weekend happenings

Last night was the annual med school Frolics at Iowa. I got a picture of the sign this year.
Basically Frolics consists of 30-40 students from each class putting on a "skit" (which can include music, videos, etc.) about what their year of med school is like. It's one of the best events all year. Out of the 3 years that we've been, this show was the best yet. Good times.

In other non-jewelry related matters, Jake's desk chair broke this week. Target had a wonderful model on clearance so we ended up getting two new chairs. I took my old one to work (because believe it or not, the old one is much better than any chair I've ever had there). Yay for another upgrade to our living room! It would be nice if we enough room for a separate office space, but for now, this works well.

Our washing machine has been on its last legs for a couple months. I was hoping that it would make it until the summer, but it started smoking twice during a load on Friday. Thankfully I managed to get it to finish the current load (pictured below), but I'm not risking that again.
We bought a new one from Best Buy yesterday. They had a front load model in open stock that we got for a great price. It's small, but very efficient. We're having it delivered on Saturday so I won't have to take off work.

I spent most of this afternoon cleaning and getting stuff done around the condo, but I took a little time to work on some more button earring studs and button tacks. I also took pictures of a couple finished button studs and reshot a couple older pieces. I like spacing out my picture taking. I get burned out and my pictures get boring if I take too many at once.

I will be listing a coordinating button charm bracelet and earrings tomorrow. Stay tuned!

EtsyBloggers: Turquoise on Treasury East

You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE. Enjoy everyone, especially my fellow bloggers. :)

sneak peak, a couple more retakes

Thank you to everyone who gave me feedback on newsletters and patterns/tutorials! I think that I will go ahead with both. I almost definitely won't have anything finished for either one until this summer, but I'll be sure to keep you updated on everything. Also, it's definitely not too late to provide feedback/insight if you haven't already!

Here's a work in progress shot of my newest earrings.

I'm sure that some of you recognize this color combination from my color explosion peyote cuff. I have a couple different made to order pendants in these colors as well that I'm planning to restock while I have these colors out again.

I reworked a couple more Etsy listings this week. The first one is monochromatic retro charm fringed peyote cuff.

The second one is silver links girly bracelet. The pictures are a little dark, but they're better than the overexposed ones that I had before.

first leaf earrings, leafy feature number 10

I listed my first pair of leaf earrings tonight! I will continue to make leafy bracelets, but I'm proud to offer leaf earrings now, too. I have a couple more that I'll be listing later month. Please click on the pictures to see this listing.


My husband was looking at some of my recent earring pictures this week and suggested that I use a music back drop behind the props so you don't see the carpet or the porch, depending on where I'm taking the pictures. Any thoughts?

I know that I did a leafy feature pretty recently, but I got such positive comments about it that I decided it would be okay to do another one with my first leaf earrings. Enjoy!

Handmade Zip Patchwork Pouch with Felt Leaves by TiLTcreations

EverLastingLeaves - Concrete Leaf - Umber Catalpa by EverLastingLeaves

Lime Green Vines Pottery focal button big oval by Mudcakes

Serena Earrings - Olivine by BellezzaJewelry

Dark Green Leaf Charm by Reillykins

green leaf necklace by annbooth9

Aspen Leaf Gourd Bowl by gourdsbydesign

ideas I've been pondering, random feature

I know that I mentioned this a while back, but I'm still considering the idea of sending out a newsletter for my Etsy shop. Although it would be great to do it year round, I could see starting it up in the summer when I have more time to get things going. If any of you do send out newsletters, please let me know if you have any advice!

I've also considered the idea of putting together patterns/tutorials for a few of my original jewelry designs like my right angle weave embellished button bracelets (see example) and my skinny fringed peyote cuffs (see example), including the wrapped version (see example). I would love to get feedback from anyone and everyone about this including your personal experience with creating patterns/tutorials and selling/marketing them and including whether or not you purchase items like this and if so, what you look for in them. I would also love feedback on whether or not you'd be interested in purchasing patterns/tutorial like this one from me and if so, what you would be looking for with it (pictures vs. drawings, price, etc.). Again, with summer coming up, I will have more time for projects like this.

I am certainly not discouraged with my jewelry sales, but I would like to do more that will hopefully boost interest (and sales) in my Etsy shop. These are the two biggest things I've been thinking about lately that I don't already do. If anyone has other suggestions for boosting Etsy shop interest, I'm open to hearing them!

And now onto the feature: newly favorited random items from Etsy that don't fit into any other category. I think that I've been craving color lately because there is a LOT of color in these seven pieces. Enjoy!

Triple strand cuff bracelet in retro ruler print by PonderandStitch

Harlequin earrings by daxdesigns

SANCTUARY...Free Shipping by blueseraphim

Spring Sunburst Bracelet by dreambeadweaver

Unique Volcano Cuff - lapisbeach hand knit bracelet in red, black, and silver by lapisbeach

Dichroic Dangle Pendant by StickLizardDesigns

Spring Chickity (handmade buttons set of 5) by TessaAnn

And finally, one of the items from the random section of my own shop:
yellow and green stars charm bracelet