| Your Aura is Blue |
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Stay tuned for more!
You are being treated to a glimpse of two pieces that are so brand spankin' new, they haven't even been listed in my shop yet! It's not like me to jump the gun, but I couldn't wait to share these. Be sure to check my shop in the coming week for them to appear.
The above bracelet features 6mm Swarovski crystal pearls in that shade of coral that is hotter than ever. Both bracelets are hand knotted by yours truly and have gorgeous filigree locking clasps. They are timeless and simple in design, yet feminine and elegant.
This bracelet was created using 6mm Swarovski pearls in that sumptuous shade called "Platinum". It looks so rich, doesn't it? I am most excited because I finally made some hand knotted pieces. I attempted to teach myself pearl knotting a year ago, but didn't get very far with it. After making it a goal for 2010, I finally sat down and put my mind to learning and mastering this technique, and I am enjoying it. I love the look and feel of a knotted piece of jewelry ~ you can be sure there will be more to come in the near future!
My great new desk is from IKEA. I love that the desktop is roomy and the ends have room for storage. My space offers everything I need ~ it is not only functional but a fun place to escape to, where I am surrounded by little treasures that inspire me.
See that yellow organizer? My hubby bought me that years ago, when my bead collection started growing. You could say that things have expanded just a bit since then, but I'll never part with it!
Here is where I store my packaging supplies, books and more beads! I already had most of the storage containers and shelving units in the photo. I salvaged the three drawer unit. The white shelf is from IKEA. There's a long story behind it, but I'll save that for another day :)
From L-R:
Lotus Flower Old Baroque French Style Cream and Gold Bib Necklace, by Katherine Cooper
Pomegranate and Peridot Vintage Bib Necklace, by Glamourpuss
Caitlyn Simple Elegant Cream Lace Bib Necklace, by Lovestitched
Kenneth Jay Lane Branch Bib Necklace, from Saks Fifth Avenue
Alice in Wonderland Necklace, by Second Sister
Gold/Coral Floral Bib Necklace, from Ann Taylor Loft
Most recently, Pewabic earned national attention when some of its tiles were featured in Anna Sui's Fall collection, which debuted during NYC's Fashion Week. Sui's collection was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century. This artist movement placed emphasis on quality over quantity. To this day, Pewabic uses the same production methods as it did in those early days. 
Pictured below are some vases from the museum's historic collection.
A photo of the founder, Mary Chase Perry Stratton. I cannot imagine doing any type of work in a long dress like the one she is wearing. Gimme some sweatpants, please!
A peacock tile, inscribed with the initials "MCS"
Pewabic tiles can be found in private residences and public places all across the country. Their beauty never fails to amaze me. Here is an example of how some were used to adorn the outside of Comerica Park in Detroit, where my Tigers play baseball.
I now own my own Pewabic pottery! There is something to fit every budget at the gift shop. The two pieces on the left were created by independent artists. Pewabic also sells the work of artists from across the country. The light green tile on the right is authentic Pewabic. The lotus motif is a historic design (c. 1910-1919) by Mary Stratton. It was originally used as a 6x6" tile in her residence in Detroit.
Leave a comment on this post ~ be sure to leave a way for me to contact you in the event that you are the winner. Entries must be received by 12:00 EST on Saturday, 1/23/10. A name will be selected at random and the winner will be contacted on or around 1/24/10. This giveaway is open to anyone age 18 or older.
**Here's how to increase your odds of winning ~ you can earn up to two additional entries by doing any of the following:
Just be sure to let me know in your comment which of the above you have done so I can give you extra credit for them :)
Good luck, everyone!
Image found here
The other day, something possessed me to do a simple search of the word “jewelry” on Etsy. Curiosity got the best of me, I suppose. I was rather surprised when my little search turned up precisely 1,355,210 items called “jewelry”. Holy crap, that’s a lot. Now we all know how Etsy’s search is not exactly the most accurate, which is due in part to how Sellers tag (or mistag) their items. For instance ~ Something like a leather cord can turn up under jewelry, since it is a jewelry making component, however it should not fall under “handmade”, but we all know how that goes . . . I narrowed down my search by using the word “necklace”. That word turned up 548,489 results. Wowzers! Jewelry has always been an oversaturated category on the site, but I had no idea just how full it really is. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, it just explains why my views seem to be at an all time low. It really gives a perspective on how much the site has grown since I joined in 2007. A constant complaint by sellers is how a recently listed item gets buried instantly. With that many items on the site, I can see why this happens. Etsy offers some tips for Sellers on how to promote their shops in other ways, such as Flickr, Facebook, Twitter. Most of these, I have done. Some have been worthwhile, but others . . . not so much. Don’t get me wrong ~ I love this venue, but to say I am frustrated is putting it lightly. Although I haven’t tracked it, I would say that I have spent nearly as much time promoting my little shop as I have creating things to go in it. I’ve been tenacious and unrelenting about doing so, hoping I would see dramatic results. At this point, I can say I am officially beat. I feel like I’ve promoted my little heart out, only to find out that I am just another fish in a very big sea. It’s disheartening.
What do I do now? I love making jewelry; goodness knows I can’t keep all of it :) I love Etsy, too. If you’re a seller, how do you promote your shop? What works, and what doesn’t? How do you stay motivated when things are slow? Surely I am preaching to the choir here, but I would really love some advice, some tips . . . heck, I’ll even welcome criticism. I’ll take anything you got. Anyone?
It's Week 2 of my "Etsy"versary Sale! The opportunity for you to get yourself an original "DOB" creation for a steal is here. I am offering Buy 1, Get 1 for 50% off on all items in the Sale section of my shop. The best part is that the more expensive item will be discounted ~ when does that ever happen?!? Please note that this special sale applies to items in the specified category only, and that no other coupons or discounts may be applied at this time. Hurry, this one won't last forever! To start shopping, click here.
