*waves*

It has been almost a month since I last posted…  and, wow, a lot can happen in a month!  Illnesses and work projects, coupled with house issues (we had to throw out both of our couches) and a twisted ankle (not my ankle, but still acquired while disposing of said couches)…  ah, the wonders of being an adult!

That being said, I did want to put something here to let it be known that my shop is still open and I am still making new things to sell…  I’m hoping that March will bring more of an opportunity to share some of these wonderful things! (And hopefully also a new couch...  I am getting a little tired of sitting on the floor...)

Valentine's Day Sneak Peak

My thoughts on Valentine's Day...


I have mixed feelings about Valentine's Day.  For quite a long time, I had no Valentine...  After all, it wasn't until I was a senior in college that I had a boyfriend (who, happily, is now my husband).  So, I was the single girl who bought myself chocolates and flowers on February 14th, and tended to avoid romantic movies.  Even today, happily married, I am not much for pink and foofy displays of affection.  


I am, however, very fond of stately expressions of love.  For example, my favorite flowers are roses--not to be cliché, but because I love their depth, the way their petals unfurl, their silk velvet reds.  I enjoy the deeper shades of Valentine's--reds and silvers, velvet and damask, rich dark chocolate truffles and creamy ganache.


And so, while thinking of designs for Valentine's Day this year, I tried to incorporate that feeling of stately love.  I am happy with the result--both the Winter's Masquerade set that I posted earlier, and my newest creation:

I plan on posting it to my store very soon...  I am just trying to come up with a fitting story to accompany it.  Keep a look out for when it goes live!

Random Fun: Science!

Can you guess what these are?

For those of you who guessed "those are polymer balls that expand when exposed to water, currently drying in a sieve!", you would be correct.


In my last foray into a craft store, I ventured into the science fair section--the part with children's microscopes, ant farms, test tubes, and astronaut ice cream.  It's the section that I loved when I was little (yes, I was a nerd)--and the section that I still love now (yes, I am still a nerd).


While all of the bigger sets are quite expensive, I was delighted to find that there are a lot of smaller sets for under $10.  And so, I bought a packet of "slippery spheres"...  or, in other words, polymer balls that go from 2mm to the size of large marbles when exposed to water.  I put them in a bowl of water on the counter.  The constant excitement at watching them expand--and the subsequent delight to find that they bounce--was well worth the $4.00!


And, because I find delight and inspiration in the slightest things, here are pictures of the venture.  To start with, here are the spheres right at the beginning...

And here is what they look like after a few days (the smallest next to the largest):

Something else fun about these spheres is that they actually shrink when no longer exposed to water.  Once dry, you can start the entire process over again.  And so, here you can see them being dried out:

Of course, I have yet to figure out how to incorporate them into any of my jewelry...  After all, it is hard to work with a substance that has to be perpetually wet.  Yet, I find them beautiful to just stare at...  and wonderfully fun to play with (did I mention that they bounce)?


The world that we live in never ceases to amaze me...  I am living proof that science can be fun.


---
Fine print:


For all you fellow nerds, here is the Wikipedia article on polymer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer


And, for all of you fellow nerds who feel the desire to replicate my experiment, here is the link to the actual set that I bought:
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=113382&dep=25&cat=60&subcat=10&Search=Y


Basically, the idea is that polymer in the spheres creates chemical bonds with the polarized water, causing the water to be absorbed and the sphere itself to expand.  It's a simple enough explanation, but I find it fascinating how it actually does it.

I'm on a roll...

I just posted some lovely silver and red items...  Just in time for Valentine's Day!*

Hairsticks -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38828212
Earrings -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38828037
Necklace -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38827784


---


* - I usually don't like doing anything over the top for Valentine's Day...  I try to keep things understated and elegant, something that you would want to wear other times of the year.  I think this set accomplishes this goal quite nicely...  I have started wearing my set already, and have gotten compliments on them.

New Items Posted!

Ta-DA! 

Remember the petroglyph necklace that I posted about earlier this month?  The one that I made from some beautiful beads from Beadazzled?  I listed it--and it's matching hairsticks and earrings--in my store tonight.


Here is a preview...

Here are the links for the above:
Necklace -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38817583
Earrings -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38816861
Hairsticks -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38818210




...And, as a special bonus, I also posted these:

They are called Wintermoon, a counterpart for the other pair of earrings I have listed called Summersun (which, coincidentally, happen to be listed right before them--and I didn't do that on purpose!)


Here are the links for those:
Wintermoon -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38812758
Summersun -- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25293583


Enjoy!

Some things that made me happy today...

In lieu of a jewelry update, have a list:

~ I went to Starbucks on a whim, and got a free drink because they didn't have what I originally ordered (a chai)

~ I was able to catch an earlier bus home, just by chance--and even got a seat to myself for most of the trip home

~ I found a copy of one of my favorite soundtracks at half price book for $6.00 (it is not even sold on iTunes)

~ I was able to share my jewelry with some people work (namely, the people who I made the custom orders for--see earlier posts)...  They really liked what I made, and I felt appreciated and talented

...and now, I am tired and grateful to be safe and home.

Three Posts, Three Pictures - #3

Recently, I have been working at clearing off my work table.  (It's no small feat, trust me!)  Tonight, as I mucked around through the various and sundry tidbits I have lying around, I came upon an anklet that I had abandoned last year.  I loved the color combination and the beads--beautiful kambaba jasper coins mixed with copper--but it was just a bit too chunky to lay nicely around my ankle.  I had put it aside because I didn't want to abandon it completely; I just did not know what to do with it.

As I stared at it tonight, however, I had an eureka moment.  I realized that it was sitting next to a lovely length of copper chain (complete with toggle clasp!).  They complimented each other beautifully, and they were the right length to make an 17.5" necklace!

And so, a necklace was born (called Filani of the Forest*):

---


* It is called the Filani of the Forest because it matches this pair of hairsticks:  http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=16181236.  I am going to see if I have enough of the kambaba jasper coins to make another pair of said hairsticks, because I do not believe I actually have a pair for myself.


...Is it just me, or does the first picture look like a smiley face?  Perhaps it's just because it's getting late and I should go to bed...

Three Posts, Three Pictures - #2

Here is a custom order that I made for another lady at work.  She saw the necklace that I made for a fellow coworker (see previous post), and decided that she wanted one, too.  I showed her the options and she picked out the length and color combination.  The result is similar to the first post, but still unique.  And it is still simply stunning!  I'm taking it into work tomorrow for her to see...  We shall see if she likes it!


Here it is (again, name of design is pending):  

---


When I showed it to my best friend, her response was that she wanted one, too!  :)