Got some new goodies!

Oooh! I love it when a box appears on the porch for me! Today it was from Fire Mountain Gems. I really have a hard time not ordering when they have those big sales (Wait... aren't they always having a big sale?). I took the opportunity to nab some bargain finds and get a little discount on some seed bead colors I needed. So, here's what I got in my bead box...

Of course, the sweet "Thank You" they always include along with some catalog supplements...

All the goodies still packed in their little baggies...

And everything unpacked...

The only disappointing piece was this strand of golden olive mother-of-pearl disc beads...

...very lackluster and not great quality... but they were all of 56 cents - so no biggie!

Here are a couple more shots of my new pretties - Enjoy! I know I will :)

 

Working on my photos...

My light box set-up

I have changed my photo set-up several times during my years of selling goods online. Some have worked wonderfully and others... well... not so. In an effort to improve my pics a little bit and to align my shots with the ever increasing popularity of clean white backgrounds, I'm trying some new stuff.

Here's a necklace photographed on the hemp-covered display

 I just recently bought a new necklace display with a linen/hemp cloth surface and I thought I would like it but I don't all that much. When I went to the store yesterday to buy a white one, they didn't have any. I remembered seeing an online shop selling covers for necklace displays and checked those out but they were a little more than I really wanted to spend so... I made a quick dash to the fabric store and bought some white polar fleece. What I like about fleece fabric is that it diffuses light really well - you won't get any shiny spots and the texture of the fabric helps the light bounce around.

Here are some shots of making the cover for my necklace display - not really a "how-to" because I was improvising big-time and didn't take incredibly good pics but it seems to have worked OK and might be something you could try, too.

First, I cut a rough rounded square of fleece and stitched a running stitch around the edge...

I tightened the stitching to gather the fleece tightly around the form...

Here it is inside my light box. I think I need to change the small lamps out for some with "daylight" bulbs - the light coming from them now is too yellow so the color of the light inside the box isn't consistent - it's too cool in some spots and too warm in others...

Nonetheless, here is a shot of one of my "Way Out West" bead embroidery pendants...

Oh, well... still some work to do but getting closer!! :)

Some things just chap my hide...

I know that selling online has it's perils - you take photos that you feel are representative of your work, write detailed descriptions and you put it out there with a price you feel is fair. So, I made this fiber collage bag...

...which is completely hand sewn using vintage and reclaimed fabrics, trims, buttons, beads and gets lots of admirers at the art fairs. The price was $50, it sold last week on Etsy and I was happy about that!

Today I check to see if feedback was left for it and I find negative feedback with the comment "Definately overpriced". Anyway... spelling aside... someone bought something and didn't like it - it happens. What chaps my hide is not that she left negative feedback, it's that she didn't contact me first to let me know she was disappointed with her purchase. She could've sent an email to say, "Hey, I bought this bag from you and I don't really like it" and then allow me to help make the situation better. Also, she left negative feedback that isn't actually feedback. Tell me why you think this bag is overpriced: Was it not as described? Did you find the materials inferior? Poor craftsmanship? If you let me know the "why" behind the feedback then it's actually of value to both of us. I know Etsy gives you the opportunity to "Kiss and make up?" but I'm not so sure I feel too smoochy this morning (maybe I will later...). What if I don't feel like making nice? I am just as bad? Probably. But I would have been more than happy to get up-close and personal had she simply sent me a private convo.

Here's my last two-cents: Buying one-of-a-kind handmade items online can be a challenge. You don't get to hold the item, try it on, really see the size and shape. But it was handcrafted by a real person who took enough pride in it to put it out there for the world to see. If you take the leap and purchase and then regret it - give the seller a chance to help you. Be considerate and let them know why you're disappointed and how the situation can be made better - don't just slap them with negative feedback without reaching out first.

Sorry for this little morning rant but my hide is a wee bit chapped...

Bright Colors and a New Commission

I was asked by my friend Ali to create some fiber jewelry for her wedding in October. She brought over some swatches and samples for me to see the other night and I can tell you - this is going to be one fun wedding if the colors are any indication!

Way Out West - a new bead soup series

Some of you may remember a new bead soup I started working with recently that was full of rich turquoise blue and wood-tone browns. Here is the first finished piece from that new bead soup I'm calling "Way Out West"...

You can find this piece available in my Etsy Shop!

You might also like a little peek of some of the other pieces I'm working on from the "Way Out West" bead soup - in this shot are 4 pendants, 2 rings and one pair of earrings. I'll be adding at least one more pair of earrings and a cuff bracelet before I'm done... I hope you'll stop back to see more!

Thanks for stopping by today - please comment and let me know what you think! :)

Coral, Sage and Honey - New Bead Soup Creations!

As some of you may know, I have been enjoying creating and creating with some new bead soup mixes. The latest is a lovely mix of sage green, coral pink, honey gold and creamy ivories...

From that mix I made several new bead embroidery pieces: 4 pendants, 2 pair of earrings, 2 cocktail rings and a cuff bracelet (all of which can be found in my shop on Etsy by clicking here).

I still have lots of the mix left and, in fact, just added some more beads to it but it's time for a new mix to come out for a spin...

This soup is a lush mix of turquoise, dark wood, antique copper and bronze tones with just enough fiery orange to keep you warm at night! I'm really looking forward to seeing what I create with this palette! I hope you'll stop by to check things out, too... :)