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

Gift Ideas - Totes, bags and wallets

These are some of my favorites for gift giving this holiday season. And they are all Designing Swanky Moms. You can find out more about the DSM's by visiting their website.

This black an white tote is very eyecatching with it's bold white flowers.

Carissa Black

An Orange and Brown Pouch

BeanPickleSprout

Business Card Holders

handmade by Andrea Baker

And a very bold Disco Dots Wallet

daniellebags

Photographing Earrings Saga

I have been making earrings lately, but having a heck of a time getting good photographs of them. I like the look of the earrings hanging so that the person looking at them gets a good idea of how they hang. So, I have what I thought was a good system. I have my light box with my blue sky and clouds background. I have a wrought iron picture frame from which I removed the glass to have a place to hang the earrings. And, of course, I have the earrings.

I take most of my pictures with my light box on one of two windowsills in my house at the same time of day when it is bright outside. I either take the pictures in our family room or in the kitchen.

Day One - I set up my light box and picture frame and hung the earrings. Then I go about my business while waiting for the earrings to stop swaying so I can get a nice clear picture. Here is where things get complicated. Here in Northern NJ it is starting to get cold out, which means that the heat comes on. We have forced hot air heat with a blower located, you guessed it, right under the window. So now I have to wait for the earring to stop swaying all over again and quickly get the pictures done.

Day Two – I don’t want to worry about the heat again so this time I set up in the kitchen. There is a small piece of counter which folds down that I can fold up and use as a table that is right in front of the window and I don’t have to worry about the heat blowing. So, I set up my light box and earrings and go about my business while waiting for the earrings to stop swaying only to come back to find Emma, the cat, curled up in the light box with the earrings!

I finally have my photos all done and ready to list in the next few days in my shop.

There has to be an easier way, but I haven’t found it yet – any and all suggestions are welcome

Cell Phone Charms

I have never been a girly, girl that has to have lots of accessories. In fact, when I first saw cell phone charms I thought, "Who would ever have that on their phone?" Well guess who has a cell phone charm? That's right - I do! I have one with a small picture frame dangling from it. It doesn't have a picture of my two boys in it, they would be mortified, it has my two girls - Emma and Stormy, my cats. It's a great way to add just a little personalized touch, for not a lot of money, to something that has become a necessity in today's world.

Here are some that I made and have for sale in my Etsy shop.

Just click on the photo if you would like a better look.

Lifesaver Earrings

I made these earrings from copper wire and some small glass green donuts that I found at a bead shop. I thought they looked like green Lifesavers - they're about the same size. After the earrings were made I added a patina to the copper so the green glass would stand out even more.

More Bead Crochet

I just listed another bead crochet bracelet in my Etsy shop. Just click on the picture and it will bring you right to the listing.

What makes this bracelet unique is its creation. Although it appears to be made from different colored beads, it is made from clear hexagonal shaped seed beads. The rainbow effect is created by using rainbow thread. As you crochet, the thread color changes giving the finished bracelet a rainbow appearance. This was the first time I used this thread and it certainly won't be the last.

My First Treasury

For those of you not familiar with Etsy, the Treasury is a collection made by Etsy member of their favorite things. It is on display in the Treasury section from 2 to 3 days. People can view the Treasuries and leave comments if they wish. If you are a seller and are chosen to be in someone's Treasury it usually means more exposure for your item and shop. If you are the person creating the Treasury it means fun!

A Treasury sometimes hard to come by. The Treasury must drop below 222 and you have to be on the Treasury list page and ready when one becomes available. I learned through the forums that while you are waiting for a Treasury you DO NOT REFRESH your page. You just have to sit and wait for that elusive box to show up. When the box shows up on the bottom of the page you click in it and it saves your spot. Then you go about naming and creating your Treasury.

Sunday as I was on the Treasury list page I noticed that a lot were expired and they would become available soon. I figured, it's worth a try. I never tried before because I thought there was some special trick to getting one. But, I sat and waited and sure enough the box signaling that a Treasury was available showed up. Talk about exciting! Right as I clicked I noticed the time and had to go pick up my boys from Sunday school so my Treasury didn't get up and going for about an hour.

The title of my Treasury is Are You Swanky? and it features items from an Etsy group I belong to called Designing Swanky Moms. I wanted a uniform look so I tried to have all the items I chose in the yellow family or containing some yellow. Below is a screenshot of my creation.

Finally, A Sunny Day!

It has been cloudy and rainy here in Northwestern New Jersey for the past 2 days. We definitely needed the rain, but I had a bracelet that I was waiting to photograph for my Etsy Shop. I really need to learn how to take my pictures using artificial light since winter, with its cloudy days and limited hours of sunshine, is on its way.

This is what I was waiting to photograph.

Pink & Gray Bead Crochet Bracelet

I seem to go through phases as to what I am in the mood to create. Lately it has been bead crochet although, tonight I have a new project in mind that I am going to give a try. If it works out I will be posting it here soon.

Bead Crochet

Black & White Bangle

I started doing bead crochet about 2 years ago with no knowledge of how to crochet at all. My mother, who was very crafty, tried to teach my on many occasions, but I was never really interested. So, when I decided I wanted to learn bead crochet - off to the wonderful worldwide web I did go. And I found tons of information. The website that helped me the most was Ann Benson's online
tutorial .It's animated, very clear and easy to follow. She also has a great book with many great ideas for anyone interested in bead crochet. It is called Bead Crochet Designs .

Another great source for tips is Beadwrangler's Site. Lots of great tips on bead crochet and crochet in general.

Last, but not least, I gathered a great deal of information on the forum at Beadwork at About.com.

One of my favorite things about bead crochet is that because you string all your beads before you begin, it travels very well. I just throw it all in a bag and go.

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Peacock Bracelet

Cutting Jumprings

I love making chainmaille jewelry which takes hundreds and hundreds of jumprings. I cut my own rings so that when I decide to make something, I don't have to order and then wait impatiently for my rings to arrive. I can wind, cut and create. Some people find the process tedious, but I really don't mind.

First I start with some wire.

Then I choose the size mandrel I need. I use knitting needles for mandrels.

The next thing I do is insert the mandrel and wire in my drill. I make sure they are in the chuck nice and secure and then I ever so gently press the drill trigger while guiding the wire with my left thumb and index finger. I use extreme caution as the wire comes to an end. It is very painful if the end of the wire goes through your fingers. (Yes, I speak from experience).

And this is what I end up with - a coil of wire.

I then saw the coil apart using my trusty jeweler's saw - which has a blade as thin as a hair. It is very important to keep the blade lubricated so that it doesn't break. I use beeswax for this.

TA-DA!! The sawing is done and I end up with a pile of rings. Ready to create.