Necklaces

I thought I would share this cool picture I took.

Week 6

So here I am at week six of "52 Weeks of Blogging" and the topic is "How you fell in love with creating."

This is an interesting topic because there are so many stories that I could choose to tell. Even my previous post would work. You may have read it. I shared some of my my childhood arts and crafts. I could also talk about how when I was in school my favourite subject was art or the different cities I grew up in and how I experienced so many forms of art and culture. But how does one choose what story to tell when brevity is important, or without laying out one's long (and perhaps boring) life story?

I am finding this week's topic the most difficult so far. Therefore I am posing this
question to you, the reader. How did you fall in love with creating?

Sleepy Moon Product Review and Giveaway!

Check out the product review on my pink tourmaline cluster lariat done by Bridgette, the Experimental mommy! You can go to the Not So Blog to read it!

Shaun Irving's Truck Camera Photography

I am always in awe when I see this photographers work! All these photos where taken with a big truck that was turned into a pin hole camera. Learn more about the photographer Shaun Irving and the amazing camera truck at the website... www.cameratruck.net

Childhood Arts and Crafts

When I was growing up I was always surrounded by arts and crafts. My mom is an artist so she was always painting. We used to do some kind of crafty project together everyday. There is one painting in particular that she kept over the years and is now hanging in my son's room. I think I was about three years old when we made it.
Here is a photo of it:

Now I plan on doing the same with my two year old son. I strongly believe that my childhood art making has evolved into my love of handmade and my creativity in making jewellery. With that in mind, I've started a book for him to draw in so that I can see the development of his drawings over the years. I see it as the first in a series of many little sketchbooks. I think that they will be something small and easy to keep and I also think it will be fun for him to look at when he's older. Right now he can make lines, circles and dots. I can't wait to see how he draws stick figures and all those fun things!

What are some crafts from your childhood that you remember?

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Just A Simple Photo

Just a cool photo that I took. Share

What Do You Think Of Love?

Check out this treasury that my heart necklace is in.
Some Things About Love.

Lofty Goal

The recent disaster in Haiti has got me thinking about donating a percentage of my sales to a worthy cause. Sadly, until I increase my sales, I am not in a position to make cash donations. I am only just starting to make ends meet myself.

So that brings me to my goal. I plan on working very hard to boost my sales and market like mad so that in the end I can not only make more money, but do some good in the world.

When (and if) my sales boost or become steady I will hold a promotion every year where 5$ from each sale will be donated. I was thinking if I donated to a breast cancer awareness charity I could hold the sale during breast cancer awareness month. Or, on Mother's day, I could donate to a young mother's shelter. Maybe it would change every year... we will see. I think it would also be really great if I could just spend the money on food for the food bank. Healthy stuff of course!

If you had the chance to donate to any cause you could what would you donate to?
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Share Your Blogs With Tim Adam

Tim Adam is asking fellow bloggers to share their stories with him. If you have a blog and would like to submit your a compelling handmade themed story just go to this simple form and fill it out. Your blog could get some great traffic if he features your story! Learn more>>

I'm Blogging This - Upcycled Domino Pin

Intricate Art

One of my favourite things to do is browse through Etsy and look at all of the amazing work that is out there. When I come across something truly beautiful I can't pass up the chance to share it with you! Here is artwork by yellena.

Learning New Things

When ever I am aching to learn something new or need to touch up on a tricky technique I can always count on www.jewelrylessons.com to help me along my way. They sell jewellery making tutorials for very cheep, but a lot of them are free, which is always a bonus.

Today I came across this sphere making tutorial and decided to get it because I had tried to make a gemstone sphere before without any knowledge of how to do it, but it didn't really work out. OK it didn't work out at all!

After getting the tutorial for 4.00 I found out that it called for very fine beading string. Luckily I found some because I didn't have any wire with a small enough gauge. You need thin wire or thread because you have to string it through the same bead 4-5 times. I almost wasn't able to finish because of that, but with some persistence and termination I stuffed that thread through the beads!! :) Here is the finished product.I will have to order some 28 or 30 gauge wire to do this in sterling silver in the future! I would like to work this technique into a necklace design or maybe a bracelet.

Featuring Comfort and Style!

Lamixx.etsy.com

I absolutely love this designer's clothing!

Virtual Hamdmade Market

I came across this new site that has a virtual handmade market while I was was strolling the twittersphere last week. As you can see from the picture above I grabbed a booth. I could not help my self it is only a 2$ charge for a whole week. I assume this is because the site is still in beta and not many people know about it yet. Still why not try it out. What do you think about this virtual handmade market?

The Handmade Market is sponsored by Yaami Handmade.

Me Making a Heart Necklace

I am all about the hearts this winter, so I thought I would share some cool pictures that show a bit of the process of making a brushed sterling silver heart necklace.

First I cut my wire and chain to the right sizes. Then I wrap the wire around a ring sizer.

Once I form a heart shape using the ring sizer and pliers I have to hammer the sterling silver flat.

After brushing the sterling silver I clean and polish it. Now all there is left to do is put it all together.

You can expect many different heart themed items in my shop throughout January and February, and now you know a bit about what goes into making one.