I sponsored a giveaway...

recently on Ucreate-crafts.com. A fun website that has tons of tutorials if I ever find the time.

Anyway, lovely Leigh-Ann won a set of three stacking rings. Here are the stones she chose! Aren't they a pretty set?



They're on their way to you, Leigh-Anne. Congratulations and I hope you love them!

Color Added

I added these items to my shop last night. I didn't realize how soft all the "tones" in my shop were until these pops of color were added! I kindof like it!






I am liking big rings lately. I think I'll be doing more of those in the near future.

A little extra pocket cash and this is what I buy....

I have a lot of anxious days waiting for the post man in my future!

Going Wholesale

I made a line sheet today. It was pretty easy, though not as easy as they said it was going to be.

I have had in the past wholesale inquiries and have planned on making a line sheet for potential wholesale customers. I found this system that pretty much does it for you. It will upload your etsy info (although NONE of my photos uploaded - I had to find them and upload them myself) and then you adjust your listings and your prices.

You can also lock the wholesale prices so only buyers can see them. (you use a password that you can share). Pretty cool.

You can see it here http://thirtysixten.trunkt.com

New Delivery and From the Bench

I got two deliveries today! Yay! This is what was in my packages. Flourite, Prehnite, Amethyst, Onyx, Ruby, Chalcedony and others. The big one in the middle is Malachite-Azurite with really striking patterning in the stone. Funny, when I ordered these I didn't notice the color theme! Now, greens with splashes of purple and pink? So lovely! I can't wait to create.

Here are a couple of rings I made today. Boy, having the kids at school has really given me lots of bench time. Since they leave at 6:45 in the morning I've been in my studio by 7 working and creating. I have a couple more in process but I had some of my summer swimming buddies come over and swim today (is it wrong that it was funner with no kids?)

These are some of the druzys I received way back in the begining of the summer and finally got around to creating rings. I am really happy with the way they are turning out. I will be making them in different sizes so hopefully I'll have something to fit everyone.


They'll be in my shop later.... I don't know how much later, depends on when I get photos edited...my least favorite part next to writing the listing description :-).

Anyway, I hope you like them.

Big Day...and what's from the bench.

Today was the first day of school. I have a Senior! yay! Since they have to be at school at 7:05 (yes, that is nuts) they get up at 5:30. Too early for teenagers if you ask me. So she is trying coffee to see if it helps.

I also have a freshman starting high school. (don't ask what is up with her hair...she tried something new)


Off to school and my Senior actually drove herself and her sister to school for the first time! EEEP! I didn't get a phone call so I assume it all went well.


Now for what was on the bench today. Not a whole lot because I was trying desperately to fix the mess up I made Friday (see here).

This is a blue topaz I had to repair. For some reason the bezel split so I had to redo it.

A couple of hammered stacking bands....my favorite to make. It's theraputic yet artful to hammer these bands just so to get the right texture that sparkles without hammering them into an entirely new size!

And the Piece de Resistance.... I finished my daughter's ring. She left for college yesterday without it so I'll send it off in my first care package to her.


I am pleased how it turned out. I think it is better than my first two attempts. They say the third times a charm!

How I Wasted My Entire Morning,

My amazing, intelligent, kind, loving, incredible and gorgeous daughter is leaving on Sunday. She is going to start her away from home adventure. She has been attending a local college but has been accepted into Texas A&M University's Mays Business School (whoop!).

A few months back she asked me to make her a ring. I was given a few rare turquoise cabs by my father. He had these left over from his metalsmithing days waaaaay back in the day and he passed them on to me. My daughter picked out a gorgeous piece and I promised I'd make her a ring.

Fast forward (really fast) to today and I realize she is leaving in just two days. Wow! I made it my mission to get up early and make this ring for her before she left. And here is where it began.

My first issue was that I could not get my solder to flow. Occasionally I'll have that problem and I never know what will cause this. It just seems to happen. It took three tries to work. Finally I got it to flow.

Then, my torch ran out of gas (which may be the reason for the aforementioned problem. The flame was probably just not hot enough.) So, off to the store to get more gas. I knew my tank was low but, hey, procrastination is my best friend!

The band around the bezel caused me fits. It was so hard to fit properly and, when I was stamping the first one (yep, the one pictured is the second one) I stamped too hard and cut it. So I had to do it again.

The ring bands were not too hard as I am used to doing those and I have my system down.

I put a couple little embellishments on the underside of the ring. My "tst" and a little heart with a cross.
After patina-ing and polishing I went to test the stones fit...the first time. Now, remember I am used to working with calibrated stones. They are consistently sized and consistently shaped.

The very FIRST step I did wrong. I soldered the bezel on upside down!!! Do you see? The stone has a little belly on the right side but the bezel has it on the left side! I flipped the bezel over. D'oh!

Now everything, with exception of the ring bands, has to be redone. The band around the bezel and the plate both have to be re-done because they fit the mirror image of the stone. *sigh*


On the bright side, she loves the ring and is okay with getting it in the mail next week. I told you she was amazing!

Possible New Logo.

I am in the process of getting an official logo for my business. I've had the three above designed (same but with different colors). I don't know if I like them or not. I don't know if they really represent my work or not.

At first impression I really liked the design. But the more I'm thinking the more I think I'd like something more sophisticated and these seem a little.........i don't know. hmmmm

Input is greatly appreciated! The designer is so nice and she's made about 5 changes so far. Should I ask her to go back to the drawing board? *sigh* I just don't know. The more I look the more I can't decide.

I guess I am just waiting for the "aha! That's it!" feeling.

I wish.....

Finished...I promised more embellishment!

Random...

Just a few random things I want to share just because I can...

I bought these yesterday. I am so ready for fall, my favorite time of the year...and halloween. It was my favorite holiday when my kids were little and all of the neighbors would congregate in our front yard and pass out candy while the kids went trick or treating. Now the kids are (mostly) grown it's lost some of it's fun, but still one of my favorites.


My guilty pleasure this summer - So You Think You Can Dance. I am not a dancer but this show has really helped me appreciate dancing. This one is sooo romantic...awwww to be young and in love...

kent lauren 8 @ Yahoo! Video

Also, since watching this show I've noticed my typing sounds like tap dancing. lol that cracks me up!

From the Bench today.

This is what I accomplished today. Mostly orders but a few new fun things.

Custom order for Amy, from Ponder and Stitch.

This was an order.

These are two separate orders. Funny how I'll sell two or three of the same thing in a week and then go a month without selling any.

These are new. A set of gunmetal black stacking. They'll be in the shop when I take new pictures (see the fuzz on one of them? grrrr!)

I sold one pair of these in my shop and so I've made more. I'm trying to bulk up on the ready to ship items for the holidays. It'll be here before we know it.

So, all in all, a pretty productive day.

Before and After

I made these necklaces not to long ago in a very uncommon burst of energy. My thought was I'll make them all, at one sitting, and then have them ready to ship right away. My mind had the firm design in hand and I set out. One problem... once they were finished, I didn't really care for them. Honestly. Something was missing, something was just not right. And, of course, I had made FOUR!

Last week I began reworking the one with my favorite focal...a turqouise in a matte finish. To me it looks like a realistic yet etherial sea shell. (yes, that's what I said).

So, after a few sketches, changing a few things, and of course, waiting for my shipment of LOS (the stuff that turns the metal black) I finished her.

Don't you just love it? I am so pleased with the way it turned out. So much better!
I had originally done a plain setting because I didn't want to detract from the focal. I think the new setting actually speaks with the focal and makes it a better piece.


Slowly I am emerging out of my fondness for simplicity. Who knows what sort of embellishment may appear next time.

Its Just Too Hot!

We are having some serious heat here in the South! I have had to find ways to keep myself busy inside this summer. I have been staying busy with one kiddo in marching band, one preparing for her senior year and one moving off to college.

But a Gal needs her own time and since my garage studio becomes an oven by mid day, this is what I have been working on.


I have crocheted most of my life having been taught by my grandmother when I was little. I've done hats, pillows, little things but never taken on a blanket. This will be my first.

The pattern for the granny square was found here. The way to connect the squares was found here and the inspiration for how to connect them was found here. All lovely blogs and flickr photostreams!

So as you can see, not my own design, but none-the-less pretty and fun to do.

The more it becomes a real blanket the more I am motivated to work on it. Luckily shop orders have slowed down so I can devote more time to getting it done! I'll post pictures for you once it is finished - hopefully soon!