Earrings in the Hopper

I was able to create for a couple of hours this past weekend, despite all the functions and things we had going on, and boy was it nice!

I actually played with wire and wrapped a few gemstones for earrings. 

I even made a few earring wires.

Haven't done that in a while!

Hopefully this coming weekend I'll get these finished, photographed and listed over in my Etsy shop. 

 It's rather bare at the moment so new items are needed! 

I've been inspired by so many different things lately. 

Here's some of my inspiration for these earrings:

Sea Caves, Taiwan

Glory Hole, Ozark National Forest

 

Nature is so beautiful, isn't she?

Stalactites Via Pinterest

What is it that inspires you?

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Natural Beauty!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Skulls, Crosses, Peace Signs and Pearls! Oh My!!

I was able to sit and create for a bit this weekend and it was pure BLISS!!

 

Having fun w/photo edits of my productive and 'knotty' weekend bliss!

 

 

Working with the hubby in our business we own and run together on a full time basis has kept me away from creating as much as I'd like this year, but it has given me the chance to step back, slow down and take stock of a few things, jewelry business wise, and that's been really nice.

 

A while back my friend, Kim, requested one of my leather knotted necklaces with some rather large ringed pearls she knew I had in my possession. 

 

I finally finished it and shipped it off to her, but of course I spaced out getting a photo.

 

I know,...seriously. No photo. Not even a snapshot with my phone for goodness sakes!

 

So, being the sweetheart (and wonderful designer, instructor and fellow GIA Alumni!) that she is, she took some shots for me so I'd have one.

 

Pearl Necklace - Michelle Buettner, Button Clasp - Green Girl Studios
Photo Credit - Kim Hatzold

 

Thank you so much my friend! 

 

 

On another note, my hubby has been having a ton of fun in the garage melting and pouring pewter for a new line of crosses, skulls and peace signs.

 

 

Original Wax Mold - Stephen Elliott, Pewter Skull - Mike Buettner

 

 

Here's a couple of pieces that, if I get the chance next weekend, I will be 'Pearlizing'.

 

 

Skulls, Crosses and Pearls! Oh, My!

 

 

Yep, my word.

 

'Pearlizing' - Adding pearls to a design so they can be considered 'pearlized'.

(another one of my words!).  

 

If it's not 'Pearlized'

it's not worth wearin'! 

 

This is my new slogan. Like it?

 

Just kidding,...designs don't have to have pearls in them to be worth wearing (gasp!!), but it does make them (IMHO) more appealing.  (Wink, Wink!)

 

 

Hand Knotted Freshwater Cultured Pearls, Hand Poured Pewter Coptic Cross
and Handcrafted Sterling Silver Hook Clasp (MiShel Designs)

 

 

So now that Spring has sprung, (hopefully it's not still snowing where you are!!) what is it that you're enjoying?

 

 

Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Nuggets, Antique Buffalo Nickel Button,
and Hand Poured Pewter Peace Sign. (MiShel Designs)

 

 

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Pearls, Baby!! 

(And Skulls, Crosses and Peace Signs!)

Cheers,

~Shel~

Shop Handmade this Holiday Season!

Please take a moment this holiday season while you're shopping to check out all the various handmade items that are being offered by so many talented artists. 

 

One of the places you can find an abundance of amazing skill and talent along with some super cool gifts is here:

Shop Handmade HERE!

 

  

 

I'm participating in this line up along with some extremely talented artists and we'd be honored for you to purchase our wares to give to those you are shopping for this holiday season.

 

 

Some people are offering specials, so check each shop to see what's going on. There's a list of the participating shops at the bottom of this post for your convenience.
Just click on each photo to go to their shop.
 

 

In my MiShel Designs Etsy shop, I'm offering 20% OFF your total order from now through Monday, December 2nd, 2013 when you use Coupon Code "TURKEY20" upon check out with Etsy.

Click HERE to shop MiShel Designs on Etsy

 

 

It can be challenging for small businesses, especially the ones whose items are handcrafted, to compete with the deep discounts of the big box stores.  So while you may not see a ton of 50% off coupons or 'buy one, get one free' type of deals while shopping handmade this  holiday season, you will find unique, quality items that are priced fairly and support those who create for a living, keeping the arts alive. 

 

 

Please, shop local, shop small business, support the creative arts and purchase handmade items anytime you possibly can this gift giving season.  

 

 

Thank you so much for shopping handmade!

It's the small things that count!

 

Until Next Time,
 

Peace, Love and Enjoying Handmade!
 

Cheers,

~Shel~

 

Holiday Shop Hop 2011 - Are You In??

Okay ~ so here's the scoop :

"Holiday Shop Hop" - My idea is to have a “Holiday Shop Hop” for a weekend on our blogs with a link to each other's shops so all our friends, family and internet connections can ‘hop’ around our shops/websites and shop for some wonderful handmade goodies for their family and friends for the holidays.

Carved Wooden Snowman Ornament by Gordon W. Baldock

When: Saturday and Sunday, December 3rd and 4th, 2011 (some folks suggested this weekend - so I listened)

Who: We're looking for people who sell quality, handmade items with an online storefront or shop of some sort (like Etsy, Artfire, your own website or other craft site, etc.) that have blogs or active Facebook Fan Pages that could post links on the specific weekend for people to 'click' on and hop around to.

What:  Items can include, but are not limted to:

Jewelry, jewelry components and supplies, art beads, art sculptures/paintings, beauty products, handmade soaps and bath gels and products, clothes, accessories (shoes, handbags, belts, etc.), photography prints, vintage goods, home decor, candles, ceramics and pottery, furniture, glass, housewares, gift cards, paper products, children's items, toys, holiday decorations, books, sewing/quilts, scarves, woodworking, carvings, yarn crafts, holiday decorations, wrapping paper and goods, etc.

I would like to limit things to hand-made, (vs. manufactured or store bought) and a nice mix of all sorts of handmade items would be great.

Where: A "link List" that weekend on your blog to all the participants. Or, a link on your Facebook page or your website, or your Etsy/Artfire shop announcements, etc. to the Host blog(s) so people can find the list of 'shops to hop' around to.

Why: To help spread the word about 'shopping handmade' this holiday season, because I've heard so many people wonder (out loud) what they could do to boost their online sales this season.

Now, here's all the other details:

You can offer any type of incentives, or discounts codes, or free give-a-ways, etc., on your own shops, Etsy stores or Artfire shops or blogs, websites, etc., (however each person sells their wares) whatever it is you want to do.

It’s your shop – do what you want.
(you're responsible for all your own orders, shipping, etc.)

I cannot promise you any increase in sales,
but more traffic to your shops wouldn't hurt!

This is an ‘Attention Getter’ ,
with the purpose of getting more people to view your handmade products this Holiday Gift Giving Season.

Realistically, it shouldn’t be any extra work or stress for the participants or anything out of the ordinary other than what you would (should!) normally be doing for your shops at this time of year.

Unless, of course, you wanted to make extra items for your shop so that it's well stocked when people stop in to shop, or create discount coupons, and things like that.

**Here's the important part***

I would like those with a blog and/or facebook page to please do one or two posts leading up to the event, getting the word out and helping to get people to stop by on the dates set for the Holiday Shop Hop.

And, if you are on Facebook and/or Twitter, then a FB post/note and a few Tweets would be really great, too.

Basically, any Social Media things you would be doing for your own blog during the this time of year would be something nice to do for the "Holiday Shop Hop".

***Please Note***

I'm of the mindset that "there's enough for everyone" and so it will not be the sort of thing where there's only one

 type of product in each category

(say only one jewelry shop in the jewelry category). 

Shoot,...with all the jewelry peeps I know, it could all be jewlery!  But I'm really hoping to spead the word and get a nice, wide variety of handmade items to show our guests who visit and give them some great items to choose from.

Any help on getting shops in a wide variety of categories would be greatly appreciated!

So what do you say?

Would you like to play along?

If so, please leave a comment with your shop name, blog name and your email so I can contact you.

If you don't want to leave an email on the comments, please make certain that you leave a blog or facebook link that leads me to an email or phone number so I can reach you and get all your information and proper links to post that weekend for everyone.

I've got several folks who have already asked to participate, so early next week (after I've gathered everyone's responses), I'll post a link button for you to grab for your blog and for those with only shops and no blogs, I'll have the link for you to post in your shop announcements for people to click on.


I hope all of this long winded stuff just made sense.

If you have questions - please contact me.

My email is: Shel@asicj.com.
 

And, there's a link to it over here --->

on the right side of my blog somewhere, too! 

Old Fashioned Santa
Hand Carved by Gordon W. Baldock

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Spreading Good Cheer, Baby!!

Cheers,

~Shel~