Moved

At the first of the year I decided to make a change.

As some of you may know from my previous posts I have been learning metalsmithing. I eventually wanted to concentrate completely on this.

Also, some of you may not know this, but not a week has gone by in my MiaSophia shop without someone asking me if I am affiliated with Lia Sophia, a popular jewelry line somewhere, although I had never heard of it until I opened MiaSophia. This was a particular sticking point with me. I have never been one to follow a crowd and never wanted to be like anyone else except the skinny girls!

So, on January 1 I struck out on a new adventure, a new shop. I am now www.ThirtySixTen.etsy.com. It is solely my metalsmith artisan jewelry, hand crafted by me.

I have also started a new blog: it is http://www.thirtysixten.blogspot.com/

I hope you will follow me there as I am trying diligently to find the rest of you!

Hope to see you there!

Happy Birthday!

It's my beautiful daughter Claire's birthday today. I can't believe she is already 14.

She was a surprise baby (found out about the pregnancy on my 30th birthday! A double whammy). I wasn't happy about it, but had I known the gift I was being given, I would have been overjoyed beyond words. She is my proof that God knows what I need more than I do, ten times over~

She has been such a blessing in my life and the source of so many happy moments~ I love her more than I can express!

Happy birthday my precious girl!

Year End Sale

After the first of the year I will be concentrating on my sterling silver designs and am clearing out my bead and charm jewelry.

All items in my shop are now 50% off. Most have one available.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy Christmas!

This month has been extremely busy and, now we are down the the wire, I find myself exhausted at the end of the day.

My etsy shop exploded this season and one weekend I sent out 20 packages, not just items, but packages! I can't explain what happened but I was looking forward to the day I would close down. Between trying to get orders out and trying to prepare for my family I needed to be three different people.

Well, all worked out, and, on this eve of Christmas Eve Eve (as my kids call it), I am now finished with my shopping, have purchased all the necessary groceries, wrapped (almost) all the presents. I am greatly looking forward to spending the next few days with my girls, making cookies, watching christmas movies, and playing games.

I hope this finds all of you with peace and happiness this season.

Merry Christmas~

Snow Day!

Here are some pictures of our snow day here in Pearland, Texas.

While some of you may be up to your knees in snow, this is a once-in-a-year-if-we-are-lucky type occurrence.

Although they didn't cancel school they did let the kids out of class to play in it! Yay teachers!

This is now BIG the flakes were. They were like mini snowballs hitting the ground.

It all melted off within a few hours. I would have taken more pictures but I thought it would stick longer. It was amazing while it lasted.

Happy Thanksgiving Funny

Have a blessed day!

Wisdom from the Aged

When I was younger I was afraid of the elderly. I have no idea why. Maybe it was from not being around grandparents and those that were much older than my parents. I never got comfortable around those much older than me until I met my husband and spent time with his grandparents.


Since then I have developed and appreciation and, dare I say, love for the elderly. Not in the way that would lead me to work in a nursing home, but I love to talk to them, loving their perspective on things. I love the fact that they rarely mince words. I don't know if it comes from their lack of inhibitions, feeling life is too short, or a little dementia in some rare cases. However, when I meet an elderly person, I love to talk to them.


I believe we can learn a lot from the elderly. They have seen so much. Just think of how the world was just 75 years ago and all the advances, changes, wars, and wonders that have occurred. Someone who has seen all of that, lived through raising a family, jobs, life, death has to have more wisdom than me. I feel I'm much wiser than I was 20 years ago so I KNOW they have to have wisdom I would love to have.



This brings me to my encounter today in the post office. I entered the post office behind a very elderly gentleman. Kind face, larger than necessary dentures and slightly stooped. He smiled with those glassy, watery eyes and offered for me to go ahead of him. "Ladies first" he told me. I declined since I had a few international packages to mail, but he insisted.



He then began telling me "ladies first" is what his mother taught him. "She taught me a lot of things" he said and then chuckled to himself, seeming to think fondly of her. The slight gleam in his eye gave me the impression that maybe she wasn't quite the saint I would picture teaching her son chivalry. "Good things I'd imagine" I quipped back fishing for a little more. "Oh, yes," he said thinking and remembering.

Then came the gem of wisdom I always look for. He then added "She also taught me 'It's better to watch women wiggle, than to hear them rattle' ".


I laughed out loud, really loud, and had to cover my mouth. I absolutely love that! He didn't say much more, but I believe that was enough wisdom for me today.


Oh, and btw..when we got to the front of the line, HE went first.


I love old people!

Christmas Tradition

This movie has become one of our family's favorite Christmas traditions. Unfortunately last year our VCR (yes, we still have one) ate our VHS tape of the movie. I am so excited that I received a new DVD copy in the mail today. Just in time for the holidays!

This movie is true to the Muppet's genre of bad puns, bad jokes and completely unexpected humor. It follows the Christmas Carol story through the narration of Gonzo (the one with the long nose) as Charles Dickens. Kermit, of course is Bob Crachet and Michael Kaine is Ebenezer Scrooge.

I am practicing some restraint, however and won't watch it till after thanksgiving. But I can't wait!

A Visit from Jack Frost

My latest treasury was inspired by the crisp and cold weather that we almost never have here in Houston. We can dream though, can't we?

Fabulous Friday Find

This is a little item that caught my eye this week. It is too cute and I have added it to my list for christmas. Hopefully my family will be quicker than you.

You can see from the pics it's a cute little snap purse. It's a little bigger than a change purse and you can find lots of others at antiquebasketlady.etsy.com

I've Already Made My New Years Resolution

...and it's to focus on my metalsmithing skills.

While I love the jewelry with charms, lockets, and vintage jewels. I have decided to focus on my sterling designs.
So, while Christmas Shopping is getting into full swing, I have put lots of my items on sale. I have reduced all of my "whimsical collection" by 20%. I have marked down my "jewel collection" and have made the jewel earrings two for $20. AND, if you spend over $50 you get free shipping in the U.S.

None of these items (unless I currently have them made) will be duplicated. So, once they are sold out, I won't be making more.

I will have a HUGE de-stash at the first of the year and my shop will become solely metalsmithed items.

No, I won't sell as much but I get such a reward making something from scratch and it's time I focused on that.

So...good deals are to be had while they are there.

Saying Thank You Doesn't Seem Enough

How do you say "thank you" to someone who has left their family behind for you? How do you say "thank you" to someone who has feared for their lives daily for you? How do you say "thank you" to someone who has lost a limb for you? How do you say "thank you" to someone who has seen a friend die for you? How do you say "thank you" to someone who sufferes from depression and PTSD for you? How do you say "thank you"?

I have no answers but my heart is full of "thank you" even though it will never be adequate for what has been done for me.

A Good Laugh

I love Christopher Walken.... OH, OH, OH!! rofl!

Temptation and Addiction

I heard an interesting quote today that said "your addictions teach you that you will never have enough of what you don't need". When it comes to fabric, I am afraid that completely applies to me.

For those of you who know me, or know my shops, or just take a look around here on my blog, you can see I make jewelry. I am not one that sews or even likes sewing. I have, on occasion, and only because of desperation or boredom unpacked my sewing machine to dabble or create something only to, in VERY short order, pack it away again out of disgust at my abominable sewing skills.

That being said, I have a weakness that you would not expect. I absolutely LOVE gorgeous fabrics. Fabrics of all textures, colors, patterns, I just want to have it dreaming (though as previously explained not likely) to create something wonderful.

There are so many shops on Etsy that have gorgeous fabrics and, yesterday, I came across another. I must say it is good that I just paid my etsy bill or I would have purchased way too much of this fabric! However, I am still contemplating purchasing some and, once again, being deluded into thinking I can complete a project.

The shop is: MaterialGal and here is only a small sampling of Stephanie's fabrics.

These are all fat quater collections she has put together for a project called "Scarf Along" that is going on at another blog.

Julie from JoysHope.com is being kind to many out there like me who for some reason feel the need to sew but lack the necessary skills. She is taking some brave souls by the hand and leading them through a journey of sewing-self-discovery.

So, there you have it. They have made it very easy for us. Perfect little gorgous bundles of fabric that are impossible to resist, and someone kind enough to guide us in a sewing journey.

If you are a reluctant sewer like me I encourage you to take the plunge and join in! Click on the pictures above and they will take you to Stephanie's MaterialGal shop to get your fabric. Then go to JoysHope.com and follow along. I am still on the fence about joining in, but keep an eye out, you never know.. I just might surprise myself.

Fangs are the new Black (Jacob Black that is)

A fun treasury celebrating the new movie coming up. I haven't read the books but my daughters are so excited!

Romantic Treasury

I snagged a treasury at the last minute yesterday. See the title? When it came up I had no idea what I was going to do. I thought that would be good for whatever theme I wanted. I built it off of a few things in my favorites and some of my facebook fans and then went from there. Nothing like a mental challenge to get the creative juices flowing!

Finally!

Well after about 10 attempts at getting this glass bezel set without the design discoloring or air bubbles appearing I finally got one!

I love trying new things. I browse supply shops and see wonderful pieces I just have to try out. Sometimes I love working with them, sometimes I don't. Ergo....this will be an one of a kind piece in my shop! lol. I have a few more I will be making with different designs under the glass, but this is it for me.

But, as Franklin Roosevelt said "take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all try something." I wouldn't say it failed, but I am going to be moving on!

Featured

My Ring was featured on the Front Page of Etsy today, at least I think it was. It was included in the original treasury, but craftcult said it was an alternate ( I guess admin moved it) however, I received over 300 views and 17 hearts on it, so I'm pretty sure it was on there for at least a little while.

That made up for the weird weekend I've had. Ah well, this too will pass.

Adding to the Collection

From time to time I have shared with you little pieces of my salt and pepper collection. While I love the old I also embrace the kitchy and quirky new pieces that I find. I choose what speaks to me and, of course, those wonderful pieces I receive as gifts.

I was lucky enough this week to add two sets to my collection.

First, while trolling through an amazing and huge antique store near my house I came across this little pair. I was very excited because not only were they salt and pepper, they were also dogs, another one of my quirky little loves.

I don't believe this pair were ever used because one still had packing material inside. As you may be able to see in the picture, one of these had lost it's head in the past and had been crudely re-attached. I don't mind. I think it adds to it's charm.

This adorable second pair was a gift from my Mother. She knows just what I like! (hi mom!)

She spent the last two weeks on a cross country trip with her sisters. All the way from here in Houston to Portland, Maine, criss-crossing amish country, seeing the fall leaves, visiting lighthouses. And she was so sweet to pick up this endearing little lighthouse and it's adorable keeper. Thanks mom!

Tripple Threat

I am having one of those stuggle times where I just sit back and say "why can't I just make stuff? That should be good enough." Unfortunately, when we sell online it isn't that simple. We have to be a crafter, photographer and a writer.

First, great photos are a must. This is something I constantly am working on. When one of my items isn't getting the views and, most important sales I retake the photos with different lighting, positions and backgrounds.

Here is a wonderful collection of articles to help us all with our photography: http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/photographing-how-to/

Writing is also something we have to be good at. Coming up with titles can be a daunting task if you like the more creative titles. I do, and sometimes I just have to rely on the "sterling silver ring with ....." At the point I am listing the item I have photographed, edited, uploaded and now, I'm pooped. Any time I get writers block I go to this group of articles and get tips and help.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/writing-description/

A bright spot is that we belong to a great community of fellow artisans who are creative and can give a little help when we need it.

I would love some help naming my new ring (pictured above). It is a chunky ring with a jade green aventurine stone. The band is thick hammered sterling silver. (see? not too creative today)