A new direction

This past year I would say my "career" as a handmade artist has been experimental. Getting ideas from various places, trying things out to see what works and what sells. I have decided that I need to become more focused this coming year and decide on a few design ideas that I will pursue more in depth. It will create a more visually appealing display at Aurora Rose to have multiples of similar items rather than a hodge-podge of a bunch of different designs. Also beneficial when I decide to do get accepted into my first craft show.
Here's a sneak peak of 2 of my new necklace "lines"...

Hand embroidered pendants

YoYos with stacked buttons

Being more focused with my necklaces means I can simplify my hardware supplies a bit, as I will use more basic chains and clasps. It may, however, mean I will end up going a little nuts with fabric and buttons again (last night I purchased a vintage feedsack fabric lot that I CANNOT WAIT to get in the mail!). If only I hadn't given away my organizer full of embroidery floss to a younger friend years and years ago, of course because I was too cool for friendship bracelets at that point....

I'm also going to do a "bow" line. Pretty little (or big) bows on hairclips, headbands, necklaces, bracelets, maybe even rings. Cute and feminine. Also I have these fluffy flower pins. Just need to come up with another line of bracelets and I'll be gold.

I'm sure I'll come up with a million more ideas before all is said and done, but I just have to remind myself... focus...focus...focus...

DIY: Ribbon organizer for FREE!

I've been having ribbon issues. I thought I had it all figured out by hanging my ribbon spools on these little bars on the side of an organizer cart. Then they all started unraveling, and all I had was a big tangled mess.  And the ones I couldn't fit were just stacked up, creating another tangled mess. Last night I came across a tutorial which I pinned and planned to do. Their version looks like this..

                             

While theirs is quite inexpensive, I realized I could make the same thing for free! So here's mine...

A bit more attractive too, eh? Takes a little more work, but its worth it because I had all components lying around my house so it was FREE and GREEN! Here's how ya do it...

Things you'll need

1. Cardboard box - mine was a shipping box about 7" wide x 10" long x 3.5" deep. A shoebox may work well too, as long as you can fit 2 spools across the width (and then you'd have a lid too! hmmm...)

2. Fun paper - wrapping paper is perfect

3. Unsharpened pencils or pens, about 4, all of equal thickness (or 1/4" dowels if you have those lying around)

4. Hole punch

5. Scissors

6. Glue - Elmers, Tacky Glue, any kind will do.

Step 1: Cut the flaps off of your box (unless using a shoebox) using scissors

Step 2: Wrap your box with your paper of choice. Place a large sheet underneath your box and wrap upwards like a gift. Bring the paper over the rim of the box and glue inside. You may glue paper to cover the entire interior of the box if you choose.

Step 3: Make your makeshift dowels. (I used one unsharpened pencil and one ballpoint pen , but I recommend using 2 unsharpened pencils because the thickness will be more consistent) Wrap around connecting point with duct tape until it does not bend easily at that point.

Step 4: Hold your largest ribbon spool to the inside corner of the box and mark inside the hole.

*TIP* use similar size spools and mark at the lowest point possible. This will allow the spools to rest against the bottom and they will not spin freely, therefore coming unravelled easier!

Step 5: Punch holes where your ribbon will feed. Line up a few spools and punch your hole along the center of each, down an inch or so from the top of the box.

(nevermind the dowel here, thats the next step!)

Step 6: Make a hole where your dowels will feed through. If your hole punch will reach, use it. Mine did not, so I used the tip of a sharp pair of scissors (PLEASE BE CAREFUL!) to help punch the hole through from the outside.

Punching through from the outside leaves a cleaner finish

Step 7: Insert dowel on one side only and feed on your spools of ribbon (be sure the ribbbon feeds from the top, kinda like the toilet paper should be :) Slide dowel out the other end. Feed ends of the ribbon through their respective holes. Voila! 

Happy organizing! 





My version of a thread wrapped leather bracelet

First, let me say this was one of the most frustrating bracelets I have ever attempted to make. It is my adaptation of a blog I came across via pinterest. Sure, it was in Spanish.. but it had really nice photos so I thought this should be a piece of cake to make! WRONG!

Here's the inspiration photo...

First dilemma, the blog does not include instructions on how to close the bracelet. The only solution I could come up with (based on the materials I already had) was to wire wrap the ends after folding the faux leather cord around a large jump ring. Turned out okay. 

Then notice how in the inspiration photo the colors of embroidery floss only wrap around the center of the bracelet?I wanted to do that too, except I accidentally started it too close to the clasp, and the wrapping was such a pain I thought I would go insane trying to do it all the way around. Thus I stopped halfway.

Now how do I finish this off?? Again wire wrapping seemed to be the best option for the center where the floss wrapping ends and the plain leather cord begins, but I wanted to add a charm of some sort. I found a vintage key that I had enameled black and tied that on with the silver wire.  Then wrapped the other end, added a clasp, and ta-da! Finished thread wrapped leather cord bracelet (that is too big on me) :(

Try at your own risk!!





OBSESSED with pinterest

Just joined Pinterest thanks to an official invite from Megan P. (you must be "invited" by a current member, otherwise you get an email back saying you're on their "waiting list"!) and I can't stop looking through it!

What is pinterest, you ask?

It is a website on which people "pin" things that they find interesting.. A photo of their own, a website, a blog entry, an item for purchase, almost anything you can find online. It will show up under one of their categories (my fave is DIY and crafts). If you're browsing through the pins, you will see a photo which you can click to visit the original source site. If its something that interests you, you can "like" it, "repin" it to one of your "boards" (different categories you define) or comment on it. Sounds kinda complicated but is actually quite simple and completely addicting.

The best thing about it is promotions. I could never figure out how to "stumble" my shop or and item on StumbleUpon (plus it's not technically allowed). However self promo is OK on pinterest as long as it isn't excessive, so I can push my shop and blog on there too!

Going forward I will be posting some of the awesome things I've "pinned", or you can just check out my page on the site. If anyone wants to join and needs an invite please let me know!

New items listed in my Etsy shop

I've been trying to crank out these new earrings in order to add more inventory at Aurora Rose, but tiny as they may be they take FOREVER to make! I think they're adorable, though, and nonetheless fun and quite addicting...

view on Etsy

view on Etsy

view on Etsy

Earrings photographed alongside my grandma's  vintage tea set ♥

My goal is to make 20 pairs for the boutique and so far I have 7. Totally do-able this weekend I think.  In my Etsy shop I have them listed in sets of 2 pairs for $8.  I may price them differently in the boutique but regardless it's a great deal!

Also listed today are some fun new necklaces. I'm going to try to make more of the fabric covered bead ones (the black and turquoise) because there are so many color options and they are perhaps less "crazy" than some of my other pieces!

view on Etsy

view on Etsy

I appreciate any comments and/or suggestions!

Paper Snowflakes



This one is pictured below
(middle left)

I've got most of the day to myself today.. what to do??
Make paper snowflakes!! Actually, I have a ton of stuff to do today (must take advantage of moments minus the munchkins) but I came across this page on stumbleupon which tells you that its all in the FOLD of the paper to make great snowflakes, so of course I had to try it. As a true professional, I even used manicure scissors to make the tiniest cuts :)

I just love the big reveal to see how it'll come out. Okay, now back to the important tasks of the day!

2 purchases in 1 day

Packaging in process.. Nifty photo collage made with DIPTIC app!

I've been feeling pretty bummed, as my Etsy views were down and I hadn't had a purchase in a couple of weeks.  I thought this was supposed to be the busiest time of year?! Then out of nowhere, just TODAY, I got 2 sales! 2 very similar necklaces, actually.. asymmetrical, draped chain, statement type. Too bad one of them was actually at Aurora Rose, the boutique where I also sell some of my pieces. I had edited the Etsy listing to state that it was for a near identical replica of the necklace shown in the photos. That means I had to make it all over again, and after about 2 hours I had a pretty good replica, ready to ship out. Pretty great day, and I'm hopeful for more sales as it seems people are finally ready to shop!

My first post!

Got this plaque from Walmart, of all places!

One week ago I got laid off...
What a horrible way to start out a new blog, huh?
I was a receptionist. Not great news, but I'm going to turn it into something great and use it as an opportunity to pursue the things I really love - make (and hopefully sell) jewelry, maybe teach a couple classes if I can. And blog, which I've been wanting to do for some time now, and no time like the present to give it a shot!

Hopefully this blog will contain tutorials, updates and anecdotes on my life as a wife and mom, artist and crafter, etsy shop owner, links to fun things I find. I plan to do it all from my iPhone, and to include lots of photos :) We'll all see how it turns out!


I hope you enjoy and find it all somewhat interesting!