Sunday, May 31, 2009

Goodbye May, Hello June!


Happy Anniversary
Originally uploaded by mornindew2822
and happy anniversary to my darling husband, Ed! Just thought I'd share some photos of the lovely roses he brought home for me...

enjoy!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

A Fresh Start

So I closed my eBay store this morning, a decision I made about a month ago- the fees and time greatly outweigh the sales at this point and frankly, I'd rather focus on my website, Etsy and Brick & Mortar sales. So it's not a sad day- on the contrary, I am feeling like a weight is lifted and I am being given a fresh start! And as if someone was watching and knew- I awoke to an Etsy sale! Go me!

I sent a newsletter to all my eBay subscribers announcing my store closure and received an email back from one customer telling me she loved my things and had wandered over to my website and would like to buy 4 sea glass angels from me- I'm a happy girl. :)

And on that note, I made a lovely breakfast for my family this morning, I sorted some beautiful new cobalt blue sea glass for earring pairs and went about customizing my new "my eBay" page (since I also unsubscribed to "Selling Manager" over there).



I am so grateful for the little things in my life.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Chesapeake Bay Sea Glass


The sea glass was found by a client of mine along the Chesapeake Bay- it has a great iridescent quality to it that makes me think of carnival glass, but I'm not sure I've seen olive carnival glass before...

The rust colorations she believes to be remains of a sea urchin or other sea life... not sure about that either; another sea glass friend of mine thinks it's perhaps the remnants of a reverse painting technique....? The pendant is made from a curved piece of glass that almost certainly was a bottle neck, so the colorations we see would have been on the interior of the original bottle...

I wrapped it in 14k gf wire and chain.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Narragansett Schools Beach Blanket Bidding!


The Narragansett, RI Schools PTO is having their giant auction- Beach Blanket Bidding on May 29, 2009.

My donation to the auction is this cobalt blue and kelly green sea glass necklace set in sterling silver.

From the site:
With the help our our sponsors, we can enrich the lives of our students and bring the community together for this gala event on Friday, May 29, 2009 at the Dunes Club. With a silent and live auction, dinner and dancing, and the ocean view, this Auction is going to be spectacular!

Tickets to the auction sold out in two weeks, but there are dozens and dozens of terrific local merchants who have donated time, materials and auction items, browse through and check them out!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Trip to the Gem and Jewelry Show


cabs
Originally uploaded by magscrafts
I went on Friday to the Gem and Jewelry Show at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Let me say, thank God for my GPS! Even when I was less than 100 yards from the place I still did not recognize it. Anyway, determined that I would not drive all the way to Virginia and then not find the show, I drove around a bit and eventually found my destination.

There was a surprisingly large crowd for noon on a Friday. I think most people were shopping for the finished jewelry which made up the bulk of the show. I was looking for beads, cabochons and other supplies. I bought a few strands of pearls, but mostly I bought cabochons to use now that I am learning how to make settings. I bought an assortment of sizes, which is a good thing because Tara mentioned the other day that I should start out setting bigger ones for less frustration. I bought a couple of different sizes of turquoise, some small garnets and carnelian cabs, assorted round labradorite cabs, agates in assorted colors and shapes, and something that is labeled marium, which seems to be more commonly known as elephant jasper.

Now I need to go practice with my torch so I can get these things set once my silver order arrives!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Sea Glass Earrings Mosaic

As promised, a quick glimpse at the earrings I've been making...

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

To all you crafty mamas out there!



XOXO, Maggie & Tara

Friday, May 8, 2009

365 Ahteest Update Via Photo Mosaic

I took a bunch of photos of new pieces today, thought a new photo mosaic was in order! (And I have since realized I forgot to take photos of all the new earrings I made, so I'll have to do another bunch of photos next week!)

Happy viewing and happy weekend everyone!

-Tara

Friday, May 1, 2009

Collage Mania Redux

Since Maggie didn't add a link to her own collages in her Fiber Art for a Cause post, I'm doing it for her:

Collage Mania Page 22

They look great, Mags! :)