Some new creations and a little gift for you!

Here are some necklaces I have been working on last week, and I love how they have turned out! The cabochons I am working with have encouraged me to work with stronger colours in my designs. I have a whole new section in the shop for necklaces and in a couple of weeks there will be some sets there too. As a little thank you to all my friends in blog land I am offereing you, my lovely blogbuddies, exclusively a 10% DISCOUNT on everything in my shop.

So heres what to do if you see something you like:

just add the code (BLOGPAL) in notes for seller and I will refund you the 10% discount through paypal when you have completed the sale!

I'm coming to visit you all now to see what has been keeping you busy this week x

Oh, what's this?

I have had another busy week making up some new goodies for my jewellery shop with all these beautiful new bits and pieces I got through the post on Monday.

This week has been a combination of making and planning so next week is make, make, making all the way! And some list list listing too, (loving 3's at the moment!). So I have had a lovely weekend, meeting friends and chillin and have come through to my den to get sorted for all my new schemes and plans and complete a couple of commissions so that I am on a roll next week.

What are you doing today to prepare for the week ahead?

All things Moo

I have had such a great week, busy making, designing and orginising. My studio is now as of half an hour ago, sorted. That is until I start work tomorrow, but I'll photograph it as proof!

I had a commision for business cards to finish and my client who is a writer, wanted something different and memorable for their design. Straight away I told her about Moo cards and how you can have loads of different designs done in small runs. So we worked together and she opted for 10 of my photographic images. I am really pleased how they turned out and it really got me thinking about using all these images again. (more to follow)

I also got myself some Mini Moo cards and I decided that my blog banner is the direction I wanted to go. After 3 hours trying different layouts, fonts and colours I realised that the best yet was my actual blog banner, so I went for it.

After much deliberation I took the plunge and get my Dancers put onto post cards, and I am so pleased with how the came out. And the combination of these and the business cards really got me thinking about my other Etsy shop which has been neglected for the last 4 months.

One of the things about me, which I have spoken to you all about before is that I love doing different things. I love that I can make jewellery 3 days a week, cards 3 days and work on prints on a Sunday. Or have a commision for canvas art and them move on to graphic design work. In December when I set up the other shop, it just wasn't the right time. I still had a lot to learn about etsy and the jewellery market and needed a Christmas break! Now I am not saying that I have mastered it all, but I feel I can organise myself now and work with both my passions; beads and paper. So I am going to relaunch my other shop very soon, with cards, prints and other papery delights. I have lists and lists pinned above my desk on how and what I have to do and how I am going to manage my time and I am so excited!

What business plans or designs are keeping you awake at night?

Crafty Monday Night

Photo from Etsy Lab 09/09 page- designer not known

My mini book template

Last night I stayed up late and joined in a virtual Craft Night in the Etsy labs. The project for the evening was 'mini books'. So while I sat at home in my Pj's folding paper, a group of keen crafters were sitting doing the same and discussing their dinner plans in the Etsy labs in Brooklyn!



Last night I made my fist mini book using a magazine page and stuck white stickers on it to write on. But during the night I kept waking up and doodling in my notebook all the ideas I could use my mini book for. So this afternoon while putting some new goodies in the shop I worked on Illustrator designing my first of many.

I am going to use these as little flyers to hand out to people showing them my jewellery and include them in with orders. But of course I can't stop there, tonight I am going to work on another special mini book for all my lovely blog friends! For the moment you'll just have to imagine what delights I have in store...........

Inspire me Thursday

Notebook

I love my Moleskins, I love them soooooo much! This entry was from 01.09.08 but I just tried my date stamp for the first time and got the digits mixed up, so it says the 10th!

I am always inspired by flowers, their smells, shapes and colours. Most of my doodles are of flowers and I must have near 5000 pics on my computer too. It was only when I completed this page I realised I could be using my own images not ones found in magazines. But it was a great starting point and as always an inspiring page to go back to.

During my mamouth clear out I decided that I was going to get rid of all the threads I have accumulated over the years. I filled a bag and sought out a new home for them. Then the next morning I realised that I wasn't quite ready to pass them on and decided to use them for something fun, and bird related, of course. So here is a very amature piece of embroidery. I have had so much fun with this so far, who knows how long it will take me to finish!

I have been doing a great selection of things today, bits of graphic work, making some jewellery and some photography. Some days I like having a mixture of things to work on, and today was one of those days. I took some new photos of some of my current etsy stock, just to give them a lift. And I worked on some new pieces which I'll be listing in the shop tomorrow, so check by for a peek.