Charm Progress

Here are some sneak peeks of me working on Frankies and Pumpkins.

Some naked Franks waiting in the workspace.

Blank Franks waiting to be completed.

Since these pictures the Frankies have been finished up and are drying.  Hobgoblins are waiting for a baking.  Cats are being assembled. 

Haven't been super focused lately.  I was distracted by a photography challenge.  I wasted spent a lot of time going around and shooting random photos and playing with my camera.  Then there was this local butterfly gathering at the park that I went to.  That was pretty nifty though.  I've got big plans for next spring. :)  I took my very awesome film SLR camera with me and shot some close ups of butterflies and caterpillars.  It was a lot of fun :)  I learned a lot and it rekindled my old ideas and plans.  So not entirely unproductive.

I need to get rolling though.  These charms aren't going to make themselves, and the fairs are approaching.  After today I should have lots of time to just get working.  Lately its just always been something hindering my work.  Hopefully the added pressure will help me whip up some stuff.  I did manage to get my show book started for custom orders of my birthstone bracelets.  Its almost done.  :)

Time to get to work!

The Wish

Star Light Star Bright,

The first star I see tonight,

I wish I may, I wish I might,

Have the wish I wish tonight...

I wish I could win my Etsy Wish List.  

One of my absolute favorite websites is having a giveaway.  A wonderful amazing giveaway.  Craft Gossip has so many tutorials, craft ideas, giveaways, reviews, and so much more in all things craft.  This Etsy Wish List contest will be drawn on September 1st for $100!  Speaking of September 1st, it's perfect, because my birthday is just 7 days after that on the 8th.  This would be such an awesome present!

So here is my super special birthday Etsy Wish List:

1:  Friendly Ghost Necklace by marymary handmade ~ $32
My nickname is Casper, and the first time I saw this I fell in love with it. :)

2:  Tutorial - Learn How to Transfer Images onto Polymer Clay by Analiese ~ $10
I love working with polymer clay.  I have wanted this tutorial for some time now.

 
3.  Daily Illustration 1/15 ORIGINAL by love and a sandwich ~ $18
Believe it or not, but when this artist was requesting ideas on her DeviantArt blog, this was the variation on my suggested idea that she drew.  I love the drawing, and would go bananas to have it hanging on my wall!

4. Glenda Kitty Is Soft and Grey by chet and dot ~ $14
Kitties have always been where its at for me since I was a little kid rocking my kitty shirts and coloring kitties.  Plus, this kitty was recycled from a soft cashmere sweater.  That's just awesome.  I won't even begin to go into how I feel about handmade plushes!  Lol <3

 5. Sarah's 12 Favorite Color Schemes - and WHY they work (E-book) by sarah hornik ~ $10
I love Sarah's beads.  My sweetheart got me one a few years ago for my birthday.  Its pink and purple and soooo sparkly.  Her color schemes are great and I would love to have this E-book for reference and inspiration.

 6.  Crochet Pattern- Francisca dressed as a butterfly by Owlishly ~ $4.75
Her amigurumi's are so adorable!  I think butterflies are beautiful and would love to crochet her. :)

7.  Nannerpus Charm by egyptianruin ~ $6
Hilarious, cute, and fun.  Who doesn't want their own Nannerpus?  He loves pancakes.

8.  PDF Pattern - Baby Sprite by Amigurumi Paradise ~ $5
And last but not least, baby sprite.  I look at this pattern and can already visualize all the cute variations I can make.  I have a bunch of little girls in my life that I would like to make this for. :)






The grand total comes to $99.75!  So thank-you Craft Gossip!  I hope my wish comes true!  :)

Cats

Hey everyone, I am reposting this from a different website for everyone.  It is about something close to my heart.  I appreciate you all reading it.  Thank-you
~Jen

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I don't know how many people actually ready my journal entries, but I like to pretend it's a whole lot. :)

Over the last year and a half, my neighborhood has had many stray/feral cats. They have been born next door, and they come and go. They are cute, and I feel bad that I don't have the extra income to take care of them like I want to. (Don't know if I have mentioned that being unemployed sucks, well it does.)

I took care of the very first litter that was born, socialized them and found them homes. Unfortunately, more were born after that. I have managed to come this far in time without getting too upset about them not having homes and multiplying. That all changed last Sunday. I discovered that one of the adult females, I've named her OrangeSmudge, has had her first litter. This was the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. My heart was crushed. I hadn't seen new kittens in quite a while. I thought that it wasn't going to happen again. Wishful thinking.
So, I freaked out on a few friends. Conversations and emails were full of "OMG I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO?!?!" and so on. Once I calmed down, I did some research Google style.

I found a local group that helps trap, neuter, release, otherwise known as TNR.  I also found a kind woman that is willing to take the 5 babys, socialize them, fix them, and adopt them out.
MY HEART SOARED. :D I am so happy that there are kind people out there willing to help me, a stranger, and feral kitties that they have no ties to otherwise.

So, I would say that there are 6 adult kittys, and 5 babys, that I know of living about my neighborhood. I am trying to coordinate this mass trapping soon. To get each cat fixed, ear marked, and shots, it will cost $25 a cat. Thus is why I am now reaching out to the interwebs for help. Between myself, and two ladies that are helping, we have 3 cats covered. Which is AWESOME. Unfortunately, its not enough. No one else as of today has stepped forward and offered to chip in. I understand completely that times are tight (two people living on one income hasn't been easy, and that most likely doesn't come as a shock to many people I know). However, if anyone would like to chip in or donate some dollars to my cause, or buy something from my shop to help out that would be AMAZING.

My Shop has some stuff in it on Artfire. Here is a link. <[link]>
and if you would just like to donate the money on paypal. Here is my account.
bluedesertrose@hotmail.com
I think you have to choose something like send money - personal - gift, or something like that.

I am looking to raise at least $200 to help the 8 other kittys.

The TNR process is a nice option for kittys that aren't social enough to live in a home. It keeps one more kitty from being euthanized, whether it itself is or one in a shelter waiting for adoption is because it took its place. Having neighborhood kittys keeps the mice away :) Plus once they are fixed, there are less babys, less catfights, less spraying, and less kitty loving making sessions under house windows. All in all, a pretty responsible way to maintain a feral cat colony.

I've never asked people online for something like this. (Not even for my car that needs to be fixed right now... Lol) So, I feel bad begging for money, and that's why I am offering a coupon to anyone who wants to buy something from my shop. Every dollar for me will help the cats & kittens, and the discount will help you a little too.

Just enter HELPKITTYS for a 10% discount.

AND OF COURSE
THANK-YOU THANK-YOU THANK-YOU
in advance for all your help
<3, Jen

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I have written this because I am trying to be responsible and do the right thing.  Take care of animals that can't take care of themselves.  Following the words of Bob Barker and having pets (and strays) spayed or neutered to control the population.

I love animals very much, and I have had a cat (and dog) for almost all of my life. 
Thanks for reading,
~Jen

New Shop Items

A new necklace and a new pair of earrings are up in the shop today! :)

Gable Jasper and Frosted Hematite

Green Turquoise and Frosted Black Onyx with Sterling Silver

I am so happy with how these pieces turned out.  The necklace has this really dark mysterious feel to it.  The earrings are dangly and can be dressed up or down when worn.  Thanks for looking :D

Sugar Skulls in the Shop Today!!!

I'm so excited to finally get these in the shop.  I have received so much positive feedback, and I couldn't ignore the opportunity to share them with everyone.  :)
I hope you like them!

Red Flourishes

Sunflowers & Vines

Sugar Skulls

I've decided to put my sugar skulls in my shop.  :D  I took the first seven designs and redid them. They turned out so much nicer now that I am using a different varnish. Each skull will come attached with a locked sterling silver ring on a solid black rubber cord with sterling silver elements and sterling silver spring ring clasp.

I'm so excited to start offering these. I did a lot of planning and research on what I wanted. I was debating between different cords and chains. It came down between a black leather cord and the black rubber cord. When I ordered the rubber I was worried that it was going to be cheap and hollow like so much rubber cord I have seen. I thought I would end up using the leather because I figured it would look better. When my samples came in though, I fell in love with rubber. Its solid, smooth, and hangs beautifully. The leather cord was okay, but it wasn't what I expected. It had a shiny finish to it for some reason. Which I didn't remember from the pictures or the description when I placed the order. Its not bad leather cord, but it didn't work with the skulls at all. It looked sloppy. But this rubber, its perfect. It has a soft matte finish to it that doesn't over power or draw attention away from the skull.
I was also debating on these sterling silver locking jump rings I found or a simple sterling silver split ring. The locking jump ring brings a little extra something to the design. Its different, and it locks.  I like that because once I've locked it shut, the skull wont fall off or work its way out. So the skulls will be safe. With the amount of work that goes into each one of these skulls I would be devastated if it fell off. I've almost completely eliminated that possibility with the exception of a catastrophic event. I would imagine that that would be something like when my fine chain necklace got caught on something and snapped.

To start I will be listing two skulls in the shop this week, hopefully in the next day or so. :)

New Tools

When I first started working with beads and wire, I bought a multi tool kit from the craft store.  Its been good to practice with and learn with, and I plan on keeping them for now.  But on Monday, I finally got to buy two new desperately needed tools.
I had had it.  I was using my round nose pliers and was just so sick of them chewing up my good silver wire.  The tips on my old pliers weren't pointy enough, and I couldn't get them where I wanted them.  It had hit a point of maximum frustration.
I used to think that it didn't matter what tools you had, that it really all depended on the artist.  Like "Its not the quality of the tool, its what you do with it."  I think now in some ways that can still be true.  You can use all kinds of tools and still create amazing things, but sometimes it makes a GIGANTIC difference if you are using better tools.
So let me just say, I am in love with my new tools.