Leftover Inspiration

A few weeks ago, I was sitting at my work space, sorting through the detritus of previous projects, when I came across some short lengths of round chain.

I love that chain design because it’s really versatile--big but not too big--great for necklaces and bracelets.  But these lengths… Hmmm…  Connected with a jump ring, they’d be a good length for the long earrings that are in style lately.  But, of course, if they’re Bear Chick, they need more color.  

 So, into my bead boxes I go to find some small beads--yeah, purple is perfect.  I connect these with simple loops, then make another unit for the top with a focal bead.  Both the chain and beads sparkle and move when I walk.  Mmmm, the sample pair is mine!!

Once I made the first pair, I had to go out and buy more of the chain to make this design in a color wheel of colors, plus black and crystal.

Click on picture to see earrings on Etsy

Then I had to make an extravagantly long single earring.  Just ‘cause I could.

What leftover craft or art supply, food or ?? has inspired you to make something new?

Look for these earrings on my Etsy and Aftcra shops and if there's a special color you'd like, let me know! 

 C’est La Vie! Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com
http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com
https://www.aftcra.com/bearchick

Guitar Pick Jewelry

Last year, when we were in the Boston area, The Husband got himself a guitar pick punch at a local comic book shop.  He goes through guitar picks pretty fast and planned to make them out of old gift cards and expired credit cards.  Now he has quite a collection.

Fast forward a year.  I’ve been borrowing his punch to make cute guitar picks for jewelry.  Sometimes I buy gift cards specifically for their graphics, like these:  

 They were Walmart gift cards available around Easter.

Unlike The Husband, I have to make at least one hole, sometimes 2 depending on the design, so I also have a hole puncher.  It’s supposed to be for metal but so far, it’s been fine for the plastic. 

And I've also used the specialty scissors to cut unusual shapes as a background for charms.

  I love adding the beads, charms and chain to the picks to create little one of a kind treasures.  You can find them in my earrings section on Etsy  HERE

C’est La Vie! Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com
http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com

A Month of Thanksgiving

To kickstart the Holiday shopping season at my Etsy shop, I’ll be offering a deep discount on one item a day from October 26 to Thanksgiving Day!  And if you use Coupon Code FALL14 at checkout, you’ll get an additional 20% off on your entire order.  

Here’s the first deal--Was $32, now $16:

 Vintage Brass Floral and Blue Crystal Pendant with Brass Chain Necklace

 Check my Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/BearChick ) or Etsy shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/Bearchick ) every day for the Daily Deep Discount.

Whether you’re shopping for simple, cute earrings, one size fits all bracelets or sparkly necklaces, you’ll find something for every Chick on your list.

And don’t forget, the FALL14 Coupon Code at my vintage/destash shop on Etsy gets you 15% off! 

C’est La Vie! Do What You Love!

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com

My Photographer Hat

As a small (make that tiny!) business owner, I wear a lot of hats. Jewelry artist, bookkeeper, marketing specialist… And on and on… But one of the more important hats as an online business person is Photographer. On Etsy, you only have 5 pictures to show your products to their best advantage.

My journey as photographer has had it's ups and downs. I started with a video camera that also had micro stills capability. It was a little cumbersome but it took great close ups. Now I have a Canon that I couldn't live without! It takes great shots of everything, from earrings to polar bears at Sea World.

My next challenge was the setup. I think I started on the walkway to the front door of my house, using natural light. Challenge: I had to keep the camera angled so I didn't get the street, foliage or other houses in the background. I moved onto a PVC pipe frame with a white bed sheet thrown over it in my workroom. Challenge: yellow walls, which made the colors weird and hard to fix on the computer. Now I have a lightbox that I love. I set it up on sunny afternoons near my front door:
 

My light box is from Cowboy Studio, through Amazon.com. It comes with several backdrops but so far I’ve only used the white. And even though I don’t let the kitties near it, I have to keep a roll of tape nearby, to remove cat hair!

I just got the small black table so I could have a mobile workspace if I want to watch a movie on my computer, where there isn't really a lot of flat space. Before that, I had the lightbox on the floor--ouch, my back!

One other thing that I've changed is one of my key props: I used to use a wine glass to hang earrings. If you look at the glass, it looks clear but I suspect there's really a lot of very subtle green in it. I used to think it was picking up color from the yellow walls but even when I switched out to the living room, I was getting strange color, so I bought a white mug with pretty details around the rim and that's worked much better.

So, now, there are items that I want to reshoot because as I look through my Etsy pages, it's painful to see some of my earlier photography. Here's a prime example:

 

BEFORE

AFTER

 

I better get to work, rephotographing some of my earlier pieces so I don’t have to cringe when I go through my Etsy pages!

 

Do What You Love!

 

http://www.bearchick.etsy.com/

http://www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com/

Sunday is Going too Fast!

Today:

I woke up in an Etsy mood! I posted one handmade pair of Valentine inspired earrings and a few vintage finds:

Heart Beads bought at a bead society meeting, from the estate of one of our members. So pretty!

Two JJ pins, probably from the 70's. JJ's are some of the more comical jewelry you'll find.

I also spent quite a while at online traffic school. Yes, I made a right at a red light, not noticing the NO TURN ON RED signs… They were big red signs, no foliage blocking them, no big trucks in the way. If this has taught me anything, it’s that I have to pay more attention and that’s a good thing. Maybe we should all be required to take a traffic school course every 10 years or so as a refresher…

The Husband will be home from work soon. We’ll have a Hawaiian pizza, in anticipation of the healthy eating we’re starting tomorrow. I fell off the healthy eating wagon in December and got hit by every wheel! Now, I’m soooo ready to eat better and for the health of it, not only to lose some weight. For a while we’d been doing a Jack LaLanne DVD and we’re going back to that as well. I tell ya, getting’ old is not for sissies. Just like driving, you really have to be paying attention and taking care of yourself. This isn’t a New Year’s resolution, it’s just a desire to live as long and as well as I can.

Have a good week, everybody!

Do What You Love!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

Bones Has the Best Jewelry on TV

That's what I always say to The Husband when we watch one of our fave shows, Bones. The lead character, Temperance Brennan, frequently wears beautiful jewelry. Usually, it's ethnic flavored, since she's an anthropologist who has traveled the world and sampled a gazillion different cultures. Yes, Bones herself would tell you that gazillion is a highly technical term...

These were the best photo's I could Google of the fair Temperance:

Do you have any favorite TV or Movie characters that are Jewelry Fashionista's?

Do What You Love!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchicksundries.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

New Things on Etsy and a Treasury

Just thought I'd show off a few new things on Etsy:

Starry Starry Fish Earrings

Celtic Shamrocks Upcycled Earrings

Sunny Day in the Neighborhood Earrings

Wearing of the Green Upcycled Earrings

I was in a treasury this week. Treasuries are curated by Etsy artists, usually with a theme of some sort. This one is March coming in like a lion and leaving like a lamb.

Those are my lions, second from the top on the left!

Do What You Love!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

Friday Potpourri: Simply Simple

I love creating jewelry that's complicated and really stretches me as a designer. I like to offer things that are beautiful and will make a woman feel special. But I've come to realize that complicated comes with a higher price tag and sometimes a woman just wants to wear something simple and pretty or cute.

So I introduced my Simply Simple line of earrings, both in plated and sterling. Sometimes they're a charm dangling from an earwire and sometimes I just can't help myself, I have to add a bit of chain or a crystal.

Here's a sampling:

Sterling Swans

For your favorite artist

Sterling Sea Horses

I'll be a monkey's uncle!

Attention Leo's!

Clicking on the photos will take you to the earrings on Etsy.

I've been working on a multicolor chain maille necklace this week. Photos soon!

Do What You Love!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

Stocking Stuffer Sale on Etsy!

In the spirit of the holidays, or maybe it was the drugs I was on after a root canal, I've lowered the price of some of my earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Isn't it nice to get a bargain, especially this time of year! I've created special sections, so you can go right to the bargains on Etsy but don't forget to look at all the other goodies in my shop that would make great gifts. Or treats for yourself!

Here’s a preview of what’s on sale:



Movie Star earrings for your favorite film buff





Flowers Got the Blues Memory Wire Bracelet for the gardener in the family



Oh Christmas Tree Charm N Bead Necklace for you to wear to all the Holiday Parties

Happy Shopping!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

This Week on Etsy…

I spent most of today photographing, editing, writing and posting jewelry on Etsy. I think I need new lights to use with my little light box. I need to do some research on bulb colors. Anyway, here’s what I’ve been working on the last few weeks.

Tri Color Byzantine Necklace with Netted Beads
I LOVE playing with color. I started this as just red and silver. Then I thought, Oooooo, wouldn’t this be cool with some black thrown in?! Then I was trying find some red lampwork beads but I stumbled on the netted ones I ended up using. They had been in my drawer for probably a year, just waiting for the right project. Yea! I really like the drama of this piece.

Pink Flower Handmade Chain Bracelet
Again, love playing with color! And this is such a fun and pretty chain pattern. Looking through my stash of toggles, I had to laugh when I found the dragonfly. What could be better for a flower bracelet?

Black Onyx Drops Handmade Chain Earrings
The magazine I found this chain pattern in called it Celeste. I LOVE it. (I’ve got a lot of enthusiasm tonight) I experimented with these earrings by hanging not only the central Black Onyx bead but also the two tiny ones on each side. I think they look pretty elegant.


Flowers and Pearls Upcycled Choker
I found the focal piece for this necklace at a yard sale who knows how long ago. If you could see the boxes I have of all my saling finds, just waiting for their day in the sun! Well, it’s finally time for this beauty to have it’s debut! I found just the chain I wanted and put that in place. Then I searched around and deemed the faux pearls perfect for this piece. Attached the toggle and whoo! Or whoops… I noticed that one pearl was missing from the focal. Argh! But, without even getting up, I caught sight of a funky little earring with one sparkly little gee gaw. And it fit perfectly in the empty space. I glued it in, waited a few days and did my best to yank it out again. I think it’s in there till the next millennia! So I was very happy. Everything is better with a little sparkle!

Friday we’re going to the Orange County Fair and with any luck, I’ll have pix next weekend of me with my entry. I’m inordinately excited by the prospect of seeing my necklace on display. I suppose there are worse things to be!


www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

Earring Obsession

I had a plan for today~photograph the work I’d done this week, then post it on Etsy. But a quick trip to a bead sale last night put an end to that! I was too inspired to just take pictures. I had to create some more earrings. Here’s a couple of pix taken on top of the latest Bowers Museum members newsletter.

Here’s what I’ve done this week~so far.

I love Happy Bunny and just had to upcycle these pieces I got at various sales. “It’s all about me”. Gotta love that!

I love doing the Byzantine pattern and I hope guys will like this black and silver version.

And here’s a sampling of all the earrings I’ve made this week. I’m really having fun branching out a little. I used to just take a headpin and stack things on it. Now I’m having a blast using chain, wrapped loops and jump rings.

The weather is warming up, dang it. I’ve reveled in the May Gray and June Gloom, enjoying the coolness as long as it lasted. Oh well, this too shall pass!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

My Muse Takes Me On A Detour

Yeah, I know. I’m supposed to be working on my OC Fair necklace. Tell it to my Muse…

The last few nights, my muse has had me playing with a new chain pattern, making one or two sets in the course of American Idol and Castle.


Here they are, in the raw.


When I had 7, I knew it was time to combine them with beads and see what I could come up with. In the next post, I’ll show you the results. A pretty little necklace and a pair of sparkly earrings.

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com

Productive Morning Saling

The Husband had the luxury this AM of going into work late (of course, that means he has to work late…), so we had the chance to do some yard saling. See why I love to sale on my other blog, maresjourney.blogspot.com.

Anyway, here’s the haul (ok, it‘s a rather small haul since we got up late and our time was limited. Let‘s call it a haulette, then). The shirt I bought as inspiration for The Battle of the Bulge I’m currently waging. And who could resist such blingy shoes for a buck!

Here are some excellent charms I can use on my Charm N Bead pieces.

I got these earrings not only because they’re hearts, but because there are spaces I can use to attach chain or jump rings to make them very big charms.

The heart and fleur de lies can be used as charms and the black and silver earrings will make some very classy ATC very happy.

Here’s a close up of the detail on the little shoes. I have a pink and sparkly shirt these will go excellently with. A girl’s gotta have some fun and bling!

So, all this cool stuff added up to less than $5. Awesome, huh!?

Here’s my #1 Yard Saling Tip:

Every night, throw your change in a special purse or tin. Then when you go yard saling, you’ve got plenty of change to whip out and spend easily and the people doing the yard sales love you for not expecting change for a $20!

www.bearchick.etsy.com
www.bearchickart.etsy.com
www.bearchick.artfire.com