Adventures in Handmade Jewelry

in my last post. (seems no one else appreciates Mr. Wyndorf's hotness - ah well - Love ya Dave.) Just put these in the shop today after a long dry spell of self-doubt. Anyway...more later.

for a total hottie.

I really like this one, but have put it into the shop for sale. Though I haven't had a sale in over a week, I have hope that this one will find a home.

Couple of things. A bracelet that came out shorter than it has in the past since I changed up some of the jumprings and didn't hammer this one as I usually do. It barely fits me, but I can make extra links with no problem. I should probably do that before I list it though. And the earrings I really like. I've been trying to incorporate these lustrous peacock pearls I got a while ago, but nothing seemed quite right, but this does. Have a few more ideas brewing about them as well. Got a bit depressed and unmotivated yesterday. Will have to really watch that. Decided to go back to pilates. There's got to be a class around here somewhere, but I'll start a routine at home. I remember most of the forms and have a routine online that I can follow. I think if I felt better in body, I might feel better in mind and spirit.

So my downtime produced a few nice things, two of which have been added to the shop today. Swarovski crystal earrings that remind me of a constellation of stars and another pair earrings on sculpted wires, this time in a carnelian-colored jade heart. They're both quite lovely and I have a bracelet and another pair of earrings on deck.

It seems strange to take time off from my newborn jewelry business when it's practically the only income I have these days, but I did. Felt myself running out of steam Friday and so did very little the next two days. No sales for days makes me sad and I have to strap down those feelings of inadequacy and loserdom. I know my work is good, I just need to try harder or find better avenues for promotion. Things will come together eventually, but I needed a break. I feel a little guilty, but I think it recharged my creative process a bit. There are a couple of ideas floating around in my head now that I will pull into the physical world. Plus I got to read a book. It was nice to escape into another world for a bit. Speaking of books, my other blog is really feeling ignored lately so I must go post a couple of reviews.

The first one is the only set I've made so far. I'm not really a matchy-matchy type girl, but I liked this new knot technique I learned and decided to make earrings, too. I think they came out quite well. It could be that I was watching The Sting while making them, and that much eye candy is bound to make a girl happy. The second one is taken from Cynthia Wu again and her book Inspired Wire. I LOVE her designs and have adopted many of them. All of these hit the shop today.

Fairly successful. Went up to continue with a piece at 9:30 and worked solid for an hour, then broke for a yogurt and checked email, etc. Back up and worked for another hour and checked again briefly. Lunch at 1:00 and another brief check. Called it quits when the piece was done and coincidentally it was 5:00. As far as time management goes, it was good, but the bracelet I made doesn't work for me. I'll probably take it apart and use the elements separately so my whole day won't be wasted, but on its own it is a failure. Oh well. It's part of the process. Today is for doing errands, lunching with a friend and maybe I'll start another piece. Have some ideas floating around that involve turquoise and lapis. Anyway...be wise with your time today, peeps, and don't forget to enjoy what you do!

Phew. I've been doing this my own business thing for about a month now and I feel sort of successful, but sort of not. It's funny how working for others really makes you diligent about your time. Mostly because you'll probably get into some kind of trouble if you're not. It's all about accountability. So who is holding me accountable now? The truth is, I should be more intelligent about where and how I spend my time. Lately I think I've been doing a lot more promoting than creating and that can't be good for long. Soon anyone who visits my shop will be bored by the scanty selection. That's not how to get sticky eyeballs on your site. So I've been thinking of devising a schedule for myself. Nothing hugely rigid, but one that keeps me on task and away from the computer which my biggest time suck. I have a loose plan in my head about where I want to take my business, but I think I need to write it out and set some goals. Then the schedule sho...

Started this necklace at about 2:30 and finished at 5:20. Not bad. It's 20g sterling silver wire with two kinds of garnet beads - the traditional dark red and the not-so-traditional pale green. It's an unexpected color combination, but I think it works because the green is not intense. It's 22 1/2 inches long and I'll do some additional shaping once I have it up on the bust tomorrow. I'm done for today. Update. Posted for one day and SOLD, baby!!! Woo hoo!!!

Ta-da! http://www.facebook.com/pages/the-Wire-Smith/48915173439 Check me out. I created a fan page for the business. It will be really cool I think. Can use it to communicate to my customers and to promote my shop. yay. And while I'm here - the newest item in the shop is this adorable Zuni bear bracelet.

I love these. Made them the other day. Good for beads with large holes since the wire (22g) goes through it a few times. and I love my old 90mm macro lens. What a gorgeous piece of glass it is. click for the whole picture. Damn you blogger.

So there was a thread a while back on the Etsy forums for folks to show their workspaces. Here's mine. Let's get Larry out of the way...he's my snuggler, sometime "helper", midnight howler and all around good guy. Shelves, organizers and a pig! Plus my Bisley cabinet which I love. The desk is older than me...my dad made it when he was like 20 or something. Once mom got a rolltop desk I grabbed it and I can't part with it even if it is a hideous green. It's on the 2nd floor which is a big loft kind of area. I've got a skylight and a window behind and to the left of my chair. Big old (and I mean old) stereo and turntable which gets a workout sometimes. I do need another shelf near me because I find I just don't have enough room to put stuff down sometimes...like lenses and photography stuff mostly. But it works for now.

That is the question. I love this piece. It took me a whole day to make. It's a bracelet in A-grade labradorite framed with sterling silver and wrapped with gold wire. The way the light catches the stones is breathtaking. It's also a substantial piece. Not dainty by any means. I love it and don't know if I can bear to part with it. On the other hand, I think it would sell. What do you guys think?

A slightly modified version of a design I have in a book. I kind of like it. Will go on the shop tomorrow. Pardon the little cat hairs in the photo...thanks, Larry.

It's National Ballet Day!!! Now...does anyone know why??

Click for supersize! Made this today. Love the colors. Cool blues and aquas. Handmade the chain as well as all the drops. There's something magical about charm bracelets, especially ones that have so much variety. This one starts with a chain made of hammered 20g sterling wire. Bead drops are tourquoise, lapis, moonstone, Czech glass and cubed class, and a couple of pewter spirals. I love it. The round beads have sterling silver beadcaps of a few different designs. I'll photograph it for real tomorrow and then post it to the shop. I think I'll call it Summertime Blues. And this little baby is SOLD!!!