Out of the loop...again

I have been absent -- from many things related to my Etsy shop.  I haven't been paying as much attention on the forums, I haven't been adding new items like I should be.  I haven't been renewing items because -- well it's pretty busy work around here these days.

I know I should have prepared better for the holidays -- I know I should have focused more on the shop.  But, these days, I am of the mind that I have enough items.  I struggled enough for the keywords and views and really, what I like is my customers.

I love when someone asks me if I can find something for them -- something special.  I love when someone says "This is for my mom," or "this is for my best friend," and tells me what is special about them choosing my shop to order from.  I've been working a lot one-on-one with customers and find it difficult to concern myself with SEO and exposure and other things I concern myself with generally.

But -- more than that, I've been busy, busy, busy.  I've been in a Veterans writing class for a long time now -- well over a year.  I enjoy it immensely and am a little miffed that because of the holidays -- I don't get to go as often. 

That's me being selfish right there.

I am preparing for the holidays and everything is still up in the air.  I don't know if I am cooking here -- or if we are going to family's homes.  It's just not cemented.  And that, is stressful.

I've been diligently completing my thesis -- finally, after a year off from my MA program, it was tough to get back into academic writing.  Really, really tough considering I am also in the creative writing type groups for Veterans.  The writing in the Vet classes is pretty cathartic -- so I find myself going there instead of my shop, or my thesis -- so I am always frustrated with running out of time.

I recently lengthened my processing time to 1-3 days, so that I can have that little breather if I need to write.  But, I still try to get items out within about a day.  It's just a personal breather for me to know is there.  And, more often than not, if for some reason (like we recently had a power outage that left all the kids at home and me unable to get to the post office) I can't get your item off until the 3rd day -- I will probably upgrade your shipping without you knowing to Priority.

But, back to the creative writing -- it's done nothing more than make me wish I had not gone to all these communications programs.  I know that sounds horrible -- but it's no longer my first love.  I now wish I could sit in a room and read and write -- and get paid for it, lol.

I often hear "do what you love" and I agree -- but I wonder, what if what we "love" changes often?  Is it okay to move between things like that?

I can't remember where I found this -- but I think it was on Slate.com

Chakras

It's always my solar-plexus chakra that is blocked.

Always. 

Sometimes my root, sometimes my heart, but ALWAYS my solar-plexus.  I don't really know what that means -- my mom does -- but whenever I get an "eastern" massage, the masseur complains about how much work he has to do on that chakra.

I do know the solar-plexus is the yellow -- a color I can not wear, which is rather ironic.

Check out this fun collection on Artfire based upon Chakra healing.

The Seven Chakras

Curated By: SolanaKaiDesi...

ArtFire.com

Jewelry Supplies

A Few Valentine's Day Ideas

So, I admit, while I am not a shopper in the "I have to go to the mall and get some retail therapy" variety -- I do like to peruse other ideas for home decor, candles, and to generally see what other Artisans are creating.

I found a few things that I think would be just adorable for Valentines Day so I thought I would make a list:

 

 

 

Valentine's Day Candle by Unique Candle Boutique

Pink Cabochon Ring by The Singing Beader

Happy Valentine's Day Conversation Hearts Handmade Card by Cards by Li Be

Brick Stitch Heart Earrings by CraftingMemories

Spring Wall Hanging with Heart and Flowers by Putman Lake Designs

Heart Earrings with Swirls by  ShanghaiTai

Lovely, no?

Spring Colors -- Monaco Blue

I really do like quite a few of the spring colors. Monaco Blue is my favorite -- because gemstones are really quite easy to match to it.

Two very easy stones to match -- which I will focus on today are Lapis Lazuli and Iolite.  Iolite is a little trickier because it often has purple and gray hues in it.   Other stones to consider -- traditional sapphire, sodalite, azurite and london blue topaz. These are good to search for when looking for a fabulous Monaco Blue to match this season.

As for photos today, I am only going to post a few -- because my shop is really loaded with colors to "search for" related to the spring popular colors.

This is a new necklace offered in the shop -- in stunning AA grade Lapis Lazuli and "Faceted" Sterling Silver spacer beads.  Dainty and demure, and so much fun.

The Lapis Bib Necklace is $112.00.

Some of my favorite all time Earrings, these "Lady Sings the Blue" are made using London Blue Topaz, Moss Aquamarine and fabulous little sapphires. 

Lady Sings the Blues are $80.00.

Part of my new "Budget Luxe" line, these are beautiful Lapis Lazuli rounds finished on hand-hammered Copper Heart Hoop Ear Wires.

The Copper Heart Hoops are $43.00.

My mother really wanted to steal these earrings from the moment I made them and showed them to her.  This is iolite at its finest, wire-wrapped on 14k gold filled hoops

The Large Iolite Hoops in 14k Gold Filled are $75.00

I made these 45mm Sterling Silver Iolite Hoops to compliment the 14k Gold Filled Monaco Blue Hoops Above.  These are just as lovely at at 1.75 inches, large, but not overwhelming.

These are all also available in my Etsy Shop.

Happy Spring :)

~Maggie~  

Inspiration...or something like it.

Here's the cold, hard truth:  I can not draw to save my life.    No, I mean it, if I had to draw a picture to literally save my life, the consequences would be grave.

There is only one thing I am worse at than drawing, and that is spelling.  Luckily -- there are all kinds of programs for that, to help a girl out.   But, even with all my schooling (You know, just a few classes until I finally get that master's degree), I still can not spell -- and I have to work rally hard at proper grammar.

But back to the main topic -- okay I have my coffee ready, so I can certainly write this, right?

So when you have inspiration, I see that most of my artsy friends see things in their mind's eye, and often, if they design like me, they draw it out.  Huge hindrance for me, since, again, I can not draw.   Literally, I need help with a circle.

This is not to say things do not inspire me -- they do, and I look for inspiration everywhere, the autumn leaves, the winter snow, the many colors of spring and summer.  But, my favorite place to find inspiration for my designs?

The lyrics to songs.

Seriously, I sit there, or am running around the house picking up after my three kids like a mad woman, with crazy red hair and half bleached pants, blasting my iPhone (which is currently charging so that I can do this inspiration thing while cleaning again today) and a lyric, or line from a song will hit me and I will see colors and stones in my head.

Then, since I can't draw, I have to make it.  Then and there.  At least the design elements.  Maybe it's not the stones I saw in my head, because potentially I do not have those on hand -- but something has to be made so that I capture the essence of what my mind saw. 

Then, I will go back to the song, holding the piece and sort of give a yes or no as to whether it works.  Most of the time, however, it doesn't, and I see something else when it's produced -- or even in the middle of production. 

Currently, one of my daughter's favorite song's is "Firework" by Katy Perry.  Listening to that, I saw a fire work earring design in my head -- it was difficult to make it because I wanted it to be perfect, and colorful -- but I am pre-show right now, so my gemstones are a tad limited.

I ended up with these because of my gemstone limitation right now -- I will still have to work out the full "Firework" design.  More stones, more colors, more wire wrapping, but still a hoop earring -- remember watching fireworks as a kid on New Years or the 4th of July?  Yeah, that's what I am going to Evoke there. 

That set above, while beautiful, became "Fire"  without the "Work."

How are you inspired?

~Maggie~