Make My Monday!

 

It's another Beadin' Path Design Partner Project! I started with 20 Vintage Lucite Yellow Moonglow Barrel Beads and Vintage Lucite, Bright Spring Green Moonglow Round Beads, 14mm. There are 15 beads per strand.I used 8 in the actual necklace and held 4 back to make earrings. I used faux leather cord in yellow and green, the exact same shades as the beads and attached crimp endings to each end of cord. I don't tend to measure things because I'm too impatient, so I just kept folding the cords in half and cutting them to get the right size. I was going to use chain but wanted something a little more exciting. The cord is perfect and fits right in with the Woodstock influence trending now due to the music festival's 40th anniversary. You may remember me saying that I am trying to make jewellery that doesn't have clasps. I love being able to throw this over my head and wear it at different lengths. I also used big 9mm jump rings for a contemporary, modern look. The real key to making this design are the silver-plated crimps, 6x2mm tubes with loops,
from Fire Mountain Gems. They finish the ends of the cord beautifully, don't they?  The cord was just the right size, but to make it easier to put the crimp tubes on, I cut the cord on an angle and applied a drop of glue to hold it tight.

Funky Bali Jewellery!

Closeup on Turquoise
Originally uploaded by Sister Wend

Here is another example of the splendid beaded jewellery that I will be selling at the Market. I buy this stuff and so do many of my friends. And we can all make jewellery!

This stuff is so pretty and EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE though, that it is just easier to buy and wear it for the immediate gratification! And you know, I couldn't make it for what I can sell it for. So there you go!

Come and see it this starting this Saturday, May 23, 2009! Woo hoo!

Quitting My Day Job!

Closeup
Originally uploaded by Sister Wend

Although I loved working at the bookstore, my hours were so cut back that it just made no sense to stay. Not when I can use Saturdays to sell my handmade jewellery and my new line of Funky Bali Jewellery at the Peterborough Farmers Market, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

I am SO excited about deciding to just go full time as an artist. Of course, I can only do this because I am kept by Ed, but then so are Noke, Bobby, Aries and Tech and they don't seem to mind!

Being an artist as well as a Craft Trends columnist for Hand Made News does end up being full-time! There are things to make, first and foremost. That takes time. Then you have to take photos of the things you make, edit them, upload them, talk about them....post them to my Artfire shop, tag them, hopefully fill orders, submit stuff to Vote Handmade, research craft trends, build online networking relationships, write two columns a week, one feature article a month, make and take stuff down to Craft of Folk, make and print off and distribute business cards, posters, pick up Funky Bali Jewellery to sell at the Market, pack all the market stuff, unpack it, sell it all : D....

My mom (who will be 92 this July...she had me in her forties in case you are wondering how I manage to look so youthful...and you better be!) is going to work at the Market with me! Now that woman can sell stuff! I pity the fool that tries to resist her!

My pal, Debbie, @creativsoul, will also be there, with her gorgeous jewellery and craft supplies, so it is going to be a fantastic Summer just for the fun we girls will be getting up to!