Work Revisited

I have been really studying my older work to figure out why they haven't been selling.  Sometimes that isn't an easy task.  After all my work is created from my feelings on any given day, and my heart and soul goes into every piece.  On this particular piece I have had many comments on it looking like a turtle and after studying it, it sure does and it didn't look like it was hanging right.  So I took the pendant part apart and reworked it.  Here it is:  Before and After!  We will see if it sells now.



 

       Before                                                                                                        After
                                                                                                               

Well I out-did myself this time?  That is made myself more work than necessary.   After my last craft show I had three weeks before my next one so I thought I would go through everything and make sure I had them all listed in my on-line stores.   So I took everything out of the trays I use for craft shows and put them neatly in plastic containers my husband brought me from his shop.  They are clear 4x4 plastic container computer parts come in that get discarded at his work.  They are perfect for keeping my jewelry in.  Then I went through and marked them with which shop they were in and the price I was selling them at, with the pictures ID and their size.

Problem, I have a craft show this Saturday, every piece is now in the containers and will need to be put out.  When the last two shows are done I will have to put them back in the containers.  That is where the problem lies.  I will not know which piece goes in which container unless I go through every one and number them somehow.  So now instead of spending my time creating I have to make the time to number every piece. (Around 160 pieces).

Back to Business/Missing in Action

Wow it has been a long time since I have been able to take care of business but the end is in sight.  If all goes well I will have four more weeks then on my way to recovery.  I have been out on a long medical leave since April 4th 2011 and looking forward to November 8th; my last infusion so I can say I am a cancer survivor.

I really miss making items for the challenges.  Lately I have been making small lower priced thing for craft shows because medication makes my hand hurt and quite shaky.  My husband the dear sole has been doing most of the work for my craft shows, and I have been teaching classes several places, like to my friends at the Oncology Dept at my hospital.

Just wanted to let everyone know I am still alive and really, really looking anxious to get back to business.  That is a big reason I was able to get through these past months, that and the help from my husband.  

4 Skunks

Four baby skunks on our front lawn a couple days ago! They were so cute, they walked in unison never more than 6 inches apart. Mom wasn't in sight but had to be close by in the wooded area.

Update on The She Sells Sea Shells

Among the 50 or so shells to wrap here are the first few.

She sells sea shells

My sister went on vacation to a beach.  The next best thing to me actually going.  My request to her was to look for some sea glass.  She arrived home yesterday and the below pictures are what she brought me.  The area where she went there wasn't any glass to be seen, but she had fun picking up pieces of shell.   I am very eager to get started creating, my mind is racing with all sorts of ideas.  Yeah I no longer have a creativity block, I can once again get started on a new project.   Now all I have to do is wait for my delivery of all those new parts I need to get started, but in the mean time I will start trying to draw what is going on in my mind.  It is hard to draw because I am so slow at it and my mind goes way too fast.   

SHHHH! It is a secret.

Well I finally broke down and am trying my luck at bead embroidery.  As a child growing up my grandmother taught me what she called fancy-work.   That included crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and making  braided rugs as well as sewing.   I did a lot of sewing growing up and won awards in the 4-H for it.  However, I never really liked how my embroidery came out and got discouraged with it.  As I got older I continued sewing but hated hand sewing, sure glad when I got a sewing machine that hemmed.  I still crochet and I have found that although my crocheting comes out looking alright, it appears my gram's fancy-work was all done from self teaching and therefore some unconventional techniques we used.

Now I find myself trying bead embroidery because I really admire all of those beautiful entries each month for the Etsy Beadweavers monthly challenge.  Too early to tell if I will do more but here is a sneak peak.  Not done yet.

Signs of Spring

Twice a year we are blessed with the migrating flight of the Canadian Geese and Ducks.  The fields along the Connecticut River are filled with these fowls that number I would guess in the thousands totaling within a few weeks time.   Every time you go outside you will hear their distinguishing honking sound.  

Crescent Roll Pizza

I found a new quick and easy way to make pizza and it is sooo good.

What you need is
Crescent rolls I use at least 2 pkgs (Pillsbury or other)
Ragu Pizza Quick Sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Other favorite toppings (precooked because pizza cooking time is short.

All you have to do is precook you toppings and set aside. Then unroll the crescent rolls on an ungreased flat cooking sheet. I leave the sections attached for space.

Spread a spoonful of pizza quick sauce on each roll. (Best if you put it on sparingly)

Add you favorite precooked toppings (hamburg, onions, peppers, etc)

add Mozzarella Cheese

(I put pepperoni on top of cheese)

then bake at 375 for about 8 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is light brown.

So many things to do so little time

I am not very good about blogging because I usually am a very private person and my thought are all mine. Right now my mind is going in many directions. I find myself in a great dilemma as to the direction I must go with my jewelry business. I really love making jewelry and I know that at least that will be the constant thing in my life would be to continued..

However,due to time constraints not sure how to proceed to grow the business and actually sell my work. I personally think that it is time for me to start entering contests that will help me get published. But I also think that I need to work on my listings on Etsy and Artfire and because sales are very limited and Etsy there are way too many shops all selling the same thing I also have been thinking about opening a Zibbets or Silkfair shop.

What to do!

I actually have an entry for the Fire Mountain contest almost completed and will photograph it as soon as the sun comes out. There are at least 4 more contest ending early in March that I should enter but not sure if I have time. Time will tell.

Powder Blue Polka Dots on White Beadweave Bracelet

I really have a dilemma. I have created this bracelet but I'm in kind of a quandary as to where to list it or if I should list it. It was my intention to enter it into a contest but I really do not want to offend anyone.

I would really like your input into the situation.

The bracelet is done using 8 opaque rainbow white seed beads. On the top using Preciosa Rainbow Powder blue seed beads I have created the words done in braille "be kind to others".