Entries from January 2008 ↓

Here are a few of the entries in the Winter Beading Challenge. To see the rest of the amazing entries, see our Flickr group.

Please contact me if you would like to be informed of the Spring Beading Challenge.

My husband’s new product launched just yesterday, and I wanted to spread the word because I think that a lot of the people who read my blog would be interested in using it.

His company is called CellSpin. They’re offering FREE software that allows you to upload photos, video, or audio directly from your phone to various internet sites like YouTube, Picasa, Facebook, Flickr, Live Journal, eBay, and Blogger.

CellSpin also has community blogs (called “clogs”) on their site, where you can share all sorts of media (photos, videos, text, audio) with people with similar interests. I’ve started a clog there for Handmade Jewelry. Anyone is welcome to join and upload media related to handmade jewelry; I’d love to see your work! You can also start your own clog, or join any of the many clogs that have already been created. (You don’t need a phone with a camera to use these features – yay!)

Make an account – it’s fun!

Help my husband by checking out the site, and trying it out. Thank you!

Question of the Day: What do you wish you could do with your cell phone that you can’t already do?

The second metal in my series of articles about metal is nickel silver. I’ve chosen to write about nickel silver because I feel that some of the names that are used for nickel silver tend to be misleading. Nickel silver is often sold as German silver or Alpaca silver, however it contains no silver at all.

Nickel silver is an alloy of nickel and copper, and sometimes zinc. Nickel silver is a bright silver-colored metal, and it is wonderful to use in jewelry-making because it is fairly soft, it can be work-hardened into a durable piece of jewelry, and it is an inexpensive alternative to silver. Nickel silver will tarnish with time, however it doesn’t seem to tarnish as much as traditional sterling silver. Nickel silver can be cleaned much in the same way as sterling silver (see my previous article on sterling).

The biggest drawback to nickel silver is that many people have a sensitivity to nickel. In fact, nickel is the most common metal that people are sensitive/allergic to. I like to use nickel silver in making pendants and chains, but I never use it for ear wires.

So next time you see something being sold as German silver or Alpaca silver, keep in mind that it does not contain any silver, and that it may cause allergy problems for some people.

Question of the Day: Does anyone know how I can set up WP-Polls on this blog? I really haven’t had any luck installing it.

Today’s featured Etsy shop is beautifuljewels, a shop featuring handmade Swarovski crystal jewelry.

I asked the owner of beautiful jewels a few questions about her work.

What is your day job?
I work as a cabin service director for Air Canada, also know as in-charge or head flight attendant, based in Montreal and I travel the world. When I have the chance, I go hunting for semi-precious and gemstones when I am on layovers overseas.

What inspires you in your work?
What inspires me; creating. I love colors and putting individuals stones together and having something tangible, that I created, as the fruit of my labor. I often imagine myself on a cruise or on a Carribean beach and picture all the colors….

Swarovski crystals are notoriously difficult to photograph, and you do a beautiful job. Can you share any photography tips with my readers?
As far as photography goes, I am no expert; I take about 200 pics to get a few good ones, use daylight as much as possible and a white background to make the colors show.

How did you name your shop?
As for the name of my store, well, that’s just what comes to mind when I look at the end product… beautifuljewels.

What advice would you offer someone who was thinking about starting a business?
Advice for someone looking to start a small business selling handmade goods, expect to put a lot of time and effort into it and still not make a profit. If you are not passionate about what you do, don’t do it. It has to give you pleasure because there is a lot of fierce competition out there. And lastly, if you wouldn’t wear it or use it yourself, don’t try to sell it.

Where is your work available for sale?
I sell on-line beautifuljewels.etsy.com, at craft shows, home shows (also known as jewelry party), as well as in boutiques.

Today’s featured Etsy shop is shinyadornments, a shop featuring artisan wire wrapped jewelry creations.

I asked the owner of shinyadornments a few questions about herself and her work.

Tell me about yourself.
I’m a corporate stooge by day and a jewelry designer by night. I love to create jewelry with sterling, copper and brass wire and then incorporate lampwork, stone, glass, polymer clay and other items into my work.

I’m a mom to a fabulously energetic three year old son and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I ask myself at least once a week how my life ended up so good. Well, in between discussing poop components with my son…. you’ll have to see my blog for more info about THAT. ha

How did you get started making your art?
I’ve always been crafty. I like all things home improvement related (I can lay tile and mud sheetrock with the best of them. ) and I love creating stained glass projects. I went through a period that I was buying jewelry like crazy, but never had the ‘right’ piece to wear. Know what I mean? I saw an article in a local women’s flyer and something clicked. The same weekend I read that article, I purchased an enormous array of tools and beads and wire. I’ve discovered that its quite an amazing thing to look at the individual components and visualize their final assembled state. Even more amazing to see something I’ve created being worn by one of my customers.

My day job is demanding, stressful and lots of long hours. So, as an added benefit, hammering and shaping the components is a wonderful stress reliever. Sort of hammer based meditation.

Where is your work available for sale?
At shinyadornments.etsy.com and at home parties.

Today’s featured Etsy shop is PhriendlyK8, a shop featuring art for walls, purses, tote bags, messenger bags, wristlets, dresses, skirts, and tops.

Tell me about yourself.
My name is Katelyn. I recently graduated college with a degree in Art Education. I am looking for an Elementary Art Teaching Position. I like music and being outside. I love colorful things!

What inspires you in your work?
I am very much inspired by nature. I love trees and animals, and I use a lot of those subjects in my work. I love the colors that are found in nature. Being outside on a nice day is so wonderful and inspirational to me!

PhriendlyK8′s work is available online at PhriendlyK8.etsy.com. She also plans to start doing craft shows and vending music festivals this coming spring and summer in New England.

In addition to my gemstone series, I’ve decided to start a series on various types of metal used in jewelry-making. My hope is that I can help to provide information that will assist my readers in making jewelry-buying decisions. When shopping for jewelry, whether it’s fine diamond jewelry or inexpensive costume jewelry, the type of metal used one of the most important things the buyer needs to know.

Sterling silver is the metal that I work with most often, so that is where I am going to begin my series.

Sterling silver is an alloy containing at least 92.5% silver. The other 7.5% is most often copper. There is a relatively new type of sterling silver alloy now available called Argentium(tm) that contains germanium in addition. Argentium(tm) is more resistant to tarnish than traditional sterling silver.

Sterling silver is a top choice among jewelry-makers for a plethora of reasons. First, it can be annealed easily (heated and then cooled quickly) so that is soft and fairly easy to work with. Second, it can be work-hardened so that the finished product is durable. Sterling silver jewelry, properly cared for, can be a family heirloom passed down for generations. Third, it is not plated or coated, and it has a uniform composition throughout. Fourth, sterling silver does not pose an allergy or sensitivity problem for most wearers. (Most metal allergies are to nickel-bearing alloys, and sterling silver does not contain nickel.) Last but not least, silver is a much more affordable metal than gold, making it much more accessible.

Sterling silver will tarnish with time. Sometimes this tarnish gives a nice patina, and can be desirable. Other pieces of sterling are best kept shiny and polished. The most ideal way to remove tarnish is the electrolytic method. The advantage of the electrolytic method is that it does not remove any of the silver. The disadvantage is that it should not be used on jewelry with certain delicate gemstones. Sterling silver can also be polished using a soft polishing cloth, silver polishing paste, or jewelry cleaner. Sterling silver can also be washed gently using a mild soap. White vinegar works well to remove tarnish from sterling silver. Some people even use ketchup to clean their silver. Please remember that gemstones and pearls should not be subjected to these cleaning and polishing methods.

Sterling silver should be stored in a dry, cool place, away from any kind of wood, to avoid tarnishing. Storing sterling silver in silvercloth (also known as pacific cloth), or in a small Ziplock bag works really well. Of course, jewelry should be stored in a manner that avoids damage.

Sterling silver that is worn next to the skin regularly will acquire a beautiful shine on its own.

Question of the Day: Do you have any questions about sterling silver, or anything that you would like to add?

Lepidolite is an uncommon and beautiful mica mineral. It occurs in white, grey, yellow, and lilac. The lilac variety is popular as a gemstone. Lepidolite forms in pegmatites (very coarse grained granites). It has a hardness of 2.5-3 on Moh’s hardness scale, so it is very soft. Lepidolite is found in the United States and Brazil.

Lepidolite on wikipedia

From crystal-cure.com:
Uses for lepidolite
* Encourages independence for setting and attaining goals inconspicuously
* Protection from outside influences
* Relieves every day stress, and promotes restful sleep when placed near your pillow
* Attracts good luck to those who carry it, and drives away negativity
* When used with rose quartz, it becomes a stone of reconciliation of love

Question of the Day: Are there any gemstones you’d like me to feature in the future?

And I created a treasury list of all of the things I’d love to get from Etsy for my birthday. Could someone forward this list to my mom? Seriously…

The Winter Beading Challenge deadline is February 1st, which is about 3 1/2 weeks away..

Many entries have already been posted to our Flickr group.

Contestants are welcome to sell their entry on Etsy at any time. I ask that they use the tag “lavawinter08″ in their listing so I’ll be able to create a treasury of entries.

There are still a few bead sets left, and there’s still time to create, so you’re welcome to join! The only cost is $10 to buy the bead set.