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!
One of the best quotes from yesterday’s craft fair: “You know what these remind me of? In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, when he made an angel out of silverware.”
Angel charm pendants
I currently have three angels listed on Etsy here.
Wow, it’s the last day of October! Happy Halloween!
This month, I:
Sold two items on Etsy – from people I don’t know in person!
Went to a gem and mineral show and bought quite a few pretty stones.
Two pieces of Ametrine from the gem show!
Did one craft fair.
Started working on editing my oracle cards again.
Screenshot: working on a card in Photoshop
Sent off my first holiday order.
Made a pair of earrings and a pendant for a friend for her birthday
Earrings: bronze plated wire with lapis lazuil and aquamarine
Constructed a feather barrette and mask for my Halloween costume
Did my first art abandonment and three pairs of Halloween barrettes in different places for people to randomly find.
Halloween barrettes
Made a few other jewelry pieces, such as these:
Chrysocolla and brass pendant
Quartz and silver pendant
I finally got a new mixed media sketchbook and have started playing in it already.
I’ve had some days lately where I’ve wondered if I’m doing enough. After writing all this out, I realize that I’ve done a lot this month – and that I deserve the moments in between where I can rest, play, and dream.
“Ridged and ragged.” Monoprint/painting, October 2015
I made this piece using my Gelli printing plate, which is like a permanent reusable version of a gelatin plate for printmaking. After I made the print using the plate and acrylic paint, I added painted details. I really like how it turned out.
Yesterday, I was feeling a little anxious. There’s something soothing about creating a chain through connecting beaded links. It’s methodical, detail-oriented, and repetitive. So I decided to make something.
I have a bag full of beads leftover from other projects, or given to me by a friend who didn’t want them. I’d seen a picture somewhere of necklace created with leftover mismatched beads, and wanted to try it.
This was my result:
Assorted Bead Necklace
This necklace is simple, yet it stands out because it doesn’t follow a pattern. I appreciate its asymmetry and variety.
How did I feel after making this piece? Definitely calmer and more focused. Creating is part of my self-care practice. I’m so grateful there are times when I can take care of myself and make something beautiful in the process.
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 sit in an office, or maybe it’s the back room of a store, or at a small table in a living room. I ask my customer what she is looking for: is there a specific stone she is drawn to? I have a bowl full of stones to look at as well as other resource books on crystal meanings. Would this be a gift for someone or herself? Is there a quality she would like to embrace in herself more? Something she wants to let go of? Something she wishes to protect? Are there any symbols or shapes she is drawn to? I ask her record her dreams for a week and tell me any details that stick out to her.
Once I have information I spent time brainstorming. I show her some sketches. She gives me feedback about what she is drawn to, and why. At this point, we discuss materials and price. Then I create, playing with wire, gemstones, and intuition.
I would like my jewelry design and art business to have an intuitive custom aspect, where I combine my energetic and artist gifts to create one-of-a-kind pieces for people. I’ve made a custom piece for a friend, and I really enjoyed the process: it was experimental, collaborative, and very satisfying.
Custom Piece: Citrine and Silver Spiral Nest
My energy healing training: I am Reiki Level 2 attuned and I’ve also done some informal training based on the teachings of the Berkeley Psychic Institute. Energy work feels like it comes naturally to me, but training and attunement has made it easier for me to access and sense energy. I also identify as empathic, and can pick up on others’ emotions. I want to continue to integrate these skills and abilities into my creative process – it feels healing for me, and I hope it will help others as well.
I love the idea of setting an intention and working with someone to make something special for them or a loved one.
If you are interested in ordering a unique, intuitively-created piece, let me know. You can contact me here.
Seeking Spirit Designs 