What I did on my winter hiatus....and am still in process...

[GIAGirl]

That jewelry box would be pricey in the stores.  They are expensive!!!! 

Your lapis necklace is beautiful....what about diamond rhondels?

[ah2bqat]

I'll pass the shrimp fork, Miz M.  Just as soon as DJM is finished with his squirrels. 

GG, I had some fancier roundels in mind that I was going to have DBL order for me (it wasn't a retail store ); however time was a contraint and I needed to get it put together ASAP.  I really plan on using this set predominantly as a dress-down parure - suitable for jeans and tees and BEER DRINKIN.  Add in I don't want to put the opals in jewelry cleaner (heaven alone knows what would happen, and at $20 per bead, heaven can keep the answer!); so I opted to avoid diamonds.  The good news is - since this is an honest-to-god 80's add-a-bead necklace, it's on a 14k gold chain and has a clasp made to easily add or remove beads.  I can always upgrade! 

According to Bill, the homeowner not the cat, should I wish to sell the box, I could start pricing at $800 - without the satin and velvet lining.    Think I'll keep it.  I'm still amazed he just gave it to me.

What can I say?  Random acts of kindness make the world go 'round.  Ain't that right, OMC?

[oldmancoyote]

Sometimes. And sometimes the world has square corners and hops from one to the other.

[ah2bqat]

Beep. Whirr.  Clunk.

You're an old phony, OMC.  You can try and deny it, but you have a heart as big as Texas, and pretty much just as warm. 

[Mrs Mitchell]

Thanks, guys!  I'm pretty pleased with the overall project results.

Wish I knew you were a wood finishing pro, Miz M.  I would have brought you into the loop long and long ago.  Somehow reading the directions on the can just doesn't quite cut it.  

BTW, would you care to take a month off and help with an antique dining table?  It has a really nice big central leaf.     seriously, one day i need to find a professional, like Bill.  The base needs a little help to make it more stable and the top was used as a slippery slide by the qats, claws extended. 

Dining tables with centre leaves make me break out in hives now. A truly learned aversion!  I have to make a start on my own one of these days, but like GIAGirl says....shrimp forks! 

I love your treasure chest, it's a work of art.

[ah2bqat]

Well Miz M, somewhere I recall that you wanted to see what I'd been up to,    craftwise.  Since I'm having zero luck finding anything remotely technical, I'm trying to start up a small business in beading, of all things.  I keep things fairly straightforward, but I have rather simple tastes.  If I don't like it, I won't make it; unless, of course, it's by commission.

So here are a few gifts I've done and stuff for myself.  Here's my BFF's birthday gift:


Here is something I did for DSD for her mom's birthday:


...and some of my own toys


added gold beads to garnets


took the lab created opal out of this necklace

 

[ah2bqat]

Then, there is the stuff I'm hawking at some of the local specialty stores.  I have my first appointment tomorrow evening, so wish me luck.

2 sets of wine charms:



Snowflake, snowman, and christmas tree earring samples:




and one earring/necklace set


So far just samples, and a few extra sets of snowmen, trees, and wine charms.  I'll see how I do in the next several weeks, and then start selling on etsy or something like.  Wish me luck!

[cherrypie]

I like the snowflake earrings!

Carol   

[DiamondsAreForever]

Wow!  Very nice.  I really LOVE the opal earrings. The wine glass charms are great and the lapis jewelry is also catching my eye.

[Mrs Mitchell]

Oh wow! You've been busy, for sure! I love your work, you have a lot of talent.

The wine glass charms are adorable - what a neat idea.

Thanks for sharing, I'm very impressed.

[lovecolor]

Good Luck Ah2!  I hope those specialty stores commission you for extra orders!  That would be so cool...        

[saqsay1]

I like all of those. Especially the Opal earrings..... Are the opals lab created?

[ah2bqat]

Thanks, ladies! My first appointment cancelled, which was disappointing, but has rescheduled for next week.

The Christmas tree and snowman earrings are all Swarovski crystals - so small is all I can do and sell at reasonable margin.  I'm no photographer, so they are much more glittery and  pretty in real life.

So far, the snowflake earrings are my Christmas favorite, too, Carol.  I've got some other dangle designs to make up and some chandeliers, but am waiting on more beads, predominantly Swarovski - of  course.

Saqsay, the opal earrings are lab created beads - you can't find beads with that sort of fire and consistant color that are natural.  They are done with 14k gold filled findings - I can't afford real gold right now.  They look fantastic on, and I just sent them out last week.  I sure hope she loves them as much as I do.  I'm making her a necklace to match  for Christmas.  

Miz M, DAF, those wine charms are loss leaders since the furnace glass and lampwork beads are expensive.  I have added one new twist to them, as of yesterday. LOL  I lost one of my favorite cat charms a week or so ago, because the beads slip off the hoops, which are both very thin and don't always stay hooked.  I've added a crimp tube below the area that fits the hook, and now none of the beads can escape the hoops.  I hope that makes them more popular.

Thinking of all you lucky ones at the reunion today.  Sure wish I could have joined you.  Maybe next time.  I can't wait to hear what y'all got into.  

Now I have to get back to working on DSD's sexy Ariel costume.  I've never made pasties before, let alone purple seashell ones!  (If I make 'em, they get to be LARGER than she might prefer! )  The whole outfit is quite challenging since I'm working without any patterns, just pictures.