Veering Off

Once again I'm in jewelry burn out mode after doing the last art show. So, I've been giving my brain a bit of a rest from jewelry creation.

In the meantime, I've been working on some items for my doggies. Once I perfect them, I hope to be able to market them to other people with small dogs.

A small sample. The orange knit sweater:

Right now it's pretty basic, but I'm working on it. Eventually, it will evolve into something more impressive.

And, here's the fleece I've been crafting:

So far I'm happy to have figured out a few basic patterns. They're solid and ready to be awesome. Wish me, and my dogs, luck :)

Yeah for Animals!

Recently, I was really bummed out when I found out I was not selected to join the Etsy Wire Artisans Guild. I thought my wire skills had finally developed to the point of being considered at least pretty good, so this was a bit of a blow to the 'ol fragile ego.



So, imagine my surprise when I got a message from someone who had seen my Etsy site and said she loved my work. And that she managed a local art studio. And would like me to come teach wire working! I was so elated I could hardly speak. After meeting her this weekend, it seem like it's going to be a go, and I'll actually be teaching people to do wire working. My ego was restored a bit.



I also have an art show on Friday featuring my new animal designs (which is why many of them aren't listed in my Etsy shop yet). I hope it goes well and I sell at least a few pieces.



And here's the piece that caught the eye of the studio manager, and one of the pieces from my new animal line:





I love the animal pieces. They're just so much fun to create, and people really respond to them. I just hope they do well at my show. We'll see!

Finally- She's Done!

Finally, I decided how to string my fabulous mermaid gal:




I did a simple chain with tiny shell accents. I didn't want to do anything too complex, as I didn't want to take away from the mermaid herself. I think she came out great (even if the pictures aren't spectacular). I even made my lazy self list her on my Etsy site. Yeah!

Vacation Time

This week is February vacation for the kids and my parents have taken them to Vermont for the week, leaving me and my husband home alone. Yipee!

So, with some free time on my hands this week, I've vowed to do some serious crafting. Today I went to the craft store and got some new beads, clasp and findings to inspire me to get started. I'm hoping to have some pieces completed and listed on my Etsy site by the week. Here's to some good craftin'!

The Mermaid

I've been doing my best to keep busy lately, especially with my new animal forms. My most recent work is an enchanting mermaid:


She's taken a lot of work, especially the scales in the tail, as each one is studded with a tiny seed bead. In her heart lays a piece of the ocean, a small shell I collected this summer on the beach, and then hand drilled especially for this piece. I'm very happy with how she turned out.

Now the only thing that remains to do is to figure out the best way to string her as a pendant. Hopefully she'll be finished and listed on Etsy by the end of this week.

Ode to the Wire Artisans Guild

Oh you lovely wire queens,

All your works are simply dreams.

Each piece made with such skill

For your talents I would kill.



Oh Wire Artisans Guild,

I pray your ranks aren't filled

That among the chosen few,

You'll let me slide in too.



If my application you deny,

I fear I'll surely cry.

So don't shun me artists awsome,

When in your guild I'll surely blossom.




*The Wire Artisans Guild of Etsy is currently accepting applications for ten open spots. I've got my fingers crossed!*

Something New

As I said in my New Year's post, I've had a few new ideas brewing. This is the latest:



I just listed this guy on Etsy, and it's the first listing in a new series of animal items I'm working on. I did a few basic pieces as gifts for Christmas, and in the piece above, I took it a step further, incorporating weave and stones within the piece.

I'm very excited about these new animal pieces, and I hope they go over well.