New Year, New Craft Swap

Hello all! I'm hosting my first swap over at Swap-Bot. The whole idea is to try a new craft/hobby that you never have before and send the lovely end result to your partner. The results may be ugly or deformed, but it will be made with love.

If you'd like to sign up, click here. If you're not already signed up for Swap-Bot, you're really missing out. It's such a blast.

If you have questions about the swap, leave 'em here, or contact me on Swap-Bot. My username there is GreyEyes. :)

I'm-Still-Alive Update

After my last post, our power went out at home later in the day and remained out for about five days. Work power returned the day before. In the midst of all the craziness, though, my responsibilities at the office increased. Literally, the week everything went insane, my job doubled and hasn't settled down yet. I'm being tested for a promotion while still doing many of my normal duties, so things have been out of control. Add onto that early deadlines due to the holidays, and you have my life of late. So, many apologies for not updating my shop. I will do that later this week once my early-for-the-First deadline goes away.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas if you celebrate it!

Also, check out this Etsy treasury, featuring Oklahoma artists.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Ice storm

Power outages at work are forcing me to work from home. The only problem is, if we're out of power, isn't everyone else? Many of the places with power are closed anyway because of the icy roads and such. I work for a newspaper, so reaching people on the phone is pretty much what I do. There isn't much I can do but send e-mails and hope someone gets back to me. Schools will be closed again tomorrow. Good grief! This will be a strange week at my "day job". Hopefully I'll be able to get some crafting done today. I don't have the proper equipment at home to upload my photos, so I can't update my shop until power is restored at the office. Sheesh! Anyway, new items will come just as soon as possible! Until then, shop your little hearts away, and check out my interview (below) with fellow Etsian CurlyGirlCrochet!

Introducing . . . CurlyGirlCrochet!

As a new blog feature, I am going to start featuring other indie crafters and artists, especially those who also sell on Etsy. For my first interview, I'm shining the spotlight on CurlyGirlCrochet who sells -- you guessed it! -- beautiful crocheted items.

(Sunflower Purse, $18 -- looks great in person!
I bought one for my sister's ninth birthday.)

If you're looking for a lovely, unique item and wonderful customer service, she's definitely someone to check out. So onto the interview . . .

1. Tell us about yourself.
Hello! My name is Jodie and I'm 39 years old. I'm from Byron Center, Michigan, and I opened my Etsy Shop in March 2007.

2. When did you start crocheting and why?
I started crocheting around age 11. It was fascinating to watch my Grandma crochet and see the beautiful creations she made with yarn and a hook. Ever since then, I've been hooked, so to speak!

3. What is your biggest art/craft inspiration?
I am inspired by things I see, hear, or read about. A color, object, or discussion might generate an idea for a project. I never know what's going to inspire me.

(Chocolate Kiss, $9)

(The Dream Catcher Shawl, $75)

4. Why did you decide to start selling what you make?

I decided to start selling the things I crochet as a way to share my creations with others and to hopefuly make a little profit while doing so. I love it when a customer tells me they love their item.

5. Do you sell any where else?
Yes, I've sold on eBay as well, but I much prefer Etsy!

6. Anything else you'd like to tell us?
I hope everyone gets a chance to visit www.Etsy.com. There are so many incredible, handmade items there and so many nice people.

Thanks so much to Jodie for being my first victim! :)
Please go check out her wonderful items here.

Shop update and preview

Here's what I have for you so far . . .

First, this is a picture of the Go Red, Go White Necklace. Bask in its glory. :)


Here's my most recent listing, Drops of Jade Earrings. These are so light and delicate -- anyone would look great wearing them, even super-pale folks (like me!). They each feature a large jade bead and two smaller agates. The jade is from a necklace my grandmother gave me. I deeply love these beads. The agates are from the stash my coworkers gave me for my birthday. I love getting to use the things they gave me in pieces.

These earrings would be a perfect gift for anyone (with pierced ears) on your list, and at $15, they're such a deal!



And in this corner, I have a recent piece: Stormy Day at the Beach Necklace. It will (I promise this time!) be listed before I leave my "real job" today. It features glass beads in opalescent grey, blue-and-grey swirled, crystalline grey, and clear. The center piece is a couple of white shell beads separated with clear seed beads on a headpin. It hangs beautifully and is a totally unique designs. The beads are attached to a silver-colored chain. It was inspired by a piece I made for a swap, so I modified it a bit for my store. Look for it soon!

Blog and MySpace only promotion

So the day got away from me yesterday and I wasn't able to update my store with the Go Red, Go White Necklace. It's done as of this morning. I was also not able to do my special promotion post, so here it is now.

I'm running a special deal for all my blog readers and MySpace friends now through Dec. 20. Anything you order from my shop will receive 15% off the listed price. In order to get the discount, either convo or e-mail me in advance or write in the "notes to seller" whether you found me on MySpace or my blog. Don't pay yet as I will send you a revised invoice through PayPal reflecting the discount. Sound good?

Also through Dec. 20, all orders I receive will include free gift wrap. :)

I'll do an item update post in just a bit. Thanks for being my loyal readers!

More new stuff

Alright friends, amici and amigos! You guessed it -- I have another new item at Grey Eye Designs.

They are temporarily entitled Cascade Earrings, though I'm open to suggestions of a more interesting name. Just leave them in the comments of this post.

Anyway, the are made of sterling silver, agate, and three colors of Swarovski crystals. They are just lovely. The drape is so elegant. Plus, the colors are vibrant and even more beautiful when the light hits them. They're only $15, so clearly you should go buy them. :)

Also, they are both the same lengths. Don't let the photo fool ya.


And this afternoon, I will be posting a sister piece to the one pictured at left. As this one is the Go Blue, Go White Necklace, the new one shall be the Go Red, Go White Necklace. I don't have a preview pic of it right now, but the piece will be available for purchase before 5:00 CST today. It will look just like this one except -- gasp! -- it will feature red beads instead of blue in the middle. I have one like it at home that features turquoisey ones that I love. The beads glow in this really eye-catching way. Plus, I think these would be perfect for a spirit group of any kind. I can make them in a variety of school colors. I think it would be adorable to see them on a group of high schoolers during a Homecoming game or something. I know I would have loved it back then. :)

Later, I'm going to do a post about a special promotion I want to try running in my store. Check it out!

Store update and a preview

I have a new pair of earrings up at Grey Eye Designs!

They are the Honey-covered Cherry Earrings, and they're just lovely. They're also a great deal at only $7. These would make a perfect stocking stuffer, Hanukkah gift, or small Christmas present. I have fallen completely in love with the honey beads, so look for more of them soon. I just think they are gorgeous and delicious. The little red beads make a colorful accent, don't you think? I'm also really enjoying working with the antique/brass bronze. It adds a totally different feel to everything.

And what do we have here? A preview of a listing to come!

Ever since I rediscovered crocheting (and, you know, taught myself the right way to do it), I've fallen in love with making simple, colorful, functional stitch markers. These, the Saucy Stitch Markers/Zipper Pulls, are one of my favorite sets. The big beads are youthful and fun, and each one is topped with a hematite bead. I know -- so unlike me. :)

These also work as row markers in knitting and as fantastic zipper pulls, as I was recently informed by a woman at Sunday's craft fair. I don't know why I didn't think of it myself.

This set will be priced at $5. Check out my shop this afternoon for them and other great deals at any time!

New items

I listed two new items today that are very different from one another.

Just now, I added a beautiful bracelet that I've titled "Serenity Turtle Bracelet."

It's made of beautiful agates, carnelians, and a carved centerpiece that I think is a jasper. It's not really a turtle, but doesn't it look like one?

I don't know what stone it is for sure because it was a birthday gift. My b-day was in September, and my real-job coworkers bought me a beautiful assortment of beads from Bead Gallery (1304 N. Elm Place in Broken Arrow, OK). I'm usually the person who takes care of birthdays, so I was surprised by their thoughtfulness and generosity. So, the buyer of this gets that happy thought. :)



My second item is a pair of earrings I'm calling "Tangled up in Blue Earrings." I am in love with these! They are beautiful and elegant and still totally wearable on a day-to-day basis. In fact, I love them so much that I'm making myself a nearly identical pair! This was my first time using Swarovski crystals and sterling silver headpins and eyepins instead of mixing base metal with the sterling silver ear wires. I don't think I'll ever go back! Not only does it look better, it's easier to use, it's higher quality, and it's lighter. I love it! Look for more all-sterling pieces from me in the future. 'Til then, though, buy these before someone else does!

Alright, that's all for today. Look for more tomorrow! Thanks for being my loyal readers, too. :)

I'm sorry I neglected you!

Oh blog, I am a terrible maintainer! I have neglected you. I won't do it again -- I promise! I missed you ever so much.

So here's a entry: I did my first craft fair this past weekend and enjoyed it. It was for a good cause -- my church's youth department -- so that made it all the better. I did decently, too. I didn't sell as much jewelry as I hoped, but I almost sold out of the 70ish marble magnets I made. Sheesh! I thought they'd catch some eyes and some extra quarters, but I had no idea they'd be so popular. I'll make 1000 for my next show. Here are a couple of truly bad photos of my table.















I was back lit, and my mom isn't much of a photographer, but it's something. My booth wasn't the fanciest or the most uber-professional, but it was eye-catching enough, and I earned about as much as anyone else, I think. Plus, even if I have lots of inventory left over, I have tons more stuff to add to Etsy. I'm updating all this week, so come check me out. :)

Hang a Feather from Your Ear

For some reason, Blogger won't let me put pictures in this entry, so I'll have to settle for text-only. Sorry!

Anyway, I posted a new listing, earrings called Hang a Feather from Your Ear. They are just lovely! The main pieces, pale pink feathers/leaves (up to you!), are recycled from a Sarah Coventry necklace, so they are excellent quality. There are also a bunch of three-cut rubies involved, so beauty and quality abound. :)

The price is temporarily set at $16 during this week in conjunction with etsyBEAD's Theme of the Week, so go buy them while they last!

Grama's Jewelry Box – Green-eyed Lady

I just added another new necklace, called Grama's Jewelry Box – Green-eyed Lady. My mother and grandmother recently gave me a bunch of old jewelry, and the beads in this piece came entirely from Grama's stash. I took beads from five necklaces in all. The clasp even comes from a sixth one. I just love the shades of green and how the ivory complements it all. It's chunky, funky, and blends vintage charm with modern flair. It's certainly one of a kind, and it holds so many memories. Check it -- and the rest of my shop -- out at Etsy!

The Gold Cure

I was all ready yesterday to post my new, fall-inspired bracelet, but my acid reflux got the better of me. Instead, I stayed home, ate Multigrain Cheerios all day, and tried to heal. BUT my new item, The Gold Cure, is now up and ripe for the buying!

The colors of this bracelet really pop, and they look beautiful on any skin tone, even super yellow ones like mine. Plus, $2 of the $12 price will go directly to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. You don't have to love pink to show your support!

Back to my earlier comment about staying home sick yesterday. I, sadly, do not have the right equipment to upload pictures to my home computer. Pathetic, I know. So, the only days I can update are work days UNLESS I remember to put my pictures on Flickr or Photobucket, which I haven't done lately. I have three new items to post soon, though, and I intend to to upload them properly. Keep checking out my store as I add new fall items!

I Have the Blue-Greens So Bad Necklace

I just listed a new item in my shop, I Have the Blue-Greens So Bad Necklace!

The colors in this piece are vibrant and playful. Most of the blue and blue-green beads are new, but there are a few colorful, vintage ones used as well. The center piece is a gorgeous blown-glass pendant I purchased at my favorite local place, the Bead Merchant. It feels so delicate when worn, but it's sturdier than it looks. Such a deal at $18!

Look for a new bracelet from me tomorrow. It's one of my personal favorites. As always, visit my shop!

Twist and Shout Necklace

I posted a new item today, the Twist and Shout Necklace. It has a unique shape and drape that I love, love, love!

At $20, it's a great deal, folks. :)





My blue sale continues this week.

Look for a few more new pieces this week, too. I'm hard at work. I wanted to do a real studio post today, but the lighting got terrible in my apartment, so the pictures I took didn't turn out. Bummer. I bought these beautiful glass beads -- two copper-colored stars, and two blue spheres. They are absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous. I want to make earrings from them, but they need to be something special. I'm still working on them. Who knows? Maybe I'll find my inspiration and get them posted this week. Sounds awesome. :)

Keep checking back for new posts and items during the week! Thanks for reading. :)

Complementarity Bracelet, now on sale

This bracelet has been marked down to only $5 in conjunction with the etsyBEAD Theme of the Week! Starting today, the theme is Back in Neutral. My pictures just can't do this piece justice. It's light, dainty, and complements everything. It's the perfect wear-with-anything accessory. No joke, folks! Go check it out and then look through the rest of my store. :)

Blue sale, starting today!

This week's sale is on! The theme is the color blue, being that sapphire is the birthstone for September. Here's what I have reduced:

Egyptian Scarab Bracelet


Three Little Fishies Bracelet


Triple-Decker Bracelet of Joy


Drops of the Mediterranean Earrings

The sale will last until September 6, so check it out now!

I promise to do a real studio post very soon.

Sale starting tomorrow!

Hello readers!

Starting tomorrow, I'll be having a sale in my shop. My birthday is September 10, so I decided to have a general sale. I thought of doing it throughout the month of September, but because my birthday is so early in the month, I had a better idea: a Virgo-themed sale. Tomorrow begins Virgo's time in the sun, so I'll kick things off in the morning. Each week, I'll do a sale around a different Virgoan theme. For the next week, all of my "virginal" items will be marked down PLUS have free domestic shipping. The following will be discounted:

Hello Necklace

Queen for the Day Earrings

Preppy, Pink and Plaid, EGAD

Remember, look for great savings starting tomorrow morning at Grey Eye Designs!

Classy Little Leprechaun Bracelet

I posted a new item today, the Classy Little Leprachaun Bracelet.


This one features metallic green seed beads and created pearls dyed green. I made one very similar for my mom recently and decided to recreate it for my store. The green is so vibrant and playful. The piece is both elegant and whimsical and goes with lots of things.

As with the Little Star Earrings, I bought these beads at the Bead Merchant here in town. They're dyed pearls are so beautiful! Plus, they have some of the highest quality seed beads I've ever seen, not kidding. These are so lovely. Quite a few have since taken residence beneath my couch cushions along with some red, beige and gold cousins. :)

Go see it and the rest of my items in my shop.

New item -- Saucy Fuchsia and Black Bracelet

I just posted a new piece, Saucy Fuchsia and Black Bracelet! It's a great deal at $10. :)


All the beads are glass. The center piece (1/2" of fuchsia-pink polka dots surrounded by white halos on a dark purple background) and the large black beads (3/4" and diamond-shaped) are from hobby stores (Hobby Lobby and Michael's). The smaller fuchsia rondelles (3mm) were purchased from The Beadshop, a fellow Etsian. If you're in the market for beads, check out her store.

Now, I'd like to impart a little wisdom your way. I've been experimenting with different clasps on my pieces. I usually go with lobster clasps but bought a few others to try out. Here are my words of wisdom to you all: barrel clasps are impossible to put on one-handed. Seriously. They work fine for necklaces, but they are a disaster waiting to happen on a bracelet. In this picture, you'll see that I used one naively. During my quality-control check (which I'll tell you about another time), I discovered this sad fact. I have since changed the clasp to a hook, which is very easy to put on by yourself. However, the pictures do not reflect this. It's the same one I used in the scarab bracelet in my last post.

Until next time, have a great day, and don't forget to check out Grey Eye Designs!

Sale item!

Hello!

I temporarily reduced the price of my Little Star Earrings in conjunction with the etsyBEAD theme of the week, which happens to be "Starlight". They were priced at $12, and they can be yours this week only for $9!


They are enamel balls with stars. The ear wires are sterling silver. I love these earrings, and I know you will, too.

The enamel beads came from my favorite bead store in town, the Bead Merchant (2745 E. 15th St., Tulsa, phone: 918-747-3636). Most of my focal-point beads come from them. Their customer service is excellent, so if you're ever in the area, drop by.

Look for a new item post in just a little bit. :)

Beetlejuice Bracelet

My creative juices evaporated a little in the past two weeks, but I've found inspiration again. Hurray! Here's the new item I posted today, Beetlejuice Bracelet.


I absolutely love this one. In fact, I was reluctant to list it. The center bead is hand-carved wood and it's gorgeous. I bought it at Craig's Emporium (3004 Paseo in Oklahoma City, telephone number: (405) 525-9447), which is a truly awesome store that sells everything -- oils, jewelry, clothing, stationery, candles, gifts, etc. If you're ever in OKC, stop by the Paseo Arts District and check the place out. The black beads are my new loves: big, black, and interesting. The smaller blue beads are from a flea-market find that I've been slowly dismantling. I'm almost out! The two clear beads are from a lot of vintage pieces I got from eBay.

If you're interested in purchasing the bracelet, visit my shop. It's listed at $15.

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Welcome to my brand new blog, which I'm keeping in conjunction with my online store, Grey Eye Designs. I'll be updating with a real, studio post soon. Add me to your favorites, and look for new posts ASAP.

Also, don't forget to check out my shop at lilbrigid.etsy.com.

Thanks!