Jewelry by Lisa

I'll soon have new domain names for my e-shops!

2012-02-07T15:36:00.000-06:00

I'm waiting for my package downgrade to occur so I can redirect my two registered domain names. One will redirect to my Artfire shop, the other will redirect to my new site on supadupa.me (more about Supadupa later).

I've had a website with 1and1.com for a while now, but I never promoted it because I just couldn't get the hang of it. It was okaaayyyy, but not wow! That's not 1and1's fault mind you. It's just that between creating jewelry, photographying it, editing photos, writing descriptions and my ADHD, I just don't have the time to figure out 1and1's website builder.

As a company, though, I like 1and1 a lot. I've found their prices to be very good and their customer service friendly and helpful on the few occasions I've called them. If and when I'm ready to engage the help of a professional webdesigner, 1and1 will be the first place I check for webhosting.

OOPS, I did it again!

2011-11-25T19:11:00.001-06:00

I have committment issues, it seems. I've redesigned my logo, banners, and avatars for my blog, my Facebook page and my Etsy and ArtFire pages. This is the 5th time (at least!) in four years. Sheesh....

I've been obsessed with the color combination of gray and berry. (Since I've decided to embrace my natural "silver" haircolor, I find that berry is one of my new colors that look good with my coloring. So why not incorporate it in other areas of my life?)

The pale gray heart on my banner represents a motif I use in my sterling silver wire jewelry. I "drew" it (my first vector graphic image!) using a free program called Inkscape. I then put the banners/avatars together using another free program called GIMP.

Feel free to chime in. Is the gray too bland? Is the pink too "Barbie"? Or does it look okay?

Why ArtFire Rocks!

2011-05-23T12:01:00.000-05:00

I love ArtFire. Of all the online venues where I have a presence, ArtFire is my favorite - hands down. Here's why, in no particular order:

1)  Cost: There's a fixed monthly rate. No listing fees, no fees when items sell. No hidden, unexpected costs.   This makes it very easy to budget.

2) Knowledge Base: The forum, the Help Guides, the Inside Handmade podcasts -- all excellent. The education I'm receiving about search engine optimization (SEO) and social media (loved the Social Media Bootcamp series) alone is worth the cost.

3) The "Admin": The folks who run ArtFire actively participate in the forum discussions. Getting a straight answer couldn't be easier.

4) Selling: People have found my items via Google and purchased them.  While shoppers are welcome to sign up to join the ArtFire community, they are not required to do so in order to purchase.

5) Really cool stuff:   Okay, I've been writing from the perspective of a seller, but let's face it: I'm a shopper too.   ArtFire features some of the most amazing handcrafted items, vintage items, and crafting/art supplies.

Another Book I'm Enjoying: 30 Minute Earrings by Marthe LeVan

2011-05-16T09:33:00.000-05:00

I literally spend hours at my local Barnes & Noble. I especially love to peruse the art & craft books while sipping coffee at the B&N cafe and attempting to narrow my selection to one or two books.

I really liked 30 Minute Earrings by Marthe LeVan. This book features 60 earring projects, each from a different artist -- all created in 30 minutes or less.

Really cool earrings, too: some made from recycled materials (automobile license plates, VHS tapes -- I kid you not!), others made from traditional materials, others made from budget friendly items.

I also like how the top of each project lists exactly what skills are needed to complete the project. If you don't solder, for example, you can skip ahead to the next project.

That said, my first attempt at one of the projects took about 100 minutes (85 for the first earring, 15 for the second) -- talk about a learning curve! Once I figured it out, though I was zipping along.

If you're looking for out-of-the-box ideas, consider this book. It's available at B&N, Amazon, and I'm sure other places.

I received my Certified Handmade designation on ArtFire.com!

2011-04-25T21:56:00.000-05:00

I was recently awarded my ArtFire Certified Handmade Artifact. What does this mean?

It means, I've been a PRO member of ArtFire for at least 60 days. (Since October 2010, actually.)

It means I'm in good standing with ArtFire.com, including no outstanding cases concerning non-delivery of product, no outstanding cases concerning mis-representation of products for sale, no outstanding cases concerning other violations of the ArtFire Terms of Use. (Never had any outstanding cases.)

It means my ArtFire studio is complete and contains an avatar, a banner, complete studio policies, and a bio with photo.

Most of all, it means that 100% of the items in my ArtFire studio are personally handmade by me.

To visit my ArtFire studio, click here.

So I'm Reading This Book.....

2010-09-09T17:48:00.000-05:00

It's called How to Start a Home-Based Jewelry Making Business by Maire Loughran. It's chock full (yeah, there's a term I use a lot - not!) of information about transitioning from hobbyist to business owner. It's available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. It's also available on Google Books .

It's inspired me to get serious about the business side of my work and I've been researching sole proprietorship versus LLC, taxes, accounting, etc. Ever read so much info you feel like your head is going to explode? That's me.

Well, it's about time, right?!

2010-08-29T19:54:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time coming, but I've redesigned my blog and my Etsy banner. I'm in the processing of updating my website.

I'm liking the new look - nice and cheery, don't you think? My goal is to post at least once a week - preferably twice. For those of you that still check in from time to time, thanks for hanging in there.

Check out my new and improved Facebook Fan Page!

2010-02-17T10:27:00.000-06:00

http://facebook.com/LisaRaspinoJewelry

Here you'll find photos of my creations, as well as a handy link to my Etsy shop (http://lisaraspino.etsy.com/)

A Brief Hiatus...

2009-05-19T22:36:00.002-05:00

Due to an illness in the family, I've made two cross-country trips in three weeks so I've been a bit out of touch, electronically and creatively. Things seems to be going well, though, so I hope to get back to creating and blogging soon.

Thanks for hanging in there!

When One Door Closes, Another Opens...

2009-04-14T22:14:00.002-05:00

In my last post, I mentioned that I was a bit sad that the Etsy team I joined (as a founding member) last fall seems to have fallen on the wayside.

There's truth to the saying that when one door closes, another opens. This 'new door', so to speak, is a new team called Handmade Louisiana. Wonderful artisans from the great state of Louisiana, but not exclusively Etsy sellers.

I'll be posting more info about Handmade Louisiana's mission, etc. In the meantime, here's a link to our blog (I'm a contributer).

Mourning a Loss of Sorts

2009-03-31T22:09:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, I list my jewelry for sale on Etsy. Last fall, I met a couple of really terrific sellers based in my home state and we decided to form a team, LouisianArtisans or LArtisans, for short (click on the link and check out some really amazing shops from the Bayou State.

The LArtisans Team established an executive committee for Membership, Treasury, Public Relations, Local Liaisons, etc. We were on fire, baby! We have our own online portal with message boards, chat, a blog (I was the blog committee chair). We had our own groups on Flickr, IndiePublic, MySpace, WeLoveEtsy...it was almost a little daunting. But there was a lot of interest.

Our membership comprised over 200 Etsy shops. Etsy chats twice a week. Local group meetings. And then, around Christmas, it all started to fall apart. Not pointing fingers at all. Life is so much more than our art and Etsy business; no one understands that more than I.

But still, I'm sad. I've met a lot of very cool, very inspiring people. We've shared coffee, conversation, marketing tips. We've cheered each others' successes, commiserated with each others' disappointments. I've actually done what I tell my kids NEVER to do: I made a friend online and *gasp* gave out my personal information. But she's a kindred spirit of mine: part friend, part enabler (bead shop sales? road trip?), part encourager. She's a keeper (her shop is here).

So I guess I can say that I received most of what I hoped with this team. I'm just sorry that others may not have the great experience that I did. Perhaps they joined later when the activity was waning. Perhaps we didn't reach out enough to get them - and keep them - actively involved. Who knows.

Perhaps we'll try again some day. I would like to think you haven't heard the last of the LouisianArtisans.

Celebrating Another Sale

2009-03-04T21:40:00.002-06:00

I sold one of my little bird nest pendants this past week to someone who saw me wearing mine and requested one of her own. I was happy to comply. It took considerable trial and error, though. I made - and rejected 3 - before I finally created one suitable for sale.

Iused two of the rejects into a pair of earrings for my own personal use. The other is added to my scrap that I'll eventually send off for recycling.

I'm working to refine my skill so I can list one or two of these in my Etsy shop.

Entrecard....

2009-02-17T19:31:00.007-06:00

Did you notice the little widget to the right ------------->

It's called an Entrecard. It's a fun way to advertise on other people's blogs and to discover new blogs. How does it work? In a nutshell, you go to the Entrecard site, sign up and add their code to your blog.

Entrecard users will request to put their 125x125 pixel card on your blog. If you accept, it's automatically placed on your widget for 24 hours. (One ad at a time.) If you don't wish to advertise their blog on yours, you can decline the request. If you like the ads you come across, simply click and visit their blog.

You earn 'credits' for each ad you accept. You can also earn credits by clicking on the Entrecard ads on blogs you visit -- referred to "dropping" your card. These credits are how you pay for the ads you'd like to place on other people's blogs.

How do you know where to advertise? Clicking on "campaign" will allow you to browse Entrecards, click links to their blogs, and if you like what you see, you can request to advertise. Since I'm new and have few credits, I look for newer, inexpensive blogs in the art, fashion, or hobbies categories. I then check out their blog to see if I think it would be a good fit for my ad.

I avoid blogs of jewelry artists whose work are similar in style to mine. I also look at their blog's site traffic, and where they've placed the Entrecard widget. If it's too far down the page, I hit the 'back' button.

I've discovered some fun blogs via Entrecard. It's a fun marketing tool, one person I know received an Etsy sale from an Entrecard connection. It's no only for onling sellers. Non-commercial blogs are on Entrecard, too. It's for anyone who'd like to drive more traffic to their blog.

My Entrecard looks like this:

A Little Bird Told Me...

2009-02-17T19:06:00.006-06:00

One of my latest creations....

It started when I was trying to create something out of sterling wire - I won't even say what because it's embarrassing that I ended up so far off my original mark. I wasn't pleased with my progress and in a mini-fit of frustration, I smashed it. Being rather frugal, I couldn't just throw the mess away so I considered how I might be able to re-purpose it.

It looked rather like a bird's nest, albeit a rough one. And so yet another inpiration was born. As the saying goes, there are no new ideas ... so a quick search of the internet revealed (googled 'birdnest pendant').

Nevertheless, I like the way it came out. It's more organic (read: messier) than some of the more structured wire birdnest pendants I've seen online. The "eggs" are cultured freshwater pearls that are woven into the nest.

I wore my creation a couple of weeks ago to a class I attend and one of the other women in class asked me to make one for her. I've also made a pair of birdnest earrings.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Beaded Spheres

2009-02-12T22:19:00.005-06:00

Last fall I posted about a beaded ball (for lack of a better term) that I bought in a bead shop that was going out of business. I've been enthralled by the silly thing ever since. I tried searching online to find out how they're made - no easy feat, when you're not sure what they're called. I did finally find some printed instructions that, for me, were way too complicated.

I more or less put the idea aside while I'm took care of my computer issues in December. Since then, I found a brilliant tutorial on a blog called My Daily Bead. The author's technique is so much clearer than anything I've come across.

The photos above are a few of my creations. The gray ball is made from 6mm bicone Swarovski crystals. It's a tad 'disco-ballish' for my taste, but it's easier working with larger beads when you're just starting out. It's made with 30 crystals.

The small white ball is made with tiny seed beads and is smaller in diameter than a dime. I modified the instructions so that I used 3 seed beads for every one bead used in the tutorial (a 3 to 1 ratio = 90 seed beads).

I followed the instructions to created the ball using rice pearls and attached them to earrings. It was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to buying tiny bicone crystals and making these into pendants.

Drop me a comment and let me know what you think.

Celebrating My 12th Sale

2009-02-09T21:16:00.002-06:00

Since joining the Etsy site one year ago (almost to the day - Feb. 25 is my Etsy-versary date), I've sold twelve items. Eleven were Etsy sales, one was an in-person sale. Now, I know 12 isn't a stellar number, but still...

A year ago, I couldn't imagine selling a single one of my little creations. Today, I sold one of my favorite pieces. It's a one-of-a-kind (OOAK, for those of you who like acronyms) triple strand aventurine necklace with Tribe Hill silver flowers.

I'll ship it tomorrow and celebrate with a Caffe Mocha.

1000 Markets

2009-01-28T22:18:00.003-06:00

In addition to my Etsy shop, I can now also be found on the 1000Markets.com. Here's the link: www.lisaraspino.1000markets.com

1000 Markets is another online artisan venue, much smaller than Etsy (although perhaps not for long). They have a very simple fee structure: free to list items, no expiration on listings, 5.5% + 50 cents if the items sells.

Rather than accepting PayPal (I do like PayPal), 1000 Markets accepts Amazon Payments. What this means for the buyer is that if they have an Amazon.com account (and many people do), they can pay that way. As a seller, I never see the buyer's personal credit card information (the same is true with PayPal).

The downfall: right now, 1000 Markets is a U.S. only site, whereas Etsy is international. Still, I like the streamlined look of 1000 Markets. Check it out sometime.

Did You Miss Me?

2009-01-01T21:36:00.002-06:00

Have you, three followers, been wondering where I've been lately? I'll fill you in. I've traveled to Washington, DC (great trip), stopped by Lilly's Bead Box in Knoxville, TN (cool stuff), then picked up a computer virus (GRRR).

I resisted the urge to throw my desktop p.c. out the kitchen window, and decided to wipe the hard drive instead. Thanks to the recovery disks, I was able to restore my system to where it was in 2004. Several hundred Windows updates later (okay, I'm exaggerating - only slightly), and I'm up and running. Unfortunately one of my photo backup disks was bad - I lost all of my jewelry photos, but I can retake those. My family photos (six years worth) are safe.

So my New Year's resolutions are: 1) backup my photos on a flash drive instead of CD (ditto my iTunes library), 2) take new photos of my 100+ jewelry items, 3) write descriptions for the 60 or 70 items that I still have to list on Etsy.

I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year!

Tiny Gems

2008-12-15T23:38:00.003-06:00

On my recent trip from Louisiana to Virginia, I made it a point to stop by one of my favorite bead shops, Lilly's Beadbox, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Lilly has an Etsy shop, too.)

Since my last visit in August, it seems Lilly has been increasing their supply of gemstone beads. They have some really great, high-end stuff, but they also have some more economical options. I bought a few strands of gemstone briolettes on closeout (wish I would've bought more!)

This is how I've been amusing myself lately:

And these:

amethyst

garnet

LouisianArtisans Meet & Greet

2008-11-12T08:27:00.017-06:00

I love meeting and talking with artistic people. Our LouisianArtisans Etsy Team (tag: LArtisans Team) members periodically have local meet and greets. I attended one last week for the Etsy sellers in my area. We discussed local marketing opportunities, upcoming shows, promotional items, as well as shared our creations.

In the photo, from left to right are the owners of the following Etsy shops: JodieFlowers, Mamaslittlemonkeys, Cheeseandchocolate and LisaRaspino.

Clicking on their shop name below will take you to their Etsy shop. If you click on the photos, it will take you the specific item in their shop. I encourage you visit...great stuff!

JodieFlowers

JodieFlowers works in a variety of media. She brought some of her adorable patches to show us:

These appliques/patches measure 5 1/2 by 7 inches and are sewn for durability. They are perfect for kid's t-shirts, denim jackets, fabric totes, robes...the possibilities are endless!

I'm coveting one of Jodie's colorful spiders made from polymer clay and wire, which can be attached to a window/porch screen or made with a magnet on back. Check this out:

Mamaslittlemonkeys

Mamaslittlemonkeys is a great place to find baby items: clothing, cloth wipes, nursing pillows, bibs and blankets. She made this blanket and Sammy the 6-Legged Octopus set out of the softest minky fabric:

In addition to being an artist with needle and thread, she's also a talented graphic designer. If you're looking for a website banner, avatar or graphic for your social networking site, you can order one through her shop.

The same artist has a second shop:

Fleurdeink

This shop has beautiful silk flower pens for the person who likes to write with flair.

CheeseandChocolate

This shop is a mother/daughter owned shop featuring beautiful, trendy (yet not dated) jewelry, as well as original drawings, art prints, and ACEOs (Artists' Cards, Editions & Originals). Below is her new listed earrings.

The owner of CheeseandChocolate has another shop:

WorkingtheStash

WorkingtheStash sells supplies for making jewelry, scrapbooking and stamping. She has a nice selection of Christmas stamps, just in time for your holiday card-making.

LisaRaspino

This is my shop, where I sell handcrafted beaded and embellished chain jewelry. Below is a necklace made with purple glass beads and sterling silver.

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I hope you enjoyed the brief introduction to these shops. I encourage you to click the links and get better acquainted!

Round Ear Wires

2008-11-01T14:43:00.006-05:00

Look what I made with silver wire, a couple of beads, a pair of pliers, and a Sharpie pen (to shape the wire):

You may be thinking, "whatever possessed you....?"

I mentioned in yesterday's post that one of my fellow LousianArtisan team members (an Etsy team) and I attempted to visit our favorite bead shop after our team's Meet & Greet on Tuesday, but unfortunately the shop is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

She and I made arrangements to go again on Thursday. I love, love, love this store. It's called Turquoise Coyote and they have amazing prices (especially on their sterling silver wire, chain, findings).

One reason I believe their prices are so great is that they are almost rebelliously low-tech. No website = no online orders, no computerized inventory, no cash register... Your receipt is written in a notebook with a sheet of carbon paper in between - item number, quantity and price. The top sheet torn out for you (your receipt), the other stays in the notebook for their um..recordkeeping (if they keep records). Your purchases are tallied up on a handheld calculator. Tax is calculated on the calculator. It's actually rather quaint.

I went with the specific purpose of buying deep red cultured freshwater pearls for a custom necklace I'm working on for a customer, and to buy some sterling silver wire. This is my first foray in to bulk wire. I usually purchase 2 inch headpins and use those to wire wrap my beads, but I wanted to venture into making my own ear wires.

Two hours and eighty-plus dollars later, I leave with:

deep red cultured freshwater pearls
deep brownish olive cultured freshwater pearls
rose quartz chips
tourmaline chips in shades of pink and green
small tourmaline bead in shades of brown
green quartz faceted rondele beads
red carnelian faceted round beads
31 feet of sterling silver wire
100 sterling silver headpins.

It's quite possible that I'm forgetting something.

Anyway, I used the sterling wire to fashion my own rounded ear wires. A nice change from the traditional French hook style, I think.

My Latest Compulsion...Beaded Sphere

2008-11-01T14:32:00.003-05:00

After our LouisianArtisans (Etsy team) Meet and Greet on Tuesday, one of my fellow jewelry designers and I decided to visit our favorite bead supply shop. It isn't too terribly far away, but not in an area that I pass regularly, which is probably a good thing for my wallet.

Anyway, the bead shop is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, there's another bead shop a block away that is going out of business. I've been there before and it's a very nice shop. It's more of a specialty bead place, rather than the buy-in-bulk store. But I digress...

All items were 50% off. I bought the bead in the photo. No specific plan in mind for it, but it intrigued me. It's made of small rice pearls and woven together into a 3-dimensional open sphere. The diameter is smaller than a dime.

As it so often happens with me, 'intrigue' morphs into 'compulsion' (or is it 'obsession'?). I cannot tell you how many hours I spent online looking for instructions on how to make one of these. Especially challenging because I don't know what it's generally called.

Is it a beaded ball (one small typo in google brings up some very, very strange links. Oy!), a beaded sphere, a woven beaded ball....? You get the idea. I've found a few different sets of instructions, plus one online video tutorial, so I think I'll be able to figure out the technique and perhaps make a few of my own.

It's the mantra of the self-taught: "I read a tutorial (or saw a podcast) and now I'm an expert." :-D

LouisianArtisans Meet & Greet

2008-10-31T13:06:00.005-05:00

I'm a member of the LouisianArtisans team on Etsy. Our team comprises 172 Etsy shops whose owners reside in the great state of Louisiana. Some Etsy artisans have more than one shop.

Our Louisiana team has local subgroups that will hold meet & greets, pair up for craft shows, etc.

I attended my first Meet & Greet on Tuesday. The turnout was small but we're a lively group. We exchanged business cards, exchanged ideas and tip, and - my favorite - showed samples of our work.

Here we are - click on the links to visit their shops:

From left to right: The Watermelon Tree, Lisa Raspino (me) , Tu2Cute, and Cheese and Chocolate.

Conversation flowed for two hours before it was time to head our separate ways. It was a great opportunity to put 'faces' with the names we see on Etsy, in the Portal, on Flickr....

If you'd like to visit all of the LouisianArtisans shops, click here: LArtisans Team Favorites.

What Inspires Me - Part II

2008-10-23T09:15:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I blogged about how I might get an idea for a particular jewelry design. Most frequently, though, it's this - which can be summed up in two word:

Woo Pretty!

Yep, that's the highly analytical, scientific method I use.

It works like this. I enter a bead supply store "just to browse." That's the key. If I plan to buy something, I usually can not find what I'm looking for. If I plan *not* to purchase anything, the ideas often come like a speeding freight train.

If it makes me say, "Woo Pretty!" I buy it. It it makes me say, "Ooooh!" it's a 'maybe' (one to be strongly considered).

The challenge comes later, at home, when I have all these very pretty beads, findings, etc. and still no idea how I'll use them. Sometimes the inspiration will strike quickly. Other times, the beads will sit in my nicely organized box for weeks, months - and in a couple of instances, years - before I finally have that AHA! moment.

But I have faith in the process. You know the old like from the movie Field of Dreams - "if you build it, they will come." ? Well, that's kind of how this works.

"If I buy it, the idea will come."

What Inspires Me - Part I

2008-10-22T14:32:00.005-05:00

I was asked the following by one of the five people who actually read my blog (I prefer to think of them as a small but elite group who, naturally, have excellent taste, but I digress.....)

What inspires me when it comes to creating my jewelry?

Occasionally I might see a certain style of jewelry that I like, but I make it a point to not look too closely. No cutting pictures from catalogs or magazines, no browsing websites or other jewelry shops. I certainly don't want to copy what someone else has done. Instead I simply make a mental note about what struck me. Case in point is this necklace, which I created:

The item that provided the inspiration for this nepherite jade and glass bead tassle was actually a pair of earrings. The earrings had a large faceted black opaque bead, about the diameter of a dime. Suspected from the bead were small black bicone Swarovskri crystals strung on either beading wire, or thread. I thought a tassle might be an interesting idea.

My interpretation is different, however. Rather than string the two-tone green/black Czech glass beads on flexible beading wire or thread, I took the more labor intensive approach of wire-wrapping each bead (using sterling wire to create the chain "links").

It didn't take too long for my fingers to cramp (the beads are pretty small) and to become a little tired of the whole thing. So out with earrings, hello focal point of a necklace.

So in a nutshell, if I come across an ingenious idea, I may mull it over in my mind for a long time (usually long enough to forget the original source of the idea). Once at work, though, it may morph into something completely different than I intended. Inspiration, for me, is continually evolving.

SOLD: Rose Quartz Nugget Necklace

2008-10-21T16:14:00.004-05:00

It was such a pleasant surprise to log on to my Etsy page today and discover that one of my pieces sold! It's an irregularly faceted rose quartz nugget that I wire-wrapped, added a freshwater cultured pearl and put on a chain (all metal components are sterling silver).

I have a similar piece in my own personal collection. I made one for myself and was wearing it to be sure it was comfortable and I received several compliments so I made a second one (even better, in my opinion) to list in my Etsy shop.

I was so excited that I immediately took it to the package store near my house so I could sent it off today. Rude awakening, though. I charge close-to-actual shipping and like to send my items in a 4 inch cube box via First Class mail with Delivery Confirmation.

I explicitly requested peanuts for my box, First Class with Delivery Confirmation. The woman at the shop adds the peanuts, seals the box, prints the label and tells me the total - which is quite a bit higher than usual. I look at the form and see that she circled Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. I ask her about that and she replied that they "don't do" First Class with Delivery Confirmation anymore. Lovely.

But wouldn't the time to have mentioned that have been as soon as I made my request (which not incidentally was before she added peanuts and sealed the box)? Grrrr. I could've opened the box, suggested an alternate use for the peanuts, taken my package and left. On principle, I should have. However, I wanted to ship it today (I wouldn't be able to drive to the post office today). Plus I was determined not to let it spoil my "Seller's High."

I did write a letter to the owner of the packing store letting him know that I didn't appreciate my experience today and that I'm highly unlikely to return (I'm sure he'll be heartbroken).

As a side note, when it comes to small parcels, Priority Mail isn't always any speedier than First Class. Next, I'm going to invest in an electronic postal scale for my home. Delivery Confirmation is much less expensive ($0.18 versus $0.85-.95) when you print your postage online - which you can do via PayPal.

But back to happy thoughts: a sale! Woo Hoo!

By the way, the Lampworking Supply Kit (Never Used) is still available. Click the link at the right (below my photo slideshow) for details.

For Sale: Lampworking Starter Kit $100 + shipping

2008-09-09T17:08:00.000-05:00

Lampworking (Glass Bead Making) Supplies - NEVER USED!

$148 value. Yours for $100 + shipping (if applicable - see below)

Kit includes the following:

(see below for photos & full description)

NOTE: items will *not* be sold individually

Torch head
Protective eyewear
Bead Release (aka "sludge")
Dip 'N Etch mattifying solution
Bead reamer and shoulder smoother
31 stainless steel mandrels
3-pc mounting bracket
15 glass rods (assorted colors)
Fiber blankets

Background Story:

I took a lampworking (glass bead making) class at Forest Heart Studios eons ago, in 1997. It was fun, but I had a toddler at home, was preparing for the birth of my second child, etc. and just never got around to doing anything with my newly purchased supplies (I bought them at Forest Heart Studios). I packaged them safely with the thought of returning to it one day.

Fast forward nearly five years and a thousand miles. Apparently lampworking classes is a 'pregnancy craving' for me because, sure enough, while pregnant with my third child, I decided to take a refresher class at Stone & Paper Art Center.

I enjoyed the classes, but I just haven't gotten comfortable working with an open flame. I've decided to dust off my never-used supplies in hopes of selling them (to fund my next artistic endeavor - glass pendant making. I figure I may do better with a soldering iron than a torch.).

Photos & Descriptions:

Torch Head - approx. retail value $40

This torch head is for use with MAPP Gas 1-pound disposable canister (available at most big box home improvement stores). Box was sealed until 6/6/08 when I opened it to photograph this item.

The second photo is of the torch head once I broke the seal on the box.

This is a closer view of the torch head. You can see that it is perfectly clean, unused.

Protective Eyewear - approx. retail value $40

Okay, so you won't be winning any fashion awards wearing these, but your eyes will be protected both from debris, and the light of the torch, thanks to the special tinting. Although the flame is small, don't underestimate the impact of its long term effects on your vision. These glasses are OSHA-compliant and never used.

Dip 'N Etch liquid & Bead Release Powder - approx. retail value $17 & $4, respectively.

Dip ‘N Etch liquid gives glass beads a beautiful matte finish. 6 oz. bottle, never used. Approx. retail price $17.

Bead release pink powder, when mixed with water, is used to coat mandrels to make beads easier to remove. Sometimes referred to as "sludge." Approx. retail price $4.

NOTE: These items were purchased in 1997 and never used. However, I do not know the shelf-life for these items. They have been stored in a dark, dry, temperature-controlled environment.

Reamer/Smoother Set - approx. retail value $5 - $10 for the pair

The top item is a 'shoulder smoother' used to sand burrs from the edge of the finished bead hole. The bottom item is a bead reamer used to further smooth in the inside of the bead hole. Best used while the bead is wet.

Mandrels, set of 31 - approx. retail value $7

Stainless steel mandrels in three sizes: 15 very narrow, 6 medium, and 10 wider width

I believe these to be 1/16", 3/32" and 1/8", respectively based on the Forest Heart Studios' supply list.

Note: judging by the raw ends on some, I believe these were custom cut lengths. However, this does not affect the functionality at all.

Mounting Brackets, 3 piece set - approx. retail value $7

C-Clamp, L-bracket and other do-hickey are used together to securely mount the MAPP gas torch to your work table to allow for hands-free operation. (You'll need one hand for the mandrel, the other for the glass rod.)

Glass Cane (Rods), quantity 15 - approx. retail value $15 total

The four rods in the top of the photo measure 9”. Although I’m not 100% certain, but I believe these are Moretti COE 104 canes.

The remaining 11 rods measure 13" long and I believe, COE 90 canes.

Here's a better photo, along with the names I assigned each color.

NOTE: OP = opaque TR= Transparent
(from left to right):

dark red (OP)
French blue (OP)
bright red (OP)
dark blue (OP)
sky blue (TR)
light blue (TR)
dark purple (OP?)
teal (TR)
medium amethyst purple (TR)
navy blue (TR)
light green (OP)
light teal (OP)
white (OP)
clear (TR)
black (OP)

Fiber Blankets, set of 2, unused - approx. retail value $8 (not pictured)

I hesitated about adding the fiber blankets to this kit, because I couldn't recall what type of fiber they are. Each one measures approx. 8 x 12 inches, and is approximately 1 - 1.5 inches thick. You do not what to handle these with bare hands. When you're finished making and heating your bead, you tuck the bead (still on the mandrel) in between these fiber blankets so they cool gradually and consistently.

Timing is important. If you place the bead between the blankets too soon, while the glass is still molten, the fibers may stick. If you wait too long and glass cools too much, the bead can crack. Experiment with your timing.

Approximate retail value of the entire set: $148

Asking Price: * $100 + $20 shipping

*Note: Items will be shipped within the 48 contiguous states via Fedex Ground for $20 . Credit card payments accepted via PayPal. If sold locally, shipping costs will not apply. Items will not be sold individually.

If you're interested - or have any questions - leave a comment.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie...

2008-08-26T13:56:00.004-05:00

Are you familiar with the delightful children's book by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond called If You Give A Mouse a Cookie? It's one of my youngest son's favorites (mine too). The basic premise is if you give a mouse a cookie, then he'll want a glass of milk, and if you give him a glass of milk, then..... it goes on and on. There are other books in the series: If You Give a Pig Pancakes, If You Take a Mouse to School. If you click the picture above, it'll link you to Barnes & Noble.com where you can learn more.

So where am I going with this? That whole Mouse-Cookie think seems to parallel my life these days. A friend had noticed that I went a period of time without listing new items in my Etsy shop and I tried to explain why.

With apologies to Ms. Numeroff and Ms. Bond, here's what happened.

If you ask a question on the Etsy forum regarding fonts, Lisa is going to be interested.
If Lisa reads the thread, she'll discover that there is a website called What the Font? where you can upload a scanned image of text and the site will attempt to identify the font.
If Lisa visits What the Font, she'll see the web ad for sites from which you can download free fonts.
If Lisa downloads free fonts, chances are she'll develop a fascination with one in particular and think, gee, this would look good on my Etsy banner.
If Lisa decides to re-do her Etsy banner, she'll want to add photos of her jewelry, too, so it's back to the Etsy forum.
If Lisa asks a question on the Etsy forum about how to stitch photos together, she'll receive answers with several different options.
If Lisa cannot figure out how to do with one of her three photo editing programs already installed on her computer, she'll have to install a fourth.
So she'll install GIMP, which someone mentioned on the Etry forum.
If Lisa installs GIMP, she'll spend hours and hours resizing photos, learning about "layers" and developing a new Etsy banner. All because of a free font.
Once Lisa creates and uploads a new Etsy banner, she'll decide that her blog needs a new banner. So she'll create one for that (see above - pretty, isn't it?)
And if Lisa make a new blog banner, then she'll want one for her webpage, too.
If Lisa makes a new banner for her webpage, she'll discover it doesn't coordinate well with the template she selected. So she'll have to pick a new template for her web page.

That about covers a week. Such is the joy of adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Did I mention that all of this was all because of a free font?

(For some reason, Blogger is not appreciating my hard paragraph breaks, hence the bulleted text.)

Why I Do What I Do

2008-04-18T23:26:00.004-05:00

I make beaded jewelry. My interest in this medium started in 2005 when a neighbor gave me a gift which included a gift certificate to a day spa and a beautiful beaded bracelet. She apparently thought I did something nice for her but for the life of me I cannot recall what it might be. I don’t remember doing anything out of the ordinary. I was enthralled by the bracelet and she explained that she made it.

Wow. I’ve seen these things, and I guess knew someone made them, but I never put two and two together. I expressed interest in learning how to do it and she was most gracious: She had a first-class setup in her bedroom. An armoire full of beads, tools, findings.

Not much prior to receiving my gift, I had ordered a sterling claddagh bracelet on eBay – with free sizing. Since I was paying a set rate for the bracelet and having it made smaller so it would fit my wrist, I told the seller that I wanted the extra claddagh link. My neighbor and I decided to use this link as a centerpiece.

In one afternoon, she taught me how to string beads on beading wire, how to select components (crystals, spacers, findings) and how to wire-wrap a bead to the claddagh link to make a dangling pendant.

My husband often talks about his “runner’s high.” I have to tell you, there is a “jeweler’s high.” And I found it!

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