Still Un-Packing

So, unexpectedly we had the opportunity to move into a bigger, roomier house! For the past week and a half I've been packing and loading and hauling and stacking and moving and unpacking. Many thanks to my mom & sis-in-law for all of their help.

My beads are still packed, stacked in the corner of what is to be my studio! Yippie! It's been almost two years since my crafts have had a place of their own. With this move I've also be given two sewing machines ( a Brother & a treadle Singer that has been converted to motorized! ) so I will be able to do those curtains and Morsbags that I've been wanting to do for so long! They, along with the fabric are waiting for me to get the house unpacked! My computer is in there too, and it has a new (to me) computer desk waiting to be covered up (freebie again, my friends LOVE me!)

I will be posting some of "Nana's Knit Dishcloths" to the Etsy store, and more of those Christmas holiday stampers- If I can find the camera.

** Still looking for the cell phone that got boxed up by mistake =( **

Rubberstamp Destash- Craft Closet Clean-Out

I'm no good at this!

I am SO bad at keeping up with this BLOG.

I had my doubts when I first started- But I've proven it. I haven't been able to Blog on a weekly basis. But, I also know that no one misses me- cause no one reads this but me.

SO-- This week I worked with a nice buyer who bought 5 pairs of my swirly earrings, and the bathtime fun washcloth. HA! I'm happy about that!


I picked out my Christmas present from my mom- From Etsy seller Beanblossom.
This great market tote made from AMAZING vintage fabric! Hand Screen Printed with the phrase "Not Plastic" I LOVE IT! I'm building a collection of totes to use at the grocery store- I'm so sick of having my milk double bagged in plastic- IT HAS A HANDLE. Really.
So, now I have 3 totes! (Well, I will after Christmas!)





I also came across this on Etsy. A VERY accurate painting of Bodie Island Lighthouse, on driftwood!! I really like the worn, smooth edges. I showed mom first & I'm having it sent to her as her Christmas Present! Yippie! (Mom & I can't ever wait & wrap things for under the tree.) It will look so wonderful upstairs on the Beach/Hatteras floor of her house! This seller has some really nice work! I can't wait to see it in person.



Soon I hope to be moving to a new apartment where I will have a room dedicated to my crafting. I am being given (!) an almost new sewing machine & an antique Singer (!!!) it has been converted to motorized (no treddles for me) and has a beautiful table/stand! Once I move into my new place, I can get these two babies going!!! I can't wait! I've started some projects- duvets and curtains for the kids room and they are ready for some stitches!!!

I will be organizing and cleaning out my crafting pantry- so more destash items will be arriving in my Etsy shop soon after the move.

Okay, That's all for tonight- I've got cakes to make in the morning!

EEEP!

It's not Sunday -- but I missed last week's blogging.
My goal was to do the blog thing once a week, just to mark my progress. But, here it is Friday, August 24, and my last post was on the 11th.

New Listings
I did have some inspiration last weekend and my Blue Jeans & Pearls Bracelet is the result. Crochet wire with coral cupolini and pearls, and my signature charlotte seed beads.

Also, I've listed some genuine turquoise pieces, a necklace and bracelet. I really want to invest in some good sterling silver beads to go with it, but I haven't found the right ones yet.

Display Bust vs Model
There are mixed views concerning live models wearing items in the Etsy listing photos. I have chosen to try a few select items with model photos as well as display bust photos. I have decided to use black and white shots when using the model, as to lesson the focus on the model and to use the shots as way to show drape and length.

The displays can be misleading when it comes to comparative size. I have a "mini" that I don't even use because it is just too small. It would work for displaying a solitaire on a chain, but not the necklaces I make. My "small" one is used sometimes, and I have a fabric covered form that I made myself that I like the best. At least the proportions are more realistic using that. However, it can be tricky to use as well, because there is no depth to it and the hanging length on the front is variable. I try to represent the length as it hangs on myself, and have a spot on the back to hook the necklace so that the lengths are consistent from photo to photo.

Let me know how you feel. Is buying a piece worn by a model gross? Is it better because you can see it hang?

See you on Sunday!
~Fish

PS earrings will NEVER be pre-worn. That IS gross, and against the law!

I've been BUSY!

I've been so busy 'cause it's too hot to go outside. Everyday this week it was over 100* at 5pm. The humidity has been horrible. Thank goodness my new office has AC!

I've made a batch of Swirly Swarovski® Earrings- simple sparkle for any outfit! These are not going to be OOAK, earrings just have limited design possibilities. However, they are available in a bunch of different Swarovski® crystal colors.

I've also beaded up some new pearl and Mother of Pearl necklaces, and I'm brewing up a new bracelet design. I just got some new cupolini in great dyed colors, a bright coral pink necklace will be my first item made from that!




I was featured in two treasuries this week. etsyBEAD's Theme of the Week- "Good Morning Sunshine" had my knitted copper pendant with red agate necklace, featured top row center; and my new Candy Girl necklace was picked for a JET Treasury, again top row center!




Thanks for picking some of my new things to feature in the Treasury!

I'm off to take some new pictures! Have a SUPER week & check out my Etsy shop: http://FishOnTheWall.etsy.com

Slow Week

Ha! I was so busy I didn't get a chance to slow down & create jewelry!
I did retake some photos and I listed one of my washcloths.

Washcloth! Wash Rag! Dish Rag! Dish Cloth!
This one is in a color called Gumdrop. Each night I sit with the kids while they take their baths, and I tried reading the new Harry Potter, but with all of the splashing and fun, I couldn't follow the story in a manner that Harry deserves. All of a sudden it dawned on me that I should pull out the yarn and make something as I referee bath-time. This week's end result is listed for sale here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5060430&section_id=5047235


I redid the first photo for the Green Quartz necklace and it shows up much better on the tan than it did on black. See it here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6198022

New knit sterling necklace was also added to my shop. I hope I can add a few more things throughout this coming week!

Thanks for checking out my etsy store: http://FishOnTheWall.etsy.com

2 New items up in the ETSY store

Let Me Brag!

I really love the Golden-Bronze Pearl bracelet- I've had the smaller flat-back pearls for several years, but the matching coin pearls were bought on my recent spree at the bead show. (Mermaid's Treasures went with me-- We TOTALLY blew our budgets- but we ended up with so many incredible beads!)

The twisted aventurine necklace was designed over the winter, but I wanted to add it to ETSY to add some variety to my listings.

The humidity was lower today, so I was able to take some pictures outside. I think the bracelet picture in front of the ponytail palm turned out nice. There will be several more photos with it in the background!

http://fishonthewall.etsy.com