New Wrapping...

For a long time, I've been going the "minimalist" route with my packaging- just a plastic ziploc type bag with a sticker printed at Moo.com and a Moo Mini Business Card. A few weeks ago, I decided to forgo the "generic tropical" motif and really go for a more "local Hawaii" flare. I made a new icon using a photo of our family's favorite beach and also had some cards printed up on Zazzle with photos of the same beach.

Then, Zazzle suggested I check out these business cards.  As far as I know this is not a Hawaiian beach, but I love how these really help me tie together my beachy theme...

(As a note, I didn't take this photo but did pay the person claiming to have taken the photo for use of the image as part of my order on Zazzle.)

I'm really excited to have a more professional look!  My weekend thus far has been spent punching cards and re-packaging my existing inventory.  Hopefully, I'll be able to set up shop at the next MWR mega-garage and craft sale...

More Japanese Washi Pendants...

Here are more pictures of various washi pendants listed in the shop. Today, I think I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Something's Fishy - Japanese Washi Pendants

Here are some of the more recent necklaces for sale in my Etsy shop.  These are made using genuine Japanese washi paper, and supplies bought from CandyTiles2, also on Etsy.  She's a great supplier, particularly for purchasing supplies in smaller quantities for wholesale prices.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67393488/one-and-a-half-koi-goldfish-glass-tile

As you can see, these are really cute little necklaces. Koi are revered in Japan for their strength and courage in the face of adversity. They swim against the current (even up waterfalls), and don't give up no matter what pushes against them. They are really popular tattoo motifs... now you don't have to ink your body to show your affinity for these regal fish!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67394146/almost-three-koi-goldfish-glass-tile

Each pendant is secured in a sterling plated pendant tray. They are water resistant but not waterproof and should not be worn while bathing or swimming!

Do you have any tattoos? What are your favorite motifs or themes? Overcoming adversity? Beauty? Family history? Religious symbols?

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Geography Lesson- Botswana Agate

Did you know that Botswana and Hawaii are antipodes? (Two points that are antipodal to one another are connected by a straight line running through the center of the Earth. Less than 4% of land is antipodal to land.)  Just one of the many tidbits of trivia running through my head.  (This one is thanks to my Dad!)

So anyway, I bought a strand of Botswana agate a few months ago. The translucence and variation in the strand is just AMAZING!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65542547/hawaiian-antipode-3-puka-shell-agate

I guess people must not be so fond of my use of puka shells as bead caps. That's ok. As far as I know, I'm the only person doing that in conjunction with wrapped wire. Conversely, there are tons of wire wrapped bails all over the internet jewelry scene.  So this is part of my "look," along with shells and pearls... Oh, how I love shells and pearls!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65542547/hawaiian-antipode-3-puka-shell-agate

Look at that piece of agate!!! I am not joking, the strand of agate included some very exotic looking pieces. But, for now, I'm keeping the rest of quietly locked away...

How do you feel about "representative photos?" (Photos that show "similar, but not the precise item(s).")

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Lady Gaga ft Beyonce vs Metallica - Enter Telephone (Djs From Mars Club ...

It's been a crazy week around here, but a friend shared this with me and it was surprisingly good. I LOVE METALLICA. I don't really think much of Gaga. I thought this would suck, but it doesn't. So, I just thought I'd share with the rest of you out of the box thinkers!

Navy Blue & Gold Flat Spiral with a Twist

My college years were more or less the four most miserable years of my life so it isn't often that I pay homage to my alma mater.  However, when I saw the two-toned 3mm fire polished Czech beads in yellow and blue, I immediately thought of the jonquil AB Swarovski bicones and 3mm Magatama Toho beads in my stash.  I realize that probably doesn't mean much to folks who don't bead.  The bottom line is that the pattern evolved into a summery flat spiral in the my college colors. 

(You can find the listing for this flat spiral bracelet here.)

This particular flat spiral actually has a lot more dimension that the standard flat spiral weave because it uses 4 different types of beads (and some are intentionally asymmetrical), but it still flows very nicely.   This bracelet does look different from various angles, though.  Don't let the name of the technique mislead you- this is a three dimensional bracelet that is interesting to look at even from the side!

One of the problems I ran into while designing is that I ran out of the two-toned Czech beads.  Those are sold by the strand and I didn't want to buy an entire strand because I only needed a few more to make the bracelet a standard length.  So I improvised by using the seed beads in a modified right angle weave on either end of the flat spiral as a decorative way to attach the bail and lengthen the overall beaded length at the same time.

Another lesson learned by selling one of a kind beaded bracelets online is that it always helps to have an extender chain.  So I added one inch of sterling silver cable chain and added a faceted moonstone briolette dangle to the end.  (I think it makes it easier to put a bracelet on when the side opposite the clasp has some weight to it.)

Even though the moonstone appears flat white in the photos, there is an iridescence which is picked up by the blue tones in the beading.  I'm really happy with the way this pattern turned out.


Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Earrings & Jewelry Photography: Jewelry Photography | eHow.com

Here's another video on how to stage earrings for photography that I found on eHow... really clever little idea that any of us could reproduce at home for relatively low cost. Really, you can learn tons of stuff by searching for tutorials on eHow and YouTube.

Earrings & Jewelry Photography: Jewelry Photography | eHow.com

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Take decent listing pictures without going crazy

You hear it again and again in all the shop critiques and Storque posts.  Pictures, pictures, pictures.  "But I'm not a photographer," or so you say.  Anyone can take a good product photo- for those without all the fancy gadgets, here's how to make the most of what you've got:

Lighting.  Indirect, natural lighting is the easiest for a beginner to work with.  Take a look at the photos on this blog.  Some are infinitely better than others.  They're all taken by the same person using the same camera (more or less).  I assure you, the ones you find the most appealing were all taken in indirect, natural lighting.  Direct sunlight leaves a glare, low lighting doesn't show enough detail, and artificial lighting wreaks havoc on color (which is impossible to fix after the fact unless you're a photoshop whiz).  After playing around a bit, I found that the lighting on my front steps is the the most consistent.  If you have to be out in bright sunlight, a cut milk jug makes a great photo box for small objects.  (Google "milk jug light box tutorial" for instructions.)  Good lighting also helps make sure your pictures are in sharp focus.  Low lighting generally means slower shutter speeds (more chance to blur due to movement) and wider aperture (shallower depth of focus/less of your object in focus).

Background.  Keep it simple.  I know lots of folks tell you to "brand your store front" or whatever, but ultimately, you want folks to see your product.  The eye is easily distracted, so if you're just starting out with photography, you don't need to use crazy props.  Frame your object tightly enough to keep competing interests in the photo to a minimum.  If you use a model, the general guidance is to scale the frame of the photo to the size of your object.  What I mean is that if you're selling a puffy tutu and fairy wings, you can include a full body shot of a cute girl having fun... but if you're selling a ring, you should have a close up of the model's hand.  If you use an artificial backdrop, pick a matte surface in a color that doesn't compete with your object.  (You can do a google search for color wheel for help.)

Lighting.  (Are you seeing a pattern here?)  If you have to take photos indoors and can't be right next to a window during the day, use diffuse, pure white light.   In most cases, this means the flash on your camera is useless because it's not diffuse enough when close up.  If you have one of those flashes that attaches to the body of your SLR, you could get a flash diffuser.  Another trick is to take a bright light and reflect it off of another surface (say, your ceiling- ever see those photo shoots with the upside down umbrellas?)  For smaller objects, you can still use the cut milk jug as a table top photo box.   Typically though, you want the lighting source to be off to one side behind you, the photographer.  (Note that if you use a flash, the light source is between you and the subject.)

And what about photo editing software?  Well, sure, it's useful... but in most cases I think it's easiest to start with a good photo instead of relying on software to try and "fix" things.  It's also time consuming and frustrating (unless you're into that sort of thing, in which case your skills are probably too advanced for these particular tips). 

Here's a great down and dirty video on how to set up for a jewelry shoot:
How to Photograph Jewelry: Digital Photography Tips | eHow.com

Care to share any of your cheap and easy photography tips?

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Fused Chain at Bead It!

Last week, I took a class on how to fuse silver at Bead It! in Kailua.  First of all, I need to rave about how much I love the local businesses and shops in Kailua. There are some really great small businesses and some real hidden gems.  But Bead It! is my favorite of all, and I try to limit the number of trips there since I would absolutely be homeless and divorced if I bought all the things I wanted from that store.

Once or twice a year, I treat myself to a class at Bead It! and if you are local on Oahu and want to learn how to use your tools and materials correctly, I highly recommend investing in their classes.  Really.  These ladies know what they're doing and are able to explain the science and common sense behind what you are doing and why.  You also learn things like safety, materials, set up/clean up, and how to identify the difference between good work and bad work.  In the end, your money is well spent because you will waste less materials and learn to take better care of your tools.  NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ASPECT. 

So anyway, here is the product of my labor.  The first couple of links I fused were not so great and ended up in the scrap pile.  As I went on, I got faster, and the quality of my work also improved.

In case you were wondering, I bought a butane torch the following day and am still able to retain the information given (and to create fused links on my own).  However, as part of your class fees, a very in-depth handout is also provided as a memory refresher. 

I had a lot of fun and am now experimenting with different designs.  By the way, if you see "beachy bangles" on Etsy consisting of fused silver with either a shell or beach glass on it, those are probably copycats of a very popular class taught at Bead It!  (Don't get me wrong, they're still beautiful, unique, and require skill/art.)

Also, just so you know, I do not work for or derive any income from Bead It!  I don't know the owners or any of the employees except as a customer and student.  This is my own personal, unsolicited opinion.  So there you have it.
 
Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Monday Meetups #2

The 2nd and 4th (sometimes 5th) Monday of every month, watch this space for a few questions that you can take, post and answer on your blogs and THEN LINK BACK HERE so that we all can come around and visit.

This adventure is OPEN TO EVERYONE!  You DO NOT have to be a part of the Homefront Team.  We just ask that when you leave your link here, you TRULY have a post that pertains to the set of questions.

OK so....

This Week's Questions come from 

Leslie of Heart Adrift

Leslie's links:

Etsy

Blog
  Fan page

Go Army Magnets - Set of 3 

 

1. Do you like to celebrate Valentine's Day or do you cringe at the thought of Cupid?

I'm ambivalent about Valentines' Day, but I get small things for the kids and hubby anyway.  Actually, I do like Valentines' Day in that it prompts the hubby to buy me a small present.  :)

2. Are you a flowers or candy kind of person? Or do you prefer something handmade?I'm the crafty one of the family.  I love handmade stuff, but candy or flowers are also appreciated.  Anything other than perfume.

 

3. What's your most memorable Valentine's Day story?

I can't say that I really have one.  More or less until I met my husband, I never had a Valentine and when I did, I was in a long distance relationship or someone was deployed so I was alone anyway.  My husband is not a "grand gestures" once a year kind of guy.  He is the "little things everyday" kind of guy.  Just one of many things I love about him...   

To see what the rest of my teammates had to say, check out the Homefront Team blog!

An Unconventional Valentine's Day Poem

Here's a beautiful poem that I was recently reminded of while watching Oprah.  I love my children with all my heart, but not because they are a part of me as an arm or leg, but because because I love THEM.  :)  And I love my husband too, but that's another poem.

Your Children are not Your Children
Khalil Giran

They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

Most folks know better than to view their children as possessions, yet still believe their children are a literal part of them.  How do you encourage your children to be themselves, and to develop their own personal strengths and weaknesses?

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Homefront Team Treasure y Hunt Challenge on Etsy

My favorite Etsy team, the Homefront Team, is having a Treasury Challenge.  This is a fun way to learn about how to tag items properly and how to choose an outstanding product photo.  There were some really nice items that I didn't include based on the thumbnail.  There were also some things I just couldn't find without getting creative with my search words, which is saying something, since most of my day consists of looking up stuff on the computer.  All of this has inspired me to take a closer look at my own listings to try and turn it up a notch.

It's one thing to think of a concept and try to find the right items.  It's another to have an item and try to think of someone else's concept.

Here's the link to my treasury challenge response, depicted below.  (You can see everyone else's responses here.)

All items must be from a Homefront team member. The items in the treasury must be represented by the following (you can use creativity here)

1. First comes love
2. Then comes marriage
3. Then comes baby in a baby carriage
4. Big/little siblings
5. Growing up
6. Starting school
7. Tweens
8. Teenagers
9. High School
10. College life
11. First apartment
12. Job interview

For kicks, I repeated the first 4 items in the last 4 spots.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Heart of Glass

I picked this nickel plated key chain up from Artbeads over a year ago. It's a nice key chain, but the post in the middle is so thick that none of the beads I had on hand actually fit. I don't remember where those Bali style spacer beads came from, but I think it was Oriental Trading Company. So anyway, I put the spacer beads on the key ring, and that was all I did with it for a long time.

I found the key ring while digging through my stuff, looking for potential destash listings. On a whim, I tried to fit one of my Indonesian recycled glass beads on there. Even THAT didn't quite make it onto the screw in post. Fortunately, in the past year, I finally invested in a bead reamer (it set me back a whopping $6). I don't know how I ever survived without a bead reamer.

What are the tools of the trade for your favorite hobby?  Have you acquired a tool, thinking it was just going to be a "nice to have," only to find it was a REALLY NICE to have?  If you had to rebuild your workshop from scratch, what are the first five tools you would buy?

 Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

It's a Hawaii Thing

As you know, Artbeads sends me some items to review from time to time. The theme for this particular iteration is "Holiday Traditions." So rather than the standard Swarovski crystal wreaths, Christmas trees, and candy canes, I decided to go with a charm bracelet of foods my family eats during the holidays.  From left to right, we have mochi (we pound ours by hand), shaved ice, red fish, Maui gold pineapple, a bowl of rice, and a bowl of ozoni (mochi soup.)

Hawaiian Eats Charm Bracelet

I had to make the bowl of soup in a 10mm round sterling silver bezel (lined with a small piece of white mulberry paper), using a small button pearl for mochi, a green bugle bead for the vegetable garnish, and three of the tiniest Swarovski xillion flatbacks for carrots. Instead of mixing resin, I used Judykins Diamond Glaze to hold it down. Here's a close up of my improvised soup and a photo of the real thing:

Technically, the rice in the bowl shouldn't be perfectly round.  (That's the shape used to make food offerings to your deceased ancestors.)  Also, the kazari style mochi on the far left should have a tangerine on top (which is more of an oblong shape, not a round like an orange).  :)  But I made the rice bowl, pineapple, and mochi charms entirely out of supplies I had on hand.  The "carrot garnish," red fish, and shaved ice were made of items received from Artbeads as part of the product review.   (I also got some gift tins, which I originally intended for use with this project, but I changed my mind.  You'll see those later this week.)

In particular, I really liked the quality of the silver findings used for the shaved ice.  (I used a Bali silver bead cone and one Bali silver headpin.)  Nice and heavy, great worksmanship.  (Incidentally, the bead cone used to make the "bowl" is on sale this week for 15% off.)  Obviously, these items aren't to scale, but this was a ton of fun to make.

What kinds of foods remind you of family gatherings?  Do you have a specialty dish?

**Note: I received some of these products free of charge from Artbeads.com in exchange for an honest product review. I have not been paid for this endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Keiki Dress Up Jewelry!

My little girl loves her bling. Actually, I think she's really more interested in pulling all my beads out.  I can't wait until she's older and I can set aside beads for her to actually string while I get some work done!  Beading is actually a great activity for little ones.  Did you know that many "gifted" children often lag behind their peers in fine motor skills?  (Not all do, but it's fairly common.)  It's also a great way to teach patterns, colors, counting, shapes, spatial perception, and creativity.

See?  Beading with the kids is EDUCATIONAL!!!!  Hah!  I am supermom!!!  (Just kidding!)

Meanwhile, I make pieces for her to play with so she doesn't wreck my more delicate designs.  Here are three sets of girls' dress up jewelry... all very easy to put on and take off, completely lead safe and all that jazz.  Made using the same materials and in the same styles as I make for my own little Princess... who is actually quite a tough little gal, so I used 20 lb test beading wire and a magnetic clasp on the necklace for added safety.

I am a total sucker for starfish.  It reminds me of the starfish story.  Even though I am not the most influential person, I try my best to make a difference where I can.

What stories or skills do you hope to pass on to the next generation? 




Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Another Blast from the Past- Macrame!

When I was a kid, I spent hours making friendship bracelets out of embroidery thread for all my friends.   I didn't like "macrame" because hemp was big and scratchy. (There was only one craft store in town so you either made do with what they had or made your own stuff from scratch.) Well, nowadays with the amazing advent of internet shopping, I discovered that hemp is now made in much smaller/finer sizes in all sorts of amazing colors... and in different textures as well.

This sucker took me about 90 minutes to make. I needed a bit of a refresher on knots, which I got from this tutorial on Rings N Things.  I then modified their instructions a little bit to get the spiral pattern, once I remembered what I was doing.  Just like riding a bicycle!

I guess you can't really tell, but it's two toned (sort of the difference between milk chocolate and dark chocolate).  I used some turquoise recycled glass beads from Indonesia for contrast, since turquoise and chocolate is a pretty popular color combo around here.

The fun part is that my 11yo son saw it and decided to make his own macrame bracelet.  (His his khaki and olive drab in the basic flat pattern given in the tutorial, no beads, because apparently, "Guys don't do beads, Mom!")   This kept him busy for the better part of an afternoon AND is something else we can do together... which, these days, is definitely a win for mom!

Did you make friendship bracelets or macrame bracelets for your friends when you were a kid?  Are you teaching your kids any of those crafts?  What other things do you do with your kids to keep them busy when you can't just send them outside?

Please visit our Etsy store for all kinds of upcycled accessories and jewelry, handcrafted in Hawaii!

Inspirational Focals

Note: this listing sold on Saturday and is on its way to its new home in Minnesota!

Today's featured listing is for SIX inspirational saying focal pieces.  These have two holes on either side and can accommodate double banded stretchy bracelets quite nicely.  I used to sell a lot of these at craft fairs, but to be honest, am not so into making stretchy bracelets anymore. 

The listing originally said five and the lead picture shows four, but I assure you, there are six of these babies!!!  Here they are:

When I bought these, they cost over $7 a set.   In case you were wondering.

I really like inspirational words or quotes... do you?  What's your favorite quote?

Quick & Easy Swarovski Rings

Here are some cute little rings I made for playing dress up with the little fashion princess. She's taking a nap at the moment, so you'll have to bear with Mommy's "stumpy man hands." (No wonder I can't play Rhapsody in Blue even with 10 years of piano lessons!)

So anyway, I made these rings using Swarovski Elements crystals and the Spring Lotus ring tutorial on Artbeads.  Instead of using 22 gauge wire listed in the tutorial, I used 21 gauge wire, which is ever so slightly thicker... but it's what I had on hand.  (No pun intended.)   In case you were wondering, 20 gauge won't work- trust me, I tried it.  But not to worry, this style of wire wrapped ring is quite commonly used and lasts for years if properly cared for.  And since these crystals have two holes, you can run the wire through twice... meaning they are securely fastened and won't roll up or down.

These are quite nice and actually, something a grown up would be able to wear for an evening out on the town.  I got these in a few other colors, and will be trying something a little different with those.

By the way, I received these products free of charge from Artbeads.com in exchange for an honest product review.   I have not been paid for this endorsement as it pertains to the products received.

Don't Quit Your Day Job!

The best career advice I ever got was given to me while I was in college.  Instead of worrying about which career assignments are considered the "best," or "career enhancing," to pick the job that you were most excited about taking... because it's easy to do well in a job that you love.

When I got to my first assignment, it was so overwhelmingly difficult.  I used to walk around trying to convince myself that I wasn't really worth more dead than alive, but from a purely financial standpoint I was actually worth more dead than alive.  Again, this advice found me, this time from my boss...

As it turns out, I really loved that assignment.  It was a tough adjustment but challenging and rewarding.  I looked forward to work and I worked hard.

And that is how I know it's time to move on from my current job.  It's something I do just to pay the bills and it barely does that much.  Actually, it doesn't really cover all the bills I would like to pay.  That's why I'm still in the Reserves.  It takes two jobs to cover the mortgage.  I'm tired.  There is no end in sight to increasing responsibilities and no extra authority or compensation.   I drag myself out of bed every morning and still can't get there on time... not that it matters.  The boss doesn't say anything because I put in my 8 hours and cover my job as well as two other vacant positions... and when I'm not doing that, I read.  I bead.  I research other things online such as grad school, LSAT preps, and recipes.

I know what I love, and it's not my job.  My job is work.  It's not getting me closer to where I want to be.  It's just work.

Do you get the impression that I'm burned out?  Are you happy with what you're doing now?  What's the hardest job you've ever loved?

An Etsy Treasury of My Own!

During the Pro Bowl, I decided to try my hand at actually making a treasury on Etsy.    It was a little tougher than I thought, which only emphasizes again, the need for good use of tags when listing items, and also using a good primary image that doesn't cut off part of the item in an odd way in the thumbprint.  Here's the link.

As you can tell, it's a Hawaii theme, since the Pro Bowl was out in Hawaii, and a little on the pricier side, since it's supposed to be payback for the wife who is fed up with being a football widow.  :)  The other thing I noticed is how heavily saturated the market is with beaded jewelry and how important it is to show some creativity and diversify.  I started sketching out some ideas (mostly to keep me awake in meetings at work), and am finally pricing supplies to get started.  I am also researching how to make some of my own components and findings so I can actually make the things I want to make the way I envisioned making them, instead of having to sort of improvise based on the things I could find commercially.   Should be fun!

How do you create?  Do you make it up as you go with the things you have on hand, or do you plan things out ahead of time and then look for the things you need?  Or both?

Flat Spiral Stitch Bracelets

Here are some pictures of bracelets I made a couple of years back using the flat spiral stitch. (You can google "flat spiral stitch bracelets" for tutorials. I am partial to a video tutorial done by Aunties Beads on You Tube, although I actually learned the stitch from a bracelet kit purchased on Artbeads.)

As you can see, there's a lot of variety... you can change up the sizes of the center beads, seed beads counts on the sides, or even hand stitch additional beads to embellish the bracelet.  This technique is pretty simple, although it does take some time to figure out the correct bead count when you change up the bead sizes.  Once you get going, it's a fairly simple process.

There's a great deal of variety in these bracelets... so far, because of the highly geometric pattern, I've only made these using man made components... if you search Flat Spiral on Etsy, you'll find much of the same...

But I am working out the bead count for using this technique using some natural components, not just machine cut beads!  So stay tuned!!!

Do you find yourself going back to old techniques with new angles every once in a while?  Or do you pretty much know what you like to use and focus on precision instead?