Screen Shot!

A gigantic thank you to Carol for sending me a screenshot of my treasury!

My First Treasury!

I just happened to be looking through the Treasury section when a spot came up! Here's my Ecclectic mix. I had thought about putting together some of my favorite items, but hadn't done it yet, so it took me a while to get it all set up. I know I've missed some that I would have loved to include, but I will try harder next time!

I've included:
Monaco
Jewelry By Marie
Jared in Kansas
Trollflings
Periwinklesuz Studio
Sand Fibers
Aliana Designs
Rob Eastman
Dawn Chastain
Electrikolor
Liskidder
Tiinateaspoon
And alternates:
CG Studio
Retrothreads
Misty Ridge Beads
Macaroni & Glitter

I wish I had room for so many more, but I am determined that though this is my first treasury, it won't be my last!

Time

The older I get, the more I realize that there are just not enough hours in the day...or night for that matter. I will find that I get more beading done in the late evening, end up working on a piece until 2am or 3am, then I have to get up to try to get some work (I'm an at-home transcriptionist) and around 10am or so, I can't keep my eyes open and end up taking a nap - a 20 minute power nap will usually work, but sometimes I'll wake up an hour or more later!

Anyway, between work and running errands or running my youngest here and there, beading gets put off until late evening and the whole cycle starts over again! Can someone please put an extra couple of hours in the day?! :)

Treasury on Etsy

I've only been checking recently and I found a gold star in Treasury for me! YEAH! Thank you so much Curlygirlglass! (http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=241)
The "Scarlet" Treasury (including my bracelet, Frankly Miss Scarlet) will expire at 7:00pm (Eastern) on Tuesday 6/26 and I don't know how to do a screen shot! So, take a look at all the other gorgeous scarlet pieces Curlygirlglass found on Etsy!

In looking further, I found a gray star as well, which means that pmcookie has one of my pieces as an alternate in her treasury! Thank you pmcookie! Just found that as of when I checked again (at 2:30am!), pmcookie had upgraded my "Something Blue Set" to a gold star! Thank you so much!

The Party's Over

Well, the party's over and we're recooperating. Now to figure out where to put the extra serving dishes and stuff we bought, not to mention all the leftovers! Good thing fried chicken and wings freeze well! I think our daughter's graduation party went really well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We were very lucky to have some family come in from out of state, too. It was a nice time, though, I don't think I want to do it again very soon! Maybe just a few friends over would be great, though! Now, back to beading!

Here They Are

Here's the two new pieces. I did get the photos taken yesterday and I did add them to my store, I just didn't get them here. Ah, well, better late than never!

New Pieces But No Pictures of Them Yet

I have two new pieces that I've got to photograph. One is a peyote stitch band bracelet with a Celtic knot type design using galvanized silver Toho Treasure beads and blue iris on black Delica beads. The other is a link necklace. Each individual link is a peyote stitch circle of Delica beads and they are all in shades of the sea, from gray stormy seas to deep blue-green seas. I just haven't had the chance to photograph them or the new cards my daughter has made. We've been so busy here at home with my older daughter's graduation party plans. The party's Saturday so hopefully our lives will get back to a little more normalcy then. (Yeah, sure they will!)

Tutorials

Our friend, Carol H. of Fiberlines, Retrothreads and Ambrosia Beads, has added tutorials to her blog and they are great! Her first one is for the chevron stitch, so go check it out here. Wonderful help and inspiration!

I have to say that the ladies of the Etsy Beadweaver group and the Etsy Beadweaver's Street Team are an amazing group of artists! I am so inspired by my fellow beadweavers that I wish I had about 36 hours in a day to just create! You can see links to all their shops on my sidebar or better yet, click on the above link for Etsy Beadweaver and see a sampling of all their shops. (OK, yes I'm on there too, but check everyone else out!) :)

Business Week

Etsy has a great article in Business Week. There is also an accompanying slide show with tips and insights from sellers on Etsy. I have so much to learn and it starts with keeping track of my costs! I am so terrible at keeping it all straight. Maybe I need to get one of those 'old school' ledgers to write everything down in. Couldn't hurt and it might just get me a little more organized that a spiral notebook and receipts everywhere!

Prom Jewelry

This is the bracelet and earrings I made for my oldest daughter for her to wear to prom. Her dress was black and white and these turned out to be just the right accent that didn't take away from the dress, but gave her some sparkle.

Opposites

I decided to make another black and silver cuff. I've had a lot of compliments on it, but I did make it too long. The new one is about 1/4" wider (1" or 3cm), but it's a full inch shorter (7 1/4" or 18.5cm). I posted it last night, but have only had two hits. The jewelry category on Etsy is tough to sell sometimes because there are so many wonderful artisans and so many different styles. I am trying not to get too discouraged, but my daughter has sold more items than I have!

Daughter's Custom Order!

Here is a photo of my daughter's custom order. I think the cards are so adorable and she will probably make a similar set to put in the Etsy shop. She has also been very busy making more greeting cards. I have to take photos of them first and I've been so busy with "real life" that it's intruding on my beading/Etsy time!!

Sale!

I have decided to put my wedding jewelry on sale since June is the month for weddings! I've also put my chapstick holders on sale.

1st Custom Order

My daughter is very excited. She just received her first custom order for party invitations. I am going to help her with them, but they are her cards and she is really looking forward to doing them. They will look something like these... Who knows, maybe she has found her creative niche?!