Major Etsy update: I now have 45 items in my shop. Check out my Shop Updates for a coupon code for free shipping for the holidays!
I sent out my first e-newsletter! If you’d like to be on my mailing list, sign up here.
More of the items included in my Etsy update:
As for myself, I’m excited to see my love over this coming Thanksgiving weekend. I’ve managed to do a majority of my holiday shopping already, so I’m looking forward to cozying in…and hopefully selling a few things online!
It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of September.
Me at the OFF Center Folk Art Festival in downtown Albuquerque
This month, I participated in one craft fair. I didn’t sell too many things, but the atmosphere was pleasant and I learned from it. Looking ahead, I’m trying to sign up for at least one craft fair a month through the holidays.
It’s been hotter than usual for this time of year: the high temperatures are still lingering in the low 90s and high 80s. It’s definitely feeling more like Fall at night and in the mornings, though.
This past weekend, I went on a hike with my dad and his friend and saw some of the fall colors. I came out of the forest, turned, and saw this:
The Sandia Mountains, late September 2015
I’ve also been busy making things.
Spiral circlet
A custom-made hair accessory with silver plated chain and wire wrapped abalone pieces
Simple and stylish earrings
I made two more pairs of filigree flower earrings, this time with glass leaf beads. Now for sale in my Etsy shop!
I hope to create more custom orders, some seasonal and holiday items, and more. I’m looking forward to seeing how Fall inspires my creativity.
I am not what you would call a sports fan. I played soccer for a few years when I was younger. I sometimes would stop and watch the last minutes of a basketball game my dad was watching on television. Simply, I lack the patience and the interest to watch the full game of any sport.
One of my regular customers recently bought this circlet and she sent her family pictures of her wearing it. The next thing I knew, I had a request for two circlets in Broncos colors.
I enjoy commissions: they give me a chance to be creative, experiment, and collaborate with my customers. This particular request gave me a new challenge: I am used to working with the colors and energetic qualities of gemstones. However, this project required a different approach. When trying to match beads to Broncos team colors (navy and orange), could I successfully bring out the kind of team spirit a sports fan might have? Could I succeed in making something visually appealing?
I went to several bead stores to find what I needed: orange, white, and navy seed beads; a strand of dyed orange bamboo coral beads; and finally, several triangular-shaped cobalt blue glass beads.
Then I took my beads to my design board and came up with this:
which evolved into this:
I’m pretty pleased with the result, and the chance this project gave me to practice and come up with something completely new.
The two together, complete with ribbons
My circlets are great for Halloween costumes, dressing up, and other occasions. If you’re interested in a custom-made circlet, please contact me here.
I had the realization that business social media account-wise, I tend to post a lot on Instagram, occasionally on Facebook, sometimes on Pinterest, and rarely here. My intention is to start blogging more.
I’ve been working hard – prolifically making jewelry, figuring out prices, planning for my next craft show (on September 13!), editing my digitized oracle cards on Photoshop, putting up a few new items on Etsy, and getting ready to go away for Labor Day weekend to visit my love.
So, here’s a taste of what I’ve been up to recently:
I found these brass flowers at a local bead shop/art gallery and knew I had to make them into earrings. Brass Flowers with Lapis Lazuli Leaves Earrings. Up on Etsy here.Triangular turquoise in sterling silver. Also on Etsy. Seen here with a beautiful piece of selenite, one of my recent favorites from my stone collection.Ways to Make a Wish Card – I see this as a birthday or general encouragement card. It’s blank inside. Here on Etsy.Collage/mixed media piece in progress. I wonder what it will become. At this point, I know it will have more layers, but I’m not sure beyond that. There’s something really soothing about creating with glue and paper.I took this photo early Sunday morning. I woke up because the moon was still so bright, and then decided to get up and take this picture.Moonglow, Sunday night. I came back home after seeing live music, and turned around to see this. The picture doesn’t capture the full beauty, but it does capture some of its essence.
I ordered three of my illustrated affirmations in sticker form, and I think they turned out pretty well. I’m selling them as three sticker sets on Etsy here. Check them out!
On Saturday, I spent the day mostly offline. In the morning, I went down to the Rio Grande and took a walk. I also spent some time just sitting by the river. Then, I came home and created up a storm: I made prints, jewelry, and a watercolor painting. I was really grateful for this time: after all the busyness of the past few weeks, it felt wonderful to call a time out of sorts. I need to take intentional time offline more often – it allows me more space to dream and to refill my energy reserves.
From my time by the river
I also took some time this weekend to write out a few new listings on Etsy, and posted them this morning. You can find them here.
Seeking Spirit Designs 