a mystery unveiled

The distinctive camouflage markings are barely visible through the thick underbrush.  Most people pass right by them without even stopping for a second look.  The person who is meant to find them is the only one combing every square inch for a tiny glint of metal or sun reflection off of the glass.  The thin camouflage piece has a silver key and a bottle with a message attached to it.  The bottle holds a seemingly meaningless scrap of paper.  Only the intended recipient will be able to decipher its message.  This message will lead the recipient to the door that requires the key and that is hiding away the treasuries just beyond it.

The June EBW Challenge is Mystery.  You can read more about it here.  I love mysteries and was excited about the narrative element that this challenge could include.  It took me a couple weeks to put together this concept and then a couple more weeks to create the piece.  Putting together the concept was the real challenge for me for this piece.  And yes, it does include one of my new bottle charms!  I'm excited about that.

Like all of my wrap bracelet/necklace pieces, this can be worn as a bracelet or necklace.  Both charms are detachable, giving you the option to wear it with both charms, one charm, no charms, or any other charms of your choosing.  While the charms add a substantial presence to the piece, they are extremely light weight.

This piece is available for sale here.  As always, if you're interested in something similar but with different colors, charms, size, etc., don't hesitate to contact me.  Voting for the June EBW challenge will take place the beginning of June.  I will post all of the information about it then.  To get a sneak peek at the current entries, search EBWC on Etsy.

What have you been working on lately?  Have you taken on any new challenges?

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I included this post in Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday - 6/1/2012.

Where I Linked Up Today:

Your Tropical Destination...Don't you need one this time of year?

When I found out that the March EBW Challenge theme was Destinations, my mind immediately went to tropical destinations.  There are no specifications about the kind of destination that we can pick, but I decided to go with this instinct.

I did order a couple new delica colors for this project and re-ordered a couple colors I had very limited quantities of to ensure that I had enough for this project.  I paired this with some well stocked colors from my collection.  I can never decide whether it's tougher to put together a big palette like this than coordinates or pull 3-4 shades that coordinate perfectly.  Either way, I'm pleased with the way this came together.

I'm sure that it's a big surprise that I decided to make this part of my wrap bracelet/necklace line.  I admit that there isn't a lot of challenge to this design for me, but I am still really enjoying tubular herringbone so it was fun to make regardless.  It also fit with my continuing goal for 2012 to incorporate as many challenge pieces as possible into my current price range and existing product lines.

I mentioned this during my sneak peek post about this piece, but again, the charm is from Kristina of  BorealisSeaGlass.  She has an ever rotating collection of beautiful sea glass bottles like this in her shop.  When I bought this one, I bought one more so I'll have another on hand for a future project (as of right now, that project is TBA).  I have also since found out how widely available these little bottles are online and would like to purchase some to make my own pendants at some point.

I've had this beach charm set ready for a while and decided that this would be a good a time as any to release it in my Etsy shop.  I don't fully embrace the flip flop craze myself, but I thought that it would be a popular choice, as they still are so popular.  We'll see how it goes. I have nothing against flip flops...really.  I'm just not obsessed with them. 

The new wrap bracelet/necklace is now available in my Etsy shop here and the beach charm set is available here.  Voting for the March EBW Challenge will take place in early March.  I'll have more information about that right here on my blog when it gets closer.

What tropical destination would you choose?

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Where I linked up today:

I used this post for Michelle's Delicately Constructed Friday 3/2/2012.

Bead Trends February magazine feature

I have the privilege of starting 2012 with two features in Bead Trends magazine!  I am especially honored because Bead Trends is featuring a lot beadweaving in 2012.  Some of you may remember that I had my first feature with the magazine this time last year.  They were apparently impressed enough that they remembered my work and contacted me to see if I had any new designs to submit.  I sent about eight ideas to them, two of which they picked for early 2012 issues.  Talk about an ego boost!

Bead Trends featured artists always receive two free copies of the magazine.

I'll be honest: I don't love their featured photos.  The lighting and props are good, but the photos are very artsy.  That's fine for a feature that doesn't include a tutorial.  However, theoretically people should be able to make their own versions of these pieces based on the photos and written directions.  The photos make this process tough because they don't do a great job showing the pieces in their entirety.  However, the photos are still high quality, and it's always interesting to see how other people will photograph your work.  Hopefully my written directions are enough to get people there.

You don't receive any money for being featured, but you do get a $20 gift certificate to Fire Mountain Gems.  That's even better, right?  They definitely know what will appeal to their artists.

 

This piece is now available right here in my Etsy shop.

I really love this color combination.  It's a very unique neutral.  I used a similar palette for these earrings.  I also used a similar palette for my piece that will be featured in the March 2012 issue.  It includes one of Kristie's ceramic donuts.  I'll have more information about that when it's released.

For those of you who have also had magazine or similar features, do you have any advice for those who are interested in getting started with this pursuit?

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Are you ready for Valentine's Day?

If you are in retail, you should be!  It's hard to believe when we just put our Christmas decorations away a week or two ago, but Valentine's Day is less than a month away now.  Valentine's Day is far from my favorite holiday so I'm not really sure why I've gotten so into making things for it this year except that I really like heart items.  I also got fired up about my Christmas promotion and decided it would be fun to do a much smaller Valentine's Day promotion with some new items.

Greeting Cards

I am not listing a lot of cards on Etsy, because I don't HAVE a lot of cards to list yet and because I'm not planning to change my shop focus drastically.  However, I am starting to offer a limited number of seasonal cards.  I'd like to add some all-purpose cards (i.e. birthday) at some point, too.  These Valentine's Day cards are my first listings.  I got the "Inspire" stamp and "Inspire the ones you love" just came to me.  I thought that it would work well for Valentine's Day.  Edi of memoriesforlifesb loves the "Live, Laugh, Love" phrase, which inspired me to make a card with it.  Thanks Edi!

What's next: I have some mini cards in the works.  I'm planning to get them finished and listed within the next week

Wrap Bracelets/Necklaces

Of course I had to make something for my new line for Valentine's Day.  I loved the pink mix from this piece so much that I set it aside for later.  I added a couple more shades of pink to the mix for these new pieces.  No, the first piece doesn't actually wrap, it's just a single strand bracelet, but it is still a herringbone stitch like the pieces in my wrap line.

What's next: I don't have any more pieces in this line planned for Valentine's Day this year, but as always, I'm happy to make something custom.

Charm Set

I was not able to find any heart patterned paper that I really liked except in a huge scrapbook pack that didn't have a ton of other prints that I loved.  So I cut out my own hearts and put them on a red background for the glass piece in this set.

What's next: I'm still planning to list a music set next.  I also have a beach themed set that I'll launch with my March EBW Challenge Destinations piece sometime next month.

Oldies But Goodies

I've added some older pieces to my Valentine's Day section, too.

What's the deal?

I'm offering free shipping worldwide on all jewelry items in my Valentine's Day shop section and free shipping in the US on my Valentine's Day cards.  I will lose money if I ship cards for free overseas so I just can't justify it.  Sorry!

Check Out My Sponsors

All of my blog sponsors have some great items for Valentine's Day.

Love Scrapbook Photo Album - Perfect for Valentine's Day

Fine Art Watercolor Painting Original Art Love Valentine's Day

Pink and White Dots Korker Bow

Where else I linked up today:

I included this post in Erika's It's a Wrap Link Party 1/23/2012.

January BBA Giveaway: Win one of my wrap bracelet/necklace pieces!

Every month, one member of the BBA does a giveaway.  In honor of my brand new line of wrap bracelets/necklaces and charms, I decided to do the giveaway this month.  I'm giving away a neutral mix rope that can be wrapped twice for a bracelet or worn as a single strand short necklace.

More information and all of the details about the giveaway can be found on the BBA blog January giveaway post right here.  Please don't leave entries on this post for the giveaway.  They must be left on that BBA blog post.  I'm not planning any other giveaways for quite a while, particular one that is worth this month, so enter while you can.  Entries will be received through Jan. 19.  Good luck!

December EBW Challenge voting and 2011 EBW Challenges in review

I did not have a specific goal for the number of EBW challenges that I wanted to complete in 2011, but I am really proud of the fact that I completed 9 out of the 11 challenges this year, especially with everything that was going on this year.  Among other things, it really pushed me to develop the high-end price selection for my shop, including a brand new product line and pattern for it.  I'm not sure that I ever would have done this on my own, but as an artist, I think that it's important to have this high-end work as part of my repertoire.  I have put a lot of hard work into these challenges this year.  It's high time for a little review.

Before I get to that, here's my entry for the December EBW Challenge Arabesque Style.  You can read more about this piece right here.  It's part of my brand new line of wrap bracelets/necklaces that I will officially release next month.  It's available for sale here.

Voting for the EBW Challenge takes place on the blog today through December 15.  Please check out all of the entries and vote for your favorite.  If you can't see the clickable mosaic, click here.

Here's a look back at my other entries from this year.  Click on any of the photos to see larger versions of them.

 

As part of the challenge aspect, I also created two brand new PDF patterns.

PROS

• While some get a lot more than others, in general, my challenge items get tons of views and hearts.
• Regardless of the complexity of my pieces, participating in challenges always brings a lot of traffic to my shop.
• Every challenge that I've participated in has helped me to grow as an artist.
• As already mentioned, these challenges push me to create higher-end pieces that I most likely would not make on my own.  They are a wonderful showcase for my shop and for my inventory selection at craft fairs.
• For 2011, I created a new line of right angle weave cuffs from this challenge.  I also created two of the first pieces for my wrap bracelet/necklace line, which was a great sneak peek for my customers.
• While patterns are a lot of work initially, especially on top of creating the challenge piece itself, they are lasting products for my shop.  Having two new patterns is a great asset for my Etsy shop.
• In August, my Strawberry Fields Forever Cuff placed 10th in the popular vote and 2nd in the private team vote, which was a huge ego boost.  I have many of you to thank for that popular vote placement!

CONS

• While my higher-end pieces get a lot of views, they don't sell very quickly.
• I have had a couple sales from these new patterns, but not nearly as many as I hoped that I would.  At least they aren't going anywhere and may take off at any point.

What's the plan for 2012?

• My goal is to participate in at least 6 challenges in 2012.  We start the BBA Challenges in January.  BBA members have to participate in 6 of those per year so I don't want to burn myself out with too many challenges.
• At least 4 out of those 6 EBW challenge pieces have to fit into current shop lines or must fit into my current shop style and average price point.  One of my biggest goals for 2012 is to continue to narrow my shop focus.  I will be growing my new wrap bracelet/necklace line and want most of my other new inventory to fit into existing lines with just a few one of a kind pieces in the mix.  My challenge items have to fit into this equation.
• While my EBW challenge items obviously have to have large portions of beadweaving, my BBA challenge items can be any medium.  I may use some of them for shop pieces, but I will most likely be using many of them for other projects.  While I love jewelry making, I don't want to burn out on it.  Also, I will be expanding my craft fair inventory and craft fair display options in 2012, which will include many opportunities to meet BBA challenge themes.

I appreciate everyone's support with all of the EBW challenges this past year and looking forward to sharing my EBW and BBA challenges this next year!