Meltin Mudd Studio

Friday's Are Fabulous - Lots of Fun on Etsy!

2010-09-03T11:00:00.000-06:00

They say that boys have got to have their toys... come on girls, you know we do too!

Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Metal Wall Sculpture

$395.00 By FrivolousTendencies on Etsy

These gals are such a fun wall sculpture. All hand sculpted from recycled metal and hand painted with an outdoor acrylic metal paint. Their hair is cut, curled and styled using the same metal. We make them individually then solder them together for an outstanding large sculpture that will be a crowd pleaser on any wall. Notice copper jewelry accents. These gals really make us smile!! Measures 19 inches tall by 25 inches wide.

Bleeding Heart - Red Coral and Oxidized Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

$22.00 by echosofspring on Etsy

Whimsical and flirty hoops ....

'Bleeding Heart' earrings feature hand forged whimsical heart-shaped hoops that have been created out of sterling silver wire. I have oxidized the hoops to give it a rich dark patina that I have then polished to expose gold and violet hues in some places. Round red coral bead drops give a stark contrast to the dark patina of the hoops, that is sure to catch attention.
The ear wires are also hand crafted out of sterling silver that have been oxidized. The earrings are light on ears and measure 2 inches (5.08 cm) from top to bottom. The heart hoops measure about 1.3 inches (3.3 cm).

SALE. Bohemian Sunset. The ORIGINAL Waist Candy. FREE BELT

$25.00 by caughtredhanded on Etsy

The base of the buckle is a silver-tone metal and the design is protected with a high-gloss industrial strength waterproof sealant. The buckle itself is 2 1/4" in width and 3 1/4" in length. They will fit any belt that is 1 1/2" thick or smaller. And of course this would not be a product of CRH if it did not come in a stellar gift wrap!

Thurday's Too Cool Vintage Review

2010-09-02T11:00:00.000-06:00

Some days I think that I may have born in the wrong era... and then I think about wearing corsets and 6 layers of clothing in July! Maybe I'll just start "dressing" for dinner...

Vintage 1960s Saks Fifth Avenue Hostess Gown/Dress

$59.00 by KlassyKlassics on Etsy

Stunning dress in very good vintage condition. The only flaw is a yellow stain on the white trim on the ruffle. Convo for a close up. A good dry cleaner should be able to remove it. Other than that it looks good. Dress is sold as is.

Label: Saks Fifth Avenue. No sized. I'm guessing a 5/6.
Brown with white polkadots.
Bust: 30
Waist: 23
Shoulder to hem: 52
Shoulder to shoulder: 13
Back metal zip: 24

Vintage 60s - AUTUMN TEA PARTY Dress - M/L

$38.00 by HoneyPieVintage on Etsy

This dress is amazing in so many ways!

The top "jacket" is a soft and fuzzy rust brown, gently gathering at the empire waist.
The body of the dress has a sexy fitted shape ending in a pencil skirt and is adorned with a beautiful brocade-type pattern of dark sage and autumn orange.
Although this dress has a wonderful curve-hugging effect, it has some stretch and a small slit in the back of skirt making it super comfortable to wear!
The entire inside is lined with a soft polyester/acrylic fabric.
The back of the dress features a long zipper, closing with a tiny snap at the neck.
This is such a unique and beautiful piece for winter, fall or even those cool summer nights!
Measurements (taken flat): Waist to Hem - 24", Shoulder to Waist - 12", Inside Collar to Waist - 9 1/2"
Waist - 14", Hips - 16", Bust - 14", Sleeve - 16 1/2", Size: M/L
Label: Homeei
Made of: Polyester? Acrylic?
Made In: n/a
Condition: There is a tiny hole half way down the front of the skirt (as shown) and one of the two snaps at the neck is missing (this does not effect the fitting at all). Other than that, it's EXCELLENT!

Vintage 90s GRUNGE REVIVAL STEAMPUNK PIRATE PANIER JODPHUR VIVIENNE WESTWOOD style DRESS S M

$64.00 by DivaInWonderland on Etsy

Adorable little Plaid dress in the Steampunk style made popular by designer Vivienne Westwood.

Open Bodice dress with Collar which may be worn up or down (depending on how much skin you wish to show).
Avant Garde SKirt crosses over in front and has large Jodphur sides (with pockets in each side.
Dress closes in front at the bodice with Buttons.
Great with leggings and boots or bare legs and ankle boots.
Dress has Side Ties that Tie in the Back for an adjustable fit to the Waist. Short capped sleeves.
Colors: Teal, Forest Green, Brown, Beige, Black
Fabric: Cotton Flannel
Size: 36 (approximate small/medium) Condition: Great
Measurements: Shoulders 14", Sleeves 5", Bust 36", Waist 28" (can be tied smaller), Hips open, Length 34"

Eclectic style is an Etsy Hallmark! No matter what you may be looking for, chances are there's one in an Etsy shop! Fabulous service and personal attention... find your look today!

Love Those Hooters!

2010-08-31T11:00:00.000-06:00

Who knew Owls would make such a come back!

Owl

$45.00 by mashakeen on Etsy

12X12

Baby Owl is hiding a mouse!

BLOCK PRINT note card variety pack

$9.50 by carenloebelfried on Etsy

One Package of note cards containing 2 each of 4 different block print designs. The Owl, The Journey, Tree of Life, and Lauka`ie`ie

Custom Super Cute Appliqued Owl Dress 12m,18m,24m/2t,3t,4t,5t

$23.00 by SewPoshBaby on Etsy

What a cute little dress this turned out to be , created with Michael Miller ta dot apple green fabric and paired with hot pink the dress has a rounded neck line and closes at the shoulders with fabric covered buttons the dress features the cutest little appliqued owl.

Porcelain Owl Charm 2, two hole link

$4.25 by IndianCreekStudios on Etsy

This owl charm started as a sketch that eventually worked out in clay. After bisque firing it, I glazed it with my Prairie Autumn glaze and finally I glazed it in clear crackle glaze for an aged look. I normally work in stoneware, so this white porcelain is a divergence.

Barn owl - Original watercolour

$45.00 from wildsunart on Etsy

An original watercolour by Alisa Wortley

Unframed original watercolour painting (not a print), fully sealed on good quality heavy, hot-pressed (very smooth) 300gsm watercolour paper. Paper size: 130mm x 180mm (approx. 5.2 x 7.1 inches).

Steampunk Necklace - Vintage PINSTRIPE Pocket Watch Plate and THREE WISE OWLS Pendant Necklace

$115.00 from edmdesigns on Etsy

This is an amazing looking Steampunk pendant necklace created from an antique pocket watch part with wide pinstripes. The pinstripes catch the light making people notice this necklace from across the room. Mounted to this piece are three small but highly detailed owls perched on branches. There is one brass owl, one silver and one copper - and all jump out against the pinstripe silver pocket watch piece. The chain is a large oval link chain that echoes the circular shape of the watch piece. A beautiful design that is truly original and perfect for both men or women.

There are 891 pages of Owls to choose from Etsy, shop for yours today!

A Moment Outside of Etsy

2010-08-30T11:30:00.000-06:00

No matter how much you love what you do, too much of a good thing is still too much. So, every once in a while I have to take a step outside of my studio and spend some time doing other things. Sunday I chose to hang out with the family at National Forest park called Vedauwoo here in Wyoming .

The scenery was beautiful, the skies bright and blue. The kids had a blast climbing on the boulders and running through the pucker-brush!

All in all, it was a nice break and we even made some new friends with the help of some corn chips!

...And now I have to be a Photographer too?

2010-08-29T11:00:00.006-06:00

There's no doubt about it... when you're selling online, your pictures have to be great! Your customers can't touch your items, can't smell them, can't get a clear idea of their size or volume unless all of those things are clearly communicated to them and outstanding pictures do it all.

As artists, we all know that aesthetic is of the utmost importance for our work. People are drawn to pretty things, rustic things, whatever their preference. Our online photos bring that quality right into a shopper's home. It's our job to create a "feeling" through a photo... sounds tough and it is.

You can spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on equipment and props for taking photos however if you're not a professional photographer this route is likely out of the question and certainly NOT in the budget! There are some really cool tools out there though that can give those of us who may be feeling a bit challenged in this area a real edge and make us look a whole lot better than just our skill level alone.

Etsy has this really cool section for sellers called Featured Apps. It's down at the very bottom of the Your Etsy page. The applications change regularly but it was here that I found Picnik.Com, a free photo editing platform that you don't even have to download. Auto Fix, Crop, Rotate, Resize, these are just a few of the features available not to mention all of the cool creative tools you have access to! Picnik's basic service is free however for a nominal fee there is tons more to play with and unlimited history of your past edits! This is the tool I use because it's easy, user friendly and doesn't require a whole lot of photography knowledge to operate and create awesome pictures... which is good because I don't have that knowledge!

Picnik is my favorite but there are lots of tools out there to help with images; here are just a few of the most popular:

FotoFlexer, Photoscape, LunaPic, Pixlr, Phixr

If you have a favorite of your own you would like to share, please let us know by leaving a comment :)

I'm an Artist - Not an Accountant - Heck Maybe I Need A Mathematician!

2010-08-28T11:00:00.001-06:00

I don't know about anyone else but for me the hardest part of running a shop on Etsy is pricing the things I make.

I made decisions about pricing in the Studio shop before I started looking around at other shops that were selling items comparable to mine. That was likely a mistake but even when I did look at others, I had already done such a great job of justifying the whole thing to myself, I wasn't really up for changing them.

My thought process was centered around the cost of my raw materials as well as what my customers would be willing to pay for what are essentially supplies that they would use to finish their own creations. Honestly, I was thinking that my buttons were pretty expensive when I compared them to buying commercially made buttons at WalMart... that was also a mistake.

What I have come to learn over the last year or so that I have been on Etsy is that what I do is NOT like the buttons at WalMart! They are worlds apart and deserve a bit more recognition than plastic with holes in it manufactured for pennies. I am now consoled that my buttons are more expensive than theirs are.

So, how does one figure out what to charge for their hard work without resorting to a Magic 8-ball and loosing sleep?

Most of my research for this post has led to me one conclusion... It Depends.

There are myriad things to consider when pricing your work; the cost of supplies (all the supplies), what is your time worth, how will you package your item, who is your target market and how much money do they have?

Makes your head hurt doesn't it? Unfortunately I can no more provide these answers for you than you can for me. We're all different, our sales methods are different, our products are different, so we all have to think about these things and decide what the right answers are for us.

Not real satisfying is it? Did you come here looking for a magic formula?

Well, I wanted one too so I kept looking until I found one! Well, I found more than a dozen of them but this one made the most sense to me.

Keep in mind that no single formula will work for every kind of business out there nor is there just one that can ensure maximum profits.

Formula A

Materials + labor (production time x hourly wage) divided by number of units = selling price per unit.

Example: $4.00 + $2.00 + $5.00 divided by 1 item = $9.00 selling price

This approach is often used by beginners because it provides a reasonable wage. You must determine material cost and give yourself a labor rate. There should be a value placed on your time. There is no allowance for overhead costs, inflation or profit.

Formula B

Materials + overhead + labor (production time x hourly wage) divided by number of units = selling price per unit.

Example: $4.00 + $2.00 + $5.00 + $2.50 divided by 1 item = $11.00 per item

Overhead costs have been added in this formula.

Formula C

Materials + overhead + labor + profit divided by 1 item = selling price per unit

Example: $4.00 + $2.00 + $5.00 + $2.50 divided by 1 item = $13.50

This is the most individualized approach because a conscious decision is made about the profit you want from your business. You decide on a satisfactory wage and the amount of time you spend earning it. Profit and your labor rate are not the same.
***Information from ohioonline.osu.edu, Small Business Series, by Gregory R. Passewitz

There you have it! Give it a try and see if it makes sense to you... and if you're so inclined, let the rest of us know if it works!

Question Mark pillow by raindrops23 on Etsy
Magic 8-ball Wine Stopper by coolstoppers on Etsy

Meltin' Mudd Studio's First Giveaway

2010-08-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

I think the first rule to becoming a successful artist is to love what you do. I'm lucky enough to claim that distinction myself. I love all of the buttons, charms and little pieces I create every day. I love them so much I'm going to start giving some of them away right here in an effort to spread the love and yes, my shop address :)

For my first giveaway I have a lovely set of buttons made of earthenware clay, glazed in vibrant Miami Pink and graced with lovely little dragonfly decals that have been fused into the glaze!

All you have to do to become eligible for my giveaway is become a follower of my blog! All of my followers will be entered into this contest as well as all future drawings ... new and old friends alike!

The drawing for the winner will be held on Friday, September 3, 2010 and announced here on the blog!

Good luck to one and all and oh yeah ... visit the shop- Meltin' Mudd Studio on Etsy!

One of a Kind - Like You!

2010-08-26T09:30:00.004-06:00

It never fails - Someone comes to work wearing something spectacular and the next day everyone else has 2 of them. I personally cannot stand it! Who wants to look just like everyone else?

Recently I purchased a One-of-a-Kind reconstructed garment by Broken Ghost Couture. Unfortunately it's not one I can wear to work but I have to tell you, the first time I wore it strangers were accosting me in the grocery wanting to know where it had come from. Lucky me, I have the one and only! I do of course point every person I know to Etsy :)

Broken Ghost Couture on Etsy

Reconstructed pieces are becoming more and more popular on venues like Etsy. I'd love to see more artists producing this type of work and more people buying it.

Painted Oyster on Etsy

A great way to recycle and update styles of clothing that would otherwise go to waste and wearable works of art that appeal to buyers on a variety of levels.

Recycled Accessories on Etsy

Most of us likely cannot afford several thousand dollars for a runway original but we can still look like the Rock Stars we are thanks to the creativity and talent of these and more very special people working to ensure we all have the opportunity to be a stand out wherever we may be!

Ravishing In Red - My Favorites All A Fire!

2010-08-25T09:30:00.007-06:00

The heat, the flash, there is no other color quite so awesome as red!

Etsy
MeltinMuddStudio

Decal Buttons - I Think I've Got It Figured Out

2010-08-24T09:30:00.015-06:00

While I do consider myself an artist, I am a ceramic artist, not a painter. So when I wanted to add very detailed and vibrant artwork to my buttons I turned to decals.

It may surprise you to learn that there's not a whole lot of information out there on applying decals to ceramic buttons... plates and pitchers, even pre-fab glassware but not so much for buttons. That being the case it was up to me to figure it out.

First and foremost... when they say to let the decals dry for no less than 24 hours, they mean it. If the decals are not 100% dry and well adhered to the ceramic they will burn off in the kiln and you have just spent a day a half for the plain buttons you pulled out of the kiln after your glaze run!

Second, leave your kiln door vented for the whole cycle. I know all the other directions tell you not to and it does require supervision of course but leaving the door open lets all of the binder fumes out. The decals end up being very crisp and the colors much richer. I fire in a Paragon Firefly Kiln with a digital controller and use the pre-programmed Cone schedule for Cone 019 or 1319 degrees.

Lastly, I used to mess around punching holes in the decals trying to get them to match up with the button holes... sometimes they did and sometimes they didn't. It took a long time though and I got really frustrated. In the last load I did I got lazy but it turned out to be a really cool discovery! I didn't punch holes, I just put the decal on the top of my glazed buttons and fired as is... when I opened the kiln, the portion of the decals over the holes had just burned away leaving nice clean holes without all the trouble!

Packaging is Important

2010-08-23T09:30:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite things about shopping handmade markets like Etsy, Art Fire and Shop Handmade is seeing how my purchases arrive. Many artists selling in these venues take extra special care when wrapping things up to ensure that your first impression upon opening the box is a good one. I am no exception... I want to make sure that opening a package from Meltin' Mudd Studio is just as fun as what's inside of it.

I spent quite a it of time looking into all sorts of ways to do this. It was really random about a year ago and I wasn't really paying attention to how much anything cost... that was a pretty big mistake. It's only been this past Summer that I've really nailed down a "brand" for the Studio and I've done a lot of work to carry that look and feel across everything from my shops to this blog and photos streams on Flickr right down to the final choices in packaging.

How do I present my wares the way I want to and not break my bank or my customer's with the cost? That took research and careful shopping but I got it!

Instead of carding the buttons sets which was hugely hands on and very time consuming, I went with self sealing cello bags. They're see-through and present nicely. Custom return address labels finish off the product package with my Shop name, web address and of a course a Thank You for shopping handmade :)

This type of packaging literally costs about 4 cents per item.

To put all of the individual products together into one nice bundle I found inexpensive tissue paper in a color that again matched my "brand" along with some jute twine that I bought in bulk for bigger savings. To this I add one of my "branded" business cards as a tag with a little note to say Thank You on the back side... and just a little hint... there's always a neat little something extra on the back of the card!

I'm really please with the way my finished product comes out and according to my recent feedback on Etsy, my buyers seem to be as well. It's exciting to receive a gift... even if you know most of what's inside!

Warm Fuzzies from Lejonklou!

2010-08-22T11:00:00.000-06:00

It's a fact that Meltin' Mudd is primarily a Supply shop. Buttons, charms and tags are purchased to be used in and on the creations of others.

As the maker of these supplies it's always really cool when super talented artists share their work with me as Lejonklou did today!

It's a stunning piece and her Etsy shop is filled with amazing designs... some earthy and organic, others sassy and whimsical. My recommendation is to visit today, there's a sale going on!

Works of Wonder by Lejonklou!

Good Intentions

2010-08-22T08:08:00.000-06:00

I had such good intentions...

I woke up yesterday and got started right away and then I sat down for just a minute and went right back to sleep... for most of the day!

Okay, so we start again today. There are buttons to make, molds to fill and I've finally received all the parts for my new packaging idea so there are a ton of things that need to be wrapped up.

I've added links to some fun craft blogs around the web so scroll down and see if you've been missing anything...

I'll have to let you know how it all turns out...

Will You Just Look At What I Found Today!

2010-05-11T20:11:00.000-06:00

One of my fellow Etsian's placed an order in my shop today and seeing that she had a shop as well, I decided to click in and see what I could see... and this is what I found!

<-----That button, right there.... I made that!
And look at what those fine folks at FerryTales have done with it! Does it get any more fabulous than this?!!!

Well, needless to say, my day is made, I'm a happy camper and I'm going to bed!

What The Heck IS Steampunk Anyway - Revolt70 on Etsy

2010-05-09T11:23:00.002-06:00

Steampunk... it sounds kind of mysterious doesn't it? The words evoke images of old ships and grand Victorian ladies in my mind and I'm not sure why. "Punk" didn't really apply to them at all...

Wikipedia defines Steam Punk as a sub-genre of science fiction and speculative fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy, that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England — but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of Steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or digital mechanical computers (such as Charles Babbage's Analytical engine); these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or with a presumption of functionality.

Wow! This is not a simple concept!

Wanting to know more, I go where I always go... to Etsy of course! Looking for some Steam Punk that appealed to me. I found Revolt70 out of South Korea and while this style is not one I seek out on a regular basis, it is very cool and Revolt70 has created some time pieces that have definitely caught my eye!

Fabulous, Stylish, Elegant in their simplicity and Fascinating in their complexity! Again, not simple concepts but awesome to behold!

Steam Punk appears to me to encompass a plethora of designs that would appeal to most anyone across all generations. The burnished metals, the found pieces and parts, the handiwork that goes into each piece is indicative of how many of us wish to live these days... reduce, reuse and recycle all come into play in this most handsome of design styles.

Unfortunately Revolt70's profile is pretty bare... I would love to know more about him and how he comes up with these fabulous pieces! Still, I would recommend a visit to his shop as there are more than 100 pieces to choose from!

I found a great blog here on Blogger as well for those that would like more information on the Steampunk phenomena and all the latest happenings: visit http://www.steampunktribune.com/2009/03/steampunk-websites-to-start-week.html

Want to give it a go on your own? Check out the You Tube video below!

Beads, Baubles, and Jewels Series 1100, episode 1101

2010-05-09T11:21:00.000-06:00

Wow! It's Been A While!

2010-05-08T20:54:00.001-06:00

It always amazes me how fast time goes by... seems like just yesterday I was here last and it's been weeks!

I guess I've been pretty busy....

Not too long ago my son came to me and asked if he could melt some of his legos in my kiln. I laughed and said no way but it did get me to thinking... What else can I melt in that thing?

GLASS! I can melt glass and I've been doing just that since it hit me!

The photo is of some of my experiments. I probably should've bought a book or something but I'm really more of hands on person. So I just started melting any glass I found.

Now I've done some research and learned about coeficients of expansion and annealing and the right temperatures for full fuse, tack fuse and so on. I've made some pieces that I'm really proud of and offer in my Etsy shop.

I just emptied the kiln not too long ago as a matter of fact. The finished pieces will become pendants and rings but they need their decals and another run in the kiln before that happens.

I've really gotten into the fusable decals, even in my ceramics. Check out my newest magnet, Wolves in the Woods. I just bought a ton more of all kinds on eBay this week and I've poured lots of pendants for them so keep watch here and at the shop for the new pieces coming out!

I'm also going to re-start my weekly features... Etsy artists that I have made purchases from or just LOVE their work. It's always fun to see all the new things!

Think I'll Try Somethin' New

2010-02-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am a total pack rat! I am an auction addict, a flea market freak, a thrift store junkie and a garage sale devotee… I have A LOT of stuff!

It’s all very cool stuff of course, it’s just that it’s sort of taken over and my husband has threatened to lock me up (he’s a Deputy) to keep me from collecting more.

This makes me sad. On the one hand, I do love my husband and try my hardest to keep our home a happy fortress of serenity with children, dogs, childrens’ friends, grandchild and whoever else decides to drop in…

On the other hand, there’s NO WAY I’m going to stop my weekly forays to my favorite haunts, the local auction houses and heck, Spring is just around the corner…garage sales and estate auctions are going to start again soon!

So what’s a girl to do? I thought about it and thought about it some more and then I went shopping on Etsy and it hit me! A Vintage shop in the most wonderful place the web has to offer!

A while ago I opened a little shop called Everyday Gems and I had fun with it until I bought a ceramics kiln and let my clay obsession blot out all the rest of my crafting ventures. So now I have this shop that has been on vacation for like a year, just waiting to be turned into some fabulous again!

Thus, very soon, Everyday Gems will once again throw open its doors and welcome friends from far and near! Some of my neatest “stuff” is slated to be first in the listings and there’s plenty of it ladies and gents!

Old photos, letters, stamps from around the world. Vintage keys, buttons and do-dads of all kinds. Pottery and Occupied Japan figurines, calling cards even flatware with neat handles! Trust me, if it was unique enough to catch my eye, I brought it home so there is a plethora to choose from!

And so now that I have made a commitment to disperse some of my multitudinous treasures, I get to remain a free woman, I get to keep hunting, haunting and shopping so you can bet there will always be more!

A Celebration of Handmade Earrings on Etsy

2010-02-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Earrings are the world’s one perfect accessory… at least that’s my opinion. No matter what you’re wearing, earrings work. Up-do, down-do or somewhere in the middle, earrings work.

There is no limit to the variety of styles, colors, materials and imagination that go into these wonderful little gems. They come at all price points and everyone wears them. Most usually everyone, men and women included, own more than one pair. Some are like me and have more than they can wear in a year!

At the very minute I write this post, there are more then 20,000 pair of earrings listed on Etsy and that’s only in the jewelry section! A treasure hunt that will take days to complete!

A veritable rainbow of beauty… I’m game if you are!

Freebies or No?

2010-02-20T08:04:00.001-07:00

I’ve purchased quite a bit on both Etsy and eBay and one of the things I have noticed and begun practicing myself as an Etsy shop owner is that Etsy purchases come with freebies or, more appropriately, a gift with purchase.

My personal opinion and why I started doing it myself is that sending along a little something extra is a nice way to say thank you to someone who has recognized your talent and chosen to be a patron of your art. It really doesn’t matter what kind of art we’re talking about…

Do you make bath and body products? Send along a sliver of one of your handcrafted soaps. Are you an artist? Why not enclose an ATC of another of your pieces or a nice, little note card?

Everyone knows I make buttons… I LOVE buttons! So with each and every order I send out, I enclose a thank you note with an extra button. I have a whole shelf of buttons for just this purpose. For whatever reason they have become orphaned and are just perfect to add that extra something so when shoppers open their packages they know that I have thought about them as individuals and not as an invoice number.

So simple, doesn’t have to be expensive, another opportunity to be creative and really let your patrons know you appreciate them and their interest in your work!

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this issue :)

Gare - Very Cool Glazes!

2010-02-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

So, it’s the middle of February in Wyoming and COLD!

I live in Cheyenne and while this city is growing and becoming more diverse by the day, there really isn’t a whole lot for the ceramic and pottery artist locally. I usually order my supplies from Nevada or make a run down to Mile Hi Ceramics in Denver as glazes and clay are likely to freeze solid before they get to me and that’s a big loss all the way around.

I took this week off from work, needed some sanity time you know, and in my travels I was reminded that there is a ceramic supply store here in town so I stopped in to see what I could see.

Creations Unlimited is a wholesale bisque supply business that operates primarily on the internet and while I can’t get clay there, they do sell all sorts of great glazes by Gare. I had never used Gare products before so I picked up a few and I have to say that I am really impressed! Especially by the crystal glazes and I’m going to have to go back and get the rest of them!

With some of the crystal glazes I have used, it seems like they were created for much larger pieces as the crystals seem to be few and far between and hard to get all the color effects on small pieces. The Gare glazes on the other hand, are just FULL of crystals and the display of color was brilliant even on my tiny, little buttons! Have a look…

If you’ve never tried them, you really should take a look at Gare. I’m more than pleased with their performance!

Black & White And Hanging All Over

2010-02-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

Life is rarely black and white and never has that been more true than in recent times. It seems my days are an endless cycle of “case by case”. Stands to reason that in my home, I would be compelled to surround myself with simple clean lines and the striking contrast that is black and white photography and artwork.

I’ve purchase a couple of pieces recently. As I mentioned earlier this week, I am determined to fill my walls and as they are a deep goldenrod yellow, black and white is even more of a contrast.

My first purchase was a charcoal sketch by an artist right here in Cheyenne. Mollybx opened shop on Etsy last August and has been busily filling it with some fabulous sketches as well colorful paintings and greeting cards. I fell in love with her original sketch entitled Proud and am now contemplating my next purchase. My favorite is Resting, an awesome monochromatic drawing of a Buffalo… quite a dominate image in this area of the country.

Another fabulous shop found in my travels is Pammdabear. Brand new this year, I have the proud distinction of having been her first customer on Etsy and I was very pleased with my purchase! Doodles just fascinate me… what are people thinking about when they just let their body take over and send their minds away?

How do these fabulous images just take shape without conscious thought? I really have no idea, am not capable of it myself and treasure the amazing image that now hangs in my home!

Two very talented artist with really great shops to visit!

Decking Walls and Giving Out Names!

2010-02-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not be aware, I kind of have this thing for trees. I think I must have been a Druid in a past life or at least have one or two ancestors that were…

Anyway, I’ve been sort of absorbed by my blank walls lately. I’m determined to fill them up and as a result, I’ve been shopping quite a bit for artwork and really, is there a better place to find art than Etsy? Yes well, as I said before, I tend to like trees and I found an artist that may like trees as much as I do!

Helen of hjmart on Etsy is an amazingly talented artist and her favorite subject just happens to be of the arboreal variety so of course I had to have one of her pieces! I purchased a Giclee Print of her original painting entitled Tranquility and it is just awesome! Pictures of pictures rarely do them justice and this one is no exception!

And there’s much, much more! Now the originals are a bit spendy but they’re originals! Thank goodness Helen has had them printed in all sorts of neat ways to make them affordable for the rest of us but really…compared to some of the other pieces I’ve seen on the web, even the originals are reasonable.

Are trees your cup o’ tea? You should visit anyway :)

Back to my black and white favs tomorrow…

I'm Meltin' Mudd Again!

2010-02-15T22:59:00.001-07:00

It’s official! The shop on Etsy has re-opened, the kiln has run nearly round the clock for the last full week, there are buttons drying EVERYWHERE…I’m back!

Not only have I been listing like a maniac, I’ve been shopping too…we’ll get to that here in a minute though.

First, there’ve been lots of changes at The Studio. My buttons come in larger sets now and all are carded for safer handling and easier storage.

I thought for a long time about figural buttons and just never had done it until now. Look for tons of new designs coming in the very near future!

I’m also working on Studio Buddies. Here’s my buddy, he hangs with me all evening, no matter how hot it gets!

More to come on those little beauties!

Okay, now for my most recent purchase… I’m pretty young, well fairly young…okay, I’m pushing 40 HARD! But, my husband is older! And he has adult children from a previous marriage so I became a Grandma when his oldest daughter had the cutest baby boy you have ever seen last July! Tell me he’s not a shoe in for Gerber!

Anyway, I was visiting the Etsy forums earlier today and came across the shop LinenKids. They make the coolest wooden toys and when I saw this little piggy rattle, well our precious munchkin will be playing with it soon! You should definitely check it out!

I’ve picked up more really awesome pieces just this past weekend so stay tuned for more!

Ah, it feels so good to be back!

4youreyesonly - Fabulous Find on Etsy

2009-11-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

4youreyesonly

A great little Etsy shop with all the bits and pieces to make your designs shine!

I don't know about you but wire loops have never been my strong suite...wrapped loops are even harder! When I was stuggling, I decided to see if there was anyone on Etsy that could make my life just a bit easier and I found her!

These awesome little dangles make great earrings, chain necklaces and additions to assemblage pieces. I asked for a large group of all different dangles in all colors, shapes and sizes and my order was ready for purchase that same day! I think they were shipped that day too because I got them within 3 days!

I just had a thought for the holidays as well! Dangles would be awesome to add to handmade ornaments of any kind for just a touch of sparkle on the tree, in a wreath or on a candle ring! Oh...I'm going to have to try that!