Copper Bangles

While I started using copper wire because it was inexpensive and readily available, I have grown to appreciate it's earthy tone and rustic appearance.  I recently began soldering and started with copper because I knew that there was going to be a large learning curve. The more I work with it the more I love using it and it is no longer a "learning and experimenting" wire, but a staple for me.

Copper is a naturally soft metal and therefore easy to texture. A little hammering and some oxidizing with liver of sulfur and you have a rich, rustic look.

Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelets

I came across these great beads in 2 different sizes and I knew that I had to make a chunky bead crochet bangle from the. In lower light these beads appear purple with a rainbow finish, but when held up to the light they appear a translucent red, almost like pomegranate seeds.

Purple Spiral Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

I found the beads for this bangle when I was online shopping for supplies for a custom bracelet. I loved all the colors and how they blended together so seamlessly. The bead mix is called Summer Sunset and I think that the name describes these colors perfectly.

Summer Sunset Bead Crochet Bangle Bracelet

Grandmother's Bracelet For A Friend

Last week was a friend's birthday. Her third grandchild was due any day and she was so excited. I thought, what could be a better gift than a grandmother's bracelet. I made a shiny aluminum chainmaille bracelet of byzantine segments. The segments are divided by Swarovski crystals, each one representing the birthstone of a grandchild.

I just gave her this special gift and she loved it. It made me so happy to see how thrilled she was to receive it. As an added bonus, it is also a mother's bracelet. Her birthday and the birthdays of her 2 daughters are in the same months as her grandchildren. So this is a double duty bracelet.

Shiny Aluminum Chainmaille Jewelery

A few weeks ago I posted about the amazing aluminum rings that I bought. Well, this is what has finally become of them.

Thick Byzantine Bracelet

Shaggy Loops Bracelet

Beez to Butterflies Bracelet

All three bracelets are for sale in my Zibbet shop as well as a wide selection of copper chainmaille and bead crochet. Stop by and have a look.

November Featured Etsy Blogger

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Cindy of Devine Designs Jewelry. Her beautiful handcrafted jewelry is made from wire that has been twisted, shaped and coiled into some truly unique pieces. Cindy uses different metal, beads and stones so that no matter what your taste you will be sure to find something to fit your style.

I am in love with the bracelet shown below. The beads she used are very unique in that they are made of glass, but look like real stone. I also love the silver and the chunkiness in general of this bangle. Click here to learn more (and possibly purchase) this great bracelet.






How great would these sterling and lapis earrings look with a pair of jeans on the weekend? Take a closer look, I bet you'll fall in love with them.

New Item

Here is something new that I have added to my Artfire shop. This little pouch is perfect for carrying all your reward cards, credit cards or business cards.

Sale! Sale! Sale!

I will be offering 15% of your entire purchase in both my shops from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. The sale will start at 12:01 AM EST on 11/27 and end at 11:59 PM EST on 11/30.
I will refund the 15% through PayPal.

Here is just some of what you will find at Morning Sky Jewelry.





Morning Sky Creations offers crocheted items for the home such as washcloths, scrubbies and makeup removal pads.




Mention that you found out about this sale on my blog in the notes to seller upon checkout and I will also ship your order for free!

September Featured Etsy Blogger

The featured Etsy Blogger for the month of September is Designs By Vanessa. Vanessa has a great shop with a wide array of beautiful items.

Her main focus is birds such as these Song Sparrow Earrings




and Bird Iron On Applique.




Bu,t you will also find other themes such as these adorable Cupcake Cards.



Why not pay Vanessa a visit. She may have just what you are looking for.

Great Summer shop

As part of an Etys Bloggers team assignment I went off in search of a shop with hot summer items. I came across Ezylife and her shop is what summer is all about. It is light, bright and airy. Her dresses are beautiful and come in a wide array of styles and colors. There is something there for every woman. An added bonus is that her prices are very reasonable.





Ezylife is a new seller, but she as perfect feedback and glowing reviews.

Featured Etsy Blogger for July

The Etsy Bloggers team has chosen miesmama as the featured blogger for the month of July. Take a look at this colorful shop for a variety of handmade felted finds. You will come across such things as:

Headbands

Keychains

Garlands

and much, much more.

Wonderful Wednesday

These eggs, made by Ukrainian Eggs, are truly remarkable. Some of you may be familiar with Pysanky, but these eggs are made with a twist. The colors are from hundreds of tiny seed beads.





Here is the arttist's explanation of Pysanky and Her Pysanky:

"Pysanky are made to be given to family members and friends. To give a pysanka is to give a symbolic gift of life. Each of the designs and colors on the pysanka has symbolic meaning--the colors and designs are typically chosen to match the character of the person to whom the pysanka is to be given.

About My Pysanky:

I use beads instead of the typical beeswax designs because I prefer the focus to be primarily on the egg's colors. The beads are very small and each egg can take anywhere from one week to several months. I started making these eggs as gifts for family members and began my "store" as requests came in for specific colors for specific people.”

This one is made from an Ostrich egg. I can't even begin to imagine the time and the amount of beads that went into this work of art.

Nice Things Come In Small Packages

I added these tiny earrings to my Artistry Arts shop last week. Earrings are my must wear piece of jewelry. I don't know about you, but there are times when I want an earring that I even feel in my ear. I want a small, very light earrings on days when I don't feel good, it's very hot, my allergies are bothering me, etc. It might seem strange, but that is how I feel.



Do you have days that you want a small earring? These look large in the photo, but they are less then an inch long.

New Handmade Selling Venue

I came across a new online site for selling handmade called Artistry Arts. They allow only the selling of handmade items and supplies used to sell handmade items.

I was fortunate enough to be among the first to sign up and therefore qualified for a 6 month free membership. This allowed me to start listing and set up my my store without having to pay a penny.

For those who still wish to sell it is only $5 per month to start selling and that price is guaranteed to never go up. You can list as many things as you want and choose how many days you want to list for - 30, 45, 90 or 120. You can also have your listing automatically renew 1 or 2 times.

I think that my favorite feature is the payment options that you can choose from. You can require your buyer to pay instantly before the item is removed from your shop or you can choose to invoice them for their purchase.

The front page also features different items on a rotating basis so that every time you refresh you will see new items that are chosen randomly. What a thrill it is to see some of my items on the front page at any given moment.

Some other features are:

· Paypal Cart Checkout

· Ability to Leave and Receive Feedback

· Sell Similar Option

· Favorites

· Create and Send Invoices

· And more.

This site was only started about 1 month ago by Sharon and John, also known as Mom and Pop. They are constantly upgrading the site and are very good about responding to user recommendations.

Check it out. What have you got to lose?

Wonderful Wednesday

It's that time of year again - tea time. I drink coffee every morning all year, but when the weather starts turning colder I love an afternoon cup of tea. So I did an Etsy search for teapots to get an idea of what is out there. There are hundreds of wonderful pots, but this way by far my favorite. According to the description this pot was inspired by a trip to France. Take a peek at lawatson's shop for more fabulous, funky finds.

Wonderful Wednesday

I am in awe of polymer clay artists. Here is something from beadsCraftz that is stunning.

Custom Easter Order

Last week I was asked by Melanie to make three Bible verse bookmarks for her teenage daughers for Easter. I am pleased with the way turned out and even better, Melanie was thrilled.

I Love Etsy

I listed this new bookmark on my Morning Sky Creations Etsy shop yesterday. It's made from decoupaging onto a painted 1 inch square wooden tile and then adding a cotton cord and glass beads. Both sides of the tile are the same.

I thought of using patterned papers like I use for my Bible verse bookmarks, but I was afraid that the heart would get lost in a pattern.

I have it priced at $7.50 since the decoupaging takes time. I wait 2 hours between each coat and I do both sides, so even though it's only a few minutes of work, it actually takes all day.

I would love to hear any opinions about paper choice and my price. Thanks for any input.

A Byzantine Variation

Byzantine is one of the most well known chainmaille weaves. It is the first one that a lot of people learn when they decide to give chainmaille a try. Byzantine is used for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and even key fobs. It is also easy to make variations of byzantine. You can do as I have done and add small byzantine sections to the main weave. You can also weave 2 seperate lengths and then join them together with smaller sections. Byzantine is one of those weaves that you can take wherever your imagination leads you.

Fun Finds For The Home

Here are some fabulous things I found from Designing Swanky Moms for the house and home. If you like what you see, please click on the shop link below the item to see more great things from these very talented women.

Felted VaseValerie’s Gallery

Cherry Wood SpoonColleen2

Metal Grape Leaf Wall ArtKirsten Skiles Custom Metal Work

Tissue Box CoverSam’s Creations

Handpainted Glass LettersTaDa! Designs

Jewelry Gift Ideas

Even though I make jewelry I still find pieces that I really admire. Here are a few of them. They are all from Designing Swanky Moms. Just click on the name under the photo to be brought to that seller's shop to see more of their work.

Here is a pendant made from old license plate lettersAllison Strine Designs

A beautiful amethyst, jade and sterling silver ring

Higher Chakra Creations

Glass marble dictionary necklace

The Empty Nest

A funky leather cuff

moondog tresures

Beautiful Swarovski crystal earrings

Pink A Wink