This is another necklace that I designed for the new book Chain Style by Jane Dickerson. It is similar in style to another steampunk inspired necklace I made with round gears that was in Beads 2009... a variation in color and details. As this one was coming together, the repeating little green crystals reminded me of east Indian style beadwork, and it makes me daydream about the mixing of steampunk, Victorian era, and India.

I have added Jaded Machine to the Earthenwood Galleria, even though it is a hard one to think about saying goodbye to. I am sure it will go to a wonderful home that will appreciate it!

I have two sets of gear links like the ones in Jaded Machine; one in Acid Metal as shown and another in Desert Pine. I plan to list those in the Etsy shop tonight, after I finish with the holiday sale mixes.

Tonight at around midnight, I will be launching my big holiday sale! I will make a post here and send out a newsletter, so stay tuned. I hope to catch all of you early birds for some holiday shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving, All!

I am fortunate enough to have three of my jewelry designs featured in the new book Chain Style by Jane Dickerson. I recently got my copy in the mail and I am really impressed with it! It shows so many different ways to work in chain, interpreted by several different designers. The projects are detailed and rich looking, but none of them are overly complicated. It is a great source of inspiration for those who are new to beading, as well as seasoned beaders. I can tell by looking at the projects, having worked in chain for many, many years, that Dickerson did a great job of finding the designs that fit her aesthetic for the book, with designs that pushed simple chain and beading techniques to the limits! It is a visual treat and an inspiring look at the great creativity that can be found in the seemingly simple idea of chain.

For many years, I have hoarded the pieces that I have had published in magazines and books. I liked to keep them for when I have a bead show, so I could make a nice display of finished work to give my beading customers ideas about what to do with my beads, and to show off my recent press. It sort of just became a self imposed "rule" that I keep it all, and I have had the good fortune to have had a lot of pieces published over the years, so at this point, I have a huge collection of finished jewelry pieces hanging around the studio. I have decided to start letting them go, so I started with posting this one, Under Lock and Key, in the Earthenwood Galleria on Etsy. I figured the holidays would be a good time to offer finished jewelry, so I intend to fill up the shop, slowly but surely...

I sent out my newsletter last night announcing my new beads in the etsy shop, introducing readers to Now Showing, and a big sale at my website. If you aren't on the newsletter mailing list, you can view the newsletter here and take advantage of the sale too! For those of you who did get the email... did the mini-etsy shop at the bottom come through in the email, and did it work properly so you could click to etsy? I would love some feedback on that, please.

I still have a few more hearts and the keys and locks to list today. I am also working a bit on another etsy shop (I know! I am crazy!) This is one I set up a while ago for my tile and ornaments, but havent' really had a chance to utilize much. I thought I would revive it, call it the Earthenwood Ceramics Galleria, and start listing some of my finished jewerly in it. Maybe some tiles and ornaments if i can get some made for the holidays. I just don't like to mix it in with my etsy bead store for some reason.

Well, there is much to do today. And the weekend is every full with social gatherings. Sunday is my birthday! YAY, me! I will be off celebrating! see you all next week.

Real quick drive by today. Gotta go and ship some packages and set up at the Potters Market. Hopefully have time to run to Panera for lunch/dinner and maybe home to chill for an hour, then back to work the late shift. Busy, Busy.

 

Above, a tray of my Wicked Trinket Punky Pins. I found this *awesome* glittery foam to pin them on. I hope people like them! 

 

And yesterday's earrings are completed! 124 pairs, all boxed and labelled and ready! sweet! 

 

So yesterday I was upset by a post on a feminist blog that I read called Feministing. I mean I am often upset by the posts there, but usually because they bring up real important issues for women that are troubling and disturbing, in terms of civil rights and violence and such. But yesterday I was upset because there was a post that was highly critical of a jeweler whose work I love, Margaux Lange. She is a silversmith who uses doll parts in her work, and apparently this pushes many buttons for people.