Superior Agates Wire Wrapped Gemstone Jewelry

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2015-05-25T11:37:00.001-05:00

http://www.zazzle.com/wild_pink_throw_pillow-189111408048518934?

Wire Wrapping Grooved Stones

2014-12-09T04:07:00.000-06:00

One of the things I love the most about Wire Wrapping stones is how many variations there are. From the standard wire wrap, which is where I began, to free form wrapping, to the most complicated weaves, wire wrapping cabochons can be as simple or as hard as you make it.

For the last few years I have been wire wrapping my stones with the groove wrap. I personally love this style, as it gives me several options, but the biggest benefit in my opinion is the guarantee I can put on all my work. Not to mention that I have arthritis in my hands and it makes it much easier to hold on to the cabs while I work. Some might say that I am cheating, but, say what they will, I have done all the forms of wire wrapping and find this to be the best for me and what I do. And, our feedback has been wonderful.

We carry groove-able cabochons in our Etsy shop as well as the Tutorials needed to get you started. Come check them out!

Cabochons for Wire Wrapping

Birdseye Rhyolite

Ocean Jasper

Our Tutorials

Wire Wrapped Stone Pendants

2014-12-07T22:59:00.001-06:00

I think this has got to be one of the hardest things for me to remember to do.....blogging is not one of the easiest things for me...lol...I think about it a lot...just never know what to talk about.

So ...for this post I will introduce you to some of the newest items created and listed in my Etsy shop....

1st....my newest Unisex pendant....these pendants are great for anyone to wear.

Montana Agate

Lake Superior Agate

Genuine Natural Jade

Indonesian Coral

Australian Mookaite

Genuine Natural Jade

More new items coming soon!!

Selling Your Hand Made Items On Line

2013-07-09T10:09:00.003-05:00

     As a seller of hand made jewelry, it has been extremely hard for me to figure out just how to get my items seen online. There are literally millions of web sites, pages, and listings all over the net dedicated to selling hand made goods, a lot of which are jewelry. So how do we get our items in front of people? We read and read about our *target audience* ....but....who is that and how do we find them? Well...here are some tips that seem to have worked for me and these ideas just started coming to me last year, and so far....sales have been steadily increasing.

1. Numbers
2. Targeting

     Lets look at the *Numbers*.....last year my new husband started telling me things that he has read over the years. Things about the *numbers* ...the math that plays in to selling anything. It doesn't matter WHAT you are selling...it all boils down to the numbers. Big companies know this, and they use it to their advantage every single day. There are only so many personality types in the world....big companies know this as well, which is why the choose to *do the math*. The fact is the bigger number of people that see your items, the more you will sell. Every time you increase the number of people that see your creations, that is that many more sales you will make.
     A lot of you out there have thrown a party of whatever kind, and ....a lot of you have heard the old saying...of all the people you invite, you should probably plan on about 1/3 showing up...right? Well...the same basic idea should be thought about when selling.....of all the people who see your items...you can count on the following to happen......of the number of people who see your items, *X* will take a closer look, of the number that took a closer look, *X* will actually go too your page for another look, of the number of people who went to your page, *X* will want it but cant afford it, or will make it them selves....and the break down goes even further, until you finally reach the 1 person who will hit the *check out* button, and buy your item. Now...this is not my *idea*....I did not just pull this out of thin air some where....these are the hard cold facts of selling anything....and big companies use it every day. They know that they need vast numbers of people to see what they are selling in order to sell it....if they show it to enough people, someone will buy it. This is what is known as the law of averages...and ..it's a fact. They use TV ads, newspaper ads magazine ads, bill boards....you name it, and they use it. And....it works...

     Now lets look at HOW you get those vast numbers to see your items. It starts with your willingness to spend time and energy doing something that sometimes gets monotonous. The repeated...over and over again...daunting task of posting, linking and net working. But.....are you posting...and linking..in the right places? and how much of it are you doing? If you are posting something on face book...say once a day.....is it enough? Probably not....more than likely there are not enough people on line at the same time you are, and they just wont see it. And now that face book has changed everything up for pages, even if you have 3,000+ fans like we do...only a small number of those people actually get to see what you post, unless they go directly to your page every day just to see what you are posting. And again the law of averages will play a factor in that only a certain number of people will do that....so....
     My personal favorite sites to share on ...and every single new item I list gets shared immediately on these sites
Twitter
Stumbleupon
Scoopit
Pinterest
Delicious
Facebook
These have proven to be the best sharing sites for me, and what I make.

Targeting how to:
     So...now you know you NEED to get your items in front of more people in order to sell them, right? So ...how do you target the right audience? This is something new for me...but I started thinking about WHO would buy my items....who are these people? For me....they are rock hounds...plain and simple...I sell items made from rocks....and most of the people who buy my items love rocks as well.....so this is who I target....by doing simple things like creating a Pinterest board dedicated to, and titled.....rock hound gifts. I am also connected to a lot of rock lovers forums & groups. You don't want to spam your audience by any means, but you most certainly want them to know you are there. I try to post something to these places about once a day....I could do more I suppose....which would give me higher numbers...but again..spamming is not something I am personally interested in doing. The BEST way to figure out who your target audience is....simple.....describe yourself.....who are you? What is it that makes you love the items you create? Are you old fashioned, so you create more traditional older style items? Or are you bold and more fashion minded...so you create what is in style today? What makes you....YOU.....once you figure out who YOU are and why you like this style of item...you will have your target audience....because more than likely, the people who will buy what you love will buy them for the same reasons you created them....they will think similar to you, like a lot of the same things.....
     As for tagging your items with the right key words....well...try to think of what YOU would type in to search for that item....would you type in copper bracelet...copper cuff.....copper jewelry? Try to use the same words YOU would use to find a particular item.....

Lake Superior Agate Copper Cuff

How To Make Wire Jewelry

2013-01-06T09:42:00.004-06:00

About 4 years ago, I had never even heard of Wire Wrapped Jewelry......and when I discovered it, it was by complete accident. The journey from "How in the world do they do THAT" to now, has been extraordinary, fun, enlightening, and.....a lot of times very frustrating. There are so many different techniques, and styles, that coming up with something all your own is almost impossible.

I get a lot of questions about how to start, where to begin, and what I use in my work......so to help answer some of those questions, I decided to write a few things down. Make Wire jewelry can be so rewarding, once you get the hang of it, and, over time you develop your own style, your own way of doing things.

Choosing the right stones for a beginner:

When I first started, I purchased some cabochons from an online supply to play with. After of course, trying to wrap a tumbled stone, and days and days of frustrations!! The purchased cabs were pretty small, and had very little girdle to them. For me, a person with bigger hands, a complete beginner, and, at the time, a bit clumsy.....these cabs made it difficult for me to do anything with. I didn't realize at the time, that practicing would have been so much easier if the cab were bigger, and the girdle on the cab would have been thicker. The small stones were so hard for me to hang on to, and the wire kept slipping off the girdle of the cab, causing me to kink the wire, and , in the end, become very frustrated with it all. Then someone sent me, as a gift, a cabochon with some size, and a thicker girdle....WOW...what a difference that made!!

MY SUGGESTION: a 40mm cab, with a girdle of 3mm makes things much much easier for a beginner
I do NOT suggest a round or oval cab for a beginner...these are harder to wrap

WIRE:

In the beginning of my journey, I tried using round wire....what a mess!! If you are doing a standard wire wrap, SQUARE wire is much easier to use. It will lay flat against the cabochon, and not roll off the cab every time you try to do something, like swirls or curls, bindings etc. I personally started with 22 gauge dead soft, but, 22 gauge is a very tiny wire for a beginner. If I had to do it all over again, I would start with 20 gauge, it's not a lot bigger, it will give the same look to the piece, but it is a bit easier to manage and hang on to.

I Always use dead soft wire to do a wrap, even to this day. 1/2 hard wire will kink and bend, when you need it to be smooth, even sweeps, and swirls. It's a bit harder to work with too, and your hands will get tired after just a short time of trying to work with it.

My style has changed a lot over the past 4 years, but the things that have not changed are these:

My work must be TIGHT, the wire must be so secure against the stone, it takes wire cutters or pliers to get them apart. They must be neat, and clean, with neatly laid bindings, side by side, even bails, even weaves....so everything comes together in a completely secure setting that provides beauty as well.

I have a free tutorial listed on my facebook page, as well as pay tutorials in my Etsy shop. We will discuss some more in the next posting about how to get started once you have the right supplies.

2012-10-25T08:08:00.002-05:00

Russian Charoite

Purple Stones at their best

For quite some time now, we have been looking for some Russian Charoite stones that we could cut and cab. Recently, we found some ! We are very excited about this, as, most of what we have found has been so expensive, it was well out of our reach.

The stones have a gorgeous coloring in various shades of purple, and a light chatoyance, which just adds to the beauty and appearance of the stone.

It is said that Charoite has very good healing properties, but for us it's just the natural beauty of the stone that attracts. If you love purple, and are generally looking at Amethyst in purple stones, this is a wonderful choice to add to your collection of stone jewelry.

If you are looking for other alternative purple stones, some of the choices are:

Amethyst

Flourite

Sugalite

Lepidolite

Charoite

There are others out there, we just haven't located them all yet, but.....we will!! So stay tuned!!

Check us out on Facebook!!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charoite (K(Ca;Na)₂Si₄O₁₀(OH;F)·H₂O)^[3] is a rare silicate mineral, first described in 1978 and named for the Chara River.^[2] It has been reported only from the Sakha Republic, Yakutia, Siberia, Russia.^[3] It is found where a syenite of the Murunskii Massif has intruded into and altered limestone deposits producing a potassium feldspar metasomatite.^[1]^[2]
Charoite is translucent lavender to purple in color with a pearly lustre. Charoite is strictly massive in nature, and fractures are conchoidal. It has an unusual swirling, fibrous appearance, sometimes chatoyant, and that, along with its intense color, can lead many to believe at first that it is synthetic or enhanced artificially.
Though reportedly discovered in the 1940s, it was not known to the outside world until its description in 1978. It is said to be opaque and unattractive when found in the field; a fact that may have contributed to its late recognition.
Charoite occurs in association with tinaksite and canasite.^[3]

^{Mohs scale hardness
5 - 6}

Name Origin: Named for the impression that it gives: "chary" in Russian means "charms" or "magic" and not for the Chara River, which is 70 km away from the locality.

Locality: Murun massif, Chara River area, Aldan Shield, SW Yakutia (Sakha Republic). Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

New Wire Wrapping Tutorial

2012-09-21T22:12:00.003-05:00

For about the past year or so, I have had so many people ask me to post a tutorial on my wire wrapped pendants. Well...I finally sat down, and put it together. After several hours of picture taking while wrapping a gorgeous Rhodonite gem stone, and typing up the instructions the new tutorial is now live, and listed in my shop.
This wire wrap technique is designed to save you time and money in creating your hand made jewelry.

Now that I have figured out how to do a tutorial on my own, I feel there just might be more in the near future!!

Come check it out!

Copper Wire Jewelry Style

2012-08-30T08:55:00.004-05:00

It has been a long time used material in jewelry making, and the style, and warmth of copper continues to be a favorite among a large group of people. It's properties create a genuine feeling of warmth when worn, as well as being a favorite when it comes to the Fall season each year. Copper is said to remove toxins from the body, which is why a person's skin may turn green occasionally. It's easily cleaned, with no harsh chemicals need to do so, simple dish soap and water, or even Ketchup, with clean copper.
I have had a back stash of copper wire sitting here, and hadn't had a use for it really, but I decided to make some things and use it up. It turns out, I had a lot more here than I thought I did, but, I am enjoying working with it, as well as some beautiful red brass.

Check out my latest creations, now listed in my Etsy shop!!

9 LB Lake Superior Agate found just before Agate Days in Moose Lake!!

2012-06-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is just a beautiful, once in a lifetime find for us! We found this huge Laker in our favorite hunting spot in central Minnesota. And, we knew it was big, but as we dug it out of the ground, it turned out to be way bigger than we first thought....a whopping 9 pounds! Agates likes this are extremely rare, the odds of finding something like this are just phenomenal, as only 1 in every 10,000 Lake Superior Agates are even over a pound. The average size of a Lake Superior Agate is the size of a pea, and finding bigger ones, especially ones this big, is so exciting. And while owning this rock is exciting for us, we believe it should be in the hands of a serious collector. The agate is whole, and not broken, showing small areas of fortification banding, moss agate, and quartz. I have included wet and dry photos, and have even more photos on hand for anyone who wants them before buying.To purchase this stone please check my Etsy shop.
Where we found this stone:

And the Agate itself:

Thank you for taking the time to check our Agate, and our shop!!

2012-05-29T06:51:00.000-05:00

There ARE other stones, besides a Lake Superior Agate, to Wire Wrap......Right?

While I try very hard to wrap a Lake Superior Stone every day, I always have to remember that there are others to cab and wrap as well.....not always easy for me, but...I manage to get some other items made. Agate Days in Moose Lake is still approaching fast, and I still can't wait to go. Should be a very fun, and exciting day for me, because, well, you all know how I love the Lakers!! I do have a couple more wrapped up, just need to get them listed in the Etsy shop, that should be later today....
Meanwhile, here are some of my latest wraps I thought you all would enjoying looking at......

Blue Lace Agate

Chrysoprase

Dalmatian Jasper

Green Tree Agate


Sodalite

Have a look at the rest of my silver pendants.....you might find that perfect one!!

Moose Lake MN Agate Days

2012-05-02T08:28:00.002-05:00

It's almost that time of year again, and Agate Days is coming fast! Lived in this area for about 5 years now, and it seems like every year something comes up, and I don't get to go! This year, however, I am doing my very best to get there, and am getting really excited for it!
This show is all about my beloved Lake Superior Agate, the gorgeous stone which got me started in the rock & gem cutting world, created my addiction for rock hounding, and has given me an inner peace that I cannot even explain, not clearly anyway.
From rough, to specimens, big and small, jewelry, gifts, and so much more, I understand that if you like Lake Superior Agates, this is the place to be!
As my excitement builds, here is just a small handful of the stones I have recently cut for cabbing, and then to make jewelry/pendants with....

These, among many others, will be wire wrapped soon, and listed in my Etsy shop....The Goal, as soon as I catch up on some orders is to get 1 a day done...that's the goal, we'll see what happens!!

Cabochon Rough

2012-03-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

Introducing the newest Rough for our Cabochons!

We were going to wait, and just surprise you all with the latest rock shop finds from yesterday....but....it was so exciting to find all of this wonderful material, we just could not hold back! These photos will show you "almost" all of what we found.....gotta hold back a couple for surprises later on....I will tell you that at least one of those we aren't telling you about will be premium grade cabs...We are also holding back on all the self collected Minnesota material we have found out on rock hounding days.So, without further delay......here are the latest rocks we found down there for you guys.
AMAZONITE

BLUE GOLDSTONE

OCEAN JASPER

LEOPARD SKIN JASPER

GREEN GOLDSTONE

LABRADORITE

CHRYSOCOLLA

WHITE LABRADORITE (RAINBOW MOONSTONE)

GREEN TREE AGATE

HYPERSTHENE

TIGER EYE

AND THERE YA HAVE IT!!

These will hopefully be cut this weekend so we can start cabbing it up for you next week......and again, there are more......something purple, something blue, something green......We are very excited about being able to find some of these. Have been looking for MONTHS now to find the White Labradorite, as well as another one we found, and FINALLY, we have it!! A possibility of getting more too!! There is more of the White Lab than I show in the photo. The Labradorite stones are showing some outstanding promise on the outside , and we are hoping there will be flash through out the stones. The green Goldstone is something I have also been looking for, and they finally had a huge chunk of it in stock!! I looked on Etsy, and right now there are only a handful of listings using this stone...so my girls will be able to put something new on the table with it!! We continue to try and find you all stones that there aren't a lot of people using, so that you are not swallowed up in the listings from so many using the same stones. Finding UNIQUE stones for you is not an easy task, but when we do, it's soooo exciting. We want you all to succeed at what you are doing, and being able to offer something DIFFERENT is key in that success.....

HOPE THIS EXCITES YOU ALL AS MUCH AS IT DOES US!!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND ENJOY THE NEW CABS TO COME!!

Marie & Boots

Superior Agates

Agate Gems in Jewellery

2011-10-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

There so many types of Agate, found in many different places in the world, many people have a hard time discerning, and differentiating the different types. In this post I will try to show you just few, that I have personally run across, and worked in to cabochons for jewellery making.
Agate is a form of Chalcedony, and can be found across the world in many different colors, and in many places across the globe. Found primarily in a host rock of Volcanic nature, Agates may be found in many other stones as well. They have been used in stone carvings and in jewellery making for many centuries, from the ancient times to the current, and are very popular still today for these and many other uses.

A Mexican agate, showing only a single eye, has received the name of cyclops agate. Included matter of a green, golden, red, black or other color or combinations embedded in the chalcedony and disposed in filaments and other forms suggestive of vegetable growth, gives rise to dendritic or moss agate. Dendritic agates have fern like patterns in them formed due to the presence of manganese and iron oxides. Other types of included matter deposited during agate-building include sagenitic growths (radial mineral crystals) and chunks of entrapped detritus (such as sand, ash, or mud). Occasionally agate fills a void left by decomposed vegetative material such as a tree limb or root and is called limb cast agate due to its appearance.

Turritella agate is formed from silicified fossil Elimia tenera (erroneously considered Turritella) shells. E. tenera are spiral marine gastropods having elongated, spiral shells composed of many whorls. Similarly, coral, petrified wood and other organic remains or porous rocks can also become agatized. Agatized coral is often referred to as Petoskey stone or agate.
Greek agate is a name given to pale white to tan colored agate found in Sicily back to 400 B.C. The Greeks used it for making jewelry and beads. Even though the stone had been around centuries and was known to both the Sumerians and the Egyptians, both who used the gem for decoration and for playing important parts in their religious ceremonies, any agate of this color from Sicily, once an ancient Greek colony, is called Greek agate.
Another type of agate is Brazilian agate, which is found as sizable geodes of layered nodules. These occur in brownish tones interlayered with white and gray. Quartz forms within these nodules, creating a striking specimen when cut opposite the layered growth axis. It is often dyed in various colors for ornamental purposes.
Certain stones, when examined in thin sections by transmitted light, show a diffraction spectrum due to the extreme delicacy of the successive bands, whence they are termed rainbow agates. Often agate coexists with layers or masses of opal, jasper or crystalline quartz due to ambient variations during the formation process.

Other forms of agate include Lake Superior agate, carnelian agate (usually exhibiting reddish hues), Botswana agate, Ellensburg blue agate,

blue lace agate, plume agates, tube agate (with visible flow channels), fortification agate (which exhibit little or no layered structure), fire agate (which seems to glow internally like an opal) and Mexican crazy-lace agate (which exhibits an often brightly colored, complex banded pattern) also called Rodeo Agate and Rosetta Stone depending on who owned the mine at the time.

Just a handful of the different types of Agate to be found all over the world , but because of their ability to take an extremely high polish, they are one of the most popular stones among rock & gem cutters to work with. Lake Superior Agates are among the hardest of the agate group, taking on a very impressive shine, making gem quality one of the highest available in the agate world. If you are looking for a durable, and very attractive stone, agate is the way to go, no matter what type, or color you choose, these stones are just some of the best available. Some are naturally colored, as in the Laguna agate, which can be found in colors like orange, yellow, red, pink, and purple.....others, like the ever popular Brazillian agate, might be dyed, using a heat process. (DO NOT try this unless you do extensive research in the how to)

ALL agates can be toxic when cutting them,so make sure this is done in water for safety reasons. For more information on cutting and polishing stone, visit http://www.rocktumblinghobby.com .

Latest Wire Wrapped Pendants

2011-08-22T07:59:00.000-05:00

The latest series of wire wrapped pendants being created and listed on Etsy, are known as a groove wrapped pendant. The simple elegance of a groove wrap, allows the stones beauty to shine, without covering it up with a bunch of wire, and "extras". Each gem has it's own story to tell, it's own way of showing beauty, and it's own way of showing what amazing things God left for us all on this planet for us to discover. This style wrap is quickly becoming a popular jewelry trend in my shop.

Labradorite Wire Wrapped Pendant

Blue Tiger Eye Wire Wrapped Pendant

Montezuma Agate Wire Wrapped Pendant

Minnesota Jaspelite Wire Wrapped Pendant

Golden Tiger Eye Wire Wrapped Pendant

Minnesota Petrified Stromatolite Wire Wrapped Pendant

Cabochon Direct Buys

2011-08-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

     Are you a jewellery maker, who is struggling to purchase supplies, so you can keep making your beautiful creations? The cost of buying supplies continues to rise in almost every corner, and aspect of today's trying times. The cost of silver and gold is outrageous, and looking for alternatives is a big chore to accomplish, but, there are some saving graces out there for you.
     When I first started making jewelry, I just simply could not afford to buy the expensive cabochons, handmade, beautiful, and I wanted them, I just couldn't do it. So...I bought the el-cheapo stuff, you know, the ones where you get 10 in a package for like 10.00 or something, and, while the stones were pretty, they lacked that....flare, that shine, and the knowledge that they were machine made, not hand made really did not appeal to me either. And, while I now look at them as good "practice" stones, for the brand new wire wrapper, I would not buy them again.
     Recently I have been told that, no other rock cutter will do what I do, and offer it at a price a jewelry maker can afford. Well, while I am not sure that is completely true...there HAS to be someone else out there that does......I am happy to do this. See, I remember what it felt like to see a stone that I just loved, only to see a 20.00 price tag....wow...I just could not swing it. There was just no way, even tho I loved the stone...that feeling of disappointment stuck with me. Last year, I started making my own cabs, and while they were not, in the beginning, very good, and it took me a long time to learn many different things about making them, I made it my goal to learn everything I could. The reason....so I could have a beautiful stone, with a beautiful shine to work with. Later, as I got better at it, I slowly started selling them, a little here, a little there, until today....where I am selling every cab I make almost! I decided, when they first started selling to offer them at a price that just about anyone can afford, 5.00 each. Yes....just 5.00....no strings, no sign ups, I don't email you, or spam you.....you just claim it, and it's yours.
     The stones I cut are just like everyone else' beauties, and they are worth the same amount of money everyone else is charging for them, I just happen to remember that "feeling". I don't do it so I can get rich, I don't do it so I can show off, or brag about what I do....I do it for you, the struggling jewelry maker. I love to cut the rocks, it's one of my most favorite things to do, and...quite frankly, I would be cutting them no matter what, because I do love it that much, so why would I not share them? I don't begrudge anyone what they charge for a cabochon, I believe they are worth every penny, the work, and tools, and supplies involved....it's daunting at times.....For instance...right now I need a diamond disc replacement....I am just....I dunno....just cant hit that "pay now" button to buy it, lol.....I will, because I have to, real soon!! And, I wont regret it one bit when it arrives, it's just hitting that "pay now" button I struggle with. Lot's of costs involved, as there is with anything else! lol

So, if you are looking for Cabochons you can afford to buy, I have no minimum purchase, and no maximum either, you can buy as few, or as many as you like. And, many many pieces of jewelry have been sold using my cabs, so there is a good chance that yours will too. Come and check them out, I just may have what you are looking for! I upload new stones almost every day to Facebook, for you to choose from, and there is never a shortage of more for me to do. It is a race game tho now....so you have to be quick in your choices or someone else just may grab the one you were "thinking" about.

Here are just a few of the stones I have cut the last few days....all of these are sold, but, there will be more today!!

Handmade Gems & Gemstones for Wire Wrapping

2011-08-11T19:01:00.000-05:00

Not Just Lake Superior Agates either!! In the last 6 months or so, a full on direct buy for my cabochons has been ongoing on Facebook.....and wow, these ladies keep me busy! I love it, and I love seeing what they do with them, even more!! Everything from earrings, to bracelets, necklaces, pendants...even some sewing projects have had my cabs included in them. I am so honored that they like them that much!!

Here are just a few of the beautiful pieces being created by beginners, novices, and expert wire wrappers, and silversmiths.....just get a load of all the splender!!

If you are looking for Diamond finish shine, and a handmade cabochon, for prices you can afford, then look now further....come see me on Facebook, and check out how it all works. I save you money, as long as I can save money...simple as that. No strings, no questions, simple...

CABS TODAY

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CABOCHON DIRECT BUY CLUB

CLICK HERE

Choosing Gem Stone Jewelry

2011-08-07T22:58:00.000-05:00

Have you ever thought that you knew exactly what you were looking for, when shopping for jewelry? Maybe you are looking for a special piece, for a special night, or maybe for a spoecial person in your life as a gift....but as you start to look around, you see there are so many more choices than what you originally thought there would be?
That's because the jewlery, specifically the handmade and handcrafted, jewelry market has exploded in to this massive, intrigueing, and inspired market. People all over the world are either making their own jewelry, or making gifts for their families, it's an awe inspiring, unbelieveable shopping mall of variety out there. So, when you start shopping for that special piece, that one thing that you know will be perfect for the occasion, where are you supposed to begin?

Well....I have been thinking about this a bit, and I would have to say, the first thing you should know, is your color. What color do you need for this occasion or gift? When was this person born? maybe a birthstone is in order. When is the occasion, is it a wedding, or birthday, or maybe an anniversary? Do some investigating, maybe the person you are gifting has a favorite stone. All of these things come in to play, and should be something you look for. Start by searching Google, for the color...just type in something like red gem stones...look at the images, until you find something you like....this is a beginning.

Next you should know your metals, and if the gift will go to someone who has allergies to metals. Are they allergic to nickel? If they are, you should stay away from anything that is made with German Silver. What about copper, or brass? These are wonderful alternative metals, especially in todays economic trying times, when we are all watching our budgets pretty close. Or possibly, you are looking for something in the precious metals market, sterling silver, or maybe gold. Whatever metal you choose, make sure it is something that looks good with the color of stone you are looking for, and that the person you are gifting it to will not be allergic to it against their skin.

Now that you have decided on your stone color, and the metal you think will look good with it, it's time to actually locate the piece you like. There are so many different styles to choose from, so you should have some idea of the available styles, everything from Hippie, to art deco, or even some rennessaince styles...there is just no limit to what is available. The handmade industry is usually the way to go, staying away from the commercially reproduced market is the best way, when giving a gift you want to have meaning. Try adding the word "handmade" or "handcrafted" in your search, and see all of the wonderful images that come up for you.

In the end, the most important thing to remember is to be patient, and do the research, and the searching. Whatever you choose, choose with love, and it will be sure to please.

Should I sell my JEWELLERY at a Flea Market?

2011-06-29T17:11:00.000-05:00

I think the better question would be......can you afford not to?

If you can afford to sit on your product, continuing to buy more supplies, while you wait for your items to sell, then hey, more power to ya, and I so congratulate you! BUT, if you are like me....I need to be able to pay my light bill every month, and still buy supplies, so......I am not gonna sit on anything if I can help it at all.

First we should explore a few things.....quite a few things actually...........

SUPPLIES - Now...I know that a lot of people out there will be completely offended when I say....puh-leeze....there is always a better price for what you are buying......even the high grade stuff can be found at a better price. You just have to be willing to look for it. Spend some time, search, investigate, compare, if you are buying the first thing you see you like.....well...I am sorry, but it's a big mistake to do it that way. Let's be real here, if you are paying high dollar for supplies, and then expect to sell your items at an even higher dollar in this day and time, you WILL be disappointed......9 out of 10 people cannot afford to buy a high end piece of jewelry.....it's an impulse buy....not a necessity by any means.

YOUR TIME- What is your time worth today? Well......a deeper exploration of that would be: If a person is making say.....9.00 an hour at a real job......they make 72.00 a day.......now take away 5.00 for lunch, and at least 5.00 a day for gas....some spend waaaaay more than that driving to a job.......we are down to 62.00 a day. Then lets factor in that they are putting up with a boss, and co-workers on top of that, deadlines, and no leisure time...........they cant run to the grocery store, do errands, or anything, they are stuck at a job until their shift is finished, period. YOU however, do not have these bonds, you can do what you want, when you want really.......What your time is worth, bottom line, is up to you, but for me, I take in to account that I have the luxury of all of the extras in a day......that in itself is worth a great deal......

CREATIONS - Would I, at a flea market, put on the table a 100.00 piece of jewelry? Probably not. It has been my experience that, a 40.00 piece is stretching it just a bit. So, everything I actually put on the table is 40.00 or less.......not that I don't have everything with me, because I do. And on more than one occasion, I have had someone ask to see my higher end items, and sell them too....so.....But the object at a flea market is to make the prices within "reach", so to speak.

YOUR ATTITUDE GOING IN- So....you walk in to the flea market, expecting to sell ......what is your attitude like when you get there? Are you walking in with a chip on your shoulder...." I am only doing this to see if it works or not, my stuff is so much better than this".....OR....are you walking in thinking..."hey, if I make anything above and beyond my space rent, it's that much I did not walk in here today with". Your attitude says everything. When you walk in there you cannot expect to think you will sell everything, because you wont 90% of the time, If you expect that, then you are setting yourself up for a big let down, and your attitude will reflect that, trust me, everyone will be able to see it in everything you do or say. This is bad for you, and the image of the items you are selling. YES, you should believe in yourself, and your product, YES YOU SHOULD, but there is a line you cross between believing in yourself/product, and just being plain egotistical. Sorry, but it's a fact. Once you cross the line in to the ego side of things, you have gone to far, and people will not only not buy your items, they will shy away from you and your booth all together, every single time they see you. Better to be a bit humble, than to give the wrong impression.

WORD OF MOUTH- There is just no better advertisement in the world than word of mouth. I have had couples come back week after weekend bring their friends with them, to look at what I might have new, and they buy. Why? my prices are reasonable, within reach, and I am humble enough to know that I have a handmade product that will not appeal to every single person out there. I don't allow my "ego" to get in the way of the realities of the world. What better way is there to get the word out about your product, then to show it off, in person, hands on......even if they don't buy this week, they just might next week, so I don't allow it to bother me.

FINALLY- I have been asked if it's worth it, and if I find that people want to "haggle" or they ask for a cheaper price. Well, yeah, every once in awhile they do...but ya know what? This goes back to pricing.....You should have your prices set, so that you do not feel offended if they ask, and you can feel comfortable in giving them a break on something. DO NOT be offended, or take it personally, I assure you, they are not trying to attack you. Al tho there are a lot of people who think otherwise.....think about it, when you are buying supplies, don't YOU hunt for, and ask for the best deal you can get? That's really all they are doing too, looking for the best deal, not to offend you personally, but to help save their pocket books too......same thing, same concept. 90% of the world does not even think to offend someone by asking, it's not intentional, they are thinking....and i have been in retail for 25 years, so this I know, "man I like that, I reeeeeeally want it, but I only have 25 to spare...gotta pay...........wonder if she will take less?" And THAT is how they think......they don't walk up to your table thinking " I think I will just make her feel like crap and ask her if she will take 25 for that item" ....realistically, you cannot possibly think that's what they are doing.
Is it worth it? YES....I have had most weekend yield more than 200.00 in 1 single day, so yeah, I think it's worth it. Not to mention I get out of the house, see people, get to show off my newest stuff.....yeah it's worth it! ;)

One of my favorite sayings is this :
"there is a reason the poor stay poor, and the rich stay rich........it's because the poor spend more money than the rich do"

That being said......maybe we should target a little less on the high end of things? Be a little more willing to bend on our prices, not on everything and not too far, but enough that we can pay our bills each month?

Just a thought for ya.......

Jewelry for Love....Jewelry with Meaning

2011-05-25T01:10:00.000-05:00

I think I have said many times now, that I am amazed at the way a stone can effect some one's life, how it can actually touch the souls of individuals, and make them feel a connection to someone or something, or a time in their lives.......just simply amazes me.

Recently I have been contacted by a sweet woman, who has a long lost friend. A friend who, she felt very close to in the younger years of her life, and to some degree, she still does. They are not in touch as much as she wishes they were, but the love is obviously still there. The connection is so much there, in so many ways. Her friend will be receiving a piece that she has given me the honor to create for her. Every single ring, every single minute, I am trying so very hard to have a picture in my head of her friend......and with any luck, the piece will speak to her, and connect the two of them, in such a way that only the 2 of them can understand...only the 2 of them can feel.

The chosen metal is sterling silver, the chosen stone is Moonstone, The piece....elegance, simplicity, strength, and love. Sterling silver will be a gorgeous setting for her skin tone....and the Moonstone, well it speaks volumes all by itself, but the CONNECTION ......the connection is real to this stone. You see when they were much younger, the 2 of them enjoyed Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone . Connections.......wow.....so many....Elegance, simplicity...because she is described as being just that, strength and love....because she represents those qualities.........connections........

Again...I am humbled by the opportunity to create such a meaningful piece, to put love, and strength in to each and every ring......to try and create the connection.....I am so honored...I cannot even begin to express how it makes me feel.

We can make things for people, give them to them, and show them how much we care......how often tho, do you get to create the "connection" between 2 people....how often does an opportunity like that come along?

It's not every day this kind of gift comes along for me.....I give things to people I love, freely, and openly.....because LOVE is the connection......that feeling you just cannot let go of.....whether you believe in fate, or luck, or nothing at all...LOVE is what connects us all. When someone gives you something, there is a reason behind it.........most of the time it's because they feel that CONNECTION.....and the love.......

So the next time you receive a hand made gift, think about why...think about that connection that person must have felt to you when they made it ...or had it made for you......think about the love.....because, I am telling you, there is nothing better than knowing someone loves you, whole heartedly, completely, totally....no matter what.......think about your connections......spiritually bound together, no matter the time since you last saw each other, or talked on the phone. No matter how busy our lives get. No matter....that connection, that love, ........is always there.

Stones With Meaning, Stones for Love

2011-05-06T00:31:00.000-05:00

     There are a lot of things a person can learn over the course of their life, some are powerful, and some are just the little lessons life teaches us about how to get through the days to come. Over the past year or so, I have learned more about jewelry and gemstones than I ever thought I could, or would. Who knew something as simple as a small stone could mean so very much in a persons life?

     I have done a few custom cutting, and cabbing endeavors for some folks over the past 6 months. The first was a stone that had moved from place to place with thte same person, for some 40 + years......cut, cabbed, and turned in to some beautiful pendants, and jewelry for her. A gorgeous blue banded Oregon Thunderegg agate, that had travelled from Oregon, to Canada, and every where she lived......wow...what a journey that small rock had.....

The 2nd, same type of story, only this time, the stone was a gorgeous Onyx egg......cut, cabbed, and turned in to gemstone jewelry for the owner, and her grandaughters, and daughters...... this one too, travelled around....ending up in Canada......

Most recently tho, an online friend sent me some slabs she had, asking me to "do something with them"......they left Texas, and came to Minnesota, where I cut and cabbed them, even wire wrapped a couple of them, and sent them back..........she and her sister are now enjoying those wire wrapped pendants. I so enjoyed making the cabs for her, which her sister now has the task of figuring out a way to create something with......too much fun!!

Lastly, but certainly not least....I have met online, and wonderful person who has been searching for 6 months for someone to create her wedding ring stone. She stumbled across my shop, and took a chance, and sent me a message. I of course, immediately said yes, I would be happy to try. You see, what attracted me to this particular idea, was her story of she and her mother going on Lake Superior Agate hunts, along the shores of Lake Superior. And how she doesn't have the time now days to get there to do it anymore, only on a rare occasion. When i think about the "meaning" behind her search for the perfect Lake Superior Agate gemstone for her wedding ring, I get tears in my eyes.......jsut knowing that a stone I turned in to a small gem.....will have such a deep meaning for someone else.....well....you get the idea.

During the past couple of weeks, I have also been contacted by another person who was looking for a small pendant for her mother. She found the stone in my shop, and just fell in love with it, but wanted to know if I would create a pendant for her mother. You see, her mother too, now lives somewhere else....as we call it...she has been transplanted......her mother still gets up to the lake on vacations, but she still loves the Agates......this stone too has a deep meaningful love attached to it.

     Sometimes, without even realizing it, we can all run across some people who still believe in the simple, meaningful gifts that God and Mother Nature have magically put together for us all to revel in. The gifts that have been created from these stones, have such love, and meaning attached to them, it is beyond the realm of comprehension, or understanding. I have tried my hardest to place myself in their position, so that the stones and pieces created have the forever feeling of love, understanding and compassion attached to them that they were meant to have.

     There are a lot of articles about the meanings of different gemstones, and what their metaphysical properties are supposed to be, but in the end....it's the "real" meanings that count. The love, the memories, all poured in to one stone, 1 creation.

Fire Agate Cabochons

2011-03-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

I thought I would take a little time to talk about my new line of Mexican Fire Agate cabochons that I will be offering in my Etsy shop, and on my Facebook fanpage.

I recently have become fascinated with these beautiful agates, the depth, and internal fire are just amazing to me. How does that happen? I am sure that there is some reasonable, scientific exlanation for it, but I would just as soon keep on wondering...knowing my ruin my wonder, and I like being intrigued.

Come take a look at a couple I have now finished, and listed in my Etsy shop....there are more to come!!!!

http://www.superioragates.etsy.com/

Groove Wrapped Alternative Metal Series

2011-02-28T12:17:00.000-06:00

This new series of pendants is being created with our current economy in mind. With the prices of precious metals rising, and the cost of daily living, having a new luxury is getting further and further out of our reach. With that in mind, I am creating a huge series of alternative metal pendants & necklaces, that fit just about any budget, even in today's fast rising cost of everything in our lives.

These new pendants are also being created in a new style, the groove wrap. This is not a new concept, but it is new to me. I have seen these done in a more simple fashion, most having absolutely no frills, or feminine aspects to them, making them primarily for the more male side of things.

I wanted to create something completely different, something simple, yet elegant, and something that no one else is doing with this style of pendant. The Mookaite pendant on the left is a prime example of such a wrap. It's seemingly suspended appearance, adds a certain mystery to the design, making people want a closer look. People will wonder how in the world that stone stays put, and doesn't come loose or fall out.....but it wont, not ever. These groove wraps are amazing in their simplicity, and elegance, and give a whole new meaning to the economy jewelry fashion world. These wraps not only give elegance, and beauty to less expensive jewelry, they also add stability, and a way to show off more of the stone, that is only otherwise seen in a prong style wrap.

The Pendant on the right is an Indonesian Coral gemstone, wrapped in solid bare red brass wire. This is yet another prime example of how a pendant can be seemingly suspended in air. Red brass is the closest you can get to the color of gold, without the expense of buying gold. It is an excellent alternative for jewelry making, sturdy, strong, and beautiful. No one will ever suspect it's not really gold. Every one will however, want a closer look at this piece, as it just "hangs" in air around your neck.

Alternative metals are a wonderful way to save money, and still have something beautiful in the process. German silver wire is another metal I use, and is also known as nickel silver. Nickel silver contains about 5% nickel, and is a copper alloy metal. Most people who are allergic to nickel, have symptoms when it pierces the skin, as when you wear earrings. This metal is just a gorgeous replacement for sterling, at about 1/4th the cost, and still provides those who love silver to have their favorite color metal in their jewelry pieces.

The Burro Creek purple Agate on the left is a prime example of how German silver wire can lend the look of silver you want, without the expense, and still have the elegant appearance you desire in a piece of jewelry. Again, guaranteed to never fall out of it's setting, people will wonder just how in the world that is hanging there, and will want a closer look at it.

If you are looking for something truly original, something you have never seen before, then please visit my shop on Etsy, you will find so many of these pendants, and more of them being created every single day, it will amaze you. If you love stone jewelry, but hate paying the high prices out there today, and you need an alternative, then please take a look around, you are bound to find something that will please your eye, while giving you the money saving advantages you need, in today's trying times.

Why I can Keep my Prices Low

2011-02-09T21:40:00.000-06:00

I keep getting asked how and why I price my pendants and jewelry so low. I decided to write a little bit about the how and why, because I think it is important for folks to know. Especially my fellow talented artists, who also make jewelry, and think I am trying to undercut them.

First of all, and the main thing in low pricing, is expenses. I have very little expense in my jewelry. A lot of artists have to buy there gemstones, or cabochons, that are similiar to mine. I don't. I have a lot of rocks, right out behind my house! I cut, cab, groove...all myself (90% of the time), so there is no money spent on any stones. Every once in awhile I see a slab of a rock I just can't live without...and I will buy it, but not very often. So...that eliminates a big expense that a lot of folks have....I enjoy cutting the stones, and cabbing them myself, to me it is just part of the creative processes in creating the pieces I make.

Second, I would like to assure everyone in the jewelry business, and anyone considering buying my pieces, that, my stones, and wire wrapping may be worth just as much as yours, maybe not. Either way, what matters to me MOST of all, is that I continue to enjoy what I am doing. I don't want this to turn in to a "job" per say.....how many of you out there actually ENJOY your jobs? I want this to be something that I do, because I love it, not because I have to get up at 5 a.m. every day, and start working, get off at a specific time of day...blah blah blah.....thank you...I can do without all that. Today maybe I feel like doing something new, or maybe I feel like cutting cabs....or maybe just a stroll down to the rock pit to hunt rocks....but it's my "choice" in what I do every day, not something that is dictated to me, by a schedule, or market demands.

Third...I have no job, and no little children to run after, nothing "pressing" to do every day....I can pretty much do what I please, for the most part. So, there is no demand for my time, like a LOT of stay at home moms, because I don't have those things to worry about. I completely understand tho, where those folks are coming from, and I see their point, because I used to be just like them.

Fourth....I used to decorate cakes....wow...I cannot tell you the thousands of cakes I decorated from home, and it was very very good money earned, BUT......now I have all this cake decorating stuff, and I just do not want to do it any more, because I burnt myself out on it. I turned it in to a job you see....ready and available any time someone needed a cake done...any day of the week....and I did it. In the end tho.....I just didn't enjoy it any more. I do not want to turn this in to "that"....I enjoy making the jewelry too much.

Finally, and maybe this is the most important part of it all, if I don't have a lot of money invested (except the wire) and I enjoy what I do...truely enjoy it deep down...and I get to choose how I spend my time doing it (which area) ......then how can I possibly charge you a fortune for one of my pieces, and still sleep at night? I mean, I am NOT by any means knocking anyone out there who charges more than I do, go for it I say, and I do wish you all the luck and prosperity in the world....I just can't personally do it. It doesn't make you wrong at all, it just means it's not right for me.

Bottom line is, I charge what I know will make the money back I have invested in wire, so I can buy more, and extra for my time. I just wanna be able to buy more wire, or blades to cut the rocks, so I can keep going, and keep making more. I am not in this to "get rich"...I just wanna be able to keep doing it.

Is this wrong? Well, Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.....but I have also been in retail sales for over 20 years, and have run successful businesses, made a lot of money at them all in the past.....and I know what works for me. In retail, the rule of thumb is NOT to sell 1 piece of merchandise for MORE money....then you only have 1 piece of your product out there in the world, the rule is simply this: Sell cheaper, sell more, and more of YOUR BRAND is out there for even more people to see. This same phylosophy worked so well for me in the cake business.......the local store sold a cake, same exact size I did, for 45.00......mine was 25.00....who do you think sold more cakes? yep...you guessed it.....me......To give you a simple example of this concept....I was making 400 a week in 25.00 birthday cakes, in a town of 7,000 people......I'd say the idea works, wouldn't you?

In the end, we all have to do what works best for ourselves. Not everyone would agree with me, in fact...a lot would not agree. But when you apply ONLY logical thinking to the process, this makes sense. Hahahahaha............seriously...how did all these big chain stores get so rich, so fast...........think about it.

Good luck to you all in your endeavors, I seriously hope everyone is a huge success at what they do.

The Enchanting world of Jewelry Artistry

2011-01-28T01:11:00.000-06:00

So I have been thinking about a few things of late. What came to my mind is...who am I ? Am I an artist or not? Do I have skill....or not? I have been forced to second guess myself lately, and while I don't like the feeling of that, as most of us wouldn't, I did have to sit back, and take a long, hard look at myself as a person. When I first started this craft over a year ago, and quite frankly until recently even, I did not consider myself to be an "artist", I considered myself to be someone doing something they love...and that was it. It "sounded" funny to me to even associate the word "artist" with myself.

Let me explain how this all came about, and why I have even come to this place of thinking. recently I learned to do a different type of wire work....how ever crude my skills were, I have been very anxious to learn more. In that process, I went looking for things that "looked easy enough for me to do", with my limited skills in this particular area. It just so happens that I found something I thought not only looked cool, but thought maybe....just maybe I could do it, so I tried....and low & behold...it was very crude, and rough, but I managed to get it done. Well, huge mistake, and I warn anyone and everyone to NOT go looking for inspiration from others work, just do what you know how to do, and explore your own avenues, because the thing I decided to try and make, was a "copyrighted" design.....which I did not know or I would not have done it. The designer was so very upset, and even tho I apologised, and told this person I was just trying to explore new avenues, and figure some things out...it did not matter. I have been labeled a "thief", however untrue it may be, it is still there. So......now I have come to a place of wondering what to do next?
Do I continue to do this particular type of work, or just forget it. Well, probably just set it aside once the wire is gone and forget it. I sure don't wanna be the person who is offending any one, in any way, by doing something they are doing.....however rough mine may be.
I spent the day today very depressed, and upset...cried off and on almost all day. I could not get this out of my head. I spent a lot of time thinking about this, and in my own self examination, this is what I have found to be "real" about a jewelry artisan...and what they should stand for.
I believe the dictionary's definition of an "artisan" is :

skilled crafts person: somebody who is skilled at a craft

And the Thesaurus says:

Synonyms: crafts person, artist, handicrafts worker, crafts worker, skilled worker, artificer, craft worker

Now, I did not write that, it's straight out of the dictionary. Many people have a different opinions about what an "artisan" truly is, and most would disagree on many points. The one thing that sticks out for me is "ownership"....neither of the above definitions state anything about having ownership to anything.....we are simply craft workers. We create things from different materials, and to say that we...as individuals...are "owners" of anything would be a little beyond the scope of what we really are. This is not to say that if someone has a "copyright" to something...a pattern or design...they they are wrong, because the law says they aren't, and I completely and totally respect that. What I question is motive.
For me...being an artisan is true, unadulterated inspiration. We inspire, help, show, encourage, and support anyone who wants to learn what we do. Art is all about how to "inspire" people......We are teachers of sorts. And when that person decides to make something on their own, they have rights to that inside security in knowing that we as artisans will not begrudge them the satisfaction they may get from something we taught them how to create. If I have taught someone out there to do what I do, and they want to go and make it and sell it...for more or less than I do..hey...get after it. I wish you all the luck in the world. Just because we may have the same people cross our paths, does not mean they will buy from you or me either one...or maybe they just like yours better, for whatever reason....cool! good for you. Just know that I will sit back, and admire your work, and say to myself...yeah...I taught them that.....I did that, and now they are....how cool is that? I don't believe I would ever begrudge someone a little self satisfaction or destroy their desire to continue in the craft, by telling them you cant sell that, or you cant duplicate that.....I just do not believe we as artisans are supposed to be that way to each other. Have we really come to a place in this world where sharing, and caring is completely gone? Have we come to a place where we no longer care what we say to people that may hurt their feelings, destroy self confidence......ruin desire? Or do we just feel the need to control others so much, because we really aren't secure in who we are as people?
What I discovered:
Until the past couple of days, I thought I was pretty secure with myself in what I was doing. I was very proud of the fact that I was learning something new, and expanding my horizons. It felt good to know that I was not stuck with just one piece of knowledge, that there was something else I could do if I wanted to. Turns out, I am not so secure in what I do apparently, because I have allowed others to influence my thinking patterns, and have allowed them to ruin my self confidence. I have allowed them to decide my future in or out of this craft. And I have allowed them to take my desire to learn more. So....who am I? Am I an Artisan???

My answer is no........I do not want to be in that category. I am a skilled craft worker, just like the dictionary says, and nothing more. I love what I do, and will continue to do so, with or with out the approval of others who may dismay my attempts at getting better at something. I have a right, just like every single other person, to make something, and sell it for what I "think" it's worth. Maybe it's not worth that much, maybe it's worth more, but because I am a simple, every day craft worker, I do not differentiate....I just enjoy doing what I do. Making things, and helping others.

I do want to publicly apologise to those I have offended in any way, because I assure you, it was not my intention in any way. I simply wanted to learn something new, that's it. Plain and simple. No other explanations available.

Artisan - no

A lover of craft work - yes

Love making something different each time...creating & working with my hands? - yes

Need recognition for helping you expand your horizons - no - enjoy yourself, have fun...create

When in doubt....read the dictionary....if you still have doubts....read the Bible...those 2 books should help you through whatever dilemma you may have. It's pretty black and white inn both books, no room for "changes" or misunderstandings.....it's all there...

We Have a Winner!!

2011-01-26T11:09:00.000-06:00

The BIG GIVE AWAY is over, and we have a winner!! Margaret Porter, from Alabama, has won our huge pot of goodies, and now has 20 different items coming her way. What a great, and exciting thing this was to do! And I am so thrilled for our winner. There at the end of the game, I seriously thought I was even more excited than everyone else put together, it was just sooo much fun.

I would like to take some time here to thank all of the wonderful shop owners who donated prizes to this big give away, and I hope they know how much they are appreciated.

A Green Dress
The Hook Up
Sock Monkey Emporium
Beading Artist
Archer Lane Design
Hannahs Hands
Cute Things
O. Sebastian
The Wild Tangent
My Celeste Creations
Wares Tracey
Gems, Crustals & Wire
Spirals and Spice
On a Whim Jewelry
Faith Jewels
Saniki Creations
Rose Ange
Ash jewels
Bound in Chain

I cannot express my gratitude for your participation in this give away, and I can only hope you had as much fun with it as I did.

Our next Give away will be at 2100 fans on facebook! There will be a wonderful pair of Dangle earrings for the winner, and as soon as I get them made, you can start entering your name to win them. This time tho, everyone can enter only 1 time! hahaha The earrings will be a wonderful pair of nickel silver chain maille drops, hanging from sterling silver ear wires, and because it is almost February, they will have Amethyst !!

Again I hope ou have all enjoyed our give away. I hope to do it again at the next major milestone!
Thank you to all my fans and friends on Facebook for your continued support.