Friday Features - Garnet

While everyone knows how much I love pink ;) I also like to branch out with other colors as well. And that usually means deep, rich hues. I'm not much of a pastel girl (even when it comes to pink!) so I love January's birthstone of the Garnet. I had a lot of fun browsing Etsy for today's finds and had a hard time narrowing it down! I hope you'll enjoy my selections!

Silver Earrings / Ornament / Gold Earrings / Scarf

I got a little side-tracked while browsing and purchased a pair of earrings from one of these shops! I'll be sure to blog about them when they arrive :)
Happy Friday!

Tribal Designs in the Shop

As I mentioned recently, I'm really loving the tribal trend that's popular lately! And I've been looking for ways to add this trend to my shop. I went on a creative streak and added 4 new tribal products to my shop. And even had to make some of these for myself!

Tribal Necklace (choose your chain length)

Tribal Dangle Earrings

 Tribal Post Earrings

Tribal Design Magnets

 And as some of you noticed, I wore my new necklace to the wedding last weekend :)

Are you liking the tribal trend?

A Little Bling

I'm always looking for new ideas for my wooden items. And I'm always looking for things I can pair with my wood to add color and give buyers options. I recently experimented with some glitter and gel medium to go with my wood for some earrings...the results were sparkly goodness!

I first made myself a pair in pink (surprise, surprise!) and I loved how they turned out. A little color, a little bling...perfect!

I knew gold and silver had to be next. They're colors that can be worn with just about any outfit and I love how they're just enough bling that you can wear them during the day to work or out on the town at night.

I do have several other colors of glitter if someone is looking for a certain color. Pink, purple, blue, teal, red, green, and copper are currently on hand. (I tried the black, but really didn't like the results...not enough bling!)
Do you like a little bling for your accessories?

Don't Reinvent the Wheel

Like most crafters, I have more ideas than time. And I'm coming up with more every day! I love trying new techniques and using new materials. But sometimes it's better to use a technique that you know works well. It's fun to experiment, but it's more productive to go with what works.

I learned this lesson recently when I tried to paint some chevron earrings and magnets. Don't get me wrong, they turned out pretty cute and I love the colors, but they were a lot of work and they were a mess.

All the while I had prepainted wood ready and waiting. I purchased a sample set of several colors of lacquered wood. I've done a few custom pieces with it, but haven't done much for my shop. The other day I got a request for some pieces with the black wood, so I cut out a few extra shapes and I love how they turned out.

I made these into Chevron Cuff Links and I love how the lighter wood (maple vs. alder) really stands out compared to the black. And it was a piece of cake compared to trying to paint each and every zig and zag! I have about 10 other colors, so I'm hoping to get more colors added to my shop and other designs as well.

  Have you learned any lessons lately?

Zebra Print it is

Thank you to everyone who left a comment yesterday letting me know whether they thought these earrings looked like Zebra Print or Wood Grain.

I originally designed these with a zebra print, but after I photographed them, I wasn't sure the wood conveyed the zebra design well. But I was very happy that a great majority of you saw the zebra pattern.

So I've gotten them listed in my shop. I did also add tags around the wood grain design as mentioned by Rose. This way people will find it searching for either design.

Thanks again for your input...I have the best readers :)

Red Earrings - February BBA Challenge

This month I am the host for the Blogging Business Artisans monthly challenge! I chose a very open-ended theme that just revolves around the color red. "February is about hearts, love, roses...the color red. Create any project you like using the color red!"

I realized in creating this challenge that I rarely use the color red in my creations, so this was a nice challenge for me. I've been making several new jewelry designs with my wooden creations and found the perfect wooden beads to add to my designs! So I started with the red beads and came up with these fun new earrings!

They were so much fun to create and I just love how the turned out! Of course I had to create a pink pair next :)

I also made a larger pair with navy blue beads for a little variation.

 I've been on a creating spree lately, so look for many more new designs to come!

New Techniques - January Challenge

Our first Blogging Business Artisans Challenge for 2013 is brought to us by Deb of storybeader. Here's what Deb has to say about her challenge: "Set aside time to work on and complete a new technique that you admire. It can be within your field of expertise, but doesn't have to be. Blog about your project at least once during the month of January and show us your progression with photos or a video."

This challenge was very popular last year that we decided to do it again...we all need that nudge to work on new projects! For my new technique, I decided to make some fun chevron designs and paint them fun colors! I first engraved and cut them with my laser. I then hand-painted them and topped them with a clear coat for protection.

 Of course I started with pink :) I made a set of post/stud earrings and a set of magnets. I just LOVE how these turned out! I can't wait til I can get a bunch more painted in several different colors! I plan on adding dangle earrings and maybe thumb tacks at some point too.

Thanks Deb for this challenge. This is a technique I've wanted to try for a while and hadn't sat down to do it. This challenge was just what I needed!

♥Spread Some Love♥

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Jesse and I don't celebrate much, but I'm still having tons of fun making cute and humorous items for my shop :)

I started out with a couple fun/pun cards:

For my Deer

Mustache Valentine

I also listed these cute Post Heart Earrings

and I'll be listing these soon as well

I couldn't help but make a pair of each of these earrings for myself :)

 Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Are you getting your shop ready for the holiday?

Woodland Madness

I've been creating up a storm lately and one theme has been coming up a lot in all of my new creations...Woodland Creatures! I'm not normally a cutesy-type person, but when it comes to woodland creatures, I have to say I'm pretty smitten :)

I've added 3 new woodland themed items to my shop this week and I have more to come! These hair pins above are my favorite :) I think they'd look just as cute in a little girls hair or an adults. I'll have a couple more sets to list soon as well! (decorative and butterflies)

I had magnets in my shop a while back and I've decided to reintroduce them. I'm making them a little different now and cutting each one with my laser instead of using precut wooden discs. This gives me so much more freedom with the designs. Of course I had to start with my Woodland Themed Magnets first! I also have a set with just owls. (And many more sets in several themes to come soon!)

I also made these little stud earrings. They're just 1/2" in diameter, so they're so dainty and cute! I made a set with deer, owls and trees.The small size makes them perfect for little ears as well as adult ears.

This is what I have listed so far and I also have dangle earrings and woodland ornaments to get listed still! I'm so excited about all my new creations! My brain is in overdrive with all the possibilities my laser has to offer!

The Magical 100

I've had an unwritten goal for quite some time to get 100 items listed in my shop. I've been in the 80s and 90s for a few months now and finally reached the "magical 100"!

The theory behind the "magical 100" is that the more items you have in your store, the more you're getting your product seen and the more exposure you'll have. Then, if everything goes as planned, more listings will equal more sales :)

Since I've started thinking of more and more ways to to use the wood I have on hand, I've come up with TONS of new ideas for listings! You've seen my new jewelry (with lots more to come!) and my wine charms.

Next on the list will be magnets, key chains and hair pins! I also have cuff links and buttons in the works!

Thanks to everyone who has made suggestions for new items! I have several of them in the works and plan to do a post dedicated to your awesome ideas!

Have you hit the "magical 100"? Or do you have a different goal for your shop listings?

 Did you see an increase in sales when you hit your "magical number"?

Earrings Are Listed!

I want to thank all my readers who gave gave input on my questions and concerns about listing my new line of jewelry. I was going to wait and list the earrings and pendants at the same time, but I'm waiting on new cords and chains to arrive, so I figured I might as well start listing my earrings :)

Engraved Hearts

Butterflies

So far I have 4 pair listed and I plan on adding about 1-2 new pairs per day. So far I have a set of Butterflies, Feathers, Round Hearts and Flowers. I started with my personal favorites :)

Flowers

Feathers

I've also been working on making some more magnets, key chains, wine charms and other small items I've been making with all this leftover wood I have accumulating! I like to be resourceful and use every bit I can, so I'm using my creativity to come up with new ideas to add to the shop!

Let me know what you think of the new earrings!

 And let me know if you have any ideas for new items I can make with small pieces of wood...I'm always looking for more ideas :)

Learning to Photograph Jewelry

I've gotten some great feedback on my wood jewelry and I've decided to list some of them in my shop. So far I've photographed about 10 pair of earrings and I'm finding that jewelry is a whole new ballgame for me when it comes to product photography.

I'm used to photographing larger objects and most of which stand on their own. Jewelry is small, but you still need to show its size and how it hangs. And since Jesse (my boyfriend) doesn't have pierced ears, I'm attempting to photograph myself wearing the jewelry...lol!

I know there are several jewelry artists that read my blog and many jewelry buyers, so I'm looking for input! Above are the two photos I'm debating using for my feature photo. Are either of them eye catching? Which should I use and why?

Here are the other photos I plan to use in my listing. What are your thoughts? Are there better angles I should be using?

Next I hope to photograph some of my pendants. I suppose I better get all my earring photos edited first!

 Thanks in advance for your input and advice :)

Finding Time to Play

I've been having a lot of fun lately learning new techniques and looking for new items and ideas to add to my shop. One thing I've been playing with is jewelry. So far I've just been making samples and keeping them for myself :)

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My challenge piece for the month of February was one of my first jewelry pieces...and it made me want to create more! I bought a few basic jewelry-making items like jump rings, chain and pliers and got my creative juices flowing.

This banner-style necklace was the next item I made. I thought it was fun and can be customized in so many ways! I've even thought of using hearts instead of triangle pendants.

I've seen other pieces similar to this made out of metal and stamped and I thought...why can't I make this out of wood! It took a few tries to get the circles the size I liked, but I love how it turned out! I thought I could make these in both a premade option as well as a made to order option.

And my next attempt is to make one out of colored acrylic!

I also made a pair of earrings to match one of my pendants. I like how the set looks together!

The only problem is, the jewelry category on Etsy is SO saturated! So I'm trying to decide if I should list these or sell them in sets or what. I'd love to take them to shows with me, but the friend I share a booth with makes jewelry, so I don't want to step on her toes too much either. But I sure am having fun coming up with new designs :)

On Santa's Nice List

I must have been on Santa's nice list this year, because my Secret Santa brought me some great gifts!!!

The Blogging Business Artisans Team celebrated Christmas with a secret santa gift exchange and we had so much fun! I want to send a special thanks to my Santa today, Athena, and tell her how happy I am with my gifts!!! Check out these goodies!

Bath Soap...in my FAVORITE scent...Vanilla!

Beautiful earrings in my FAVORITE color...Pink!

Athena purchased these beauties from another team mate, MysticWynd, and I just ♥ them!

Wanna see what everyone else got? And what I gave? Check out all the posts HERE!

Thanks again Athena :)

Cat Lovers Giveaway

Are you a cat lover? Or do you know someone that is? Then this is the GIVEAWAY for you!!!

Deb of StoryBeader is giving away not one, not two, but three awesome kitty items!!!

Necklace

Earrings

Beads to create with

See all the details and enter the giveaway HERE.

Good luck :)