Treasury West on Etsy

I just made a treasury page on Treasury West on Esty. It looks really good if you ask me. Check it out and see what you think. I called it "The leaves are changing".

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=66591

It has a few of my favorite sellers on there as well as a few other "interesting" finds I saw while lurking in the etsy hallways. I really like 12step, if1hadwords, mylittlepaintings and thedreamygiraffe. Check out their shops if you like photos or painings.


Oh, look what I bought off of etsy today. They are the cutest little mushrooms. All my kids wanted one. So did I. I can't wait to get them. They are from LittleSqueed.

I actually saw the mushroom while I was going to the treasury page. It was just sitting on the side of the page saying "Look at Me!". So I had to click on it. And I was hooked. I ended up getting four mushrooms. She also has a few other really cute things. Check out her spools. They are awesome. http://www.LittleSqueed.etsy.com/

Hopefully you are having a great day. Can't wait to show you what else I find.

Caroline

Nothing New, So Why Am I Here?

I haven't been getting too far with my bookmarks. Infact I have used some of the beads I made for other projects (pins, earrings, etc). Oh, well. I guess I will just have to make some more. Twist that rubber arm!

School is back in and this is the first year all of my girls go for the full day. Today was a little sad at first (for me, not her) but I think I will get by. People ask what will I do with all of my free time but I still don't see myself having any, which kinda sucks. With working full time, doing household things (cook, clean, bills, shop, etc, etc...), making beads, making jewelry, doing bookwork... hmmm...I must have forgot at least one thing...I am not sure how I fit it all in before. I am sure I will still struggle with some of it. Oh, the joys.

I am working on getting a treasury together on etsy. Hopefully I can get a spot soon. I did a trial run of it and it looks really good (or at least I think it does). If I do get a spot I will take a screen shot and post it here.

I would also like to start featuring some etsy sellers on here. From things that I absolutely love to some of the most bizzare things I have seen on etsy. I just have to figure out a few things first.

Oh I best go, I have all of my jewelry stuff out and I best put it away before I go to bed. Hopefully I can get more things made tomorrow than I did today. I worked for 2 1/2 hours and only got a magnifying glass, a pen, two pins, and a bracelet made. I also made 1/2 a necklace and one earring to match. I guess I should have finished that. Oh, if only there were more hours in a day.

Have a good night!
Caroline

My New Project

I am very excited. I am going to set up my jewelry at a comedy show this September. At first I wasn't sure if my products would fit in with the event. I had never been there so I wasn't sure about it. However, my sister went last year and said that it would probably be worthwhile.


I have been to several larger craft sales but this is different. I feel that it is more of a promotional event than a selling event. With this in mind, I have decided to make promotional bookmarks (partly an idea I got from the forums on etsy. I will have to check if I can find the thread and thank them). I already have pamphlets and business cards, but I thought this might be a special idea. My twist on the bookmarks will be to add a small bead to the raffia tassel that I plan to attach to each bookmark. Yesterday I made about half of the beads I am planning to make for the project. Here is a picture.






The beads are mostly just plain. I already sell bookmarks, so I don't want these to be too fancy. I just want people to get an idea of what I do. I will post a finished bookmark when I have them all done.

In case you are wondering, the metal rods in the picture are what I make the beads on. They are dipped in "bead release" so the bead can come off in the end. The grey crummy stuff on the paper towel is some dried bead release that has fallen off of the metal rods. This is very toxic. You don't want to inhale it as it seriously affects your lungs. I try to be very careful with it. That is why I keep the mandrels (the rods) on the paper towel before putting them in water to soak. The towel helps to contain any broken bead release pieces. Soaking the rods helps to soften the bead release and let the beads come off the mandrels. The bead release is then cleaned from each of the beads while holding the bead under water. The process of making a bead is much more complicated than some people know. Maybe I should write a bit more about all of the things that go in to making a bead. Just not right now.

Men's Jewelry

I have been trying to make masculine jewelry for a while. I get asked for it at least once per sale I attend, yet everytime I point out what I have made they either laugh or turn up their noses. But not once have "these men" told me what they would like or give me ideas. I even directly ask them and I still get no response.



Thankfully my nephew has been making leather cuffs. He lets me take them to some of my shows and this adds to my table. Men and women look at them. Check out his etsy shop at http://www.johntheleatherman.etsy.com/



I would like to be able to make some things myself though. I have made a custom bracelet once and the guy loved it. So I thought if I duplicated the colors and style (just not exactly) someone else would like it also. Not the case. This is one bracelet they turn their noses up at. Actually I have a picture of it on my website. If you know what is wrong with it let me know.



I also made hemp necklaces for one guy. I have sold a couple of those at a street fair but that is about it.

So.... I have been trying but I've been getting nowhere. If anyone has any ideas of what I can make or what style men like, I would greatly appreciate the input. Otherwise I will keep on trying the best I can.