Missficklemedia.com

Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop

2012-02-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

Oh, I want to wear these with my black tank top this summer.

Erin Siegal is teaching this wonderful class titled;
Bohemian Knotted Earrings Workshop

Bead Fest Philadelphia August 2012
Saturday, August 18th 8:00am-11:00am

The registration is now open.

(Plan, Prepare & Organize, Shannon)
Click here to go to the instructors page and scroll down to find Erin's name.

This would be the class for me to go to; life having surely settled by August, other projects safely tucked in by deadline, friends to meet for the first time face to face and a really deep need to go tribal/bohemian by the sweltering end days of summer.

Knotting a basic line of silk was a skill I had down, micro macrame, yes, I conquered basic knots.....

But combining hammered metal components and fringe and beads for earrings....

This is is a fabulous idea that I would love to learn!

For more information on the styles she will cover with hands on assistance, please visit here;

Erin Siegal Jewelry

Hey now. Be nice.

2012-01-31T18:46:00.001-06:00

Learn all the facts before you go judging me.

Science Center April 2009

I never showed myself before now, because I was overweight and embarrassed about how I looked.

I was overweight because I ate too much of the wrong foods and I didn't move my body enough.

That was my problem, not to be confused with whatever YOUR problem is; medical, emotional, genetic.... whatever. You would know better than I.

But I worked really hard.

First conquering my addiction to sugar, making sure I ate under 11 grams of sugar each day. This change allowed me to fight cravings for the wrong foods and start making better food choices.

Like plant based foods...... lots of fruits and vegetables.

Than I started walking. Just a little bit at first, going further and further each day. Walking harder in sand dunes that stretched and activated atrophied muscles.

I started to feel better. I didn't crash. I slept more soundly. My moods were more even and my menstrual cycle didn't completely halt my life like it used to, due to less pain.

I looked better, I had better self esteem and I wanted to do even more for myself.

So I started wii fit yoga. Just 20 minutes a day. Still walking, still not eating sugar.....

The results were immediate.

I got to buy new clothes in a size 10!

I hadn't been a size 10 since after Christian was born in 2000!

So I kept going, I was alone a lot so I had more time to think about me. But the kids encouraged me from the couch as I added strength training and running to my every other day routine.

Where I had back pain and fatigue all the time before, I now had flexibility and stamina!

I could lift heavy things. I could run with my kids.

It was so beautifully healthy and it was happening at the worse time in my life, I had no one to share it with. The person I had always gone to for encouragement and celebration was gone.

So I share my new self respect with you.

I share my new found happiness with clothes and accessories with you.

I am not worthless. I am not stupid, ugly or boring.

I'm just me.
:)

and I can say that I HAD a problem with overeating and a sedentary life before but now I do not.

And I am really proud of that fact.

Much Love & Respect,

Shannon

Black Shard Link Earrings

2012-01-30T16:31:00.000-06:00

So I am all into earrings lately, but they have to be dramatic, no doubt a desperate attempt at attention, but at least I do not have neck folds in the way of the longer styles now.

Cheap and swingy.

;)

The faceted glass has one side coated in hematite and the other side reflects it as a foiled back stone. The weird side to side hole bothered me at first until I contrasted with a bright sterling wrap in the middle of heavily patina-ted black brass links with a crescent hammer texture laid on.

Yes, this is just what I feel like wearing!

All urban and sharp.

(Next I will take the subway all by myself.)

Teardrops

2012-01-24T11:09:00.000-06:00

Teardrops.

16 gauge sterling, interlocking in 15mm hammered and tumble polished chain segments, wire-wrapped with 7mm Mystic Iolite and hung from handmade sterling ear wires. All metal is lacquered to protect it's bright finish and make for more comfortable wear.

The song that accompanied me during construction;

Wouldn't it be awesome if I could just communicate through music? I wouldn't have to think of the right words, I could just hum my feelings.

There is a certain elegance to winter, a rhythm that moves on as it should, in spite of our man made lives attempting to dominate the nature around us. Its relentless cold fits what is inside right now.

Bead Soup Blog Party!

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

Are you going? I'm going! I've got it on my calender and my special "outfit" is all picked out and put together!

Please say you'll go, I won't feel so awkward at this party if my friends go with me.

Please visit Lori Anderson's blog this weekend, January 7th through the 9th to sign up for the lottery registration (click this link for an explanation);

Pretty Things

AND NOW FOR THE WINNER OF MY STERLING BEAD FRAME GIVE-AWAY;

Random generator gave us 7 as the lucky number!

Indigo Heart!

Indigo lives in Alaska, which automatically makes her the bravest person I know but she is also one of those multi-talented people who can draw, create jewelry and is now making her own beads and components!

Thank you for commenting and leaving such wonderful ideas, rich with creativity and talent for the new bead frames. I definitely want to try to incorporate both pearls and leather with one of them now.

Hammered Bead Frames

2012-01-01T18:39:00.001-06:00

Bead frames in soldered hammered sterling.

Torn between tough leather wraps or elegant matching pearls, these have sat for over a year.

Used for a project that made it into the Belle Armoire Salon section of their Jan./Feb. 2011 issue, I called the leather wraps Urban Cowgirl, inspired by Pinky who came trouncing out of her room in a froo-froo tutu and leather cowgirl boots.
This is the one I wear;

The plans that are on hold;

Do you see my dilemma?

So maybe it is time to let go and let someone else?

Yes, indeed! A give-away.......

12" of deer hide leather in soft brown,

a 15" strand of pale green rice freshwater pearls,

1 free form faceted nugget of New Jade and

its own custom fit bead frame of hammered sterling.

Leave me a comment letting me know what your idea is for the materials above!

I will draw a number next Friday and ship all of it to you if your name is drawn.
I hope you all have a happy new year and that the year 2012 surpasses all your hopes and expectations!

Nina

2011-12-18T23:12:00.000-06:00

SHE KNOWS.

So as I listened to her you tube mix, I pounded these out and lacquered them with a touch of chestnut patina and mica.

And I wear them for all my soul sisters.

Asundered

2011-12-16T11:28:00.000-06:00

Can I get an AMEN from the congregation?

I look a little tired here and I am still not bold enough to wear low cut tops but the necklace is me.

AND it is the first piece of jewelry I have completed in over 4 months.

What can we do?

2011-12-15T20:00:00.002-06:00

We must do something.

Judith B is fighting, bravely and with her usual class and beauty, lesions on her brain and nodes on her lungs.

(FIGHT, JUDY! FIGHT!)

And Sparrow Salvage, oh no, this is bad, she was just in a car accident and lost her mama.

Her Mama.

She is recuperating in the hospital and has lost income from the time spent there.

I feel helpless alone but as several friends just demonstrated to me, as a group, we can HELP.

We can believe in miracles and send over coming strength, we can send lovely things in the mail that adds bright light to their difficult days, we can collect money to help ease their discomfort and pay bills.

All I can do at this point is redirect some of the funds that were collected on my behalf, but Fanciful Devices is having a raffle on Sparrow's behalf and you can donate to help this beautiful person through this awful time, just like you did for me.

Please.

We just have to do something.

A little can be combined to become a lot. I know this, because a little over 60 women (plus the angel that is known as Andrew Thornton) just saved my business.

Please send me a friend request with the note;

Artists Helping Artists

so I can add you to this newly formed group that remains active to help others.
(Just a note that the group is secret and closed to protect anonymity of those in the future that require aid, I have to add you myself after we have become friends on facebook. Thank you!)

Get Back to Work, Shan!

2011-12-11T23:28:00.000-06:00

While I may not be at the production level I was at up to a couple of months ago, I am able to finish orders and ship them in a timely manner once more.

I missed you, Copper.

I can't wait to show you what has come from my anguish.

I know, that sounds odd, but beautiful things can be born from darkness.

And there is nothing like a hammer in the hands of a woman scorned.

You know me.

2011-12-07T17:43:00.000-06:00

You know what I am about. What I have always been about.

See my labels word cloud down there on the side bar? ---------------->

The largest label is FAMILY.

http://missficklemediacom.blogspot.com/search/label/family

What do I do now?

Who do I love?

Who do my kids look up to?

How will I ever feel complete again?

I'm so sorry for turning what was once an inspirational blog full of encouragement, ideas and lovely visuals into sordidness.

Reading words like "Penis" and "Vagina" are not why you come here and I am really embarrassed.

If I could explain that I thought he was saying his sweet words to me, about a picture of me before I realized he was sending them to her, and that in spite of what he has done, I felt HOPE. As if he wanted me again and was reaching out to me. Then to see it was not meant for me but someone else, it was devastation all over again. And the pain of rejection came rushing back anew.

It caused a character defect of hate and jealousy.

I know time will help this confusion. I know my friends are rallying around me.

I know I will smile and laugh with my children again.

I know I will create again.

Thank you for understanding and forgiving me.

Much Love & Respect,

Shannon

A New Directive

2011-11-30T11:08:00.010-06:00

I am stronger than I know.

Okay, so I am sharing this here with my friends, some of you already know as I have had to seek counsel from other women who have gone through similar situations. After reading Crucial Confrontations, I believe that silence is the worst thing to withdraw to.

They say (the authors of this fantastic book) that we often choose silence over crucial confrontations because we are fearful of repercussions, when the repercussions are actually less damaging then the damage silence itself does.

Mr.Lovey has left Miss.Fickle.

Yes, it was very sudden and I am still reeling.

I was in it for life.
I was prepared to care for him whether he was fit and healthy or overweight and sick.

I'm pretty sure I proved that.

In spite of all he has done, I do still love him. I hope he gets help for himself so he can be reunited with his kids. In the meantime I have to provide for these kiddos.

My Plan;

I am setting up shop on Big Cartel so I can pay off my etsy bill.

I am getting counseling for the kids and I.

I am living with my parents so I can earn a lump sum of money to provide housing for the kids and I.

I am getting advice from a financial adviser to rebuild my business correctly.

I am working on my OWN credit score after being a pizza delivery girl, a stay at home mom and then an online entrepreneur for the last 15 years.

I am lonely and heartsick but I know I have value and I am capable of abundant, faithful love.

So I don't want you to worry.

However, I can't seem to pick up the phone and reach out to people, so please keep sending me emails. I am using them to get each day going.

Much Love & respect,

Shannon

sllevart@gmail.com

The Winner!

2011-10-28T23:30:00.000-05:00

Alice Dreaming!

Oh yay! Alice, send me an email so I can ship this pile-o-shiny copper out to you pronto!

Thank you so much for everyone who participated in Barb's book tour.

I hope you are encouraged to try torch fired enameling.
Lisa, Barb and I tried our hands at enameling on our first craft night together, referring back to the book, oh, I don't know, 6 times? AWESOME Trouble Shooting section, makes for faster learning and less newbie mistakes.
We hope to have pictures soon!

Torch Fired Enamel Jewelry by Barbara Lewis

2011-10-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome to my assigned book tour day for the new book by Barbara Lewis;

Torch Fired Enamel Jewelry!

Thank you for visiting!

I trust you are enjoying the rest of the blog tour from the following list of artists and taking advantage of the great odds in winning some of the cool prizes listed among the posts;

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd, www.mairedodd.blogspot.com

October 7, Gaea Cannaday, www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

October 8, Linda Larsen, www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

October 10, Andrew Thornton, www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

October 11, Lori Plyler, www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

October 12, Diane Cook, www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

October 13, Lori Anderson, http://www.prettythingsblog.com

October 14, LeAnn Weih, www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

October 15, Jen Judd Velasquez, www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

October 17, Melissa Meman, www.melissameman.blogspot.com

October 18, Lisa Crone, www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

October 19, Shannon LeVart, www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

October 20, Cindy Wimmer, www.sweetbeadstudio.com

October 21, Laura Twiford, www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz, www.treasures-found.blogspot.com
October 24, Jennifer Cameron, www.glassaddictions.com

To thank you for following along, we will have a BONUS PRIZE at the end of the book tour! All of the entries will be included in the drawing for a kit containing all the elements of "Floral Cascade," one of the projects in the book. You'll receive everything you need to make the necklace, including the chain, jump rings, clasp, enamel beads, and head pins!

For a chance to win the Grand Prize - a Torch-Firing Kit (or $110 shopping experience atwww.paintingwithfireartwear.com) - please leave a REVIEW at Amazon.com by November 24.

And finally, my own special hoard of hammered copper that you can win by leaving a comment here at my blog post!

You will receive all the pieces shown, except for the flower. Barbara explain how the temperature needed (15oo degrees) to melt the enameling would most likely destroy the soldered bezel I attached to the front. But no worries! To make up for its absence I included a hammered crescent bangle.

Just think of all the colors you can add with enamels!

I have had a great time learning bits of info from Barbara about torch fired enameling from a few years back, but this book.... oh this book is meaty.

So very worth the wait!

There is tons of information here to keep you challenged for, I believe, months to come.

So leave 1 comment here for 1 chance to win these prizes.

Leave a 2nd comment if you posted about the virtual book tour on facebook and leave a 3rd comment if you tweet for even more chances.

Unfortunately, we have to restrict the giveaways to U.S. residents.

We will be drawing names soon and Barbara will announce them on her blog, which I will follow up with here on my mine.

Winners should contact Barbara with their name and address through her author website: www.torchfiredenameljewelry.com so that you can receive your prizes!

Thank you for helping spread the word about this fantastic new jewelry how-to book. Barb has worked very hard for us for the last year and a half making this information available to us.

The Sale We Call Mikes Ladies

2011-10-15T09:36:00.003-05:00

It has come to my attention that as sweet as my husband is for helping me get missficklemedia organized, inventoried and shipped, he still should have his own "thing". You know, the "thing" that you are passionate about. The thing you think about all the time and talk incessantly to your burnt out friends and family about.

Mine is my business. I will talk someone into the ground about online business, specifically art jewelry.

But making Mike work over time to help me meet crazy deadlines is not why I moved this fella to Florida.

No, the real reason was to dress him up as Poseidon and take pictures on the beach.

Again with the jokes!

But seriously, his blood counts are holding steady with the increased steroid and he is back out, living it up on disc golf courses through-out Florida.

He has agreed to keep his extra curricular activities to 2 per week, but I couldn't talk him out of surfing, he gave up softball instead. It isn't that I am a mean wife, but his arm wound still has the smallest circle of re-growing skin. The ocean keeps it from healing completely and with his condition, he is more susceptible to infections.

So he needs to just calm down and learn to balance all the things he has wanted to do for so long but couldn't.

Before he steps down as business manager, he would like to have a sale.

I have agreed because it is coming from a well of over flowing gratitude on my part.

There have been times when we didn't know how to afford food and pay overdue bills, and often throughout the last year, some of you would come to our shop and place orders with us, saving us in the nick of time. I know a few of my most valued customers have spent money on our products that went directly to health care for Mike.

Thank you for that.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

So please use the coupon code mikesladies2011 for 15% off any item in our shop until Oct. 22nd.

(And thank you in advance for letting me have extra time to process these orders on my own!)

We will continue to make a few changes in our shop. Tiding things up, deactivating old listings I am totally bored making. Adding new things on a whim. Changes of that fickle nature.

I plan to keep making changes until I start to have some fun again of my own.

Too late for Summer,

2011-10-13T08:49:00.001-05:00

too inappropriate for Fall and Winter, too early for Spring?

What do you do if you are sitting on a huge box of grungy, faintly-shabby-chic, patina-ted brass flowers?

This story goes back, but it's interesting and there are many facets.

It is hard to think in terms of 6 months in advance but that is as close as I can get to a retail calender.

The saffron daisy and blue rose were vintage stock flowers I sent Lorelei back in 2010(?) to play with and here's what she came up with.

Soaring.

Fantastic mix of color and emotion!

Well, of course, this piece makes the cover of Stringings' Summer 2011 issue;

But at that point I had no more flowers.

But I do now!

So as a thank you, I send a few more flowers to this talented lass and oh. my. gosh. Look what she came up with next;

Brilliant designer.
I used Lorelei's instructions in the summer issue for constructing the necklace focal piece and created this with my set.

I used the 6 Petal Mauve Flower and the 8 Petal Verdigris Flower along side a mix of softer colors and metals like brass filigree, ceramic beads by Gaea, ceramic beads by Starry Road Studios, recycled African glass from The Bead Chest .

Oh and an etched copper patina lampwork bead from Indian Creek Art Glass!
(oh my pretties, my lovely little pretties.)

The next set, and the last I set aside for myself, will be done up all wood, shell and tropical glam style.
Yep, it is never too late for flowers.
Thank you for the inspiration, Lorelei! I am sure I speak for several people whom you have inspired.
Lorelei's Blog.

Silver Parrot - one of my favorite......

2011-10-11T08:31:00.000-05:00

writers, designers, fellow bead addicts and online friends;

Silver Parrot

My Glimmering Tropical Bird has nailed the warm, earthy mystery of navy blue and chestnut brown exactly as it was in my mind. Look at her use of the ceramic focal plaque, the blended hues, the contrast of cream and the included charming flutter of butterflies!

Oh, but she's funny, too.

Check out her blog as much as you can, she will make you laugh.

Painting With Fire Virtual Book Tour!

2011-10-05T15:33:00.000-05:00

Oh My Mother Of Pearl! It is here!

Barbara Lewis has released her Painting with Fire book!

Here is my word for Barbara;

DIVINE.

She is the Bette Midler of enameling and you are going to devour this book from cover to cover then come back several more times to learn.

I am obsessed with the Going Tribal project and can't stop making the Achilles' Shield project.

So there is this virtual book tour and it contains some of the most vibrant designers I have ever had the pleasure of sharing cyber space with.

The line for the rest of the month is as follows;

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd, www.mairedodd.blogspot.com

October 7, Gaea Cannaday, www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

October 8, Linda Larsen, www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

October 10, Andrew Thornton, www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

October 11, Lori Plyler, www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

October 12, Diane Cook, www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

October 13, Lori Anderson, http://www.prettythingsblog.com

October 14, LeAnn Weih, www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

October 15, Jen Judd Velasquez, www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

October 17, Melissa Meman, www.melissameman.blogspot.com

October 18, Lisa Crone, www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

October 19, Shannon LeVart, www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

October 20, Cindy Wimmer, www.sweetbeadstudio.com

October 21, Laura Twiford, www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz, www.treasures-found.blogspot.com

October 24, Jennifer Cameron, www.glassaddictions.com

So make sure you head over to Barb's blog for the first of the posts.

THERE WILL BE CHANCES AT FREE STUFF.

FREE STUFF, I TELL YOU!!!

In fact, see that Pile O' Shiny Copper on my work bench up there?

That is for you my eager-to-get-started friend.

So come back here for some give away goodness on Oct. 19th.

And enjoy the rest of the book tour!

For my Sisters with the Fighting Tata's

2011-09-29T06:00:00.005-05:00

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness month.

In addition to having you and and friend take the time to check their boobies, would you help me make a donation to Susan G. Komen?

I would like to give 1 each - Pink Patina Copper Awareness Ribbon to 7 people who would like to team up with me and put our moneys' together for a donation to this very important issue.

I would like to collect $25 a piece for each hand forged pendant that has been created by cutting, shaping, grinding, tumbling, brush finishing, treating with pink patina, distressing and finally sealing.

Your donation pendant is attached to a handmade display card, dated, signed and gift boxed.

(16" sterling chains are available as an add on.)

I will ship it out to you once your donation clears through paypal.

You may contact me privately at missficklemedia@gmail.com for more information.

A tax deductible receipt is available upon request.

Thank you for your support!

*As of Saturday, the 1st, I have 1 pendant left!

Thank you!*

Pissed off at silver but happy with brass.

2011-09-24T15:06:00.002-05:00

I don't care how well off you are, we are all feeling it.

Who the hell do I write a scathing letter to, anyway?

Who decides what the price is? Is it the same people who decide the fuel?

Can we just agree to send a secret assassination team to do away with them and replace them with clones of Tim McCreight and who ever started Rio Grande?

(I'm convinced these 2 people are looking out for my best interests)

Has anyone tried silver filled wires for soldering yet?

I miss working with the bright sparkle and the matte dark grey.

Now on to other more depressing news.

Something has been wrong with the email account that the slevart.etsy.com jewelry store was connected to. I missed 2 sales and numerous convos because of this and still haven't figured it out. I do not receive notices and I am logged into missficklemedia all the time so I have no idea what is happening in the other store front unless I remember to check it but I can never remember to.

I think as soon as I can pay off my bill, I will just list a few jewelry pieces here on my blog. Just the most special that shouldn't be put away in bags or sold across a counter without an explanation.

Pieces I need to talk about.

When I saw copper in a stone for the first time, I was amazed at how natural it looked, almost like the stone itself. The layering effects of patinas on these simple hammered strips of brass give the same organic metal look as the copper embedded stone. The natural aging effect metal has in the ground changes the hues of the rock around it.

I love that.

Forging to the sounds of Jose Gonzalez

2011-08-25T07:54:00.000-05:00

I recently worked on a 300 piece order and it was intense hammering. Normally I break that up with tasks for the store and other less strenuous metal work but Mike had given this job a 10 day deadline and the kids were starting school. (Yes, both of them, even my home schooled boy started school this month. I can't even talk about it yet I am so upset).

We had very little time to finish.

But I did it! And with ear buds affixed to my eardrums looping this fella;

You can listen here;

Jose Gonzalez

You can support his latest work by going here.

Junip

What do you use to get through tedious difficult tasks?

Summer can't be over

2011-08-10T06:00:00.005-05:00

I can't believe they have to go back to school already.

There is still so much more to see and do.

Thank you to Every Day Bracelets!

2011-08-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

Interweave is working hard to draw in all of us active online makers of things.

They have a new emag called EVERY DAY BRACELETS that you can purchase for downloadable good times here;

Every Day Bracelets Emag

Just calm down Mac users, Interweave has thought of you too.

I wish I could show you some of the inside pages, they're really pretty and I was inspired to begin making bracelets right away!

44 pages of full screen photos, helpful tips, resources and design ideas.

They also feature my mom and dad's Drift Wood Stands which made me really, really, really proud.

Here are some of the latest batch they dropped off when they came to visit us recently.

Some of them take on such character, I want to name them and make a nest for them.

This one is tremendous, with a double decker feature;

This one is really cute;

I am slowly but surely working my way through a batch of over 30 new pieces to add to the shop. I am excited to show you the other fascinating stands so check back for more!

12 years ago this day

2011-08-07T13:09:00.000-05:00

I literally threw my heart at his face and said "Take your best shot, Cowboy."

He caught it gently, wrapped it up and has protected it in his pocket for 12 years.

Happy Anniversary, Mike.

It is an honor to be your wife.

Color Wrapped Keys

2011-08-03T04:47:00.000-05:00

Hashing out antique key design ideas with my friend, Sharon Misuraco, yielded these little treasures!

And perfect light in the work bench area yielded a new pdf tutorial!

When I hold a handful of these embellished keys, I feel excited; happy with the mix of old and new, mystery and intrigue. The technique is challenging enough to keep me making more but simple enough that they can be finished in 30 minutes (not including curing time for the sealant.).

I really hope you enjoy making them as much as I do!

Color Wrapped Keys Tutorial

available here

Toggle Clasp; Bar Plus Link

2011-07-29T13:51:00.000-05:00

Once I followed my interest in manipulating metal, I begin mentally breaking down shapes of commonly used components like toggle clasps. Working with Mary Harding and her ceramics gave me the push I needed to start hammering out pieces that can be used in all sorts of toggle clasps.

If you antique and tumble your copper bar you get a burnished finish that goes well with Zoa Art Shibuichi doughnut.

If you mix brown and red patina you match what Starry Road calls Pomegranate;

Mouth watering!

Way back when I used to make these;

16 gauge hammered links, I wanted a link that had a little more umph so we switched to 14 gauge links. This is where Mike stepped in and said "I'll handle this". Then proceeded to create a set up that allowed him to shape, cleanly cut and put together hundreds of heavy gauge copper links within an hour.

Sweet! This slightly wider link can also be used as a ........

Toggle Clasp!

Turning any of the 16mm hammered, patinated links into a workable clasp with the addition of a 1 inch Antiqued Copper Toggle Bar!

Yay for serendipity!

I didn't stop there, what if I went all big and kinda country?

Enter Stringing magazine and their Toggle clasp feature for the Summer 2011 issue.

I submitted these back in November. I knew they had received them from the email notice but had no idea they wanted to use them and just figured they would be coming back to me as a pass. Well, we moved. We had email problems. We got busy. The next thing I know, I have a magazine with the toggle feature and Missficklemedia was in it!

I was a little taken aback, my goal was to stock up on the metal and hammer out a few limited editions of these babies to meet demand. But I didn't know to do that and now the metal is back ordered! I actually had people call my husbands phone asking for the toggles. So I whipped up some in a lighter gauge of metal, hammered and tumbled to work harden the copper, made em look all wrecked and started listing.

The new batch is now available and they match with a lot of the chains.

This led to the Pendant Toggle, which may be going a bit large but hey, it's good to let go sometimes and just make stuff cause you can.

You can support my component making habit here;

http://www.etsy.com/shop/missficklemedia

Or you can figure out how to make your own. Because when it comes down to it, it is simply

Bar Plus Link = Toggle Clasp.

Thank you to Mary Harding for being my muse and to Stringing magazine for supporting handmade!

Princess Pinky and The Fairy Swing

2011-07-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

And now for something pretty and magical!

She stops me in my tracks when I walk past the front window, hair streaming behind her, bare feet kicked up high, singing and smiling.

Her big papa cut her a piece of red oak, sanded it smooth and affixed it with rope to the strongest tree branch.

We are going to wind lights around the tree trunk and make recycled fairy flowers to hang from the branches.

We'll keep you posted!

Philippe Fernandez

2011-07-21T06:02:00.002-05:00

What should be hanging next to the right side of my bed.

What I would love to hang in my office.

Nature Retreat

2011-07-19T11:28:00.000-05:00

Heather Powers of Humblebeads (you know her!)

is having a glorious retreat that immerses the senses in nature and inspiration for jewelry creation!

I would love to create with Heather, especially the Garden Sundries Bracelet;

Please visit her site here to register and find out more information;

http://www.inspiredbynatureretreat.blogspot.com/

She only has 5 spaces left!

Bead Soup Blog Party - It is on.

2011-07-18T18:06:00.000-05:00

On like Donkey Kong.

Yaaaaaaaaaay!

I am so excited I added the sign ups to my calender. Last sign ups flew right past me but not this one.

I have something really special in store for my partner!

Go visit Lori's blog for details and then let yourself get excited!

Pretty Things

Sea Grass Earrings

2011-07-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

I had no idea that others would like these as much as they have and it pleases me to no end that I keep selling out of sea grass components!

When things finally settled down, I took the opportunity to create a set of 4 for myself and design what was hanging around in my mind. Hazy but at least the start of an idea.

Here's the result;

Tiny antiqued copper bead caps sandwich matte, English cut clear beads, suspended from hammered copper ear wires and tassels made from fine brass chain, verdigris sea grass and clear quartz teardrops.

They are kinda out there, but something about them appealed to my sea goddess like mentality.

(delusions of grandeur)

If only I had the neck to pull off a pair of 5 inchers!

Anyway, if you like the earrings they are available here;
Sea Grass Earrings

But if you want to make your own version of sea grass earrings, you can buy the verdigris set of 4 here;
Sea Grass Patina Copper Bars.

Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

2011-07-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Ugh, I can't help it. Every time I say Moo Cards, I have to moo.

But more interesting and not so disturbing are my new moo cards;

Very, very pleased.

Nice rounded corners, thick satin paper, crisp images of the jewelry I am most proud of.

Next up is postcards to send out to my homey's!

New Work

2011-07-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

The same process as the Sea Gypsy Jewels; completely coating a piece of metal in patina and then removing it randomly with a heavy sanding drum. Adding more layers of patina for softly glowing, colorful copper beads!

I did this for charms also and will be working on several batches of these as time allows.

I have had a lost shipment of copper bring me back to the drawing board for more charm pairs, needing to cut sheet metal to new measurements.

I'm thinking of getting rough cut stones and ceramic beads then hanging the charms from them for easy, swingy earrings.

I am calling these Bounty due to the harvest colors.
But I am not waiting until Fall to add these to the shop, I have already started making earrings for Fall shows.
What are you making? Any certain color combos you are focusing on?

My hubby built box;

Like a printer's drawer! But with LOVE glued in.
So there among the little wood compartments is an assortment of the usual warm fall colors; yellow, orange and brown but I mixed in some perwinkle, sky blue, lavender and black.
Now for some etched, matte glass or stones.....
Or maybe organic shaped metal frames?

With danglies?

AND SHELLS!!!!!

Oh man, am I having fun now!?!

How about this bracelet, using 8mm chestnut and saffron with 12mm violet and paprika and a big verdigris roundell?
I like this one's jangle.

I have named it.....
"Welcome to my Fiesta!"

My Shell Talisman

2011-07-07T06:00:00.004-05:00

I braided a lot in January.

All my favorite colors of Irish linen with little bits of pressed and molded precious metal silver.

Knotted securely onto a hammered sterling hook clasp in a choker style.

This is the one I put on;

Before I even had the money together to move to the sea!

I haven't taken it off since January.

It has showered with me every day, had perfume sprayed on it, sweated with me, survived several trips to the ocean and other various vigorous activities.

And I sleep with it on.

I am completely impressed with it's durability.

The linen has simply softened, and where the metal rubs against it, it has not even begun to show signs of wear, the hook stays closed, the silver secure.

I forget it is on.

So this is good news for our active gals.

A personal talisman necklace that goes where ever you go and keeps up with everything you do.

Available through the slevart shop here.

Stephanie Wells - The Earring Style Book

2011-07-05T06:00:00.008-05:00

My Review;

I love it.

I love the inspirational design boards inside; full of textures and great color combinations.

I like the durability of the hand built frames she helps us measure out.

And I really like how you can use these frames as bases for branching out in your own earring style.

I went for copper.

Warm and gingery from antiquing with not a sparkling thing but a shiva shell.

She calls this style "Casablanca".

Stephanie writes;

"Intended to represent the shape and allure of a Moroccan lamp, the Casablanca earrings evoke the bohemian and exotic."

Yes! There's that word again; bohemian.

Oh so in tune with my mind these days.

I had a great time putting these together with the help of Stephanie's book. I will need a little practice for more evolved styles but I am eager to try more!

Don't let the "capturing celebrity style" and name dropping put you off, this book is filled with handmade artisan earring styles that I think you will enjoy making.

Please consider Stephanie's book for your how-to shelf by purchasing a new copy here;

The Earring Style Book.

Summer is totally revved up.

2011-06-26T07:31:00.001-05:00


Pinky and the Watermelon

Bro Surfing


Hurling Boy

A Visit from Grandma Dee.


No More Wound Dressing!

And me.

Busy picking up after everybody and trying in vain to control sand home invasion.

Riding one of the largest sales months missficklemedia has experienced since 2007.

Walking an hour each day, not eating sugar and losing over 10lbs.

Finished 3 magazine articles, proof read 1, shipped out 2 more designs, submitted 4 more.

Experienced total rejection for all 4 designs.

Finished a book project that I was worried about, 1 week early.

Designed, created and inventoried over 50 new pieces for a store.

Searching for a new 6th grade curriculum.

Read an actual book on Florida's native people.

Designed a new collection for a new account I hope to get.

Making new friends for both Mike & I and the kids.

What I am not getting done;

My own book.

Articles for ABS.

Blog commenting.

Serious housework.

But really, over all, a very productive month.

Love My Art Jewelry Give-away Sponsered by Missficklemedia.com

2011-06-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

Something about rose pink and golden yellow.

I shaped 18 gauge copper leaves, hammered and tumbled them for strength, then treated them to a matte yellow patina. Once sealed, I could add an Artisan Beads Plus original set of ceramic rose colored tubes, wrap the tops and pair them with hammered and lacquered bright copper ear wires.

You could win them if you go here and leave a comment;

Love My Art Jewelry.com

Don't you love their tag line;

"creating handmade with handmade."

Hard to do all the time but so worth the money and effort, isn't it?

Sell Your Handmade Jewelry - Post 3

2011-06-19T06:00:00.009-05:00

Now that I have a case full of priced, organized and inventoried jewelry, a sales letter with a photo collage, samples, the contract and fresh business cards with up to date contact info, I need an order form that will help me stay organized while I complete the jewelry that will be ordered.

Give yourself a good solid evening here with this task. Refer to the inventory list you made of your jewelry case, the notes you made of how many you can make in what colors or other specifications.

Pull up your favorite document program and title it Your Business Name - Orders and add a space for the date that you can fill in when you take the orders.

In Microsoft word, click "insert" and then "table".

A pop up screen gives you options to choose how many columns and how many rows.

I choose 4 columns and 25 rows and then expanded it down to 3/4th of the page.

In the first row add;
Type of Piece, in the header of the first column,
Size in the second column,
How Many in the third column,
Notes in the fourth column and a
Total Price in the fifth column.

At the fourth to the bottom row of the grid, in the second to the last column, type in the following;
Total Due
Amount Paid 3rd row to the bottom
Remainder Due 2nd row to the bottom
Estimation of Completion last row

Now type a paragraph at the bottom of the grid that states the following;

Artist reserves the right to replace any non-contributing findings with equal value due to availability.

(this means you have the freedom to change things like style of chain, jump rings, and clasps with regard to availability in mind and they will not change the designs over all appearance or value.)

The estimated date of completion is within the week.

(You're doing handmade, sometimes things go wrong! This will give you a few days grace period if you do run into problems like a lost shipment of goods or broken things.)

Add a space under this last paragraph for the Consignor to sign and a space for you the Consignee to sign.

Print many copies of these (Yes! One more trip to the office supply store!) and place them in the folder stored in your case. Add a calculator to your case pocket that you can use to add up the moo-la accurately.

You're set.

There's no backing out now. No excuse. You are completely prepared and ready to do business.

Whom to do business with?

Chances are you have spotted a couple of shops you thought might be good for your jewelry.

If not, put some leg work in and check out your town! Or the closest town to it!

Gift shops, boutiques, markets, they are all there somewhere within driving distance.

Do local searches for key words like "Handmade". Or "gift shops" .

Run into hair and nail salons and see if they have a space for counter displays that would match their decor. Garden shops or nurseries.

(If anyone else has suggestions please leave them in comments for others to read.)

1.Write down a list of stores you have checked out and feel might be a good match for your jewelry.
2. Begin looking for phone numbers or even mailing addresses you could send your sales letter to if you can't get hold of an actual buyer. The internet is a great friend to have in this task.
3. Call, ask for the buyers name or when the owner will be in.

4.Call back when they are there and ask to set up an appointment to show them your handmade artisan jewelry.

If they say no, ask why.

Ask politely, "Could you tell me what type of jewelry you are looking to stock your store with?

This is your opportunity to learn. Whatever their answer is, it is helpful to us as designers.

Do they stay away from handmade and only purchase certain brands they have contracts with?

That might be a good time to point out a unique feature of your handmade jewelry; the craftsmanship, how well the jewelry complimented the clothing being sold there currently, whatever the reason you want your stuff there, make sure you share this with them.

If they say they have too much costume/silver/vintage jewelry, point out that your jewelry features a high quality "thingy" that appeals to those who collect artisan jewelry.

If they push you off to a later date, make note of that date and try again.

If they do not want to deal with consignment, offer them wholesale terms.

I usually get a No. No. Yes! So for every 3 stores I visit or speak with, I usually only get to show for 1 person. And even then the deal doesn't always go through. Interest shifts and they do not respond.

Do not let this bother you, because there are always other shops popping up or you will discover another one that will be interested in stocking your jewelry.

I have decided in my hunt for local shops here in Florida to limit myself to 4 stores each month.

This will help me be not so overwhelmed and gives me time to make adjustments to my collection between selling appointments.

When you get some face time scheduled;

Dress nice.

Wear your jewelry well.

Be passionate about what you do.Be factual about your product. No drama or bad talking other companies or types of jewelry.Present each tray with a comment about your favorite piece or what you like about the jewelry it contains.Take a few pieces out of the tray so they can hold them.Talk about a meaningful part of the jewelry during pauses in questions.

Bring together clothing or accessories the store stocks that the jewelry you have compliments.

Write down notes on what they say, questions they asked that you were not prepared for.

Ask to write up an order for them that you can have delivered in such and such time.

Fill out your order form with the most detail you can think of, it will help later when you are sitting at your bead table. Calculate the total and let them know how much they will owe you upon completion or when you will deliver the goods for consignment.

If the terms are for consignment, go over the contract with them and sign it together. Have them make a copy for themselves or offer to mail them a copy.

Discuss with the store where your items will go. Will they have all of your items out at one time or will they hold some back to stock as items sell?

Decide what is best between you two and get to work making it!

The next post is scheduled for July 17th.
This large gap between posts should give us plenty of time to find, contact and present to at least 2 to 3 shops.
Once we have a contract to show for our hard work, and we are busy making the jewelry to deliver, we will discuss how to track what their buyer is purchasing, how much to send in, when to send in and when to discount unsold product.
I am also going to post a small list of things to do when things go wrong. I know, that sounds vaguely ominous. But it is better to prepare for them than well, to not.

Exclusive Patina Work at Lima Beads

2011-06-17T06:59:00.000-05:00

Oh Boy, was I ever thrilled when the buyer for Lima Beads contacted me and asked for a price list.

To be among such fine company as Jangles, C-Koop, Humble Beads

Earthenwood Studio and Gaea, must mean I am creating something of value to the art bead community, right?

The folks at Lima beads have an excellent vision for jewelry making and I am very glad to be a part of it.

Not only is the website really fun to shop, but they have remained focused on the community of jewelry makers, giving us site features like Fresh Picks, The Garden, and the Design Gallery .

Here is the reason I like them;

Free Form Faceted Nugget Gemstones.

Oh. Yay. Baby.

I can't get enough.

Lima Beads will be carrying exclusive components from me.

Beads, links and toggles in colors you can't get elsewhere.

Including;

56mm Peacock Blue Copper Circles.

And a complete Chestnut Opal Collection that includes 2 washes of brown patinas and mica shimmer.

This is my favorite from the whole lot.

I have had a vision in my head about the kind of brown I would like to create with and while the chestnut alone is wonderful; earthy and rich, the new combination of the 2 brown shades gives the components a variegation and the mica takes it out of this world.

Because I am big on shopping at one place for all your needs, I will be posting regular design ideas that includes parts you can purchase from Lima Beads in one shipment.

This means I have a perfectly good reason to blow a couple hundred at Lima Beads so I am off to shop, hope to see you there!

A Few Things I Have Learned Living in Florida

2011-06-16T07:47:00.000-05:00

Just because things grow easy here, doesn't mean you suddenly know how to landscape.
You shouldn't bring home EVERYTHING you find washed up on shore. Some things have died in hidden places and you do not find it until the smell begins to infect the air around you.
People living in the rest of the world DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, want to hear how fantastic the weather is here.
Just as lots of sun does not make you a skilled gardener, so too, does a bikini not make you a supermodel.
Great friends are actually rather easy to come by.
Mike may be enjoying his new pool too much.

Sell Your Handmade Jewelry Post 2

2011-06-12T06:00:00.006-05:00

My case is filled. My labels stuck on the trays. My inventory logged.

I need a few business cards so I ordered some from moo.

I like moo because of the nice thick paper they use, the fact that I can upload my own photos of my own jewelry on the front of the cards really easily and they have nice things I use every so often, like postcards and stickers for reasonable prices.

Now I need to draft a sales letter, design a photo collage and assemble samples.

The sales letter is your pitch on paper in very few words.

This is to cement what you have shared about you and your product, leaving the potential buyer with a tangible something to refer back to.

An example;

Hello (the stores name here)!

The holiday shopping season is here and I have a way for you to provide your customers with unique, professionally designed, handcrafted gifts.

We have earrings of antiqued sterling and copper paired with Czech glass and semi-precious stones, we have multi-chained bracelets with adjustable sizing and artisan beads, we have necklaces of hand hammered copper pendants paired with Swarovski crystals in wonderfully festive ways! All of this merchandise is ready to ship, display and sell for your increased holiday traffic.

Offer jewelry from (your business name here) for 3 benefits;

1.) Supporting (your state) based artisans is one of the best ways to stay green by reducing the amount of travel, thus reducing the carbon footprint.

2.) Today’s distrust of large corporations makes it easier for people to invest in their community by purchasing from small business artisans.

3.) The uniqueness of these designs pulls at your customers heart strings, both fascinating them and creating a “must have” purchase, thereby creating instant income for your store front.

Please take a moment to look over the collage of photos we have assembled for you. This collage represents a small fraction of the jewelry collection available for wholesale purchase or consignment.

We can offer you references for consignment and wholesale accounts stating we are able to keep up with large shipments, offer reasonable prices and create securely finished, quality jewelry. This is our passion that we are eager to share with your buyer and hopefully, build a prosperous relationship with you.

Thank you for your time,

Your full name here

email address here

maybe a skype number of phone number if you like here

You can tweak this to make it your own or just use it as a base for creating your own sales letter.

I feel both the photo collage and a sample is not necessary but my reasoning for including both with the sales letter is; the photo collage can show a few more choices and hooks the visual decision maker (most buyers of accessories will be visual based people) and the sample is awfully hard to just toss aside to become buried in a desk mess.

(No, you do not have to have references on hand if you are just starting out but if you do have them, they are nice to back up your words.)

I created a photo collage through Picasa 3.

Available here through google.

This is an example of one of my collages without the description and the price.

Each of the photos used for a photo collage can inserted into the collage with a few descriptive words and an approximate retail price added as text into the corners.

You can do this with whatever software you have or through the picasa photo editing software.

This should be subtle and discreet, not too large a font that it shadows the design.

Print off a few copies, not as actual photos but just on good matte paper. Staple the sales letter and the photo collage together and set them aside.

The samples;

This is optional and you can ignore this section and still acquire new consignment accounts, okay?

But I like to include samples.

They can be any type of small, fast, easy to make, inexpensive item, BUT they must show off what you do.

Zipper pulls, 1 bead earrings, charm, key chain, etc. Whatever you can assemble to a business card or a display card, slip into a zip lock bag, stick a business name and email to and attach to the sales letter and photo collage to leave with your buyer. I often use the sample for the sales clerk who gets you the buyers name. Her just wearing your piece will get someone asking and that in itself could get your ball rolling.

This advise follows the same vein as offering your hairdresser free earrings, your local book store lady a pin, a friend in PTO a necklace for so&so's upcoming pregnancy. IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU, pressed down and shaken together.

And now the contract;

The contract serves to mainly avoid misunderstandings and difficulties that would arise if both parties had not been clear about the terms of the arrangement.

But there are also responsibilities and rights expected from both parties that need to be discussed and agreed to before entering into a contract.

1.) Your rights as an artist.

2.) The items listed on inventory and accompanied by the agreed price (not to be confused with your case inventory but a separate list that is turned in with the items that will be consigned.).

3.) Your descriptions are true and accurate ( in other words don't call something sterling if it's plated brass).

4.) How long will the store front or gallery hold on to your stuff.

5.) Who will transport the items back and forth from the store.

6.) The stores acceptance of covering the cost for all items that had been damaged or stolen.

7.) The store agrees to pay you before paying creditors.

8.) The stores fee for selling your work (the percentage we discussed here.) and when they will pay you.

9.) The rights of reproduction remain the artists.

10.) A statement of accounts to be sent with your payment of what sold.

11.) How you will terminate your agreement.

12.) Any adjustments to the contract should be signed by both artist and store.

I have a fantastic contract that covers all this and stuff I didn't even know to think of already done up by a lawyer. You can contact me through email for a copy to look over for yourself or you can work with your own lawyer to put together a contract specifically suited for you and your goods.

You will need a copy for each store you approach so print several of these contracts and place them in the manila folder with your case inventory.

This seems like a good time to mention what several people are afraid of; theft.

Yep, jewelry gets stolen.

If you had a shop yourself, you would know there is nothing you can do to completely eradicate this risk to doing business. Just as I know getting into a car means I may have an accident so too do I know selling jewelry may mean a piece or 2 is stolen. I still get into my car everyday and I still want to sell jewelry at stores. If the risk isn't worth it, don't do it. As careful as a shop owner or their paid help can be, if someone wants to steal something, they will figure out a way to do so. Keeping your jewelry in loud crinkly cellophane bags is a deterrent as is having it attached to large display boxes.

I do not let people "try on" my handmade artisan jewelry at shows and I let the store know it isn't good to let people at their store try it on either. Holding the piece up to the body is fine (under the assistance of sales help) for giving a potential buyer a closer idea of what it would look like on as would details on the tag (size, etc.), but earrings should never be taken off the display cards and put into someone's ear hole. Bracelets are too easy to conceal under sleeves and necklaces do not need to be clasped on a persons neck against their skin or under their hair for them to get the full effect of your jewelry. The more people who handle your jewelry, the more oil and dirt is transferred to your jewelry and that isn't good for the mass produced, shiny stuff or your hand crafted artisan jewelry.

We will talk more in a future post about discussing with the store owner where your pieces should be located in the store and how they will be displayed. This plays a part in how much your items are watched and protected.

So. This is the not-so-fun part of preparing yourself to approach stores, but I really believe that once it is together, you will feel better about having all your ducks in a row and knowing you did your best to cover all aspects in preparing to present to your buyer and avoiding potential problems during the duration of your consignment agreement.

AND if I can point out that if you have followed through with all these tasks and finished the hard work up to now, you are not going to want to just quit and give up! You are going to want to go forward!

The next post will be on Sunday the 19th.

That gives us 1 week to order business cards, draft a heart felt but to the point sales letter, make a pretty informative photo collage of our best jewelry and print out artist protecting contracts.

June 19th's post will cover finding stores, setting appointments, presenting to stores and following up with stores. We will also put together an order form that you fill out according to the buyers wants and take to the work bench to ........

MAKE JEWELRY YOU WILL BE PAID FOR!

Whooooooowhoooooo!

New Driftwood Jewelry Stands!

2011-06-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

They're so beautiful!

Each has a unique feature in the wood and the flowing organic shape they add to the jewelry is really lovely.

I have to admit, it has been a struggle to show the stands, some as tall as 18 inches, through the camera.

My photography just doesn't do them justice or show the excellent craftsmanship that Jim and Ginger have put into them.

In fact I have 8 others that are too tall to take photos of but are extremely striking in person!

(Email me if you want more details on these as they are useful for extra long necklaces!)

You can shop the new Driftwood Jewelry Stands here in our shop;

missficklemedia.com

Viva handmade!

Sell Your Handmade Jewelry Post 1

2011-05-29T06:00:00.003-05:00

Our first step in selling our jewelry in stores is to have a portable, well organized collection featuring our pieces in a variety of styles, colors and prices. This will allow us to quickly present our jewelry in an organized, professional manner that buyers or store owners can examine while you point out why the heck they should sell your lovely jewelry instead of the mass produced, identical (bad word) that most stores stock.

Do you have that already? I didn't. In the past I put together portfolios of boards that had pinned jewelry to them. Which is fine, but didn't offer the full range of skill I had so I needed to invest in something larger.

These are available here for $95.

I purchased the hard rolling case so I could place lots of jewelry in it and know it was well protected but they also have soft carrying cases that are less expensive.

The rolling feature is a must for me as it hurts my back to lug stuff around and this is heavy once it is filled.

Take a few minutes to see if you have a local store that carries this case to save on shipping.

Now let's fill it!

I like to use a combination of open trays with velvet board inserts and smaller compartment trays. The combination allows me to arrange the open boards as they were magazine pages or a Sundance Catalog web page with complimenting pieces arranged with space around them. The smaller compartments allows for bangles and carded earrings to stay separated.

To keep your jewelry in place on the velvet open boards you will need u-pins.

Just trust me here, the first time we went out with my artfully arranged case, the company I ordered the u-pins from were back ordered and I went ahead with my case anyway. When we arrived the trays were a jumbled mess that just embarrassed me and wasted both the buyers time and our time by needing to untangle the chains and earrings before making the presentation.

I needed to go somewhere else for u-pins and found them here at Beadaholique.

(Stay focused here, you just need the u-pins!)

I use approximately 2 to 3 pins per piece so make sure you have the correct amount .

They are sharp and I hurt myself several times trying to hurry and poke them into the boards so beware.

I'll admit, this "composition arrangement" part is fun for me. I have often imagined being the owner of a shop and having windows to beautifully arrange. This is close to that task.

How you arrange your presentation board is up to you and your personal style, but keep in mind the Rule of Thirds to help you balance and keep each board simple rather than cluttered.

Once you have the case stocked and pinned in place, you need to create a price list and organize it so you can easily reffer to it while your buyer asks questions.

I start a word document and label it with the collection or color that indentified that tray.

I then purchased avery labels and printed the trays corresponding label that I could stick on the outside of both sides of each tray. This helped me locate the correct tray quickly whether it was placed into the hard case the right way or not.

Of course you can also hand write them!

I then listed the pieces in the pinned order of top to bottom with short descriptions and a price;

1.) Verdigris Waterfall necklace with handmade ceramic beads $75

For EVERY piece and EVERY tray.

I have a tendency to go blank when I'm nervous and this list is helpful in keeping me focused on the important details.

Continue on with your trays until you have logged each piece and its price. Print these out, staple them together and place them in a manila folder inside your carrying case.

We will be adding a few other important documents to this folder at a later date.

A few notes on pricing;

I hate it. I hate when people ask me for advise on it. I would rather give stuff away than try to figure out pricing. But that doesn't allow us to buy more supplies or help pay the bills, so I will try to do my best here.

I pay myself an hourly wage because I have years of experience and it didn't come cheap or easy.
I charge for retail pricing on the parts and components I use but I look for deals, sales and easy to make components so that I have a higher profit.
I have a list of overhead that is divided up to the hour for every month.

That means all the bills we pay to keep our business running is added up, than divided by a 29 day month and then that number is divided per 8 hour work day.

So if you work 2 hours on jewelry and pay yourself $15 an hour plus $9 to cover overhead you have a total cost of $48. If you are able to complete 6 pieces of jewelry in that 2 hour period and the parts per piece come to $12, divide $48 by 6 and add that onto the $12.

$20 would the wholesale cost for that particular piece.

Now this would be different for each one of a kind piece of jewelry you make and you will need to spend more time pricing and charging for that additional time and rarity.

At this point I consider the percentage the store will be getting for selling my work for me and add that percentage on.

Most stores have a 40/60 percent contract and you would need to add $8 onto the $20 piece to pay them and still keep your hourly, overhead and supplies.

(Now this is a small scale example and your artisan jewelry should NOT be going for that low of a price unless that is its value.)

But you're not in this just to break even!

So consider the overall value, current trends, uniqueness and presentation of each piece before adding your profit. This is highly subjective and takes a little bit of research to get it right for your particular style.

Adding professionally printed display cards, cellophane packaging, adjustable sizing, personalized options like birthstones, personal stories, meaningful quotes and other fine details cost money and should be considered when determining the overall value of your piece.

I have shared this link before but let me share it again here;

http://marketingjewelry.blogspot.com/

Dave is my main man in advise for selling and pricing your handmade jewelry.

His site and blog contains a huge amount of helpful, applicable advise based on actual experience.

PLEASE do not just book mark it but take the time to read and research something you deserve to be successful at!

Okay! So that is our first step.

I am doing this with you and will give you time to finish these tasks before posting the next steps; Drafting a sales letter, assembling samples and putting together a contract.

(Don't worry, I've got a lawyer for this one!)

The next post will be on the 12th of June. This gives us 2 weeks to purchase our case, stock it with collections of jewelry, log our inventory and print out our price list.

We can do that, right?

Don't think about the actual face to face talking part just yet, we are not there and we do not want the sick feelings in our stomach to stop us or enable us to make excuses.
So we will just concentrate on putting together a killer ensemble of our awesome jewelry!

There is a de-stash of epic proportions coming.....

2011-05-20T06:00:00.004-05:00

A de-stash the likes of which have never been seen before.

I divided up sections of my extensive bead collection into different types of beads and components.

(Let me take this opportunity to remind you that I have been beading since 1987.)
And found I have more beads than I have storage.
Would you like any?

I am selling them for $10 a packet.
In the first batch there are 20 different packs of vintage enameled flowers, flower charms, lucite beads, faux pearls, cotton pearls, hollow glass and sugar glass!

Antique leaded crystal prisms and brass stampings!

Aluminum roses and rhinestone drops!

The next sorted batch is found object destash.
It is harder to sell those as they mean more to me than the pretty whimsical vintage stash does.
But I release them to those who have a gift for giving the old and forgotten new life in artisan jewelry.
I am not sure why, but I am feeling very tiki/totem like lately and I want to make jewelry that expresses that.
*SORRY! I'M BEHIND IN WORK AND FORGOT I HAD THIS SCHEDULED!
DUR.
I WILL START LISTING THEM TOMORROW MORNING - 5/21/11*
Listed half of them and working on the other half Monday night !
You can view them here;
http://www.etsy.com/shop/missficklemedia?section_id=6711135

Benthic Blue

2011-05-18T06:00:00.004-05:00

The recipe;

1 cup of obsession for the sea

2 feet pure copper chain

1 cup of ocean blue patina

1 swipe of laurel green patina

1 pinch of gold dust

lots of of lacquer and wax

Paired with "Roman Glass" and antiqued sterling wire.

Oh. Yeah.

This piece went to Michelle Mach (her blog is a must read!) but I had to create more!
This was what motivated me to unpack the patina desk and get to work re-creating!

Benthic Blue Collection for You available here.

Sell Your Handmade Jewelry

2011-05-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

What a simple statement; Sell Your Handmade Jewelry.

But the task itself is far from simple.

In talking with my friend Fancy of Fanciful Devices about how to approach stores that may carry your designs, she said "That makes me sick to my stomach".

I KNOW!

Mine too.

But, if we move forward in spite of the sick feelings in our stomach, we may feel the reward of money well earned from our creations.

I am determined to stock several local shops with my some of my new designs but I have to start from scratch here. In spite of having jewelry in stores located around the world; New Zealand, England, Australia, I have never had anyone approach me to sell in their shop here in Florida.

So I have to go to them.

So get your sick bag ready, we are going to to achieve several tasks that will prepare us for approaching shops and boutiques that will want to carry our work.

I have separated the tasks into 4 different blog posts that will be posted every Sunday from May 29th to June 19th.

You will be given step by step instructions in each post. You will be rigorous in your efforts, completing each before the next task. You will feel proud of what you accomplish, in spite of its difficulty.

The end result will be you, entering shops with confidence, a relaxed attitude and positive energy.

Even when you are rejected (and we will be, it is inevitable) you will know you did everything to the best of your ability to present yourself as the gifted, artistic soul you are.

When you have a successful contract with a shop that pays you for your creations, you will feel the reward of financial success.

Most importantly, you will earn more money to buy more supplies with!

YaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaY!

I think that is the main driving force behind my creating and selling.

If I didn't sell what I made, I wouldn't have the money to fund future creations.

And then I would crawl into a hole in the ground and die.

So come back on the 29th and we will do this together.

Inspired Remnants & Curious Dreams by Kerin Gale

2011-05-14T06:00:00.003-05:00

The book is here.

Funny, fresh and super friendly, Kerin Gale guides us through an excellent introduction to this amazing media with her new book, Inspired Remnants & Curious Dreams; Mixed Media Projects in Epoxy Clay.

I have been waiting for this book for some time now, somewhere between my disenchantment with polymer clay and my frustration with air dry clay.

Kerin's gift of creating fascinating objects of art with found and handmade pieces, drew me to her crackled heart project. When I learned a book was in the works, I just knew I would have to own it!

There has been an idea in my head for some time now. I started a proto-type in polymer clay and it broke. My second attempt was in air dry clay, really expensive air dry clay, but I couldn't sculpt as well as I wanted to with it. So the idea has sat, waiting for me to try something else.

Well, this new to me, epoxy clay, seemed like a possibility. But it was starting a whole new media, I didn't have the years of experience, like I did with polymer clay or metal clay, I needed a little bit of help with this one. So I purchased the book and dived in!

The above piece is titled Hearts on Fire.

The armature is shaped and wrapped aluminum wire, the base is a piece of drift wood. I worked epoxy clay onto the wire tree by tearing off chunks of the combined 2-part clay (a very different way of making clay for me and expertly explained in Kerin's book) and pressed them into the branches, squeezing each with my fist. As the clay began to cure, I dragged a fine toothed comb through it to create bark like texture.

I peeled back little pieces to mimic peeling bark and tore the edges so they would look burned.

The whole thing cured to a hard state within 5 hours!

Once the tree was rock hard, I coated it in metal coating and treated it to layers of patina; red, black, orange and brown.

I am pleased.

Now the awesome part.
Kerin is a very open & approachable person and in our conversing she mentioned the blog hop scheduled for the book and some how I managed to wheedle my way in.

So I have the honor of informing you of these really special packages and prizes that have been put together for those interested in exploring this media further.

1.) Book & Online Workshop Bundles - special pricing of $5 off. All you need to do is put in the name of MY blog when you check out through Paypal and you will receive the $5 back.

A) Resin Clay Pendants Workshop + Book = $35 + shipping

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63483761/inspired-remnants-book-and-resin-clay

B) Vintage Gentleman Workshop + Book = $40 + shipping

http://www.etsy.com/listing/27210387/inspired-remnants-book-and-vintage-gent

C) Both Workshops + Book = $70 + shipping
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72931590/inspired-remnants-book-super-bundle-with

But WAIT! There's GIVEAWAYS!

Every blog participating on the book tour will be giving away a treasure chest of prizes to some very lucky people. Please note that all physical prizes (i.e. non digital prizes) can be awarded only to US participants. Online workshops and digital collage sheets are available to everybody worldwide. To be eligible, all you need to do is leave a comment to this post by May 28. Please note in your comment if you are a resident outside the US.
Just leave a comment for one entry to win one of these fabulous prizes. Get more chances to win by sharing info about the book tour! When you leave your comment just say where you posted (facebook, twitter, your blog, etc.) Each post is worth one entry in my drawing.

Here are the prizes;

1. One Aves Power Pack (selection of their most popular formulas) from Aves Studio.

2. Fluid Chalks Online Workshop by Lesley Venable on her The Art of Altering site, which features many other workshops as well.

3. Two Digital Collage Sheets by Alicia Caudle of Altered Bits. See her cool collection here.

4. Sample pack of Silputty 40 silicone putty mold mix from Silpak. This is the formula recommended in the book that has a longer cure time. You can call Jerry at Silpak at 909-625-0056 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 909-625-0056 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to order this directly or ask questions.

5. One ounce ICE Resin and a mixed medal bezel from Susan Lenart-Kazmer's site Ice Resin.

Grand Prizes For Book Reviews (Please note prizes include shipping to U.S. addresses only.)

Any reader that writes a review ~ however short or long~ of Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams on amazon.com before July 31, 2011 and sends an email with the title “Inspired Remnants Review” to remnants.art@gmail.com will be entered in a drawing to win one of these prizes. Please note that your honest opinion is wanted on this review.

A) The art piece featured on the cover of the book, “Sacred Totem”

B) Power Pack plus extra Fixit Sculpt clay from Aves Studio

C) Frozen Charlotte Doll with digital tutorial “How To Crackle Charlottes” from Alicia Caudle of http://alteredbits.com

D) Resin Clay Pendants online workshop by Kerin Gale from http://MixedMediaArt.ning.com

E) Vintage Gentleman online workshop by Kerin Gale from http://MixedMediaArt.ning.com

How awesome is this!?!

The generosity shown by some of the sponsors is incredible!

Visit all of the sponsors blogs during the blog tour and enter to win their prizes too for more chances to win!

I can't wait to dig in and create some more with this clay, its sturdiness is just what I was looking for.

I hope you enjoy creating with it also.

No. I KNOW you will enjoy it.
Here is the rest of the blog hop;

May 1 Kerin Gale; Remnants of Olde

May 2 Alicia Caudle; Altered Bits

May 3 Lesley Venable; Flat Woods Folk Art

May 4 Christine Lehto; Lilly Bug Studio

May 5 Seth Apter; The Altered Page

May 6 Nancy Perennec; Little Bit Wired

May 7 Jen Cushman; Ice Resin

May 8  Happy Mother's Day!

May 9 Beth Robinson; Strange Dolls

May 10 Brenda Schweder; Brenda Schweder

May 11 Esther Verschoor; Essie's Dolls

May 12 Kecia Deveny; Lemoncholy's Flights of Fancy

May 13 Rachel Whetzel: One Year Art Journal

May 14 Shannon LeVart: Missficklemedia.com

May 15 Marlaine Verhelst; Marlaine Verhelst

May 16 Lisa Jurist; Mud Hound Primitives

May 17 Michelle Bernard; Yesterday's Trash

May 18 Kerin Gale; Remnants of Olde, featuring Alan Rogerson

May 19 Facebook Party!

P.S. Don't worry about the bounced messages when leaving a comment.

I am able to publish all comments and everyone's will be counted when it is time to draw names!

How are you?

2011-05-04T15:09:00.000-05:00

I have to tell you I am crazy happy.

Like, wander the grocery store in a full length mumu with a bloody mary in one hand as I wink sloppily at the bagger boy, humming a Jimmy Buffet song, happy.

No.

This is a happy created not by alcohol but by the fulfillment of a plan.

But it is a silly happy like that.

I feel bubbly and giggly and completely and totally in love with my husband and my kiddos, my new house and our new community.

It has been hectic. Most of my spare time is spent with the kids and trying to make our new home comfortable for them . While Pinky adjusts to major changes well and thrives on chaos, my boy, Boo, is slower to take to changes and requires more time and mindful attention.

But we have Spy Camp coming up and hopefully this will allow him to meet other kids who have the same interests as him.

I love everything about where we live and look forward to exploring more and sharing what I find.

The only problem I am having right now is finding a spot to write in.

Before I had a comfy throne that surveyed my humble kingdom. But now the comfy throne is too far away from the booster thingy that wireless requires to run (I have no idea what I am talking about here) and I can't research online properly. I sit on my bed and type, but I can only sit cross legged for a few minutes at a time.

We are going garage sale-ing again in hopes of finding a good table or desk for me to sit at.

But this is in addition to the table and chairs we are purchasing for our.......

Workshops!

We have the best space ever for holding in home workshops and both Mike and I are very excited to put this together for like souls that crave metal wreckage.

The first workshop will be

It will cover from start to finish;

1. Where to purchase the least expensive supplies.
2. How to shape, measure, and cut custom made links. QUICKLY.
3. How to solder, hammer, grind and join 6 different types of hand forged chain.
4. What patinas to use, what not to use, how to apply them, layer them, alter them and professionally seal them.
5. Finally we will embellish our chains with handmade headpins (sharing our secret to creating lots of headpins in a short time!), antiqued wire, beads, fibers, shells and tumbled glass.

Our new space allows for 15 people at a time!

That's a party.

So the first task is finding nearby suitable accommodations for our out of town guests. Once I am comfortable with that selection, I can safely schedule the first series of workshops, starting in June.

Thank you for sharing our excitement and continuing to visit my blog even though the interaction has been minimal. It really is temporary until we are settled in and I can spend more time online.

I leave you with Pinky, trying her first steamed clam.....

She LOVED them!

Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams Book Blog Hop

2011-04-29T09:46:00.000-05:00

There is a fascinating online book tour scheduled for promoting the new book by Kerin Gale;

Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams

Mixed Media Projects in Epoxy Clay

And I have the honor of sharing the list of spectacular artists who are taking part in this blog hop starting Sunday, May 1st!

You are not going to want to miss this, with each new day and each post there will be chances to win prizes. HUGE prizes that would totally help an artist out!

Prizes like;

A free copy of the Inspired Remnants book, a Power Pack by Aves Studio, online workshops in epoxy clay and fluid chalks, frozen Charlotte dolls by Alicia Caudle, the featured art on the cover of the book, Ice Resin, a copy of Explore, Create, Resinate by Jen Cushman, Susan Lenart Kazmer's book Making Connections, some of Susan's bezels and I may have forgotten a few.
Each post will be rich with visual imagery and informative text as each artist shares their personal experience with epoxy clay and discusses the book.

The blog hop ends on the 19th of May with a facebook party!
(My first facebook party! What should I wear? My black pj's or my swimsuit?)

Here is the schedule for the blog hop;

May 1 Kerin Gale; Remnants of Olde

May 2 Alicia Caudle; Altered Bits

May 3 Lesley Venable; Flat Woods Folk Art

May 4 Christine Lehto; Lilly Bug Studio

May 5 Seth Apter; The Altered Page

May 6 Nancy Perennec; Little Bit Wired

May 7 Jen Cushman; Ice Resin

May 8  Happy Mother's Day!

May 9 Beth Robinson; Strange Dolls

May 10 Brenda Schweder; Brenda Schweder

May 11 Esther Verschoor; Essie's Dolls

May 12 Kecia Deveny; Lemoncholy's Flights of Fancy

May 13 Rachel Whetzel: One Year Art Journal

May 14 Shannon LeVart: Missficklemedia.com

May 15 Marlaine Verhelst; Marlaine Verhelst

May 16 Lisa Jurist; Mud Hound Primitives

May 17 Michelle Bernard; Yesterday's Trash

May 18 Kerin Gale; Remnants of Olde, featuring Alan Rogerson

May 19 Facebook Party!

Hope to see you there!

Take a Walk to the Beach with Boo & I

2011-04-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

If you walk down Sunrise Ave. and cross A1A, you arrive at one of the many dune parks along Brevard county. This is the parking lot of the one directly across from our neighborhood.

It takes Boo and & I 10 minutes to walk to the beach, 3 minutes to drive.

Here is the dune crossing.

Boo and I learned of rip tides and how to swim out to sea, out of the rip tide and then swim horizontal to the shore until you are out of the rip tide before trying to swim back to shore. There is a sign at every dune crossing.

The first ocean view you get when you cross over the dune.

It takes my breathe away.

The brilliant sun, the thunderous sound of the waves, the sea gulls coasting overhead, it is all so overwhelming. If I could somehow embrace the sea, I would totally hug it.

The Atlantic Ocean

The view to the left.

The view to the right.

The street sign to our neighborhood.

I don't know why this strikes me as funny, I have actually used it several times to identify where we need to come up from the beach. It can be disconcerting to walk and walk and then not recognize the steps you need to go up.

(Matsuka, if you right click this photo you will be given an option to save this image to your computer. More of Pinky to come!)

Boo's shell vignette.

Our favorite spot to sit.

I do not know if the sun and heat slows people down and creates a general calm feeling in most people, but everyone we meet has been so pleasant and friendly. People say good morning to us and stop to talk to Christian about all sorts of different things; creatures, palm trees, ocean facts and stuff about different shells.

It's really nice here.

The Journey South

2011-04-18T17:30:00.000-05:00

Let me introduce my co-pilots.

Miss.Pinky and Mr.Boo.

Our fearless leader;

Mr.Fickle
Who spent a lot of time in parking lots trying to set up various electrical things for the kids.

Water, Rock Star, GPS and my ipod helped me immensely.

This was my view for 1,200 miles.

Not exactly the back end of Mike that I like to look at.
My favorite part of the drive was going through the southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains.
Waterfalls poured through the rock the road was carved in and the sun sparkled through the bright green trees.

This is not the best picture but I had to concentrate on driving, so ... you know.

We made it!
Safe and sound without one single mishap, bump in the road or emergency!
Even the piggies had an easy ride.

We are working hard to settle in quickly, but having trouble getting emails changed, the printer set up and a missing regulator replaced for the propane torch. If you do not mind a few extra days of shipping time, I would love to offer a 10% discount through the 24th.
I have titled the coupon code;
MAMANEEDSHELVING.
Just type that phrase with no spacing into the coupon code space when submitting your order and the discount will be automatically taken off your total.

Thank you for all the well wishing and safe journeys from so many of you, I kept them all on my phone as long as my old email server would allow, they were so encouraging.
If you have sent emails and haven't heard back from me, send them again. I lost a good chunk when we switched over.

I can't wait to show you the house and the beach!

The countdown begins!

2011-04-04T15:48:00.001-05:00

10 days until we move to our new home in Florida!

With our current home in disarray; tripping over boxes, the work bench and bead desk half packed, you know I am freaking out.

We sold our current house within 10 days of listing it and was approved for a new one the next week!

How crazy fast is that!?!?!

We leave Wright City, MO. on the 13th, right after Mike receives his soliris treatment, and begin a 5 hour journey to Nashville, Tennessee. The next day we travel through Alabama (Hi, Marcie!) and Georgia for 8 to 9 hours. It is at this time I predict I will be stark raving mad, my sciatic inflamed and my mind fried from dealing with maniacs on the road. I will be breaking my fast of caffeine and chocolate at this point and if Mike is smart, he won't get in my way (Mr.Perfect, I am so healthy now, I don't need extra serotonin.). We rest and begin the last 5 hour leg of our journey on the 15th, traveling a total of 1,200 miles to arrive in Satellite Beach, Florida where we will take possession of our new home!

A long haul.

Nerve wracking but exciting!

We priced movers to come do the hard work for us while we fly us and the kids to Florida, but at $4,000 for the truck, labor and fuel, there was no way.

I checked the money tree and it just wasn't growing that kind of bounty. :)

So with careful planning and many down loadable movies for the kiddos, we're doing it old fashioned.

We will need to close down the shop for 8 to 10 days from April 9th to the 18th. This is really hard to do, because it is our main form of income, but with all the handmade items I create, there is just no way to keep it going while I finish packing and travel.

Will you miss me?

Or will you forget all about me?

What if upon opening, I have a huge sale and send free beads with every order?

This would be a very rare occurrence as I have strict principles about discounting handmade merchandise.

(Don't do it. Ever. Unless you need to feed your children. Which at this point, we will need to.)

Believe with us for a safe, smooth journey and I will be back to post many pictures of our journey.

The Flame

2011-03-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

A limited edition (simply because it is one of those things that just happened at the work bench that I have no idea if I will be able to re-create on purpose and I'm kinda afraid to try) pendant is now listed!

I have hung on to these for a little while, unsealed, trying to decide if I should do matchy-matchy with the Ember patina combination or leave them this muted shade of orange.

I love orange so orange won.

The backs are patterned brass, the walls are shaped and hammered copper, each piece is soldered together to form a seamless connection which allows the pendant to be used as a bezel.

I was imagining a turquoise teardrop brio hung in the middle of the flame but I would love to see what you brought to it.

Available here;

The Flame

Mr. Sun is a Tease

2011-03-29T10:16:00.001-05:00

I am literally sitting on hundreds of items that I have not been able to photograph and list because of the lack of sun.

Many times I have been tempted to begin investing in the thousands of dollars for photography equipment but I am enamored of the soft, sweet hazy light of the morning. It feels better suited to the work I do than the cold, white/gray gallery type style.

And it is much more fun to buy beads.

This is not my photo, I just can't find where I got it!

It can be hard to find it here in Missouri. Some days start with the perfect light and by the time you are all set up, the sun comes out full force and creates harsh shadows.

Other times it is perfect!

Sometimes you do what you have to do to get the job done.

This photo still makes me laugh.

It is from the time I was working on the book Handmade Underground Jewelry and I had deadlines to meet.

The sun disappeared after I set up and I sat there on the edge of my bathtub, waiting and hoping it would come back. It never did.

But when the sun does come in for me, it is wonderful. There is a great reward in having the best picture ever for an item.

But, guess what? In our new house, I get the Florida Room as my studio! I will be able to have a table set up and ready to go for when the perfect light arrives which will be waaaaay more often because Florida is known as the Sunshine State!

I'm sorry. I can't visit your blog right now.

2011-03-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

Wings by Round Rabbit

You all drive me crazy with your lovely pictures of awesome jewelry designs and new handmade components.

I am barely able to hold back.

Every penny we have is going towards this move and OF COURSE there are new problems that pop up and we have to scramble to put the money together to fix them.

The whole time, there's me, sweating and salivating over the computer screen. My inner practical adult BEGGING me to wait, buy those beads, components or pendants once I get to Florida.

But it's haaaaaaaard.

I see stuff and new designs leap into my mind!

I have loaded and canceled my shopping cart over and over.

So I thought I would put together a wish list here on my blog, cause I know at one time or another, you all have had to hold off purchasing jewelry things and you can relate to a wish list.

Lizard Skin by Bead Addicts

Slowly I feel heat begin in my core and rise up to my neck.


Porcelain Shards by Marsha Neal Studios

My face is flushed.


Key Pendant by The Classic Bead

Beads of perspiration form at my brow.

Kalypso Fruit Pod by Libby Leu

Sweat lines now trickle down my back and I have to stop posting and linking or my resolve will fracture.

I will be back with some more goods soon!

Ear Posties

2011-03-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

How fun!

Creating tiny fine and sterling silver bits of metal, measuring and cutting 1/2" posts, filing them clenched between my thumb and first finger so the end is flat and able to be joined to the metal back. Cutting them off and starting over when the heat melted them and they slumped over, trying desperately to hold still while I held the post up in pliers and concentrated the tiny flame on the join.

Success!

Pickling, tumbling, dipping in the antiquing and brushing with steel wool for that matte glow I adore in silver.

A pair to wear while sleeping is my goal.

2,600 pieces. FINISHED.

2011-03-21T19:50:00.000-05:00

We did it.

We finished 2,600 pieces.

In spite of me having the flu.

In spite of metal not being available and needing to change the order.

In spite of having a tray of 50 pieces blown over and dumped under the porch.

while waiting for the lacquer to dry.

We're finished.

BIG SIGH of RELIEF.
If it hadn't been for Mike learning how to solder, and taking to it as a natural, we wouldn't have gotten done by our deadline.

I will post more info when I know the launch date of all these parts, I just had to share this personal triumph.

The Locomotive that is Mike

2011-03-20T06:00:00.014-05:00

It is as if I have been standing next to an empty train track, just watching and waiting. For what?

Nothing ever happened.

But I blinked and suddenly what had been empty now has a very large and powerful locomotive barreling down its tracks.

And it doesn't ever stop.

Seriously, he wakes up at 5 in the morning and he can't go back to sleep. So he gets up and starts working, organizing orders for me, answering convos, cleaning, making breakfast. And he goes until midnight.
Repairing things around the house, cleaning windows, fixing the car.
And all this is with the open wound still at 3 inches on his left arm!

It's craaaaazy.

He could barely function before, just walking up stairs would take his breath away and he spent so much of his time, lying on the couch, alternating between napping and watching t.v. But now its totally different.

He has been given the okay to exercise so he is biking and lifting weights. He immediately lost 25 pounds and stopped drinking soda and caffeine.

Went and got his hair did, tips and everything.

He looks fantastic and he says he feels like a new man.

He wants to start diving again and become a dive master and he wants to learn how to forge metals.

I am so excited for him and his new life.

Soliris is awesome.

Pinky with her Big Papa at the Sweethearts Dance.

I hope his story gives someone hope.
Someone who may feel there can never be a change for the better after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

I love making rings.

2011-03-19T06:00:00.018-05:00

Heavy, blackened, organic and free form with surprising elements.

Elements one wouldn't expect to be treated so royally as to be set in silver.

An ordinary shell like so many millions of others.

An imperfect mold of wood grain.

A melted piece of cracked glass.

Way back when I was first making metal jewelry, I tried so hard to be perfect.

Learning about the different metals, what they do with different temperatures of heat, how to make ends meet seamlessly, how to envision the completed item from the blackened, crusty thing you were working on.

And then it happened. The perfect set of rings!

I was instantly bored.

They sit in my jewelry box, as a testament that I could. But I don't wanna.

I wanna make stuff that I can't stop looking at. Stuff that is undeniably handmade.

Hand Wrought.

I want my stuff to look damaged and asymmetrical.

Dredged up from the sea or dug up from a forgotten time, changed by the depth and heat and moisture of the earth.

When I look at the ancient ear rings from Roman times, their ring is crooked, uneven with varying thicknesses from hammering by hand with hand made tools. Time gave it character and nicks and gauges.

Ancient Roman Ring

I want that for my work.

I want the flaws to symbolize the beauty in being works of progress.
Souls with potential.

I want the woman who wears my jewelry to feel empowered by its character, when she sees it on her finger to feel self satisfaction, when she hears it clink against her pen, computer keyboard or cocktail to feel control.

I want her to gesture wildly while she talks so she can see how the ring moves with her hand. Watch it catch the attention of the listener so she can boldly state her opinion or knowledge.

I do not want the weight of the metal to be a status symbol but rather the weight of self awareness.

I hope this makes sense to some of you. I know it doesn't to some and that's okay too.
Jewelry has the gaudy right to simply be pretty without heavy analysis or symbolism.

I was trying to explain to my neighbor what sort of jewelry I like to make and I used words like encrusted, ancient, used, chewed up. He replied "That doesn't sound very appealing."

Which made me laugh because he is right.

But it is a heck of a lot more freeing to create with abandon rather than try to produce something a machine can make in mere minutes.

Why we are moving to Florida

2011-03-17T06:00:00.010-05:00

To live close to the BEACH.
To enjoy more months out of doors.
To watch the kiddos become in tune with the earth
To watch the kiddos have room to explore.
For Mike to be by water.
For Mike to realize a life long dream of becoming a dive master.
For the dive sites and the fishing.
For the fresh sea food and high protein diet.
For the sandcastle building.
For the view to work in front of.
For a new community that invests in their youth.
For the shells I will collect and the wood I will decorate my house with.
For the light that streams in through the windows.
Because they have rooms tilted "Florida Room" which is a sun room named after their state.
Because Belize doesn't have health care facilities that can handle infusion treatments.
Florida has the happiest place on earth; DISNEY WORLD.
Whom I want to groom my kids for their first jobs, because they are the most professional place ev-ar.
It's cheaper than California.
I think the humidity will be better for Pinky's sinuses.
When I stand at the edge of the water and view the ocean, I feel peaceful but also overwhelmed by emotion. I feel a small part of something so huge it is beyond my understanding. And that feeling makes me want to dance and skip. And I am NOT a dancing and skipping kind of gal.

Spring Time Through Grungy Peach Colored Glasses

2011-03-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

White, orange, red and fuchsia mica powder make for an amazing peachy pink patina that allows for rustic patina-ted metal to show its flirty slip.

I would love to see parts of this collection paired with gathered lace, dyed silk ribbon and free form faceted brown stones.

Starting top left, going clockwise and ending in the center;
Gaea's I want Candy
Rhnatali's Go Brown

Artebellasurplus' Picasso Czech Glass

Jamnglass's Old Spice Silk Ribbons
Gemaliciousbeads Andalusite
Emass's Oregon Opal

From the red kitchen's Jumbo Button
JoanMillerPorcelain Cherry Blossom Pendant
Beachglow's Genuine Sea Pottery Hearts

Want

2011-03-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Did you hear? Papaya has new pouches!

Oh Boy!

This is the art print I am getting with it;

Aren't they fabulous!?!

Go here and drink in the colors.....

Let's talk circles

2011-03-12T22:06:00.001-06:00

Painting on wood by Amy Giacomelli

Etsy has aggravated me so many times but I can't tear myself away from them.

Just when I crunch the numbers and make up my mind about leaving for my own web site, they do something wonderful that sucks me in.

Now it's circles.

I am getting dizzy from all the glorious circles.

If Sparrow makes a new treasury, I know right away, from her being in my circle.

If Fancy finds some new/old thing that is fabulously crusty, I see it right away, from her being in my circle.

If my friend Lu or Malin finds new beads that fit their wild style, I get to favorite it for a possible future purchase, from them being in my circle.

I have found so much more stuff to buy just from being in the coolest people's circles!

So go to my profile here;

http://www.etsy.com/people/missficklemedia?ref=pr_profile

and add me to your circle.

It will be like we are shopping together!

Benthic Bowls and Underwater Dishes

2011-03-10T18:58:00.000-06:00

I patina-ted bowls. By hand.

With a torch flame in one hand and really strong grip in the other, I held these hammered bowls in intense fire and inch by inch, applied heat and moisture and color until my hands cramped and gave up.

I love them.

Benthic means relating to the bottom of the sea or lake or the organisms that live there.

I first experimented with my own bowls to see if I could do it and to see if they would make a good compliment to the salvaged driftwood stands.

Yes on both accounts!

I was thinking ring dishes would be useful.
Of course I am sure you need them also.

Or just want them, so I didn't stop with my own display needs, I kept going....

And going!

Until I had many bowls to share.

I think I priced them right, maybe a little low considering the amount of work each one takes. But it has never been my goal to be rich rather just to support the family.

Same sealing process as the jewelry components, using both lacquer and wax, hand rubbed on so I could always be in tune with what the patina was doing. Thick, flaky? Not bonded with the metal? A few need to be sanded and re-touched but each is completely unique, with patina variations, patterns and distressing.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Rock Collecting

2011-03-04T13:15:00.000-06:00

The first day back from Kindergarten in 2005 and my son had both pockets filled with gravel.

Instead of running around for his precious 15 minutes of freedom, he got lost in picking out "special" rocks to bring home to his mama.

This gesture touched me deeply, I sat down with him and asked him to tell me what he liked about each rock. He said things like "It's brown like chocolate." or "It has a circle in it".

I have kept these rocks he collected so carefully to this day.

It reminds me there is beauty in even the plainest of rocks. True, some of them you have to look at through the eyes of a child to see that but it is there, each rock has its special quality, just like us humans!

A few drilled rocks from Stone Me caught my eye, not for their rarity or their gem like quality but because they were plain. Plainly beautiful! Putting them into bracelets served 2 purposes; 1 - they brought back memories of rock collecting with my son and 2 - they look AWESOME with patina-ted chain.

The bracelets were simple to build; center the double drilled rock on the bead board at 6".

Insert 8mm jump rings into both drilled holes.

Open the last link in a 4" piece of patina chain and close it over either side of the rock.

Bring the other side around to the opposite side of the rock and open, then close the last link onto the jump ring. You now have a closed bracelet that you can add beads and clasps too, alternating where you place them, either next to the drilled rock or at the back of the bracelet, in the middle of the 4" chain piece.

Double the chain with less expensive antiqued copper, or add a strand of pearls next to it.

As your piece grows longer, just take out the extra links or chain, adding them to the clasp as an extender or a charm dangle.

I used czech glass from artbellasurplus as embellishments, the Picasso finish complimented the rustic patina and the rock textures really well.

You can also use the left over chain bits to create complimenting earrings.

Half of this collection is at Jewelry Affaire, with hopes that it will be shown in their Summer issue. The other half sold out at a shop within 4 weeks so feel free to make as many rock bracelets as you can with this simple technique! Buyers seem to like them.

And for all of you who think my uber special spectacular patina chain is too expensive, the parts for each bracelet, including the chain come to under $20, with a low retail price of $45 for each bracelet and an average of $20 for each pair of earrings, you've made your money back and then some.

The Bliss Guild Keeps the Warmth for Indie Businesses

2011-03-03T09:16:00.000-06:00

Some of you may already know about The Bliss Guild.

But for those of you who do not, please allow me to gush about them.

The Bliss Guild is a website devoted to all things indie business.

Run by a trio of fantastic women, Alice, Roxi and Louise, their mutual goal is to further the handmade market by empowering woman with resources and information on running their own "blissful" business.

Huge supporters of the individual artists on etsy, they also feature product reviews, workshops and

ACTUAL HELPFUL LINKS.

Check out their 'resource' button, scroll down and you see....

Geeks To Go, Free computer technical support !

If you are not as blessed as I am to have an in house tech geek, this would be a huge aid in overcoming difficulties for selling online.

That sort of research and link sharing is incredibly thoughtful.

Their blog is a must read, rich with beautiful imagery, encouraging posts and features of talented artists.

I hope you take some time to treat yourself to a thorough reading of all their links, and that you find it as inspiring and helpful as I did.

The Warriors Cross

2011-03-01T10:04:00.000-06:00

The Warriors Cross was made for Mike.

For something to hold to through involuntary shaking. To know there could always be worse.

To know he is NEVER alone.

To know pain is to be alive. To embrace life through the depths of despair and futility.

To keep going.

Do you know someone who could use a Warriors Cross?

Can I introduce someone special to you?

2011-02-24T16:37:00.001-06:00

Her name is Mary Anne (Why do I always fall in love with Mary Anne's?) and her etsy username is.....

Middle Earth.

Her jewelry is like none other I have seen.

Copper Patina Velvet Necklace

A mix of fantasy and stunning texture.

Amethyst Velvet Choker

The detail each unique piece has is astonishing.
She states in her profile that her first inspiration is where she lives, The Azores, Tolkien's middle earth.
She has lived there for 20 years and often uses lava stone in her pieces, symbolic of the volcanic island.
I desperately want Mary Anne to become involved in Art Bead Scene challenges.
But I also want to go to her house and have tea and cookies.
Not only does she create jewelry but she also .....
GASP!
weaves throws and shawls!

SOOOO perfect, this one is called The Woods and I think I need it for my bedroom.

The piece above is a hand made tile pendant of Santanne, ST Anne, reading to Mary.
Her jewelry comes in these amazing pouches that she calls Middle Earth's Precious Pouch.

Oh, Lord, I want one so bad.
Please visit Mary Anne at her blog and make her feel as welcome as you all did me, when I first joined in the Art Bead Scene.

Here's to the Failed Attempts

2011-02-21T19:59:00.001-06:00

Some say that failed is too strong of a word.

That there is no such thing but rather every experience is a chance to learn.

I agree with that.

But I still like to use the word. It doesn't bother me. I keep failures as reminders. Especially ones that took HOURS to complete.

It occurred to me that I am always "showing off" the things I like. "The successes" if you will.

So this post is dedicated to the failed attempts.

And my hours of learning I can file away in my craft crowded brain.

First up.... my failed attempts at photography.

This is one of the first things I made (no doubt copied from a polymer clay artist I saw in a book), photographed and listed on etsy in 2006.

All you saw in the etsy thumbnail was a section of the ruler, which btw, is not okay to use because it has the making memories trademark on it.

Who knew?

These are from when I stamped onto polymer clay discs. Not only did I learn that people do not like brown on bright lemon yellow but I also learned that after wearing an epoxied hair pretty twice, they fell apart.

Bendable clay cures to a flexible state but turns sticky under varnish.

Awww, :( They are so cool.

Cheap plated whimsy.

The Shame. Oh! The unbearable shame.

And here is a bit from when I was soldering bezels onto hammered clasps. Great idea, but when I went to fill with resin, they turned so dark it was like looking into a portal to Hades..

This is what happens when I try to teach myself resin instead of investing in a workshop or tutorial.

Wasted supplies.

Now this next one wasted over 30 handmade beads and buttons. Simply because I did not realize I would have to seal the clay (which is a porous surface, duhhhh) before applying the metal coating.

They all bubbled and peeled when I applied the lacquer.

At least my photos are better, right?

There are so many more, but these were the ones I kept photos of.

What learning experience have you had?