my Genie from ronsrocks .. let me tell you ... the coupon paid for my shipping plus a little more!
Ronsrocks got it shipped to me the SAME day! It was on it's way..WHHOOOO HOOOO!!!
I was distracted today! (YA THINK???)
When Genie arrived just before 4 o'clock I set it right up...proceeded to shape and cut cabs...It was so nice to have a functional machine..I do have a really old Lortone arbor .. I'll turn it into a polisher!
I took a break and fed hubby and the dog, (they were grateful!) dinner. Hubby thought that perhaps he would have to finish cooking!
After dinner it was back to my studio! I cut and polished away the evening!
Cleaned up my machine ... time to rest for tomorrow..
I'm wrapping cabs tomorrow for Ladies Night out on the20th, for some truly handcrafted wire pendants!
WHOO HOO!!!!
So I investigated, checked feedback...waited for a few days a VIOLA' I got a coupon from eBay for 10% off my next purchase..up to $100!
I thought a hundred bucks! WOWSER a hundred bucks!!!!!!! I investigated a little more and purchased my Genie from ronsrocks .. let me tell you ... the coupon paid for my shipping plus a little more!
Ronsrocks got it shipped to me the SAME day! It was on it's way..WHHOOOO HOOOO!!!
I was distracted today! (YA THINK???)
When Genie arrived just before 4 o'clock I set it right up...proceeded to shape and cut cabs...It was so nice to have a functional machine..I do have a really old Lortone arbor .. I'll turn it into a polisher!
I took a break and fed hubby and the dog, (they were grateful!) dinner. Hubby thought that perhaps he would have to finish cooking!
After dinner it was back to my studio! I cut and polished away the evening!
Cleaned up my machine ... time to rest for tomorrow..
I'm wrapping cabs tomorrow for Ladies Night out on the20th, for some truly handcrafted wire pendants!
WHOO HOO!!!!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Craft Show UPDATE
I'm happy to announce that all spaces are filled! Newspaper Ads are running Nov.6&7,13&14,18&19. I am also doing a call in radio show Ladies Line on WLEW ..
I have my set up graphed and all vendors are placed..YAY!
Now down to the wire for creating some new works!
I have my set up graphed and all vendors are placed..YAY!
Now down to the wire for creating some new works!
Monday, November 3, 2008
SALE to benefit HOST
SALE - starting today - Nov 3 through Dec 24 2008 - 25% of my sales will be donated to HOST, the Etsy Helping Others Street Team.
This offer includes BOTH of my shops: TheGypsyJewels and AllWiredUpTOO ... and may contain a few surprises!
HOST was born after a simple question asked in the Etsy forums: "Is anyone in need this Holiday Season?"
Etsians responded and came together to help one another out. Some members sewed; sent small gifts; or made purchases. It was an incredible representation of Etsians at their best and most caring, and extremely moving to experience.
The ensuing Street Team, HOST, is a wonderful group of Etsy sellers and buyers, who continue to support and assist fellow Etsians in need by whatever means available - whether this be with small financial assistance; friendship and emotional support; promoting sellers and their stores where possible; even offering advice on resources available in the various states across America!
My SALE is my way of saying "thank you HOST for doing what you do" and hopefully helping to raise funds for the team to use for helping others during the festive season that is already upon us!
XOXOXO
This offer includes BOTH of my shops: TheGypsyJewels and AllWiredUpTOO ... and may contain a few surprises!
HOST was born after a simple question asked in the Etsy forums: "Is anyone in need this Holiday Season?"
Etsians responded and came together to help one another out. Some members sewed; sent small gifts; or made purchases. It was an incredible representation of Etsians at their best and most caring, and extremely moving to experience.
The ensuing Street Team, HOST, is a wonderful group of Etsy sellers and buyers, who continue to support and assist fellow Etsians in need by whatever means available - whether this be with small financial assistance; friendship and emotional support; promoting sellers and their stores where possible; even offering advice on resources available in the various states across America!
My SALE is my way of saying "thank you HOST for doing what you do" and hopefully helping to raise funds for the team to use for helping others during the festive season that is already upon us!
XOXOXO
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Vintage patterns and buttons
Vintage! OH! How I love Vintage..let me count the ways...1...2...3...infinium! =)
EllesBelle has vintage that I adore...
Just look at these wonderful black glass shanked buttons!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16575909I can think of many uses for those!
LOOK what else I found~
OH MY! Blue lovlies for ...shhhhhh...I think that THOSE are MINE!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16575909
Go have a look around EllesBelles! There are some amazing Vintage goodies there!
http://www.EllesBelles.etsy.com
EllesBelle has vintage that I adore...
Just look at these wonderful black glass shanked buttons!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16575909I can think of many uses for those!
LOOK what else I found~
OH MY! Blue lovlies for ...shhhhhh...I think that THOSE are MINE!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16575909
Go have a look around EllesBelles! There are some amazing Vintage goodies there!
http://www.EllesBelles.etsy.com
How can YOU help those in need?
From my very good friend MaisyH's Mcchatter Blog, thank you Maisy for allowing the Copy and Paste! I agree with this 100%!
When I logged into Etsy over my cereal bowl this morning, I found that one of my HOST buddies had linked another thread into our HOST chat thread. She said there were lots of sellers in need posting, so I went to check it out figuring ok, I don't really have much spare cash but I can at least bump it for them... (the thread is linked at the end of this post).
Well a couple of sniffs later, I found myself feeling thoroughly depressed by the number of folk in so much financial and personal difficulty; it's awful year round but somehow it seems worse at this time of year, especially if kids are involved... I only just had the thought yesterday: "OMGosh, Christmas is literally around the corner now!"
Then I got to thinking well, I can't buy everything from everyone, and I can bump the thread to try and help get these shops noticed but well, I'd like to try and do more... So here's the plan. It's just a little plan and I can't guarantee it will work but we don't know until we try - and you can get involved with no cost to yourselves other than a little time and effort for people who will really appreciate it.
GET BLOGGING:
•Most of you readers and Etsians have blogs, so start running a 'help' feature. Even if you just choose one shop, or one item from a few shops and blog it, you might help those guys towards some much needed sales.
•Start a little 'help' section in your sidebars: add a few Etsy minis for shops that really NEED the exposure!
•Tell your friends and readers about these guys and link the Etsy thread(s) for them to read and scroll through the different shops. We all have different tastes and wishlists: chances are your pals will find items they won't be able to resist!
ON ETSY:
•Stalk those treasuries! Not just the main treasury but the treasury west too! Forget just making pretty ones in perfect coordinated colours, or clever choices of unusual things from your favourites: just pick shops who are in need!! If you run out of shops from the forum thread(s) that inspired this, go to POUNCE and pick only stores that are waiting for their first sale!
•Tell your Street Teams! Get your team-mates on board - get them bumping threads; get them treasury stalking, get them blogging this too!
•Add even one shop referral to your shop announcements - just pick one seller that is in need so your own buyer traffic will see it.
PROJECT WONDERFUL:
•Have you got FREE ad spaces? Invite bids from sellers in need.
•If they don't have ads they can use, can you spend a few minutes turning their avatars into ads for them while they go open their PW accounts and bid?
CHARITY:
•Do you donate to childrens' charities for Christmas? Well our Etsians in need have kids... give to them!
•Do you donate to animal charities? These Etsians have beloved pets that need feeding and caring for too! And don't forget, you can choose AWBAR and EFA on Etsy for your donations or purchases!
•Do you donate to medical charities? These Etsians have serious illnesses - or their children or other family members do - and they are struggling with medical bills. Why not donate to them through purchases from their shops? Remember, there are Etsians who support charities by donating part of their shop sales proceeds... search them out on Etsy and shop, shop, SHOP!!!
We see so many discussion in the forums about how Etsy doesn't advertise itself and how it relies on US to promote it to help ourselves... Well let's pull together now and help promote each other! We are a pretty big team of creative people - I'm sure there will be others out there who will get to thinking what they can do to bring a little festive cheer to those in need. What is that expression about "six degrees of separation"? Well, let's apply it to Etsy for the holidays and see what we can achieve.
My next stop is to post a forum thread on Etsy where you can all post to let everyone know a) what are you doing to help? and b) if you were able to make a purchase from one of these sellers in difficulty, come show us what you bought, so we can all cheer for you and the seller :) And one more thing: when you post in the new thread, let everyone know if you are open to TRADES. People have few resources but they may happen to have just the thing you need, so be open minded about approaching your Christmas shopping this year and consider trades!
Here is the thread that inspired this post: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5886701
And here is my new thread where you can come let us know what you are doing to help: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5887805
Thank you all so much for reading all this and thank you even more for anything you do to help these guys out :)
PS - I am posting the same thing on my other blog: http://teaandjewels.blogspot.com/
and on the HOST blog: http://helpingothersstreetteam.blogspot.com/
PPS - It doesn't matter that they will read the same, it's the message that is important and it's another opportunity to reach more readers, who can spread the word. Feel free to copy and paste this post into your own blogs - just use it and adapt it for yourselves, I don't mind - just get the message out - now - PLEASE!!!
PPPS - (last one I promise!) Remember that ALL PROCEEDS FROM HOST STORE SALES ARE USED TO HELP ETSIANS IN NEED - so feel free to donate to our store, or top up our team funds by purchasing something because we will use the money for this same cause!
When I logged into Etsy over my cereal bowl this morning, I found that one of my HOST buddies had linked another thread into our HOST chat thread. She said there were lots of sellers in need posting, so I went to check it out figuring ok, I don't really have much spare cash but I can at least bump it for them... (the thread is linked at the end of this post).
Well a couple of sniffs later, I found myself feeling thoroughly depressed by the number of folk in so much financial and personal difficulty; it's awful year round but somehow it seems worse at this time of year, especially if kids are involved... I only just had the thought yesterday: "OMGosh, Christmas is literally around the corner now!"
Then I got to thinking well, I can't buy everything from everyone, and I can bump the thread to try and help get these shops noticed but well, I'd like to try and do more... So here's the plan. It's just a little plan and I can't guarantee it will work but we don't know until we try - and you can get involved with no cost to yourselves other than a little time and effort for people who will really appreciate it.
GET BLOGGING:
•Most of you readers and Etsians have blogs, so start running a 'help' feature. Even if you just choose one shop, or one item from a few shops and blog it, you might help those guys towards some much needed sales.
•Start a little 'help' section in your sidebars: add a few Etsy minis for shops that really NEED the exposure!
•Tell your friends and readers about these guys and link the Etsy thread(s) for them to read and scroll through the different shops. We all have different tastes and wishlists: chances are your pals will find items they won't be able to resist!
ON ETSY:
•Stalk those treasuries! Not just the main treasury but the treasury west too! Forget just making pretty ones in perfect coordinated colours, or clever choices of unusual things from your favourites: just pick shops who are in need!! If you run out of shops from the forum thread(s) that inspired this, go to POUNCE and pick only stores that are waiting for their first sale!
•Tell your Street Teams! Get your team-mates on board - get them bumping threads; get them treasury stalking, get them blogging this too!
•Add even one shop referral to your shop announcements - just pick one seller that is in need so your own buyer traffic will see it.
PROJECT WONDERFUL:
•Have you got FREE ad spaces? Invite bids from sellers in need.
•If they don't have ads they can use, can you spend a few minutes turning their avatars into ads for them while they go open their PW accounts and bid?
CHARITY:
•Do you donate to childrens' charities for Christmas? Well our Etsians in need have kids... give to them!
•Do you donate to animal charities? These Etsians have beloved pets that need feeding and caring for too! And don't forget, you can choose AWBAR and EFA on Etsy for your donations or purchases!
•Do you donate to medical charities? These Etsians have serious illnesses - or their children or other family members do - and they are struggling with medical bills. Why not donate to them through purchases from their shops? Remember, there are Etsians who support charities by donating part of their shop sales proceeds... search them out on Etsy and shop, shop, SHOP!!!
We see so many discussion in the forums about how Etsy doesn't advertise itself and how it relies on US to promote it to help ourselves... Well let's pull together now and help promote each other! We are a pretty big team of creative people - I'm sure there will be others out there who will get to thinking what they can do to bring a little festive cheer to those in need. What is that expression about "six degrees of separation"? Well, let's apply it to Etsy for the holidays and see what we can achieve.
My next stop is to post a forum thread on Etsy where you can all post to let everyone know a) what are you doing to help? and b) if you were able to make a purchase from one of these sellers in difficulty, come show us what you bought, so we can all cheer for you and the seller :) And one more thing: when you post in the new thread, let everyone know if you are open to TRADES. People have few resources but they may happen to have just the thing you need, so be open minded about approaching your Christmas shopping this year and consider trades!
Here is the thread that inspired this post: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5886701
And here is my new thread where you can come let us know what you are doing to help: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5887805
Thank you all so much for reading all this and thank you even more for anything you do to help these guys out :)
PS - I am posting the same thing on my other blog: http://teaandjewels.blogspot.com/
and on the HOST blog: http://helpingothersstreetteam.blogspot.com/
PPS - It doesn't matter that they will read the same, it's the message that is important and it's another opportunity to reach more readers, who can spread the word. Feel free to copy and paste this post into your own blogs - just use it and adapt it for yourselves, I don't mind - just get the message out - now - PLEASE!!!
PPPS - (last one I promise!) Remember that ALL PROCEEDS FROM HOST STORE SALES ARE USED TO HELP ETSIANS IN NEED - so feel free to donate to our store, or top up our team funds by purchasing something because we will use the money for this same cause!
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