Getting crafty

With a charged camera battery, I can show you a couple of projects I made for myself lately. Both are part of a batch of things I made to send to The Felt Bird this week. First is my new Alice ring:

It's Alice with the baby that turned into a pig ("It was neither more nor less than a pig, and she felt that it would be quite absurd for her to carry it further."). It's my favorite part of the book. If you're not familiar with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, then click here to read this chapter.

The other thing I've been working on is a bunch of memory wire bracelets. Here's the one that's all mine:

I loved the bright, colorful cheeriness of these beads. They look like candy, eh? I had to add this sweet little "amore" charm I found at Hobby Lobby.

I went ahead and added an Alice ring to my store, too. Here's the little lass with her cat, Dinah, from the beginning of Through the Looking-Glass:

I'm shipping to Stela's store this week, so I'll have more pictures soon!

Thankful Thursday

Here's my three:

1. Health. That virus stole a large chunk out of my week. Luckily I'm healing. I'm very grateful to have generally good health.

2. Trust. My boss has been gone for over a week, and he's left the fate of our department in my hands. I'll be glad for him to return, but it's good to know he has faith in me.

3. Theatre. I'm really enjoying rehearsing for this play. We'll see how I feel the week before opening, but at the moment, I'm having a great time.

What are you thankful for today?

The virus

Just as I was enjoying my near-daily postings, I was attacked by a virus. I'm not entirely sure what it is -- not strep or flu of any variety -- but I do know it took a few days of my life from me. I was horizontal Sunday-Tuesday, and today I only made it into the office because I knew I had to. Deadlines loom, and I'm the sole person in my department until my boss returns from his surgery.

So, I apologize for the lack of fun around here. I promise that will change as soon as I feel more like Brigid again. Stay tuned.

Five days

I've managed to list/renew an item every day this work week. Whew! The result has been good so far. I made one sale and have increased my views. It seems this little experiment is going well. I've also, as my wonderful readers can probably tell, blogged every day since Monday. The truth is, I love blogging, but I often feel like I have nothing interesting to say. Take this post, for example. I'm sure you'd all rather see pictures of projects or read about exciting adventures, but I'm hoping you'll let these little business recountings slide. ;)

I have a healthy to-do list for the weekend, including two birthday parties, lots of jewelry making, display making, reading and maybe even a little sleeping or baking. What's on your agenda this weekend?

Thankful Thursday

I'm in a fabulous mood today despite all the work obligations I'm enduring. Here's my three for today, complete with photos:

1. Yellow watermelon.

Man, I love this stuff. It's tasty, healthy and looks like sunshine. I always prefer it to the pink stuff, though I'm certainly not knocking it.

2. Sales!

I sold this vintage coin purse yesterday. It is now on its way to a new home.

3. Rain, rain, rain.

Though it makes the mornings dark and a bit hard to rise and/or shine, it's so lovely and calming.

What has you smiling today?

New items!

As part of my business plan, I determined that I need to add new items to the shop with much greater regularity (or, you know, any at all). So each week I plan to add at least three new things to the shop. Yesterday, I put this little baby in there (click the photo to go to the listing):

Today, I'll be adding this new rosary (EDIT: Item added. Click the picture to go to the listing):

And Friday, you'll be able to claim this beautiful necklace:

I always update my Twitter account when I post a new piece, so follow me to be notified when I list new items!

My Own Private Orchard House

If you're anywhere near as big a Little Women nerd as I am, you must check out this post by Design*Sponge: Living in: Little Women. To it, I add these fun Etsy goodies:

Little Women Clothespin Dolls

Literary Book Series -- Little Women by Alcott

Little Women Deluxe Set

Business plan

This weekend, between time spent on the couch cursing the migraine gods, I picked up a copy of Craft, Inc. It is basically a (really pretty) guide to starting your cottage-industry art business. Ever since I heard about the book, I've been wanting to read it. If I hadn't been in so much pain yesterday, I likely would have finished it. A lot of it is stuff I already knew -- how to register your business and such -- but it's still incredibly helpful to see it all laid out in front of you. In fact, I'm feeling so inspired by the book, I'm currently working on my first business plan. After that, I am going to kick myself into high gear and start marketing, getting stuff into and shops and even debut a line. I can't wait!

Oh, and look what comes out September 9, the day before my birthday? It's the Craft, Inc. Business Planner. Oh birthday elves, are you listening?

Thankful Thursday

And I'm belated again this week. I sat down to write it yesterday, and then suddenly projects fell into my lap. Forgive me!


I'm having a great week, though, so here are my three:


1. The state of Arkansas. I've spent very little time there considering that I've lived in northeastern Oklahoma most of my life. However, just this past week, I've planned two long weekends to take place in the Natural State very soon. We're headed to Eureka Springs over Labor Day weekend, where we shall relax, eat, sleep and be merry. We will not be running off to get married, so don't get any ideas in your head. A month later, Mom and I are having some girl time in her hometown of Hot Springs. We will have massages, attend an arts and crafts fair, and seek out the park and road bearing the family name.


2. Oatmeal. I've had it every morning this week, and I feel so great. I used to add a tablespoon of slivered almonds to my bowl, but I switched to pecans this week, and it's made a huge difference. I can actually stay full until lunch! In addition to the pecans, I also top my bowl of oats with a tablespoon each of real maple syrup, flax seeds and ground cinnamon. Yes, that's a lot of cinnamon, and yes, it's delicious.

3. Payday. This needs no explanation. :)

Thankful Thursday

I'm feeling a bit more upbeat than I have in recent Thursdays, so I'm excited to write my list today.

1. A good boss. Sometimes he drives me absolutely insane, but he really wants me to succeed. That's a lot more than some people have.

2. The Farmers Market. My mouth has been watering for days at the thought of buying squash, greens and maybe even a watermelon this Saturday morning. I can't wait!

3. Oil blotting sheets. The humidity has been vicious lately, which is wreaking havoc on my naturally oily skin. Yikes! I'd be an icky mess without these things.

That's my three. What's yours?

Charming memories

Last night, I started furiously working on an exciting order. In fact, it'll be my first dabbling into consignment. I'm so excited! It was a good excuse to buy some new beads, too, so how could I not be excited? Here's a little preview into the goodies.

I finally have an excuse to make more Wonderland rings. Here's what I completed last night:

(Back row: "Painting the roses red," the caterpillar, the Cheshire cat. Front row: the Jabberwocky, the carpenter.) I plan to do a variety of images, and some will be hand colored. Ooo-OOO-ooo!

"Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose tree, and we put a white one in by mistake."

In case you can't tell, I'm a bit of a nut about the Lewis Carroll books. I have the fondest memories of my dad reading an illustrated version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to me every night before bed as a child. I find Wonderland quotes to fit most aspects of life. I've been itching to re-read the books; luckily, between the two of us, my love and I have three copies. I'm currently working on a brilliant display for the rings. Just wait and see!


And here's the other project for the week: memory wire bracelets.

I finished these eight last night. The four on the bottom have "charming" embellishments:

I'm feeling mighty productive. Tonight I intend to finish another custom order from my greatest buyer, and then I'll get back to making "memories". I'm all about the puns today. As I learned watching True Blood last night, "Puns used to be the highest form of humor." So I'm not corny -- I'm old-timey. :)

Selling on Etsy

Hey friends,

I am going to be teaching a class on selling on Etsy late next month at the Deluxe Craft Weekend (check here for updates). I know we all have different concerns and questions when starting a new venture, so I thought I'd ask for some advice while I'm writing out my class overview.

Current Etsy sellers: What did you wish you knew about selling on Etsy before setting up shop? What advice would you give to someone starting out?

If any of you who don't sell on Etsy have something to contribute, that would be great, too.

Thanks in advance! Please leave your responses here or email me (greyeyedesigns AT gmail).