I listed my first four items on Etsy!! Yay!!
I have around 6 more finished to list, but I haven't had the chance to write up little blurbs about them yet. It actually takes quite a bit to get the pictures and everything in order to actually get the listings completed, so I will be more prepared for that the next time around.
Also, it seems that I need to learn how to take pictures specifically for Etsy... Some of them aren't centered quite right. And I need to be more creative with the naming.... *cringe*
Anyways, nothing new to report on the crafting front. It seems that I have taken off with the jewelry making at the moment. Need to actually do a few knitting projects as well. Also, on the etching front, it seems the glass etcher I ordered wasn't the kind of item I was looking for. I ordered a Dremel Engraver which is quite a bit more heavy duty than my old Inland glass engraver. I decided to return it and am going to reorder the same Inland model I used to have. It is a great little engraver that is perfect for random etching projects. It probably isn't as durable as the Dremel, but it works perfectly for etching wine glasses and such.
That is all for the moment. I have to go do the dishes now. *sigh*
So, I have been crafting up a storm (all jewelry items) recently in anticipation for listing my first update on my Etsy store! Yay! A more detailed post will be written up as soon as I have posted things on Etsy. The hard part right now is deciding how to price the items...
I haven't tried any new tutorials recently, so there isn't anything to report at the moment on that front. Just embellishing on the techniques I was playing with earlier.
That is all at the moment. I hope to have everything ready within a week!
Oh, and lastly there is going to be a large Bead and Button Show taking place at the beginning of June in Milwaukee, WI. It sounds exciting and I can't wait!!
Found my camera! Yay!
So, first of all I finally put that copper wire pendant I made onto a chain. Also added a few beads. I really like how this one turned out and I almost hate to send it away.
This next one was made with picasso jasper beads with a few turquoise beads thrown in. I just love how every jasper bead is so different! Also, I got the idea for the clover head pin from this web page. Apparently there is a tool called a WigJig that is specially made to form wire loops, but it is quite easy to get the same effect using only a pair of round nose pliers.
Lastly is a necklace I whipped together using these pearlescent glass beads that have been sitting around in my jewelry kit for years. Quite a simple design, but I just really like these colors.
That is all for now. Just waiting for my new glass etcher to arrive in the mail! Yay!
Well, I have turned my apartment upside down looking for my glass etcher tool and it is quite lost. *sigh* Well, when the new one arrives in the mail, I am planning on etching the first wine glass with something simple, yet pretty. Maybe something like this. I am really liking swirls at the moment!
In the meantime, I have finished up a few beaded necklaces. Yay! I will be sure to take some pictures. I have had these wooden and pearlescent glass beads sitting around for quite awhile, so I decided to string them on wire in interesting patterns. They will definitely be ending up in my etsy shop since I find that I rarely wear jewelry myself.
I have also been sketching patterns for a line of wire pendants much like the copper one pictured a few entries ago. I just need to acquire some more 16 and 18 gauge wire. It seems that all the supplies I actually need are always missing! So inconvenient!
I have decided what crafting project I want to continue with!!
I have an assortment of blank wine glasses that I have been meaning to etch for awhile now, so it is time to decorate them! The only problem is, I think my glass etcher tool was in one of the boxes my movers failed to deliver when I moved across the country. Darn. Well, I guess I will have to find another one on the internet. Anyways, while I search for the etching tool around here before committing to purchase a new one, I am going to search around and look for some design ideas. Additionally, I am going to continue making different pieces of jewelry with the random assortment of beads and wire I still have laying around.
Here is a sample of a wine glass I etched in the past for a friend:
So I have finally decided to open up my own shop on Etsy.com. Besides the knitted hat, the things I have made so far aren't going to any use right now. By putting my crafted items on Etsy, I hope to raise money for other crafting projects in the future. Makes sense, right?
That is all for the moment. I am finding it difficult to come up with a new project to start, so I need to go find some inspiration!!
So here is a picture of the hat on my boyfriend! It fits perfectly! Sadly I just realized it is kind of hard to see the fit in this picture, but it really does look great on him!
In other news, I had some 16 gauge wire left over from other projects, so this next pendant kinda made itself... My first time making anything like this!!
I found a great tutorial on basic wire weaving techniques from Jewelry Lessons which gave me the idea for the woven parts. Otherwise, it was made purely with my own imagination!
I am thinking about finding this pendant a black chain to hang from since I think that would make it "pop" more than a copper chain.
For the next project? I really have no idea at the moment....
Managed to finish the hat! Yay! A fairly easy project that actually turned out really nice! It also fits my boyfriend's head perfectly! Now I just need to get a picture when he isn't asleep....
I was browsing for new jewelry tutorials yesterday and came across one that looked simple, yet pretty.
The Rosette Wire Wrapped Ring
This tutorial is fabulous! It calls for 22 gauge wire, but the closest I had was 20 gauge. I feel like this made the rings I made a bit more difficult to shape, but they actually turned out quite nice!
I would love to experiment with this more. Possibly by mixing copper and silver wire together or adding small beads. I definitely need to acquire 22 gauge wire as well as a ring mandrel. I ended up using a Burt's Bees lip balm container to wrap the wire around and it would probably be better if I could get the sizing a little more accurate.
Excellent tutorial from McFarland Designs!
Well, I managed to actually get quite a bit of it done today. Judging from the pattern I am maybe a bit less than halfway done! Yay!
So far I am really liking this pattern. It is fairly simple and would be a great pattern to start out on to learn how to knit in the round. Originally the pattern called for me to use double point needles, but I kept having trouble with my knitting slipping off the needles and unravelling, so I switched to a set of circular needles. Much more manageable!
Otherwise, things are going well and I hope to finish the hat within the next few days!
