more upgrades
Posted by Administrator on May 15, 2008
If you subscribe to my feed, you might want to check and make sure you are still getting updates. I upgraded some things again, and I think my permalinks changed, which might change the URL of the feed.
If that’s all technological gibberish to you, but you like my blog, use the “subscribe” button in the sidebar to get updates using whatever service you use to subscribe to blogs. 
Confessions of a blocked creative
Posted by Administrator on May 14, 2008
I’ve been reading The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Did you ever daydream about being a rock star as a child? I did. And I was painfully shy about singing or playing an instrument in front of people. I even tried to practice piano when nobody was home because I didn’t want anyone to hear me. I also wanted to be an author, and I spent countless hours writing fiction and poetry in notebooks that I would later carefully destroy, by burning them or tearing up the pages into tiny pieces. I think one of the reasons I married my husband is that his art is so raw and emotional, like he doesn’t really give a shi* if the whole world can see exactly what he’s thinking and feeling. I wanted to be that, and the next best thing is being with someone like that. It’s almost like you can become the creative person you want to be by being with them.
Well, it doesn’t work that way. To be out there and vulnerable like that is something you just have to do, you don’t get it from someone else. Making jewelry is a wonderful creative outlet, but it doesn’t quite satisfy the part of me that wants to be a musician or a writer. That part of me remains blocked, but I’m working on it.
I highly recommend reading The Artist’s Way, and actually do what it says. I’m attempting to do that, despite the fact that writing every morning probably isn’t realistic with a baby. I’ll do the writing part each day, but when I have time instead of in the morning. Maybe this time I’ll get farther along in the process before I quit….
I don’t want to wake up one day and realize I never went for it. Jewelry is a wonderful creative outlet, and I want to keep coming up with newer, more interesting designs. I’ll probably never be a rock star, but I can become a better musician. And I can work on getting over my fear of people reading my creative writing.
A note about the book: one thing that might put some people off is that she talks about God a lot. If that makes you uncomfortable, just ignore it, because the advice is really good and worth hearing, but I know for some people even the mention of something that sounds like religion brings up so many preconceived ideas that the rest of the message gets lost. So just pretend she doesn’t say God, and substitute “creative energy” or “the universe” or whatever image works for you. When she talks about God, she’s talking about creativity, and whether you believe in any kind of God or not is irrelevant. I think most creative people would agree that sometimes it seems like there’s a force outside of you that works when you are inspired - you can believe whatever you want about that feeling, it doesn’t have to be a religious thing.
Have you done The Artist’s Way
Amethyst and Citrine
Posted by Administrator on May 13, 2008
Did you know that amethyst and citrine are both quartz? Amethyst is the purple variety of quartz, and citrine is yellow. Most people familiar with semiprecious jewelry know that - but did you know that citrine is made by heating amethyst to high temperatures?
There is even a gemstone called ametrine, which has purple and yellow occurring in the same stone. It can occur naturally, but is often manmade. It is a really beautiful stone. I bought some ametrine beads at a gem show once, and just recently decided to find out more about it, and I thought the explanation of how heat is used to change the colors was really interesting.
Inspiration
Posted by Administrator on May 9, 2008
“Do not follow where the path leads, Rather go where there is no path, and leave a trail.”
-David Perkins (I first saw this quote on problogger)
This is what creative people try to do, despite the wildly popular opinion that “everything has already been done”, which I hear a lot on forums about creativity, jewelry design, and crafts. I disagree that everything has been done, and one thing that inspires me is that I believe the perfect jewelry design hasn’t been made yet, and if I keep trying, I’ll get closer and closer to designing it. I won’t ever get there, because every time I have some kind of breakthrough and make something I love, I realize it’s not the ultimate design, and that the design I really want to make is still waiting for me to discover it.
A non-jewelry project
Posted by Administrator on May 8, 2008
My son has been wanting to take naps in my lap lately, so I decided to start a small knitting project that I could work on while he sleeps. I found a cute scarf pattern with ruffled edges in One-Skein Wonders
I made the scarf pretty much as the pattern described, but substituted Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton yarn for the one in the example, and measured the length by trying it on periodically until it was a length I liked (rather than trying to make it exactly the length recommended).
I had about half a skein left once I was finished, so I crocheted some flowers and sewed them on to the scarf. I think it turned out to be a really pretty scarf! It was nice before I added the flowers too, which made me think making the flowers into little brooches by attaching them to safety pins or other pin backs would make it easy to dress up scarves whenever I want to. They might also be a cute addition to my etsy store….
Etsyfame Featured Seller Bags Plus by Miss Bea
Posted by Administrator on May 7, 2008
This week’s featured seller on etsyfame.com is Bea of Bags Plus by Miss Bea. I love this bag with a cute circle print.
Here’s an excerpt from her feature:
If you’re looking for fun and whimsical patterns in a hand bag, Bea of Bags Plus by Miss Bea is sure to have a quality handmade bag for you. Bea creates each of her treasures in her home located at her home in Tennessee. She specializes in purses, checkbook covers, blankets, and bibs.
Read the rest at etsyfame.com
Visit Bea’s etsyfame page
Visit Bea’s etsy shop
New Earrings
Posted by Administrator on May 7, 2008
I’ve been making earrings this week. Pro Arts Gallery in Oakland asked me to bring in some new earrings for their gift shop, and I had an idea to use up some sterling silver findings, like the flowers in the second pair of earrings shown here, by adding a few beads and using them as earring dangles.
Then I decided to make some rings by fusing some argentium silver wire, and use them in the same manner (see the first photo). The designs are nothing earth-shattering, but I think they are fun and fashionable, and they are definitely easy to wear because they are lightweight and on comfortable french hooks.
I like using handmade components whenever possible, so these earrings all feature beads dangling on fine silver head pins that I made.
T10T
Posted by Administrator on May 6, 2008
The FAM’s are at it again with Take 10 Tuesday! Find amazing discounts and some secret hidden treasures in some of our shops. For a complete listing of stores, please visit the Etsy Promo Forum tonight, May 6, 2008, between 5:00 PM - Midnight EST!
May 1 Etsyfame Featured Artist: Antoinettes
Posted by Administrator on May 1, 2008
This week’s featured artist on etsyfame.com is Antoinettes. I love her minky dots pillows, burp rags, and washcloths.
Here’s an excerpt from her feature:
I am a blessed & happy stay at home mommy & the proud wife of a kind, hard working, fix-it-all husband. If I had free time…I would love to write poetry, go hiking & rock climbing, play tennis, volunteer to work on a farm (i’ve always wanted to do that), sing in a choir again, and read the bible more.
Read the rest at etsyfame.com!
Also see antoinettes etsyfame.com page.
