The One Thing You Can Count On Is Change...

And change did happen today. I lost a good teacher today due to some 'rearranging' of staff with our organization. It has me very disappointed in the organization and I can feel the heavy haze of depression set in by that and the fact that my husband is leaving for a business trip tomorrow morning and won't be back till Saturday night. Its times like these that I turn to either my art desk or my writing materials...

I chose my art desk.

I've been working on some gift boxes/party favor boxes for my ETSY shop. The first set is done and feature blues and greens and the second set are fun polka dots. The polka dot ones aren't done yet but I hope to finish them tomorrow since I will have some extra time on my hands and some loneliness to fill while my husband is gone. I plan to get a bunch of work done and then post a bunch of new items. More advertising will follow soon after that.

I ordered some more antique brass supplies for some new jewelry pieces I want to do. Speaking of new pieces, I was playing Guild Wars with a friend of mine and he suggested that I should try to make a headpieces like my ranger's. I'm up for the challenge of playing with leather, wire, metal, chain, and beads. Bring it on...bring it on I say. I need more tangible therapy.

Cheers,
~Beka

Rain Rain, Go Away. Come Back....When It's Convenient For Me!

Woke up this morning to take some pics of some new boxes I want to put up in my ETSY shop and what do I find but typical Oregon weather. (Rain and dark skies) Normally, I would be completely happy but seeing as I was wanting to take my pics this morning and take advantage of natural light, I am somewhat bummed. I don't have the best lighting in my office and I don't have the best camera either. I suppose I will have to what and see what I can do...or wait until tomorrow. Grrr...

Otherwise, I wouldn't mind curling up with my book (Book 7 of the Dresden Files Series) and Clark (our overly needy yet adorably fluffy cat). Oh well...I can at least work at getting the next box set constructed and work on some short stories for submissions. (I write, surprise!)

Until next time...

Cheers,
~Beka

Red Court Necklace

I managed to get some more work done last night and a little more this morning before work to complete the Red Court Necklace. I like how it turned out with the deep red and smokey bicones against the silver chain. It lays very nicely when worn around the neck. I'm going to make a pair of matching earrings and a gift box for each and then list them up in the next day or two depending on my schedule of course.

Jeff (my husband) is going to help me build a bracelet and necklace display to store my product and use at shows down the road. It's going to have a removable rod which should make things easy, especially if I make some bangle bracelets. I'd like to have an earring stand of some sort too to store all the earrings and use at shows.

Short post tonight since I'm trying to get some extra rest tonight. I'll post more when I have some more items to show!

Cheers,
~Beka

A Day Off...

I had a day off today thanks to Presidents Day. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I managed to take some pics today for a couple items for my shop. The first one is the Modern Flower Trellis Bracelet that comes with it's own gift box. It just kind of came together and I think it looks fun. The Butterfly Serenade Necklace came out nice as well. It comes with a gift box but I don't have it pictured here. It's interesting that they are two different styles yet made at the same time. I surprise myself sometimes...

That's all for now. I'm in the middle of making dinner and then I have more work to do and Heroes to watch at 9PM. Yay for multitasking abilities!

Cheers,
~Beka

Feeling Better And Back To Work!

I got over whatever I had rather quickly so that made me happy because I was able to get back to work on my projects! I made a nice simple pair of antique-style earrings for my friend and co-worker for Valentine's day. She now has a nice pair of earrings to match her petite antique necklace.

I've got a couple other projects that have either just been completed or in the process of being completed. I have a somewhat modern bracelet that I made the center part on my little wigjig contraption and then used 26 gauge wire to weave in some green and rose colored seed beads. It's rather interesting but I like how it turned out. I have a nice antique brass filigree butterfly necklace with a pair of matching earrings as well that I have just finished. I have never worked with antique brass before but it was a lot of fun. It was nice and soft to work with and I will definitely be working with it again.

I have to wait until the morning to take the pics for my ETSY site. I get perfect lighting when the sun is out in the morning and terrible lighting in the evening in my office...at least for pictures.

I'm starting another necklace which will probably take me awhile since it will involve making lots of little charms with small beads. I'm going to go for some sort of antique/medieval theme with it, I think. It's the one in the center that has just been started in that desk picture. So...we shall see how it turns out. Sometimes...the creations have a mind of their own...mwahahahahha!

Cheers,
~Beka

Flushed...and not like a toilet!

There's nothing like a good fever to get me feeling all angry...grrr. I hate feeling sick because it always gets me down and I don't want to do anything; even the things that I love. So, I stayed home from work today which was a chore in itself when it came to finding a replacement but luckily, it all worked out in the end. I guess someone up there is looking out for me today.

A friend of mine, who also happens to be my co-worker, asked me to make a pair of earrings for her to match a necklace she has. I don't care how crappy I feel...I'm getting those earrings done today! She needs to have something nice for the Valentine's Day holiday because she's been through a lot. I'm not going to let her pay for them. They are going to be my gift to her for being a good co-worker and friend. Now hopefully I can be better so I can go to work tomorrow to give them to her. :P

I'm loving working with this antique brass material. I got some chain, findings and wire and I'm starting a really nice necklace that I will post pics of when I'm feeling better. It's main star is a antique brass filigree butterfly. I can't seem to stay away from the butterflies! I have another necklace in silver material that has a butterfly as it's centerpiece too. I must need to get butterflies out of my system or something...

Well, that's all for now. I really need to try to rest...so sayeth my husband and I know he's right. I'll post another update with pics when I'm well.

Cheers,
~Beka

Not Enough Time In The Day

There really isn't! Too bad I have to sleep...there's 8 hours there that I could add to my working time here in my office at home. >.< I haven't gotten very far with my crafts and jewelry because we have been working on the banister. We basically ripped it all out and replaced every single piece of wood because the yahoos that lived in the house before us decided that it would be really awesome of them to paint over the natural wood with a yucky brown color...go figure. It looks great now but I tell you, I'll be happy when we move and don't' have these house projects to do.

That picture up there is about as far as I've gotten with this next necklace I'm working on. I think between taking that picture and making this post, I've created a couple little charms to go with that but I just haven't had the time to finish it. I can't wait for the days that I can come home and just craft or make jewelry for 2-3 hours and then for many hours on the weekend and not have to worry about fixing the house.

My co-worker and friend at my job with the kids is so great. She came up with this idea to make T-shirts to advertise my little ETSY shop. "I'll even wear one!" She said to me yesterday. We shared a good laugh but she has a good idea, I can't deny that. If I only had the money though... She asked if I would be willing to make some extra pieces that she could wear around and "advertise". I told her that yeah, I would like to do that but would need time to make some. So we shall see what transpires.

That's all for now, it's time to get to work!

Cheers,
~Beka

New Jewelry Set

I haven't had much time to get some work done for the business since we have been redoing our banister but here is a set I completed with their gift boxes. I don't know what to name it but since there is a definite icy feel with these pieces, I think I will stay in that area of words and names. They were fun to make and really sparkle. I love those smokey bicones!

The necklace is a 2-strand threaded on tiger tail wire. It has icy mini tube beads with silver flecked orbs, silver spacers and those smokey bicones with an 'S' clasp. The bracelet has the same beads but it's threaded on memory wire and the earrings have those smokey bicones and a couple silver flecked orbs on silver wire frames. The earrings have rhodium hooks which I have found to be wearable by people with nickle allergies like myself.

The gift boxes have been handmade by myself as well with a little label that has the name of my shop on it.

That's all for now. I need to catch up on sleep.

Cheers,
~Beka