Almost The End Of Another Year.

And I have really let my blog slide. And my Etsy shop for that matter. Sure, I've the perfect reason (little Miss 1.5yr old) but I would have liked to have achieved a little bit more in 2014.

Before the year is out though, I am endeavouring to get one new technique under my belt. I have been gathering the materials needed over the past week and hubby has gifted me for our Wedding Anniversary (today!) - a new Drill Press, which was a part of the 'materials' needed wanted to make this technique go well. I hope.

I really really am excited to try this 'new to me' technique. The more I can do, the more I want to do and I'm hoping with the excitement of this new technique and using a new tool, it will bring me some much needed motivation to pursue all the ideas in my head.

It has been really hot here lately - more humidity than anything else. Summer only arrived here today and I'm not looking forward to another 3 months of heat. Though the past 3 days have been quite alright heat wise. My husband noticed this particular street whilst at work and we took a little drive out to see it as a family and I got a heap of pictures of it:

Yes, it looks this bright and vibrant in real life!
It's such a nice drive through this particular street as these Jacarandas all hang over the road and the green and coral red are spectacular together.

These trees are planted everywhere in this suburb, but this was the best street we could find.

They make an absolute mess when in flower, but who cares when they give the most fabulous shade and colour!

I'm currently working on a custom order, it's actually the 3rd time making this particular piece - using PMC. I finally got to my bench to make the pendant and fire it last night, as it was not too hot and I could use the torch.

Next year I am hoping to invest in a Little Smith torch set up with the oxy/acetylene set up. I want to do pinning and the only way I can see this happening, is if I add this torch to my workshop. Though I am kind of scared to have a 'proper' gas set up if I'm completely honest. Having bottles of gas around makes me a bit uncomfortable, especially with children in the house.

Can you believe I have been doing smithing now for 5 YEARS?!!! Yes! Damn that has gone fast! And I have been blogging here for that entire time too.

There is probably much more I could blog about, but I'm going to leave it here, hopefully I will be able to post again soon.

Take care
Em ♥

Oh So Quiet.

Peace and Quiet.
Doesn't happen often around these parts.
But when it does, I soak it right up.
My other half is working his day away.
My older daughter is at school.
And my baby girl is sleeping in the warmth of the sun.

And in the meantime, I am writing this post and doing lots of house cleaning.
I don't mind house cleaning. It gives me so much satisfaction (for the 1minute it stays that way) to see a clean house and everything in it's place.

My mother is coming to stay for a couple of nights, which I am really looking forward to. It's a beautiful sun shiny day here, but still quite cool. We are just over halfway through Winter.

I have ordered a bundle of new tools and supplies this week. Have been holding off for a while, but decided I needed some excitement injected into my week and waiting on tool/supplies parcels always gives me that! The anticipation of experimenting is always lots of fun too. I have some new ideas tumbling around in my head - I just hope that they turn out the way I see them .... it's probably about a 50/50 chance.

Poppy had her injections done yesterday afternoon.
I hate taking babies for that to be done. Fortunately, both of my girls cry for only a moment and then get over it quickly. I hate seeing them in pain, even if it's for a good reason.

It's nearly lunch time.
I have upstairs to finish off cleaning and then I have to tidy up downstairs and make a pie, pop on some washing and post off a parcel and then on to pick up my daughter.

I wish the days were longer.

Em ♥

Hot Enough For Ya?

Seems like many of my posts are about our heat. 

Sorry about that folks, but it's a fact round these parts.

I am feeling really badly for those in Tasmania (and other parts of Aust that are affected), where all those fires are breaking out. 

It freaks me out here too, as across from our front yard is bush/rainforest. As I am a worrier, this kind of weather just pushes my pessimistic side.

So I now have Queensland fire service on my facebook, so I can keep up to date with what's happening around my area.

Regardless of the heat (which is not nearly as bad as some parts), I am attempting to get to the bench more. I have a water cooler (like a fan, but it uses water to cool the air) beside me at my bench. It isn't anywhere near as good as having air conditioning. But it's all I've got. I have worked out a position so I can have it on whilst soldering, which is something. 

Here is the piece I finished last:

Sold.

 Right now I am working on a pair of earrings and a pendant.

I have an order coming from Rio and some small tools and supplies coming from round Australia. I'm still browsing stones on Etsy. Not that I have any money left after those supplies :(

Best get back to the bench whilst I can ....

Take care all 

Em ♥

Too Hot!!!

It's killin' me.

I can't even contemplate going to the bench and attempting to make anything :( 

I would just melt away.

Granted it's not as hot as some parts of Australia, but still this is as much as I can take.

We got the new quick release handle onto my flexshaft, but I haven't been out there to take advantage yet. 

What's on my bench: 

no idea when I'll get this all finished.....

Above is a bracelet I made, instead of a necklace. It's nowhere near the completed stage, lots of filing and cleaning to do yet .... maybe next year LOL.

I'm getting to the point where I think of bringing my metal out to the kitchen to work on. It's air conditioned in the house (watch out electric bill - Yikes!!). I could solder in the hot plate area, as it has the vent above and possibly I could file and sand over the sink. Desperate? Yes. If it's like this for the next 2 months then I am going to have to seriously consider this. I am falling waaaay behind. I haven't had a sale in a while - but again, I'm still not promoting myself and I don't renew much and I certainly am not making enough new work to attract new customers. Basically I'm getting out what I'm putting in ....... which is nothing much really :(

Went outside just now to see to the pets and this little guy was in my dogs water bowl having a soak:

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Don't often see them in the daytime - they're more nighttime lurkers round our parts - but it's been so hot. I don't like toads. At. All. Love frogs. But you never see them ... only hear them.

I really really really really hope it rains. This weather freaks me out, as we live across from the bush and it's weather like this that brings massive bushfires - super humidity, dry and windy. Not a good mix.

Well that's all for now folks.

Oh I decided on a new logo - thanks to the help of all my friends and family and helpful fans on my facebook page. I am pondering a new backdrop in the new year and I want to incorporate my logo too.

Take care :) And have an awesome holiday season!

Em ♥

Fuzzy Hair & Rainy Days

Yes...that's my hair. Fuzzy. And it has been raining on and off for a few days now. 

Here is a picture of what it looks like outside my front door today

We have several of these pink plants out the front of my studio and the front of the lounge. They look awesome on a day like this with their bright leaves and raindrops decorating them.

 

Summer and I took the 4 hour round trip to visit my Mum yesterday and the weather was just as soggy. The drive there wasn't so bad...but the drive back home was terrible.

We enjoyed lunch at a local venue and it was very yummy. Then we trekked over to my favourite store 'Giddy & Grace'. I almost always come away with less money in my bank than when I arrive. And this time was no different. I bought myself some gorgeous Owl wrapping paper and this:

It's really heavy - it's made from stone. But I love Owls and knew it was coming home with me the moment I touched it. I also purchased a lovely white ceramic one from a fellow Etsian in Melbourne. I have used it as a prop for my Etsy shop too... Iove it. It's so cute and detailed.

My mother bought me these little bird eggs as a gift ♥

Now I just need to find something to display them in :)

I finally got my new dining chairs. Hubby was so helpful in taking the nearly 5 hour round trip picking them up in his new truck. Now we are back to needing a new dining table as the chairs really don't work with it :(

Below is what I am working on:

I have just oxidized those 2 pieces and hopefully will finish them off this afternoon. The metal clay pieces will have to wait another day or so to be fired as it's so damp I have to ensure they're properly dried out. 

This past week(ish) I've been on a roll with my muse. It has been a while since I've had this amount of pieces on the go - just finished these 2 below on Monday as well

Both are Ocean Jasper and I love these stones ♥ You can see the White Owl I bought too ♥

Summer is on 2 weeks school holidays now. It's going to be boring for her at times, but it can't be helped. When it's raining, indoor activities are it. I might be able to take the trip up to my Mum's again next week. It's such a hike, but it gives us something to do and gets Summer out of the house to visit her grandies :)

Okay I've rambled on long enough now. Might make myself a nice hot cup'a'soup!

Em ♥

Cloudy with a chance of Cabochons.

Now wouldn't that be awesome!!

LOL

Well it is cloudy today and it smells like rain. The weather has been a bit like that for the past few days. I love it. But it's frustrating for the hubby who has to try and work in it. I haven't been getting to the bench as much as I'd like this week. 

The flu dropped by (to visit me only) and has almost left :)

I got a couple of parcels of cabochons this morning:

And I have about the same amount coming soon :) 

I'll probably buy more again this week. Going through the cabochon buy up phase...you know what it's like!

I went to the Gem show on Saturday and dragged hubby along. It was pretty much pathetic. Thank goodness we didn't have to pay to get in, would have asked for our money back - it was that bad.

But on the flip side, I had met someone who is going to fix some labradorite cabochons for me. Though I haven't heard from him yet, so I'm getting a bit antsy about it. I left him with 3 gorgeous ones that cost me over $100, so you can see why I'm a bit antsy. Anyway when I got them, they weren't completely flat on the bottoms and I didn't want to try and set them like that, so I needed them ground down a bit. Here's hoping I don't have to ring him........

Below is a picture Summer drew of me :) - I've never seen her draw anything before - though I've tried a million times to encourage her to draw.

and here is another smiley face she did this morning. I'm so proud! lol as I type this she is reading it out aloud.

I'm working on a custom order and a present for a friend who has just had her baby girl. I had no idea what kind of gift to give her, then I figured I would make her some thing, I prefer to hand make things as gifts whenever I can. But I didn't fancy sewing this time, so metal was the next best thing!

And I have made a little fern pendant to put in the shop, it's in the tumbler now :)

The wind has died down and the sun has come out. Wish the weather would make up it's mind! :)

Em ♥

Almost Friday...

and I still have lots to do for next week.

Everything will change for both Summer and I next Wednesday when she starts at Kindy. I'm still anxious about it. But we both really need this. 

It's finally not very hot!! YIPPEE!!

It's so lovely to be able to go and work at my bench and not have to have a fan on, so I can work in comfort. I have finally gotten to work at my new bench this week. It did look lovely and clean .... then this:

But then I cleaned it up again lol.

I finally got around to making my MIL's ruby ring:

It's a gift for her. Hope she likes it.

I made a new pair of earrings:

And I've finished a couple of small PMC3 charms to go into my shop tomorrow. I got a fresh batch of PMC to make owls etc. And I've started working on a piece with one of those boulder opals I blogged about a while back. 

I took Summer and a friend and her boy to the Australia Zoo last week. It kinda ended in disaster. I won't write about it........ personally I'd rather forget all about it. I did get some good photo's of Summer enjoying her time there, which was pretty much the point of the trip there.

I've got sheets to sew for Summers kindy bed. This is the fabric I chose:

And last but least, we have the owners coming for an inspection on the 24th, even though we just had a routine inspection like 2 weeks ago. I'm pretty frustrated about it as I have enough on my plate right now. But there isn't much I can do about it. I am going to ask if we can do a few things here and if they will fork out for a screen door on the garage where I work....you get tired of flies/wasps/mosquitoes etc in your house and flying at you whilst you work. I hope they agree to it. It will make such a difference.

Spaghetti sauce is simmering away on the stove, it's almost 6pm and my hubby isn't home yet. That's about all the news I have for now. I love this weather!

Em ♥

On my Bench

This is my bench right now:

It's a mess. It's small and it's not comfy to sit at. (But it has been a good bench to me)

But that's no longer a problem as I'm getting this made:

Hip Hip Hooray!!

I've been talking about getting a new bench for ages now and it's finally a reality. 

I should be able to have it to use by Friday night. There will be at least double the space now! I will post a picture when it's all done and set up and tidy :)

I am in the middle of purchasing some silver. I probably should send in my scrap and get some cash back for that.....

Nothing much has been happening around these parts. The weather is rubbish. Raining lots. And still as muggy as the middle of Summer. 

We have an inspection tomorrow afternoon :(

I spent 4 hours on Monday doing a mega bleach out on my tiles again.

My little yellow budgie passed away last week.... she was so sweet. I will miss her.

Summer is on a waiting list for a pre prep program...hopefully will get in soon..... she really needs it.

And I think that's about all that's new. 

Here are a few pictures of my latest pieces:

Well I guess I had better get on with the tidying for the inspection tomorrow (not that the house is a mess). I just like things to be rather perfect lol

Hope you are all well x 

Em ♥

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

For nearly 2 days now, it has been raining heavily. 

This time last year, there were awful flash floods over Brisbane (Queensland) and sadly there have been some yesterday. Not to the extent of the 2011 floods, but it's still disconcerting.

We have a lot of creeks around where I live, especially on the way into Town. About 20 meters away we have a creek that runs under our road out of our estate. It flooded our road yesterday....fortunately we have a small SUV and we were able to get through about 3 flooded roads yesterday on our way to Town. 

Right now, the rain isn't as it was yesterday. I just stepped outside to see how our creeks looking....it's okay. Checked out the local rainfall radar to see whats coming and it's only light rain. The heavy stuff is headed out to sea and some down south.

I used to absolutely adore rainy days like today. But since those floods last year, it tends to leave me feeling a little freaked out, when it rains like it has been.

Enough of the depressing stuff for now.....

Here is my little delivery of stones I received  Friday:

Some plume/riviara/moss agates and chrysoprase.

I want to get my hands on some Dendritic Opals and some Priday plume as well as a million others lol...but that will have to wait. The silversmithing funds are kinda dry right now :(

Oh and if I haven't mentioned this already...I am a very indecisive person and I change my mind a lot. 

I know I just changed all of my backdrops for my Etsy store jewellery, but I've gone and done it again haha.

I LOVED the turquoise box. LOVED it. 

But, if I am completely honest, it took focus away from the jewellery. Some of the pieces didn't stand out as well as they do on their own as the colour of the stones were so similar.

So I changed a heap of my pictures again.

Here is a before and after shot of one item...

As boring as the new background is.....the jewellery takes the spotlight perfectly. In the old picture, it still looks good....but it sort of melts into the box a little. If you have time, please take a quick peek at my shop and tell me if you like the new background??

Em ♥

Lunch time :)

and I am making myself a lovely Triple smoked ham toasted sandwich with cheese and onion, with a nice iced bottle of water on the side. Yum ♥

Well I haven't made anything since my last post. 

I did however buy up some gorgeous stones, this time though they weren't all colourful, they're more on the natural side. I bought some nice Moss Agate and some Plume Agate. I can't wait to get them...they looked pretty damned nice.

I had started to make a few little loveheart charms for Valentines, but haven't had the energy to go and finish them up. The weather has been so all over the place, I don't know if I'm coming or going!

My head is full of other nonsense at the moment..but I am hoping that when my new stones arrive, I will be inspired to make some new pieces. I want to get my hands on a couple of new tools, but stupid me went and bought some shoes in the sales and now those tools will have to wait.....why did those nice shiny new shoes have to look so good??!!!

We have been hiring a couple of cars out lately to test drive them for a day to see how they go on petrol and comfort etc....who knew choosing a new car would be so difficult. We both thought we had chosen what we were going to save for.....but for some reason we are back at square one. Sigh. 

 

lol well this was a boring post...nothing really interesting to write about.

hope you are all having a wonderful week thus far 

Em ♥

A Good Start.

It's Friday morning and I've just finished all of my housework. 

Typically I went and put on Summers washing and it started to rain. 

It's been terribly hot here the last 3 days and just yesterday the heat started to dissipate and we got a bit of relief and today it's not too bad again. So I haven't really gotten to the bench - except to finish things off and photograph them ready to list in my shop:

I think I'm getting a bit sick of seeing the blue box in my background lol.....

It's lovely, but I think it's a bit overpowering to have in every single picture....I may have to start putting pictures like the 2 above in as the first picture of my listing, just to keep it looking different?? I dunno haha.

I've only sold 1 thing in the last month and it's getting hard for me to be upbeat about making things. I really really want to keep making things, but I don't know if I am prepared to have sales anymore to get sales. It's hard. I keep getting faves for my shop and items and I get added to circles and sometimes I am in treasuries. If I'm honest, I don't really promote my work. I guess that's something I will have to work on this year. And I really should be spreading the love on Etsy with others more, by making my own treasuries and promoting others work - but it's just so time consuming. I hope things pick up soon :(

Well the hubby has just arrived home, so I will leave it here.

I hope you've all had a great month so far!

Em ♥

A little rain & some Beads

It's raining! 

I absolutely love cold rainy days. And today is lovely. The last few days in fact have been on the cooler side, considering it's been really hot lately, it's a welcome change for me.

So this morning I need to finish up a custom ring. Since working on custom orders, I haven't really made anything new for my shop. I should be at the bench right now really...since the weather is perfect for it....but instead I am here at the computer blogging and pinning.

Oh last night I did make this:

Above are the beads and leather I have been collecting the last couple of weeks. I want to make a nice loooong wrap bracelet with the white leather and chalk turquoise beads for myself :) The hard part is trying to find decent beading thread. Everywhere I go either has the right colour, but not thickness, or the right thickness and not colour.....or practically nothing at all hahaha.

I still love beads. After all these years. 

I'm having a 20% off sale in my shop :)

Well I had a terrible nights sleep, think I have hayfever...or a cold...either way I feel pretty rubbish this morning. It's only 8:30am. Best go and put out the birdies and feed the animals and then get about my 'stuff'.

Hope all is well with you dear readers

Em ♥

Procrastination

Yes. That title describes me down to a tea at this point in time. 

I have pieces I need to get finished. 

It's too hot.

I've some new materials I want to try and techniques.

It's too hot.

The days are going by too fast.

And it's too hot.

Did I mention it's hot??? lol

Yeah it's getting pretty gross out by my bench. Like I said in my last post, I really need that screen door. Last night hubby found a small toad hopping around in the lounge room....YUCK!!!!! And it probably came from the garage :( 

So now we need to be extra careful. I've no idea how it got in the lounge room unseen though.....

I woke up to a sale this morning :)

I am working on something beaded for myself....I haven't beaded in years. I'm not really enjoying it either haha. But I know it'll look nice when I'm done, I've been working on it in the evenings whilst watching the idiot box. It looks so simple, but it's been a bit of a pain in the bum to make - for me anyway.

The desire to buy new stones is scratching away in the back of my head. It's been a while since I really bought any - if you don't count my stash of little faceted stones...I have bought quite a lot of those. And I do have a lovely larger faceted stone on it's way to me.....actually it should have been here by now, so kinda getting worried about that. 

Anyways I haven't really purchased any cabochons in a while. I do not need them. Not at all. But I fancy looking at new stuff. As much as I love the bright coloured stuff, I fancy some more natural stones now. Though to be honest, right now is probably not the best time of year to be waiting on parcels from overseas as it tends to get slowish.

Well that's about it I guess. I'm so grateful for the airconditioning we have in this place and the great insulation and extra high ceilings!!

Have a wonderful day all 

Em ♥

Working Hard....

I am trying really hard to promote my Etsy store/work.

The last couple of months have been almost dead as far as sales go. Only just this past week I have sold a few things and it's certainly brightened me up!

I want to get my shop with at least 2 pages full by the time I have my Christmas sale, but it's hard to get going (nothing new there!). Just last week Summer had a super bad fever reaching temps that were going to make us head to hospital. Fortunately she got over it after a few days and then hasn't come down with anything since. So we're not really sure what was wrong.......

I am so glad for modern science and remedies.

Summer and I spent the day at my Mothers yesterday. It takes me about 2 hours to drive there and then 2 back.....so it's a big day out for us. But it gets us out and I get to spend some much needed time with my mum and Summer gets to play with the parrots and see her gram & pops. It's worth that long ride.

This is my latest piece:

I am still enjoying my new background and look of my shop.

Still wasting time on Pinterest lol....

It's been overcast here for days now....humid and no rain.....well there was a little rain the other evening, actually it looked like it would storm, but it didn't. It's great for my photography!!

Going through some stresses at the moment, but I have to remind myself that we are fed, clothed and have a roof over our heads and we have each other and that is a heck of a lot to be happy about! And I get to have a hobby like this. It's hard sometimes to not get caught up in a bubble of my own trouble. Thinking of Jo  right now .... hope you get better hun ♥

And I hope everyone else is well too!! Sending out much love to you all 

Em ♥

New Background & Jewellery

Thanks to those of you who gave me your opinion on my background choices...I finally redid all the photography for my shop and I love my new background. I didn't end up going with what I posted about, but it got me to the choice I eventually made. 

It's cohesive, fresh and bright and I love how my shop looks now :)

As much as I thought the grey was for me, I was tired of it. Yes it helped my silver work stand out, but it was kinda lacking that certain something...

I have been trying really hard not to let the lack of sales get me down and stop me from making new pieces. It's damn hard though. When I make a sale it kinda motivates me to make more jewellery......when those sales completely vanish into thin air....well my desire to create kinda goes with it - as I'm sure is the case for many creators out there.

Now I just figure that, I have the supplies there, so I may as well use them and enjoy myself!! And I am definitely working on stocking up to do my first market someday soonish. I think I have an idea how I want to make my set up and once I have that figured, I will be able to see how much stock I need.

Next is a picture of a ring I just finished up this morning:

Yes I have been incorporating my latest skill with my new work lol...so I guess there will be a heap of work with tube set gemstones. I'm also working on my plain bezel settings - I find them the hardest to make look nice as there really is no forgiveness in the edge, not like scalloped or sawtooth or like those fancy bezel wires...you can kinda get away with all sorts when you use those settings, but with plain bezel.....well you can't get away with much at all! The reason I want to do more with this bezel type is I think it gives a more finished look to my work, as much as I enjoy using the fancy bezels, I want the stones to stand out more and the embellishments I use around the stones. I'll still use the other wire...but I want to get this wire perfected!

Apparently it's going to start heating up here this week....not happy....not happy at all. I still hate the heat, as much as I did last time it was hot. I can forsee a huuuuuge power bill at the end of the year :(

Well that is it for now....I have a couple of pieces I need to finish up and photograph and list over the next few days. Oh and I did a treasury this morning...first I've done in aaages. It was fun though and I tried to stick to a colour theme (which I find hard).

Have a great day :)

Em ♥

Blah....

I have just spent the best part of an hour reading in the forums on Etsy about this whole Relevancy vs Renewing saga and how it's affecting high selling stores big time.

I am going to be honest and admit I'm confused with it all. I have made my titles and listings and tags all relevant with what I sell. I haven't really been the type to look at shop stats, in fact today was the first time I have bothered.

I feel for those shops who are being hurt by this change, spesh when I read that half of the things at the top of the list of searched items aren't even relevant to that particular search at all. I felt that the renewing/relisting thing was pretty good myself. Some on the forums have stated that it made it hard for those who don't relist/renew and so the change is a good thing. But I feel that generally spending money, makes money. So relisting & renewing seemed fair and good to me. After all we're all on Etsy to make money are we not?!

I want to get somewhere with this hobby....one day....I cannot commit the time that it would take though, at least not right now. Basically all my energy goes into being a mummy and I barely get a break from it, so I cannot commit my brain space fully to making something. I'm always interrupted and am always needed and I only have one child....lord knows how you other women folk do it when you have more than 1 child?!

I am so full of inspiration/ideas/dreams. One of those is to get my ass and my jewellery to a market! I know which one I want to go to (visited another creative market yesterday and it was pretty lame - though maybe my style of work would be welcomed there, as I've not seen any like mine at any markets anywhere in the greater area) and I know where I can get my set up from and how much stock I would need and blah blah. But I can't get to that damned bench and make anything new. I don't think I would be a success with only 22 items, do you? Nope.

So how are you going with the new Etsy search stuff??

I haven't been one to relist heavily...just a couple of things a couple of times a week. Since looking at my stats I have noticed a big spike in faves to both shop and items when I've listed a new item....I will have to just keep an eye on the stats to see how I go.

Any tips? Advice?

yawn....dead tired....and it's cold today? it's Spring?!

Em.

It has sprung!

Spring that is!!
Today is the first day of the new season.
I am going to miss good ole Winter :(

At least this year we have a lovely new airconditioner. Not that we can go crazy with it considering how much power has gone up! But at least it's there for the unbearable days we get in the Summer time.

Anywhoo...below is a picture of my latest tool! Yes A Rolling Mill. Finally!
I have been planning on getting one since I moved into this house over a year ago...but it never happened. Then when I had money, it always went to other tools/supplies etc. I have been watching this rolling mill for a long time and finally the price dropped to a price I couldn't ignore and I jumped in and bought it. I received it yesterday and it is now in my work area ready to go....I just have to chop up copper sheets to fit and play.



I have some other tools on their way to me for stamping. I hope to get those next week :) and then finally I need to get some crucibles and ingots so I can try and smelt my scrap silver and roll it myself....that part is going to be the hard part...but hopefully the best skill for me to learn, considering how unstable silver prices are. If I can smelt and roll my scrap silver out, it will keep me going in the 'can't buy silver sheet just now' times....kinda like now lol. Silver seems to be staying at the $40 mark right now and I am skeptical that it's going to drop under that any time soon. As soon as it does though, I am going to stock up big time!

Below is a ring I made for myself. I wear the same 2 rings all the time and have been eying this stone up for a while and decided to make it into a simple piece, as I feel the stone is gorgeous, it didn't need anything fancy doing to it. I still have some burnishing to do on it, as I am not well practiced at plain bezel wire...even after all this time. I don't tend to use it much. But I want to start using it more now. I like the clean line it gives and how it frames a stone well.

I have been playing a bit more with the metal clay (which I need lots of practice with still!) I have made a piece with it yesterday and have used a fern stem/leaf?? to imprint it with. I just need to smooth it out and sand it down and fire it etc, I have high hopes for how it turns out.....

Paypal.
When it was a new avenue for paying for things, I was excited. Now, the word fills me with frustration. They are putting up the fees on International transactions. For those of us on Etsy or Ebay or the like, this means loosing more money....or charging the customer more money. I don't know how I am going to go about paying the extra, which is 6% I think, but I am going to have to figure it out. With the price of silver up again and fees going up...I often wonder how long left I have on Etsy before I have to let it go. Oh and the exchange rate of Aus dollars to US dollars really digs the knife in too.

I feel as though I might just have to kick myself in the bum and get to the bench and work like an animal and get to those markets I've been dreaming of. At least there, there will only be 1 fee each time and no postage/packaging/conversion fees etc.

Guess I have to work it out and soon.

Oh I have made my first ever order with moocards.com
I had to place my order with the UK site, but they are already out and on their way to me and I can't wait to see how they turned out!! I designed them myself. I didn't use pictures of my jewellery though. I also made some matching round sticker/labels for my packaging. I hope to get them in the next couple of weeks.

Alrighty. That's all for this post.
Take care all :)
Em.

Silver Smells....

Well the price of it does at least! I don't regularly check the price of silver, but every now and again I do and I couldn't believe it was at $40 again last night. I don't want to get all flustered again and go and buy a whole heap, for the 'just in case it rises' situation, but I can feel the pressure mounting again...as I am sure every other person who works with this metal feels.

Enough of that depressing chatter ....

So I went with the hubby and child to the Markets I wrote about in my last post. And to be honest and to the point....they STANK. Really. Yes they were very large markets, but they were not what I am looking for. They were great if you like inexpensive jewellery or knick knacks, clothes and so on. But it wasn't a 'craft/handmade' type market. I had to go and see, as you never know and it gave us a reason to get out of the house and go somewhere new. I was terribly disappointed.

Anyway, it has helped me make up my mind what I want to do. There are some actual craft markets about 10 minutes from where I live. They are held on Sundays only and I think I am going to give them a shot. Right now I don't have anywhere near enough inventory, so I am going to have to work on that first and foremost. I contacted the market people last night and they said you basically have to supply everything yourself and you just pay for the space allocated, which was about $33...not too bad. This of course means now I have to buy a tent/marquee, table, display stuff, a sign, table cloth and you get the idea :) Gotta spend money to make it huh.

I can't, unfortunately, get away without a tent as the sun here can get too hot and I don't want my jewellery to get really hot and burn someone and I don't fancy sitting out in it either (even though it's Winter still). So I have a lot to sort out if I want to go to these markets. There are some other markets about 15 minutes away from here too...so they are always another option if this place doesn't work out :)

So I have lots to plan for.

My custom order was received this morning and the lady was very happy, which has made me happy in return. She now wants to commission me for 2 more pieces!! I've also finished a few new things for my shop, will have to wait for the sale to be over before I list them.

That's all folks....

Em

Woohoo! It's Friday :)

It's an absolutely gorgeous day again today. I adore Winter time for days like this. If it were to stay like this forever I would be so content.

But if you know me, then you already know this and know it well haha.

It's almost 11am and I've finished all my housework, I have washing in the machine and my daughter is making an awful racket out in the lounge room and it's driving me CRAZZZZY!!!!!!!!!

:s

Below is what's on my bench today:


The ring at the back is my first custom order, it's almost finished.

I finally got my parcel of Turquiose cabochons. I am never going to get things posted with USPS Priority again if I can help it. It took almost 2 weeks more to get it and the tracking they do is DREADful. So I am going to get things sent with Express like I was going to initially. It costs more, obviously, but it's peace of mind and reassuring. I love the stones :) I got some Kingman, #8, Crow Spring and Pilot Mt. And I think I am going to get some more lol. You all know the disease that seeps in when you buy stones hahaaha.

Below is a pair of mismatched earrings that my mother generously gave to me. They are natural Emerald and Rubies set in sterling from India. I have already popped them out of their settings and am realising I will probably need to teach myself a pronged setting for them. They're gorgeous :)


And below is a little glass/wooden case that I purchased at a furniture shop last weekend, whilst browsing for a bed for Summer.
It needs dusting out and I am thinking of putting in some felt on the bottoms of each square.....if I ever get round to it!


I ordered myself some new packs of PMC3 yesterday, which I probably wont' get until Monday now, but I am looking forward to making some new embellishments with it for my jewellery. Hubby told me to get some as he thinks it's a nice touch to make the little decorations by hand as well :)

On a completely random note, my birdie is having a yawning attack out in his aviary and it looks so funny (that's if birds yawn?) lol he's still going....
We bought him and his little girlfriend a new cage this week and we put it together last night. I was afraid he wouldn't take to his new surroundings considering he's had the other one for his whole life with us....like 10 years now. It's his bed cage. He comes in every single night and he sleeps in it till morning, when I put him back outside in his aviary...spoilt much? His girlfriend is a bright yellow budgie - he is an Indian Ringneck Lutino (bright yellow). Strange friendship I know, but it works so well. They're just like a little married couple :) Anyway, they were a bit bewildered in the new cage at first, but by the time morning came, they were loving it!

Okay, I think Summer and I are going to go and get some lunch as a treat and sit at our new fave spot at the duck pond to eat it as it's such a nice day in the Sun. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! :)

Em

Beautiful Day.

It's a beautiful day, shame the same can't be said about my mood.
Summer is driving me crazy today. I've got my first custom order for an older lady in Brisbane and I just can't see me getting a chance to get it started till Summer goes to bed....but by then I'll be too tired. Woe is me. lol.

My sale is going okay. I hardly get to the bench anymore now though so I barely am able to add any new work to my shop. Everytime I see someones blog post/fb post about how much jewellery they have in the works I get kinda envious. I would give anything to have a regular day once a week just to work selfishly at the bench without any issues/interruptions.

Below is our latest antique we are going to restore to put under our new mirror in the dining area. We are having troubles deciding the finish we want on it though, we both have different ideas.

I have a busy busy week ahead of me, but on Saturday I am hoping to go and visit some markets, as a potential place for me to have a stall there. They're the biggest markets around, having approx 25000 visitors per weekend (it's near a big tourist area/beach). They apparently supply you a table and tent and the prices are pretty reasonable considering. So hopefully the weather holds out and I can give it a look see. Hubs and I have an idea of how I can display my works without anyone being able to pocket anything, so if all goes well, that will be our next project.

I am going to attempt to make my first ever batch of Cheese & Onion Scones soon. A recipe that my mother used to use when I was a kiddo, from my grandmothers recipe book that must be over 50 years old.
And I am going to attempt my first ever meat pie on Friday...yep you heard right...I've never made a meat pie before lol.

Well I am going to prob do another post on Thursday as I have some nice bits n pieces to blog about. So take care all till then :)