Another week gone!

I can't believe another week has flown by... seems like the more I have to do, the more I find other things to do instead.  I have a big show coming up in three weeks, and I have very, very little of it done.  I still feel like procrastinating, though, so here is my BEST feature of the week!

BlueForestJewellery is a festive shop based in the UK, and features stunning precious stone, glass, and bead jewelery, like this amazing autumn-inspired agate and leaf charm earrings:

Wouldn't this carnelian and quartz necklace be a beautiful addition to your fall wardrobe?

I just love the colors that BlueForestJewellery uses in her pieces!  Like this gorgeous carnelian, quartz, and pearl necklace... I'm sure it would be amazing wrapped as a bracelet, too!

This shop has some of the most amazing and creative jewelry I've seen in some time... beautiful color combinations, lovely stones and glass beads, and the shipping prices are really reasonable (being a American shopper, this is crucial!).  Fantastic shop!  Definitely on my holiday shopping list!

Check out BlueForestJewellery on Etsy, Twitter, and her blog!

BEST feature of the week!

So I'm doing a bit of catching up here, and am posting two BEST features in one day.  Better late than never, right?  Hope so.  A few months ago I featured CK Silver, and get the pleasure of doing so once again.  There are so many more fantastic jewelry pieces in the shop now, too!  I'm getting excited about holiday shopping!

And how could you not be, with gorgeous earrings like this Autumn Wind pair: 

They would be stunning to wear to any holiday party!  And this Southwest Autumn Necklace would be a stunning gift:

And how about the matching Southwest Autumn Bracelet? 

I'd have to say, I'm still a fan of the Jewelry of the Month Club that CK Silver offers.  It's a great deal, and how fun to get a present in the mail each month!  You pick your favorites, and get a beautiful set of earrings a month. 

Check out CK Silver if you're also looking for custom and birthstone jewelry... they love working with customers to make something beautiful!

And I'm back! Again...

So I am still trying to get organized around here.  I started a new job as a barista last week (I have no prior experience, so it's a bit overwhelming!), and I'm less than a month away from my biggest show of the year, for which I am nowhere near prepared for.  And I rejoined the Etsy BEST team, and am already behind in features!  So I apologize to Alyssabeths for not having my post ready last week!  It's late, but this is a shop that everyone needs to check out!

Alyssabeths features really fun, graphic vintage chic jewelry, decor, and all sorts of great holiday goodies!  Such as this fun set of Halloween Bat gift tags: 

I'm a huge Edgar Allen Poe fan, so I love these Raven gift tags... I think I'd have a hard time giving them away!

This great little shop also has beautiful jewelry, like this black cat Halloween rosary:

I'm a really big Halloween fan, so this shop is fantastic!  There are so many beautiful shabby chic and Christmas themed items, and several estate sale goodies, too!  And this is even better:

From now until October 19th, Alyssabeths is offering 10% off your total purchase (except for shipping)!!!  So now is the perfect time to start shopping for holiday gifts and decorations!

My First Treasury

So I just figured out how to make an Etsy Treasury... I just might be addicted!  Here's my first attempt.  Still trying to figure out how I can show it with pictures here...

And we're back!

Sorry everyone... I know it's been two months and two days since I wrote my last blog post.  I've been a bit busy since then, but I have lots to report, so I promise that from now on posts will be more regular!  Quick summary of events that led to massive blog neglect:
*I was laid off from my "real" job
*My husband was in the hospital
*I was diagnosed with all sorts of lovely ailments (hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, early signs of arthritis in the knees)
So you would think that with all this time on my hands, I would be doing nothing but blogging and crafting.  But I've been doing a lot of stressing instead.  The job market here is brutal!  But enough whining!  I've done a little bit of Halloween preparation:

| Festive Halloween Medium Zippered Pouch |

 

AND!!!  My Swing Station Studio pieces are now going to be shown in TWO shops!  They'll still be at Mama Said Sew here in Fort Collins, CO, and now at the Fuller Lodge Art Center in Los Alamos, NM!  I'll have lots of little pouches and box purses at the FLAC for their upcoming Fall Fiber and Fashion show, and then continuing through their Affordable Arts show in November.

And as if I haven't spread myself thin there, since I still have my shop on Etsy, I am also in a show in Broomfield, CO, Nov. 13th.  It's called Santa Cellar, and it's a fun holiday themed show, that I am really excited to be a part of.  Except for the fact that I have a tiny inventory now and need to make so much more!  Yikes.

I've also got new designs, recipes, and so much more to share with you!  I've got a newsletter coming out soon, so if you'd like to be on the list, sign up here!  It will give you access to sales, discounts, updates, and maybe a giveaway or two!

| Bright Orange Pumpkin Small Zippered Pouch |

I wish I had invented sticky notes.

Because my house, my phone, my desk, my car, everything is covered with them.  They float around like little colorful bits of a broken rainbow, I find them in every pile of books, trash, laundry, dishes...  And it would be cool to look at them and think, "I made that," instead of "Oh crap, I forgot to do that... and that... and that..."  Also, I'd be rich.  I think the majority of my sticky notes say the same thing, reminding myself of new designs I want to make, new tags I want to label my items with, etc., etc.  So I'm going to save myself a sticky note today, and instead of reminding myself to blog, I'm going to just do it.  Look at me go!

Ok, so I've had a little sugar.

But I'm being productive!  Look, today I'm featuring Omni Presents! 

Omni Presents makes handmade, beautiful new age and spiritual jewelry.  Like this unique colorful czech glass necklace.  Omni Presents has a great selection of jewelry options, including earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, including this stunning summer turquoise butterfly necklace.  And the pieces are very affordable, as well.

Another perfect summer necklace:  the seaside confetti shell necklace.  This is so understated and sophisticated.  And that's no stone... that's a handpainted shell!  I love it!

I love the positive energy surrounding this shop!  Each lovely item is gift-wrapped, with a little hand charm that reads "handmade," so you or your lucky friend knows they are supporting a real artist.  Who could resist?

This piece feels so earthy.  This necklace features a lingam stone, which is found only in the Narmada River.  Very unique!  And what's great about this store, is the jewelry is sorted into five different categories, such as "Bliss Baubles" and "Goddess Gear," with each collection designed to inspire the wearer to feel happiness or balance. 

An avid jewelry maker and adorer, Omni Presents states:  "I am...passionate about new age techniques such as meditation, color therapy, and crystal healing. Therefore, I decided to combine my...passions and create a collection of handcrafted regalia for adults that is not only beautiful but also serves to increase energy and enhance the spiritual health and well-being of the wearer through the materials used."  I really enjoy pieces of art that represent something to the artist, and especially when that sentiment is reflected in their art.  Enjoy!

Omni Presents can be found on Etsy, Twitter, and Facebook.  She's also got a great blog!

Staycation!

So I've been incredibly lazy this week.  Wednesday was my birthday, so my husband and I took Wed-Sun off from work to have an extended staycation at home.  And it has been awesome!  And not very productive.  I have been ignoring everything except laundry, which had been ignored too much before this week and left me with no clean clothes.  I also had a duplicate assignment for my BEST feature this week, and that took a couple days to get sorted out, and BAM!  It's Saturday.  We're hiking Dinosaur Ridge in Denver tomorrow, so I better get something done today! 

So now that I've made the lamest excuses for not getting my blog written on time (too much free time??), here's a big apology to Alexander's Designs... so sorry this is so late!!!

I guess we share something... Alexander's Designs is also on vacation this week!  I think they're actually at a festival, and probably being productive... So here's a look at a few items they've sold (not to tease you with things you can't have :) ):

This is sooo pretty!  This spectrolite (blue laboradite) bracelet is gorgeous!  I also love this little birdie glass pendant!  Very cool.

This is my favorite!  A vintage key (so mysterious), and a beautiful Czech glass bead make this a treasured piece:

So now that you have seen the variety that Alexander's Designs offers, a little bit about Jenny and Skip Alexander!  A husband and wife team, the Alexanders specialize in "Ugly Glass," which they make (!), and jewelry featuring glass, sterling silver and precious metals, lamp beads (which they also make), Swarovski beads, and gemstones.  Completely self-employed, the Alexanders get to focus on honing their glass and jewelry craft and state: "We hope everyone enjoys wearing our creations as much as we have enjoyed creating them."  I look forward to visiting their shop when it's open again!

These crafty jewelers have a blog and a website, are on Facebook, and have several other shops, as well!  Check them out!
Alexander's Designs

Beadery Destash
Classically Simple
Ugly Glass
Jenny Alexander