Daffodil Flower Pendant Necklace in Fine Silver

I've been wanting to be more creative with my artistic talents lately. I wish to be more involved in the jewelry making process, much like how a painting is created from a blank white canvas to a final masterpiece. And I've found that medium in the fine silver clay process!

This is my latest creation; an artisan pendant made of fine silver. It measures approx. 1 by 1 inch with a 1/8 inch bale. It is strung on a 18 inch sterling silver chain. Artist proof initials are etched on the back.

My artistic process begins with a design that I sculpt by hand. Once dried, it is perfected with tiny sanding files and jewelry tools. The next step is a proprietary molding process, then silver clay is pressed into the mold. Once unmolded, the piece undergoes another extensive filing, sanding, and perfecting stage. I then carefully fire the piece with a hand torch. The final stages consist of brushing, burnishing, and polishing the metal.

The final product is 99.9% pure, fine silver. After its firing transformation, it is strong and durable. Fine silver resists tarnish better than sterling silver, as sterling silver contains other elements that cause tarnish. Fine silver is also eco friendly as the silver is reclaimed from the photographic industry. It is truely a case of taking what is garbage and making a beautiful work of art with it!

Looking similar in design, no two mold-made fine silver pieces will look alike. This is because the clay is organic, and the process of molding and sanding to perfection will leave each piece with its own unique look.

This necklace may be purchased from either of my jewelry shops listed below.
Etsy: www.spiritgirljewelry.etsy.com
Artfire: www.spiritgirljewelryandart.artfire.com

Civil War Log Cabin Quilt

I like to promote my fellow Guild members and their work. VABeachQuilter is a wonderful lady and a talented, master quilter. I found this gorgeous quilt in her Destash Sale collection where it's on sale.

The entire quilt was made with Civil War Reproduction fabrics. There are 880+ 1" "logs" in this quilt. The quilt measures 67" x 67" and has been prewashed to remove any shrinkage.

The Log Cabin blocks are laid out in the pattern called "Dirty Windows". The quilt was professionally quilted by a local, award winning, long-armer.

If you'd like this quilt but in different fabrics, contact VABeachQuilter at the address below. Due to the nature of this quilt, allow up to 12 weeks for it to be finished and quilted by the long-armer.

http://www.artfire.com/users/vabeachquilter

Happy Hanukkah!

I recently sold a Hanukkah gift. It's the Love Your Friends Reversible Unisex Necklace. There's still time to get yours for the celebration!

Love Your Friends Reversible Unisex Necklace

This necklace is a double-sided, reversible, polished pewter donut pendant. Engraved on the front is the lovely statement "love your friends like you love yourself" in Hebrew. A simple flower and vines are engraved along the bottom.

The back of this necklace has a very beautiful, satin polished finish with engraved vines wrapped around the bottom.

The pendant alone is unisex in style. I can substitute a leather cord for the chain, if you desire. The pendant is approx. 1-1/8 inch round, and hangs on a 20 inch sterling silver chain.

Available on Etsy at www.spiritgirljewelry.etsy.com or on Artfire at www.spiritgirljewelryandart.artfire.com

Brand New Items!

I've been busy, getting ready for the Holiday season. I've added a few new products to my jewelry line. They may be purchased at: www.spiritgirljewelryandart.artfire.com or www.spiritgirljewelry.etsy.com

Contemporary Three Chain Jesus Necklace

A contemporary rendition of the crucifix. Three styles of gunmetal chain surround and drape around the central crucifix. Three Swarovski crystals hang from each hand and the feet of Christ, representing the bloody sacrifice of His life.

The chains are approx. 18, 20, and 22 inches long. Gunmetal chain, sterling silver crucifix, and Swarovski crystals.

Aqua Bumpy Bead Necklace and Earring Set

Aqua lampworked glass, bumpy beads are the highlight of this strand. They are transparent glass and look quite beautiful when light strikes through them. This necklace also includes aqua glass beads of various shapes. Swarovski crystals add extra sparkle to this necklace.
 

Approx. 18 inches long. Silver pewter toggle clasp.

Included are a pair of matching earrings. They measure 1-7/8 inch from the top of the ear wire to the bottom of the lowest glass bead.

Rainbow Crystal Dangle Earrings

Made of Swarovski crystals in rainbow colors, these earrings sparkle and dazzle with your every move. Earwires and small beads are silver plated.

These earring are approx. 2-1/4 inch from the top of the earwire to the bottom of the crystal cube.

Rainbow Crystal Oval Earrings

Made of Swarovski crystal in rainbow colors, these earrings sparkle with your every movement. Earwires and small beads are silver plated.

Earrings measure approx. 2-1/4 inch from the top of the earwire to the bottom of the crystal cube.

Free Shipping at my Artfire Shop!

I'm pleased to announce that I will be offering free shipping on all of my jewelry and art products in my Artfire shop. This offer will be available through the end of 2010. Please stop by and take a look! Artfire is like Etsy, and offers many quality, hand crafted items from talented artisans.

This free shipping offer is also available for all products in both of my Etsy shops!

www.spiritgirljewelryandart.artfire.com
www.spiritgirljewelry.etsy.com
www.spiritgirlgallery.etsy.com

YouTube Video

I have a new product video on YouTube. It was a lot of fun to make, and a good marketing idea. Take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RTYlI26z_g

Tell Your Story

There's always a story behind each creation that an artist/craftsperson makes. Sometimes it's not so interesting. Maybe you made something because you were trying to destash a bit. But there's even a story in that. Why you chose that particular yarn, or color, or pattern, etc. Or how you came to buy it in the first place. Things like that.

As a seller, it's a good idea to tell the story of how or why you made something. It makes your item more interesting to a prospective buyer.

This is the story behind this beautiful and rich looking bracelet. In the beginning, it was intended to be something else.

My son had a girlfriend that he liked very much. She was thin and very pretty, typical of young teen girls. Her birthday was coming up in a few months. Since I liked the girl, I asked my son to find out what her favorite color was. The answer came up as "light green."

Soon after that, I was shopping at Michaels, one of my most favorite stores in the world! As I meandered down the bead isles, I noticed that they were all color coordinated. I found myself stopping at the light green section. And then I found them, the strand of lucious, faceted green beads. I held them and studied them, trying to envision what I could make for this friend of my son's. Needless to say, I bought the beads and brought them home. They stayed in their bag for quite a while, but I knew they were there.

They say that all good things must come to an end, and so did the relationship between my son and his friend. It was not a pleasant breakup. But it was over, for good.

Some time after this, I found the bag again. The green beads looked just as lucious as they first did with the store lighting shining on them. I had just purchased the big, gold beads and instantly knew that the two would go nicely together. And I think they do!

Poor girl, she not only missed out on a great birthday present, she missed out on a great guy too!

ANTIQUE GOLD with GREEN RONDELLES Bracelet
http://www.etsy.com/listing/60976654/antique-gold-with-green-rondelles
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2361887

Soul Connection Bracelet

I worked on another Soul Connection bracelet today. They're made entirely of Swarovski crystals, sterling silver, and silver plated beads. I was asked to create this rather  unusual piece of jewelry, one I have never seen before. It is very symbolic, and I think you’ll like the results!

Sparkling Swarovski crystal cubes begin and end the bracelet, representing the connection of persons. I used chakra colored crystals running in two separate strands, signifying the two person’s lives running parallel to each other.

The strands meet at the dazzling, Swarovski mirrored button centerpiece, symbolizing the interaction between the partners. Silver plated beads at the beginning and end of the strands represent the mirroring of issues.

The finishing touch is the beautiful silver plated chain and Chinese character for "Love," something the world needs a lot more of...

This bracelet is offered on both of my jewelry websites, on Etsy at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/60882181/soul-connection-bracelet  or on Artfire at: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2362679

Shipping Fees

Shipping fees have really gotten out of control! I find it hard to believe that a small knitted item, shipped in a box would cost around $8.00! Shipping in a USPS Priority envelope costs $4.90, plus 80 cents for delivery confirmation.

So, the items which are so lovingly knitted have to be jammed into a too small envelope to ship at a decent rate. Or, you have to eat some of the shipping fee. Or, and I think a lot of people do this too, is you have to charge a few bucks more on your item, and add a buck or so to the shipping fee to keep all the costs modest.

I don't know, maybe I'm just behind the times here, but I think shipping fees really stink. They're way too high! I just paid $13.00 last night to ship a supply order that isn't that heavy. But I guess it's all because of gasoline prices being high.

Funny thing about it is, the price of gas can go down, but the shipping fees stay the same! Still, I would rather deal with shipping fees than do a craft fair somewhere. I did one once, and am not ready to do one again. That would be a different topic for another day...

The Slow Economy

Christmas is coming fast for us in the handmade market. It's a good thing that my teenager only wants money this year, plus one high ticket item (which may be arranged.) I think everyone else knows what they're getting -- jewelry! But, of course!

This will be my first Christmas as a seller on Etsy. It's slow right now, but I'm excited to have things pick up! That's the plan anyway. I'm ready for it, with extras of just about everything. And then some! All I'm lacking is SALES. Other more established sellers tell me that they are down too, so it seems like I picked a slow time to jump into this. Which is not bad, as I can slowly get my feet wet as I tackle the learning curve.

But it sure wasn't slow last Friday at Michaels! That store had a line backed up almost to the side wall. They had an ingenious method of funneling us across the width of the store with shelving units. The next available register called the next customer. This way, no one could dash at the registers, nor did each register have it's own line of 20 people. I did get suckered into buying a couple of sudoko and word search game books while waiting by the shelves, but at a buck a piece, I figured "why not?" I walked out with about $40 in metal clay tools, etc. Mom came out with about $100 worth of yarn. So much for destashing! Good thing we found some coupons.

All one can do in this slow economy is continue to make our craft, and keep up with our marketing. And be ready for the rush of sales that we're all hoping for. That way we won't have the time to notice our lack of sales, right? It's a plan...

What Works for Online Handmade Arts/Crafts Sales?

Hello, and welcome to the blog of SpiritGirl Jewelry and Art. In this space, I wish to share with you what is happening in my jewelry and painting studios. My jewelry space is on www.spiritgirljewelry.etsy.com, and my paintings are featured on www.spiritgirlgallery.etsy.com. I am also at www.spiritgirljewelryandart.artfire.com

In this space, I hope to share with you what works and doesn't work in the world of online handmade arts/crafts sales. People say that it's slow at first, but if you hang in there, things pick up. You begin to define what you make, how to market it, and to whom. Who are your buyers? How do you reach them? Stick with me and I'll share what works, or doesn't work, for me.