Showing posts with label sterling silver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sterling silver. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Featured Etsian Artist~knighttimedesigns


I saw this shop and fell in love with the leaf necklaces. Each piece is OOAK, created directly from nature, like a finger print.
Any nature lovers dream piece.

These beauties bring old cliches to mind. Like this one, lovers initials carved on the trunk of an Old Oak. Wouldn't it be sweet to carry a piece of that meaningful tree with you, where ever you went. To have a 'finger print' of the tree that you fell in love under..

Or maybe your first nature walk/hike with your love... A precious memory that can be kept close to your heart.
I'm such a hopeless romantic.

What kind of leaf would you love to see imprinted?

Okay, okay..Onto the interview with knighttimedesigns..
knighttimedesigns






About myself, well I'm 29, I was born in the states originally but have moved around a lot, spending the past 10 years living in Ireland, settling in Killarney, Co.Kerry... for now!









I've been creating on way or another all my life always switching media when the next idea comes up. I have degrees in both painting and ceramics and have been making jewellery for 12 years.







In all three of these media I always have the common thread of nature, leaves in particular. In my ceramic work I use leaf imprinting techniques so when I started using PMC ( Fine silver clay) it was a natural transition to try to incorporate these techniques into jewellery.


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In terms of a favourite jewellery piece I love making the oak leaves especially. I have little oak trees I have been growing in pots in my garden from acorns, so I feel like I have a small bit of a personal
connection with those pieces...

Thursday, March 26, 2009

My Brand Spankin New Pretties For My Babies
















Shaylynne is styling with her new pretties!
I couldn't capture Lilly sporting hers :(
I bought some silver bracelets for my little sweeties! ohhh I'm so thrilled with them! hehe
I had to show them off... My daughter, Lilly, calls them "pretties". She didn't want to take hers off. But she normally only wears her pretties for a little while before she decides it needs to come off. So my plan, this time is to have Shaylynne start wearing her pretties at a VERY young age. (She's 4 months old) So when she's like 2-3 years, she won't have any qualms about wearing pretties... :) I only wish I had thought about this for Lilly...





These were made by BrighidsForge.

I found that this store had the best price out of everyone who had answered my alchemy request.

Which was great for me, since the items would be worn by youngins.. I don't want to pay too much for jewelry that may end up lost, ya know? And the quality is great and the lettering is fantastic! Though I hope to have these until the girls are adults... The seller assured me that they are sturdy enough to have around for decades. So I have high hopes! :)
So, yay!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Featuring Etsian Artist, TheSilverLakeStudio






Don't forget to leave comments and take the poll to be entered for both the Free Giveaways Below!




Today I am Featuring Etsian Artist, TheSilverLakeStudio~http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5614518


One of a Kind beauitful Sterling Silver Jewelry can be found at TheSilverLakeStudio's shop!


I first heard about Etsy on the forums of that FeeBay site. (I wasn't selling jewelry there.) I liked the Etsy site, but I must have discovered it when it was in Beta...it was so very slow. So I waited for a year and saw last year that it had improved, so I jumped in!


I joined in 1 year ago, but didn't start selling until last Fall.


I have been making jewelry for a very long time, but I was just beading and stringing. I decided that I wanted to become a metalsmith, so I took alot of classes. In fact, I'm in an advanced metal fabrication class now, and I have no plans to ever stop.


Passion, for me, is the easy part. Motivation is pretty easy also. But sometimes, I can't think of new concept or design. That's when I take a day off to recharge!


I don't have a regular job, but I've got a great studio here at home. And, it looks out on a beautiful fish pond in our backyard!


I haven't found a niche in teams yet. I'm still looking!


Creating a new piece is a long process. There are so many steps to follow when working with sterling silver or gold. And it takes a big investment to aquire all the tools and raw materials. But it is so neat to have one of a kind jewelry! I will never, ever buy mass-produced jewelry again.


My creativity comes in spurts! It's usually in the afternoon, after a day of running errands and taking care of the house, husband and dogs.


The item in my shop that has the most views is the Big Bang Cuff Bracelet. It took over a week for me to finish it.


My personal favorite is the Pansy bracelet! I made a much smaller version for a ring that I made for myself!


To promote my shop I hand out business cards to everyone. I wear a piece of my jewelry every time I leave the house. I've donated items to blog owners that feature me on their blog. I had my teeth cleaned last week and took most of the jewelry with me to show all the girls. I also had car door magnets made and just put them on my car a few days ago.


I don't have a blog and I don't really want to spend all that time trying to get followers. But, I'll be doing metal working tutorials for a great blog.....It's called ThurdaySweetTreat.. http://ThursdaySweetTreat@blogspot.com.


For new sellers, I would let them know that you can't just put items in your shop and wait for the orders to come pouring in. There is so much more involved. I would advise a new seller to go to "Business Topics" and read everything from the past year, even before opening a shop! They will learn so much and avoid some mistakes as well. Oh, and choose your shop name carefully. It can't be changed easily!


Well, there you have it! That's all I could come up with. I am by no means an expert on Etsy or anywhere else!

Featured Fellow Etsian~WildRoseJewels



Don't Forget To Answer the Poll and Leave A Comment 6 Posts Down for My Blog GiveAway!
























Today I am featuring a new Etsian~WildRoseJewels http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6637309

She carries Exquisite handmade sterling silver jewelry, I just love love love her pieces!

I heard about Etsy a few years ago, but I came across it recently while searching for jewellery supplies.

I started selling my jewellery on Etsy two months ago.

I make jewellery because it makes me happy.


I live in a house full of boys, and jewellery is something girly and pretty that I can do just for me.


Passion for my craft comes just from the fact that I enjoy it. It’s something I want to do. I look forward to getting new materials and all the creative possibilities they bring.


My day job is mommy right now, and I love it. My son will be one year old in March, and I can’t believe how the time has flown by. He is an absolute joy.


I do my work at my kitchen table, everything from making the jewellery, to the photography, to packing and shipping. It’s great. Although a studio would be nice too . . .


I am a member of the Alberta Street Team.


It doesn’t take me very long to make a piece, once I’ve solidified the idea. Usually I’ll think about it for days, draw pictures, and once I have it all figured out, it comes together pretty quickly.


I get most creative whenever I get new supplies.


I don’t think I have a most popular item . . .yet. I’m still newish.


Advice for new sellers - maybe I’m not the best one to ask, but I think the main thing is to never stop working on it. There is always something you can improve on.


I have tried some paid advertising, but I’m not sure it’s working. I try to post in the forums whenever I can, and I’ve been telling everyone I know, and telling them to pass it on.


My creative work comes second to my family, of course. During the day, my son runs the show. Usually I work before he gets up, or when he naps - he’s still a two-nap-a-day kind of guy, luckily. Evenings are devoted to my husband. It all works pretty well.


Ooh, I haven’t done a trade yet, but I would definitely love to!


I don’t have my own blog yet, but it’s on my to do list.