Winding down

Filling the shop with the rest of the new finished work that I have. The shipping continues but the making is winding down. As always there is so much "in the works" but it will have to wait until after the holidays.

If you have the chance visit my Etsy team's blog post today. I researched and wrote a short piece about freedom, shopping, fingerless gloves (?) and the power of purchasing from artists and small business owners.

Small and special

I've decided to end the Stone Upon Stone line and will post the last (and smallest) of the earrings this week. This design originated after I was in a huge rockfall in 2008. You could say it was part of my healing process and now...I feel like I'm done and its time to move on. Although the rings and earrings have been good sellers for me I'll be selling off the pieces I have left.

Ah..that feels good. Making way for new things.

I'm trying to keep lots of new stocking stuffers in the shop right now. Small earrings are my way of practicing new techniques, 3D sketching in polymer, so lots of the tiny earrings are one of a kind or limited edition. Small and special doesn't have to mean diamond studs.

Ring, ring

I decided to try some paid advertising this year. The folks at 20BestTwenty could not have made it any easier (thank you Meg)! I went out on a bit of limb by choosing a ring to promote for starters. I know, not the easiest jewelry to sell since fit is key. I have full and half sizes 5-10 ready to ship - this is more production mode than I've attempted with rings thus far.

After a quick and helpful tweet chat with Danielle last night I realized that it would help if I provide some sort of chart, link, or ring sizers. So after the boys get started with math thats the first order of business this morning.

Danielle (HandyMaiden) makes the most charming animals. Hand sculpted, handed painted polymer - each with such personality. You can find your standard favorites (fox, owl, deer) but if its a Red Panda, Fennec Fox or Eastern Quoll you're after, she's got that too.

Partner in Polymer

My high school art teacher husband is adding a polymer clay unit to his 3D design course (pretty forwarding thinking of him, eh?) so he's been invading my space lately.

Its nice to have company in the studio, especially clever company who thinks of new ideas and likes to solve problems. He's making his way through certain skills trying to narrow down the ones he will teach while keeping his expectation of what the students will do with those skills wide open. Unfortunately its all too easy to teach a skill, show an example...and then just end up with 24 copies of that example. He encourages creativity above all and of course, polymer clay willingly obliges.

Live the good life

I believe in the idea of craft as part of economic, spiritual and emotional renewal! You can read about it here and here.

Most good things have been said and now just need to be lived. - Shane Claiborne

Elements

Lots of new parts and elements floating about. I'm still wondering how they'll all come together.

I find I like the sides of the beads for a new bracelet as much as the tops.